It is projected that the percentage of Americans with at least one side hustle might increase in the future, considering around 44% currently have one due to the current state of the economy.
In the gig economy, we are able to choose jobs that better align with our schedule, eliminating the need to work in traditional part-time roles like waiting tables on weekends or restocking groceries after our main job.
If you’re looking to make money online, there are numerous options available. Many online ventures can provide passive income and additional funds. You can explore opportunities such as offering virtual assistant services, online courses, online tutoring, or running an eCommerce business on platforms like Etsy or Amazon. However, if you’re new to the online business realm, there are simpler ways to enter and explore the world of online business ideas, digital products, and side hustles that can generate additional income.
If you are seeking to earn extra money with limited time and a working internet connection, there are several options to consider. Side hustles serve as a promising beginning to build an income stream and quickly generate substantial earnings. Nevertheless, it is crucial to note that numerous online choices may not require as much commitment as a full-scale side hustle. Therefore, if you are eager to experience some simple methods of increasing your income, here are a few initial options that you should contemplate attempting.
1. Sell Your Old Stuff
You may be surprised to learn that there are numerous choices available for selling items online. Established platforms like eBay and Craigslist have been reliable options for many years. Additionally, newer websites like Poshmark and ThredUp are also effective ways to get rid of your old belongings.
A drawback of these websites is that they typically impose a commission fee. In addition, you may need to cover the shipping expenses whenever required. Although neither cost should be significant, they can reduce your overall earnings.
As a result, individuals have begun to transition to utilizing social media platforms. Taking Facebook Marketplace as an exemplification, it was introduced in 2016 and has experienced a substantial surge in popularity throughout the years.
Your friends and local residents have the ability to view the items you post, making it similar to a virtual yard sale. They have the option to visit your place and purchase the item with cash, eliminating shipping costs and commission fees, resulting in direct profit for you.
To preserve more of your profits, it is advisable to begin by utilizing social media and focusing on local sales.
Listing your item on the aforementioned major online e-commerce platforms is the next course of action if you are unable to sell it to local residents. By widening your customer base, you enhance the likelihood of successfully selling your item.
2. Take Surveys
Survey administrators are aware that answering their questions can be somewhat burdensome for individuals. Since there are no correct or incorrect responses, participants are not required to prepare in advance.
However, few people have the time or desire to spend five minutes responding to inquiries regarding baby powder. Hence, numerous survey administrators recognize that even a small amount of money can yield substantial results.
Online survey sites have increasingly emerged on the web, as the payment given to survey participants justifies their higher engagement in these surveys.
If you expect to earn a significant sum of money from surveys, you should know that it’s highly improbable. The most you can hope for is making around $2 per hour, provided that you participate in a large number of surveys.
Surveys and market research may reward you with gift cards or “Swagbucks” as payment. Nonetheless, utilizing platforms such as Survey Junkie requires considerably less time compared to obtaining part-time employment, rendering it a more feasible side gig than seeking freelance opportunities in data entry, SEO, graphic design, or website user-testing on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork, for instance.
There are few money-making opportunities as simple as participating in surveys. All you need to do is provide truthful answers to each question. It is impossible to give a wrong answer, and you will not face any consequences based on your responses.
Doing this activity during your lunch break or while relaxing at home watching TV is possible. Earning $2 per hour may not be impressive, but the overall amount can accumulate within a few months.
3. Play Games
In the initial three months of 2022, an impressive number of over 14.4 billion mobile games were downloaded, amounting to approximately 400 million downloads daily. It can be confidently stated that there is a strong inclination towards enjoying games online. Observing this enthusiasm, emerging companies are promptly acknowledging this trend and are willing to compensate you for playing their game in lieu of others.
The rules and payouts vary for each individual site, but ultimately, the objective is simply to win a prize by achieving a bingo. It’s not overly complex. If bingo is not your preferred choice, there are numerous alternative options to choose from.
It is important to remain cautious about the legality of these apps, as each state has its own distinct laws concerning online gambling.
Before downloading any apps, it is advisable to review your state’s laws regarding online gambling as these games may be subject to them.
4. Sell Your Data
The phrase “sell your data” might elicit confusion on your part. Preserving your personal information is probably your utmost priority.
The data we’re discussing is not as highly classified as your Social Security Number or banking details, so selling it should still be avoided.
The collection of your data by tech companies is a topic that has likely come to your attention. As technology has become indispensable in our daily lives, this matter has sparked a fascinating discussion over the past few decades.
These companies are often summoned by the government to clarify the reasons behind their data collection practices. Unsurprisingly, they disclose that they monetize this information by selling it to different external entities. These third parties may subsequently utilize this data for crafting personalized advertisements tailored to your interests.
After conducting a search engine query on toaster repair, you’ll notice a sudden influx of toaster advertisements. Selling your data would eliminate the intermediary and allow you to reap the associated advantages. Numerous user-friendly options are available, simply requiring the app to be downloaded and run discreetly in the background.
You are providing innocent information (such as the websites you visit and apps you download), which is then sold to third parties. As a result, you will receive a portion of the profits. Considering that your data is probably already being sold, it would be beneficial for you to be the one benefiting from it.
5. Social Media and Affiliate Programs
If you have a natural talent for managing social media platforms, consider dedicating yourself to a full-time YouTube channel in order to enhance your personal finances and social presence by pursuing sponsorships and engaging in affiliate marketing.
