Top 11 Online Skills to Make Money as a Student

Are you a student wanting to make extra cash while studying? You’re in luck!

The digital era offers many ways to earn online. So, let’s look at the best skills for the online job market.

Now, students can earn from home like never before. Maybe you need money for school or some extra for fun.

Online work is a flexible option. It lets you earn while still focusing on your studies.¹

Some great online jobs for students include writing, helping online, tutoring, YouTube content, design, surveys, and more. They’re perfect for earning from home.

1. Digital Marketing

Digital Marketing is a fast-growing field today.¹ It’s vital for students aiming to earn online.

With digital marketing skills, people can find various money-making chances online.² These include everything from managing social media to using data to understand user behavior. It allows students to excel in the crowded realm of online business.¹

Gaining digital marketing know-how can lead students to jobs they can do from anywhere. This includes freelance work, part-time jobs, or launching their own online ventures.

It’s a field full of learning and working opportunities.² Aspiring digital marketers need to grasp the basics to succeed in significant projects.²

The industry covers various roles like creating ads, writing content, and analyzing results. It points out the importance of using the newest tools to achieve the best results.²

In 2023, Digital Marketing tops the list of moneymaking skills for students.¹ Social media and website skills stand out.¹ They offer big potential due to the vast number of users online.¹

Affiliate Marketing allows for significant monthly earnings, up to ₹1 lakh.¹Both content and copywriting are mentioned as high-demand areas, crucial for online and social media marketing.¹

Email Marketing aims to directly influence customers.¹ SEO plays a big part in getting more people to websites from search engines.¹ SEM helps businesses reach a bigger audience through digital methods.¹ Graphic and web design are critical for business visuals and online presence.¹

Bloggers can make money depending on their niche, effort, and digital strategies.¹ Video Editing is a skill in demand for creating powerful marketing content.¹ Developing mobile apps is a lucrative field with high demand.¹

2. Content Writing

Content writing is a great skill that doesn’t always require a special course. If you’re good at English, you’re on your way.

Starting your own blog is a good step. It teaches you how to write and what people like online. Every website and social media page needs words to attract readers.³ To write well, research skills are key.

If you learn content writing well, you can earn money. It pairs nicely with SEO and creative design. SEO helps articles show up more in searches, leading to more readers.

Google and Bing will notice your articles more.⁴ This means you have more chances to make money if you can write in an SEO-friendly way.

3. Social Media Marketing

Social media is a powerful tool, with billions using Facebook and others on Twitter and YouTube.⁵

Businesses and people need strong skills in social media marketing. They must plan posts using scheduling tools across big social media sites.⁵

Content curation is key for those who can’t make content all the time.⁵ Knowing how to check if marketing is working is crucial too.⁵ Making friends with online influencers and smart planning are vital for success.⁵

Engaging with followers and shaping a brand’s image is a top skill needed.⁵ Also, having a plan and using research to improve strategies is essential.⁵

Building a strong community on various platforms is more important than ever.⁵ Creating interesting content and checking its success with analytics are critical.⁵

Looking ahead, jobs in social media marketing are expected to grow by 10%.⁶ Online classes, like Google’s and courses from universities, help develop these skills.⁶

4. Graphic Design

If you love mixing colors and creative designs, graphic design might be for you. It’s a top skill to work from home or anywhere, and it’s always in demand.

Every business needs design, from website buttons to company logos. So, Graphic Designing is a great way to make money online.⁷

Just knowing Photoshop isn’t the whole story. If you’re artistic and have a good eye, these tools open up cool opportunities.

One way to earn is by putting your designs on sites like RedBubble and getting a cut when they sell.⁸

You can also make cash by designing resumes for friends, or creating websites for others as they build their brands. Posting your vector art on social media might draw in clients too.⁸

Fiverr is a place where you can offer design services starting at $5. Setting up an online shop with items like shirts is easy and free with platforms like Redbubble.⁹

Design consultants can help companies improve how they attract and keep customers without designing directly.

You can also sell your creations on places like UI8 and Creative Market or work with print on demand services to sell printed goods.⁹ Upwork is a good spot to find design gigs.

Making online courses or sharing your work on YouTube can bring in extra money and fans who may support you on Patreon.

Roberta Morris sees graphic design as a client service first. She says it’s important to remember you’re helping your client’s needs.⁷

Networking is crucial, according to Blandine Mathieu of NiceDay, for finding work and clients.⁷ Freelancers must be good with budgets to keep clients happy.

Staying on time and within budget is a big part of project management for graphic designers.⁷

Freelancers also need to negotiate well and manage their time wisely to keep stress low and quality high.

