Ways to Make Money Online – Unlocking 8 Straight Forward & Legitimate Side Hustles

Exploring Side Hustles and Online Income Opportunities in Singapore

In today’s digital age, a wealth of opportunities are emerging for individuals who wish to supplement their income online. This is particularly relevant in Singapore, a hub of advanced technology and robust economy. Whether you’re a freelancer, student, or a full-time professional, the online world offers countless ways to enhance your financial standing.

It’s increasingly clear that a full-time job is no longer the only answer to financial stability. The job market is becoming unpredictable due to economic uncertainties, technological advancements, and rising costs of living, especially in high-priced regions like Singapore.

This underscores the need for side hustles, which have evolved from trendy buzzword to a critical financial strategy. A diversified income not only guards against sudden job loss but also provides a sense of autonomy and control over one’s earning potential. Side hustles often align with personal interests, delivering both gratification and financial benefits.

This article provides a guide to 10 legitimate online money-making opportunities, specifically suited to the Singaporean context. These strategies aim to equip you to navigate the digital landscape and establish reliable, fruitful side hustles, paving your way towards financial security and independence.

This is still active income!

Take note that side hustles are still considered active income, which means exchanging time for money! When you have a sizeable liquid fund, you can start looking at passive income!

1. Embrace the Art of Blogging

Blogging is an excellent way to share your thoughts, ideas, or expertise with the world. It’s a platform where you can express yourself and at the same time, generate income. If you’re passionate about a specific topic or industry, starting a blog could be a profitable venture for you.

Here are a few examples of how one can make money online through blogging, considering a commitment of about two hours per day:

Medium Partner Program: Medium is a popular blogging platform with a unique revenue model. Once you join the Medium Partner Program, you can earn money every time a Medium member reads your story. Depending on how many people ‘clap’ for your articles and how much time they spend reading your content, you could make anywhere from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars per month. It’s worth noting that the earnings can vary widely based on the quality and popularity of your content.

Affiliate Marketing on WordPress: WordPress is another popular blogging platform that can be monetized through affiliate marketing. This involves promoting certain products or services in your blog posts, and then earning a commission every time someone makes a purchase through your affiliate link. For instance, if you blog about tech and gadgets, you could become an affiliate for marketplaces like Amazon or Lazada. If you can attract a decent amount of traffic to your blog and have a good conversion rate, you could potentially earn several hundred dollars per month.

Google AdSense with Blogger: Blogger, a free blogging platform by Google, allows you to monetize your blog through Google AdSense. Once your blog generates significant traffic, you can display targeted ads on your site. You’ll earn money whenever a visitor clicks on these ads. It’s hard to estimate exact earnings as it heavily depends on the number of clicks and the cost-per-click (CPC). However, if your blog attracts a high volume of traffic, this could translate into a substantial income over time.

Sponsored Content: Regardless of the platform you choose, if your blog manages to gather a substantial audience, companies might be willing to pay you to write sponsored posts about their products or services. The earnings can range significantly depending on the size and engagement level of your audience, as well as the budget of the sponsoring company.

How much can you earn from blogging?

Estimating earnings from blogging is challenging as it relies on several factors like the quality of content, the popularity of the blog, the platform used, monetization strategy, and audience engagement. Initially, earnings might be low, but with consistent effort, strategic content planning, and effective marketing, blogging could yield a decent income over time.

If you invest around two hours per day creating compelling content, promoting your blog, and exploring monetization strategies, it’s reasonable to expect a few hundred dollars per month after a year, which could increase significantly as your blog grows.

2. Venture into Freelance Writing

If you possess a talent for crafting words, freelance writing presents a promising avenue to generate income online. Numerous businesses and brands consistently seek proficient writers capable of producing engaging content for their websites, blogs, and social media platforms. Even in an age dominated by AI tools, the unique human touch in freelance writing holds its own distinctive value and potential.

