The internet is one technology that literally revolutionized the world. The big question is how are you using this technology? Have you limited your use of net to social media chats, accessing breaking news and entertainment? If you have, then you don’t know what you are missing.
The net is a multi-billion dollar industry just waiting for you to tap into it. Companies like Google, Facebook and LinkedIn are making billions in profit every financial year courtesy of the net.
Now, everybody wants money and there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, what most of us call formal employment is never enough anymore. There is that need for the extra income to boost your day job earnings. On the other hand, the unemployed need a reliable source of income; something the internet can guarantee.
Before we move onto the 10 simple ways to make money online, I’d like to point out that not every ‘online job’ is genuine. There are millions of scam pages run by unscrupulous individuals who see the despair for easy cash as means to con. So, trust what I’m about to share is no get-rich-quick scheme.
I have been duped times without number and made to work without pay. I wouldn’t therefore want anyone to go through the same in the name of making money online. Trust me, any ponzi scheme you are planning to join will results in nothing but heartbreak.
The tips below, however, will prove a sure way to make some real cash without second-guessing the outcome. Here is my favorite list of 10 ways to make money online:
1. Make money as a freelance writer
This is the easiest place to start you online work. All you need are good research skills, decent grammar and ability to proofread your work thoroughly before submission. That’s all is required to make it on most sites, especially the one dealing with web content and SEO articles.
Another simple way to make money online as a freelance writer is finding reputable academic writing sites. Unlike article writing, these sites may demand you have a degree or some level of education. So, if you have the basic requirement then it is time to give I a shot. Academic writing happens to pay better than article writing.
Freelance writing gives you the freedom to write for a client of choice when you want. In some cases, you have the liberty to write on a topic that interests you. Below are the common forms of freelance writing the online community offers:
Writing on bidding sites like Freelancer, Elance, Guru, Odesk etc. Success on these sites begins with writing a convincing proposal, doing some work and having high ratings plus recommendations. So, build a good portfolio (display of your work) and delivering within time.
Writing on Content Mills like Iwriter, Articleteller, LondonBrokers, Textmaster, Textbroker etc. The trick to succeed on these sites is quality and fast turnarounf. Just like the bidding sites, high ratings means better earnings and vise vasa. So, avoid fluff and re-writes. Otherwise, the amount you can make from content mills, contrary to the popular opinion, is only limited by your imagination.
Writing on Revenue-sharing sites like Hubpages, Squidoo, Bubblews etc. Honestly, these sites may be tricky to make money from, especially if you don’t have a lot of followers and cannot generate traffic. Remember, they pay you per 1000 views and that is something you may not easily achieve. However, if you focused on the content rather than the pay and wrote engaging contents then revenue sites will reward immeasurably. Never overlook a site’s FAQ page unless you want your articles to be rejected.
Resources:
Top 100 Freelance Writing Sites
How To Write An Engaging Article
Secrets of success on Iwriter, Textbroker etc
2. Make money as a Freelance Graphic Designer
Do you have some graphic design background? Well, it is time you put your skills into use and make some real money online. There are thousands of clients willing to pay more just to get hold of your designs. There are numerous sites you may join to sell your services 2which means you don’t have to worry about the market.
Here are some tips to help you position yourself in this rather overcrowded but highly lucrative field:
Understand the rules and regulations of the freelance site (e.g Guru). In fact, only join and accept a job if it matches your design skills. You don’t want a poor review for your maiden order.
Set up a convincing profile and ensure there is a good portfolio to show potential clients what you are capable of.
Only work with reliable sites and clients. Never jump into deals that are too good to be true.
Resources:
Top Sites For Freelance Graphic Designers
3. Make money as a Transcriptionist
Did you know you could earn a living changing video and audios into text? Yes, podcasters are want their transcripts of their work published and that’s where you come in as a transcriber. So, in essence transcription is the art of listening to speech and converting it into a written document.
The good news is that transcription is among the simplest ways to make money online. You are ready to be join this field as long as you have keen attention to detail, is a good listener and can type faster. Here are other tips you will find important on your journey to the top:
Find a reputable transcription site (refer to the link below)
Always ensure you have fast and reliable internet connection
Use high-quality earphone to avoid straining a lot
Always make sure you understand what the client wants and the site rules before you commence work. Pay more attention to the special instructions by the client.
Engage successful transcribers and learn why they are doing so well then make the necessary adjustments.
