Reddit, a social website that bills itself as "the front page of the internet," has become an invaluable resource for many people. It's where you go when something interests you or if there's some sort of information you're looking for. You might also use it to share your opinion about current events. The site currently boasts more than 300 million active users who collectively spend roughly 1 billion hours per month consuming content. That means that just by being part of this community, you could be earning money (or at least making connections) while doing something else. Here are three strategies to consider using today.
If you've been searching for ways to make extra cash beyond the usual 9-to-5 grind, then chances are good that you've come across articles like How To Make Money From Home Using Amazon Mechanical Turk. This popular article outlines the basics of creating a successful Amazon affiliate program but doesn't provide a clear path toward becoming financially independent through those efforts alone. It does however offer solid advice on how to get started. If you want to know exactly how to do what we did here to generate hundreds of thousands of dollars each year without having any prior experience whatsoever, follow along below.
First things first, click on the link above and sign up for a free account. Once you're logged into your new account, select Sell photos & videos. In our case, let's say we'd like to sell pictures of animals taken by tourists. After selecting this option, scroll down until you see the section labeled Sell Photos & Videos. Click on Edit next to Sell Photos & Video. Now, enter all the details needed to set up your profile. For example, put in the titles of your images, upload them, add tags, etc. When finished, hit Save Your Account Settings. Next, choose whether you prefer to receive payment via PayPal, check, or direct deposit. Finally, verify your email address associated with your account. We'll need this later so don't skip it!
Now, we have to promote ourselves within the community. Go back to the main screen and look under Popular Pages. Find Photobucket and click on its icon. Then, click on Submit A Listing. Fill out everything required including adding a title, description, keywords, category, price range, privacy options, and even uploading additional photos. Hit Apply Changes to submit your listing. Repeat these steps for every other photo sharing service you plan to list your work on. While we used Photobucket in this tutorial, don't forget to include similar services such as Flickr, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, DeviantArt, 500px, SmugMug, Google+, Pinterest, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, and others. Also, remember to update your listings whenever necessary.
Once you start getting requests from potential buyers, simply send their messages over to someone you trust. They will take care of sending payments and tracking orders. As mentioned previously, you won't actually touch a single cent yourself unless they buy something. At that point, you should keep track of which customers paid successfully and which ones didn't.
To get a better idea of how much income you can expect to bring in over time, try signing up for Fiverr gigs. These gigs allow you to advertise products for five bucks instead of charging the buyer full retail value. Each sale brings in approximately 50 cents thanks to a 5% payout cut. However, you must be careful not to fall victim to scams since you only get charged once a customer makes a purchase. On top of that, be sure to read user reviews before agreeing to represent any product. Lastly, if you find yourself needing help promoting your photography business, you may wish to consider joining freelance sites such as Elance or Freelancer. With such sites, clients pay freelancers directly rather than going through middlemen like us. This allows both parties to avoid unnecessary fees.
So now you understand how to make money from home, even though you probably aren't interested in working for yourself. Let's say you decide to leave your job and open up shop as a professional photographer. Well, it turns out that to consistently pull in $1,000 per day, you need to post around 15 photographs daily. Of course, not everyone can afford to hire a staff of photographers, nor would most people want to. So why not turn to alternative methods? Fortunately, there are several ways you can leverage Reddit to generate enough cash to quit your day job. Here are two examples.
Start Offering Subreddits
We have plenty of subreddits dedicated to specific topics ranging from pets to video games. Most of these communities tend to reside somewhere near the bottom of the rankings. Because of this, you can easily compete with established competitors by offering unique content. To begin, create a subreddit named r/your_niche. Next, fill it with quality material, give it a catchy name, and place it among the best niche subreddits. For instance, if you were selling dog food, you may wish to rank highly in the rankings by naming your subreddit r/dogfood.
Next, copy existing posts from other subreddits, edit them slightly, and repost them on your own page. Be sure to add relevant links and hashtags to increase traffic. Don't worry about spamming because search engines generally ignore duplicate pages. Just remember to always write original content. If you feel comfortable editing content, you can also opt to expand upon existing ideas found elsewhere. Another great strategy is to focus solely on posting high-quality images and videos.
