Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to the deep Dive. We sip through articles, notes, research,
you name it to pull out the key insights, basically
giving you a shortcut to getting up to speed. And
today we're tackling a question that, well, it seems like
almost everyone asks these days, how can I actually make
money online? It's a huge topic, right and often filled
with confusing info or even scams unfortunately, But our goal here,
(00:28):
our mission for this deep dive is to cut right
through all that noise. We want clarity. We're talking about real,
practical ways to earn sustainable ways, things you can do
from home, on your own time, and often using skills
you know you already have, or skills you can pick
up pretty quickly. Think of this as your guide to
the legit opportunities out there. Right now, We've got strategies, examples, tips,
(00:49):
stuff you don't usually get from a quick Google search.
I'm genuinely excited to get into these twelve methods because honestly,
this isn't about get rich quick schemes. It's about building
something solid online. So yeah, maybe grab a notebook, get
ready to soak up some valuable info.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Absolutely, and what's really striking about making money online? Now?
I think is just how broad the possibilities are so adaptable.
You know a lot of people think, oh I need
some super technical skill or a fancy degree, But as
we'll explore, almost any skill set, any passion, even just
a unique way you see, things can be turned into income.
(01:22):
The internet really has level of the playing field in
many ways. It lets people monetize things that were impossible
just say, ten years ago, Hobby's life experiences. It's really
about spotting the value in what you know or what
you enjoy doing, and then finding the right digital paths
to connect that with people who need it. And it's
not just about sight income anymore, though it can be
(01:43):
for many. It's becoming a way to build you know,
real financial independence, a whole new career path.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
That's a perfect setup. Let's dive right into the first method,
then freelancing. This one always comes up first, probably because
it's so flexible and honestly pretty beginner friendly at its heart.
It's simple. You get paid for skills you already have,
usually project by.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Project exactly, and the range of skills is.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Just huge, right, Like, what can you actually offer? Well,
if you're good with words, writing blog posts, website copy,
even emails there's demand.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Definitely, or design, graphic design websites, even just making nice presentations.
Companies need that constantly.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Totally coding, video editing, managing social media accounts, virtual assistant tasks, voiceovers.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Transcription too. It's a long.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
List, it really is. And businesses, individuals, they're all out
there looking for people with these skills, often remotely.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Which is where those platforms come in handy exactly.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Places like fiber upwork, freelancer dot com. They're like massive
online marketplaces.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yeah, they connect you directly with clients. Beating your specific
service makes it much easier than finding clients.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Cold, and they handle things like finding clients, pitching, even
getting paid securely. It lowers the barrier, doesn't.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
It massively takes a lot of the initial friction out.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Okay, So here's the interesting especially if you're thinking where
do I start? You don't always need that formal qualification, right.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Not necessarily.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
No.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
What clients really care about is can you do the
job well? And can you prove it?
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Ah, the portfolio that's key. Showing your work.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Absolutely, your skills and a strong portfolio demonstrating them are
paramount way more important than a degree in many fields, online.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
So how do you get started? Practically speaking?
Speaker 2 (03:27):
You can start small, maybe do a couple of initial
projects for free or at a lower rate than you eventually.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Want to get your foot in the door.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Exactly. It's about building momentum and crucially collecting those first
positive reviews.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Reviews are everything online, aren't they? Social proof?
Speaker 2 (03:43):
They are vital. Think of each good review as a
stamp of approval that future clients can see. It builds
trust instantly.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Once you have a few of those, you can start
nudging your rates up.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Precisely. We've seen people go from five dollars gigs on
fiver to charging hundreds per hour. It's a journey.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
So what makes someone successful long term in freelancing?
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Consistency is huge. Delivering good work every time, clear communication,
keeping clients in the loop.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah, managing expectations.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
And always improving, learning new things, refining your skills. It's
not static, makes sense.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
It's like running your own mini business.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
It really is, and that ties into the whole gig
economy idea, doesn't it. Freelancing is sort of the poster
child for that empowerment. It flips the script on traditional
jobs instead of one boss. Long term, it's project based,
more agile, you have more.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Control, control over your schedule, your income exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
That autonomy is big draw and that idea of reputation
you mentioned, it's not just important, it's like the currency
of freelancing. How so well, Unlike old school word of mouth,
online reviews on upwork or fiverr are global, transparent, instant.
It's your track record visible to.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Anyone, so becomes your personal brand almost precisely.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
It signals quality, reliability, often more powerfully than a CV.
That's what getting the reviews Isn't just about the next job.
It's a long term investment in your earning power, better reputation,
better clients, higher rates.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Gotcha, a strategic investment. Okay, let's shift gears. Method number two,
create and sell digital products. This one feels different, more
about passive income potential. Right.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Absolutely, it's a game changer for many. The core idea
is brilliant in its simplicity. You create something valuable once,
a digital thing, and then you can sell it over
and over again, potentially forever.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
And it leverages creativity. But without physical stuff, no boxes,
no shipping.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Exactly, no inventory headaches.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
So what kind of digital products are we talking about?
Give US some examples.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Oh, the range is huge. Ebooks on niche topics are
classic planners templates, think notion templates, spreadsheet templates, social media templates.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Things that save people time or organize them.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Precisely, step by step guides, video tutorials, teaching a skill,
even creative assets like music loops for video created or
Photoshop presets for photographers.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Right, things people can download and use immediately.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
And selling them is easier than ever. Platforms like Gumroad
at the pay hip, you can set up a digital
storefront really.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Quickly, like in an hour often.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, upload your products, set a price, connect your payment details,
and you're basically ready to sell.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
And the big advantages compared to selling say physical goods.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
No shipping costs or logistics, no managing inventory levels, and
generally far fewer customer service issues like returns for damaged goods.
It's cleaner.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
It's pure intellectual property, really exactly your knowledge or creativity
packaged digitally. You mentioned a notion template example earlier. Can
you elaborate on that? That sounded powerful?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Yeah, there was a story of someone who created a
it goes a ten dollars notion template notion Is that flexible?
Workspace app right, very popular. So this template was designed
to solve a specific organizational problem, maybe project management, maybe
content planning, something like that. Okay, And because it genuinely
solve that specific problem really well for a lot of people,
(07:05):
that single ten dollars template ended up making something like
thirty thousand dollars.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Wow, from a ten dollars product.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Yeah, passive income because it meant a real need.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
So that really prompts the question for anyone listening, what
could you create digitally? What knowledge do you have, what
skill or even just an aesthetic sense.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
What could you design that others would find useful or
beautiful or just a huge time saver.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
What specific problem could your digital product solve?
Speaker 2 (07:32):
That's the key question which brings us to the idea
of passive income. Itself sounds great earn while you sleep, but.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
There's upfront work involved, a lot.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Of upfront work, usually identifying that specific problem and then
creating a high quality solution. That's the foundation. It's not
passive if there's no value created first.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
So what kinds of problems are best suited for digital solutions?
