Flip domain names. Domain names are valuable internet
real estate and some people actually make a nice living off of buying
and selling them. One strategy is to use Google Adwords to find keywords
that are trending and use that information to buy domain names that you
think may soon be in demand. However, since short, snappy, or
straightforward domain names have already been mostly snatched up, you
can also get lucky buying domain names that are random acronyms, as you
never know when a person or company with those exact initials will
decide to set up a website. (CPC.com, for example, sold for over
$200,000 when Contract Pharmaceutical Corporation decided to go online.
[1] Not bad for three letters.) For more advice, read
How to Buy a Cheap Domain Name.
2
Do online surveys. Online surveys won’t earn you much
apiece, but they don’t eat up much time either and can add up when you
need cash in a pinch. Read
How to Make Money with Free Online Surveys for more advice.
3
Transcribe audio. Websites are getting better and
better about providing written transcripts for the hearing impaired,
meaning that transcriber jobs pop up fairly regularly. Transcribing is
generally low paying but is also easy, fast, and doesn’t require much
commitment. Check eLance or oDesk for current transcription postings.
4
Edit audio. If you have and know how to use
sound-editing software, you can clean up webcasts and interviews before
they go online. Again, look at a site like eLance or oDesk for
opportunities
Enter contests. Since you won’t get paid unless your entry wins, search for a wide range of
free
contests in a field where you’re already have a lot of possible entries
(ex. photos, logo-making, background design) and submit your work to as
many places as will have you. It might take a day to get through all of
them, but even a few small successes (or, preferably, a great big one)
will make up for it. The experience might even steer you in a new
creative direction.
Method 2 of 5: Make Money through Online Marketing
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Become an affiliate marketer. This is a great way to
make money for promoting someone else’s products or services without
having to carry any inventory. Affiliate advertisements are usually
incorporated into your website/blog/page via linked articles (great when
your content is strong and compelling, but must be done carefully to
avoid looking spammy), product-placement videos (great if you’re funny
or have performance talent), or, less and less commonly, banner ads
(pretty ineffective, as most people avoid these like the plague). If
necessary, you can also
become an affiliate marketer without a website
(by posting videos on YouTube containing links to the product, for
example). Check out a site like Commission Junction for possible
products and services.
- If you have a lot of traffic, you might want to do cost-per-click
advertising, which doesn’t earn you much per click but banks on the fact
that the sheer number of visitors will build your revenue.
- If you have very strong content, you might want to do
cost-per-acquisition advertising, which makes you a decent commission
(either a fixed amount or a commission, depending on what you’ve
pre-agreed to) every time someone on your site makes a purchase with
your affiliate company.
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2
Become an online mystery shopper. Most people have
heard of mystery shoppers in the real world, but with the shift to
virtual business, it’s becoming more and more common to send mystery
shoppers online-hunting. If you’re just starting out, be prepared to
front the cost of your purchases, as your reimbursement will depend on
whether or not you are a capable mystery shopper.
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3
Do webinar marketing. This is simply seminar
marketing done online – except that it’s much cheaper than doing actual
seminars and doesn’t require repeat performances. If you’re an authority
on a subject that others would be willing to pay to learn more about,
record yourself giving a talk about it in a professional location
(traditionally a conference room, though this may change depending on
your subject), post it on your website, and advertise.
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4
Refer other professionals for jobs. If you know
somebody whose skill and work ethic you’re willing to stand behind,
consider referring them to a prospective employer. If that person gets
hired, you stand to make anywhere between fifty and a few thousand
dollars depending on the position. Check out a site like ReferEarns or
WhoDoYouKnowForDough for more information.
Method 3 of 5: Make Money through Online Content
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Sell your music. A few years ago, Radiohead made
headlines by selling its latest album via its own website and raking in
the dough – for donations, no less. Though your act might not have
Radiohead status (yet), many small, independent, and even big-name acts
have followed suit: as it turns out, a handful of sales with no
middleman adds up to a lot more than what most artists end up with once
the record industry has gotten its “dues.”
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2
Become a freelance designer. Create a website
showcasing your portfolio and build a client list by finding work in the
online classifieds. Though it takes more time to get established doing
business this way, you can set your own prices and won’t have to share
your profits with the graphic design house.
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3
Sell stock photos. This is a good way to make money
while pursuing a fun hobby. Since people search for stock photos by
keyword, your work will be on the same playing field as everyone else’s,
meaning you should submit any photo you think is decent. Once it has
posted, your work is done, and while you won’t generally make much per
sale, having a good number of photos can mean accumulating a nice
monthly side income with virtually no upkeep. iStockphoto, ShutterStock,
and Fotolia are a few good places to shop around.
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4
Sell an ebook. eBooks are not for everyone, but if
you’ve ever found an innovative solution to a desperate situation and
wished you could have simply paid someone to give you the answer sooner,
it’s likely there’s a market out there for an ebook on the subject.
