Making Money on the Internet - 5 Things I wish I knew about Freelancing

Making money on the Internet is very attractive for students, stay-at-home moms and people who don’t want to be stuck in a 9-5 job. Admit it, not all of us love our boss. Some of us may, but the idea of being able to stay at home and working online is tempting.

I was out of school when I found out that people are actually earning from the Internet. I started out with PTC sites (think Clixsense and clicksbux), data-entry (those captcha typing stuff that won’t give you a penny no matter you type the whole day), and article writing.

Making money on the Internet means you are the boss, you make money based on how you manage your time. But know that this business is not always dreamy. It requires hard work for it to last.

TIP: If you’re serious about making money on the Internet, avoid PTC sites and captcha typing. These are like plagues that will do more damage than good. Don’t waste your time.

Check out my articles about different ways you can make extra money from home.

Article writing is the first gig that made me money working online. I remember it was a simple writing task that I finished on Freelancer.com. That was more 6 years ago. Looking back, here are the things I wish I knew before starting to build my online reputation.

Related Article: Make $100 a Day Working from Home Writing Online

1. You Should Sign Up with a Payment Processor

Offering your services online means you are willing to connect with people worldwide who are looking to pay someone to complete a job. Usually, these clients would pay through payment processors like PayPal. I had no idea how PayPal worked so I had to rush in order to accept payments.


First, you have to sign up on PayPal.com. It’s easy - you just have to fill some form. And then, add your bank (this will allow you to withdraw your PayPal money to your local bank), and you’re done. You will be able to start accepting payments only after you complete this step.

2. Not Everyone Pays

This is the painful truth: there are still people out there waiting to scam innocent workers. To avoid going through this, do some research about a potential client. Better yet, join communities like Fiverr.com or Freelancer.com. These websites allow you to post your services, or find clients and at the same time, protect you from not being able to receive the money that you deserve after delivering your work.

Related Article: Work from Home Jobs - How to Avoid Getting Scammed

Also Read: How to Make Passive Income Online Through Fiverr

3. It’s Not Easy to Win a Client

Being the “new guy” and not having a lot of good feedback on your portfolio makes it hard to win a good client. The online business has grown so big that potential employers could easily miss your profile no matter how good it is.

Here are some of the reasons why:

• There are a lot of freelancers who have already established their brand, and it’s hard to compete when you are just starting out.


• Most freelancers are cheaper compared to you. Believe me, there are people out there who will deliver a high quality service at a small price.


• Most good clients have already found “the one”, meaning, they are not interested at looking for new freelancers to work with them. Which takes us to the next one:

4. Building a Good Reputation Takes Years

Having been in this industry for 6 years now, I can say that it’s not easy to build a good reputation mainly because there is a lot of competition who are willing to accept small payments for a quality work. In fact, it’s only now that people are actually Googling for my name to get me to work on something - and that’s because they love my work.

TIP: When you work on something, even if it’s just for a small amount, work on it with your whole heart. Deliver quality service EVERY SINGLE time because eventually, your passive income will come from returning customers.

5. Making Money on the Internet & Staying at Home Doesn’t Always Mean More Time for Family

Most people are looking for online opportunities because they want to have a flexible schedule, and more time for their family. Well, it doesn’t always end up like that. A 9-5 job will require you to focus on your job for only 8 hours, while some online jobs are per project basis, which means you only get paid full amount after delivering what you promised.


On a 9-5 job, you get paid as long as you fill your hours and make your boss happy, whereas, being an online worker, you only get paid according to the tasks or projects that you complete. Sometimes, this means staying up all night working on a project or not getting paid at all.

Something to think about:

Being employed means you get to receive a paycheck at least every week, no matter how you did at your job. Clocking out usually means you don't have to think about your tasks anymore, or the company. Going home means you focus on your family or your social life. Whereas, freelancing means having a business that you personally own and manage. You have to formulate a strategy on how to acquire new clients, deliver services efficiently, and maintain a good reputation. There is no guarantee that you WILL get paid at the end of the week.

Making money on the Internet means you are the boss, you make money based on how you manage your time. But know that this business is not always dreamy. It requires hard work for it to last.


My final tip: Hold your job, make your boss happy. At the end of the day, maybe work online if you need more bucks. Find a few clients and keep them. Maybe one day, these clients will keep coming back, and eventually, you’ll start earning passive income from home.

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About Terinah Doba

Terinah Doba is a passionate blogger who loves to share the things she learn from the daily challenges of life.