If you opened this page, you already know the importance of finding a side hustle to make some extra cash. A side hustle can increase your financial independence and security in today’s harsh global economy.
In many cases, it is hard to find a paying job that can help you meet some of your financial needs. And even wages and salaries are no longer enough to cater for one’s basic needs. Hence, the need to look for a side hustle to complement one’s earnings.
Also, a side hustle reflects a way of putting your productivity to work. Most 9-to-5 jobs requires you to do mundane activities everyday for the entire year but finding a side hustle can give you the satisfaction of ‘doing other things you love’ in addition to putting extra money in your pocket.
In this post, you will learn about how to find a side hustle and also see some side hustle opportunities you may like to explore immediately.
Factors to Consider When Finding a Side Hustle
In finding a side hustle, here are some factors to consider:
1. What skillset you already have
Finding a side hustle, you need to consider the skillsets you already have and start from there. For example, you may have monetizable skills that you are not aware of. So, you need to look within yourself to see if any of your skillsets can fetch you money as a side hustle.
This does not mean you should not be open to learn new skills if that is the best option available, but it feels natural to start from skills you already have to those you need to acquire freshly.
For example, if you have good experience in childcare, getting a nanny job can be a lucrative part-time hustle that can contribute to your weekly income. Same with having content-writing skills.
2. How relevant is the side hustle
Side hustles that were relevant a few years ago may not remain relevant in this 2024. Artificial intelligence has come to take over many aspects of productivity but you can stay relevant by looking for side hustles that can stay afloat longer.
For example, in 2024, selling online products, or dropshipping are viable side hustles that can earn you extra cash and keep you financially bouyant all-year long.
3. Cost of starting the side hustle
There are free and paid side hustle opportunities, and this is a major factor to consider when finding a side hustle.
Side hustles, like freelancing, that don’t require you to spend money are often preferred by most people but they may not bring the most profits. You could also consider others like dropshipping and affiliate marketing which may require you to spend money on ads and promotion.
Whether free or paid, some side hustle opportunities may require you to pass some assessment checks, e.g., nanny background checks in a case of finding reliable nanny jobs as a side hustle. However, the efforts and/or money you put into finding your side hustle will be worth it in the end.
4. How much time do you need to commit to it to succeed
Depending on your schedule, you might want to opt-in for side hustles that allows you to run other aspects of your life and career. For example, if you are medical doctor like me, this can affect how much time you can give to a side hustle.
How to Find Your Side Hustle Now
After having picked out the factors you want to consider in finding a side hustle, now it’s time to start searching. Here are some avenues where you can find a side hustle to make some extra income starting now.
1. Search online
The first place you want to check when looking for a hustle or a side hustle opportunity is the internet, which is why you may be reading this post in the first place. There are lot of amazing side hustle opportunities available on the internet if you know how to find them.
Even better, you can search for “jobs near me” and add any side hustle idea you have in your head to the search query. For example, “writing jobs near me” will show you a lot of writing opportunities you can apply for to fetch you extra income in addition to what you currently do.
2. Ask a friend close to you
Another way you can get legit side hustles is by asking a friend you are close to. By the time you have asked three or four of your friends, you may have found someone who shows you a side hustle opportunity, or opened your eyes to a potential side hustle idea.
3. Talk to someone who already has a side hustle
It’s no longer hard to know someone who has a side hustle, especially if you are close to him/her. You could sometimes bump into them doing their side jobs, or they would always notice them doing something everyone else is not doing.
When you find someone who already has an established side hustle, you should talk with them to see how they can introduce you to the side hustle as well, particularly if it is something you can do and are passionate about.
10 Side Hustle Opportunities For You
Now that you have seen some of the factors to consider in choosing a side hustle and how to find a side hustle, I have a bonus offer for you. Here, you will see 10 side hustle opportunities you can start now to earn some extra income for yourself.
1. Start a blog
Starting a blog will require you to have writing and some web design skills/knowledge. You also need to determine what you want to write about in your blog.
Making money from a blog involves traffic monetization platforms like Google AdSense, affiliate marketing, and SEO-related services. If you are passionate about writing and sharing your ideas, starting a blog is a side hustle you might want to consider.
