With the prevalent job cuts mostly ravaging the tech industries worldwide, you’ll agree with me that there is no better time than now to start online side hustles to make money from home. As I regularly peruse the TechCrunch.com newsletter every week day as a subscriber, I always discover alarming and heart-rending information about staff layoffs in various tech and blue-chip companies for economic reasons best known to the directors of these companies.
So, if you’re currently stuck with your day job or you want to make extra cash to pay the bills at your spare time, I can assure you that the information I’m going to share with you today will help you to get started on your side hustle business idea right away. In my first text post on this side hustle blog, I laid out the basic foundation on how to start a side hustle business online successfully.
If you research and dig deep on the internet, you’ll discover different online business models which you can start and they are a dime a dozen. But starting any one of them has its level of difficulty and profitability. However, I’m going to discuss some of these online side hustles to make money from home as clearly as possible so that you can hit the ground running with your choice business idea.
As I mentioned in my side hustle blog post, it’s a wrong approach for any entrepreneur to first think of making money from any business idea when he has not identified a specific problem to solve for that group of people who is grappling with the problem.
Before you can successfully make money with these side hustle ideas, you’ve to set a goal of how to research and find pain points in the marketplace which your target audience is desperately searching for solutions and validate if your solution will be viable for them.
Armed with this information, you can go further to evaluate the demographics and how to respond to their needs with the right solution that is guaranteed to sell. And don’t forget that the bigger the problem you hope to solve, the higher your rewards, holding all other factors constant.
With that said, let’s dig into the top 10 online side hustles to make money from home.
Side Hustle #1: Start a Blog
This is one of the best ways to make money online. Even if you don’t have or know of any online business idea to start right off the bat, I’ll advise and encourage you to start a blog around a topic you’re passionate about. From there you can regularly publish content about related topics to drive targeted traffic to your blog website.
From your constant interaction with your blog readers through the comments section, you’ll understand and see a pattern in the type of information package or product your followers want to learn or buy from you.
In addition and with the help of keyword research tools, analytics, and webmasters tools, you’ll be able to clearly learn about the needs and wants of your target market by analyzing search queries and their intent. You can then use this knowledge and information to create a product or service that your niche is really in need of. As a case in point, I started this side hustle blog as a result of regular communications with some of my digital marketing training students.
I discovered that some of these students wanted a cheaper way to create a blog and make money blogging instead of buying website hosting at the beginning of their entrepreneur’s journey. With this in mind, I decided and resolved to start a free blog using Blogger.com this year around some side hustle ideas that will make money for me in the long run in order to prove that this system works.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a freelance writer, virtual assistant, product creator, app developer, etc; you absolutely need to create a blog to write and publish content around themed topics which your audience wants to read about. Your blog is actually your virtual office, store or marketing platform where you can demonstrate and/or display your expertise, skills, products or services to your prospects, leads and customers from time to time.
Blogging is very important to every online business owner these days because it provides you with an online marketing dais to constantly interact and relate with your fans, followers, leads, prospects, customers, etc, at short notice and at a more personal level.
As a blogger, you can start a blog and make money in a matter of few months if you’re focused, committed and consistent with publishing high quality content on demand and on time. Blogging loves speed and making money from blogging is directly proportional to the monthly volume of targeted website visitors you receive if your blog is adequately monetized.
The volume of your monthly targeted website traffic will help you to evaluate the types of product offerings you should focus on and how best to monetize your blog. If you create a blog, you can earn money online from it in several ways including but not limited to:
- Promote, recommend and sell affiliate products and services i.e. affiliate marketing business,
- Create your own digital product and sell online,
- Sell ad spaces on your blog,
- Make money from sponsored posts and content,
- Contextual or PPC (pay per click) advertising, e.g. Google Adsense,
- Provide freelance business services,
- Write an ebook and sell from your own website,
- Run online training and coaching programs and courses,
- Build an email list of subscribers for email marketing campaigns,
- Become a paid or freelance blogger,
- Start product reviews website,
- Add job board with premium listing to your blog,
- Become a brand ambassador or influencer,
- Etc.
Online Tools and Resources You Need to Create a Blog
As a matter of fact, it won’t cost you an arm or leg to build a blog website. With a small fortune of less than $100 as your business startup costs, you can create a fully functional WordPress blog on the go. Yes, you don’t need bells and whistles of blogging tools and resources to start a blog and make money!
I’ve grown pockets of niche blog websites and authority blog under the radar by using self-hosted WordPress with free WordPress themes and plugins while bootstrapping every other app or software that I absolutely cannot do without at the beginning.
All it cost me was to sign up with HostGator web hosting which allows me to create blogs in any target niche market with the same account using their Baby Plan option. HostGator Baby plan will allow you to host unlimited domain names on the same account without paying any extra hosting fee which is a good bargain.
Because they support WordPress hosting, it takes few minutes to install WordPress blog on your domain; in short, it’s fondly tagged one-click WordPress install. And if you’ve read my comprehensive blogging guide, you’ll learn and master how to optimize your blog for on-page SEO (search engine optimization) quickly and use it to rank for profitable long tail keyword phrases and money keywords on the first page of search engines.
