The last few years have changed a lot of things. A big one is the amount of time we spend on the internet. From shopping to making friends to watching new release films, it seems that “virtually” anything can be done online (see what we did there?). As a result, people no longer need to leave their houses to do their grocery shopping, take college courses, or earn an income.
The states that “more than a third of U.S. households reported working from home more frequently than before the pandemic.” People learned to stay home during Covid, and it hasn’t changed. As a result, many industries are shifting to at-home online formats. Work-from-home jobs are the new norm. From paid online surveys to customer service to tutoring, everyone is working online.
The great news is you don’t need a college degree or years of experience to work from home. There are many entry-level online jobs out there. If you no longer want to commute to work and want the freedom of working from anywhere, the perfect work-from-home job for you is probably out there. But you have options even if you want a side hustle for a little extra cash. Here are four legitimate jobs that you can do from anywhere.
Paid Online Surveys
Taking surveys for cash is super easy, stress-free, and fun. All you need is a computer or smartphone, an email address, access to the internet, and some spare time.
While doing online paid surveys won’t give you enough money to live on, it is a simple method to supplement your income. Paid surveys are designed to compensate consumers for their time by paying them a small reward. You can earn between 50 cents to three dollars for each survey you complete. So doing online paid surveys for a few hours each week can earn you between $50 and $150 per month. And depending on the amount of time you spend taking surveys, you could even make more than that!
Always ensure that you are using a legitimate online survey website. Fraudulent sites target those looking to earn money by promising high payouts. You simply can’t get rich taking surveys, so be wary of sites that promise big bucks. Twenty-five dollars for one survey, for example, is a red flag. Also, steer clear of membership fees. The adage “it takes money to make money” does not apply to online surveys for money. These con artists not only steal your “membership money,” but also your personal information.
There are many sites where you can get paid to take surveys. Some are legit, but many are not. Of course, we’re biased, but we think Branded Surveys is one of the best. The site has nearly 69,000 reviews on Trustpilot and a rating of “excellent” overall. This is not a simple task for any survey website. However, in addition to being a trustworthy website, Branded Surveys offers excellent rewards, and there is always a sufficient number of surveys. They also allow you to exchange your points for gift cards or cash using PayPal or Branded Pay.
Customer Service
One of the largest online-based industries is remote-based customer service. Formerly, these jobs required sitting in an office, but with the rise in internet technology, more customer service centers allow their employees to work from home. In addition, many employers even send you a computer and the equipment you need. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for customer service representatives is $36,920 annually.
Remote customer service representatives (also known as agents) typically converse with customers and assist them however possible. They do this over the phone or through online chat. Patience, empathy, and problem-solving skills are essential for a CS rep. In addition, they must serve the customer and represent the company they work for.
There are many online job search engines and postings for remote customer service representatives. A great place to start your search is FlexJobs.com. ZipRecruiter and Indeed are also excellent websites to get leads. And Remote.co is a job posting board specifically for online work-from-home jobs. As always, be sure to verify legitimacy when looking for online employment. A legitimate employer will never ask you to pay money first. They also only need your secure personal information (like your social security number) if you are filling out tax forms or an official application.
Freelance Photography
Selling photos online is becoming increasingly popular. If you have a smartphone with a decent camera or professional camera equipment, freelance photography can be a lucrative hobby and maybe even a career! Many sites (called “stock photography websites”) and apps pay you to sell your photos online.
If you are new to freelance photography, one of the most straightforward stock photography websites is Foap.com. According to their website, “While some people make just five to ten dollars per month, other users are making $4,000 or more per year”. Upload your images to the app and show them to millions of potential purchasers on the Foap Market. If someone loves your photo, you’ll be notified that they wish to buy it. The app also lets you make money with the “missions” tab. Missions specify guidelines for the type of photos you can upload. These are contest-style and can pay as much as $200 or more if you win.
Other legitimate websites to sell your photos online are Shutterstock, Alamy, Adobe Stock, and Stocksy. Shutterstock has been around the longest for stock photography and has millions of customers wanting photos. Adobe Stock uploads your photos across many Adobe products for a larger marketplace. For maximum exposure, join more than one website and have fun taking photos.
Copywriting
If you love writing and are good at language arts, you can make money as a content writer. This can be an exciting and lucrative career. And offers the flexibility to work on your schedule from anywhere.Additionally, this fantastic (and legitimate) work-from-home job can be potentially high-paying.
Commonly referred to as content mills, quite a few websites pay for both short and long-form articles. These sites are a great way to get your foot in the door of the copywriting field. While some clients have specific needs, others will buy your freelance content. The ultimate goal is to gain clients. If a content mill customer buys and loves your article, they can reach out to you to offer you custom jobs or long-term projects. You can even get full-time work this way! ListVerse and Texbroker are some of the most well-known content mills.
Listverse pays for pre-written content in the form of a list (somewhat like this one). Submit your essay to Listverse, and upon acceptance, you get a $100 payout.
Textbroker is the most well-known content mill on the market. They post article requests throughout the day. You can view the instructions and then accept the assignment. Payouts are every week. While the payment amount is low, Textbroker is an excellent way to gain new clients.
These are just a few of the legitimate work-from-home jobs out there. While we focused on the best online jobs, there are other gigs you can do at home, too. If you don’t like getting ready, commuting to work, and being away from home, the possibilities for remote work are endless.
