Are you wandering how to legitimately make money online and start being your own boss? Many people just like you have been asking the same question. Today, I want to share with you some techniques that you can use to earn cash online.
Blogging
The internet is full of bloggers, with great websites that showcase their particular niche or market. For example problogger.com is a blog about making money online. You can earn an income from blogging by having ads on your blog from Google AdSense or you could run a membership site from your blog.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is another great way to legitimately make money online. Affiliate marketing is where you sell other people's product for a commission. You just need to send traffic to your website and promote a certain product. A good affiliate network would be Amazon for example.
Paid Surveys
Many people choose to make money with paid surveys. This is a great way to earn money and also help out many big companies. Companies such as coke cola want your opinion on their products and they are willing to pay you for that. There are so many scams online surrounding paid surveys, so use your common sense and stay away from the bad sites.
Domain Flipping
Domain flipping involves the sale of a website that you own. You can make big money by selling your website. Establish a good amount of traffic to your website and build up a good social following to make maximum profit on your domain flip. Some websites have been flipped and sold for millions of dollars.
Content Writer
People love content on the internet. So, if your still wandering how to legitimately make money online, this is definitely another thing you can do. You can be part of websites such as Odesk and people will pay for you to write articles. Or you could become a seller on Fiverr and sell your writing jobs. This is a great way to make a living.
Working from home is possible and there are many legitimate ways to do so. However, you need to use your common sense and figure out if the opportunity is good or bad.
Many people look to get rich from the internet, but never make a dollar online. So I recommend that you look for some informative courses or websites that will help you to earn an income. I hope you have enjoyed reading this article and good luck in making some money online.
Good luck with making money online, I have a wealth of knowledge on this subject and will be writing more articles about this subject soon.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9072113
Tuesday, 30 June 2015
Monday, 29 June 2015
The Fast and Easy Way To Set Up an Online Business
It's hard to set up an online business when you don't know where to start and how to keep going.
You want to do it but you just have so many questions that no one will answer -
How do I set up a blog?
How can I set up a blog for free?
How can I make money online?
How can I create a regular online income?
If you search online about how to do these things, one of the first things you'll find is that most of the information is full of hype and trying to sell you a product that guarantees almost overnight millionaire status if you buy it.
So as a breath of fresh air, here is a really simple way you can set up a blog and start making money online for free.
And I'm keeping it really simple for you so even if you don't know anything about creating websites and making money online, you'll be able to do this.
First, search for blogger.com. This is service owned by Google and allows you to set up your own free blog. If you're unsure how to do it, you can do a search on YouTube where you'll find a plethora of videos showing you how. But it's simple anyway.
Next you need to change the blog to get the layout exactly as you want it. This is easy to do thanks to the simple Blogger dashboard that also makes publishing to your blog easy.
You can also search another Google service called FeedBurner which again, is easy to use (and free) and lets you put a signup box on your blog so that visitors can subscribe by email or RSS feed and your blog posts will be automatically sent to them every time you publish something.
You can also upload your blog post titles and a link to them on social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc) to get more visitors to your blog.
Then comes the exciting part. Making money online.
The fastest and simplest way to do this is by placing Pay Per Click advertisements on your blog. These work by you earning money every time someone clicks on one of these ads, regardless of whether they buy something or not.
Or you can do affiliate marketing which means selling other people's products and services for commission.
You can find a few online affiliate networks such as ClickBank, Commission Junction, ClixGalore, Amazon, and many others, simply by searching for them.
Or do a quick search for a keyword for your niche followed by "affiliate program." So if you have a blog about weight loss, you might search for "weight loss affiliate program."
Affiliate programs are free to join and done correctly, can earn you a full-time income.
And that's all there is to it.
Just pick a niche for your blog.
Set up a free Blogger blog.
Set up a FeedBurner account.
Write your content.
Join affiliate networks to monetise your blog.
Use social media to market your new blog.
Just remember to keep it simple and that you don't have to get it right, you just have to get it going.
You want to do it but you just have so many questions that no one will answer -
How do I set up a blog?
How can I set up a blog for free?
How can I make money online?
How can I create a regular online income?
If you search online about how to do these things, one of the first things you'll find is that most of the information is full of hype and trying to sell you a product that guarantees almost overnight millionaire status if you buy it.
So as a breath of fresh air, here is a really simple way you can set up a blog and start making money online for free.
And I'm keeping it really simple for you so even if you don't know anything about creating websites and making money online, you'll be able to do this.
First, search for blogger.com. This is service owned by Google and allows you to set up your own free blog. If you're unsure how to do it, you can do a search on YouTube where you'll find a plethora of videos showing you how. But it's simple anyway.
Next you need to change the blog to get the layout exactly as you want it. This is easy to do thanks to the simple Blogger dashboard that also makes publishing to your blog easy.
You can also search another Google service called FeedBurner which again, is easy to use (and free) and lets you put a signup box on your blog so that visitors can subscribe by email or RSS feed and your blog posts will be automatically sent to them every time you publish something.
You can also upload your blog post titles and a link to them on social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc) to get more visitors to your blog.
Then comes the exciting part. Making money online.
The fastest and simplest way to do this is by placing Pay Per Click advertisements on your blog. These work by you earning money every time someone clicks on one of these ads, regardless of whether they buy something or not.
