The Internet has only been around for about 30 years, and in this short period of time, it has completely changed countless industries and created many opportunities to make money.
Every day, billions of dollars exchange hands over the Internet, and if you know how, you can get a piece of the action. There are hundreds of different ways to make money on the Internet, but some ideas will net you significantly more cash than the rest.
Below, you’ll find some of the best ways to use the Internet to make some extra cash, and depending on your effort, you could generate several hundred dollars per month. Some people have used these ideas to make thousands of dollars per month, and if you’re willing to work hard and learn, you can do the same.
Ways to Make Money Online
1. Create YouTube Videos
One of the easiest ways to make money on the Internet involves starting a YouTube channel, and although it might start out slow, the income from videos will grow over time.
This is a great way to get started because all you need to do is make videos about topics you love. Once your channel grows and starts bringing in more views, you can monetize the videos and earn money.
2. Start A Blog
A blog is like a digital house, and it’s a place where you can write about whatever you want. The major advantage of starting a blog is the minimal cost involved, and you can get started with everything you need for less than the monthly Internet bill.
Like YouTube, building a blog can take some time before it starts earning money, but the income from a blog can grow exponentially over time.
3. Take Online Surveys
There are thousands of companies out there, and they’re willing to pay you for your opinion. People have been making money with online surveys for decades, and although this strategy isn’t as popular as it used to be, you can still make hundreds of dollars per month by filling our simple online surveys.
4. Trading Stocks and Forex
Online trading is riskier than some alternative options, but fortunately, it’s easy to manage your risk. By starting out with a small amount of money, you can start trading stocks and see if it’s something that you enjoy doing.
Over time, as you get better, you could earn a lot of money from this strategy. However, if you decide to go this route, make sure to choose a reputable, well-known broker.
5. Matched Betting
If you live in the United States, you won’t be able to use matched betting. This strategy involves using the free promotions and bets that bookmakers give out, and it allows you to place bets on specific types of sporting events. Depending on how you bet, you could earn a lot of extra cash with this method.
6. Paid Labor Sites
Another easy way to make money online consists of getting paid to perform small tasks. Many websites allow you to join and complete small tasks for clients, and you might not get paid a lot of money for each task, but if you can take on many tasks per hour, you can make a decent amount of money.
7. Build Websites for Other People
Many individuals want their own website, but they don’t know how to build one. If you’re good with WordPress or HTML, you can offer a service and build websites for individuals or small businesses.
You can find several websites that allow you to offer services and creating websites for others can be a very lucrative business.
8. Affiliate Marketing
When trying to make money online, a lot of people get started with affiliate marketing because it’s very easy to do. If you can find ways to get traffic, you can send those people to affiliate offers and earn a commission from the products.
There are many different affiliate programs to choose from, and you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the right offers for your audience.
9. Offers Graphic Design Services
Graphic design is another in-demand skill, and if you’re good with graphics, somebody will want to hire you and pay for your services.
To start offering graphic design services, you can contact individuals or businesses directly, or you can sign up with an online marketplace. In exchange for connecting you with clients, these websites will take a small portion of your earnings.
10. Create eBooks
Many writers have become famous from self-publishing eBooks, and although this an unlikely outcome for most people, the idea of making a decent side income from creating and publishing eBooks is a very realistic goal to strive for.
Amazon is one of the largest self-publishing platform, but you’ll find several other publishing websites. If you have a passion and want to write an eBook about it, this idea could turn into a lucrative income.
11. Create A Dropshipping Website
The whole point of a dropshipping website is to tell products to people for more money than you paid for them, and the major advantage of this business model is that you never have to physically touch the products you sell.
Once you’ve obtained a customer’s payment information, you can purchase the product from a wholesaler and have it shipped off to the customer.
12. Buying and Flipping Websites
Depending on the types of websites you’re looking at, this idea can require a significant amount of upfront cash, but if you know what you’re doing, you can make a huge amount of money by flipping purchased websites.
There are several places where you can find great websites to buy, and once you’ve tweaked and increased the income for a site, you can flip it for a great multiple.
13. Sign Up With mTurk
Several companies allow you to get paid to perform small tasks, and although you might only earn a few cents per task, every penny adds up, and you could turn this strategy into a decent side income.
