i'm in!

Want the latest trends and social media updates in your inbox?

THOUSANDS of biz owners just like you use our weekly email to uplevel their social media game. Expert strategies and real-world examples delivered every Monday for FREE?!


become an insider

Want the latest trends and social media updates in your inbox?

THOUSANDS of biz owners just like you use our weekly email to uplevel their social media game. Expert strategies and real-world examples delivered every Monday for FREE?!


free info

tune in to the podcast

work with a team of experts

the best insta course

community & resources

Get Around

Hey! I'm Michelle!
The Social Strategist

Various money bills on top of an open laptop comupter.

How to Make Money Online for Beginners

How to Make Money

I’m guessing you happened upon this post by researching how to make money online. There are SO many ways to do this, but there are three places I recommend for beginners. This post will walk you through what those three options are and actionable steps you can take today. Are you ready to learn how to make money online for beginners? Let’s jump right in.

Making Money Online

In today’s world, everyone has an influence. Social media has allowed us to share our influence with thousands of people we wouldn’t have otherwise ever met. It’s bananas to think how we can touch so many people and use our businesses for good–and to make money while doing it!

Speaking of making money, exactly how do you earn money online as a beginner? If your route is strictly Instagram influencer marketing, you will make most of your money from affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, and free products. These are the three things we will be diving into in this post.

If you’re an influencer AND sell your own products, there are tons of tips and strategies you can use to help promote your products and bring your audience on their individual customer journeys with you. You can learn more about the best ways to sell your own services/products HERE.

Michelle Gifford holding her cell phone.

How to Make Money Online for Beginners

I bet you see a handful of influencers on social media daily talking about products they like, advertising one of their products, or doing a giant giveaway. These are all examples of how they are making money online. There are many ways to make money online nowadays, but if you’re a beginner, these three ways are a great place to start.

1. Affiliate Marketing

What is brand affiliate marketing? Brands pay you to spread the word about their products. You apply for their affiliate programs and then you will be sent a trackable link. Then, when you share this link and your followers purchase through your specialized link, you get a percentage of the sale.

This is great because you are always sending recommendations to friends and family, and now you can get paid for it. You can talk about these products in your Instagram stories, reels, posts, etc. See an example of brand affiliate marketing HERE.

Amazon Affiliates

The easiest affiliate to sign up for is the Amazon Affiliate program.

One of the main upsides to Amazon Affiliate is that you probably buy a lot of things on Amazon which makes it an easy thing to do. For Christmas, my mom asked me to send a list of toys that my kids would like. I sent her my Amazon Affiliate links and made a few bucks on her purchases. 

Another pro for Amazon is when you send someone to Amazon.com you get a percentage of anything they buy for the next 24 hours (30 days if they added an item to their cart) so if you can just get them onto the website and they happen to buy something completely unrelated you’ll get the money for it. Now that’s cool.

The main con to Amazon Affiliates is that the affiliate commission percentage is pretty low. It can range anywhere between 1-20 percent depending on the product category.

  • Amazon Games: 20% commission
  • Luxury Beauty, Luxury Stores Beauty, Amazon Explore: 10% commission
  • Digital Music, Physical Music, Handmade, Digital Videos: 5% commission
  • Physical Books, Kitchen, Automotive: 4.5% commission

You can check out the rest of the commission rates and more details about the Amazon Affiliate program HERE.

Other Affiliate Programs

Another way to use affiliates is to look up products specific to your hobbies and see if your favorite brands have affiliate programs.  For example, I’m a photographer. My favorite camera bags are from JoTotes. JoTotes has a great affiliate program and when anyone asks me about my bag, I can send them my affiliate link and get a commission if they buy the bag through my link.

Click here to sign up as an affiliate for JoTotes.

There are also affiliate sites that you can sign up for that gives you access to some of the bigger name brands like Old Navy, Nordstrom, and other big names.  The easiest one to use is Shop Style.

Or if you are looking for a non-clothing place to find affiliates, check out Share A Sale.  It is a site where you can search for affiliate programs quickly and easily.

Two people shaking hands over a desk.

2. Brand Partnering

The second way to make money online is through brand partnering.  You can apply to be a brand rep for companies and then you get a special coupon code that you can give your followers. Whenever your coupon code is used, you get a percentage of their order.

I really love that brands do this because it shows that they recognize the power in you as the influencer to spread the word about their products.

