Earn Money Online: 92 Websites That Pay Writers $50+

Tired of writing for pennies (or peanuts or whichever cliche for crappy pay you prefer) and ready to earn money online for real?

We’re tired of it, too. That’s why Carol started paying for posts a few years back — and why she upped her rates to $75+ last fall. And it’s why we update our list of sites that pay on a regular basis.

Below is the new-and-improved, early 2016 edition of Make a Living Writing’s list of websites that pay at least $50 per post.

What’s included — and not

Rather than linking to the list we published last fall, we’re posting a comprehensive and updated new list. We’ve added new markets we learned of in the past 6 months and removed sites that have categories of posts that are below $50. That’s our minimum.

In some cases, these sites keep it on the Q.T. exactly what they pay. We’re including markets where freelance writers in our network report they pay more than $50, in order to bring you the widest variety of paying markets possible.

We also removed sites that are not currently accepting pitches, which knocked a good portion of the writing-focused sites off. Sites where you only have a shot at earning $50 writing on spec, or based on traffic or ad clicks, are NOT included. This is a list of markets offering guaranteed pay only!

The list runs the gamut of topics, from parenting and knitting to business and writing, so there should be something here for everyone.

As always, we appreciate any corrections or additions — please post them in the comments. Here’s the list:

Business, Career, and Finance

1. B. Michelle Pippin pays $50-$150 for business-related articles.
2. Back to College pays $55+ for articles that address the needs of adults going back to school. Note: This site is no longer functioning.
3. Brazen (formerly Brazen Careerist) will pay if you pre-arrange it with their editor. They’re looking for posts about higher ed administration, marketing, networking, and recruiting and HR.NOTE: Brazen has apparently changed their business model and it’s no longer clear whether they accept guest posts.
4. CEO Hangout will pay $50 if you pre-arrange it with the editor — send a pitch and negotiate payment before writing the article. They run posts about the CEO lifestyle, success stories, interviews, and other reported features of interest to business leaders.
5. DailyWorth pays $150 for articles about women and money. They list a blackhole editorial@ email address, but I recently tweeted them about how to submit a pitch, and they suggested hitting up the managing editor, Koa Beck.
6. Doctor of Credit pays $50 for personal finance articles that focus specifically on credit.
7. eCommerce Insiders pays $60-$150 for articles about online retailing.
8. FreelanceMom pays $75-$100 for posts about running a business as a busy parent.
9. FreshBooks (yup, that same invoicing site Carol recommends) pays $200 a post and up. Be prepared to negotiate to get a better rate.
10. Acorns has a new online pub called Grow Magazine that pays $50+ for finance writing geared toward millennials. They don’t have guidelines posted, but they told me to submit to grow@acorns.com with the word STORY in your subject line. We don’t normally recommend those generic emails, but because the pub is still new, it might not be a huge black hole yet.
11. IncomeDiary pays $50-$200 for articles about making money online, including SEO, affiliate sales, and traffic generation.
12. Mirasee pays $200 for 1,000-2,000-word posts on marketing, business productivity, and growth topics. [NOTE: Mirasee is currently paying only for posts they commission. Unsolicited posts are unpaid.]
13. Modern Farmer reportedly pays around $150 for articles.
14. Penny Hoarder shares money-saving ideas. You’ll need to negotiate pay with the editors during the pitching process — and be willing to forego a link back to your site.
15. Priceonomics pays $1,000 for 2,000-word articles on data and economics. The catch? Articles must be submitted on spec. They occasionally post requests for articles on specific topics, which might get you closer to that big paycheck. [NOTE: This pub’s writer’s guidelines now say they pay $50/article. Be prepared to verify/negotiate payment.]
16. RankPay pays $100 for articles about SEO, content marketing, and social media. [NOTE: This pub’s writer’s guidelines now say they pay $50/article. Be prepared to verify/negotiate payment.]
17. The Work Online blog pays $50 per post. NOTE: This site is now gone.

