Sammie Ellard-King
I’m Sammie, a money expert and business owner passionate about helping you take control of your wallet. My mission with Up the Gains is to create a safe space to help improve your finances, cut your costs and make you feel good while doing it.
In this smart money guide, we look at how to make money online for beginners.
To start there are limitless opportunities these days to make money online, you just need to know where to look.
During the pandemic, many of us spent hours Googling ways to make money online. It kickstarted entrepreneurial spirits in people they didn’t know they had.
But let’s get real. I’m pretty sure you’ve landed here because you want to know if making regular income online is possible.
I’m here to tell you that it is, and the runway for making money is endless if you’re good at it.
In reality, you get out what you put in so I’m here to tell you that making money online is both exhausting and exhilarating! That first bit of cash you make online is the best!
Join over 1,000 others learning how to go from £0-5k with just 60 minutes work a day.
Includes everything you need to create, build and sell profitable digital products in a niche you're already passionate about.
How to make money online for beginners? 16 Ways!
One of the main benefits (besides the cash) is the freedom to work from anywhere in the world. You can make money while travelling, at home in your pyjamas or even on your morning commute.
Some online businesses can become your primary source of income, but most often than not they remain a side hustle. How big will go you?
Let’s get into some ways to make money online!
Table of Contents
1. Sell goods or services
- Expected Earnings: £100 – £2000 or more a month
- Difficulty: Easy to medium
Selling your own goods or services is a fantastic way to make money online.
If you’re the crafty type you can look into creating handmade goods to sell on sites like Etsy or eBay.Â
Or if you’re more of a techy person, you can sell digital products and services such as website design, app development, SEO consulting, and social media marketing.
Quicky story about me I used to make my own T-Shirts of popular bands with quotes that I used to sell online and via social media.
The possibilities of selling products online are endless!
If you’re selling something, you’ll likely need to create a brand. This could be centred around you personally, a service or a product.
For me, if you’re considering starting a services business, then Canva Pro is a must. The free version is great, but Canva Pro is elite with access to so many amazing features and most importantly templates.Â
I use Canva Pro probably 50 times daily to help with designs and images for my blogs and social media channels.
In the past, I’ve used Canva to create books, infographics, t-shirts, brand decks, digital products, presentations and so much more. It’s a must have if you’re going to start your own business.
2. Digital Products
- Expected Earnings: Varies based on the type of digital products, pricing, marketing efforts, and customer demand; potential for passive income once products are created.
- Difficulty: Medium, as it involves creating digital products and marketing them effectively.
- Length of Time: Medium-term, as it takes time to create and market digital products.
Selling digital products has gained popularity as a profitable online venture.
With a range of options, including e-books, online courses, graphics, templates, music, or software, you can leverage your skills and expertise to create assets that can be sold repeatedly.
Digital products have low overhead costs, and once created, they can generate passive income as long as there is demand for them.
Join over 1,000 others learning how to go from £0-5k with just 60 minutes work a day.
Includes everything you need to create, build and sell profitable digital products in a niche you're already passionate about.
3. Create and sell online coursesÂ
- Expected Earnings: £50 – £500 per course sale
- Difficulty: Medium to hard
One of the best ways to learn how to make money online for beginners is by looking into creating and selling online courses.
You can leverage your current expertise and knowledge to create a course, and people will be willing to pay you to learn what you know!Â
You’ll be surprised at what people are willing to pay to learn, and prices for expert courses can range up into the thousands.Â
First, take your time to determine what kind of course to create, who your target audience is, and what problem your course will solve for the buyer.Â
Then you’ll need to jump into course production. This is where you’ll need to create the course content, film videos, write lectures, and put everything together into a cohesive unit.Â
It can be time-consuming, and you’ll want to make it to a pretty decent standard to get good reviews. Websites like Thinkific and Teachable help you design, structure, market and even sell your course.Â
Don’t forget to market your course! If you build it, they won’t necessarily come, so having a way to get it out to the world, like a platform or even your own website, is vital.Â
4. Start blogging
- Expected Earnings: £1000 per month (after 12 months)
- Difficulty:Â Medium
Blogging is one of the most popular ways to make money online. And it’s not surprising why — nearly 31 million people in the US alone are active bloggers.Â
But, if you’re thinking about starting a blog, know that it takes time, effort, and consistency to build an audience and make money from blogging.Â
While you can certainly make a decent amount of cash from blogging, don’t expect to become an overnight millionaire.Â
Like any business endeavour, blogging takes time, energy, and effort to build up. However, once you have a solid following, you can start to see a decent return on your investment.