Mathieu mentions that knowing how to market can help you get and keep clients, too. This is especially true for projects like designing websites or business cards.⁷

5. Web Development

Learning to develop websites is crucial today, as it’s a top skill for earning.¹ Every company wants an online spot to show what they offer.

To create these sites, people use special tools that turn designs into real pages. Many tools let you build without knowing how to code.

Now, creating websites comes in many methods. One standout option is WordPress.¹⁰

In 2024, WordPress powers 43.2% of all sites, showing its huge impact. It’s favored for its friendliness, both for developers and editing content. This makes it a popular choice for various needs.

6. Video Editing

Video is a top-notch marketing tool for many things. This includes music, products, and education.

Lots of people are getting into video editing because it’s a great way to earn money online. You only need a computer and the right skills to make good videos.¹¹

Many folks want video editors now, especially for educational videos. If you’re good, you can make around $80,784 a year.

Places like Fiverr and Upwork are good for finding work. Or you can sell courses on Teachable. People love watching how-to videos these days.¹¹

Businesses need video editors for social media ads. Editing videos for YouTube is also a good way to make money. It attracts both viewers and creators alike.¹¹

Video editing is an industry that’s really growing right now. Those who do it full-time make about $52,000 a year.

Freelancers often charge $40 an hour or more. If you edit for YouTube, you might make between $800 and $1,000 a month. Some top YouTubers make thousands every day.¹²

If you film weddings, you can make a good amount too. There are over 2 million weddings every year. This means lots of work for video editors. You can also sell your video clips online for extra money.¹²

YouTube is a great place to find work. You can edit videos for those who need help. The film industry offers even more chances.

You could edit trailers that help movies do well at the box office. Or edit music videos for bands. These are just some of the many ways you can make a living with video editing.¹³

Helping local businesses with their videos is another way to make money. Especially those without big budgets for video production.

Plus, volunteering your skills to help causes can introduce you to new opportunities.¹³

Teaching others how to edit videos is yet another income stream. You can do this online. Or in person if you prefer. Either way, sharing your knowledge is a great way to earn extra money.¹³

7. Blogging

Not long ago, blogging was mainly a hobby. Now, it’s a way to earn money. In 2023, it’s seen as a top skill for earning cash.¹

Your blog’s income depends on its topic, how much you work on it, the readers you attract, and your marketing strategies.

For leisure bloggers, free platforms are perfect. Yet, free sites limit your design choices and ad options.¹⁴ If you aim to earn with your blog, owning a website is better. It lets you control everything you do.¹⁴

Earning through ads depends on how many people see them. This can by either by click or view.¹⁴

To join bigger ad networks, you often need a set number of readers. For instance, Monumetric, Mediavine, and Raptive.¹⁴

Nele van Hout made $10 CPM with 10,000 views on Monumetric, and $17 CPM with Mediavine at 50,000 views.¹⁴

Sometimes, bloggers make money from sponsored posts. These can come from PR firms or special apps.¹⁴ Kenzie Harvey suggests looking into these options for extra income.¹⁴

It’s wise to narrow your blog’s topic to attract loyal readers.¹⁵ Before you start, think of many posts for your blog. It will keep it interesting.¹⁵

Use tools like Google Trends to find what readers like. This helps make your blog popular.¹⁵ Picking a good name for your blog is key. It should show what your blog is about.¹⁵

Making your blog look good is important. It helps people trust your content. Include pages like ‘About’ and ‘Contact’ for your readers.¹⁵

To be found online, use smart keywords. Google likes blogs that do this.¹⁵ Make your blog’s design inviting. Use different styles to keep it interesting.¹⁵

8. Online Tutoring

If you’re great at a subject, think about becoming an online tutor. You can do this through websites such as Tutor.com and Chegg Tutors. They help students in different subjects.

Tutoring lets you earn and become even better in your subject expertise.

The online tutoring field is a good way for students to make more money. Tutor.com pays by the hour, which can change based on the subject.

However, TutorMe pays a standard rate of $16¹⁶. With Studypool, the pay is based on the questions students ask. Cambly offers $10.20 per hour and $12 for Cambly Kids. Some tutors on Studypool even make about $7,500 a month¹⁶.

For online tutoring, Cambly wants tutors to speak English as their first language.

Studypool needs tutors to be current college students with valid IDs¹⁶. While Cambly doesn’t need degrees or teaching licenses, TutorMe requires 2+ years of tutoring or teaching experience¹⁶.

Tutor.com says its tutors should work a minimum of five hours every week¹⁶.

The online tutoring area is growing, now at $185 billion. It’s expected to increase by 8.1% for the next ten years¹⁷. Online tutors might earn between $15-$25 per hour¹⁷.

