How to Make Money Online in 2023

How to Make Money Online in 2023

Hustle culture is having a field day, with almost half of Americans working at least one extra job in 2022. Whether you want to cover your phone bill or quit your day job, digital work can help you do so from the comfort of your home. Some online jobs require special skills, but others are open to virtually anyone. If you have an internet connection, you're already well on your way to making money online from home.

We're here to help you sort through the noise and learn how to make money online for free.

Ways to Make Money Online in 2023

Making extra money online can happen in many different ways. You might share your knowledge or hobbies or sell products. Some methods are fast, and some are lucrative. Sometimes, you'll need to make a trade-off. We have a little bit of everything in this list on how to make money online with jobs from home.

1. Try Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a unique way of selling that doesn't require maintaining an inventory. When a customer buys a product, you notify the manufacturer or distributor, which sends the order to the customer. Your role is essentially a marketer. The customer pays you, and you pay the manufacturer or distributor. As the dropshipper, you can get wholesale pricing and resell an item at a profit. You can start selling virtually anything without much overhead.

You'll need a website and/or an e-commerce storefront. You'll also want to brush up on your marketing skills and learn how to use social media or ad programs. Dropshipping can take some time and know-how, so read up on the topic before getting started.

Online surveys aren't going to make you rich overnight, but they're a nice way to pad your wallet during downtime. They're a good way to make money online without investments. 

2. Take Online Surveys

Online surveys aren't going to make you rich overnight, but they're a nice way to pad your wallet during downtime. They're a good way to make money online without investments. Organizations might need to know how you shop or what you think of a new product. They'll pay for your opinion. Some survey sites pay in cash, while others are more likely to give you gift cards. Still, it's an easy job. You can usually answer questions on your phone while, say, watching TV or eating breakfast.

Do your research before signing up for a survey site. Unfortunately, scams are common in this realm. Don't give out any sensitive information, and avoid sites that ask you to pay money to sign up. Some popular options include Swagbucks, OneOpinion and Survey Junkie. Many of them also offer apps for making money online.

3. Make Content on YouTube or Twitch

Nowadays, a good smartphone camera is enough to record pro-grade videos. Find yourself a niche and start making videos. On YouTube, you could:

  • Review products
  • Make travel vlogs
  • Review restaurants
  • Play video games
  • Create tutorials
  • Share skits

Many YouTubers make money by putting ads in their videos. You can also take the influencer approach and get brand deals to promote products.

Twitch is best known for gaming, but you can live stream much more. You might play music or work on an art piece. Twitch streamers use ads and product promotions, but they can also get donations and subscriptions from viewers. If you gain enough of a following, you could even boost your earnings by becoming an affiliate or a partner with Twitch.

4. Develop an App

Don't skip this section just because you don't know how to code! If you have a good idea, you can hire developers to help you bring your app to life. You could hire a freelancer or work with an agency. Another option is to use an app builder program. These programs often use drag-and-drop systems. To make money from your app, you can charge for it or incorporate ads.

5. Be a Virtual Tutor

If you have some expertise in an area, you can make money and help others learn. You can tutor kids, college students and even adult learners. Video calls let you teach people from anywhere in the world. Many tutors have some kind of certification, such as a bachelor's degree or a teaching license.

6. Trade In Old Electronics

Do you have old electronics lying around? Trading in your devices could net you some extra cash. It's perfect if you're looking into how to make money fast. Just take your old devices to an ecoATM kiosk near you and have them evaluated. If we can, we'll give you cash on the spot. Otherwise, we can responsibly recycle them for free. You never know what that old phone in your junk drawer might be worth! We even take broken devices, so a phone with a broken screen could still earn you some money.

You can get serious about electronics trade-ins, too. You can do it for friends and family and take a commission off the sale price. Or, you could keep an eye out for deals on swap sites or garage sales and see if you can turn a profit.

7. Sell Digital Products and Artwork

If you have an eye for the finer things, consider selling your creations. Digital artwork is very popular, and it doesn't require any physical inventory. You can sell a wide range of digital items on platforms like Etsy, Gumroad, Podia and Shopify. Some products you could make and sell include:

  • Calendars and planners
  • eBooks and guides
  • Prints and posters

You can also upload your artwork to a print-on-demand service, such as Redbubble, Teepublic or Printful. These services will print your artwork onto a product when a customer buys it. You could sell designs printed on clothing, home goods, office supplies and more. You don't need to keep any physical inventory on hand. Just set it and forget it!

8. Build a Learning Course

Another way to put your knowledge to work is by making an online course. Websites like Udemy, Skillshare and Teachable can help you host your course and get your name out there. Making a course can be time-consuming, so make sure you pick a worthwhile topic. You'll need to structure modules, find resources and create homework.

A good course could be particularly lucrative. Some of the top instructors make over $17,000 a month on Udemy. New instructors are more likely to make around $200 a month. Of course, your mileage may vary.

