Business and Finance – Page 2

Being creative and resourceful with money certainly helps you get through the hard times. Aside from saving and living frugally, it's important to increase your income, too. After all, bills keep piling up, and food won't magically appear on your table, right? Whether you're in between jobs, looking to earn extra cash, or having a lot of free time, there's an online job or business that suits your needs, skills, and situation. You can earn money online in the Philippines by selling physical and digital goods, offering your services, or doing easy tasks. Need any ideas for making money online? Get your next profitable venture started with this compilation of legitimate online income opportunities for Filipinos. Related: Best Business Ideas in the Philippines with High Profit At a Glance: Complete List of All Legit Ways To Earn Money Online in the Philippines Save time looking for the best opportunities to earn money online using our list below: Top Online Money-Making OpportunitiesEstimated EarningsDifficulty LevelBloggingPhp 5,000 - Php 100,000+ a monthModerately ChallengingAffiliate marketingAround 5% - 7% commission for every successful saleMediumOnline reselling businessMedium to high-profit potentialMediumFreelancingLow to high-income potential, depending on the nature of job and skill levelMedium to DifficultTyping jobsPhp 100 - Php 200 per hour or Php 5,000 to Php 10,000 and above per monthEasyVloggingHigh-profit potential (six-figure monthly income for popular YouTube channels)ChallengingTeaching English onlinePhp 90 - Php 250 per hour or Php 20,000 to Php 60,000+ per monthEasyInfluencer marketingHigh-profit potential (six-figure monthly income for top influencers)Moderately ChallengingSelling homemade food onlineMedium to high-profit potentialModerately ChallengingAnswering online surveysPhp 2.50 to Php 180 per surveyEasy Other Money-Making OpportunitiesHot IdeasSelling Physical GoodsStarting a dropshipping businessSelling pre-loved itemsCreating and selling handcrafted itemsSelling Digital ProductsEbooks Online courses/WebinarsPodcastsPhotosDesignsMusicWebsites, domains, and other flippable digital propertiesSelling ServicesCoaching/consulting servicesAnswering questions in your expertiseSharing innovative ideas with companiesTeaching music lessonsOnline tutoringAnswering homework questionsOffering translation servicesOffering online recording or voice-over servicesOffering Excel or Spreadsheet servicesOffering traditional/digital art commissionsOffering video/audio editing servicesBecoming a remote customer service representativeBecoming a remote real estate specialistDoing Easy TasksDoing micro jobsTesting website, apps, or software Referring customersLive streamingJoining online trivia quiz showsReading news and articlesPlaying mobile gamesWatching videos Top 10 Legit Ways To Earn Money Online in the Philippines 1. Create and Monetize Your Blog Ideal for: People who can share their expertise on a certain niche and engage an online audience How much you can make from blogging: Php 5,000 to Php 100,000+ monthly Difficulty level: Moderately challenging Necessary skills and tools: Your own domain nameWebsite hosting serviceGood writing and SEO skills (nice to have but not required to start) How blogging works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9WvVjzScV4 Despite the dominance of social media, blogging still offers a lucrative online money-making opportunity for Filipinos. The word blog is the abbreviation of "weblog" which is used to refer to online diaries or websites that maintain "an ongoing chronicle of information"1. Today, blogs are defined as websites that regularly publish articles and present them in reverse chronological order. Not all websites are blogs but blogs can either be websites that put their new content front and center (just like what we do here in FilipiKnow) or just part of a website (think of company websites with a static homepage and a separate page where you can read the latest blog posts)2. Blogs are different from vlogs. Whereas blogs have their content presented in text or image formats, vlogs (short for "video blogs") focus mainly on video content, the finest examples being the content you regularly watch on YouTube. It's easy to start as a blogger. You don't have to be a graduate of journalism, English, or any communication-related course. There's no age limit, either. Blogging is open to all age groups—including teenagers, college undergraduates, stay-at-home parents, and even tech-savvy senior citizens. All it takes to start blogging is having a passion and expert knowledge of a specific field and the ability to create content around your expertise that readers will find valuable. The profit-making potential is promising for Filipino bloggers, with revenues going up to six-digit figures. However, blogging is far from being a get-rich-quick scheme. You have to invest a lot of time and effort into making your blog successful. It's like running your own media company. You'll be doing everything—from content planning, writing, and uploading to promoting your blog—at least when you're starting out. Ways to earn money through blogging For first-time bloggers, here are the methods for monetizing a blog: 1. Online advertisements Joining an advertising network is the easiest and quickest way for new bloggers to earn recurring income. When you sign up with an ad network like Google AdSense, ads related to your article will be automatically posted on your blog. You make money each time someone clicks on a Google ad link. Once your revenue reaches or exceeds US$ 100, Google will pay you via Western Union or direct bank transfer. 2. Affiliate marketing Another way to make money from blogging is to promote affiliate products and services on your blog. Join a company's affiliate program to get an affiliate link that you'll put in your blog post related to the product or service to promote. You earn a commission for every purchase made through your affiliate link. Affiliate marketing requires more work than online advertising on your blog, but it's more profitable because you can earn more from a single sale than a single click on an ad link. 3. Selling your own products or services Do you have an online business? You can use your blog to promote whatever you're selling and get more people to buy from you. Many bloggers today sell e-books and merchandise such as shirts, caps, mugs, and eco bags with their blog logo. Some also use their blog to promote their services like content writing, SEO, financial planning, event planning, speaking engagements, consultancy, real estate brokerage, etc. To promote your online business through your blog, you can add a page that contains a list and description of your products or services, as well as your contact information. Or mention your products or services in your related blog posts. If you have an online store, you can insert links to your e-commerce website. 4. Brand partnerships/Sponsored posts Once your blog has gained more web traffic and readership, companies in your niche may start noticing you and offer to pay you for helping them promote their brand. Brand partnerships allow bloggers to earn money online from publishing reviews and promotional content (usually with a link to the company website) on their blog. How To Start Blogging in the Philippines Decide on what you'll be writing about. Your niche can be about food, travel, personal finance, fitness, gadgets, make-up, or anything you're knowledgeable and passionate about. Identify your target audience. Your readers will largely influence the tone and personality of your blog. Think about the age, location, interests, and needs of your ideal audience.Plan your content calendar. Your content calendar must answer what and when you'll post. Develop your topic ideas and publishing schedule for a few months ahead.Secure your blogging must-haves. These include a laptop, internet service, domain name registration, web host, and blogging platform (e.g., WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr, etc.).Write and publish high-quality content. Make sure each post provides useful and actionable information to your readers. How-to articles, guides, and listicles are among the content types people would love to read. Aim to post at least one article per week.Promote your blog. Two of the best ways to drive traffic to your blog are promoting it on social media and guest posting on relevant blogs within your niche. 2. Join Affiliate Programs Ideal for: Bloggers, vloggers, and social media-savvy people Difficulty level: Medium How much you can make from affiliate marketing: Typically 5% to 7% commission per successful sale, sign-up, or booking Necessary tools: A blog, YouTube channel, or social media page/group (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) with existing followers How affiliate marketing works Affiliate marketing is a perfect business idea for those who don't have the means to create their own products or keep a product inventory. If you have a blog, YouTube channel, Facebook page/group, or any social media platform with a sizeable following, make the most of it by partnering with different companies through their affiliate programs. To increase their sales, companies pay external partners (called "affiliates") to help them promote their brand and drive potential buyers to their e-commerce store or online booking platform. All you have to do is to recommend your partner brand's products or services through your online platform. You'll be paid a commission (either a fixed amount or a percentage of a sale) for every successful purchase made through your affiliate link. How to start making money through affiliate marketing in the Philippines 1. Find brands you'd like to partner with Choose a brand partner whose products or services are likely to appeal to your online audience There are three ways to find affiliate programs online. The first option is to do a Google search for companies that accept applications for their affiliate program. For local brands, search for [product and/or brand name] + "affiliate program." If you're looking for international brands, add "Philippines" to your search term. You may also visit your favorite brand's official website and check its Affiliates or Partnerships page. Here are examples of known brands with affiliate programs in the Philippines: ShopeeLazadaAgodaKKdayKlookPayoneerZALORA Lastly, you can use an affiliate networking website. It's an online marketplace with a wide range of affiliate programs from various international brands. Here are some affiliate networking sites that accept affiliates from the Philippines: ClickBankInvolve AsiaShareASale Editor's note: If you own a website/social media page/YouTube channel that mainly targets readers/viewers from the U.S., promoting products from Amazon.com through the online marketplace's own affiliate program can be very profitable (we're talking about thousands of American dollars per month based on my personal experience). However, it takes several failures and a deeper knowledge of SEO (search engine optimization), especially keyword research and link building, to reap success from this. Not to mention Amazon's penchant for slashing its affiliate commission rates at a moment's notice, like what happened at the height of the 2020 pandemic3. Therefore, it's important to diversify and never revolve your business around a single monetization strategy like affiliate marketing. 2. Apply for your chosen affiliate programs Follow the instructions provided on the brand's website on how to submit your application. Usually, potential affiliates are required to set up a publisher's account. Depending on the brand, interested affiliates may have to go through a selection process based on qualifications such as the number of followers and engagement rates. 3. Receive your affiliate link/promo code Once your application is approved, you'll be given a unique URL or code that you'll use for affiliate marketing. 4. Promote the brand Choose a product or service from the brand or affiliate networking website that you'll recommend to your online audience. Then create content related to the product/service, such as product reviews, informative articles, tutorials, and product guides. Write your posts in such a way that allows you to share your affiliate link/promo code naturally without sounding too hard-sell. Insert your affiliate links in your blog posts, Facebook/Instagram posts, tweets, or YouTube video descriptions. 5. Start earning commissions Get paid each time someone clicks on your affiliate link and then buys something from your partner brand, or when someone uses your promo code upon checkout. 3. Start an Online Reselling Business Ideal for: People looking for an easy way to start a business with a low capital Difficulty level: Medium Profit potential: Medium to high Necessary tools: Business accounts on social networks and/or seller accounts on e-commerce platforms How online reselling works The concept of online reselling is simple: You buy products in bulk at low prices and resell them at higher prices to make a profit. This is why online reselling attracts aspiring entrepreneurs regardless of age, education, experience, and income status. No wonder—it's so easy and cheap to start. An e-commerce business can be fully managed from home. Online buy-and-sell businesses in the Philippines are becoming profitable now more than ever. More buyers are now getting essentials online—a growing trend expected to continue for the long haul. Here are some of the most in-demand products in the new normal: Food productsGroceriesHealth and sanitation essentials (e.g., face masks, rubbing alcohol, hand soaps, hand sanitizers, vitamins, thermometers, etc.)Computer equipment, smartphones, and other work-from-home gadgets (including LAN cables and Wi-Fi adapters)Learning worksheets for childrenClothesSkincare and beauty productsExercise gear (including dumbbells, yoga mats, etc.)BicyclesPet food and supplies How to start an online reselling business in the Philippines 1. Make a business plan Plan your business first. Don't skip this step even if you're just starting a small business on the internet. Developing a business plan involves researching your business idea and studying your target market. This will help you assess if your idea is profitable and if there's a market demand for your products. It also allows you to identify potential challenges, the resources you need, and your strategies for selling online. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has a business plan guide you can refer to when you write your own plan. Although the DTI guide caters to traditional businesses, some pointers can help you plan your online retail business. 2. Register your online business Business registration is still necessary even though you don't have a physical store. Not only does it make your business legitimate, but it's also required to start selling online. Lazada and Shopee, for instance, allow only registered sellers to use their respective e-commerce platforms. Likewise, your suppliers may also ask for your proof of business registration, especially when you apply to become an authorized retailer of a known brand. Here are the usual business registration documents you need to secure before selling online: DTI Certificate of Business Name RegistrationBIR Certificate of Registration (BIR Form 2303)Business Permit/Mayor's Permit from your city/municipal hall 3. Find your suppliers Contact different wholesalers of the product you want to sell and inquire about their pricing and other terms. Go with suppliers that offer the best pricing, so you can sell products for cheap while still earning good profit. 4. Set up your online store For beginners, selling products on social media is the easiest way to start a retail business online. You can create business accounts on Facebook and Instagram where you post what you're selling and receive orders from customers. To reach a lot more buyers and increase sales, register for a seller account with e-commerce websites such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Lazada, and Shopee. These online marketplaces provide online sellers with tools for listing products, managing orders, processing and receiving payments, and tracking sales data. Lazada and Shopee even have their own network of delivery partners so that sellers can save time shipping products to customers. If your e-commerce platform doesn't have this feature, you can ship your products through courier services like LBC, Lalamove, Grab Express, and Happy Move. 5. Promote your online selling business Let people know you're selling online. Tell your family, friends, and anyone you know about your business. Encourage them to recommend it to their friends. Also, market your business on social media by sharing product announcements and relevant news and articles about your products. 6. Start accepting orders If your promotional efforts are effective, you should start receiving inquiries and orders soon. Always respond promptly to customers and provide good service so that they'll keep coming back. 4. Offer Freelance Services Ideal for: College students, fresh graduates, professionals, stay-at-home parents, and anyone who prefers working from home to formal employment Difficulty level: Medium to difficult Profit potential: Low to high, depending on the nature of the job and skill level Necessary skills/tools: Technical skills and knowledge relevant to the job (for certain fields such as IT, design, marketing, finance, etc.)Resume, cover letter, and professional portfolio (a collection of your best work samples)Laptop with a stable internet connectionYour own workspace at homeOther tools and equipment required for certain jobs (e.g., headset for online tutors and call center agents) How freelancing works Freelancing is like a hybrid of employment and entrepreneurship Like employees, freelancers practice their profession—but usually in their home rather than an office. Like entrepreneurs, freelancers run their own business—but instead of a product, they sell their service. Providing a freelance service is a great way to earn money online using your skills. Freelancing gives you the freedom to choose when and how long you want to work, the clients you'd like to work with, and how much you want to get paid. How To Start Freelancing in the Philippines 1. Choose the most suitable career for you Figure out the service you want to offer online, based on the skills you excel in and what you enjoy doing. For example, if communication is your strongest suit, consider home-based writing, editing, digital/social media marketing, ESL (English as a Second Language) teaching, customer service, and other related jobs. If you don't have marketable skills yet, there are several freelancing options for you. Home-based jobs such as data entry, transcription, and virtual assistance accept students, fresh graduates, and others without work experience. Related: How to Work from Home: An Ultimate Guide to the Best Home Based Jobs in the Philippines 2. Develop the necessary skills for the job It's much quicker to launch your freelance business if you're already equipped with all the skills needed to get the job done. But if you lack certain skills, take the time to learn them before starting to apply for freelance jobs. Attend relevant online courses, watch video tutorials, and read educational materials online. 