How To Start A Magazine (And Make A Profit)

Last fall, Marco Arment launched a general interest magazine. It's called, aptly enough, The Magazine. Writers are paid $800 per article. There are no ads. Until recently, it was available only via iPhones and iPads. Astonishingly, it's already turning a profit.

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Arment walked me through the numbers. He has 25,000 subscribers who pay $1.99 a month. Apple takes a 30 percent cut, leaving Arment about $35,000 a month.

This cost of putting out the magazine is a bit over $20,000 per month. It comes out every two weeks, and each issue costs about $10,000. Roughly $4,000 goes to writers. The rest goes mostly to copy editors, illustrators, photographers and editors.

Arment had an advantage in getting his magazine off the ground: He's a well known guy in the tech world who created Instapaper, was the lead developer at Tumblr and now has his own blog and podcast.

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Then again, given all that, why go to the trouble of creating a magazine?

"I don't really know why I started it," Arment told me yesterday. Then he listed off a bunch of reasons why he started it.

He knew lots of good bloggers who weren't doing any magazine writing. He wanted a magazine that he wanted to read. ("General interest, with a geeky slant.") And, weirdly, the business case for a magazine was really compelling.

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"What I saw was a fluke in app store pricing," he told me. "If you have an app, you can charge, realistically, about $3 these days." Somebody buys the app, and that's it. But for a magazine, you can charge $1.99every month.

Of course, when you're publishing the magazine, you do have to pay for a new issue every two weeks. And if you're a publisher with no full-time staff, you're pretty much locked in.

"With Instapaper, I can take a few months off," Arment said. "I can't stop publishing The Magazine for two months and work on something else."

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45 ways to make money online

45 Ways to Make Money Online: A Comprehensive Guide

In today’s digital age, the internet offers a myriad of opportunities for earning money online. Whether you're looking to supplement your income or transition to a full-time online career, here are 45 ways to make money online:

1. Freelance Writing

   - Write articles, blog posts, or web content for businesses and individuals.

   - Platforms: Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.

2. Blogging

   - Start a blog on a topic you’re passionate about and monetize through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.

3. Affiliate Marketing

   - Promote products and earn a commission for every sale made through your referral link.

   - Platforms: Amazon Associates, ShareASale.

 4. Online Surveys

   - Participate in surveys and get paid for your opinions.

   - Platforms: Swagbucks, Survey Junkie. 

5. Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant (VA) refers to a person who provides various services to individuals, businesses, or organizations remotely, typically from a home office. Virtual assistants are often self-employed and provide administrative, technical, or creative assistance to clients. They handle tasks such as scheduling appointments, managing emails, handling customer inquiries, bookkeeping, social media management, and more. Virtual assistants leverage technology to communicate and collaborate with their clients, often using tools like email, messaging apps, project management software, and virtual meeting platforms to stay connected and organized. This setup allows businesses and individuals to access skilled professionals without the need for physical office space or full-time employees, providing flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

   - Provide administrative support to businesses remotely.

   - Platforms: Belay, Time Etc.

6. Graphic Design

   - Create graphics for websites, logos, and marketing materials.

   - Platforms: 99designs, DesignCrowd.

7. Web Development

   - Build and maintain websites for clients.

   - Platforms: Toptal, Upwork.

8. **Online Tutoring**

   - Teach students subjects you’re proficient in.

   - Platforms: Chegg Tutors, Tutor.com.

9. **E-commerce Store**

   - Sell products through an online store.

   - Platforms: Shopify, Etsy.

10. **Dropshipping**

    - Sell products without holding inventory by using a dropshipping supplier.

    - Platforms: Oberlo, AliExpress.

11. **Stock Photography**

    - Sell your photos to stock photography sites.

    - Platforms: Shutterstock, Adobe Stock.

12. **YouTube Channel**

    - Create videos and monetize through ads and sponsorships.

13. **Social Media Influencer**

    - Partner with brands to promote their products on social media.

14. **Online Courses**

    - Create and sell courses on topics you’re knowledgeable about.

    - Platforms: Udemy, Teachable.

15. **Podcasting**

    - Start a podcast and monetize through sponsorships and listener support.