Essays

18. Aish accepts first-person accounts on the positive influence of Orthodox Jewish beliefs on everyday life — and they pay $200 on publication. Know the frum life to succeed here, and email ebraverman@aish.edu.
19. Cosmopolitan.com pays $100 for essays about college. They’re also using this essay submission as a way to find writers for assignments.
20. Dame reportedly pays $200 for essays. They do accept reported features and other article types, and pay rates may vary for those.
21. Essig Magazine offers $100 for essays about a personal experience. NOTE: This site is no longer active.
22. The Establishment pays $125 and up for reported stories and essays.
23. Eureka Street is an Australian site that pays $200 for analysis or commentary on politics, religion, popular culture or current events in Australia and the world. They also pay $50 for poetry, which seems to be a rarity these days. [NOTE: This publication is closed to submissions from December 13, 2016 to January 10, 2017. Anything submitted during this time will not be read – please verify they’re back open before you submit.]
24. Guideposts pays $250 for Christian faith-based essays.
25. LightHouse pays $100 for uplifting essays by blind or visually impaired writers.
26. Narratively pays $200-300 for 2000 – 2500-word essays on specific topics. Check their guidelines for a list of current needs.
27. The New York Times Modern Love column reportedly pays as much as $300 for essays on any topic that could be classified as modern love.
28. Skirt pays $200 for essays about women’s issues.
29. The Toast pays for essays. Negotiate your rate as part of the pitching process. [NOTE: The Toast is closing July 1, 2017, and is no longer accepting submissions.]
30. Vox First Person reportedly pays in the $400 range for personal essays of about 1,500 words. Pitch firstperson@vox.com.
31. xoJane pays $50 for essays about crazy things that happened to you, beauty or fashion trends you’ve tried, and other women-focused topics. xoJane was purchased by Time, Inc., and shuttered on Dec. 31, 2016. Certain content will fold into InStyle.

Family and Parenting

32. Babble pays $100-$150 for posts on parenting, entertainment, pregnancy, beauty, style, food, and travel. (NOTE: Babble’s writer’s guidelines are no longer easily found. You may have to do some sleuthing to find contact info for an editor.)
33. Just Parents is a UK-based site that focuses on pregnancy and parenting. They pay $60 per post.
34. Parent.co posts non-snarky articles about parenting and family issues. Pay starts at $50.
35. Scary Mommy pays $100 for original parenting posts. [NOTE: No longer pays for unsolicited submissions.]
36. Stork Guide focuses on pregnancy and parenting of newborns and toddlers. They pay $50+ per post.
37. Well Family (the New York Times’ parenting blog) pays $100. Pitch the editor.

Health

38. The Anxiety Foundation pays $50 for mental health articles.
39. The Atlantic’s online health section reportedly pays $200.
40. PsychCentral covers mental health. They don’t list a pay rate on their site, and they didn’t respond to my query about pay, but a reader on last year’s list reported they are a paying market. [UPDATE 12/2016: The website says they don’t pay, but exceptions are made if you discuss payment BEFORE submitting.]

