There’s no need to be intimidated by the notion of making money online. It really is quite easy, and there are a number of different ways to do it. You can start small, with zero investment, and gradually build up your earnings. Or you could go big from the start and invest some money upfront.
Here are five easy ways to make money online, with varying degrees of investment required:
1. Sell products or services on Etsy or eBay
If you have some handmade items or unique goods to sell, setting up an Etsy or eBay shop is a great way to get started in making money online. There are no upfront costs involved in setting up either type of account, and listing your items is quick and easy. You’ll need to pay a small fee when you make a sale, but this is a great way to get started without any major financial investment.
2. Offer freelance services on Fiverr or Upwork
If you have some skills or talents that others might find useful, why not offer them for sale on Fiverr or Upwork? There are millions of people around the world who are looking for all kinds of services, from logo design to copywriting to social media marketing. You can list your services for as little as $5 on Fiverr, and there’s no limit to how much you can earn. On Upwork, you’ll need to set up a profile and bid for jobs, but there’s the potential to earn much more money than on Fiverr.
3. Start a blog and monetize it with advertising or affiliate links
Another easy way to make money online is to start a blog and monetize it with advertising or affiliate links. This will take some initial effort to set up, but once you’re up and running, it can be quite profitable. You can sign up for Google AdSense and other advertising networks, which will give you code to insert into your blog posts. When someone clicks on one of the ads, you’ll earn money. Alternatively, you can sign up for affiliate programs like Amazon Associates or Commission Junction, which will give you links to products that you can promote on your blog. When someone clicks on one of these links and makes a purchase, you’ll earn a commission from the sale.
4. Take online surveys or participate in focus groups
There are plenty of companies out there who are willing to pay for your opinions through online surveys or focus groups. While you won’t get rich doing this, it’s an easy way to make some extra cash in your spare time. Just be sure that you’re dealing with legitimate companies; there are plenty of scams out there masquerading as survey companies. You can find legitimate survey companies by searching for them online or checking with the Better Business Bureau. Focus groups tend to pay more than surveys but they also require more time commitment; just be sure that the focus group is something that you’re interested in before signing up!