Home Finance How to make money online​​: 5 legitimate and lucrative options

How to make money online​​: 5 legitimate and lucrative options

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If you’ve got access to the internet, there’s a chance you can make money online.

By setting up a profile on a gig platform or creating a simple website, you can position yourself to accept gigs, book clients, or even find full-time remote work, all while sitting in front of your desk at home.

That doesn’t mean that making money online is quick or easy. You may have competition from people around the world, and there are countless “exciting” opportunities that can lead nowhere or even turn out to be scams.

To make your search easier, I dug through countless job postings and forums and looked at the fine print to help you find some of the most promising money-making opportunities online. Whether you’re interested in making a little extra cash to beef up your emergency fund or leaving your current nine-to-five for something more flexible, these online opportunities can help.

Read more: Living paycheck to paycheck​? Here are 5 ways to break the cycle.

There are plenty of ways to make money online, but I’ve found the best way to bring in a steady and substantial income is by offering a specific skill set or experience or renting out your property. Here are some options to consider.

For a job that allows you to work from home, whether full- or part-time, consider becoming a virtual assistant (VA).

As a VA, you’ll perform clerical work for a company or an individual. Your duties might include anything from data entry to managing social media or answering phone calls.

You can get started with VA work by searching for job postings online or by creating a profile on a site like Upwork. Just know that rates vary. According to Upwork, VAs on their site charge anywhere from $12 to $50+ per hour, depending on experience.

If you own property or valuable items, you can potentially earn money by renting them out through online sites. For example, if you have a spare bedroom, try renting it out to a college student via Redfin or Zillow, or posting it on Airbnb.

Of course, the amount you earn will depend largely on where you live. According to Airbnb, a private bedroom in San Francisco (where I live) can go for $113 a night, which is almost $3,400 per month before taxes and fees.

But homes aren’t the only kinds of rentals that make money. If you don’t use your car full time, for example, consider listing it on an hourly or long-term car-sharing site such as Turo or Zipcar. Or if you have extra space in your driveway, you can rent out a parking spot using sites such as Spacer or SpotHero.

The internet offers plenty of opportunities for gig work, and over 40 million Americans are already taking advantage of this option.

Gig work is a broad term that refers to nontraditional types of work that are usually freelance and project-based.

As a gig worker, you can be paid for “microtasks” that include anything from grocery delivery to graphic design, and your rate will depend on a mix of your experience and the level of competition for the services you provide.

The most popular gig services are ridesharing and delivery, but they’re not typically well-paid. Here are some gig work platforms where you can set up an account for other types of work that may be more lucrative:

  • Behance.net: For creative work such as photography, game design, or illustration.

  • Fiverr: Any kind of online freelance work, from translation services to music production.

  • Rover: Pet care services, including pet sitting, training, and dog walking.

  • Taskrabbit: For handy work and household chores, such as hanging shelves, assembling furniture, or painting walls.

  • Upwork: Geared toward specialty projects, including accounting, admin, and legal services.

Teaching or selling courses is another way to earn money online. If you have knowledge in an advanced subject area, you can potentially earn $40 to $50 or more per hour through online tutoring. High-paying subjects for tutors include:

To get started, try using a service like Preply, which Teach for America says is one of the highest-paying platforms for teachers.

If you’re interested in education, another option is creating online courses. Course creation can earn you an average of $40 an hour, according to Upwork, and there are a handful of sites where you can create and share your courses online, including Kajabi, Udemy, and more.

With user testing, you get paid to try using new websites and apps and record your reactions and feedback. You can earn anywhere from $0.50 to $1 a minute as a usability tester. All you need is a microphone to record your real-time feedback, and a quiet place to record yourself.

It’s worth noting, however, that this won’t necessarily provide you with a steady stream of work. Many tests are 20 minutes or less, and they’re not available on demand. Realistically, you may be invited to do just a few tests each week.

That means being a usability tester can help you earn some extra cash, but you shouldn’t expect it to replace your current job.

Read more: Here’s what the ideal budget looks like for a $60,000 salary

When you search for work online, you’re bound to run into a job scam at some point.

Job scammers take advantage of the fact that you may be desperate for work and willing to overlook otherwise obvious red flags. So, as a job seeker, make sure you don’t ignore these telltale signs of a scam:

  • Guaranteed work: The job is guaranteed to you, regardless of your qualifications.

  • Unrealistic pay: The pay rate seems too good to be true, and/or the payment terms and platform fees are vague. For example, the job flyer states, “You can earn anywhere from $20 to $200 an hour.”

  • Unsolicited contact: You receive a job offer from a company you’ve never reached out to.

  • Up-front costs: The employer asks you to pay for training, equipment, or other up-front expenses.

  • Unprofessional communication: They use bad grammar or contact you via text message or WhatsApp.

  • Pressure: You’re told the role must be filled immediately, or you’re asked to share your personal information right away in order to get the job.

If you suspect you’re dealing with a scammer, stop all communication right away. It can be tough to let go of a potential opportunity, but it’s better to avoid a trap.

Before moving forward, verify the company by looking up its website and online reviews. You can also ask a loved one to look at the offer and help you determine if it seems suspicious.

Read more: How much of your paycheck should you save?

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