A great way to earn some extra cash these days is to get paid to advertise for companies.
You may prefer to make money posting ads online. Or maybe advertising in the offline world is more for you.
Either way, this can be a really lucrative way to get some added income.
And in some cases, with a bit of work to set it all up, you can even turn this into a solid passive income stream. That is, once you put everything in place, you can sit back and watch the money roll in.
Sure, with most of these examples, you won’t become a millionaire – although one in particular proves that’s not always true.
So keep reading to see how you can get paid to post ads, whether it be on the internet or on tangible things you physically own.
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Get paid to advertise
When you think about the question of how can you make money advertising online, you’ll probably tend to think of social media influencers talking about the benefits of things like weird weight loss teas.
And sure, that’s definitely one way to make money advertising. But there are a ton of others as well that won’t make your friends hate every selfie you post!
What they all have in common though is a need to connect with your audience in order to be successful.
This can definitely take some time. For example, you’re not just going to create an Instagram page and have 100,000 followers overnight.
You’ll need to build up your audience to a point that there are enough of them to make good money and that they trust you enough to rely on the ads you’re posting.
And as you’ll see, this can be done in different ways depending on how you choose to get paid to advertise for companies online.
1. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is one of the most effective ways for you to get paid to advertise online. Not only can you make a seriously huge of money with this, but once you’ve built it up, it can essentially work as passive income.
For those who don’t know, affiliate marketing is when you recommend a product or service. When someone signs up or buys this through your link, you’ll receive a commission.
And yep, this can eventually become a way to make money passively. Basically, once you’ve written the article, the only work that needs to be done is promoting it and perhaps updating it from time to time if any information changes.
After all, an article can exist on the internet forever with minimal work from the website owner! And as it sits there getting visitors, it will continue to generate clicks and, in turn, income.
However, it’s not simply a case of inserting some links in an article and calling it a day. Affiliate marketing requires strategic action for it to really work well.
Which is why I always recommend learning from someone who’s already dominating at it.
FYI: If you want to learn about affiliate marketing from the best in the business, check out Michelle Schroeder-Gardner. She makes more than $50,000 a month just from affiliate marketing.
Grab here free affiliate marketing ebook here packed with tips for bloggers to get started!
2. Run ads on your site
Running a website can be an extremely lucrative way to make money with advertising. And if you put enough time in it and build up your audience enough, this can be one of the best ways to earn passive income by posting ads for companies.
I’m sure you’ve heard of website owners who are making literally millions of dollars while they sit on a beach drinking cocktails in Thailand. And they definitely exist.
But let’s be real: this isn’t going to happen overnight.
However, by putting in some work into your blog to grow your traffic, you can definitely get to the point of earning even just a few hundred dollars each month – if not much, much more.
Thinking about starting a blog to make extra money?
Great choice! After all, it’s one of the cheapest online businesses to start at under $3 per month – less than a cup of coffee! In fact, that’s the price you’ll get if you launch your site with Bluehost, which is easily my top pick for the best website host for beginners to use.
Not only will you get a free domain name, but you definitely don’t need any tech experience to get started.
To find out more, check out my simple step-by-step guide on how to start a blog as I show you the exact steps I took to start on the path to earning thousands of dollars every month – on the side of my full-time job!
What companies will pay me to advertise on my site?
There are a bunch of different ad networks with varying requirements to get in, which are mainly based on the amount of traffic you have.
Generally speaking, the harder it is to qualify, the more you’ll earn per visitor to your site – although that’s not always the case.
Some of the main ones you could consider are listed below:
Google Adsense
Google Adsense has no minimum traffic requirements. This means you can literally start making money from advertising on day 1 of your new website.
That said, the amount you’ll earn isn’t great so I’d actually recommend not posting ads at this point. Instead, focus on user experience until you grow your blog enough to qualify for one of the other ad networks.
However, if you’re really committed to having ads on your site from the day you launch it, Google Adsense is going to be your best bet.
Monumetric
Monumetric is the next level up, with your site requiring 10,000 minimum monthly page views to be eligible.
