According to the Pew Research Center, 1 in 4 Americans make money online while 37% of these people need these earnings to maintain their finances. While you earn money online you can work from home, set your own schedule and take on as much work as you want, full time or part time.
But beyond creating an online small business or starting you career again as a graphic design artist, how can you earn money alongside your day to day job? If you are looking to supplement your income, we have put together 10 popular ways to make money online this year.
What Are The Best Ways to Make Money Online?
- Become a Virtual Assistant
- Serve as a Mock Juror
- Sell your Clutter
- Test Websites
- Sell your Gift Cards
- Take Paid Surveys
- Work for Amazon’s Mechanical Turk
- Sell your Pictures
- Test Products
- Transcribe Recordings
1. Become A Virtual Assistant
If you have a passion for organization and communication, working as a virtual assistant is perfect way for you to make money online. As a virtual assistant you will be helping an individual or a business with an array of tasks such as:
- Answering emails
- Scheduling meetings
- Transcribing data
- Bookkeeping
The average virtual assistant earns about $15 an hour and after building trust with your client, your pay may rise.
Useful websites:
2. Serve As A Mock Juror
While not everyone loves being summoned for jury duty, as a mock juror you can make money online by participating in mock trials. Mock jurors help lawyers prepare for real cases by reviewing evidence such as videos, documents and photos. After answering a few questions from the convenience of your computer you can earn $10 to $60 an hour upon submitting your verdict.
Useful website:
3. Sell Your Clutter
Selling things you no longer need allows you to easily make money online and improve your personal finances. Take a look at anything in your house that you no longer love and is only collecting dust. The general rule of thumb is that you should get rid of items you have not used in a year and lack sentimental value. When it comes to selling high-end items like diamonds, jewelry, luxury watches and handbags, you need to sell to a reputable specialty buyer such as myGemma.
- Useful websites for selling general clutter: eBay, Craigslist
From electronics to clothes, there are plenty everyday items that you may not longer want or need and can earn money from.
- Useful websites for selling luxury jewelry, watches and handbags: myGemma
myGemma is the leading online buyer of diamonds, jewelry, luxury watches and handbags. Our process is entirely free of charge and can take as little as 24 hours from start to finish. With an A+ rating from the BBB and reviews from hundreds of satisfied customers, we offer the option to sell online or in person.
From Rolex to Chanel to Tiffany, we buy your luxury items directly. There are no online listings or us selling on your behalf. Best of all, there are no hidden fees or commissions deducted from your final offer. We believe in providing honest and transparent price quotes.
4. Test Websites
With hundreds of websites launched every day, many website creators hire people to test their sites. Testers will be asked to perform certain tasks such as searching specific terms, posing as a shopper, and determining user friendliness. No special skills are required to be a website tester, all you need is a good eye for detail and stable internet connection. Testers can expect to earn $10 for 20 minutes of work.
Useful website:
5. Sell Your Gift Cards
Have you received a gift card for a store you never shop at? You can sell your gift cards online and receive cash in return. Websites like Raise let you sell and buy gift cards with ease, giving the means to quickly make money online to buy what you really want.
Useful website:
6. Take Paid Surveys
There are numerous sites dedicated to taking paid online surveys covering an array of topics. Payout from each website and survey varies, but you can expect to earn about $9 an hour. Make sure that you avoid any sites that make you pay a fee because they are likely a scam.
Useful websites:
7. Work For Amazon’s Mechanical Turk
Amazon offers a service known as Amazon Mechanical Turk where companies post simple tasks that need to be completed by people rather than artificial intelligence. Assignments can be taken at any time of day and there is no limit as to how many you can take. However, the payout is only a few cents, so you would need to invest a large amount of time to make money online. Some of the tasks you can select from include:
- Classifying objects in a picture
- Rating the search results for certain keywords
- Picking the correct category for products
- Translating a paragraph from English to Spanish
- Selecting the correct spelling for search terms
Useful websites:
8. Sell Your Pictures
Turn your photography passion into a money making venture by selling your picture to stock photography websites.Websites are always looking for new images and content. Turn your art into an additional income stream.
You do not need high-end equipment or years of training to submit your pictures to websites like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock. With just your smartphone, you can sell your pictures to these websites and earn royalties with each customer purchase.
Useful websites:
9. Product Testing
Many marketing researchers like to send people free products in exchange for customer feedback. If you enjoy trying out new products, becoming a product tester is the perfect job for you to make money online. Companies will provide you with products or coupons try and in exchange for your opinions. Most companies will let you keep the product and pay you for your service.
You may be asked to test:
- Sneakers
- Makeup
- Spice mixes
- Games
- Cleaning supplies
- Instant food
- Children’s toys
Useful websites:
10. Transcribe Recordings
Professionals, such as doctors and journalists, have audio recordings that they need transcribed. If you have an ear for detail and are a fast typist, transcribing audio recordings can pay $15 an hour. Also, if you have specialized knowledge, such as in the medical or legal field, you can earn even more.
Useful websites:
The Advantages Of Making Money Online
The upside of making money online is that you have the freedom to do so from home, and oftentimes, around your own schedule. This flexibility is especially appealing to anyone with a family, interested in working while traveling or simply looking to work remotely.
And of course, working from home is all the more appealing during the coronavirus pandemic. It is always worth exploring your options when it comes to earn additional money online.
What Not To Do
There are of course some things to avoid when trying to make money online:
- Do not max out your credit cards
- Do not take out payday loans which will impact you negatively in the long term
Be Wary Of Online Scams
There are many unscrupulous 'get rich quick' businesses, MLM companies or online courses that make bold financial promises, with little to no reward. Many such schemes will target you on social media, be sure to do your research before committing to any such ventures.
Trust your gut instinct: if something looks too good to be true, it often is. Whether you earn money online or in person, there is always time, effort and skill required.
Whether you are looking to do odd jobs to raise money or start a business, there are many ways to create new income streams or even passive income. Just be sure to thoroughly research your options before committing.
