17 Ways to Make Money Online that aren’t as Easy as You Think

You’ve probably heard that there are many different ways different people make money online, and you’ve thought of trying one out.

And perhaps the reason you are reading this post is because you aren’t convinced that making money online is possible, and you want to know all the ins and outs of online businesses before you try any.

Here’s the truth. Most online jobs, businesses, and side hustles demand a lot of dedication, hard work, and commitment.

If you can meet the demand, work hard for online money, and commit yourself to making money online, you will hack it.

Nevertheless, here are 17 ways to make money online that are more challenging than you might think.

1. Writing Resumes

Resume writing has a lot of demand and is also one of the easiest online jobs to find on job-hunting sites.

However, the competition for resume writing jobs is also high, and resume writers must themselves craft customized professional resumes to get these jobs.

The problem is, crafting a winning resume isn’t as easy as many think; it requires proper customization, a skill only learned through experience.

2. Blogging

Creating a blog is simple, right? Of course, it is. Here’s a step-by-step guide that I wrote in January showing all the steps required.

Problem is, after you have created that blog, you will also need to create content consistently. Are you up to that task?

And after you have started creating content that people love, you will also need to think about monetization.

With the content you choose to create, which methods can you use to monetize it?

Of course, if you have a blog that writes about adult content, casinos, and betting, among other Google-banned content, you might end up not getting approved for Adsense. Which is the most preferred way to make money for new bloggers.

Not to worry, though, you can still monetize your blog by accepting sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing, among other methods.

Coming from someone else who is already blogging, the blogging business is not as easy as you think.

3. Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing involves promoting other people’s products and earning a commission for sales made through your referral.

To get started, find a product you like, promote it, and earn a piece of the profit for each sale that you make.

Why It’s Not as Easy as It Seems:

• Building Traffic: To make significant money through affiliate marketing, you need a lot of traffic. Building this traffic through SEO, social media, or other means takes a lot of time and effort.
• Dependence on Affiliate Programs: Changes in affiliate program terms can dramatically affect your earnings. Companies can reduce commission rates, change their terms, or even shut down their affiliate program without much notice.
• Niche Saturation: Some niches are incredibly saturated, making it hard to stand out. Finding a unique angle or untapped market can be challenging.
• Trust Building: You need to build trust with your audience. If you promote low-quality products just for the sake of commissions, you can lose credibility with your followers.

4. Graphic Design

While graphic design is a high-demand skill, it requires professional skills and expertise.

To make money with graphic design, you must craft outstanding designs that your clients will be impressed with.

Graphic design also demands serious marketing strategies to outdo the many graphic designers in the job market and attract more clients.

5. Social Media Influencer Jobs

Brands looking to remain relevant across different social media platforms need social media influencers who can market them.

And those who market these brands are the people we call social media influencers.

Being a great social media influencer demands a huge loyal following, which takes time and dedication.

To start making a decent income with these gigs, you must start creating compelling and engaging content to keep your audience intact and eager for more.

The problem is, that not all structured or curated posts end up being engaging, and less engagement might end up hurting your business.

6. Virtual Assistant

Business owners have a lot on their shoulders and might not get time to do all the tasks.

Virtual assistants help manage tasks business owners don’t have time to do.

Despite being lucrative, virtual assistance calls for serious commitment as you can get tasks at any time, some of which might have shorter deadlines.

Miss a deadline, and you might end up not getting paid.

7. YouTube Channel 

YouTube channels are also good for making money online. But only for some people.

For those who have mastered the art, it takes days or just a few months to get monetized and start earning.

This statement is not true for all creators.

To tell you the truth, you will struggle to gain a following, win lucrative deals, and earn from ads.

It is never that simple.

Plus, you must have the right production equipment and video editing skills to create compelling content on a topic that interests you.

8. Voiceover artist

Have I ever mentioned in any of my make-money blog posts that there are thousands of brands looking for voiceover artists?

And at any point reading that post, did you feel that this money-making method was the easiest and right online job for you?

Well, let me change your mind on this before you go deep on it only to end up not making money after investing your time.

Voiceover isn’t for everyone; if you don’t have the voice and can’t read scripts with the required voices, you might not make money doing these gigs.

Practice narration and send in some samples to employers to get feedback before you commit your time and money to this venture.

9. Dropshipping 

Dropshipping is a business model that allows you to operate an online store without keeping the products you sell in stock.

Instead, when you sell a product, you purchase it from a third party and have it shipped directly to the customer.

This model is attractive because it eliminates the need for a significant upfront investment in inventory.

Why It’s Not as Easy as It Seems:

• High Competition: Since the barrier to entry is low, many people jump into dropshipping. This results in stiff competition, especially in popular niches.
• Slim Margins: To remain competitive, you often have to keep your prices low, which can result in slim profit margins. When you factor in the costs of advertising and running your online store, those margins can get even thinner.
• Supplier Issues: Relying on suppliers means you’re at their mercy. If they run out of stock, make a mistake, or ship a product late, it’s your reputation that takes the hit.
• Customer Service Challenges: Handling returns and customer complaints without direct control over the inventory can be complex and time-consuming.

10. Transcription

Changing speech into words is another area you might think is simple until you try it.

Transcription requires hard work and great attention to detail to correctly capture the words.

You must work for longer hours; hence, serious concentration and attention to detail are necessary.

11. App Development

Many businesses are in high demand for apps to remain relevant in this technological era.

It requires professional coding or mathematics skills and can take a long time to develop.

To develop a good app, you must conduct market research and user testing to determine its suitability.

It also needs regular maintenance and proper security checks to keep it safe and in good shape.

12. Data entry

Data entry is demanding, and you must work long hours to achieve your target.

You must be good at basic computer applications and be attentive to details to correctly capture the data.

13. Website development

Businesses and organizations need websites to compete in this digital era.

Website development is a very marketable skill that requires skills and professional expertise.

Being a pro in this area requires a lot of time and hard work.

14. Online tutor

Online tutoring requires a specific skill and understanding of something in high demand.

Be it dancing, playing musical instruments, or cooking, someone out there will want to know it.

Building your client base will take hard work, commitment, and excellent marketing strategies.

15. Forex Trading

Successful Forex traders have mastered the skill, which has taken time, research, mentorship, and psychological strength.

Forex trading isn’t as simple as you might think, as many people have suffered the shocks that come with it.

Unknown to many beginning traders, market trends and risk management techniques are crucial for success.

16. Cryptocurrency Trading

Cryptocurrency like forex isn’t for everyone, even though you can get many profits.

You must master the art of trading and be prepared to overcome the shocks of losing.

17. Online Gaming

Many gamers are making a lot of money from online games.

To win these games requires excellent gaming skills, hard work, and a huge following.

Competing successfully in eSports or even starting your streaming channel requires time and commitment.

Conclusion

While these methods for making money online are legitimate, they’re not the effortless cash machines they’re often hyped up to be.

All these methods require a significant amount of time, effort, and sometimes even an upfront investment to become profitable.

My two-penny advice,

Success in these fields comes down to your ability to navigate the challenges that are related to the gigs and consistently working towards building a reliable, trustworthy online presence.

If you’re looking into making money online, go in with realistic expectations.

Be prepared to put in the work, learn continuously, and adapt to changes. The journey might be tougher than anticipated, but with persistence, it can certainly be rewarding.