The amounts you’ll get paid to advertise with Monumetric are definitely a step up from Google Adsense, making this network worth considering for your new site. Just keep in mind though that you’ll have to pay a setup fee of $99, which is taken out of your ad revenue until it’s paid off.
Mediavine
Mediavine has a requirement of 50,000 sessions a month, which is usually equivalent to around 60,000 page views.
And once you get to that point, the income you’ll make from displaying Mediavine ads on your site can be seriously good.
In my opinion, if you can hold off from having display ads on your site until getting to this amount of traffic, it can really be worthwhile. Often, the amount you’ll make from ads when getting less than 50,000 sessions a month will only be a few hundred dollars at best.
However, it can be worthwhile to focus on building up your site to Mediavine level of traffic, as your earnings will go up massively at that point.
Just ask someone like Jon Dykstra, who built his websites up from earning a few thousand dollars a month to now earning $80,000+ per month from advertising on his websites.
To see how you can do the same, check out his FREE course, Six Figure Blogging, where he shows you the exact steps he follows to get to this point.
Adthrive
Adthrive is when you’re getting into the big guns. They require you to have a minimum of 100,000 monthly page views with the majority of your traffic coming from the United States.
Many of the bigger blogs you may have visited that make money posting ads for companies will do so with Adthrive, as they’re more than likely making well in excess of $1,000 per month, if not much more.
3. Sponsored posts
If you’ve ever seen an article on a blog that seems pretty enthusiastic about recommending a specific product or service, you may be reading a sponsored post.
Basically, these are articles where you get paid for advertising for companies online using the content in the post.
This option is more likely to be available to those with a larger audience, so wouldn’t be for someone with a brand new blog.
It’s also good to make sure that you only recommend products or services that you actually want to endorse or that align with your brand, to avoid alienating your audience or coming across as insincere.
But when the starting point for a sponsored post is at least $250 for one article, this can be a lucrative way to make money advertising.
4. Sell specific ad space on your site
This is separate from signing up with an ad network, in that you can get paid to post ads on your website for specific companies.
That is, a company may approach you to purchase specific space on your site that will let them display, say, a banner ad at the top of every post.
FYI: If you’re with an ad network, their terms of use may not allow you to do this as a separate arrangement. If you’re not sure, just check with them directly.
You should also keep in mind how this looks for your users. No one likes a big, disruptive ad making it hard for them to read the actual content.
But if this is an option for you, it can be an easy way to earn a few hundred dollars.
5. Get paid to advertise for companies on Instagram
If you’re already an Instagram user, you probably know how people get paid to advertise on this platform.
Every day we see more people finding new creative ways to promote products on Instagram. But this is because it can be a real moneymaker.
For example, it’s reported that Kylie Jenner earns $1.27 million for each sponsored post.
Obviously you won’t be earning those kinds of amounts without a lot of work beforehand to grow your audience.
(Or being born into the Kardashian family.)
But you can start by signing up for an Instagram-focused ad platform, like Izea or iFluenz, and see where you can go from there.
Related: 66 Legit Ways for Teens to Make Money
6. Run ads for companies on Facebook
Did you know you can make money advertising for companies on Facebook?
This can work in two ways, the first one of which involves you getting paid to advertise on Facebook for another company.
It basically works similarly to posting sponsored ads on your own blog. That is, companies will pay you to post links to their products/services or links to posts about those products/services.
It can be hard to get companies to advertise on your Facebook page if you’re just starting out, so it’s best to work to build a bit of a following first before going down this path.
7. Make money advertising your own business on Facebook
This differs from the first option, in that this involves running ad campaigns on Facebook to encourage people to sign up for something with your own business.
You could have the aim of getting people to buy one of your own products or services.
Alternatively, it could simply involve getting them to visit a page on your site to sign up for a mailing list – with the objective that this list will generate income in future.
Either way, by working out the perfect balance of paying for these ads compared to what you get for each person who clicks through, this can be a really lucrative way to get paid for advertising.
8. Get paid to post ads on Pinterest
Pinterest now allows you to make money posting ads for companies on their platform through sponsored pins.