Lifestyle and General Interest

41. BBC Britain doesn’t publish their pay rate, but I’ve seen reports of $350-$1,000 for various BBC sites. Pitch stories with a British slant for an international audience. Download their guidelines as a Word document.
42. Bitch Magazine’s website pays for pop culture features. Pay is variable, so negotiate to get your desired rate.
43. BookBrowse pays for book reviews! Writers accepted into their stable of reviewers will earn $50 for a 600-word review.
44. BuzzFeed pays for commentary and reported articles. They don’t divulge their pay rates, but I’ve seen reports of $200 for a relatively easy commentary [NOTE: BuzzFeed is no longer accepting submissions.]
45. The Daily Beast reportedly pays $250 and up. Their submission guidelines have a black-hole editorial@ email address, so you’ll want to do a little digging to find the right person to pitch.
46. Gawker Media reportedly pays $250 for reported features and essays on its family of sites, which includes Deadspin, Jezebel, and more. They prefer to see fully written stories up to 1,200 words. Note: Gawker.com shut down in August 2016.
47. getAbstract reportedly pays $300 for longer (2,000-4,000 word) book summaries.
48. Gothamist pays $50-$150 for reported pieces about New York.
49. HowlRound pays $50 for blog posts about the theater — management and marketing, play production and writing, and so on. Note: This market asked to be removed because they were receiving pitches that were not well targeted. Target your pitches so we can keep providing these lists.
50. The International Wine Accessories blog pays $50 and up for articles.
51. Pay at The Daily Dot’s online magazine The Kernel varies, so be prepared to negotiate. I saw a report of $350 for a 1,000-2,000 word option piece. [NOTE: The Kernel paused weekly publication as of July 2016.]
52. Knitty raised their rates to $120-$200 for articles about knitting and knitting patterns. They also have a sister site —Knittyspin — for knitters who like to use handspun yarn.
53. Lifezette pays $100-$200 for articles on parenting, politics, faith, health, and pop culture. Contact the appropriate editor with your idea.
54. Listverse pays $100 for long (1,500 word) lists on various topics.
55. The Mix, a network of contributors to Hearst online publications (including Country Living, Bazaar, Esquire, Popular Mechanics, and more) pays $50-$100 for articles. [NOTE: The Mix is no longer accepting submissions.]
56. New York Observer pays $100 on posts about politics and culture for “sophisticated readership of metropolitan professionals.”
57. OZY does pay freelancers, but rates vary.
58. Paste pays $50+ for submissions in many different areas.
59. Playboy. com pays up to $350, depending on the topic. NOTE: Playboy has removed their editorial contact page.
60. Pretty Designs covers fashion and beauty. You’ll need to negotiate per-post pay.
61. Refinery29 reportedly pays $75 and up for slideshows, articles, and essays on various topics. They also post their needs for specific columns on their guidelines page.
62. Salon pays $100-$200 for essays and reported features, even very long ones.
63. Smithsonian Magazine Online reportedly pays established freelancers up to $600 for reported articles.
64. The Tablet pays for articles on Jewish news, ideas, and culture. Pay varies, so be prepared to negotiate. I saw a report of $1,000 for a heavily reported 2,000+ word feature.
65. TwoPlusTwo Magazine pays $200 for original posts about poker. They post articles for six months, after which time the rights revert to the writer, so you can sell reprint rights or post it on your own blog.
66. Upworthy pays $150-$200 for 500-word posts.
67. Vice‘s pay rate varies, so you will need to negotiate if you’d like to write about food, technology, music, fashion, and other lifestyle topics.
68. YourTango pays $50 for posts on love, sex, travel, mental health, and just about anything else that affects your relationships.

Tech

69. A List Apart covers web design. They pay $200 per article.
70. Compose pays $200 and $200 in Compose database credits for articles about databases.
71. The Graphic Design School blog pays $100-$200 for articles and tutorials about Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and open source design tools. NOTE: This site has removed its submission guidelines page, and it’s not clear whether they still take guest posts.
72. Indeni pays $50-$200 for posts that cover Check Point firewalls, F5 load balancers or Palo Alto Networks firewalls.
73. Linode pays $250 for articles about Linux, Socket.io, NoSQL databases, game servers, Open Change, and Web RTC.
74. Devilish about web development? SitePoint pays $100-$150 for articles on HTML, CSS, Ruby, PHP, and more.
75. SlickWP pays $100 for posts about WordPress and the Genesis Theme framework.
76. Tuts+ pays $100 and up for tutorials on various technologies, including Web design and Flash. Tuts once ran a network of 16 different blogs, including Freelance Switch, but it’s all together on a single site now that encompasses design, gaming, photography, writing, and more.
77. WordCandy pays 6-10 cents a word for ghostwritten pieces about WordPress — these will appear on some of the larger WordPress blogs, such as wpmudev.
78. WPHub pays $100-$200 for posts on web design trends, coding best practices, and other WordPress-related topics.