One of my favorite brands that I’ve partnered with is ManyChat. It’s a chatbot marketing system that transformed my Instagram and email marketing strategy. It has automated processes that used to take me countless hours to do. If this sounds like something that will help you, use my code “MICHELLE” at checkout to get your first month of pro membership for FREE!

Look up your favorite brands that you already shop with and see if they offer a brand rep or affiliate program that you can join. It’s best to look up brands that you already love and trust because it’ll be so much easier to talk about their products in your stories, posts, etc. It’ll be just like you telling your mom or sister about how much you love something you just bought–natural and easy!

3. Sponsored Content

Sponsored content is similar to affiliate marketing except you have an actual contract with the brand you are sponsoring. It could look like creating a reel for a specific product, talking about why you love a certain product in your stories, etc.

It’s mainly to boost the product of the brand you are partnering with. It’s smart to seek out brands that match your niche and try to partner with them. Partnering with them will help grow your own brand and give you more credibility, all while making some extra money on the side!

With your niche in mind, do a quick search for brands that fall in the same area. Have you heard of the brands before? What products have you used before and loved? Which ones would you like to try and possibly sponsor? You want this partnership to work seamlessly with your brand and theirs, so pick a product you love and know works well. It’ll be easier to advertise it that way.

Here’s an example of sponsored content from one of my clients, Angela Rose Home.

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Angela Rose | DIY and Design (@angelarosehome)

Most sponsored content ads include a hashtag letting the viewer know it’s sponsored or an intentional advertisement. The post also usually includes a hashtag of the brand they are partnering with. These are just a couple of the guidelines you must follow when you create sponsored content. The parameters vary among companies, but you will see a written contract stating what is required of you when joining a brand partnership.

4. Ad Revenue

Setting up ads for your website is a great way to make some extra income. You can create a free account with ad programs–like Google AdSense and Mediavine–where ads get put on your site and then you earn money for the views and clicks the ads get.

What is Google AdSense?

screenshot of the Google AdSense home page.

Google AdSense is a trusted business by many publishers. It makes it super easy for you to earn extra cash. It’s as simple as you creating ad space on your website, Google AdSense matching ads to your site based on your content and visitors, and then you get paid.

You can check out more details about how Google AdSense works HERE.

What is Mediavine?

screenshot of the Mediavine home page.

Mediavine is very similar to Google Adsense. While this one still allows you to get paid for sponsored ads on your website, the qualifications you need to use its services differ from Google AdSense. You can check out those details HERE.

If you already have a good flow of traffic to your website and have some type of long-form content (e.g. blogging) then Mediavine is a great fit for you. It doesn’t matter what your niche is as long as you publish original content. You can apply for Mediavine HERE.

5. Freelancing

Have you ever thought about freelancing? Freelancing is working for clients on specific projects without being a full-time employee. Do you have certain skills you could freelance? Some may include:

  • Data analytics
  • SEO (search engine optimization)
  • Digital marketing
  • Online tutoring
  • Graphic design
  • App development
  • Blogging

Employers often look for freelancers who can help with projects because they need temporary help rather than permanent help from a full-time employee. If you have skills you could advertise on a freelancing website then you could start making money online this way.

Most freelance websites require you to create an account and include a resume or something similar along with some example work you’ve done in the past. This information helps the potential client know if you would be a good fit for the project. Here are a few freelancing websites to check out:

  • Fiverr
  • Upwork
  • Simply Hired
  • Toptal
  • Flex Jobs
  • Guru
  • LinkedIn

6. Become a Virtual Assistant

Trust me, there are business owners and/or content creators out there DYING for a virtual assistant and are willing to pay good money for one. Life can get BUSY–especially when you are a full-time business owner and full-time mama. Biz moms appreciate any help we can get and we really need it.

An ipad with a weekly schedule on the screen and someone holding a stylus ready to add in their meetings.

I remember when I first hired a helper to run errands for me, and do basic cleaning and organizing and it changed my life. Having someone making sure things are running smoothly in the background is a huge help and that’s exactly what virtual assistants do. You keep the CEO organized with meetings, projects, etc.

To be a virtual assistant, you should feel confident in basic office software, have proficient communication skills, and be self-motivated. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to have some creativity that would help your client see different ways to become more productive. If this is something you’re interested in you could look for clients by joining a virtual assistant agency or applying for full-time VA jobs.