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Generally things that need information, organization, maybe ins or tools
that can be delivered instantly and copied perfectly.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Things that don't need physical interaction.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Right, Think about common frustrations. People have tasks that are repetitive,
workflows that are inefficient, or just desires people have learning
a skill, getting fitter, being more productive.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Digital products can tackle those.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Perfectly because they scale infinitely. What's made the cost per
copy is basically zero, high profit margins. Potentially, it's true.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Leverage, leverage on your time and creativity exactly.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
But you have to start with the need. What do
people struggle with that you can solve digitally?
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Makes sense? Okay? Method three feels very current. Start a
YouTube channel.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Uh YouTube, It's way more than just entertainment, isn't it?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Absolutely? People forget It's the world's second biggest search engine
after Google.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
People are actively searching for answers there. How do I
what's the best exactly?
Speaker 1 (08:51):
How to guides, education, reviews, tutorials, inspiration not just music videos, so.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
The content possibilities are endless. Really just needs align with
what you know.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Are love right, cooking channels, travel vlogs, gaming streams or reviews.
Tech tutorials are huge.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Life advice, productivity tips, book reviews, product on Boxing's anything
really if you're passionate and knowledgeable, there's.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Likely an audience, and monetization isn't just ads, is it?
That's just the start?
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Oh, definitely not. AD Revenue is the first thing people
think of, and you need to hit certain thresholds for that.
But the real money often comes later, like what sponsorships
where brands pay you to feature their product affiliate links
in your video descriptions. We'll talk more about that. Selling
your own merchandise T shirts, mugs, and selling your own
(09:40):
digital courses.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Maybe leveraging that audience trust.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Exactly, building on the value you've already provided. The income
streams can stack up significantly once you have an engaged audience.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Now, the big hurdle for many is gear. People think
they need a fancy studio.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Yeah that stopped so many people, but honestly, you really don't.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
That's a smartphone.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
A decent smartphone camera is often good enough to start.
Maybe invest in a cheap external microphone. Sound quality is
actually more important than video quality. Often good tip and passion.
You need the drive to keep creating. That's more important
than expensive gear.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
So the advice is start messy, just start.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Don't wait for everything to be perfect. Your first videos
probably won't be great.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
That's okay, progress over perfection.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Absolutely, get filming, get uploading, learn as you go. It's
like building a muscle.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
I like that. It's iterative.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
It is, and that dual nature of YouTube entertainment and
search engine is key. You can build an audience by
being engaging, sure, but also by being incredibly useful and
discoverable through search solving problems again exactly, and that start
messy mindset is crucial. It breaks down that paralysis of
I'm not good enough yet. You get good by.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Doing and getting feedback from early viewers.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Right. You learn what resonates, You find your voice, you adapt.
It's how creators carve out up their niche and build
something sustainable. It's an evolution.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
Start messy. Great advice, Okay. Number four builds nicely on
content creation affiliate marketing. This one sounds almost too good
to be true, sometimes earning commissions while you sleep.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Well, it's not quite that simple, but the potential for
passive income is definitely there. The core idea is straightforward.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
You promote someone else's product or service, right.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
And you use a special unique tracking link they give you.
If someone clicks your link and makes a.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Purchase, you get a cut, a commission exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
And it's not just small companies. Major players do this.
Amazon Associates is huge, skill Share, Canva, lots of software companies,
web hosts.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Even other creators promoting the tools they use.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Yeah. Absolutely, if you use a tool and love it,
chances are it has an affiliate program.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
So how do you actually do it? Where do these
links go.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
In your content? A review, blog post, a YouTube video
demonstrating the product, a list of recommended resources on your website,
even sometimes in social media posts.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Use carefully, you embed the link naturally within helpful content.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
That's the ideal. Yes. Now, the crucial pro tip here
is what not to do, which is don't just spam
your links everywhere with no context. Buy this, click here.
That doesn't work long term.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
It feels pushy, right erodes trust completely.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
The key is to focus relentlessly on adding genuine value.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
First, explain how the product helps your audience, show it
in action, Be honest about pros and con.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Exactly, maintain transparency. If you're getting commission, often you need
to disclose that too. Honesty builds trust.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
And trust is the foundation for affiliate income.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Absolutely fundamental if your audience trusts your recommendations because you're
always valuable and honest. They're far more likely to click
your links and buy. Without trust, you're just noise.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
So it's less about selling, more about curating and recommending
based on trust.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Precisely, that add value principle distinguishes successful affiliate marketers. They
build a loyal audience that trusts their judgment. It's not
just about one say, it's about repeat engagement, higher conversion
rates over time because you've become a trusted resource curator.
Like you said, Yeah, people are just looking for a product,
they're looking for your vetted recommendation. You filter the noise
(13:12):
for them. That builds an enduring asset, your credibility.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
And that's what generates income more passively over time, as
that trusted content keeps working.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Exactly the value you provided continues to convert.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Okay, got it. Moving on to number five. This one's
for the visually creative types sell print on demand products.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Yes, POD. This is a really interesting model, especially for
designers or anyone with cool ideas for merchandise.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
So the basic idea is you create the design, but
someone else handles all the physical stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
That's the core of it. You design, say a T
shirt graphic, a mug, design, a poster. Then you partner
with a print on demand company like.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Print full or t Spring which is now Spring I
think Red Bubble. Those kinds of places exactly.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Those are the big players. They handle the printing of
your design onto the product, the packing, and the shipping
directly to the customer after an order's place.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
So you don't actually make anything until someone buys it.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Correct, just upload your design file, maybe connected to an
online store you set up like Shopify, or sometimes the
pod platform has its own.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Marketplace, and then your job is mainly marketing promoting your designs.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Pretty much, you focus on getting eyes on your products.
The pod company handles the entire fifima process.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
The massive advantage here seems obvious.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
No inventory huge, that's the game changer. No need to
guess sizes or quantities, no upfront cost buying stock, no
boxes piling up in your garage, no trips to the
post office.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
You could technically start a whole clothing brand without ever
touching a physical shirt.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Absolutely people do it. It lowers the risk incredibly compared
to traditional retail.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
So what kind of designs sell well? Any tips on
niches niches are often key.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Here the market can be crowded. So instead of generic
funny shirts, maybe funny shirts for cat loving accountants, hyper
specific often yeah, dog lovers, book nerds, gym quotes specific
hobbies inside jokes for certain communities. If you can tap
into a passionate niche with designs they relate to, you
can do well.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Uniqueness helps you stand out.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Definitely, unique style, unique humor, tapping into trends quickly. Authenticity
matters too.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Compared to traditional retail, the risk is much lower. But
what's the catch.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Well, the profit margins per item are generally lower than
if you bought inventory in bulk. The pod company takes
a significant cut for their service.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Makes sense. They're doing a lot of the work.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
And because the barrier to entry is low, it is competitive. So,
as we said, unique designs and strong marketing are absolutely essential.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
You have to drive the traffic, so less financial risk,
but more need for creativity and marketing skill.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
That's a good summary. Nailing down your niche and design
style is critical.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Okay number six. This one might feel a bit old
school to some, but you say it's still powerful.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Start a blog Definitely. Blogs are far from dead. In fact,
for long term, sustainable online income. They can be incredibly effective,
often more so than social media alone.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Why is that what gives blogs their staying power longevity?
