There's a lot of talk these days about making money on the internet -- how people are bringing in millions upon millions of dollars working at their computer (or smartphone). But what if you could bring in $20 per hour doing something totally unrelated to computers?
In this article we'll explore how it's possible for anyone who has ever worked a day job to earn over $25 per hour with little effort. We'll also look into some very lucrative side income streams that don't involve any typing, much less a degree in computer science.
Let's start by looking at the most valuable skill in today's world... writing well written articles. If you have one thing going for you, it's probably your ability to write good copy. And there's plenty of demand for writers. You just need to know where to find it.
The Best Online Writing Jobs That Pay $20+ Per Hour
If you're serious about learning how to make extra money writing online, check out Elance. The site allows freelancers to bid on projects posted by clients all across the globe. Clients post project descriptions detailing exactly what they want done, then allow bidders to submit bids based on specific skills and qualifications. Elance takes care of everything else -- finding qualified workers, managing deadlines, keeping track of payments, etc. It costs nothing to register as a bidder, so why not give it try?
This next option isn't strictly limited to freelance writers. Writers can use HubPages to publish original content related to topics like health & fitness, cooking, crafts, pets, gardening, parenting, photography, travel, sewing, nutrition, finance, relationships, cars, motorcycles, sports, religion, technology, music, history, politics, movies/television shows, celebrities, education, humor, business, social media marketing, and many others. Just sign up to be part of the community, set up an account, and choose which category interests you. Then read and respond to other posts within those categories. As you build up your profile page, you'll become known as an expert in your field. This results in higher search engine rankings when potential customers type in keywords associated with your niche. In addition to earning royalties off each piece of content published, you may even attract sponsorships or advertising partnerships along the way. But keep in mind that before being able to offer such deals, you must first receive payment for your services.
HubPages pays approximately 25 cents per finished webpage viewed. When visitors click through to another hub, HubPages receives 30% commission. For example, let's say someone clicks from one of your hubs to Amazon.com after reading your blog entry "Learn How To Build A Better Garden Shed." Here's how that works:
1. Visitors land on Amazon.com thanks to Google searches using terms associated with your article title ("learn how to" + garden shed = Amazon.com).
2. They see your article titled Learn How To Build A Better Garden Shed. Clicking on the link opens up the hub displayed in # 1 above.
3. Visitors stay on your hub long enough to view your entire article and possibly click through to another website via links contained therein.
4. Your article finishes loading on Amazon.com because it contains embedded images and videos.
5. Once loaded, readers begin clicking around on the various pages until they reach the end product, i.e., books in Kindle format.
6. Since no actual sales occur directly through HubPages, only the last step counts toward commissions.
7. At the end of the process, HubPages earns 30% of whatever amount ends up being spent on your linked products. So, if someone spends $100 while visiting your hub, HubPages would earn 3 x ($100) = $300 worth of referral traffic.
8. Now imagine that same scenario but instead of linking to Amazon.com, your visitor clicked a different button located elsewhere on your own web page.
9. Let's assume the new destination was YouTube.com. Again, visitors landed on the video sharing platform due to relevant search queries entered into the Google bar. After viewing your video, they left your domain without purchasing anything. However, once again your visitor remained long enough on your website to finish watching your video, thereby completing Step 5 above.
10. Therefore, your efforts earned you zero referrals since no purchases were made directly through your web page. Instead, the customer arrived via a third party source, namely YouTube.com.
11. On the flipside, should your reader purchase an item from one of the vendors displaying ads on your site, you'd still owe HubPages a percentage of the sale.
12. Keep in mind that HubPages does NOT require advertisers to display banner advertisements on your sites. Some companies prefer text ads placed near your content rather than large banners. Either choice would result in revenue generated from ad clicks.
13. Lastly, HubPages charges publishers to create accounts and host blogs. Most users simply contribute content, therefore requiring almost no administrative support.
14. One final note regarding earnings. While HubPages offers compensation for successful completion of individual steps described above, HubPages' true value lies in its massive volume. By building hundreds of hubs, you increase the likelihood of attracting sponsored partners willing to provide free promotion for your content. Also, having multiple hubs increases your exposure among both existing and prospective customers alike.
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that if you focus primarily on driving targeted traffic via hubs, you stand to profit far greater amounts compared to simply publishing content solo.