9. Create a Blog

Blogs are easy to start and can help you build a personal brand. Blogging can bring in money in a few different ways, such as:

  • Ads: Placing ads on your blog can help you bring in revenue. The more people you draw to your site, the more you can get for ads.
  • Affiliate marketing: Say you buy a product through a link on a blog. The blogger who posted it might earn a small commission. This process is called affiliate marketing. It's a great way to earn some passive income by promoting products within your content.
  • Influencing: Another way to earn money from promotions is by teaming up with brands. Some brands will pay you to talk about their products on a blog.
  • Digital products: A blog is a great place to promote your own offerings. You could sell courses, guides and templates that relate to your content.

Of course, there are a lot of blogs out there. Try to find something unique or add your own spin to an old topic.

Sell Photography

Some types of photos tend to sell better than others. Think about what's trendy and how your pictures can appeal to businesses.

10. Sell Photography

Professional photographers and smartphone photographers alike can sell photos online. You can sell prints as digital products, as we discussed earlier. You can also sell your work as stock photos. Websites like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock can help you sell to businesses that need images.

Some types of photos tend to sell better than others. Think about what's trendy and how your pictures can appeal to businesses. For example, beach photos might do better in the months leading up to summer. Shutterstock even offers a “Shot List” with the most-requested image types each month.

11. Become an Online Translator

Do you know a second language? Try translating. You may be able to increase your rate if you get certified or have skills in a specific area, such as medicine or engineering. You can translate text or spoken word. Text translation typically involves documents or other typed projects.

If you translate spoken word, you might hop on a video call. For example, a nurse in a hospital might pull up a video chat on a tablet. You would translate the conversation between the patient and their providers in real time.

12. Become a Website Tester

This method is similar to taking online surveys. Instead of getting paid to answer questions, you can get paid to browse websites. It's a great tactic for making money online fast. The site UserTesting can help match you with the right brands. Most tests pay around $10 per 20 minutes of work. You'll need to share some feedback in the form of a video. They even have some live tests that pay more, but they may take longer.

13. Transcribe Spoken Words

If you're a fast typer and a good listener, transcribing might be for you. You'll listen to conversations, such as speeches and interviews, and type them up. Your work might help people who are deaf or hard of hearing. It could also create written records that are easier for businesses to work with. Either way, you can often do it on your own time.

This is another job where certifications or specialties can help you increase your rate. For example, legal transcribers can usually charge more. You can get started in transcription with just a computer, but transcription software can help you work faster and better.

14. Take Some Freelance Gigs

Tons of freelance jobs can be done digitally. If you already have the skills, they can help you make quick money online. Check out sites like Upwork and Fiverr. You'll find virtual-only jobs like:

  • Copywriter
  • Graphic designer
  • Data entry specialist
  • Virtual assistant
  • Project manager
  • App developer

Many people like to supplement their day jobs with freelancing opportunities. If you're already a graphic designer, you can make more money with flexible jobs.

15. Write and Publish an e-Book

With today's internet-friendly tools, you don't need a publisher to make a book. If you have knowledge to share, you can make your own. Platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing allow you to put an e-book directly on Amazon. This strategy works well if you have other promotional techniques, like a blog or social media accounts. You can draw in potential customers and send them to your e-book.

Tips for Making Money Online

1. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes
2. Focus on your talents
3. Find your niche
4. Market yourself well
5. Don't pay any upfront fees
6. Always vet your partners

Tips for Making Money Online

Of course, the internet isn't always forthcoming when it comes to making money. You don't want to waste your time or get yourself into trouble with a side gig. If you're learning how to make money online as a beginner, be especially careful. Keep these tips in mind:

  1. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes. You'll come across a lot of online money-making sites that make big claims. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You'll usually need to put in some time or take modest payouts. Figure out how much time you have each week to devote to these activities.
  2. Focus on your talents. You probably don't have all of the skills we mentioned in this list. That's OK. Just lean into what you know. With the internet, you can make money off of almost any skill or hobby. Think about what you love to do and weave it into one of the techniques we discussed.
  3. Find your niche. The internet is heavily saturated with content. You might be tempted to target as many people as possible, but don't cast your net too broadly. Instead, look for a niche. You might talk about a specific topic or put your own spin on something popular. You want to be the first person that pops up when someone looks for a topic.
  4. Market yourself well. Most of these techniques build off of each other. For example, if you make YouTube videos, you could also start a blog. On that blog, you could sell courses or merchandise. You might put ads up and make partnerships. Use all of these channels to your advantage. Remember to pay attention to social media and spread the word there.
  5. Don't pay any upfront fees. If a site asks you to pay money to make money, there's a good chance it's a scam. You may need a certification or a class, but only get these if they help you in other ways. For example, a medical transcription certification can help you in the long run. A membership fee for a survey site probably won't. Besides, you're in this to make money, not spend it.
  6. Always vet your partners. Do your research before signing up at a site for making money online. Search for them and look at reviews and complaints. Check websites like the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot.

Get Cash for Old Electronics AT ecoATM 

Price your device online, and find a kiosk near you to get started!

Get Cash for Old Electronics at ecoATM

Remember that tip about selling old electronics? It's one of the few options that's both easy and free! At an ecoATM kiosk, we offer cash on the spot for qualifying devices. You can find our kiosks across the United States. Our website also has advice for erasing your device before trading it in, so you can finish up quickly and get back to your internet hustles.

Price your device online, and find a kiosk near you to get started!