If you're looking for ways to make money online, even just to make some extra cash, there is no shortage of information floating around on the internet. The thing is, much of this information promises you big bucks for little or no effort. While that's encouraging to hear, it simply isn't realistic.

However, there are many legitimate ways to make money online. If you're willing to put a little work in, you can actually bring in a healthy income, even part-time. Here are a few ways that people are making money on the internet.

Reading Emails

You can get paid for reading emails. There are various sites that you can sign up with that will offer you anywhere from a penny to five cents for each email you read. While this is not a way to get rich, if you have the time and inclination to idly sit and read emails while you watch TV in the evenings, it can add up to decent extra money. You may see sites that offer more, such as a dollar or even a hundred dollars per email, but these are usually scams... stay away!

Survey Taking

This is another low effort way to earn money online. There are loads of survey websites that want people to sign up and fill out surveys, usually for market research purposes. Generally, you will earn points for every survey you fill out, which you can then exchange for money. Again, this is not going to fund your retirement, but can be a great way to bring in a little extra cash while you sit in front of the TV.

eBay

Many people have started eBay businesses online and turned them into full time incomes. Because of this, more and more online auction sites are popping up, and people flock to them for great deals on brand name merchandise! You don't have to stock inventory either... most people use a third party shipping company to handle stock and delivery. You advertise, and you make the profit.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing has also grown in popularity. Basically, as an affiliate you help companies sell their products or services by setting up websites and creating advertising for them. When someone buys the product through your website or advertising, you get a commission. This can be a lucrative business, even done part-time.

While there are other ways to make money online, these are four of the most common. And the best thing is, starting an online business is easy... if you know how online businesses work, and what you need to do to succeed. Your best tool for online success is knowledge. So if you want to start an online business, what are you waiting for? Get reading, and get going!