A little extra money can always come in handy. So jump aboard the World Wide Web and join the many people there earning extra income by selling their services online.

A good place to start is Elance.com. Surf their site and you'll find their service listings to see how you can fit in with what you can offer. They offer services under these categories: Administrative Support; Architecture and Engineering; Audio, Video and Multimedia; Design; Legal; management and Finance; Sales and Marketing; Software and Technology; Training and Development; Website Development; and Writing and Translation.

Check out projects to bid on, search profiles to get a feel for how to fill a profile out, and jump in with a subscription at the low end to see how things work. Ask Elance for help.

There are other bidding sites on the Internet, too. Many cost much less or are even free to join. So if money is an issue, start somewhere else besides Elance.

With these bidding sites, you don't necessarily even need your own website, since project managers can look over your profile for information. However, as time, funds and energy / resources allow, you need your own website portfolio for better work, more projects, increased income.

A good place to start a portfolio is with an affordable place like GoDaddy.com where you can get a processional blog or website up overnight for under $5. Add your resume, some work samples, client feedback, a list of your services and you're off and running. Make sure to include contact information so people know how to get hold of you.

For Your Portfolio

If you need work samples and client feedback to get started in the business world, ask friends and local establishments if you can do some volunteer work for them. And ask them for feedback when you're finished. Then you'll not only have samples but client comments for your website.

Simple is best. Use a white background with only two or three fonts at most, two or three colors on the site at most. Keep images on the site few and small for quick loading. And steer clear of bells and whistles like buzzing bees that come alive when someone clicks up your site, so they don't drive them away!

Test all links, especially to work samples, to make sure they work. And check all navigation menus to make sure they lead people where they say. And grow your portfolio as you grow your business.

Here's to your success!