Working from the comfort of your own home doing something that is both lucrative and enjoyable is a dream job for many people. Perhaps you don’t want to do it full-time, but rather create a side income that can turn into something more significant in the future. Either way, the internet has made both scenarios a possibility for just about anyone.
There are literally countless ways to make money online, with new opportunities appearing every day. Some are more profitable than others, while some are also more enjoyable. After all, you don’t want to spend your time filling out Captchas for a few pennies per hour.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 8 fun ways that you can make a decent amount of money online. Many of these make for great occasional gigs where you can make a bit of cash in your spare time. But with a bit of effort and innovation, you could turn these methods into a profitable full-time business of your own.
Food Photography
Are you a master with the camera and a bit of a foodie? Have you ever wondered where all those recipe websites get their photos? At the end of the day, pictures are what sell the food or recipe – so they’re pretty important. If you want to make some extra cash taking great pictures of tasty food, then food photography is right up your alley.
In order to start making money, you’ll obviously need a camera and a portfolio to show clients what you’re capable of. You can start by contacting different recipe websites offering your services. Alternatively, you can get some experience by visiting restaurants in your area and offering to photograph their food.
Fill Out Online Surveys
This method of making money online comes widely recommended – and for good reason. There are plenty of decent websites out there where residents in the UK can participate in surveys. The pay per hour won’t be spectacular starting off, but as your profile becomes more detailed, you usually get offered more in-depth studies that pay much higher.
Start a YouTube Channel
YouTube is currently the third most visited website in the world, with over 5 billion videos being viewed every day. This means your videos potentially have a massive audience, but it depends on what type of content you offer. There are already countless channels vying for views, so yours needs to stand out.
There are two categories your videos can go into: educational content and entertainment. Perhaps you have a unique topic that you want to discuss with your viewers or educate them on. Or, you have a few ideas for a comedy sketch, product review, or videogame walkthrough. If your idea stands out, you could be on your way to a fun new career. Check out this guide from Brave to learn more on how you can earn on Youtube.
Review Food
This is another great online gig that foodies will find particularly fun. You can visit local restaurants and offer to critique their food for compensation. Your review can either go on your website or you can create a video review to put up on YouTube.
If you opt for the former method, you’ll need to create your own food blog first. You can make money from it by placing ads or running an affiliate program. If you prefer the YouTube route, your money will be earned from the views your video receives. Not only do you get paid for your efforts, but you can also enjoy a delicious meal. It’s a win-win!
Play Poker
The key to making money with playing online poker games is knowing what to do. If you go in blind, you can expect a loss to come your way sooner than later. You can start by understanding common poker terms in order to build your knowledge of the game. From here, you can gain experience through free games before trying the real thing.
Start an eCommerce Store
Do you have a passion for business and offering solutions to common problems? Perhaps starting your own online store is the way to go. Websites such as Shopify have made it easier than ever for beginners to build a powerful eCommerce website and start selling products.
You have two options here: Sell your own products that are made from scratch, or resell low cost goods from other countries for higher prices, otherwise known as dropshipping. This will naturally take some time and effort to fully realise, but it’s something that you can do in your own time that has some serious potential for profit.
Sell Your Skills
If there’s anything that you know you’re talented at, such as 3D design or artwork, or something that you have skills/experience in, such as coding or video editing, why not sell that skill online? Websites such as Fiverr and Flexjobs allow you to advertise your service to thousands of people who are looking for someone with a particular skill set.
The benefit of doing this online instead of doing this for one physical company is that you can set your own hours and work with multiple clients around the world. You also don’t have to go through the whole process of entering a new job. Simply advertise your work, accept the request, complete the gig on time, get paid and move on to the next project.
Test Websites
Most of us have a pretty strong understanding of what makes a good website. Easy to navigate, clean design, non-intrusive ads, valuable content… etc.
The great news is that there are plenty of people out there who need a verdict on whether their website looks the part and is working as intended.
Websites such as TryMyUI, TestingTime, Usertesting and Userfeel require you to visit the site in question and record your thoughts as you navigate it. It’s a fairly straightforward way to make money and can be great fun as well.
As you may have noticed, the earning opportunities the internet offers today are virtually endless. Perhaps your foray into online money making will spark a unique and profitable idea of your own. The possibilities are there, it’s just up to you to make it happen – don’t hesitate to dive right in.
To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.