My Lifestyle Career

9 (Realistic) Ways to Earn Income Online

"Make millions while you sleep!”

“I earned $300,000 my first year online and so can you!”

Sounds alluring, doesn't it? The internet is filled with sites promising "MILLIONS!!!!" to an audience eager to harness the potential for earning a living off the web. Of course, contrary to the hype, the "road to riches" (a.k.a., a reasonable income stream) requires hard work, perseverance and determination. But if you're willing to invest the time and energy, there are some proven and realistic ways to generate cash through your computer.

So with the understanding that there are no get rick quick secrets here, let’s  take a closer look at nine formats for creating online income:

1. E-Books: Creating e-books and special reports that customers download directly to their computers is a great first step for any aspiring e-infopreneur. Digital downloads are easy to create because all you need is an idea, the ability to turn a document into a PDF file and a service like e-junkie.com to sell the document on the internet. As opposed to producing a “real” book which requires an upfront investment for printing and production, the costs associated with digital downloads are relatively minimal. Of course, identifying a profitable topic and learning the “how-to” of producing and marketing your products for success takes both time and elbow-grease, but there are a number of books, websites and other services available on the web to help you learn.

Shameless plug: If you're interested in seeing how this works, check out my e-products, The Layoff Survival Guide and The Back-to-Work-Toolkit: A Guide for Comeback Moms.

2. Audio Products (CD or MP3 files): Many people prefer learning by listening (as opposed to reading), so consider supplementing your e-book offerings with an audio option. You can sell the audio as a MP3 podcast or as an audio that is accessible online. Alternatively, you can offer a CD, or a packaged set of CDs, for people who prefer a more traditional product. It is relatively easy to create an audio by recording a class,speech or an interview with an expert on a chosen topic. I use Audioacrobat as my audio provider and have found them to be very responsive and easy to use (even for a technophobe like me!).

3. Video Tutorials and Webinars: The internet is a wonderful vehicle for teaching people about all sorts of subjects, from How to Build a Blog to Job Search Techniques to Spanish 101. Technology has now made it possible for even the most technically challenged among us to create impressive multi-media classes and seminars that can be downloaded by a worldwide audience 24/7. The perceived value of classes or workshops is higher than that of printed reports, so creating your own classes can prove to be a very lucrative enterprise.

4. Print Versions of Digital Products: Despite the convenience of e-products, some people prefer learning the old fashioned way with books and cd’s that they can hold, feel and touch. Thanks to the emergence of print-as-you-go fulfillment services like Lulu.com, you can now offer a line of “real” tangible products, without having the headaches associated with the traditional print and distribution model of years past.  

5. Affiliate Advertising: If you have a blog that you want to monetize, consider integrating affiliate advertising into your site. One of the simplest ways to obtain advertising is through one of the affiliate advertising network services on the web, such as Clickbank or Commision Junction.  Unlike traditional print advertising, affiliate advertising is a performance based system, meaning that you won’t earn money until your readers actually click on your links and then purchase the product.  After the purchase is made, you earn a percentage of the sale.  I caution you not to count on this to pay your mortgage (at least not initially); you'll need significant traffic to your site before you can generate serious money through affiliate advertising.

6. Sell on eBay: Believe it or not, there are people who make a full-time income selling their wares on eBay. Whether you want to profit from your burgeoning collection of cookie jars or need an online storefront to sell your vintage clothing, eBay might be the solution for you. To learn more about how to sell on eBay, here is a link to their "getting started" page.

7. Teach Online: If you enjoy teaching, but want to be able to practice your trade from the comfort of home, consider teaching through an online school. To learn more about opportunities for teaching online, consult one of the "how-to" books available on this topic at Amazon.com or read some of the helpful articles on this topic at The Chronicle of Higher Education.

8. Create/Sell Products Online: Looking for a way to earn cash from your creative talents?   Take advantage of the print-on-demand services offered through vendors like CafePress.com where your creative designs and photos can be transformed into novelty products (mugs, greeting cards, hats, etc.) that are offered for sale online; without having to deal with the hassles of upfront production costs, inventory risks and fulfillment requirements. Alternatively, if you want to sell your crafts or jewelry online, you can set-up a storefront through a site like Etsy.com which aggregates the wares of thousands of craftspeople into a single well-traveled online shopping mall.

