Make Money Online From Home: Working from home has never been easier, and more people are doing it than ever before. It’s not unusual to see job postings on sites like Upwork, Freelancer, or Craigslist seeking virtual assistants or other full-time remote workers for part-time gigs that can be done from the comfort of your own home office.
Make Money Online From Home
But how do you get started with this kind of work? Here are 10 ways to make money online from home using an array of skills, including writing, social media marketing, graphic design, virtual assistance, and much more.
1) Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is when you drive traffic to other people’s products and services, earning a commission if someone makes a purchase. Usually, you’ll be paid in one of two ways: by download or by click. For example, if you refer someone to a product on Amazon and they buy it, then Amazon will pay you a percentage of that sale. Most affiliate platforms (like ShareASale) also have their own extensive directories about different topics that can be extremely helpful for creating targeted content.
I’ve linked up some great resources below that you can use as inspiration for ideas and campaigns! And remember—the more specific your topic, topic category, or audience, the better chance you have at ranking well in search engines like Google. The most popular verticals are things like beauty & fashion and travel & leisure—but don’t feel limited to those categories! Just think outside of your everyday life…you never know what might catch on with your audience. A simple brainstorming exercise could lead to a winning idea.
On-page SEO tips: This is just basic SEO advice but it’s important nonetheless.
2) Drive for Uber or Lyft
Uber and Lyft are good ways to make money in a pinch. You’ll usually need a car, though some companies offer bike- or scooter-sharing options. A few of my friends have used Uber in cities where taxis aren’t too common (like Denver) and it worked out well for them. So if you already have some transportation flexibility, why not earn extra cash when you can? It will also help with gas costs if you don’t already own a car that’s dedicated to ride-sharing.
To get started, sign up for both services, request rides through each company individually, then cancel one after getting your first request. Repeat as necessary until you get enough requests to fill your schedule for each service. Note: It might be easier to use two separate email addresses when signing up so you can more easily tell which ride requests are coming from which service. I personally prefer Lyft over Uber because of their treatment of drivers but others feel differently so go with what works best for you!
3) Sell on Amazon
For those who have a computer and internet access, selling products on Amazon is an excellent way to make money online. The site takes a small commission (usually around 8%) but allows you full access to your profits. If you’re comfortable negotiating prices and managing orders, there are opportunities for significant expansion when it comes to running your own business on Amazon’s platform. Check out our website for some useful tips if you’re interested in selling through Amazon.
4) Freelance copywriting
Freelance copywriting is a great way to make money online from home. In fact, there are plenty of full-time copywriters working at home and making a great living. You can search online for reputable sites or individuals that hire freelance writers on an ongoing basis, so you don’t have to worry about paying a premium for occasional work.
Being a freelance writer is one of those opportunities where you get paid once you do it right—but if you don’t do it right, then you don’t get paid at all! Freelance copywriting requires research, so be sure that your target audience knows what they want before going in. If you’re not careful, you could end up wasting time writing content that nobody wants to read.
The best part about freelance copywriting is that it will pay for itself over time—and even if it doesn’t, there’s nothing wrong with spending some time each day writing content from home. It beats having a second job! If you’re looking for more ways to make money from home, check out these additional ideas:
5) Become a Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants are online workers who assist and support clients remotely. Basically, you can earn money by performing tasks for others that don’t require any physical presence. This involves a variety of tasks that may include anything from computer programming to virtual travel agent work. Virtual assistants will usually perform these duties in exchange for an hourly wage or on a per-project basis.
While working as a virtual assistant isn’t necessarily something new (people have been doing it since at least 2003), it has become more popular with social media sites like Facebook and Twitter gaining popularity. In fact, many businesses now hire VAs specifically to maintain their profiles on these sites. If you want to get paid to be on Facebook, here’s how.
If your business is looking for help managing its presence on Twitter, check out HireTwitter. These two websites provide examples of what typical jobs look like. If you want to get started as a virtual assistant, try posting your resume on one of these sites or check out some freelance job boards where companies post listings directly. Also, keep in mind that there are plenty of other ways to make money from home without being a VA—just use Google!