3. Set your freelance rates Decide how much you'll charge to clients for every type of service you offer. Research the typical range that freelancers are paid according to job, experience, and skill level. 4. Find freelancing opportunities Start your freelance job hunt by asking family and friends for referrals. They may know clients that need freelancers for their projects. Also, try reaching out to former employers and colleagues to check if they're looking for independent contractors. At the same time, use freelancing sites to find clients. Online job marketplaces such as Upwork, JobStreet.com, and Onlinejobs.ph are among the most popular sites to search for freelance jobs. Job seekers are required to create an account and a profile with these websites, so they can start looking for freelance jobs and be found by clients who might need their service. Related: Where to Find Legitimate Home-Based Jobs in the Philippines 5. Start pitching out to potential clients After finding the right prospects for your home-based career, start applying for jobs online. Clients usually ask for your resume and work samples to see if you're fit for the job. Along with these documents, send a compelling cover letter to highlight your qualifications. Like any traditional hiring process for employees, freelancers typically go through a series of exams and interviews per client. If your application is successful, the client will send you a contract or job offer (or any written document with the terms of service). Review the contract and negotiate the terms, if you must. Once you've reached an agreement, you can already start working and earning online. 5. Do Typing Jobs Ideal for: Students, stay-at-home parents, employees looking for an easy way to earn extra income, people in between jobs, and anyone without work experience Difficulty level: Easy How much you can earn from typing jobs: Around Php 100 to Php 200 per hour or Php 5,000 to Php 10,000+ per month Necessary skills/tools: Fast and accurate typing skills (at least 60 words per minute)Microsoft Office proficiency Laptop with a stable internet connection How data entry works Copy typing or data entry jobs are among the easiest ways to earn money online for Filipinos. Data entry doesn't require much knowledge, skills, and equipment. You just need a computer with Internet access and the ability to type quickly to provide online typing services. Related: How to Get a Part-time Job Online in the Philippines: An Ultimate Guide Data entry involves typing text from an image or a scanned PDF document into a database or a certain file format (usually MS Word). The faster you type, the more you earn—whether the client pays per hour or word. How to start earning money online through typing jobs in the Philippines Find side gigs on freelancing sites or copy typing sites and send your application through such platforms. Here are some websites where you can apply for typing jobs: ClickworkerFreelancer.phPeoplePerHourProTypersTruelancerUpwork 6. Create YouTube Videos Ideal for: People of all ages who can be friendly and relatable on camera, with a little sense of humor, and can produce interesting and shareable video content Difficulty level: Challenging Profit potential: High Necessary skills/tools: Video production and editing skillsCommunication skillsHigh-quality camera or smartphone built for vloggingTripodMicrophoneEditing software How vlogging works With the different money-making opportunities on YouTube, more and more people are hopping into the vlogging bandwagon. Vlogs (short for video blogs) are a huge thing in the Philippines. Based on We Are Social 2020 data4, 80% of internet users aged 16 to 64 watch videos online. Take advantage of this large local audience (plus viewers from around the world) by creating your own YouTube channel and monetizing it. Ways to earn money online through vlogging 1. Advertisements When you view a YouTube video, a short ad may play at the beginning or middle of the clip. That's how most YouTubers earn money online. The most common monetization method on YouTube is through Google AdSense, a platform that matches ads to a YouTube channel. Advertisers pay for every 1,000 times their ads were viewed on your videos5. YouTube takes its share of the advertising revenue and then pays you a percentage of the ad revenue. The more companies invest in ads on your videos—and the higher value your videos and audience offers to their business—the higher you get paid as a YouTuber. 2. YouTube Premium Vloggers can also earn through YouTube Premium, a subscription-based service that allows members to watch ad-free videos for a monthly fee. If you make your videos available on YouTube Premium, you'll get paid a portion of the revenue from subscription fees based on how long viewers watch your content. 3. Channel memberships You may also have your fans join your YouTube channel and offer them bonus content (e.g., special videos, emojis, badges, etc.) in exchange for recurring monthly payments. 4. Brand sponsorships Another way to monetize your YouTube channel is to work with companies either as an influencer or an affiliate. YouTube influencers and affiliates are paid to promote a brand in their videos. Brand promotion can be in the form of product mentions, placements, or reviews. Vloggers then put a link to the product or coupon code in the video description. When a viewer clicks on the link and buys something, the partner vlogger gets a commission. The most lucrative way to earn money online for YouTube content creators is attending a partner brand's event and vlogging about it, for which they can be paid as much as Php 300,0006. 5. Merchandise sales YouTube has a merchandise shelf feature that allows vloggers to showcase their official branded merchandise to their viewers. The merchandise shelf (consisting of up to 12 products) is displayed right below the videos, which fans can browse and purchase. 6. Sell your products or services This is actually not a built-in monetization feature on YouTube, but you can use your channel to maximize the sales of your existing online business. Are you selling a product or service that your audience might find interesting or relevant to them? Promote it in your videos and provide links in the description box. 7. Super Chat and Super Stickers These YouTube monetization features earn you money when your viewers pay to have their messages highlighted or see an animated image appear in your live chat feed. How to become a Filipino vlogger and make money on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8J1H8xq1iU&t=256s 1. Understand how YouTube works Don't just upload videos on YouTube without having any idea how the platform works. Explore the site, watch popular videos, and take note of how vloggers are able to increase their subscribers and engage them. 2. Identify your target audience and niche What type of videos do you want to make? Consider what you're knowledgeable and passionate about. The most popular vlogs nowadays focus on food, make-up tutorials, product unboxing and reviews, DIY tutorials, fitness, gaming, and entertainment. Your channel may revolve around those topics, or you can opt to veer away from the usual. With your niche in mind, determine who your ideal audience is. If you know your target audience on YouTube, you can plan your content to fit their interests and needs. 3. Plan your content More than just creating videos and sharing them online, vlogging involves planning your content so that your videos will attract many viewers. A large viewership makes it easy for you to make money from your YouTube channel. To plan your YouTube content, list down the specific topics you'll make videos on, make an outline for each topic, and assign a corresponding schedule for video production, editing, and uploading. 4. Produce your first video Once you have all your vlogging gear and materials ready, start shooting for your first video. Remember to relax, be yourself, and have fun! That way, it'll be easier to connect to your audience. Make your video look professional and interesting by editing it. It's all right to use basic video editing software. Even the built-in apps on your computer (like iMovie or Windows Movie Maker) will do. You just need to make simple edits like cutting out unnecessary parts, adding audio and visuals (e.g., text, graphics, voice-over, background music, etc.), and compiling clips into a cohesive video. 5. Create a YouTube channel and upload your videos Set up a dedicated account on YouTube for your professional vlogging channel. Give your channel a catchy and easy-to-remember name. Now you're ready to add your video to your channel! While your video is uploading, optimize it so that viewers can easily find it. Create an attention-grabbing title, add tags, and make a thumbnail for your video. 6. Enable monetization for your channel After uploading your first video, you don't automatically earn money. It takes some time to start making money on YouTube. You have to reach at least 1,000 subscribers and over 4,000 accumulated watch hours within the past 12 months. Only then can you join the YouTube Partner Program, which gives access to the platform's monetization features. To apply for the program, turn on monetization in your account settings. Aside from the YouTube Partner Program, you may also choose to list your videos on YouTube Premium. 