"Work from bed!" ideas aren't hot news.

Corporations of course utilise paywalls and advertising placement for websites - but we’re talking about the elusive individual who escaped the rat-race and gained income and "freedom" from their home computer.  

The first of aspiration faces of virtual monetization were YouTube creators. As their success grew, they found it necessary to register as businesses, even just to handle tax matters. In a time before algorithms, brand deals, and sponsors became commonplace, the idea of being a "YouTuber" wasn't considered a legitimate career goal.

Although early internet influencers seemed more approachable compared to traditional TV personalities, the inner workings of their industry remained a mystery and traditional media outlets rarely explored it with an open mind.

“Get paid instantly for answering a couple of questions!” is still around and kicking today, but was far more visible in the 2010s. 

The autofill search engine of course was always: “Get paid for taking surveys LEGITIMATE.” 

Paid survey websites claim to compensate you for your opinions, but the reality is often different. Many find the payouts to be disappointingly low compared to the time invested, and the legitimacy of some opportunities is questionable. It's essential to approach these platforms with a discerning mindset and a cautious assessment of potential returns, as they may not be as generous as they seem.

So where are we now?

Video platforms Youtube and Twitch have been offering contracts for a couple of years now, signing influencers up like athletes for exclusivity. The intricacies of that industry are beyond this current think-piece.

The two key social platforms in 2023 for monitisation are Instagram and Tiktok. Coming up behind them for cross-marketing are Pinterest and Independent Blogs. Monetization on social media involves converting online engagement and content creation into revenue streams, earning money when they successfully drive user actions, like clicks or product purchases. Algorithms and user behavior constantly change, and so an income high enough to replace traditional employment is extremely unpredictable.

“Online Surveys = Cash” appeals to a market who isn’t desiring virtual celebrity status. So disregarding jobs that involve selling a desirable personality, lifestyle, or looks - we have the following as examples:

Clips/Edits/Reaction Youtube channels

Choose a show with either a viral or consistent fanbase and edit videos for long-form (Youtube) and/or short-form (Instagram and Tiktok). Build up views, link accounts across platforms, use hashtags and titles that captialise on controversial characters and scenes. Keep uploading until the accounts are viable for the in-site monetization.

Affiliate Marketing

On a platform of your choice, choose a popular aesthetic and paint a picture of an idealistic life with plentiful products placed throughout your posts. Don’t forget to tag every brand. Gain affiliate links from individual businesses, or sign up for Amazon Associates. When purchases are made through your link, you make a commission. 

A word to the audience: If you’re not the seller or the buyer, you’re the product. 

Virtual Assistant or Data Analyst are highly promoted as “work while you travel” roles. Basically any “hard-skills” you possess can be marketed as a freelance job. You can utilise existing platforms to appear to potential buyers without heavy self-marketing, but growth is limited.

Arguably, it’s truly more viable than ever to “make money from home”, but there are still many risks and many scams that require a discerning eye and careful consideration.

The general consenses is "it's for the lucky few".

2/50