The idea of “make money online” sounds easy… until you actually try.

You Google around, get slammed with ads for courses and side hustles, and still feel stuck.

That was me a few years ago. I didn’t have a clue where to begin. But then I stumbled across a Reddit thread where people shared how they made their first dollar online.

Actual real stories. Someone sold a digital avocado sticker. Another uploaded blank notebooks to Amazon.

And that’s when it clicked. Making money online isn’t always flashy—it just needs to work.

So in this post, I’ll walk you through 7 unusual (but proven) ways total beginners are earning online.

Let’s dive in and see what might click for you.

7 Wild Ways to Make Money Online For Beginners

Making money online isn’t magic. It’s trial and error, with some wins while learning as you go.

So here are 7 unusal ideas you can start from and build from there.

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1. Sell Something Ridiculous on Etsy (Yes, Really)

Most people think you need a business plan, fancy logo, or capital to start. But one Redditor proved otherwise by selling… a crying avocado sticker.

Yep, that’s it.

No paid ads. No Instagram campaign. Just a random idea turned into a $1.07 digital product.

That first sale? They said they danced like they’d raised funding.

The takeaway?
You don’t need a genius idea. You need something—and the courage to post it. Etsy is full of low-barrier products:

• Meme-style stickers
• Printable wall art
• Digital planners

Start with Canva. Test with $0. And see what happens.

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2. Upload Blank Notebooks on Amazon KDP

One of the most underrated beginner moves: low-content publishing.

One Reddit user didn’t blog. Didn’t design. Didn’t code.

Instead, they uploaded simple, blank notebooks to Amazon using Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). No inventory, no writing, no upfront cost.

They made $2,400 from one notebook design alone.

Here’s what they did:

• Researched popular notebook niches (gratitude journals, fitness logs, etc.)
• Designed a simple cover using Canva
• Used KDP to publish on Amazon’s platform
• Rinse and repeat

It’s not glamorous. But it’s passive once you hit publish.

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3. Sell AI-Generated Art as NFTs (When the Timing’s Right)

One user jumped on the NFT hype early and made €12 just messing around.

They used an AI tool to create a few abstract images. No branding. No network. Just uploaded and sold.

Sure, the NFT wave has cooled—but there are still platforms where unique AI-generated visuals sell well. You don’t need to mint crypto anymore. You can:

• Sell AI art as wallpapers
• License them on stock sites like Adobe or Creative Market
• Offer custom styles on Fiverr or Etsy

It’s about creativity + timing. And AI makes that more accessible than ever.

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4. Start with a Blog—Then Flip It

A few people mentioned blogging. But one story stood out.

They started a blog in the social media niche as a side hustle. After five years, it was making over $100,000 per year.

Eventually, they sold it for six figures.

Here’s how they built it:

• Picked a niche they enjoyed writing about
• Focused on helpful, SEO-driven content
• Monetized with ads and affiliate links
• Grew traffic slowly but steadily
• Sold it when it became too big to handle alone

This isn’t fast money. But it’s proof that building slow, boring content can lead to big, quiet wins.

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5. Upload Digital Products to Etsy (Not Just Art)

Another Redditor made their first online income selling digital cleaning schedules on their blog and Etsy store.

They started by promoting Amazon products on a blog, then realized digital products sold faster and more profitably.

Their niche? Cleaning equipment. Their site? CleaningKeeper.com.

They eventually sold the whole blog.

If you’re into:

• Printable checklists
• Custom planners
• Digital templates (for budgeting, goal setting, etc.)

Etsy is a great place to test them. No shipping. No hassle. And tools like Canva make design accessible—even for total beginners.

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6. Build Websites for Friends (Then Scale from There)

Someone shared that they made $800 from their first paid project—but it came from a friend they’d known for 9 years.

The trick? They kept building websites for fun. When the opportunity came, they already had proof of work.

Now they build sites and apps full-time.

You can start the same way:

• Offer to build a portfolio project for a local business
• Use free tools like Carrd, Dorik, or Webflow
• Collect testimonials
• List your service on Fiverr, Upwork, or even Reddit

Don’t wait for clients. Create your own use cases and let people find you.

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7. Sell Something Weird from Your Backyard

Okay, this one might sound offbeat—but someone turned mango trees into an e-commerce brand.

They joined a Facebook group where people sold fruits. They had mango trees. So they posted.

Fast-forward four years, they run an Etsy shop and a standalone website selling fruit nationwide. No ads. Just word of mouth and repeat buyers.

The lesson?

• You don’t always need to invent a product
• You might already own something people want
• Facebook groups are still a goldmine for niche discovery

Whether it’s fruit, handmade soaps, or rare seeds—start local. Then test online.

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A Few Honorable Mentions (Because These Deserve a Nod)

Here are a few more ideas shared in that Reddit thread:

• Freelancing on Upwork – One person turned a $5 gig into a multi-million dollar agency
• SMM for crypto projects – Another started designing for free, then started charging $3k/month
• Affiliate marketing through niche blogs – Think small audiences, but high intent (e.g., cleaning products)
• VTuber donations via livestreams – Niche, but growing, especially in gaming communities

Not every method is scalable, but all of them worked.

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What These Stories All Have in Common

After reading all those Reddit replies, I noticed a few patterns:

• Nobody had it all figured out from the start
• Most just picked one thing and tried
• Their “first dollar” was small, but it lit the spark
• Consistency and curiosity did more than raw talent

You don’t need a big audience. You don’t need to go viral.

You just need to start. Then keep going.

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Final Thoughts

Making money online doesn’t have to start with a big idea—it just needs to start.

You saw it here: people sold digital stickers, uploaded blank notebooks, or turned mango trees into income.

Pro tip: Don’t wait for perfect. Pick one method, test it, and tweak as you go. Momentum beats perfection every time.

Here’s a quick recap:

• Try Etsy, KDP, or affiliate blogging
• Start small, stay consistent
• Real people started with just one sale

So—what resonated with you most?
Was it the crying avocado? The blank journals? The mango side hustle?

If you would like to start an offline business instead, then you would definitely love these business ideas.

Drop a comment with your favorite!
I’d love to hear what sparked an idea for you.