How to Make Money at Home With Your Computer

Preparing for Work

Take stock. Before pursuing from-home employment, evaluate your expertise, work experience, and goals. Ask yourself, “What skills do I have? What kind of work am I willing to do? How much money do I want to make? How much time am I willing to commit?” Be honest with yourself – this information will help you narrow down your options. Start thinking about your transferable skills. Then update your resume. If you have a family, make sure that your work-from-home goals align with the family’s priorities.

Acquire skills. If you have no experience or are looking to start a new career from home, some of the best fields to consider are IT, accounting, and marketing. These are somewhat technical fields, so you’ll need formal training. The good news is that you can earn an affordable associate’s degree in each field at your local community college or through online programs. If you don’t have the time, money, or motivation to pursue a degree, don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to make money from home.

Avoid scams. Work-from-home scams were the top Internet crime in 2011, and very little has changed since then. If an employment opportunity sounds too good to be true, well, you know the rest. Legitimate online work opportunities require no initial “investments,” and they certainly do not come in bulk emails.

Get set up. To maximize your efficiency, update your computer’s operating system and acquire a high-speed internet service. Find a suitable work space in your home and demand that others treat it with respect – this is your new office! EXPERT TIP Ashley Moon, MA Ashley Moon, MA Professional Organizer Ashley Moon is the Founder and CEO of Creatively Neat, a virtual organizing and life coaching business based in Los Angeles, California. In addition to helping people organize their best life, she has a fabulous team of organizers ready to de-clutter your home or business. Ashley hosts workshops and speaking engagements at various venues and festivals. She has trained with Coach Approach and Heart Core for organizing and business coaching respectively. She has an MA in Human Development and Social Change from Pacific Oaks College. Ashley Moon, MA Ashley Moon, MA Professional Organizer Define spaces in your office clearly. Keep your workspace organized by finding consistent homes for office supplies and electronics. If possible, demarcate the boundaries of your home office space with furniture, shelves, or room dividers, to promote focus and keep a clear division between work and home.

Working from Home

Become a virtual assistant. Virtual assistants are independent contractors who perform administrative services for small-business owners, medical and legal offices, and executives. Among other things, virtual assistants plan events, make travel arrangements, correspond with clients, and manage data, and they do all of this from home. If you decide to become a virtual assistant, consider joining the International Virtual Assistants Association to gain access to networking opportunities and potential employers. Higher-paying virtual assistant jobs usually require administrative experience. If you have no administrative experience, you may have to start with a lower-paying position. Don’t let this discourage you. You have to start somewhere. The IVAA offers certification programs that can make you a more marketable candidate. In addition to the IVAA website, you can look for jobs at www.virtualassistantjobs.com.

Develop a content-based website. A content-based website provides information on a specific subject such as baking pies, designing kitchens, or repairing bicycles. You don’t need a product or service to get started - just a good idea. If you know a lot about a particular subject, consider sharing your knowledge with the rest of the world. And while you’re at it, why not make a few bucks? To make money, your website will need to attract a lot of traffic. If you have no technical expertise, hire a professional who specializes in web design and search engine optimization (SEO). SEO improves your site’s interaction with users and search engines. You’ll have to decide on a domain name and hosting service…and pay for each. Fortunately, this will cost you less than $10 per month. Once your website is set up, start adding content. You can then advertise related products and services from other companies and receive a commission for sales or leads. Programs such as Google AdSense make this process quite simple.

Give your opinion. If you only want to make a little bit of money, you can get paid to take part in mock juries and focus groups. Attorneys use these “juries” to survey public opinion and help prepare for actual trials. To participate, you’ll have to join a site and meet some basic juror qualifications. You can then review and respond to case materials at your convenience. Always read disclaimers.

Work remotely. If you already have a job, and you work at a computer, ask your employer about working from home. Depending on your profession, you may have to continue working during normal business hours. Your employer may also ask you to take part in conference calls from time to time, but at least you’ll be at home. You should have a good reason for wanting to work at home before asking your employer about working remotely. If working remotely full-time is not an option, ask about working a few days per week at home and the other days in the office. Keep in mind that if you choose to work from home on a full-time basis, your status may change from full-time employee to independent contractor, and you could lose your benefits. If you do become an independent contractor, and your employer cannot supply you with work materials, your computer, internet service, and office supplies are tax deductible.

Teach. If you have language expertise or an advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) with teaching experience, you can teach online courses for colleges and universities as a part-time adjunct. HigherEdJobs.com maintains an extensive list of online teaching opportunities. Most positions will require you to fill out an online application and submit a CV. If teaching courses is too much of a commitment, you could also tutor online. Companies such as www.tutor.com are always looking for help. To teach or tutor online, you may need additional audio-visual equipment for your computer.

Write. Quality writing is always in demand. If you are a good writer and have experience blogging, copywriting, or editing, you could become a freelance writer. Assemble a portfolio of your writing (or update the one you have) and start looking for work. A great place to start is within your existing networks. You could also look for opportunities to write newsletters, blogs, or advertisements for local clients. One caution: with little writing experience, it can be difficult to find your first paying client. You may have to start by writing “pro bono” to gain experience and build your portfolio. Spend some time exploring www.allindiewriters.com if you’re unacquainted with the world of freelance writing. There you’ll tips and resources for building a successful freelance career and an extensive job board. You can also look for jobs at www.journalismjobs.com.