Pick a niche you’re passionate about, and produce high-quality content that provides value to your readers. If you can do this consistently, you’ll be able to build a loyal following who will be willing to support you as you continue to grow your blog.
Besides making money online, blogging is a perfect way to express yourself and also make money from home. If you have something important or valuable to say, why not start a blog?Â
You can share your passions and connect with like-minded people from all over the globe.Â
Not only will you be able to build a name for yourself, but you can also make a difference in the world by sharing your thoughts and ideas.
I think blogging is also great way to challenge yourself and learn new things. Whether you’re teaching yourself how to write or delving into the depths of website design, there’s always something new to learn.Â
By starting a blog, you’ll be able to push yourself out of your comfort zone and learn new skills.
Learn more about making money from blogging.
5. Become an Investor
- Expected Earnings: Varies by portfolio size
- Difficulty: Medium (risks involved)
Investing in the stock market can be risky but if you follow the right principles and have a long term time horizon with what you buy you can make a lot of money.Â
Brands like Wealthify and Nutmeg have allowed everyday individuals to adopt a hands off approach to investing where they can make money via the app and let these brands do it for them.Â
Wealthify and Moneyfarm use what’s called a robo-advisor to predetermine your risk profile through a questionnaire and then based on your answers help you pick the right investment. It’s literally that easy.
If you’re interested in having a bit more control and learning the stock market basics then brands like Wombat and Plum are great platforms to consider.Â
All of these brands are app-based and have a wealth of educational resources available to you so you can brush up on your knowledge before you put your money to work.Â
When you invest your capital is at risk.
Stop waiting and start investing with the best UK investing apps on the market right now.
We've covered all levels with expert managed and DIY options available.
6. Start freelancing roles
- Expected Earnings: £20 – £500 or more per job (experience dependant)
- Difficulty:Â Easy to medium
You can make money online by offering your services as a freelancer if you have specific skills or talents. Many websites and platforms allow you to do this, such as Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer.Â
Once you have a solid portfolio, you can start bidding on projects that interest you. Be sure to deliver quality work to build a good reputation as a freelancer.
If you’re serious about it then the best freelancers have a brand identity. This includes a name, logo, business website and perhaps some business cards or digital flyers if you want to promote further.Â
You can use Canva Pro to help create everything and hire freelancers on Fiverr to help build the rest.
Over the years, I’ve hired writers for website copy, graphic designers, digital marketing experts and a whole lot more.
Hire a freelancer on Fiverr to help you build the brand of your dreams. Whatever it is you need help with there's a freelancer waiting for you to reach out.
7. Make money with affiliate marketingÂ
- Expected Earnings: £100 – £5000 or more per month
- Difficulty:Â Medium to hard
Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each customer or visitor brought about by the affiliate’s own marketing efforts.Â
For example, if you have a blog or website, you can sign up for affiliate programs and earn commissions by promoting products from other businesses.Â
One of the best ways to do this is by writing reviews of the products you’re promoting and including affiliate links in your blog posts. Then, when people click on these links and if they make a purchase, you’ll earn a commission.Â
The key to succeeding in affiliate marketing is to choose products that you’re familiar with and that you believe in.
Check out the best affiliate marketing programs in the UK.
8. Sell photos onlineÂ
- Expected Earnings: £1 – £50 per photo
- Difficulty:Â Medium
You can make money by selling your photos online if you’re a talented photographer. Numerous websites and platforms allow you to do this, such as Shutterstock, iStock, and Adobe Stock.
The key to making money from photos is to understand what kind of photos are in demand. For example, stock photos of people tend to do well, as do photos of nature and animals.Â
It’s also important to ensure that your photos are high quality and in resolution so they can be used for print or digital purposes.
