If there’s one thing people are searching on Google, it’s how can they make money online. Yes, there is a lot of money to be made, so let’s get to it! Here are the most practical ways to bring in money via the world wide web:
1.) Sell Things Online
Yes, this is the most common way to make some of that cheddar online, so it’s at the top of this list. There are so many resources available to you to help you sell things and make money online, including Amazon, eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and there are many apps available on your smart devices as well. The basic principle here is to sell things of value you can live without or do not need, to help improve your finances. The Penny Hoarder has an incredible breakdown of popular selling apps here.
An increasingly popular method for selling your homemade arts and crafts items is Etsy. Assemble your own products, list them, and boom – watch the customers come to you! Now, it’s not that simple; there are other factors that come into play, like product photography, descriptions, etc. Etsy had a marketplace with almost 30 million buyers that spent $2.8 billion last year. There’s definitely a market available for you in Etsy. For more tips on Etsy, you can follow our Pinterest Etsy board here. (*Bonanza and Ruby Lane are Etsy’s competitors.)
Above are all options to selling on other websites, but what if you just want to start your online store?! Our top two suggestions would be to start an online store using either WooCommerce (via WordPress) or Shopify. Shopify has had $63 BILLION dollars in online sales since 2006 with over 600,000 merchants. They also have an amazing blog that gives great insight into running an online store. Both are top notch storefront marketplaces that supply plenty of insight and have stong Interent communities you can look to for expertise if you get stuck or have questions.
2.) Blogging, Vlogging, & Podcasts – Oh My!
Providing people with knowledge is what these are all about. It’s putting the reader/viewer/listener first. You must ask yourself, how can I help others? All three of these options will take a collective effort of skills to achieve success, including: time management, consistency, creativeness, drive, and most importantly passion.
- Blogging – Blogging is for the creative writers out there in the world. A blog is a creative gateway to express your thoughts in a way that allow your readers to connect and see things from an alternate perspective.
- Vlogging – Vlogging is the video version of blogging. If you like being on camera and being social, this is for you. Many people like to see what’s going on in others’ lives and want to tune in, especially if they can relate to your topic/discussions. Inviting people on your show to discuss a topic related to their field of expertise or providing key insight on a subject you know better than the average viewer are two great content paths.
- Podcasts – Podcasts are great for listeners who like to multitask; they may tune into your audio segment as a morning routine, while in their vehicle, while at work, or many other times during the day.
If you decide to one of the aforementioned options is great for you, here are the different routes you can take to make money online:
- Advertising – Insert Endless List Here
- Affiliate Marketing – Networks, Programs, & Shopping Websites
- Events – Live Events, Workshops, Webinars, & Meetups
- Subscriptions – Consulting/Coaching, Premium Content, & Private Communities
- Promoting Offline Business – Online Lead Generation Sales Funnel*The Internet is always evolving and new trends in the digital marketing world are always emerging. You will need to adapt (prioritize & execute).
The only way you’re going to make any of these work is for you to put the negative voice(s) inside your head aside, and follow through on the tasks you know you need to accomplish. Write down [even if it’s on a scrap piece of paper] your goals and each step you need to complete daily, weekly, monthly, and annually to move forward and you will. Google Search and the Twitter search bar will be your best friends 😁
3.) Build Your Personal Brand / Become an Influencer
Social media allows you to promote your personal brand more than ever! It only takes one time to get famous, whether it’s a viral video or an on-point Tweet – there are so many ways! However, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Consistency is possibly the most overlooked and important trait to have in regards to becoming an influencer on social media.
As an influencer, you can make money online by companies paying you to represent their product or service on social media in front of your followers. The most popular social media platforms you can make money on [from influencing] are YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Top influencers have been known to make over $300,000.00 for a single video on YouTube! Here are seven steps to consider when getting started:
- Find Your Niche
- Who is Your Target Demographic?
- Choose Your Social Media Platforms According to Demographic Market
- Content Strategy > Develop & Produce Content
- Engage With Your Niche’s Community & Your Followers
- Stay Consistent
- Continue to Improve & Evolve
Please remember you’ll be spending your time building any monetary value online. Make sure you enjoy what you’re doing and respect the process! As Gary Vaynerchuk would say, have “tunnel vision” and “triple down at what you’re good at”:
