How to earn money online

 

Earning money has typically been associated with and restricted to traditional 'offline' route. With the Internet taking over a large part of our lives, more people are looking to ways to earn money online to increase their financial inflows, with secondary income streams. You should be mindful of the platform that you opt for. While there are numerous ways to earn money online, some of these might be fake. Also, do not expect to earn a huge amount quickly when using online avenues to earn money.

Now with a situation involving more time at home and/or more free time in general, maybe fewer working hours for some, some of you might have some free time on hands. Here are a few online platforms, websites and tools that can help you earn money online.

1. Freelancing

Freelancing has always been a popular way to earn money online and the Internet has several options. There are several websites offering freelance tasks for people with varying skills. All you need to do is to create an account, browse through the listings, and apply for the task that suits you. Some websites may even require you to create a personal listing with the details of your skillset, so that interested clients can contact you directly. Outfiverr.com, upwork.com, freelancer.com, and worknhire.com are some websites that provide freelance jobs. You can earn anywhere between $5 and $100 through these websites.

But remember, you will only get paid once you successfully complete the given task and it has been approved by your client. This may even mean revising the work several times unless the requirements of your clients are met. Some sites may ask you to set up a PayPal account, as most clients prefer to make payments digitally via it.

2. Starting your own website

There is enough material available online to help you put together your own website. This includes choosing the domain, templates, layout and the overall design for your website. Once ready to service the visitors with the relevant content, sign up for Google Adsense, which when appear on your website and clicked on by visitors, help you make money. The more traffic you get on your website, the more will be the potential for higher earnings.

3. Affiliate marketing

Once your website is up and running, you could opt for affiliate marketing by allowing companies to insert web links on to your site. This is like a symbiotic partnership. When visitors to your site buy products or services by clicking on such links, you earn out from it.

4. Surveys, searches and reviews

There are several websites offering money to undergo online surveys, carry out online searches, and write reviews on products. To get the credit, one needs to disclose certain information to them including one's banking details. This is why you should use this route with utmost care. Some of them may even ask you to register with them before working on projects. The most important watch out in such projects is to stay away from websites offering money that appears too good to be true. Be careful while evaluating the reputation of the website as many of them could be a scam. Most sites promote businesses showing copies of cheque payments which may have been given to the middlemen only.

5. Virtual assistantship

Doing all the corporate stuff from one's home is what a virtual assistant (VA) does. VAs basically work remotely with their clients and manage the aspects of their business that they are too busy to handle themselves. When you work as a virtual assistant, you can choose to work as an employee or you can set up your own business.

VAs are skilled, home-based professionals that offer companies, businesses, and entrepreneurs administrative support. Some of the major areas of work includes making phone calls, email correspondence, Internet research, data entry, scheduling appointments, editing, writing, book keeping, marketing, blog management, proofreading, project management, graphic design, tech support, customer service, event planning, and social media management.

Becoming a VA may require some degree of training or briefing, depending on your qualifications. However, if you possess good communication skills and are capable of using applications like MS Office, you can just sign up on sites such as Elance.com, 24/7 Virtual Assistant, Assistant Match, eaHelp, Freelancer, FlexJobs, People Per Hour, Uassist.Me, Upwork, VaVa Virtual Assistants, Virtual Staff Finder, Worldwide 101, Ziptask, Zirtual and so on.

6. Language translating

Knowing a language other than English may even help you earn some extra money. There are several websites that offer translation projects that require translating a document from one language into another. This may include Spanish, French, Arab, German, or any other language to or from English.

For many, this can make the task rather time-consuming and therefore they hire translators available online from anywhere across the globe. Several websites such as Freelancer.in, Fiverr.com, worknhire.com or Upwork.com offers you a platform to be a professional translator.

Those who do not have the knowledge or the time to complete their projects on their own, put up their work on these platforms where you can register and start bidding on translation jobs and get paid in the range of Rs 1-Rs 5 per word. This can go up to Rs 10 for some languages.

7. Online tutoring

If you are an expert in a particular subject, you can earn by tutoring people online. Online tutoring provides a means to connect online with students of all ages, across the country to provide homework help and tutoring in the subjects for which you have demonstrated expertise.

One may sign up on websites like Vedantu.com, MyPrivateTutor.com, BharatTutors.com, tutorindia.net as an online tutor by creating a profile, and listing the subjects or classes you want to teach, how much experience you have, what your qualifications are, etc. Some of the platforms may offer flexible and convenient time to work as an online tutor.

