A fellow we’ll call Jack had a passion for creating digital art. He had been creating pieces for years and sought ways to monetize his work. One day, he stumbled upon a subreddit called r/HungryArtists, a community of artists who offered their services for commission.
Jack started posting his artwork on the subreddit, and to his surprise, he received several commissions from interested buyers. He created custom pieces of art for clients all over the world, including logos, album covers, and illustrations.
As Jack’s reputation grew on the subreddit, he was approached by a user interested in purchasing the rights to one of his pieces for use in a marketing campaign. He negotiated the terms of the sale and earned a significant chunk of cash.
He began exploring other subreddits that permitted sales involving digital art. He found places like r/artcommissions and r/freelance_forhire that allowed him to promote his work even more.
Jack eventually earned a full-time income by finding legit ways to make money on Reddit. You can do the same!
Legit Ways to Make Money on Reddit
It is possible to make money on Reddit, but the social platform doesn’t pay people directly. What is available are opportunities to develop business opportunities or freelance contracts by creating relationships with others. Some can make a full-time income by joining subreddits and building a reputation for delivering high-quality results.
If you’re interested in making money on Reddit, the first step is to consider your authenticity. When Redditors suspect you’re offering a sales pitch instead of something valuable, the community often works together to downvote your posts.
That makes it even harder to develop moneymaking opportunities on the platform.
Although you can find several gray areas and potentially illegal ways to make money on Reddit, there are some legit opportunities. Here are the best options to review if you want to leverage your social following into business profits.
1. Participate in the Partner Program
The Reddit Partner Program allows users to monetize their content by displaying ads on their posts.
It enables eligible users to earn revenue from their content, including posts and comments, by displaying advertisements alongside them.
To be eligible, you need to have at least 50,000 page views per month, be 18 or older, and have a Reddit account in good standing that includes a positive history of platform engagement.
Once approved for the program, the user can opt in on a per-subreddit basis. When a user’s content is selected to display an ad, they earn a share of the revenue generated by that advertisement.
2. Sell Your Items or Services
If you have a product or service to sell, you can use subreddits related to your niche to promote your business. Make sure you follow the subreddit’s rules and guidelines for self-promotion.
Once you know you’ve got the go-ahead to sell something, you must create a post on the appropriate subreddit. Include a detailed description of the item you are selling, along with clear photos and a price. Be sure to include any relevant information, such as the condition of the item and any shipping or payment requirements, to reduce the risk of miscommunication.
Once you have agreed on a price with the buyer, arrange payment and shipping details. Be sure to use a secure payment method, such as PayPal, and ship the item promptly.
3. Offer Freelance Services
For those with a skill that can be offered as a service, you can use subreddits like r/forhire, r/slavelabour, and r/jobbit to find clients looking for freelancers.
Freelancing is a popular choice for a side hustle, even for those with full-time employment. Here are some of the best categories to consider looking at when looking for legit ways to make money on Reddit.
- Writing and Editing. Content is everything, and many businesses need high-quality services in this category for their websites, blogs, and marketing materials.
- Social Media Management. Many companies struggle to keep up with their Facebook and Instagram profiles. Hiring a freelance manager that can create content, respond to comments, and handle customer service duties helps the brand stay relevant while you have opportunities to get paid.
- Interpretation and Translation. As the world continues to become a smaller place, the demand for freelance translators and interpreters is growing. People who can work with multiple languages have the most moneymaking opportunities in this category.
4. Complete Paid Surveys
Some subreddits, such as r/beermoney and r/paidstudy, offer paid surveys and studies you can participate in to earn money.
Many legitimate paid survey opportunities are available, but unfortunately, there are also many scams out there. Here are some tips for identifying legitimate survey options.
- Before signing up for any paid survey site, research to see what other users say about it. Look for reviews and comments from people who have used the service to see if they have had positive or negative experiences.
- Look for information about the company offering the survey, such as their website, social media profiles, and reviews on third-party sites. A reputable business should have a professional-looking website and a strong online presence.