Travel and Food

79. Big Grey Horse page $125-$200 for posts about Texas — photos must be included. Texas-based writers are preferred, because the site requires in-person visits.
80. Cultures and Cuisines pays $200 per article. NOTE: This site is now gone.
81. Desert Times pays $50-$100 for stories about the deserts of North America and the culture and lifestyle of the people who live there. They prefer writers to also submit photos.
82. Expatics serves U.S. expatriates. This is another site where you’ll need to negotiate pay before you write your article.
83. Fund Your Life Overseas pays $75 for articles about business ideas that provide enough income for U.S. ex-pats.
84. The International Wine Accessories blog pays $50 and up for articles.
85. Saveur starts at $150 for “amazing stories about food and travel.”
86. The Salt (NPR’s food blog) reportedly pays $200+.

Writing

87. ClearVoice is a platform to connect bloggers with brands in various niches, as well as commissioning posts for its own blog. Pay is variable but ranges as high as $250-$400 (from what we’ve seen so far). When you apply, you set the rates you’re willing to accept; then, the platform emails you when appropriate opportunities arise. It’s not a bid site — fees are preset. But gigs are presented to multiple writers, and then the client chooses who they’ll work with. Luckily, there’s no elaborate application process, once your profile is set — you simply reply that you’re interested, and they let you know if you win the gig.
88. Contently pays about 35 cents a word for their freelancer-focused online magazine. Download their pitching guidelines here.
89. Freedom with Writing pays $50+ for lists of paying publishers. They also pay for short ebooks, so there is an option for longer-form content, too.
90. Make a Living Writing. That’s right, this-here blog pays $75-$100 for guest posts, depending on complexity and research needed. Be sure to read our guidelines thorougly, especially our list of the topics we’re actively looking for guest posts on right now. Pitching one of those will seriously improve your odds!
91. WOW! Women on Writing pays $50-$150.
92. The Write Life pays for some posts — you’ll need to negotiate your rate.

Tips for successful pitching

Before you pitch any of these sites, read the guidelines carefully and study the posts they’ve already run. Make sure you either have a fresh topic or a new way of exploring an issue they’ve covered before.

Paying markets are more competitive than posting on free sites. And the more bad pitches a site receives, the likelier they will reconsider whether they even accept guest posts, let alone pay for them. (Believe me, this happens, and it is the reason some sites we’ve listed before are no longer accepting pitches.)

Need help learning how to pitch a paying guest post? See this post, and this one.

Have you written for any of these markets? Found others that pay well? Tell us in the comments below.

Jennifer Roland is a freelance education, financial institution, and technology writer — and the guest-blog editor here at Make a Living Writing. Her latest book, 10 Takes: Pacific Northwest Writers, was published by Gladeye Press.

If you want to make money with your phone, one of the easiest ways I’ve found is with the Field Agent app.

The free app pays you for mystery shopping, doing market research and performing audits at retail stores. As long as you complete the job in the allotted time, you’ll get paid.

Field Agent is available for download for Android or iOS. If you want to know how to make money with Field Agent, here’s everything you need to get started:Quick Links: What Is Field Agent?

The app describes itself as an “on-demand platform” for jobs ranging from retail audits to digital product demonstrations.

Field Agent is not like other money-making apps that focus strictly on attracting users by paying them. The company sees itself as a data collection and digital marketing service.

They work with other companies to give them information and insight about their customers.

One of the ways Field Agent does this is by mobile research. That’s when app users use their phones to record transactions or interactions with retail employees or services. Here’s how the interface looks:

I’ve been using this app for some time now and I’ve learned how to get the most out of it. Here’s how it works…How Field Agent Works

Once you’ve downloaded the app and signed up, you’ll have the option to complete a series of quick tasks for the sake of training. These tasks won’t require you to go anywhere, but they’re simply there to gauge how well you follow instructions.

Once you’re done with those introductory things you’ll be ready for some real jobs.

One good thing about this app is that you don’t have to drive all over the place to find jobs. Inside the app, you can customize your job search by clicking the menu icon in the top right corner.

From there you can check the Closest Jobs option as well as the Near Me or Zip Code feature. You can also choose between 3 Miles, 10 Miles or 30 Miles.

How Much Money Can You Make?

Field Agent pays between $3 to $15 for each job you complete. For the most part, the jobs take typically anywhere from a few minutes to 30 minutes to complete.

The good thing is that there some jobs don’t even require you to leave your home.What Kinds of Jobs Does Field Agent Have?

