Three ways to make money online

Are you forever wasting time online? Why not make some cash instead?

The internet is a fantastic way to spend an evening hunting down obscure trivia or browsing social networking sites. However, logging on can also provide you with an opportunity to generate a little extra income.

With this in mind, we’ve rounded up three ways you can make money over the internet.

1. Get blogging

If you love to give people your opinion, you could consider setting up a blog.

For example, you could sell advertising space by signing up to free services such as Google’s AdSense.

These programmes match your blog with relevant advertisers and often operate on a ‘pay per click’ basis, which means you earn money if someone clicks on the advert from your site.

Of course, you’ll need to build a substantial reader base before making any significant cash from advertising.

Alternatively, you could write sponsored posts for brands and companies. Remember, however, you could alienate your readers if you write favorable comments about companies that fail to offer a decent service.

Unless your blog becomes an internet sensation you probably won’t make a fortune, but you might as well make money from something you enjoy.

2. Check your benefit entitlement

If you suspect you could be entitled to state benefits, there are a number of websites that allow you to check whether or not you can claim.

By visiting Turn2us, you can search for state benefits or grants available to those in your financial position.

If you would like to know how much you could receive, you can also enter your information into a state benefit calculator.

Likewise, the DirectGov website also offers an anonymous benefits adviser service.

3. Take online surveys

By registering with an online survey website, you could earn money by giving your opinions on a range of topics.

Again, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to retire on the money you make, but these sites can certainly help supplement your income.

There are numerous survey websites, but Valued Opinions, panelbase and YouGov are among the most respected.

Once you become a member, you’ll normally be notified of any new surveys looking for respondents.

Although you may only receive pence (a few pounds) for each survey, your earnings could easily mount up if you participate in numerous studies.

Before you sign up, you should note that there are a number of possible downsides to these types of websites.

First, you probably won’t be able to collect your money until you have earned a certain amount.

Many surveys also require particular types of participants, so you may not always qualify.

Remember, all reputable sites are free to join and you should steer clear of any companies that charge a membership fee.

The next steps

Now, all you’ll have to do is resist the temptation to blow this extra income you earn online by splurging on items you don’t need from eBay.

For more articles like this, see Save £457 on your holiday in under an hour and Do you have a hidden fortune?

**This material is for information purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. We strongly encourage our readers not to rely solely on this content, but to seek independent advice when making financial decisions.**

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