9. Online tutoring
- Expected Earnings: £15 – £60 an hour
- Difficulty:Â Medium
- Length of Time:Â Ongoing (may take longer at the beginning)
If you’re a talented and knowledgeable individual, becoming an online tutor is among the easiest ways how to make money online. You have a range of available websites and platforms that allow you to do this, such as Tutor.com and Chegg.Â
The best part about online tutoring is flexibility. You can tutor students from all over the world and do it on your own time. Again, some many websites and platforms allow you to do this, such as Tutor.com and Chegg.Â
So if you’re looking for ways how to earn money online, consider becoming an online tutor.
10. Become a Personal Online TrainerÂ
Expected Earnings: £1,000 to £5,000 or more per month.
Difficulty: Medium to high
Length of Time: Ongoing (may take longer at the beginning)
You can make money by becoming a personal online trainer if you’re a fitness enthusiast. Many websites and platforms, such as LiveStrong, Beachbody, and Trainiac, allow you to do this.Â
Some people like me love working out but dread going to the gym. We appreciate reliable personal trainers who can guide us from the comfort of our homes.
Finding online personal training clients can be challenging if you don’t have a solid marketing strategy.Â
Here are a few tips that can help you get started:
- Use social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, to promote your services
- Create a website or blog where you can showcase your work
- Use online directories, such as Find a Trainer, to list your services
You should also reach out to your network of friends and family and let them know you’re available for online personal training.
11. Online Surveys
- Expected Earnings: £50 to £200 per month
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length of Time: Short-term
Another easy way how to learn how to make money online for beginners is by participating in online surveys. Some platforms to do this include Survey Junkie, InboxDollars, and Swagbucks.
There are many different platforms that offer this kind of solution dependant on your location. It can be a great way to earn a little bit extra but don’t put all your eggs into this as it’s not going to make you rich.
There are also other platforms out there like Research Tribe and Oh My Dosh, that allow you to make money online.
If you want access to the best online survey companies in the UK hit the blue link.
12. Provide Virtual Assistant Services
- Expected Earnings: £15 to £40
- Difficulty: Medium, as it requires a combination of administrative, organisational, communication, and technical skills.
- Length of Time: Long-term commitment; it may take several months to build a solid client base and establish a reputation as a reliable and skilled virtual assistant.
If you’re a talented and skilled individual, providing virtual assistant services is another easy way how to make money online for beginners. Tons of websites and platforms allow you to do this, such as Fiverr and Upwork.Â
It would be best if you created a strong profile highlighting your skills and experience when starting out. Once you have a solid portfolio, you can start bidding on projects that interest you.Â
Be sure to deliver quality work to help you build a good reputation as a virtual assistant.
13. Cashback apps
- Expected Earnings: Between 2-10% per purchase
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length of Time: Ongoing, as cashback accumulates with each eligible purchase.
Cashback apps offer a simple and passive way to earn money online.
By using cashback apps, you can earn money back on groceries, online shopping, dining out, and more. This extra cash can add up over time and contribute to your overall financial goals.Â
The key is to choose reputable cashback apps that partner with a wide range of retailers to maximise your earning potential.
14. Retail arbitrage
- Expected Earnings: Varies based on product selection, sourcing, and market demand; potential for significant profits.
- Difficulty: Medium, as it involves research, negotiation skills, and finding profitable product opportunities.
- Length of Time: Can generate income in the short term, but ongoing effort is needed for sourcing and selling.
Retail arbitrage offers a relatively easy way to make money online. It’s an opportunity to capitalise on price differences and generate profits.Â
By identifying undervalued items, clearance sales, or discounted inventory, you can leverage online marketplaces to sell them at a higher price.Â
Retail arbitrage requires thorough research, understanding market trends, and negotiating skills to find profitable opportunities.Â
It’s important to consider factors like sourcing reliable suppliers, ensuring product quality, and accurately pricing your items to maximise your earnings.
15. Start a YouTube channel
- Expected Earnings: £1,000-£10,000 per month
- Difficulty: Medium to high, as it involves creating engaging and high-quality video content, building an audience, and staying consistent.
- Length of Time: Long-term commitment; it can take months or even years to grow a successful channel and generate significant income.
