How to make money online: 10 ways to get started fast 

Key takeaways: 

1. The Internet offers many opportunities for making money, depending on one’s skills, interests, and availability. 
2. It’s important to choose a reliable platform for your online ventures, regardless of your method. 
3. Persistence, learning, and adaptability are important for success in making money online. 

The internet has revolutionized how we work, presenting opportunities to earn money from home, whether you’re a beginner looking for extra cash or an entrepreneur building a sustainable online business. 

This guide will explore 10 ways to make money online and provide steps to get you started. 

The growing trend in making money online 

Earning money online has become highly popular since its conception, and data increasingly demonstrates its viability. More and more individuals are successfully generating income through online avenues, and the trend shows no signs of slowing down. 

Numerous studies and articles talk about how the digital economy is more lucrative than ever because of its near-zero marginal costs. This is because digital products, compared to physical goods, don’t need additional resources for replication and distribution. 

This proves that making money online is feasible and a rapidly growing trend. Moreover, there’s much potential in earning money online through different avenues, such as the following. 

1. Promote products through affiliate marketing 

Affiliate marketing has become a popular way for content creators to generate passive income by promoting products or services. Affiliate program participants earn commissions for driving traffic and sales through unique affiliate links provided by the merchant. 

This performance-based marketing model allows individuals to use their online presence, content creation skills, or marketing expertise to earn revenue without creating their own products. It also allows individuals to partner with multiple companies to promote various products or services. 

Here’s how it works: 

1. Sign up for an affiliate marketing program. Join an affiliate program, such as Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or ClickBank. 
2. Choose niche and relevant products. Pick a niche you’re passionate about and choose products that align with it. 
3. Create content. Build a platform, such as a blog, a social media page, or a YouTube channel to promote your affiliate links. 
4. Drive traffic. Use search engine optimization (SEO) and social media marketing (SMM) to attract visitors to your content. 
5. Earn commissions. You’ll start earning a percentage for each sale made through your affiliate links. 

Pro tip: Promote products that align with your content and values. 

2. Sell physical products 

The rapid growth of eCommerce has created more opportunities for online selling. The convenience and accessibility of online shopping have fueled this expansion, as consumers turn to the Internet to buy goods and services. 

This growing digital marketplace includes various business models, such as dropshipping, print-on-demand, subscription boxes, and traditional online stores. eCommerce platforms and tools have simplified the startup and management process, making it easier to launch and scale a business. 

Dropshipping 

A dropshipping business allows you to sell products online without holding any inventory, acting as a middleman between the customer and supplier. In this business model, you’ll partner with a supplier who handles the selling process of products directly to your customers. 

On top of being a middleman, you’re also responsible for marketing and customer service. This means you set up an online store and drive traffic to it, but don’t have to deal with the physical products themselves. When a customer orders from your store, you simply forward the order to your supplier, who then ships it directly to the customer. 

Retailing 

You can also buy products in bulk from manufacturers or distributors at discounted/wholesale prices and resell them to customers at a markup. You’ll manage your own inventory and shipping, requiring storage space and an order fulfillment system. 

You can sell to other businesses (business-to-business or B2B) and directly to consumers (business-to-consumers or B2C) through their own online store. This model requires more upfront investment than dropshipping, as you need to purchase inventory upfront. 

3. Sell digital products 

Digital products offer a low-overhead, high-profit opportunity for generating income online since they require no inventory or shipping costs. Their ease of distribution and potential for passive income make digital products a viable option for building an online business or creating additional income streams. Popular digital products include the following: 

• eBooks 
• Online courses 
• Templates 

Here’s how to get started: 

1. Pick a profitable topic. Research high-demand topics and come up with content that solves a problem or fulfills a need. 
2. Create your product. Make it high-quality and useful to your intended audience (those looking to solve a problem your content helps solve). 
3. Choose a selling platform. Sell your content on platforms like Gumroad, Teachable, or Etsy. 
4. Market your product. Utilize social media, SEO, and email marketing to reach your target audience. 

Pro tip: Make sure to double-check for plagiarism, especially copyrighted content. 

