The economy in America is seriously struggling. Millions of people are unemployed, and that number is expected to rise in 2022. Even for Americans who do have good, steady employment, many are not making enough to live and need to seek government assistance just to buy food. Something has to give; tens of millions of people are at their breaking point, and that is not a good thing for the economy. For a lot of people in America, they've decided to look into other means of employment. Millions have been flooding to the Internet in the past two years, looking to build careers online. Nothing has even remotely resembled this since the DotCom boom of the '90s, when the Internet first took off. People are making YouTube channels, starting blogs, opening Etsy businesses, and so much more, just trying to keep their heads above water. Many are hoping that the Internet can offer them a valid, viable career and alleviate much of the pressure associated with working in today's labor economy. And there's really no way to stop this momentum. The worse the economy becomes at large, the more people flock to the Internet in hopes of finding something better.

Generally speaking, there are many ways by which someone can make money online. From coding and writing to marketing and selling products and services, it's certainly an area that has its benefits. Not to even mention that working remotely means not having to travel and getting to be your own boss. But is it all sunshine and roses? As with anything else, there are certainly some drawbacks involved with working online. It's not as if people just log onto the Internet and stumble blindly into careers. There's a lot to consider, and if you're thinking about this path, then it would definitely help you to consider and understand the potential negatives associated with seeking a career online.

A Bigger Investment Than You Think

One of the first things you have to consider if seeking a career online is that it's going to require a larger investment than you may realize. Many people go into online work thinking that all they need is a computer. No more car maintenance and fuel. No more expenses for work gear, besides a PC and Internet connection. Though one thing you cannot leave out of the equation here is time. Time is what it's going to take, and when speaking about a career, time is definitely money. You're not going to just accidentally stumble into something that can serve as a lucrative career. Sure, you can find all sorts of ways to make a quick buck; but a quick buck and a steady salary are light years apart from one another. If you're seeking an actual career online, then this is something that's going to take up a whole lot of your time. It's not going to happen right away; it's something you will have to work out for a while.

A Lot of Competition

Another thing you will have to brace for before making that plunge online is that you're far from the only person doing this. Whether it's an idea for an Etsy business or a particular set of skills you think really sets you apart, you're just a small fish in a big pond here. This isn't like a factory or an office in your town, where your competition is limited to people who live within traveling distance. The Internet is global, and so your competition for practically anything you can think of is a pool of literally millions. You're really going to have to stand out and work very hard if you expect to make an actual career out of anything online. Again, it's relatively simple to make some extra money and to supplement your existing income. When it comes to pulling in a lucrative salary, however, that's where things get a lot trickier, more time consuming, and a lot more crowded. You certainly have to be ready to deal with the competition here, because you're going to find an awful lot of it.

Overall, it's well worth it to work online if you can find something you're passionate about and good at. As long as you understand what you're walking into, and as long as you're willing to put in the time and effort, you will likely find that working online can be a very rewarding and lucrative experience.