Field Agent has a variety of jobs you can choose from. In fact, it has the most jobs I’ve seen in any money-making app.

You can choose to list the available jobs by group categories so you can keep them organized. Here are some of the groups:In-Store Surveys: These must be completed inside the specific retailers.Audits: These jobs require that you go on site to inspect products or services.General: These include various jobs like traveling to retailers and doing audits on the products or the retail experience.Scavenger Hunt: These jobs oftentimes require you to transcribe UPC labels on products. If you already have the item at home, that works too.Bonus Opportunities: Once you meet the qualifications, you can submit the job and get bonus pay.

When you click on a particular job you’ll see how much it pays as well as how much time you’re given to complete the task. You’ll also be given a job overview that explains the instructions that include the time allowed to complete the job, as well as the payment.

As an example, I did some audits that required me to go inside a food mart and observe some product displays and customer interactions. Once I took a head-on storefront photo, I was done.How Do You Get Paid?

The Field Agent app allows you to get paid one of three ways:Direct depositChecking account / pre-paid debit cardSavings accountIs the Field Agent App Legit or a Scam?

When I signed up for Field Agent, I didn’t know much about the app. But after getting paid, I can say that it is very much legit.

After you’ve submitted a completed job and it’s been approved, you’ll get an email that says “You Just Made Money!” Here’s what that looks like:

When you click the orange Cash Out button it will take you to the app, where you can automatically deposit your haul into your bank account, pending verification.Final Thoughts

Field Agent’s ease of use and relatively easy jobs make it a great way to earn extra income with your phone.

The only drawback I can think of is that you have to enter a bank account or credit card information. More money-making apps are allowing you to use PayPal, but this isn’t one of them.

After using it for a period of time, I can say with confidence that the Field Agent app is a good way to earn extra money close to your home.

Know any money-making apps to earn extra income? Let us know in the comments.More Clark.com Articles You May Enjoy:

DENVER – Lloyd Eugene Rhodes, better known as the “Make Yourself at Home” bandit, has added Colorado to his growing list of targets across the U.S.

Wanted in seven states, Rhodes has managed to elude capture from the FBI, and his victims – those in Colorado at least – say he’s brazen, confident and scary.

The FBI says Rhodes has hit 14 businesses across seven states – including five in the Denver metro area – all since July.

“He was very at ease walking in, and seemed to know what he was doing,” said a manager at the Humboldt Farm Fish and Wine restaurant in Denver. “He just said, ‘I don’t want to hurt you. I just want your cash.'”

She didn’t want to be identified for this story, but said Rhodes showed up in the morning and blended right in.

“The kitchen guys thought he was delivering something. He just walked in like he knew what he was doing. He asked to see the manager and went upstairs,” she said.

While upstairs, he pulled out a silver semi-automatic handgun, the woman said.

“Found the office, shut the door, told the manager on duty, ‘I don’t want to hurt you, but I want your money.'” she said.

FBI officials said Rhodes earned his nickname in previous robberies. In those, he reportedly dressed as a janitor or employee, and entered the buildings at night. They said he hid until the following morning, waiting for the opportunity to strike. When employees arrived, he forced them to open up their safe at gunpoint, then fled in a stolen car.

“I think it’s desperate times. People are looking for ways to make money. They’re not always making the right decisions,” said the woman.

Meanwhile, she has a simple message for the slippery crook.

“Time for you to leave town, dude. Go away.”

The FBI is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. If you have any information, call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171. You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.

Race to Dubai prize money: Francesco Molinari took won the title in 2018 (Image: GETTY)

As the European Tour draws to a close, there are five players in the running to win the Race to Dubai.

Bernd Wiesberger arrives at the DP World Tour Championship top of the season-long standings.

The Austrian has a 722.7-point cushion over nearest challenger Tommy Fleetwood.

However, Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry and Matt Fitzpatrick are all in with a chance of ending the year as European No 1.

This year’s event at Jumeirah Golf Estates will also see the winner take home golf’s biggest first prize.

