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The way we work is changing rapidly. According to Upwork’s Future Workforce Report, 22% of the U.S. workforce will be working remotely by 2025.
If you’ve ever wondered how to work online, whether to escape the commute, gain more flexibility, or tap into global opportunities, now is the perfect time. From freelance platforms to launching your own digital business, the demand for online talent is only accelerating.
Working online gives you freedom to choose when, where, and how you work. You’re no longer limited to local opportunities or tied to office politics. Instead, you can create a career on your own terms, whether that means working from home in sweatpants or from a café halfway across the world.
So, where do you begin? Let’s explore the exact steps, tools, and legit online job options to help you launch your remote career with confidence.
To succeed in a remote environment, it's important to adopt strategies that enhance productivity, communication, and work-life balance.
Here are seven tips to help you master the art of working online with efficiency:
Your workspace should signal work mode the second you sit down.
Without structure and task management tools, time disappears.
Working online blurs boundaries.
Remote work = digital-first communication. Use business instant messaging software to help.
The online job market changes fast. Attending webinars can help.
Flexibility doesn’t mean working all the time.
Before you even apply for your first gig, make sure you’ve got the basics covered.
Security must-haves
Pro Tip: Treat your toolkit like an investment in your future income. A nice headset that saves you one lost client call is worth it.
Time-blocking is a lifesaver for remote workers. Here’s a simple structure that prevents burnout while keeping you productive. Of course this is a hypothetical scenario and can be tailored to suit your needs.
| Time | Activity | Why it helps |
| 8:00 - 8:30 | Morning routine + quick stretch | Energizes your brain |
| 8:30 - 9:00 | Plan tasks and skim urgent emails | Clear priorities |
| 9:00 - 11:00 | Deep work (high-focus tasks) | No distractions |
| 11:00 - 11:15 | Break | Reset your brain |
| 11:15 - 12:30 | Meetings, calls, collaboration | Social + alignment |
| 12:30 - 1:30 | Lunch and offline time | Avoids burnout |
| 1:30 - 3:00 | Deep work #2 | High productivity zone |
| 3:00 - 3:15 | Quick walk or coffee break | Mental refresh |
| 3:15 - 4:30 | Admin tasks (emails, invoicing) | Lighter focus |
| 4:30 - 5:00 | Review progress + prep tomorrow | Clean finish |
Night owl? Shift this whole schedule later. Remote work isn’t locked to 9–5 unless you want it to be.
Working online sounds like a dream. With all the scams out there, it’s easy to fall into the trap of applying for something that’s too good to be true, only to find out it was.
However, the following jobs are real, reputable types of employment that plenty of people do for a steady paycheck! So long as you find the job on a reputable job site or job board and research the company to which you apply, you shouldn’t have to worry about falling prey to a scam.
Tip: Using one of these trusted job boards will help you avoid employment scams.
That’s enough scam talk; let’s learn what your next job could be. While there are more work-from-home jobs than the ones listed here, this should give you a pretty good start.
A virtual assistant is a jack of all trades in service of a business or individual. This job consists of doing whatever the company needs you to do. Options include writing and editing content, scheduling meetings, dealing with customer support and service, and more.
As a virtual assistant, because you’re in charge of your own schedule and client base, you get to choose who you want and don’t want to work with.
If you have an understanding of SEO, you can create simple webpages for products or topics you know have a high traffic potential. To monetize these pages, you could use them to sell products through an affiliate network via affiliate marketing.
This is referred to as a niche website as it serves one specific community. For example, a website selling gardening tools would benefit gardeners the most. You can either sell this website for profit or keep it and profit off of sales.
Dropshipping is a supply chain management method wherein the retailer does not stock goods but rather transfers the shipment information and customer orders to either the manufacturer, another seller, or a wholesaler, who then ships products directly to the buyers.
In a dropshipping business, you can make anywhere from $25-500 per sale, depending on the items sold! The seller has no interaction with the product, which removes a lot of opportunity for damage as well as liability. You essentially advocate for a product, and then the supplier ships products directly.
If you have a background in language and grammar or other copy editing-based roles, you can maintain a decent career as a proofreader. Proofreaders aren’t limited to one type of clientele—they can work for college applicants, students, or job applicants writing their cover letters.
The job of proofreading is not as extensive as that of a copy editor. As opposed to (X thing about copy editing), proofreading is a step a paper or letter passes through on its journey from rough to final draft. Lots of proofreaders charge by the hour, and more experienced proofreaders can charge more.
Image courtesy of Vappingo
Start building out your proofreading clientele, perhaps, while you still have an on-location job, and by the time you’re ready to go completely online, you’ll have a decent number of recurring customers.
We all hate taking our clothes to Plato’s Closet or our gold to the pawnshop. By acting as a consignor, you could take this burden away from those around you.
