If you’re a beginner looking to make money online, you’re not alone. A lot of people want to start making money online. But many of them struggle because they feel overwhelmed with all the information available on various websites, forums, and blog posts. If this sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place! We will tell you how to earn money if all you have is a laptop and an internet connection.
How to Make Money Online for Beginners?
Making money online isn’t as hard as you might think. You don’t need to be a developer or tech guru to start making money—and that’s what this blog post is all about. Most of the ways we are going to show you are simple enough for a total newbie. That’s why they’re called “beginner-friendly” earning methods. All of these are easy and accessible, even if you’re just starting out and have no idea where to begin.
1. Blogging
The purpose of a blog is to exchange information, voice opinions, and build brands. If you are a good content creator, you can start making money by blogging. To get started, you’ll need to choose a niche, register a domain name for your blog, sign up for web hosting, and set up a theme using WordPress.
The next step is to publish unique content that matches the audience’s interests. Publish blog posts that are free of mistakes, easy to read, and fulfill the reader’s needs. Content may also include images, infographics, videos, or audio in addition to text. In order to bring organic traffic to your blog, you need to know about technical, On-page, and Off-page SEO.
Link building is also important to build your blog’s reputation. For this purpose, you need to network through social media, reply to readers’ comments, and engage with other bloggers. You must design content that converts. You can also make money by selling ads through ad services like:
The other choice is to sell your own products and services on your blog. But these must match your blog’s niche.
2. Graphics Designing
Graphic designing is another well-paying side hustle for beginners. You can make about $3,833 per month as a graphic designer. All you need to have is sufficient knowledge of typography and color theory. You must also be proficient in using design software like Adobe Illustrator, GIMP, CorelDRAW, etc.
As a beginner, you can learn all these basic skills through a variety of eLearning systems offering numerous design classes. Some of these are:
Once you start working with graphics by practicing over and over, your skills will begin to improve on their own.
So, if you want to make money online as a graphics designer, you may go and check out these websites:
3. Online Tutoring
Everyone’s an expert in a subject or a skill. If you too are an expert in some subject or know a practical skill, teach it online. Students have been preferring remote and personalized learning post-pandemic. And you can be the one providing them with this opportunity. Teaching has the advantage of simply requiring you to be one step ahead of your students. Your knowledge also grows by teaching others.
Sell digital courses online if you can. In other cases, a number of websites exist where experts from all over the world can sell their knowledge to students. Most classes are conducted via video chat, like on Zoom or Skype. So, you can teach remotely from any location.
Some of these tutoring websites where you can earn money online are:
4. Transcription
Transcription is the job of converting audio and video content into text. For example, a transcriber will listen to a YouTube video, audio file, podcast, or any other type of speech and convert it into a text file. It’s a highly demanded skill today due to the increasing popularity of video and audio content.
If you have a quick typing speed, good hearing and interpreting ability, and a command of the language, you’re all set to earn money transcribing. A good transcriber can make a pretty decent sum of money. Sometimes the pay rate can be like $25 per hour.
As a transcriber, you can work remotely for a number of companies. You can also sign up with gig marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr and look for transcription jobs there. There’s no need for any formal training to work as a transcriber. However, having a certificate of online experience will help you stand out.
5. Video Editing
Video editing is a great way to earn money online while learning new skills. To get started as a video editor, you need to do research on different kinds of video editing software. You can try out free tools online like Camtasia or Final Cut Pro X. There are also some paid options, such as Adobe Premiere Pro and Creative Cloud.
According to the data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a typical video editor earns around $40,000 based on their experience level. For an entry-level position on an online platform like Upwork, this could mean earning about $15 per hour.
Here are some resources that will help you learn the basics of video editing:
- YouTube: This is one of the best places to start learning about editing videos. You’ll find tons of helpful tutorials. These go over everything from choosing a camera to editing together scenes from different angles.
- Vimeo: It also offers lots of great tutorials on how to edit videos. You can learn how to use Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects if you want to go deeper into the craft of video editing.
6. Content Writing
Content writing is an indispensable part of any business that can help you make money online. A content writer helps consumers make decisions about buying products or services from a particular business. So businesses hire writers to write about everything from product reviews to guides on how to use certain products.
Content writers create content for print media, such as newspapers and magazines. They write email newsletters, marketing messages, and sales pitches. They also create web and mobile content for websites and apps. Website owners hire writers and make them write articles, blog posts, ebooks, and other types of content. It helps people learn new things about their businesses.
The average base salary for a content writer is $50K per year, according to SalaryExpert. There may be several variations across different industries of writing.
If you want to know how much you can expect to make as a freelance writer, search online job sites like Indeed or Craigslist.
7. Dropshipping
If you want to start an online business as a beginner, dropshipping is the best option for you. Just like other B2C businesses, it allows you to sell goods through an e-commerce store. The difference is that orders are taken by you but processed and fulfilled by a third-party supplier.
This e-commerce approach might be a successful way to build a startup. It often involves little or no investment, no stress of inventory or shipping, and your own customised eCommerce store. As a result, you have the opportunity to earn a lot of money in the form of passive income. Even inexperienced dropshippers can quickly set up an attractive website and start taking orders.
Some online platforms where you can start dropshipping are:
8. Affiliate Programs
If you have a website, a blog, a YouTube channel, or a large social media following, you can earn money through affiliate programs. You have to promote other businesses, their services, and products on your platform for which you’ll be getting a commission.
Let’s see how it works: You become an affiliate for your favorite product brand or a brand that just matches your niche. When you sign up with them, you’ll get a special link or code from the brand. So each time someone from your network purchases something from that brand using your code or link, you’ll get a commission.
