5 Ways To Earn An Income Online

There’s only 21 weeks left until Christmas. Yup, let that sink in for a second. But if you haven’t had the opportunity to save extra cash for the holidays or you simply want to be able to pay for things that are essential (food, clothing, etc.), this post is for you. Today I’m  sharing my favorite ways to earn an income online. Most of these I’ve done myself and I can assure you they are legitimate ways to make money online.  Some can even become full-time careers!

5 Ways To Earn An Income Online

1. Become a virtual assistant.

Yes, I had to start with one of my favorites. If you’ve been following me for a bit, you probably already know that I used to be a virtual assistant. I started doing this prior to blogging and even before I offered my services online. If you have any clerical, administrative or tech skill, you can offer your services virtually. I have written a few posts on this topic if you want to know how to get started.

4 Steps To Take To Become A Virtual Assistant
How To Price Your Virtual Assistant Services
3 Ways To Kickstart Your Virtual Assistant Career

2. Become an online teacher.

Many of us are skilled in a specific area. Perhaps you are great at photography and using Photoshop. Or perhaps you’re skilled in web design and setting up web sites. Whatever your skill may be, there’s someone out there that’s willing to pay for your knowledge. You can offer one on one services via platforms like GoToMeeting.com where you can meet with your students virtually. One great way to capitalize on your skills is by creating an online course via Udemy. Udemy enables you to create a course for free and you’re able to keep 100% of the course fees when you refer students to your course. If Udemy’s marketing efforts brings you a student, you get to keep 50%. I’m actually setting this up for a family member and I can’t wait to share my experience in a future post.

3. Become an interpreter/translator.

For several years, I’ve worked on the side as a Spanish interpreter/translator with various businesses and non-profits. There are various jobs available for people that are fluent in a second language. Now understand that you must be able to master both languages verbally and in the written form. You can work online with business that need documents translated, or you can also offer services in your local area as an interpreter. I used to work with local school districts and helped Spanish speaking parents during school conferences. This can be a great source of income and many interpreters can make $45+ per hour. If you know medical and legal terms, your hourly rate can easily double. You can start working with a company like Lionbridge before branching out on your own.

4. Become a blogger.

Of course I had to slip this one in. 😉 I love blogging and I think that it’s one of the easiest ways to make an income online. You don’t have to be an expert in any particular topic and you don’t have to be an expert in web design. Bloggers can earn income through ad networks (like the ads seen on my sidebar), sponsored posts, affiliates (like Amazon), by contributing to other websites, paid speaking engagements, offering consulting services and selling products, just to name a few. The income possibilities are only limited by your imagination. If you want to hear how I started my own blogging journey, check out my podcast interview with Brilliant Business Moms. You’ll also find a wealth of business resources on their site.

5. Sell your influence.

You don’t have to be a blogger in order to sell your influence. Have you heard of the teen that is making thousands each month from her YouTube channel? Sounds crazy, but it’s not impossible. If you are active on a social media platform and have a large following, you can capitalize on that influence by working with brands. I’ve met people with large Twitter following that don’t even blog, but earn a living by offering Twitter parties to brands. What’s a Twitter Party? Check out this great post that breaks it down. I also recently met a mom with a large Instagram following that works with various brands who pay her to share photos of the clothes they send her. I’m not talking a few dollars either, these influencers are supporting their families with their income.

Have you ever tried earning an income online? What was your experience? I would love to hear your thoughts on this and whether or not you had any success.