Secrets to Making Money Online: Ultimate Guide (2023)

How to make money online

Man counts money sitting at a deskThe ideas within this section are for those looking to make money in a long term, sustainable way. These businesses will require effort and passion to pay off, but they are also some of the most rewarding and fulfilling ways to start making extra money online. 

  1. 1.Develop and sell a .unique product
  2. 2.Create and sell handmade or custom products
  3. 3.Sell digital products
  4. 4.Become a reseller
  5. 5.Monetize a blog
  6. 6.Create online courses and workshops
  7. 7.Monetize a YouTube channel
  8. 8.Become an influencer
  9. 9.Sell services or consulting
  10. 10.Write and sell books or ebooks
  11. 11.Sell photos online
  12. 12.Become a social media consultant
  13. 13.Start a podcastLooking for low-effort ideas for beginners? Skip to the next list.

    1. Develop and sell a unique product

    When you think of most direct-to-consumer brands, this is what comes to mind: original products that make meaningful improvements to well-known items. You too can develop and manufacture a unique product to sell. Consider designing a prototype for a product that solves a common problem then finding a manufacturer to create it.

    Startup time: Several months from design to prototype to manufacturing.

    Effort level: High to start. Medium ongoing effort to maintain.

    Time to first payment: After you sell a product, expect a wait period of around five days to receive funds in your bank account on most platforms. 

    What to know:

    • Manufacturing domestically means you have more control over quality and sustainability, but your costs may be higher.
    • Research manufacturers carefully to find the right fit for your product and brand.
    • Be sure to consider labeling laws in every region where you plan to sell.

    Requirements:

  • Most ecommerce platforms require that you are at least 18 years of age.
  • Requirements vary by country and region, but some products may require you to have licenses, permits, or certifications.

    Start making money online with Shopify. Create and sell handmade or custom products

    Woman sits at sewing machine making a garmentMaking products by hand is a great way to turn a hobby or passion into a business. You are already an expert at your craft—why not sell your work? Or, explore a new hobby and learn a hands-on skill that you can monetize. Hand-making goods gives you full control over product development and quality, but can be time consuming. Also consider allowing customers to customize each order to their specifications. This is called bespoke, or one of a kind (OOAK).

    Startup time: It will take just an hour or two to set up your ecommerce store

    Effort level: Depends on whether you already produce goods. High effort to maintain.

    Time to first payment: After you sell a product, expect a wait period of around five days to receive funds on most platforms. 

    What to know:

    • While this is a rewarding small business idea, scaling this model is challenging. To grow, consider bringing on other artists you can train.

    Requirements:

    • Most ecommerce platforms require that you are at least 18 years of age.
    • Requirements vary by country and region, but some products may require you to have licenses, permits, or certifications.

    👓 Success Story: How a Crafter Scaled Her Eyewear Business

    Kerin Rose Gold started designing her own sunglasses before being spotted by top celebs. Now she employs other artists as she grows her brand, A-Morir.

    . Sell digital products

    Selling digital products is a great way to earn cash with low ongoing effort and cost. These products include guides, ebooks, templates, music samples, plans, printables, and tutorials that can be delivered digitally, in formats like PDF or via log-in access to a portal. This is a great option for creatives looking to sell music or sell art online

    Another example of digital content is recipes and meal plans. Food blogger Lauren Fit Foodie sells this content to her audience through Instagram.

    Startup time: Once the asset is created, it takes a couple hours to get up and running online.

    Effort level: Medium to high, depending on product and ability to grow a customer base. Low effort to maintain.

    Time to first payment: After you sell a product, expect a wait period of around five days to receive funds on most platforms. 

    What to know:

    • Digital goods are scalable, with no limit to the number of times you can sell the same asset.
    • If you want to license your product or use licensed materials, be sure to consult with a lawyer or research licencing laws.

    Requirements:

    • An ecommerce online platform.
    • A digital delivery app from the Shopify App StoreBecome a reseller 
    • Woman sits on a bed packing boxesReselling existing products can take a number of forms. Whether you buy and resell vintage or collectible items or become a certified distributor of a brand in a specific region, you can start selling products without making any of your own. Another option is to curate products from other brands through your own ecommerce store—say your favorite skin care products for problem skin.

    💡 Tip: This model assumes you will be carrying and managing inventory. For a lower-investment option, jump ahead to dropshipping.

Startup time: Varies depending on what you plan to resell. 

Effort to start: Low to medium, as you don’t need to create your own products

 

Time to first payment: After you sell a product, expect a wait period of around five days to receive funds on most platforms. 

 

What to know:

 

You can find brands to resell by consulting wholesale directories or simply reaching out.

AliExpress is another option for finding generic trending products to sell under your own brand. These can even sometimes be customized and considered white label products.

Requirements:

 

An online platform to sell your products.

In some cases, you may sign contracts with brands in order to resell. 

