Sarah sits comfortably on her plush sofa with feet tucked underneath her, with a laptop nestled on her laps and headset complete with microphone secured to her ears. She takes note on a pad as she speaks into the microphone, booking a speaking appointment for her client.
Sarah, a stay-at-home mother of two, is a virtual assistant. She’s among the millions of Americans who have found employment outside the traditional 9 – 5. Increasingly nowadays, many Americans prefer working from home. They are rejecting the traditional office set up. It’s either they work for someone from their homes, or they put up their own business.
As technology continues to develop and evolve, it changes the way we live and work.
These advancements also come with problems which never existed before. And within the innovative solutions for these problems, lies plenty of great income opportunities that never existed before.
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How to make money fast both online and offline:
Whether you call it a side-hustle or a side-gig to boost your primary income or a full-time job, these 20 ways to make money are worth taking a look at. What people love the most about them is the flexibility they offer. However, taking responsibility for your own finances – negotiating fees, taking care of your healthcare and retirement plans, paying taxes and insurance – are some of the prices you will have to pay.
Online:
Virtual Assistant
The work of a Virtual assistant is one of the new ways of easily making money from virtually anywhere. Virtual assistants are professionals that offer skilled administrative support to companies and businesses.
Virtual assistants carry out a whole lot of widely varied tasks. In fact, what they can do is only limited by individual skills, experience, and training. Some of the most common tasks VAs carry out for their clients include:
- Sending Emails
- Making and answering phone calls
- Internet research
- Data entry
- Writing
- Scheduling appointments
- Marketing
- Event planning
- Blog management
- Project management
- Customer service, etc.
As a virtual assistant, you can work as an employee or you can set-up your own business. Setting up shop as a virtual assistant is relatively easy. The start-up costs are low, and often, you already own all the equipment you need. To get started, you will need a cell phone, a computer, high-speed internet access, a scanner printer, and if possible, a website or a Facebook business account to market your services.
Virtual Assistant work will allow you to have flexibility in your scheduling. You can decide who to work with and set your rates as you see fit. Your earning potential is only limited by how effective your marketing is and how much effort you put in rendering services.
Freelancing
Freelancing is the offering of usually specialized skills by individuals – referred to as freelancers – to clients for a fee. A freelancer can offer their services to businesses as well as to consumers. Almost all the services required by businesses can be outsourced to a freelancer. These include marketing, writing, advertising, tech support, graphic design, bookkeeping, etc.
To get started as a freelancer, find out what you are really good at. What can you do better than most people? Is there a demand for these skills? After you have chosen a service to sell, getting started is usually easy. You can register on a few of the numerous freelancing sites available such as Upwork.com or Freelancer.com
Find your target market. Create your brand and develop your USP- unique selling proposition. You then create an online portfolio to market your services. This can be done with a website, and social media platforms like LinkedIn, Pinterest, Portfoliobox, etc
Freelancing is about becoming your own boss. Additionally, you can work from the comfort of your home, at the local café or even from anywhere in the world. and live a nomadic lifestyle. You can set your own time and work on any project you choose.
Freelancing also lets you get paid what you are worth. Which is most times higher than what an average employer will get paid for the same project. The demand for reliable, high-quality freelancers is on the increase since many businesses rely on them to get things done.
However, freelancing comes with downsides too. The work is not steady, and freelancers sometimes go through a lean period. Again, you won’t become a superstar overnight.
It may take some time before you have sufficient well-paid work to take care of your expenses. You may have to start with charging low rates and as your reputation for reliable work grows, begin to charge higher.
Also, you do not have the benefits employees enjoy like employer-sponsored retirement and healthcare plans. You would also have to pay the self-employment tax.
Working in the gig economy as a freelancer has many attractions. You have freedom, a flexible schedule and the potential to earn as high as you feel you’re worth.
Teaching English Online
Teaching English online as a foreign language to non-native English speakers is a rapidly growing gig. The training is usually done over the Internet with a computer, webcam and appropriate software. The students can learn in small groups or on a one-on-one basis.
The students and teachers can set their schedules, and the teacher can choose to work from anywhere.
A vast majority of the students comes from China.
Teaching can be a rewarding and satisfying experience. But to be considered by the companies that hire teachers, you need to meet some of the following requirements:
- Must be a native English speaker
- Have a university degree, or you’re currently studying for a degree (not required in some cases)
- Have a TEFL certificate (not required in some cases)
Additionally, you need a dependable internet connection, webcam, microphone and a quiet location for the sessions.