Affiliate programs are widely utilized by numerous companies to collaborate with video game streamers, renowned bloggers who manage their own websites and online stores, and other individuals who create content. Such programs provide excellent marketing opportunities for companies and serve as a vital source of monetization for influencers with podcasts and a shrewd entrepreneurial mindset.
What is affiliate marketing?
Before we proceed with its definition, let’s establish one thing clearly – affiliate marketing is not a shortcut to instant wealth. It is unrealistic to expect to achieve millionaire status within a few months.
Consistently working at affiliate marketing can lead to the generation of passive income, eventually transforming into an excellent source of revenue, granting financial freedom and independence.
What does affiliate marketing entail?
An affiliate marketer earns a commission for each sale or lead generated by promoting products from other companies to their audience. While resembling a referral source, an affiliate marketer typically lacks a personal connection with the individuals they recommend products to.
The majority of affiliate marketing occurs via the internet. The affiliate marketer advertises products from external companies on their blog and various online platforms, incorporating an affiliate link in the process. When users click on this link, they are redirected from the affiliate marketer’s media to the vendor’s webpage. By tracking this link, any sales resulting from it are attributed to the affiliate marketer.
To put it in straightforward terms, when you include links to products in your blog or other platforms, and if someone clicks on those links and makes a purchase, it generates revenue for you, typically a portion of the total purchase cost.
How are affiliate marketers paid?
Affiliates receive payment according to the terms agreed upon with the companies they promote products for. Payment is contingent on various actions, which are all monitored through affiliate links associated with each company the marketer collaborates with. Potential methods of payment include:
- A percentage of the product sale price
- Per lead generated, such as a form submission or newsletter signup
- Per click
- Per app download
- Per free trial initiated
The least common form of affiliate marketing is receiving payment per click, which is only feasible for large companies due to the uncertainty of generating sales. On the other hand, the most prevalent arrangement involves earning a percentage of the sale price. However, for software-based services, it is also common to offer free trials and downloads, as many individuals who take advantage of these offers often become loyal customers in the long run.
How to become a successful affiliate marketer
Up to this point, you have acquired knowledge about affiliate marketing, earning profit through it, and identifying products that align with your existing online activities.
Start by selecting one product and then utilize online marketing tactics to promote your affiliate links to a wide audience. The greater the number of potential buyers you can allure, the higher your earnings will be. Once you become familiar with the process, incorporate additional products and services from various companies.
Keep in mind that the most successful affiliate marketing occurs when you genuinely like and have experience with the products. Alternatively, even if you haven’t tried them, if you hold them in high regard and can endorse them sincerely, you can still promote them effectively.
Below, you will find some helpful suggestions on how to increase your earnings through affiliate marketing.
Review products in relevant niches
Begin writing product reviews on your blog, ensuring that the top-ranked products are those that bring in revenue for you. Niche-specific review websites are highly favored and trusted.
If you happen to be an educator, you can compose a blog article discussing the top-notch educational birthday presents suitable for three-year-olds. Furthermore, you have the ability to feature affiliate products on the list and explain the reasons behind their excellence.
Start producing digital content beyond blog posts
Starting with blogs is a great way to begin. However, once you begin creating guides, how-to manuals, videos, eBooks, podcasts, and webinars, your perceived level of expertise increases. As a result, any products you endorse will face less pushback, regardless of their price.
Use courses, events, and workshops
By employing these methods, you will enhance your level of authority. Any opportunity that allows you to address an audience, whether in person or virtually, presents a chance for you to establish yourself as the person with the most expertise. This could involve presenting at conferences, trade shows, or conventions. Additionally, you can utilize online courses, workshops, and webinars.
Create how-to content
Affiliate marketing is highly effective for blogs, especially when they feature how-to content, as it allows you to present the product as the ideal solution for the problem under discussion. This alignment feels genuine and fitting.
If you were to write a blog post about addressing dry skin, one suggestion might be to endorse the healing lotion you personally prefer.
Email your subscribers, frequently
If you already have email subscribers, it is recommended to send them emails on a weekly basis. When you start engaging in affiliate marketing, you can occasionally include emails and side comments about those products. However, it is important not to overdo it and avoid bombarding your list every day. Nevertheless, as a part of your communication strategy, feel free to share anecdotes and express your admiration for the products you are promoting.
Use social media
If you already have active social channels and are maximizing their potential, incorporating affiliate marketing is a seamless progression similar to email. Simply sharing occasional posts about products you appreciate or personally utilize can lead to your followers clicking on the affiliate links. This applies to various platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and even LinkedIn if you are promoting business-oriented products as an affiliate.
Consistency, frequency, courtesy
No matter what methods you use to promote affiliate products, continue doing them. Maintain consistency in your actions, whether it is posting daily, sending weekly emails, writing bi-weekly blogs, or producing monthly podcasts. Stay consistent and continue to consistently present yourself.
Regularly generate revenue by maintaining a high frequency. Utilizing multiple channels makes it easier to achieve this. For instance, you can write a blog post one day, send an email the following day, compose a Facebook post the subsequent day, record a podcast afterwards, and conclude the week with a live session on Instagram.
When it comes to politeness, it implies ensuring that your affiliate marketing content is beneficial. Always bear in mind that your audience trusts you as a reliable source of information. Only promote products and solutions that genuinely improve their lives in some manner. Remain genuine.
