If there’s 5 lessons you’ve learned in the year 2020, number one should be how to make money online or acquire top digital skills that can fetch you some bucks without leaving your room or the comfort of your house.
Even before Corona Virus, learning a skill has been very essential.
Making money online is now the next big deal in today’s world. If you’re not equipped with any of these highlighted best digital skills or, you don’t have a business that can fetch you money online, then you’ve been missing a lot.
Today, we are going to talk about 18 digital skills under six big different industries you should master to make money online.
Before we get into it, kindly know that to making money online is entirely not easy, and I’m not giving you any impression that the digital skills aligned here are source of “get rich quick scheme”, financial freedom or buoyancy to everybody. You’re entitled to figure out what will work for you.
You can watch the video below and skip the reading, or you can continue reading if that’s okay by you.
Now, let’s go;
18 Best Digital Skills to Make Money Online (under 6 Industries)
A. Ecommerce Industry
Ecommerce industry is the fastest growing industry in the world, because people are now shopping most of their stuffs online ranging from groceries to furniture, gadgets etc.
I’m not saying you should start making these products before you can make money online with eCommerce. What you need is to master the skills under it.
Below are my recommended best digital skills you can master under eCommerce industry;
Dropshipping
This requires partnering with the manufacturers of the products (E.g. Wears, Smartphones, etc.) and you help them resell. The more you help them sell, the more the profit you’ll made.
Note: You don’t need to buy the products, all you need is to setup a channel (it can be a dropshipping website or social media) where you can help the manufacturing companies resell the products.
Learn more about dropshipping business here.
Mini Importation
Simply, importing of goods in “mini” or small quantities and you sell at your most satisfying price(s).
You can buy a bulky goods (containing 100 pieces of a particular product), maybe let’s say with just $100 that’s $1 per one product. Then when imported and delivered to you, you can sell at $10 per one products.
If you’re able to resell each product at $10 (or equivalent in your local currency), then you’re making at least, $7 profit per product.
And $7 x 100 products is whooping $700 as your profit!
To make money online by doing mini importation business is not that easy, that’s why you need to learn and master the skill. But to be honest with you, there’s money on it.
Ecommerce Marketing
There are some businesses that have their own eCommerce stores, but they need the help of a digital marketer to assist them in driving sales.
If you’re good at digital marketing, you can focus on eCommerce marketing, you’re going to make some money provided you deliver what you promised to your clients.
Check here for the best freelancing websites to get job gigs related to this.
B. Programming & Tech
This industry has taken over. Almost all business owners are utilizing the power of technology or digital marketing in their businesses, and getting in this industry poise a great profit.
I’m not going to list all the best digital skills you can learn under Programming and tech but below skillsets are recommended;
4. Web Designing
I don’t think this digital skill is dying any soon. I’m sure you’re familiar with the term “Web Designer“, right?
Web Designers are those guys who design websites… Simply as that.
Learning how to design websites using different CMS (content management system) like WordPress, Shopify, Wix, Drupal and other platforms is a skill that’s going to earn you money as long as you’re in the right marketplace to get jobs.
5. Web Development
Web development is very different though, similar to Web Design.
When it comes to web development as a digital skill, you’re required to know how to use programming languages to build websites from scratch.
We have frontend developers who turn sketch or designs made by UI/UX designer to real website by coding it with HTML, CSS, JavaScript with other frameworks that can accelerate his job.
We also have backend developer who work behind the scene to give the frontend work some life and we have fullstack developers as well.
So, you can choose to learn how to become a frontend web developer, backend developer or a fullstack developer. You will still make money online with any of them.
6. Mobile App Development
Businesses, Organizations, Churches and different companies need a mobile application for one or two things.
If you can learn mobile app development, you’re going to make lot of money online from those who need your service.
Just like web development, you need learn some programming languages such as Java, Python, Swift, ReactNative and other languages used for developing mobile apps.
C. Graphic Design
One of the fastest growing industries in the world. Gone are those days when graphic designing is only about logos or making banners, but right now, smart and experienced graphic designers are making some bucks by designing for companies, businesses, organizations, and individuals.
Aside from logo designing, banner or fliers design, below are my two recommended digital skills that are more profitable in graphic design industry;
Product Designing
This digital skill is trending really hot. People who are product designers are part of a successful startups and big companies. They are the architect behind that beautiful websites or mobile apps you’re seeing.
These people are good at User interface and User Experience (UI/UX) design and they make lot of money even from a single project.
You can learn how to use tools like Adobe XD or Figma. We also have other tools like Sketch and so on, but XD and Figma are the two kings for product designing.
Branding
Branding is the marketing action to build your brand.
Okay, let break it like this;
Branding is a marketing action in which a company creates a “unique” brand name, symbol (including logo and icon) or designs only attached to that company. All companies in the world have their unique style of branding, and they spend lot of money to get the best designs.