2. Monetize a YouTube channel
Different kind of video contents can now be monetized on YouTube, and once you have the right audience, you can make a passive income simply by creating and uploading video contents to YouTube.
If you have a knack for video editing, starting and monetizing a YouTube channel is a side hustle you should consider. Alternatively, you can upload other free-to-share videos to your channel to gather views and content monetization.
3. Freelancing
If you think you are not ready to start a full-time blog, you can engage in freelancing as a content creator where you can write articles for clients. Popular freelancing sites include Fiverr and Upwork but not limited to these.
Freelancing is not only limited to writing jobs. You can freelance as a computer programmer and take up remote gigs that can earn you some extra cash. And whether you already have these skills or not, you can acquire the skills if you have determined that it is something you’d like to do.
4. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is another side hustle idea that many people are already cashing out with in this 2024. It involves advertising a product or a service using a unique promotional code, where you can earn a commission if someone purchases the product/service using your link or code.
In affiliate marketing, you don’t need to have your own product to start. All you need to do is find an affiliate products that offers you a commission for each sale you make.
To get started, go to an affiliate marketplace like Leadpages, ConvertKit, ClickBank, or ShareASale and find the right products for you. And if you’re a content creator, course educator, or influencer working in the world of ecommerce, the Shopify Affiliate Program might be a great side hustle for you.
5. Sell digital products
If you have a soft skill like writing, graphic designing, and others, you can create a digital product that you can sell online. For example, you can sell a downloadable document, or any digital asset you can distribute in mp3, mp4,or video format.
The ideas for a digital product are endless. If you are web designer, you can create downloadable website templates for sale. Once you have created your digital product, you need to look for a platform that can allow you market it for profit or start an online store by yourself.
6. Rent out your home or spare room
Whether you live in your own home or in your parents’ apartment, you can make extra money by renting out your spare space. People in transit do not mind paying to pass the night at a comfortable place. So, if you can revamp any excess rooms in your home, you can make money renting them out to people.
Platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, Agoda, and Plum Guide (UK only) make the process of listing your home or room space for short-term rentals easier and efficient. Once you are registered, you can get interested travelers who want to rent your available space.
7. Participate in paid online surveys
Nowadays, you see companies and market researchers that want to know what people think of their products and services. By doing so, they can acquire data to improve their products and service quality.
These companies are ready to pay genuine online survey respondents which can add an extra cash to your purse. Filling out surveys won’t pay your bills, but it can pad your pocket with extra money for the weekend.
Websites like Branded Surveys, Swagbucks, and Survey Junkie have a ton of surveys you might want to try out now.
8. Be an app tester
Do you know you can get paid to test apps? App developers want to ensure that there are no bugs or challenges when using their apps but some of these errors can go undetected if not tested by people under different conditions or using different devices. This is why you can get paid simply to test apps and offer your feedback.
For some competitive app-testing gigs, they can offer you up to $100 for a 60-minute test, which is enough money for your time.
Sites like UserTesting, UTest, Userlytics, UserCrowd, and Enroll can connect you with website- and app-testing gigs, to make a few extra bucks using your smartphone or desktop.
9. Be a transcriber or translator
Every now and then, you come across organizations that want careful documentation of videos, audio notes, phone calls, or legal proceedings. If you are hired, all you have to do is listen and type out what you hear into a text format and sent back to them.
I have seen several people who are making few extra money as transcribers/translators. And even more interestingly, you don’t need to be physically close to the organization in need of a transcriber or translator.
To find transcriber gigs, check out freelancer sites like Rev, TranscribeMe, and GoTranscript for transcription side hustle opportunities.
10. Dropshipping
Whether or not you can create your own products, with dropshipping, you can make money selling products online. All you have to do is to connect interested buyers to their products of interest. After which you purchase the product after they have placed the order through you and then add your profit to the price they have to pay.
Dropshipping is a very lucrative business if you are a business-oriented individual. It’s similar to the conventional buying and selling, only that the buyer bears most of the financial risks while you simply coordinate the process.
Final words
Finding a side hustle opportunity is not so hard if you search well enough. The opportunities are around you if you look well enough.
Making an extra side income can make a lot of difference in one’s finances. Side hustles are opportunities to diversify one’s income sources, and if you get serious enough, you can turn your side hustle into a sure source of livelihood for you and your family.
