I have been researching and experimenting with ways to make money online for the past couple of years, and over the past year, I have tried a lot of different methods and made a lot of money. I wanted to share with you my top sources of income and ways to make money online to help you decide what might be best for you.
Affiliate Marketing
I first tried affiliate marketing when I heard about it through a podcast. I had been researching ways to make money online for a while, and this method seemed like a good fit. With affiliate marketing, you essentially just sell other people’s products. You get paid a commission when someone clicks an ad or buys a product that’s promoted on your website. There are many different affiliate marketing networks, such as Commission Junction, ClickBank, and Skimlinks, that you can join to get started.
One of the best things about affiliate marketing is that you can get started for free. Most affiliate marketing networks will give you a free starter account, which you can use to build up a following. Once you have a following, you can begin earning money with affiliate marketing. You just have to know how to promote products that are profitable.
E-Commerce
E-commerce, or online shopping, is one of the most popular ways to make money online. Similar to affiliate marketing, you will be promoting a product or service that exists outside of your own website. With e-commerce, you will be taking orders directly from customers and processing them as efficiently as possible. Some of the more popular e-commerce platforms to sell and ship items are Shopify, WooCommerce, and Amazon.
With e-commerce, you will be using a shopping cart to process payments. When a customer goes to your site and makes a purchase, they will be directed to a shopping cart on your site. Once they have completed their purchase, you will have the option to review it and send it to their address or have them pick it up at a local shop.
Apps
Apps are all the rage these days, and for good reason too. Many people have slowly realized the convenience that apps provide, and with all the different types of apps available on mobile devices, you can bet there will be a use for anyone. You can use apps to easily make purchases, get directions, keep track of your spending, and more.
While apps can be quite useful, you will need to promote them to make any money from them. You can get started for free with many apps, but you will need to spend money to continue earning. Some of the more popular app platforms to promote and make money from are iOS, the Google Play Store, and the App Store.
Podcasting
I have been podcasting for a while now, and it has become one of my top sources of income. Podcasting is a type of online radio show that you can host and upload to multiple platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. To begin earning money from podcasts, all you need is a microphone and desktop computer or laptop.
After you have uploaded your show to the different platforms, you can start attracting sponsors. Some of the more well-known podcast networks and shows to join include the Richest, the Chase Freedom, and the Adam Smith School of Economics.
Blogging
Blogs are pretty much a forever-type of website. Once you begin creating a blog, you will start to see revenue come in slowly but surely. Similar to apps, blogs provide you with the opportunity to write and publish your opinions and experience, including how you make money online. To begin blogging, you will need to have a personal blogging website where you can write and publish your material. After you have created your blog, you can also choose to make it an affiliate marketing blog where you promote products and make money online.
Video Creation
Video is everywhere, and more people are turning to video content every day. Whether you like to watch YouTube videos or Netflix shows, virtual reality (VR) videos, or classic television (TV) clips, you will most likely encounter video content in one form or another.
Creating and marketing videos is a great way to make money online. You can work part-time or full-time through creating short-form (usually under three minutes) videos about a variety of topics, such as product reviews, how-to guides, comedy skits, or fashion in the rainbow style. Most importantly, you will need to learn how to create videos that will draw in audiences and make money.
Data Research
Data is constantly changing the world around us, and more and more people are realizing the importance of being up-to-date with the right information. Whether you believe in the power of data to change the world or want to use it as a way to make money, data research is a good option for you.
Data research is essentially doing research on the internet to find out information about a particular topic. You will need to become familiar with different platforms to be able to find the right data for your purposes. Typically, you will join data research platforms for free, but to make money you will need to become a partner. The best part about data research is that you can do it from home and set your own hours.
Copywriting
If you are a talented writer, you can choose to make money online as a copywriter. All you need to do is find a good niche, find some decent paying clients, and write for them. To make a good living as a copy writer, you will need to develop a portfolio of writing samples that you can showcase to potential clients. To find clients, you can either join content creators’ associations to get started, or you can use freelance writing platforms to get connected to clients.
Selling Merchandise
If you are good at selling, you can choose to make money online selling merchandise. The most popular way to do this is through online marketplaces, such as Shopify and Woocommerce, where you can create products such as t-shirts, hoodies, or mugs with your company’s logo on them. Similar to the other types of online work opportunities discussed here, you will need to become familiar with the platforms and establish yourself as an expert to be able to sell well. Shopify and Woocommerce are free to use, but you will need to spend money to get started. Once you are up and running, you can join a group of sellers where you can discuss marketing and pricing plans, find suppliers, and work on projects together.
As you can see, there are a variety of ways to make money online. You just have to figure out which one is right for you. Remember, you can use numerous different methods to make money online, so you can potentially find a source of income in whatever topic you choose.