While you can certainly share content created exclusively by you, it's likely that you already possess excellent digital assets. Instead of spending countless hours trying to perfect your craft, you can simply borrow designs from various stock image websites. Sites like Unsplash, Pixabay, Pexels, StockSnap, FreePik, Creative Commons Images, and iStockphoto often contain stunning imagery that's suitable for commercial purposes. All you have to do is download the files, rename them appropriately, and paste them onto your blog.
Create Content Worth Sharing
Aside from actively contributing to multiple subreddits, you can also share content worth reading. There are several subreddits devoted to highlighting interesting news stories. Other communities consist entirely of memes, GIFs, funny YouTube clips, and hilarious tweets. Even if you don't believe you have anything worthwhile to contribute, you can still benefit from browsing. By visiting different subreddits related to your area of expertise, you will learn about trending trends, gain valuable insight into current affairs, and possibly discover hidden gems.
In addition, Reddit allows anyone to create a self-hosted podcast called Listen Notes. Simply visit listennotes.com and register an account. Next, log into your account and head to Create New Podcast. Choose Start Recording and wait for the app to load. Add text and audio elements, adjust playback speed, and record whatever comes to mind. You can finally save your file to your computer, convert it into MP3 format, and distribute it anywhere you please.
For those who desire a higher rate of return, Reddit offers another method of generating revenue. Unlike the previous techniques discussed, this involves starting your own company. But what kind of company? Basically, you can either build a startup or join a pre-existing venture. Either way, you should aim to solve problems and improve lives. Before jumping right into entrepreneurship, figure out what skills you enjoy developing and what knowledge you hold dear. Then, identify opportunities where you can apply any of the aforementioned talents. Whether you run your own firm or assist others, you shouldn't neglect the importance of branding. Name recognition remains crucial regardless of the type of business you operate. Therefore, it's important to develop a recognizable style and voice that resonates with consumers.
One last thing to note is that although Reddit isn't known for its profitability, you can still earn significant profits if done correctly. Since Reddit caters mostly to web surfers, you can market your offerings to people who seek solutions to everyday problems. Furthermore, if you're skilled at writing, you can publish informative guides designed to educate readers on subjects ranging from nutrition to personal finance. Lastly, if you're especially gifted in marketing, you can launch a viral campaign aimed at increasing brand awareness. Although success varies greatly between individuals, the average monthly earnings from running a Reddit Business hovers around $10,000.
The quickest way to make money on the Internet is to do nothing. Unfortunately, this approach rarely yields results unless you happen to stumble upon a lucrative opportunity. Aside from investing substantial amounts of time and energy into building your business, there are also numerous costs involved. Not to mention, it requires discipline. In contrast, passive income streams usually involve minimal risk and effort. Examples include renting out real estate or licensing intellectual property rights. Passive income accounts for 97 percent of total household wealth worldwide according to research published by Oxfam International. Meanwhile, only 2 percent of households derive their incomes from investments like stocks and bonds.
Reddit is one of those websites that many people know, but few actually use. It’s easy enough to get started using Reddit without ever making an account or posting anything — just head over to r/all (the default subreddit) and start reading posts like this one. But for some users who spend more time browsing Reddit than they do working at their jobs, there are other ways to turn the site into cash machine.
In November 2016, we looked at how earning revenue through your website could be done by creating “sponsored content” accounts on popular subreddits. The idea was simple: If someone wanted to advertise something, why not pay for it in kind? One Redditor called it “a win-win situation.” Another wrote about his success selling advertising space on his blog as well as tips for getting paid via Reddit ads.
Today, however, sponsored content has been replaced by an even better way to generate income from Reddit. You don’t need to create any new accounts or have moderator privileges. Instead, all you need to do is find a good niche subreddit and then post links to products and services you want to sell. Then, if someone clicks on your link, you will receive commissions based on what product they end up buying. This method works especially well when combined with affiliate marketing techniques, which allow you to market third party products while also taking advantage of commissions offered by companies looking to promote their wares.
