10 Ways to Make Money on Your Smartphone

10 Ways to Make Money on Your Smartphone

Mobile devices have become ubiquitous in our daily lives, with the average smartphone owner using their device 2,617 times per day and touching it an average of 121 times per day, according to Nielsen research . This means that consumers are getting highly engaged with their phones from the time they wake up until they go to bed at night – but what can you do with that engagement? Here are 10 apps that will help you make money on your smartphone and get your finances in order while you’re at it.

1. Tutoring Online
   It’s easy to start tutoring kids in your neighborhood, with Sidekick. So how do you get started? Sign up with Sidekick and search for a topic you know well. You'll be matched with a student who has requested help in that area. Then all you have to do is pick a time and date, set your rate per hour, and let Sidekick make sure students can find you easily by sharing you on Facebook and Google. It doesn't cost anything for students or tutors, so why not try it?

2. Facebook groups
   If you aren’t already spending time in Facebook groups, start now. It’s one of the easiest ways to tap into a community and learn more about your topic of interest. Asking questions is key—remember that people love helping and interacting with others (including answering questions!). Just look for groups that relate to your content area and dive in! You can also ask friends or family if they have any recommendations. If you’re looking for inspiration, check out a few of our favorite Facebook groups

3. Selling content online
   Selling homemade goods or freelance work online is a great way to make some side money from your smartphone. It doesn’t take a lot of effort and can be extremely rewarding. You don’t have to create products yourself. Many sellers on sites like Etsy and Fiverr use their smartphones to capture product images, then outsource assembly of items such as clothes, bags, accessories and home decor. The process of buying and selling has never been easier or more accessible – you no longer need an office space or employees in order run a fully functioning business that makes some side money from your smartphone. Check out websites like Etsy for inspiration about how you might sell your own creations or look for people hiring freelancers online through sites like Upwork .

4. Recycling
   Recycling is an easy and inexpensive way to make some extra cash. There are several recycling companies out there that pay individuals for dropped off recyclables, including cardboard, scrap metal, plastic and electronics. However, it can be hard to sort through all of your unwanted stuff to find items that can be recycled for money. If you want a little help with your recycling bin and some spare change in your pocket at the end of it all, try checking out a company like Decluttr or Sell Your Cell Phone . Both provide online marketplaces where users can sell their old gadgets while also earning money toward new ones. The best part is both platforms have drop-off centers where you can physically ship in your items.

5. Online jobs
   Are you a stay-at-home parent, unemployed or underemployed? Are you looking for part-time work? Online jobs may be just what you're looking for. From taking surveys to editing videos, there are plenty of opportunities out there. While most require certain skills, none require much in terms of startup costs—you can start making money online today with little more than a computer and an Internet connection. Click through for 10 ways to make money from your smartphone.

6. Freelancing
   Although freelancing is a popular way for many people to earn money, it’s often not an easy thing to pursue. But if you have some extra time, why not make some money while doing what you love? And what could be better than getting paid for watching cats play piano? Since we know how much everyone loves cat videos (here’s looking at you, internet), one of your easiest ways to make money from home is by filling in with freelance work as a writer or editor. Many online content platforms like Creator Up are willing to pay people like you—who will write articles, create videos and more—to produce engaging content for their readers. Making around $20 an hour can definitely help your bank account grow faster.

7. Investing
   While it’s relatively easy to earn passive income from apps, don’t forget about investing. You can start out by making stock market trades through an app like Robinhood (though you may have to put down $100 initially), or you can put your money in peer-to-peer lending platforms like Lending Club and Prosper. Investing is a great way for newbies with a little bit of cash that isn’t tied up in a huge growth opportunity. For more advice, check out Investopedia Academy’s online courses, as well as its Personal Finance course for beginners .

8. Mobile App Testing
   Many sites generate revenue by selling advertising space or sharing ad revenue with readers. As a webmaster, you need traffic to your site. To get paid for generating traffic, sign up with these programs: - AdSense – The Google program that pays publishers based on how many visitors they send them. - Partner Programs – InMobi and RevMob both offer platform partners a cut of their ad revenue. The applications have already been developed, so all you have to do is create an account and start running ads. Once people use their smartphones to visit your partner's websites, you'll get paid for directing them there.

9. Website Making
   If you have a website, there are several ways you can make money. The most popular way is to sell advertising space directly on your site. In addition, many companies will pay you for leads—those who click through your ad and visit their site. This is particularly easy if your content revolves around a specific product or service that someone might need. For example, an office furniture business may offer an affiliate program for its products and services.

10. Start YouTube Channel
    Whether you’re looking for a creative outlet or a way to make extra cash, YouTube is always a good option. If you have experience in graphic design, video editing or advertising, try your hand at freelancing and see if you can charge by the hour—or even set up a membership site where people pay an annual fee to access all of your content. For example, if you’re a wedding videographer, you could start charging couples around $200 for a two-hour videography session. Then once that contract ends, use that work experience and start up your own business. Just be sure to stay compliant with YouTube regulations so as not to alienate viewers—which could also hurt your brand credibility in general.