7. Selling Products Online

If you care more about promoting your own business online rather than getting paid for making other people’s businesses flourish, then it’s time to get serious about selling original products.

There are so many different products out there and there is definitely room for yours. There are four different types of products you can sell: digital, physical, services, and influence.

  • Digital products could be ebooks, printable downloads, etc.
  • Physical products are things you make by hand and have to put in a physical box to ship to the customer.
  • Services include a marketing agency, photography, etc.
  • Influence is creating content on social media and using your opinion to persuade your audience to buy certain products made by other people.

Whether you’ve never created a product before, have an idea but are not sure how to make it real, or have a few products out there already that you need help promoting, this journey is for you. Trust the process and don’t give up. As you dig deep into why you want to sell your products and nail down how they solve the problem for your audience you will start to see revenue.

Biz Pro Tip: The trick to selling products online is understanding your audience and their needs SUPER well. If you pay attention to their comments on your content you will notice a common theme and you’ll know exactly what product they need and will want to buy.

8. Create an Online Course or Workshop

Is there a course or workshop you could create that fits within your business? Maybe you’re a plant shop owner and you create a course about plant ownership 101. Or, an expert in budgeting and meal planning, so you create a course for people to learn how to do the same thing in their own families.

Think about the #1 problem your business could solve for people and try to create a course around that. For instance, I know my audience struggles with growing on Instagram. They’ve told me it’s hard to stay consistent, the algorithm is out to get them, etc. So I created a course–Grow the Gram–where I show my students that it’s possible to explode your Instagram following with some consistency and strategy.

screenshot of Michelle Gifford's home page of her Grow the Gram online course.

This does not have to be a huge thing. It can be a small series of videos that walks your customers through where they are now and where they want to be. If creating a course is something you’re interested in, check out my blog post HERE which covers beginner tips for creating a course.

9. Content Creation

Content creation! It’s one of my absolute favorite things to talk about. There is SO much content on the internet today and I want you to be someone adding VALUE to the endless amounts of content already out there. Believe it or not, you can make a steady income for your family based solely on content creation.

An infographic showing nine ways you can make money online as a beginner.

 

Content Creation Mediums

  • Blogging
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • TikTok
  • Pinterest
  • Threads
  • Google
  • Email Marketing
  • Website

The #1 thing you need in order to make money and have success with content creation is consistency. It’s showing up every day and putting in the work. I know this can be overwhelming and life happens so you may be super consistent for a few weeks and then take an unplanned break the next few weeks. I know unexpected important things come up and that’s OK.

However, if you’re ready to commit, I’m ready to help. You do not have to do business alone. The best place for you to start is my email subscription, Insta Social Society. Check out the details HERE!

How to Make Money Online for Beginners

When you get the itch to figure out how to make money online it can be overwhelming when you’re in the research process. There are so many options, so it’s hard to know where to start. However, if you’re a beginner influencer, affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, and free products are the best place to start!

If you liked what you learned here, you will love these posts even more:

Are you ready to go all in with your online business? Join my Insta Social Society where I take you on a journey that teaches you how to explode your business on Instagram. If you’re not quite ready, but still want great tips and strategies, follow me on Instagram @iammichellegifford.

You said...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

LEAVE A COMMENT

your marketing podcast

Trend Updates and Inspiring Stories from Biz-Owners... Like You

Tune in to keep up with changes, trends, and the best online marketing strategy for businesses using social media to grow a thriving business, then this is the podcast for you.

tune in

your marketing podcast

Trend Updates and Inspiring Stories from Biz-Owners... Like You

Tune in to keep up with changes, trends, and the best online marketing strategy for businesses using social media to grow a thriving business, then this is the podcast for you.

tune in

Insta Social Society

Grow the Gram

Creative Agency

Not sure what to post or how to get visible on Instagram? THIS is your go-to resource with an 8-module course, monthly content plans, Q&A calls, and all the secrets!

Dive deep into Instagram with my 8-module course and an entire year of hands-on support and strategy to grow — the results will shock you.


Let me and my team of experts take over your strategy completely. You be a genius at your thing, and we’ll take the rest off your plate. We enjoy 

Choose Your Insta Adventure...

learn the basics

get unstuck + Grow

ready for a team?

3 WAYS TO GET ME ON YOUR TEAM

Copyright 2024

Privacy Policy

Design by MGC

Terms and Conditions