Online Side Hustles are popular right now. It’s almost like the rave. For those of you who don’t know what a side hustle is, it’s those tasks and activities people do in their spare time to make extra money. From driving for Bolt or working a second job or starting a blog or YouTube channel. These days making money outside of your primary job is an alternative revenue stream.
Though side hustles are the raves, not all of them are created equal; some are time-wasting and some aren’t. Side hustles come in two different forms: digital/online and real life.
It is generally understood that real-life side hustles are those activities that get you out of the house tend to pay a little better, while digital/online gigs are more accessible. I will be introducing you on how to make money online as a side gig or another revenue stream. We all have heard of the saying, Money must be made. For those of you who don’t want to leave the house, this is mostly for you. Those side hustles that require your physical presence will be covered in a future article.
Can You Make Money Using Online Side Hustles?
Have you seen ads like this? “Work from home and make [a huge amount of money] every month!” As an undergraduate, I probably clicked on most of these ads. There was nothing more than to stay at home and let the easy money from the internet roll in for a good life. The most unfortunate thing here was that the more ads I clicked, the more angry and frustrated I became. My dream of the baby boy’s life was quickly being killed.
Now the misconception most have about the online gigs/jobs is that it is where you make easy money or that you will get madly rich. I am here to let you know you probably won’t be able to get rich from working online, but you can make some money. There are two sides to online jobs/ side hustles. The one that anybody can do and the online side hustles that requires certifications or special talent and ability.
Ways To Make Money Online.
As long as you have data and you are alive, you can make money online. You should understand that you might not be paid much. Furthermore, if you are the easily bore type can make extra cash that will be worth your time. Without further ado, here is my incomplete, non-conclusive list of different ways anyone can make money through online side hustles.
Survey Taker
This is not a job, but it surely does supplement your income if done the right way. It is very much possible to earn good extra income by doing surveys, the only thing you need to keep in mind is, sign up for the legitimate ones.
I have a different theory when it comes to surveys. I always do them while I am doing some other tasks, that way it’s worth my time. Sign up for websites like Opinion Space, MyPoints, Swagbucks, etc.
Online Tutoring.
When it comes to Online side hustles, Wouldn’t you love to teach kids and earn good income all from the comfort of your home? Virtual teaching has taken a big leap in the last five years, and now you can share your expertise in teaching any subject online. Just get started with online tutoring companies like Tutor.ng, 2. Tuteria.com.
Flipping
I am sure flipping is quite a new thing for many engaging in online side hustles, but it is a hustle you want to try. You can flip anything like thrift store items, websites, houses, cars, etc. The list is endless.
You just need to learn the tips and tricks of the art of flipping. Here is how Melissa makes a great living with flipping. She and her husband are a great example of this successful online side hustles. Take this FREE workshop to learn more about how to make money flipping.
Data Entry Jobs.
Data entry requires very little specific training, so it’s fairly easy to get started. There’s no ramp-up time and no need for prolonged training, which isn’t always compensated.
You can just plug in and go. It doesn’t require any type of educational or professional background. This makes it accessible to pretty much anybody interested in working online.
For all of these reasons, data entry has become some sort of “holy grail” for the person who’s new to the idea of working from home and not sure where to start or what all is out there.
eBay
Selling your stuff gets rid of clutter and puts a little more cash in your pocket. The most popular websites to sell on are eBay and Craigslist, but there are many different niche apps and websites for selling specific items, like electronics or women’s clothing. You can even have the mail person pick up your stuff, so you don’t have to leave the house.
Those are the only reliable ways to make money online that require no skill that I know of. Fortunately, if you have some skills or abilities, there are many more options available to you.
Online Side Hustles That Requires Talent Or Ability.
For this category, you a unique skill or talent to be able to make money from them. Recently statistics show that businesses turn to the internet to find skilled and talented freelancers for one-time or frequent jobs. Content creators are becoming the rave and are going more and more online. I mean, what are they going to do instead, get a job at a newspaper?
I’ve monetised my writing in a few of the ways listed below and I’ve got to say, there’s nothing better than getting paid for something you enjoy doing. A few items on my list below are specific to writers and content creators, but most of you with unique skills should be able to find the side hustle for you.
Upwork.
Upwork connects you with businesses and entrepreneurs in search of freelancers. The environment can be competitive for good-paying jobs and it can be hard to get your first gig. Once you’re established on the Upwork platform and have some ongoing relationships, things get easier. I haven’t spent a ton of time on Upwork, but a few general rules:
1.) Never apply to gigs that require a ton of work just to apply. I’ll send my resume and the standard writing sample I send to everyone, and if they want more than that I stop pursuing the job.
2.) Define the relationship upfront. How much will you be paid, and will it be hourly or per job? Is this an ongoing relationship or a one time job?
Medium.
Medium is a platform writers can post their content on and potentially earn money. Medium is great for writers looking to build an audience and reach more readers. They do pay through their partner program, so popular stories and articles have the chance to earn decent money.
Freelancer.
Blogging as a freelancer can be very lucrative for some people. The top bloggers earn millions of Naira per year (Linda ikeji anyone), but most bloggers earn less than $3.50 per day. To be a successful blogger, you need to create quality content, publish on a regular schedule, and steadily grow your audience. It takes a lot of work to get your blog off the ground, and success isn’t guaranteed, even if you are an amazing writer.
Youtube.
YouTube might be the most popular gathering place for content creators. There are about 3 million YouTube channels with over 1,000 subscribers, and over 23 million channels total. The most popular YouTubers monetize their content and make millions of dollars per year from YouTube and sponsorships. Not everyone has what it takes to be a successful YouTuber, and creating quality content that keeps people coming back and building an audience takes time.
Conclusion.
There are probably many other ways for you to use your skills and abilities to make money online that I’m not familiar with. Selling your skilled labor online can be very lucrative, but it can take years to build up a reliable income stream from the internet. Make sure you go in with low expectations and don’t expect to make much money starting.
Whatever type of tasks or labor you’re performing online, make sure you aren’t selling yourself short. It’s probably not worth your time to fill out mindless surveys for hours on end for a couple of extra bucks. Making any money online may not be for you; it can be a lot of work, and the return might not be great. Your time is the most valuable resource you have, so don’t give it away for pennies on the dollar.