Some examples of affiliate programs are:
- Amazon Associates (the biggest affiliate network for all niches)
- BeRush (Semrush’s affiliate program for SEO and marketing specialists)
- GetResponse Affiliate Programs (affiliate programs for the marketing niche)
- CJ Affiliate (the opportunity to work with the largest brands in the world)
- eBay Partner Network (partnership program for different types of niches)
- Tripadvisor Affiliate Program (affiliate program for the travel niche)
9. Marketing
As a beginner, marketing is a great way to make money. First things first: let’s talk about how much money you can make from marketing. According to a study by the World Bank, the average annual salary of an entry-level marketer in 2019 was $42,000 (USD). That means that if you are willing to work hard and learn new skills, you could earn more than an entry-level employee in your area.
One of the main reasons businesses fail is a lack of marketing. So, numerous brands are now hiring marketers to handle their marketing campaigns. Marketing is so much more than just advertising. It’s about making connections, building relationships, and encouraging customers to purchase one’s product or service.
There are many different types of marketing campaigns that can be used by beginners. Some of these are through social media posts, Facebook Ads, email campaigns using automation software, search engine optimization (SEO), and even print advertising to gain exposure for your client’s brand.
10. Paid Surveys
Even though it might seem impossible, you can supplement your income by taking internet surveys in your free time. Surveys are an important online tool in market research to analyze consumer behavior. So, many businesses pay people to take part in their surveys so that they can make better business decisions. For example, it may help them decide which items to introduce on the market or which products need improvement.
The following are a few well-known survey websites:
To earn online through surveys, you must keep in mind that:
- These are not a permanent source of income but a side hustle
- You must not expect as much money from surveys as from working online
- Make sure to sign up for different survey sites to enhance your chances of earning money
- Survey companies frequently have limited paid surveys available each month
11. Virtual Assistance
Virtual assistance is a growing industry, with more than 30 million Americans employed as virtual assistants. They work on-demand and provide their expertise, usually by running a browser-based program or through a freelance platform like Upwork. Businesses are hiring virtual assistants to help with tasks like email marketing, social media management, research, and data entry.
The best part about being a virtual assistant is that you can work from home – no matter what your schedule looks like. You can set your own schedule and complete tasks whenever it is most convenient for you. The flexible hours of the job make it a great option for parents who want to work in their pajamas.
If you have a computer, an internet connection, and a phone (and some basic skills), you can earn money by helping people in their businesses. Virtual assistants can earn up to $5,000 per month working from home.
12. YouTubing
One of the most popular methods of making an online income is by running a YouTube channel. YouTube has over 2 billion active users per month. Owing to the popularity of this video-sharing website, you can get your message to millions of people around the world. So, the best method to generate income is to sign up for monetization through the YouTube Partner Program.
You can share every type of video content on your channel, including food and travel vlogs, tutorials, academic lessons, or animated videos. But you must post content regularly to generate more views and get more subscribers. Some other ways to monetize your YouTube channel are Super Chat, membership with other YouTubers, promotional content, and YouTube BrandConnect.
Also, YouTubing is a beginner-friendly method to make online money as there’s no investment needed. All you need to start your channel is a good camera, free editing software, and an internet connection. A little knowledge of SEO, however, is needed to bring organic traffic to your channel.
13. Website Development and Design
If you are an IT student or simply have a passion for coding and development, you can earn money online by choosing this career. Moreover, having a degree related to IT and development will distinguish you from other professionals in the industry.
As a beginner, you’ll need to enroll yourself in a web development course. It’ll save you time and energy. There are different YouTubers who offer free courses for coding, development, and design. But, if you want more proficiency, go for paid courses. Some websites that offer courses in web development are:
A freelance web developer makes about $72,000 per year in basic pay. It is anticipated that between 2020 and 2030, the percentage of companies hiring web developers and digital designers will increase by 13%. Therefore, this is an excellent opportunity to enter the field.
14. Data Entry and Lead Generation
Data entry is another field in which you can pursue making money online. It doesn’t require you to be a whiz at SEO or coding. All you need to know is how to manipulate data through Microsoft Office and other data processing tools and enter it into spreadsheets provided to you by the client. Today, businesses and websites hire data entry specialists to build their databases, add product listings, etc.
Similarly, lead generation is a highly demanded skill today. Lead generation specialists find leads for different businesses and help them convert their target audience into potential customers. As a beginner, you have to be skilled at web scraping and precise searching. A little knowledge of CRM tools is also necessary.
You can find data entry and lead generation jobs on freelance platforms like
Both of these are high-paying gigs, enabling you to make $15 to $20 per hour.
15. Social Media Influencing
Social media influencers are people who are popular on social media, and they use their popularity to make money. Many of them aren’t celebrities at all — they’re just regular people who want to make a little extra cash from their passion for fitness or travel.
As a social media influencer, you can get paid to advertise products and services on your social media accounts. You can earn money through sponsored posts, advertising campaigns, and affiliate marketing. You’ll work with brands to create content that will be shared online. The brand will pay you for the content you post, which can be anything from a video tutorial to an article.
For example, if you are a workout enthusiast, you can become a fitness influencer. You might earn money by posting about how to lose weight fast. In this content, you can promote a brand’s exercise equipment or diets on your personal Facebook page or Instagram account.
While some companies may pay influencers to promote their products, many others choose to work with them because it provides an opportunity for exposure for both parties involved in the deal. Social media is a huge platform for businesses to reach new customers. As a result, more businesses are using social media influencers to promote their products and services.
Final Thoughts
Making money online has always been challenging for beginners. You need to know what you are doing, how to start, and how to remain motivated. We’ve shown you 15 simple methods in our guide that anyone may adopt to start earning money online. There is no way of knowing which method is best for you, though. You can only learn this by actually trying the one that appeals to you the most. You can also go for the one you think you have the guts or skills for.
