Remote work is an attractive concept. Beyond working in your PJs, working remotely offers professionals the opportunity to reduce their commutes, enjoy more flexibility in their schedules, and achieve a better work-life balance.
Thankfully, in today’s digital age, it’s never been easier to make a living online.
If you’ve been craving a remote work lifestyle but are struggling to make the switch, these 21 options are the perfect place to start.
Best of all, many of these beginner-friendly positions are scalable, growing with you as you gain experience.
4 Steps to Make a Living Online
Ready to take the plunge and start earning money online? These 4 easy steps will guide your path.
1. Identify your niche
First, identify areas where you have existing skills or interests. Refer to the list below for inspiration for online work that matches your wants and skill set.
2. Develop your skill set
You may already have all the tools you need to start earning money online. If not, take some time to engage more with your chosen role.
Consider virtual courses, YouTube tutorials, or further research to gain confidence.
3. Showcase your abilities
Many of these roles require some evidence of your abilities. This could look like a graphic design portfolio or client reviews from a pet-sitting client.
Find a way to gather and show off your abilities through a website, online portfolio, social media accounts, or whatever suits you.
4. Transform skill into earning potential
With a little patience, your work will soon become a new source of income. From here on, the possibilities are endless!
Make a Living Online: Social Media
There are plenty of ways to make extra money on social media, and the space is constantly evolving with new monetization opportunities. Hit the ground running with established practices, or become a platform pioneer with new and innovative ways to earn.
1. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing helps you earn real money online through clicks. When you link products using your affiliate codes, you’ll earn a small percentage either on each click or sale.
While an existing blog or other online presence can be helpful, you don’t need one to get started. Try using different programs, such as Amazon Affiliates or TikTok Shop. Start recommending items you genuinely love and grow from there!
For more information, check out these affiliate marketing posts:
2. Pinterest
Pinterest is more than just a social media platform – it’s a creative search engine with some serious earning potential.
Use Pinterest to boost traffic to your existing blog or business, or earn money as a Pinterest Virtual Assistant.
3. Faceless Content
If you’re interested in creating content but don’t want to be in front of the camera, faceless videos are for you!
Create vlog-style videos or fully digital videos. Popular ideas include quizzes, games, compilations, and more.
Cross-post these videos across platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram reels to increase your reach and monetization potential.
4. YouTube Channel
You can make money through YouTube videos by running a YouTube channel.
As your subscriber base grows, you can enroll in the YouTube Partner Program and earn through Google AdSense. Sponsorships and members-only content can bring in even more income.
5. TikTok Creator Fund
TikTok has taken over the video space, with creators getting paid for videos depending on their view count. You can also livestream on TikTok Live, where viewers can send tips while watching your stream.
6. UGC Creator
Chances are, your local market is obsessed with UGC, or “user-generated content.” These are real reviews or captured experiences shared by everyday people.
You don’t need an existing platform for this content creation. In fact, a new face is preferred over a known content creator.
Make videos that businesses love, and consumers trust. Film yourself talking about your favorite products or a fun new experience in town. Collaborate with brands and get paid for your honest reviews and video content.
Make a Living Online: Digital Products
Selling digital products is a beginner-friendly way to enter the e-commerce space, eliminating the hassle of shipping, handling, and storing products.
Plus, keeping it digital gives you plenty of options for future passive income.
7. Write E-books
E-books have simplified the publishing process, allowing you to self-publish your literary works with just a few clicks of the mouse.
Publish works of fiction or non-fiction titles like cookbooks, instructional manuals, niche education, and more. While writing e-books comes with a significant upfront time commitment, it could pay off with years of passive income.
8. Create an Online Course
Just as there’s a growing desire to work online, many folks also prefer learning online.
Use your specific expertise to create online courses. This can take the form of one-time learning materials or a subscription model for regularly updated resources.
To sell these courses, you can either create a business website or use a popular host site like Skillshare or Udemy to take advantage of their built-in traffic.
Check out this simple course creation tutorial to create your first digital course!
9. Photo Presets
If you’ve never heard of presets, you’ve definitely seen them used on your Instagram feed. These preset filters are used on photos and videos to upgrade a profile, offering a consistent style and aesthetic appeal.
These filters are far more advanced than the free options you can find on Instagram; they’re tailored to specific vibes that will elevate any feed.
Make custom presets in Adobe Lightroom and sell themed bundles online. Popular bundles are often described by their aesthetic.
10. Template Creation
Online templates are in demand for organizational help and an enhanced aesthetic. These templates can be used for:
- Spreadsheets
- Daily planners
- Canva deigns
- Google slides
- Websites
- And more!
Pro tip – consider the wedding market! Create templates to help busy folks plan their dream wedding or decorative templates to enhance their day.
11. Stock Photos
If you have a quality camera and an interest in photography, consider using your skills for stock photography. Sell images on platforms such as Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, iStock, and more.
This is a simple way to sell existing work and earn passive income.
For more visibility, remember to add relevant tags and detailed descriptions to your uploaded photos.
Make a Living Online: Freelancing + Services
Freelance your skills, with gigs available for part-time and full-time careers.
12. Social Media Management
If you’re passionate about social media, consider joining the social media marketing space! Work for remote agencies or individual creators, helping them plan, create, and schedule content.
13. Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants often help small business owners with administrative support, completing micro-tasks to keep them organized, save time, and even scale their operations.
These roles can be technical or creative, depending on the field.
14. Blog Writing
Talented writers looking to enter the field should consider blog writing. Research topics, create well-rounded blog posts, and integrate SEO to help your work get seen!
15. Rover
Pet service providers can make a living online through a platform like Rover. It’s built to connect pet parents with qualified sitters and dog walkers.
You can keep this role entirely remote by offering at-home pet sitting, or you can venture out for client check-ins and walks.
16. Data Entry
Data entry is a beginner-friendly role that requires basic computer skills and a reliable internet connection. With that, you can effectively organize records and update databases as needed.
17. Online Tutoring
You can offer online tutoring services through video chat from just about anywhere, making this a great gig for college students.
Check job boards for tutoring agencies hiring in your area, or choose to freelance your services through personal marketing.
Make a Living Online: Physical Products
With the help of AI and proven processes, selling physical products online has become totally streamlined. Use trusted host sites and free online resources to begin selling physical products and make a living online.
18. Etsy Sales
Etsy is a good spot to sell handmade goods because of its powerful search engine and built-in user base. Sell art, crafts, vintage items, and more.
19. Selling Bundles
Love to shop and curate? Transform this passion into a revenue source by selling bundles like:
- Styling bundles on Depop
- Curated gift boxes for special events
- Niche subscription boxes that are shipped monthly
20. Print-on-demand
It’s easy to start selling online through a print-on-demand service like Redbubble. Simply upload your artwork and let the host site do the rest.
They’ll print on tote bags, tees, notebooks, and more, and deliver you earnings for each sale.
21. Vintage + Upcycled Goods
You can sell anything online! Sell vintage collections, upcycled clothing destined for the landfill, or items brought back to life with a fresh coat of paint.
Popular host sites for vintage goods include eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Poshmark.
Final Thoughts: How to Make a Living Online
There are so many ways to earn extra income online, but it can feel really intimidating at the start. Use these beginner-friendly ideas to fuel your remote dreams and start making money online.
