Internet-Based Jobs for Teens
The face of summer jobs for teens is changing. For parents, summer jobs meant babysitting and lawn-mowing, or maybe walking dogs or working at a burger joint. Those are certainly still viable jobs for teens, but now there is another opportunity for teens to earn money this summer: internet-based jobs.
Using the internet to earn money can take various forms. You might post on a job board to find work “in real life,” or you might write articles online for clients and employers who exist only in cyberspace.
Here are some of the internet-based jobs for teens, and various ways to approach this modern opportunity.
1. Online Job Boards
There are job boards online specifically for teens. Even those that aren’t geared directly toward teens may have a section for this age group, or it may just be a general board. Some of these job boards charge a small fee, sometimes monthly, and you’ll need a PayPal account or credit card to sign up.
2. Writing Articles
Writing has a whole new realm these days. Years ago, the only way to make a living writing articles was to write for a print medium, such as magazines and newspapers (you can still do this too, of course). Now, however, there is a need for information like never before. When you search online, for instance, you look for information on a subject. Someone had to type that information out for you to be reading it! Why shouldn’t it be you?
For summer work, it’s probably best to go for temporary types of writing. Short, web content style articles are a good option. You can simply search “content sites hiring writers” (or something similar) online, and see who’s hiring. You may also look into writing blog posts for blog owners who don’t have the time or ability to write their own posts. The pay is not always high, but usually the articles are quick to write. If you can write 5 to 10 articles or posts a day, it can make some decent money.
3. Web Design
Many teens can help other online business owners by setting up their websites and designing them. You could charge an hourly rate or flat fee for your services, and also offer packages (website set up and logo design, for instance). Some clients may only want your services for a particular part of their website, such as adding a banner or header. Others might want the whole thing done from start to finish. Either way, this is a potentially lucrative area in the realm of internet-based jobs.
Things to Be Aware of (Scams)
Unfortunately, the internet has opened up new opportunities for scams, too. Here are some tips to help you avoid falling for scams and identity thieves.
-Beware of promises of “easy money.” For instance, no legitimate company is going to pay you $250 to write a paragraph reviewing a product with no strings attached.
-Initial outlays of cash are sometimes legit and sometimes not. Sometimes, the person who owns the website asking you to pay a fee is an online worker, too; other times they are scammers. A good way to check is to type in the name of the website or company into your browser along with the word “scam” or “reviews.” Then you’ll see what others have experienced with this site or company.