We’ve touched on blogging but maybe writing isn’t your thing, but you’re great on camera. You can turn your knowledge into video and reach huge audiences on YouTube.Â
There is an art to making money on YouTube, but once you start getting some traction and subscribers to your channel, you can monetise it in many similar ways to what a blog can generate.Â
Some YouTubes like the Paul brothers and Pewdiepie have raked in millions of pounds from sponsorships and product endorsements, so it could be something to consider if you’re happy filming yourself.Â
Be aware that YouTube is a crowded space, so your videos will need to cut through and stand out from the crowd.
16. Make Money On Instagram
- Expected Earnings: Varies greatly depending on follower count, engagement rate, niche, and monetisation strategies
- Difficulty: Medium to high, as it requires building a substantial and engaged following, creating high-quality content, and developing relationships with brands and sponsors.
- Length of Time: Long-term commitment; it can take months or even years to grow a significant following and establish profitable partnerships.
Continuing on the social media trend many successful YouTubers or TikToker’s will be utilising Instagram too.Â
Making money on Instagram can be done in different ways than other channels. For example, you can sell photos or services. Intagram now has a shop which you can connect your products too and sell directly to your followers.Â
We’ve written a guide on making money on Instagram.Â
Again just like with YouTube, Instagram is a crowded space so you need to be patient and try to get that piece of content that goes viral.
FAQs
How do beginners make money online?
Beginners can make money online through various avenues such as starting a blog or YouTube channel, becoming an affiliate marketer, selling digital products, offering online services, or participating in online surveys and freelance work.Â
These options provide opportunities to leverage your skills, passions, and interests to generate income from the comfort of your own home.Â
While the earnings may vary, beginners can take advantage of the low barriers to entry, access to online platforms, and the potential for scalability in building an online income stream. With dedication, learning, and perseverance, beginners can find success in the vast world of online opportunities.
How can I make real money from home?
To make real money from home, explore various online income streams such as freelancing, starting an online business, investing in stocks or cryptocurrencies, becoming an online tutor or consultant, selling products or services on e-commerce platforms, or monetising your skills through platforms like YouTube or Twitch.Â
By leveraging the power of the internet, you can tap into global markets and reach a wide audience.Â
However, it’s important to approach these opportunities with a strategic mindset, continuous learning, and perseverance to build a sustainable and profitable online income from the comfort of your own home.
How to earn money online fast?
To earn money online fast, focus on high-demand opportunities such as freelancing, participating in online surveys or microtasks, selling digital products or services, or engaging in online tutoring or consulting.
These avenues offer the potential for quick income generation, allowing you to leverage your skills, knowledge, and time.
However, keep in mind that earning money online fast requires active effort, consistency, and adaptability to take advantage of available opportunities.
By combining effective marketing strategies, efficient time management, and a proactive mindset, you can maximise your earning potential and achieve quick results in the online realm.
How can I make 100 a day online?
To make £100 a day online, consider a combination of income-generating activities such as freelancing, online tutoring, selling digital products, or participating in gig economy platforms.
By leveraging your skills, knowledge, and creativity, you can offer valuable services, products, or expertise to online audiences. Stay focused, be proactive in finding opportunities, and consistently deliver high-quality work.
With determination, effective marketing, and the ability to scale your efforts, making £100 a day online is achievable and can provide a steady stream of income.
Do you need skills or experience to make money online?
You don’t necessarily need specific skills or prior experience to start making money online.
The beauty of the internet is that it offers a variety of opportunities for everyone, regardless of their background.Â
Whether it’s taking online surveys, doing small freelance gigs, or exploring other online platforms, there are options that cater to different skill levels.
With a bit of curiosity, a willingness to learn, and some determination, you can dive into the online world and discover ways to earn money that suit your interests and abilities.Â
So, don’t let a lack of experience hold you back—get started and explore the possibilities!
Conclusion
We have only listed our favourite top 10 ways to learn how to make money online for beginners but there are thousands of other ways to look into.
For me the best way to make money online is via blogs, investing and selling digital products.
Find something that’s right for you so you stick at it.  What would you do with that little bit extra? Let us know in the comments below.
Make money online is not easy actually.. I think first we need self quality in any Department. Then we can work on it. Personally i want to work as a affiliate marker… Thank you for the valuable article.. Much appreciated!
My pleasure! Thank you for reading and good luck as an affiliate marketeer!