Make Money Online : The sting of inflation may have you
pondering how to make some extra income. If you have the time and energy, you
can put your skills and passions to work with a side hustle.
NerdWallet rounded up 25 real ways to make money at home, online or out and
about. For each potential side job, we list details like what it takes to get
started, age requirements and how fast you can get paid. While most people want
to make money fast, don’t discount the “slow” gigs, as they may pay more in the
long run.
How to make money online
Making money online is the sweet spot people look for in the gig economy.
Whether you aspire to be a six-figure social media influencer, or are just
looking to supplement your regular income with some online side jobs, we’ve
found some viable options.
1. Pick up freelance work online
Make money online through websites such as Upwork, Fiverr and
Freelancer.com. These sites offer opportunities to do a variety of freelance
jobs, such as writing, programming, design, marketing, data entry and being a
virtual assistant. Fluent in a second language? Check sites such as Gengo or
Blend Express, or drum up business through a site of your own. No matter what
freelancing you do, keep track of the going rate for the kind of work you
provide so you know what to charge. Learn how to get started on Upwork.
Total time: It can take a while to get your first gig. Setup:
24 hours. How easy to start: Easy, if you have the expertise. How
fast you’ll get paid: Varies by site.
2. Test websites and apps
Another way to make money from home is on sites like UserTesting.com. You
get paid for your thoughts on how well — or not so well — certain websites and
apps work. You’ll have to complete a short test to be accepted, then you’ll be
paid depending on the test type.
Total time: Approval time can vary. Setup:
Less than an hour. How easy to start: Easy, if you have the
tech gear and complete a sample test. Age threshold: 18+. How
fast you’ll get paid: Seven days.
3. Pick up tasks on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk
Even in the age of automation, some jobs still require a human touch.
Companies often outsource those jobs to a crowdsourcing marketplace like
Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. As a “worker,” the tasks you’ll be assigned can be
tedious — tagging images, transcribing videos, classifying receipts — and can
take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Temporary employers or
“requesters” set the price for each task and approve the finished product
before paying you. That can leave room for scams, so do your research. Online
communities like the Turkkit and Turker Nation subreddits can steer you away
from shifty dealers and give a realistic idea of how much money you can expect
to make. Read more about Mechanical Turk as a way to make money
online
4. Take surveys for money
You can make money from home by taking online surveys, but don’t expect to
earn a lot. Survey sites don’t typically offer a big payoff, and many sites are
more useful for earning gift cards than cash. Some of the more popular survey
sites include Swagbucks and Survey Junkie. Read our analysis of survey sites to
find out which one is best suited for you.
Total time: It will take a while. Setup:
Just minutes. How easy to start: Very. Just register and
begin. Age threshold: 13 to 18+. How fast you’ll get
paid: Varies by site.
5. Make money from your blog with affiliate links
If you’re a blogger who gets decent traffic, you could make money by joining
an affiliate network. Affiliates (that’s you) get paid when someone clicks
through from the website to the partner site and buys something there. Some
bloggers make a lot of money this way. Read more about affiliate marketing and
other ways bloggers can make money.
Total time: It can take quite a while to build an audience.
Setup: With blog templates, building a site is easy. How
easy to start: Starting is not that difficult. Creating regular
content may be another matter. Age threshold: Any. How
fast you’ll get paid: A month or two, on average.
6. Sell your wares on Etsy
Have a penchant for woodworking, jewelry-making, embroidery or pottery? Sell
your crafts on Etsy, the go-to site for artisans selling home goods, art and
knickknacks. According to Etsy, the company has 95 million active buyers, and
grossed over $13 billion in merchandise sales in 2022. Learn more about how to
make money on Etsy.
Total time: It might take quite a while for customers to
find you. Setup: Can be quite involved. How easy to
start: Leaning toward “hard” on the difficulty meter. Age
threshold: 13+. How fast you’ll get paid: From the
next day to seven days after a sale.
Watch out for making money scams
The internet is full of opportunities to make money online or from home, but
many are questionable, if not outright scams. Be wary of any “opportunity” that
asks for an upfront fee, wants you to pay for certification, or requests your
Social Security number or any financial information, such as your credit card number.
Still unsure if an opportunity is legit? Look for community forums, like
those on Reddit, for unfiltered reviews and complaints. Also, check if the
company has a Better Business Bureau profile. The BBB assigns ratings based on
reported complaints, business transparency and other factors.
Monitor your money during trying times. If you’re facing financial anxiety,
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