To become a cosigner, you must open an online shop and have people send you pictures of the items they wish to sell. You can keep the items in your home or an offsite location.
Tip: Get your business started by picking out a good e-commerce platform for you!
You list these items online, and once a sale has been made, you keep a percentage of the income and give a percentage to the original owner. Alternatively, you could buy items from people up front, sell them for a profit, and keep the money. Either strategy works.
It’s up to you and your clients to decide what percentages should be, and it should be discussed beforehand.
Books, movies, TV shows, newspaper articles: all types of media need to be translated into other languages. If you speak two or more languages, consider becoming a translator. Translators are typically paid per word, meaning there’s no shortage of opportunity for income.
Image courtesy of www.proz.com
To find translator jobs, I recommend going to a job board and searching online translator job.
Travel agencies used to be brick-and-mortar institutions, but nowadays, you can be a travel agent from home. Focusing on a certain region or vacation type is more likely to keep a steady stream of clientele.
For example, you could build a decent business booking family reunions in tropical countries. This would guarantee you yearly bookings of large parties who are likely to have friends who also do yearly family reunions.
Another option for online work is to sell your web design skills to small businesses or anyone who needs a website. Some people know they’d be more successful with an online presence but have no idea how to get started. That’s where you come in!
Use your coding knowledge to develop beautiful user experiences for customers worldwide, or use a website builder if you don’t have that in-depth knowledge. You just need to be a fast learner with an eye for design. It’s as easy as that.
Tip: These website builders have been rated the easiest to use.
Web designers can make a decent salary, even as beginners. Put your best foot forward by becoming trained in the field and developing an impressive portfolio.
Salespeople are always looking for help meeting their numbers, and stores, especially small businesses, are always wondering how they can stay relevant.
An online advertiser is someone who uses their media prowess or advertising skills to help out local organizations.
To do this, you have to be a skilled self-starter. An online advertising career typically starts with seeking out companies with a weak ad game and pitching your services to them. This is even more fruitful if you can prove you’ve succeeded for companies in the past.
Online advertisers/lead generators can make anywhere from $1000-$2000 per month per client.
Nothing is worse than releasing a new lip gloss just to realize it’s burning customers’ mouths! As a product tester, you get to make sure this doesn’t happen.
Product testing doesn’t always pay in cash. Often, it pays in gift cards, or the supplier lets the tester keep the product.
Image courtesy of Kidspot
PTs will typically receive the product by mail and then get paid to respond to surveys or otherwise express their opinions. The surveys and responses are what make this job digital.
Every company needs a good graphic designer, but not every company can afford to hire one annually. Those who provide graphic design services can make good money because they typically have a good arts education or an impressive portfolio. It would be difficult to start a freelance graphic design career from scratch, but it’s a good online career for those with experience.
Check out the best graphic design software to level up your design skills.
Those who work in affiliate marketing, as well as influencers, make money by using their personal brands to sell products and goods. By selling things on your personal blog or through Instagram partnerships, you can earn an income completely online.
You can find these jobs by signing up with an affiliate network or an affiliate marketing program. However, you must maintain a decent online presence to be successful.
No, this does not mean you get paid to fulfill your jury duty summons online. Rather, being an online juror is an opportunity for you to help attorneys prepare for trial. Attorneys often execute mock trials to help them prepare for the real thing.
As part of this, they’ll assemble a mock jury to give them direct feedback on their arguments and persuasion. Look for an online juror job, and you could make $10 to $60 to sit in on a mock trial.
Medical transcriptionists are paid to transcribe recorded medical dictation. Doctors and other medical-care providers hire these types of contracted workers so they can focus more heavily on providing care to their patients.
You don't have to have a background in medicine to excel at a job like this. You just have to be good at listening, and having a quick hand on the keyboard helps.
Look for these jobs through your local hospitals, community colleges, or through physicians.
Search evaluation requires professionals to peruse internet search results and determine what’s irrelevant or a scam. Another name for this type of job is internet judge.
This role sometimes requires a college degree. If you’re interested in being a search evaluator, you can look directly within the search engines or go through their employment agencies.
Being a freelance writer takes some writing chops and the ability to do a lot of research. When I started writing at G2, I knew little to nothing about technology, but I learned along the way. Look into a freelance writing organization such as Upwork to get started.
Bloggers are different from freelance writers in that they write for their own websites as opposed to writing to be published on other people’s sites.
Image courtesy of ProBlogger
Bloggers have to build up a following over time. For this reason, it may make more sense to start your blog while you have other income and then begin blogging full-time once you’re more established.
Many businesses need help with their social media presence. Social media managers help business owners run their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social accounts to increase sales and foot traffic.
Social media managers can work for many businesses at once but should make sure they’re not competitors.
Data entry is one of the most straightforward online jobs you could have. Companies have a lot of information they need to put into their systems, and it doesn’t always make sense to pay full-time staff for something so repetitive.
