I absolutely believe the "average" person can make legitimate income online. I believe it because I've done it myself. At the beginning of 2010 I was not making any significant money online. Less than two years later, my husband quit his job and my online income now supports us. (My current income streams are listed on my Tools I Use page if you're interested.)
The crucial first step
If you want to make money online, my first recommendation is to start a blog or website. Let it serve as your internet home and branch out from there. Your own site is a must these days if you want to work online. Not sure how to do that? No problem, here's my step by step guide: How to Start a Blog or Website.
Once you've got yourself set up with a site, it's time to work. And when I say work, I mean it. Making money online is not a way to get rich quick. If anyone tells you differently, be extremely skeptical. Still, you can do it!
1. Turn your skill(s) into a service online.
If you have a skill (who doesn't?), why not offer your services via the internet (a.k.a. virtually)? From counseling to administrative assistance to design to consulting and anything in between, thousands of people (myself included) are taking advantage of the internet to grow viable businesses from home. I highly, highly, highly recommend The Bootstrap VA: The Go-Getter's Guide to Becoming a Virtual Assistant, Getting and Keeping Clients, and More!, an ebook by Lisa Morosky. This ebook blew my mind; it's loaded with tips, resources and step-by-step instruction. It's a steal at $12.99–it's like a college course! Seriously, if you're thinking about offering a service online, do yourself a favor and make this your first business investment.
2. Generate income directly from your site.
Niche blogs or websites are sites that offer some sort of helpful or entertaining information to a highly-targeted group of people. Sometimes it involves doing keyword research to find out what people are searching for in the search engines and tailoring your site to be the go-to place for that search.
If you have a highly-specialized interest with accompanying expertise you can share your knowledge and generate income from it. How? Advertising or affiliate marketing.
The absolute best tool for keyword research is Market Samurai. I know, because I'm a paying customer. If you want to see how it works, check out their very informative tutorial videos. Highly recommended.
3. Sell on Etsy.
Are you crafty? Consider selling on Etsy. You can set up your own shop for free and it's simple to get started. It's not so simple to stand out from the crowd, so that's likely to be your biggest challenge. Here are some tips on how to market your shop.
4. Write for someone else.
The advantage of writing for other sites is that you get to be a part of something that's already established. Also, you don't have to worry about the technical aspects of running and maintaining your own site.
Write for Squidoo. Here's one woman's story. Or write for eHow and make $15-$20 per hour. Become a guide (compensation at least $500/mo) or contributing writer (compensation at least $250/mo) at About.com. At the time of this writing, they're looking for guides for Breastfeeding, Home Furnishings and Country Music. They're looking for contributing writers for Soul Food, Wedding Planning, Children's Activites and Digital Scrapbooking. To name a few.
5. Are you a photographer? Illustrator?
Why not sell your photos on a site like iStockphoto? SomeGirl has an excellent series about how to become an iStockphoto seller. A significant portion of her family's income comes from selling photos.
6. Like to travel?
This is clearly not for everyone, but I throw it out there because I think it's cool and it demonstrates the freedom of working online. If you have the flexibility to travel, be a guide for The Lonely Planet like Gayle who lives in Ghana. Speaking of travel, more and more people are becoming "Location Independent" meaning, their home is wherever they feel like going next. Check out Lea & Jonathan's story.
7. Create and sell your own tangible products (not necessarily the handmade kind).
If you have an idea for a product you'd like to sell but aren't sure where to start, this couple tells you how they started selling wedding linens online. Their Online Store Tutorials are particularly helpful.
8. Write a book. Better yet, write an ebook.
Many bloggers have dreams of being published authors. Many have indeed accomplished that goal and their blogs were a major catalyst in doing so. If that's you, then write and write well. Get involved in online writing communities like National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Follow a blogger like Rachelle Gardner, a literary agent who explains the ins and outs of getting published the "traditional" way. I also recommend following Michael Hyatt, former CEO of Thomas Nelson (the biggest Christian publisher as of 2010). If that doesn't work for you and you'd like to self-publish, try Lulu or CreateSpace (from Amazon).
But don't overlook ebooks! Their popularity is on the rise and they are simple to create. I turned down a traditional book deal in favor of self-publishing. My ebook, Tell Your Time, started out as an experiment and has turned into something I never imagined. I've sold thousands of copies and counting. This has turned into one of my biggest income streams. Check out my How to Write an Ebook series to see how I did it and all the steps involved.