4. Sell stock photos, videos, and music 

Nowadays, creative individuals can monetize their talents by selling stock photos, videos, and music online. They can sell them on stock media platforms to upload and license their work to individuals and organizations seeking high-quality visuals and audio content.  

By licensing their work through these platforms, creators retain ownership of their content while earning royalties or commissions for each download or usage. Popular stock media platforms include Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, iStock, Getty Images, and Pond5. 

Here’s how to get started: 

1. Choose a platform. Upload your content to platforms like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, or Pond5. 
2. Optimize your content. Use SEO-friendly titles and descriptions to rank higher in searches. 
3. Market your work. Promote your content through online marketplaces, social media, email, or ads. 

Pro tip: Selling stock content can generate passive income as you earn royalties for each download or usage. 

5. Monetize your blog and YouTube channel 

Content creation allows individuals to share their passions, knowledge, and creativity while earning money online. Many creators start with blogs or YouTube channels, building an audience and establishing authority within a niche. 

Blogging provides many ways to earn money, including display ads, affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and digital or physical product sales. In contrast, YouTube creators can make money from their videos through ad revenue, channel memberships, merchandise shelf features, and brand partnerships. 

Here’s how to get started: 

1. Choose a niche. Choose a high-demand niche with potential for monetization, such as finance, health, or technology. 
2. Start a blog or YouTube channel. Use platforms like WordPress or Web.com’s website builder to create your own website for blogging.  If you prefer video content, launch a YouTube channel.
3. Create high-quality content. Produce valuable and engaging content that attracts and retains an audience.  
4. Grow your audience. Utilize SEO, social media, and cross-promotion to increase your reach. 
5. Monetize your content. Explore options like Google AdSense, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing to generate passive income from those channels. 

Pro tip: Always look out for trending topics and incorporate them into your content. 

6. Do surveys, microtasks, and side hustles 

If you’re looking to earn extra money in a matter of minutes or hours, consider participating in online surveys and microtasks. Often called “side hustles,” these require minimal experience and offer immediate payouts for everyone interested. 

Surveys 

Online surveys are a popular way to earn quick cash by sharing opinions and reviewing products or services. Companies and market research firms use these surveys to gather consumer feedback, and they are willing to pay for your time and insights. 

Popular “get-paid-to” (GPT) sites like Swagbucks, InboxDollars, Survey Junkie, and Branded Surveys, offer paid survey opportunities. When you complete online surveys, these platforms typically reward you with cash, gift cards, or points. 

Microtasks 

Microtasks are small online tasks that can be completed quickly and easily. These tasks often involve data entry, image tagging, transcription, web research, or simple online surveys. Platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and Clickworker offer a variety of microtasks that can be completed for monetary compensation. 

While the pay for each task is typically low, completing multiple microtasks can accumulate earnings over time. Microtasks offer a flexible way to earn money online since they require no specific skills and can be done from anywhere with an internet connection. 

Cashback and reward apps 

These apps offer a way to earn money back on your everyday purchases or by completing specific tasks. They partner with various retailers and service providers to offer cashback rewards, discounts, or points for purchases made through the app or by using linked cards. 

Apps like Rakuten and Dosh provide an easy, passive way to earn money online by offering cashback on everyday purchases. On the other hand, some apps offer rewards for completing tasks, such as taking surveys, watching videos, or referring friends. 

Flipping products 

Flipping products means buying products at low prices and reselling them higher, but success requires research and market knowledge. You can start flipping products on online marketplaces like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or Amazon. 

Successful flippers often source products from thrift stores, garage sales, clearance sections, or online marketplaces. Flipping products can be a rewarding way to earn money online, but it demands time, effort, and some upfront investment to acquire inventory. 

Pro tip: Research how much you can earn from each method to see which one fits you best. 

7. Freelance (sell your skills for quick cash) 

Freelancing is a popular way for people to use their skills and expertise to earn money online. As a freelancer, you provide services on a project basis, allowing you to set your rates and workload, while working from anywhere with an internet connection. 

The gig economy is booming, with millions joining the trend. Most of them find gigs on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, which connect freelancers with clients and facilitate income generation. 

