For those of you who want to know how to make money as an online artist, this blog post is for you. You’re going to learn the ins and outs of making money online through various methods, along with earning a living as a graphic designer. Let’s get started.
The Rise of the Online Artist
It used to be that if you wanted to make money online, you had to join a company that offered online affiliate marketing or you’d have to create your own product that you sell online (like an ebook, for example). But, over the last few years, the landscape of how to make money online has changed significantly. Nowadays, you can find numerous methods of making money online, even if you don’t want to become a digital marketer or developer. Let’s explore a few of these money-making methods.
The Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, etc) Boom
One of the most significant ways that people are making money online today is through cryptocurrencies. These are digital currencies that are created and traded through online platforms (like exchanges). You can read more about cryptocurrencies here. Their value is based on supply and demand, so as more people want to buy them, their value will increase.
There are other types of digital currencies (like Dash, Litecoin, and others), but the two most popular ones (at the time of writing) are Bitcoin and Ethereum. If you want to learn more about cryptocurrency investing, check out these articles:
1. Create a Blog
If you’ve been reading my blog post for any amount of time, you know that I love a good blog. I think that they are a fantastic asset for any business or individual looking to make money online. When somebody is searching for a product (like a book, a DVD, or a theme for their blog), they usually begin their search with a keyword-rich query, such as [cryptocurrency bitcoin ethereum], and then follow up with more specific search terms (like [bitcoin miner] or [buy bitcoin]).
If you own a blog, you can take advantage of this trend and start generating revenue from the get-go. All you need to do is create content that is both relevant and entertaining, and then promote that content using targeted keywords and a small handful of compelling calls-to-action (e.g. ‘read the full article’, ‘sign up for the newsletter’, ‘visit the website’, etc).
If you want to learn more, I highly recommend checking out the Wealthy Affiliate University. They have a whole blogging mini-course, which is a five-day on-demand course that teaches you how to leverage your blog to make money online. When you sign up for the course, you get a free blogging platform, along with a step-by-step tutorial that teaches you how to build a profitable blog around a cryptocurrency theme. If you want to learn how to make money as an online artist, this is the perfect course for you. They even have a 24-hour live chat support, where you can get help with any aspect of building a profitable blog.
2. Start an Online Store
Another fantastic way to make money online is to start an online store. An online store is an online platform (like Etsy or Shopify) where you can sell and market a product (like jewelry, clothing, or accessories) that you’ve created. You can operate an online store completely from the comfort of your home. And, since you’re not required to have a physical storefront, you can take advantage of this to operate a more flexible business. Many digital entrepreneurs have found success through Etsy and similar platforms, so if you want to learn more, you should definitely check out these articles:
3. Start an Affiliate Marketing Program
In affiliate marketing, you essentially become an online salesperson for a company. When somebody clicks a link, be it from an ad or organic search, and makes a purchase after being redirected to a retail site, you’ll earn a commission. Many brands will pay you to drive traffic to their sites. Depending on the size of your audience, you can make a LOT of money from affiliate marketing. Some of the biggest names in business pay their affiliates a lot of money to promote their products.
If you’re looking to make money online, this is the route that I would go. You can find products that you’ll promote on your blog (like the one I mentioned above, which targets cryptocurrency users) or through a free blog site that’s built on the Bluehost platform. Bluehost is a web host that you can get for free, and it has affiliate marketing software built in, which means that you’ll be able to set up your affiliate marketing program from scratch, using their tools. You don’t need to worry about maintaining a sales funnel or tracking commissions, since they handle all of that for you.
4. Start a Drop-Shipping Store
A lot of people don’t like to think of themselves as entrepreneurs, especially since many see the word entrepreneur as pertaining to a person who is or has been engaged in a business. But, let’s be honest, if you’ve been wanting to do your own thing, make your own way, and be your own boss, you’ve probably been thinking about entrepreneurship, or else you wouldn’t be here reading this article. And, if you’re here, then you’re probably considering ways that you can make money online. So, if you’re looking to cut out the middle man (i.e. the retailer) and save money, then drop-shipping is the way to go. With drop-shipping, you essentially operate a retail business, but you don’t have to keep the products in stock. When a customer clicks the ‘add to cart’ button, you order that product from a third party (like a manufacturer, vendor, or wholesaler) and ship it directly to the customer (you keep the shipping costs). When they receive the product, the customer simply pays you for it. It’s a win-win-win situation. The customer gets what they want, when they want it, at a cheaper rate than they would paying retail.
If you want to make money online, this is the route for you. You can get started with a simple blog, built on the WordPress platform, and then integrate with retail platforms, like Shopify, to create an online store.
5. Start a Manufacturing Company
If you’ve been wanting to explore the world of entrepreneurship, but don’t want to completely give up your dayjob, then you should consider starting a manufacturing company. Just because you’re a freelancer doesn’t mean that you can’t be your own boss and operate your own business. In fact, a lot of digital nomads choose to be their own boss and operate a business that they can work remotely from, creating a flexible work environment, which is especially beneficial if you have children. Start a small business, such as a boutique that creates designer outfits or clothing for men and women.
If you want to make money online, this is the route for you. All you need is a decent sized room in your house, a sewing machine, and the willingness to learn. You can find online teaching resources, such as YouTube videos and forums, that can help you educate yourself on sewing, and then use that knowledge to create clothing, bags, and other accessories, that you can sell online. Many luxury brands, such as Burberry, Kate Spade, and Michael Kors, operate completely online, and you can get a job directly with them, creating or improving their website, social media accounts, and email lists. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box, and be creative in thinking of ways that you can make money online. Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the best.