When you think about making a living, what image comes to mind? Is it some bored office worker who’s just counting down the minutes until they can take a coffee break or go home for the day? The internet has helped us all become more connected, leading us to find new and exciting ways to make money from anywhere and some unique ways to make money in your own neighborhood.
- Selling isn’t the only way to make money in the modern world, but it’s still a viable option for many people, especially when it comes to dropshipping.
- Monetizing your passions is a great way to start a business. If you’re an expert about something, there’s a way to make money with it.
- Content is king, especially in today’s world. With the right marketing, you can take your content from good to great and start raking in the cash.
If you’re ready to kick the 9 to 5 and find yourself making money in a way that excites you, consider these modern ways you can bring home the bacon.
Be A Seller
One of the most obvious ways to make money is to sell. Who doesn’t remember the first time they bid on eBay or got a package from Amazon? You can get in on the e-commerce market by selling a variety of things. For one, selling actual products through dropshipping. Google Trends found that dropshipping’s popularity is on the rise.
Those who have been successful have boasted thousands of dollars a month, simply by selling one product. The basics of dropshipping are simple: you sell a product to a customer but the supplier stores, packages, and ships the product to the customer for you. So, instead of needing a warehouse to store thousands of those speciality gardening shears, you just have to sell them and the supplier will do the rest.
Aside from dropshipping, you can sell using more traditional e-commerce methods, like on Etsy, Craigslist, eBay, or Amazon. Try starting by selling your old things you don’t need or use anymore. From there, you can source items to sell at thrift stores.
There’s actually a huge market for vintage clothing, books, and games. If you’re crafty, Etsy is the place to go. Whether you’re knitting grandma cardigans by hand or painting portraits of people’s animals, you can make a good amount of money for quality work.
A little more unusual, you can sell information or technology. One option is to sell domains. You start by first buying a domain name. Then, simply sell it to someone for a profit. Another option is to sell contracts, for example, real estate contact lists. This is a great way to break into the real estate market without needing to actually take out a mortgage.
You simply buy the contract, sometimes for only a few hundred dollars, and then sell it for a profit to an interested party. It’s easy to do and there are companies like REWW that can teach you how to get started.
Freelance Work & Gigs
The gig market is alive and strong. Freelancing is the wave of the future. We are seeing more and more people turning to freelancing and gig work to pay their bills. One of the best ways to break into the freelancing world is to simply look at what you’re doing now for work, then look for places to do it online.
For example, opportunities for writing, graphic designer, teaching, and even software developing are plentiful. There are also a ton of websites where you can browse your opportunities. To start with, check out Fiverr, Freelancer, and Upwork.
If you want a gig that gets you out of the house, you’re in luck! An increasing number of companies are turning to freelancers and gig workers to fulfill their mission. Companies like Uber, Lyft, and Postmates rely solely on these trusted freelancers. There are some huge benefits, like being totally in control of your schedule and getting the chance to avoid being cooped up at home.
You can also find micro gigs at the Mechanical Turk or pick something you enjoy doing, like cleaning or walking dogs, and start advertising to your friends and family. Be sure to check industry standards for pay so you know what to charge and take control of your life while doing something you love.
Build A Business
Taking freelance work a step further, you could start and build your own business or brand. Maybe you can perform a task, like cleaning a house, tutoring, being a virtual assistant, or organizing. Once you identify what you want to do, you simply register as a business, start marketing yourself, and build your customer base. This option requires a lot more research than simply freelancing, but it can be hugely rewarding.
Are you an expert at getting in shape? Can you decorate any home so it looks magazine ready? You might just be an expert! And if you’re an expert in something, you can monetize that by building your own brand and business. Through virtual meetings, you could train someone online. You could be a consultant for a company. You could conduct a webinar. Whatever you decide, being an expert is to your advantage.
Create Content
One of the most common ways to make money online is through content creation. And there are a few ways to do this. One of those is through written content. Writing and publishing an ebook or an online course can get your name out there and get you passive income that rolls in every month without you doing more work. With a blog or a website, you’ll have to do some basic research into content marketing, but if you’re patient with yourself and your work, you can soon start making money.
Another option is to make visual content. Many people are selling their photos or graphic designs online. Because other people need these but don’t necessarily want to hire a full-time photographer or graphic designer, they will turn to your work instead. You can also take advantage of print on demand services that allow people to print whatever design they want on a product. They would pay for your design, then separately print it. It’s another great way to make passive income.