Working remotely opens up a whole new world of possibilities for a life as a digital nomad, long term travel or location independence. There are endless ways of making money online in 2021 and in most cases, there is no need for a large investment to get started.
While having some specialist knowledge and skills will be helpful it is possible for anyone to make money online in 2021. However, keep in mind that these are not get-rich-quick schemes and making a living online will not happen overnight.
Consistency is key and you will have to spend a considerable amount of time working on your online business before you can expect to make some money. So think carefully whether you have the time to dedicate to truly make a website, blog or another one of these business ideas truly profitable. Here are some of the best blog ideas for making money in 2021.
1. Make money with affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services and then earning a commission from every sale that is conducted through your link. This is best combined with social media, a blog or website or other profitable ideas where you can advertise relevant products to your audience and make money while doing so. It is important to be consistent and only advertise products that fit your niche. Check out digital marketing gurus like Ryan Robinson or Adam Enfroy for more information.
2. Start a Youtube Channel
Making Youtube videos can be a great way to make money online in 2021. Anyone can make videos with just a phone or a small camera so getting started is really easy. Over time you can make money from ad revenue or sponsorships. However keep in mind that this will take a while and you’ll most likely have to make a lot of videos before you see any income. If you have no idea how you can monetize your videos on youtube, you can have a look at this detailed guide here.
Here is how you start a video blog FROM ZERO
3. Instagram
Almost everyone uses Instagram but very few people know how to make money with it. To get started you should work on creating niche content and building a dedicated audience. Even accounts with below 10,000 followers can gain sponsorships from brands or sell products and services online such as e-books, courses or presets. The higher your engagement the more money you can make on Instagram.
4. Build a membership website
Many websites rely on ad revenue to make a profit, however, membership websites charge a premium from members to enjoy their services. To make your membership website or blog profitable it is important to have ideas for creating value and high-quality content that others would pay money for. This could include regularly updated courses, communities or other features that one would not be able to find elsewhere for free. Building a membership website is probably easier than you though.
You can easily do a website like this with WordPress and a few plugins. You can find a step by step guide here.
5. Start a blog
Starting a blog can be free and easy, however, if you want to make money from it you’ll have to invest a lot of time and energy. There is much more to blogging than just writing. You need to consider the design which should attract attention while still being easy to navigate. Once you have built your audience you can monetise your blog using advertisements, affiliate marketing or by selling products and services. If making money quickly is your priority starting a blog might not be the best option on this list of ideas but if you are dedicated it can have great long term benefits.
6. Create an online course
You can learn almost everything online and if you have advanced knowledge in a certain field you should consider teaching others. To get started you should have a look at other courses in your niche and note what you could do better. You can post your course on platforms like Skillshare and Udemy for free and then earn money as people participate. Both platforms have their benefits but Skillshare tends to have a more active community.
Platforms where you could potentially publish your courses:
7. Publish an ebook
Publishing your own ebook might be easier than you think. You can use free platforms like Canva to design your book and come up with interesting and helpful content. Amazon lets you publish your ebook on KPD (Kindle Direct Publishing) and although they take a commission per sale this can still leave you with a profitable way to make money online in 2021. After your book has been formatted and adjusted to Amazon’s guidelines you can upload and publish it in just a few easy steps.
8. Build an e-commerce store
Starting your own e-commerce business will take a lot of time and effort, however, the return can be worth it. Selling products online has a lot of potential although you will need some technicalities like a registered business and legal documents. Finding suppliers and identifying a niche and business plan will take some time and research before you can get started. Platforms like Shopify or Woocommerce are really helpful in setting up your own shop although they charge a monthly fee.
9. Start a podcast
The market for podcasts is growing quickly and it’s never been easier to start your own. Even with very basic sound equipment, you can make your own podcast which is easily combined with other ideas to make money such as a blog or website. Once you reach a certain number of listeners you can start selling ad space or create sponsored content. With low overhead, a podcast is a great way to make money online in 2021.
10. Become a WordPress developer
If you have knowledge in coding, web design and general website maintenance one of the most profitable ideas for working online and making money could be a WordPress developer. This requires advanced skills so it is not one of those easy website ideas that will make money quickly and be profitable for everyone. Join platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to start building a portfolio so you can begin making money remotely and finding regular clients.
11. Copywriting/Blogging
If you enjoy writing but are hesitant to start your own blog you should consider getting into copywriting. Many companies need writers or bloggers to create content, email newsletters, product description or social media captions. Once you’ve built a portfolio with relevant references, finding clients as a copywriter or blogger is easier than you think. Writing for a large company’s blog or website can be one of the most profitable money-making ideas there is in 2021.