While teaching English online may not make you wealthy, it will be a welcome addition to your income. You can expect to earn from $10 – $23/hour depending on the hiring company. Two of the most popular online English platforms are Magic Ears and Vipkid.com
Social media marketing (SMM) is a form of Internet marketing that makes use of social media sites. Social media marketing works by making use of engaging content that users will share around their social network to increase a company’s brand exposure and reach a broader range of customers.
As a social media marketer, your job is to protect your client’s image on social networks. You create and run social media campaigns; write social media posts that will increase engagement and brand loyalty, and respond to customer’s complaint. The idea is to generate leads and drive sales from social media platforms.
A higher number of consumers are seeking ways to connect with their favorite brands on Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, etc. it’s not surprising then that demand for Social Media Managers who can handle these transactions are on the increase.
If you are keen on starting a social media consulting business, you need to acquire the necessary skills if you don’t already have them. Several affordable online courses can teach you social media marketing. Then, you’ll need to set up a website to sell your services and also make use of social media platforms like Linkedin to promote your business. Also, local businesses around you could be an abundant source of steady work if your sales pitch is convincing enough.
Virtual Researcher
Thanks to technology, your thirst for knowledge and answers is right at your fingertips. All you need to do is scroll through a bunch of tabs and sites through your mobile phone, tablet, or computer. You can make some extra cash right at the comfort of your very own home.
Companies have realized the vast amount of people who need information but may not have the time to gather the information, or may be struggling through the process of nitpicking what they need through the thousands of pages out there. This is where virtual researches come into play.
They provide clients with Internet research services, compiling what their clients need and sending it to them. If you love searching for browsing through the web and learning about anything and everything, a virtual researcher gig could be the best way for you to generate income.
Wonder is one of the sites you can use as a virtual researcher to make money. Wonder hires freelance virtual researchers to answer questions for students, companies, and professionals who need extra help with researching. Justanswer.com also hires people to answer queries.
Other sites hire virtual researchers based on their professional backgrounds. You can find virtual research jobs for various fields. Medical, legal, and science and the more prominent fields, but there are more out there. These jobs might include helping professionals write their research papers or even researching for answers on their behalf.
With some of these sites, you will need a certain level of certification and skills for you to to get credential as an expert. Once approved, your income may be based on the number of questions you answer, the amount of research you do, or it may be a set hourly rate.
Kindle eBook Writer
Do you love writing? Does the idea of publishing a book sound appealing to you?. Well, writing and having your works published has never been easier thanks to Amazon’s Kindle store. Gone are the days when you had to get an agent so that a publisher could at the very least read your manuscript. (Back in the day just because a publisher had your manuscript in their hands, did not guarantee it being published).
But as a Kindle eBook writer, the tables have turned for the best. Whether you love creating and sharing recipes, writing short stories, or writing “how to” topics, Kindle eBook will publish your work.
As a Kindle eBook writer, the only thing you need to invest in is your time to get those thoughts down.
Perhaps one of the best things about publishing an eBook is that it will earn you passive income in the future.
You will also need a killer cover for your eBook so that it stands out from the rest and attract more readers. Additionally, encourage readers to leave their honest reviews once you have published the book. The more honest reviews you get, the higher your book will rank in search results.
The Kindle app is available through many devices like smartphones, laptops, Kindles, and iPads. Most Kindle eBooks range between $2..99 – $7.99, and as the author of the content, you automatically get 70% of the sales.
Selling Photos Online
Do you like to take photos in your spare time? Do you have hundreds of photos saved on your phone or drive, just sitting their “collecting dust”? Well, now’s the time to look through your photos and start selling them.
One of the ways to sell pictures online is through stock libraries. They buy and sell photos that can be used in books, products, websites, and ads. As the photographer, you will get a certain percentage every time someone buys your photo through the stock library.
Before you become a stock library contributor, you might have to submit a number of pictures to be accepted. Once your photos are approved, most sites will keep reviewing your subsequent subscriptions.
You can sign up with multiple sites. Think of it as diversifying your portfolio. Some of the sites to consider are Shutterstock, 500px, Getty Images, and Dreamstime.
If you also have a large following on social media sites like Instagram, you can use this as another income producing opportunity. Social media sites do not have an option for selling pictures, but this guy found a way to make money by selling prints of his photos through Instagram. If he can do it, why can’t you?
Luckily, with the way technology is nowadays, you do not need a fancy and expensive camera. Use your phone to snap a few high-quality photos, and then edit them using the hundreds of photo editing apps out there – you’re good to go!
