If you’re looking for ways to make money online, there are hundreds of opportunities in different industries and categories. When you’re a young person looking to make money online, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are just some of the ways in which you can make money online from a 17 year old’s perspective.
Start a Blog
Blogs are one of the simplest and most effective ways to make money online. If you’ve got a niche, you can easily find a way to make money from a blog. If you’ve got a general interest blog, you can look for affiliate programs to make money. The world of affiliate marketing is huge, and it’s continually growing, so it’s a lucrative opportunity for younger generations.
Blogs are a fantastic source of passive income. You can set your blog up in no time at all, and then start making money from ads on your site. This may be more effort than you’re prepared to put in, but as long as you’re doing something you enjoy, the money will come in time.
Sign Up For An Affiliate Program
There are hundreds of affiliate programs out there, and a lot of them are suitable for a young person to become a part of. When you sign up for an affiliate program, you’ll get a good feeling of what’s involved. You’ll get a welcome email with a link to the Amazon website, and then you can start promoting products on your blog or social media platforms.
Affiliate marketing is a type of online marketing in which you earn a commission when a user clicks a monetized link or buys a product that’s promoted on your website. The more you know about affiliate marketing, the better. There are many different types of affiliate programs, and you can even get started with free affiliate platforms like Hello Fresh. When you sign up for an affiliate program, you’ll be asked to pick a niche and a unique affiliate link. You can then use that unique link to promote products in your blog or on social media platforms.
Sell Your Photos On Flickr
If you’ve got a nice collection of photos, you can put them up for sale on Flickr. You can create a free account with the photo sharing website, and then use your camera to take some snaps of the city you live in. When you’re done, you can choose to either keep the photos private, or make them available for other users to see. When private, no one will be able to see your photos unless you specifically allow them to. When you post your photos on Flickr, you’ve got an option of either putting them into albums, or just posting the photos individually. You can then use a service like Fancy to make your photos stand out a little more.
Create And Sell Your Own Product
If you’re tech-savvy, you can create and sell your own product on online marketplaces like Etsy or Shopify. If you’ve got a smartphone, you can create a product using BlasterFx, a nifty tool that allows you to make videos and sell them as products. If you’re serious about making money online, you can create a profitable product and then Amazon Fulfilment or Shopify Dropshipper to get wholesale pricing on products you don’t necessarily need to maintain retail outlets for.
To create a successful product, you’ll need to follow a typical product creation cycle. Start by defining the problem you’re trying to solve. This will help you to create a solution that is specifically tailored to that problem. Once you’ve defined the problem, you can craft a clear message to your potential customers with compelling copy and a striking image or video that makes a bold emotional appeal. Make sure you add value by proving you’re an expert in your field, and that you’ve consulted with others to ensure your solution is both robust and unique. Above all, be confident enough to charge what you’re worth and communicate the fact that YOU are the expert.
Creating and selling your own product is a fantastic way to make money online, and if you’ve got some tech skill or know-how, you can use tools like Shopify to get started quickly and easily.
Start an Online Store
If you’ve got a talented eye for design and can keep up with the ever-evolving trend-setter that is Instagram, you can create an online store that sells beautifully curated products inspired by trends you’ve spotted on the platform. To create an online store, you’ll need a product or products that people are searching for online. Once you’ve got that product or products, you can use platforms like Shopify that have an e-commerce plugin to build out your store. You’ll need to decide on a niche and choose a unique product or products to represent your store. Make sure you pick a product that you can easily curate. If you can’t find a product that suits your needs, consider creating your own product. Being able to curate products and keep up with the ever-changing trends is an invaluable skill for a young business owner.
Start An Online Magazine
Many magazines and publications have become fully digital in recent years, and since anyone can create a blog, it’s opened the door for people who want to create their own magazine or digest-style online publication. If you’ve got a large social media following, you can easily use platforms like Blastroi, Hootsuite, and Mediumto create a publication that shares your passions and interests. When you’re creating your online magazine, it’s important to decide on a niche and follow a clear publication schedule. You can then use tools like HubSpotand Instagramto keep track of your content’s performance and to make sure you’re reaching your intended audience. Once you’ve got content published regularly, you can use affiliate marketing to monetize it.
Consult With An Agent
If you’re looking to quickly scale up your earnings, you can consult with an investment agent. A financial agent can help you to find the best investment opportunities for your unique situation. When it comes to investing, there are many scary words and concepts that can make even the most seasoned investor anxious (i.e., Risk, Returns, and Asset Allocation). A financial agent will be able to put your mind at ease, allowing you to focus on growing your business.
Get A Loan From A Lender
If you’re looking for an easy way to make fast cash, you can apply for a loan from a bank or lender. Be aware that most banks are now insurance companies, and are looking for fast profits, not long-term sustainable growth. If you do decide to get a loan, be sure to look for a cosigner who will make up for any credit deficiencies you have. Be realistic about what you can afford, and research the best rates before applying. You’ll need to prove to the bank that you’re a reliable and trustworthy customer, and that you can be counted on to repay the loan. If you meet these criteria, you’ll be able to get the loan you need with minimal hassles.
Get A Grant
If you’re an entrepreneur, inventor, or student innovating in a field that might be considered technology-based, you can apply for a grant to further your business or education. Since 2013, TechStarshas launched hundreds of startups, many of which have gone on to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding.
TechStars is a global venture capital firm focused on early-stage startups in the technology, life sciences, and clean energy sectors. If you’ve got a new product or service that you think could make it big, you can apply for a grant with TechStars to get the money you need to bring your product to market.