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Think about it. A good blog post, well written and optimized,
can attract visitors from search engines like Google.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
For years, evergreen content exactly.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Unlike a tweet or an Instagram post that vanishes in hours,
a blog post is an asset that can keep working
for you passively over the long haul.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
And how do blogs actually make money?
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Multiple ways? Display ads are common, you see them on
most sites. Affiliate links naturally within your contents, Yes, where
brands pay you to write about their product or service
and crucially selling your own products like ebooks or courses
directly to your dedicated audience.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
That seems like a powerful funnel. So for strategy, is
it like print on demand? Niche down?
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Absolutely? Focus is key. Pick a specific topic, parenting strategies
for newborns, budget travel in Southeast Asia, learning Python for
data science, keto recipes for beginners.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Become the go to resource for that specific.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Thing precisely that builds authority and attracts a loyal readership.
Platforms like WordPress are the standard. Very flexible or simpler
options like medium exist too.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
And what else is needed for success? Besides great content?
Speaker 2 (17:26):
You need some basic understanding of SEO search engine optimization,
how to help Google find your content. Consistency in publishing
is vital, and.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
You mentioned building an email list earlier.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Critical absolute critical for long term blogging success. We can
dive into why.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Okay, so why is the email list so important even
with social media?
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Because you own your email list, You don't own your
followers on Facebook or Instagram. The platform does their algorithms
control who sees your stuff. They can change the rules overnight.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Right, Your reach can vanish.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
But your email list is a direct line to your
most engaged readers can contact them any time by passing algorithms.
It's where you build the deepest relationships and.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Where you can reliably promote things exactly.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
New posts, affiliate offers, your own products. Email subscribers are
almost always your most valuable audience segment. It turns casual
readers into a community.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
So blogging slow growth maybe, but potentially very stable long
term money, especially with that email list asset.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
That's the essence of it. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Got it okay? Methods seven this feels more direct, more
personal online coaching or tutoring.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Yes, this is about directly monetizing your specific expertise by
teaching others, usually one on one or in small groups, and.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
The range of expertise can be pretty broad here too.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Absolutely anything you're genuinely good at and can explain well.
Math tutoring, music lessons, guitar, piano, singing, fitness coaching, personal.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Training, mindset coaching, productivity.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Help Definitely helping people overcome blocks get organized. Language tutoring
is huge. Two. If you know a skill well, someone
else likely wants to learn it directly from.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
A person, and platforms exist to facilitate this, loads of them.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Prepply is big for languages and academics. Teachable and skill
share can be used for live sessions alongside courses. Even
just using Zoom with a scheduling tool like calendly works
perfectly well, so.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
You can do it from anywhere basically.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
As long as you have good Internet. Yes, the location
independence is a big plus.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
What's the main appeal for the customer here? Why pay
for coaching versus finding free info.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Online personalization, tailored guidance in a sea of generic advice,
getting help specific to your situation, your goals, your sticking
points is incredibly valuable. People pay a premium for that
targeted support.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
So it requires more than just knowledge. You need good communication.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Skills, essential strong listening skills to understand the client's needs,
ability to explain complex things simply, patience, empathy. It's a
relationship as much as a transaction.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Can you give specific examples like teaching English?
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Yeah, Platforms like vip kid or cambly specifically connect English
tutors with students, often kids abroad, very structured.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Or maybe something more business focused.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Sure, someone skilled in resumes and interviews could offer coaching packages,
maybe finding clients through LinkedIn, helping people land jobs. The
demand for that kind of specific, high stakes coaching is strong.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
It's about providing that direct human guidance.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Exactly, and that personalization justifies the often higher price point
compared to say a prerecorded course. People value that direct
access and tailored feedback.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
So how does someone find their niche in coaching?
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Reflect on problems you've solve for yourself or others, What
unique skilled or perspective do you have? What results can
you help people achieve? Get Specific fitness coaching is broad
postnatal fitness coaching for busy moms is a niche.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
And platforms help bridge the gap to the audience.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
They can. Yes, they offer visibility, credibility, payment process, saying
it's about matching your specific expertise with the specific market need.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Okay. Number eight takes us back to e commerce, but
with a twist. We touched on drop shipping right.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
So similar to print on demand in that you don't
hold inventory, but different in what you're selling.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
Remind us of the core concept.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
You set up an online store, typically using something like Shopify.
You find products from suppliers, often on marketplaces like Alley
Express or through directories like Salehoop.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
But you don't buy the products up front.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Correct, You list them in your store at a markup.
When a customer buys from your store.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
You then place the order with your supplier, give them
the customer's address, and.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
The supplier ships it directly to the customer. You're the middleman,
the storefront, the marketer.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Your profit is the difference between your selling price and
the supplier's cost exactly.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
The startup cost is low because no big inventory investment
is needed. That's the appeal.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
But you flagged a big requirement earlier marketing.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Yes, this is the critical piece for off shipping. Because
you're often selling products, others can also access. Your success
hinges almost entirely on your ability to market effectively.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Finding the right audience and convincing them to buy from you.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Precisely, this means mastering things like Facebook or Instagram ads,
maybe TikTok, influencer marketing, potentially SEO. For your store, you
need to drive traffic.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
And the pro tip was not just selling random stuff.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Right, avoid the general store approach. Usually focus on solving
a specific problem or tapping into a hot trend.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Find a niche like gadgets for campers or eco friendly
kitchen products.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Something specific, and crucially vet your suppliers carefully. Product quality
and shipping times can make or break your reputation, So.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
The marketing demands are much higher here compared to other models.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Generally, Yes, yeah, because your differentiation isn't usually the product itself.
It's your branding, your marketing, your customer targeting. You need
to be sharp on market research, trendspotting and.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Advertising, analyzing ad data, iterating quickly.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
All of that much more of a marketing game than say,
freelancing your unique.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Skill understood, Okay, number nine is a shift for people
who maybe don't want the entrepreneurial risk. Remote customer service jobs.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Yeah, this is a really solid option for folks who
prefer employment stability but want the flexibility of working.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
From home, and the demand is high now.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Exploded in recent years. Lots of legitimate companies hire remote
teams for various roles.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
What kind of roles? Typically?
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Customer support is the big one, phone, email, chat, tech support,
help desks, email management, sometimes data entry or virtual assistant
type roles within a larger company structure.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Where do you find these jobs?