Or you can do affiliate marketing which means selling other people's products and services for commission.
You can find a few online affiliate networks such as ClickBank, Commission Junction, ClixGalore, Amazon, and many others, simply by searching for them.
Or do a quick search for a keyword for your niche followed by "affiliate program." So if you have a blog about weight loss, you might search for "weight loss affiliate program."
Affiliate programs are free to join and done correctly, can earn you a full-time income.
And that's all there is to it.
Just pick a niche for your blog.
Set up a free Blogger blog.
Set up a FeedBurner account.
Write your content.
Join affiliate networks to monetise your blog.
Use social media to market your new blog.
Just remember to keep it simple and that you don't have to get it right, you just have to get it going.
Wednesday, 17 June 2015
5 Ways Your Competitors Are Making Money Online
If you're starting an internet business, or you already have one, do you find it irritating when you see your competitors making money online, but you're not? The reason is that your competitors have clearly determined how to attract their target audience to buy their products or services. Here are 5 ways they are building their profitable internet business.
1. Developing Relationships.
The most successful internet businesses are making money online by building relationships with their potential customers, usually by email. These potential customers have given their permission to receive these emails as they know that they will receive valuable and beneficial information. Email marketing allows you to build trust and respect from the people on your database and thus they will be more likely to buy from you.
2. Solving A Problem.
How can your product make the life of your prospect easier, better or safer? You have to clearly communicate the benefits of your product on your website, in your emails, in your social media posts and in your advertisements. You may have prospective customers on your email list already, or following you on social media, but they might not be sure if your product is the right one for them, so you have to let them know all the benefits.
3. Using Social Media.
Your customers are on social media regardless of whether you like it or not. Successful online entrepreneurs use social media to connect, engage and interact with their target audience. If your customer has an idea of what they want they will follow different products and businesses on social media to see which one might offer them the most value. They also probably use social media to communicate with other people in your niche and with other people in your target audience.
4. Website Content That Uses The Right Keywords.
Your prospect will look for other people on the internet who have the same problem as them because they are looking for empathy and support. When they find your website, they need to immediately see that you recognize their problem and how your product or service can help solve it. Your website content must always be written from your visitor's point of view and incorporate keywords that will be picked up by the search engines.
5. Advertising.
You might have the best website online, with the best services or products at the best prices, but you won't be making money online if nobody knows your business is out there. You need a constant flow of targeted customers visiting your website and online sales pages. There will always be a cost for traffic, whether it is paid for with money or paid for with time. Paid advertising does not have to be expensive and if you know your target audience there are many cost effective ways to reach them.
1. Developing Relationships.
The most successful internet businesses are making money online by building relationships with their potential customers, usually by email. These potential customers have given their permission to receive these emails as they know that they will receive valuable and beneficial information. Email marketing allows you to build trust and respect from the people on your database and thus they will be more likely to buy from you.
2. Solving A Problem.
How can your product make the life of your prospect easier, better or safer? You have to clearly communicate the benefits of your product on your website, in your emails, in your social media posts and in your advertisements. You may have prospective customers on your email list already, or following you on social media, but they might not be sure if your product is the right one for them, so you have to let them know all the benefits.
3. Using Social Media.
Your customers are on social media regardless of whether you like it or not. Successful online entrepreneurs use social media to connect, engage and interact with their target audience. If your customer has an idea of what they want they will follow different products and businesses on social media to see which one might offer them the most value. They also probably use social media to communicate with other people in your niche and with other people in your target audience.
4. Website Content That Uses The Right Keywords.
Your prospect will look for other people on the internet who have the same problem as them because they are looking for empathy and support. When they find your website, they need to immediately see that you recognize their problem and how your product or service can help solve it. Your website content must always be written from your visitor's point of view and incorporate keywords that will be picked up by the search engines.
5. Advertising.
You might have the best website online, with the best services or products at the best prices, but you won't be making money online if nobody knows your business is out there. You need a constant flow of targeted customers visiting your website and online sales pages. There will always be a cost for traffic, whether it is paid for with money or paid for with time. Paid advertising does not have to be expensive and if you know your target audience there are many cost effective ways to reach them.
Friday, 12 June 2015
Thursday, 11 June 2015
4 Excellent Ways of Making Money From Affiliate Programs
Like any other businesses or employment opportunities, making money on affiliate programs requires a certain amount of investment, time commitment, and knowledge on internet marketing. A major requirement for you to become an affiliate or associate of a company under the affiliate program is that you should have a website or blog.
Launching a website requires budget for web hosting, domain name registration, internet marketing and web graphic designing. And whether you're a Do-it-Yourself person or not, you need basic knowledge on website design and development for that will play an important role in succeeding with affiliate programs.
There are several ways on how to make money from affiliate programs. This article will clearly explain to you how to do it properly and how not to do things that could possibly put much of your time, energy and investment at risk.
1. Partner with an Affiliate Network.
Affiliate networks are mediators between merchants (the advertiser) and you (the publisher). Companies that want their products and services to be advertised online seek the services of affiliate networks companies. After setting up the merchant's account, the affiliate network will then distribute the affiliate ad banners and links to the affiliate's website under certain terms and conditions.
