There are quite a few ways to make money online besides selling affiliate products, but not all of them are legit. You should know the differences before you start raking in the profits. Let’s examine the various ways to make money online and what you should keep in mind before diving in.
Affiliate Marketing
This is one of the most popular ways to make money online. All you need to do is sign up to a free account with an affiliate program and then promote products that are within your niche. When a potential customer makes a purchase after reading your recommendation, you will earn a small commission.
The great thing about affiliate marketing is that you can get started with almost no investment. You just need to sign up for a free affiliate program and then find products that you can promote. You will not be penalized for promoting a product that you have not personally tried out, as long as you are confident that it is of high quality and will deliver as promised.
Copywriting (For Blogs, Forums, Articles or Landing Pages)
If you’re a natural writer, you can use your talent to make money online. All you need to do is write content for other people and then integrate affiliate links where necessary. So, if you’re a professional copywriter, you can take your talents to the internet and start building up your freelance writing career. Not only will you be able to make some extra cash, but you will also be able to build up your portfolio of articles and blog posts to demonstrate your writing skills.
Product Reviewing (For Online Stores)
If you’re a tech-savvy individual who enjoys exploring new gadgets and playing around with different software, you can take advantage of affiliate programs offered by online stores. As a product reviewer, you will be given an array of gadgets to test out and then give your opinion on whether or not they are worth buying. Some of the items you may be asked to review include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Computers
- Mobile Phones
- Tablets
- Electronics
- Software
- Hardware
- Games
- Fitness
- Food
- Drink
- Household
- Beauty
- Hygiene
- Airlines
- Travel
- Travelling
The great thing about product reviews is that they can be extremely lucrative. You will not have to do any of the product manufacturing or sale to be eligible for a commission. All you need to do is find a trustworthy online store that is willing to pay you for your time and then pitch in-demand products to test out and then review.
Social Media Marketing
If you’re a talented marketer, you can make money online through social media advertising. You will need to pick a specific platform to focus on and then use it to drive traffic to your website or blog. Once you have that established, you can start to grow your following and make money through affiliate marketing on that platform as well as others.
For example, if you’re a female entrepreneur who enjoys writing about business and lifestyle, you can use your blog as a means of generating sales for other companies. As you become more established on social media, you can even go pro and become a social media marketing consultant. The key word there is “consultant” – you’re not going to be doing any actual marketing, just advising businesses on the best way to use social media to gain traction. You’ll be paid a fixed monthly fee for your advice, which can be lucrative if you’re advising large companies with deep pockets.
Data Entry (For Online or Mobile Stores)
If you’re a fast typer with strong organizational skills, you can take advantage of online or mobile stores that need data entry. Simply find a suitable task and then enter the data correctly and quickly. Most of the time you will be required to transcribe audio files, so you need to have excellent listening skills as well as excellent keyboarding skills. You get paid per piece, so the faster you can type, the better your earnings will be.
There are many opportunities for data entry work, both online and offline. So, if you’re a professional typist, you can take your skills to the internet and make a decent living as a data entry typist. You will need to learn how to use a variety of software programs (including dictation software) and then be reliable enough to land long-term, consistent work. Be aware of any scams, as there are many people who will try to trick you into giving them your personal information. Do not give them your email address or any other personal information unless they are absolutely necessary. Keep your guard up and be careful who you give your personal information to.
Selling and Marketing Products
If you’re an energetic person who enjoys being in sales and marketing, you can take advantage of the demand for specific products or services and then promote the same. You will need to learn the ins and outs of sales and marketing, which includes pitching, presenting, negotiating, and following up. Once you’re familiar with the process, you can start applying it to make money online.
You might be able to make a decent living from product sales alone if you’re promoting high-demand items that are in your niche. However, you’ll need to learn to navigate the pitfalls that come with the territory. For example, if you’re a fitness enthusiast who wants to make money online, you might want to look into becoming a personal trainer or coach. You would need to register with the Personal Training & Coaching Association (PTCA) to be able to become a certified personal trainer and then find clients using social media. Once you have a steady stream of sales, you can apply for a merchant account with a credit card processor such as Stripe or Square.
The great thing about this option is that you can start making money online without any investment beyond the cost of a computer and an internet connection. However, it is highly unlikely that you’ll be able to generate enough revenue to make a significant amount of money unless you’re entering a highly sought-after niche. Even then, it can be very difficult to become successful without any sort of formal training or education.
Get Paid to Take Surveys
Although not considered legitimate income-generating opportunities, there are companies that pay you to take surveys and tests. You get paid per survey and test and the more surveys and tests you take, the more you make. As a general rule of thumb, you should assume that every survey and test you take will pay you. The key word there is “generally”.
The great thing about this is that you can literally get paid to take surveys and tests. You do not need to own any products to make money from taking surveys and tests, so it is an ideal opportunity for those who want to make some extra cash while also improving their cognitive skills.
The downside is that to be able to cash out, you usually need to have a minimum amount of money in your account. You can’t exactly ‘skim’ off a credit card payment, as the merchant account providers usually require you to settle the amount due in cash.
Become a Freelancer, Consultant, or Contractor
If you’re looking for an opportunity to make money online without any restrictions, you can become a freelancer, consultant, or contractor. If you’re a skilled enough person, you can take advantage of your talent to build a client base and then start charging for your services.
As a freelancer, you will be able to work as much or as little as you want. You will not be penalized for missing a deadline, because you are not bound to any specific client or project. However, your earnings will fluctuate based on the number of gigs you take on. If you are able to secure multiple contracts, you can expect to make substantially more than if you were working for just one client. In addition to that, you can negotiate benefits and fees with your clients. This can also be a very lucrative opportunity if you’re good at negotiating contracts.