The internet economy is rapidly growing and, in 2020, it generated 17 million jobs in the U.S. The takeaway for consumers? You can do pretty much anything online —including making money — whether you do so as a side hustle or as a full-time job.
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Find Out: How Much Cash To Have Stashed at Home at All Times
But does one begin when looking to make money online? The same place they’d need to start with a “real-world” job: with a confident attitude, smart negotiation tactics and a set of sharply honed skills. And what sort of skills, exactly? Plenty of what you need IRL may apply, but if you’re looking to venture into a new business or dive into freelancing, you should diversify and augment your skill set.
Here are 11 of the best skills you should learn in order to make money online.
Make Your Money Work Better for You
Web Development
“I think the best skill to learn to make money online is web development,” said Michael Liam Miller, editor, content improver and fact-checker with Luxury Cars A2Z. “Because it is in high demand and there are many different ways to monetize your skills. You can learn web development through online courses, boot camps, or even self-study. And, if you’re good at it, you can potentially earn a lot of money; freelance rates for web developers range from $50-$100 per hour, and some full-time developers make over $100,000 per year.”
Adobe Illustrator
“I believe learning Adobe Illustrator for graphic design work is a great way to start to earn money online,” said Bill Zimmerman, the CEO of Spotlightr. “This is useful because literally anyone that runs a website or builds their own site, or does anything online like advertising, Youtube videos, etc, at one point needs some design work done. And this is not a skill you can just pick up in a few days. It does take some dedication but it’s easily achieved.”
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Photography
“You can find numerous free online courses and youtube videos to help you develop this skill,” said Kevin Mercier, an entrepreneur and professional photographer at kevmrc.com. “You can use these courses to learn about light, exposure, color, tone and timing. This will help you produce more creative, interesting, and noticeable photographs. You can sell almost any type of photo online, from street photography to pictures of food and animals. I recommend trying Alamy first to begin selling your stock photos. On average, photos on Alamy sell for around $75 each but could get anywhere from $17-$416, depending on what they are used for.”
Make Your Money Work Better for You
Audio Editing for Podcasts
“Podcasts have evolved from being a niche phenomenon for tech-savvy people to a popular phenomenon worth tens of millions of dollars,” said Matthew Dailly, managing director at Tiger Financial. “Many people have expressed a desire to start their own podcasts as a result of that money; however, the majority of people lack the knowledge necessary to edit audio on their own, which is why you come in. You can take someone else’s audio and polish it up so that their listeners won’t leave them critical comments. The fact that podcast listeners frequently express dissatisfaction with the sound quality means that there will always be a need for your services.”
Voice Modulation
“Voice Modulation skills are one of the most rewarding skills that can be learned to make money online,” said Layla Acharya, the owner of EdWize. “Some of the untapped markets that need exploring are voice-over artists, narrators, etc. Voice-over artists are needed for recording audiobooks, story narration, videos, etc. There are many jobs available on online portals that particularly ask for this skill.”
Virtual Assisting
“An ideal candidate for the position of virtual assistant would be task-oriented, proficient in data entry and social media management, and have a get-things-done mentality,” said Carl Jensen, founder of Compare Banks. “You may make $25 to $100 per hour with the proper education and skill set.”
Social Media Marketing
“As a social media marketer, planning and managing a brand’s social media strategy across several channels will be your responsibility,” Jensen said. “As more and more users engage in social media platforms, any business that fails to take advantage of social media’s power will miss out on brand-building chances. Due to this, social media marketing is becoming more and more popular. This could be an excellent skill to learn if you are familiar with the specifics of how social media functions.”
Make Your Money Work Better for You
Affiliate Marketing
“Affiliate marketing is a useful skill because it allows you to monetize your website or blog traffic,” said Drew Mann, founder of Drew’s Review. “If you have a website or blog with a large audience, affiliate marketing can be a great way to generate revenue from that traffic. Additionally, affiliate marketing is useful because it allows you to promote products and services that you believe in and use yourself. This builds trust with your audience and can help increase sales of the products or services that you promote.”
