When you’re a student, there are lots of expenses that end up eating a lot of your money. Whether it’s paying for used books for your courses, or buying Juul e-cigarettes, or being able to afford a night out with your friends, the money you get from your parents or your scholarship isn’t enough to cut it. Which is why you’re looking for a way to make money.
Luckily, there are some great ways to make money online as a student that are not only easy but won’t take up too much of your time, either. Whether you’re looking for quick cash or a way to become an entrepreneur, here are some ways you can make money online:
1. Start a blog
If you’re a great writer, one of the best ways you can make money is by running a blog. Whether you’re writing about what it’s like to be a Gen Z female in college, or something more specific, like what it’s like to run weed delivery services for students at the University of Colorado- Boulder, there are people out there who want to read about your experiences. And the more followers you get, the more money you’ll get. There’s a reason why 53 percent of marketers say blogging is their top content priority, according to Impact, and that’s because it’s an effective way of getting leads and making money.
So blog 2-3 times a week, gain a following, and remember to share your posts on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Consider using a free logo maker to freshen up your online look, and be aware of SEO strategies to popularize your content. By using an affiliate ads program you can make some money, and once you’ve got a strong enough following, you can even sell products like ebooks or services writing for other people.
2. Sell your photos
Are you one of those people who’s always taking pictures, and posting them on Instagram? Getting hundreds of likes, even without using the hashtags that get posts 55 percent more tweets? Or maybe you’re a pro with a camera, so much so that your photography professors are lauding your photos and showing them to the rest of the class–and when you’re not in class, you’re in the darkroom, processing them.
In this case, selling your photos online is a great way to get some money. There are phone apps out there that make it super easy, so check out this list of them from phonearena.com. Additionally, if you do have a huge following on Instagram, considering starting a site using wix.com to make it your own business–which you can start growing now and make even more money from in the future.
3. Teach English online
Teaching English online will earn you, on average, $15 to 20/ hour–so what are you waiting for? English speakers have the luck that many online teaching companies are willing to hire them merely because they’ve grown up speaking the language. If you’re earning an English degree on top of that, studying education, or are willing to put in the time to get an English-teaching certification online, they’ll be even more interested in hiring you.
Take a look at this list to learn about companies hiring–and consider, in the long-run, making this into a business you run from your own teaching blog, where you can sell lesson plans, ebooks, editing services, and even private lessons over Skype.
4. Start a Youtube channel
Whether you have a skill–like applying perfect makeup in five minutes that makes you look exactly like Kylie Jenner–or something you want to share with the world–like your obsession with and analysis of movies by Wes Anderson–there’s someone out there who wants to learn more about it. And considering that 300 hours of video are uploaded to Youtube every minute, you can just imagine how popular this site is–outside of your personal experience spending hours on it.
So choose something you want to vlog about, start posting, and the more views you get, the more money you’ll get from advertisements. Like with a blog, the more you post and the more followers you get, you’ll be able to make money from that, too–so post on all the right social media channels every time you’ve got a new video up. Eventually, companies will ask you to promote products for them, and you’ll start to become an influencer.
As you can see, there are some fun ways to make money online as a student–and in addition to making you money now, it’s an investment in your future. So get creative, get busy, and start making some money.
How do you plan to make money online? Do you have any recommendations for other students in your position?
