While not everyone has what it takes to work at home, if it is your dream to work under your own roof–and not punch a time clock in an office–and have the freedom that working from home allows you, you may want to find a few ways to pull in some income.
The first step to having a successful work from home career is having good high speed internet. Since the income from working as a contract or freelance worker from home can be ever-changing, you may want to shop around for high speed internet specials. Finding good internet for a fair price makes the difference in your online career (and means less out of pocket expenses).
Once you have your internet connection you can start searching for the online career that is right for you. You’ll want something that interests you, and maybe something you have some experience in.
Become A Freelance Writer
One of the easiest ways to beak into an online career is to become a freelance writer. You do need to have some sort of writer experience, or at least have a knack for grammar and telling stories. There are many different types of online writing jobs, from being an SEO writer to being a social media expert. Pay varies depending on what you are doing and how much experience you have, and the market at the time.
In order to feasibly make a living as a freelance writer you will most likely need to have more than one gig. You really need to be good at multi-tasking, juggling numerous articles and clients at a time, and scheduling your own time in order to be successful.
Become An eBook Author
If you really like to write and you have some great stories to tell, whether they are fact or fiction, you could make a living as an eBook author, although you won’t start rolling in the riches right away. Some people make a great deal of money right away when they start writing eBooks, while others never make more than a few dollars a month.
Your best bet is to do some research on the type of books that make the most money, and start writing. Get a couple books, or a few short stories, under your belt before you even publish them. People don’t like to have to wait for the next great story, so don’t let poor sales to begin with discourage you. Keep writing and sooner or later you’ll start seeing some rewards.
Work As Tech Support Or Customer Service
Not all online jobs are strictly online work. If you enjoy spending time talking on the phone you can go into tech support or customer service. If you are not happy on the phone this is the last gig you want to apply for. However, if you have some experience with a particular tech item, like computer or phones, you could be a shoe-in for a tech support position.
If you are great at resolving conflicts you may want to go into customer service. This can be done online or on the phone. And if you have a VoIP system at home you won’t end up with any extra phone charges either!
Sell Your Personal Items, Or Ones You Purchase
There are many people out there that make a living off items they buy resale or at yard sales and resell them online, whether it’s through Facebook or Ebay. If you have an eye for vintage items you may be able to make a good deal of money through a site like Etsy that specializes in vintage and antique items.
You can also start your own resale business online with your own items, if you have many items of your own that you can stand to get rid of.
Make Handmade Items To Sell
Etsy isn’t just ideal for vintage items. If you are a crafter or an artist it is also a great place to sell these types of items. If you make something that people love, and can’t make on their own, you may find yourself out of the realm of the starving artist in no time.
Not everyone sells a ton online when it comes to art and handmade items, and it takes time to get noticed. Hone your craft well before you share, and get feedback from friends to make sure what you are making is something people will want to buy.
Be creative. Come up with your own ideas on how to make a living online. Maybe you want to become a matchmaker or you want to find out how to monetize your own personal blog. If you have the drive you can make a living online.
