The internet economy is rapidly growing and, in 2020, it generated 17 million jobs in the U.S. The takeaway for consumers? You can do pretty much anything online —including making money — whether you do so as a side hustle or as a full-time job.
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But does one begin when looking to make money online? The same place they’d need to start with a “real-world” job: with a confident attitude, smart negotiation tactics and a set of sharply honed skills. And what sort of skills, exactly? Plenty of what you need IRL may apply, but if you’re looking to venture into a new business or dive into freelancing, you should diversify and augment your skill set.
Here are 11 of the best skills you should learn in order to make money online.
Make Your Money Work Better for You
Web Development
“I think the best skill to learn to make money online is web development,” said Michael Liam Miller, editor, content improver and fact-checker with Luxury Cars A2Z. “Because it is in high demand and there are many different ways to monetize your skills. You can learn web development through online courses, boot camps, or even self-study. And, if you’re good at it, you can potentially earn a lot of money; freelance rates for web developers range from $50-$100 per hour, and some full-time developers make over $100,000 per year.”
Adobe Illustrator
“I believe learning Adobe Illustrator for graphic design work is a great way to start to earn money online,” said Bill Zimmerman, the CEO of Spotlightr. “This is useful because literally anyone that runs a website or builds their own site, or does anything online like advertising, Youtube videos, etc, at one point needs some design work done. And this is not a skill you can just pick up in a few days. It does take some dedication but it’s easily achieved.”
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Photography
“You can find numerous free online courses and youtube videos to help you develop this skill,” said Kevin Mercier, an entrepreneur and professional photographer at kevmrc.com. “You can use these courses to learn about light, exposure, color, tone and timing. This will help you produce more creative, interesting, and noticeable photographs. You can sell almost any type of photo online, from street photography to pictures of food and animals. I recommend trying Alamy first to begin selling your stock photos. On average, photos on Alamy sell for around $75 each but could get anywhere from $17-$416, depending on what they are used for.”
Make Your Money Work Better for You
Audio Editing for Podcasts
“Podcasts have evolved from being a niche phenomenon for tech-savvy people to a popular phenomenon worth tens of millions of dollars,” said Matthew Dailly, managing director at Tiger Financial. “Many people have expressed a desire to start their own podcasts as a result of that money; however, the majority of people lack the knowledge necessary to edit audio on their own, which is why you come in. You can take someone else’s audio and polish it up so that their listeners won’t leave them critical comments. The fact that podcast listeners frequently express dissatisfaction with the sound quality means that there will always be a need for your services.”
Voice Modulation
“Voice Modulation skills are one of the most rewarding skills that can be learned to make money online,” said Layla Acharya, the owner of EdWize. “Some of the untapped markets that need exploring are voice-over artists, narrators, etc. Voice-over artists are needed for recording audiobooks, story narration, videos, etc. There are many jobs available on online portals that particularly ask for this skill.”
Virtual Assisting
“An ideal candidate for the position of virtual assistant would be task-oriented, proficient in data entry and social media management, and have a get-things-done mentality,” said Carl Jensen, founder of Compare Banks. “You may make $25 to $100 per hour with the proper education and skill set.”
Social Media Marketing
“As a social media marketer, planning and managing a brand’s social media strategy across several channels will be your responsibility,” Jensen said. “As more and more users engage in social media platforms, any business that fails to take advantage of social media’s power will miss out on brand-building chances. Due to this, social media marketing is becoming more and more popular. This could be an excellent skill to learn if you are familiar with the specifics of how social media functions.”
Make Your Money Work Better for You
Affiliate Marketing
“Affiliate marketing is a useful skill because it allows you to monetize your website or blog traffic,” said Drew Mann, founder of Drew’s Review. “If you have a website or blog with a large audience, affiliate marketing can be a great way to generate revenue from that traffic. Additionally, affiliate marketing is useful because it allows you to promote products and services that you believe in and use yourself. This builds trust with your audience and can help increase sales of the products or services that you promote.”
