5 Simple Ways to Make Money Online as a Designer

via creativeoverflow.net

In today’s market, making money online as a designer isn’t as hard as everyone makes it sound. You just need to be grounded in your skill set, believe in yourself and market like a maniac. The internet is out there to help you, you just need to find your niche in the design industry and run with it. Whether you want to sell digital downloads, freelance for companies, build WordPress themes or setup training courses for others to learn from, you should put your head down and go for it. The sky is the limit when it comes to ideas and design.

So what is the purpose of this article? It has been written to encourage you to do some research if you feel you aren’t happy in your current position as a designer. So how do you make money online? Well let me show you 5 different opportunities that you can take hold of and skyrocket your income.

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How to Make Extra Money Using Craigslist

via inspirationfeed.com

The simplest way of describing what Craigslist is all about is to state that it is a one stop resource point for nearly anything and everything that can be offered on the virtual platform. It covers such a wide array of topic that is almost impossible to conclusively and categorically state its specifics.

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The Anatomy of a Perfect Website [Infographic]

Every website need a special formula. Without it, most would not function for more than a moment and they certainly wouldn’t impress. Some of the key elements to a perfect website are web design, navigation, usability, social media, SEO, content, footer, and analytics. The infographics below considers these vital elements and provides important take away information. Enjoy!

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Making Money Online — The Truth Behind the Hype

via workawesome.com

Here’s a good question: Can anyone make money online? I found myself considering just this question recently when I saw an article re-tweeted in which someone had stated flatly that they had done all of the things they were “supposed” to do, and yet they had launched an e-book product and had zero sales.

Something about that didn’t strike me as quite adding up. Zero sales? Really?

I reviewed the post a few more times, because the thesis of the piece (which was pretty bitter in tone) seemed to be this: This person had done every single thing they could to make their launch successful, and it had not worked, and that anyone who promotes making money online, in essence, pulling a hoax on people.

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The Ultimate Guide to Making Money Online

via incomediary.com

In 2008 I had an idea for an internet-based business.

I did a little research, wrote up a business plan, and figured I’d hire someone to build a website. Surely this internet thing would be a piece of cake.

I shopped a few web firms but couldn’t find anyone to build it for less than $10K. As a college student, I couldn’t afford that, so I set out to build it myself.

Sound familiar?

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Making Better Decisions: How to Follow Your Gut

via inc.com

The most frustrating advice I ever received came from a mentor who told me, "Just follow your gut."

I had no idea what that meant nor how to do it. He made it sound as if my gut would suddenly appear in front of me and gesture for me to follow it.

Want to know why it's so hard to follow your gut? Because it requires you to stop giving a damn about what everyone else thinks.

Entrepreneurs spend so much of their lives comparing themselves to others and measuring their progress by some impossible ideal. Covers of magazines show 20-something who became billionaires off their brilliant ideas. Your bank account, meanwhile, looks more than a little pathetic. (I know mine does.) You start to feel that, whatever success is supposed to look like, you're not achieving it as well as the person next door.

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Top 10 Cellphone Accessories You Can Make Yourself

via lifehacker.com

From cables to speakers to stands that prop up your phone, there are more cool accessories out there than you can shake a stick at—and they all seem grossly overpriced. Don't feel like cashing in an arm and a leg to power up your phone? Here are 10 cellphone accessories that are cheap and easy to make yourself.

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"Make Good Art" - Comics by Neil Gaiman

via zenpencils.com

An inspiring collection of art by comic-creator Neil Gaiman, Illustrating the creative-way of dealing with even the most frustrating problems: Make Good Art!

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10 Ways to Save Money by Spending More

via mint.com

There is a fine line between miser and smart spender. As your accounts grow in size and decimal places, there are several key purchases that may increase your quality of life — and even save you some cash in the process!

Here are 10 thrifty ideas for smart ways to spend more without feeling guilty: A range of experts shared advice for items that savvy investors should buy in order to climb the ladder and accumulate wealth, while also increasing day-to-day enjoyment.

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The Truth About Making Money While You Sleep

via copyblogger.com

Want to hear about the day in the life of a so-called “successful entrepreneur?”

Yesterday, I stayed in bed until about 2 PM. I watched the last few episodes of Mad Men. Around sunset, I took a leisurely stroll down the beach. When I got back, I hung out with a friend for a couple of hours, ate dinner, and went to bed.

In other words … I goofed off.

And while I was goofing off, my business generated a pretty decent chunk of revenue.

You want to know the coolest part?

I did absolutely nothing to “earn” it.

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How To Make Money On YouTube

via businessinsider.com

YouTube recently announced that any existing user is now eligible to place ads on their videos. That means you can finally make some money by taking videos of your cat doing cute things.

Previously, you had to endure a lengthy process to become a YouTube partner. But now, pretty much anyone can place overlay or pre-roll ads on their videos. The bottomline is that as long as you own all the rights to your video and don't violate any of YouTube's guidelines, you can make money off of your videos.

Watch our step-by-step video guide below to learn how you can start making money off your YouTube videos...

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How to Make Sure You Get Paid When You Design a Website

via gizmodo.com

If the people who hired you to design a website have been dodgy and unreliable about payment, here's a little stunt that will shock their wallets and open their checkbooks: scrap the entire site and kindly demand payment on the website's front page. Your payment should come soon after.

Our own Jesus Diaz has admitted to using this tactic on delinquent clients in his former life as a designer and many designers keep this sort of stunt as a last resort method in order to get paid. From what I can tell, Freshbaked UK—the delinquent company in question—is a PR/marketing agency who doesn't appreciate the job of a designer and is in deep doodoo itself. Tsk, tsk guys. I'm sure you guys know where to find your website.

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How To Make Your Own Chewing Gum, Even Though You're Not a Kid Anymore

via gizmodo.com

Dirty mouth? You can clean it up with your own brand of homemade chewing gum.

While this DIY kit is technically targeted to kids, most things tykes get to do are still pretty fun for grown folks, too. Everything you need comes in this little kit, such as the sap from Sapodilla trees in Central America. It's just 14 bucks and makes for a fun weekend project, and you'll even learn a little bit. It offers a short chemistry lesson, explaining how gum is made, and it tells you all about the different places the ingredients are sourced from.

It's not hard either; literally, it's so easy, a child can master it. With step-by-step instructions and a website to help you out incase you get lost, you'll be blowing bubbles you cooked up yourself in no time.

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Why Most Employees Make Up to 30% Less Than They Should

via forbes.com

If you were offered a raise at work simply for being there and requiring no additional tasks, would you accept it? Of course you would. With no downside risk, most people would jump at the chance for additional compensation, but the reality is the raise was there all along. You just didn’t realize it. Many people forfeit a generous raise by not fully taking advantage of the benefits packages provided by their employer. Employers provide an additional 30% or more in benefits above and beyond salaries listed on a W-2. Many people even choose between prospective employers specifically for better benefits packages but after their new hire paperwork is filled out and the core benefits are chosen, maximizing that extra 30% in compensation falls by the wayside. Performing in the new job is top of mind.

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25 ways designers can make money without dealing with design clients

via graphicdesignblender.com

This is not one of those posts that rants and raves about how great designers are and how horrible design clients are. In fact, I hate all the bad karma floating around the design community when it comes to dealing with design clients.

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How to Make a Smoke Bomb

via io9.com

Sometimes you just have to escape from a sticky situation. And when that happens, you need some kind of diversion to confuse people so they won't come after you. That's why Batman (and various stage magicians) have given us the wonder of smoke bombs. But how do you make them yourself?

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