Shop around to see what else is available and look for people posting in
forums with similar issues. Don’t waste your time writing an ebook
about something someone can readily find answers to; it’s something you
want to reserve for people who are at their wit’s end.
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5
Sell an app. In a multi-million-person marketplace,
$1 or 2 per sale can go a long way. If you have a great concept but no
programming know-how, it might even be worth it to hire a programmer.
Just make sure you shop around for similar ideas, find ways to one-up
your competition, and comply with the rules of the company on whose
devices you’d sell the apps.
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6
Sell articles. Lots of small businesses, websites,
and marketers need good written content and smooth keyword integration
to help them get more traffic. Though you won’t make much to start with,
most articles will only be 200 to 300 words, which are a snap to crank
out. As you prove yourself to be capable, you can start charging more
for your services. If you’re a skilled writer, you might even try
submitting your work to formal publications.
Method 4 of 5: Make Money through Online Sales
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Create an online store. Selling online is especially
useful if you have a niche item that can’t attract enough business to
survive in a physical location, but of course online stores for everyday
items aren’t going anywhere, either. If you aren’t particularly
web-savvy or can be bothered to maintain a website, you can set up shop
on a site like
eBay or CafePress (for a fee). Otherwise, you can hire someone to design a website for you or even
make your own.
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2
Create a virtual store. Believe it or not, vendors
selling virtual items from within online games can make money in the
real world. By creating an avatar of yourself and setting up shop, you
can do business with other players (or even just advertise your
real-world business). Of course, you must first find a game that allows
it and pay to set it up, but once you’re in, you can reach a huge range
of people in various age groups and locations around the world. MMORPGs
(massive, multiplayer online role-playing games) are especially good
places to do this.
Method 5 of 5: Pointers when Working Online
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1
Make a good first impression no matter which type of online endeavor you attempt.
As with any business, your brand (web site, store, virtual portfolio
etc.) must grab the prospects attention, enticing and encouraging
him/her to learn more. A strong brand should include intelligently and
insightfully written copy, a description of your offering, product
overview, news and information and numerous opportunities to respond
(call to action).
- Differentiate your product/service from the competition. Consider
what makes your business unique by focusing on the brand, the specific
suite of services and how the product or service will solve the
customer’s problem. Punctuate these differentiating factors in order to
set your brand apart from the rest.
- Maintain a friendly, approachable tone. You want to invite your
customer to interact with you so be sure that while the copy on your
site or portfolio should be informative, it should also communicate a
friendly tone that will motivate communication and interaction with your
customers.
- Have a solid contract with your partner company. Enlist the
assistance of an attorney or have a lawyer review your partner company’s
contract so you know how you will be paid and the basis for payment
(for example if it based on produced work, solid sales, sign ups,
conversions, referrals, etc.).
- Follow up with clients after an initial interaction. Because you
haven’t had the benefit of face-to-face meeting, you will need to be
proactive (but not a stalker) online. After an initial meeting with a
client, send a thank you email a few days later to remind the client
about your meeting. Open the floor to additional questions and let your
prospective client know you are excited about the possibility of serving
him/her.
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2
Optimize your skills and knowledge in order to create a strong online presence. Although you may be a talented salesperson or graphic designer, you may not know how those talents will translate online.
- Take an search engine optimization course. Either online or possibly
offered at your local community college, learning about search engine
optimization (SEO) is an important component to a successful online
career. SEO training will teach you how to position your brand or store
higher on Google search engine rankings so your business is hit first
when potential clients are performing a search.
- Write a business plan. Even if the business plan will never leave
your computer, creating a plan will give you specific direction and
goals, which will help you stay on track and focused.
- Consult with experts. If you have a friend or colleague who has had
success making money online, tap into his/her knowledge and experience.
Find out what has worked well or what he/she has tried that bombed.
Extract as much knowledge and insight to help guide you in how you will
create your online business.
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3
Make sure you have the dedication and focus to work independently.
If you plan to make your online money making endeavor a success, you
must have what it takes to manage your time and be dedicated to your
craft.
- Examine your financial needs. Do you need to make a large income or
are you interested in making money online just to have some mad money?
The level of required income will most likely dictate the amount of time
and effort you’ll need to spend making your online business a success.
- Evaluate the amount of time you can dedicate to your online
business. Are you a stay-at-home mom with two small children and a
demanding school and housekeeping schedule or are you single with no
strings attached (or somewhere in between)? Identify the hours during
the day you can commit to your business and compare those hours to the
amount of money you need to make. Typically, especially with some
businesses, the earlier months and years are considerably more time
consuming, especially if you are building a client list.
- Be honest about your work habits. Are you a self starter, motivated
enough to stay on task and work without having a boss check on you, or
are you easily distracted by the phone, kids or other environmental
disturbances? Working online takes a tremendous amount of motivation and
focus in order to reach your cash generating goals.