All you need to do to master this skill is to be creative with graphics design.
Graphic designer who are good at branding is needed mostly at manufacturing companies or companies that produces physical products such as drinks, canned or packaged food, confectioneries and so on.
D. Foreign Exchange
Foreign Exchange is also known as ‘FOREX’.
FOREX is the biggest or largest market in the world, because we have thousand of big companies, central banks of all countries and big brands in this market trading stocks, bonds, securities, currencies and other assets.
Skill to learn in this market?
Forex Trading
Like I said above big companies and institutions are in this market, you should not get into this market until you learn how it works because the market is very risky and also, you can’t enter the market directly without a broker.
The learning process includes how to get the best forex broker for you, how to analyze the market and place trades etc.
There’s money in FOREX but you must be careful, master the skill before you jump into it.
E. Information & Content Industry
Well, this is becoming an industry itself although, it is still under multimedia industry but let’s talk about the big deal here.
Have you ever heard of the saying that “content is the king”?
Yes, content is really the king, no matter how great your business idea, innovation, creativity and/or instincts are, without content to get in the heart of people, then you’ve switched off or ignore your financial progress.
But what digital skills should you learn here?
How to Sell Your Knowledge Online
If you’re good at something and that “something” can solve one or two problems, then turn the knowledge to money making machine. That’s what most gurus are doing now.
If you know how to cook different food or snacks, sew clothes, write code etc., package that knowledge and sell.
This knowledge packaging can be inform of either;
- eBook
- Video tutorial
- Or both
Vlogging
Vlogging is also known as “Video Blogging”.
People are making money on YouTube, millions of dollars!
Almost all these YouTubers have a business or career aside from vlogging, but YouTube has become one of their sources of earning. But what do they do? They simply teach people what they know or catch fun.
Making money on YouTube is not that easy, you have to be patient and know your onions.
If you want to start vlogging, kindly be aware that you must reach a milestone before you start making money from YouTube. The milestone includes having at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours watch time – that’s when you can monetize your channel with Google AdSense.
Blogging
Blogging is one of best digital skills to make money online under the Information and content creation industry.
Just like Vlogging, you teach people one or two things or share information with your readers.
There are many ways to make money blogging which includes Google AdSense as well. Read this blog post to learn about how to make money blogging.
Social Media Influencing
If you good at something that can entertain people on social media, please start doing it.
Social media influencers are making money from that content you read or watch on their social media pages and just laugh.
We have some Instagram comedians and comediennes that have millions of followers on social media, and from that, different doors to make money online opens.
Recommended: 6 Ways to Earn Money on Instagram
If you’re good at anything that can entertain or catch the attentions of people on social media, it’s one of the top paying digital skills today, start doing it!
If you’re an upcoming Instagram comedian, I have an eBook that will teach you how to become a professional and money-making comedian, the book cost $7 or equivalent in Naira – contact me to get it
Video Making & Marketing
Still on Video!
Personally, I prefer watching a long educative video than reading long content.
And that’s the same with most people in the world, that’s why YouTube have more than five billon viewers per day.
Aside from YouTube, some people focus on creating motivational videos such as Princea, or adventure (travel) videos such as Nas Daily.
If you can shoot a video about motivational content, adventures, or other stuffs to motivate and entertain people, start doing it.
F. Blockchain Industry
The last man standing, but the man that’s currently taking over.
If you’ve heard about Bitcoin before, then you have little knowledge about the Blockchain Industry.
We have lot of people making money in this industry, even the world top billionaires are now investing in this Industry.
But how can you make money online in this Blockchain industry? Let’s talk about mastering the digital skills involved;
Buying or Trading Cryptocurrencies
This is the top way to make money online in this industry.
It’s just the same as FOREX trading but slightly different. If you can’t trade cryptocurrencies, you can buy and HODL (hold for some time to yield profit).
Utilize Blockchain in Your Business
Simply, start accepting payment with cryptocurrency rather than your local currency.
Blockchain Programming
If you are a programmer, you have higher chances of making money online in this industry. The reason is that Blockchain is open-source, you can create your own product or service and start making money from it.
Or you can work for startups or companies who are in this Blockchain industry.
Affiliate Marketing
This is one of the top 10 ways to make money online and one of the sought-after digital skills in this age.
I won’t say much about this because I have more than 2 different blog posts dedicated to this. Read below;
CONCLUSION: Top Digital Skills to Make Money Online
That’s it!
Take one or two of the digital skills, master them and start making money online. You can start learning free on YouTube but I’ll advise you get a mentor as this will accelerate your progress.
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Stephen Gbolagade
Stephen is a Frontend engineer, technical writer, owner and part-time blogger here at Gbolamedia, incoming data scientist, an enthusiastic cynophilist, and a curious introvert. Stephen is currently available for full-time, part-time or contract-base role. Contact him here: on WhatsApp or check him on Linkedin