In my last post on this subject, I shared my list of the Top 20 Sites that pay you to perform tasks or offers for them. There are so many more options for online money-making these days, including some that don’t even require you to have a website or blog. So if you’re looking for more ideas on how to make extra cash, check out these 10 destinations where you can do just that.
1. Survey sites
Every few months, legit survey sites will send you a small slice of cash for doing very little work. The catch is that you have to complete a qualifying survey before you can cash out. You’ll get about $2 to $5 per day, depending on the site, for taking surveys that usually only take about five minutes to complete. The surveys are usually about tech products, shopping, or household chores, so if you’re looking for something to do, these websites might be a good fit for you.
This is one of the easier ways to make money online, since all you need is a webcam and a couple of minutes of your time to get started. Just make sure that you don’t get scammed by pretending to be a person or trying to trick the system. If you’re getting paid to take surveys, you might want to consider doing some research on some of the more popular survey sites before you get started (for example, Swagbucks.com).
2. Sign up for a gig-working platform
There are several platforms where online entrepreneurs can connect with freelancers or gig-workers to complete tasks. Some of the more popular ones are Upwork.com, Fiverr.com, and freelancing.com. These websites let you post your qualifications, upload a portfolio of your past works, and then connect you with potential clients who might need your services.
Working through these platforms is similar to finding a traditional job except that you’re working for yourself, so you don’t have to deal with any office politics or corporate BS. The only difference is that you get to choose your own schedule and the work can be anywhere you want (as long as you have a computer and a wifi connection).
If you’re looking for flexible work, these are some good options. Just be sure to read the fine print before you get started, because some of these platforms have limits on how many times you can register an account and how much money you can make per day. Also, make sure that the platform you’re using is a reputable one.
3. Start an online store
If you’ve been dreaming of being your own boss and having your own time off, congratulations! Starting an online store is the perfect way to make that dream a reality. All you need is a computer, some coding knowledge (if you’re a programmer), and a decent amount of money to invest in the inventory and in creating a site that sells the products you’re ordering. You can also use Shopify.com to create an online store without needing any previous experience.
If you decide to go down this route, remember that you’re on your own. There are no rules in e-commerce, so you’ll have to learn how to survive and how to make money off your own website. You can use Google Analytics to figure out the best recipes for your customer base, create membership sites where people can pay to access your product samples, or start an affiliate program where you promote a specific brand or shop and earn a commission when someone clicks a promoted link or buys a product that’s promoted on your site. The sky is the limit!
4. Start an online tutoring business
Another way to make money online is to become a tutor or teacher and give lessons online. You can use platforms like Zoom.com, GoFundMe.com, or Udemy.com to offer your services. These websites allow anybody with a microphone and a laptop to become a teacher. All you need is a webcam and a room with a decent microphone.
If you decide that this is the road you want to go down, you have to consider the amount of time it will actually take to make money off this route. While there are plenty of opportunities to make money quickly, teaching online can be difficult to break even. Once you do, you’ll have created your own mini-university and can use the credentials to land your own job or climb the corporate ladder. It’s a double-edged sword, but for the time being, online tutoring is a great way to make money. Just make sure that you have enough training and experience before you get started.
5. Start an online gallery or studio
If you’re someone who loves to create and is good with the camera, you could start your own online gallery or studio where you sell your photographs. The key to making this work is branding. Once you have a decent amount of money saved up, or if you’re independently wealthy, you can start a small business card production company where you design the cards and then have them made into beautiful mini wallets, purses, and totes. You can use different materials such as metal, wood, or plastic to create the mini items and brand them with your name and website URL (if you have one).
As a photographer, you might want to explore the lucrative world of stock photography where you can sell your photos to businesses worldwide for them to use in their marketing materials.
If you have a creative side, these are some great options for you to develop it and put it to work for you.
6. Start an affiliate program
If you’ve been dreaming of being your own boss and having your own time off, congratulations! Affiliate marketing is a great way to make that dream a reality. You’ll be given a commission when somebody clicks a monetized link or buys a product that’s promoted on your site. All you need is a computer, a decent amount of traffic, and a bit of technical knowledge (if you’re a programmer).
There are several different affiliate programs out there, so you can find one that suits you. Some of the more popular ones are Google Adsense.com, Amazon Associates.com, and ShareASale.com. You’ll need to decide whether you want to get commisions on a per-sale basis or on an up-front basis. Per-sale commissions are when you earn a commission for every product that a customer buys under your affiliate link or banner.
Up-front commissions are when you’re paid a sum of money for bringing in a certain amount of traffic, with no transaction or sale occurring under your link or banner. The key is in generating traffic, creating content that’s relevant and interesting to your target audience, and then using several different platforms and methods to promote that content whenever and wherever you can.
If you’re looking for flexible work, this is one of the easier ways to make money online, since all you need is a computer, a reliable connection, and the willingness to put in the work to learn how to do it properly.
7. Start a YouTube channel
If you’ve been dreaming of being your own boss and having your own time off, congratulations! You can start a YouTube channel where you talk about topics that are relevant to your niche. You can interview subject matter experts, tech wizards, or just about anyone who fits the bill of someone who knows what they’re talking about. The best thing about YouTube is that it’s incredibly flexible. You can brand your channel however you want and can put in the work to build an audience for your channel.
If you decide to take this route, make sure to pick a niche that has lots of potential. You’ll need to do some research and figure out what topics get the most views and stick with those. If you can become the go-to person for information on your chosen topic, you’ll be able to build a profitable channel. Even better, you can use the YouTube platform to upload your videos directly to your blog or website, so you can continue to build your audience online.
8. Start a podcast
If you’ve been dreaming of being your own boss and having your own time off, congratulations! You can start a podcast where you interview subject matter experts and tech wizards on relevant topics. Like YouTube, the podcast market is thriving, and there’s plenty of opportunity to make money from creating and selling content to audio audiences. The key is in building an audience. You can use tools like Anchor.com and GoFundMe.com to easily set up a fundraiser for your podcast. Just remember that you need to keep your costs as low as possible, so don’t skimp out on the production value. Quality apps like Pocket Casts and SoundCloud help you keep track of all your content, so you don’t have to worry about losing track of anything.