7. Teach English Online Ideal for: College students and graduates who speak English fluently and love talking to people from different culturesLicensed English teachers and professors who want to earn additional income from home Difficulty level: Easy How much you can earn from teaching English online: Php 90 - Php 250/hour or Php 20,000 - Php 60,000/month Necessary skills/tools: Strong command of EnglishExcellent communication and interpersonal skillsLaptop with HD webcamStable wired internet connection (at least 3Mbps)Headset with microphone How online English teaching works If you speak like a native English speaker, it's easy to get into ESL (English as a Second Language) teaching. And if you're outgoing and friendly, it's easy to last long in this home-based career. ESL teaching jobs don't require a degree in education and professional teaching experience. This is because online English tutors don't teach in a traditional classroom setting. Rather, they're paid to help students practice conversational or business English via Skype or any video chat platform. ESL students are usually from South Korea, Japan, and China. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZMCyDOArII The best thing about this home-based job is its flexibility. You're free to decide when you want to teach and for how long per day, though some companies require a minimum number of teaching hours per week. ESL teachers are paid per minute or hour worked. Each online class typically lasts 30 minutes. How to become an online English teacher in the Philippines 1. Create or update your resume Customize your resume to suit online teaching jobs. Highlight your skills, competencies, and work experience related to English, communication, and teaching/tutoring. For example, if you have call center experience and training, make sure it stands out in your resume. 2. Find an online ESL teaching job Many online ESL companies here and abroad hire Filipinos as English teachers. Start your job search by browsing through the websites of known and reputable companies, such as the following: 51Talk PhilippinesAcadsocBizmates PhilippinesCamblyRareJobSankei Online EnglishWeblio You may also look for ESL teaching gigs on job search websites such as Onlinejobs.ph, JobStreet.com.ph, and Kalibrr. 3. Submit your application Once you find the companies you want to work for, apply as an online English teacher directly on their website. Application processes vary per company, but usually, applicants undergo a grammar exam and a demo teaching session. 4. Schedule your classes and start teaching After you're hired, you'll be oriented on everything you need to learn about the job. You can then start scheduling your first class and teaching your first student. 8. Become a Social Media Influencer Ideal for: People who are active on social media and can share something valuable while engaging their audience Difficulty level: Moderately challenging Profit-making potential: High Necessary skills/tools: Creativity Good storytelling skillsHigh-quality camera for taking pictures and videos for social media posts How influencer marketing works. There's a growing preference for influencers over traditional celebrities in promoting a brand. Social media influencers—whose messaging comes off as authentic—get higher views, engagements, and conversions (the rate at which fans are converted into customers) than celebrity endorsers. This is why more and more companies are turning to influencer marketing to get their brand known to their target customers. These companies partner with Instagrammers, YouTubers, and others with huge social media followings and pay such influencers to recommend their products or services on social networks. The most lucrative aspect of influencer marketing is when you're paid to attend the partner brand's event and post about it on social media. Earnings can reach Php 50,000 up to six-digit figures7 for a single event. How to become a social media influencer in the Philippines 1. Identify your niche Focus on your area of interest and expertise. Your niche is something you can consistently post about on social media. Consider also the interest and needs of your target audience. Is your niche something your fans would want to see? 2. Select your social media platforms You're wasting your time and effort if you try to have a presence on all social networks. Just focus on one or two social media channels suitable to your niche and where your target audience is most active. Facebook and YouTube are the most popular social platforms for most Filipino adults nowadays, making them perfect for most types of audiences and any niche. However, if you wish to target a younger audience—specifically millennials and Gen Zers—Instagram and TikTok are the best places to build a presence on. Being an Instagram influencer is also perfect for lifestyle-related niches, such as food, fitness, beauty, fashion, and travel. If your niche is something more serious and professional (like business and finance), you should have a presence on LinkedIn where you share thought leadership content8. 3. Create your social media profiles For influencers, experts recommend having a business account because it provides access to marketing and data analytics features, which are not offered on personal accounts. With a business account, you can gain insights into your followers, like when they're online and how they interact with your posts. You'll also get to see which posts have the highest reach and engagement. When you want certain content to be seen by a wider audience (including non-followers) and increase your fans, you can share it as a paid ad or sponsored post only if you have a business account. You can set up your business accounts from scratch. But if you have existing personal accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or YouTube, you can convert them into business accounts. 4. Plan your content strategy Influencers are essentially content creators. But they don't just publish anything on a whim. Every post has to be carefully planned out to maximize its reach and engagement. Decide on what types of content you'll publish. How much of it will be informative and how much will be personal? You may choose to post occasionally about your personal life to add authenticity and relatability to your social platforms. Or you may choose not to post anything personal at all and just focus on your niche. A good rule of thumb is the 5-3-2 principle9 for social sharing. For every 10 posts, five of them should be curated (created by another person), three should be original, informative, and relevant content you've created, and two should showcase your personal life. Regardless of your social media content strategy, make sure it will help you get brand partnership opportunities in the future. 5. Grow your audience on social media Becoming an influencer doesn't happen overnight. It will take years before you can earn money online through influencer marketing. Why? Because you need to build a large, engaged social media fanbase. Here are some of the simple yet effective ways to increase your followers and reach more people on social media: Share unique, interesting, and useful contentEngage your followers by responding to comments, running social media contests, asking a question, etc.Consider sharing some of your posts as paid ads to reach a larger audiencePost regularly 6. Create a rate card Having a rate card and media kit makes you look professional as an influencer. These will also come in handy should brands inquire about your rates or when you pitch to companies for possible collaborations. To make your rate card, determine your price based on the number of posts and results delivered (e.g., referred sales, engagement, etc.). As for your media kit, gather details that will help brands decide if you're a suitable partner. These include your social media profiles, number of followers and their demographics (e.g., age, gender, location, etc.), audience reach, engagement rates, and contact information. 7. Reach out to brands for collaboration When you're well-known and influential on social media, companies may be the ones to ask if you'd be interested in becoming their influencer. Or to get noticed, you can mention and tag brands when you post about them. So make sure your bio contains your contact details—this way, potential brand partners can easily connect with you. But you can be more proactive when it comes to connecting with brands for a partnership. Find out which brands in your niche have an influencer partnership program. For example, if you're into fashion, you can join influencer programs of retail clothing brands like ZALORA. You may also sign up for influencer marketing platforms such as Influencers.ph that connects brands with suitable social media content creators. Some influencers even do their own outreach to different companies, usually through email, to inquire if they're open to a brand collaboration. You may do so, but make sure to introduce yourself properly and make an irresistible pitch on how you can help them with brand promotion. 