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You only need to spend a very short time online to come across dozens of sites suggesting you need only sign up to earn thousands online but whilst it isn't that easy, it is more than possible to make money online.

The options available depend very much on how much you want to earn and whether you want to remain exclusively online or just use the internet as a medium.

If you want to earn just a few dollars without doing any marketing, selling, promotion of any kind then consider online surveys. The amount you can earn will depend very much on your location and personal demographics. For example there are many more companies interested in US residents, but there are also many opportunities worldwide particularly the UK, Canada, Western Europe, Australia and SE Asia. Sites like whichsurveys.com provide a free directory of reputable survey companies, categorised by country ad detailing the payment options. In some cases you can increase your earnings potential by recommending friends and family.

Another option is to use online auction sites. eBay is by far the largest online auction site and has sites in many countries of the world. Even if there isn't a site specific to your country there are plenty of goods you can promote worldwide, for example eBooks, low weight high value products eg autographed photos, dropshipped products or goods you can source cheaply in your own country. There are loads of sources of free and low cost advice available - see http://www.homeworking-directo ry.com/auctions.htm for example.

If you have specialist skills eg translation, proofreading, web design, computer programming, copywriting, transcription services, art, etc. take a look at freelance sites where you can offer your services by bidding on projects that others need actioned. Try http://www.homeworker.info/fre elance.htm for links and ideas.
Next you can sign up as an affiliate for an existing company and promote their products or services. In many cases you'll get a replica site or link to promote at no cost. This can be a very good introduction to marketing without having to learn about website creation. In particular sites like Clickbank and Paydotcom have hundreds if not thousands of products, mainly ebooks and downloadable software, that you can promote for around 50% commission. Once again there is a host of excellent information available to make serious money this way. Try http://www.homeworkinguk.com/g oogleprofits.htm for example. Alternatively you can join a membership site with new software and ebooks available to you every month which comes with complete resale rights and often complete sales pages for promotion. For more ideas of online business opportunities, including membership sites, take a look at http://www.homeworking-directo ry.com/websales.htm

Of course the really big money is made by creating your own websites, particularly if you have enough useful contact to be accepted by Google Adsense whereby you earn money by placing Google ads on your site. You can buy content or even complete themed sites if you don't wish to create a site yourself. Take a look at http://www.homeworking-directo ry.com/websites.htm for information on creating and promoting a site.

And yes, if you're wondering, I do earn a fulltime income myself from the internet using a combination of all of the above.

Learn more about this author, Lynne Oconnor.
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