You've got $20 an hour coming in courtesy of your writing abilities. What happens now? Well, if you haven't already decided to pursue a career change, consider combining your talents with digital information products.
For instance, there's a growing market for eBooks. People buy physical copies of books purely because they enjoy reading them, yet spend countless hours sitting passively waiting for the latest bestseller to hit shelves. Wouldn't it be great if you could download a book immediately after it becomes available on the general public's radar screen?
That's precisely what eBook sellers like SmashWords specialize in providing. With them, authors gain access to retail outlets, including Barnes&Noble, Kobo, iTunes, Nook, Sony Reader, Target, Walmart, and yes, even Amazon.com. Authors retain 100 percent of ebook profits (after expenses), plus royalties. There are lots of ways to sell ebooks too -- PayPal buttons, AdSense, affiliate programs, subscription options, and more.
Another popular trend involves selling items for resale purposes. eBay is perhaps the biggest name in this regard. Millions of people visit auction websites every month searching for bargains. Why not capitalize on this phenomenon by starting an online store comprised entirely of used goods?
Here's how it works. First, identify quality items that you think buyers might appreciate. Next, research prices charged by local retailers. Finally, determine whether you can afford to stock inventory yourself or if you need help setting up shop. Depending on your expertise, you can either perform these tasks yourself or recruit assistance from friends and family members.
A third approach involves launching your own startup company. Startups often fail, but if yours is unique enough, there's a chance it won't flop. Plus, you'll never have to worry about layoffs! Many entrepreneurs opt to launch startups under the umbrella of established corporations. Apple Computer began as Intergalactic Digital Research Inc.; Facebook started out as a dorm room idea called Facemash; Twitter launched itself right into the spotlight by piggybacking on celebrity endorsements.
Even though none of these ideas sounds appealing to you personally, maybe you should reconsider. Maybe you're better suited to run your own small business rather than continue working for someone else. If that's the case, congratulations -- you have stumbled upon the answer to our question.
So now you know how to combine your talents to generate additional passive income sources. All that remains is choosing which dream to chase. Which path inspires you the most? Is entrepreneurship really the way to go? Or would you fare better staying put and pursuing a traditional 9-to-5 routine? Share your thoughts with us below.
If you're looking for a way to earn some extra money while continuing your education (or getting started in the field), there's no better time than now. But how does one go about finding a job like this? We'll show you what it takes.
There is currently a huge demand for people who want to work remotely as writers, editors, proofreaders, social media managers, customer support agents, etc. The list goes on and on. If you have experience in any of these areas, then you should consider applying for positions with companies such as Content Crafters, FlexJobs, Remote Jobs Marketplace, Toptal, & Vextell.
This article explores how someone could make $20 per hour doing something they love from their own home. It also includes tips on where to find legitimate online employment opportunities, so check out our resource box below if you'd like help landing a position using the information shared here.
It may sound impossible at first glance but anyone can learn enough skills over time to be able to create freelance income. In fact, many successful entrepreneurs made their fortunes selling other peoples' ideas and products before inventing anything themselves. They learned everything else along the way by studying, practicing, trial and error, and perseverance. You don't need fancy degrees either -- all you really need is motivation and drive. Once you start making progress, success won't be far away.
The fastest path to earning $20 per hour would probably involve writing articles for websites and blogs. This is because content creation has become increasingly popular among website owners around the world since search engines began ranking sites based upon the quality and quantity of relevant content published on them.
However, creating original content isn't easy unless you've been trained professionally. Even though most aspiring writers aren't formally educated, we often forget that everyone had to begin somewhere. And even the best writers weren't born knowing how to write great copy. Most of us learned how through practice. So let's take a look at how you might approach learning this skill set without prior training.
One strategy is to focus on becoming proficient at just one thing until you master it well. Then move onto another area. Don't try to cover too much ground in terms of topics. Focus instead on mastering one idea or concept very thoroughly and effectively and see where it leads you. For example, when I was struggling to figure out exactly which topic to focus my efforts on, I decided to spend a full year researching one niche market within ecommerce - namely, "how to sell physical items on Amazon." From there, after gaining considerable knowledge and expertise, I moved into another niche area related to passive income streams known as affiliate marketing.
