In today’s digital world, making money online has never been more accessible, and an even more lucrative option for many people. Whether you’re just looking for a side hustle, or a full time income, there are endless ways to earn right from your phone!
Continue reading this article to delve into 11 insanely easy ways to make money online in 2023. From starting a newsletter to investing in stocks, you are bound to find your next money making endeavor!
- Start a Blog
- Stat an E-Commerce Store
- Affiliate Marketing
- Publish an EBook
- Create an Online Course
- Start a Podcast
- Create a Membership Site
- Become a Micro Influencer
- Create a YouTube Channel
- Freelancing
- Invest in the Stock Market
1. Start a Blog
Earning Potential: Within the first year, bloggers can make anywhere from $200-$2,000 per month, with the potential reaching as high as $100k per month
If you love writing, and do not necessarily want to be on social media, blogging can be the best side hustle for you.
Blogging remains a popular avenue to share opinions, experiences and insights, all the while being able to monetize the content. You can do it through advertisements, sponsored content, digital products and even an ecommerce store.
Blogging is a long game. The more effort you are able to put into it, such as SEO, keyword research, and creating quality content, the more monetary gain you will see.
Best Content Management Systems:
- WordPress - is highly versatile and widely used, offering a vast array of themes, plugins and customization options
- SquareSpace - is very user friendly and very visually appealing offering an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, that does not take much experience to get going.
- Ghost -s a streamlined and modern user experience, specifically designed for bloggers and publishers which makes it a great tool for someone just getting started
To start your blog, you will need to buy a domain name, BlueHost or Hostgator are both great places to start.
2. Create an E-commerce Store
If you’re looking to replace your 9-5, starting an online store is a great way to get a large payout for your invested time. With the online world thriving, all you need to do is find the right products and services to start making money.
Starting an e-commerce business involves choosing a profitable niche, setting up an attractive online store, and implementing effective marketing strategies to engage with potential customers.
Remember, just like any other store, providing excellent customer service and products will be the key to your store’s success.
Earning Potential: On average, e-commerce store owners can make around $9,540 a month, and up to $114,491 a year
What are the best eCommerce websites to begin your journey?
- Shopify: One of the most popular website builders, that caters to businesses of all sizes. With its easy set up, and customization templates for an online store, it is a solid choice for when you are first starting out.
- BigCommerce: BigCommerce is known for its scalability and robust features, making it suitable for growing businesses. It offers great built-in SEO tools, multi-channel selling capabilities, and a variety of payment gateways.
- WooCommerce: Is a free WordPress plugin, and very popular eCommerce store website. Its SEO capabilities makes it stand out from its competitors. although, it is not the most scalable of solutions.
Is eCommerce a tad too intimidating? Although the rewards are worth the effort, if it appears too daunting, try drop shipping instead.
3. Affiliate Marketing
Do you want to earn passive income? Do you want to make money online? Affiliate marketing is an excellent way to do so.
Basically, affiliate marketing is when you promote other people's products or services and receive a commission for each successful referral. These products can be physical or digital items.
To get started, you can join reputable affiliate marketing programs that cater to both digital and physical products.
Earning Potential: With the right strategy, affiliates can see upwards $10,000 per month
Best Affiliate Marketing Programs for Digital Products
- ClickBank: Known for its extensive marketplace, ClickBank offers a vast selection of digital products across various niches. With high commission rates and reliable tracking systems, it's an attractive platform for digital marketers.
- ShareASale: is a well-established affiliate network that connects you with thousands of digital products to promote. It provides real-time tracking, easy-to-use tools, and a user-friendly interface.
- Awin: Works with over 25,000 advertisers over a vast variety of niches. This product caters to both beginners and well endowed marketers.
Best Affiliate Marketing Programs for Physical Products
- Amazon Associates: With a vast selection of physical products available, affiliates can earn commissions by promoting and driving sales through their unique affiliate links.
- Target: Being another large retail player in the space, it would be rather lucrative to get accepted into their affiliate program.
Affiliate marketing can give you a high earning potential, but this is a job that will take time and PAYtience waiting for the payout.
4. Publish an EBook
With the rise of e-readers and digital publishing platforms, self-publishing an ebook has become an accessible way to share your expertise and earn passive income.
To make money using this method, all you have to do is decide your book’s topic, create quality content, publish and market your book.
If you have a way with words, and are willing to learn some marketing skills, publishing an E-Book is a great way to earn some side income.
Earning Potential: With self-publishing tools, authors can make upwards $1000+ per month
Best Self-Publishing Platforms
- Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): Amazon's KDP is the largest e-book publishing platform, allowing you to reach a vast global audience. It's user-friendly and offers royalty options based on pricing and distribution choices.
- Smashwords: is a distribution platform that allows you to publish your ebook in various formats and distribute it to multiple online retailers, expanding your reach beyond Amazon
- Apple Books: If you have a Mac or iOS device, consider publishing your ebook on Apple Books. It allows you to tap into Apple's vast customer base.
Need a little extra help getting your book in a physical copy? Both Lulu and Reedsy offer an array of services to get your words out of a word document, and into a tangible book.
5.Create an Online Course
One of the best digital products that can be offered on your website is an online course.If you have valuable expertise or knowledge in a particular field, then a course is a great way to make money online.
In short, you will want to understand the market demand for your course, generate quality content, and choose appropriate platforms to market and promote your course.
The best part of this side hustle? You can completely choose how much you charge for your digital course. And the profit margin on this is quite high.