If you’re ambitious and passionate about blogging for money for the long term, you may want to create an email newsletter as early as possible and use it to build an email list of subscribers from scratch. But creating a valuable lead magnet to give away in exchange of subscribers’ email addresses is crucial to your success.
There are many email service providers (ESPs) out there that you can subscribe to and it will allow you to build your email list seamlessly. But GetResponse email marketing software is cheap and reliable compared to others. The best part is that GetResponse company has free trial for their service for first-time customers from this link.
In summary, the list and steps below are what you really need to start a blog and make money.
- Register a domain name,
- Purchase web hosting,
- Install WordPress blog on your domain,
- Subscribe to any reliable email marketing software for your list building strategy,
- Regularly publish unique and high quality content on your blog,
- Adequately monetize your blog,
- Constantly promote your blog,
- Make money online, and
- Rinse and repeat in more niche markets.
Granted, it’s a whole lot of work when you start blogging for money but you’ve to pay it forward. For example, I’m starting a blog of this type and magnitude in order to provide value to my readers, beginners and newbies alike without knowing how soon I’ll make money from this blog website. But I’m making that colossal sacrifice upfront on the principle or law of reciprocity which will ultimately reward me for being my brother’s keeper!
Side Hustle #2: Become a Freelance Writer
Freelance writing is a big business online. As a matter of fact, internet businesses are content driven be it in the form of blog post, infographic, PDF ebooks, video, audio, podcast, webinar, etc. So, forget about the palpable threat, hue and cry from generative AI writing tools like Jasper and ChatGPT lately.
Like I told a confidant about these online writing tools, this software is only as intelligent as their developers. A writing tool can become obsolete if it is not regularly updated and there is a ceiling or plateau as to how much they can do without human involvement and touch. ChatGPT can never be futuristic enough to have the information to address every topic or situation!
To this end, you’ve to understand that as a freelance content writer, you’re very relevant to webmasters, online business owners and bloggers who are short on time and too busy to do the mundane job of content writing and content marketing.
For instance, you can write blog posts, email marketing messages, white papers, PDF ebooks, landing pages, etc and get paid for your intellectual property services. It boils down to the quality of work you’re bringing to the table.
But the most important investment is for you to create a freelance writer website if you hope to command premium rates in the market and quickly publish writing samples for potential clients to read and evaluate your expertise, writing style, and tone before they decide to hire you.
Side Hustle #3: Write an Ebook and Sell It Online
Writing and selling ebooks is one of the best ways to make passive income online. Depending on how relevant an ebook is to the needs of your target market, you can write an ebook and sell it online for years on end. You may only have to update it from time to time with minimal work load.
My first ebook was on how to buy and sell domain names. After buying and selling domain names for profit, I sat down and documented my domaining journey. For years, I was making passive income online from my domain flipping guide in addition to my domaining business.
When I became successful with my first ebook, I decided to write an ebook on how to start self-publishing business based on my own modest experience as an ebook author. It was so fascinating and rewarding selling ebooks from all over the world on a topic people want to learn about.
This modest success gave me a head start that there are legitimate online business opportunities anybody can do to make money from home. All it takes is to set a goal, create a plan and take consistent action until you start getting the desired results.
I’ll be posting an ebook publishing guide later in the life of this blog so that you can add it to your arsenal of multiple streams of internet income. But the most important take away is to write from your own valuable life experience (VLE) about a topic or subject that people are clamoring to learn about on the internet.
And this will involve internet research skills and digging deep through online communities, niche forums, discussion groups, chat forums, questions and answers sites, etc to find questions, gaps, voids and pain points among people of like minds in the marketplace and then fill it.
Side Hustle #4: Buy and Sell Domain Names for Profit
Let me warn you beforehand about domain flipping business; it can be addictive. But the good news is that it has low barrier of entry. With as little as $10 to register a domain name, you can start buying and selling domain names for profit.
I hand registered a custom domain name (EarnVim.com) for less than $10 to set up my free Blogger blog which is hosted at side hustlebusiness blog. But if I wanted to buy a specific domain name (HustleVim.com) that matches my Blogger sub domain name from the aftermarket like Squadhelp.com or Afternic.com, I may have to cough out a tidy sum of money as much as $2,199 or more to acquire that domain name.
However, domain flipping success is a function of your uncanny ability to spot and register a domain that potential buyers cannot ignore or bypass. So, you need to be abreast of tech trends and loaded with domaining knowledge of what is currently selling in the marketplaces.
You can visit Squadhelp.com, Sedo.com, Dan.com, Afternic.com, etc to flip through domain names that got sold and domains for sale and get an idea of quality names you should be looking out for.
Side Hustle #5: Buy and Sell Websites
Website flipping is similar to buying and selling domain names. The difference is that in website investing business, you’ll sell your domain name and the website itself including its content, files, email lists, etc to the buyer. But in domaining, you only sell the domain name. A website comprises of the domain name itself and all digital assets it possesses including software or app licenses.
