In order to support these people who need a new source of livelihood, a lot of people have found legitimate ways to make money online. These processes are mostly simple and do not require an individual to spend a lot of money to start up their own business or be employed by a particular company.

We have narrowed down the search to three of the internet's general fields of occupation, out of the many job opportunities available online. These are the top legitimate ways to make money online:

1. Web Content Writing.

This is probably the simplest out of all the legitimate ways to make money online. Writers are remunerated for the articles submitted and web content writing requires a person to enroll in a particular group or forum that will distribute specific writing assignments to them.

Other employers also have their established online domains and physical offices. Most of these companies are handled by larger firms to provide different types of writing assignments for brands, merchants and other companies.

The person simply needs to be equipped with the skill of writing and a good internet connection to aid in the submission of articles. There are also writing firms that hire web content writers for particular subjects such as automotive and information technology, if you are more passionate about specific topics. Usually remuneration is paid directly to the employer's bank account, eliminating the need for employees having to physically handle paychecks.

2. Marketing and Advertising.

Two of the most powerful tools used in the online world are marketing and advertising. Every website and product needs the helpful and creative hands of these two concepts. As one of the legitimate ways to make money online, marketers are required to do assorted advertising tasks for different companies.

Some would require marketers to write articles or reviews related to the merchant's products while others would ask for advertisements on sites in the form of links or banners. Affiliate marketing is currently one of the strongest positions in the online world. Many affiliate marketers, who have been in the business for a long time, manage to earn thousands of dollars in very short space of time.

3. Selling of Products and Services.

One of the most advantageous marketplaces in the entire world is provided by the internet. You can immediately set up your own online boutique that can be viewed by thousands, or possibly millions, of people online by simply posting a product on a particular website.

If you do not have any products to sell, you can also offer services based on your expertise. There are a number of sites dedicated to legal consultations, financial advise, astrological readings and scientific researches. To assist you in defining your own niche in the World Wide Web set up your own website that provides services in line with your expertise.

These three low cost legitimate ways to make money online have helped a lot of people survive financially during hard economic times.