For most people, the best place to get started is Amazon’s mTurk, and the small tasks that you’ll perform on the website are called Turk jobs.
14. Sell Items on Etsy
Etsy is an online marketplace, and it’s a place where you can sell a variety of different items. A lot of people create jewelry and sell it on Etsy, and if you’re into arts and crafts, then you can create various items and find buyers on Etsy.
People who’ve reached the top tier on Etsy make over five figures per month, and many of these individuals have quit their job.
15. Online Arbitrage
If you have an eBay account, you can make a decent amount of cash from online arbitrage. This process consists of buying items for a lower price than you’re selling them for.
For example, you would purchase a product from one retailer at a low price and sell it on eBay for more than you paid for it. Online arbitrage isn’t as lucrative as it once was, but you can still use it to make money online.
16. Freelance Writing
There are several websites that allow you to write for money, and if you can write engaging content on a variety of topics, clients will pay you good money for your services.
For this to work, you must have a strong grasp of the English language and know how to deliver great content. Even if you’re not the best writer, you can learn as you go, and eventually, you could earn enough money from writing and use it as your primary income source.
17. Review Apps
With the rise of smartphones, apps have become extremely popular, and these days, you can find an app for almost anything.
Since app creators need a way to get feedback for their products, they pay people to test and review the latest apps. App developers will pay a decent amount of money to have you test their applications and let them know how they can improve the experience.
18. Sell Your Services Online
If you have a specific skill, it’s almost guaranteed that somebody wants to pay you money for it. Many online marketplaces make it easy for other people to find your services, and depending on your skills, you could turn this gig into a sizeable income.
Fiverr is one of the best marketplaces to sell your services, and you’ll find several other marketplaces to choose from.
19. Create and Sell Audiobooks
Audible is a great place to sell audiobooks, and over time, people have started to prefer audiobooks over written text.
If you’ve already created a few eBooks, you can always convert them into audiobooks and see if they sell better. By creating a collection of audiobooks and selling them on Audible, you could earn a decent amount of money online.
20. Create Your Own App
If you have programming skills or know how to hire someone to write code for you, this could be a lucrative way to make money on the Internet.
Some apps earn their creator thousands of dollars every month, and if you have a wealth of programming knowledge that is going to waste, then you can start building apps and selling them on the top online marketplaces.
21. Start an Amazon FBA Business
A lot of people search for ways to make money on the Internet and learn about Amazon FBA. The FBA is short for fulfillment by Amazon, and this business models consists of sourcing high-quality products for cheap and selling them on the Amazon marketplace. After you’ve sourced the products you want to sell, Amazon will pack and ship the products off to buyers.
22. Virtual Assistant
Many companies and individuals are looking for virtual assistants, and if you want to become a digital nomad, this could be a great way to do it.
As a virtual assistant, you’ll handle tasks that business owners don’t want to do, and depending on your skills, you can earn a decent amount of money by becoming a virtual assistant for a business owner or company.
23. Earn from Photography
If you love taking pictures and want to earn money from photography, consider joining websites that allow you to earn money from your passion.
Several well-known websites allow you to upload photos and earn money when someone purchases the right to use the photos. Over time, the small royalty payments add up, and you can earn a decent amount of money online.
24. Become A Customer Service Agent
Many businesses need customer service reps, and you can perform this type of work from home. With the power of the Internet, you can handle customer service requests and get paid to help people.
Depending on the company, you could earn a full-time income from this type of work, and if you have many in-demand skills, you can earn a great hourly wage.
25. Data Entry
This can be a great opportunity for people who can type quickly and accurately. Many companies need people who can quickly enter data into a computer, and with various software programs, you should be able to do this job from your home.
Although data entry can be boring and repetitive, it can earn you a decent amount of income, and you can do it with a computer and Internet connection.
26. Write for Entertainment Websites
Many large entertainment websites need trendy articles, and if you can write them, it’s possible to earn some money online.
In most cases, these companies will pay you based on how many views your articles get, and with great content, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting enough views to carve out an income on the side.
Conclusion
The Internet is rife with opportunities to make money, and you’ll find many of the best ideas on this list. Not too long ago, the thought of making money from home was nothing more than a pipe dream, but with the growth of the Internet, great opportunities are lurking around every corner. To get started, go check out some of these lucrative ideas and find out how well they can work for you.