Resources:
Top Transcription Sites To Join
Introduction To Transcription
4. Make money as a Data Entry Clerk
Business outsourcing is the route most companies are taking today. They will keep as few staff as possible and outsource other tasks to freelancers at a fee of course. The most outsourced job is data entry. Freelance data entry is another simple way to make money online. So that you know what data entry is:
Data entry is the process of entering data into a computerized database or spreadsheet. Data entry can be performed by an individual typing at a keyboard or by a machine entering data electronically - Webopedia
Services such as Editing, Typing and Other Administrative tasks are often categorized as Data Entry or Virtual Assistant jobs. How does one make money through such tasks? Simply go reputable sites like Odesk, Elance or Freelancer and set up a good profile.
Ensure that you showcase your potential in the most convincing manner. By the way, be smart and only go for the tasks you can easily handle. Also, look for hourly tasks as opposed to fixed tasks in the above sites.
Resource:
Data Entry Tips For Beginners
6. Make money Selling Items Online
I believe you have heard about or even used sites like Amazon and eBay. These sites are some of the most popular online shops in the world. They are visited by millions of people daily. While most visitors to online shopping sites are there to buy items, a considerable number of people also visit these sites to sell their products.
You can sell anything online i.e. from Ebooks to televisions because there are people who are looking for convenient shopping from the comfort of their sitting rooms. All you need is to be dynamic and tap into this enormous market place and start wreaking hundreds of dollars in sales.
Selling a product online is as simple as posting it and including a truthful description. Now, here are some points that may prove helpful in this online money making method:
Advertise high-quality products or services
Post your product/service under the right category
Pick the most convincement online payment method
7. Make money through Affiliate Marketing
One of the legitimate jobs and with high returns is Affiliate Marketing. What is affiliate marketing therefore? Well,
Affiliate marketing is a type of performance-based marketing in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought by the affiliate's own marketing efforts - Wikipedia
Here, one is needed to simply refer consumers (online shoppers) to purchase a certain product. The referral can be done in different ways with the mostly used being the Use of links that can trace back to you in case a consumer you referred purchases the product.
Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t have to own a blog or a website to start making money as an affiliate. The secret is picking products that sells and promote them vigorously via emails and on forums. Be careful not to spam your mailing list or the forums. Again, look for a product that is appropriate for your online community.
Here are some affiliate programs to start you off
Freelancer - You get $1 for every person who joins the site via your link. It is the easiest since you can invite ypur email and facebook contacts and still earn if they sign up
Affiliate Lights - You Get $16 just for signing up and then you enjoy 25% of every sale made
Ajboye – The favorite pay-per-lead affiliate program. You earn $0.10 per every unique visitor you lead to their site. You can make some real money just driving traffic to a site.
8. Paid Online Surveys
Most people don’t take online surveys as a sure way of making money online. Well, majority is not always right. I mean, you cannot rule surveys out just now. I’m not going to post a screenshot with how I make $1000 a month through online surveys because I don’t.
However, I can assure you that you can make some cash answering questions about yourself. Find a reliable online survey site (see resource), register and wait for the right survey opportunity to be sent to your email. It is important that you fill in the various survey forms with factual data if you are keen on earning money.
Resource:
Reliable Online Survey Sites
9. Buying and Selling Domains
Don’t be scared, buying a domain isn’t demanding more so if you are buying in bulk. There are hundreds of domain registrar out there all you need is some small capital to launch your business.
Basically, Domain Name Flipping is:
Domain flipping is a phrase used to describe purchasing a domain name and then quickly reselling (or “flipping”) it for profit. This is usually done within a year after purchase so that the owner doesn't have to pay renewal fees for subsequent years - DomainSherpa
It is simple and needs little investment. Just buy domain(s) that seem underused and valued and do some value addition to it before selling it. You might not believe but a $10 .com domain may end up getting you $4000 even more.
Resource:
How to sell domains for a profit
10. Make money as a blogger
Apart from freelance writing, you can also make money as a blogger. Most bloggers will agree with me that making money through blogging may not be a simple task after all. However, with some few tips you can make significant income from a personal blog.
The links below will take you through blogging in the simplest way possible:
How to start blogging
Qualities of every blogger must have
How to generate blog traffic
How to monetize blog
Why your AdSense account may not be approved
Obviously, this isn't a conclusive list of legit internet jobs. Therefore I’d suggest further research. However, the simple ways to make money online I have shared so far can sufficiently bring you income. Let me know your thoughts about this post by commenting or contacting me through the contact form.