The thing is, these methods aren’t necessarily going to net you thousands every month. In fact, most experienced marketers say it won’t happen unless you’re very lucky. And yet, others claim you can make hundreds or even thousands per week doing exactly this—without having to deal with the hassle of moderating comments or managing ad campaigns yourself. Here’s how to tell whether such claims are true or false.
While Reddit may have earned its reputation as a hub for political discussion, today it’s become one of the largest destinations for web traffic. According to SimilarWeb, Reddit clocked in second place among social media sites in terms of global monthly audience size, trailing only Facebook. That means advertisers now consider Reddit a prime location to reach potential customers. So, naturally, many marketers try to capitalize on the popularity of Reddit by promoting their own brands within community forums like /r/AmazonProductReviews or /r/VacationRentals, where visitors tend to share opinions about various items.
But here’s the problem: While you might see advertisements for things you buy regularly, you probably don’t care so much about whatever random item someone else purchased on vacation last year. As long as you click on them, read reviews, and decide whether or not to purchase said item, you’ll never receive a commission directly from that individual seller. However, thanks to Reddit’s user-driven system, you can still benefit from other peoples’ purchases—just indirectly.
To understand how this works, let’s take a look at /r/amazonproductreviews. Every day, several Amazon sellers join the forum to answer questions submitted by viewers interested in a particular product. For example, maybe you’ve decided to switch to headphones after finding out your smartphone speaker isn’t loud enough. Or perhaps you’re trying to figure out which pair of running shoes would work best for you. Whatever the case, once you submit a question, commenters often respond with honest feedback from real people who bought similar items previously. Sometimes, reviewers will even point guests to specific retailers offering discounts on certain models. After researching everything thoroughly, you’d likely come across multiple recommendations before deciding on a final pick. By clicking on any given comment recommending a product, you help boost sales for both parties involved. And since everyone benefits, no one needs to worry about being ripped off.
You can apply the same concept to pretty much any type of product review forum. All you need to do is research relevant communities and search for topics related to the types of stuff you’re interested in buying. Once you’ve found a topic worth exploring further, bookmark it and check back periodically to keep track of updates. Over time, you should begin seeing useful information pop up whenever a new submission appears. Eventually, you’ll learn to recognize patterns and predict trends before anyone else does. At first, you’ll probably see plenty of spammy submissions and irrelevant threads, but stick around long enough and eventually you’ll discover gems like this gem:
A quick glance at the top of the page reveals dozens of links pointing towards electronics deals, travel packages, apparel, health & wellness gear, and home goods. There’s even a section dedicated entirely to computer accessories! When you combine that knowledge with basic SEO skills, you can easily rank high on Google searches for keywords associated with each category. Since nobody knows what you’re searching for ahead of time, all of those results appear organically. With luck, a handful of hyperlinks pointing toward specific products caught your eye, and you ended up visiting a retailer’s official Reddit channel. Now, imagine if those links pointed to actual discount codes instead. Suddenly, you’re earning commissions for hours spent surfing Reddit...but only if you’re smart about it.
It’s important to note that Reddit doesn’t offer direct incentive programs designed specifically for affiliates. Unlike big platforms like YouTube or Twitter, you cannot set up a brand profile and choose between different reward tiers. Therefore, the main goal of Reddit monetization strategies revolves around building trust and credibility. Your primary objective is to build relationships with other redditors, gaining their trust so they feel comfortable sharing valuable tips and advice with you. Only then will they visit your personal profile pages where you distribute links to your offers.
That said, there are other ways to earn extra cash passively through Reddit. For instance, you can write articles for publication on other company blogs or publications. Alternatively, you can simply repost content from sources outside Reddit. Of course, you shouldn’t expect to rake in huge sums overnight. But if you put in consistent effort every day for months or years, you’ll slowly accrue a nice chunk of change. Just remember, the sky’s the limit, and there’s nothing holding you back except for your own determination.