Earning Potential: Taking into consideration the amount of time this takes to get up in running, many can see anywhere for $0-$50,000+ per month
Platforms to Create Course Content
Course content is by no means a ‘get rich quick’ scheme, but it sure can pad your pockets if you stick with it.
6.Start a Podcast
Do you have a knack for storytelling? Do you want people to hear what you have to say, but would rather speak it than write it?
Then a podcast could be a great business endeavor for you.
Podcasts have gained immense popularity in recent years, presenting an opportunity for you to share your expertise or interests while generating income.
Through sponsorships, advertising, or crowdfunding, you can monetize your podcast and build a loyal listener base. To succeed in podcasting, invest in quality audio equipment, deliver valuable content consistently, and promote your podcast through various channels.
Earning Potential: On average, a podcaster receiving 10,000 downloads per episode can earn anywhere from $500-$900. But there are some podcasters reaching $30 million in annual revenue
Best Podcast Hosting Websites:
- Libsyn: Libsyn is a reliable podcast hosting platform that provides comprehensive podcasting solutions. It offers robust analytics, distribution to popular podcast directories, and monetization options.
- Podbean: With user-friendly features and monetization tools, Podbean enables you to host, distribute, and monetize your podcast seamlessly.
7. Create a Membership Site
If you already have platforms with helpful guides and resources on it, you can create a subscription type model for people to access that information.
A membership site is a type of website or online platform that restricts access to its content or resources to individuals who have become members or subscribers.Membership sites can be based on various niches and industries, catering to specific interests and needs of their target audience.
Focus on creating high-quality, relevant content for your members. Be sure to consistently update the content, and always prioritize your member’s needs.
Earning Potential: Earning potential here is limitless, but be prepared to make upward $25,000-$50,000 per month
Where to start a Membership Website:
Remember, you do want to make your membership subscription affordable, that way people are inclined to join.
8. Become a Micro Influencer
Do you love social media? But you aren't quite hitting the million- followers count many influencers need to make a living?
No problem. In fact, many brands are starting to prefer the micro influencer. Unlike macro or mega-influencers who typically have millions of followers, micro-influencers typically have anywhere from a few thousand to a few hundred thousand followers, though the exact number can vary.
What sets micro-influencers apart is their ability to connect with their followers on a more personal level. Their smaller audience size often allows them to build stronger relationships with their followers, leading to higher engagement rates.
If you are able to grow a small, but loyal following, then you are right on track to the influencer lifestyle.
Earning Potential: $50-$500 per post.
Where to Start:
As always, the more research you put in, the more likely you will be able to succeed as an influencer.
9. Create a YouTube Channel
Youtube is a great way to make money online, and a lot of it! YouTube has become a dominant platform for video content creators, offering vast monetization possibilities.
Making money with YouTube involves creating engaging and valuable content in a specific niche, growing a loyal audience through consistent uploads, and leveraging monetization methods
By consistently creating engaging videos and growing your subscriber base, you can earn money through advertising revenue, sponsored videos, and brand partnerships.
Earning Potential: The average YouTuber earns about $1,269 per week or $5,499 per month
If you want to start earning with Youtube, check out these helpful pages:
- YouTube Partners Program: There are several requirement in order to start monetizing your channel, that can be read here
- YouTube BrandConnect: This helps you connect with other like minded creators, and get a following faster
With dedication and creativity, YouTubers can turn their passion into a profitable online venture.
10. Freelancing
Freelancing offers a flexible way to make money online by offering your skills and services to clients worldwide.
To succeed, identify your expertise, build a strong portfolio, market yourself effectively on freelancing platforms or through your website, and deliver exceptional results to satisfy clients and earn repeat business
Whether you're a writer, designer, programmer, or marketer, freelance platforms can provide a marketplace for you to find work and build your online reputation.
Earning Potential: Based on your level of expertise and effort, freelancers can make upward $5,000+ per month
Freelance Platforms:
The more investment you put into this endeavor, the more lucrative it will become.
11.Trade the Stock Market
Do you have some experience with the Stock Market? Or are you willing to learn?
Making money trading the stock market involves buying and selling stocks with the aim of profiting from short-term price fluctuations. It requires a good understanding of market trends, technical analysis, and risk management.
Although the learning curve can be steep, this is one thing that will give you a great ROI on your time. And what is even better? With today’s technology, it has never been easier to enter the world of stock trading.
Earning Potential: For a beginner, expect to earn anywhere from $2,684-$10,000 per month!
Best Trading Platforms:
Keep in mind that trading can be risky, so it's essential to stay disciplined and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
Picking The Best Way to Make Money Online
As you search for the best way to make money online - you will have to be honest with yourself that it will not be an easy endeavor.
However, if you are able to identify what you are passionate about, and what you sincerely enjoy doing, then the long road ahead will be enjoyable.
The more enjoyable the road, the more inclined you are to stick with it. So remember, really none of these methods are overnight success stories. But if you keep at it, a future you down the line will be extremely happy you did.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to make money online for free?
Making money online for free is possible through various methods that don't require upfront investments. Some options include freelancing, starting a blog, creating YouTube videos, or selling products through platforms like Shopify.
How to make money fast?
While making money fast is tempting, it's essential to approach it with caution. Some ways to potentially earn quick cash include freelancing, or doing gig work. However, be mindful of scams and get-rich-quick schemes. Genuine opportunities require effort, and it's crucial to balance the need for speed with sustainability and legitimacy.
How to make money online legit?
Making money online legitimately involves engaging in genuine and ethical ventures. Consider starting a legitimate online business, freelancing in your area of expertise, affiliate marketing, creating valuable content on platforms like YouTube or blogging, or selling products through reputable e-commerce platforms.