7 Proven Ways to Make Money Online

As someone who has worked online for over three years, I can assure you that making money online is a possible reality for millions worldwide. The digital space offers countless opportunities if you’re willing to put in the effort and stay consistent. 

In today’s post, I’ll share a round-up of 7 solid ways to make money online. Some of these will pay you immediately, but others require that you put in more work long-term. 

How to make money online

Here are the top 7 ways to earn online while working from home.

1.  Test Websites And Apps

To improve the usability and profitability of websites and apps, companies conduct tests to understand how easy or difficult they are to use. Here’s where you can come in as one of the people who tests these apps and websites. 

Usertesting.com is one of the most popular places to get these gigs. You just need to sign up and complete a screening test. Once you pass, you’ll start getting tests you can complete and earn money from.  

Other alternatives include: 

• TestingTime
• TryMyUI
• Userlytics

Pros

• Requires no prior experience
• Gaining acceptance is reasonably straightforward, provided you fulfill the necessary criteria.
• Has relatively high-income potential for a brief period of work.

Cons

• It’s competitive, and tests may not always be available.
• It’s not available in all countries. Check out this list to see if your country is eligible. 
• You must do an unpaid test before being accepted.

Earning potential
Websites like usertesting.com pay you as much as $10 for a 20-minute test. Some of their real-time tests go as high as $60. 

2. Start Freelancing

Make money online by offering your skills and knowledge as a freelancer. For example, if you are a good writer, you can find clients on platforms such as Upwork, Problogger, and Fiverr who need blog posts, service page copy, newsletter copywriting, etc.

Freelancing is not limited to just writing. It can work for accountants, marketers, lawyers, software developers, data analysts, etc. As long as your skill is in demand, there’s an opportunity for you to offer value as a freelancer and get paid. Again, finding work as a freelancer is not just limited to Upwork and Fiverr; you can reach out to clients directly via cold emailing, Facebook groups, and LinkedIn. 

Top-paying freelance jobs 

Source: Upwork

Pros

• You set your own rates
• You can make a significant amount of money over a short period 

Cons

• Getting your first freelance role will be challenging
• You still need to invest a lot of time learning
• Income generated will vary since some months are slow and others busy.

Income potential

It depends on your skills, years of experience, and industry. You can charge as low as $10 per hour to as high as $100 per hour. 

Source: Payoneer

3. Sell Digital Products 

This is one of the best low-effort passive income ideas. So, how does it work? First, you choose the product you want to sell, create it using design platforms like Canva or Adobe, and then list it on e-commerce marketplaces such as Etsy or Shopify.

Below is a list of digital products you can start earning with:

• Ebooks
• Planners
• Courses 
• Coloring Books
• Digital wall art
• Digital stickers
• Thank you notes
• Digital wedding invitation cards
• Social media graphics templates

Pros

• Low effort: The initial work will be a lot, but once you list your products, all you have to do is automatically redirect customers to the download link
• A very high-income potential with high-profit margins— as much as 80-90%
• Scalability without putting in extra hours

Cons

• Intense competition
• Piracy, which may undermine your product’s value
• Building an audience and traffic to your products takes time.

Earning potential

You can earn as much as you like. For instance, most ebooks, digital art, stickers, coloring books, and digital planners will be priced at $12—$25. However, courses are higher and go for $100+.

4. Affiliate Marketing

Earning money from affiliate marketing will take a bit longer than other ideas on this list. That’s because you’ll have to choose your niche, create a lot of high-quality content on YouTube or a blog, and then partner with various companies to promote their products and earn from sending customers their way. 

However, because most content will be evergreen, you can earn significantly from posts and videos you created years ago.
Pros

• High-income potential
• Minimal financial investment at the start

Cons

• Requires a lot of time investment at the start
• Very competitive
• Income is not immediate. In most cases, you’ll work 6+ months before income starts rolling in. 

Income potential

When you consistently put in the work to produce relevant and helpful content, you can make $1000+ a month with affiliate marketing. 

5. Open an Ecommerce Store

If you want a more hands-on way to make money online, an ecommerce store is the way to go. And you’ll be in good hands because worldwide retail ecommerce sales are expected to hit 6.3 trillion in 2024. How do you go about it?

You can choose dropshipping, where you partner with a supplier who handles the products, storage, and shipping. You’ll only pay the supplier once you sell. 

Alternatively, you can sell your own products, especially if they are custom-made. Artwork, pottery, knitted/crocheted items, apparel, and Jewellery are worthy contenders for this model.  

Pros

• High-income potential.
• An eager and willing market that values convenience

Cons

• If you’re not dropshipping, you’ll need significant startup capital
• Competitive
• Handling customers, returns, and shipping is quite hectic. 

6. Become a Social Media Influencer

Choose a niche you’re passionate about, then grow your following on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, or Twitter. Create engaging content consistently to attract and retain followers.

Once you’ve built a substantial audience, companies in your industry may approach you for sponsorship deals. You’ll earn money by promoting or reviewing their products in your content.

Pros

• Offers flexibility in the work schedule
• Can lead to additional income streams (e.g., product lines, speaking engagements)

Cons

• Requires consistent effort to grow and maintain your audience
• Success isn’t guaranteed and can take time
• Negative comments or online criticism

Earning potential 

According to Influence.co, influencers with 10,000 to 25,000 followers typically earn $100-$250 per sponsored post.

7. Online Tutoring and Coaching

For tutoring, you can help students with subjects you excel in or teach languages you’re fluent in. Platforms like VIPKid, Chegg, or TutorMe are great places to start.

If you’re a professional, consider coaching others in your field. For instance, if your domain is HR expertise, guide small business owners on hiring. If it’s marketing, try coaching online entrepreneurs on business growth strategies. You can coach on platforms like Clarity.fm or do it independently.

Pros

• Flexible schedule
• Potential for high hourly rates, especially if you go the coaching route.

Cons

• Tutoring platforms require certifications for some subjects
• Income can be inconsistent, especially when starting

Earning potential 

Tutors can earn $15-$50+ per hour, while professional coaches may charge $50-$500+ per session.

Wrapping Up on How to Make Money Online

The gig economy is expected to reach $500 billion in gross revenue within five years. A third of the world’s workforce is already participating. If you’ve not yet jumped into this market, it’s not too late to start.

Because the digital market is constantly evolving, creating new opportunities every day, there’s a place for you in this booming digital economy.

Have you tried working online before?

Let us know what you’ve tried or are eager to try down in the comments.