Are you wondering how I managed to travel the world, set up life overseas, and live life on my own terms? It’s a question I often get asked, and while the travel and adventure are exciting, the real story is about how I learned to make money online for beginners.
Like many of you, I dreamed of escaping the traditional 9-to-5 grind and embracing a life of freedom – working from anywhere, traveling whenever I wanted. If this resonates with you, you’re in the right place. I’m going to share my story and reveal how you too can make money online for beginners, even if you’re starting from scratch.
Life is good now, but it wasn’t always this way. Before I figured out how to make money online for beginners, things looked very different.
At 25, I was pursuing my MBA at Chonnam National University in South Korea. This was my first taste of living abroad. Driven by passion, I launched SwigMeetsWorld.com, a blog to help fellow travelers.
However, let’s be honest, my travel blog wasn’t generating a fortune – or any income at all, really.
My first foray into remote work was as a freelance writer for a local radio station in South Korea. This experience showed me that working from a laptop was possible and that writing could actually pay. While the pay wasn’t substantial, it sparked a crucial question: how to make money online for beginners?
Just a year after graduation, I joined forces to build Empire Flippers. This company went on to become one of the fastest-growing in the US, and I remain incredibly proud of my contribution.
It was at Empire Flippers that the true potential of making money online became clear. That small freelance writing gig in South Korea could become something much, much bigger.
The Reality of Earning Money Online
From that point forward, I knew the internet was my path to income. The idea of a traditional full-time job no longer appealed to me. I realized I could live anywhere, enjoy a better quality of life, and escape the confines of a cubicle.
This concept is known as geoarbitrage, a key factor in my success and the success of many others in this space. The path to how to make money online for beginners was becoming increasingly clear.
If you’re like me, the thought of a 40-hour workweek in a cubicle for decades is probably unappealing.
I never wanted to waste my best years in a job I disliked, hoping to maybe enjoy retirement on a beach in my sixties.
No thanks! I wanted the beach now.
Taking Small Steps to Make Money Online as a Beginner
Earning a good living doesn’t require soul-crushing commutes and micromanaging bosses.
For the past seven years, I’ve been exclusively earning money online.
I haven’t had a job requiring me to be physically present in an office for half a decade.
When I share this, people are often surprised.
“But Mike, doesn’t that mean you need some crazy skills? I thought you had to build websites, be a developer, or be a super salesperson to make money online?”
That’s simply not true.
While I have some experience in sales and website building, I consider myself a beginner in those areas.
My success boils down to a simple principle: “learn and earn.”
Learn and Earn: A Beginner’s Approach to Online Income
Before diving into how to go from zero to online earner, let’s understand a fundamental concept.
What is a job, really? It’s essentially trading your time and skills for money, providing value to someone else. This applies to any job, from a janitor to a CEO.
A janitor provides value by ensuring cleanliness and order. They have skills like cleaning, basic maintenance, and time management.
The President of the United States provides value through leadership, policy making, public speaking, and many other skills.
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In both cases, individuals exchange skills for a paycheck. The difference in pay reflects the perceived value and demand for those skills.
You might be thinking, “Why are we discussing janitors? I want to learn how to get paid online!”
This comparison is designed to shift your mindset.
Identify Your Marketable Skills
The online world mirrors the traditional job market but with added flexibility. Many online jobs offer the freedom to work from anywhere, set your own hours, and ditch the office commute.
The crucial question to ask yourself is: What skills do I have? What can I do that someone would pay me for?
Learning how to make money online for beginners is often about identifying the value you can offer.
Think deeply about your skills. The possibilities are truly vast.
Even in traditional jobs, some roles require skills most people already possess – driving for ride-sharing services, customer service, or waiting tables.
The real opportunity lies in leveraging skills you ALREADY have and refining them while earning from day one.
This is the “learn and earn” approach. It’s what I’ve always done, and what I recommend. Don’t spend years chasing elusive expert-level skills without earning.
Start working now, improve your skills along the way, and get paid.
And the best part? You already possess a skill that can help you start learning and earning right now.
Turn Your Words into Income: Discover Freelance Writing
What if I told you that by simply writing for a few hours a day, you could start earning a remote income within weeks?
Education systems typically ensure most people develop decent writing skills. You’ve likely been writing emails, messages, essays, and more throughout your life.
If you’re a native English speaker, you already have the foundational skills to become a freelance writer. Freelance writers provide writing services to clients online for a fee, usually based on the length of the piece.
Imagine earning $10 per page and writing five double-spaced pages daily. That’s an extra $1500 per month! If you’ve read this far, you’re likely capable of writing a few pages a day.
Freelance writing offers a flexible and relaxed way to earn a living. Many freelance writers work just a few hours daily for a few clients, spending the rest of their time as they choose.
Combine a freelance writing income with a low cost of living abroad, and you have a recipe for freelance freedom.
Writing has been the bedrock of my income for years, even as I’ve expanded into other businesses.
Freelance writing is, without a doubt, the most accessible way to make money online for beginners.
Freelance Writing: Your Best Bet to Make Money Online as a Beginner
When I talk about freelance writing opportunities, people are often surprised.
I understand. If you’re new to freelancing, you might think you need to be a literary genius to earn online as a writer.
Again, this is far from the truth. Think about all the amateur developers earning six-figure incomes online.
When you’re exploring how to make money online for beginners, a willingness to dive in is crucial.
I was a B-average English student. I felt okay at writing, but I don’t consider myself exceptionally talented.
I know many people who are better writers than me. But because they never took the leap and started, they’ve never earned from their writing skills.