Another strategy is to identify a specific goal(s) you wish to achieve and break down each task into smaller chunks. Write a blog post every week focusing on only one small piece of a larger project. Over time, those posts will add up to being worth hundreds of dollars in total earnings.
Finally, remember that persistence pays off. When you feel overwhelmed by taking on multiple tasks at once, delegate whatever you can to others. That frees up mental energy and gives you more room to concentrate on accomplishing big goals. Also, keep track of every accomplishment and milestone achieved. Every little victory adds up over time. Eventually, you'll reach milestones beyond your wildest dreams.
In summary, the three steps mentioned above are: 1.) Identify a single subject matter area you know nothing about and research it deeply 2.) Break large projects down into tiny pieces 3.) Delegate wherever possible.
Now that you understand the basic concepts behind turning yourself into a writer, let's talk about how you might leverage your existing talents and interests to earn additional income.
We recommend starting with the following resources:
1. Start blogging
2. Build relationships with potential clients
3. Use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube, Google+...etc.
4. Get involved in forums/communities
5. Join groups focused on providing mentorship or advice
6. Offer consulting services
7. Create a product or service
8. Sell advertising space on your site
9. Become an expert in SEO
10. Develop new apps
11. Volunteer your services
12. Be willing to speak publicly about your passion
13. Make connections with influencers
14. Set up a business account with PayPal
15. Work part-time
16. Take surveys
17. Buy unused gift cards
18. Sell used books
19. Try teaching classes
Here are some examples of ways you can put together a plan similar to the ones listed above:
1. Blogging 101 course ($40): A complete guide covering blogging basics, monetizing your blog, building traffic, and promoting your blog. Includes video tutorials, step-by-step guides, downloadable worksheets, cheat sheets, quizzes, links to free software, and more. Available via Pay What You Want Kickstarter campaign.
2. Free Guide To Starting Your Own Online Business ($29): Learn how to build your own profitable online business. Covers tools and strategies needed to promote your business and generate profits. Includes interviews with experts, case studies, templates, and more.
3. How I Made My First Million With Social Media Marketing ($27): An overview of how to use social media platforms to grow your brand and attract customers.
4. Complete Internet Profits Blueprint Course ($48): Learn how to harness the power of the internet to make money with minimal effort. Features 12 modules spread across 4 hours of instruction.
5. Ultimate Guide To Setting Up Shop As An Affiliate Marketer ($37): Discover proven methods for setting up shop as an affiliate marketer. Provides detailed explanations of different types of affiliates programs available, plus instructions for joining affiliate networks.
6. 7 Steps To Generating Traffic Using Article Writing ($47): A detailed guide showing readers how to optimize their web pages for maximum visibility. Explains why certain techniques work and which ones fail. Offered exclusively through ClickBank.
7. Beginner's Guide To Video Production ($97): Covering production equipment required, editing footage, uploading videos, adding music, and publishing finished files.
8. Easy Money Making Ideas On Fiverr ($20): Revealing several simple yet effective ways to make money quickly on Fiverr.com.
9. 5 Ways to Earn Extra Income Working Part Time ($21): Discuss five alternative sources of supplemental income. Examples include renting out your car, parking spaces, pet sitting, baby sitting, cleaning houses, buying goods wholesale, etc.
10. 6 Ways to Find Low Cost Or FREE Things to Do Around Town ($28): Describes six ways to discover fun things to do near your location. Example activities include going bowling, playing baseball, visiting museums, watching movies, attending concerts, etc.
11. 10 Simple Ways to Save Money Everyday ($23): Presents ten creative ways to save money easily everyday. Some suggestions include clipping coupons, reusing old pillows, sharing household chores, eating lunch at home, shopping sales, recycling paper, trading phone minutes, etc.
12. 15 Tips for Getting More Customers By Becoming a Local Expert ($30): Showcase fifteen practical ideas for attracting more local customers. Topics covered include networking events, catering food, hosting parties, sending birthday wishes, giving discounts, hosting trunk shows, offering free consultations, etc.
13. Best Practices Of Effective Network Marketers ($35): Examine the key principles of highly successful network marketers. Readers will gain valuable insight into identifying target markets, generating leads, converting prospects, handling objections, closing deals, managing teams, and measuring results.
