How to Make Money Online in 2025
Admin December 22, 2024
If you're looking for a side hustle or a new business idea for 2025, you may have thought about ways to make money online. When you know what you're doing, making money online is pretty straightforward. You can do it full-time or part-time right from the comfort of your home.
Yes, you can make money with an online side hustle.
According to a 2024 Side Hustle Nation survey, having an online business, such as blogging, podcasting, online courses, social media, YouTube, newsletters, and affiliate marketing, or running an e-commerce business, including selling on Amazon, eBay, Etsy, as well as setting up your own online store, are the most popular side hustles.
Bankrate.com wrote in 2023 that 39% of working Americans report having a side hustle. The average person makes $810 a month from that extra work. But before you get too optimistic: Only 15 percent of side hustlers make more than $1,000 a month.
Is making money online fast?
It is important for you to stay away from get-rich-quick schemes. For example, there are some people who may recommend online business ideas that claim you can make money from home overnight.
Even though there are lots of ways to earn money online, you need to keep your wits about you, as people who promise that you can make millions of dollars in just a few days are probably trying to take advantage of you. Instead, it is important to focus on legitimate ways to make money.
Focus on what you are already good at. You have talents that a lot of other people would love to have, and you need to lean on them.
As we mentioned above, there are a variety of ways that you can make money online. Read on to discover 25 side hustle ideas.
1. Find freelance work
Freelance work is when you work for yourself and complete projects on a contract basis. Even if you take on a contract to work for a company, you are still self-employed when you are a freelancer. And there are plenty of freelance jobs online. In fact, there are plenty of freelance websites that list jobs.
Be sure to check out Upwork. They are the world's largest freelance marketplace with freelancers and clients in 180 countries. In 2023, Upwork freelancers completed jobs for more than 850,000 clients. These businesses spent $4.1 billion on Upwork.
Upwork offers a large volume of remote freelance jobs in more than 125 categories. You'll see listings for freelancers as web designers, project managers, writers, translators, digital marketers, graphic designers, and many other specialties.
FlexJobs and SolidGigs are also excellent sites for freelancers who are looking for work. In general, you will not have to worry about any scam jobs at FlexJobs. They research the jobs very thoroughly and monitor everything very closely. You can find many niche jobs on FlexJobs.
Time is always money, even for a freelancer. If you need work fast, check out SolidGigs. They filter out all the jobs fast and then send you the best ones, thereby vetting the opportunities for you. With SolidGigs, you won't waste time scrolling through dozens of jobs listed.
2. Start a YouTube channel
There are many ways to make money online with a YouTube channel. The most popular way is to add AdSense ads to your videos. Every time someone clicks on your ad, you make money.
You can also promote products in your videos on YouTube by wearing or using certain products in your videos. Add a link to your online store to get people to visit your online store and buy your items or contract with third-party companies to promote their products. Just make sure you have a compelling offer for your viewers.
Another way to make money on your YouTube channel is to create sponsored content. This way, you can make a profit by endorsing branded products or creating content marketing videos.
But like everything else, it will take time and a lot of work to start earning any significant amount of money from YouTube videos. You'll need thousands of views each day.
3. Start a dropshipping business
Dropshipping can be a simple (and profitable) business model. You don't have to pay for storing your inventory; instead, you act as the go-between. Find suppliers online who will sell you products wholesale, then mark it up and earn a profit for yourself.
From computers and clothing to jewelry and health food, there are thousands of suppliers who can provide you with your inventory. When you do this, you will need to have your own website and/or online store of your own to market and sell the products.
Making your site visible in search engines through content marketing and SEO will be key to your success.
4. Take online surveys
Believe it or not, you can make money online by taking surveys. There are online survey websites where you can take a survey in your spare time and earn gift cards or cash. Just keep in mind that some paid survey sites are better than others.
Branded surveys are one way to earn money online. They're also a favorite of many. They offer a signup bonus, competitions, a loyalty program, and competitive payouts. You can earn up to $5 of extra cash for each survey you complete.
Keep in mind that different surveys have different methods of compensation as well. Some survey programs will offer you a bonus just for signing up. Other survey programs will deposit cash into an online account for you. Some surveys will provide you with loyalty points that you can cash out for a gift card to a favorite store or restaurant.
Remember that you will not necessarily be eligible for every survey you see. It would be best if you thought about what survey programs are best for your background. That way, you can maximize the money you make per survey.
5. Create a blog
Blogs are a popular money-making tool because they're easy to create and offer many routes to make money online. If you have some knowledge on a subject, you could create an online course and sell your expertise to people who come to your blog.