The bigger your view count, the more likely it is people will click on your links and earn you a commission payment, so it’s a good idea to work at building your audience first.
Just make sure you’re following the rules of both Pinterest and the advertiser. For example, for a long time, Pinterest users weren’t allowed to post links to Amazon products.
This has now changed but it’s something to double check before trying to earn money in this way.
9. Run ads for companies on Snapchat
Snapchat is definitely the up and coming money maker in the social media world.
It’s particularly lucrative if you’re able to target your message to the main demographic of users of this app.
Check out our article on how to make money on Snapchat to find out more.
10. Make money advertising for companies on YouTube
YouTube has recently jumped to being the most visited site in the US, so there is definitely serious traffic there to make some serious money.
And if you want to get paid to advertise on YouTube, there are a few ways to do this:
- You can do affiliate marketing by including affiliate links in video descriptions for products or services you recommend in a video
- You can have sponsored videos where companies pay you to do a video promoting them
- You can get paid to post ads at the start of your videos
This last option requires you to meet various requirements, including that you have a minimum of 4,000 watch hours and at least 1,000 subscribers over the previous 12 months.
You can find out more information on what’s required and how much you’ll be paid here.
Related: 13 Proven Ways to Make Money Editing Videos
11. Earn by posting reviews
If you love getting free things and don’t mind sharing your thoughts, posting reviews can be a great way to snag some freebies. Companies do this because they want honest reviews from people that they can then use to market their products.
And there are several websites and apps that offer free products in exchange for reviews, ranging from beauty products to tech gadgets. Sure, you probably won’t actually get paid for this, but you do get to keep the free stuff you’re sent!
How do you get started with getting free stuff in exchange for reviews?
Sign up with a company that offers this! My top pick is Daily Goodie Box, which gives boxes away every day that are full of all sorts of free stuff.
Another great one is Try Products, which will send you all sorts of free things after you sign up for them – and all you have to do is review the products to keep getting more freebies!
Once you’re selected for a campaign, you’ll receive a free product in the mail. After trying it out, you’ll need to leave a review on the company’s website or social media platforms.
Make sure to provide honest and detailed feedback to improve your chances of being selected for future campaigns!
12. Harness an email list
Building an email list can be a great way to connect with potential customers or clients, and advertising to that email list can be a lucrative way to monetize your website, channel or social media platform, depending on whic one you choose to get your messaging out there.
So first things first, you gotta build a list of subscribers who are interested in your niche or industry. To entice them to sign up, offer them something valuable like a free guide or ebook.
And let’s make it fun! Give it a catchy title and add some witty copy to your sign-up forms.
Now that you’ve got a solid list of subscribers, let’s get to the good stuff – advertising!
Instead of sending out boring and generic ads to your entire list, segment it based on their interests, behavior, or demographics. This way, you can send out targeted messages and advertisements that are more likely to convert.
Finally, let’s make some dough! Partner with fun and quirky brands that align with your style and personality. This will not only make your ads more enjoyable for your subscribers, but it can also help build a stronger relationship with them.
In short, building an email list and advertising to it can be both profitable and enjoyable. So let your personality shine, get creative, and let’s make some money!
13. Start a podcast
You can definitely make some extra cash by starting a podcast and advertising on it. It’s not only fun, but it can also be quite lucrative!
Clearly, figuring out what your podcast is going to be about needs to be the first step. Choose a topic that you’re passionate about and that you think others will be interested in as well. It could be anything from cooking to sports to finance – the sky’s the limit!
Once you have your podcast up and running, it’s time to start monetizing it. And one of the easiest ways to do this is through advertising. You can either reach out to brands and companies directly or use an ad network to find sponsors for your podcast.
But hold up, before you go all out on advertising, make sure your podcast has a solid listener base. This means putting out quality content consistently and promoting your podcast on social media and other channels to attract new listeners.
Once you have a good number of listeners, you can start advertising on your podcast. This can come in the form of pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll ads, where you talk about a sponsor’s product or service.
And here’s the cool part – you get paid for each ad placement! So the more popular your podcast is, the more money you can make.
