Ways to Make Money Online for Teens

In case you’re curious, making money online is a lot more than just getting a few extra bucks here and there. It actually is a way of life for many. If you’re a young adult wondering how to make money online, here are some of the best ways to earn cash.

1. Start an online store.

If you’re the creative type, you can start up an Etsy shop. Etsy is the largest online marketplace for handmade and artisanal goods. You’ll need to create a handcrafted product that people want to buy. Once you master that, you can move on to the next step.

There are a variety of Etsy shop ideas that you can pursue. From handmade paper goods to unique scarves or trendy beach totes, you can create a store that will offer a product that is both affordable and unique.

If crafty skills aren’t your strong suit, you can start a drop-shipping store. With this business model, you essentially operate a shop. When a customer makes an order, you order that product from a third party (typically a manufacturer, vendor, or wholesaler) and ship it directly to the customer. Shopify has made this process easy for anyone to follow, even if you’ve never done so. And if you’re looking for a way to make money online, you can’t really go wrong with this option.

2. Start a blog.

Blogs are all the rage these days, and with good reason. They’re easy to start and maintain. If you’re looking to make money online, you can consider starting a travel or lifestyle blog. Travel bloggers get paid pretty well, and the flexibility is great if you want to travel or work remotely for a while. A travel lifestyle blog covers all facets of a travel blogger’s life, from finding cool spots and making decent money to paying off your travel debts and saving up for your next trip. The possibilities are endless.

If money is no object to you and you want to pursue this route, you can start a subscription-based blog. With a subscription-based blog, you’ll need to get a certain number of subscribers in order to earn money. The key to earning a decent amount of money is building a substantial audience. Once you have a healthy audience, it’s time to talk revenue.

3. Start an online store in another country.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can start an online store in another country. Although many online stores operate from the United States, you can actually open up an online shop in any country that has an internet connection. In addition to providing the benefits of a larger market, other countries have some awesome taxes that can help you earn more. For instance, if you open up a shop in the Netherlands, you’ll owe only a small percentage of your monthly income in taxes.

The sky is the limit. You can sell anything online that isn’t illegal. Be sure to read the rules and regulations of the country you choose to do business in. Also, ensure that your website is set up correctly to avoid any hiccups. Otherwise, you’ll end up in a bit of a pickle.

4. Start an online store in your own country.

If you don’t want to operate a shop from another country, you can still do so within your own country. As long as you have a working internet connection and the means to create a functioning website, you can open up an online shop in any country you choose. This is typically done by partnering with retailers or wholesalers in other countries and operating an online storefront from within.

For instance, if you’re in Ireland and want to create an online store to sell your artwork, you can partner with an Irish retailer that has an online store. In return for sharing their payment processor with you, your partner will give you a small commission on every purchase that comes from an Irish consumer. This is one way that Ireland incentivizes digital growth and innovation.

5. Start an online review site.

If you’re the creative type, you can start up an online review site for artists, products, or restaurants. The nice thing about review sites is that you typically don’t need to have a large audience to get started. However, you do need to have a steady stream of content that is both useful and valuable to your audience. If you can pull this off, you’ll be able to monetize your site easily through affiliate marketing. The key is to establish yourself as an expert in your niche while building a reputation for honesty.

Here are some review sites that you can consider starting:

  • Rating

    A place where people can leave reviews of products, restaurants, and other businesses.

    • Product Reviews

      Product reviews can be a great way to establish yourself as an expert in your niche. If you’ve been searching for ways to make money online, you’ve probably stumbled upon a product review website. These types of sites get a lot of traffic and can be monetized effectively through affiliate marketing.

      • Restaurant Reviews

        If you’re a foodie, you can start a restaurant review site. The key is to find a niche within the restaurant reviewing world. If space isn’t a problem, you can review restaurants in your area. Be sure to partner with a local restaurant group if you want to do this. They can help with the distribution of your product and give you some amazing perks.

        • Travel Review

          If you’re a travel enthusiast, you can start a travel review site. The possibilities are endless here. You can review cities, tour guides, airlines, or even luxury hotels and resorts. Just remember that travel review sites can be quite the moneymaker. Just make sure that you learn some SEO and content optimization so that you can drive more traffic to your site.

          Above all else, establish yourself as an expert in your niche. Let your audience know that you are an expert through engaging and relevant content that is both useful and entertaining.

          6. Start an online training program.

          If you’re an expert in something, you can start an online training program. In this case, you’ll be teaching your audience something new, typically related to your niche. For instance, if you’re an artist and want to establish yourself as an expert, you can start an online art training program. In your program, you’ll be sharing your knowledge with your audience through video tutorials. People love learning new things online, and many creators make a large portion of their income through online trainings. Be sure to set up a web page dedicated to your online training, and include your social media platforms (Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook).

          7. Start a YouTube channel.

          If you’re the creative type, you can start a YouTube channel. YouTube creators can become very wealthy people. All you need is a decent following and relevant content that appeals to your audience. In addition to content, you can also use the platform to engage with your audience through Q&As, explainer videos, and vlogs. Even better, you can use YouTube to establish yourself as an expert in your niche. Don’t forget to put yourself in the videos. It’ll make it that much more believable when your audiences are watching you explain something related to your niche.

          8. Start a podcast.

          If you’re the tech-savvy type, you can start up a podcast. Podcasts are extremely popular, and you can use them to gain a substantial audience. The nice thing about podcasts is that you typically don’t need to have a large audience to get started. In fact, you can get started with a single listener and, through various content strategies, grow your audience quickly. Once you have a sizeable audience, it’s time to move on to the next step.

          9. Start an online store in another industry.

          If you can master the art of converting traffic into paying customers, you can start an online store in another industry. In this case, you’ll be setting up a shop that sells items related to your niche. For instance, if you’re a fashion blogger and want to start an online store that sells dresses, you can partner with a store that specializes in bridal gowns. When you have a functioning store, it’s time to move on to the next step.