How to make money online The modern best 10 ways to earn money online 2021

More and more businesses and online solutions to save operational costs and expand their reach. Not only that but various new job opportunities were also born thanks to the rapid growth of technology and remote work trends.

Many individuals also take advantage of the internet’s accessibility by creating an online presence to boost personal brand recognition. Thanks to that, anyone can offer their services through various online platforms and make a living off of their expertise.

Thus, the chance of making extra cash online is higher than ever.

If you want to try your luck, browse through our list of 35 short and long-term money-making opportunities for inspiration. By the end of it, you will learn how to make money online and live off your online business ventures.

Top 10 Quick Ways to Make Money Online

Nowadays, the internet makes nearly everything accessible, regardless of your location or device. That’s why online job and business opportunities seem appealing to people looking for a side hustle or a way to make easy money.

Here are the best ways to make money online quickly:

  • Review websites. Give feedback on people’s websites to improve their usability.
  • Narrate audiobooks. Work with authors as a narrator for their stories.
  • Sell used clothes. Market second-hand items in clothing marketplaces for quick money.
  • Rent out a spare room. Offer an affordable place for guests to stay.
  • Test games and software. Provide developers with insights into their softwares’ user experience.
  • Sell stock photos and footage. Ideal for photographers and videographers looking for a way to make passive income.
  • Sell or rent second-hand items. Another way to make money online without needing significant investment.
  • Sell your school notes. Popular among students wanting to get good grades while making money.
  • Carry out micro-jobs. Excellent for people with limited technical skills and who don’t have much free time.
  • Monetize your art and designs. Sell products bearing your designs or do art commissions.

We will now see how each of these money-making methods works and present some tips to make your online business successful.

1. Test Websites and Give Feedback

If you have basic technical skills and a keen eye for website design and development, consider becoming a website tester. 

Testing websites is one of the best freelance jobs to make fast cash. Plus, website testing jobs make for a good starting point for newbies looking to enter the web development industry.

The payment is project-based, meaning that you will get paid after completing the required task. However, the pay rate differs based on the testing method and the marketplace’s policy. For example, UserTesting offers $10 for each completed test and $120 for a call with a client.

Becoming a website tester requires critical and logical thinking. Having excellent communication skills and knowledge of website functionality and design also helps improve your test reporting quality.

A screenshot showing UserTesting's homepage

Some of the marketplaces that offer website testing projects are:

  • Ubertesters – focus on mobile apps and game testing.
  • UserTesting – offers usability testing projects.
  • Testbirds – for digital products, including eCommerce stores, chatbots, and games.
  • Userlytics – in addition to testing websites and apps, it offers projects focusing on reviewing video commercials.
  • TryMyUI – impression testing and survey-based projects.

2. Narrate Audiobooks

Audiobooks have become increasingly popular among book enthusiasts. This opens a job opportunity for people with unique voice qualities and excellent articulation skills.

Despite sounding easy, a good audiobook narrator should be able to bring the story to life. A consistent narrative voice, the ability to voice different characters, and pacing abilities are some of the narrator’s skills.

New voice talents can earn up to $125/recording hour, while more experienced veterans may charge up to $500/recording hour.

Voices homepage

One of the easiest ways to get started is by signing up for ACX or Voices, which connect audiobook narrators with authors. Alternatively, create a profile on Upwork and apply for an audiobook narration job opening that suits your preferences and skills.

It’s recommended to invest in a good microphone and recording software to improve the audio’s quality. Creating audio samples that show off your vocal skills also helps you land gigs.

3. Sell Used Clothes Online

Selling clothes is another easy way to earn money online. The market value of the second-hand clothing market is predicted to reach $36 billion by 2024.

A screenshot showing Tradesy's homepage

Plenty of marketplaces for used fashion items are available. Here are some of the best places to sell second-hand clothing items and accessories:

  • Tradesy – specializes in women’s clothing and accessories.
  • Etsy – an excellent place for selling handmade and vintage items.
  • Rebelle – provides a secure channel for selling luxury accessories and designer clothes.
  • Depop – accepts both vintage and designer clothes.
  • thredUP – for those who also want to sell children and maternity clothes.

4. Rent Out a Spare Room

Lodging is one of the most profitable industries today. The bed and breakfast business alone has an estimated worth of $3.4 billion.

Hosting guests is a potential part-time job as it can generate a passive revenue stream. It only requires periodic maintenance, giving you the freedom to manage your own hours. 

A screenshot showing Airbnb's homepage

If this is how you want to earn spare cash, consider listing your room on one of these platforms:

  • Airbnb – the largest online platform for rentals.
  • Homestay – a popular choice among younger people.
  • FlipKey – has a large audience due to being a subsidiary of Tripadvisor
  • Vrbo – ideal for listings that can accommodate families and groups of more than two travelers.
  • Rent Like A Champion – excellent for listings located near campus and sports venues.

Room rates greatly depend on the location, facilities, amenities offered, room type, and season. Most platforms also charge service fees and require hosts to pay lodging taxes. Therefore, research pricing and renting laws before monetizing your space.

