Phenquestions
Making money online started a couple of years back, specifically when Blogging was at its peak, and that was the most popular way anyone could quit their traditional job, and make money by working from home. Fast forward ten years and things have changed drastically, and blogging is just one way to make money now. In this article, we are looking at multiple ways you can make money online. It caters to wider creators, and if you have a passion to work, and can ready to take a bit of risk, you can definitely make money online.
Ways to Make Money Online
There are various ways by which you can make money online:
- Blogging & content generation
- Affiliate marketing
- Email marketing
- Vlogging & Podcasting
- Gaming
- Social Media Influencer Marketing
- Buy & Sell on Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.
- Domaining
- Website Flipping
- Start an eCommerce site
- eCommerce Product Reviews
- Online Consultancy
- Online Local Servies
- Photography, Videography, Sketching & Image Selling Services
- Miscellaneous.
Let us take a look at them in detail.
Blogging
When blogging started, it used to be one man show. Now, you need to have a team if you want to run a successful blog or a website which talks about one particular topic or almost anything which is popular. A team means now a website can hire a number of writers.
So you can either start your blog, sign up with say, Google AdSense, generate quality content and start making money from the ads. It takes time though, and no amount of shortcuts or the so-called SEO tricks can help you. Engaging in affiliate marketing, writing Sponsored articles, conducting paid surveys, are other things you can make money.
If you don't want to start your blog, you can write for other websites. If you are good at writing, have a knack in a particular topic, not just technology, you have websites which can hire you, and pay you handsomely. You can write for corporate websites, write paid product reviews, work for online magazines, publish your eBooks, fill online surveys, get paid to write comments, post at forums and more. However do remember, you will need to keep improving your skills, get good at writing, and research well to stay in the job.
Affiliate marketing
This is another field which can help you a good amount of money if done right. In affiliate marketing, you promote products and offers You get paid when somebody opts-in. Facebook Advertising is one of the biggest places where affiliate marketing happens. However, you will need a lot of time, money to experiment to make successful in long-term.
Email Marketing
This is a very popular way of making money where you can earn money by sending newsletters to your subscribers. There are many who would send out emails which are of high value and help readers. When they send out recommended product to buy or when they promote their own paid product it works like a charm.
Vlogging
As internet speed got better, it became easier to consume different types of content. Video and Audio became the next big thing. YouTube is the most popular platform where you can upload product videos, talk about something which helps others with expression and adds more content. The same applies to Podcasts. You can start a paid subscription for your channel or podcasts to make money.
You can start your YouTube channel, sell your own composed music, provide video editing services to individuals or corporate using proper outreach, start a video series by running a webinar, teach online by creating videos for your skilled courses & sell it [e.g Udemy], start your audio podcast and ask to join paid subscription for upcoming series, become a Voiceover artist for corporate videos or Audio bookmakers, sell your video editing service and more. The money here is pretty good!
Gaming
Once thought as Couch Potato timepass now is a full-time job for many. The gaming industry has grown many folds, and companies like Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo are looking for reviewers who can play the game and talk about it. YouTube and Twitch now offer live streaming of games where live conversation can bring games, and brands closer. Apart from Brands, the streaming services also offer you to make money through their advertisement programs. You can even participate in online gaming tournaments or sell your treasures or unlocked items of the game online for hard cash.
If you are good at gaming and finding out what is good and bad about the game, you can be hired by big publishers and maybe the company itself.
Social Media Influencer Marketing
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, I am sure you all have heard about it. You can be an influencer on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn. What you may not know about it is that you can make money from it. As you talk about things you are good at, you can gather more followers around you, and then you can get associated with brands, and promote them.
You can build a Facebook or Instagram page, get a good audience reach & engage in sponsored collaboration with brands for per post. You could even sell the social page!
Social Media will also need you to be creative. The way you talk about your experience, share photos and promote anything needs to leave an impression on your followers, and more to come. However, here comes a silver lining. It's very easy to get lured by band offers. Its always a good idea to play fair, even if it means that growth can be slower for you.
Buy & Sell on Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.
