The internet has opened up the door to side hustle over the last decade and as we enter 2025, there are more ways than ever before to make money, maximise your skillset and make use of your free time.
If making a bit more money is something that’s on your mind but you don’t quite know how to get started, do not fear. Here are five ways in which you can make some good money by connecting to the WiFi and cracking on…
How to make money online for beginners: Top methods
Freelance
If you have a skill, whether it be a part of your career or perhaps even a hobby, you can monetise it through going freelance.
Think about how you can make money from your skills and the tools or platform you need to sell them. For example, if you’re good at arts and crafts, you could set up an Etsy store. If your skills lie with writing, you may wish to sign up to sites like Upwork or Fiverr, where you can advertise your skillset, showcase previous work, and apply for jobs.
Nikki McCaig, a business expert highlighted the value of advertising as a freelancer, stating: “No freelancer, contractor or self-employed worker will be found through simple word of mouth alone. To really build up a solid client base, you need to advertise yourself and your services in as many places as possible. From building your own website to promoting your work through your socials, your name needs to be everywhere to truly catch a potential client’s eye.”
Make money on your blog with affiliate links
For those looking to make money online over the long term, becoming a blogger can be a good option. While success doesn’t happen overnight and you have to really dedicate time to content creation and building a following, it can prove lucrative in the long run.
One of the best ways to do this is by signing up with affiliate programmes and developing relationships with brands, who will pay you to insert links to their website on your own blog, building content around them and encouraging your audience to consider their services.
Gambling
For many, online gaming is not just entertainment but also an exciting way to test their skills and luck in a dynamic environment.
A good start can be to maximise the usage of online casino bonuses, which essentially boost your bankroll. However, you do need to take gameplay seriously and gamble responsibly. You should hone your strategy, manage your bankroll effectively and play games that you understand if you want to start making money online through this method.
Become a social media influencer
It’s likely that you’ll be aware of how people are using their social media and online communities to make money, promoting brands in the digital realm through their day-to-day activities and on reels.
There’s a niche for everything, from being a stay-at-home parent to an arts and crafts expert, fashionista, foodie or even an extreme sports adrenaline junkie. What’s more, there’s also so much inspiration out there too, from the likes of Zoella to Salt Bae, Yoga with Adriene to Joe Wicks, all of whom have built a huge brand for themselves via social platforms.
To help you, social media influencer Sean Gardner recently said, “Social media is not just an activity; it is an investment of valuable time and resources. Surround yourself with people who not just support you and stay with you, but inform your thinking about ways to WOW your online presence”
Manage social media
Finally, in a world of social media being so prominent, you don’t need to necessarily be considering your own channel, you could be creating valuable content for others too. Becoming a social media manager and looking after the strategies and day-to-day of other people’s or brands social media accounts is a good way to make money and, what’s more, you can often fit it around your own day-to-day, with social media management software such as Brandwatch, Buffer and Hootesuite offering apps as well as desktop versions.
Beginners to start with need to build out a portfolio before they can start to capture the bigger brands and notable figures, where the big bucks often lie.
Conclusion
There are many more ways to get your online earning journey started, from being offered paid online surveys to setting up your own online store through platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce.
Ultimately, if you’re going to start earning income on the internet, you need to find what you’re good at, market yourself well, and be patient as you start building a strong reputation. Do that and show you can provide value, and you’ll get your side hustles and online earning opportunities up and running, and make yourself a tidy profit in the process.