5. Test Games and Apps

The global online gaming industry generated $21.1 billion in revenues in 2020. Besides selling gaming experiences, games also offer the opportunity to make money online. Anyone with an internet connection can do it.

A screenshot showing Mistplay's homepage

Some games or apps, like Mistplay, will ask you to perform specific tasks and collect rewards in fictional currencies to be redeemed as dollars later on. Other apps like PaidViewpoint and PointClub ask you to take online surveys and participate in polls, while Givling and Gamesville offer sweepstakes and giveaways.

While these games and apps provide an easy way to make money online, make sure to check the reviews before installing them. Some people use games and apps as a front for scams, stealing personal information and bank details.

The rule of thumb is to avoid pay-to-play games. You want to make money, not spend it.

6. Sell Stock Photos and Footage

Companies often purchase stock photos and footage to support their marketing campaigns. This creates an opportunity for photographers and videographers to earn money by selling photos online.

Make your own photography website to display your portfolio for higher brand awareness and help generate a net income. On the other hand, listing your stock photos and footage on various marketplaces will ensure faster brand exposure.

A screenshot showing Shutterstock's homepage

Some of the biggest stock photography and videography websites include:

7. Sell or Rent Second-Hand Items

Selling or renting second-hand items is another way to make money quickly. In addition to generating turnover from unused products, this method is ideal for decluttering your place.

Other than clothes and accessories, used items deemed valuable by the market include furniture, working tools like laptops and cellphones, and hobby items such as sports equipment and art tools. The used car market also saw a rise in demand in 2020.

Once you make an inventory of the items you want to sell or rent, host a garage sale or list them on online marketplaces. If you plan to make a living off of renting out items, consider building a website to host your own online store for greater reachability.

A screenshot showing eBay's homepage

Some of the best online marketplaces for used items include:

  • eBay – for various types of products, including collectibles and vehicles.
  • Gadget Salvation – focuses on used gadgets like laptops, cellphones, and tablets.
  • Facebook Marketplace – ideal for targeting local buyers.
  • Reverb –  the best place for selling musical instruments and gears.
  • Fat Llama – it accepts different types of products to rent out.

8. Sell School Notes

Selling school notes is one of the easiest ways for college students to make money online. You can sell academic books, modules, flashcards, and study guides in good condition and contain educational information.

However, avoid committing any academic misconduct that can jeopardize your school record, like disclosing homework assignments or tests. You should also never distribute copyrighted or plagiarized materials.

A screenshot showing Nexusnote's homepage
Here are some of the best places to sell your school notes:

  • Nexus Notes ‒ offers a 50% commission per set of notes sold.
  • NoteXchange ‒ lets you make your own pricing list.
  • Notesgen ‒ an India-based platform that accepts handwritten notes and presentation slides.
  • OneClass ‒ get paid with credits and redeem PayPal money and Amazon vouchers.

9. Carry Out Micro Jobs

A micro job is a short-term, temporary job that pays per task completed. The pay is low, averaging from a couple of cents to $50 per task. However, micro jobs generally take from minutes to a couple of hours to complete, giving you the freedom to do multiple tasks in your spare time.

Besides serving as a part-time job, micro jobs are also great for building a portfolio and gaining experience. That’s why they’re most popular among new graduates and freelancers.

Some of the most common online micro jobs are blog writing, translating short copy, data entry, and administrative tasks. Popular offline micro-jobs include babysitting, dog walking, and lawn mowing.

A screenshot showing Amazon mechanical turk's homepage

Here are four popular micro job websites for online gigs:

  • Amazon Mechanical Turk ‒ excellent for users with video, image, and data processing skills.
  • Fiverr ‒ offers a wide range of work but uses a bidding system.
  • Appen ‒ focuses on translation and transcription services.
  • Field Agent ‒ it provides tasks that boost brand visibility and customer experience.

10. Sell Your Art and Designs on Social Media

Selling digital products is one of the best ways for artists to earn extra money online. Plenty of marketplaces for art like DeviantArt and ArtStation are ready to display your work and facilitate all print sales made on your page.

To gain more traction, many artists turn to social media as their go-to marketing tool. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have over 1 billion monthly active users on average, ensuring great exposure.

Since each social media platform has its characteristics, customize each marketing campaign accordingly.

A screenshot showing Facebook's ad campaign

For example, Facebook is known for its groups and tight-knit communities. Joining groups with a niche aligned to your art and promoting your work there will let you interact better with potential customers than doing Facebook ads.

Still, you may need to join a couple of different groups if you work with different art styles and niches. Maintaining communication with members and mutuals also contributes to your brand-building efforts.

A screenshot showing Instagram's ad campaign

With Instagram, building your audience base is vital. Users with thousands of followers are deemed more credible than those with only dozens of followers. Grow your following by interacting with bigger channels and follow other users with similar interests.

Posting pictures of your work can also drive sales. When creating an Instagram post, create a caption that encourages feedback or other forms of interaction. Don’t forget to use hashtags relevant to the post to appear on the search results page.

Regardless of your chosen platform, experiment with different post types to find the best way to attract new customers.


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