(by Wikihow)
Five Methods: Quick Ways to Make Money OnlineMake Money through Online MarketingMake Money through Online ContentMake Money through Online SalesPointers when Working Online
Although the global market has not
yet reached “Jetson” caliber with people flying to the office in compact
spaceships, it has evolved to allow workers to never have leave the comfort of
their own computer. Below you’ll find a variety of ways to make money online as
well as general advice for anyone who wants to succeed in the online world.
Method 1 of 5: Quick Ways to Make Money Online
1. Flip domain names. Domain names are valuable internet
real estate and some people actually make a nice living off of buying and
selling them. One strategy is to use Google Adwords to find keywords that are
trending and use that information to buy domain names that you think may soon
be in demand. However, since short, snappy, or straightforward domain names
have already been mostly snatched up, you can also get lucky buying domain names
that are random acronyms, as you never know when a person or company with those
exact initials will decide to set up a website. (CPC.com, for example, sold for
over $200,000 when Contract Pharmaceutical Corporation decided to go online.[1] Not bad for three letters.) For more advice, read How to Buy a Cheap
Domain Name.
2. Do online surveys. Online surveys won’t earn you much
apiece, but they don’t eat up much time either and can add up when you need
cash in a pinch. Read How to
Make Money with Free Online Surveys for more advice.
3. Transcribe audio. Websites are getting better and
better about providing written transcripts for the hearing impaired, meaning
that transcriber jobs pop up fairly regularly. Transcribing is generally low
paying but is also easy, fast, and doesn’t require much commitment. Check
eLance or oDesk for current transcription postings.
4. Edit audio. If you have and know how to use
sound-editing software, you can clean up webcasts and interviews before they go
online. Again, look at a site like eLance or oDesk for opportunities.
5. Enter contests. Since you won’t get paid unless
your entry wins, search for a wide range of free contests in a field
where you’re already have a lot of possible entries (ex. photos, logo-making,
background design) and submit your work to as many places as will have you. It
might take a day to get through all of them, but even a few small successes
(or, preferably, a great big one) will make up for it. The experience might
even steer you in a new creative direction.
Method 2 of 5: Make Money through
Online Marketing
1.
Become an affiliate marketer. This is a great way to make money
for promoting someone else’s products or services without having to carry any
inventory. Affiliate advertisements are usually incorporated into your
website/blog/page via linked articles (great when your content is strong and
compelling, but must be done carefully to avoid looking spammy), product-placement
videos (great if you’re funny or have performance talent), or, less and less
commonly, banner ads (pretty ineffective, as most people avoid these like the
plague). If necessary, you can also become
an affiliate marketer without a website (by posting videos on
YouTube containing links to the product, for example). Check out a site like
Commission Junction for possible products and services.
- If you have a lot of traffic,
you might want to do cost-per-click advertising, which doesn’t earn you
much per click but banks on the fact that the sheer number of visitors
will build your revenue.
- If you have very strong
content, you might want to do cost-per-acquisition advertising, which
makes you a decent commission (either a fixed amount or a commission,
depending on what you’ve pre-agreed to) every time someone on your site
makes a purchase with your affiliate company.
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2.
Become an online
mystery shopper. Most people have
heard of mystery shoppers in the real world, but with the shift to virtual
business, it’s becoming more and more common to send mystery shoppers
online-hunting. If you’re just starting out, be prepared to front the cost of
your purchases, as your reimbursement will depend on whether or not you are a
capable mystery shopper.
3.
Do webinar marketing. This is simply seminar marketing
done online – except that it’s much cheaper than doing actual seminars and
doesn’t require repeat performances. If you’re an authority on a subject that
others would be willing to pay to learn more about, record yourself giving a
talk about it in a professional location (traditionally a conference room,
though this may change depending on your subject), post it on your website, and
advertise.
4.
Refer other professionals for jobs. If you know somebody whose skill
and work ethic you’re willing to stand behind, consider referring them to a
prospective employer. If that person gets hired, you stand to make anywhere
between fifty and a few thousand dollars depending on the position. Check out a
site like ReferEarns or WhoDoYouKnowForDough for more information.
Method 3 of 5: Make Money through Online Content
1.
Sell your music. A few years ago, Radiohead made
headlines by selling its latest album via its own website and raking in the
dough – for donations, no less. Though your act might not have Radiohead status
(yet), many small, independent, and even big-name acts have followed suit: as
it turns out, a handful of sales with no middleman adds up to a lot more than
what most artists end up with once the record industry has gotten its “dues.”
2 . Become a
freelance designer. Create a website
showcasing your portfolio and build a client list by finding work in the online
classifieds. Though it takes more time to get established doing business this
way, you can set your own prices and won’t have to share your profits with the
graphic design house.
3. Sell stock photos. This is a good way to make money while pursuing a fun hobby.
Since people search for stock photos by keyword, your work will be on the same
playing field as everyone else’s, meaning you should submit any photo you think
is decent. Once it has posted, your work is done, and while you won’t generally
make much per sale, having a good number of photos can mean accumulating a nice
monthly side income with virtually no upkeep. iStockphoto, ShutterStock, and
Fotolia are a few good places to shop around.
