There are many ways to start making money online. Some are more glamorous than others, but as long as you are earning something you are ahead of the game. Believe it or not, many online freelance writers are pulling in a nice monthly income. If you are familiar with the English language, enjoy writing, and have a knack for marketing, you may be able to take full advantage of this career path.

Before you get started, you probably have one question on your mind: how much do online freelance writers earn? While there is an “income range” that you want to become familiar with, there is no one answer to this question.

On the low end, there are people in many parts of the world charging as little as $1/500 words. This is not a reasonable wage for somebody living in the United States, for example. But just because there are people working at a low rate doesn’t mean you have to follow in their footsteps.

At the high end of the market, I know many freelance writers earning in excess of $1/word. While it takes some time to reach this level, it is more than possible if you stay the course and continue to work your way up the income ladder. A bit of quick math shows that a 500 word piece (blog post, sales letter, keyword article, etc.) would result in a payment of $500.

In the past, high paying freelance writing gigs could only be found in large national magazines. This is no longer the case, thanks to the internet. More and more webmasters and companies are forking out big bucks for online content. The internet is how they connect with the majority of their customers and clients. For this reason, they want the “best words” representing them at all times.

There are thousands of freelance writers earning somewhere between the low end and the high end. It is good to know that the opportunity to earn a lot of money exists.

What is holding you back from making money online? There are many reasons why you may be sitting back and watching everybody else clean-up. One of the most common is the belief that it “takes money to make money.”

Believe it or not, you don’t need thousands of dollars to make money online. There are many people who have started with nothing, but quickly rose through the ranks and are now earning a solid income.

Let’s take a closer look at what you need to get started, as well as how much it will cost.

Generally speaking, you will have to spend roughly $10/year for a domain name and $5/month for hosting. Of course, this greatly varies based on how you are trying to make money online. But guess what? You can get your feet wet with a free website if you don’t have a single dollar to your name.

Once you have your site up and running you are in position to chase after some money. Many beginners go the easy route and attempt to make money with AdSense. Others focus more on content, and hope that this will eventually bring them enough traffic to sell private advertisements.

What about affiliate marketing? Don’t you need a lot of money to get started? Even though a big budget will help, it is not necessary. If you have money, there is no denying that you can speed things up by purchasing traffic. But on the other hand, don’t overlook the fact that you can drive free traffic through link exchanges and article directory submissions among other methods.

So, what do you think? Does it take money to make money online? In short, the answer is yes and no. You will probably need some money, but to get started a few dollars is more than enough. Don’t miss out on your chance to make money online because you think you need a huge investment to get started.

Let’s face it: some people are dying to make money online, but for whatever reason they never make any progress. Does this sound familiar? One reason for this is simple: these people do not know the first thing about getting started. And even if they do, they get off track soon enough.

What can you do about this?

If you can find a mentor who is already making money online, you will be putting yourself in much better position to achieve success now and in the future. While it may sound impossible, finding a mentor can be very easy if you know where to look.

1. Turn to your friends first. Do you know somebody who has been making money online for many years? Why not ask them to show you the ropes? This is a great way to learn from somebody close to you who is already achieving the success you are chasing.

2. Ask your network for advice. While you may not know somebody who is making money online, somebody in your network may be able to hook you up with the right person. Talk to as many people as possible about your goals. The more networking you do the better chance there is that you will eventually find a mentor. It may take a few days, it may take a few months – just make sure you stick with your search.

3. Send emails to those you admire. Believe it or not, many people who are making money online are willing to help others. If you send out enough emails, you will eventually find somebody who can show you the way. It can take a while to develop a mentor – student relationship, but you have to start somewhere.

Even if you don’t find free help, you may come across a “mentoring program” that could be invaluable to your career. No matter if you are searching for a blogging course, freelance writing course, or something else, you can find a mentorship program that will point you in the right direction.

Always remember this: no matter how much you know there is somebody who knows more. If you want to make money online, find that person and see if they are willing to help.

Saying that you want to make money online is a broad statement. With so many opportunities, you need to narrow down your options to ensure that you are focused on the right career path. One of the best ways to make money online is by offering freelance writing services. This may not be as glorious as other opportunities, such as affiliate marketing, but it offers a good chance to make a solid living.

If you want to make money online as a freelance writer you can focus on several areas:

1. Web content. Content is king, right? Webmasters, affiliate marketers, and companies of all sizes need web content in order to keep their business running smoothly. Do you have what it takes to provide what they need? Not only is there a big market for this type of content at the present time, but it is growing as the days go by.

2. Sales letters, marketing material, and more. Don’t get caught thinking that basic web content is the only way that you can make money as an online freelance writer. In fact, this is not even the tip of the iceberg. If you really want to make big money, get involved with writing sales letters and other types of marketing material. These types of projects payout better than web content. Along with this, they are often times more exciting.

3. Create your own money making websites. If you are a freelance writer one thing is for sure: you are skilled at creating content. Rather than work for others all the time, why not put some effort into building out your own sites? By doing this, you can supplement your income while growing a “side business.”

If you want to make money online, do not overlook freelance writing and the benefits that this career offers.

Are you under the impression that everybody who makes a decent living online does so without any help? If so, you are wrong. Contrary to what many believe, relying on others is a great way to grow your online business and eventually reach all your goals.

If you look at a popular blog, one that has a reputation for generating a lot of money, it is easy to believe that the blogger is doing everything himself. But if you dig a bit deeper, you will find out soon enough that there are others helping out behind the scenes.

Here are several reasons why you need the assistance of others if you are interested in making money online:

1. Other people can help to keep you on track. No matter if you are a blogger, affiliate marketer, or some other type of online professional, it is important to have a network of friends who can help you stay the course. There will be times when you need a push. It is nice to know that there are people watching out for you.

2. No matter how much money you are making, there will come a time when you have a question. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a list of people you can call on when something stumps you? For instance, if you need help writing a sales letter it would be advantageous to call a copywriter. If you are struggling with a particular aspect of a new campaign, calling your affiliate manager is the logical first step.

Don’t get so full of yourself that you begin to believe you know everything.

3. Outsource, outsource, outsource. How many times have you heard this over the past few weeks? Many people who are making money online have figured out the key to success: they focus on what they are good at, while outsourcing the rest. Believe it or not, some entrepreneurs outsource 90 percent of their business or more. All they do is manage the operation and collect the profits.

Useful links: Freelancer.com, Elance.com, The 4-Hour Workweek.

The next time you think you can do it all on your own, remember the three points detailed above.