Here are a few online platforms where freelance writers can find gigs, offer their services, and generate a decent income:

Upwork: Upwork is a popular freelancing platform where you can create a profile, highlight your writing skills, and bid on writing jobs that suit your expertise. Jobs can range from blog writing and technical writing to scriptwriting and more. The pay varies significantly, but with high-quality work and good client reviews, you could make anywhere from $15 to $50 per hour or more.

Fiverr: Fiverr is another platform where you can offer writing services, with gigs typically starting at $5. You can offer packages for different levels of service, and as you build a good reputation, you can charge higher rates. The estimated income varies widely depending on the types of gigs, the quality of your work, and your reputation on the platform.

ProBlogger Job Board: This is a dedicated job board for writing professionals where companies post writing gigs. The pay varies significantly based on the job, but it’s a great place to find high-quality, professional writing jobs.

Freelancer: Similar to Upwork, Freelancer is another platform where you can bid on writing jobs. The platform includes a wide range of job categories, including articles, blog posts, technical writing, and more.

Contently: Contently connects freelance writers with enterprise clients, so the pay tends to be higher than on many other platforms. However, competition can be stiff, and you’ll need a strong portfolio to land gigs.

How much can you earn from freelance writing?

Estimating the earnings from freelance writing can be challenging because it depends on many factors, including your writing skills, the types of jobs you take, the platform you use, and the clients you work with.

However, if you spend around two hours a day applying for jobs, writing, and building your portfolio, you could potentially earn a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars per month over time. As with any freelance work, building a strong reputation is key to increasing your rates and securing steady work.

3. Sell Your Crafts Online

If you’re creative and enjoy making handmade items, selling your crafts online could be a profitable venture. Selling handmade crafts online can be a fruitful way to supplement your income if you have a penchant for creating unique items.

Here are a few platforms where you can sell your crafts, given you can dedicate about two hours per day to this endeavor:

Etsy: Etsy is the go-to platform for selling handmade crafts. It’s an online marketplace teeming with buyers who appreciate unique, handmade items. Whether you make jewelry, home decor, clothing, or digital art, Etsy provides a platform for you to reach customers worldwide. The income you can make from Etsy varies greatly based on the type of products you sell, the price point, and how well you market your shop. However, if you consistently list new items and have a solid marketing strategy, you could potentially make a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per month.

Amazon Handmade: This is Amazon’s dedicated section for artisans to sell their handmade items. As a seller, you have the benefit of Amazon’s massive customer base. However, the competition can be steep, and Amazon charges a 15% referral fee. The earning potential is significant if your products stand out and are competitively priced.

Zazzle: If you create designs that can be printed on products like t-shirts, mugs, posters, and more, Zazzle is a great option. You can set up a virtual shop and earn royalties every time a product with your design is sold. Your earnings will depend on your royalty rate and how many products you sell, but with good designs and regular promotion, you could make a steady income over time.

Carousell: For Singapore-based crafters, Carousell is a popular local marketplace where you can sell handmade crafts. The local aspect can be an advantage, especially for items that might be costly to ship overseas.

How much can you earn from selling craft online?

The income you can earn from selling crafts online varies greatly and depends on factors like the quality and uniqueness of your items, the price you set, the platform you use, and your marketing efforts. If you dedicate two hours a day to creating crafts and managing your online shop, it’s possible to earn a few hundred dollars a month as you start. As your shop grows and gains more visibility, your earnings could increase significantly.

4. Teach Online

Teaching a skill online is another great way to earn money, especially if you’re proficient in a subject that’s in demand. Here are a few platforms where you can offer online lessons and estimate earnings based on a two-hour per day commitment:

Udemy: Udemy is a popular platform where you can create and sell courses on a wide variety of subjects, from coding and business management to music and art. Once your course is created, it becomes a source of passive income. Earnings on Udemy vary widely depending on the subject, course quality, and pricing, but top instructors have been known to earn thousands of dollars per month.

