As you’re reading this, maybe an unknown genius sitting in some quiet corner of the globe is making a fortune with just a computer and an internet connection. Oh yes! That’s plausible given that we’re in the 21st century where everything is done online. Making money is no different.
Today, over 3.58 billion people worldwide use the internet and many among them use it to make a living online. You don't need to be a genius to pull that off. All you have to do is set a target, prepare well, and stand out of the crowd of people doing the same thing. You might think this is oversimplified but hey, don't worry. We'll take you through the details on how to make big bucks online.
Where to Begin
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the endless opportunities but remember, the only thing that can save you is research. It’s critical to clear your head and think about which of your skillsets you can rely on. In short, figure out which of your skills can be monetised online.
The best way to find an answer to this question is to look back at your talents, abilities, and certifications. Once you zero in on what you want to deliver, you can start making your plans.
Options to Make Money Online
Let’s take a quick look at the available options.
Freelancing
This involves landing paid projects or assignments you like doing via the internet. There are various websites that allow you to register and showcase your existing work to prospective clients. You can then bid for jobs in your skill area. If the client likes your proposal, you can get an order, which you can execute. In this way, you take up orders or projects as per your convenience and get paid online. Here are the most in-demand freelance professionals on the internet:
- Graphic Designer / Web Developer
As the Internet takes over every part of our lives, more and more, there is an overwhelming demand for web design services. While companies are migrating online, it is crucial to build visually appealing websites and graphics for a wider audience. If you have a tech background, becoming an application developer is another popular and lucrative freelance option. Graphic designers and developers typically charge per hour at a fixed rate.
- Content Writer
Freelance writing is an outstanding prospect and is considered one of the easiest ways to make money online. All you need is great communication skills and a computer with a strong internet connection. Requirements cover a wide array of written content, from short-form content like social media posts and product reviews to comprehensive work like whitepapers and blog posts. The scope is practically endless.
Sign up on a few freelancer-centric platforms and explore available opportunities. You will end up finding jobs that match your skillset.
Product Sales
If you’re good at making stuff, consider selling it online. You can enlist your products on various e-commerce sites like Amazon. That way, distribution and delivery are taken care of and you can focus on mass-producing your product.
You can also go global with your handicrafts via websites like Etsy. The demand for exclusive, handmade items is widespread. Platforms like Etsy allow you to sell these products with practically with zero capital for logistics. If you’re good at any kind of handicraft, you can just set up an Etsy shop to sell your products globally.
Influencer Marketing
Monetise your social media addiction. No, we’re not kidding. If you know how to get positive attention online, you can become an influencer of public opinion on social media. Influencers can charge companies or small businesses a fair amount for partnerships and endorsements. Some influencers even get paid to review products online!
Blogging and vlogging are the two most popular ways to become a social media influencer.
Being an influencer is not exactly easy, though, so beware of what you’re getting into. Otherwise, you’ll just end up spending half of your life online without results. Make sure you set clear goals if you want to become an influencer and do what it takes to get to those goals. That way you have measurable results that can inform your future decisions.
If you choose to go down this path, you should:
- Explore affiliate marketing
You can earn from your blog through affiliate income. Link your blogs to related products on sites like Amazon and if your reader buys the product through the link, you can earn commissions. Industry giants including Amazon, Target, and Walmart, all indulge in affiliate marketing, so the scope is vast. Just make sure you study the details of affiliate marketing very well because there are many pitfalls you could slip into if you aren’t careful.
- Set up a Content Strategy
To avoid losing the essence of what you set out to do, make sure you maintain a regular tone, schedule, and style. Brands and companies prefer reliable, predictable content creators over volatile, moody ones. Having a strategy in place is critical to ensure you don’t come across as the latter.
Besides, having a strategy in place will keep you better equipped to scale up when needed. It can help you plan ahead, which is always, always, a good thing.
Online Tutoring
Tutoring is an age-old career, whether online or not. The traditional meaning of tutoring is helping students with their academic progress. In the age of the internet, you could teach just about anything you know to people who want to learn it.
Remember we talked about using Etsy to sell your handicrafts? You could also make money teaching people how to make the things you make and sell via Etsy. Not just this, you can provide physical fitness training via the internet as well.
To top things off, you can make money teaching academic courses, too. Create your course and put it up for sale on websites like Coursera and Udemy, that’s it!
Ethical Hacking and Online Security
There is a plethora of risks associated with being online. Any website worth its salt tries to protect its data, but not everyone can afford to hire full-time security engineers to ensure this. In such cases, companies seek out ethical hackers who are hired to highlight security vulnerabilities by trying to hack into the clients’ websites.
As an ethical hacker or online security consultant, you can help websites identify security threats and take measures to protect themselves. It’s a fairly easy and lucrative option to make money online.
Wrap Up
Many remote jobs have shallow profit margins, which means you need to work harder to make a living. This is particularly important to watch out for, especially when you just start out. Ensure that you do your cost evaluation before putting your product or service out there. Remember to jot down all your pending tasks to avoid over-promising to your clients and partners.
The world of online trade is prone to attract the wrong kind of attention. So ensure that you take the proper precautions to ensure that you do not get duped, no matter what you’re selling via the internet.
Lastly but most importantly, remember that it’s likely to take a lot of time for your internet-based income to become substantial enough to sustain your entire lifestyle. Please make sure you do not impulsively quit your full-time job or make impractical compromises right at the get-go. If you want to make a living online, be patient, persistent, and 100% dedicated to the struggle. It is not the easy way out, it may in fact be tougher than doing a full-time job.
Good luck with your online venture!
This is a Contributed Article.