Make Money Online Today With These 5 Tips

Originally published May 2, 2020 on the original SPEN10 blog. Lightly refreshed in October 2026: fixed broken links and added a few updates.

How can I make money online? That's the question a lot of people are asking right now, and more and more of them are turning to the internet for answers.

Let me be the first to tell you: the internet is the answer. There have been far more opportunities to make money since the dawn of the internet, with new ideas and opportunities being born every day.

Of course, that doesn't mean it's easy. There's plenty of competition and lots of variables to account for and test. You also need to learn to see past the lies and scams and find the people and products that will truly help you.

There are plenty of scammers out there just trying to trick people out of their money — and in most of those schemes, the only one making money is the person running it. Before accepting any money-making opportunity, do your research. Check out both the offer and the person presenting it: their background, their past projects, and their social media profiles.

1. Sell through online marketplaces

A lot of money is made through online auctions and marketplaces, and it takes very little effort to list items and start selling. You'll need to decide which products to sell and create appealing listings.

You can sell almost anything through marketplaces — physical goods, digital products, even online courses. If you learn to sell well on marketplace sites, you can build a nice income.

2. Own your own website

You can create your own online store instead. With your own site, you'll pay a lot less in fees than marketplaces charge.

The downside is that nobody knows a new site. You have no authority yet, and people are hesitant to buy from a website they've never heard of. But with some good marketing, that won't be an issue for long.

Overall, you can make a lot more money in the long run with your own site — just expect a slow, rocky start. See these design tips for inspiration.

2026 note: building your own site or app is easier than ever with AI tools — check out the SPEN10 guides to see how.

3. Join affiliate programs

You don't need your own product to sell. Instead, find a product with an affiliate program and sign up to promote it. Each time you make a sale, you're paid a percentage.

This works great for people who love sales or have good marketing skills, and it's a very good option for beginners with no products of their own.

Lots of good companies offer affiliate programs. My advice is to look for a mid-to-high-priced subscription product, since recurring commissions add up. It's not required, but I recommend promoting products you already use and love. That way you won't disappoint anyone, and you'll know the product inside and out.

One program I promoted for years was ClickFunnels, which makes building websites and sales funnels quick and easy, and pays recurring commissions on its monthly subscriptions.

4. Create information products

If you have expertise in a subject, many people will pay you to teach them. That can be an ebook, a physical book or an online course. There's a lot of money in information products, and now is a great time to get started.

You can also share your knowledge through a YouTube channel, blog or podcast. I recommend trying each and sticking with the one you enjoy most.

5. Start an online agency

The two agency models I recommend most are web design and marketing. Both are great niches to be in, and will be for the foreseeable future.

Web design is a great fit if you're artistic and creative — and, most importantly, if you enjoy it. Professional web designers can earn thousands of dollars per project.

If you're more comfortable with marketing and getting customers in the door, consider a marketing agency instead. Like web design, campaigns can be worth thousands. Here's our list of recommended tools.

Either agency option has huge potential and can make you a very comfortable living.

Thanks!

— Spencer

Disclosure: Some links on SPEN10 are affiliate links. If you buy through them, SPEN10 may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.