As mentioned earlier, earning passive income through Reddit takes patience and persistence. Most people give up too soon because their efforts lack direction. They either hope for magic bullets to sprout wings or chase down elusive monsters hoping to slay dragons. Unfortunately, neither approach usually pays off. Sure, sometimes it happens. But generally speaking, it requires quite a bit of planning, hard work, and creativity to pull off successfully.
Many newcomers to internet marketing think they can skip the steps altogether and jump straight to the part where they ask friends and family members for advice. Those folks almost always fail miserably. Why? Because their expectations were unrealistic. Yes, you can certainly make extra cash through Reddit if you’re willing to go above and beyond the call of duty. But if you sit behind your keyboard waiting for people to stumble upon your posts, you may as well save your energy, because it ain’t gonna happen anytime soon.
This brings us to another common misconception: Some people believe you can quickly master the mechanics of affiliate marketing and immediately start generating profits. Not only is that rarely the case, but if you’re completely new to the industry, you’re unlikely to succeed anyway. Even if you did manage to land clients immediately, you’d struggle to convert prospects into paying customers due to low conversion rates. On average, less than 1% of leads result in successful transactions. To improve your chances, focus on learning effective lead generation tactics rather than diving right into affiliate marketing until you gain experience.
Another reason you might not get rich quickly is because competition is fierce. People who run profitable businesses typically invest significant amounts of resources into attracting new customers. Meanwhile, you’re stuck competing against people who have already established themselves in their respective niches. Unless you have a lot of capital to spare, you’ll need to dedicate a considerable amount of time and energy to growing your business.
Lastly, it’s essential to realize that you’re fighting uphill battles against countless competitors. Many people quit halfway through because they couldn’t handle the stress. Others give up early because they didn’t develop proper habits or systems. Either way, you’re destined to lose. Don’t fall prey to negative thoughts and emotions caused by failure. Remember that a single setback doesn’t mean you’re incapable of succeeding elsewhere. Instead, treat setbacks as opportunities to grow smarter and stronger.
Reddit is one of the most popular social media platforms out there. The site's success has attracted investors, who have since launched multiple startups on top of it. But do these companies actually profit from Reddit? And what about regular old redditors like yourself? Can you earn anything by using Reddit as an outlet for your interests or hobbies?
Here are all the ways people use Reddit to rake in cash — and how they're doing so right now.
Yes! There are plenty of opportunities for making money through Reddit. One way is via affiliate marketing programs offered by many subreddits' moderators (subreddits are groups of related content that fall under a certain category). Subreddit mods offer products and services that appeal specifically to their communities. They then charge advertisers to place ads on their page. When someone clicks on them, the mod gets paid commissions. This means that instead of relying purely on ad revenue, they also get to keep some of the profits themselves. For example, /r/LifeProTips, which focuses on life advice, partners with brands such as Headspace and First Aid Kit to promote its own posts, while simultaneously offering commission-based advertising space to other creators. These partnerships aren't exclusive, meaning that if you find a product worth promoting, you too could start earning income. You'll need to reach out directly to businesses looking to partner up to see whether this would be possible for you.
Another option is creating your own brand around something you love. If you've ever wanted to create your very own T-shirt line, Reddit allows you to turn any meme into merch. Just look at r/WallpapersForRedditors, where Redditor Darksidexploits creates wallpapers based on user submissions. She makes over $1 million per year from her merchandise alone, selling everything from coffee mugs to phone cases featuring her work. Her earnings come from both direct sales and Patreon donations. You don't even necessarily need to go down the t-shirts route either. A simple blog post highlighting the best new memes you saw recently could bring you more traffic than you'd expect.
But perhaps the easiest way to generate extra income is simply being active on Reddit itself. Many subreddits allow you to donate Bitcoin to help improve their platform. In fact, the majority of Reddit's biggest earners started solely out of passion for a specific subject matter.
