In today’s digital world, it is important to know to use the internet to the highest level of efficiency possible. That means knowing what you can do for a variety of reasons, whether it is getting full freedom online, keeping safe, being cost-effective, or even being entrepreneurial and trying to make money.
Reports have found that the number of online users has exceeded 5 billion people, as the internet age is progressing towards the Web3/Metaverse – technology is ramping up and so is the amount of things you can do online. In addition to the boost in the potential of your online experience, there is also a flip side. With more and more people revolving their life around digital, this has seen a direct increase in threats – this can be anything from cybercriminals and hackers getting more inventive and creative in their attacks, to governments and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) becoming more intrusive and restrictive towards consumers.
Knowing this makes it more important for every online user to understand crucial ways that they can impact and protect their online experience. This can range from clever tools and tricks to more methodical tools and practices that have long-term benefits. Here are the best ways to get more from your online experience:
Table of Contents
Use a VPN
It might seem overly simple and to the point, but a VPN can be your best friend in your online journey. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a tool that gives you so much when you go online, from hiding your IP address so your real-time location is not disclosed to encrypting your data and internet traffic through a private server when you browse online.
A VPN is a must-have for so many reasons – firstly, it protects you against so many threats online. This is not to say you should not use a PC without an antivirus or firewall, but the anonymity and privacy it provides make it almost impossible for hackers or cybercriminals to find you in the first place. In a day and age where you are highly likely to be using your laptop or phone in a public setting (think coffee shops, airports, etc) and on a public network, you will be at a huge risk to hackers. By using a VPN like NordVPN or Surfshark, you would not even show up these malicious attackers, making using a VPN a no-brainer for your online experience.
You can also find a completely free VPN when you browse online – something that costs you nothing but enhances your online experience tenfold. Whether it is the protective element or the fact that you will no longer be restricted by your geographical or institutional setting, using a VPN makes your online experience so much better.
Automate Everything You Do
Being online gives you a huge potential to save time. This time can be saved by automation, using online tools and software to carry out boring daily admin tasks that eat away at your schedule. By putting these tasks into automation, you make yourself so much more productive. You can automate anything from your social media posting, using a tool like HootSuite, to blogging where you can set up a CMS (Content Management System) like WordPress to automatically submit and publish posts once you create a backlog of them.
You can also put in processes so you get the things you want to be delivered to you. Personalization is the biggest trend in recent years, as everything from marketing to content is now geared towards being customized and delivered to a user. You can use features like Google Alerts to keep a monitor on topics or keywords, so things like a certain person or company will be tracked and you can get reports on information about them.
You can also automate things like paying bills online and using online banking to set up recurring payments so you are ensured your rent and utilities are paid on specific days with certain conditions met. This can be a weight off of people’s minds and allows them to go and carry on their online experience with more pleasure and comfort.
Create An Online Income
In recent years it has become a popular trend to create a secondary income from your primary job. A 9-5 is great but having another income stream can help people buy their first house or save up for a special occasion or purchase. More and more ways are being found for the average entrepreneurial individual to make an income online. The online world is powered by sales, commerce, and creativity, so if you try hard enough and go around it smartly, you can join the millions of people who are cultivating a side hustle by using their laptops or PC.
You can do anything online from selling things you buy in real life to generate revenue, freelancing a skill you possess, or even start drop shipping. These will all be dependent on the effort you put in, the type of offering you are trying to start and the leverage you possess when marketing this to the online world. It is unquestionably something that will make your online experience better, as it is a very rewarding feeling to go online and be so productive that you are making money at home on your computer.