If there is one place you can make money online, it’s through affiliate marketing. This form of online marketing involves earning a commission when someone clicks a monetized link or buys a product that’s promoted on your site. You’ll most often find affiliate marketing listed as one of the major revenue options on most websites because it’s generally considered to be the most effective way to make money online.
Here are seven ways to make money online through affiliate marketing:
1. Create a blog
The first and most obvious way to make money online is to create a blog. The most popular platforms for bloggers are WordPress and Blogger, but you can use any content management system (CMS) or blogging platform. Just make sure that you use a quality URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and don’t spam.
You can use your blog to market affiliate products, offer paid consulting services, give tips and advice or just write about anything you want. Creating a blog is a great way to make money online because it’s so easy to do and so flexible. You don’t need to have a specific niche or audience to be able to make money through a blog. If you can write, you can definitely become a blogger.
2. Start an online store
If you’re looking to make some quick cash, you can start an online store. The best and most popular platforms for online stores are Shopify and Etsy. You’ll find a large number of products to promote on these platforms, from jewelry and clothing to electronics and toys. Your store will need a unique URL (Uniform Resource Locator) so make sure you register one before you start selling.
Even if you decide to keep your store as a side venture, you can use affiliate marketing to make money online. When you sign up for a store like Shopify or Etsy, you’ll get a free store URL that you can use to promote products.
Keep in mind: these platforms can be a little tricky to navigate, so if you want to do some product research before you start selling, try online marketplaces that allow users to do product research like Wayfair or Catch.
3. Start an online tutoring business
If you’re an expert in a particular field or subject matter, you can start an online tutoring business. There are several reputable platforms where you can set up a tutoring business, like Verzion and Tutor.com. Just make sure that you’re a licensed tutor in your state.
If you decide to go down this route, you’ll need to find a way to measure the quality of your tutoring. You can use a proven tool like Verzion to track your progress and evaluate how successfully you’re teaching students. With over 200 million downloads and a 4.7 rating on Google Play, Verzion is a popular choice among educators looking for a reliable tool to track student performance. You can also use the platform to engage students through assignments, quizzes and occasional surprises—perfect for those looking to build a closer connection with their students.
4. Start an online store selling products manufactured in China
If you want to get super creative and make some quick cash, you can start an online store that sells products manufactured in China. Since many companies consider China to be the main source of cheap products, you’ll find a wide array of products to promote on these platforms. You can start an online store in either China or a third-party marketplace, like AliExpress or DontPayFull.
The most popular products to sell in China are mobile phones, consumer electronics, clothing and shoes. Since many of these products are considered to be fashion accessories or cheap consumer goods, you’ll have a large audience that is likely to be interested in your product offerings. Plus, since China is such a huge market, there’s definitely going to be a lot of potential customers.
5. Start a YouTube channel
YouTube creators can make a lot of money through affiliate marketing, especially if they have a large audience. There are several strategies you can use to make money through YouTube. You can become a product review distributor, recommend products and get compensated for each purchase made through your channel.
You can also use YouTube to create “How-to” or “How-not-to” videos explaining different techniques or hacks for different products. For example, you can create a how-to video for makeup tips or hairstyle ideas, or a how-not-to video for online shopping tips. Even if you don’t plan on creating how-to videos, you can use your existing knowledge to give advice to users or answer their questions. Since YouTube creators can also promote affiliate products through their videos, they can easily become a medium for online sales.
The best part is that you don’t need to have a large audience to be able to make money through YouTube. You can use the platform to build a small audience and then use that audience to earn a profit. You can partner with a company that provides you with a small audience and then use that audience to promote your affiliate product.
6. Start a Twitter account
Anyone with a microphone and a following can make money online through Twitter. You can set up automated “tweeting” accounts that will engage with your audience as you promote products through your tweets. The best part is that you don’t need to have a large audience to be able to make money through Twitter. Just remember: since Twitter is a rapidly growing platform with a large number of users, you’ll need to keep refreshing your account to stay relevant.
7. Start an Instagram account
Instagram is another popular social media platform where people can make money through affiliate marketing. Like Twitter, you don’t need a large audience to be able to make money through Instagram. If you can build a following of engaged, interested users, you’ll be able to make money through affiliate marketing. Just remember that since Instagram is such a visual platform, you’ll need to be sure that the images you use are relevant to what you’re selling.
There are plenty of ways to make money online. If you want to try affiliate marketing, these platforms can help you get started.