There has never been an easier time to make money outside of a regular job, than in 2024. The opportunities and AI-powered tools that are available to freelancers and others seeking to make money online are endless—and you can do it, even with inflation and the rising costs of living.
Regardless of one’s skill set, there is literally something to suit every professional. From the comfort of your laptop, you can do work that is highly flexible and can be performed on the go, or in between your regular job. And if you work remotely in your main job, you have even more time which you can dedicate to making money online.
However it’s important to remember that there is no such thing as “get rich quick.” Any scheme or website that promises you the ability to make money fast as an absolute guarantee, is most likely a scam. To make a considerable amount of money, you need to ensure you put your research and expertise to work, just like with any other job.
1. Start Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is an excellent way to create a passive income stream, and it works best when you have a solid content marketing strategy. To get started, write or record video content on something you’re passionate about, and build a strong audience and following first.
But you’ll need to ensure that the products you are promoting are ones that actually resonate with your audience. Otherwise, you are spamming them and delivering low value, and people will easily be able to read through it, which reduces your credibility because you’re wasting their time.
2. Launch A Dropshipping Store
Dropshipping is an excellent way to make money in your free time while working from home, mostly due to its convenience in selling products without ever needing to store inventory. You can set up a store on a platform such as Shopify, for example, and you would merely be responsible for developing the business model so that you can attract and engage customers, and of course, make sales.
Your suppliers would ship the product directly to your customers, so this takes away the need for purchasing storage space or piling up your garage with items. This model is also highly flexible as you can quickly adapt to market changes with minimal loss.
3. Make Money As A Social Media Influencer
The global influencer marketing market size has more than tripled since 2019, hitting a record estimate of $24 billion in 2024. This can be attributed to the rise of online and social media usage during and after the pandemic.
With more than half of the global population having social media accounts, it only makes sense for avid marketers to collaborate and establish partnerships with social media influencers as part of their brand and product awareness campaigns. This is where you would come in.
To begin with, you need is a strong passion or interest, and your personality. Create a unique personal brand on a platform such as YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram, and as your follower count grows, your social media presence and social capital will become more valuable to brands looking to partner with you. You can eventually join influencer platforms where brands are looking for partnerships, such as Aspire.io, or Open Influence.
4. Become An Online Tutor
The online tutoring market is projected to reach $21.8 billion by 2030, so it’s clear to see that demand for online tutors is on the incline. As an online tutor, you can teach any in-demand subject using video-conferencing tools, and even join freelance teaching platforms to create a profile and advertise your services.
