I know you are tired of hearing about affiliate marketing. And yes, making money online isn’t easy. But it doesn’t have to be complicated, either. In fact, there are a variety of ways to make money online without affiliate marketing.
And if you combine certain strategies and tactics, you can generate income from your blog that will let you quit your daytime job and live life on your own terms.
Here are five ways to make money online that don’t require you to sell anything or sign up for any affiliate marketing programs.
1). Create and sell digital products
One way to make money online without affiliate marketing is to create digital products that you then sell.
You could create something like e-books, videos, or webinars and sell them on your website with a subscription model.
It is a simple strategy that doesn’t require much upfront time. And if you create something useful for your audience, they might just buy it from you every month.
2). Be a freelance writer
Freelance writing is one of the most popular ways to make money online.
When you are a freelance writer, your only job is to write.
You can create blog content, articles for magazines and newspapers, or reviews of products or services.
If you want to monetize your writing skills, this is a good option for you. Many people make good money being freelancers because they don’t have to spend anything on advertising.
They also don’t have to spend any time on social media marketing. If you want more information about how to start out as a freelance writer and make money without affiliate marketing, check out this article from Elna Cain.
3). Start a blog that makes money
If you’re not already doing it, consider starting a blog.
Blogging is a great way to make money because you can monetize your content at the same time.
Plus, blogging is less complicated than affiliate marketing because you don’t have to worry about creating an online store or website for people to buy from.
And if you’re really looking for ways to make money online without affiliate marketing, blogging is one of the best options available.
To start a blog, you’ll first need a domain name and hosting. You can find these services for a low cost or for free, depending on your needs. Once you have your domain name and hosting, you’ll need to create a blog template and start writing!
There are many ways to monetize your blog.
You can sell advertising space, sell sponsorships, or sell e-books and courses. If you want to make more money, consider selling products directly from your blog.
You can also sell merchandise through Etsy or Amazon. If you want to make the most money possible, consider selling your own products through your own website.
Blogging is a great way to make money online and it is easy to start out!
4). Dropshipping
Dropshipping is an easy way to make money online with no affiliate marketing.
You don’t need to deal with inventory management and handling customer requests for returns because you’re simply buying products on a wholesale basis and selling them on Amazon, eBay, or other sales channels.
There are several places you can buy products to start. Look for wholesale websites that sell a small inventory of items. If you have a large inventory in a warehouse, you may be able to buy from them.
Look for products that are going on sale.
Find a source that has products that are about to be discontinued so you have a competitive advantage. Some wholesale sellers do allow you to purchase large quantities.
This is a good option if you want to buy in bulk and have a large inventory.
5). Start a YouTube Channel
YouTube is one of the most popular websites on the internet, which is why it’s a great way to make money online without affiliate marketing.
If you have any video production skills, you can make money by uploading videos and allowing ads to play on your videos. Plus, you don’t need to own any expensive equipment in order to do this!
The benefits of starting a channel are numerous.
You get the opportunity to connect with your viewers and build up a community around your content.
Not only that, but YouTube also allows for revenue-sharing partnerships between brands and creators on YouTube.
If you want to monetize your channel through this route, sign up for the YouTube Partner program after attaining the required stats.
7). Create a Membership Site
Creating a membership site is one of the simplest ways to make money online if you don’t like affiliate marketing.
Membership sites are basically web pages that provide members with some sort of service, which can be anything from access to content or a library of exclusive items.
This can range from an information-packed blog to an in-depth course on something like learning how to code.
The majority of membership sites operate using subscriptions, so memberships are purchased through a monthly payment plan.
If you create a unique and valuable membership site, you will gain tons of recurring income over time without having to sell anything or sign up for any affiliate marketing programs.
You can easily make upwards of $5K a month from a membership site.
8). Flip Websites
If you have an eye for design, you can make money by flipping websites.
This is a process by which you purchase low-cost websites and then offer them as rentals to people who want to rent your services.
You need to be willing to take risks, because many of these websites will be scams or not generate any income at all.
But if you’re able to find a website that does well and has good traffic, it can make for some nice profits.
You can use platforms like Flippa to find websites that are for sale and then make an offer to purchase them.
Alternatively, you can use sites like Upwork to find people who want to rent their websites out. Either way, it’s a good idea to do some research before making any offers.
9). Take paid surveys
Every day people are signing up for paid surveys in order to get cash for their opinions.
By joining these survey panels and answering questions about topics ranging from local restaurants to the latest technology trends, you can earn a few dollars just by taking the time out of your day to participate in online surveys.
There are a lot of benefits to earning money by taking surveys.
First, it is a passive form of income that does not require you to sell anything or go through any kind of complicated process.
Second, you are helping companies gain insight into their customers’ needs, which can help them to come up with better products and services.
And finally, it is a very low-risk way of earning money online. You don’t have to worry about if the company will give you your money or if the company will keep your information safe.
10). Sell unused items
Another way to make money online without affiliate marketing is by selling items that are sitting in your closet or drawers collecting dust.
People are constantly looking for new ways to recycle and upcycle their old clothes, toys, and other household goods into something new and profitable.
If you have an old laptop or iPhone lying around gathering dust then why not flip it on eBay or Craigslist?
You can also try flipping items on sites like Poshmark or Instagram Marketplace where users pay an average of $10-$50 for lightly used items.
11). Get paid to test websites and products
There are a lot of paid testing sites out there that will pay you to test new websites and products.
You can find a list of paid testing sites here.
This is a great way to get paid to try out new products and websites without having to invest any money upfront.
Once you’ve tested the product or website, you can then submit your review and earn money for your time.
12). Provide professional consulting services
Another way to make money online without affiliate marketing is by providing professional consulting services.
If you have experience in a certain field (for example, marketing, web development, or SEO), then you can offer your services to businesses that want to improve their performance.
You can charge a fee for your services or offer them free of charge in order to attract more clients.
13). Sell products on Amazon
If you have a product that you’re willing to sell, then you can try selling it on Amazon.
This is a great way to make money online without affiliate marketing because Amazon is one of the most popular online retailers in the world. You can sell your products through Amazon’s website or through its app.
14). Offer your services as a virtual assistant
If you have experience working with clients remotely, then you can offer your services as a virtual assistant.
As a virtual assistant, you will be responsible for performing tasks such as emailing, scheduling meetings, and creating spreadsheets.
You can charge clients a fee for your services or offer them free of charge in order to attract more clients.