4. Sell an ebook. eBooks are not for everyone, but if you’ve ever found an
innovative solution to a desperate situation and wished you could have simply
paid someone to give you the answer sooner, it’s likely there’s a market out
there for an ebook on the subject. Shop around to see what else is available
and look for people posting in forums with similar issues. Don’t waste your
time writing an ebook about something someone can readily find answers to; it’s
something you want to reserve for people who are at their wit’s end.
5.
Sell an app. In a multi-million-person
marketplace, $1 or 2 per sale can go a long way. If you have a great concept
but no programming know-how, it might even be worth it to hire a programmer.
Just make sure you shop around for similar ideas, find ways to one-up your
competition, and comply with the rules of the company on whose devices you’d
sell the apps.
6.
Sell articles. Lots of small businesses, websites,
and marketers need good written content and smooth keyword integration to help
them get more traffic. Though you won’t make much to start with, most articles
will only be 200 to 300 words, which are a snap to crank out. As you prove
yourself to be capable, you can start charging more for your services. If
you’re a skilled writer, you might even try submitting your work to formal
publications.
Method 4 of 5: Make Money through Online Sales
1.
Create an online store. Selling online is especially useful
if you have a niche item that can’t attract enough business to survive in a
physical location, but of course online stores for everyday items aren’t going
anywhere, either. If you aren’t particularly web-savvy or can be bothered to
maintain a website, you can set up shop on a site like eBay or CafePress (for a fee). Otherwise, you can
hire someone to design a website for you or even make your own.
2.
Create a virtual store. Believe it or not, vendors selling
virtual items from within online games can make money in the real world. By
creating an avatar of yourself and setting up shop, you can do business with
other players (or even just advertise your real-world business). Of course, you
must first find a game that allows it and pay to set it up, but once you’re in,
you can reach a huge range of people in various age groups and locations around
the world. MMORPGs (massive, multiplayer online role-playing games) are
especially good places to do this.
Method 5 of 5: Pointers when Working Online
1.
Make a good first impression no matter which type of online
endeavor you attempt. As with any business, your brand (web site, store, virtual
portfolio etc.) must grab the prospects attention, enticing and encouraging
him/her to learn more. A strong brand should include intelligently and insightfully
written copy, a description of your offering, product overview, news and
information and numerous opportunities to respond (call to action).
- Differentiate your
product/service from the competition. Consider what makes your business
unique by focusing on the brand, the specific suite of services and how
the product or service will solve the customer’s problem. Punctuate these
differentiating factors in order to set your brand apart from the rest.
- Maintain a friendly,
approachable tone. You want to invite your customer to interact with you
so be sure that while the copy on your site or portfolio should be
informative, it should also communicate a friendly tone that will
motivate communication and interaction with your customers.
- Have a solid contract with
your partner company. Enlist the assistance of an attorney or have a
lawyer review your partner company’s contract so you know how you will be
paid and the basis for payment (for example if it based on produced work,
solid sales, sign ups, conversions, referrals, etc.).
- Follow up with clients after
an initial interaction. Because you haven’t had the benefit of
face-to-face meeting, you will need to be proactive (but not a stalker)
online. After an initial meeting with a client, send a thank you email a
few days later to remind the client about your meeting. Open the floor to
additional questions and let your prospective client know you are excited
about the possibility of serving him/her.
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2.
Optimize your skills and knowledge in order to create a
strong online presence. Although you may be a talented salesperson or graphic
designer, you may not know how those talents will translate online.
- Take an search engine
optimization course. Either online or possibly offered at your local
community college, learning about search engine optimization (SEO) is an
important component to a successful online career. SEO training will
teach you how to position your brand or store higher on Google search
engine rankings so your business is hit first when potential clients are
performing a search.
- Write a business plan. Even if
the business plan will never leave your computer, creating a plan will
give you specific direction and goals, which will help you stay on track
and focused.
- Consult with experts. If you
have a friend or colleague who has had success making money online, tap
into his/her knowledge and experience. Find out what has worked well or
what he/she has tried that bombed. Extract as much knowledge and insight
to help guide you in how you will create your online business.
3.
Make sure you have the dedication and focus to work
independently. If you plan to make your online money making endeavor a
success, you must have what it takes to manage your time and be dedicated to
your craft.
- Examine your financial needs.
Do you need to make a large income or are you interested in making money
online just to have some mad money? The level of required income will
most likely dictate the amount of time and effort you’ll need to spend
making your online business a success.
- Evaluate the amount of time
you can dedicate to your online business. Are you a stay-at-home mom with
two small children and a demanding school and housekeeping schedule or
are you single with no strings attached (or somewhere in between)?
Identify the hours during the day you can commit to your business and
compare those hours to the amount of money you need to make. Typically,
especially with some businesses, the earlier months and years are considerably
more time consuming, especially if you are building a client list.
- Be honest about your work
habits. Are you a self starter, motivated enough to stay on task and work
without having a boss check on you, or are you easily distracted by the
phone, kids or other environmental disturbances? Working online takes a
tremendous amount of motivation and focus in order to reach your cash
generating goals.
Warnings
- Do your research before signing
up for any type of online program. If the company asks for money as a
“start up” or provides you with a contractual agreement, do your research
by scanning Consumer Reports and obtain other reviews about the company.
Predatory online companies, posing as legitimate online money making
opportunities may be out to grab some quick cash but then leave you
without the actual prospect of making money.
Sources and Citations
- ↑ Forbes.com on flipping domain names