Would you say this post was helpful? Gave you some good ideas? If so, I'd be most obliged if you'd give me a thumbs up on Stumble Upon (or shared it via the links below)! Thank you!
There's lot more in part 2, Even More Ways To Make Money Online. And if you have any tips or ideas, by all means, share in the comments!
Disclosure: I am compensated for purchases made via the referral links in this post. Here's my disclosure policy.
I like associated content for most of my online writing. I get paid $3-$8 per article, plus page views. It's great for me because I can write how much or little I want.
I don't get paid for referrals there so I'm just sharing out of the kindness of my heart. ^_^
Thanks for the tip about Associated Content! Just for clarification, you get $3-$8 per article and then you get paid about $1.50 CPM correct? (For anyone who's unfamiliar with CPM, I explain it here.) In a nutshell, you get paid upfront for the article ($3-$8) and then every time your article is viewed 1000 times, you get paid another $1.50. It might not sound like much, however, those pageviews could add up. You can read the stories of some top earners on this page (scroll down to the bottom).
Would love to hear more of your tips or your experience SAP!
GREAT tutorial I will share with my readers who are ALWAYS asking me about this and I try to give them the "short answer" FINALLY someone has done what has been in my head to do! THANK YOU!
I learn so much from your blog, Amy! It's the only one in my inbox that I read almost each time it shows up.
Even though I'm happy with my reviewing hobby and my mommy blog for now, I'll want to be making money online eventually. And that breastfeeding guide opportunity sounds wonderful….
Blessings!
Annie Kate
Amy, Thanks so much for all your hard work all the time!
I feel like I've reached a level in my blogging and I need to jump up to the next level. I've been dreaming of starting a book and writing for other sites, this is perfect!
Thanks again!
~Liz
GREAT POST!!!!! I will be featuring it on mine later this week and woul like to add your link to my site so my visitors can see!! what a wealth of knowledge you shared!
Hey Amy – thanks for the shoutout! I'd say the biggest two tips for anyone aspiring to be a VA are:
1. Specialize. If you go in as just a general, administrative VA whose clients could be anyone – you'll have trouble. There's too much competition. Find one group of people and cater specifically to them. And the options are plentiful. There are VAs for lawyers, real estate agents, authors, and the list goes on.
2. Don't try to compete with overseas labor, and don't try to compete solely on price. Compete based on your experience, what you have to offer, and your knowledge of the market you're in.
Great post. I secretly want to be a travel writer (but it's sooo not feasible in my life).
Great tips, Lisa. Thanks for adding those!
Your comment had very useful info as well… Thanks… I'm going check out your site!
another grateful blogger learning tons from you Amy! thanks much
My pleasure! Thanks for reading!
Hi Amy,
Are you familiar with HowHub for writing articles? I have attempted an article with them but can not get past the pending stage.
No, I'm not familiar. Anyone else?
I sell knitting and crochet patterns online, both on my blog and on Ravelry.com. I used e-junkie for a while to sell patterns on my blog and I recommend it to anyone who wants to sell pdf files. I stopped using it because it ended up being cheaper to use the Ravelry (which provides download links to use on other sites), but if that weren't an option, I'd happily go back to e-junkie.
Any Canadian websites?
Amy, you've inspired me to start my own blog. It's called Work From Home as a VA. I just started it this month, and I have the "Getting Started" section already, so that anyone can learn how they can start their own virtual assistant business.
I've been a virtual assistant since 2006, and I always get asked how I do what I do, how did I get started, how do I get clients, etc… So starting this blog is the perfect answer to all those questions for any mom that's wants to stay home with their kids and still make money.
Thanks for inspiring me Amy!
You can visit my blog at http://wfhva.wordpress.com/
In Regards to Ehow (Demand Studios), I think it might be misleading to say you earn 15-20 an hour. As someone who has written hundreds of articles for them, you must invest a lot of time understanding their particular requirements for each type of article, then consult their blacklist – it's a big one – for articles you can't use as references. Then the actual selecting of articles that you are going to do takes a lot of time, then the research, the writing, and the submitting of said article in their form takes a good ten minutes. In addition, the range is actually 5 dollars per article to 15. You only are eligible for 20 and up if you are selected for special feature sections. Then you have to be approved by the editor to get the money. They can (and often do) ask for rewrites – sometimes based purely on their personal opinion – and you must do that without further compensation.
