Many people start learning to code in the hopes of one day landing a high-paying job. But what if you could learn to code and start earning money while doing so?
By the end of this article, you’ll know how to get started learning to code, how to make money coding, and how to stay motivated. I’ll share everything that assisted me in honing my skills and earning money while learning to code.
What Is the Best Way to Get Started Coding?
Before you can make money with coding, you must first learn how to code. “Where do I begin?” will be your first thought. I had the same thought, but in the end, I chose freeCodeCamp because it is both free and well-organized, with a large community.
freeCodeCamp is a website that allows you to learn to code in exchange for certificates by completing challenges and projects. They organize their curriculum in an easy-to-understand manner and break everything down into challenges. It has a game-like feel to it, and the structure leads to the certificate’s end goal.
Supplementing Free Resources with Paid Products
There are many free resources available, but some are also well worth the investment. You’ll quickly recoup your investment once you start coding for money!
If you’re looking for a good place to start, that course is a great place to start. It teaches you HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Bootstrap, jQuery, Node.js, Express.js, and MongoDB in a short amount of time.
Because free coding resources will only get you so far, it’s critical to supplement them with paid resources. The free pieces are usually used as an introduction. A paid course has the advantage of covering more ground. They will assist you in moving beyond the beginner level, allowing you to progress more quickly.
đź’ˇ Do you have no idea where to start?
Check out Codecademy’s Web Development Career Path, which will quickly transform you into a sought-after junior web developer.
Other paid platforms that offer more advanced coding courses include:
Mammoth Interactive is an interactive experience design firm.
Become a part of a coding group (Online or In Person)
More community, This is something I cannot overemphasize. Learning to code is difficult, and enlisting the help of others is the best way to get through it. Knowing others who are going through (or have already overcome) similar issues makes things a lot easier. Find a group or a small group of people with whom you can form a bond.
Chingu is one of my favourite online communities. It’s a small, dedicated community that grew out of freeCodeCamp. After completing a placement survey, you’ll be assigned to an online cohort of people with similar skill levels.
As a result of joining this group, I formed new friendships with people who held me accountable on my journey. We worked together on projects and grew as a group. I maintain contact with a few of them to this day.
đź’Ż Another personal favourite of mine is the #100DaysOfCode Twitter community,
which you can learn more about in this interview on the Learn To Code With Me Podcast. I’ll go into more detail about this later, but Twitter is popular among programmers. If you don’t already have it, you should.
Many online coding courses and bootcamps have private communities where you can join. Launch School, for example, is an online developer bootcamp that gives students access to a community forum where they can share study tips, solve problems, and discuss coding.
Meetup is a great place to start for in-person groups. If you’re looking for one, check out the Learn to Code With Me Community and freeCodeCamp groups on Facebook. Some are also unique to a specific location.
If you’re serious about getting paid to code, surround yourself with other coders. As a result, you’ll learn more, progress faster, and be happier. As a result of the connections made through these groups, it may also assist you in earning money programming. One of your group members, for example, may be aware of an opportunity to code online and earn money, but is either too busy to apply or lacks the necessary skills. They might be able to provide you with the information!
There are coding-related podcasts available to listen to.
When you don’t have time to sit down and learn at your computer, listen to a podcast. It’s a simple way to learn without having to use a computer. You can make better use of your commute, even if it is only 10 minutes long. Even if you don’t know how to code, you’ll be hearing about it and thinking about it.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Come along with me as I learn to code.
SyntaxFM (This is a little more advanced, but it will help you progress beyond the beginner stage.)
Create a School Podcast
It’s a good idea to make coding a habit.
It’s difficult to form habits, and even more difficult to break them. What if you could make coding a habit you’d never want to abandon? Consider where it might lead you and the discipline you’ll need in the future to code for profit.
Doing something on a daily basis is the best way to form a new habit. That is why Alexander Kallaway started the #100DaysOfCode movement on Twitter.
The basic concept is to code for an hour every day for a total of 100 days. Doesn’t it appear to be impossible? You’d never be able to make it happen. I was thinking the same thing. So I changed the rules and set a daily coding limit of 30 minutes. You can read more about my first #100DaysOfCode experience here.
Do it every day, even if it’s only for five minutes. The effort will be well worth it.
By the time you’re ready to make money programming, you’ll be used to sitting down every day to spend time in a code editor.
7 Steps to Getting a Programming Job: What is the Best Way to Make Money Programming?
Some of you are probably thinking, “Yeah, I can relate to everything you’re saying,” but “How do I actually make money coding?”
When I was asking that question, I decided to seek advice from a well-known developer. His words forever changed the way I viewed getting paid to code.
“How will I know when I’m ready to code for a living and submit job applications?” I was perplexed.
He made the following statement:
“Rather than waiting for the perfect opportunity, apply now. Because you’ve already been ready for months by the time you feel ready.”
The point is that you can start learning to code and earning money online much sooner than you think. I started my first internship in June of 2017. When this happened, I’d only been coding for six months. I was fortunate to come across the right opportunity at the right time, but it was my decision to start looking that allowed me to get there.
The worst that can happen is that you are told you aren’t a good fit for the job, in which case you should keep coding and apply again later.
Here are some pointers to help you find your first internship or job while you’re learning to code:
Make contact with small, family-run businesses.
As a beginner trying to make money coding for the first time, it’s nice to find low-pressure gigs that help your community. Inquire if any of your friends, family, or local business owners need help creating a website or revamping one that already exists. Alternatively, look for businesses that have poor websites and offer to build them one for a low cost. To see if there are any openings, go to the website of your local coffee shop, hair salon, or mom and pop restaurant.
This can be a great way to gain experience, build your portfolio, network in your community, and earn money all at once!