Call Center Agent
Have great customer service skills? Why not try working as a call center agent? Many companies are opting to hire remote workers for their call centers. By doing this, they are saving on overhead costs, taxes, insurance covers, and office space.
They are also making it possible for people like you to find jobs they can do from the comfort of their homes. There are many customer-agent roles to choose from such as:
- Customer service agent
- Sales representative
- Technical support
- Telemarketing
- Quality assurance
- Booking and reservations agent
To work as a customer service agent, there are a few requirements. These vary from one role to the other. However, for most of these jobs, you have to be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. Companies also look for people who are reliable, detail oriented, and have excellent customer service skills.
There are also some vital necessities such as having a computer and phone, along with headsets, and knowledge of basic computer skills.
Before you get into the job after the hiring process, some jobs will require you to go through some training. It will include getting to know company policies and software.
As a call center agent, you will be paid either per call, by the minutes you talk to clients, or per hour.
Document (Language) Translator
The need to communicate in other languages other than one’s native language has led to a thriving business in the translations niche. People are writing documents in various languages from all corners of the world. Translating these documents into other languages like French, German, English, Portuguese, Spanish among others helps people speaking those languages access these texts.
As a bilingual or a native speaker of any of these languages, you can easily excel as a translator. You should have advanced reading, comprehension and writing skills. Top-notch grammar skills are a must.
The languages most highly in demand are Spanish, Chinese, Korean, French, and Japanese.
Document language translators usually translate audios into text. You’ll need a computer and basic computer skills. The type of text translation will vary from general texts to medical texts, legal and technical writings. You can go to sites like Fiverr, Upwork and Freelancer.com and register to get started.
Most translation jobs are paid by the hour, while smaller translation jobs like translating lyrics and interviews are paid per word.
Logo Designer
As more websites and brand pop up in this digital age, so does the need for new designs, specifically logo designs. With this comes new opportunities for designers to help them market their products and services.
As a logo designer, you will be in charge of designing a company’s identity- it needs to be eye-catching while also embodying whatever message the client needs it to represent.
If you are creative, logo designing could be a great option for you. If you are starting out as a logo designer, user-friendly Photoshop may be the best software to play with. With time, you can learn how to design using more complex and in-demand software like UI/UX.
You can apply to jobs as a logo designer through various online sites like Upwork, Freelancer.com or put up your profile on Fiverr and wait for clients to get in touch.
Additionally, some sites like Brandcrowd.com allow logo designers to upload their designs and sell them through their websites. Other sites like logomyway.com >hold contests for logo designers. With such sites, you can design a logo based on the clients brief and enter into the contest.
Content Writer
Logo designs are not the only thing companies are using to attract and retain customers through their websites. Companies are always on the lookout for writers to help them create white papers, landing pages, as well as articles for their blogs.
As a content writer for websites, it is your job to do research a write about the topic you are assigned. You have to write in a style that corresponds with the company’s values and readers, while still being original. Learning how to use keywords and optimize your content for search engines will help you get more content writing jobs.
Content writer jobs can be found in various freelancing job sites. From Upwork to Fiverr and Freelancer.com among others. The charges depend on your writing skills as well as experience. Some content writers charge per hour while others charge per words.
If you have a way with words and you are looking for a way to earn through your skills at the comfort of your home, content writing for websites could be an excellent fit for you.
Video Creator
Working as a video content creator is another way of making money the new-fashioned way. With a smartphone and some editing skills, you could be up and running in the video creation industry.
A great way to start as a video content creator is through YouTube. Think about a topic you are passionate about and would like to share with the world. To start, you will need at least 1,000 subscribers as well as a view time of 4,000 hours. It might sound hard to achieve, but it is doable. And with the way social media runs these days, sharing your video through different platforms can get your channel growing in months.
Since generating income through YouTube might take a while, you can sell your videos online through stock footage sites. They operate just like photo selling websites only that you will be selling your videos instead of photos. A couple of the most popular ones are Unscreen and Vimeo.com
With professional videos that can be used for commercial purposes, you can sign up with these sites and split the pay with them. Setting up your own website is also an option especially if you have quite a portfolio to showcase.
Video creators also try freelancing. You would be surprised by how many people need extra help to create high-quality videos. Create a profile on freelancing sites and include a portfolio where prospective clients can see your work. This will enable you to be in charge of your own schedule and fees.
How to Make Money Driving:
Uber or Lyft Driving
Lyft and Uber are two of the most popular ridesharing apps. Ridesharing apps basically allow a person to hail a ride from their smartphone. The convenience and ease of the service have ensured the exploding popularity of Uber and Lyft in recent times. This popularity has provided earning opportunities as a driver for thousands of people in all the countries they operate.
