Make Money Online as a Student
Studying is exciting, but one major challenge is financial constraints. Being a student, most often people have less time to involve themselves in activities due to being busy with studies and commitments, hence making some extra money seem daunting.
However, the bright thing about all this is that the internet provides different flexible ways of making money online for every learner. If you need some extra cash to take care of your personal needs or save money for the future, here are some practical and legitimate ways to make money online when you are a student.
1. Freelancing: Tap Into Your Skills
Freelancing is one of the most common ways to make money online. If you have any special talent or skill, you should monetize it on any freelance platform.
Some of the freelancing jobs for students are as follows:
- Writing: You can be an article writer, a blogger, or even write an e-book. Some freelance writing opportunities can be availed on Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr for all types of writers.
- Graphic Design: If you have design skills, you can make logos, social media content, and website designs.
- Web Development: If you are studying computer science or have web development skills, freelancing in web development can be a very profitable venture.
- Social Media Management: Many businesses require managing their social media presence. If you are savvy at using Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, this might be a good fit.
How to Get Started:
- Sign up on freelancing sites like Fiverr, Upwork, or Freelancer.
- Create a beautiful profile where you could post your skills and experience.
- Start bidding for projects, and then you can slowly build a portfolio.
2. Online Tutoring: Teach Them What You Know
You can always make a good tutor to some other if you are performing fantastically in a particular subject. It can be test preparation or math, science, languages, or any other topics.
There are also various websites that provide online tutoring or help the tutors get students. Some of the hottest sites include:
- Chegg Tutors: This is the best place to get any kind of tutoring job you can find. Tutor.com: Teach students English, math, and computer science, among others.
- Wyzant: You decide on how much you will charge and even when to do it.
How to get started
- Sign up for tutoring sites and select the subject matter that you are sure about teaching.
- Set your availability relative to your study schedule.
- Start tutoring students. You can start by developing your reputation for great service with the students.
3. Blog or YouTube Channel Begin
If you like writing or creating videos, you can easily make money online through blogging or by opening a YouTube channel. This kind of website enables you to generate money by running advertisements on your posts or videos and by affiliate marketing and sponsored posts.
How to Make Money:
Blogging can make you money through payment for Google AdSense, affiliate marketing, or sponsored posts.
YouTube: Once you have an audience in that niche, you start monetizing the channel by doing ads and/or partnerships with brands. Or selling them products
How to Start
- Pick a niche.
- That which you love so much
- lifestyle, tech, and study tips
- Make your blog through either WordPress or Blogger.
- Make posts to the site regularly.
Share the blogs or YouTube channel on social media pages to gain traffic and increase subscribers.
4. Online Surveys
Taking online surveys is a very simple and fast way to make money while still in school. There are several websites that give you compensation for giving your opinion on things such as products, services, and other topics. The pay for each survey isn’t much, but this is a way to use your downtime between classes for making money.
Popular survey sites
- Swagbucks: points that you can redeem with gift cards or withdraw as a PayPal balance.
- Survey Junkie: Paid surveys with options in interests and demographics.
- InboxDollars: Get paid to complete surveys, watch videos, and other activities.
How to Get Started
Join many websites offering paid surveys in case you want to increase the possibilities of getting these promotions.
Plan some hours or even minutes in a day or a week to be able to fill out some of the survey forms.
Be honest in your response so you do not miss out on the survey next time.
5. Sell Stuff Online
If you are crafty or have stuff you no longer need, you can sell it online. Some of the sites that enable you to sell handmade products, vintage items, or even second-hand clothes include Etsy, eBay, and Depop.
How to Get Started
- Determine what you can sell (e.g., handmade jewelry, artwork, clothing).
- An online store on websites like Etsy and eBay must be created.
- Customer attraction must be done through social media or word of mouth.
6. Affiliate Marketing: Market and Earn
Affiliate marketing is a performance-based way of earning money online by promoting other people’s products and earning a commission on sales made through your referral links. You don’t need to create your own products; instead, you share affiliate links to products or services you like and earn a commission whenever someone makes a purchase.
How to Start:
- Join affiliate programs such as Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or Commission Junction.
- Place affiliate links in your blog, social media, or YouTube.
- Market only relevant products of interest to your audience.
7. Virtual Assistant Jobs
There are a large number of entrepreneurs and small business owners who have hired virtual assistants to take care of managing their emails, supporting their customers, managing social media, and other administrative tasks. And if you can manage well and efficiently, being a virtual assistant can help earn money online.
How to Get Started:
- Search for virtual assistant jobs on job boards like Indeed, Remote.co, or FlexJobs.
- Sell your services on freelance platforms.
- Begin with simple tasks and move up to more complex tasks with experience.
8. Test Websites and Apps
Companies are always in need of feedback regarding the usability of their websites and apps. As a website or app tester, you get paid to test and give feedback about user experience.
Common Testing Platforms:
- UserTesting: They pay you to test websites and record your feedback.
- Testbirds: It is offering paid testing jobs for websites, apps, and games.
How to Start:
- Register yourself on the testing websites such as UserTesting or Testbirds.
- Do small, quick tasks and provide your opinion based on experience.
- Earn money through insight.
9. Online Transcription Jobs
Transcription is listening to audio or video recordings and typing the words spoken. It is a great job for those who can type fast and have good hearing.
- Best Sites: Rev: This website offers transcription work with audio and video content.
- TranscribeMe: Become a transcriptionist and make money per audio minute.
How to Get Started
- Sign up on transcription platforms.
- Take up a test transcription process so that your skills can be verified.
- Start with the work of the projects available and earn based on the works accomplished.
Conclusion
Making money online as a student can help relieve financial stress and provide extra spending money. From freelancing and tutoring to affiliate marketing and online surveys, there are numerous ways to earn an income while maintaining your academic responsibilities. Choose the method that best suits your skills, interests, and schedule, and you’ll be on your way to earning money in no time.