Digital Moonlighting: The Best Ways to Earn a Little Money Online

Note: This is a guest post by Chris Foley of SuretyBonds.com.

Taking advantage of the seemingly infinite possibilities of the internet is a great way to make some extra cash in your free time. Finding a starting point, however, can be intimidating. Here are some basic ideas for achieving your online financial potential.

For the Tech Savvy

• Design, Develop & Maintain Websites: Creating and establishing websites as a freelancer can be a quick and easy way for somebody with programming skills to make some extra cash on the side. Some companies look for professionals to simply come up with a viable concept that will best serve their audience. Others pay big bucks for the upfront design and set-up. A few might even offer you a contract for maintaining the site over time, although this might require more work and dedication than desired.
• Flip Websites: This option is especially viable for those who have a knack for spotting the next big trend. To succeed with this opportunity, it's best to keep up on emerging controversies, current events, and social commentaries. It's possible to for a seemingly inconsequential domain name that only cost $10 to be worth thousands after just a short time. However, don't be afraid to sit on domain names for awhile while waiting for a better offer. Flipping websites and domain names requires minimal effort if you don't feel the need to increase their net worth. Conversely, if you make the extra effort to provide viable content that attracts an audience, the site will be more valuable to potential buyers within the industry. Check out Flippa.com for examples of website flipping that are happening right now.
• Technical Support: Technology-based companies like cable providers, phone companies, and computer behemoths need individuals with a thorough understanding of technology to provide struggling customers with technical support via e-mail, chat, or other online services. Some companies allow support team members to work from home part-time. Such enterprises need professionals 24-hours-a-day, so tech support for even irregular hours is a sought-after commodity.

For the Wordsmith

• Become an Online Freelance Writer: Every significant professional website offers a substantial amount of information for potential consumers and clients. With the current boom of online marketing, professionals everywhere are looking for writers who have a knack for conveying complex concepts in simple terms, or turning potentially boring topics into must-read information. Writing for others can be rewarding for those who know how to turn a phrase. Bonus: writing content for websites allows you to become familiar with a wide array of new professions and subject matter.
• Start a Blog: Advertisers pay to be featured on blogs that offer quality content that is widely read. There are many options for setting up a blog and they range from user-friendly - set up a site on Blogger or Tumblr - to more advanced - purchasing a domain and web hosting and developing a custom blog using web software like WordPress. WIth the more custom approach you will have greater flexibility in setting up advertising through services such as the popular Google AdSense.The key to making money online is building an audience. The key to building an audience is to provide content is useful, informative or entertaining. There are ways to market and promote your site, but great content is your foundation. Great content virtually spreads itself - or, in tech-speak, it goes viral! Thus the maxim: content is king.
• Write for a Professional: Most successful professionals set up blogs, newsletters, or other publications to increase their marketability, but few have enough time to consistently produce valuable content. As a result, many professionals hire writers who have experience in the field. If you don't want to start your own blog, you can still leverage your expertise by writing for someone else. Writing for a professional usually allows for a great deal of freedom: as long as certain topics are covered writers typically determine the content, tone, and format of the text.

For the Entrepreneur

• Take a Marketing Class: Understanding the importance of marketing across the board can help you get ahead no matter your career. Check course lists of local universities and colleges to find one that would benefit your current career and fit your schedule. Knowing how to effectively market yourself online in your free time can increase your overall profits while at work. If you study marketing seriously you could potentially make money by offering other professionals marketing advice in the future. If you are a self-taught person, I would recommend checking out the blog and books of Seth Godin for more information on the future of marketing.
• Find a New Niche: What are your hobbies? These days there's a way to use the internet to make money off virtually any skill or interest. Photography can easily become profitable when correctly managed online. Collectors can sell their treasures for higher prices online because interested buyers across the world have access to collections and can (hopefully) start bidding wars.
• Sell Real Estate: Many successful real estate agents say they got into the field as an extra way to make cash on the side. After realizing their potential they turned it into a career. If you're wanting to turn a quick profit, you're going to have to give the property some serious attention. Making a good profit with real estate sales is directly correlated to time and effort put into the project (not to mention market fluctuations).

You might be wondering how exactly to find these opportunities. Never fear, after all, you have the internet at your fingertips. There are plenty of online resources available to unite freelance professionals with those seeking their services. Think online dating sites for professionals. With that in mind, remember to be upfront about your availability, commitment, and priorities when building a relationship with other professionals in your free time. Your digital moonlighting experience could just be a fling, or it might just grow into a long-term commitment.

Comments

[Douglas (Watkins)]

I have heard people making good money Flip Websites. I will have to check out Flippa.com to get more information.

Thanks for the tips

[MasterPo]

Domain name 'flipping' is nearly worthless.

Some people own hundreds of names hope someone somewhere will pay big bucks for one. Very very rarely.

There's also a lot of animosity against name sellers. A lot of people don't like those who buy up names hoping others will pay big for them later. To MasterPo it's like buying undeveloped land hoping someone will want it later. Very risky but perfectly ethical. No law says you have to develop land. But that's the feelings of quite a few people.

[MBTN]

I would contend that "Design, Develop & Maintain Websites" is not for the tech-savvy, but the design savvy. Unless you are talking about some crazy, customized web application, designing a good website is mainly about layout, color scheme, logos, etc. Somebody who is a hot shot coder may not have the design aesthetic necessary to create an attractive site.

[Eric]

I hate domain squatters with a passion....had to get that out there. :)

[Rich A.]

Here are a couple of articles on how to profit from domain names:

http://www.clicknewz.com/2405/how-to-make-money-on-parked-domain-names/
http://www.clicknewz.com/2406/4-ways-to-make-money-with-domains/

[MasterPo]

"Designing" a website is easy. Making it work is another. You need to know a lot more these days than just HTML.

Javascript
PHP
CGI/PERL
.NET

People always want details customizations.

[MonkeyMonk]

This is good advice. I started picking up extra work in the publishing industry about a decade ago. It was in an under-served niche of the industry -- it wasn't especially demanding work but did have a bit of a learning curve. In the years that followed I was able to become an expert in that niche and grow what was once a simple moonlighting gig into a part-time six figure business. If I hadn't explored the work possibilities in the industry I don't think I would have ever realized that the need existed.

[ditchtheboss]

Thank you for posting this article to my weekly financial independence compilation.

Hope to see another one soon.

http://www.ditchtheboss.blogspot.com