Mann added that the amount of money you can make with affiliate marketing varies depending on the program you choose, the products you promote and the amount of traffic you can generate; “however, some affiliate marketers earn thousands of dollars per month.”
Merch by Amazon
“If you have a knack for freelance graphic design and illustrations, Merch by Amazon could be the perfect fit for you,” said Joshua Rich,CEO and founder of Bullseye Locations. “You can easily design merchandise like hoodies, T-shirts, and pop-sockets and leave it to Amazon to print and deliver the orders. This can potentially help you earn 4-500 dollars in a matter of months.”
Amazon Self-Publishing
“This is one of Amazon’s print-on-demand services,” Rich said. “All you need to do is get your hands on a few market research tools, conduct your research, and plan the right product. Free online tutorials can help you extensively throughout the process, and you can hire freelancers to write, edit and proofread the self-published book. Amazon itself will take care of the printing and delivery process and you can easily earn up to a thousand dollars within a few months.”
Freelance Consulting
“Lastly, if you have considerable experience in any kind of business, you can provide an online consultation service on freelancing platforms, given the field is relevant to your area of expertise,” Rich said.
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About the Author
Nicole Spector
Nicole Spector is a writer, editor, and author based in Los Angeles by way of Brooklyn. Her work has appeared in Vogue, the Atlantic, Vice, and The New Yorker. She's a frequent contributor to NBC News and Publishers Weekly. Her 2013 debut novel, "Fifty Shades of Dorian Gray" received laudatory blurbs from the likes of Fred Armisen and Ken Kalfus, and was published in the US, UK, France, and Russia — though nobody knows whatever happened with the Russian edition! She has an affinity for Twitter.
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FAQs
Which skill is best for earning money online? ›
Web Development. "I think the best skill to learn to make money online is web development," said Michael Liam Miller, editor, content improver and fact-checker with Luxury Cars A2Z. "Because it is in high demand and there are many different ways to monetize your skills.
How can I make $100 a day online? ›- Paid Surveys. ...
- Freelance Writing. ...
- Write Sponsored Posts. ...
- Coaching and Consultation. ...
- Write an Ebook or Sell Another Type of Digital Product. ...
- Google AdSense (You'll need a website – but you can make $100 dollars a day) ...
- Create Online Courses.
- Coding. Grab some java and start learning JavaScript! ...
- Public Speaking. The Association of American Colleges and Universities found that 85% of employers rank oral communication as a very important skill when hiring recent college grads. ...
- Excel and PowerPoint.
As such, to build wealth, learn these valuable skills: Accounting , Investing , Marketing , Law , Sales , Copywriting , and Public Relations . To help with those and any other future skills, learn to Get to Action , Become Adaptable , and Learn to Learn .
What are basic money skills? ›- Basic Budgeting. ...
- Bank Account Basics. ...
- Understanding Wants vs Needs. ...
- The Importance of Saving for Emergencies. ...
- How to Develop a Positive Credit History. ...
- Understanding Nothing is Guaranteed. ...
- Knowing When to Ask for Help.
- Copywriting. Copywriting is a specialized form of writing that is intended to sell a product. ...
- Content Creation/Content Marketing. ...
- Online Course Creation. ...
- Graphic Designer. ...
- Web Designer. ...
- Web Developer. ...
- Software Developer. ...
- Project Management.
- Participate in paid market research. ...
- Become a virtual assistant. ...
- Transcribe audio and video. ...
- Sell online. ...
- Housesit. ...
- Write online reviews. ...
- Start a blog. ...
- Game on Twitch.
FitPotato. The FitPotato app allows you to challenge friends and other users with the goal of earning money for steps. There are weekly prize groups available, and you must complete three step sessions within 7 days to win. You can choose whether your session is walking, running, or walking your dog.
How can I earn side income? ›- Starting an Online Business.
- Blogging.
- Online Tutor.
- Video Editing.
- Become a Financial Advisor.
- Become A Reviewer.
- Invest in Stock Market.
- Sell your clutter.
- Tutor or teach online.
- Sell products on Amazon.
- Rent out your belongings.
- Earn rewards.
- Start a blog.
- Sell handmade goods.