Speaker 2 (23:40):
Specific remote job boards are great, we'll work remotely remote
dot co flex jobs, but also the major ones like
indeed LinkedIn just use their remote filter.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
And the flexibility is the main draw, huge draw.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Full time part time options often available, work from anywhere
with good Wi Fi. Great for people outside major cities
or needing to be home.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
What's skills or attributes do you need?
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Good communication is key, written and verbal organization, patience, empathy,
You're often dealing with customer issues, basic computer literacy, stable internet.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
So it's a reliable way to earn online with a
steady paycheck, maybe benefits, but without the hustle of building
your own thing.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Exactly. Yeah, it fits into that massive trend towards remote
work that was accelerated by well recent global events.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Companies realized it works.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Many did, Yes, and for employees the benefits are clear.
No commute, more comfortable environment, potentially better work life balance.
It's a great alternative for those seeking stability plus flexibility.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Okay, number ten, Back to the creatives sell stock photos
and videos.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Yeah, if you have a good eye and a camera,
even a good smartphone camera, this can become a nice
pats of income stream.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
So you take photos or short video clips.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
High quality ones, Yeah, and you upload them to stock
media platforms.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Like shutter Stock, Adobe Stock, getdy Images. Maybe even free
sites like pexels have contribution options exactly.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Those are the main players where businesses and creators go
to license.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Imagery and you get paid how usually a royalty each
time someone downloads your photo or video clip. It's a
numbers game. Often the more content you have and the
more downloads, the more you earn, and.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
Once it's uploaded it can keep earning potentially for years. Yes,
that's the passive aspect. You do the work upfront, shooting, editing,
keywording that it sits there waiting to be licensed.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
What kind of themes are in demand? What should people
focus on?
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Think? Broad but relevant nature shots are always popular, Technology,
business settings, diverse teams collaborating are huge families, lifestyle, fitness, food.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
Authentic stuff presumably less cheesy staged photos.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Authenticities definitely a trending. Also, high quality background videos for
YouTubers or presentations, things that are versatile.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
And you said, even smartphone photos can work if.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
They're high quality, absolutely composed, good lighting. It's more about
the image quality and relevance than the specific camera model sometimes, So.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
What makes certain photos or videos sell better than others?
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Commercial appeal is key? Does it meet a need for businesses?
Is it clean, well lit, versatile? Does it represent diversity
or current trends? Technical quality matters, sharp focus, good.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Exposure and volume helps uploading consistently.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Definitely. Building a large, diverse portfolio across in demand categories
increases your chances of getting downloads. You're essentially building a
digital asset library that generates income.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Over time, turning your photo archive into potential cash. Cool
okay number eleven. Build a niche newsletter.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Ah email still incredibly powerful despite everything else, especially niche newsletters.
Why niche because people will subscribe and even pay for
deep focused content on a topic they're passionate or curious about,
something social media often doesn't provide in the same curated way.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Give us some examples of niches.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Could be anything, really, a daily round up of AI news,
productivity tips specifically for freelancers, summaries of complex academic papers,
parenting advice for twins, vegan baking.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
Recipes, super specific stuff.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
The more specific, often the more loyal they Audience platforms
like substack, behive convert Kit make it easy to manage
subscribers and send emails.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
How do they make money? Paid subscriptions that's.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
A big one now. Yeah, readers pay monthly or yearly
for premium content, but also affiliate links within the newsletter
and sponsorship's brand, paying to reach that targeted, engaged audience.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
And the potential is quite high. You mentioned ten dollars
a month.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
Yeah, some successful niche newsletters achieve that or more, even
with relatively small lists, maybe just a few thousand subscribers.
If the engagement and value are high, monetization works.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
Why does email still work so well when social media
is everywhere?
Speaker 2 (27:49):
Permission and intent someone Subscribing gives you explicit permission to
enter their inbox. It's deliberate action. The engagement is usually
much higher than a passive social media scroll.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
It's a direct relationship.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Exactly, You own that connection. Unlike social media followers. It
builds loyalty trust. Those readers are far more likely to
act on your recommendations or buy from you. It's a
resilient asset.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
A valuable loyal reader base makes sense. Okay. Finally, number twelve.
This sounds like a big one. Create and sell online courses.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Big effort up front, yes, but potentially massive scalability and
income potential. Ideal if you have deep expertise in something.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
So you package your knowledge into a course format.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Right, structure it logically, usually video lessons, maybe worksheets, quizzes,
resources platforms like teachable, skill share. You to me provide
the infrastructure to host and sell it.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
What kind of topics work?
Speaker 2 (28:42):
Almost anything? People want to learn coding, photography, sell mastery,
digital marketing, playing an instrument, mindfulness, techniques, language learning. If
there's demand to learn it, you can.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
Make a course video based usually often.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
Yeah, but good courses include practical exercises. Maybe a community
element needs to be fair reflecting the value in transformation
you offer.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
And the income model. Create once, sell repeatedly.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
That's the beauty. Once it's launched, every sale is additional
income with minimal extra work per student. That's the scalability.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
And some people make a full time living from just
one or two courses.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
Absolutely, if a course effectively solves a significant problem or
teaches a highly desired skill, it can generate substantial ongoing revenue.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
So how does this scale like crazy aspect really differ
from say coaching.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
Coaching is one to one or one to few. Your
time is the bottleneck. A course is one to many.
You create it once and potentially thousands by it without
requiring more of your time per person. That's leverage.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
And finding that real problem your course solves is key crucial.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
What are people struggling with? What outcome do they desperately want?
If your course provides a clear path, a tangible solution
to a widespread pain point or desire, it has huge potential,
big upfront investment, potentially exponential long term reward.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
Wow, Okay, that's quite a list. Twelve really distinct powerful
ways to potentially earn online. We've covered freelancing, digital products, YouTube,
affiliate marketing, print on demand blogging, coaching, drop shipping, remote jobs,
stock media, newsletters, and online courses.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
A lot of groundcovers, definitely, And.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
The key thing to remember is these are real opportunities,
legitimate paths. But, and this is important, you absolutely do
not need to do all of them. Please don't try.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
No, that would be overwhelming.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Focus is better, exactly. Pick one that resonates with you,
with your skills, your interests. Start there, test it, see
how it feels. Learn as you go what's working, what isn't,
What do you actually enjoy doing.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
Adjust your plan based on that feedback. It's an iterative process, and.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
Then grow from there. Whether you just want some extra
cash on the side, or you dream of going fully
remote or building your own online business, the tools and
platforms are out there.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
More accessible than ever before.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Truly, the Internet makes it possible to design in a
life that fits you using your unique talents. So, as
we wrap up this deep dive, the question for you
listening right now is which one are you going to
try first? Which method sparked something?
