20 Legit Ways to Make Money Online
With the current economy, financial security is a big issue for many people. Whether you lost your job, had pay cuts, furloughed, or are concerned about job loss in the future, it can be a scary time financially.
In order to have financial security, it’s important to have multiple streams of income. That means that when 1 stream of income goes away, you still have money coming in from other areas.
Did you know that most millionaires have at least 7 streams of income? Yup. Multiple income streams is the key to building wealth and financial security.
Below we are going to discuss 20 ways that you can make money online. Some can work faster than others, some require more effort than others. But they are all legit ways to make money for your family.
I recommend picking 1 to work on first. Pick the one that matches your skills, the amount of time you have, and how quickly you need the money. Build that up until it is running like a well oiled machine and then move on to the next thing. You can never have too many income streams.
Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant is someone who works online for an employer or business owner. They can do tasks like managing an email inbox, managing social media, transcribing documents, preparing statements and letters, organizing files, coordinating schedules and calendars, making travel arrangements, and generally taking charge of administrative tasks to help a client focus on the business. Oftentimes you can work outside regular office hours as long as you get tasks done on time.
Reseller
This is when you use online apps and websites to sell previously purchased items. They can be used items or new with tags. You can start by selling things you no longer need or use at home.
If you want to make it a business, you can continue by selling things for friends, buying things on sale and reselling them for more, or thrifting. There are tons of options to sell items including Etsy, Amazon, Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, Ebay, Depop, Mercari, Decluttr and more.
Network Marketing
This one can leave a bad taste in many people’s mouths. But there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. Pick a product you love and would want to talk about anyway. Then share the lifestyle, not the product.
If you are selling green products, talk more about the benefits of green living and occasionally mention the product. If You sell storage containers, talk about organization and decluttering and then occasionally mention the product.
YouTube
This one can take awhile to get going. You need to create enticing videos on a topic that you know and people want to learn about. You can eventually put ads on your videos, use affiliates, or get sponsors. There is a lot to learn about filming, editing, SEO, thumbnails and all, but it can be a fun way to make some money.
Course Creator
You know how to do a million things. What is something that people always ask you about? Or what is something you just love talking about and sharing your knowledge on? Make a course for it.
There are so many platforms that make it easy to put together a course and market it. People have had successful courses on doodling, using TikTok for marketing, gardening, and so much more.
Online Tutor
With so many kids learning at home this year, this is a great time to start tutoring online. You can focus on a subject or an age group. Parents are looking for tutors for their kids for homeschooling or remote learning. Or you can focus on non-academic subjects like art or music, or exercise. Parents more than ever need stimulation and entertainment for their kiddos. You could provide that service.
Life Coach
A life coach is a type of wellness professional who helps people make progress in their lives in order to attain greater fulfillment. Life coaches aid their clients in improving their relationships, careers, and day-to-day lives. It is often much easier for an outside person to provide guidance for someone than for them to figure it out themselves. You can be that guide.
Social Media Manager
Are you great at visuals or creating engaging messages? You can plan out content for a business’s social media accounts. Plan images and captions for Instagram or Facebook or Twitter and do the posting and interactions. You can manage social media for brands and entrepreneurs.
Blogger
Much like YouTubing, you can share your knowledge and passion on a blog. You can teach or share your lifestyle by regularly writing and sharing photos on your own website. How do you monetize it? You can do sponsored posts, sign up as an affiliate for brands you love, put ads on your site, or make your own products. Pick a topic you love and get writing.
Influencer
Those people who put #AD on all their Instagram posts, those are influencers and you can be one too. Brands are realizing that people are more likely to take advice from people they like and admire.
When your favorite Instagrammer uses a product and loves it, you are much more likely to purchase it than if you just see a commercial somewhere just telling you to buy it. You can start by just becoming an affiliate for products you love and then move on to sponsorships with brands.
11. Virtual Training
If you are into fitness, you can become a trainer online. You can do fitness training, or train people for events like races, or train people for auditions. You are not limited to your local area, you can train people anywhere. You can even do live group training classes and deliver them online.
12. Virtual Coach
Do you have experience in creating a business or guiding people through meditation? You can become a virtual coach. Share your expertise with clients who pay you to help them with their business, project, or goals.
I have a friend who coaches other dance team coaches. I have another friend who coaches people on money mindset. If you have overcome something, you can coach people on how to get through it too.
13. Ebooks and Guidebooks
Another way to share your expertise are ebooks and guidebooks. This is another one where you think about the thing that people are always asking you about and you create a product around it.
When I first became a mom, I was always being asked how I still had time for work, and fitness, and my own pursuits, while spending tons of quality time with my family. So, I wrote a book about it.
You can write about how you style your clothes or decorate your home or a how to book for your favorite DIY projects or freezer meals. You can sell it on your own website or on any number of selling platforms, no publisher needed.
14. Virtual Lessons
Can you sing, or play an instrument, or dance or act? Sell lessons online. Kids are missing out on the arts due to budgets and remote schooling. You can fill that void. Kids will enjoy the creative expression and parents will appreciate you entertaining their kids.
Share your idea with parents you know and they can share it with other parents. You don’t need a whole fancy website and payment processor. Start with word of mouth and PayPal and then get fancier as you grow.
15. Amazon Seller
You can create your own products like journals or activity books and sell them through Kindle Direct Publishing. Or you can have your own products made using sites like Alibaba and sell them. Or you can buy low in stores and resell products on Amazon.
Some of these are easier than others, but all of them are possible. Amazon is a huge marketplace and you can get a piece of the pie by selling there.
16. Affiliate Marketing
So many brands that you know and love have affiliate programs. That means you can sign up for a special link or coupon code with that brand. Then when people use that link or code and make a purchase from that brand, you get a piece of the sale.
You don’t even need your own website to make money as an affiliate. You can talk about products on your regular social media channels. You don’t even need a huge following. You just need people who love what you love and appreciate your advice.
17. Podcasting
People are listening to audio more and more. Its a great way to bond with followers, they can hear your voice and feel like they know you. You don’t have to worry about people seeing your face and setting up cameras and lighting. You just need a microphone and computer. You need to have a following to start making money with podcasting, but once you build your following you can definitely grow your income.
18. Freelancer
Do you have skills that you can put to work for others? Maybe they are skills from school or a past or current job. You can freelance for other businesses.
Are you great at writing copy? Maybe you can create graphics or proofread books, or transcribe documents. You can sell your service of freelancer.com or Fiverr.com and make an income with a skill you already have.
19. e Commerce
This is where you set up a store on a platform like Etsy or Shopify or Zazzle and sell your own products. You can use print on demand sites, make your own products, or have products made for you. Then sell them on your site.
20. Content Creator
For this business you can create any type of content for yourself or others. You can create videos, write blog posts for various sites, create and sell stock images, create lesson plans. Business and websites are in constant need of content to send to their followers and customers. You can provide that service to them.
There are tons of ways to make money online that don’t involve surveys or sketchy websites. Start small but think big. You don’t have to be passionate about any of these things, but you can use them to create an income while you discover your passion.
Let’s make some money and create some financial security!
Cheers,
Emily