Finding ways to earn extra money online has never been easier, but they are most definitely not created equal. Where some side hustles require certain skills or venture investments, others allow any random person with an internet connection to build extra revenue streams.
Of these, the most accessible and easiest include paid surveys, bandwidth sharing, and Google Maps listings. Each of these options has its benefits and drawbacks, but together, they can make for a decent stream of supplemental income.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how each of these three income-generating activities work, how much you can reasonably expect to make, and what to watch out for to avoid scams or inefficiencies.
Making Money with Paid Surveys
Online paid surveys remain one of the most popular means through which people supplement their incomes. Most companies take consumer feedback as a basis for product development, service provision, and marketing strategies.
They achieve this by engaging the services of websites that pay people to answer questions relating to their spending behavior, preference, or experiences. Platforms such as Survey Junkie, Branded Surveys, Onepoll and Onepoll alternatives are all solid choices to begin with.
Although this type of work does not provide a full-time income, it offers a very easy way to make extra money without any special skills being required.
Paid survey earnings will vary from site to site and, in some cases, depend on the length of the survey.
Some firms pay as little as $0.50 per survey, while other firms offer up to $10 or more for longer, more detailed questionnaires. In most instances, only high-reward surveys require participation from extremely demographically defined subsets, like by age, locality, or purchases made.
Other survey websites work on a point system whereby the user is allotted points, redeemable afterward as cash or even gift cards. The main step to getting money is joining at least more than one respectable paying survey platform out there and having to diligently get through all the available surveys.
But not all survey sites are legitimate. Some promise high payouts but don’t pay out. Others require extensive personal information without clearly spelling out what privacy policies are in place.
That doesn’t mean wasting a lot of precious time on these sites or being ripped off, one has to do some research on the website regarding customer reviews, payment structures, and established relationships with well-known brands.
While paid surveys will not be your significant source of income, it is one of the most convenient ways to earn extra money while one is watching TV or standing in a queue.
Bandwidth Sharing as a Passive Income Stream
Bandwidth sharing is one of the less familiar but up-and-coming ways to earn passive income online.
Many users pay for more bandwidth than they actually use, and several companies offer to buy that unused bandwidth and sell it to businesses or researchers who need extra network capacity.
In exchange for compensation, users can install a bandwidth-sharing app that allows these companies to access a small portion of their internet connection.
It also depends on the location, internet speed, and amount of data shared how much bandwidth sharing will bring in. On the whole, earnings may start from a few dollars and exceed $50 per month, depending on demand and the volume of bandwidth one can share.
Since this process runs in the background, it requires little to no effort after the initial setup. Unlike paid-for surveys, for example, which require activity, bandwidth sharing is rather passive. While this might sound like an effortless way to earn some money, there are things to consider.
Safety and privacy come first, as in the case of bandwidth-sharing services, traffic goes through a given user’s web connection. Reputable services put encryption and security in place to prevent misuse, but research into each service is highly recommended before joining.
Furthermore, some ISPs have rules against bandwidth sharing of any kind, so a look at the terms of service may save someone from a headache. In conclusion, bandwidth sharing is one such opportunity where people can make money from underutilized internet resources with literally no time or effort investment.
Making Money through Google Maps Listings
Other lucrative ways of making money online include helping businesses optimize their presence in Google Maps.
A lot of small businesses are struggling to manage their online visibility, and a well-maintained Google Maps listing can help them reach more customers. And this is where individuals come in: for a fee, they update and enhance business profiles.
Helping businesses improve their listings in Google Maps involves: claiming listings that have not been verified, adding the appropriate business information, adding high-quality photos, and responding to the customer’s view.
Business owners handle much of this themselves but many hire someone to develop their online presence. People understand how the rankings of local searches over Google work and can provide optimization listings for it so that they can be better at the top views of a search.
How much one can earn from such work depends on the level of service provided. Some freelancers charge once for setting up or improving a listing, while others offer ongoing management services in exchange for a monthly fee.
Even without prior experience, learning how to optimize Google Maps listings is relatively simple, and free resources are available online to guide beginners. With this in mind, since businesses are always seeking ways to have local customers, this side hustle can provide a real source of income with relatively minimal startup costs.
Multiple Streams of Income to Maximize Earnings
Putting multiple online income streams together, rather than relying on a single method, can create a more stable and diversified financial cushion.
Paid surveys can be done in spare time, bandwidth sharing runs passively in the background, and helping businesses with Google Maps listings can generate more consistent payments. In balancing active and passive earning methods, it becomes easier to maximize income without overcommitting to time-consuming tasks.
One of the downsides with multiple streams is organization. Keeping track of survey payouts, bandwidth sharing earnings, and client payments for Google Maps services takes some form of management.
Creating an email address that is only used for this kind of activity, plus using basic spreadsheets or financial tracking apps, will go a long way in keeping on track with payments and efforts.
While none of these will make anyone overnight rich, these are very feasible ways to increase one’s income with relatively low or no upfront costs.
Whether it be answering surveys for some extra money, sharing bandwidth for passive earnings, or helping businesses with their online presence, these opportunities offer flexibility for those who wish to improve their financial status.
By exploring and combining these income sources, individuals can make better use of their time and resources while earning extra money online.
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