About three years ago, I dove into the world of blogging. From there, I built connections and began doing freelance writing. That then propelled into a full digital marketing business.
I now work full-time, run a digital marketing agency, write for major online publications, and own several affiliate sites.
Yes, I’m busy.
But it’s good money, and it’s fun.
Due to the stress of work and not making enough, many people try to find alternative sources of income, such as online jobs. However, it is not always easy to find legitimate work-from-home opportunities.
For example, some people prefer to (or even have to) find a night job.
So if you want to become your own boss AND work from home, here are 19 of the best and most legit online jobs that you can find right now.
1. Data Entry
Data entry is often one of the first online jobs that people try when searching for a work from home opportunity.
You do not need any experience to land your first online data entry job. These jobs also provide a good starting point for exploring the world of legit online jobs. However, in the coming years, you may find it harder to get a good data entry job online.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that growth for online data entry positions will drop by at least 7% by 2020. While these jobs may not be around forever, they allow you to build up your experience working from home.
Working in data entry also requires some basic computer skills. For this job to be profitable, you should be able to type at least 60 words per minute and understand how to use the programs included with Microsoft Office.
2. Virtual Assistant
Like data entry jobs, virtual assistants may perform a wide variety of tasks. Most of these tasks are administrative, such as bookkeeping, placing phone calls, handling customer service issues, or compiling data.
Virtual assistants may also complete tasks that fall into other freelance categories. For example, you may be asked to post content to a social media profile or complete data entry tasks.
Working as a virtual assistant often provides a little more stability than other online freelance positions. Businesses and entrepreneurs that hire these assistants often require them to be available for a set timeframe each day of the work week.
While you can work as little or as much as you want by taking on multiple clients and setting your own hours, you may still end up with a set schedule.
When starting out, you can expect to earn about minimum wage. You will typically get paid by the hour and your time may be logged using a program on your computer.
3. Freelance Writing
Many of the top legit online jobs involve freelance work, which means you do not work for an employer. You earn income by completing work for various clients.
With freelance writing, you get paid to write articles and web content for businesses and entrepreneurs. In most cases, the content is used for online marketing purposes.
Who should consider working as a freelance writer? This job is best suited for those who want to make extra money, as it may take a while to gain enough experience for high-paying writing jobs.
Many clients and client brokers offer beginners $1 per 100 words. However, skilled writers can often make $25 to $100 for a standard blog article. To reach that level, you will need to begin compiling a portfolio to show to prospective clients.
If you’re serious about freelancing, I recommend looking into Earn More Writing, an online course developed by a fellow freelance writer Holly Johnson.
She makes six figures a year freelancing so it’s definitely a course worth looking into if you want to take your income to the next level.
4. Proofreading
Along with freelance writing, there is a need for freelance proofreaders. Someone needs to review the content written by other freelancers to detect grammatical errors.
When working as a proofreader, you will likely need to proofread a wide assortment of material. The content that you proofread may include blog posts, eBooks, business documents, and more.
If you have a specialization, you may earn additional income by proofreading content for a specific industry. For example, if you have a legal background, you may find quality jobs proofreading court documents or legal papers.
These jobs are mostly found on online job boards. Your typical client may include client brokers, businesses, authors, and marketing companies.
5. Freelance Transcription
There is a growing demand for freelance transcriptionists. This work requires you to transcribe audio into written text.
Typically, you will work with video or audio recordings that need to be transcribed into written content. Depending on the details of the job, you may also need to use specific formatting.
Audio transcriptionists may find work on online job boards, like freelancer writers and proofreaders. They are also needed by a wide variety of businesses in various industries. You may be required to transcribe audio lectures, podcasts, and sermons.
If you choose to work as a transcriptionist, you will often get paid a flat rate per minute of audio transcription. With this online job, you may make between $10 and $25 per hour. However, like other writing jobs, you will need to build your portfolio and work with multiple clients.
6. Online Customer Service Representative
An increasing number of businesses are outsourcing their customer service to online workers. Instead of working in a call center, you can answer calls while working from home.
Like a virtual assistant, you may need to work a set schedule. However, you still have the flexibility to work from home and choose your clients.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for customer service representatives is good. This field is expected to experience growth, especially in industries that are already experiencing growth. For example, the retail sector is expected to grow, which increases the need for customer service representatives for retail locations.
Most online job opportunities simply require a computer and an internet connection. When working as a customer service representative, you will need to ensure that you have a high-speed internet connection and a headset for answering phone calls.
Besides basic customer support, there are online job opportunities for technical assistance. These positions often require candidates to have necessary certifications or degrees.
For example, if you choose to work as a technical support representative offering IT support, you may need an IT background. A computer repair technician certification may be required, along with various Microsoft certifications.