Most platforms follow this process- they ask you to apply by filling a simple form, after which a teaching demo will have to given their experts. Once selected, documentation and profile creation will be done, followed by training and induction webinar. Once you attend the webinar, you will be listed as a teacher and will get your online sessions to conduct. Beginners can make around Rs 200 per hour, which can go up to Rs 500 as you gain experience and expertise.

8. Social media management, strategy

In addition to interacting with friends and strangers, social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat can be used to make money. Companies and brands pay social media strategists to further boost the popularity of their products. With lots of competition around and the constantly shortening of attention time of online viewers, creativity is essential to create posts, videos etc that can go viral quickly and enhance the brand value. Remember, social media needs dedicated time and energy to stay relevant. Hence, you need to share posts regularly and interact with your followers on a regular basis.

9. Web designing

Not all business owners are tech savvy but the need of the hour is to have a website of their own. Those who have a knack for all- things- tech, especially related to websites, can help small businesses set up their own websites and earn from it. Coding and web designing are the essential ingredients in setting up websites. Further, websites need maintenance and may require frequent updates, which may add to one's revenue.

10. Content writing

Online platforms can be a good starting point. Depending on the quality of the articles, one gets paid. One may be asked to work upon articles with specific guidelines as well. Develop a niche in your area of expertise and build strength in that domain to increase the revenue stream.

11. Blogging

It starts with a hobby, interest, and passion and soon blogging becomes a career option for many bloggers. There are a number of full-time bloggers. There are two ways to start a blog: you can either create a blog through WordPress or Tumblr, which requires no investment, or go for a self-hosted blog.

In case of the latter, you will have to invest in and spend money on domain name and server hosting space that can cost you between Rs 3,000-Rs 5,000 a year. Self-hosted blogs have an added advantage that it allows you to customize elements and functionality of your website. In case of the former, you need to make peace with the tools and plug-ins made available by the service provider.

You may monetize the blogs through ads, product reviews, and so on. But remember, earning through blogging may also take a lot of time and effort. For some, it may take as long as year to actually earn through blogging.

12. YouTube

If you are not comfortable in penning down your thoughts through blogs and content writing, make use of your camera to create a video presentation. Create your YouTube channel, upload videos and start monetizing them. Choose a category or subject that you want to make videos on and get started, but make sure it's a topic that will interest a lot of people. Everything from cooking shows to political debates can find many takers on YouTube. You have to create a YouTube channel, which works on a similar model as a blog. As you make your channel popular and the number of subscribers grows, so will your earning potential. The payment one gets is based on every thousand views.

13. Kindle eBook

If writing books interests you, one option you can exercise is self-publish eBooks and paperbacks with Kindle Direct Publishing, and reach millions of readers on Amazon. Publishing takes less than 5 minutes and your book appears on Kindle stores worldwide within 24-48 hours. One can earn up to 70 percent royalty on sales to customers in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, India, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, and so on. One can keep control  of one's rights and set their own list prices and also make changes to one's books at any time. BooksFundr and Pblishing.com are two other places to get your book published and earn money.

14. Selling your products online

If you want to sell products online, you may can it by creating your own website. As there's lot of competition and several existing websites in place already catering to this market, an attempt to create a niche in terms of products may be considered. Or, you can use the platform such as Amazon, Flipkart to sell. One can increase reach and visibility through affiliate marketing.

15. PTC sites

Several websites offer money (after a minimum level of earning) by clicking on advertisements. Hence, they are called paid-to-click (PTC) sites. One has to get registered before the project begins. Not all of these sites could be genuine, so be careful. One may also refer friends and earn money in the process. Some such sites are ClixSense.com , BuxP and NeoBux are some of such PTC sites.

16. Peer to peer

Similar to e-commerce websites such as Amazon and OLX, a peer-to-peer (P2P) platform is a marketplace for money lending activities. You can lend money to others in a more organised and structured manner using the P2P lending platform. The P2P platforms have the recovery process in place and one should understand it before using the services of the platform. Since this is an unsecured loan where there is no face-to-face interaction, a P2P lender needs to be aware of the risks involved.