As an affiliate, your job is to post those ad banners and links to your website and implement marketing strategies that would convince your visitors to click these stuffs. A "click" can be equivalent to one cent or $5 (or even higher), depending on the commission rates and payment arrangement (ex. Pay-per-Click) under the affiliate program. The bottom line here is: The more clicks you earn, the more money you can make.
2. Join Two-tier Affiliate Programs.
Unlike affiliate networks, the money-making scheme in two-tier affiliate programs is purely based on sales. You will gain a certain cut or commission after every sale that you've made through your website. A great example of two-tier affiliate program is Amazon Associates. You can earn 4% to 8.5% commission by selling Amazon products on your website. The sale can be tracked via Amazon's storefront which you have to integrate on your website. Once clicked, this storefront will direct your customers to the checkout section of Amazon eCommerce site and from there; Amazon will take care of the order processing and fulfilment - just like in any other eCommerce site. Just remember that the more engaging your web contents are, the more likely your visitors will click the storefront.
3. Try Residual Affiliate Program.
This is more on the combination of two-tier and referral programs. Say you have directed your site's visitor to the merchant's site, you are entitled to earn more sales commission for every succeeding purchase made by that visitor. The merchant will keep a record of that customer (whom you refer) and for every purchase made, your commission will be automatically credited to your affiliate program account. The more customers you refer, the more money you can make.
4. Engage in Multi-level Marketing (MLM) Program.
In this type of affiliate program, you will work directly for the merchant. Usually, most MLM companies ask for membership fees and initial investment for the products or packages which you intend to sell under the program. As an affiliate of MLM companies, you are given exclusive rights to sell their products and services via your websites and other sales channels. In addition to that, you can also earn money by recruiting new sellers or distributors. As this is a form of direct marketing, you will earn a profit for every sale you closed.
More importantly, in order to succeed in these affiliate programs, consider following these tips:
· Only join affiliate programs that are relevant to your site or niche.
· Aim to generate more traffic to your site to increase the clickthrough rates on your ad banners and links.
· Become a smart seller by combining your networking and business management skills with sales and marketing.
· Before signing up, try to fully understand how the money-making scheme works in that affiliate program.
Wednesday, 10 June 2015
Discover The Top Ways To Make Money On Amazon
Over the years, Amazon has established itself as a formidable
online company and is often a popular choice for people looking to make
money online. Unlike most other platforms, it offers you a number of
ways to earn either as a seller, marketer or publisher. The company also
gets high marks for excellent customer service. Here's a look at the
various ways you can make money on Amazon.
1. Sell Products
The
most popular and widely used method to earn money on the website is
selling goods such as books, electronics, clothing items and other
goods. The good thing is that it's easy and brings in cash real quick.
Simply identify items you don't need and want to get rid of, indicate
their condition and include all the necessary information. If you're
creating new products, the procedure is the same. You can even build an
eCommerce website using tools made available by Amazon.
2. Become An Affiliate
Another
popular way to make money on Amazon is to join the affiliate program.
Well, how do you earn through this method? You simply put up a link on
your website or else send an email link, and then get paid any time
someone buys a product through the link. You can earn as much as 10% on
each sale made through your website. So, if you have some good traffic,
you should consider becoming an affiliate.
3. Publish Books
Kindle
is no doubt a major success for Amazon and many people have (and
continue) made money by sharing their thoughts and knowledge. If you
have a passion for writing and have something you feel would be useful
to people, simply sign-up to become a Kindle Direct Publisher. You will
then be able to publish for free and sell your work to millions of
people who use the Kindle Store.
4. Advertise
Wondering
whether it's possible to make money on Amazon by advertising your own
items? Well, it's possible and very simple to do so. All you need is to
set up ads that will drive buyers to your own site, and in so doing
increase your revenue. When choosing the products to advertise, try to
go for those that are not only popular but are also likely to interest
customers.
There are many ways to make money on Amazon, and anyone
can do it. Simply do some homework beforehand to determine what works
for you.
Tuesday, 2 June 2015
How to make money online
Let’s face it, making a little extra scratch through online sites is less than ideal. So maybe you’re unemployed. Or you’ve settled for a job well below what your used to because of the job climate, the economy has made things tough for everyone.
Regardless of your employment status and work experience, there are real answers on the internet to tide you over until your dream gig opens up. The Web has grown up in the last ten years. There’s still a Noah’s arc-load of weird porn and (p)awful cat memes, but making money online isn’t such a ridiculous idea anymore. Granted, you’ll still have to make it past the hordes of scams that offer too-good-to-be-true methods for making money at home.
Those with more modest aspirations (sorry, no condos in Florida) can actually tuck a bit of money away with a little legwork and some hours in front of the PC, all without actually getting a full-time job. Yes, you’ll have to give up your afternoon Mad Men marathons, but if you’re looking to sack away a little extra money this month, here are a few ways you can do it online.
Amazon Mechanical Turk
Amazon’s innovative labor-for-hire marketplace derives its name from an 18th century device that appeared to play chess by mechanical workings alone, but in fact was operated by a human hidden within. The concept here: You’re the human, and companies will pay you to perform simple tasks that are simply impossible to automate. Okay, so “M Turk” is a little dated but it still gets the job done and it’s one of the first examples of effective crowdsourcing. (Tasks are known as HITs for Human Intelligence Tasks). For instance, you could be called upon for anything from taking photos of the Under Armour displays at Dick’s Sporting Goods to reviewing a new iPhone app (both of which are real, we can’t make this stuff up). Some tasks pay a few dollars while some pay a few cents, but in general you can expect a lot of repetitive work that businesses out don’t have the labor or patience to perform themselves. Throw on some music, do it from your porch on a sunny day with a laptop, and you might not even mind as you rack up the rewards.
