There are many ways to make money online. Some are much more preferable to others. Which is the best way to make money online? Let’s examine six possible methods for making money online and hopefully help you decide which is best for you.
Selling Your Photos Online
Photos on social media have become an important part of our lives. One of the biggest social media platforms, Instagram, even has a dedicated section of their app for buying and selling photos. If you have a good eye for photography and some talent with a camera, then you could make money online selling your photos to people on social media.
The best and the most popular way to make money online these days is through stock photography. With stock photography, you essentially sell an image that can be used and reused multiple times. Sometimes the photographer will even give you the copyright to the photo so you can sell it yourself without having restrictions.
The advantage of stock photography is that you can do it at your leisure. You can spend as much or as little time as you want on it and can become easily monetized by simply being able to showcase your work. The disadvantage is that stock photography is quite competitive. You’ll need to put in the extra work to get noticed among the hundreds or thousands of other stock photographers.
Selling Your Music Online
Another way to make money online is to sell your music. If you’re a talented musician, you can use many different platforms to easily market your music and possibly make some money from it. Sites like iTunes, Amazon Music, and Spotify offer artists a way to connect with fans, make some extra cash, and potentially even earn them some revenue from showing ads on their platform.
The best and the most popular way to make money online from music is through YouTube. YouTube allows artists to get their music out to fans and potentially make money from memberships, live streams, and ads. Many indie artists may choose to use YouTube to promote themselves because it is so widely available and accessible to anyone with a smartphone. This is a popular platform with millennials because it allows them to discover and learn about new artists, albums, and songs without having to go outside of their own social media circles.
The disadvantage of YouTube is that it can be quite competitive. You’ll need to build a substantial audience and ensure that your content is of good quality before you can expect to make any money from YouTube. Moreover, the amount of money you’ll make will depend on the number of views you get. It’s all about engagement and building a loyal audience.
Selling Your Crafts Online
If you’re one of the many talentless individuals who enjoy creating crafts and do-it-yourself projects, then you can make some extra cash by taking part in online craft shops. For example, if you’re a talented cook, you can take part in online food shops that allow you to showcase your culinary skills. Or if you’re a creative type who enjoys painting or drawing, you can take part in online art shops that allow you to sell your work to other people.
While this may not seem like a direct way to make money online, you can use these crafty platforms to gain experience and build credibility. Moreover, you’ll be able to demonstrate your expertise and possibly even build a small audience that will enjoy your work and come back for more.
Become a Virtual Assistant
If none of the above seem like a fit, then you can always become a virtual assistant. A virtual assistant is simply someone who does some paperwork for businesses and earns a commission for it. You’ll need to get a professional license to do this, but you can find many opportunities in a virtual assistant role. For example, you can take on projects to help businesses with their emails, social media, or administrative tasks. It’s a steady job that doesn’t require a lot of expertise and can be done remotely from home.
The advantage of being a virtual assistant is that it is a task-based job that can be done remotely. You can set your own hours and be your own boss. Moreover, the only requirement is that you need to possess a reliable communication tool (like email) and have a smartphone (to work remotely).
The disadvantage of being a virtual assistant is that it can be quite tedious and boring. You’ll simply be performing an administrative task for a business or individual. There’s really no passion or excitement associated with this line of work.
Start a Blog
Blogs are a fantastic way to make money online. Thanks to the rise of the content marketing industry, anyone can now become a freelance writer and potentially make money off their blog. Instead of simply selling their photos or their music, bloggers can write and generate revenue by leveraging their popularity on social media.
The best and the most popular way to make money online from a blog is through affiliate marketing. With affiliate marketing, you’ll be partnering with a company (like Amazon) that has an affiliate program. When a user clicks a link or buys something after reading your blog post, you’ll earn a commission.
What is an affiliate program? An affiliate program is where a business offers products and services for sale through affiliates, which are basically individuals or businesses that promote those products and services for a commission.
Many big brand-name companies like Amazon, Nestle, and Subway have affiliate programs. If you have a popular blog, you can easily enter into those affiliate programs and start making money online. You’ll just need to pick your favorite items from Amazon’s or another online marketplace’s product catalog and create content around them. For example, if you love Subway, you can create content on various topics, such as diet tips or exercise routines. Many big-name companies like Amazon, Nestle, and Subway also have affiliate programs, so if you pick something that’s already popular, you can be sure that you’ll have a ready audience.
The advantage of having a blog is that it is a flexible way to make money online. You can publish as often or as little as you like and can become monetized through affiliate marketing, ads, or a combination of the two. The disadvantage is that starting a blog is quite an investment. You’ll need to purchase a quality domain name and build a small audience before you can start earning money. Moreover, you’ll have to learn how to write an effective blog post to make money online. Not to mention all the editing and formatting you’ll need to do to make it look professional.
Start an Online Store
If none of the above seem like a fit, then you can always start an online store. An online store is simply an online marketplace where you can sell and buy various products. In 2019, Shopify alone recorded $14.8 billion in sales.
The best and the most popular way to make money online from an online store is through affiliate marketing. Just like with a blog, you’ll be partnering with a company (like Shopify) that has an affiliate program. When someone clicks a link or buys something after reading your blog post, you’ll earn a commission. However, the advantage of an online store is that it is quite easy to set up and does not require a lot of expertise. You can literally get started in less than a minute. The disadvantage is that you’ll need to learn how to effectively market and sell your products online. Moreover, you’ll have to learn how to code to build your online store from the ground up.
Hopefully, this article was helpful in providing you with an overview of the different ways you can make money online. There are dozens of opportunities out there, and thanks to the internet, all you need is a laptop or desktop computer, a reliable WiFi connection, and a smartphone (to stay connected).