Monetize a blog

While many businesses use blogs to help drive traffic to their products, did you know that you can make money online with a blog alone? You can monetize a blog in a number of ways, including selling ads, using affiliate links, writing sponsored posts in partnership with a brand, or selling merch or custom products to an audience. 

Startup time: A few hours.

Effort to start: Medium to start, but it will take a lot of effort to maintain.

Time to first payment: Varies depending on how you are monetizing your blog.

What to know:

  • While blogging can be a low-investment business idea, it can take time to pay off.
  • Use SEO practices to drive organic traffic and read about more ways to monetize a blog.

Requirements:

  • A blogging platform.
  • An interest or skill you want to write about—consider a topic where you can bring a unique perspective and offer value to readers.

    Create online courses and workshops

    Woman does an upward dog yoga pose on a matOnline workshops and courses are another form of digital product that you can create to earn income from your expertise. This is a great idea if you are a subject matter expert on a topic people are willing to learn. Selling online courses is made easier using a course platform or your own website. A digital delivery or course app can be installed in your Shopify store to help sell courses online.

    Startup time: It can take weeks or even months to write, shoot, and edit an online course.

    Effort level: Very high to start. Medium effort to maintain.

    Time to first payment: Varies, depending on your course and platform’s payment structure.

    What to know:

    • Research your competition: What value can you create beyond what’s already available online?
    • Use free gated content to build your customer list and give potential customers a sample of your offering.
    • Live elements like instructor office hours or exclusive Q&A sessions help sell your course.

    Requirements:

    • Audio and video equipment and editing software.
    • A platform to sell and deliver course content. 

      Monetize a YouTube channel

      Woman speaks into a cameraTop YouTube influencers like Cassey HoWil Yeung, and Katie Carson all started where you are: with an idea. Each of these YouTubers built audiences through authentic content before monetizing their channels. 

      Once you’ve reached 1,000 subscribers, you can try YouTube ads. You can also offer a paid product placement or become a brand affiliate. Selling products like your own branded merch is a great way to build your personal brand. Create your own website and link it to your channel to sell t-shirts, hats, and other swag to your fans.

      Startup time: It will take an hour or two start a YouTube channel.

      Effort level: High. YouTube requires an ongoing effort to create and publish video content. 

      Time to first payment: Once you’ve reached 1,000 subscribers, you can start earning revenue from ads to make money on YouTube. Time to first payout via other methods varies. 

      What to know:

      • Finding a niche with an underserved audience is a great option for your channel’s angle. Understand this audience and create content that adds value.
      • YouTube Shorts offer a way to keep your page fresh with shorter and more casual content.

      Requirements:

      • Audio and video equipment and editing software.
      • Parental permission to start a YouTube channel if you are between 13 and 17.
      • A sales channel or online store platform to sell merch (must be 18 to open a store).

        Become an influencer

        Woman sits in front of a tripod and ring light, shooting a YouTube video of herselfInfluencer marketing is popular with brands looking for clout with audiences that resemble their target customer. Brands are clamoring to sponsor content by productivity and stationery creator Amanda Rach Lee. But you don’t need to have Amanda’s two million followers to get paid as an online influencer. You will need an engaged following, but influencer marketing statistics show that influencers with as few as 1,000 followers—considered nano influencers—can get brand deals on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, and Instagram. 

        How to get paid as an influencer:

        • Open a store online and sell merch to your fans.
        • Sell sponsored posts to brands or become a brand ambassador or affiliate.
        • Make ad revenue.
        • Offer exclusive content through platforms like Patreon.

        Startup time: Varies, but generally, about three to four months.

        Effort level: High. Popular accounts need fresh content to keep audiences constantly engaged.

        Time to first payment: Varies, depending on the type of monetization you pursue.

        What to know:

        • The Shopify Starter Plan is perfect for creators who want to get selling fast without building a website. Or, you can also use a tool like Linkpop to superpower your social bio and push fans to your store. 

        Requirements:

        • Meet minimum age requirements for each platform account.
        • A flair for content creation and being an on-camera personality (video and photo editing skills are a bonus).
        • An ecommerce platform for selling fan merch.

          Sell services or consulting

          While it may be most common to think of selling physical products online, you can also sell non-tangible things. Consider selling a virtual service like online personal shopping, home décor consulting, or one-to-one personal training. Set up your own ecommerce store and visit the Shopify App Store to find an app that integrates to help with appointment booking and live chat.

          Startup time: Several hours to set up your website.

          Effort level: Hard. This will require ongoing effort to build your client list, perform services, and maintain your website.

          Time to first payment: After you sell a service, expect a wait period of around five days to receive funds on most platforms. 

          What to know:

          • Reviews and testimonials are your friend. Ask happy clients to write or record reviews and post them on your site.

