The truth is there are real ways to make money online—millions of people are doing it each day. From freelance digital nomads to marketers to rising entrepreneurs, there are plenty of business ideas you can try at home using your laptop and a solid internet connection. So let’s break down some real ways to make money online.
#1. Test Websites and Give Feedback
If you have a keen eye for website design and development, consider becoming a website tester. It’s a great way to make money quickly and immerse yourself in the web development industry.To test websites, you must have critical and logical thinking skills, excellent communication abilities, and knowledge of website functionality and design. These qualities can improve your job prospects and test-reporting quality.
Payments are usually project-based, and the rates differ based on the testing methods and the platform’s policy.
For example, UserTesting offers $4–$120/test. Website testers who participate in live interviews with clients make more money.
Here are a few other marketplaces where people can make money online via website testing projects:
- Ubertesters. A crowdsourced testing service focusing on websites, mobile apps, and games.
- Userbrain. An online tool offering user experience testing for websites and digital product prototypes.
- Testbirds. User experience testing for digital products, including eCommerce stores, mobile apps, and fitness trackers.
- Userlytics. In addition to testing websites and apps, it offers projects focusing on reviewing video commercials.
- TryMyUI. Provides impression testing for websites and mobile apps via recorded videos and survey-based feedback.
#2. Complete Online Surveys
It might sound too good to be true, but you can earn extra cash by completing surveys online during your spare time.
Many companies pay people to participate in surveys for general market research and consumer behavior analysis. These surveys help companies make business decisions, like which products to launch or where to publish advertisements.
However, not everyone can do online surveys. Take a look at some of the reasons why:
- Limited demographic. Some surveys only target specific groups of people, such as people of a particular gender, age, or occupation.
- Low pay. Many online survey sites use a point system. You’ll accumulate points after completing surveys and can only cash out after reaching a certain earnings threshold. For example, you may make $0.50-$3/survey. But unless you reach the $10-$25 earnings threshold, you won’t be able to cash out.
- Time-consuming. Due to the payout systems of most survey sites, you’ll have to dedicate a lot of time to see actual returns, especially when some surveys take up to one hour to complete.
- Not for the long term. Unlike other online moneymaking methods in this article, you won’t be able to transition this into a full-time job for the above reasons
- Swagbucks. Watch videos, play games, and complete online surveys to earn points. Then, redeem them for cash or gift cards.
- Survey Junkie. Help brands deliver better products and services by participating in their market surveys.
- Harris Poll Online. Enter a rewards program by answering polls run by the survey platform.
#3. Sell Stock Photos and Footage
If you’re an avid photographer or videographer, consider selling stock photos and footage to generate passive income. You’ll be able to pursue your passion and make money simultaneously.
Many companies and business owners use stock content in their marketing campaigns, ads, and websites. In addition to the standard stock photo format, companies constantly look for fresh ideas and unique perspectives to make their brand stand out.
You can make a photography website and sell photos there. It’s also a good idea to sign up for online marketplaces and list your digital downloads. That way, you’ll get a head start at cultivating your personal brand while promoting it to potential buyers.
Some of the biggest stock photography and videography websites include:
- Shutterstock. Offers multiple earning levels based on the number of image and video licenses per year.
- Getty Images. Pays at a royalty rate of 15-45%, depending on the license exclusivity agreement.
- VideoHive. Deals in stock videos as part of the larger Envato ecosystem. The earnings depend on the number of items sold and whether you sell exclusively on the platform.
- Dissolve. Specializes in selling high-quality stock videos and photos, with a standard royalty rate of 30% of the net selling price for non-exclusive contributors. Exclusive contributors can make more money with rates that are available upon request
#4. Carry Out Micro Jobs
To make extra money, try micro jobs. A micro job is a short-term, temporary job that pays per task completed. Earnings vary from a few cents to $50/task on average.
Micro jobs are a good way to make quick cash. Some micro jobs only take less than an hour to complete, giving people the freedom to do multiple tasks in their spare time.
They’re great for freelancers, new graduates, and college students because they can help you gain experience and build a portfolio. The most common online micro jobs include blogging, short translations, data entry, and administrative tasks.
In addition to checking out local classifieds, try finding micro jobs on these websites:
- Fiverr. One of the most popular platforms for various small jobs, from logo designing to translations.
- Amazon Mechanical Turk. An excellent platform for people with video, image, and data entry and processing skills.
- Appen. Make money online by doing small tasks like transcribing or categorizing data.
#5. Sell Second-Hand Items
Selling or renting out second-hand items is another excellent way to make money and a great motivation to start decluttering your space. Furthermore, selling used items can be a way to save money since you are only selling items you already have.
Once you inventory the items you want to sell, take high-quality product photos before listing them on online marketplaces. If you plan to do this long-term, consider making a website to host your own online store.
One of the most popular second-hand items categories is clothing. The market value of the second-hand clothing industry is projected to reach $77 billion by 2026. Therefore, it’s a good time to start your own clothing line.
Many online marketplaces cater to the second-hand clothing and accessories market. Here are a few examples:
- Tradesy. Specializes in women’s clothing, bags, shoes, and accessories.
- Etsy. An excellent marketplace to sell unique, handmade, or vintage items.
- Rebelle. Sell designer clothes and accessories at this second-hand luxury online retailer.
- Depop. A popular platform for selling vintage and designer goods, like pre-loved T-shirts, sneakers, and jewelry.
Tradesy website homepage
Other than clothes and accessories, make money online by selling other used items such as furniture, gadgets, sports equipment, and cars. In the United States, the used car market grew significantly in 2021 and is predicted to remain strong in 2022.
Some of the best online selling sites for used items include:
- eBay. A popular choice for various types of products, including collectibles and vehicles.
- Gadget Salvation. Focuses on used gadgets like laptops, phones, and tablets.
- Facebook Marketplace. Ideal for targeting local buyers.
- Reverb. An excellent site to sell new and used musical instruments and gear.
- Fat Llama. A marketplace for leasing items instead of selling them.