Image courtesy of SEO Clerks
You can make money doing this hourly and on your own time. Data entry jobs can pay anywhere from $10 to $17 per hour. Because this isn’t a lot, I would recommend using it as supplemental income.
You don’t always have to sit in an office in order to provide exceptional customer service. At-home call center jobs are becoming more and more common.
Call center representatives are required to accept and transfer customer service-related calls and deal with consumer issues and requests. When applying for a job such as this, be sure you’re applying to work in a language you speak and in a time zone you’re willing to conform to.
We’ve talked about affiliate marketers already, but Amazon is such a huge company that it has its own seller program. Sellers go shopping and buy discounted products in-store. Then, they can turn around and sell them on Amazon for a profit.
This job requires a lot of effort, so it’s only recommended for those who already shop regularly.
YouTube stars can make a good deal of money from their content should it become viral or even semi-popular. If you want to make money through YouTube, you should first focus on creating quality content that viewers want to see. Over time, you can monetize your videos through ads.
Because this takes time, maintain a day job while you work toward supporting yourself through YouTube advertising.
So many companies need good editors to review their written work and ensure it’s ready to be sent out or published. Newspapers, magazines, email marketing teams, political candidates, job applicants, etc., frequently need freelance editors.
Almost anyone, anywhere, would benefit from having an editor take a look at their work. To get this career started, offer to edit the first 200 words of an article for free. If they like your suggestions, they can hire you for good.
Once you have your clientele built out, you should stop offering any kind of spec work.
A bookkeeper, also referred to as a budgeter, is someone who digitally keeps track of a company’s finances. A company may already have an accountant or tax person but will still benefit from the services of a bookkeeper.
Bookkeepers are responsible for reviewing the accuracy or appropriateness of all invoices entered into an expense system and scheduling the dates of various payments. They also prepare invoices and expense reports for data entry, process check runs, and prepare checks for mailing.
Perhaps one of the most surprising innovations in online work is the advent of online teaching. What many of us know as a classroom-bound job can now be performed online. Individuals can make good money signing up to teach basic subjects such as math, English, and history.
As an online teacher, you’d typically teach students in other countries, which means you may work odd hours by your own standards. But it’s rewarding work for decent pay, and there’s no shortage of need!
Pro Tip: Many of these roles overlap. Start with one (e.g., freelance writing) and expand into related services (e.g., social media, editing) to increase income streams.
Unfortunately, not all online jobs are legit. Here’s how to protect yourself:
Story time: A friend of mine got a job offer with a fake check to buy equipment. She deposited it, bought the gear, then the check bounced, leaving her $2,000 in debt. Don’t let that happen to you.
Have more questions? Find the answers below.
Start working online by identifying your skills, choosing a niche, and creating a professional profile on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or LinkedIn. Secure reliable equipment and a high-speed internet connection. Build a portfolio, apply for entry-level projects, and network to gain long-term remote opportunities.
You need a reliable laptop or desktop computer, a high-speed internet connection (at least 50 Mbps), a webcam, a headset with a noise-canceling microphone, and backup storage such as an external hard drive or cloud service. Optional tools include a second monitor and ergonomic accessories.
Avoid remote work scams by researching the company, verifying job offers through official websites, and checking online reviews. Never pay upfront fees, and be cautious of vague job descriptions or unrealistic salaries. Use secure communication channels and confirm contact details before sharing personal information.
The highest-paying online jobs include software development, digital marketing consulting, project management, and UX/UI design. Specialized roles like cybersecurity analyst, data scientist, and AI engineer also command high salaries. Freelance legal consulting and financial advising can earn over $100,000 annually depending on experience and clients.
The best time management techniques for remote work include using the Pomodoro Technique, scheduling tasks with time blocking, and prioritizing work with the Eisenhower Matrix. Set clear daily goals, minimize distractions with focus apps, and maintain a consistent routine to improve productivity and work-life balance.
Handle contracts by reviewing terms carefully, keeping signed copies, and clarifying payment schedules. For taxes, track all income, save at least 25–30% for tax payments, and use accounting software or a tax professional. Check local and international tax laws if working with foreign clients to stay compliant.
Stay productive remotely by setting a fixed work schedule, creating a dedicated workspace, and using task management tools like Trello or Asana. Take regular breaks with techniques like Pomodoro, minimize distractions by turning off notifications, and maintain clear communication with your team to stay aligned.
The most important thing is that at the end of the day, you’re satisfied with what you’ve achieved. No job is better than another, but it is universally better to be working a job you enjoy.
So, if you think you need a break from the standing desks, Keurig coffee, and forced birthday celebrations of office culture, look into working online to change things up!
To better prepare for working on your own, read up on your independent contractor rights.
This article was originally published in 2019. It has been updated with new information.
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