This dynamic field involves many industries and skill sets, including freelance writing, graphic design, web development, and marketing. Furthermore, it’s easily accessible for beginners, side hustlers, and people seeking alternative career paths. 

Here’s how to get started: 

1. Choose a skill. Identify one skill you’re good at, such as writing, graphic design, programming, or virtual assistance. 
2. Create profiles on freelance platforms. Create an account on popular platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer. 
3. Set up a compelling profile and portfolio. Present your skills and experience to convince clients. 
4. Start bidding/applying for projects. Look for projects that are aligned with your skills and interests. 
5. Deliver quality work and build a reputation. Consistent, high-quality work will lead to more clients and higher pay. 

Pro tip: Look for platforms or clients with easily accessible payment options to get your earnings faster. 

8. Work from home 

If you have at least a part-time capacity to take on more formal employment than freelancing, then you may want to consider remote work. The rise of remote work has changed how people work or earn a living, thanks to its flexibility and convenience. With remote jobs, you can now work from anywhere with an internet connection, virtually eliminating commutes and rigid schedules. Those seeking remote jobs can find various positions, such as being a virtual assistant, customer service representative, data entry clerk, web developer, and more. 

Here’s how to find remote jobs: 

1. Search job boards. You’ll find remote positions on online job platforms such as Indeed, LinkedIn, and FlexJobs. 
2. Tailor your resume and cover letter for the specific job requirement. Make sure to include only relevant skills and experience for each position. 
3. Build experience. Consider freelancing or internships to gain experience in your desired field. 

9. Invest and trade online 

Investing means putting involves committing capital to assets while expecting it to grow in the long run. On the other hand, trading is about buying and selling assets within shorter times to capitalize on market fluctuations. 

These options used to be limited to institutional investors with the help of specialized investment institutions. Fortunately, financial markets are now more accessible online, allowing individuals to invest, trade, and grow their wealth over time with online platforms. 

Online platforms nowadays have tools and resources for individuals to research investments, track performance, and manage their portfolios. However, since market volatility can result in both profits and losses, you must understand the risks behind investing and trading. 

Popular investment options include: 

• Cryptocurrency. Decentralized digital currencies that operate out of government or financial institution control. Some well-known cryptocurrencies are Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. 
• Stocks. Shares of ownership in a publicly traded and reputable company. Buying stock makes you a part-owner of the company and entitles you to a portion of its profits.  
• Real estate crowdfunding. Allows individuals to invest in real estate projects without purchasing an entire property. Investors gather their money to fund a project and receive a share of the profits. 

Here’s how to get started: 

1. Research platforms thoroughly. Do your due diligence and choose only legitimate and reputable online investment platforms. 
2. Start small. Begin with a small investment ($50-$100) to learn the ropes and minimize risk. 
3. Learn risk management and diversification. Educate yourself on investment strategies to protect your capital and maximize returns. 

Important: Investing and trading involve risks, so proceed with caution. Look out for scams and invest only what you can afford to lose. 

10. Teach or tutor online 

Learning new things has become easier online, opening opportunities for people to share their knowledge with the world. Online platforms, such as Coursera and Udemy, help connect educators with students seeking to learn or develop skills and knowledge. Teachers and tutors can use these platforms for online courses or live interactive sessions on their own schedule. 

Here’s how to get started: 

1. Choose a niche. Select a subject you’re passionate about and knowledgeable in, such as English, coding, or music. 
2. Sign up on a platform. Join platforms like VIPKid or Teachable to connect with students. 
3. Create a course or offer one-on-one coaching. Develop structured learning materials or provide personalized tutoring sessions. 
4. Market your services. Utilize YouTube, LinkedIn, and other channels to reach potential students. 

Pro tip: Consider offering a free introductory session or webinar to showcase your teaching style and attract students. 

Choose the right income stream for you 

The best way to earn money online depends on your skills, interests, and goals. The internet offers many opportunities, each with its own challenges and rewards. Exploring different methods will help you find the right one. 

If you’re looking to dive into eCommerce, Web.com offers various tools and services to help you create and manage your online store. With options for website building, hosting, domain name registration, and various eCommerce features, Web.com can help you start and expand your online business. 

Making money online FAQs