Reddit isn't just used for passive consumption anymore. It's become a hub for entrepreneurs who want to take advantage of the popularity of the website to launch their own ventures. Companies like RedditCoins, a startup founded by two college students, aim to connect individuals interested in cryptocurrency with those willing to buy and sell it. Other startups, like Savaari and SocialRank, build tools designed to let anyone leverage Reddit to market their own business.
This doesn't mean that you won't run into scams here. While Reddit's community guidelines prohibit outright fraud, scammers will always exploit loopholes. Some common tactics include asking victims for sensitive information like passwords, clicking on links provided without fully understanding the risks involved, or convincing others to send funds to accounts controlled by the scammer. As long as you follow basic security practices, including not replying to suspicious messages, never giving away personal info, and avoiding sketchy sites or apps, you should stay safe.
Yes! Even though Reddit might seem like a haven for cat pictures and political banter, it's still capable of bringing in serious dollars when leveraged correctly. According to Business Insider, several big name brands have already partnered with Reddit, including Uber, Airbnb, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, PayPal, Apple Music, Spotify, Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft, Google, Samsung, Coca Cola, Nike, Adidas, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Starbucks, Sephora, and Nintendo.
Of course, not everyone has the same luck attracting major corporations. Still, even smaller businesses often choose Reddit to advertise their wares. Take /r/DessertsSubreddit, home to thousands of delicious recipes submitted by redditors. Its creator, Alanna Wang, says she earned between $3,000-$5,000 last month after partnering with various food producers.
And although the aforementioned companies may only pay lip service to Reddit's massive audience, individual users can sometimes benefit financially from their relationships. That's because some subreddits require payment for access. To avoid paying fees, check to see whether your favorite communities require subscriptions to view the content posted within.
Some examples of premium subreddits include /r/WatchingBabyGrow, /r/GamingAddiction, and /r/BingeModeRecovery. However, many of these types of subreddits are no longer actively moderated due to low participation rates and lack of activity. Because of this, they may not provide reliable sources of income, but hey, at least you got free snacks.
You betcha! Although running your own subreddit is technically outside the realm of "making money" on Reddit, plenty of successful subs have been established entirely thanks to contributions made by their owners. Here are just a few examples:
/r/EarthPorn, owned by self-described "paleontologist turned amateur photographer," James Gardner, brings visitors hundreds of high quality photos taken by him and his friends at various locations across Earth. He earns royalties each time he receives a photo submission.
/r/CasualConversation was created by former professional comedian Matt Foley, who quit comedy to pursue writing jokes fulltime. Since launching in 2013, casualconvo has grown tremendously, amassing over 2.2 million subscribers and garnering millions in views every week.
/r/ShitMyDadSays is a hilarious forum dedicated to sharing family secrets and embarrassing stories. Owner Aaron Zander hopes that the sub will inspire readers to live better lives. So far, it seems like he's succeeding—the account has racked up nearly 20k followers and continues to grow today.
The good news is that just because you're not generating revenue immediately doesn't mean you shouldn't try to monetize your experience on Reddit. After all, the goal of building a strong following is ultimately to drive engagement, and engagement translates into higher profile among potential customers, partners, etc., thus leading to greater financial returns.
One way you can accomplish this is setting up a subscription model similar to that employed by some premium subreddits mentioned above. Or maybe you decide to join forces with another person who shares your interest. For instance, /u/joshcohen99 runs /r/FinancialIndependenceMentor, which helps aspiring adults achieve financial freedom. Together, they host webinars to educate viewers on topics ranging from credit card debt to investing. Josh Cohen says that he believes that engaging with listeners is key to keeping them subscribed. Thus, he tries to answer questions personally whenever possible.
Alternatively, you might consider starting your own podcast. Launched earlier this year, /r/financialindependencepodcast boasts over 250,000 downloads per episode. Hosted by Michael Ocampo and Andrew Loomis, the show highlights important finance concepts and strategies aimed at helping listeners gain control of their finances. Listeners say that they listen to the podcast to learn "how to change my financial situation." Not bad for a little project that began almost three years ago.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.