Still, if you're willing to do the hard work you can get paid twice a week, and that's been a needed blessing during the summer. Their selections of articles has severely diminished in the last few months, and I've started to veer away from them.
You might look into examiner.com on the writing side too. I haven't been paid yet (because I haven't reached the payout threshold yet) but so far it seems to be a great opportunity!! I can get money for referrals (if you want more of my info for that) but I'm not saying this to promote myself, just to help others
.
This is a geat article!!! Thanks!!!
Love this series! Linked to it!
Hi Amy….Thank you for all the helpful free information, I must say I tremendously enjoy your blog!
I have an inquiry regarding this post..most of these jobs like eHow (which I really wished for) require the applicant to be a US, Canadian or a UK citizen…and I'm not any of them…so do you have any idea of online jobs that can accept international applicants…
also, whats the meaning of compensation?
Thank you!
Hmmm…well, not sure on that one. My first thought is to check out the Problogger Job Board??
Amy,
Thanks for the info above…. I am new to this blogging stuff and it is SO overwhelming! What is your opinion on moving from blogger to wordpress and how much would it cost in ballpark idea to get a designer help me with the initial layout in wordpress? And why does everyone keep saying i really should move to wordpress? The nice thing about blogger is that it is FREE! And what are the implications of the google buyout of blogspot?
Lots of great questions Donna! First of all, Blogger is indeed free and therefore a good option for some — particularly those who just want a hobby blog (i.e. don't want to make money). WordPress is much more flexible and expandable and just a better blogging platform overall. Also, moving from Blogger to WordPress is quite a hassle for most, so for those reasons, I recommend starting on WP straight away if you think you might be making the move later on. There are many WordPress themes that will give you a nice looking WordPress blog right out of the box, so I don't think a professional design is essential. But depending on what you're looking for, a complete custom design will cost probably somewhere between $500 and $1000, however, you might just have a custom header made, which is much less (around $100 or $150?). Or you can do it yourself!
Google bought Blogspot many years ago so it has been in Google hands for a long time. Not sure what implications you might be referring to?
Amy this is fantastic!!!! Thank you for sharing all this with us.
Great tips, i just started a blog so this comes in handy. Thanks.
I agree with you Amy, Squidoo is a great place to make money online. I pay the most attention to my own blogs and some sites that share advertising revenue and I'm making money. I really recommend Squidoo, InfoBarrel and HubPages because they can increase your earnings online and are quite easy and fun to use
Trying to get my head around the keyword thing. I'm afraid its just way over my head and i don't really understand it at all.
Hi Amanda,
I wouldn't worry about it.
If you just write your posts, the topics you cover will include your keywords. The suggestion I make here is for those who are highly-targeting a particular keyword(s). Have you see my other keyword posts here, here and here? They might be a bit easier to understand.
Thanks Amy, I've gone from a personal blogger to attempting to get a professional blog up and running. Hard to break blogging habits and get my head around the stuff I should know about. I appreciate you replying with the extra help.
Hello Amy! This is my first time here. Great article. And when you say "work", it truly is hard work to make a sustainable income online, though it can be realized when you are passionate about what you do. Doing something you hate will only end in failure. Doing something you love will never end, and will not feel like work!
So true.
I know this isn't blogging related..but you can also make money online by tutoring. There are several companies that hire tutors to tutor online I've done it for about 6 years now.
Would love to know which companies you've used and have been happy with, Beth Anne! Thanks for the tip.
I've been tutoring for tutor.com I'm not sure if they are hiring right now. Although they are almost ALWAYS looking for chemistry/physics/calculus tutors. I have heard that a company called BrainFuze is a good tutoring company but haven't been able to find a lot of information about working for them.
Thanks, Beth Anne!
Hey thanks for posting this. I needed that kind of information! Cheers, I know your info's gonna help me
Thanks for sharing your information. Definitely going to become a follower. I've often thought about writing an ebook and plan to check out your tips for that venture as well!
God Bless!
These are all really good ideas, I have found it that selling e-books doesn't work so well but if you have great material and thoughts you may be able to make some good money. There is also the problem of knowing how to gain traffic to your site.
This article is fantastic! Thanks for all the helpful information!
So glad it was helpful!
These are really great. I'll have to try some of these. I like your site the best re: blogging. Very sequential and orderly.:0)
Glad it's easy to follow. Thanks!
Thanks for all the info. I wish I would have known this info a few years ago. My time making this internet thing work would have been a whole lot easier with a mentor.
