The great thing about making money from an online venture is that it can be done from practically anywhere in the world. Providing you have an internet connection and a laptop; you have everything you need to get started. From freelance work to selling homemade items, there are more ways than ever to generate an income by using the internet. Whether you’re planning on starting a side venture or perhaps want to make the switch into full time self-employment, here are ten ideas to help you get started:
Questionnaires and Surveys
If you can’t start a business or dedicate much time or resources to your online venture, this is a great place to start. Though initial payments are often very small, just a few cents or more, if you are willing to spend an hour so filling out paid surveys each day, it can be enough to generate a small amount of disposable income. If you are prepared to offer even more of your time, some companies will potentially pay higher rates. You may need to set up a separate email address to avoid getting too much spam and always be careful not to share your personal information with scammers or fraudulent companies.
Amazon, eBay and Facebook Marketplace
This is something a lot of people don’t ever consider but selling old household items can be surprisingly lucrative way to make some extra cash. Things like sporting goods, electronics and clothes generally have the best returns but things like comics, action figures and records also have great potential. Postage and packaging costs can eat into your profits a little and if you intend to list a lot of items, you can expect to pay a fee to whichever platform you are using.
Become and Influencer
If you have the charisma to be comfortable in front of the camera and are organised enough to maintain a steady stream of quality content, you may have what it takes to be an influencer. You’ll need a substantial number of followers and you’ll also need to be prepared to work for products or exposure initially, but if you’re popular enough, you can make an actual living from this line of work. Be aware that this market gets more saturated by the day, so it won’t be an overnight success, but it is possible to generate cash.
Online Tutoring
For native speakers of English, there are hundreds of potential opportunities to make money online. You don’t always need a teaching qualification, though most companies will ask for a college level education as a minimum. Hours can be erratic, and you will need to be willing to work outside of the usual nine to five business day. You will also need to have a solid understanding of the English language, especially grammar and pronunciation. Tutors wages can very depend on the level of qualification and the company you are working for, but this industry has grown so much that some people make a full time living from it now.
Social Media Management
Yes, you can get paid for spending all day on Facebook, twitter and Instagram. This isn’t as easy as it sounds, and you will need to be fully to date with the latest developments on each platform. You will also need to be organised as companies expect their social media managers to work across multiple accounts and platforms. If you have good administration skills and love to spend a lot of time on your socials, this could be a great option for you. Just remember never to mix up your personal accounts with the ones you’re being paid to manage.
Content Writing
If you’re good with words and have a quick typing speed, there are all kinds of opportunities for writing work online. When you’re just starting out, you can expect to work for extremely low rates, though do be aware that if you continue to accept poorly paid work, it can be tough to secure anything of higher value. Practice makes perfect and you will generally get faster and better the more you do. Once you have done your first couple of paid gigs, your reputation will begin to grow, and people will start approaching you with projects.
Esports and Gaming
For previous generations, the idea of being paid to play video games is hard to believe. In the past decade, the birth of the “pro gamer” and latterly “esports” means that there are now thousands of people across the world who get paid for playing games. With the advent of “twitch” a dedicated platform for gamers to stream live, this once fledgling industry is now thriving and is creating highly paid stars in a similar way to YouTube and Instagram. Getting started is tough and you will need to be very skilful if you stand a chance of being taken seriously. Competitions can be a good starting point as many offer cash prizes as well as merchandise.
Become a Youtuber
This isn’t as easy as it was ten years ago and the highest paid stars on this platform are now outranking people from the world of film and television. Technically, anybody can do this, but you will need to be able to create the kind of content that goes viral. The most successful youtubers are constantly coming up with new ideas and creating their own niche markets. A few years ago, the idea of the “reaction video” or “unboxing” would have been cast aside by most marketing executives, but they are now some of the most watched videos online. To make any real money from YouTube, you will need to allow adverts on your videos and organise yourself so that you’re able to interact with fans as much as possible. It might sound like an easy option, but this is now as much of a lifestyle choice as a job.