14. Secrets Of Attracting Prospective Clients ($38): Teach prospectors how to communicate clearly with interested buyers. Includes sample letters, emails, scripts, voice mail messages, follow ups, thank you notes, proposals, presentations, newsletters, etc.
15. How to Increase Sales Through Public Speaking ($45): Help people improve their public speaking abilities by improving communication during meetings. Includes exercises designed specifically to increase confidence levels, overcome stage fright, and provide guidance throughout a presentation.
These courses were chosen due primarily to their popularity among students. There are plenty of excellent options available elsewhere but these particular selections helped us stay true to the core theme of helping you learn how to turn your passions into lucrative side incomes. While not every course offers refunds, most give users 90 days to request one.
You'll notice that almost none of them require extensive travel expenses, nor do they feature long lead times. However, if you live outside of the United States, you should contact individual sellers directly regarding prices and shipping rates. All orders placed internationally cost roughly twice as much as domestic orders.
So now you know how to make a few hundred extra bucks per month. But how can you make $20 an hour or more? Here are some quick answers:
1. Put your professional degree to good use immediately
2. Go back to school
3. Pursue further education
4. Apply for higher paying positions right away
5. Look for low hanging fruit careers
6. Seek out mentorships
The Internet offers a variety of ways for people to earn money. You could be selling goods on Amazon, freelancing as a writer or editor, running websites like Fiverr, teaching others how to code through platforms such as CodeAcademy, or even renting out your car with services like GetAround. The potential income range is huge.
But what if you want to go beyond those low hourly earnings -- what about making $20 per hour working at home? Here's how it works (and why it might not be so easy).
It sounds too good to be true, but there are actually quite a few opportunities where you can earn over $50 per hour while sitting at home doing something that you enjoy. It just requires some research and thoughtfulness when choosing which one suits you best. For example, you may choose to become a virtual assistant who performs administrative tasks for small businesses or nonprofits. Or perhaps you'd prefer taking part in market research studies. If you're interested in freelance writing, try looking into microtasks for sites like MicroWorkers.com.
One way to think about this is by considering all the things you want to do each day after work and then figuring out how much time they take up overall. Once you have a number, multiply that figure times your desired hourly rate. This should give you a rough idea of how many hours a week you'll need to perform said task(s) in order to reach your earning goal. Then divide that amount of available free time by 7 days to determine how long it would realistically take to complete each task every week. From there, decide whether you'd rather spend these blocks of time performing less demanding activities or trying harder ones.
Once you've figured out exactly what needs to happen for you to hit your weekly goals and still feel fulfilled, set aside roughly two weeks worth of calendar slots for new projects. Then start researching different options and scheduling them accordingly. When deciding between similar types of gigs, consider the following questions:
Is this really going to help me achieve my financial goals? Will it provide enough value to justify its cost?
Will it require any special training or skills? How difficult is it to acquire these? Are they transferable to other areas of life?
Am I comfortable spending extra time learning and developing myself? Can I handle being uncomfortable or uncertain? Would I rather focus solely on getting paid quickly instead of building skills along the way?
If I'm hired remotely, am I able to communicate effectively with my client via video chat? Is there anything else I should know before committing?
For anyone hoping to break into the world of side hustles, finding a project that fits into your schedule can prove especially challenging. One solution is to create multiple short-term contracts with clients. That means you won't necessarily commit to fulltime employment until later, giving yourself flexibility to pursue several gig opportunities simultaneously.
Another option is to find someone who already uses their own product or service and ask them if you can test drive a sample of their offerings beforehand. In exchange, offer to review their website or social media accounts once you've decided which niche you want to target. However, don't fall into the trap of becoming a "product tester" simply because you want to earn some quick cash. Be sure to only accept roles where you truly see real value. Otherwise, you risk wasting both parties' time. Instead, look for companies whose products align with your passions and interests. And remember, always seek advice from trusted friends and family members first. They likely understand your finances better than anyone else.
There isn't a single path towards wealth when pursuing work from home opportunities. Some positions involve little to no customer interaction, while others demand constant communication with colleagues across the country. So depending upon your preferences, you might end up working either behind a computer screen or speaking directly with customers.
