10 Ways to Make Money Online

From investments to selling and beyond, here’s how to use your money on the web

Times are tough, and the purse strings are tight. We’re all looking for ways to bring in a little extra cash, and thankfully there are plenty of answers available from the comfort of your own home.

From starting your own online store to building your social media presence, the internet provides a whole host of possibilities when it comes to earning some extra pocket money. Over time, this side gig could even turn into a fully-fledged business.

We’re going to take you through some of our top tips for making money online. No matter where your skillset lies, there is a place for you on the internet, and an audience waiting to take a look at the services you can provide.

With that in mind, here are our top 10 ways to make money online, from freelancing to drop-shipping. Let’s take a look.

Sell the stuff you no longer use

This is one of the simplest and most successful ways to earn a little extra money, especially if your property houses a lot of items you no longer use. The saying goes that one person’s trash is another’s treasure, and selling some of your less loved belongings online can show you just how true that is.

From gadgets you never use to clothes you never wear, there’s money to made by saying goodbye to the items that never see the light of day.

And there are plenty of sites out there to help you do this, including eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Vinted and more. Instead of simply letting tech, clothing, ornaments and accessories gather dust, sell them and turn a profit. 

Freelance your skills

Freelance services are – as the name suggests – services you offer in your free time. This is a great way to monetise your skills and earn some extra cash on top of your day job. Copywriting, graphic design, data entry and digital marketing are all frequently freelanced by businesses. Organisations are always looking for experts who can take on their workload, leaving you in the position to negotiate on price.

By putting together even a small client base, you can make a decent income, making freelancing a great option if you often find yourself twiddling your thumbs outside of work hours.

Consider drop-shipping

You may not have heard of drop-shipping, but if you’re looking for a simple business model to utilise, now is the time to educate yourself. In drop-shipping, you don’t keep the products you sell in stock. Instead, when a customer buys something from your store, a third party fulfils and ships the order on your behalf.

This means less pressure on you. Drop-shippers are able to cash in on the latest trends and sell up to date products, without planning ahead too much on the manufacturing side of things.

Start an Etsy store

There are plenty of online markets to choose from, such as Amazon, Facebook and Etsy. All come with their own advantages and disadvantages – it’s a matter of deciding which one best meets your needs. Having said that, Etsy is considered by many creatives to be a good place to start your business venture, with a simple interface that makes it easy to set up, categorise and advertise your products – from art and sculpture to toys and games.

It only takes a few hours to set up an online store, and it can result in a great cashflow on top of your usual income. 

Create digital products

If the idea of physically creating and posting products is what is putting you off selling online, you should consider selling digital products instead. This involves no manufacture or post and packaging worries, instead allowing customers to pay and immediately reap the rewards.

Downloadable files like eBooks, PDFs, plug-ins and interactive documents are all examples of digital products that can lead to a good source of passive income after the initial creation of the item. From tutorials and guides to research findings and templates, there are plenty of options when it comes to selling digital goods. 

Play the slots

Now this isn’t exactly a fool proof way to make money, and should be handled with care. Nobody should rely on playing online casinos as a source of income. However, if you find yourself with a little spare cash and a free evening, playing for a slots bonus can be a fun way to raise the stakes and get yourself some extra money in the bank.

Thanks to online casino websites, you and your friends can bring the Vegas experience into your home. And at the end of it all, you may have a little more money in your back pocket.

Start a blog

Blogs are used to share knowledge and insights about all sorts of things, from lifestyle and cooking blogs to business and finance advice. Building a successful blog requires a steady output on interesting and engaging content, utilising keywords to make your writing easier to find for search engine users. 

Over time, your blog can build up a healthy readership, but only if you succeed in finding both your niche and your voice. If you do, you’ll create an audience that genuinely enjoys your writing and listens to what you have to say. Not only can this help you earn cash, but it also presents an enjoyable and rewarding hobby.

Build your social media presence

Social media is something most people use for recreation, but building a successful profile can present you with the opportunity to earn some money while scrolling. Building a social media following isn’t easy, and won’t happen overnight, but with the right platform, content and niche, you can create a decent sized audience.

This then gives you the chance to partner with brands for deals and offers, or receive freebies in exchange for honest public reviews. Brands are increasingly looking for influencers to partner with, and building a successful social media profile can put you on their radar.

Self publish

If you’re a dab hand at writing, self publishing might be the way forward. From fiction to travel, cooking and more, there are endless options here.

The traditional publishing route has become increasingly difficult and more insular in recent years, and budding authors are finding it harder and harder to get their work out there. Self publishing lets you get your book out into the world without jumping through hoops.

And if you have a strong social profile on which to market your book, you could see a decent income coming through as a result of your efforts.

Complete online surveys

In recent years, companies have started valuing customer feedback more and more. Online survey companies have taken advantage of this, offering customers monetary rewards for their honest opinions and a little bit of their time. While the pay outs won’t turn you into an overnight millionaire, they do make for a little extra pocket money, and over time the money adds up into a significant amount.

By getting creative online, you can find plenty of ways to boost your income and earn some extra money during these tough times.

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