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Yeah, give that some real thought.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
And maybe chew on this final thought, think about skills
or passions you have right now, things you might even
take for granted because they come easily to you. What
hidden potential is sitting there, just waiting for the Internet
and the right audience to unlock it. What could you
offer the world online
Welcome to the deep Dive. We sip through articles, notes, research,
you name it to pull out the key insights, basically
giving you a shortcut to getting up to speed. And
today we're tackling a question that, well, it seems like
almost everyone asks these days, how can I actually make
money online? It's a huge topic, right and often filled
with confusing info or even scams unfortunately, But our goal here,
(00:28):
our mission for this deep dive is to cut right
through all that noise. We want clarity. We're talking about real,
practical ways to earn sustainable ways, things you can do
from home, on your own time, and often using skills
you know you already have, or skills you can pick
up pretty quickly. Think of this as your guide to
the legit opportunities out there. Right now, We've got strategies, examples, tips,
(00:49):
stuff you don't usually get from a quick Google search.
I'm genuinely excited to get into these twelve methods because honestly,
this isn't about get rich quick schemes. It's about building
something solid online. So yeah, maybe grab a notebook, get
ready to soak up some valuable info.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Absolutely, and what's really striking about making money online? Now?
I think is just how broad the possibilities are so adaptable.
You know a lot of people think, oh I need
some super technical skill or a fancy degree, But as
we'll explore, almost any skill set, any passion, even just
a unique way you see, things can be turned into income.
(01:22):
The internet really has level of the playing field in
many ways. It lets people monetize things that were impossible
just say, ten years ago, Hobby's life experiences. It's really
about spotting the value in what you know or what
you enjoy doing, and then finding the right digital paths
to connect that with people who need it. And it's
not just about sight income anymore, though it can be
(01:43):
for many. It's becoming a way to build you know,
real financial independence, a whole new career path.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
That's a perfect setup. Let's dive right into the first method,
then freelancing. This one always comes up first, probably because
it's so flexible and honestly pretty beginner friendly at its heart.
It's simple. You get paid for skills you already have,
usually project by.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Project exactly, and the range of skills is.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Just huge, right, Like, what can you actually offer? Well,
if you're good with words, writing blog posts, website copy,
even emails there's demand.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Definitely, or design, graphic design websites, even just making nice presentations.
Companies need that constantly.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Totally coding, video editing, managing social media accounts, virtual assistant tasks, voiceovers.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Transcription too. It's a long.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
List, it really is. And businesses, individuals, they're all out
there looking for people with these skills, often remotely.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Which is where those platforms come in handy exactly.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Places like fiber upwork, freelancer dot com. They're like massive
online marketplaces.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yeah, they connect you directly with clients. Beating your specific
service makes it much easier than finding clients.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Cold, and they handle things like finding clients, pitching, even
getting paid securely. It lowers the barrier, doesn't.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
It massively takes a lot of the initial friction out.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Okay, So here's the interesting especially if you're thinking where
do I start? You don't always need that formal qualification, right.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Not necessarily.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
No.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
What clients really care about is can you do the
job well? And can you prove it?
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Ah, the portfolio that's key. Showing your work.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Absolutely, your skills and a strong portfolio demonstrating them are
paramount way more important than a degree in many fields, online.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
So how do you get started? Practically speaking?
Speaker 2 (03:27):
You can start small, maybe do a couple of initial
projects for free or at a lower rate than you eventually.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Want to get your foot in the door.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Exactly. It's about building momentum and crucially collecting those first
positive reviews.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Reviews are everything online, aren't they? Social proof?
Speaker 2 (03:43):
They are vital. Think of each good review as a
stamp of approval that future clients can see. It builds
trust instantly.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Once you have a few of those, you can start
nudging your rates up.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Precisely. We've seen people go from five dollars gigs on
fiver to charging hundreds per hour. It's a journey.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
So what makes someone successful long term in freelancing?
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Consistency is huge. Delivering good work every time, clear communication,
keeping clients in the loop.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah, managing expectations.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
And always improving, learning new things, refining your skills. It's
not static, makes sense.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
It's like running your own mini business.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
It really is, and that ties into the whole gig
economy idea, doesn't it. Freelancing is sort of the poster
child for that empowerment. It flips the script on traditional
jobs instead of one boss. Long term, it's project based,
more agile, you have more.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Control, control over your schedule, your income exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
That autonomy is big draw and that idea of reputation
you mentioned, it's not just important, it's like the currency
of freelancing. How so well, Unlike old school word of mouth,
online reviews on upwork or fiverr are global, transparent, instant.
It's your track record visible to.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Anyone, so becomes your personal brand almost precisely.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
It signals quality, reliability, often more powerfully than a CV.
That's what getting the reviews Isn't just about the next job.
It's a long term investment in your earning power, better reputation,
better clients, higher rates.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Gotcha, a strategic investment. Okay, let's shift gears. Method number two,
create and sell digital products. This one feels different, more
about passive income potential. Right.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Absolutely, it's a game changer for many. The core idea
is brilliant in its simplicity. You create something valuable once,
a digital thing, and then you can sell it over
and over again, potentially forever.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
And it leverages creativity. But without physical stuff, no boxes,
no shipping.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Exactly, no inventory headaches.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
So what kind of digital products are we talking about?
Give US some examples.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Oh, the range is huge. Ebooks on niche topics are
classic planners templates, think notion templates, spreadsheet templates, social media templates.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Things that save people time or organize them.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Precisely, step by step guides, video tutorials, teaching a skill,
even creative assets like music loops for video created or
Photoshop presets for photographers.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Right, things people can download and use immediately.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
And selling them is easier than ever. Platforms like Gumroad
at the pay hip, you can set up a digital
storefront really.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Quickly, like in an hour often.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, upload your products, set a price, connect your payment details,
and you're basically ready to sell.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
And the big advantages compared to selling say physical goods.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
No shipping costs or logistics, no managing inventory levels, and
generally far fewer customer service issues like returns for damaged goods.
It's cleaner.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
It's pure intellectual property, really exactly your knowledge or creativity
packaged digitally. You mentioned a notion template example earlier. Can
you elaborate on that? That sounded powerful?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Yeah, there was a story of someone who created a
it goes a ten dollars notion template notion Is that flexible?
Workspace app right, very popular. So this template was designed
to solve a specific organizational problem, maybe project management, maybe
content planning, something like that. Okay, And because it genuinely
solve that specific problem really well for a lot of people,
(07:05):
that single ten dollars template ended up making something like
thirty thousand dollars.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Wow, from a ten dollars product.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Yeah, passive income because it meant a real need.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
So that really prompts the question for anyone listening, what
could you create digitally? What knowledge do you have, what
skill or even just an aesthetic sense.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
What could you design that others would find useful or
beautiful or just a huge time saver.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
What specific problem could your digital product solve?
Speaker 2 (07:32):
That's the key question which brings us to the idea
of passive income. Itself sounds great earn while you sleep, but.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
There's upfront work involved, a lot.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Of upfront work, usually identifying that specific problem and then
creating a high quality solution. That's the foundation. It's not
passive if there's no value created first.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
So what kinds of problems are best suited for digital solutions?
