Side hustles have become a way of life for millions of Americans. Roughly 36% of US adults work a side hustle to generate extra income. If you are interested in doing the same but don’t want to dart around town delivering Amazon packages or picking up passengers, here’s some good news. There are plenty of great ways to start making money online.
No, seriously. There really are secret websites to make money. Here’s a deep dive into some of the best lesser-known money-making opportunities on the web.
How to Evaluate Money Making Websites (Scam or Real Deal?)
Before diving into the world of online money-making opportunities, it’s important to vet any online businesses you plan to explore. Many if not most of the sites you encounter that purport to offer quick riches are scams of some kind. The last thing you want to do is waste hours playing games or trying to unlock Google opinion rewards only to find out you’ve been duped.
Review Legitimacy Markers
Look for user reviews and proof of payment. Watch out for fake reviews as they are absolutely everywhere, including top marketplaces like Amazon. The good news is that the FTC has banned fake reviews (though the implementation of that rule is only beginning). This means it should be easier to find valuable feedback about websites that let you make extra cash. Always be on the lookout for fake reviews anyway, as they are still unfortunately common on all kinds of platforms.
You should also find out what payment portal the platform uses and how it compensates you. Some platforms claim that you can make a few extra dollars, but they actually pay you in gift cards or digital tokens, which have to be exchanged for tangible items.
Assess Your Income Potential
While some sites can provide a steady income and a consistent workload of online tasks, others pay only a few bucks here and there. Balance your expectations with realistic income possibilities to make sure you choose a site that’s a good fit for your financial goals.
Consider Time Investment vs Returns
Websites that involve activities like watching videos, shopping online, or performing online tasks might not require intense focus, but they are often lower-paying. A job that lets you do something like testing websites can generate more revenue but may require specialized skills. Figure out your return per hour to see if the site is worth the effort.
Look Out for Red Flags
Avoid sites that ask for upfront fees or personal information and watch out for get rich quick schemes. You won’t get rich in a day, week, month, or even year (unless you hit the lottery jackpot). These offers are essentially never real.
Make Sure the Online Marketplace Is Available in Your Area
You also need to make sure the site is available in your area. For example, WERX caters to the United Kingdom. On the other hand, platforms like Upwork are available in the US and several other jurisdictions.
Content Creation Opportunities
One of the best ways to make money is to create great content. Step one involves deciding what type of content you want to create.
Written Content
There’s still a huge market for written content. Businesses frequently post content creation opportunities on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork for one-off projects and recurring roles. You may have to take on some lower-paying projects until you build a strong reputation on these platforms. Consistently turn in great content and make sure you don’t resort to AI to cut corners.
Many marketing firms have turned to AI scanners to make sure that writers are turning in original content, and a flag can damage your reputation. These scanners aren’t perfect, and many can hurt legit side hustlers and students with false positives.
Online Courses
Online courses are in great demand. Consumers purchase courses on everything from cooking to martial arts and carpentry. If you’ve got a niche skill and a knack for teaching, consider creating your own online course. Often finance and investing related courses make the most money but be extremely careful not to give financial advice.
Photos and Images
Do you prefer to create captivating visuals or capture beautiful everyday moments with your photography skills? You can create original content and sell or license it to generate income.
Technical Skills Marketplace
If you’ve got specialized tech skills, check out one of the many emerging platforms that pay you to put your talent to use. Some of the opportunities out there include:
- Website Testing: Businesses want to make sure their websites provide a great user experience. UserTesting is a helpful platform for finding website testing opportunities.
- Data Annotation and AI Training: These platforms allow you to perform specific online tasks, like labeling images for machine learning models or tagging datasets.
Building Your Own Website
If you’ve got a knack for web design, you could build and monetize your own super secret website. You could start a blog and then monetize site traffic, allowing brands to buy ad space on your web pages.
Creative Services Platforms
These platforms connect graphic designers and other talented individuals with businesses that need creative deliverables. This sector is continually expanding and these platforms cater to a diverse range of creators.
Passive Income Opportunities
If you have prior online business knowledge, you may be able to generate passive income through money making websites and apps.
Miscellaneous Money-Making Sites
Here are a few other options that can help you generate extra income:
- Price.com
- Dogster
- Gigwalk
- Sweatcoin
The Future of Online Money-Making
Online income opportunities continue to evolve as new tech emerges. Artificial intelligence tools have been a game-changer for online money-making but the impacts have been mixed.
Making Your Choice
Ready to start your side hustle? Begin by making a short list of sites that align with your skill set and goals. Decide whether you want to supplement your existing income or find an opportunity that would eventually replace your full-time salary.
You can mix high-effort, high-reward tasks with lower-effort options to help build some momentum. With a strategic approach, you’ll be racking up the extra bucks before you know it.
FAQs
How Much Money Can I Realistically Make? That depends on what you are doing, your skill set, and how much time and effort you are willing to put in.
How Do I Avoid Scams? Stick to reputable sites and read reviews.
Do I Need Special Skills or Equipment? Not all opportunities require advanced skills.
How Quickly Can I Start Earning? Some platforms provide near-instant rewards.
Which Platforms Pay the Fastest? Micro-task platforms and survey sites often pay on the same day.
Do I Need to Invest Money to Start? Most online earning opportunities are free to join.
How Do Taxes Work for Online Income? You’ll need to claim any money you make online on your taxes.
Source: Business2Community
