In the digital era we inhabit, online money-making opportunities are practically limitless, and mastering graphic usage is a surefire way to stand out. Whether you’re a writer or an artist, have technical skills, or are just eager to share your knowledge, there’s a space for everyone online.
Succeeding often depends on how appealingly you present your services or products. Let’s explore several ways you can make money online, and how well-used graphics will help.
10 Different Ways to Make Money Online Using Graphics
Starting a business online is easier than ever, especially if you have the skills to create stunning visuals. Here’s how to start a company while capitalizing on the power of graphic design.
1. Start Dropshipping
The dropshipping model requires little upfront investment, as you only pay for products after customers make their purchases. Order fulfillment in dropshipping is also made much easier when you have automation software that connects your products to multiple suppliers.
From taking impressive product photos to designing compelling promotional images, the right graphics create a robust visual storefront that lures more people into buying what you offer.
If you want good-quality photos but you can’t take them yourself, we recommend getting them from your supplier. They likely have sleek, well-edited, and backgroundless images you can pop onto your website. Make sure to use multiple images to showcase your products properly.
Great photos build customer trust and improve your brand, as they give off an impression of professionalism. It shows that you paid attention to every detail. Customers will also be more emotionally involved if you utilize images that target their needs. Captivating visuals will stick in your consumer’s minds. The better your images, the better they’ll remember your brand.
2. Create SaaS Software
Crafting SaaS platforms within a subscription business framework can prove to be a lucrative online endeavor. The seamless charm of this business model lies in its ability to continually generate revenue from ongoing subscriptions.
Add graphics for more clarity. Your graphics not only need to make the software engaging but also create ease of use for users with clear instructions, buttons, and navigational elements.
SaaS tools are almost like educational tools, so it’s important to treat your visuals like a map. Do they help direct your users to the right locations? Are the buttons and navigational elements easy to see from the background? If you have the budget, consider getting a group to test your software. You’ll want usability ratings to be high, and your visuals play a big part in that.
Since your graphics have to be unique, it’s a good idea to hire an artist. Without one, you’ll have to edit stock photos until you get the graphic you need. It’s much easier to find an artist who can bring your vision to life. Plus, you can keep them in the wing for other content visuals.
3. Become a Graphic Artist
To monetize your artistic abilities, you can become a graphic artist. Globally, many small businesses need branding services, illustrative work for their products, and tailored advertising designs. Modern platforms let you offer services to clients seeking professional-grade graphics.
The key is to develop a striking portfolio showcasing your style and capabilities, so make sure you use diverse forms of graphic art and styles to appeal to various prospective clientele.
Naturally, visuals will play a big role in your daily work. It’s a good idea to create visuals outside of your niche if you have time. The more experience you have in other visual styles, the easier it will be for you to find roles in your field. This is especially true when you’re first starting out, as you may need to “take whatever you can get” to build a portfolio you can use for other clients.
Consider taking courses if you’re serious about exploring different visual avenues. Many clients won’t take you seriously as a designer if you have poor visuals in your blog and on your website, so be sure to learn the basics of web design when you launch your business.
4. Start a YouTube Channel
If you have a knack for creating engaging content, why not start a YouTube channel? From informative tutorials to entertaining vlogs, the platform is laden with opportunities. Coupled with innovative video editing and designs, your videos can attract more views and subscribers.
Eye-catching thumbnails and well-designed end screens can increase click-through rates and viewer retention. The more traffic you drive, the more ad revenue you’ll earn from YouTube.
Remember that you can make an entire YouTube channel dedicated to art. Some YouTubers will create animation channels, while others will teach viewers how to draw. The niche you pursue will depend on your skills and how much time you can spend on your visuals.
Keep in mind that running a YouTube channel can take a lot of work and that there are alternatives to starting your own. For example, you could do graphics work for an established channel, or you could use Fiverr to sell pre-made thumbnail templates. You could also use graphic art skills to edit YouTube videos, whether they’re yours or from another channel.
5. Create a Blog
Blogging is an effective way to generate income online. By sharing your knowledge or expressing your creativity, you can establish a loyal readership base. Using graphics in your posts makes them more attractive and enhances their readability, hence increasing traffic.
Popular methods of monetization for bloggers include advertising, selling products or services, and affiliate marketing, which rewards you with a bit of money for promoting others’ products.
One often underutilized avenue for bloggers includes creating infographics. These powerful visual tools allow you to communicate complex ideas in a simple format. Infographics are especially useful for businesses that produce a lot of information-heavy articles. Make sure you keep your designs simple, as a cluttered mess will be difficult for your viewers to read.
When adding graphics to your website, make sure they’re well optimized. While high-quality photos look great, they’ll slow down your site. This will leave desktop and mobile users frustrated. You can use an online image optimizer to make your graphics smaller so they take up less space.
