Top 5 Ways of Making Money Online

We could all do with a little extra cash here or there so we can afford a few luxuries, pay a few bills or invest it in the bank for a rainy day. There always seems to be an unexpected bill each month that we struggle to cope with, often going into our overdrafts or having to borrow money from family and friends, none of which are ideal.

Over the years though, there has been an increase in the number of options open to us in terms of how we can make a little extra on the side. Our salaries might sound great written down on paper, but once the taxman gets involved and bills have been paid, some of us barely take home enough to live on and it means no holidays, no flash cars and buying discounted items when we’d love nothing more than to be able to splash out on something that we really deserve.

The Internet has been the major player in opening doors and presenting opportunities to people in order to find that extra cash. It isn’t just a place to share your photos or tell people where you are on social media, check the football scores or watch the latest episode of your favourite soap that you missed because you were doing overtime at work; it’s a highly valuable resource when used the right way, for making money online. Here’s how:

eCommerce

The web has opened up the possibility for us all to buy and sell goods over the Internet any time, day or night. Sites like swap.com allow us to buy and sell online and to get some decent sums of money for clothes and other goods that we no longer need, want or fit in! It’s a much better way (financially) to clear out the house too rather than just giving it away or allowing it to clutter up bedrooms and cupboards. The most famous site, obviously, being eBay and millions use that site each day.

Social Media

Advertise the kind of items you’re looking to get rid of on social media sites. Millions around the world use Facebook and Twitter and each friend or follower is a potential customer. If you advertise that you’re selling furniture, clothing, DVDs or bikes – for example – you might get a friend who is interested and will give you some good money for it. It’s essentially free advertising.

Trade-In Sites

Similarly, there are sites out there that will accept your old goods in return for money. They’re a bit like pawn shops you see on the high street, offering you an amount for products determined by their age, quality and condition. The better nick they’re in, the more likely you are to get good money for them so try to make sure they’re in their box with instructions and cables.

Turn Hobbies Into Careers

A lot of us have hobbies that involve us making or producing something. In a lot of cases people make jewellery, clothing or similar items and by setting up your own website you can start to sell them online and make some money by doing something you enjoy. Crafters have been particularly lucky in this area, buying materials for relatively low prices and turning them into something really clever like benches or carvings, while those making handmade jewellery have also done well.

Create Content

A lot of online publications will accept articles from writers looking to enhance their own reputations or to get into the industry. If you’ve got a way with words and a passion for writing and you have something that you’re particularly interested in, get in touch with your favourite blogs and online magazines and see if they accept contributions. Some will not pay but others might, even if it’s only a small sum, it’s money in the bank.