12. Translations
If you’re bilingual a great way to make money online in 2021 is to offer translation services. You can do this on a freelance basis but a great way to get started is by signing up for a platform. Some good choices include Fairlingo, MyTranslation or Gengo. These websites charge a commission but it will be a lot easier for you to find work and identify regular clients.
13. Usertesting
Usertesting is a platform that offers payment in exchange for product reviews or short interviews. You can get paid for reviewing products you use in your daily life with rates as high as 10$ for a 20-minute review. Usertesting is one of the most accessible ideas for making money online in 2021 and almost anyone can do it without having to commit too much time like with a blog or website.
14. Teach online
There is a huge market for remote teachers online, especially for languages. If English is your first language you have good chances of finding a job as a teacher on platforms like Skooli, iTutorGroup or even on a freelance basis. The majority of companies require a TEFL certification and possibly a Bachelor’s degree from an English-speaking university although this might not be mandatory.
15. Become a Virtual Assistant
Almost anyone can work as a virtual assistant, although there are some more specialised fields such as SEO or accounting virtual assistants. Salaries for virtual assistance vary greatly and might not be very high initially but they have a lot of potential to grow. You can use platforms such as Upwork or Time etc to find virtual assistant jobs or even start your own agency after a while.
16. Sell your photography online
A quick and easy way to make money online as a photographer is to sell your pictures to websites or businesses. This could include branded content, travel content or even just stock photos for which there is always demand. If you’re not a renowned photographer this will most likely not make you enough money to make a living but it could be a nice income on the side.
How to make MONEY selling PHOTOS
17. Sell design online
If you come from a creative background and have some experience using design programs like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop or Procreate then you should consider selling your designs online. You can use platforms like Fiverr or Upwork to gain some experience and build your portfolio. If you want to make this your main source of income you should start collecting ideas for your own profitable design business with a dedicated niche and a professional website to attract possible clients and make money long term.
18. Online moderator
An online moderator monitors things like Facebook groups, forums, comments or chats. Their job is to categorise content and moderate conversations making sure the community rules are adhered to. This includes removing offensive or unrelated comments or solving user problems. There are moderation companies who hire remote workers from all around the world. This could be both a part-time or full-time work opportunity.
19. QA Analyst
A QA Analyst is responsible for quality assurance in the software and development field. It is quite easy and straightforward to conduct this job remotely and earn money online. To work as a QA analyst one should have strong IT skills and at least some experience in software development. This is not a job that can be conducted by complete beginners and coming from a relevant background like Computer Science can be a huge benefit. Some companies outsource quality assurance while others might hire a full time QA Analyst as part of their remote team.
20. Chat support
Working in chat support is incredibly flexible and convenient especially for those looking for a part-time job online. You can set your own schedule and will usually receive on-the-job training from the company you’ll be working for. Many large businesses are hiring chat support staff regularly even with little previous knowledge. Payment will usually be quite basic but you’ll be able to earn money almost immediately which is a huge benefit.
21. Recruiter
As an online recruiter, you can work for many larger companies on either a long term or consultancy basis. This is a fairly accessible job but some qualifications especially in HR or a relevant field are needed. A recruiter will identify and screen potential candidates and match them to an open job position. They need to have experience in finding applicants online and assessing their capabilities. Working as an online recruiter can be very lucrative with a permanent position or a steady base of clients.
22. Sell physical products and services
Once you’ve identified a possible niche and market opportunity you can sell pretty much anything online. Whether you want to ship physical products or offer your services you can start your own online business quite easily using sites like Threadup, Facebook Marketplace, Etsy or Swappa. The rise of the gig economy also offers endless opportunities such as offering services on websites like Taskrabbit or similar platforms.
23. Pet sitting
If you love animals one of the best website ideas to make money and build a profitable income is to get into pet sitting. Websites like Rover.com or Pawshake work as a match-making service to connect pet owners to available sitters. This could include both once-off gigs or long term services. Usually, sitters with experience have better luck at finding work on these websites so it’s worthwhile to spend some time building your profile.
24. Become an SEO or digital marketing specialist
Every company that wants to market their products online needs to embrace search engine optimisation (SEO) and digital marketing. Becoming a specialist in these fields is not too difficult but does require you to spend some time and money learning about best practises and how to help potential clients. Once you have some SEO and marketing knowledge this can be a very profitable way to start your own business online.