6. Become an Influencer
It’s easier than ever to get an audience. Social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok are superb launchpads if you enjoy a certain niche and love connecting with people. By consistently sharing high-quality content and visually striking graphics, you’ll cultivate an engaged fellowship.
This social influence could subsequently attract collaboration offers from brands keen on leveraging your reach for marketing purposes. Sponsored posts are definitely the way to go.
While sponsorships will garner you the most money in one go, producing user-generated content (UGC) is the best way to get these sponsor’s attention. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to capitalize on the best sponsors from the get-go, so you’ll have to get more followers or get their attention. UGCs with stunning visuals are more likely to get noticed on social media.
Don’t forget to use every feature on the site to maximize the amount of content you can create. From Instagram’s Reels to Facebook’s Carousel ads, there are plenty of ways influencers can boost their reach using visuals. If you can’t be everywhere at once, hire a graphic artist.
7. Write and Publish an eBook
Writing and publishing an eBook is a commendable way to earn money online. If you possess expertise in a certain area or have a unique story to tell, why not share it with others? With platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, self-publishing has become easier than ever.
Now, consider merging your written content with appropriate graphics or illustrations. Such visual elements significantly boost your eBook’s appeal, making it more engaging for readers.
The book cover is really where you have to go “all-in” in the visuals department. Your book cover creates a first impression on potential readers. If it’s not designed well, you’ll lose sales. With that said, a successful cover will make the reader only “feel” what they’re about to read.
Keep in mind that all sites that allow you to publish your eBook will have a set of publishing guidelines you need to follow. Kindle’s Publishing Guidelines, for example, have a section dedicated to cover images. Don’t take these guidelines as suggestions either, even if they are, as they’re there to ensure your book cover is displayed with the highest resolution possible.
8. Develop an App
Harnessing your technical skills to develop an app can generate significant online income. An app solving a unique problem or providing entertainment can be monetized via ads, premium features, or direct sales. Plus, graphics can really help elevate your app to new heights.
Combining functional design with intelligent use of graphics and animations helps create a visually engaging and intuitive user experience that stands out in the saturated marketplace.
App creators have to capitalize on what’s called “visual communication.” Visual communication is the art of helping users understand what the app does and how to use it. There are two ways to do this: through graphical elements (images and icons) and interface metaphors (menus).
Let’s focus on graphic elements. Familiar icons can be used to perform certain actions, such as clicking a heart to favorite an item. Images are useful for conveying complex information, so long as they’re optimized for a small screen. Finally, buttons provide instant feedback about a user’s actions, especially if the button changes color when it’s tapped, clicked, or swiped.
9. Build Websites
If you’re skilled at coding and have a flair for design, consider building websites as an online money-making venture. It’s like investing in your future — just like the benefits of a savings account. Beyond financial security, you can enjoy interest accrual and capitalize on compound growth, effortlessly building an emergency fund for unforeseen expenses. Businesses globally pay premium prices for well-designed, user-friendly websites. Graphics naturally play a crucial role here, regardless of what site you’re designing.
A website with thoughtfully integrated graphics appeals to visitors, facilitating ease of navigation while adding aesthetic value. This then leads to happier clients willing to pay for your services.
Websites are another medium that takes full advantage of visual communication. Unlike an app, your visuals will be viewed on a bigger scale. At the same time, these visuals have to be shrunk down into something smaller for mobile. Things like color, size, shape, contrast, proximity, and alignment all matter when building websites, so they’re going to matter to clients.
And if you’re not convinced why visual communication is important, then just think of the human brain. Our brain remembers 80% of what we see and 10% of what we read. Not only that, but humans process images 60,000 times faster than text, so pay attention to those visuals!
10. Become an Online Tutor
Online tutoring is a fantastic avenue for monetizing your knowledge and skills. Platforms such as Coursera or Udemy provide opportunities to share what you know with eager students worldwide. Using graphics strategically will aid in explaining complex subjects or aspects.
Happy students are more likely to leave positive feedback and recommend your course. This increases the visibility of your classes, attracts more enrollments, and leads to more income.
And how do you make these students happy? By creating coursework that’s easy to understand. Since our brains process visual information faster than text, it makes sense to use them throughout your course, both in the rubric and in the assignments, if applicable.
When teaching your class, make sure to direct your students using premade graphics or whiteboards. Some subjects, like math and art, are better taught using a step-by-step live process, while others, like kinesiology or chemistry, work well with premade diagrams.
In Conclusion…
Whether you’re seeking full-time online employment or simply looking for ways to supplement your income, the digital realm is rich with opportunities. The key to success largely lies in how effectively you use tools like graphics to enhance your offering. Now that you know how to earn money online while using stunning visuals and graphics, it’s time to start your journey.
Whether you choose blogging, YouTube, or offering freelance services, remember how crucial graphics are to grabbing your customer’s attention and retaining the interest of your clients.