Invest in Cryptocurrency
The always volatile and unregulated cryptocurrency is a perfect example of a “high risk” investment and is probably not the kind of investment that an unemployed strapped-for-cash reader should make. That said, people are getting rich with Bitcoin. According to the Bitcoin Rich List, the wealthiest user has what translates to 80 million USD in Bitcoin. In early 2013, one Bitcoin cost as little as $13. It took less than a year for the price to jump to over $900. The uses for Bitcoin is still limited. There is, however, a growing number of companies and services that have begun to accept Bitcoin. Check out our article on how to exchange your regulated currency for bitcoin.
Blow up on Social Networks
Maybe you’re looking to make some money or score some free deals with your YouTube or Instagram posts. Let me be the first to tell you, it’s possible. All those videos of cats and artsy-filter improved shots of your brunch are definitely achievable. For instance, Instagram’s Popular Pays App gives you social currency based on the amount of your followers which you can use to cash in for anything from free coffee to skydiving. The App is looking to expand, but for now it’s only located in Chicago. The same money making potential is there for YouTube as well. Producing an engaging and original video can skyrocket you to stardom and while netting you a tidy sum. Check out our complete how-to guides to making money on YouTube and Instagram. Or start creating some engaging posts online and you may find your Facebook group leading to ad revenue, t-shirt sales, and you’re very own TV show, as was the case for Elise Andrew’s “I F**king Love Science.” Or perhaps a collection of funny tweets could land you a gig writing jokes for late night talk shows. As others have shown, social media has spawned new ways to start a business or audition for a job.
Crowdfund your Idea
Key word here is Fund. There’s a whole world of backers out there that are waiting to give money to your project. Maybe not, but let’s say you have a special talent that you’d like to convert into a business and you need some financial backing. Crowdfunding platforms could be a way to make a dent in fundraising and ultimately get started on making money. Two good crowdfunding platforms are Kickstarter and Indiegogo but they have pretty different approaches to fundraising. Kickstarter has a pretty good track record; successfully funding nearly half of the projects. Indiegogo doesn’t make their numbers available, presumably it’s a bit less than kickstarter. Before getting started, take note of the differing approaches to the crowdfunding platforms. Here are kickstarter’s guidlines and indiegogo’s guidlenes. It goes without saying, the best crowdfunding projects are the ones that are well pitched and promote an interesting concept. Typically, though the fundraising platforms don’t typically lend themselves to the “fund my life,” instant cash type of situation because, well, that’d be too easy.
Sell your stuff on Online Marketplaces
Earning cash online can be as simple as cleaning up the attic or as complex as a business run out of your living room. The best online marketplace for you, however, depends on your intent. Selling on Craigslist or eBay are the old standbys, which is best for unloading unwanted objects in your attic. Check out our guide on how to sell anything on eBay and how to write a great craigslist ad. Consider alternative options, though, if you’re hoping to sustain any kind of business. Both Amazon and Rauken allow users to create an “online storefront” which is useful for jump starting your business or brand or, heck, unloading those boxes of Tupperware you’ve got stocked in your garage. We won’t bother to go through the specifics of selling on Amazon and Rauken since both sites have done a pretty good job explaining their marketplace. We would encourage new sellers to start by peddling old things of their own, then move onto buying to sell, it if strikes their fancy.
Take Surveys
Yes, these things are still around. Believe it or not, companies do actually want to hear what you have to say but you just won’t make a mint doing it. You’ll have to spend anywhere from a few seconds to a few hours filling out multiple choice and short answer survey questions. While many sites directly translated the amount of surveys taken to dollars, many now offer reward points that can be redeemed for items, sweepstakes entries, and cash. Since this particular form of at-home moneymaking has attracted quite a bit of attention for its relative ease, you’ll have to sift through some sleazy unprofessional companies to find the ones that actually pay, but they’re out there. Some of the most frequently recommended sites include Survey Spot and American Consumer Opinion.
Freelance
More than ever, companies are outsourcing their projects via crowdsourcing platforms. Whether you can readily translate documents between Spanish and English, design a new wine bottle label, or Photoshop adorable cat photos, someone out there is probably willing to have you work on their projects. The digital nature of most freelance work means you can safely work with companies and individuals thousands of miles away. Sites like CrowdSpring and GetAFreelancer all make it possible to peruse tasks companies need completed. Find something you can do, and get to work. Like all things online, pay attention to who you’re dealing with, though, because you don’t want to sweat whether there’s actually a paycheck in the mail when all is said and done. The best sites offer feedback for both freelancers and the companies they work for, so you can be assured you’re dealing with someone reputable.