Make a blog.
You can establish your personal brand, gain trust, and attract more clients by starting a blog. You can write about industry news, your coding journey, and other topics that interest you. Once you’ve built up an audience, you can monetize your blog with strategies like advertisements, sponsored ads, and affiliate marketing. A Services/Contact page can also be included to let clients know that you are available for paid coding projects.
You can get started with a web hosting service like Bluehost, DreamHost, or WP Engine
Join a freelancing website as a member.
Freelancing sites like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer, which connect you to coding projects and clients, are another option for finding paid work while learning to code. Start with simple coding jobs and low bids, and as your experience grows, you’ll be able to earn money coding on more complex, higher-paying projects.
If you avoid these freelancer blunders and learn how to write the perfect freelance proposal, you’ll be well on your way to making money while learning to code.
Become a member of local Slack groups.
One of the best places to find paid programming jobs is in your local Slack groups. If you do a Google search for local tech companies, you’ll likely find a Slack group where you can potentially find paid coding opportunities. ArizonaWP is a WordPress user group based in Arizona.
#yesphx is a local startup community.
I was able to find two jobs thanks to Slack. As a web developer, my first internship was with the Arizona WordPress Slack group. I saw an internship posting on their #jobs channel. After messaging the person who posted the internship, introducing myself, and sharing my portfolio, I was offered the position, and I began earning money programming.
I applied for a Meetup TA/Instructor position through the #yesphx Slack group, which was the second paid coding job I found. I messaged the person asking if the position was still open, sent my portfolio, and was hired!
On Slack channels, there are numerous opportunities to code online and earn money. Investigate the tech community in which you want to work, then join and start chatting with them.
Use social media to publicize your accomplishments.
If you share what you’re doing, it will aid your job search and ability to find work. It shows your friends and family that you can code, and they’ll come to you for help or if they know someone who can make money programming.
Four friends have asked me for help with their websites. Two of them offered to pay me back.
None of this would have happened if I had kept my coding journey to myself. Because I posted updates on Twitter and Facebook, they were aware of my progress. I strongly advise you to do the same. Even if you help someone for no charge, you’ll gain exposure and a possible reference to help you find your first paid coding job!
Be willing to code hybrid roles in order to make money.
My first full-time job in the tech industry was in digital marketing. How did I get it if I didn’t have any prior experience or a degree in the field? It’s as simple as that: they hired me because I knew how to code.
When my boss offered me the job, he wanted me to do a mix of marketing and web development. I was able to negotiate a higher salary because of my self-taught technical skills.
Be open to opportunities that aren’t directly related to coding if you want to make money coding. You might find something you weren’t looking for.
Consider taking on hybrid or “tech adjacent” roles that aren’t all about coding when you’re first learning to code and want to make money (but can help you learn to code faster in some cases). The following examples demonstrate this:
Technical writing: Write content in the style of a technical guide to help you grasp the concepts better.
In the field of technology, remote customer service positions are frequently available.
Website theme development can be done with a content management system (CMS) like WordPress or by hand-coding custom themes.
Run tests to find flaws in developers’ code with QA (Quality Assurance) or software testing.
The process of converting data from one format to another is known as data entry.
Manage your social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and your blog.
Even if coding isn’t your main responsibility in that first position, getting your foot in the door in the tech world can be advantageous.
Practicing Interview Coding Techniques
You’ll almost certainly need to pass at least one interview to land your first coding internship or job. Fortunately, there are a variety of resources available to help you prepare. AlgoExpert and Interview Cake, for example, are platforms that offer hundreds of practice problems and coding interview tips to help you ace your technical interview.
How to Stay Motivated While Coding and Looking for Work
When you don’t achieve your goal as quickly as you’d like, whether it’s changing careers or figuring out how to make money coding from home on the side, it can be frustrating. Don’t give up, though! Here are some suggestions to keep you going.
Keep a growth mindset in mind.
You’ll never stop learning in the field of programming. Keep a growth mindset in mind. It’s important to remember that intelligence isn’t something that can be improved. You don’t come into this world knowing or not knowing anything. You can always learn more and improve.
Remember Gandhi’s words: “Always be on the lookout for new things to learn.”
Act as if you’re going to die the next day. Learn as if you’ll be alive for the rest of your life.”
You will have more time to code if you get up earlier in the morning.
If you’re not making as much progress as you’d like, see if getting up earlier can help you study more.
When I didn’t have enough time, I began getting up at 5:30 a.m. to complete a half-hour of work before starting my day. This is something I no longer do, but it was an important part of my progress.
- It wasn’t pleasant, but it was necessary.
- Make another #100DaysOfCode attempt.
- As I neared the end of my second round of #100DaysOfCode, a friend asked, “What are you going to do once you finish?”
- So, what am I going to say? “Celebrate, then rest for a week before starting the next round.”
The beauty of programming is that in the not-too-distant future, there will always be a new framework, tool, or technology to learn. It’s a constantly changing industry. There will always be new things to learn, ways to improve, and ways to grow. To make money, keep in mind that you don’t have to be an expert programmer.
The Most Important Takeaways on How to Make Money Coding
I hope you will understand the following three points after reading my article:
You can learn to code on your own. Anyone can learn to code, regardless of age or time commitment. All you need is a little drive and a willingness to try new things.
Much faster than you think, you’ll figure out how to make money coding. At this point, you’re probably all set. If you can solve a programming problem or build something for someone, you can learn how to earn money by coding the same things. Don’t be afraid to offer your services and see what you can do to help others.
You will not be able to surrender. It’s difficult to learn to code, and it’s even more difficult to land your first paid tech job. This is not the case, however. Continue to work hard and learn something new every day. The more committed you are, the faster you will be able to achieve your goals.