Mann added that the amount of money you can make with affiliate marketing varies depending on the program you choose, the products you promote and the amount of traffic you can generate; “however, some affiliate marketers earn thousands of dollars per month.”
Merch by Amazon
“If you have a knack for freelance graphic design and illustrations, Merch by Amazon could be the perfect fit for you,” said Joshua Rich,CEO and founder of Bullseye Locations. “You can easily design merchandise like hoodies, T-shirts, and pop-sockets and leave it to Amazon to print and deliver the orders. This can potentially help you earn 4-500 dollars in a matter of months.”
Amazon Self-Publishing
“This is one of Amazon’s print-on-demand services,” Rich said. “All you need to do is get your hands on a few market research tools, conduct your research, and plan the right product. Free online tutorials can help you extensively throughout the process, and you can hire freelancers to write, edit and proofread the self-published book. Amazon itself will take care of the printing and delivery process and you can easily earn up to a thousand dollars within a few months.”
Freelance Consulting
“Lastly, if you have considerable experience in any kind of business, you can provide an online consultation service on freelancing platforms, given the field is relevant to your area of expertise,” Rich said.
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About the Author
Nicole Spector
Nicole Spector is a writer, editor, and author based in Los Angeles by way of Brooklyn. Her work has appeared in Vogue, the Atlantic, Vice, and The New Yorker. She's a frequent contributor to NBC News and Publishers Weekly. Her 2013 debut novel, "Fifty Shades of Dorian Gray" received laudatory blurbs from the likes of Fred Armisen and Ken Kalfus, and was published in the US, UK, France, and Russia — though nobody knows whatever happened with the Russian edition! She has an affinity for Twitter.
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FAQs
Which skill is best for earning money online? ›
Web Development. "I think the best skill to learn to make money online is web development," said Michael Liam Miller, editor, content improver and fact-checker with Luxury Cars A2Z. "Because it is in high demand and there are many different ways to monetize your skills.
Which skill is best for earning money? ›- Web Development. A web developer creates programmes and applications for the World Wide Web. ...
- Mobile App Development. ...
- Digital Marketing. ...
- Graphic Design. ...
- Real Estate Investment. ...
- Foreign Currency Exchange Trading (FOREX) ...
- Video Game Testing. ...
- Creative Writing.
- Coding. Grab some java and start learning JavaScript! ...
- Public Speaking. The Association of American Colleges and Universities found that 85% of employers rank oral communication as a very important skill when hiring recent college grads. ...
- Excel and PowerPoint.
- Shift your mind from job economy to entrepreneur economy. ...
- Closing skill. ...
- Be an engaging person. ...
- The ability to overcome your emotions to keep working on your goals. ...
- The ability to break a process down into smaller steps. ...
- The ability to say no. ...
- Learn how to learn. ...
- Final thoughts.
- Data Literacy.
- Agile Project Management.
- Customer Centricity.
- Web Development.
- Low- and No-Code Development.
- Digital Marketing.
- Social Media.
- Cybersecurity.
...
7 high-income skills to learn
- Data analysis. ...
- Software development. ...
- User experience. ...
- Web development. ...
- Project management. ...
- Account management. ...
- Content creation and management.
- Participate in paid market research. ...
- Become a virtual assistant. ...
- Transcribe audio and video. ...
- Sell online. ...
- Housesit. ...
- Write online reviews. ...
- Start a blog. ...
- Game on Twitch.
- Sell unwanted items.
- Sell gift cards.
- Sell concert tickets.
- Ask for a raise.
- Borrow money.
- Reduce expenses.
- Take a survey.
- Get a side gig.
- Sell your clutter.
- Tutor or teach online.
- Sell products on Amazon.
- Rent out your belongings.
- Earn rewards.
- Start a blog.
- Sell handmade goods.
- Start a drop-shipping business.
- Work as an Insurance POSP. ...
- Look for Freelancing Work. ...
- Try Content Writing Jobs. ...
- Start Blogging. ...
