If you’re reading this, I assume you’re either a teen or a parent of one, and maybe even both. If not, then maybe this article isn’t for you, but it might still be interesting information. In any case, here’s the situation: the world of web content and social media is full of opportunities for teens to make money, whether they want to or need to. But it can be tricky to know how to go about it. That’s why we’ve put together this guide: to help you figure out how to make money online from home as a teenager, whether you want to or need to.
The Best Ways to Make Money Online
There are many ways to earn money online, and while some may be better than others, most of them can be done with little to no skills. The important thing is to find something that you enjoy doing and that provides some flexibility in your schedule. Keeping these two things in mind will help you find the right opportunity for you.
1. Start an Online Store
An online store functions a lot like a regular store, but instead of selling products that you’ve physically made, you’re selling digital content. This can be anything from designs for T-shirts to movie or music memorabilia to original artwork. The important thing is to find a store that accepts digital currency, like bitcoins, as payment. Since these kinds of payments aren’t linked to physical locations, they’re a great way to go if you want to be able to spend your earnings anonymously. You can find a list of the best digital currency wallets that accept payments using these alternative currencies here.
2. Start an Blog
Blogs are a great way to make money online. You’re essentially creating content that people are willing to pay for. The most common way to make money from a blog is to do sponsored posts for businesses or organizations. You’ll need to find a trustworthy source of income to cover your expenses, but many people choose to do this on the side, especially if they want to continue enjoying their life as a kid. Having a blog can also open up a world of opportunities for you, so make sure you explore all of your options before choosing this path.
3. Start a YouTube Channel
YouTube creators can make hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, so if you’re a talented video editor or have a funny voice, consider doing short videos for YouTube. If you want to make money online, YouTube is the perfect platform for you. You can use various types of ads to make money from YouTube, including Google Adsense, which is what most viewers see when they visit the site. But you can also make money through affiliate marketing, which earns you a commission when someone clicks a recommended product or service on your behalf. If you want to make money from YouTube, be sure to get a good grasp of the platform before diving in.
4. Start an Airbnb Account
Airbnb is the world’s largest online marketplace for people to rent out their homes to travelers. The more people that sign up with Airbnb, the more opportunities there are for you to make money through the site. If you have a room or two in your home that you’re not using, you can always rent it out on Airbnb. You’ll need to look into whether or not being a host on the platform is legally required in your area, but the opportunity to make a little bit of cash on the side definitely isn’t forbidden.
5. Start a Twitter Account
Twitter is another great platform for making money online. You can follow popular bloggers, influencers, and businesses, and in return, they’ll follow you. Watch for when they’ve got something to promote, whether it’s an affiliate product they’re promoting or a new podcast episode they’re speaking on, and you’ll have a steady stream of income through affiliate marketing or podcast monetization. If you want to make money via Twitter, be sure to create and engage with a relevant audience.
6. Sign Up for a Survey Contract
Many companies will pay you to take surveys that help them understand more about their customers’ opinions and what they think of different products. Some of these survey sites are free to use, but you’ll usually need to sign up for a free account to be able to take surveys and make money. Some of the more well-known survey sites include Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, OneOpinion, Ipsos iSay, and Ipsos iSay Pro.
7. Start an Online Store (Continued)
If you want to continue making money online, you can create and sell your own products through online stores like Shopify, which is a completely free platform. You’ll just need to remember to keep selling products that are compliant with the site’s rules and policies. If you don’t want to get into the whole online product thing, you can also create and sell your own designs on T-shirts and hoodies via Printful. If you want to design your own T-shirts and hoodies, you can use a service like Merch by Amazon, which is also a free platform, or create your own store on Etsy.
When to Avoid These Opportunities
There are many ways to make money online, but if you want to remain a kid, it’s best to avoid opportunities that take a lot of effort or don’t fit your schedule. For example, if you want to become a YouTube content creator, you’ll need to become a reliable source of income first before you can even begin making videos. Launching and maintaining a blog can also be time-consuming, and if you’re looking for flexibility in your schedule, then side-hustles like designing or doing graffiti art are great alternatives.
As for the money-making opportunities listed here, if you’re younger than 18, you need parental consent to work or study online. If you are older, you need to ensure that any activities or products you promote are not prohibited by law, and give consideration to whether or not they’re suitable for your family.