Of course, there’s no reason to stop there! You can also offer your own products or services to your listeners.
For example, if you have a podcast about fitness, you could offer coaching services or sell merchandise related to fitness. The sky’s the limit!
14. Refer friends to apps that pay you to advertise
Did you know that there are a ton of apps that pay you to advertise them by letting you earn money when your friends sign up for the app too.
These are called referral payments and basically aim to encourage users to market the app for the company. That is, they’re a great incentive for you to get other people to use these apps – which, in turn, makes money both for you and the app owners!
My top picks for the apps with the best referral bonuses are the following:
- Swagbucks: $10 welcome bonus + $3 for each referral + 10% of whatever your friend earns forever
- Ibotta: $20 welcome bonus + $5 for each referral
- Rakuten (another highly recommended app for getting cash back on your shopping): $10 welcome bonus + $25 for each referral
- InboxDollars (an app for making money by playing games, doing surveys and more): $5 welcome bonus + $1 for each referral + 30% of whatever your friend earns
TOTAL: Sign up yourself + get two friends to sign up with your link = $113
15. Record voiceovers that advertise for companies
Getting paid to record your voice from home can be a great way to make money as a side hustle. And there are a ton of jobs out there that involve records ads for companies – meaning you’re getting paid to advertise for them!
To get started, you’ll need to invest in a good microphone and recording software. Next, create a demo reel of your voiceover work and use it to market yourself to potential clients.
To find voice over jobs for beginners from home, check out freelancing platforms or reach out to companies directly. Make sure to price your services appropriately and provide excellent customer service to build your reputation and generate repeat business.
And with some time and a little effort, you can easily turn voiceovers into a profitable side hustle!
16. Freelance as an ad specialist to get paid to post ads for companies online
Businesses know that social media marketing is invaluable for generating traffic to their websites.
Fortunately for you, many of them are terrible at it or simply have no idea where to start. This presents a great opportunity for you to advertise and get paid by them.
Sites like Freelancer are a good place to either promote your own services or to find people who are advertising their need for these services.
You’ll need a good grasp on the various ways to make money with marketing and how to monitor ad performance, as well as an ability to advise companies on what may work best for them.
But if you can promote yourself as having these skills, there will almost certainly be a business out there willing to pay you for the services you can provide.
17. Work as a graphic designer
Are you a creative person with an eye for design and you want to make money drawing? If so, working as a graphic designer to make ads for companies can be a great way to earn some extra cash,
To get started, you’ll need some basic design skills and software. You can either learn these skills on your own by watching tutorials or take a class to brush up on your skills.
Once you feel confident in your abilities, start building a portfolio of your best work. This is your chance to show potential clients what you can do.
Finding work as a graphic designer can be done through freelancing platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or even LinkedIn. You can also reach out to small businesses or individuals who might need your services.
Be sure to price your services fairly and make sure you understand the scope of the project before starting.
18. Get paid to advertise on your car
Using your car as a way to make money advertising has been around for years.
Basically, you’ll get paid for having car advertising stickers on your vehicle, on the understanding that as you drive around, potential customers will see the ad.
This means that you’re getting paid for doing what you’d be doing anyway: using your car.
And don’t worry, the companies that pay for this are adamant that the stickers are removable with no damage to the paint.
What companies pay you to advertise on your car?
There are various companies that pay for this, with the most well known being Wrapify.
Other businesses will approach them to distribute car wraps on their behalf, meaning you could end up advertising for a range of different companies.
How much do you get paid to put an ad on your car?
Prices vary depending on the company. With Wrapify, for example, you can make around $450 per month for having one of their ads on your car.
19. Get paid to advertise clothing
People have been able to make money advertising clothes for literally hundreds of years.
That said, this is mainly for those with some level of fame or social media following.
But there are various companies that claim that they’ll pay you for wearing their clothes and having a photo taken, which could be great if you’re interested in becoming a freelance model.
For example, Cracked has contests from time to time where they give cash prizes for the best photo wearing one of their shirts.