Trust me, if a 25-year-old working from a $300 laptop in a South Korean dorm could figure it out, so can you.
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Getting Started as a Freelance Writer: The 3 Pillars of Freelance Success
Starting as a freelance writer is achievable for anyone, but many get discouraged early on. Any new venture, especially solo, can feel daunting. Understanding how to make money online for beginners can have its challenges!
While my Copy Sharks program offers step-by-step guidance and the exact roadmap I used to build a six-figure content writing income, let me share the three core pillars of freelance freedom here.
Pillar #1: Choosing a Profitable Niche (Turning Words into Dollars)
Some types of writing are lucrative, while others aren’t worth your time.
How do you distinguish between them?
Avoid highly competitive, low-paying writing categories. Instead, focus on easier, high-paying niches.
Here’s a tip: blog-style content for companies selling products online is often the easiest and highest-paying. Offering basic Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for your articles can double your rates!
My partner, Thomas, a freelance writer with a passion for music education, targeted a well-known music production school. He offered SEO-optimized blog content.
The Power of Great Content for Businesses
This landed him a multi-thousand dollar contract and a significant early win. The music school now has a blog filled with valuable, SEO-friendly content that attracts potential customers considering their courses.
Thomas’s articles appearing on Google serve a dual purpose: engaging current clients and attracting new ones.
Even if you aren’t a subject matter expert, countless potential clients are seeking similar content solutions. Realizing this makes making money online for beginners seem much more attainable.
But how do you find these clients?
Pillar #2: Landing Your First Clients
Client acquisition typically involves two main approaches: cold outreach and freelance marketplaces like Upwork or Fiverr.
Cold outreach involves proactively contacting businesses, often without prior contact, to offer your writing services. It can be challenging but highly rewarding.
The advantage of cold outreach is that businesses not actively advertising for writers are often less bombarded with offers.
However, be prepared for rejection and unanswered emails. Like you, business owners are looking for how to make money online for beginners, and your proposal should demonstrate how you can help them achieve that.
The Role of Freelance Platforms
The second approach uses platforms like Fiverr or Upwork. You create a profile and bid on jobs posted by businesses seeking freelancers. For example, a coffee company needing articles about their roasting process might use these platforms.
These platforms offer immediate access to numerous job opportunities. Millions of dollars in transactions occur daily on Upwork, and you can tap into this market.
The downside is competition. You’re competing with many freelancers, all trying to learn how to make money online for beginners. Standing out is crucial.
Fortunately, there are strategies to improve your success rate on platforms like Upwork. Using custom introduction templates, optimizing proposals, and employing specific outreach techniques can significantly increase your gig success.
I teach these strategies in my Copy Sharks program, which I’ll discuss further.
Pillar #3: Building a Freelance Portfolio That Converts
Once you’ve completed a few projects, showcase them.
This is where the real value of initial experience emerges. The income from your first projects is great, but the ability to showcase this work to future clients is even more valuable.
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Most freelance platforms let you create a portfolio. LinkedIn is excellent for showcasing work experience. Even social media like Facebook can be used to highlight your freelance successes. When learning how to make money online for beginners, even small wins are important.
Building a portfolio isn’t about vanity; it’s about positioning yourself in the top tier of freelancers.
This isn’t about luck, but it doesn’t require grueling effort either.
Here’s an example of a portfolio that’s consistently securing work for one of my students…
Let’s Collaborate: How Can I Assist You?
If this feels overwhelming, you’re not alone.
I’ve felt lost and unsure of my next steps countless times in my freelance journey. It’s natural when starting something new, and freelance writing is no different.
That’s why I recently launched Copy Sharks – The Freelance Writer Bootcamp.
After repeatedly recommending freelance writing as the best way to make money online for beginners, I decided to provide step-by-step guidance, offering a virtual hand to hold throughout the process.
Copy Sharks is a unique bootcamp focused on teaching you how to make money online for beginners. Let’s explore what’s included.
Inside Copy Sharks: Your Path to Online Income
We teach you how to create high-earning written content and how to find clients ready to pay for your services.
Joining Copy Sharks offers several key benefits. You get lifetime access to our six-week bootcamp, a series of lessons covering writing skills, marketing your services, and client retention.
It’s a virtual guide to all things freelance writing, from AI tools like ChatGPT to SEO optimization.
It’s essentially the beginner’s manual for making money online.
The Copy Sharks Community & Personalized Support
You also gain access to the Copy Sharks community and alumni group, including my private Slack channel. Connect with fellow aspiring freelance writers and successful six-figure wordsmiths. I’ve witnessed incredible connections form within this community.
Everyone here is learning how to make money online for beginners, and it’s inspiring to see the growth!
Perhaps the most valuable benefit is unlimited chat access to both Thomas and me. Thomas is a highly experienced freelance writer, seven-figure agency owner, and Copy Sharks co-founder.
We’re committed to answering your questions and leaving no stone unturned. Our goal is to show you that making money online for beginners is within your reach.
Conclusion: Freelance Writing – The Top Way for Beginners to Earn Online
While numerous ways exist to make money online, few are as realistic for beginners as freelance writing. The journey to figuring out how to make money online for beginners often leads to writing.
You could spend years developing a new skill, hoping for a big break. However, I advise starting small, earning with a skill you already possess.
And you don’t have to do it alone or spend years struggling.
Copy Sharks graduates have seen remarkable results. If you’re ready to take control of your life and career, I’d love to welcome you into our community.
If you’re interested in learning more about Copy Sharks, click here.
Until next time,
-Mike Swigunski