17. Data entry

Although this line of work is seriously threatened by automation, there are still plenty of data entry jobs available in India. It is one the simplest jobs you can do online, and requires no special skills. You just have to have a computer, Internet connection, fast typing skills, and the ability to pay attention to details. Most freelancing websites list these jobs, and you can sign up on any of them to start earning in the range of Rs 300 to Rs 1,500 per hour.

Source:The Economic Times

With 2 billion users, Facebook profits up 71% in Q2

Clocking over two billion monthly active users (MAUs), Facebook has posted a net income of $3.89 billion in second quarter of 2017 — up 71% from the same quarter last year.

Riding on increased mobile video ad sales, Facebook stocks hit record high as total revenue was up 44.8% to $9.32 billion, the company said in a statement late Wednesday.

“We had a good second quarter and first half of the year. Our community is now two billion people and we’re focusing on bringing the world closer together,” said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

The daily active users (DAUs) were 1.32 billion on average for June 2017, an increase of 17 per cent year-over-year.

Mobile advertising revenue represented approximately 87% of advertising revenue for the second quarter, up from approximately 84% of advertising revenue in the second quarter last year.

The growing monetisation of video within the Facebook News Feed and the popularity of photo-sharing app Instagram contributed majorly towards these results.

“Clearly, the biggest driver of growth is, overall, Facebook News Feed. Instagram is making a contribution, and an increasing contribution,” Chief Financial Officer David Wehner was quoted as saying in The Guardian.

Capital expenditures for the second quarter of 2017 were $1.44 billion.

Facebook currently employees 20,658 people — an increase of 43% year-over-year.

What is the MiG-35?

Russia intends to sell its newest warplane MiG-35 to India. Here is everything you need to know about the aircraft.

Director General of Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG, Ilya Tarasenko told reporters that after presenting MiG-35 in January, the MiG corporation has started actively promoting the aircraft in India and other parts of the world. A clear indication that Russia is keen on selling its new fighter jet MIG-35 to India. “We are proposing supply of the aircraft for tenders in India and we actively work with its Air Fore in order to win the tender,” he said.
Here is everything you need to about the MiG-35 fighter jet:

What is MiG-35?


Russia’s newest war planet MiG-35 is an upgraded version of its predecessor MiG-29, and was designed by Mikoyan design bureau in the early 2000s. The multi-role fighter aircraft, earlier served as MiG-29M2 model demonstrator. The plane has been designed as 4++ generation fighter by Mikoyan. It has been classified as a medium-weight fighter plane by the creators. Speaking to reporters, MiG Director Ilya Tarasenko described MiG-35 as “the best” and added it would beat American jet Lockheed Martin’s fifth generation combat aircraft F-35.

The primary function of the aircraft is to gain air superiority. It is also capable of performing all-weather precision ground strike. The aircraft also possesses the capabilities to perform aerial reconnaissance with special equipment.

When was MIG-35 first launched?

The Mig-35 was designed by Mikoyan bureau in early 2000s and made its first public reveal in 2007. According to sources cited by military today website, at least 10 prototypes of the aircraft have been developed. Currently, the aircraft is still under developmental stage. In 2017 January, Russia started flight tests of MiG-35 fighter aircraft. An international presentation of the plane was held in Moscow on January 27. According to Russian officials, the first combat-ready plane will be delivered to the Air Force by 2018.

What are MiG-35 features?


MiG-35 has been built with improved avionics and weapons system. The 17.32 m aircraft has a wing span of 12 m and can carry up to 7000 kg of payload. It has the newly built Phazatron Zhuk active phased array radar system which can detect 30 targets at a range of 130-160 km in air and 300 km in water, and can engage with 6 targets at a time. The radar is also highly resistant to countermeasures and can detect incoming fighters at least from 50 km and outgoing fighters at least from 90 km. It can also detect a tank at 20 km. The fighter plane packs 30-mm cannon and 150 rounds of ammunition on board. It can also use air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles along with guided and unguided rockets and bombs.

Fitted with two Klimov RD-33MK engines, the MiG-35 has 7 per cent more power than its predecessor and offers higher thrust. The engines also include systems which reduce infrared and optical visibility of the aircraft.

The fighter plane, just like its predecessor, attracts potential buyers because of its high maneuverability, which is among one of the best. Speaking to reporters, Tarasenko said. “I would like to note the demand for this aircraft for our own air force, as well as our foreign partners. The plane is light, multi-functional and has high maneuverability.” He added that the aircraft’s technical specifications including its flight capabilities, weapons range and defence systems are close to a fifth-generation aircraft.