Its part of social media but on a different level. Facebook and eCommerce have come a long way. Not that I am asking you to start an eCommerce Portal, but you can buy and sell on Facebook especially if you have a shop. This way you can attract more customers, increase Facebook Likes, and so on.
Facebook offers templates for pages which allows you to set up a virtual shop, and you can leverage the power of social media to engage more customers through images, and competition.
Domaining
In the past few years, this has become a popular way to make money. You start with a domain and develop it for some time. When it starts generating revenue and can make decent money, you sell it for profit. The benefit here is you don't get into the risk of maintaining it for a very long time, and if the traffic drops for that website later, you are not at a loss.
The second popular way is Buy and Sell Domains. You can keep a track on what could be the next popular thing, and buy domain names based on that. Later you sell it for a good profit.
Website Flipping
This is close to Domaining, but then its the second phase. A lot of people buy domains, improve it, make it rank better, and then sell it off. Many a time webmasters have a lot of domain in hand; they do not go beyond a certain point. This is effective than actually starting a website from scratch because one can kickstart at a low price with a website which is bit settled and improve from there.
Start an eCommerce site
Start your own local targetted eCommerce website to sell physical and online products (e.g., Amazon). Engage in Dropshipping (Shopify) or start your affiliate venture and have good sales.
eCommerce Product Reviews
I recently stumbled on this, and it's very interesting. On websites like Amazon, and Flipkart there is an option which allows users to ask questions. I have noticed that people who have not bought the product also answer it. Apart from this, even if you haven't bought a product, you can review them if you have personally used it. This opens a new market for those who can participate in this activity. Companies would usually send them the product; they can try it for some time and then share their review.
Online Consultancy
This is not new and had been there since Websites, Content Creators and Search Engine, but they have come a very long way just like all other things. However, now they go hand in hand.
Websites are now developed keeping SEO and Content in mind. Those who have indulged into understanding Search Engines are now working with content creators and website developers to makes sure they are targeted well.
These are many who pose as SEO experts and offers services. You should gain real knowledge and then offer your services. If you are indulging any of these businesses, make sure you have a plan to stay updated and keep your services updated as well. You will not only have to build, but also keep gathering experience, and keep your clients for getting recommended.
Become Digital Consultant, Revenue booster consultant for existing online services, offer Local business consultation, become virtual assistant or tutor for business, etc. You can also sell Hosting services, Digital services like SEO, UI, UX, Web security audit, Build your own product/software/service to sell, offer Malware removal service for websites, offer Website testing, etc. These, however, are specialized services.
Online Local Servies
If that sounds little odd to your ears, then it is. I have seen local service offered by Food counters, laundry services, carpenters, electricians and many more. Some of them have their app, while others offer their services through online sites like UrbanClap.
You could even become a community builder and networking person.
It's a brilliant idea which not only pays more, but as labor is getting costlier and very tough to find, it has opened an opportunity for one to bring them together, and make good money.
Photography, Sketching, Videography & Image Selling Services
If you are a decent photographer, you can make money online by selling your photos to online services who buy them. You can sell your pictures on Shutterstock and other branded sites. There are tons of websites for that as they are bought by professionals who would like to put it on their website for a compelling story. You can make good money here.
Sites like Fiverr can help you earn online. You can sell you special skills here - maybe sketching, portrait painting and so on.
Miscellaneous
- You can build and sell small tools (e.g., PDF-Doc converter, etc.)
- Be an online travel consultant to manage people upcoming trip at a very effective cost
- Use service like Craigslist, eBay or OLX to sell old products at your home
- Rent your home online using Airbnb and similar services, etc.
- Offer localized real estate consultancy via social media or your blog.
You need to be consistent to make money online
While it covers a lot of areas which you can learn, and then make money online, there are many many more ways to do it. You have to find the right choice for you and experiment what works for you. That said, be ready for a venture with ups and downs. While Make Money Online has its charisma, just like any other business, it has its own up and down. Keep learning, adapt to changes, experiment, and you will find your way out.
Trust us when we say this - if you succeed, you will literally be rolling in money! However do remember, its all about consistency. The longer you stay in the field, the more the chances that your experience will pay handsomely.
With inputs from Saurabh Mukhekar.
