Top 8 Ways a 14 Year Old Can Make Money Online

Making money online is not as challenging as you might think.

In fact, there’s such a wide range of options when it comes to making money online as a teenager, that it can actually be overwhelming to choose between them, making it harder to find the best path for you.

Luckily, in this guide, I’ll be taking you through some of the most lucrative opportunities in today’s online job market.

Here are 8 ways a 14 year old can make money online:

1. Work as a freelancer.
2. Get paid to take surveys.
3. Monetize your hobbies.
4. Get a remote part-time job.
5. Start a Blog.
6. Try affiliate marketing.
7. Become a YouTuber.
8. Make money through Instagram.

In the following sections, I’ve compiled a brief list of some of the best stress-free, convenient, and well-paying ways a 14-year-old can make money online.

1. Work as a Freelancer

Freelancing is one of the best ways for teens to make money online. There are many websites where you can find work and start making money, like Freelancer and Fiverr. Freelancing is an excellent opportunity for teens, as it can help you build some experience while earning a decent income all at the same time.

All you have to do is master a skill and take it from there.

For example, if you’re a good writer or artist, there are plenty of opportunities to get your foot in the door with freelance gigs. You could write articles or blog posts, design flyers and postcards, create logos or brochures, or even do graphic design – the opportunities are endless.

Most freelancing gigs can be classified into two main categories:

• Freelancing for companies – A fellow freelancer or company might need a writer or designer for a project, and if you’re talented enough, you could make some quick cash by working for them on a freelance basis. You can find these types of jobs online freelancing sites such as Fiverr.

• Job boards for teens – There are plenty of job boards with suitable projects for 14-year-old teens. Popular sites such as Indeed.com make it easy to find jobs that require minimal skill and little commitment, like taking surveys or editing photos. It’s a great way to gain some experience before moving on to more demanding jobs.

Tips for 14-Year Olds Looking for Freelance Jobs

When looking for a freelance gig online:

• Don’t forget to disclose your true age: Many employers will not hire someone under 18 for legal reasons. If you are under 18, you may need to find an online job that does not have any specific age requirements. This is especially true if you’re looking for a job that requires a lot of responsibility, involvement, or labor.
• Beware of scammers: There are millions of job opportunities on the internet; however, not all of them are legitimate. For this reason, you’ll usually want to work with a reputable, third-party platform that can be held accountable should you encounter any negative experiences during your job hunt.
• Inform your parents of your plans to make money online: Make sure that your parents know how much time you will be spending on the computer. They should know about your job online and, more importantly, who you’re working for. 

Recommended Financial Geek Article: 9 Easy Ways to Make Money Without Owning a Business

2. Get Paid To Take Surveys

Some companies will pay people to take surveys. Some of these surveys might be about the company’s products or services, while others could be about a person’s opinion on a certain topic. They’re usually pretty short and only take 10 minutes or so. 

Surveys are a great way for teens to make money online, as they’re not as time-consuming as some other jobs. If you’re interested in this idea but don’t know where to start, try signing up with Ipsos i-Say. You’ll get lots of offers to complete surveys that don’t require too much time or commitment.

Here are other well-paying sites you might want to try:

• OneOpinion
• MyPoints
• Swagbucks
• SurveySavvy

Check out this article for other similar options.

3. Monetize Your Hobbies

If you have a skill, you can make money online by teaching others what you already know.

For example, if you know how to play the guitar, you can sign up on an online platform allowing you to virtually teach others the same skill. If you know how to draw or paint, sell your art online.

If you’re good at math or science, you could always tutor other students in those subjects. The possibilities are endless.

Sell Your Art Online

Talented young artists have a good chance of succeeding through selling their art online. There are many websites where you can put up your original artwork for sale. One site you want to try is eBay. Normally, you can’t use eBay until you’re 18. However, the platform allows users under 18 to sell using an adult’s account with their permission. 

You can also sell your original art on Mercari and Etsy. Who knows, maybe the business will become so lucrative you can one day turn it into a full-time career.

Sell Your Photos Online

If you have a good camera, you can take photos of any subject you love and sell them online.

For example, if you see a beautiful sunset or a cool car, put your photography skills to good use and sell the pictures to an image-selling platform like Shutterstock. Granted, the earnings per photo will be modest, but with enough sold, you’ll be able to make a solid profit.

Sell Your Writing Online

Do you consider yourself a good writer? Why not sell your written work online? Several websites allow you to sell written articles, novels, and ebooks. These websites also allow you to advertise your writing skills as a freelancer: 

• HubPages
• Fiverr
• Blurb

You can also write articles for local newspapers or magazines and get paid for them. 