16. **Transcription Services**

    - Convert audio recordings into written documents.

    - Platforms: Rev, TranscribeMe.

17. **Proofreading and Editing**

    - Proofread and edit written content for clients.

    - Platforms: Scribendi, ProofreadingServices.com.

18. **Voiceover Work**

    - Provide voiceover services for videos, audiobooks, and commercials.

    - Platforms: Voices.com, Voice123.

19. **Online Consulting**

    - Offer your expertise in a specific field as a consultant.

    - Platforms: Clarity.fm, JustAnswer.

20. **Remote Customer Service**

    - Provide customer support for companies from home.

    - Platforms: Amazon, Apple.

21. **Online Coaching**

    - Offer coaching in areas like fitness, business, or life coaching.

    - Platforms: Coach.me, BetterUp.

22. **Selling Handmade Goods**

    - Create and sell handmade crafts.

    - Platforms: Etsy, Handmade at Amazon.

23. **Print on Demand**

    - Design custom products like t-shirts and mugs and sell them online.

    - Platforms: Printful, Redbubble.

24. **Domain Flipping**

    - Buy and sell domain names for a profit.

    - Platforms: GoDaddy Auctions, Flippa.

25. **Cryptocurrency Trading**

    - Buy and sell cryptocurrencies for profit.

    - Platforms: Coinbase, Binance.

26. **Online Investing**

    - Invest in stocks, bonds, or real estate online.

    - Platforms: Robinhood, Fundrise.

27. **App Development**

    - Create and sell mobile apps.

    - Platforms: App Store, Google Play.

28. **Website Flipping**

    - Buy underperforming websites, improve them, and sell them for a profit.

    - Platforms: Flippa, Empire Flippers.

29. **Writing E-books**

    - Write and sell e-books on platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.

30. **Data Entry**

    - Enter data for businesses from home.

    - Platforms: Clickworker, DionData Solutions.

31. **Online Arbitrage**

    - Buy products at a lower price and sell them online for a profit.

    - Platforms: Amazon, eBay.

32. **Online Marketplaces**

    - Sell used items or collectibles.

    - Platforms: eBay, Facebook Marketplace.

 33. **Renting Out Space**

    - Rent out extra space in your home or storage areas.

    - Platforms: Airbnb, Neighbor.

34. **Freelance Coding**

    - Offer coding services for websites and applications.

    - Platforms: GitHub Jobs, Stack Overflow Jobs.

35. **Influencer Marketing**

    - Help brands connect with influencers to promote their products.

    - Platforms: AspireIQ, Influencity.

36. **Music Production**

    - Create and sell music or beats online.

    - Platforms: SoundCloud, Beatstars.

37. **Online Fitness Training**

    - Provide virtual fitness coaching and personalized workout plans.

    - Platforms: Trainerize, My PT Hub.

38. **Online Bookkeeping**

    - Offer bookkeeping services to businesses remotely.

    - Platforms: Bench, Bookminders.

39. **Event Planning**

    - Plan and coordinate events online.

    - Platforms: HoneyBook, Aisle Planner.

40. **Resume Writing**

    - Help job seekers create professional resumes.

    - Platforms: TopResume, ResumeEdge.

41. **SEO Services**

    - Optimize websites for search engines to increase traffic.

    - Platforms: Moz, SEMrush.

42. **Translation Services**

    - Translate documents and content for clients.

    - Platforms: Gengo, ProZ.

43. **Stock Trading**

    - Trade stocks online through brokerage platforms.

    - Platforms: E*TRADE, TD Ameritrade.

44. **Voice Acting**

    - Provide voice acting services for animations, games, and commercials.

    - Platforms: Fiverr, Backstage.

45. **Writing Reviews**

    - Get paid to write reviews for products and services.

    - Platforms: UserTesting, ReviewStream.

With so many avenues to explore, making money online can be both lucrative and fulfilling. Identify your strengths and interests, and choose the options that best align with your skills and goals. The online world is vast, and the potential for success is within your reach.

8 ways to make money online from home

Discover Innovative Ways to Earn Extra Money

With more opportunities to make extra money than ever before, it can be challenging to decide where to invest your time. Explore this list of fresh ideas to earn money online and from home, including unique methods like walking, recycling, reviewing music, and even web searching.