However, regardless of which type of job you ultimately land, keep track of everything related to your career. Don't let employers off the hook without disclosing your responsibilities, qualifications, and accomplishments. Also, never sign blank checks without discussing the terms of your contract thoroughly. Finally, hold onto your tax documents and receipts throughout your tenure. Doing so will allow you to deduct expenses incurred during your search process.
In general, higher paying jobs tend to come with certain privileges. Such perks include access to health insurance plans, 401k contributions, tuition assistance programs, etc. While it's tempting to take advantage of whatever benefits come your way, resist the urge unless absolutely necessary. After all, the last thing you want is to put your hard earned money toward a company that doesn't treat you fairly.
Also, beware of falling victim to common scams designed to separate workers from their wages. Examples include advance fee loans, fake job ads, and deceptive recruiters. To protect yourself against fraudsters, use caution whenever dealing with outside sources. Only submit personal information to reputable organizations. Avoid submitting bank account numbers or credit card details over email. Always meet in person, using public WiFi hotspots whenever possible. Never share sensitive data over text messages unless you initiate contact with a specific individual.
And above all else, stay focused on achieving tangible results. No matter your current situation, success usually comes down to consistently delivering quality output. As long as you do so, you'll eventually reap the rewards.
As mentioned earlier, there are dozens of ways to earn money from home. But picking the right opportunity often depends more on your personality traits than skill sets alone. Just because you excel at a particular area of expertise does not mean you'll automatically succeed in another field. Think carefully about which direction you wish to head next. Do you thrive when working with people? Perhaps sales or marketing appeal to you more than technical knowledge. On the flipside, maybe you crave creative freedom and autonomy. Try starting a blog or podcasting channel to express yourself creatively.
To answer this question honestly, you must also examine how much control you desire over daily decisions. For example, if you plan to run your business entirely independently, then having employees probably won't serve your purpose very well. Yet if you'd rather delegate authority to others, then hiring a team of professionals could easily streamline operations. Of course, if you plan to grow gradually, you should aim to strike a balance somewhere in the middle.
Here are additional considerations to weigh:
Are you willing to invest time and energy into growing your venture? Even though the initial investment may seem steep, the returns will certainly compound over time.
Do you hope to build your brand in hopes of attracting investors or future hires? Self employed individuals typically face greater competition and pressure compared to traditional employees. Therefore, it takes courage and confidence to stick to your convictions.
Would you prefer to avoid meetings altogether and manage your entire operation virtually? Many successful entrepreneurs rely heavily on teleconferencing tools like Google Hangouts.
You should also keep in mind that your choice of employer largely determines which taxes apply to your paycheck. Unfortunately, there aren't many resources currently available to explain this topic adequately. However, we recommend reading our article explaining basic federal and state filing requirements. We also suggest reaching out to a professional accountant if you haven't yet done so. Your professional adviser can inform you regarding applicable deductions, credits, exemptions, etc.
Additionally, remember that the U.S. government has recently changed its guidelines around self-employment status. Specifically, the IRS now defines independent contractors as those who receive fewer fringe benefits offered by larger corporations. Consequently, this change affects thousands of people across America. More importantly, however, it provides you with legal grounds to classify your position as an employee. Check out our guide detailing how to file for W2 vs. 1099 compensation statuses.
Some people shy away from entrepreneurship due to fear of failure. Others refuse entry based on misconceptions about what it entails. Lastly, others mistakenly assume that the road to riches lies within big corporate structures. Fortunately, today's technology makes launching a side business easier than ever before.
With platforms like Etsy, Shopify, eBay Partner Network, Facebook Marketplace, LinkedIn BizRate Groups, GoFundMe, Kickstarter, Patreon, and Uber Proposal, countless people have chosen to leverage their unique talents and abilities to develop profitable enterprises. By creating products or offering services, individuals can generate passive income streams and support themselves financially. Plus, unlike large corporations, the barrier to entry is minimal and non-existent. All you need is imagination, determination, and passion.
Even if you lack entrepreneurial experience, you can launch a business relatively easily thanks to modern technological advancements. Simply follow these steps:
1. Find a suitable domain name and web hosting provider.
2. Set up shop and begin promoting your product/service.
3. Build relationships with prospective buyers.
4. Offer incentives to encourage repeat purchases.
5. Provide exceptional customer service.
6. Develop a strong referral network.
7. Monitor competitors closely.
8. Expand your audience by leveraging digital channels.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.