Website flipping can be likened to real estate investing. In short, a lot of online business owners tag is as virtual real estate investing because you’re selling the land (i.e. the domain itself) and the building (i.e. the website template, content on the domain, its traffic and earnings, etc).
There are several marketplaces for buying and selling websites such as Flippa.com and EmpireFlippers.com. The best website you can sell is the one making profit consistently especially for more than six months consecutively. It’s even better if the revenue generated by the blog or website is increasing month by month.
You’ve to be aware that the more digital assets a website has, the more valuable it is to potential buyers. But the most important metrics you should always take into consideration are the volume of monthly targeted traffic, monthly profits, passive income nature of the web site, cost of site maintenance, size of email list of subscribers, age of domain name and its rating and the volume, uniqueness and quality of content published.
As a domainer and website flipper myself, it’s a whole world of experience being in this business space. You’ll be able to learn and master the dynamics and mechanics of starting, growing and selling a profitable online business for a tidy sum of money.
Side Hustle #6: Start Copywriting and Ghostwriting Business
Copywriting is a lucrative online business model if you learn and master the use of words to evoke emotions. This is millions of dollars business because internet businesses are content driven. Talk about email marketing, landing pages, whitepapers, etc, you need a copywriter who can sell your products and services with words that propel actions. If you ask me, copywriting is a high-paying career and for good reasons.
Simply put, copy writing is all about creating words that persuade your target audience to take specific action now e.g. to buy a product, subscribe to a service, fill out a questionnaire, click on a link or submit an email address.
Ghostwriting, on another hand, is writing an ebook or book for clients who do not have the time or skill to write a book. If you’ve good writing style and tone, you can become a ghostwriter for celebrities, business owners, and so on.
Side Hustle #7: Become a Virtual Assistant
The question you may want to ask is, “Who is a virtual assistant?” A virtual assistant is someone a business owner hires to perform regular tasks related to his or her business such as answering phone calls, reading and sending emails, organizing to-do lists, scheduling events, etc on behalf of the company.
You can become a freelance virtual assistant for 2 or more companies if you know how to multi-task and work seamlessly and efficiently. The work becomes easier if a virtual assistant uses online project management system like TeamworkPM or Asana.
Social media management can also be a responsibility of a virtual assistant and you don’t have to be an expert to execute this task successfully. If this is your take, you can easily manage the process and postings and still be fine.
Side Hustle #8: Affiliate Marketing Business
Affiliate marketing is one of the best online hustles to make money as a beginner. And the best way to start affiliate marketing and make money is to create a blog around a niche topic. As soon as you’ve optimized your blog for on-page SEO and regularly publish content on it, you can find complementary affiliate products to promote and sell using your links.
For example, if you write a blog post on how to start a blog and make money, there is no way you’ll not mention to your readers how to register a domain name and purchase web hosting. If you’re a partner to HostGator website hosting company, you can gladly recommend them to your blog readers.
One of the best ways to make money with affiliate marketing is to “use and tell.” In other words, if you make use of a product and service and relate your real life experience with potential buyers, your chances of success will be high.
Because I use HostGator web hosting services myself, I can describe my experience with them inside out and confidently provide my affiliate link to their official website. This will give your prospects and leads the confidence to subscribe to a service or buy a product. A lot of affiliate marketers miss this critical step to success and that is why you cannot find me promoting all kinds of affiliate products and services.
The bottom line is for you to recommend affiliate products or services which you’ve used and comfortable with. It makes it easier for you to promote and sell such products. If you go through our affiliate marketing course, you’ll discover the best ways to make money with affiliate marketing business.
Side Hustle #9: Create a Membership Site
This type of online side hustles to make money require a bit of expertise. You must know something about a topic or subject more than the average person in your target niche. It’s easy to set up a membership site with WordPress blog and membership plugin.
Ecommerce plugin for WordPress CMS (content management system) helps you to gate your content at every level of paid membership. Your content can be categorized into video, downloadable PDF ebooks, audio recordings, questions and answers section, and so on.
The good news about membership site management is that it creates predictable recurring revenue month in and month out if you’re good at what you do and you deploy the right digital marketing strategy to drive targeted traffic to your website.
The best way to make money with membership site is to identify an ongoing problem in your niche which your target audience will be willing to pay for the solution month by month. It could be mastering new skills or developing new habits.
However, to succeed in this space, you’ve to build a community with human connection. Bonding with your target audience will make it easy for you to retain paying members ultimately.
Side Hustle #10: Video Editing
I discovered lately that video editing is good side hustle to make money on the internet from one of my digital marketing students who provides this service. As you may already know, video production is telling a story visually just the same way you write a book with words.
There are online entrepreneurs who are looking for experts in video production and editing. You can focus on video editing and expand into other areas over time. What will really work for you here is your expertise and your attention to details.
I’ll be releasing an ultimate guide to online side hustles to make money sooner or later. You can bookmark this blog website so that you don’t miss out when I publish it as a free PDF ebook.
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