8 Legit Ways to Make Money Online And Work From Home

The internet is full of "get rich quick" scams that are too good to be true, I know it…

And even though it’s easy to get discouraged, we’re here to prove that building a successful online career is 100% possible!

There are a number of legitimate ways to make money online and build a thriving career.

I talked about the top tech skills to learn as a freelancer in this blog post, but now I want to give you examples of how you can quickly start making money using newly acquired tech skills.

Trust me, the key to success is to just get started! Learn from experience and continue to build on your skills. 

So let’s dive in!

Make $500 Dollars With Digital Skills

Knowing how much to charge for your services is not an easy task, and the truth is: It will take time.

BUT as this is something I know a lot of freelancers struggle with, I’ve decided to give you some actual numbers for when you’re starting out.

Just keep in mind that these are suggested starting fees to get your foot in the door. You should totally keep raising your prices till you find a number you’re comfortable with. 

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

When you learn the essential SEO skills, you can offer website SEO audits to clients for $100 each. 

5x audits = $500

And the best part is that these audits have a huge potential to become a recurring revenue source!

Your audit should be comprehensive enough that they can take it and implement it on their own, but let’s face it - most people don’t have time for that. 

If you provide a good initial service, there’s a good chance that they’ll hire you to make those improvements.

Sign up for a free trial of GeekPack and check out our SEO learning path.

Copywriting 

By leveling up your copywriting skill, you can totally charge a minimum of $100 for 1000-word blog posts. 

5x blogs = $500

And consistently producing quality work can lead to clients booking you on retainer for regular blog posts.

Sign up for a free trial of GeekPack and check out our Copywriting learning path.

User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI)

Develop your UX/UI skills and offer website user experience and user interface audits to clients for $100 each. 

5x audits = $500

Similar to SEO, post-audit work can lead to more paid opportunities to implement improvements identified in the audit.

Sign up for a free trial of GeekPack and check out our UX/UI learning path.

Web Development

Web development has come on leaps and bounds in the last decade. Building websites is no longer a skill that only elite math whizzes can master. 

This highly sought after skill will allow even the most bright-eyed and bushy-tailed newbie to charge a minimum of $500 for their first basic 5-page website (even if you're learning on the job).

1x website = $500

Better yet, once you've built a website, it needs to be maintained! Hello, website maintenance package (aka, recurring revenue)!

Sign up for a free trial of GeekPack and check out our Frontend Development learning path.

Digital Marketing 

Digital Marketing covers a lot of ground, so let’s talk about some of the most popular services you can offer:

• Social Media Marketing - Turn your personal hobby of using social media into a professional skill. Charge $10 per social post (graphic + caption) and $50 a week for engaging on one of your client's social platforms. This can lead to monthly recurring revenue and referrals. 

1x month = $500

• Google Business Profile - Help businesses set up and optimize their Google Business Profiles. Charge two clients a one-off fee of $250 for the setup and offer ongoing updates, optimizations, and analytics reporting for a monthly fee.

2x profile setups = $500

• Paid Advertising - Master one paid advertising platform (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Google, Pinterest or LinkedIn) and offer campaign setup or audits for $250 each. This skill can also lead to recurring revenue as clients run campaigns every month.

2x campaigns set ups = $500

Sign up for a free trial of GeekPack and check out our Digital Marketing learning path.

Video Editing

Video editing is a really fun skill to learn. And you can totally pair it with industries you're passionate about!

As a starting point, you can charge at least $20/hour for your time. 

With just 25 hours of part-time video editing, you'll make $500. 

And remember, this is a total beginner's rate, raise your prices with every new client!

Graphic Design

There are lots of projects that a graphic designer can work on. 

• Social graphics
• Graphics for print
• Logo design
• Brand boards

The list goes on... 

But let's use brand boards as an example. As a starting point, you could charge $100 per brand board that you design for a business. 

5x brand boards for 5 businesses (clients) = $500 

And the best part is, once you've designed their brand board, they will most likely want you to design their other graphic assets! 

Project Management

If you're organized and deadline-driven, you can offer project management services to help small business owners bring their ideas to life. 

Charge upwards of $500 to manage one small project as a starting digital project manager.

1x project = $500+

Start Building Your Online Career Today!

Building an online career from scratch is entirely possible, and it's never too late to start. 

By learning and improving new skills, you can create a sustainable source of income and work on exciting projects.

Identify your interests and strengths

Choose one or more of the skills mentioned above that align with your passions and natural abilities.

Research and study

Utilize online resources, courses, and tutorials to learn and practice your chosen skill(s). Many platforms offer free or affordable learning options to help you get started.

Network and find clients

Connect with others in your chosen field through online forums, social media, and networking events. Offer your services to friends, family, or local businesses as you start building your portfolio.

And in the end, don't be afraid to make changes. One of the best perks about working for yourself is that you can always pivot.

As you gain experience, you may discover new interests or opportunities. It’s important to stay open to change or expand your skill set when necessary.

Remember, the key to success is perseverance and continuous learning. With dedication and the right mindset, you can build a thriving online career.

Grow a profitable business with The GeekPack Collective - a monthly membership where you'll learn the secret to being a booked out Tech VA, Tech Strategist or Marketing Maven.

Join the top-rated membership community for women business owners establishing themselves as tech + digital experts! In The GeekPack Collective, you can learn a new skill in under 20 minutes, every month!