You're welcome! I know what it's like to have to figure it all out on your own. My goal here is to eliminate all that work for as many people as possible. But I bet you've learned a TON in the process.
I've just recently started trying this and it's a lot harder than it sounds. I like how you clarify things and of course the whole reason most of us do this is just so we can do what we love – in the short term rather than the long-term. Well, thank you!
Excellent tips to making money from your home. I've never thought about selling on Etsy or selling stock photos.
HI Amy,
I'm new here and would like to start a blog. Is there a way to have a button or link from my blog to my To Sell Amazon.com page?
Thanks
You should be able to link without problems. Simply highlight your text and insert your associates link. You might check out my affiliate marketing posts that goes into it further.
Once I get my blog going I will be looking into these idea's. I know Ebooks are HOT. Thanks for sharing with us all
I think this is really helpful. I've been reading your stuff for a while know and I love the ideas you've given!
HI Amy, thank you for the mountain of information you have so graciously provided. I am very new to blogging …… just working on setting up a blog page and publish my first ebook.. I was just wondering what tool, if any, that you use in place of Yahoo site explorer, as it seems to be nonfunctional. This is all so new to me and I am trying not to let it overwhelm me, but…….phew.
Thanks for your time.
You can also try Google Webmaster Tools which I wrote about here.
All good ideas but I saw nothing new. But that is okay too. Take a true and tested idea rework it and make it work in your own situation.
Hi Amy,
This is great article, do you have article about how to increase traffic, because I'm looking for this article to increase my site traffic. Thanks
Hey Amy, These are all legitimate and fun ways to make money online, however I've got to say that #1 and #8 are near and dear to my heart. Both are great ways to generate passive income.
Enjoyed your post
Liz
I agree, Liz!
I like the fact that you address practical ways in which someone can make money online. It is not one of these "get rich with now work in no time" type of blog posts selling you a worthless product. Well done, I enjoyed the post.
It's gr8 article & hopeful
Hello,
Found your site on StumbleUpon. You have some great and useful tips here. I think I will work on Step 8: Write a book. Better yet, write an ebook. Thanks!
Thanks for stopping by, Calvin! I definitely vote for ebooks.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge! Great information and I'm sending your link to my friends in NZ. Keep up the great work!
Tina
Just stumble upon this and I love the turorial you have given. Thanks.
Phenomenal site! Full of relevant information! I'm trying to help my wife find something she'd enjoy and know she as well as my readers will thoroughly appreciate your insights.
I love this post, and the inspiration it provides! I recently learned that in a year, my part time job will be going away. My husband and I were just talking last night about me ramping up my blog and looking into making money through it- so I told him, I know a gal online who has this all mapped out… If your website had pages, I'd be wearing them out over the next few months as I stop by repeatedly and read your advice, tips and direction over and over and over again. He and I both realize it will take the full amount of that year to see any profit even if I start today.
I also like your advice about writing an ebook- I currently have a children's picture book that I coauthored with a friend under contract with Putnam, but the wheels of traditional publishing turn very slowly. I am really going to pray about and consider turning some of my other ideas into ebooks.
Thanks Amy! Keep the ideas coming!
Beth
Beth, I'm sorry to hear about your job, but I'm so glad you feel encouraged that you have some options with blogging and ebooks! I'm inspired by your attitude!
Amy- one question- I have a blog with Blogger that I've had for a few years and would like to not lose my content and/or followers. But, in reading more of your tips and advice on your blog, WordPress is the way to go if I want to make some money from my blog eventually. What's the best way to go about leaving one and starting another, of a completely different form? Leave a "while you were out" message on my Blogger blog announcing I've moved? Any advice you can give me will be greatly appreciated – thanks!
I wrote about several ways of doing it in my Moving from Blogger to WordPress series. I hope it's helpful!
I will be able to use your suggestions of where to write for others. I write for Textbroker, but have not been aware of all of these. Thanks.
I like it. Thank for your tips.
Hi Amy,
I love you site! I wish I would have found it when I first got my WordPress site started. But that is okay, better late then never!
I have a question. My site is not a business, but I can see how there is potential for it to become a business one day. In your experience, do you think it is best to wait until the site reaches a certain number of visits before implementing ways to make money? Or set it up to start bringing in some kind of income right from the start? Just thought I would get your opinion.
Thanks so much for your time!
Jess
Many people have very convincing arguments discouraging photographers and illustrators to sell stock through stock banks such as those mentioned, and almost any others.