Blog
The Web has what amounts to a nearly unlimited supply of assignments for aspiring writers. Most aspiring writers blog for fun, or as an outlet, but the most successful, well-read bloggers can actually turn a profit doing it by adding advertisements. Check out our article on WordPress vs. Tumblr vs. Blogger. Google AdSense, for instance, will display targeted text ads relevant to what you write about, and cut you in on the profit. Amazon’s Affiliate program also will display targeted text ads relevant to your blog content. Of course, only a small percentage of writers can generate enough traffic to make that a useful tactic, but several other sites offer writers the chance to turn a buck without going the traditional freelance route or blogging 24 hours a day. For instance, sites like Amazon Direct Publishing and Lulu offer writers the chance to quite literally publish whatever they want and use popular marketplaces like Amazon.com and iBooks App, then collect a paycheck based on the popularity of the finished, published work. Your languishing degree in anthropology may not be the best ticket to a hot article, but knowing how to pen a 10 page e-pamphlet on managing your Facebook profile might.
For more tips on how to make money online, visit my FB page and also follow me on Twitter.
Regardless of your employment status and work experience, there are real answers on the internet to tide you over until your dream gig opens up. The Web has grown up in the last ten years. There’s still a Noah’s arc-load of weird porn and (p)awful cat memes, but making money online isn’t such a ridiculous idea anymore. Granted, you’ll still have to make it past the hordes of scams that offer too-good-to-be-true methods for making money at home.
Those with more modest aspirations (sorry, no condos in Florida) can actually tuck a bit of money away with a little legwork and some hours in front of the PC, all without actually getting a full-time job. Yes, you’ll have to give up your afternoon Mad Men marathons, but if you’re looking to sack away a little extra money this month, here are a few ways you can do it online.
Amazon Mechanical Turk
Amazon’s innovative labor-for-hire marketplace derives its name from an 18th century device that appeared to play chess by mechanical workings alone, but in fact was operated by a human hidden within. The concept here: You’re the human, and companies will pay you to perform simple tasks that are simply impossible to automate. Okay, so “M Turk” is a little dated but it still gets the job done and it’s one of the first examples of effective crowdsourcing. (Tasks are known as HITs for Human Intelligence Tasks). For instance, you could be called upon for anything from taking photos of the Under Armour displays at Dick’s Sporting Goods to reviewing a new iPhone app (both of which are real, we can’t make this stuff up). Some tasks pay a few dollars while some pay a few cents, but in general you can expect a lot of repetitive work that businesses out don’t have the labor or patience to perform themselves. Throw on some music, do it from your porch on a sunny day with a laptop, and you might not even mind as you rack up the rewards.
Invest in Cryptocurrency
The always volatile and unregulated cryptocurrency is a perfect example of a “high risk” investment and is probably not the kind of investment that an unemployed strapped-for-cash reader should make. That said, people are getting rich with Bitcoin. According to the Bitcoin Rich List, the wealthiest user has what translates to 80 million USD in Bitcoin. In early 2013, one Bitcoin cost as little as $13. It took less than a year for the price to jump to over $900. The uses for Bitcoin is still limited. There is, however, a growing number of companies and services that have begun to accept Bitcoin. Check out our article on how to exchange your regulated currency for bitcoin.
Blow up on Social Networks
Maybe you’re looking to make some money or score some free deals with your YouTube or Instagram posts. Let me be the first to tell you, it’s possible. All those videos of cats and artsy-filter improved shots of your brunch are definitely achievable. For instance, Instagram’s Popular Pays App gives you social currency based on the amount of your followers which you can use to cash in for anything from free coffee to skydiving. The App is looking to expand, but for now it’s only located in Chicago. The same money making potential is there for YouTube as well. Producing an engaging and original video can skyrocket you to stardom and while netting you a tidy sum. Check out our complete how-to guides to making money on YouTube and Instagram. Or start creating some engaging posts online and you may find your Facebook group leading to ad revenue, t-shirt sales, and you’re very own TV show, as was the case for Elise Andrew’s “I F**king Love Science.” Or perhaps a collection of funny tweets could land you a gig writing jokes for late night talk shows. As others have shown, social media has spawned new ways to start a business or audition for a job.
Crowdfund your Idea
Key word here is Fund. There’s a whole world of backers out there that are waiting to give money to your project. Maybe not, but let’s say you have a special talent that you’d like to convert into a business and you need some financial backing. Crowdfunding platforms could be a way to make a dent in fundraising and ultimately get started on making money. Two good crowdfunding platforms are Kickstarter and Indiegogo but they have pretty different approaches to fundraising. Kickstarter has a pretty good track record; successfully funding nearly half of the projects. Indiegogo doesn’t make their numbers available, presumably it’s a bit less than kickstarter. Before getting started, take note of the differing approaches to the crowdfunding platforms. Here are kickstarter’s guidlines and indiegogo’s guidlenes. It goes without saying, the best crowdfunding projects are the ones that are well pitched and promote an interesting concept. Typically, though the fundraising platforms don’t typically lend themselves to the “fund my life,” instant cash type of situation because, well, that’d be too easy.
Sell your stuff on Online Marketplaces
Earning cash online can be as simple as cleaning up the attic or as complex as a business run out of your living room. The best online marketplace for you, however, depends on your intent. Selling on Craigslist or eBay are the old standbys, which is best for unloading unwanted objects in your attic. Check out our guide on how to sell anything on eBay and how to write a great craigslist ad. Consider alternative options, though, if you’re hoping to sustain any kind of business. Both Amazon and Rauken allow users to create an “online storefront” which is useful for jump starting your business or brand or, heck, unloading those boxes of Tupperware you’ve got stocked in your garage. We won’t bother to go through the specifics of selling on Amazon and Rauken since both sites have done a pretty good job explaining their marketplace. We would encourage new sellers to start by peddling old things of their own, then move onto buying to sell, it if strikes their fancy.