Bookmark this page as we continually update it with new and fast ways to make money.

How to Make Money Online and From Home

These are some of the best methods to start earning extra cash today:

Matched Betting

Matched betting takes advantage of free bets offered by betting sites by 'matching' them at a betting exchange. This eliminates the mathematical risk since you are betting both for and against an outcome.

By leveraging the free bets, which can be as much as £100, you can potentially earn several hundred pounds. Many readers have successfully made hundreds of pounds from home using this technique. It’s legal, tax-free, and available to anyone over 18 in the UK.

Check out our comprehensive guide to matched betting for step-by-step instructions and a real example of how to make your first profit.

      Online Paid Surveys

Participating in online surveys is a popular way to make money in your spare time. Research companies constantly seek new members worldwide to answer surveys and test new products.

For a few minutes of form filling, you can earn cash or rewards. Some surveys pay up to £3 ($5). Recommended survey sites include Branded Surveys, Swagbucks, i-Say, LifePoints, OnePoll, Freecash, Pinecone, Toluna, Opinion Outpost, YouGov, Prizerebel, Marketagent, InboxPounds, Valued Opinions, Survey Junkie, Attapoll, Opinion Bureau, Maru Voice, Panel Base, and Y Live.

For more details, see our full guide to the best paid survey sites.

       Searching the Web

Make money by doing what you already do online. Qmee.com rewards you for searching on Google, Bing, Yahoo, Amazon, and eBay. Install a browser extension, and sponsored results will appear alongside your normal search results.

Each Qmee result has a cash reward. Click on it to collect your reward, and you can also complete surveys to increase your earnings. There’s no minimum to cash out, with your first payment potentially being as little as 72p wired to your PayPal account. Donations to charity are also an option.

Sign up for free and start earning from your searches today!

      Online Market Trading

Investing in the stock market can be lucrative if you learn to do it properly, though it involves risk. Only invest what you can afford to lose. Online platforms now make it possible to trade without traditional brokers.

eToro.com is a popular platform with over 25 million users worldwide, featuring in the BBC Two documentary "Traders: Millions by the Minute" and sponsoring several Premier League football clubs. Its CopyTrader feature allows you to follow and copy the investments of top-performing traders.

Start with a virtual portfolio and $100k to practice trading without risk. Real trades require a minimum of £/$10. 

For more information, follow our complete guide to trading on eToro. Remember, all trading involves risk, and you should consider whether you can afford to lose your money. Copy Trading is not investment advice. The value of your investments may fluctuate, and your capital is at risk. You must be over 18 to trade.

       Start Your Own Website

Generate passive income by starting a website. With Bluehost, you can set up a website in under 20 minutes at minimal cost, even if you’re not tech-savvy. Promote your site on social media to attract visitors and explore various monetization strategies.

Save the Student, started by Owen Burek while at university, is an example of a successful website serving over 1 million visitors a month. Follow Owen’s step-by-step guide to create a website in 20 minutes from home.

            Review Websites & Apps

Turn your web browsing skills into a paid job by reviewing websites and apps. UserTesting pays everyday people to review websites and apps, with each review taking about 20 minutes and earning $10 (£6.50) via PayPal.

Sign up for UserTesting, complete a test review, and start receiving websites to review in your inbox. TestingTime is another platform that pays for reviewing websites, apps, and new products and services.

        The 'Disney Vault' Secret

Disney restricts the supply of some home release classics by locking them away in the 'vault' for 8-10 years before re-releasing them for a short period. Buying these classics during their release window can lead to significant profits when they go off sale.

For example, Beauty and the Beast on Blu-ray 3D bought for £24.99 in 2011 sold for £74.99 a few years later. Current recommendations include Bambi Diamond Edition Blu-ray and The Lion King Diamond Edition Blu-ray.

       'Get Paid To' Sites

Similar to online surveys, GPT (Get Paid To) sites reward you in cash and vouchers for completing various online offers and activities. Popular sites include User Interviews, Toluna, Swagbucks, and InboxPounds.

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