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Is Making Money Online Possible When You’re Just Starting Out?

Is Making Money Online Possible When You’re Just Starting Out?

You’ve seen the ads. Make Easy Money Online! Fill Out Surveys For Quick Cash! Make Hundreds Of Dollars A Day By Clicking Your Mouse! Okay, forget the hysteria for a moment. Most of these types of ads won’t work. Yes, you may be able to make a few dollars here or there, but in most of these cases, your time is not worth the effort. They are similar to work-at-home opportunities like stuffing envelopes. But don’t despair. The truth is, there is plenty of money to be made online. And you don’t need to be a techie or business wizard to make some yourself. You just need to have a skill, a strategy, and be willing to work hard.

Become a Freelancer

There are millions of people starting online businesses. A lot of these people and companies need additional help and outsource work on websites that connect employers with freelancers. What kind of service can you offer? Do you know anything about web design? Are you a competent writer? How about a graphic artist? Whatever your skill, as long as it can be performed remotely, there is a market for it online. You say you don’t have a marketable skill? Well, you may just lack a bit of confidence. Educate yourself and try it out. After you get paid the first time, even just a little, your confidence will skyrocket and you’ll start seeking higher paid gigs. Check out sites like Freelancer, Guru, and Elance for a variety of gigs. If you’re a writer, check out Texbroker and iWriter. Craigslist also has plenty of opportunities, though you will have to navigate through some weird postings to find the gems. Join several freelancing sites, create a compelling profile and start finding jobs. On some of these sites, you’ll have to bid for a position. Start small, get some positive feedback, and then raise your rates to what you feel is appropriate.

Fiverr

Another website that connects freelancers with buyers, Fiverr is particularly interesting because of the sheer variety of services and products you can find for sale. It has spawned countless imitators but it remains the most popular, with plenty of users online all the time. Basically, you offer a product or service for five dollars (the website takes a dollar) and wait for people to contact you. What you offer here is only limited by your imagination. There are people making money doing voiceover work, writing, graphic design, handing out flyers, doing imitations, and hundreds of other creative ideas. If you can do something strange that grabs people’s attention, somebody may want to utilize you for marketing purposes. The trick here is to find something you can complete quickly. After all, you’re only getting a fiver. After you’ve established yourself, you can offer extras for additional pay.

Start a Blog

Anyone can start a blog. Use WordPress and find a niche you’re passionate about. If you have a successful blog that generates a lot of traffic, you can monetize it directly with advertising. However, you can also use your blog as a springboard for starting your own business. If you’d like to be a writer, a blog is an excellent place to showcase your skills. Make it professional and include several samples of different styles and subject matters. Include your contact information and wait for some offers. If you’re a graphic artist, blog about your passion and include some samples of your work. Whatever service you’re selling, a blog can act as a catalyst to reach out to your potential clients and consumers.

Sell, Sell, Sell

If you’d rather sell other people’s products, the Web is rife with opportunities for that as well. Check out Clickbank or Comission Junction. If you’re creative and dedicated, you can make a hefty commission for selling eBooks or other products. Amazon also has a lucrative affiliate program. Work these links into a successful niche blog and check your paypal account for profits. If you like to sell physical products, you can always try your hand at reselling Craigslist or eBay items. Basically, look for items that are inexpensive that you feel you can sell at a higher price. Craigslist even has a free section. You can find some valuable items if you’re local and have the time to pick them up. Market these products to an audience that is willing to pay higher prices and you’ll be active in the age-old business of arbitrage.

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