Take Surveys
Yes, these things are still around. Believe it or not, companies do actually want to hear what you have to say but you just won’t make a mint doing it. You’ll have to spend anywhere from a few seconds to a few hours filling out multiple choice and short answer survey questions. While many sites directly translated the amount of surveys taken to dollars, many now offer reward points that can be redeemed for items, sweepstakes entries, and cash. Since this particular form of at-home moneymaking has attracted quite a bit of attention for its relative ease, you’ll have to sift through some sleazy unprofessional companies to find the ones that actually pay, but they’re out there. Some of the most frequently recommended sites include Survey Spot and American Consumer Opinion.
Freelance
More than ever, companies are outsourcing their projects via crowdsourcing platforms. Whether you can readily translate documents between Spanish and English, design a new wine bottle label, or Photoshop adorable cat photos, someone out there is probably willing to have you work on their projects. The digital nature of most freelance work means you can safely work with companies and individuals thousands of miles away. Sites like CrowdSpring and GetAFreelancer all make it possible to peruse tasks companies need completed. Find something you can do, and get to work. Like all things online, pay attention to who you’re dealing with, though, because you don’t want to sweat whether there’s actually a paycheck in the mail when all is said and done. The best sites offer feedback for both freelancers and the companies they work for, so you can be assured you’re dealing with someone reputable.
Blog
The Web has what amounts to a nearly unlimited supply of assignments for aspiring writers. Most aspiring writers blog for fun, or as an outlet, but the most successful, well-read bloggers can actually turn a profit doing it by adding advertisements. Check out our article on WordPress vs. Tumblr vs. Blogger. Google AdSense, for instance, will display targeted text ads relevant to what you write about, and cut you in on the profit. Amazon’s Affiliate program also will display targeted text ads relevant to your blog content. Of course, only a small percentage of writers can generate enough traffic to make that a useful tactic, but several other sites offer writers the chance to turn a buck without going the traditional freelance route or blogging 24 hours a day. For instance, sites like Amazon Direct Publishing and Lulu offer writers the chance to quite literally publish whatever they want and use popular marketplaces like Amazon.com and iBooks App, then collect a paycheck based on the popularity of the finished, published work. Your languishing degree in anthropology may not be the best ticket to a hot article, but knowing how to pen a 10 page e-pamphlet on managing your Facebook profile might.
For more tips on how to make money online, visit my FB page and also follow me on Twitter.
Monday, 1 June 2015
30 Clever Ways to Make Money Online
You have no doubt heard or read about making money online with your
desktop PC or laptop. You may also realize that many of these ads,
whether online or tacked to a telephone pole, are bogus. The catch is
typically that you have to send to learn how or register with these
companies, and often these offers are outright scams.
However,
there are legitimate websites and organizations that will pay you fairly
for your work. Most of these sites offer low compensation but are also
low-investment, so at least your bank account does not start in the hole
before you have earned a dime. Here are 30 ideas to start making money
online.
1. Get Paid to Take Surveys
Do you enjoy taking surveys? Some
companies will pay people to take surveys so that they can gather
valuable consumer and user data. It might not be the most interesting
way to make a buck, but you can find websites like CashbackResearch.com
that offer cash for your opinions.
2. Create a Winning Blog
Writing
entertaining, interesting blog posts can generate cash for you through
ads, affiliate links and other revenue options. Your blogging success
will depend on your writing talent, whether your blog covers a popular
subject and the popularity of the links you include (whether backlinks
or pay-per-click links, like Google AdWords).
3. Sell Your Stuff on eBay or a Similar Outlet
The
dramatic growth and success of eBay has spawned many competitors
featuring auctions or online marketplaces for diverse items. Whether you
want to clean out your closet and sell your designer clothing online, or develop a high-volume online store, you can make extra money or big dollars on these sites.
4. Sign up for Amazon Mechanical Turk.
You
probably will not get rich completing typical tasks for the "Turk," but
you can make extra income if you are willing to perform simple tasks
for clients.
5. Sell Older Electronics
Do you have a
compute, laptop or cell phone you no longer use? These and other tech
items, although built with former generation features, often have value
to others.
6. List Household Items on Craigslist
Free to
join and devoid of listing or selling fees, Craigslist sales can be
local or national. From kitchenware to baby furniture to jobs, you can
list almost anything for sale on this site.
7. Self-Publish Kindle Digital Books
IIf
you love to write and believe you can write an entertaining fiction or
non-fiction book, consider authoring and publishing a digital book
through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform.
8. Create Niche Websites Featuring Google AdSense Ads
Creating
popular niche sites can grab visitors looking for specialized
information, and adding Google AdSense advertising links can be a great
way to monetize the site.
9. Upload YouTube Videos and Get Paid for Ad Views
You
don't need to invest in expensive video equipment. Just learn how to
use your smartphone’s video capability to upload entertaining or
informative videos and opt to have ads play before your videos to get a
bit of cash for each video view — that's how YouTube star PewDiePie earned $4 million in one year.