Sell Your Music Online

Start a rock band with your friends. You can perform at local venues, while also selling hard copies of your repertoire (once you’ve built a fan base). Record your music practice videos, post them on YouTube, and embed links to your band’s Facebook, Instagram, or website on the description tab to create a solid network of followers. 

You can create and upload endless videos of your band performing. Additionally, you can record tutorials on how to play the guitar or any other instrument of choice. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, here are some platforms that might be worth a try.

• Amazon Music
• CD Baby
• SoundCloud
• Ditto Music
• ReverbNation

In essence, if you’ve got a particular talent, there are plenty of online platforms to make money off of.

4. Get a Remote Part-Time Job

As a 14-year-old, you can find an online job that fits your schedule. In most cases, you’ll only do these jobs part-time to leave enough time for school and other activities. The good thing about online jobs is that the pay is usually better than what you would get from their traditional counterparts.

Many different websites offer online jobs, but you have to be careful when choosing which one you want to work for. It’s important to look at the reviews and see what other people suggest beforehand. You don’t want to work for a company that is going to take advantage of your age.

Freelancing can also fall under the online job category for 14-year-olds. If you have a skill that others would be willing to pay for, that’s an opportunity to make extra cash. Some online jobs include writing blog posts, designing websites, or even creating videos on YouTube. 

5. Start a Blog

Blogging is probably one of the most common ways of making money online. In the past, other teenagers have been able to profit off of blogging about their favorite lives, hobbies, and general interests.

However, making money through blogging is no easy task. It’s time-consuming and requires a lot of effort, especially during the first few months. I’ve outlined a three-step process to make it easy for you to get your blog up and running in no time. Here’s how:

1. Create a website using a website builder, e.g., WordPress or Wix
2. Start posting regular content
3. Start marketing

1. Create a Website Using a Website Builder, e.g., WordPress or Wix

A website lays the foundation for your blog. If you don’t have one, you can build it for free with WordPress or Wix. Website builders are easier to use than developing a fully functional website from scratch by coding. 

Website builders have powerful drag and drop features. You can have your website up and running in less than 10 minutes. Brand your blog with your name and logo to make it unique.

Check out this video for more information on the process:

2. Start Posting Regular Content

Content is key when it comes to the performance of a website. And not just any content – it needs to be fun, relevant, and valuable. Post content regularly and make sure it’s interesting and relevant to your target audience. 

Add some variation in the articles you want to write, e.g., how-to articles, tips, and reviews engines too

3. Monetize the Site

You need to monetize your website before you start. One way to do this is by selling ad space to other interested website owners, where they can advertise their products. Another popular method is by signing up for Google AdSense. This allows you to sell ad space on your website to a much wider audience.

Another way to monetize a website is through affiliate marketing. For example, you can write product reviews for the items you love and provide links to where the reader can buy them. An affiliate partnership with the seller means that you get a fraction of the sale of every item sold through your website.

6. Try Affiliate Marketing

If you’re looking for a more passive way to make money online, affiliate marketing is a good place to start. You won’t have to put in nearly the amount of time and effort you’d have to when following one of the previous approaches. Besides, there are plenty of opportunities to make money through affiliate marketing based on the industry you want to major in. With affiliate marketing, you can earn commission on sales that go through your website. 

For example, if you have a partnership with an online craft store and someone purchases something from your website, you earn a commission on those sales. 

Another reason why affiliate marketing works is that it’s easy to start up. Unlike other methods of making money online, like blogging or selling digital products, you don’t need any special skills or equipment to get started as long as you have a computer and an internet connection.

7. Become a YouTuber

Piper Rockelle and other famous teen YouTubers began their careers early on YouTube and have gathered millions of subscribers over the years. YouTube is an ever-growing platform, but it’s not so easy to make millions overnight.

To make actual money, you have to figure out the subject you love the most and create top-quality video content surrounding it. It doesn’t end here. You also have to monetize the channel based on the number of subscribers. If it helps, partner with fellow content providers and advertisers who are willing to pay for your work.

The bigger the audience, the higher the chances of making more money as a YouTuber. 

8. Make Money Through Instagram

Many teens are using Instagram to make money online, and it’s understandable why. With a little bit of creativity and some help from friends, you can take your Instagram profile to the next level. You can do this by: 

• Posting photos that stand out in terms of quality and unique content
• Selling your own artwork
• Doing freelance work for brands (like taking pictures of products on sites like Amazon), which could lead to paid promotions with those companies in the future
• Creating sponsored posts 

The more followers on your account, the more money you can make. Instagram success also takes a while to build, especially considering the stiff competition out there.

I recommend building up experience over time, gaining more insights into what sells best, new trends, and anything that could help you succeed in the long run.

Geek, out.