If you’re looking to make money online, trying to figure out where to start can feel overwhelming. There are just so many ways to make money online and not sure which one suits you best? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll tell you about 11 of the most popular places to make money online and how you can use them to their full potential.
1. Start a blog
Blogs are one of the most popular ways to make money online. They can be anything you want them to be, from a hobby blog to a fashion or lifestyle blog. It really depends on what you’re passionate about and what sort of content you can consistently produce. When you have a sizable audience, you can then monetize your blog through affiliate marketing, which earns you a commission when someone clicks a monetized link or buys a product that’s promoted on your blog. If you want to make money passively, you can also set up a blog with the purpose of promoting a product through advertising. You’ll simply need to find an affiliate program for the product you’re promoting and when someone purchases that product through your blog’s link, you’ll earn a commission.
2. Sign up for a payment processing service
Although there are numerous ways to make money online, not all of them are legitimate. One of the biggest scams online is where a ‘broker’ will approach you with an incredible deal to help you make extra cash for free. Be wary of these ‘offers’ and don’t give out your personal information, whether it’s your bank account number or social security number. To ensure you’re making the right decision, ask the payment processing service to provide you with a list of all their clients so you can contact them directly and get a feel for their legitimacy. Many companies will also provide you with customer service representatives who can answer your questions about their policies and procedures. It’s also crucial to look for customer support before you even start using the service. Companies that provide customer support that’s good enough to satisfy you will most likely also be good enough to satisfy you financially. If you find that their support services aren’t up to par, it might be a good idea to try out a different payment processing service.
3. Start an online store
If you’re the creative type, you can start up an Etsy shop. Etsy is a popular e-commerce platform where you can sell your handmade or vintage goods. You’ll need to set up a storefront, which can be fairly easy to do. Once you have your Etsy shop ready to go, you can start marketing your products. You can use tools like Google Shopping and Facebook ads to get the word out about your shop. It’s a win-win situation because not only will you be able to make some extra cash, but you’ll also be able to experiment and try new things with your product. You might try out a different platform like Shopify or WooCommerce. Depending on your experience, you can choose between free and paid options when setting up your online store.
4. Start an online tutoring platform
If you’re an expert in a certain field and can teach others, you can create a premium tier on your tutoring platform where you can provide lessons at highly discounted rates to students who are willing to learn. Tutoring is a great way to make money online because you can basically set your own hours and take as much or as little time as you want. You’ll need to be available to provide lessons 24/7, but since you’re only using your PC or Mac for this job, it shouldn’t be too difficult to set up a tutoring platform and get started with your business. All you really need is a quiet place where you can focus uninterrupted and a sound system where you can play audio files or use an online video platform like Zoom or Skype to talk with students.
5. Start an online beauty salon
If you’re the fashion-forward type and enjoy dressing up in costume and styling hair and/or makeup, you can start up a beauty salon in your home. Depending on the size of your family, you can either create individual salons for your daughters, sisters, and nieces or join together to form a co-op. Once your beauty salon is up and running, you can begin marketing it by using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to post outfits and pictures of you wearing your hair and makeup style. You can also use these platforms to post articles about the products you use in your salon, as well as other relevant information. If you have a sizable following on these platforms, you can then use them to grow your business. You can also use social media to connect with potential clients, especially if you’re looking to franchise or take on partners. Many companies like Twilio, Shopify, and Blue Fountain Media offer specialized software that can help you run a successful beauty salon from the cloud, so you don’t have to run around town looking for a beauty therapist to come to your house to give you a shampoo and massage. You can charge what you want for a traditional spa treatment and add on extra fees for things like makeup application, pedicure, and manicured nails. The possibilities are endless with this business idea, so don’t forget about it!
6. Start a YouTube channel
YouTube creators can make a lot of money online, especially if they have a large audience. When you have a large audience, you can then use your YouTube channel to grow your audience. On YouTube, you can put up videos on almost any subject you want, from makeup tutorials and fashion hauls to cooking demonstrations and music performances. The possibilities are endless with this business idea, so don’t forget about it! Once you have a sizable audience, you can then use your YouTube channel to promote your paid gigs or to experiment with different content strategies. You can also use your YouTube channel to connect with potential clients, especially if you’re looking to franchise or take on partners. Many companies like Revolver, GoDaddy, and WordPress offer specialized apps and websites that can help you run and grow a YouTube channel from the cloud, so you don’t have to run around town looking for a web designer to come to your house to set up your blog or YouTube channel.
7. Start an online clothing store
If you’re the creative type and enjoy expressing yourself through fashion, you can create an online clothing store where you can sell your own designs. You’ll need to set up a storefront on a social media platform like Shopify, which can be fairly easy to do. Once you have your shop setup, you can begin marketing it by using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to post pictures of yourself wearing your outfits as well as relevant information. You can also use these platforms to connect with potential clients, especially if you’re looking to franchise or take on partners. Many companies like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento offer specialized apps and websites that can help you run a successful clothing store from the cloud, so you don’t have to run around town looking for a fashion designer to come to your house to give you a mock up and cut your clothes according to your specs. You can sell your clothing online 24/7, so there’s always someone there to buy what you’ve got. The possibilities are endless with this business idea, so don’t forget about it!
8. Start a podcast
If you’re looking to expand your reach, consider creating a podcast where you interview prominent people on topical issues. You can then use your podcast to market your paid gigs or to experiment with different types of content. Podcasts are pretty easy to get started with and can be used to launch your professional speaking career. To be a successful podcast, you’ll need to identify and engage with your ideal audience. To do this, you can start by looking at the individuals who already show an interest in your niche. From here, you can use your podcast to speak to your target audience on various topics. You can interview successful people in your niche for tips and tricks on how to grow your business, or you can even interview prominent people in other niches. The sky’s the limit!