There are many ways to make money online using free methods. When I say ‘free’, it obviously means you do not have to spend any money of your own. However, these methods require spending a fair amount of time.

With these, you usually get paid in proportion to the amount of time and effort put in. Of course, for most, the key factor would be the rate your effort commands. This is down to your experience, portfolio and ability to negotiate rates which you feel you deserve.

I have, at one time or another, tried the following methods (some of which I still do), and recommend them for anyone with time to spend online and wish to make some money. Note that they do necessarily reward proportionately across methods - some pay more, some only offer pocket change. Depending on how serious you are, they do all add up at the end of the day.

1. Freelance writing and copywriting
I have said time and again, if you blog, try freelance writing as well. It generates more income, especially compared to the initial lack of it from blogging. Obviously at the start, you will receive rates which hardly seem worth the effort (how about $1.50 - $3 per 500 word article?) but use the opportunity to build your portfolio. Eventually request for better rates, and aim for repeat work. There are a fair number of people who make a decent full-time income from this method alone. For starters, try looking for writing gigs at GetAFreeLancer, FreelanceWriting, or the Digital Point forums. Research needed for your work? Try googling it.

2. Forum postings
A fun method to make some nice pocket change for those who practically spend their waking hours online. There are daily requests on the Digital Point forums from other forum owners wanting to create more activity and buzz. You get paid anywhere from a few cents to 20 cents or more per post. Note that there are standard requirements (e.g. posts must exceed certain word lengths and not be senseless one-liners). These vary across forums, so shop around and find one that appeals to you.

3. Content provision
This is freelance writing and copywriting, except that you usually know where your work ends up at. With sites like Associated Content, you basically get paid to submit articles (between $3 - $20) for their use, or you can opt to write for performance payments, where earnings are based on the number of impressions each article receives. Note that for non-US residents, only the latter is applicable.

4. Niche sites or blogs
Something I briefly touched on earlier. Create sites or blogs based on niches or keywords. Then include advertising such as Google Adsense and CPM ads, and other monetization methods like affiliate products or CPA offers. Some work is required in the beginning to create the sites and content, but once set up, there is no strong need for regular maintenance. You can leverage on free blogging platforms like Blogspot without having to buy your own domains.

5. Affiliate marketing
This can be combined with niche sites/blogs. Free classifieds or advertising can also be used if you dislike building sites, although you might not achieve the same results. Choose from various products on affiliate networks such as Commission Junction and search for relevant target markets to promote to.

So, these 5 methods will get you started on making money online without spending a single cent. Without doubt, the key requirements are time and determination. Mix and match depending on your own talents and allowable schedule. In fact, by concentrating on 1 or 2 methods, you can very well create a decent online income. Good luck!

Share This

Enjoyed This Post? Subscribe To Get Updates!
Get some ScratchBack luv! Donate and get a text link