Mikhail Belyaev, the Lead Test Pilot of MiG-35, added that new equipment on board and quality of new weapons are added assets of the aircraft. “Compared with the basic version of the MiG-29, it is a new aircraft, new airframe, fly-by-wire, glass cockpit, adapted for night vision goggles…new engines, more power, more fuel, new on board equipment and new weapons,” Belyaev said.

What are the limitations of MiG-35?


According to Military Today, in spite of its modern features, the avionics and sensors of MiG-35 are inferior when compared with Western designs. Futhermore, Russia has a limited production of proposed MiG-35 aircraft, which are not much threat to Western air forces. Also, in spite of its high maneuverability, the plane sacrifices in range and weight to attain agility, according to US magazine National Interest.

Source:Indian Express

Don't underestimate our determination to safeguard national security, China warns India

China's defense ministry spokesman Wu Qian speaks during a news conference at the State Council Information Office in Beijing on Monday.   | Photo Credit: AP

India has called for both sides to withdraw forces and a negotiated settlement to the standoff.

China on Monday warned India not to “push your luck” by underestimating its determination to safeguard what it considers sovereign Chinese territory.

Defense ministry spokesman Col. Wu Qian reiterated China’s demand that Indian troops pull back from the Doklam Plateau, an area also claimed by Indian ally Bhutan where Chinese teams had been building a road toward India’s border.

“China’s determination and resolve to safeguard national security and sovereignty is unshakable,” Mr. Wu said at a news conference to mark the coming 90th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army.

“Here is a wish to remind India, do not push your luck and cling to any fantasies,” Wu said. “The 90-year history of the PLA has proved but one thing- that our military means to secure our country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity has strengthened and our determination has never wavered. It is easier to shake a mountain than to shake the PLA.”


India has called for both sides to withdraw forces and a negotiated settlement to the standoff that began last month after Chinese troops began working to extend southward the road from Yadong in Tibet.

While the sides have exercised restraint thus far, heated rhetoric in both Beijing and New Delhi has raised concern over a renewal of hostilities that resulted in a brief but bloody frontier war between the sides in 1962. The nuclear-armed neighbours share a 3,500-kilometer border, much of it contested, and China acts as a key ally and arms supplier for India’s arch-rival, Pakistan.


The crisis is expected to be discussed when India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval visits Beijing at the end of this week for a security forum under the BRICS group of large developing nations that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Source:The Hindu

Reliance JioPhone: Does it have Qualcomm 205 SoC or a Spreadtrum one?

Reliance JioPhone was launched last week, and this is a feature phone unlike any other, thanks to the 4G VoLTE connectivity, ability to run Jio apps including JioTV, JioMusic as well. But there's some confusion on which processor is powering the JioPhone.

Reliance JioPhone is a feature phone, that comes with 4G VoLTE: But which processor will be powering JioPhone: Qualcomm or Spreadtrum? In this photo, Akash Ambani and Isha Ambani showcase the JioPhone. (Image courtesy: RIL)

Reliance JioPhone was launched last week, and this is a feature phone unlike any other, thanks to the 4G VoLTE connectivity, ability to run Jio apps including JioTV, JioMusic as well. But there’s some confusion on which processor is powering the JioPhone.

On July 21, Qualcomm India had tweeted saying, “Glad to partner with @reliancejio on the new #JioPhone, powered by our #205 mobile platform.” The indication was that the Reliance JioPhone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 205 processor. But interestingly another player, Spreadtrum Communications has also tweeted about how they are partnering with JioPhone.

The tweet from Spreadtrum reads, “Making India digital with #JioPhone. @Spreadtrum is proud to be a part of the digital freedom for #featurephone users. @Reliancejio.”  This particular tweet doesn’t mention which processor or SoC from the company is being used, unlike the Qualcomm one, which says the Snapdragon 205 processor is being used.

Reliance Jio still hasn’t listed full details, specifications of the phone on the website. We have reached out to Jio asking for a confirmation on this. Interestingly when Lava had launched its 4G feature phone, Lava Connect, it used the  Spreadtrum SC9820, which is a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and has support for TDD-LTE, FDD-LTE and 4G VoLTE.