You can also offer this as a service on Fiverr to make a few dollars where you can get paid for selling photos of yourself wearing certain brands. Check out some ideas that people have had below to make money this way.
20. Get paid to advertise on your body with tattoos
This is a pretty permanent way to make money posting ads but could be an option for some of you out there.
How much can you earn, exactly? Well, one lady auctioned her forehead space to advertise an online casino for $10,000.
And a cigarette company pays people $1,500 for having their logo tattooed anywhere on your body. This is bumped up to $3,000 if you have a more creative design.
There are also less permanent options occasionally. For example, in 2009, Air New Zealand paid for either a round trip to New Zealand or $777 in cash to 30 people who shaved their heads and put a temporary tattoo on the backs of their heads.
Safe to say, it’s something you should definitely think long and hard about – especially if it’s not temporary – and definitely make sure you’re getting a significant amount of money for doing this.
(You could also consider becoming a tattoo model for some other ways to use your tattoos to get paid for advertising.)
21. Compete in a sport and make money advertising
It’s no surprise to hear that people get paid to advertise for companies on their team uniforms. We’ve all watched games with brand names plastered all over the players’ shirts.
But you don’t have to be an elite sportsperson to make money from this. While you’ll clearly need to have some level of sporting prowess, even amateur participants in local competitions can make money this way.
In some cases, those who do fairly well locally may build up enough of a reputation to be sponsored by a business in the area.
However, you should also see if there’s a way to set yourself apart from the pack. For example, the New York Times profiled a runner who was running 100 marathons in 100 days to raise awareness of global water issues.
She wasn’t going to come close to winning any of these marathons. But her unique story helped her to attract sponsorship from Reebok.
22. Host an event and get paid to post ads
If you’re in the business of hosting events, such as large conferences, companies will pay good money to have their ads displayed.
Safe to say, this is a lot of work to set up. The logistical nightmare of having to organize dozens of vendors alone may be enough to put you off from making money in this way.
But you can advertise and get paid for all sorts of things at a conference, including displaying signs, handing out freebies, adding sponsor names to the event program and more.
(You’ve definitely seen this if you’ve ever attended an event and noticed advertising on the back of toilet doors.)
This is far from the easiest way to make money on this list but if it’s an option for you, it can be extremely lucrative. If the event is big enough, sponsors will easily pay in excess of $10,000 to have their names displayed somewhere.
Related: 43 Amazing Under the Table Jobs that Pay Cash
23. Use the front of your house to make money with marketing
Your neighbors may hate it and your home probably won’t qualify for the cover of House & Garden magazine, but it’s true that you can get paid to advertise on the front of your house.
As this article explains, there are a few requirements:
- You must own your home – no rentals
- You have to allow the company to paint the entire front of the house, excluding the roof, windows and any awnings
- You have to leave the ad on your house for at least three months, which can be extended for up to one year
- The company will pay for your house to be repainted at the end of the agreement
To be fair, that article is a few years old now and it’s hard to find evidence of companies that currently offer this.
But if you can, this could be an easy way to make a few thousand dollars just by having your house sitting there – and hosting a bit of an eyesore for a while.
24. Get a job handing out flyers
Handing out flyers can be a great way to make some extra cash, including as a way for teens to make money. Many local businesses need help promoting their products or services, and they often turn to flyer distribution to get the word out.
To get started, keep an eye out for local businesses in need of flyer distributors. You can find these opportunities through job postings online, in local newspapers, or by reaching out to businesses directly.
When you find a job, you’ll typically be paid an hourly rate or a flat fee for each flyer you distribute. The more flyers you hand out, the more money you can make.
While it may not be a high-paying job, handing out flyers can be a great way to earn some extra cash on the side. It’s also a relatively low-stress job that can be done on your own schedule, making it a great option for students or anyone looking for a flexible gig.
25. Get paid for ads on your phone
If you’re looking to make some extra cash on your phone, Slidejoy can be a great option. It’s an app that displays ads on your lock screen, and you earn money every time you unlock your phone.
The more you use your phone, the more money you can make. Payments are made via PayPal or gift cards, and you can cash out as soon as you reach the minimum payout threshold.
