I Tried 11 Ways to Make Money. These 5 Worked Best.

07.11.2026 13:03

More than 20 years of real-world experience with online income, business, affiliate marketing and investments.

What if the best way to earn extra money isn't the newest opportunity—but the one that solves a real problem?

Over more than two decades, I've explored at least 11 different ways to make money. Some sounded exciting. Others looked almost effortless. A few produced modest results, several disappointed me, and five became genuinely worthwhile sources of income.

I tried online projects, advertising, financial services, real estate, selling products, affiliate marketing and more. I'm not writing this as someone who discovered a secret formula for becoming rich. I'm sharing what I learned from my own successes and mistakes—so you can make better decisions with your time and money.

The important distinction is this: earning a few euros once is not the same as building an income stream worth your effort.

Six ideas that looked better on paper

1. High-yield investment programs: impressive promises, serious danger

Some online investment programs promised returns that sounded almost unbelievable—sometimes even a percentage or more per day. The numbers were tempting, but the business models were often unclear, and many projects disappeared quickly.

My lesson: when an opportunity promises unusually high returns with little effort, ask where the money really comes from. A convincing website is not proof of a sustainable business. Avoid schemes that rely on recruiting new participants or make unrealistic guarantees.

2. Selling vitamins and supplements: a real market, but fierce competition

Health-related products attract ongoing interest. However, running an online store means more than choosing popular items. You need trustworthy suppliers, customer support, marketing, repeat buyers and a clear reason why people should buy from you.

I learned that a genuine market does not automatically create an easy business. Without expertise or differentiation, competition can consume your profit.

3. New online opportunities: low entry cost can still waste your time

I encountered projects that required only a small initial payment and promised to be the next big thing. Some lasted a few months; others simply lost momentum.

Even when the financial risk is small, the time you spend can be substantial. My rule today is simple: the easier and faster success sounds, the more carefully I examine the offer.

4. Stock photography: creative work in a crowded marketplace

Selling photos online appears simple: upload images and wait for customers. In reality, success requires quality, specialization, a sizeable portfolio and consistent work. Competition from vast image libraries—and now AI-generated visuals—makes ordinary stock photography a difficult starting point.

It may work for a skilled photographer with a clear niche. It wasn't one of my strongest income opportunities.

5. Getting paid to view ads: easy to start, hard to scale

Some websites offer small rewards for watching advertisements or completing simple tasks. The barrier to entry is low, but so is the earning potential.

If your goal is a meaningful second income, the bigger question is not Can this pay me something? It is What else could I build with the same hours?

6. Website advertising and AdSense: useful, but not enough on its own

I also earned money from advertisements on my websites. The problem was scale: without significant traffic, advertising income remained relatively small.

That experience changed my approach. Rather than building a website only to display ads, I prefer building useful content around a topic and connecting it to a relevant service or product. Advertising can still be a bonus.

The five approaches that actually paid off

These were not effortless or guaranteed. But unlike the ideas above, they gave me a more convincing connection between useful work, real customers and real income.

7. Real estate: high potential, substantial effort

Real estate was one of the areas where I achieved meaningful results. Helping people buy or sell property requires communication, trust, negotiation and persistence. There is paperwork, local market knowledge, and often work outside regular hours.

The upside can be attractive because you are helping people complete major transactions. The downside is that income may be irregular and the work is demanding.

Best suited to: people who enjoy working with others, understand their local market and are prepared for a professional, long-term commitment.

8. Financial products and services: trust is the business

I also earned money by helping clients with financial products. People need to understand savings, insurance, borrowing, retirement and investment options—but they also need someone who communicates clearly and treats them fairly.

This field is not a shortcut. Depending on the country and the activity, advice or sales may require authorization, qualifications and regulatory compliance.

The lasting lesson is that trust matters more than a clever sales pitch.

Best suited to: people who are willing to study, follow local rules and develop long-term client relationships.

9. Investment gold: a familiar product with real risks

Another area that produced income for me was introducing customers to investment gold. Many people understand the appeal of owning a tangible asset, especially during uncertain times.

However, gold does not generate interest or dividends, its market price can fall, and buyers must consider dealer spreads, storage and security. It should never be presented as a guaranteed profit.

For me, the business opportunity was not about making dramatic price predictions. It was about explaining a product carefully and helping people understand its role and limitations.

Best suited to: people who know the product well and can explain both its advantages and disadvantages honestly.

10. Travel and wellness affiliate marketing: recommend something people already want

I earned commissions by recommending holidays, short breaks and wellness stays. This model made sense to me because people already search for travel ideas and are willing to pay for a good experience.

Affiliate marketing is straightforward in principle: you publish helpful information, someone follows your referral link and purchases a service, and you may receive a commission.

The hard part is attracting the right audience and earning its trust. A thoughtful comparison or honest review is more useful than a page full of advertising links.

Best suited to: people who enjoy writing, reviewing or creating content around a specific audience's interests.

11. Website builders and digital services: a practical affiliate opportunity

This is one of my favorite examples because it connects a real problem with a practical solution. A freelancer, small business owner or beginner may need a website without wanting to hire an expensive development team.

With a website builder, they can often create a basic site themselves. If I explain the process, show what is possible and recommend a service I know, that recommendation can also generate a commission.

I've used Webnode for my own websites, and I appreciate its accessible approach for non-programmers. It will not be the right tool for every complex project, but for many straightforward sites it can be a sensible starting point.

Interested in building a website of your own? Explore Webnode here.

Affiliate disclosure: This is a referral link. If you purchase an eligible paid service, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

What I would do differently if I started again

My biggest mistake was not always choosing a bad opportunity. Sometimes it was changing direction too quickly.

I would start a project, wait for results, become impatient and move to something new. After months of switching, I had experience—but not necessarily a business I had developed properly.

If I were starting again, I would follow five principles:

1. Choose a real problem. Find something people genuinely need, not merely a fashionable trend.

2. Start within your means. Protect your savings and test the idea on a small scale.

3. Learn before promoting. Understand the product, the customer and the risks.

4. Build an asset. A helpful website, a good reputation, useful articles or loyal customers can become more valuable over time.

5. Give the project enough time. Review results honestly, improve what you can and avoid jumping from one new promise to another.

None of these principles guarantees success. They simply improve the quality of your decisions.

What changes in the age of AI?

Artificial intelligence has made it easier to research ideas, draft articles, create images, translate content and build simple digital projects. That reduces some barriers to entry—but it also increases competition.

I believe the advantage will go to people who combine new technology with real experience, judgment and trust. AI can help you publish faster; it cannot replace the responsibility to check facts, understand your customers and offer something genuinely useful.

My conclusion: experience can be worth more than a shortcut

After more than 20 years of trying different ways to earn money, I have come to value one thing above all: experience.

You can lose money. A project can fail. A company can disappear. But the lessons you learn can help you recognize the next opportunity—and the next warning sign.

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be this:

Don't search for the fastest way to get rich. Find a way to be genuinely useful to other people—and build from there.

Which ways of making extra money have you tried? What worked for you, and what turned out to be a disappointment? Share your experience in the comments.

Smart Income shares educational content and personal experiences, not individualized financial advice. Results vary, and business and investment activities involve risk.

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