- Sell Your Digital Products. ...
- Look For Translation Jobs Online. ...
- Beta Test Apps and Websites Before They are Released. ...
- Work as a Travel Agent.
What are top 5 skills? ›
- Critical thinking and problem solving.
- Teamwork and collaboration.
- Professionalism and strong work ethic.
- Oral and written communications skills.
- Leadership.
- Artificial intelligence. You don't need to work in the artificial intelligence (AI) field to expect to encounter AI in your workplace. ...
- Coding. ...
- Cloud computing. ...
- Blockchain. ...
- UX design. ...
- Critical thinking. ...
- Emotional intelligence. ...
- Communication.
As such, to build wealth, learn these valuable skills: Accounting , Investing , Marketing , Law , Sales , Copywriting , and Public Relations . To help with those and any other future skills, learn to Get to Action , Become Adaptable , and Learn to Learn .
What is the fastest skill to learn? ›- Computer shortcuts. Learn the ABCs of computer shortcuts. ...
- Microsoft Excel. ...
- Unsend emails. ...
- How to tie a tie. ...
- Breathe. ...
- Think before you speak. ...
- Be a better listener. ...
- Recover after forgetting someone's name.
- Juggle. ...
- Speed Read. ...
- Do A Split. ...
- Solve A Rubik's Cube. ...
- Play The Piano. ...
- Break An Apple In Half With Your Bare Hands. ...
- Say The Alphabet Backwards. ...
- Flip Food In A Pan. One last food trick, because nothing's more impressive than kitchen skills, right?
- Coding. Coding is a skill that many employers value, regardless of the specific position you hold. ...
- Excel skills. ...
- Language skills. ...
- Adobe Photoshop skills. ...
- Photography skills. ...
- Writing skills. ...
- Chatbot development. ...
- Search engine optimization.
- Customer Service.
- Sales.
- Accounting.
- Businesses Development.
- Marketing.
- Leadership.
- Communication.
- Digital Marketing.
- Mastering your sleep. ...
- Positive self-talk. ...
- Consistency. ...
- Asking for help. ...
- Knowing when to shut up — and actually doing it. ...
- Listening. ...
- Minding your business. ...
- Mastering your thoughts.
Here are the highest paying jobs without a college degree:
Patrol Officer. Executive Assistant. Sales Representative. Flight Attendant.
- #1 Learn to Code. ...
- #2 Learn to Converse in a New Language. ...
- #3 Learn to Draw. ...
- #4 Learn Speed Reading. ...
- #5 Learn a K-Pop Routine. ...
- #6 Learn First Aid. ...
- #7 Learn to Play a Song on the Guitar. ...
- #8 Learn how to Create a Great Photo.
What is the most important skill in 2022? ›
- Critical thinking skills.
- Communication skills.
- Mental flexibility.
- Teamwork ability.
- Self-leadership.
- Digital fluency7.
- 1 COMMUNICATION SKILLS (LISTENING, SPEAKING AND WRITING) ...
- 2 ANALYTICAL AND RESEARCH SKILLS. ...
- 3 FLEXIBILITY/ADAPTABILITY. ...
- 4 INTERPERSONAL ABILITIES. ...
- 5 ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS AND SOLVE PROBLEMS. ...
- 6 ABILITY TO PLAN, ORGANISE AND PRIORITISE WORK. ...
- 7 ABILITY TO WEAR MULTIPLE HATS. ...
- 8 LEADERSHIP/MANAGEMENT SKILLS.
NICEF, UNESCO and WHO list the ten core life skill strategies and techniques as: problem solving, critical thinking, effective communication skills, decision-making, creative thinking, interpersonal relationship skills, self- awareness building skills, empathy, and coping with stress and emotions.
Which job has highest salary in world? ›- Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- General Surgeon.
- Senior Software Engineer.
- Investment Banker.
- Data Scientist.
- IT Systems Manager.
- Sell custom products.
- Create a print-on-demand business.
- Make a subscription box.