9. Sell Homemade Food Online Ideal for: Aspiring entrepreneurs who enjoy cooking, baking, or any other aspect of food preparation Difficulty level: Moderately challenging Profit-making potential: Medium to high (depending on the food you're selling, your capital, and other factors) Necessary skills/tools: Cooking (or baking) and food preparation skillsKnowledge of proper food handling, sanitation, processing, etc.Kitchen utensils and equipment for food storage and preparationHigh-quality camera for taking food photos How a home-based food business works While the concept of this online business looks simple, it involves something more than just making and selling food from home. You need an online platform for selling food, where customers can place and pay for their orders. For receiving their orders, buyers can pick them up from your location or have them delivered to their homes through courier services like Lalamove, Angkas Padala, and Grab Express. Online food businesses can be more profitable than food stalls and restaurants. Your capital is much lower. No need to build or rent physical space for your home-based food business. Also, no need to invest in a lot of appliances and tools, as most of what you need for cooking may already be available in your kitchen. Bringing food to your customers—even those from far locations—is now easier with delivery apps like Lalamove, Angkas Padala, and Grab Express. No need to buy your own vehicle for food delivery. There's never been a better time to start selling food online. The demand for online food delivery is rising and will continue to grow. By providing a basic necessity like food, you're taking advantage of a great opportunity to earn money online. How to start an online food business in the Philippines 1. Decide on the kind of food you want to make and sell Think of the types of food you can cook or bake well and won't get tired of making every single day. All processes involved in creating your product can be exhausting and time-consuming. So choose something you find enjoyable to make and that's worth your time and effort. Here are some popular ideas to consider: Home-cooked meals (tapsilog, pancit, pasta, and other dishes)Homemade food products (kimchi, food preserves, etc.)Grilled meat/seafoodBaked goods (bread, cakes, cookies, pastries, etc.)Desserts (leche flan, ice cream, etc.)Kakanin (biko, puto, etc.)Milk teaHealthy/diet mealsCatering service or party platters Related: Food Business Ideas in the Philippines 2. Find a supplier Once you've figured out what to sell online, look for possible suppliers that can provide the ingredients you need at the right price. There are many suppliers of different food products in the Philippines. You won't run out of choices, but the challenge is to find a reputable food supplier. Start by asking for recommendations from people you know. They may refer you to quality suppliers. Of course, you can also do an online search. Visit buy-and-sell websites and Facebook groups, online forums, and other sites that cater to food entrepreneurs. 3. Create your brand As a home-based food seller, you don't have a physical establishment that potential customers can see as they walk by. New customers can't sample or even smell your food before buying. This is why you should work on your branding before launching your online food business. You need a good brand identity—from your business name and logo to your product packaging and labeling. Get a good designer to translate into visuals your vision of how you want your customers to remember your brand (like how your product tastes, how it looks appetizing, how reliable your service is, etc.). 4. Set your product price Having a good supplier and branding will amount to nothing if your products are not priced right. To determine your pricing, compute your total fixed and variable costs (e.g., cost of ingredients, kitchen equipment, packaging, delivery, etc.). Then set the profit margin you want to earn. Also, use the pricing of other food businesses similar to yours as your benchmark in pricing your own products. This way, you'll know if your prices are reasonable and competitive. 5. Build your online store Most home-based food sellers start with a Facebook page or Instagram business account—it's the simplest way to offer your products to online buyers. To grow your business faster, you need to step up your online selling game. Having your own food website or online store helps make your business look credible and legitimate. The product images and descriptions on your site help potential customers decide whether to buy from you. You can easily create your online store using an e-commerce website builder such as Shopify and Wix.com. If you're not selling perishable items, you can also sell on Lazada, Shopee, and other e-commerce marketplaces. 6. Promote your products Social networks—specifically Instagram and Facebook—are among the best places to market your products online. Posting on social media is free. But to reach a broader audience, consider investing a little in sharing boosted posts on Facebook or sponsored posts on Instagram that showcase your products. Make sure to upload professional-quality photos that make your food products look good. 7. Start accepting orders As orders and inquiries start coming in, respond to messages and fulfill orders as quickly as possible. If you can't do everything on your own, you may need to hire people to assist you. 10. Complete Online Surveys Ideal for: People who often spend time online, enjoy sharing their opinions, and want to earn extra money in their spare time Difficulty level: Easy How much you can earn from paid surveys: Php 2.50 - Php 180 per survey Necessary skills/tools: A laptop or smartphone with an internet connection How paid surveys work. Taking paid surveys is an easy way to earn money online. Just provide your honest opinions on product/service features, advertising effectiveness, brand recognition, and more. Companies that offer paid surveys serve clients that need to gather data about consumer motivations, preferences, and buying habits. These clients include brands, corporations, market research agencies, PR agencies, and organizations worldwide. Survey results help clients better understand consumers, so they can improve on their product development, marketing, advertising, and distribution strategies. Filling out each survey typically takes only 15 to 20 minutes. You'll be paid per completed survey. The rate per survey varies depending on how long a survey can be completed, which can be as much as US$ 35 to US$ 50 (roughly Php 1,700 to Php 2,500) apiece for longer surveys. You can withdraw your earnings when you accumulate a minimum threshold. How to start earning money online through paid surveys in the Philippines 1. Find and join paid survey sites The internet is brimming with websites that offer online survey programs. Before signing up with paid survey websites, research each company to make sure you're dealing with a legitimate one. Here are some legit paid survey sites that accept participants from the Philippines: MOBROGOpinion HeroRakuten Insight SurveysSurveytimeSwagbucksToluna InfluencersTriabaySense Online survey platforms require interested people to create an account on their site. To sign up, provide your email address, create a password, and complete your profile. Then follow the survey site's instructions on confirming your registration. 2. Start taking online surveys After completing your registration, you can start taking paid surveys. However, you'll qualify for a limited number of surveys only. This is because surveys have certain requirements on respondent demographics. If your profile matches the requirements of a survey, you'll be allowed to answer it and get paid for it. When you're just starting out, you won't be earning as much as other online jobs. Be patient and just keep going. Small as the pay may seem, you'll accumulate decent income over time. How To Earn Money Online by Selling Physical Good 1. Start a dropshipping business Compared to online reselling, dropshipping is an easier, lower-risk, and cheaper way to sell. It even allows you to sell not just to local but also international customers. Dropshipping works like online reselling, except that you don't stock the products or keep a physical inventory yourself. Start with finding and importing products (from an online supplier) to your online shop to sell for a profit. When a buyer orders from your site, you buy the item from the supplier, which will then ship the order directly to your customer. This e-commerce business model is not as popular here as it is in the U.S. Even so, it's legal to run a dropshipping store in the Philippines, as long as you're not selling copyrighted or dangerous items. With dropshipping, you earn money helping wholesalers sell their products to more customers and helping buyers get the items they need. The easiest way to set up your dropshipping business is to sign up with a dropshipping app (such as AliExpress, Dropify, or Oberlo), which can create an online store for you and connect you with local e-commerce platforms like Lazada, Shopee, and Shopify. 2. Sell your pre-owned items Don't have enough capital yet to start an online selling business? Instead of reselling brand-new products, sell things like old clothes, shoes, books, gadgets, or anything you no longer use. Aside from earning extra money, you also get rid of the clutter in your closet. Run a garage sale online through e-commerce websites for selling second-hand items. You can list your items on Carousell (formerly OLX), Shopee, and Facebook Marketplace. It's also a good idea to join buy-and-sell groups on Facebook, where people might be interested in buying your items. 3. Create and sell crafts Got the talent for making beautiful handcrafted items? Turn your creativity into cash by selling your crafts online. There's a market for handmade goods such as shirts, bags, accessories, phone cases, home decors, artworks, and even decorative face masks. People buy them for personal use or as gifts to family and friends. To get started on your online craft business, set up a seller account on e-commerce marketplaces such as ArtFire, Carousell, Etsy, and Karton.ph or open your own online store. How To Earn Money Online by Selling Digital Products 1. Publish ebooks In this day and age when it's so easy to access information through search engines, you might be skeptical about making money through an ebook business. However, there's a market for ebooks. Self-publishers in the Philippines can sell not only locally but also internationally. Ebook lovers around the world buy digital books that can quickly give them the information they need, so they won't have to waste time browsing the internet. Selling ebooks is a good passive income source if you cover topics that people would want to read about—something that helps them improve their lives. Among the best-selling genres for self-published authors are personal finance, business, health and fitness, relationships, and self-help. Choose a topic you're knowledgeable and experienced in, and then provide your ideas, techniques, and solutions. Help your readers solve their problems related to the topic. This online business won't cost much to start, especially if you're skilled in writing and design. You won't need to outsource ebook writing, editing, and design to freelancers. You can publish for free on platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Apple's iBooks Author, and Kobo Writing Life and earn up to 70% royalty on sales. If you have a blog or YouTube channel with a large following, sell your ebooks in PDF format directly to your followers. 