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Generally things that need information, organization, maybe ins or tools
that can be delivered instantly and copied perfectly.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Things that don't need physical interaction.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Right, Think about common frustrations. People have tasks that are repetitive,
workflows that are inefficient, or just desires people have learning
a skill, getting fitter, being more productive.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Digital products can tackle those.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Perfectly because they scale infinitely. What's made the cost per
copy is basically zero, high profit margins. Potentially, it's true.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Leverage, leverage on your time and creativity exactly.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
But you have to start with the need. What do
people struggle with that you can solve digitally?
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Makes sense? Okay? Method three feels very current. Start a
YouTube channel.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Uh YouTube, It's way more than just entertainment, isn't it?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Absolutely? People forget It's the world's second biggest search engine
after Google.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
People are actively searching for answers there. How do I
what's the best exactly?
Speaker 1 (08:51):
How to guides, education, reviews, tutorials, inspiration not just music videos, so.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
The content possibilities are endless. Really just needs align with
what you know.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Are love right, cooking channels, travel vlogs, gaming streams or reviews.
Tech tutorials are huge.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Life advice, productivity tips, book reviews, product on Boxing's anything
really if you're passionate and knowledgeable, there's.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Likely an audience, and monetization isn't just ads, is it?
That's just the start?
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Oh, definitely not. AD Revenue is the first thing people
think of, and you need to hit certain thresholds for that.
But the real money often comes later, like what sponsorships
where brands pay you to feature their product affiliate links
in your video descriptions. We'll talk more about that. Selling
your own merchandise T shirts, mugs, and selling your own
(09:40):
digital courses.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Maybe leveraging that audience trust.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Exactly, building on the value you've already provided. The income
streams can stack up significantly once you have an engaged audience.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Now, the big hurdle for many is gear. People think
they need a fancy studio.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Yeah that stopped so many people, but honestly, you really don't.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
That's a smartphone.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
A decent smartphone camera is often good enough to start.
Maybe invest in a cheap external microphone. Sound quality is
actually more important than video quality. Often good tip and passion.
You need the drive to keep creating. That's more important
than expensive gear.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
So the advice is start messy, just start.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Don't wait for everything to be perfect. Your first videos
probably won't be great.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
That's okay, progress over perfection.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Absolutely, get filming, get uploading, learn as you go. It's
like building a muscle.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
I like that. It's iterative.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
It is, and that dual nature of YouTube entertainment and
search engine is key. You can build an audience by
being engaging, sure, but also by being incredibly useful and
discoverable through search solving problems again exactly, and that start
messy mindset is crucial. It breaks down that paralysis of
I'm not good enough yet. You get good by.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Doing and getting feedback from early viewers.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Right. You learn what resonates, You find your voice, you adapt.
It's how creators carve out up their niche and build
something sustainable. It's an evolution.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
Start messy. Great advice, Okay. Number four builds nicely on
content creation affiliate marketing. This one sounds almost too good
to be true, sometimes earning commissions while you sleep.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Well, it's not quite that simple, but the potential for
passive income is definitely there. The core idea is straightforward.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
You promote someone else's product or service, right.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
And you use a special unique tracking link they give you.
If someone clicks your link and makes a.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Purchase, you get a cut, a commission exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
And it's not just small companies. Major players do this.
Amazon Associates is huge, skill Share, Canva, lots of software companies,
web hosts.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Even other creators promoting the tools they use.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Yeah. Absolutely, if you use a tool and love it,
chances are it has an affiliate program.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
So how do you actually do it? Where do these
links go.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
In your content? A review, blog post, a YouTube video
demonstrating the product, a list of recommended resources on your website,
even sometimes in social media posts.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Use carefully, you embed the link naturally within helpful content.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
That's the ideal. Yes. Now, the crucial pro tip here
is what not to do, which is don't just spam
your links everywhere with no context. Buy this, click here.
That doesn't work long term.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
It feels pushy, right erodes trust completely.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
The key is to focus relentlessly on adding genuine value.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
First, explain how the product helps your audience, show it
in action, Be honest about pros and con.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Exactly, maintain transparency. If you're getting commission, often you need
to disclose that too. Honesty builds trust.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
And trust is the foundation for affiliate income.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Absolutely fundamental if your audience trusts your recommendations because you're
always valuable and honest. They're far more likely to click
your links and buy. Without trust, you're just noise.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
So it's less about selling, more about curating and recommending
based on trust.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Precisely, that add value principle distinguishes successful affiliate marketers. They
build a loyal audience that trusts their judgment. It's not
just about one say, it's about repeat engagement, higher conversion
rates over time because you've become a trusted resource curator.
Like you said, Yeah, people are just looking for a product,
they're looking for your vetted recommendation. You filter the noise
(13:12):
for them. That builds an enduring asset, your credibility.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
And that's what generates income more passively over time, as
that trusted content keeps working.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Exactly the value you provided continues to convert.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Okay, got it. Moving on to number five. This one's
for the visually creative types sell print on demand products.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Yes, POD. This is a really interesting model, especially for
designers or anyone with cool ideas for merchandise.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
So the basic idea is you create the design, but
someone else handles all the physical stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
That's the core of it. You design, say a T
shirt graphic, a mug, design, a poster. Then you partner
with a print on demand company like.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Print full or t Spring which is now Spring I
think Red Bubble. Those kinds of places exactly.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Those are the big players. They handle the printing of
your design onto the product, the packing, and the shipping
directly to the customer after an order's place.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
So you don't actually make anything until someone buys it.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Correct, just upload your design file, maybe connected to an
online store you set up like Shopify, or sometimes the
pod platform has its own.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Marketplace, and then your job is mainly marketing promoting your designs.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Pretty much, you focus on getting eyes on your products.
The pod company handles the entire fifima process.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
The massive advantage here seems obvious.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
No inventory huge, that's the game changer. No need to
guess sizes or quantities, no upfront cost buying stock, no
boxes piling up in your garage, no trips to the
post office.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
You could technically start a whole clothing brand without ever
touching a physical shirt.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Absolutely people do it. It lowers the risk incredibly compared
to traditional retail.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
So what kind of designs sell well? Any tips on
niches niches are often key.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Here the market can be crowded. So instead of generic
funny shirts, maybe funny shirts for cat loving accountants, hyper
specific often yeah, dog lovers, book nerds, gym quotes specific
hobbies inside jokes for certain communities. If you can tap
into a passionate niche with designs they relate to, you
can do well.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Uniqueness helps you stand out.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Definitely, unique style, unique humor, tapping into trends quickly. Authenticity
matters too.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Compared to traditional retail, the risk is much lower. But
what's the catch.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Well, the profit margins per item are generally lower than
if you bought inventory in bulk. The pod company takes
a significant cut for their service.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Makes sense. They're doing a lot of the work.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
And because the barrier to entry is low, it is competitive. So,
as we said, unique designs and strong marketing are absolutely essential.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
You have to drive the traffic, so less financial risk,
but more need for creativity and marketing skill.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
That's a good summary. Nailing down your niche and design
style is critical.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Okay number six. This one might feel a bit old
school to some, but you say it's still powerful.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Start a blog Definitely. Blogs are far from dead. In fact,
for long term, sustainable online income. They can be incredibly effective,
often more so than social media alone.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Why is that what gives blogs their staying power longevity?
