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Now that we’re all connected to the world wide web, it’s easier than ever to earn money online. Whether you want a full-time job or freelance project, you can find legitimate opportunities right from your computer.
Providing customer support, running your own blog, or testing new websites are all great options. Or you could sell old stuff on an e-commerce site like eBay.
Below are 10 of the best options for making money online. Read on for the full list, along with some suggestions on how to get started. Thanks, Internet!
1. Get a remote job
2. Become a freelancer
3. Write lists and blog posts
4. Sell your stuff
5. Start your own blog
6. Create an online business
7. Star in your own YouTube channel
8. Take online surveys
9. Test out new websites
10. Download passive income apps
1. Get a remote job
A common misconception of working remotely is that you have to piece together freelance jobs. But more and more companies offer part- or even full-time jobs that are 100% remote.
Established companies, like Amazon and Humana, offer work from home opportunities. And a growing number of start ups rely entirely on teams distributed across the world. You can have job security as you earn money online.
Fields with remote work include IT, writing, marketing, nursing, teaching, administration, management, and programming, among others. You can earn money online at any level, whether you’re entry-level, mid-career, or a top executive.
So where can you find these work from home opportunities? Here are a few of the top job boards that provide remote opportunities.
We Work Remotely: has a solid list of part-time and full-time remote jobs. Industries include customer support, copywriting, design, marketing, programming, business executive and management, and developmental operations and system administration. The site also has a miscellaneous category for roles don’t fit in these buckets. If you’re looking for a remote job, definitely bookmark this site.
Remote OK: has lots of remote jobs for programmers and designers. Other professionals will also find non-tech opportunities.
Skip the Drive: lists opportunities in like nursing, account management, and consulting, along with a wealth of other industries. Beyond scrolling through the listings, you can also set up an email alert for new openings.
FlexJobs: one of the most comprehensive remote job boards out there, with thousands of well-vetted openings in over 50 categories. The only downside of the site is its monthly fee. Full access costs $14.95 a month or $49.95 a year, but new members can use code NOMAD for up to 30% off.
Virtual Vocations: another members-only job board with hundreds of pre-screened remote job opportunities. Unlimited access to the site costs $15.99 a month or $59.99 for six months.
Other remote job boards that cater to specific audiences. Ruby Now and Stack Overflow have roles for people in tech. And Home With the Kids has great part-time work and resources for stay-at-home parents.
Whether you’re a newbie or experienced professional, you can find a remote job and make money online.
2. Find freelance projects
Freelance projects are another way to earn money online. You could design a website, compose a jingle, create a T-shirt design, or offer another service in your wheelhouse.
Not only will you make money, but you might also build up your portfolio. As for where to find freelance gigs, here are three useful websites.
Fiverr: features projects that pay anywhere from $5 and up. It’s a great place to try out remote work and see how it goes. If you have a service to offer, you can also post it on the site to see if anyone is interested in hiring you.
Upwork: jobs involve accounting, customer service, writing, or web development, to name just a few fields. Some projects are one-offs, while others involve continuous work.
Freelancer.com: features both short-term and long-term projects. Categories include sales, translation, data entry, marketing, writing, and IT.
To use any of these sites, you create a profile and highlight your skills and experiences. Employers will leave feedback, so building up a good reputation is key.
3. Write lists and blog posts
Fancy yourself a wordsmith? Anyone who enjoys writing can sell their work to a website or online magazine. Several sites rely entirely on freelance contributors.
Others match copywriters with companies that need high-quality content. ContentMart, for instance, connects copywriters with clients across the world.
To get started as a writer, a good first step is establishing your online presence. Ramp up your LinkedIn profile or create an online portfolio or blog.
Plus, make sure your pitch aligns with the website’s guidelines. To get started, check out these sites that accept freelance pitches.
Websites looking for lists
“List” articles are here to stay. If you’re a fan, send your best to these websites.
Listverse: articles must include at least 10 items on the list and be a minimum of 1,500 words. Categories include bizarre, entertainment, lifestyle, science, and shop. You’ll earn $100 for each accepted list.
TopTenz: submissions must be at least 1,500 words. Categories include travel, literature, music, engineering, humor, food, travel, and bizarre. The site pays $50 for each article.
A List Apart: send your lists on web design, development, and best practices to this site. It pays $200 for each accepted article. Word minimum is 1,500.
Websites looking for finance articles
People always want to learn about money — how to make it, how to manage it, and how to spend it. Here are two websites looking for articles on personal finance.
DailyWorth: looks for thoughtful articles that give financial and career advice to women. If you’re interested in writing about money, success, and personal growth, then you could earn $150 for each accepted article.
Doctor of Credit: pays $50 for each accepted article about personal finance.
Websites looking for articles on writing
Prepare to get meta. Several websites look for writers who write about writing. You can write about the craft, along with tips on how to pitch ideas, write for various publications, or earn money online.
Funds for Writers: articles between 500 and 600 words. They pay $50 for each accepted post.
Make a Living Writing: articles of 500 words or less on how to making a living writing. It pays $75 for accepted posts.
Websites that want travel articles
Have you flown Ryan Air through Europe or backpacked across Southeast Asia? Here are a few sites where you can pitch your unique travel stories.
International Living: wants to hear about your unique travel experiences in far-flung destinations. It pays $75 for each accepted article.