The champion will earn $3million (£2.32m), an increase of $1.67m (£1.29m) on the amount won by Danny Willett in Dubai 12 months ago.

The overall prize fund for the Race to Dubai remains at $8million (£6.2m).

However, the field will be cut from 60 to the top 50 on the money list, with the distribution tailored to provide golf’s largest individual winner’s cheque in history.

Tyrrell Hatton took home $2m (£1.55m) for winning the Turkish Airlines Open, with Tommy Fleetwood earning $2.5m (£1.94m) for his victory in South Africa’s Nedbank Challenge.

Previously, the top 10 finishers in the standings shared the bonus pool of $5m (£3.87m).

But that fund will now be split between only the leading five finishers.

Whoever claims the Race to Dubai title will receive an additional $2m (£1.55m) compared to the $1.25m (£970k) won by Francesco Molinari last year.

European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “The changes we have announced in terms of enhanced winner’s cheques, Race to Dubai points and bonus pool dividend are designed to increase the excitement around the end of the season, as well as encourage greater top player participation in our final three events.

“Had these additional Race to Dubai points been available over the past five years, on average between five and 16 players would have come to our final event with a chance of winning the Race to Dubai, in addition to an average of 43 players having the chance to earn bonus pool money at the end of the season – both numbers considerably higher than was actually the case in those years.

“With the revised prize money breakdown and the extra Race to Dubai points in place for 2019, this provides a tremendous incentive for our players.”

Credit cards are essential for building credit, but only if you’re smart about how you use them. The best credit cards offer generous welcome bonuses, rewards and added perks that may tempt you to spend more than you can afford. In order to make a credit card cost-effective, it’s crucial to make payments on time and in full to avoid incurring big interest charges.

Below, CNBC Select reviews five tips to follow in order to avoid overspending on your credit card.1. Only spend what you can afford to pay off right now

When you pay with a credit card, it’s easier to spend more than if you pay with cash since you’re not handing over any physical money. You don’t have to stop and think about whether you have enough in your wallet to cover your bill.

To avoid spending more than you can afford, set some boundaries for yourself. You can turn on alerts so your card issuer will inform you once you’ve hit a certain dollar spending limit, whether that’s $200, $500 or $1,000. You can check your balance daily to make sure you don’t go over a certain amount. It can also be helpful to treat your credit card like a debit card, only spending up to the amount you have in your checking account (although ideally less, as you likely have other bills to pay).2. Avoid impulse purchases

Also known as the 72-hour rule, avoiding impulse purchases is a great way to prevent overspending. When you scroll through social media, you may see ads for apparel or merchandise that tempt you to click and buy something on a whim. These ads are banking on impulse purchases, which can come at your downfall if you purchase things you don’t need — and can’t afford.

Before purchasing an item from an ad or promotional offer, consider whether you really need it or just want it in the moment, and if you have the money to pay for it. If the item falls within your budget, still wait 72 hours before completing the purchase. Save the item in a note or bookmark it and wait to see if you remember after three days. In some cases, you may forget about it altogether, thus saving you money.3. Start tracking your spending

Tracking your spending can help you better understand where your money goes each month. Once you know how you spend, you can create a budget that lists all your fixed expenses, such as rent/mortgage, cell phone, groceries and savings. Then you can see how much money you have leftover for flexible expenses, such as restaurants, clothing and entertainment costs.

This budget should then help you understand how much money you can afford to spend each month, so you don’t overspend. For example, if you calculated that you have $500 leftover for various unfixed expenses, you can divide that up however you want. That may be $200 for dining out, $100 for clothing, $150 for entertainment and $50 for random purchases. Regardless how you divvy the money, this helps provide guidelines for how much you can afford to spend on non-essential items.4. Don’t let rewards tempt you

Many credit cards offer welcome bonuses that can be worth over $500 if you meet the spending requirements. But if you overspend just to earn a bonus, you risk racking up debt and high interest charges that can counteract any rewards you earn.