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Think about it. A good blog post, well written and optimized,
can attract visitors from search engines like Google.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
For years, evergreen content exactly.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Unlike a tweet or an Instagram post that vanishes in hours,
a blog post is an asset that can keep working
for you passively over the long haul.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
And how do blogs actually make money?
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Multiple ways? Display ads are common, you see them on
most sites. Affiliate links naturally within your contents, Yes, where
brands pay you to write about their product or service
and crucially selling your own products like ebooks or courses
directly to your dedicated audience.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
That seems like a powerful funnel. So for strategy, is
it like print on demand? Niche down?
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Absolutely? Focus is key. Pick a specific topic, parenting strategies
for newborns, budget travel in Southeast Asia, learning Python for
data science, keto recipes for beginners.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Become the go to resource for that specific.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Thing precisely that builds authority and attracts a loyal readership.
Platforms like WordPress are the standard. Very flexible or simpler
options like medium exist too.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
And what else is needed for success? Besides great content?
Speaker 2 (17:26):
You need some basic understanding of SEO search engine optimization,
how to help Google find your content. Consistency in publishing
is vital, and.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
You mentioned building an email list earlier.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Critical absolute critical for long term blogging success. We can
dive into why.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Okay, so why is the email list so important even
with social media?
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Because you own your email list, You don't own your
followers on Facebook or Instagram. The platform does their algorithms
control who sees your stuff. They can change the rules overnight.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Right, Your reach can vanish.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
But your email list is a direct line to your
most engaged readers can contact them any time by passing algorithms.
It's where you build the deepest relationships and.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Where you can reliably promote things exactly.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
New posts, affiliate offers, your own products. Email subscribers are
almost always your most valuable audience segment. It turns casual
readers into a community.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
So blogging slow growth maybe, but potentially very stable long
term money, especially with that email list asset.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
That's the essence of it. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Got it okay? Methods seven this feels more direct, more
personal online coaching or tutoring.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Yes, this is about directly monetizing your specific expertise by
teaching others, usually one on one or in small groups, and.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
The range of expertise can be pretty broad here too.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Absolutely anything you're genuinely good at and can explain well.
Math tutoring, music lessons, guitar, piano, singing, fitness coaching, personal.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Training, mindset coaching, productivity.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Help Definitely helping people overcome blocks get organized. Language tutoring
is huge. Two. If you know a skill well, someone
else likely wants to learn it directly from.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
A person, and platforms exist to facilitate this, loads of them.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Prepply is big for languages and academics. Teachable and skill
share can be used for live sessions alongside courses. Even
just using Zoom with a scheduling tool like calendly works
perfectly well, so.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
You can do it from anywhere basically.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
As long as you have good Internet. Yes, the location
independence is a big plus.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
What's the main appeal for the customer here? Why pay
for coaching versus finding free info.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Online personalization, tailored guidance in a sea of generic advice,
getting help specific to your situation, your goals, your sticking
points is incredibly valuable. People pay a premium for that
targeted support.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
So it requires more than just knowledge. You need good communication.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Skills, essential strong listening skills to understand the client's needs,
ability to explain complex things simply, patience, empathy. It's a
relationship as much as a transaction.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Can you give specific examples like teaching English?
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Yeah, Platforms like vip kid or cambly specifically connect English
tutors with students, often kids abroad, very structured.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Or maybe something more business focused.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Sure, someone skilled in resumes and interviews could offer coaching packages,
maybe finding clients through LinkedIn, helping people land jobs. The
demand for that kind of specific, high stakes coaching is strong.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
It's about providing that direct human guidance.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Exactly, and that personalization justifies the often higher price point
compared to say a prerecorded course. People value that direct
access and tailored feedback.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
So how does someone find their niche in coaching?
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Reflect on problems you've solve for yourself or others, What
unique skilled or perspective do you have? What results can
you help people achieve? Get Specific fitness coaching is broad
postnatal fitness coaching for busy moms is a niche.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
And platforms help bridge the gap to the audience.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
They can. Yes, they offer visibility, credibility, payment process, saying
it's about matching your specific expertise with the specific market need.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Okay. Number eight takes us back to e commerce, but
with a twist. We touched on drop shipping right.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
So similar to print on demand in that you don't
hold inventory, but different in what you're selling.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
Remind us of the core concept.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
You set up an online store, typically using something like Shopify.
You find products from suppliers, often on marketplaces like Alley
Express or through directories like Salehoop.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
But you don't buy the products up front.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Correct, You list them in your store at a markup.
When a customer buys from your store.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
You then place the order with your supplier, give them
the customer's address, and.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
The supplier ships it directly to the customer. You're the middleman,
the storefront, the marketer.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Your profit is the difference between your selling price and
the supplier's cost exactly.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
The startup cost is low because no big inventory investment
is needed. That's the appeal.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
But you flagged a big requirement earlier marketing.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Yes, this is the critical piece for off shipping. Because
you're often selling products, others can also access. Your success
hinges almost entirely on your ability to market effectively.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Finding the right audience and convincing them to buy from you.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Precisely, this means mastering things like Facebook or Instagram ads,
maybe TikTok, influencer marketing, potentially SEO. For your store, you
need to drive traffic.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
And the pro tip was not just selling random stuff.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Right, avoid the general store approach. Usually focus on solving
a specific problem or tapping into a hot trend.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Find a niche like gadgets for campers or eco friendly
kitchen products.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Something specific, and crucially vet your suppliers carefully. Product quality
and shipping times can make or break your reputation, So.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
The marketing demands are much higher here compared to other models.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Generally, Yes, yeah, because your differentiation isn't usually the product itself.
It's your branding, your marketing, your customer targeting. You need
to be sharp on market research, trendspotting and.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Advertising, analyzing ad data, iterating quickly.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
All of that much more of a marketing game than say,
freelancing your unique.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Skill understood, Okay, number nine is a shift for people
who maybe don't want the entrepreneurial risk. Remote customer service jobs.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Yeah, this is a really solid option for folks who
prefer employment stability but want the flexibility of working.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
From home, and the demand is high now.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Exploded in recent years. Lots of legitimate companies hire remote
teams for various roles.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
What kind of roles? Typically?
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Customer support is the big one, phone, email, chat, tech support,
help desks, email management, sometimes data entry or virtual assistant
type roles within a larger company structure.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Where do you find these jobs?