So how do you go about driving for Uber or Lyft?
Either as a side hustle or full-time work, driving for ridesharing companies can be lucrative. However, you have to be up to 21 years old to register as a driver. Your car must have four doors and should be able to carry four passengers. It must be less than 10 years old and should have up-to-date insurance, plates, and registration. Your vehicle must also pass roadworthiness inspection.
You can then proceed to register online. Ubers runs a background check on all applicants, and if your application is accepted, you then download the partner app and get set to pick up your first passenger.
As a driver, you are rated by your passengers on a scale of 1 to 5, and you also rate your passengers. This helps to keep drivers accountable and maintain the quality of the ride service.
You get paid a percentage of the ride fare. Uber and Lyft can make payments straight to your account instantly, weekly or monthly as you prefer.
Delivery (Truck) driver
Do you love driving? If the idea of being on the road majority of the time appeals to you, then a delivery driving job might just be the thing for you. Delivery drivers simply move goods from one point to another. Delivery drivers could include tractor-trailer drivers, small package delivery drivers, and food delivery drivers.
You can make a decent living as a delivery driver. On average, delivery drivers make $13.27 per hour with heavy-duty truck drivers earning the highest. And there are ample opportunities too. As the economy grows and companies produce more and more goods, demand for delivery drivers will only increase.
What does it take to be hired as a delivery driver? For most companies hiring delivery drivers, a high school certificate is all the educational qualification required. Also, you must have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record. But you’ll need further training and a commercial drivers license (CDL) if you aspire to drive a heavy truck or tractor-trailer.
Drive for Uber Eats
If you love to drive around, but not necessarily with people, then being a driver for Uber Eats may be the job for you. UberEats connects people to restaurants within its vicinity. They can open their app and scroll through the many restaurants to choose from. Then once the order is placed, the food is delivered by an UberEats delivery partner (driver).
Customers can track their order, from the moment it is picked up from the restaurant all the way to its destination. The simplicity and convenience of the service led to its growth over the years. So does the opportunities for delivery drivers to earn more.
To become an UberEats delivery partner, here are the minimum qualifications:
- A vehicle
- Be 19 years and above (21 in Canada)
- A valid driving license, insurance and proof of vehicle registration
- At least one year of driving experience
- A smartphone
- Be able to lift up to 30 pounds
In some cities, there are opportunities for drivers to deliver using bikes and scooters with a 50CC motor. The age limits for these localities also differ with the rest.
Having an account with Uber as a driver is not necessary for you to become an UberEats delivery partner.
For those already partnering with Uber, opt for the UberEats service by selecting the vehicle options on your app and accept the delivery terms.
Earnings depend on one’s locality and demand for service at that specific moment. Uber Eats delivery partners also earn tips that the customers can send through the app. They are also able to cash out their earnings instantly- up to five times a day or weekly. Like its Driver app, Uber Eats also has a two-way rating system.
Driving with Uber Eats allows flexibility within one’s schedule and availability. Keep in mind that your availability for the job plays a significant role in your total earnings.
Other ways for you to make money:
Organize a Meet-up
Making connections is key in this day and age. This is where meet-ups come in, and specifically where you can come in. Meet-up is an online platform that allows local groups to meet up based on their hobbies, interests and a plethora of other things.
The first step is to generate a group idea. Think about the things you are passionate about – if you have the mindset that you are solely hosting this for the money, then it won’t go very well. You want to be genuinely excited to be inviting people to your event and sharing your interest with each other.
Keep these questions in mind when you’re trying to host a meet up:
- What are my interest and hobbies?
- What kind of events do I enjoy going to?
- What are some topics I am passionate about?
Before organizing a meet-up, it is also essential to do some background research. Are there any other meet-ups happening nearby? What do they do or discuss? When do they meet? Attend these meet-ups if possible and get to know the attendees as well as the organizers. You will learn what topics people in the area are most interested in. Knowing this will help you to organize a meet-up that sets you apart from the rest. It will also help you learn how to organize a meet-up and keep it going.
Once you’ve gotten into the swing of things, be consistent in hosting meet-ups. People will look forward to future meet-ups if they know they’ll be taking place. Be friendly- greet everyone, make a point of remembering their names, send thank you notes. You want people to feel welcomed and accepted.
Hosting meet-ups is not a million-dollar industry, but with time, you can break even. Besides growing your network, you may also create new friendships. As your group grows, Meet-up will assist you in organizing and improving your events.