If you’re into teaching English online, the pay could be $14-$22 each hour¹⁷. Creating top-notch online course materials could bring you big money, from $100 monthly to over $10,000¹⁷.

Basically, online tutoring gives students a way to make extra money while studying.

Platforms like Tutor.com and Chegg Tutors are great for this. They let you be part of the growing online education market. And you can make this a rewarding online tutor career.

9. Mobile App Development

Learning to develop mobile apps is very profitable today. It’s one of the top skills for making money. You need to be good at programming, designing how apps look, and working on their back end.¹⁸

The trend is clear – we’re using our phones more than our computers. So, businesses are keen on creating apps to attract more customers. The need for skilled developers who can create top-notch Android and iOS apps is growing rapidly.¹⁰

Independent app developers might earn around $1,500 a month.¹⁸ And those working for medium-sized companies could make over $7,500 in the same time. Top freelancers and developers in large firms can pull in as much as $45,000 every month.¹⁸

For each 1,000 downloads, developers can make $4. And every time someone uses the app, they might make $2.

This means every time someone downloads an app, it’s like giving the developer $4.¹⁸ Developers get about $0.10 for each ad clicked in their free apps through the CPC model.¹⁸

Google doesn’t pay developers for app downloads directly. Instead, developers earn through ads, in-app buys, and when users buy their apps.¹⁸

Various ways including ads, in-app purchases, and subscription services help developers make money.¹⁰

Keeping users interested is crucial for an app to do well. It helps build loyalty and attract new users.¹⁰ Mobile games are a great way for developers to earn money through their creations.¹⁰

C++ is highly regarded in mobile game development for its strength, quickness, and the ability to handle heavy game features and graphics.¹⁰

Java is a key player for app building, especially for Android apps. It shows how vital Java is in this field.¹⁰

10. Copywriting

When it comes to making money online, copywriting is a valuable skill. It’s often ignored, but it opens up a world of opportunities for students.

Copywriting is about creating ads, product descriptions, and emails to persuade people to buy. It also educates them about products and drives interest.¹⁹

Surprisingly, having a college degree doesn’t always matter to clients. Freelancers who only finished high school can sometimes make more money than those with a bachelor’s degree.¹⁹

Understanding communication strategies and brand messaging is key in copywriting. Copywriters collaborate with marketing teams to come up with ideas and polish ad strategies. They aim for ads that are both consistent and impactful.¹⁹

Even though sites like Upwork and Fiverr make it easy to find jobs, the income from copywriting can vary. It might take hard work to turn freelance writing into a stable source of income.¹⁹

If you invest in copywriting and learn the ropes, you can find a lot of success.

For example, Danny Margulies made a big business in copywriting on Upwork without a college degree. His story shows that with the right skills and effort, students can do well in this area.¹⁹

Looking to make extra money or maybe start a new career?

Copywriting is a skill that offers many opportunities in marketing and communication strategies.

By getting good at writing ads and persuasive content, you set yourself up for success in the digital world.²⁰

11. Web Designing

Web Designing is a top online skill to learn for earning money. Nowadays, creating, developing, and updating easy-to-use websites is challenging. This is due to the fast growth of digital tech.²¹

The need for developers who can make complex and creative sites is going up.²¹ If you love design and know programming, Web Designing could be your perfect match.

In our digital world, nearly six billion people use smartphones to find info, buy things, or look for services. This makes good web design very important.²¹

Good design makes sites easy to use and helps brands look good online.²¹ Since 75% of people judge a site by its looks, designers need to be experts in user experience, graphic design, and coding.

The need for talented web designers is increasing. Companies want a great online presence to connect with their customers¹. Knowing Website Development, especially WordPress, is key today¹.

Also, data shows a big jump in jobs that need skills in data analysis and web design.

Learning web design can make students very valuable in the online world. They can create sites that are both beautiful and people-friendly, which is great for business.¹

These days, more and more jobs look for designers who can make sites both dynamic and easy to use.¹

With the right mix of creativity and technical know-how, students can find a lot of chances in the web design field.

Conclusion

Today, students have many online skills to help them earn money. They can work in freelance writing, virtual assistance, graphic design, and app development.

These skills offer flexible work and passive income.

These skills can help students be financially independent. They offer valuable experience and a chance for a sustainable career.

Whether for tuition, a vacation, or extra cash, mastering these skills leads to a rewarding income.

To get there, identify your strengths and become an expert. Then, look for opportunities in the growing digital market.

Start with these online skills to change your student life. With the right effort and attitude, financial success is within reach.^{22 23}

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