- Sell on marketplaces.
- Sell digital products.
- Sell your creative work.
- Monetize an audience.
- Become a freelancer.
To become rich, you must invest in your financial education and have a concrete financial plan. Avoid debt and deal with your financial emergencies with an emergency fund. Invest consistently for the long-term in a diversified portfolio that maximises your return and minimises your risk.
How can I earn $100 a day? ›- Take part in research (up to $150/hour) ...
- Get paid to take surveys. ...
- Get paid to watch videos online. ...
- Answer questions for money. ...
- Download this app and make money by going online. ...
- Get paid to play games online. ...
- 7. Make an extra $100 pet sitting. ...
- Become a shopper.
- How to Make Money Overnight Using These Methods:
- Drop Shipping. ...
- Freelance Writing. ...
- Other Freelance Services Online. ...
- Writing and Selling an eBook. ...
- Driving with Uber.
...
Monetize your expertise
- Start freelancing. ...
- Create an online course. ...
- Become an online coach. ...
- Work as an online tutor.
- Become a Freelancer. This is a foolproof ways to make money with your phone. ...
- Surfing the web and watching videos online. ...
- Shop. ...
- Sell Items you don't need anymore. ...
- Play Games. ...
- Paid surveys. ...
- Download apps and earn. ...
- Virtual assistant.
How can I earn from Google at home? ›
You can connect a Google AdSense account to your search engine to make money on contextually-relevant ads placed into the search results. Advertisers compete for placement in the search results, and when someone clicks on one of their ads, you can make a portion of the revenue.
What website can make money? ›- eCommerce Website. Starting an online store is one of the most popular ways to make money. ...
- Blog. Blogs are excellent for building your brand. ...
- Portfolio Website. ...
- Membership Website. ...
- Dropshipping Website. ...
- Product Review Website. ...
- Web Hosting Reseller. ...
- Podcast Website.
- Copywriter. The copywriting field is one of the most viable options for freelancers. ...
- Web designer. Web designers help clients create websites to suit specific requirements. ...
- Digital marketing consultant. ...
- Social media manager. ...
- Editor. ...
- Web developer. ...
- Media buyer. ...
- Photographer.
- Coding. Coding is a skill that many employers value, regardless of the specific position you hold. ...
- Excel skills. ...
- Language skills. ...
- Adobe Photoshop skills. ...
- Photography skills. ...
- Writing skills. ...
- Chatbot development. ...
- Search engine optimization.
...
Contents show
- Article writing.
- Sales copywriting.
- Ebook ghostwriting.
- Technical writing.
- Scriptwriting.
- Travel writing.
- Translation.
- Proofreading and editing.
- Work as an Insurance POSP. ...
- Look for Freelancing Work. ...
- Try Content Writing Jobs. ...
- Start Blogging. ...
- Sell Your Digital Products. ...
- Look For Translation Jobs Online. ...
- Beta Test Apps and Websites Before They are Released. ...
- Work as a Travel Agent.
A high-income skill is a skill that you'll be able to leverage in order to get paid more in the marketplace. It's often a soft skill, like passion, communication or reliability, that not many other people have.
Which skill is most in demand in 2022? ›- Creativity.
- Time management.
- Proactivity.
- Project management.
- IT automation.
- Data analysis and statistics.
- Apparel & Accessories.
- Babywear and Accessories.
- Beauty & Personal Grooming Products 4.
- Car Accessories.
- Health & Wellness.
- Fitness and Sports Equipment.
- Homeware and Decor.
- Jewelry and Accessories.
- Confidence - maintaining a positive attitude.
- Resilience - communicating with conviction.
- Active listening - understanding the customers' needs.
- Rapport building - selling your personality.
- Entrepreneurial spirit - continual self-improvement.
What sells easiest online? ›
- Bath Bombs.
- Soap.
- Natural Cosmetics.
- Candles.
- Jewelry.
- Personalized Gifts.
- T-Shirts.
- Magnets/Pins.