Skillshare: Similar to Udemy, Skillshare allows you to create courses on various subjects. Instead of paying for individual courses, students pay a monthly subscription for access to all courses. Teachers are paid based on the number of minutes watched in their classes and can also earn referral bonuses. Earnings can range from a few dollars to several hundred dollars per month.

Preply: If you’re proficient in a language, you can offer language lessons on Preply. The platform allows you to set your own hourly rate. Depending on your expertise and the demand for the language you’re teaching, you could earn anywhere from $10 to $50 per hour or more.

TakeLessons: TakeLessons is a platform where you can teach a wide variety of subjects, from music and singing to academic subjects. You can set your own rates, and TakeLessons takes a commission. Earnings depend on your rates, the number of students you have, and the number of hours you teach.

How much can you earn from teaching online?

Estimating earnings for online teaching can be challenging as it depends on factors like your expertise, the subject you’re teaching, the platform you use, and how much time you invest. However, if you can commit two hours per day to teaching or creating courses, it’s possible to earn a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per month over time.

5. Become a Virtual Assistant

Working as a Virtual Assistant (VA) is another practical and potentially profitable way to earn money online. A VA typically performs administrative tasks for clients remotely, and these can range from email management and scheduling to social media management, data entry, and more.

Here are a few platforms where you can offer your services as a VA and an estimation of your earnings based on a two-hour per day commitment:

Upwork: As a broad-spectrum freelancing platform, Upwork has many listings for VA work. You can create a profile highlighting your skills and bid on jobs. Depending on your skills and the clients you work with, you could earn anywhere from $10 to $30 per hour or more.

Fiverr: On Fiverr, you can list ‘gigs’ offering your VA services. You could offer package deals for certain amounts of work, or charge on an hourly basis. As with Upwork, earnings can vary widely depending on your skills and the tasks you offer, but they typically range from $5 to $40 per gig.

Zirtual: Zirtual is a platform dedicated to connecting VAs with clients. VAs at Zirtual work with entrepreneurs, professionals, and small teams to provide high-quality administrative assistance. The platform only accepts US-based applicants and the starting pay is usually around $13 per hour.

Belay: Belay provides VA services to clients and is continuously looking for new VAs to join their team. They require a bachelor’s degree and proven experience in administration. The pay isn’t listed on their site, but it’s reported to be competitive.

How much can you earn as a VA?

It’s important to note that the income from working as a VA can greatly vary. Factors such as the tasks you’re assigned, your level of expertise, and the platform you’re using can all affect your earnings. However, if you’re able to put in two hours a day consistently and deliver high-quality work, it’s reasonable to expect earnings in the range of a few hundred dollars per month, with the potential to earn more as you gain experience and build up a clientele.

6. Become a Social Media Influencer

Becoming a social media influencer can be an effective way to earn money online, especially if you have a knack for creating engaging content and building a dedicated audience. The scope of your income can significantly vary, depending on factors like the platform you use, the size and engagement of your follower base, and the type of content you create.

Here are examples of platforms where you can potentially make money as an influencer, assuming a dedication of around two hours per day to content creation and audience interaction:

Instagram: Instagram is a popular platform for influencers. You can earn money through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, creating and selling your own products, or even offering paid subscription services on Instagram’s new feature, IGTV. Depending on your number of followers and engagement rate, you can earn from a few dollars to thousands per sponsored post.

YouTube: As a YouTube influencer, you can earn money through ad revenue, sponsored videos, affiliate marketing, and merchandise sales. Successful YouTubers can make thousands of dollars per month, but it takes time to build up a substantial audience.

TikTok: TikTok is an emerging platform for influencers. With its Creator Fund, influencers can earn a share of ad revenue based on the number of views they get. There are also opportunities for sponsored posts and brand partnerships. Earnings can range from a few dollars to several thousand per month, depending on your reach and engagement.

Twitter and Facebook: While not as commonly used for influencer marketing as Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok, Twitter and Facebook also offer opportunities for influencers to earn money through sponsored posts and partnerships.