10. Design useful apps for mobile devices
If
you design a wildly popular app (which is harder than it sounds), you
might be pleasantly surprised with the income they generate. Offering
one or more apps at the iTunes or Android app store gives your creations
wide exposure to prospects, and income can be generated by charging for
the app, displaying in-app ads, or charging for in-app features and
upgrades.
11. Sell Your Time and Talents
A site such as
Fiverr promotes members’ talent in multiple disciplines and connects
them to people looking to pay for those skills. For example, should you
be a digital photo editing guru, you might find freelance projects you
can complete for compensation.
12. Sell the Use of Your Photos, Videos and Other Media
Some
sites allow you to sell your prized photos, video b-roll, original
music or illustrations, while giving you the option of licensing resale
rights for free. This will give you royalties for each use of your
photos, videos or music and result in longer-term residual income.
13. Sell Your Original Instagram Photos for Profit
While
you can share your social media photos on Instagram, you can also sell
prints of your photos for profit on Instaprints.com and similar sites.
14. Sell Your Knowledge on a Website
Do
you have in depth expertise about a specific hobby or any other
subject? You could create a website that offers your expertise to others
for a price, like offering a music lesson over Skype for a fee or
charging for access to a series of video lessons on gardening. You can
make extra income or become wildly successful with this method of making
money online.
15. Become an Amazon Associate
This program
allows you to earn money by including affiliate links to different
products offered by Amazon. When a visitor views your blogs or social
media pages and clicks through the Amazon links on your site, you will
earn commissions from Amazon on products bought during that session.
16. Become an Internet Life Coach
Because
of the strong interest in quality of life and work-life balance issues,
life coaches have become popular in recent years. Unlike the
intellectual demands of becoming a technical or executive coach, life
coaching can be successful if you possess common sense, a respect for
family and a commitment to enjoy life to the max every day and helping
others do the same.
17. Promote Commercial Organizations on Social Media Pages
Many
major retailers will pay you for promoting their businesses on your
websites and social media pages. For example, electronics retailer Best
Buy offers gift cards and products for people promoting Best Buy’s
products on their blogs or social media pages.
18. Promote Businesses, Products and Services Via Affiliate Programs
If
you have a website or blog site, you can make money through
affiliations with other businesses and sites, which will pay a
percentage of sales you generate for the affiliate company.
19. Sell Handmade Items and Crafts Online
For
those who like to make handcrafted items, websites such as Etsy are
ideal to make some money off of such hobbies. Dedicated handcrafters
should check Etsy and similar sites to find the best fit for their
products.
20. Become a Virtual Assistant
There are
freelance sites, such as the popular oDesk, that often have jobs for
virtual assistants. Just as with physical assistant positions, you will
get paid for helping executives with a wide variety of tasks.
21. Become a Freelance Writer
Do
you have a passion for writing? Do you believe you have some writing
talent? If earning money by writing gets your blood moving, there are
numerous websites offering assignments for aspiring and experienced
writers alike.
22. Sell Customized T-shirts Online
Selling
graphic t-shirts is big business. Customized t-shirts with clever
sayings or graphics are ideal for online sales. Sites like Teespring
allow you to sell customer shirts. Teespring's unique model allows you
to design the shirt, get buyers lined up to purchase, and then actually
produces the design and ship it to buyers. This save you from the
initial investment in stock and the time on processing and shipping
orders, though you'll likely make a smaller profit on each shirt sold.
23. Become a Third-Party Seller on Amazon
If
you’ve visited Amazon, you have seen products sold by third-parties
with the comment “ships from Amazon.” These are sellers who send their
products to Amazon fulfillment facilities, then Amazon lists the item
and ships it when a buyer is found. It's a great way to resell like-new
items like video games, textbooks and more.
24. Buy Local and Resell Online
Another
great way to make money is to find things in your area that are free or
cheap and then sell them online. Many people hunt through local thrift
stores for rare collectibles, vintage styles or cheap-as-dirt books or
media to mark up and resell online.
25. Design Websites for a Fee
If
you have an interest or skill in web development, there is a big demand
for designers to build winning sites for businesses or organizations.
Sites like eLance.com are a good place to start to find clients and
build your portfolio.
26. Promote Products on Your Website
Sites
like SocialSpark offer bloggers cash or free trips for authoring and
posting original copy about products or services to their sites.Just
make sure to pay attention to FCC disclosure requirements when you're
getting paid to promote.
27. Buy Domain Names for Resale
Some
people have made big dollars by owning desired domains and selling them
to hungry buyers. For a minimum investment of buying domain names you
feel will be popular (typically $10 to $20), you might make a big profit
selling it down the line.
28. Rent Available Space in Your Driveway or Reserved Parking Spot
Parking
is at a premium in most thriving cities. Renting an unused space in
your driveway or vacant deeded parking space can generate additional
income. Advertising availability on Craigslist exposes this opportunity
to local people, and up-and-coming apps like JustPark and Park Circa
also allow you to easily rent out your parking space when it's not in
use.
29. Provide Online Tutoring
Sites
like Tutor.com and TutorVista.com will connect you with people looking
for help learning a subject, and you might be in particularly high
demand if you're good with math, science or a foreign language. You have
to go through an application process, and once you're approved you can
start getting paid.
