Remote work has become the “new norm” for thousands of Americans, and there are now endless ways to make money without leaving home. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted companies worldwide to shift from an in-office environment to a 100 percent remote model. Many organizations realized their employees could maintain the same level of productivity working from home and that the organization could benefit from significant cost savings.
Remote work wasn’t a new phenomenon when the pandemic hit. Many companies already had work-from-home teams and allowed their employees to work from anywhere in the United States. Not only that, but Americans from coast to coast were already making money online through various means. For instance, Amazon Virtual Turk – a virtual crowdworking platform – has been around since 2005. Today, one in six Americans make money from online gig work.
As opportunities to make money online increase, it’s essential to be mindful of scams. Always confirm a company’s validity before providing any sensitive information. As we discuss the best ways to make money online, we’ll only provide examples of 100 percent reputable companies. We’ll also touch on how you can use our tools, such as our transaction tracker, as you start to rake in additional income.
The Best Ways to Make Money Online
There are endless ways to earn some extra cash on the internet in today’s digital world. Let’s explore some of the best ways to make money online:
Offer Freelance Services
According to recent statistics, there are roughly 57 million freelancers in the United States. Freelancers offer a wide range of services, including:
- Copywriting
- Graphic design
- Market research
- Data entry
- Programming
- Web development
As you can see, some freelance services require more skill (programming), while others are relatively entry-level (data entry). Regardless of your skillset, there’s a good chance you can find some level of work as a freelancer.
Now, how do you go about finding freelance gigs? Veteran freelancers often find work through word-of-mouth referral or networking. However, if you’re just getting your foot in the door, the best way to find work is through a freelancer website. Some of the most popular platforms include:
Participate in Surveys
There are a ton of universities and market research companies that pay individuals to complete surveys online. In most cases, you’ll have to qualify for the survey by belonging to a specific demographic. Surveys pay anywhere from 50 cents to $100 and upwards depending on the time commitment and complexity. Perhaps the most challenging part of online surveys is finding reputable websites.
Fortunately, we did the hard work for you and came up with a list of the best survey websites to make money online:
You generally don’t need any experience to participate in online surveys. However, many websites will ask you to fill out a survey before registering. It’s vital to fill out the profile completely to increase the number of surveys that become available to you.
Seek Employment
As we mentioned, thousands of companies are now offering completely remote roles after realizing work-from-home doesn’t hinder productivity. In fact, some believe that 36 million Americans will work from home by 2025. You can do virtually any job from home, ranging from customer service to accounting. The best way to find a remote job is to use a job search engine such as Indeed or LinkedIn. When searching for your desired position, put “remote” in the location. Always research to ensure the company is legitimate before applying and never pay to get a job – no legitimate company will ask you for money during its hiring process!
Become a Flipper
Flipping follows the rule, “buy low, sell high.” Flippers sell all sorts of items – clothes, antiques, video games, books, and so forth. Most flipping requires some in-person work. Many people source items from thrift stores, garage sales, and estate sales. Some items are turn-key, meaning you can sell them as is. On the other hand, flippers also enjoy buying furniture and other items that need renovations. Unless you have a good eye, you’ll want to look up items on eBay to see how much profit you can make.
Want to give flipping a shot? Once you get your first couple of items, you can start selling on the following websites:
Create a Blog
Think of creating a blog as an investment. You won’t make money right away, but as you write more articles, you’ll slowly see an uptick in organic traffic. Most blogs won’t receive significant traffic until they have at least 100 high-quality posts with the right keywords. Once your website gets more engagement, you can make money through affiliate marketing and sponsored posts.
Before you hit the hills running with a blog, you’ll need to think of a niche. Many bloggers focus on granular topics, such as “Honda CR-V maintenance.” In other words, choosing something vague, such as “Honda Cars,” will be challenging to rank. Nevertheless, it’s critical that you’re interested in your blog’s subject. However, you’ll need to balance interest and profitability.
When it comes to writing articles, you should create a goal of publishing at least 100 well-researched posts. You can write them yourself or hire a freelance writer. After hitting your initial goal, it’s an excellent practice to write one or two posts per week to keep your blog fresh in Google’s eyes.
A Final Look at Making Money Online
Whether you want a full-time income or extra pocket cash, there are countless ways to make money online. As you start to make money online, it’s essential to keep tabs on your income using our transaction tracker. Our platform lets you visualize how much money you’re earning and then use an income-based repayment calculator to manage debt and other expenses. Once you start making consistent money, we recommend using our dept pay off app to see how you can enhance your overall financial health and get on the path to financial freedom.