9. Provide content or writing services to a third-party publisher: If you’re interested in writing online, but don’t want the headaches associated with running a blog or website, consider working as a freelance writer, copy editor or proofreader for a third-party website. Two excellent resources to help you find freelance writing opportunities are Ratracerebellion.com and Mediabistro.com.

Bonus Tip: Having been done this road myself, I know that learning the "how-to" of creating informational products is a pain.  One of the best resources I've found for learning about this subject are the classes and products offered by Rebecca Morgan through her site Making Money in Your Jammies.  I personally took her class before choosing to be an affiliate for her and found her offerings extremely valuable.

5 Ways to Earn Income as a Teacher (Without Getting a Teaching Degree)

Many people are interested in teaching, but they don't pursue teaching jobs because they assume a degree in education is needed in order to secure work.  While it's true that teaching certification is required by the public school system, you can teach in a variety of ways, without having to invest in a teaching degree.  

That should be good news for people who want to leverage their corporate skills into a multi-faceted, lifestyle-friendly career that includes a teaching income stream (often supplemented by coaching, speaking, writing income paths).  If you'd like to figure out a way to monetize your expertise through teaching, here are some alternatives to consider:

1) Adjunct Professor: Adjunct level professors are hired on a contractual non-tenured basis to teach at universities, community colleges, vocational schools and colleges. The need for adjunct professors is determined on a semester-by-semester basis by the university (or department) and fluctuates over time. While some institutions require a doctorate, you can normally work as an adjunct if you have a master's degree in the area of specialty in which you want to teach.  Teaching experience is a plus, but it's not always a necessity since an advanced degree plus "real life" work experience in your field can be sufficient to make you an attractive candidate.

2) Online Instructor:  The world of online education is rapidly gaining traction, credibility and prestige.  While brick and mortar universities tend to favor their in-house faculty for online assignments, virtual programs look to outside applicants and are more likely to weight your work experience more heavily than teaching credentials.  A masters degree in your field can make you a more marketable candidate, but schools will consider applicants who hold a bachelor's degree combined with significant work experience.

To secure an online teaching position, you can either start as an adjunct for a brick and mortar school and then transition into their online opportunities, apply directly to an online institution, or search for a virtual teaching job through one of the many online job boards by inputting keywords such as "online teacher" or "virtual instructor'.

3) Corporate Trainer: Companies hire outside trainers to instruct their employees on topics ranging from sales training to social media to business etiquette.  Increasingly, firms are turning to outside vendors to provide their in-house training.  You can deliver your instruction through on-site classes, online programs and off-site retreats, workshops and conferences.  To learn more about training, certification programs and careers in employee training, contact the American Society for Training and Development.

4) Adult Education Instructor: Continuing education programs are always in need of new programs, workshops and classes to fill their catalogs.  Whether your expertise is watercolor painting, cake decorating or dog-training, you can earn some extra cash (generally a small stipend) and attract new clients to your services by teaching an adult education class.   In addition to teaching through your local community colleges, vocational programs or town continuing education program (contact them directly to apply), you might be interested in teaching for larger adult education programs, such as those offered by The Learning Annex.

5) Package a course around your entrepreneurial expertise: Thousands of entrepreneurs are generating significant income by teaching other entrepreneurs how to do what they do.  Whether you can teach coaches how to attract more clients, inventors how to bring their products to market or bloggers how to generate income from affiliate advertising, the possibilities for packaging your expertise into a virtual learning experience are limited only by your imagination.  

To learn more about jobs in education, you might find these resources useful:

Chronicle of Higher Education

Higheredjobs.com

Adjunctjob.com

Know of any other great teaching resources you'd love to share?  Please post them in the comments section! 

 

 

10 Tips for Finding a Part-Time Job

Part-time jobs can be a great solution for people interested in creating a lifestyle-friendly career; either as your sole means of income, as part of a "portfolio" career, or as a way to pay your bills while you ramp-up in a new career or business.

