How to Make Money Online: Experts Share Tips, From Teaching Courses to Researching Family Trees

Whether you’re retired, looking for some spending money or just want to try something new, you don’t have to hustle outside of the home to earn a bit of extra dough. Experts say that there are plenty of opportunities that are available right from your computer.

“In the digital age, making money online is ideal for many but especially for women over 50 who might want to make some extra cash without committing to a part-time job on top of their full-time job,” says Destiny Chatman, consumer expert at TopCashback.com. “By leveraging your talents and being strategic and patient, you can easily make great money from home!”

From opening your own digital store to becoming a mock juror, keep reading to find out how to make money online.

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Selling your things through e-commerce 

 Dropshipping

When the Internet was new, eBay was the go-to for selling items online. Now, there are even easier methods—and in some cases, the product is all digital! Printables, templates, planners, budget trackers and e-books are all fantastic options for an e-commerce store focused on dropshipping. This is when a store sells products without keeping any in stock.

“You don’t even need to be an artist to create marketable art for your products,” says Stephany Kaufman, founder of UPBEAT. “I create most of my designs in Canva, a free, user-friendly graphic design tool, but you can also generate art using AI tools like Midjourney.”  

Though they do require some work and practice to create the products, the income is mostly passive over time. (Mark Slack, co-founder of SideHustles.com, says the products usually sell for $5 to $20 each. If you promote your store, you can earn between $500 to over $5,000 per month.)

Etsy, Printful, Gumroad, Shopify and Printify are all terrific websites for selling your creations. People order on demand and then either print the products themselves, or the website will handle printing, packaging and shipping for you.

“To help boost your listings in search results, be sure to use relevant descriptive keywords that shoppers would search for in your titles, descriptions, and tags,” adds Kaufman.

Handmade items

Digital products aren’t the only option, however, for an e-commerce shop. “If you have a talent for crafting, art, or jewelry making, Etsy and eBay provide excellent marketplaces for selling handmade or unique goods,” says Janeil Pierre, an accredited financial counselor and board certified credit consultant. “The online marketplace for handmade items continues to grow, making it ideal for artisans and creatives.”

Affiliate marketing

Don’t have your own inventory to sell? There’s another option to consider. “Join affiliate marketing, where you sell products or services and obtain a commission per sale,” says entrepreneur Alejandra Santos, CEO of Into the Next. Both small business owners and major brands utilize these services.

This is great if you enjoy making recommendations, because you earn money every time a purchase is made through a link. This is most seen with bloggers, YouTubers and other social media users.

“You can earn a commission on sales generated through your referral links through programs like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, and Commission Junction,” says Pierre. “Affiliate marketing can generate a steady stream of passive income with the right strategy.”

Note: You will need to have social media accounts on platforms like TikTok or Instagram, and the larger the audience—the larger your potential earnings.

Selling your skills/knowledge

Digital courses

“If you have expertise in a particular subject, you can create and sell courses on platforms like Udemy, Coursera, or Teachable,” suggests Pierre. “Online learning is a booming industry, and people are willing to pay for valuable business skills, personal development, and creative arts knowledge.”

This could be anything from cooking to budgeting—just tap into your skillset! According to Slack, it could take 10 to 20 hours to produce one course. But once published, it could earn you $100-$5,000 per month.

Tutoring

Are you great with kids? Online tutoring (which is in high demand) may be for you, especially if you’re knowledgeable in subjects kids struggle with the most. Pierre says science, math and language learning are very popular subjects.

Check out platforms like Wyzant, Chegg and VIPKid to get started!

Selling handwritten letters

“If you have great handwriting, consider selling handwritten letters online,” says Chatman. “On Etsy, handwritten notes for weddings, birthdays or love letters are in high demand. You can choose your own pricing and accept orders as you see fit, allowing for flexibility and making this a great side hustle.”

Consulting

This is a highly profitable option if you have a background in areas like marketing, finance, business or career coaching.

“Platforms like Upwork, Clarity.fm, and Fiverr connect experts with clients who need advice and strategy,” says Pierre. “Consulting fees vary but can range from $50 to several hundred dollars per hour, depending on expertise.”

Freelancing

Like consulting, having experience in a certain industry can make you a prime candidate for freelancing. Graphic design, programming, social media management and writing lend themselves to freelancing opportunities. These can be particularly great for anyone looking for flexibility and financial independence, adds Pierre.

Visit platforms like Fiverr, Freelancer and Upwork to get started and connect with clients around the globe.

Voiceover gigs

“If people often say you have a great voice, consider using it to earn money,” says Slack. “Organizations, writers and content creators need voiceover work for productions like audiobooks, tutorial videos, meditation sessions and other media. It’s pretty easy to get started—many beginners start with just a good quality microphone and a quiet place.”

Experts say the jobs can earn you anywhere from $100-$3,000 depending on the job. Check out beginner-friendly platforms like ACX (Amazon’s platform for audiobooks), Bunny Studio, Fiverr, Upwork or Voices.com. 

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Other ways to make money

Blogging

“If you are good at writing and aren’t afraid to talk about your life experiences, you should consider starting a blog where you produce ‘Grandfluencing’ content on a topic of your choosing,” suggests Chatman. “Many younger women will tune in to informative content from older women for advice on everyday situations.”

This can take a while to see any financial reward, however, as building an audience does take time. But if things take off, you could earn money through ad revenue, sponsored posts and affiliate marketing, says Pierre.

Virtual mock juror

While traditional jury duty requires you to report to a courthouse, you can get paid for an alternative option right at home.

“Becoming a mock juror is cheap, doesn’t require you to have a legal background and has very few requirements,” says Chatman. “If you have good reading comprehension skills and reliable internet, you can earn as much as $60 per case on sites like OnlineVerdict, JuryTalk and eJury.”

Mock jurors participate in a simulated trial and act as jury members for the benefit of case lawyers. The feedback allows them to use the opinions and reactions they receive to adjust their strategy as needed.

Researching family trees

Have an interest in historical research and investigations? There are genealogy-specific routes for earning money on the web. People who want to look into their family history may not know how to go about it, and want to hire someone to do the digging for them.

“Using sites like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch, you can help customers find their genealogical histories and build complete family trees,” says Slack. “Payment for services can range from $50 to $200, and since investigations can be done at your own pace, this is a great opportunity for people who enjoy studying history documents.”

Consider advertising your services on a personal website, Etsy, social media or genealogy forums.

Virtual assistant

Anyone with superb organizational skills can succeed as a virtual assistant. Websites like Belay, Time Etc. and Upwork all post opportunities for those looking to begin in this role. The good news? The job is flexible and allows people to choose their own hours (generally 1-4 per day).   

“Instead of doing general administrative work, one can specialize in email management, appointment booking or social media maintenance,” says Slack. “Several business people, especially coaches and bloggers, will pay around $20 to $50 per hour for this kind of work.”

Planning and booking travel

Retirees and solo travelers may be overwhelmed with the process of planning their next trip, from itineraries to booking services. That’s where you can come in!

“For this side gig, you do not necessarily require a formal agency license but should instead be good at researching and staying organized,” suggests Slack. “Several travel organizers charge fees of between $50 and $500 per trip, and the work hours can be flexible, ranging from 1 to 3 hours per day, (depending on the number of customers you cater to).”

Consider joining a travel agency firm like Avoya Travel to get involved with this type or work or create an independent online booking site.

Online surveys

Though it may not pay much, you can make some extra cash fast just by sharing your opinions. Take online surveys through websites like Swagbunks and Survey Junkie, says Pierre and get paid for your time…and your thoughts!

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