2. Create online courses/webinars Have a valuable skill to share? If you're talented in public speaking, become an edu-preneur and share your expertise through online courses or webinars. An online course consists of videos, written tutorials, PDF downloads, and other learning materials that students can access at their most convenient time. A webinar is a live interactive video presentation, lecture, or workshop that allows real-time participation. Related: How to Study Online for Free: An Ultimate Guide to TESDA Online Courses Learning marketplaces like Udemy and Skillshare enable online educators to create and sell teaching courses. Make your educational materials available through these platforms, and you'll earn money each time a student purchases your online course. Bloggers, YouTubers, and Instagrammers can use their own online platforms to invite their followers to attend their online courses for a fee. 3. Produce podcasts Podcasting in the Philippines isn't as popular as blogging and vlogging yet. But if you start hosting an online podcast now, you'll soon be able to build enough following to make a profit. Don't worry too much about not having an audience for your podcasts. Unlike other online content formats such as text and videos, the audio format is easier to consume for people on the go. Listeners can tune in to podcasts through any mobile device at home, on their way to work, or even while working. To get started, invest in basic recording devices, including a mic, laptop, and audio editing software. Your podcasts can be informative, entertaining, or both. Podcasts focus on a niche, such as humor, sports, health, lifestyle, music, relationships, parenting, business, and technology. Choose a niche that you know a lot about. You have to be witty and comfortable speaking in front of a microphone. You can go solo or host shows with a group of friends. Or have a talk-show style format where you interview different subject matter experts and enthusiasts in your niche. When you've grown your audience, you can start monetizing your podcasts through ad placements, brand sponsorships, or affiliate marketing. 4. Sell your photos Got loads of professional-quality images you've taken in the last couple of years? Don't just let them sit in your hard drive forever—make money from your photography. On stock photography websites, photographers can upload their pictures and sell them to corporations, marketing/ad agencies, publishers, and media companies. Some of the largest stock photo sites where you can submit your work include the following: 123RFAlamyAdobe StockDreamstimeFoapiStockShutterstockSnapwire Each time someone purchases your photo, you'll earn a 15% to 85% royalty fee. Selling stock photos is a great way to earn money online, as your images can be sold multiple times. 5. Sell your designs Whether you're a pro or a novice designer, you can earn money online selling your fonts, icons, templates, illustrations, or artworks. Sign up for an account with online marketplaces for creatives like Society6 and Creative Market. From there, upload your unique designs for sale. You'll then be paid a percentage of the money earned from each purchase. 6. Sell your music Are you a budding musician? Did you know that there's money in getting your music online? We're not talking about just posting your covers or compositions on social media. Instead, you earn money online by releasing your tracks on streaming platforms and digital stores like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and Google Play Music. How? Use a music distribution network that lets you upload your songs or beats, sends them to major streaming services, collects royalty from these platforms (per stream or download), and pays your earnings directly to your account. Some of the distribution networks you can join for free or a minimal fee are Amuse, DistroKid, and TuneCore. Alternatively, create your own e-commerce store where you'll sell your tracks as digital products. Shopify, for example, enables musicians to build their online music store. Customers who purchase your products receive a link for downloading your music. Whichever online selling method you choose, you also get the chance to be discovered and build your indie music career as a solo performer, band, DJ, or record producer. 7. Flip websites, domains, and other digital properties If you're familiar with how buy-and-sell businesses work, you can easily grasp the idea of website flipping. For starters, this online business involves buying existing websites and blogs, improving their design, content, and web traffic, and then selling them at higher prices. You may also resell domain names for profit. Similar to website flipping, domain flipping is the practice of buying undeveloped yet potentially profitable domain names and selling them at higher costs. There are online marketplaces that allow you to buy and sell websites and domains, such as Afternic, Freemarket, WebsiteBroker.com, and Flippa (which is also a good place to flip mobile apps and e-commerce stores). Editor's note: Most online marketplaces put a higher value on websites or online businesses that have been around for a number of years, have diversified sources of traffic and income, with strong social media following, and with an audience that is mostly located in the US. If you own a website that has most of these qualities, you can use the valuation tool of either Flippa or Empire Flippers to get an estimate of how much your website is worth. When doing valuation, these marketplaces determine the website's net profit (either annual or monthly) and then multiply it by a valuation multiple (the number of months or years that the buyer can expect to recoup his initial investment). Since they act as a middleman, these online marketplaces take a cut of the money you'll get from selling your website. How To Earn Money Online by Selling Your Services 1. Offer coaching/consulting services Do you love mentoring people in your field of expertise? Get paid to share your expert advice online to help individuals and companies meet their goals or solve their problems. It doesn't take much effort to start online coaching or consulting business. You just need to set up your website and/or social media channels for promoting your services and acquiring clients. Your clientele may include beginning freelancers, startup businesses, and even large companies. Once your services are booked, you start teaching strategies or solutions in real-time through video conferencing. 2. Answer questions in your expertise There are Q&A websites that pay experts to answer questions from clients who need help with solving their problems. Here's how this home-based gig works: A client browses a Q&A platform to find a suitable expert to answer their question. If your profile matches the client's search, the client may schedule an appointment with you. When you accept the schedule request, you'll engage with the client through online chat, email, or phone call to listen to their question and provide expert advice. The client may ask follow-up questions. Depending on the Q&A platform you use, you'll be paid for every question you successfully answer (around US$ 20 to US$ 50 or Php 1,000 to Php 2,500 per question) or for every minute spent responding to a client's question (around one to two dollars or Php 50 to Php 100 per minute). To start making money online, join online communities of experts like Clarity, JustAnswer, or PrestoExperts. The application process involves filling out an online profile with your qualifications and other relevant information, as well as choosing your category (e.g., law, entrepreneurship, marketing, health, automotive, finance, etc.). You may also be required to submit your resume and professional credentials (e.g., diploma, license, certification, etc.). Expert applications typically undergo reviews and background checks. If you pass, you can start earning cash by sharing your expert advice online. 3. Share innovative ideas with companies Are you a creative problem solver? Join an online crowdsourcing platform (like MindSumo and IdeaConnection) that lets you earn cash in exchange for sharing your ideas with big global companies or helping them solve their problems. Anyone can sign up to become a problem solver, though most participants are millennials and Gen Z—such as college students, new graduates, and young professionals— who are more likely to come up with fresh ideas. Businesses are willing to pay anyone who can give them out-of-the-box ideas and propose innovative solutions. They post challenges online with a set of questions that participants may answer. If your response gets a high grade from the client, you'll earn cash. Participants with the best answers get the highest cash rewards. 