Or, maybe you've got a blog that specializes in a particular topic. You could sell digital products related to that topic—like guides, templates, ebooks, and more—to folks that visit your blog.
If you don't have your own goods to sell, you could become an affiliate marketer. Affiliate marketing is a way to earn money online by promoting other people's goods on your site.
Whenever someone clicks on the link, you receive a commission from the sponsoring company. There are plenty of affiliate networks that have an extensive list of companies for you to join and become an affiliate marketer with.
Another way to make money with your blog is to put AdSense ads on it. Every time someone clicks the ad, you make money. It can be a great way to earn passive income.
6. Write and publish an ebook
If you have some measure of knowledge on any specific topic, you can always write and publish an ebook to make money online. Just be sure to write about a topic that is relevant to your blog. This will increase your chances of making a sale, since your audience comes to your blog because of your topic or niche. You can also develop a newsletter list and email potential buyers about your ebook.
7. Develop an app
By developing an app, you can help put a brand right on the home screen of its audience's mobile devices. This way, they can enjoy gamification, dedicated communities, and interactive content. App developers are in-demand, so developing your own app or working for a company in need can be a great way to earn extra income.
8. Become a virtual tutor
Tutors are always in-demand. Whether you are a teacher or someone with specific knowledge, you can help learners improve their grades and prepare for exams. Just keep in mind that you should have the teaching experience and a subject-specific certification. This will help create credibility for both parents and students.
Do some research, so you will understand your audience. From your skills, pick topics that you will feel confident teaching. Having specialization certification or an advanced degree will give you an additional advantage.
There are a lot of teaching methods you can implement when you are a virtual tutor. You can use interactive activities, slides, storytelling, and even gamify your course lessons. Being a virtual tutor is one effective way to make money online.
9. Become an influencer
Influences are people who help persuade potential buyers of a product or service by promoting or recommending the items on social media or YouTube.
If that appeals to you, start thinking about what your niche could be. Maybe you're interested in fashion or travel. Maybe you've got a lot of say about tech or fitness gear. Consider your strengths, and pick a niche that allows you to showcase those strengths.
Once you pick your niche, it is time to market to an audience. You can do this with a blog or on social media platforms. Once you start building your audience, you can start selling to them and creating viral videos for your customers. If you become popular, you might get the opportunity to represent specific brands and make money by promoting their products.
10. Build websites
Today, every business needs its own website. There is a huge market for web designers, and these days, you don't even need to know how to code in order to build a site.
Using a service like Mailchimp, you can easily build a website that looks sleek and professional. If you're building a website from scratch, you can even buy a domain through Mailchimp that aligns with a particular topic or business. You can create your very own web development business with few startup costs to help you earn a little extra money on the side or as a full-time gig.
Just keep in mind that it's best to pick a niche before you start creating websites. Put together a nice portfolio of the website that you have created, then get out there and market yourself.
11. SEO strategies
Search engine optimization (SEO) drives organic traffic to your website or online platform. By optimizing your web content for relevant keywords, improving website structure and navigation, and building quality backlinks, you can improve your search rankings and attract more visitors.
It's essential to stay updated on SEO best practices and regularly audit and optimize your website for better visibility and performance.
When optimizing content for search engines, focus on creating high-quality, relevant content that addresses your audience's unique needs and interests.
Use descriptive and compelling titles and meta tags to improve click-through rates in search results and ensure your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly for a better user experience.
12. Social media marketing
Social media platforms offer powerful tools for promoting your online ventures, building brand awareness, and connecting with your audience.
Create engaging content, such as images and video posts, that encourage interaction and sharing. Utilize social media advertising, influencer partnerships, and community engagement to expand your reach and drive traffic to your website or online store.
Engage with your followers on social media by responding to comments, messages, and mentions. Encourage user-generated content (UGC), such as reviews, testimonials, and user submissions, to foster community engagement and social proof.
13. Email marketing
With an email list, you can build relationships with subscribers, promote your products and services, and drive sales and conversions. Offer incentives such as lead magnets, discounts, or exclusive content to encourage signups and grow your email list.
Segment your list based on subscriber preferences, interests, and behaviors to deliver personalized email campaigns. Use email automation to streamline workflows and nurture leads through the sales funnel.
Tips for earning money online
Before you set out to earn money online, keep these basic tips in mind:
Watch out for scams
Whichever method you choose for earning money online, it's always important to do your due diligence first. Research to make sure that the opportunity is legitimate and not a scam. If possible, read reviews and do some research before pursuing an online money making opportunity.
Market yourself
It's important to stand out from the crowd when attempting to make money online. For example, if you're a freelance graphic designer, you might use Mailchimp to create a website that showcases your design portfolio and provides contact information so that potential clients can reach out to you.