          Requirements:

          • A website or ecommerce store.
          • Expertise in a particular field

            Write and sell books or ebooks

            Man sits at desk writing on a laptopIn the same way that you can monetize your expertise with an online course or your influence as a YouTuber, you can also earn cash selling books or ebooks online. There are a number of formats and genres, from novels to memoirs to self-help books. Try using a print-on-demand book service to print and sell books online on your own ecommerce store, or use a service like Amazon Direct Publishing to sell ebooks. 

            Startup time: Varies by book, but could take years to write, edit, and publish.

            Effort level: Hard to start. Medium ongoing effort to market and sell the book.

            Time to first payment: Depends on how and where you sell your books.

            What to know:

            • Grow a following for your personal brand as an author.
            • Digital delivery apps can be useful if you plan to sell ebooks directly to customers on your own website.

            Requirements:

            • A publisher or print-on-demand service to print physical books.
            • A platform for selling your book or ebook.
  • Livestream on Twitch (or other platforms)

    Youth livestreams a video gameWhile the first platform that comes to mind for livestreaming may be Twitch, a popular site for gamers and other content creators, many other platforms now offer native livestreaming, including YouTube and Instagram. You can livestream everything from game play to recipe demos to bike tours. Hone in on a niche to build an audience around a particular interest or skill.

    You can monetize your livestream on Twitch a handful of ways:

    • Selling products like merch directly to fans
    • Brand sponsorships
    • Fan donations
    • Exclusive content subscriptions
    • Twitch ads

    Startup time: An hour or so to create an account.

    Effort level: High to start as you build an audience. High ongoing effort to create consistent content.

    Time to first payment: Varies depending on streaming service. Twitch pays out 15 days after the end of each month.

    What to know:

    • Stay consistent by regularly broadcasting at the same time of day or the same day every week.
    • Monetize your Twitch channel by selling products using the Shopify Starter Plan—this is an affordable alternative to a full ecommerce website plan.

    Requirements:

    • A camera, microphone, and livestreaming software or platform.
    • Twitch is recommended for ages 15+, but many monetization options may require you to be over 18. Consult each platform’s terms of service for details.

      Sell photos online

      Whether you’re shooting on the newest iPhone or the latest Canon DSLR, you can sell photos online as a photographer. Partner with a local printer to print your photos on specialty paper or other materials, or invest in a high-quality home printer. You can ship and sell numbered and signed versions of your photos directly to customers through your website. 

      💡 Looking for a more hands-off or beginner-friendly way to sell your photos? Jump to print on demand or photo licensing.

      Startup time: A few weeks or months to build your portfolio.

      Effort level: High to start as you build your portfolio and website. Medium ongoing effort to maintain the business and develop new products

      Time to first payment: After you sell a photo, expect a wait period of around five5 days to receive funds on most platforms. 

      What to know:

      • Build awareness for your brand by growing your following on social media.
      • Use other method of selling photos (like licensing to stock sites) to generate interest in your work.

      Requirements:

      • A camera and photo-editing software.
      • An ecommerce platform plan.

        Become a social media consultant

        Are you Extremely Online? Do you jump on every new social media platform and trend? Have a knack for spotting trends, writing great copy, or attracting audiences? 

        As a social media consultant, you can work with brands to brainstorm creative ideas, develop a content strategy, produce videos or graphics, and write copy. Once you gather clients and experience, you can become an official Shopify Expert, marketing your skills to brands looking for your unique expertise.

        Startup time: Several hours to reach out to prospective clients.

        Effort level: High. You’ll need to be consistently maintaining client relationships and working on projects in order to be profitable. 

        Time to first payment: After you invoice a client, in most cases they will have 15 to 30 days to pay you, depending on the terms you set. 

        What to know:

        • Build your own social following first and use it as a portfolio to demonstrate your ability.
        • Networking will help you land new clients. Be proactive with your outreach.

        Requirements:

        • Experience creating a successful social media presence that makes money.
        • Social media accounts and a website.

        💡 Tip: rather than building a website, you can use Linkpop to consolidate links to examples of your work and all your social media accounts.

    • Start a podcast

      Woman speaks into a podcast micBy the end of 2024, the number of podcast listeners worldwide is predicted to grow to over 500 million. This popular audio format for consuming stories, comedy, news, and opinions continues to grow. If you have a great voice, love to talk, and have a particular interest or talent to share, podcasting could be a great way to make more money.

      As you build your following, there are many ways to monetize your podcast:

      • Sponsorship deals
      • Premium (paid) content offerings
      • Donations and tips
      • In-podcast ads
      • Selling merchandise to fans through an online store

      Startup time: Average nine to 14 hours per episode, including editing.

      Effort level: High.

      Time to first payment: Varies, depending on how you are monetizing your podcast.

      What to know:

      • Once you have an audience, they will expect regular episodes to keep them engaged.
      • Building a following will require work and time. Pay attention to feedback and make adjustments to your production quality and content accordingly.

      Requirements:

      • Audio recording equipment, including a professional microphone and editing software.
      • An account with a podcast service like Spotify, Stitcher, or Apple Music.

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