6) Paid Surveys and Free Trials
Surveys and free trials are quick ways to get paid for your opinion. Companies want your opinion on their services, pricing models, ideas, concepts, or products before you even try them out. All you need is a computer with internet access. If you can answer a few questions about how you use your phone or how much cash you carry around each day, there’s probably a survey site that wants your input as well.
Surveys range from $1 (e-Poll) to $2 (NeoPoll) per survey and up to hundreds of dollars per hour for focus groups and personal interviews (source). Most surveys will take 15 minutes or less and pay anywhere between $3-$20 depending on variables such as length, complexity, etc. Free trials are similar but they usually require you to purchase something first in order to qualify for a period of free service.
You can find these types of offers through sites like SlickDeals, FatWallet, and MyPoints (among others). And if you have an Android device? There’s an app called CheckPoints that pays users cash just for walking into certain stores! Just make sure not to spend all your money at once…that would be bad!
7) Create an App
If you have an app idea in mind, there are ways of turning it into a business. If you need help with designing, coding, marketing, or monetizing, ask around on a site like Stack Overflow for suggestions. Sign up for a service like 99 Designs to get a logo made for cheap. Still, having trouble? Wealthy entrepreneurs like Bill Gates and Mark Cuban offer business advice on their personal blogs.
You could also try crowdsourcing your app idea on platforms like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo; if you’re lucky, someone might even invest in your idea. The more effort you put into your elevator pitch and business plan (see below), the better chance you have at securing funding when it’s time to start your own company.
8) Buy and Sell Domain Names
There are a variety of different ways you can make money with domain names, and many people who have no experience in web design or coding will still find success. A lot of people buy and sell domain names. You can use tools like Sedo for quick sales, or try your hand at marketplace sites like Flippa, DomainLounge, Afternic, or Sedo itself. I’ve also seen some good success using Auction Web Sites such as SEDO LLC (Sedo), Go Daddy Auctions, and Afternic Auctions.
If you know how to code, there are tons of other opportunities out there that allow you to leverage your skills to create new income streams. If you want more information on making money online from home check out my post How To Make Money From Home: 50+ Legitimate Ways To Earn An Income Online From The Comfort Of Your Own Home.
What do you think? Do these ideas help? Do they suck? Let me know what topics YOU would like covered next!
9) Rent Your Stuff Out
If you have expensive equipment like camera lenses or camping gear, consider renting it out on sites like Zoomit. These days, people need extra money for just about everything; renting your possessions can help you make some extra cash without having to sell anything. It’s a good way to earn extra income. Get all of the details here.
You can also rent out your home while you’re traveling (and make some cool vacation videos!). Apps like Airbnb and Roomorama let travelers book stays in private homes and apartments around the world—meaning more money in your pocket, no matter where you are! To get started, check out our guide to getting started with Airbnb hosting.
10) Choose The Right Side Hustle For You
Before you begin searching for home-based jobs, ask yourself if you’re truly interested in having a side hustle. If you’re only looking for an easy way to make some extra cash, there are plenty of other ways to do so that don’t involve working from home. You might want a part-time job or freelance gig instead. Also, consider what kind of person you are and whether your skills fit well with working online.
Do you work better on your own schedule? Or do you thrive in structured environments where all hours must be accounted for? If side gigs don’t interest you but earning money online does, consider these options before trying something new.
Also Read: How to Make Money Online In Pakistan
Conclusion
If you want to make money online, take a practical approach and make a plan for yourself. Take small steps and build momentum with each step forward. Be realistic with your goals; if you want to earn $50,000 in 6 months but have never made more than $5,000 at one time during your life, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
Patience is key: it might not happen as fast as you want it to, but by starting small and having actionable goals each week or month, you’ll be on your way before long. If you’re willing to put in the effort now, then change is only a few months away!