7. Web Design and Mobile App Development
Web design, mobile app development, and other IT services are built for the online job market. When offering these services, you do not need to meet with clients in-person. It is just as easy to discuss the details of their project over the phone or via email.
There are many ways to get started as a web designer or developer. You can start using online job boards to search for jobs or begin soliciting local businesses that may be in need for a new website or mobile app.
Web design is another freelance job, which means your success depends on your ability to get new clients. To attract clients, Career Builder suggests that you maintain a portfolio containing your latest work experience.
The experts at Career Builder also suggest that you continue to look for new clients. Continuing to obtain new clients is an essential part of earning a sustainable income as a web designer.
8. Graphic Design
Graphic design and web design share many of the same features. When you work as a graphic designer, you need to maintain a portfolio that showcases your best work. You also need to continually search for new clients to receive a steady stream of income.
Graphic designers are needed by businesses in almost every industry. As a graphic designer, you may create illustrations or graphics for websites, eBooks, and other marketing material.
The earning potential really depends on your skill level and how quickly it takes for you to complete each project. If you tend to work quickly, graphic design is a great way to start earning income online.
Like many freelance jobs, the first place to start looking for jobs is an online job board. While the initial jobs that you get may not pay much, you can start gaining experience and adding more projects to your portfolio.
Besides the job boards, you may want to create your own website to showcase your work. By using online marketing techniques, you can attract web traffic and potential clients to your site.
9. Online Tutoring
If you have a background in education or teaching, online tutoring may be the perfect fit for working from home. You can typically earn a little more than minimum wage to tutor students in a specific area of study.
It helps to have a degree or experience in the subject that you are tutoring, especially if you want to earn a substantial income. There are many sources for finding these jobs as well. You can search online job boards or websites designed specifically for connecting tutors with students.
Online tutors should also consider creating and maintaining a LinkedIn profile. It provides a simple way for clients to evaluate your work history and background.
To work as an online tutor, you may need adequate digital communication equipment. Depending on the specific job, you may need a webcam and microphone or specific computer software to interact with the student.
10. Voice Acting
For those wanting an interesting online career, voice acting is a fun choice. Voice actors are often needed for advertisements and video marketing content. You may even land work on professional productions, after gaining enough experience.
To work as a voice actor, you should have the ability to speak clearly. If you can use different voices and accents, you may find it easier to get work as a voice actor.
Voice acting also requires additional equipment. Besides a computer and an internet connection, you may need high-quality audio recording equipment.
Many voice actors invest in professional studio microphones, audio mixers, and recording software. While you may not need these items to launch your career as a voice actor, they will eventually become tools of your trade.
11. Accounting and Bookkeeping
Accounting is another field where more businesses are starting to explore the benefits of hiring at-home workers. Instead of paying a full-time accountant, they find it more cost-effective to hire a part-time online worker.
When working as an online account, your clients will typically be small businesses that require professional accounting services. You will also likely need to be a certified public accountant and maintain your certification.
Entrepreneurs are also typical clients for online accountants. An entrepreneur may not have the funds to hire an accountant. However, they still need to ensure that the finances are in order.
Along with general accounting, you may get hired to handle bookkeeping for a small business. These types of jobs often provide long-term employment, even if the work is part-time.
You may also find short-term work as an accountant. In some cases, businesses need to hire additional help to assist their internal accounting departments or to conduct accounting audits.
12. Search Engine Quality Assurance Testing
Google and other major search engines need users to evaluate the quality of their search results. Several companies partner with these search engines to offer remote quality assurance (QA) testing.
When working as a search engine QA tester, you will review the search results for real user search queries. You may need to visit the websites that appear in the search results and rate their relevance to the provided question.
These QA jobs typically pay at least minimum wage, depending on the company that you work for. However, instead of working directly for a search engine company, these jobs are often offered through third-parties that have contracts with the search engines.
Besides search engine testing, there are companies seeking website testers. Like a search engine QA tester, a website tester needs to spend time navigating websites to find flaws in the design or coding. The goal is to ensure that the site is easy to browse and viewable on different devices.
13. Consulting or Advising
Consulting is a broad field. Consultants and advisors typically have an area of specialty, such as an industry that they have worked in for many years. When working in this field, you get paid to offer your expert advice to businesses.
Working as a consultant is one of the few legit online jobs that require past real-world experience. Your clients will want to ensure that you know what you are talking about. They may review your past work history and want to speak to former clients.
There are many areas where you may seek employment. Consultants are needed for business advice, marketing, relationships, fashion, parenting, sales, and interior design.
Consulting positions may be found on online job boards. However, the best-paying consultant jobs are often obtained by directly contacting a business.
