How to Make Quick Cash Online

Smiling man on his couch with a laptop and lots of cash representing making money online.

Bambu Productions / Getty Images

The idea of earning quick cash online sounds scammy. In fact, you should be suspicious of emails and ads that promise easy money for no effort. With that said, it is possible to make money online relatively quickly. The catch is that it takes work. The fastest and most affordable way to make money online is to leverage your assets. Your assets include:

  • Stuff you own
  • Skills you have
  • Knowledge you can share

All of these can be turned into quick cash and sometimes a steady income. Here's how!

Sell Your Stuff

Selling unwanted and unused items from around your home is one of the fastest ways to make money online. Services like eBay, Amazon, and Craigslist make it easy and affordable to list your items and reach potential buyers.

Start by gathering items from around your home that you don't want or use. Every room of your home is a source of sellable items such as toys, books, movies, electronics and electronic accessories, clothes, decorations, collectibles, memorabilia, and sports and fitness equipment. Even broken items are potential income if you can salvage parts a buyer might need.

Decide where you'll sell your items. Amazon works well for books and DVDs, but you aren't limited to just those items. Nearly everything you can sell on eBay can be sold on Amazon. The benefit of Amazon is that your item can be listed alongside the new item. Listing is easy and free. You pay for Amazon's services from the sale of your item.

eBay is great for clothing, toys, household items, infomercial products, and novelty items. While eBay offers stock photos of common products, you can set your listing apart by providing a high-quality photo. Writing a detailed, benefits-oriented description can boost bids. Like Amazon, eBay charges a fee after the sale of the item.

Craigslist is ideal for large or heavy items that you don't want the hassle of shipping. This includes furniture, sports and exercise equipment, and kitchen appliances. Providing a quality photo and compelling description will improve the chances of a sale. Listing your items on Craigslist is free. After the sale, the item and payment are exchanged between seller and buyer directly, which increases the risk of scams and personal danger. To stay safe, request payment in cash and meet in a public place.

Sell Your Skills

There are many ways to sell your skills online, but one quick way is through project sites such as Amazon's Mechanical Turk and Task Rabbit. These sites connect businesses and individuals who need help with tasks with micro-workers who can do them. The tasks vary from data entry, research, virtual support, and more. You won't earn a living by completing tasks, but you can earn extra money on the side.

Signing up as an online micro-worker is free. Once you sign up, you can search tasks and bid on the projects that interest you. To increase your chances of getting chosen for the task, create a professional profile that highlights your skills.

Sell Your Expertise

People need information and they usually start their search for answers online. Don't think you're an expert? Think again. Everyone knows something and odds are there is someone who wants that knowledge. Whether it's about business, relationships, spirituality, technology, gardening or something else, there is a need for information you have. You can sell your knowledge through blogs and ebooks, but a faster method is through online resources that connect experts with paying clients.

Ether is an online resource that offers a way to connect with people who want your information. Ether gives you a phone number that forwards to your home phone and the ability to decide when the number will work or when it will take a message. You can set your own fees, which are collected by Ether and paid to you when a client contacts you. Ether is free to set up but collects 15% service fee based on what you charge.

PrestoExperts seeks experts in a variety of areas including mental health, technology, spirituality, health and more. It's free to sign up, but fees are collected from your earnings based on how you connect with the client (i.e. email) and topic covered.

It is possible to make a quick buck online, but it's not through do-nothing scams. Whether you sell your stuff, your skills or your expertise, you'll need to take action, provide something of value, and market yourself to find buyers.