The same goes for credit card rewards programs that earn cash back, points or miles. For each dollar you spend, cards may offer anywhere from 1X rewards to 25X rewards. While these rewards can be a great perk, you can get into debt if you spend more than you can afford. Using points to purchase a plane ticket is only a good deal if you’re not paying high interest on your credit card balance.5. Avoid store credit cards

It can be tempting to sign up for a store credit card when it comes with so many exclusive discounts. Unfortunately, these cards usually come with high variable interest rates, which can negate any savings if you’re carrying a balance. Avoid the temptation to take advantage of a new discount offer by not signing up for a store card in the first place.

Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the CNBC Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.

© AFP/GettyTikTok is testing a new feature for some users that lets them link to online shops in their bio or directly from their posts.The feature, first reported by AdWeek, mirrors similar functions on Instagram.If rolled out widely, the social commerce features would make it easier for TikTok influencers to make money from their followers on the app.Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

TikTok is now letting some US users add links in their bio and posts, which can direct their followers to shopping sites or any other destination, AdWeek reported.

The new features allow users to add clickable hyperlinks in their bio, as well as social commerce links directly in posts, similar to features on Instagram that let influencers link their followers directly to online stores.

Instagram drew backlash from some influencers in the past week over its decision to test hiding the number of “likes” on posts. Influencers voiced concern that the move could weaken their leverage over ad deals and sponsorships.

If implemented widely, the new TikTok features could make the video-sharing app far more lucrative for influencers. While TikTok has accumulated more than 1 billion users worldwide, influencers currently don’t find it as profitable as sites like YouTube, where influencers can make ad revenue from posts.

Here’s what the new features look like in action:

Social commerce is a rapidly growing space, especially in markets like China, Southeast Asia, and India. Facebook is already getting in on the business – the tech giant announced in June that it would fund Indian social commerce startup Meesho.

A TikTok spokesperson told Business Insider the platform is “always experimenting with new ways to improve the app experience for our users. Ultimately, we’re focused on ways to inspire creativity, bring joy, and add value for our community.”

Whatever it is you like to do in and around your hometown, you can likely take and sell photos of it as stock. You don’t need experience or a portfolio to start. All you need is some good photos of subjects that sell.

Stock agencies are constantly in need of city, town, and even countryside photos taken by the people who live there. The key to taking photos that sell is to think about what your town is known for, or what makes it unique, and look for photos of that.

Here are three hot-selling photo trends that you can tap into to earn money from online photo stock agencies.1. Local Activities

What’s your hometown like? Maybe there are farms or a rodeo nearby. Perhaps people love to shop on your main street, or the area is teeming with wineries. Seek out the biggest attractions and activities in your area, and photograph them.

Bend, Oregon, where I live, is known for outdoor sports like skiing, mountain biking, rafting, rock climbing, and fly fishing (and…beer). Stock photos that include any or all of these themes work well not only as iconic Bend shots, but also as more generic shots of each of those activities.

To get these kinds of shots, reach out to people you know who can give you an “in.” Do you know any farmers or cowboys? Wine makers? Or simply friends who love to shop?

Fly-fishing photos that Bonnie took near her hometown of Bend, Oregon, have earned her money through an online stock photo agency. ©Bonnie Caton2. Weather

Fly-fishing photos that Bonnie took near her hometown of Bend, Oregon, have earned her money through an online stock photo agency. ©Bonnie Caton

Weather—especially bad weather—is huge in stock photography right now. Since the climate is regularly in the news, photo buyers need relevant weather shots. And not just pretty photos with beautiful puffy clouds or gorgeous winter landscapes. They need the weather of daily life, too.

If it snows where you live, capture a friend shoveling the driveway, icicles hanging from the gutters, or snowy streets. When it’s hot in the summer, find a dried-up riverbed or wilting outdoor plants. If it’s rainy, grab photos of people commuting to work with umbrellas on wet city streets. When it’s windy…you get the point.

The great thing about this kind of shot is that you can take it from indoors, too. Get a friend to join you at a cozy café and include a rainy window. Or get a detailed shot of the actual raindrops sliding down the window.3. Friends Having Fun

What do you and your friends or family like to do in an average week? Do you take grandkids to the park? Or meet a friend group for happy hour or book club?

