Tuesday 10 September 2013

Making Money on the Internet



A growing number of people are choosing to supplement their incomes by making money online.  In fact, thanks to the recession, there are many people that now rely on the Internet for almost all their income as they find themselves working reduced hours, or made redundant from their day jobs.

There are lots of ways to make money online. If you have a marketable skill - whether that's the ability to write well, make physical products, or do graphic design, you can turn that into a money-making venture.  Here's a few suggestions to help you get started.

1. Blogging

Running a blog can be a lot of fun, and can generate some income for you too.  Pick a topic that you're passionate about, buy a small hosting package and a domain name, and start writing.  Once you've got some content up there, you can sign up to a range of advertising services aimed at bloggers, and sell advertising on your site.

You can set up a blog on a free hosting service if you aren't able to afford professional hosting and a domain, but you'll find it easier to attract advertisers if you have a domain and a good hosting package.

2. Affiliate Programs

Most people use affiliate programs in conjunction with an existing blog or website, but not all affiliate programs require you to have a website.  If you are a highly respected member of a forum, or just have a huge following on popular social networking sites, you can use those avenues to advertise the products you are an affiliate for.

If you're not sure how to promote affiliate links, then consider signing up for an affiliate forum and asking for advice.  Be sure to read the "sticky" posts at the top of the affiliate forum you join, though - almost everything you could ever want to know about making money online will probably have been discussed. Be sure to read the terms and conditions of each program you join.

3. Paid Surveys

If you don't have a lot of time to devote to making money online, and just want a little extra cash - perhaps to put towards birthday gifts, holidays, or Christmas presents, then consider signing up to a paid survey site.

Some survey sites, such as Valued Opinions, have mobile apps that you can use to take their surveys.  The average survey takes 10-20 minutes to complete, and while the pay isn't great, it can mount up over time.  If you take the bus or train to work, then you can keep yourself entertained by answering surveys while you're travelling, and save the vouchers up for a rainy day.

There are many other ways to make money online, but the above are some of the more accessible methods.  If you need to make a lot of money, rather than just some extra cash for treats or holiday spending, then you should consider looking at traditional remote working jobs, rather than "get paid to" sites, as those websites usually target a more casual audience.