4. Teach music lessons online Parents enroll their children in music classes to develop not just music skills but also discipline and other life skills. Some adults who want to learn a new skill take up music lessons in their free time. Serve these clients by teaching music lessons (through Zoom or any video conferencing platform) if you're good at playing at least one musical instrument. You can start small by offering one-on-one music classes in your neighborhood. Once you're ready to scale up, offer group classes and sell your services on social media, e-commerce marketplaces like Carousell, or your own business website. 5. Become an online tutor Online tutoring jobs are available to teachers, professors, and other professionals in the Philippines who need to earn additional income. Online tutors teach an academic subject (e.g., basic math, algebra, calculus, biology, chemistry, etc.) to students from kindergarten to college via video or text chat. Tutors can work anytime they're available. Rates for online tutors range from US$ 20 to US$ 25 (roughly Php 1,000 to Php 1,250) per hour. Interested? Join online tutoring platforms that connect students from all over the world with online tutors. These companies may require at least a bachelor's degree and a teaching license. To apply for an online tutoring job, register for an account with a tutoring platform that hires Filipino tutors (e.g., Chegg Tutors, Course Hero, Skooli, Tutor.com, etc.). The online application may include an exam, interview/identity verification, and mock teaching session. Once you're accepted, you'll be provided with orientation and training materials to familiarize yourself with how the system works. 6. Answer homework questions Helping struggling students with their homework problems is another way to use your knowledge in academic subjects to earn money online. Micro-tutoring involves browsing homework questions posted by students, providing quality answers, and getting paid. Usually, student questions are related to math, computer science, law, writing, business and finance, physics, and chemistry. Get started by signing up for online micro-tutoring marketplaces. Sites such as Study.com, CourseHero, Chegg, PhotoMath, and Studypool hire college graduates and students and connect them with those who have specific homework questions. 7. Offer translation services If you have a good grasp of not just English but also other languages such as French, Mandarin, German, Spanish, and more, you can take advantage of translation jobs being offered by various clients around the globe. Usually, your task involves translating videos, subtitles, mobile applications or software, websites, video games, and books into specific languages. Online job sites such as Upwork and Indeed are some of the best places to look for translation-related job opportunities. 8. Do online recording or voice-over services Some clients are looking for voiceover artists or voice actors for their videos. If you have great attention to detail, a soothing, enthusiastic, or engaging voice, you can be hired by clients around the globe looking for voice actors in job sites such as Upwork or Onlinejobs.ph. 9. Offer Excel or Spreadsheet services This requires mastery of using spreadsheet applications such as Excel or Google Sheet as you’re going to help clients with their chart and graphs problems, pivot table analysis, data validation, and proper spreadsheet formula usage. Got It! Excelchat is one of the well-known providers of spreadsheet services that also provides remote jobs to people who want to work in this field. 10. Offer traditional/digital art commissions If you have excellent skills in creating traditional visual designs such as painting or drawing, you can open art commissions through online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, or even Tiktok. You may also offer commissions for digital art designs like digital portraits using the same platforms. 11. Offer video/audio editing services This job requires you to have mastery of the essentials of video or audio editing such as cropping, transitions, and visual or audio effects. You need to know how to follow a given script or outline, combine clips and make them coherent, improve lighting and coloring, and add essential graphics to improve the clip. 12. Be a remote customer service representative This job opportunity involves interacting with customers of a certain company and answering their complaints, questions, and even suggestions. Other job variations may require you to take orders, clarify information, entertain queries, or manage incoming calls. Multitasking skills, excellent oral and written English communication skills, computer literacy, and patience are some of the essential attributes of a remote CSR. Indeed is one of the job sites that post a lot of remote CSR job openings. Related: How to Become a Call Center Agent in the Philippines: An Ultimate Guide 13. Be a remote real estate specialist Offer houses, lots, condominium units, or other properties to potential buyers. Working as a remote real estate agent or specialist allows you to enjoy a flexible working schedule while enjoying high-commission potential. How To Earn Money Online by Doing Easy Tasks 1. Do micro jobs Micro jobs are small, simple online tasks you can complete in a short time and get paid for. The small tasks are similar to those of freelance services, except that you're not working on full-blown projects. Here are a few examples of micro-tasks freelancers can offer online: Editing a 3-minute videoWriting a 500-word articleDesigning a logoBuilding a homepageTranscribing a 10-minute videoEncoding text from PDF to WordTagging or categorizing images Small tasks pay a few cents to a few dollars each—not bad considering that the work is easy and quick to complete. If you have a lot of free time and want to earn more, you can get as many micro tasks as you can do in a day. Micro jobs make an ideal side hustle for full-time employees and entrepreneurs who have limited time for extra work. These online jobs are also a good way for students and stay-at-home parents to earn money online. Do you think you can do small tasks for money? Get micro jobs on websites like 199Jobs, Fiverr, MicroWorkers, and ySense. You may also offer your services on those micro gig platforms with a description of what you can do and your rates. 2. Test websites, apps, and software Companies get insights into what users think about their websites, mobile apps, or software products, so they can fix errors and improve user experience (UX). Serving these clients, you can get paid for conducting UX tests at home. The online job doesn't require any technical skills. Testers evaluate clients' websites and other digital products based on design and layout, content, and ease of use, among other criteria. As a usability tester, your job is to provide honest feedback while using a test website, app, or software as you would in real life. You speak your thoughts aloud as you perform a set of tasks on the site or app. For example, if you're testing an e-commerce store, you may be asked to browse through the product catalog, find a particular item, add it to the cart, and proceed to checkout. Your live comments and reactions, as well as your screen, are recorded through your mobile device's webcam. For some tests, you may need to answer a survey. Each UX test takes 10 to 20 minutes to complete and pays US$ 5 to US$ 60 (roughly Php 250 to Php 3,000). The typical rate is US$ 10 (Php 500) per test. To start off, find web usability testing opportunities on sites that accept testers from the Philippines. Here are some of them: IntelliZoom PanelTestbirdsTryMyUIUbertestersUserfeelUserlyticsUserTestinguTest These online platforms for UX testing jobs require the ability to speak English, a laptop with a working webcam, microphone, and internet connection, plus an Android or Apple device for taking mobile app tests. Participants are also required to pass a sample test before they can take actual tests. 3. Refer new customers to companies Companies like banks, lenders, and e-wallet providers give cash incentives to their customers who invite family and friends to sign up for their services or buy their products. Through these businesses' customer referral programs, you earn a commission (either in cash or electronic gift certificate) for every new customer you refer to them. In this sense, making referrals is quite similar to affiliate marketing because you're being paid to promote a business. To join a referral program, sign up for an account and receive a unique referral code or link that you'll share via email, social media posts, online chat, or text message to people you know. When someone uses your code or clicks on your link, you'll be paid a commission from Php 50 to as much as Php 500. Some of the referral programs in the Philippines include those of GCash, PayMaya, Citibank, Security Bank, and Blend.ph. 4. Live stream your talents and hobbies Live streaming is not just about showcasing your talent to the world. Some live streamers make money from entertaining an online audience. There are so many activities you can live stream: singing, playing a musical instrument, dancing, performing stand-up comedy, or whatever talent you have (as long as it's safe and wholesome). Don't consider yourself talented? You may do live broadcasts of your hobbies instead. Play video games, cook or bake something, do tutorials, or eat lots of food! Or simply share your interesting stories and interact with your fans. Live streamers earn as much as Php 20,000 per month, usually through virtual tips and gifts (which are convertible to cash) from fans. Earnings can go higher for gaming streamers because they have additional income streams like ad placements, affiliate sales, and brand sponsorships. To become a live streamer, use live-streaming apps such as Kumu, BIGO Live, and Chums Live. Gamers can broadcast live on platforms like Twitch, Facebook Gaming, YouTube Gaming, and Nimo TV. 5. Join online trivia quiz shows Looking to do something just for fun while earning money from it? If you know a lot of trivia, join live game shows and get the chance to win a daily cash prize of Php 10,000 that's shared with several other winners. All you need to get started is a smartphone with an Internet connection. Online trivia quiz shows are available on live streaming apps like Kumu. Shopee Philippines also hosts live quiz shows daily. Instead of cash prizes, winners receive virtual coins for paying purchases on the e-commerce platform. 