Make sure the site clearly states how much you will be paid for each survey and when you can expect to receive payment. Be wary of sites that promise large payouts for little effort, as these are often scams. - Legitimate survey sites should never ask you to pay to participate. If a site asks for payment or personal information beyond what is needed to register, it is likely a scam.
Never give out more personal information than necessary to create an account and receive payment. The only reason why a Social Security number or bank account information is required is that you’re signing an employment or independent contractor agreement.
5. Create Digital Products
If you have a talent for graphic design, writing, or programming, you can create and sell digital products such as e-books, software, or graphics on subreddits like r/entrepreneur.
Depending on your product type, you may need to write, record, or design your content. Make sure it is high-quality and provides value to your audience.
Then research pricing strategies for your type of product and set a competitive and fair price. Once a sale occurs, be prepared to offer customer support and address any questions or issues that may arise. In return, you’ll build a solid foundation that leads to positive reviews and repeat business opportunities.
The Apple MacBook Pro (2023 Model) is an excellent investment to consider if you want to create digital products. It offers a 10-core CPU, the brand’s exclusive M2 Pro chip, and a 16-core GPU to help you focus on staying productive. You’ll receive a 512 GB SSD storage drive with 16 GB of unified memory while coordinating with your iPhone, iPad, or both.
What Are the Best Subreddits for Making Money on Reddit?
Many of the moneymaking opportunities found on Reddit focus on side hustles. That means you’ll earn cash based on how much effort you’re willing to put into the process.
You’ll find numerous subreddits that bring like-minded people together to find ways to earn some money while doing things they love.
Although a possible list of subreddits could be several hundred in length, these six tend to provide the most consistent results. Please remember to exercise caution when participating in any moneymaking opportunity and do your research to ensure that it’s legitimate and safe.
- r/beermoney. This subreddit is dedicated to finding ways to make money online. Users share their experiences with various websites and apps that offer paid surveys, cashback offers, and other opportunities to earn extra income.
- r/WorkOnline. You’ll find a community for people who want to work from home or find freelance work. Users share job listings, tips, and advice for finding legitimate online jobs.
- r/signupsforpay. Although this option is less popular, it allows you to find opportunities to make money by signing up for free offers or making referrals. The mods do an excellent job of weeding out the scams, but you’ll still want to take a cautious approach.
- r/slavelabour. This option is a marketplace where users can post small jobs they need done and offer payment to anyone who completes them. The work can include anything from data entry to graphic design.
- r/forhire. This subreddit is a job board where employers can post openings and freelancers can offer services. It covers a wide range of industries, including web development, graphic design, writing, and professional services.
- r/PaidStudy. You can find offers to participate in paid research studies for people who want to make some extra money. Studies can include online surveys, focus groups, and product testing. This opportunity often requires user qualification for the research questions, so it may be more lucrative for some Redditors than others.
- r/flipping. You’ll find a place dedicated to buying and reselling items for a profit on this subreddit. Users share tips and advice for finding valuable items at thrift stores, garage sales, and other sources, as well as strategies for selling them online.
- r/qmee. The focus of this subreddit is to complete quick tasks. You click your mouse, look at your screen, and complete the instructions.
Every subreddit has pros and cons to consider when promoting your items or services. Before proceeding, take some time to thoroughly research each one to ensure you’re maximizing your time and effort investments on this platform.
What Do I Need to Start Making Money on Reddit?
Some freelancers and sole proprietors need a business license before they can sell items or services on Reddit, no matter what subreddit they use. Local statutes define what is necessary. The best way to avoid this issue is to apply for one to ensure income is correctly reported yearly.
The requirement for a business license to sell online depends on several factors, including the seller’s location, the type of product or service being sold, and the sales volume.
Generally, if you are selling goods or services as a business, you may need a license or permit from your local or state government, depending on your location. You may also need to collect and pay sales tax while complying with other regulations related to online sales.
Please get in touch with your local government or a CPA familiar with these requirements if you need help determining what documents you need to legally conduct business.
Even if a license is not needed to make money on Reddit in your area, it’s still important to comply with applicable laws and regulations and maintain accurate records of your sales and income. These steps can help you avoid legal issues and ensure the long-term success of your online business.