- Start a drop-shipping business.
Which skill is most in-demand in 2022? ›
- Creativity.
- Time management.
- Proactivity.
- Project management.
- IT automation.
- Data analysis and statistics.
- Social Media.
- Sales & Marketing.
- Time Management.
- Financial Analysis.
- Engineering.
- Strategy.
- Social Media Marketing.
- SQL.
Here are the highest paying jobs of 2022:
Surgeon: $208,000. Obstetrician and Gynecologist: $208,000. Orthodontist: $208,000. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon: $208,000.
- Computer shortcuts. Learn the ABCs of computer shortcuts. ...
- Microsoft Excel. ...
- Unsend emails. ...
- How to tie a tie. ...
- Breathe. ...
- Think before you speak. ...
- Be a better listener. ...
- Recover after forgetting someone's name.
- Juggle. ...
- Speed Read. ...
- Do A Split. ...
- Solve A Rubik's Cube. ...
- Play The Piano. ...
- Break An Apple In Half With Your Bare Hands. ...
- Say The Alphabet Backwards. ...
- Flip Food In A Pan. One last food trick, because nothing's more impressive than kitchen skills, right?
- Basic sign language. I've always wanted to learn sign language. ...
- Knitting. Knitting is a skill that requires time and patience; two things we have in abundance right now. ...
- Cocktail making. ...
- Bread making. ...
- Calligraphy. ...
- Coding. ...
- Nail art. ...
- Fudge making.
Eight out of 10 millionaires invested in their company's 401(k) plan. The top five careers for millionaires include engineer, accountant, teacher, management and attorney.
What jobs make you rich quickly? ›- Professional athlete.
- Investment banker.
- Entrepreneur.
- Lawyer.
- Certified public accountant.
- Insurance agent.
- Engineer.
- Real estate agent.
- Engineer.
- Accountant.
- Teacher.
- Executive management.
- Attorney.
Having said that, the five pillars of money also include earnings, savings, investments, spending, and giving. While some of these areas refer to how your money can be better managed to grow financially, some of them refer to how personal finances can be best handled in order to excel as an individual.
What 5 characteristics should money have? ›
The characteristics of money are durability, portability, divisibility, uniformity, limited supply, and acceptability.
What is an easy career that pays a lot? ›# | Career | Median Salary |
---|---|---|
1 | Groundskeeper or Landscaping Assistant | $31,730 |
2 | Taxi Driver or Chauffeur | $32,320 |
3 | Virtual Customer Service Representative | $35,830 |
4 | Phlebotomy Technician | $36,320 |
- Patrol Officer.
- Executive Assistant.
- Sales Representative.
- Flight Attendant.
- Electrician.
- Plumber.
- Wind Turbine Technician.
NICEF, UNESCO and WHO list the ten core life skill strategies and techniques as: problem solving, critical thinking, effective communication skills, decision-making, creative thinking, interpersonal relationship skills, self- awareness building skills, empathy, and coping with stress and emotions.
How can I earn cash in hand? ›- Get paid for music. SliceThePie will reward up to 10p for every song you listen to and rate. ...
- Share deals. LatestDeals hand out vouchers for people who share deals on its website. ...
- Earning cashback. ...
- Surf the web for cash. ...
- Install an app. ...
- Refer a friend. ...
- Enter competitions. ...
- Cashback at the checkout.
Swagbucks
If you like InboxDollars' variety of earning options, Swagbucks is another popular platform you can use to earn rewards in your spare time. Swagbucks is one of the most recognizable companies in the space and pays out 7,000 free gift cards every day to members according to their website.
Steps: 1,000 steps generates 0.95 Sweatcoin (one Sweatcoin minus five percent processing fee).
How many steps is 20000 Sweatcoins? ›How Many Steps Is 20000 Sweatcoins? To earn 20000 Sweatcoins, the individual would have to take 21 million verified steps.
How can I make $250 a day? ›- Rent out your extra space on Airbnb. Do you own a home with a few additional rooms? ...
- Transcribe audio and videos. ...
- Deliver stuff. ...
- Watch videos. ...
- Shop for others. ...