If you're interested in pursuing part-time work, here are ten tips for finding those elusive oppportunities:

1) Think small: For years, I've maintained that one of the best ways to find a flexible job is to target small employers. A 2005 National Study of Employers conducted by the Families and Work Institute confirmed my opinion. The study revealed that small businesses (defined as organizations with 50 to 99 employees) offer employees more opportunities for workplace flexibility, while large employers provide more benefits that have direct costs.  In fact, the study concluded that small employers are significantly more likely to offer flexibility to all or most employees than employers of other sizes.  

2) Focus on start-ups and solopreneurs:  Start-up and one-person businesses are often desperate for help, but they can’t afford to pay full-time salaries.  As a result, they can be a good option for people interested in working on an part-time basis (and as a bonus, you might be able to work from home while enjoying a part-time schedule since most start-ups lack sufficient office space).

3) Expand your search beyond corporate -- to cultural, religious and community-based institutions: For-profit companies are often reluctant to hire part-time personnel so you should expand your part-time search to include institutions outside the corporate mold.  Museums, theaters, arts-agencies, churches, temples, and libraries all tend to rely heavily on part-time staff.

4) Explore government jobs: Hard as it may be to believe, the federal government actually has some of the most progressive employment policies around; job-sharing, telecommuting, and part-time schedules are all available to government employees. Of course, you don't neccesarily have to relocate to Washington, D.C., to take advantage of these jobs since there are federal jobs in all fifty states. If you aren’t located near a federal office, consider applying for a position with your state or local town government office.

5) Look at jobs in healthcare, education and sales:  Part-time scheduling has long been an option for people involved in education (e.g., preschool teachers, adjunct professors),  healthcare (e.g., nurses and dental hygienists) and sales-related occupations (e.g., real estate, telephone sales, etc.).  Even if you don't plan to become a teacher or nurse, you might be able to enjoy the benefits of working a part-time schedule in an administrative or support role within these industry sectors.

Now that you know what types of companies tend to favor part-time employment, here are five strategies for finding job openings:

6) Network, network, network:  As in any job search, the best way to find part-time opportunities is through a process of active networking. Tell everyone you know that you are interested in working part-time; reach out to former colleagues, employers and personal friends through both in-person initiatives and social-media channels.    

7) Approach Companies Directly:  If you don’t have a way to network into a company, approach them directly.  Come up with a list of target employers, identify a problem you can solve and pitch your part-time services as an antidote to their problem. For example, if you want to work as a part-time employment interviewer, analyze the classifieds to identify employers who are in an active hiring mode and then contact them about your recruiting services. Even if the company can’t afford to hire you as a part-time employee, they might be willing to initially hire you on as a contractor, which could lead to more regular work in the future.

8) Temp your way into a part-time job: Companies like to offer jobs to people who have worked for the company on a temporary basis.   Some companies maintain a stable of in-house temps; so if you are interested in working with a specific company or within a specific industry, consider approaching them directly about the possibility of doing temp or contract work for them. There are also a growing number of temporary agencies that place people into companies on a part-time basis (e.g., tentiltwo.com).

9) Use the Job Boards (sparingly):  Many of the online job banks provide a filter that allows you to restrict your search results to jobs with flexible or part-time hours.  The number of part-time jobs listed online are limited, but the odds for finding part-time with this method are increasing all the time.  Also, be sure to sites like FlexJobs.com that specialize in flexible job listings.

10) Check Craigslist.com (frequently):  For several years, Craigslist.com did not charge a fee for job postings (that is now slowly changing but their rates are still cheaper than many other sites).  As a result, Craigslist has become a favorite place for entrepreneurs and small businesses to post their job openings (and as you learned in tips #1 and #2, small employers = better odds for part-time gigs).  I know of several clients who found interesting contract and part-time work on Craiglist.com.

Most of all, be patient. Finding a good part-time situation takes perseverance, but the payoff of a less stressful lifestyle, personal flexibility and a steady part-time paycheck, makes it a challenge worth pursuing.