6. Read interesting news and articles If reading is your favorite past-time, you'll be glad to know that some apps will pay you to do just that. For example, BuzzBreak and SnippetMedia give points for every article you read in-app. Earned points can be cashed out using Coins.ph, GCash, and PayMaya. Related: How to Earn Money in GCash: An Ultimate Guide These money-making apps feature content in a wide range of categories, including news, politics, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. Articles are from reputable local and international media organizations (CNN, Reuters, BuzzFeed, Inquirer, ABS-CBN News, etc.) as well as bloggers and independent content creators. You can choose to read only the articles you find interesting. 7. Play mobile games Do you often spend hours playing games with your smartphone? Make it worthwhile! There are plenty of gaming apps nowadays that reward gamers with points or digital coins that are convertible to cash. Play-to-earn apps earn money through ads, so expect to see a lot of them while playing a mobile game. You can also consider playing play-to-earn games for people who have no time for it. For instance, most who have invested in the play-to-earn game “Axie Infinity” are looking for “scholars” or people who can play it for them and earn money through a profit-sharing scheme. There’s also a Pinoy-folklore-inspired play-to-earn game which you can try as a side hustle. Developed by our local game developers in partnership with a Palanca award-winning writer, “Anito Legends”10 is a blockchain-based game that allows players to earn money by competing with other players nationwide. This game also aims to introduce the gamers to our rich folklore as they control our iconic mythological creatures such as the tikbalang and syokoy. In addition, GCash also offers Goama games where you can win prizes if you’re able to climb the top positions in the game leaderboards. However, you have to pay Php 10 or above to be able to play some of these games. 8. Watch entertaining videos Love watching cool and funny videos online? You might as well earn money from it. Mobile apps like BuzzBreak, ClipClaps, Money App, and SnippetMedia reward users with a few dollars per day for watching trending videos on their platform. Tips and Warnings Tips for finding online income opportunities 1. Expand your skillset Don't just limit yourself to what you can do right now. Learn a new skill or upgrade your existing ones, so you can qualify for higher-paying online jobs or grow your business. No matter how busy you are trying to earn as much money, make time for taking online courses, starting a passion project, or reading educational materials. 2. Build your personal brand online Creating a solid personal brand is an effective way to boost your chances of getting a better online job or business prospects. Ask yourself: How do you want potential clients to see you? Of course, you want a build a positive brand image so that people would want to work or do business with you. To start off, review all your social media profiles, paying close attention to your LinkedIn profile. You might need to clean them up or update your information to accurately reflect your skills, expertise, and experience. Clients also get to see your profiles on freelance websites, so be sure to promote yourself and your services well. As you establish your online career over time, you'd want to position yourself as an expert in your field. Join online communities of freelancers or entrepreneurs—these are great places for exchanging knowledge and tips with your industry peers. 3. Keep networking Your personal and professional networks are the best sources of online job and business leads. If an online income opportunity comes from someone you trust, you're assured that it's legitimate. When you're looking for ways to earn money online, ask your family, friends, and former colleagues for referrals. Let them know that you're planning to work from home—they might recommend you to clients or give tips on where to find good money-making opportunities. Tips for keeping yourself safe online 1. Use a separate email address for your online jobs and businesses If you have just one email account, create a second one and use it for your online gigs only. This safety measure not only protects your personal account from hackers but also keeps your work-related emails organized. 2. Do your research Always verify the background of companies and individuals before dealing with them. Get as many details as you can. Browse their websites, look them up on Google, check online reviews, and ask your friends for feedback. Likewise, be careful when it comes to money-making apps. Before downloading such a mobile app, check its ratings and reviews on the App Store and Play Store. Find out if most users have a positive or negative experience with the app. Check also if the company consistently responds to user comments and whether the responses are personalized or just canned. 3. Don't share your confidential information Your birth date, middle name, online banking password, credit or debit card details (card number, CVV/CVC code, and expiration date), or any sensitive personal and financial information should never be disclosed to anyone, even to potential clients or business partners. Avoid dealing with individuals and companies that ask for such data—they're likely hackers who steal the identity of others and use their bank accounts for fraudulent transactions. 4. Secure your devices This is an obvious yet often ignored piece of advice. You rely so much on your laptop and smartphone for earning income online. So it's crucial to keep them protected against viruses and malware that cause disasters like corrupted files, device slowdown, and hacking. Make sure to perform the following on your mobile devices: Run antivirus software and keep it up-to-date.Keep your OS and browser updated. When your device prompts you to install the latest updates, don't delay it.Disable macros on your MS Office files. 5. Avoid suspicious websites and software Clients may ask you to click or download something. If a link looks suspicious, check first if it contains malware using the Google Safe Browsing tool. Copy the URL and paste it into the search box to find out if the site is safe to visit. To check if the software you're about to download is safe, look for reviews about it online. People may have posted about their experience after installing a certain program. Tips for staying productive when working from home 1. Have your own workspace at home Working from your bed or couch sounds like a cool idea, but it's bad for both your health and productivity. So you can stay focused at work (and avoid back pains and sleep problems), create a separate space for your home office. It doesn't have to be fancy. Only the basics will do: a desk or table (ideally with an ergonomic chair) in a well-lit and well-ventilated area. 2. Stick to a daily work schedule Whether you're working full-time or part-time from home, having a structured daily schedule helps you accomplish more while maintaining a work-life balance. Set the time for starting your workday, taking breaks, and ending your workday. You may need to install a time-tracking app to ensure you're sticking to your schedule. 3. Set clear rules with other people in your home Most of your family members may be staying at home, too. This makes avoiding interruptions a real challenge. From the get-go, tell your parents and kids (or anyone you're sharing a living space with) about your work schedule. Set ground rules on what they can and cannot do while you're working. This way, you can work in peace and avoid embarrassing situations, like a kid suddenly showing up in your online meetings. 4. Switch to a faster and more reliable internet plan A stable Internet connection is a must if you're working from home or running an online business. More so, certain online jobs like ESL teaching require high-speed Internet. If your Internet at home is slow, upgrade your subscription or switch to a better internet service provider. The extra monthly cost may be worth the investment. There's no single broadband plan that works for all locations. Ask your neighbors for feedback on their Internet plan to find out which one provides fast and consistent speed in your area. 5. Back up your files regularly It's hard to imagine the horrible consequences of losing your work files. Keep a backup in an external hard drive and cloud-based storage service (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, etc.), so you can retrieve your files when your computer crashes or gets stolen. Frequently Asked Questions 1. What skills should I learn to make money online? 2. What is the best way to earn money online using a smartphone? 3. How can I earn money on Facebook? 4. Can you earn money from TikTok? 5. What are the best ways to make money online for stay-at-home parents? 6. How can OFWs earn extra money online? 7. What is the best way to earn money in the Philippines for college students? 8. How can I earn money online as a teenager? 9. How do I get paid online? 10. How can I tell if an online job is a scam? 11. How can I earn money in GCash? References