It’s the era of freelance and the internet! These days, few people (especially if you are a Millennial or a Gen Z) are committing to fixed working hours. This is resulting in most youngsters turning to freelance engagements they can do from home, coffee shops, the beach, another country… virtually any place, as long as there’s Wi-Fi!

However, the online job business may be a bit tricky; there are plenty of false advertisements out there which promise good money for the services rendered but end up paying nothing (or way less than they promised). This is why, everyone who is looking to get their monthly salary on the internet (and maybe even save some cash on the side) should be extra careful when opting for their online profession and the companies they’re collaborating with.

To save you the trouble of doing extensive research on jobs that pay and don’t, we’ve made the list of the best options in the online-industry you can turn to and actually earn a pretty solid dollar.

Virtual Assistant

With more and more businesses operating online, it’s no wonder virtual assistants are taking priority over “regular” ones. Being a virtual assistant means you are an independent contractor working from a remote location and supporting multiple clients. This puts you in the front seat in a way that you don’t have to work for just one client; you can collaborate with a variety of industries by providing creative, administrative, and technical services.

Depending on the companies you work with, your tasks may encompass a range of duties – composing and responding to emails, keeping your boss’s calendar in order, creating and distributing business-related documents, writing and creating content for their online presentations, responding to media and business inquiries and more.

Web Developer

These days, everyone seems to be a web developer; mainly owing to many free learning opportunities online. If you don’t have a college degree in web development yet you’ve always found it your passion, take the time to finish up a few courses online because building sites for companies and bloggers may land you more than a few dollars!

Just as most freelance employees, web developers are too self-employed, with the vast majority able to work anywhere with a laptop and speedy Internet connection.

Translator

The current trend of working as a translator went beyond having a BA in a language you are translating in; the main requirement these days is nothing but fluency in at least two languages, both written and spoken.

This turn of tables in the translating domain poses well for everyone without a BA in (any) language but who has spent some time living abroad and picking up a few languages; especially if it happened in the process of getting a diploma in other domains like economy, marketing, law, diploma of accounting, etc. In fact, these people are often hired to do translations in their fields of expertise, which is perfect for everyone who wants to combine their love for languages and their commitment to their profession.

A translator often works under very tight deadlines and is usually paid per translation. Some companies offer full employment, however – such practice is rare. Often, translators are self-employed and work from a remote area (e.g. their homes).

Freelance Writer/Content Writer/Ghost Writer

How do you think all the internet articles come about? Writers!

More than ever, writers are needed to come up with the creative ideas, formulate news articles, create content, and blog on topics that are trending.

Although many bigger sites have in-house writers, with the blogging and online-journalism growing, a number of sites hire freelance writers and content creators that are paid by the article.

Writing per se has plenty of angles, and you can go from a columnist, to a steady online journalist, contributing blogger or a ghost writer – depends what your preferences are.

The key to staying in business is not missing deadlines and keeping quality on an enviable level. Competition is heavy, so you need to stand out with your work.

Social Media Manager

Social media presence has long ago replaced the adverts done through television, print, or radio. Still, being active on the net requires almost 24/7 coverage, and not every big business has the time to manage it. This is why more and more business are hiring social media managers to help their business grow online, get the following expected and by doing so – expand their reach.

These jobs above are our top favorite online engagements to do; if none of it fits, do your research and find options that best agree with your skills and sensibility.

Just don't forget about business card printing and leaflets to kick-start your freelance career and promote your services.