So if you don’t mind seeing some ads on your lock screen, Slidejoy can be an easy and passive way to get paid to advertise on your phone.
Things to keep in mind to make money advertising for companies
If you have some skills, some creativity and some bravery (at least in the case of the tattoo option), there are definitely legitimate ways for you to make money posting ads for companies.
The options on this list are backed up by legit companies, with sound reputations for actually paying money for this.
So if you’re interested in getting paid to advertise for companies, here are some points to keep in mind:
- Be clear on what you’re willing to advertise: Make sure you’re comfortable with the products or services you’ll be promoting, and that they align with your values and interests.
- Build a solid online presence: Companies are more likely to approach you for advertising if you have a strong and engaged following on social media or other online channels.
- Reach out to companies directly: Don’t be afraid to approach companies you’re interested in working with. You can reach out to their marketing or PR departments and provide them with your stats and rates.
- Make sure the compensation is fair: Make sure you’re being paid fairly for your time and effort. Research industry standards and rates to ensure you’re getting paid what you’re worth.
- Follow the rules and regulations: There are certain regulations you need to follow when it comes to paid advertising. Make sure you’re familiar with them and comply with all requirements, such as disclosing sponsored posts.
- Deliver high-quality work: To build a good reputation and attract more clients, provide excellent customer service and deliver high-quality work. This includes meeting deadlines, following instructions, and providing creative and engaging content.
How much can I get paid to post ads?
The amounts can vary depending on the type of advertising and how far the reach is.
For example, you’ll make a few hundred dollars from posting ads on your car and even less if you’re just a normal person wearing a t-shirt.
At the same time, there are people making literally hundreds of thousands of dollars from affiliate marketing on their blogs.
And even website owners with less traffic can expect to make several thousands of dollars from being with an ad network.
You won’t earn these figures overnight but with some time, hard work and by strategically building up your website or other platform, making this kind of money is certainly feasible.
How do I get big companies to advertise with me?
As mentioned above, in some cases – particularly those where you make money with marketing online – you’ll need to do a bit of work beforehand to build your audience up to a point where big companies will want to advertise with you.
Alternatively, you may need to find something that sets you apart from everyone else out there. As seen with the example of the runner doing 100 marathons in 100 days, this can be a good way to catch the eye of marketing executives from major companies.
That said, you don’t have to have millions of followers for this to happen. For example, you can definitely get paid to post ads on your website even if you only have a few thousand visitors each month.
Of course, you’ll probably make more money if your traffic is higher. But for getting started, you don’t need the reach of major social media influencers.
What companies will pay me to advertise?
There are a range companies that will pay you to advertise their products or services. Here are a few examples:
- Social media platforms: Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube all have options for sponsored content where you can get paid to promote a brand.
- Blogging and influencer networks: Companies like TapInfluence and IZEA connect brands with bloggers and influencers for sponsored content opportunities.
- Paid advertising networks: Mediavine, Adthrive and Google AdSense are advertising networks that pay you to display ads on your website or blog.
- Paid survey and product testing websites: Websites like Swagbucks offer paid opportunities to take surveys and test products in exchange for reviews and feedback.
- Car and bike wrapping companies: Companies like Wrapify and Carvertise will pay you to wrap your car or bike in a branded design and drive around.
That said, it’s important to research and find reputable companies that align with your values and interests.
By providing high-quality work and building a strong reputation, you can turn paid advertising into a profitable side hustle or even a full-time career.
Final thoughts on making money posting ads for companies
Passive income is easily the best way to earn money and this is definitely possible if you get paid to advertise.
In the case of a website, people will (ideally) still visit it while you sleep, clicking links that make you money.
Or if you’re on vacation, those ads you posted on Facebook will continue to run, further generating income.
And if you drive to work every day or pick up the kids from soccer practice, what’s stopping you from making money advertising for companies on the side of your car – especially when you’d be using the car anyway?
So getting paid to post ads or by doing other forms of marketing can be a great way to make some extra money. And if you build it up, you could even get to the point where it replaces your main source of income.