How to Make Money Online for Beginners
Imagine waking up, checking your bank account, and finding new deposits were made overnight—and it wasn't a bank error.
Welcome to the world of passive income.
It’s a pretty incredible time to be alive. Technology and the internet continue to open up new and unique opportunities to make money online, and it's easier than ever for beginners (even the tech-impaired) to start earning passive income online. But, unfortunately many people overcomplicate it and make it much harder than it needs to be. Not here, we keep it simple for beginners and help those that are more advanced get the expert level coaching they need.
Below, I’ll break down my three favorite (and proven) ways to make money online: Digital courses, products and affiliate marketing.
But first, Let's Clarify a Few Things
Is Passive Income Genuinely Passive
The term' passive income' needs to be more accurate. It suggests that money can be earned without much effort, but in reality, it often requires upfront work and investment. Outside of a couple of exceptions, most of the (incredibly numerous) ways to make passive income require some upfront work and investment of either time or money. The amount of either time or money will determine the speed at which you excel. If you have both, that's an excellent starting point.
That said, LFG! Here are my three favorite (and proven) ways to make money online: creating digital courses, developing digital products, and leveraging affiliate marketing. These methods are not just for the tech-savvy; they are accessible to everyone, empowering you to achieve the dream of financial freedom.
1. Leveraging Affiliate Marketing
Understanding Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a powerful way to create passive income by promoting products you already love and trust. Here's how it works:
Check to see if your favorite brands have affiliate or rewards programs.
Sign up (free).
Promote products through your content.
Earn a commission for every sale made through your referral link.
It's a win-win situation: You get paid to recommend products, and your audience usually receives a great deal.
Getting Started with Affiliate Marketing
Starting with affiliate marketing is straightforward.
First, choose a niche you're passionate about, and that has market demand. Join affiliate programs like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or specific brand programs or courses.
Then, it's as simple as creating content that naturally integrates affiliate products—think blog posts, videos, and social media posts. Use SEO to optimize your content, ensuring it ranks well in search engines and attracts organic traffic. Email marketing is another effective tool to drive conversions and many platforms like Beacons and Squarespace include email marketing built into their services. It's a straightforward process that can lead to significant passive income.
HINT: Affiliate programs can be physcial OR digital products. Some of the most lucrative affiliate programs are software programs or digital courses. My favorite is Catalyst Collective for monetizing social media.
2. Develop Digital Products
Types of Digital Products You Can Create
Digital products come in various forms, and the possibilities are endless. You can create ebooks, printables, software, templates, and membership sites, to name a few. Each type offers a canvas for your creativity. For instance, ebooks are great for sharing knowledge in a concise format. At the same time, printables like planners and coloring books can provide practical tools and fun for your audience. Or think outside the box. Take Caitlin Timmins, for example. Caitlin turned a passion for videography into Packsia, the original all-vertical stock video library built for brands & optimized for social media content creation and online advertising. Caitlin recognized a need in the market and not only filled it but created opportunities for other videographers.
Starting with an idea that aligns with your skills and interests will make the process much more enjoyable and increase your likelihood of seeing it through when things get frustrating.
How to Create and Sell Digital Products
To create a successful digital product:
Start with idea generation and market research.
Identify a problem your product can solve or a need it can fulfill.
Develop your product using tools like Canva for design or software development platforms.
Once your product is ready, set a competitive price and create a compelling sales page.
Use platforms like Beacons, StanStore, or Squarespace (website builder), depending one what features are important to you.
Promote your digital products through SEO-friendly blog posts, social media, and email marketing to drive traffic and sales.
3. Creating Digital Courses
Why Digital Courses are Lucrative
Creating a digital course is a fantastic way to monetize your expertise. Think about it—what's the best way to learn something? As an apprentice. People are always looking to learn new skills and are willing to pay someone to teach them.
Digital courses offer scalability, low overhead costs, and a high demand for online learning.
Steps to Create Your First Course
Creating your first digital course might sound intimidating, and make no mistake, it’s front loaded work and plenty of it, but it's simpler than you think.
Start by choosing a topic you're knowledgeable about and that others are interested in.
Identify a problem your course can solve or a need it can fulfill. For example, use the problem to create your niche. Instead of a course on “cooking,” people are more likely to be interested in “dairy-free” or “carnivore” cooking. The specificity helps solve a problem.
Verify there is a need for your course.
Outline your course content—break it down into manageable modules and lessons.
Create your content using videos, PDFs, quizzes, and other materials. Teachable and Udemy were some of the first hosting platforms, but now you can host your course on other platforms like Beacons and Squarespace. These easy-to-use platforms make hosting and selling your courses easier than ever.
Once your product is ready, set a competitive price and create a compelling sales page.
Market your course through social media, email newsletters, and SEO-friendly blog posts (like this one) to attract students.
Your Next Steps
Making money online might seem like a dream, but ordinary people do it daily with amazing results. You can build a sustainable income online by creating digital courses, developing digital products, and leveraging affiliate marketing. These methods are not just for tech-savvy millennials or Gen Z; they are for everyone, including you. You can thrive in the digital space with the proper guidance and determination.
Here’s the next step. Download my FREE Quick-Start Guide to Passive Income Online for a more in-depth look at these powerful strategies.
Earlier this year, Forbes announced that Digital marketing is one of the fastest-growing in-demand skills for 2024, and the industry is set to hit a staggering 1.5 Trillion (yes, with a T) by 2030. Don't get left behind.
Your journey to financial freedom starts now. LFG!