Speaker 2 (23:40):
Specific remote job boards are great, we'll work remotely remote
dot co flex jobs, but also the major ones like
indeed LinkedIn just use their remote filter.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
And the flexibility is the main draw, huge draw.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Full time part time options often available, work from anywhere
with good Wi Fi. Great for people outside major cities
or needing to be home.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
What's skills or attributes do you need?
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Good communication is key, written and verbal organization, patience, empathy,
You're often dealing with customer issues, basic computer literacy, stable internet.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
So it's a reliable way to earn online with a
steady paycheck, maybe benefits, but without the hustle of building
your own thing.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Exactly. Yeah, it fits into that massive trend towards remote
work that was accelerated by well recent global events.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Companies realized it works.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Many did, Yes, and for employees the benefits are clear.
No commute, more comfortable environment, potentially better work life balance.
It's a great alternative for those seeking stability plus flexibility.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Okay, number ten, Back to the creatives sell stock photos
and videos.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Yeah, if you have a good eye and a camera,
even a good smartphone camera, this can become a nice
pats of income stream.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
So you take photos or short video clips.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
High quality ones, Yeah, and you upload them to stock
media platforms.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Like shutter Stock, Adobe Stock, getdy Images. Maybe even free
sites like pexels have contribution options exactly.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Those are the main players where businesses and creators go
to license.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Imagery and you get paid how usually a royalty each
time someone downloads your photo or video clip. It's a
numbers game. Often the more content you have and the
more downloads, the more you earn, and.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
Once it's uploaded it can keep earning potentially for years. Yes,
that's the passive aspect. You do the work upfront, shooting, editing,
keywording that it sits there waiting to be licensed.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
What kind of themes are in demand? What should people
focus on?
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Think? Broad but relevant nature shots are always popular, Technology,
business settings, diverse teams collaborating are huge families, lifestyle, fitness, food.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
Authentic stuff presumably less cheesy staged photos.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Authenticities definitely a trending. Also, high quality background videos for
YouTubers or presentations, things that are versatile.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
And you said, even smartphone photos can work if.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
They're high quality, absolutely composed, good lighting. It's more about
the image quality and relevance than the specific camera model sometimes, So.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
What makes certain photos or videos sell better than others?
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Commercial appeal is key? Does it meet a need for businesses?
Is it clean, well lit, versatile? Does it represent diversity
or current trends? Technical quality matters, sharp focus, good.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Exposure and volume helps uploading consistently.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Definitely. Building a large, diverse portfolio across in demand categories
increases your chances of getting downloads. You're essentially building a
digital asset library that generates income.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Over time, turning your photo archive into potential cash. Cool
okay number eleven. Build a niche newsletter.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Ah email still incredibly powerful despite everything else, especially niche newsletters.
Why niche because people will subscribe and even pay for
deep focused content on a topic they're passionate or curious about,
something social media often doesn't provide in the same curated way.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Give us some examples of niches.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Could be anything, really, a daily round up of AI news,
productivity tips specifically for freelancers, summaries of complex academic papers,
parenting advice for twins, vegan baking.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
Recipes, super specific stuff.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
The more specific, often the more loyal they Audience platforms
like substack, behive convert Kit make it easy to manage
subscribers and send emails.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
How do they make money? Paid subscriptions that's.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
A big one now. Yeah, readers pay monthly or yearly
for premium content, but also affiliate links within the newsletter
and sponsorship's brand, paying to reach that targeted, engaged audience.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
And the potential is quite high. You mentioned ten dollars
a month.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
Yeah, some successful niche newsletters achieve that or more, even
with relatively small lists, maybe just a few thousand subscribers.
If the engagement and value are high, monetization works.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
Why does email still work so well when social media
is everywhere?
Speaker 2 (27:49):
Permission and intent someone Subscribing gives you explicit permission to
enter their inbox. It's deliberate action. The engagement is usually
much higher than a passive social media scroll.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
It's a direct relationship.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Exactly, You own that connection. Unlike social media followers. It
builds loyalty trust. Those readers are far more likely to
act on your recommendations or buy from you. It's a
resilient asset.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
A valuable loyal reader base makes sense. Okay. Finally, number twelve.
This sounds like a big one. Create and sell online courses.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Big effort up front, yes, but potentially massive scalability and
income potential. Ideal if you have deep expertise in something.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
So you package your knowledge into a course format.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Right, structure it logically, usually video lessons, maybe worksheets, quizzes,
resources platforms like teachable, skill share. You to me provide
the infrastructure to host and sell it.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
What kind of topics work?
Speaker 2 (28:42):
Almost anything? People want to learn coding, photography, sell mastery,
digital marketing, playing an instrument, mindfulness, techniques, language learning. If
there's demand to learn it, you can.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
Make a course video based usually often.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
Yeah, but good courses include practical exercises. Maybe a community
element needs to be fair reflecting the value in transformation
you offer.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
And the income model. Create once, sell repeatedly.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
That's the beauty. Once it's launched, every sale is additional
income with minimal extra work per student. That's the scalability.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
And some people make a full time living from just
one or two courses.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
Absolutely, if a course effectively solves a significant problem or
teaches a highly desired skill, it can generate substantial ongoing revenue.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
So how does this scale like crazy aspect really differ
from say coaching.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
Coaching is one to one or one to few. Your
time is the bottleneck. A course is one to many.
You create it once and potentially thousands by it without
requiring more of your time per person. That's leverage.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
And finding that real problem your course solves is key crucial.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
What are people struggling with? What outcome do they desperately want?
If your course provides a clear path, a tangible solution
to a widespread pain point or desire, it has huge potential,
big upfront investment, potentially exponential long term reward.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
Wow, Okay, that's quite a list. Twelve really distinct powerful
ways to potentially earn online. We've covered freelancing, digital products, YouTube,
affiliate marketing, print on demand blogging, coaching, drop shipping, remote jobs,
stock media, newsletters, and online courses.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
A lot of groundcovers, definitely, And.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
The key thing to remember is these are real opportunities,
legitimate paths. But, and this is important, you absolutely do
not need to do all of them. Please don't try.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
No, that would be overwhelming.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Focus is better, exactly. Pick one that resonates with you,
with your skills, your interests. Start there, test it, see
how it feels. Learn as you go what's working, what isn't,
What do you actually enjoy doing.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
Adjust your plan based on that feedback. It's an iterative process, and.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
Then grow from there. Whether you just want some extra
cash on the side, or you dream of going fully
remote or building your own online business, the tools and
platforms are out there.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
More accessible than ever before.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Truly, the Internet makes it possible to design in a
life that fits you using your unique talents. So, as
we wrap up this deep dive, the question for you
listening right now is which one are you going to
try first? Which method sparked something?
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Yeah, give that some real thought.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
And maybe chew on this final thought, think about skills
or passions you have right now, things you might even
take for granted because they come easily to you. What
hidden potential is sitting there, just waiting for the Internet
and the right audience to unlock it. What could you
offer the world online
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