I Have 9 Income Streams — Here’s How You Can, Too

If you are reading this article, you are probably a middle-income American trying to figure out how to make more money. I have nine income streams and I want to share how I got them so you know how you can, too.

1. My full-time job.

Having a full-time job is something that is supposed to give us stability and a steady paycheck every two weeks.  The good news is the unemployment rate in the United States has decreased since 2014, but everyone still seems to be a little nervous at where their next paycheck will come from.  That’s why seeking more ways to make money is smart. It's a safety net if things go wrong with your regular paycheck. 

2. Blogging and freelance writing.

Writing and blogging are near and dear to my heart. Most freelance writers will earn less than $10k annually. But if you have a talent for writing, this is an excellent way for you to earn an extra $500 or so every month.  It’s actually quite simple to start a blog using Wordpress, one of the most popular platforms on the market.  Find your niche, and make some money writing about what you know and teaching it to others. You can start by learning how to do freelance blogging by joining Elna Cain’s writing course. She is a wonderful coach and does a magnificent job of walking you through the process of how to set up your own writer’s website, how to get great articles published and much more.

3. Taking online surveys.

Taking online surveys is a way to earn yourself a few extra dollars, depending on how much time you have to dedicate to it. One of the most trusted online survey companies is Swagbucks.  You simply sign up to create an account and then you can also create your own affiliate ID account as well.

4. Selling on Amazon.

Selling on Amazon can seem intimidating. It’s not my primary source of income these days, but it does earn me a nice little side hustle.  Learning to sell on Amazon takes some time and there are a ton of courses out there that will teach you how.  But if you enjoy e-commerce and have a passion for retail, it's worth a shot.

5. Affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing is a great way to earn some extra money simply by referring someone to the product that you are using. For example, I use a software company called Click Funnels to build my marketing funnels. Any time one of my clients sign up for their own account using my affiliate link, I get paid.  

If you want to learn about it, sites like Affilorama can be really useful. They offer extensive training courses covering A to Z on affiliate marketing. Trust me, this is a fantastic way to earn passive income month after month without lifting a finger. 

6. Network marketing.

Network marketing or multi-level marketing (MLM) has been around for ages.  It’s gotten a bad reputation due to some misguided companies in the industry, but for the most part, if you get involved with a good company, you can make a great little income on the side.

I started in the industry many years ago with a company called Synergy but ended up at Herbal Life, one of the longest-standing, most reputable MLM companies out there today. I use the product myself, and I make a few bucks here and there. So, I’m happy.

7. Selling my skills on freelance sites.

If you have a skill or talent — say you're a web designer or graphic designer — market your skill on freelancing sites such as Fiverr and Upwork. This is a vast marketplace where you can get new clients. You will see a lot of businesses going to these freelance sites to order logos, build websites, write sales copy pages. And if you're persistent about your brand, you can make some decent money. 

8. Renting my properties.

Real estate investments are a great way to build a steady stream of income on the side.  If you are interested in fixing up property or managing spaces, owning real estate rentals might be the thing for you. I own several properties, but hire a property manager to take care of them. This makes it pretty easy each month, although it eats at some of my profits. 

Getting started in real estate can seem expensive and difficult, but there are many different ways to invest in real estate that require different levels of effort. You can read Dave Ramsey's intro to real estate investment to learn more about your options. 

9. Selling e-books.

Think about the strongest skill set that you can teach to others, and turn that into an ebook. Is there something that you are good at that people have always praised you for?  Is there a talent that you have that you think would be valuable for other people to know?

You can easily put this into an ebook format that teaches people how to do the same thing, then charge them for it.  

It’s a quick way to build a passive income stream, which is always the best way to go. 

There are many different ways that you can earn extra money on top of your full-time job.  

 If you notice, I tried to make a majority of these ideas as “passive” as possible, because I understand that there is only so much time during the day and on the weekends. You just have to have a creative mind and put your talents and resources to work for you.