Become a House Sitter
Traveling out of town for a couple of days or months is exciting, but it can leave homeowners worried. An empty home will be unkempt and could attract unwanted people. This is where house sitters come in. They are paid to watch a home while the owner is gone for an amount of time.
The period of working as a house sitter varies, depending on how long the client will be out. Some gigs last for a few days while others last for months, especially in the summer when people are away on vacations.
As a house sitter, your tasks may range from taking care of the garden, cleaning the house, disposing of garbage, caring for the owners’ pets, grabbing the mail, and simply making sure someone is in the house period.
Sometimes a house sitter will have to pay for the utilities since they are basically living in the house rent-free.
House sitting rates vary with location. While setting own rates on any profile, it is vital for one to use a competitive rate. Apart from earning as a house sitter, there are also opportunities to save on accommodation in various destinations. Some sites do not limit house sitters to a particular location, which can be an advantage to an ardent traveler open to saving from the accommodation.
Rent Out Your Car
Have a car in your garage that you use occasionally, a few times a year, or hardly ever? Rather than letting your cars to sit in the garage collect dust, why not rent it out. With peer-to-peer car-sharing platforms, the worry of a stranger driving off with the car has reduced immensely.
There are numerous platforms to sign up with and list your car for rental. The rental period is not fixed; it all depends on the owner and how often they use the car. Once you have signed up on a platform, snap a few pictures of your car, attach them to your listings and indicate when it is available. Once booked, you get a notification that you can either decline or accept. The car owner will then have to connect with the hirer to check their driving license, show them the car’s mileage and fuel, and hand in the keys.
Some minimum qualification needs to be met though. These include:
- Insurance coverage
- A minimum mileage depending on the site, e.g. 120,000 miles or 150,000 miles.
- A certain model year. Some sites will only list cars that are less than 15 years at the time of registering while others have their cap at 12 years.
Car owners set up their daily rates, which could range from $30 to $100 per day and some of the most popular platforms are Turo.com, Hyrecar.com, and GetAround.com.
Hold a Garage Sale
Holding a garage sale might sound be old-fashioned, but it really isn’t. After all, the phrase, “somebody’s trash is another person’s treasure” is still so very true. A garage sale gives you the opportunity to declutter your house and make some extra cash.
To hold a successful garage sale, planning is essential- first, pick the right date and time. Most people prefer to hold their garage sales on weekends since that’s when people have time to stop by and check out the sale. Depending on the number of items you have to sell, a multi-day garage sale may be more practical than a single-day one.
Garage sales tend to be popular in the summer. After all, who wants to drive or walk up to a garage sale when there’s snow on the ground. Plus, people tend to declutter in the warmer months.
Now before you start planning, don’t forget to check if your city requires you to get a permit to hold a garage sale!
Once you have the date and time set, go through your items and sort them into separate piles like “keep”, “maybe”, and “get rid of”. One good rule is that if you haven’t worn or used it within the past 6 months, chances are that you can get rid of it. After you’ve got your items sorted out, it’s time to price them. I recommend individually pricing and labeling each item. While this next step may be tedious, it is worth it. The last thing you want is a mix-up or even argument overpricing.
The next step is to advertise your garage sale. While putting up signs at the corner of your streets will definitely draw passersby, the internet is your best friend. Craigslist, Yard Hopper, Yard Sale Search, are some great places to advertise a garage sale. Use your social media accounts to inform your family and friends as well.
Offer Lawn Care Service
While homeowners dream of having beautiful lawns, some do not have the equipment, skills or the time to tend to these lawns. If you have the skills, tools and the time, offering lawn care services could be a great way to earn extra income.
How you can you can get started with lawn servicing? Try offering your services to your neighbors.
Your services could range from cutting grass, weeding, landscaping, and planting among others.
To get started with your lawn care services, find out the level of competition in your area and the demand for these services within the area. Is a certain service higher in demand compared to another?
Having the latest equipment is always ideal. They work most efficiently and increase your value. However, if you don’t have the means to invest in pricey and brand new equipment you can always start out by purchasing maybe last year’s model of equipment. Set up your rate, keeping in mind that lower prices might attract more customers. Then advertise your services through local job boards, social media sites and you are set to go.
For every job you have done, keep a record of your clientele, the services you offered as well as their preferences/reviews. This will come in handy in case they require your services again, as well as be useful while growing your clientele.
No more excuses
There you go. Making money has been democratized, thanks in no small measure to the advancement in technology. Now, go out there and get that start looking for opportunities. In this present time, there’s no reason to be broke. Ever!