It’s pretty easy to get scammed when it comes to making money online. With so many options and some of them coming from more-than-questionable sources, how do you know which ones are worth your time? To help, I’ve put together this list of five ways to make money online that actually work without being a scam! Check out my list below, and be sure to leave me your feedback in the comments!


1) Pick Niches with Demand

A lot of people want to make money online, but they don't know where to start. The first step is finding a niche with demand. This can be done by checking out job boards, freelancer websites, and even social media sites. Once you've found a few potential niches, research them further to see if there's enough demand to make it worth your while. This is usually done by looking at the number of listings on freelance websites and the average pay rates. For example, according to freelance website Upwork, most companies that need video editors offer an average rate of $150 per hour - which would be great for a video editor looking to make money online on the side. However, some might not find this appealing because video editing takes hours and hours of work - so it may not be the best option if you're looking for something that will bring in more income quickly. If you do decide that this is the niche for you, create an account on Upwork (or whichever site) in order to start bidding on jobs and find clients who are willing to pay more than average rates.


2) Do Your Research and Choose Products

The first step is to do your research and figure out what products are in demand and selling well online. You can use sites like Amazon and eBay to get an idea of what people are looking for. Once you have a few ideas, it's time to choose the products you want to sell. You'll need to make sure that there is enough product demand and that you're able to find good suppliers. 

It's also important to make sure that your product doesn't infringe on someone else's copyright or trademark, so do some extra digging before deciding on which products you want to start selling. 

Once you've found a supplier and purchased some inventory, then it's time to set up shop on platforms like Etsy or Shopify. You'll need a website where customers can buy from you directly instead of going through other websites.


3) Build a Social Media Account

Many people make money online by building a social media account and then becoming an influencer. This can be a lot of work, but it can also be very rewarding. To start, you'll need to create a social media account and start building a following. Once you have a large enough following, you can start working with brands as an influencer. You can also make money online by creating and selling your own products, offering consulting services, or teaching online courses. Whatever route you choose, be sure to do your research so you don't get scammed!


4) Start Small. Grow Slowly.

Don't be discouraged if you don't make a lot of money at first. It takes time to build an online business. A great way to start is by offering services such as Freelance Writing, Virtual Assistant, or Social Media Manager. You can also sell products online through sites like Etsy or Shopify. As your business grows, you can add more services or products. The important thing is to start small and grow slowly. Do what works best for you and what fits in with your life so that it won't feel overwhelming. If freelancing doesn't work out, then try selling products on the side or become a social media manager. Whatever you do, just stay consistent with it because success will come eventually!


5) Keep in Mind That You're Investing, Not Gambling.

Before you start looking for ways to make money online, it's important to keep in mind that you're not just looking for a quick fix. You're investing your time and energy into something, and you want to be sure that it's going to be worth it. Here are five tips to help you make money online for real. 

1) Investigate the company thoroughly before joining: For instance, if they say they can make you rich with no effort on your part, this is probably a scam. 

2) Don't give up control of your personal information: Many companies offer you commissions or prizes in exchange for giving them access to your email address or Facebook account. You should never give out personal information like this unless the company is reputable and trustworthy-most likely because they don't need it from their customers at all. 

3) Stay realistic about what can be accomplished: There will always be people who get lucky and get paid lots of money quickly-usually by mistake-but this isn't common enough to count on as the norm.