Photos of everyday people taking part in common activities are in big demand on stock agencies—especially if some of those people happen to be baby boomers.What to Avoid When Taking Stock Photos

Logos, business names, address signs, license plates, art (like public statues and paintings), and recognizable people should be omitted. The trick with stock is to take photos that contain no copyrighted material. When you’re photographing your hometown, that means finding angles that obscure any business signs and excluding things like car license plates.

You also need to make sure that you have a model release for any recognizable people in your photos. Which is why it’s great to shoot friends.

Taking stock photos in your hometown is perfect because it’s low pressure. There’s no client with big expectations, and you don’t have to do any selling, since the agencies do that for you. Better yet, since just about any photo subject can sell, you can easily combine it with your hobbies and daily life.Related Articles

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AP PhotoOnline shopping portals let you earn airline miles, hotel points, and other rewards when you make a purchase or sign up for a participating service online.
Not only do most of the major airlines have their own portals, but some hotel programs do as well. Credit card issuers like Chase and Barclays also have their own shopping portals, but you need a credit card to utilize them. While you don’t have to pay with plastic to utilize online shopping portals, you can “double up” on rewards if you do.
 For example, use the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to make a purchase through the Ultimate Rewards portal and earn extra points.Read more personal finance coverage.

It’s not hard to see why travel rewards have been growing in popularity over the last decade. You can use airline miles to pay for first-class flights that cost thousands of dollars, and you can use hotel points or credit card rewards to book hotels and even vacation rentals, along with rental cars, daily excursions and activities, and more.

The quickest way to earn points and miles is to sign up for a rewards credit card to earn a sign-up bonus and get rewarded for your spending. But credit cards aren’t for everyone, and even if you don’t want to add any plastic to your wallet, you still have options for earning points and miles to book travel. Everything you need to know about shopping portals

Anyone can sign up for a travel brand’s loyalty program. You don’t need a card like the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card to join the airline’s Rapid Rewards program, for example, nor do you need the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card to sign up for the Marriott Bonvoy program. In fact, you should sign up for the programs of any airlines and hotels you travel with, since you’ll earn points or miles on your paid bookings.

Travel shopping portals offer yet another way to earn airline miles and other types of rewards, and some don’t require you to have a credit card at all. All the major airlines have shopping portals

If you’re a frequent flyer who wants to earn airline miles without a credit card, you should check out the major airline shopping portals. Most of the big players have them — United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines, to name a few.

With each of these portals, earning more miles is easy. All you have to do is sign in to your frequent flyer account, search for the store you want to shop at, then “click through” the portal to the store and make purchases as usual with any form of payment.

While participating stores change all the time, you can usually earn 2 bonus miles or more for each dollar you spend at stores like Macy’s, Kohl’s, and Staples.Some hotels also have shopping portals

If you’re a hotel loyalist who racks up miles in a specific hotel program, also remember that some hotels have their own shopping portals. For example, Choice Privileges’ shopping portal lets you earn bonus points any time you click through and buy something from a participating retailer.

If you love earning hotel points and you’re going to shop online anyway, why not take advantage?You can also earn points on services like internet

Big purchases like a mattress or furniture are an especially good way to boost your points haul. But remember that some travel portals let you earn points or miles on more than just “stuff” you buy. With Southwest Rapid Rewards, for example, you can frequently rack up points for setting up new phone service with Verizon (currently 3,600 points) or setting up AT&T internet (currently 3,600 points as well).You can ‘double up’ on rewards with the right credit card

Finally, don’t forget that you absolutely can use a travel rewards credit card when you shop through travel portals. In fact, doing so can be very beneficial since the rewards you earn in a portal are doled out on top of the rewards you earn with your credit card.

Let’s say you plan to shop at Kohl’s through the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping portal. Currently, you would earn an additional 2 points for each dollar spent through the portal, but you could earn another 1 point for each dollar spent by paying with your Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card.

Just remember that, like with any other purchase, you do have to pay your credit card balance in full each month to avoid credit card interest and its evil cousin, debt. If you rack up balances and carry them month to month, the extra rewards you’re earning through a portal won’t be worth it.