Have you ever thought about working remotely and making money online? You can do it, and here’s how.
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of people are looking for ways to make money online. The number of online gigs, such as online surveys and microjobs, is through the roof. In fact, online gig work has increased by 97% since before the pandemic in 2020.
It’s a great time to be an entrepreneur. Not only has the door to the ‘traditional’ job closed, but it’s also possible to make money online without an internet connection.
The Rise In Online Gig Work
You might be familiar with Etsy, one of the biggest online marketplaces for handmade goods. Even prior to the pandemic, Etsy had over 2.9 million active buyers ready to buy from a global perspective. Not every item on Etsy is handmade; some are made in China and other countries. Still, you might find something unique and unique.
Similarly, Amazon Mechanical Turk is a place you can take on small tasks for businesses across the world. If you’re an expert at taking quizzes, testing websites, or translating between English and Spanish, you can make a few bucks online.
Before the pandemic, TikTok was the go-to place for short-form content. While the app mostly consists of advertisements, you can also find videos of famous creators sharing quick tips and tricks. In case you’re wondering, the videos often have between 10 million and 40 million views each. Do the math — that’s a lot of potential customers!
Nowadays, if you don’t have an internet connection, you’re limited to online gig work. That’s mainly because of the pandemic. Most workplaces have closed, and people are looking for ways to make cash flow.
The Benefits Of Working Offline
While working remotely has its perks, there are also some major benefits to going ‘old school’. First, you get to keep your regular working hours, which might be great for your own personal life. Second, you can be more selective about the types of gigs you take on. Third, you get to exercise your brain instead of your muscles. While coding might be great for your career, it doesn’t always allow you to be creative. Last, but not least, working remotely allows you to concentrate completely on your work without being distracted by your smartphone.
The Types Of Gigs You Can Do
If you’ve ever worked remotely, you might have noticed that there are a lot of similarities between online gig work and offline gigs. Let’s explore.
First, let’s examine the perks of working remotely.
If you’ve got a compelling story, you can get paid to tell it. For example, Zencana, a company that provides software and platforms for social brokers, currently has a job opening for a Social Media Content Strategist. In this role, you’ll be tasked with creating compelling content for social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram. If you’re a freelance writer, you can take on this project with the promise of earning 10 to 20 cents per word.
Similarly, if you’ve got a specific skill — be it copywriting, graphic design, or web development — you can use your talents to create websites, blogs, or online stores. You can find projects and customers and do work remotely.
In general, if you’ve got a computer and an internet connection, you can find a gig that allows you to do your work remotely. If you don’t have a computer, you can use an app like Rev.com or Genshin Impact to get online and take on online gigs. You should aim to find tasks that you’re qualified for and can perform well. For example, if you’re a fluent Spanish speaker, you can take on translation projects for websites and businesses in Spanish. If you’re a creative writer, you can take on editorial projects for magazines or websites.
Working remotely is a great way to save money. Instead of paying for classes, travel expenses, and daily lunches, you can eat what you want, when you want, and how you want. You’re also less likely to get sick since you’re not going into a workplace where other people are coughing and rubbing their nares. Yuck!
The Challenges Of Working Offline
While working remotely is perfectly acceptable and even desirable for some, it has its disadvantages. For example, if you’re working for a company, you’ll have to adapt to their working hours. Even if they’re open to ideas, you might not be able to choose your own hours. Similarly, you’ll have to be available to take phone calls and respond to emails during business hours. While there are ways to work remotely and avoid some of these challenges, it is still preferable to have a regular working environment.
Getting Payments And Managing Cash Flow
Every week, you’ll get paid via direct deposit, check, or cash. While you can get paid cash, you might have to wait a while. In case you’re curious, it usually takes a couple days for a check to clear. It’s also important to keep in mind the exchange rate when converting currencies. For example, if you’re working in Australia and get paid in Singapore dollars, you’ll need to multiply your earnings by a certain amount to make your money go further. (Check out this handy guide for more info on working remotely and managing your money.)
Depending on the company, you might need to register with a financial institution to get a business bank account. Otherwise, you’ll have to use a personal account for all of your transactions. Having a bank account makes doing business much easier. For example, you can issue a check without having to ask someone for cash. (You can also use cash for most transactions, but it’s preferable to use a check or debit card for larger purchases.)
Time Management
When you’re used to working remotely, you’ll realize how much time you have available to get things done. For example, instead of going to lunch every day at noon, you can eat when you want and work whenever you want. This could mean that you might not get everything done that you want, but it also means that you might get more done in a day than you would if you were working regular hours.
Productivity Vs. Social Life
Productivity and social life are often at odds with each other. To be more productive, you might want to stay at work a little longer, take a break from your social life, or even skip lunch. The important thing is to find a way to be more productive without sacrificing too much of your social life. Sometimes, you might even need to adjust your social life to be more productive. (Check out this helpful guide to find the right balance between productivity and social life.)
Working remotely can be fun and rewarding. You’ll enjoy the flexibility and the opportunity to work on projects that you find interesting. Plus, you’ll make money while doing something you love. If you’ve always wanted to try freelancing, this is the perfect time to. Make sure you find a way to make the most of it.