- Perform menial tasks. ...
- Test apps and websites. ...
- Donate plasma.
- How to Make Money Overnight Using These Methods:
- Drop Shipping. ...
- Freelance Writing. ...
- Other Freelance Services Online. ...
- Writing and Selling an eBook. ...
- Driving with Uber.
How can I make $1500 a week online? ›
- Be a freelance writer. Working as a freelance writer is one of the most approachable work-from-home options. ...
- Manage a niche website. ...
- Run a regular blog. ...
- Work as a virtual assistant. ...
- Sell online courses. ...
- Profit off your web design skills. ...
- Rent out things you own. ...
- Write an ebook.
- Search engine evaluator.
- Web testing or applications testing.
- Online juror.
- Amazon jobs.
- At-home day care.
- Online moderator.
- Cook.
- Customer service representative.
- Complete Online Surveys.
- Sell Your Favorite Stock Images.
- Become a Virtual Assistant.
- Earn Money Off Your Reviews.
- Sell Household Items on eBay or Amazon.
- Rent Your Gadgets by the Hour.
- Enter Data Online.
- Sell Your Unused Clothes Online.
- Bath bombs and handmade soaps.
- T-shirts and printed merchandise.
- Jewelry.
- Curated gift and subscription boxes.
- Candles.
- Sweets.
- Art and prints.
- Digital products.
- Work as an Insurance POSP. ...
- Look for Freelancing Work. ...
- Try Content Writing Jobs. ...
- Start Blogging. ...
- Sell Your Digital Products. ...
- Look For Translation Jobs Online. ...
- Beta Test Apps and Websites Before They are Released. ...
- Work as a Travel Agent.
- Sell custom products.
- Create a print-on-demand business.
- Make a subscription box.
- Sell on marketplaces.
- Sell digital products.
- Sell your creative work.
- Monetize an audience.
- Become a freelancer.
Sell Online Courses
Making a course for various skills, including dance, drawing, cooking, etc., and selling it on platforms like Udemy, Unacademy, Skillshare, Teachable, etc., can help you earn money daily. To put it simply, the more popular your course is, the more money you make.
- Copywriter. The copywriting field is one of the most viable options for freelancers. ...
- Web designer. Web designers help clients create websites to suit specific requirements. ...
- Digital marketing consultant. ...
- Social media manager. ...
- Editor. ...
- Web developer. ...
- Media buyer. ...
- Photographer.
- Coding. Coding is a skill that many employers value, regardless of the specific position you hold. ...
- Excel skills. ...
- Language skills. ...
- Adobe Photoshop skills. ...
- Photography skills. ...
- Writing skills. ...
- Chatbot development. ...
- Search engine optimization.
- Drive With Uber or Lyft. ...
- Presell Your Labor. ...
- Perform Seasonal Jobs. ...
- Sell Your Clothes. ...
- Become a Tutor. ...
- Sell Your Furniture. ...
- Have a Yard Sale. ...
- Sell Your Books.
Which app gives money daily? ›
...
#1. Swagbucks.
Our rating: | 4.8/5 |
---|---|
Google Play rating: | 4.2/5 with 107,256 reviews |
- Sell your clutter.
- Tutor or teach online.
- Sell products on Amazon.
- Rent out your belongings.
- Earn rewards.
- Start a blog.
- Sell handmade goods.
- Start a drop-shipping business.
Here are the highest paying jobs of 2022:
Anesthesiologist: $208,000. Surgeon: $208,000. Obstetrician and Gynecologist: $208,000. Orthodontist: $208,000.
- Psychiatrist. Average salary: $217,265. ...
- Medical director. Average salary: $135,012. ...
- Data scientist. ...
- Software engineer. ...
- Actuarial analyst. ...
- Senior business analyst. ...
- Senior product manager. ...
- UX architect.
- Creativity.
- Time management.
- Proactivity.
- Project management.
- IT automation.
- Data analysis and statistics.
- Data Literacy.
- Agile Project Management.
- Customer Centricity.
- Web Development.
- Low- and No-Code Development.
- Digital Marketing.
- Social Media.
- Cybersecurity.