Matador: “seeks original writing, photography, and video that speaks to the adventures, cultures, and identities of people around the world.” Matador pays $40 per accepted post.
Transitions Abroad Magazine: wants stories on living abroad. Articles should be between 800 and 2,000 words. It pays between $50 and $150 per accepted post.
Other publications worth checking out are BootsnAll, Outpost Magazine, Wanderlust, AFAR, GoNomad, Travel & Leisure Magazine, and National Geographic Traveler. If you have a specific niche, you might also try creating your own travel blog.
These are just a few websites looking for freelance articles. You can also write for other sites on business, tech, lifestyle, parenting, or whatever else you’re interested in.
4. Sell your stuff
Instead of selling services online, you could sell your stuff. Whether it’s old clothes or your own arts and crafts, you can earn money online through e-commerce sites. Here are some of the best websites for selling your stuff.
eBay: You can sell pretty much anything you want on eBay. All you need to do is set up a profile and a Paypal account. Make sure to describe your items accurately so they show up in a keyword search.
Upload clear pictures of each item from several angles so buys know exactly what they’ll be getting. If an item sells, make sure to ship it right away. Building up a good reputation as a seller will help you be successful on eBay.
Craigslist: another free-for-all site where you can post pictures and descriptions of your items. Keep in mind that your audience will be limited to people in your region, and you’ll typically meet in person to exchange the item for cash.
VarageSale: an increasingly popular e-commerce site with millions of users across the U.S. and Canada. You can sell a variety of items on here and use Paypal to conduct transactions. Typically, you meet the buyer in person to exchange an item.
Poshmark: looks for high-end clothing. If you have any designer women’s, men’s, or children’s clothing, you can sell it on Poshmark and keep 80% of the profits. Poshmark helps you with shipping by sending you a pre-paid, pre-addressed USPS shipping label when an item sells.
Etsy: sell your crafts and creations here. You’ll set up an account, post pictures, and ship any items that sell.
Swappa: for old phones, tablets, or laptops. You’ll get paid via Paypal once your item sells.
Whether you’re selling a few excess possessions or running an online store full time, you can easily earn money through e-commerce marketplaces. Plus, you’ll declutter your life while putting more cash in your pocket.
5. Start a blog
Although working full time as a blogger might feel unattainable, it’s not as out of reach as you might think. In fact, anyone who can communicate their ideas clearly and write regularly can earn money online as a blogger.
Your first step is to think about your particular niche. What subject do you have a passion for? Who is your audience? How will your blog contribute something new to the world?
Once you’ve chosen your idea, you’ll need to buy a domain, choose a hosting service, and design your site. Plus, start producing high-quality content on a regular basis.
As you start to drum up traffic, think about how to monetize it. You might sell a service or product, host advertisements, or use affiliate marketing.
While blogging is a time-consuming endeavor, anyone can master the basics with enough time and effort. If you’re ready to start, check out this guide on how to start a blog, step by step.
6. Create an online business
What if instead of scouring job boards for new projects, people came to you? If you have a service to offer, like editing, consulting, marketing, or website design, you could earn money online by starting your own business.
Consider your skills and experiences. What can you contribute, and who will your clients be? You’ll also need to consider how to market your brand and attract clients to your site.
Running an online business isn’t easy, but it’s more possible than ever before. Identify a need you can fill, build a reputation as an expert, and connect with clients. Having a well-designed website won’t hurt your cause, either.
7. Star in your own YouTube channel
If you gain followers, you can make money on YouTube. Although it may take some time, you’ll be able to monetize your channel if you have a big enough audience.
Check out YouTube’s Creator Academy for tips on how to monetize your channel. You’ll enable your channel for monetization and connect to an AdSense account.
You might also create a website to accompany your YouTube channel. You could monetize this site with affiliate marketing, sponsored ads, or by selling your own products or services.
While YouTube is a crowded space, it’s also a relatively new phenomenon. There’s definitely still plenty of opportunity for you to make your mark with makeup tutorials, pilate classes, or puppy videos.
8. Take online surveys
Taking online surveys won’t make you rich, but you can earn extra spending money by taking surveys online. Your opinion helps other companies improve their products or user experience.
Several websites will pay you to participate in online market research. These include,
Some sites pay you in cash, while others offer gift cards in exchange for your feedback.
9. Test out a new website or product
Another way to earn money online is through testing out a new website or product. Companies want to make sure their websites are user-friendly, so they’ll actually pay you to try it out.
Project Payday, for instance, pays cash to people who sign up for a free trial of new products. And User Testing pays $10 for each website you test, a process that only takes 10 to 20 minutes.
By agreeing to be a website guinea pig, you could earn some fast cash. Plus, you’ll learn about online user experience, a useful skill if you ever decide to create your own website.
10. Download passive income apps
What’s better than making money while you sleep? Passive income apps pay you for simply downloading an app and keeping it on your phone.
Note that these apps gather data on your mobile activity. If you’re cool with that, check out these apps for passive income:
It’s easier than ever before to earn money online or through your phone. Freelance projects and website testing are a great side gig to earn some extra cash.
Plus, temporary projects help you test the waters to see if remote working is for you. If you’re a creative professional, you can build up a portfolio to show to prospective full-time employers down the line.
Whatever your skills and experiences, you can easily leverage them to start making money online today. Then you can enjoy all the amazing perks of working from home.