The core of the reasoning is that such banks can sell everybody's work severely underpriced, so they're in fact a huge and robust competitor *against* those artists.
You'd do a better deal by having your own stock in our site and/or creating a stock site with partners that are in the same profession, rather than those whose business is just to use your work to compete with you, making millions and giving you peanuts.
Google for "Brad Holland", "stock house". There's quite a few revealing texts on IPA's site.
At very least do some research on the subject and look for the better deals. Holland makes a distinction between "stock houses" and a "licensing agency", the latter is what he uses to refer to a business model whose main beneficiaries are the actual image creaturs, not the resellers.
I enjoyed reading your article and I hope I'm going to benefit from it. Thanks for sharing in such details.
This is a great article and it introduced me to a number of new possible income streams. The article is so enticing that as you come to the conclusion you are left wanting more. You prsented such good oppurtunities with this post, why not go into a little bit more detail for each one? Or include a couple more suggestions? The post grabbed my attention and kept it the whole time I was reading.
I'm putting a more in-depth course together as we speak, Nick! Thanks.
Great advice and tips. Completely agree that if your planning to make some money from a blog you have to put in serious work and be really patient, but if you love writing and sharing things just persevere, you may end up with a little extra income for doing something you enjoy.
I think the best idea on the list is to create niche websites and earn from Amazon affiliate network, Commission Junction Adsense, and ShareASale.
Thank you for this post Amy. It was very informative and opened my eyes for some new ways to make money online. The only think I did not see you mention is anything about survey or offer sites? Do you have any experience with those? I'd love to hear your opinion.
Very well written post, Amy.
I have heard both good and bad stories, regarding writing gigs. This includes paid blog post writing, as well as writing articles for other sources.
I love the Travel one! I mean, who would not love to be off traveling and get paid to blog(write) about it….
I think I agree with the E book being possibly the best option. There are some sites out there who have done incredibly well, as far as E Book sales.
Amy,
As I struggle to figure things out sand the time it takes…you always have a post that hits right on for me.
I can not thank you enough for the content you give to me during my "newbie" days….they for some reason are lasting longer than I wish!
Seriously……so glad I found you and I have spread your knowledge to many!
Have a great weekend!
Kelly
I know how it is to feel like I'm stumbling around as a new blogger so I'm so glad it has been helpful. Thanks Kelly!
The magic to making money on line definetely lays in creating your own product. But you will have had to build your authority and attracted traffic first. Never forget you are the brand.
I guess reading you entire blog will be my job for today. It's just so informative. I am so glad I found you.
Great blog Amy!
And to let you know, I stumbled upon it in Stumbleupon
Thanks and I will be reading more.
Thank you Steve.
Collective and informative. Thanks for the article. This will help for lay man who is not much familiar in internet marketing.
Hey Amy
Your Blog has been really helpful these past few days.
i'm gonna check ehow, Really want to earn some cool bucks online
Thanks
You're welcome, Derek. Thanks for stopping by.
The ways to make money online are always expanding, and we always need to stay on top of latest trends to see of they fit with out own ways of working. A few ideas here that I hadn't heard about before, so thanks for the tips.
These are really nice ways to make money online.This post is so useful.Thanks you for sharing.
HI Amy
Thank you for the valuable insight. I followed your advice and transformed my Passion into a website and currently transforming both into an E-book.
Last 2 years have been nothing but the headache after I`ve sustained multiple injuries.
Rough times but I am not giving up. I am almost there with my e-book called " Rekindle your Passion". Once published I am giving back to our community 70% of my first -e-book to 3 charities. World Vision, Leukemia foundation and I will ask all readers to suggest the 3rd Charity.
So if you are keen help us out by supporting my good cause,please feel free to drop by and write a few words.
I will publish more details on the website once the e-book gets published.
http://www.customerserviceinfinity.com
Thank you
Best Regards
Dave
First tip is very true. At least for me. Decided to quit my office job to work from home as a freelance writer and a virtual assistant.
This posting has been giving me a clear mind. I like points 4 & 5 because both points are my purposes. Thanks for share it.
Very well written post, Amy.I like it. Thank for your tips.
Hi Amy,
I just discovered your site via Money Saving Mom and wow ! I am completely blown away buy all this info. I am SAHM but looking to start a home business and build my personal brand – this is exactly the information I need to get started. Thank you and I look forward to following you !