Reports have claimed Intex is manufacturing the JioPhone, while other says Foxconn will be doing this. Reliance has itself said that by the end of the year, JioPhone will be entirely Made in India, though it has not specified the OEM. With the JioPhone, the company plans to change the dynamics of the feature phone market, and has launched this at an effective price of Rs zero.

However, JioPhone comes with a Rs 1500 refundable security deposit, which can be collected after three years. The monthly pack on the JioPhone is Rs 153, with 500MB or 0.5GB data being promised every day and all voice calls, SMS being free on this smartphone. JioPhone also has sachet packets at Rs 24 and Rs 54, which offer similar data, voice calling benefits. The validity of these packs is two days and one week respectively.

Reliance JioPhone looks like any other feature phone with its Alphanumeric keyboard, and has a 2.4-inch QVGA display, a dedicated torchlight button. There’s also a headphone jack, microphone, speaker, and FM Radio feature as well. Jio says users can also rely on voice commands to carry out tasks on the JioPhone, and the phone will come pre-loaded with Jio apps including JioCinema, so people can watch movies on the phone as well.


It also has an SOS feature, which can be enabled by long pressing the number five button. Jio has also promised support for quick payments via NFC in the future. There’s also a JioCable accessory by which the phone can be connected to any television set to stream content from the phone on the TV. The JioTV pack will start at Rs 309 for users. Reliance JioPhone will go on sale officially in September. Pre-bookings will open from August 24, though users can register on the Reliance Jio website to indicate their interest in the phone.

India-China standoff: Time the media 'shut up'

Let us start off by saying that the media is entirely to blame for the escalating tension between India and China. Amidst the standoff which is into its 5th week at Doklam, the two nations are clearly not in the mood for war.

Aggressive posturing by both the Indian and Chinese media has only led to the tension escalating feels V Balachandran, former Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat. The question now is what needs to be done. What has had to happen has already happened says Balachandran in this chat with Media.

We have had similar problems: 
We have had similar problems in the past as well. It may not have been of this magnitude and intensity. However India always took a pragmatic view considering the border was not demarcated. This is about what we feel and what they feel about the boundary, Balachandran says. 

In the past when such issues arose, a flag meet would be immediately called for. The issue would be resolved by stepping back. However now the atmospherics have changed, explains the former officer who was with the Research and Analysis Wing. 

Media needs to calm down: 
While there is tension already, the media on both sides have become aggressive. This is only adding to the problem says Balachandran. Everything is being blown out of proportion. When a Malabar exercise is held, the media projects it as though it is a confrontation against China. 
The Malabar exercise is going on for several years now. When we conduct an exercise with China, it should not be projected as though it is a message for some other country, Balachandran explains.
 Such statements only breed hostility. It is time for a dialogue which I am sure our NSA also realises. Another important thing to do is stop sitting on either sides of the border and hurl threats through the media. It is time to cool down. The media needs to stop being hysterical. The aggressive posturing by the Indian media is now being matched with hysteria by the Chinese media too, Balachandran says.


Stop being a satellite of another nation: 
Running to the United States is not the solution for India. The US does not have time and they have far too many problems to deal with. The present government should stop being a satellite of another country. 
We have to use our own diplomacy and deal with China directly, the former officer explains. This is a direct issue with China and it would be prudent to deal directly on it, Balachandran also says. 

The deterioration of ties after Pokhran 2: 
There was a time following the visit by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi when ties with China had improved considerably. I however did not understand the need for the government to dash off a letter to the Clinton administration after Pokhran 2.

India wrote to the US justifying Pokhran 2. It was said that this was not targeted at Pakistan but at some other nation. The letter was leaked in the press and subsequently published. China did take offense to the letter as it felt that India was trying to target it. China wondered why India had complained to the US about it. Following that episode, the ties with China have never looked up and all subsequent meetings with their leaders have been more of photo ops, Balachandran also says. 

The Myanmar fiasco: 
The government must also reign in on its ministers who make brash statements. Do you recall the statements given by people not connected with the issue following the Myanmar incident? A minister said that India had entered Myanmar and shot down cadres of the NSCN(K). 

These people must not speak out of turn. Moreover in the case of China diplomacy and not a muscular policy will work. It is time to gather our heads and find a solution diplomatically. If we withdraw from the tri-junction then it would be a loss of face. I am sure our NSA will find a diplomatic solution to the problem. The next time, we need to ensure that the situation does not reach this stage.