How much can you earn from being a social media influencer?

While being a social media influencer can seem glamorous, it’s important to note that it requires consistent effort, a knack for creating engaging content, and an ability to build and maintain an audience. It can take a while to build up a following and start earning money, but for those who are successful, it can be a lucrative endeavor.

7. Try Online Surveys

Participating in online surveys can be a way to make some extra money online, although it’s worth noting that it’s typically not as lucrative as other methods. However, it’s a simple task that requires little to no expertise. Here are a few platforms you can use:

YouGov: YouGov is a global research data and analytics group. In Singapore, it offers surveys in exchange for points that can be redeemed for retail vouchers. Each survey takes about 5 to 7 minutes, and earnings would depend on the number of surveys you qualify for and complete.

Toluna: Toluna is an online community where you can earn points for taking surveys. These points can be redeemed for cash or a variety of gift cards. Surveys vary in length and reward amount.

LifePoints: LifePoints allows users to earn points by completing surveys and mini-polls. The points can then be redeemed for a range of rewards, including PayPal cash out, gift cards, or charity donations.

Valued Opinions: Valued Opinions offers rewards for completing surveys. These rewards can be redeemed for shopping vouchers for popular retail stores.

How much can you earn from doing online surveys?

Assuming each survey takes approximately 15 minutes on average, and you’re dedicating about two hours per day to this activity, you could potentially complete up to 8 surveys per day. The exact earnings from taking surveys online greatly depend on the length and complexity of the surveys, the number of surveys you’re eligible for, and the rewards offered by the platform.

It’s crucial to remember that while taking online surveys can provide a small additional income, it’s unlikely to result in substantial earnings. This method is best viewed as a way to earn a bit of extra cash during downtime rather than a primary income source.

8. Sell Your Photos Online

Selling your photography online can be a profitable way to leverage your photography skills. If you have an eye for capturing beautiful or interesting images, you can monetize your talent through various online platforms:

Shutterstock: Shutterstock is a widely recognized platform where photographers can sell their images. You earn a royalty each time one of your images is downloaded by a customer. The exact amount can vary, but it’s usually a few cents to a few dollars per download.

Getty Images/iStock: Getty Images and its subsidiary iStock are also popular platforms for selling photography. iStock offers higher commission rates to exclusive contributors, and Getty Images pays contributors based on the popularity of their photos. The earning potential can be significant for high-quality and in-demand images.

Adobe Stock: If you sell photos on Adobe Stock, your images can be bought by designers and businesses using Adobe products. Adobe Stock pays contributors a 33% commission for photos, which can range from a few cents to a few dollars per download.

500px: 500px offers a platform for photographers to sell their images and earn a commission. The platform also allows photographers to participate in brand-specific photography quests with specific payouts.

Alamy: Alamy offers photographers a 50% royalty payment on each photo sold, which is higher than many other platforms.

How much can you earn from stock photography?

If you dedicate around two hours per day to taking, editing, and uploading photos, the earnings can vary greatly based on the quality of your photos, the demand for the type of photos you take, and the platform you use. You might only make a few dollars in the beginning, but as your portfolio grows and you better understand the market, you could potentially make a few hundred dollars a month over time.

However, selling photos online is highly competitive, and the most successful photographers often specialize in a particular niche, such as food photography, landscape photography, or portrait photography. They also regularly study what types of images are in demand and tailor their work accordingly.

Conclusion

Making money online is a viable option for anyone looking to supplement their income. Whether it’s through blogging, freelance writing, selling crafts, or taking online surveys, the possibilities are endless. All it takes is a bit of creativity, dedication, and the right resources.

Remember, consistency is key, and with time, you’ll be able to turn these online ventures into a steady source of income. Be sure to approach each opportunity with a clear goal and strategy in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to achieving financial success online

Explore More Content

• Finance
• Money
• Passive Income