30. Teach an Online Course
Sites like
Udemy connect experts with people willing to pay to learn from them.
Running an online course can get you $200 a month or more if you promote
your courses well, reports Udemy.
Make money writing online: Tips and resources
So you have a knack for writing and now you’d like to get paid? While web-based publications were once considered a passing fad, it is clear that they are here to stay. This content boom also includes print publications that publish additional material online. Further, consider this: Every business with a website needs copy. Most need an abundance of it. According to Brian A. Klems of Writer’s Digest, “countless corporations, nonprofits and even small companies are turning to web-savvy writers as they look to appeal to consumers through blog posts, articles and other content supplementing their products and services.”
Here are some tips to tap into these lucrative and expanding markets.
First, sign up with sites that offer free access to listings of online writing opportunities. Some examples include Elance.com, GorkanaJobs.com, Upwork.com, Mediabistro.com, JournalismJobs.com, Online-Writing-Jobs.com and FreelanceWritingGigs.com.
Invest in subscriptions to more specialized sites designed for freelancers seeking work. Many newer writers feel scared when they see the access fees. However, the return on your investment can become fruitful very quickly. FreelanceSuccess.com is one of the best. This weekly newsletter costs $99 and provides a market guide and access to an online community of subscribers for networking. FreelanceSwitch.com charges a $7 per month fee. It offers job postings for online writers as well as web developers and designers. Writers-Editors.com offers free content, but you can also receive its monthly newsletter full of paying markets, many of which are web-based, for an annual fee of $29.
Network online. Try a combination of market searches that include reading the forums of writer networking groups. I run a group called “Support for Authors” on Facebook with Nampa-based Aspen Morrow of Pottenger Press. Such platforms offer firsthand insight from fellow writers who are well-known and respected in the field. They also offer the valuable path to editor and writer referrals. Getting a foot in the door in this fashion can put your name above the others.
Connect in person. Attend industry events in their specialties to make more personal connections. For example, Bri Clark hosts mastermind writing and publishing workshops in Meridian. Her House of Belle Press is accepting manuscripts. Face-to-face contact pays off because when someone has an opening, you’ll be more likely to hear about it early on instead of being one of many faceless writers who later responds to a posting.
Be a ghostwriter. There are authors, business owners, entertainers and tons of others who want to tweet on Twitter, write blogs and be seen everywhere. Fortunately (for you), they don’t have the time. A lot of money is spent each year on social ghosting.
Blog. This has recently become one of the popular alternatives of individuals who desire to earn money on the Internet. Blogging has become so common that eight out of every 10 people who use the Internet regularly have a blog. There are several ways to monetize a blog. Google Ad Sense and other advertising services, local advertisements and affiliate marketing are just a few.
Here are some tips to tap into these lucrative and expanding markets.
First, sign up with sites that offer free access to listings of online writing opportunities. Some examples include Elance.com, GorkanaJobs.com, Upwork.com, Mediabistro.com, JournalismJobs.com, Online-Writing-Jobs.com and FreelanceWritingGigs.com.
Invest in subscriptions to more specialized sites designed for freelancers seeking work. Many newer writers feel scared when they see the access fees. However, the return on your investment can become fruitful very quickly. FreelanceSuccess.com is one of the best. This weekly newsletter costs $99 and provides a market guide and access to an online community of subscribers for networking. FreelanceSwitch.com charges a $7 per month fee. It offers job postings for online writers as well as web developers and designers. Writers-Editors.com offers free content, but you can also receive its monthly newsletter full of paying markets, many of which are web-based, for an annual fee of $29.
Network online. Try a combination of market searches that include reading the forums of writer networking groups. I run a group called “Support for Authors” on Facebook with Nampa-based Aspen Morrow of Pottenger Press. Such platforms offer firsthand insight from fellow writers who are well-known and respected in the field. They also offer the valuable path to editor and writer referrals. Getting a foot in the door in this fashion can put your name above the others.
Connect in person. Attend industry events in their specialties to make more personal connections. For example, Bri Clark hosts mastermind writing and publishing workshops in Meridian. Her House of Belle Press is accepting manuscripts. Face-to-face contact pays off because when someone has an opening, you’ll be more likely to hear about it early on instead of being one of many faceless writers who later responds to a posting.
Be a ghostwriter. There are authors, business owners, entertainers and tons of others who want to tweet on Twitter, write blogs and be seen everywhere. Fortunately (for you), they don’t have the time. A lot of money is spent each year on social ghosting.
Blog. This has recently become one of the popular alternatives of individuals who desire to earn money on the Internet. Blogging has become so common that eight out of every 10 people who use the Internet regularly have a blog. There are several ways to monetize a blog. Google Ad Sense and other advertising services, local advertisements and affiliate marketing are just a few.
Among affiliate marketing programs,
Amazon is my favorite. Writers can choose from over a million products
to advertise to your customers. They have simple linking tools for
operations of all sizes to help monetize your sites.
I
have posted several articles on HubPages. They share advertising
revenue for high-quality, user-generated content. The interface allows
members to create individual pages on specific topics.
Finally,
for a great example of someone who has integrated her life, work and
publications into modern media platforms, do a web search for Dr. Mary
Pritchard, Boise State University. Dr. Pritchard is a professor of
psychology. This awesome writer reflects the best practices for getting
out a great message and really reaching a market.
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