Successful consultants often maintain their own website to gain leads. You may also need to make cold calls to prospective clients.
14. Social Media Marketing Manager
If you spend most of your time on Facebook, you may enjoy working as a social media marketing manager. These managers are often responsible for maintaining a robust online presence for their clients, which typically include a wide range of businesses in various industries.
Your clients may need to create original posts or curate content for their social media profile. You may need to post several times per day or week, depending on the needs of the client. Other tasks include adding relevant images, links, and hashtags to these posts.
Working as a social media marketing manager is another online job that you can do from any location. You just need an internet connection and a computer.
Social media marketing managers tend to maximize their profits by taking on several clients at a time. By managing several social media accounts, you can earn more money without adding a lot more work, especially if your clients are all from the same industry.
15. Online Travel Agent
The number of travel agencies has nosedived in recent years. You can easily find travel advice and build your itinerary by visiting travel websites. However, millennials are leading the need for online travel agents.
Millennials tend to prefer experiences over tangible goods. These experiences often include all-inclusive travel packages to foreign destinations.
If you love to travel and have already seen a lot of the world, you may find success by working as an online travel agent. Many travel agencies allow individuals to work as independent contractors.
Affiliating yourself with a host travel agency provides access to the latest deals and airline connections needed to offer travel packages to your clients. To get started, you just need a computer, phone, internet connection, printer, and a website.
16. Professional Translator
If you are bilingual, you should have no problem finding work as a translator. Translators are always in demand, as businesses want to reach as many customers as they can.
When working as a translator, you may need to translate sales copy into another language. Other jobs include translating video or audio files, writing subtitles for videos, and translating website content.
Translators may find a variety of one-time gigs and ongoing projects. If you want to work steadily as a translator, you should try to find at least one long-term project that provides regular translating work.
The need for translators is expected to increase as businesses become more globalized. The need to appeal to customers in other countries will become essential for modern companies.
According to the past president of the American Translators Association (ATA), the need for translating services should continue to grow sharply. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 29% increase by 2024.
17. Online Medical Billing
Medical billing has experienced steady growth for many years. It is a field that keeps growing, thanks to the expanding healthcare industry.
To work in the medical billing field, you may need to complete one or more online courses to learn the specific medical terms that are used by your clients. You may even need to learn how to use medical billing software.
Medical billing shares many features with data entry. You are essentially entering information into a billing program to generate invoices.
Besides online medical billing, many hospitals and healthcare providers require medical transcriptionists. These transcriptionists are often responsible for typing dictation from healthcare professionals.
The average hourly rate for transcriptionists is over $17, making it an attractive work from home opportunity.
18. Create Your Own Blog
Working as a blogger is one of the few legit online jobs where you are truly your own boss. However, when working as your own boss, it is up to you to generate income.
Bloggers earn revenue through affiliate links and advertisements. You can monetize your website by including links to products that you discuss or by generating enough web traffic to get visitors to click on ads displayed in your site.
Becoming a blogger will not help you become financially independent overnight. In fact, it requires a lot of work. You need to regularly post new blog articles and utilize various online marketing strategies.
Your success as a blogger depends on your ability to attract visitors to your site. To gain traffic, you need people to share your articles on social media, which requires you to create helpful, informative content.
If you are entirely new to blogging, there are many helpful online resources. The online marketing expert Neil Patel offers a comprehensive guide starting your first blog.
If you really want to launch a blog the right way and get all the insider hacks, though, I recommend looking into Launch Your Blog – an online course developed by Alex and Lauren at CreateAndGo.co.
They make an absolute KILLING running blogs.
I’ve actually purchased all of their courses and they’re phenomenal. They put so much detail into everything, and Launch Your Blog is the first step. Check it out if you’re serious.
19. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing has the potential to help people earn money from home. However, it requires a lot of work. Affiliate marketers typically create review blogs, where they discuss the pros and cons of products in a specific niche market.
You are relying on visitors to read your blogs and click on a link to purchase the product in your review. Most people will just read the content and move on. If you want to create a successful affiliate marketing blog, your website needs to have a lot of web traffic.
Generating more traffic is one of the challenges of affiliate marketing. You also need to find a suitable market that you can stand out in, research the products that you discuss, and maintain a robust online presence.
Conclusion
If you can follow through one of these online jobs, you may find yourself in the position to quit your day job. However, do not expect success overnight.
These jobs often require time. Like any position, you need to gain experience and slowly climb your way to the top.
I worked my ass off for years before I got real, high-paying clients. But now I realize the hustle was worth it.
I want to hear from you now:
What online jobs have you taken advantage of? Please share your insights in the comments below!
