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Last Updated on August 20, 2021 by Daniella
In the modern world, opportunities to make extra money abound. But with so many different ways to make money at your disposal, you may be wondering which ones are the right side hustles for you to pursue.
Here’s how to make $1,000 a month online from scratch!
While you’re here, don’t forget to take our completely free side hustle quiz 👇
Table of Contents
Start a YouTube Channel
There are many creative ways to make cash online as you’ll discover if you’re actively researching side hustle statistics. Our first side hustle recommendation is starting your own YouTube channel
If you have an area of expertise that you can provide advice in, a hilarious video idea that will bring in a ton of views, or even a quirky concept that no one else has tested, making a YouTube channel can be a great way to earn passive income for your work through YouTube ads.
That being said, it’s important to remember that your income depends on your success. You may also want to consider investing in the right video/audio equipment (as well as flexible graphic design and editing software) so you can produce quality content for your subscribers.
The more effort you put into creating great content for your YouTube channel, the more you’re going to get out of it!
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing programs give you the opportunity to earn extra money by giving you a portion of the profits they earn by sales you’ve driven.
How? Rather than selling a product outright, you can join an affiliate program, get a special link to incorporate into your social media profiles or blogs, and encourage others to purchase whatever product you’re promoting to make affiliate income.
If you’re someone who’s very active within certain communities, it can be quite easy to find an affiliate marketing program that aligns with your interests. Whether you love pet products, trendy electronics, or business tools, there’s sure to be an affiliate marketing program for you.
Affiliate networks are popular routes that affiliate marketers use. You can sign up for any of the below and start browsing affiliate programs to join:
Then, it’s just a matter of building your audience and regularly incorporating these links to your favorite products so that those who follow you will buy. If you already run your own blog, you can easily use this method to boost your cash without selling your own products.
Become a Virtual Assistant
Running your own business takes a great deal of time and energy. In order to run your business efficiently, you need to learn how to delegate tasks. Fortunately, business owners who are great at delegating are going to need outside support. This is where you come in.
If you’re great at taking care of administrative work, one of the ways to use your skills is as a virtual assistant. Virtual assistants are often tasked with a variety of responsibilities, such as conducting research, making appointments, and acting as a social media manager.
One way to go about finding virtual assistant gigs is to create a stellar profile on platforms like Upwork and Freelancer to land clients in need of a VA (whether it’s a Pinterest VA or general VA). However, there’s a simpler way to see if this is the right side hustle for you.
If you want to dip your toes in the water before you get started, you can sign up with platforms like Fancy Hands or Zirtual to make some cash and see whether or not it’s the type of work you want to be doing for extra money.
Freelance Writing
If you love helping businesses thrive and creating masterful content that informs and excites, choosing to become a freelance writer may be the perfect path for you.
Freelance writing encompasses a wide variety of content types. However, you will likely start out with blog posts, articles, and copywriting (ad campaigns, social media, etc.).
From there, you can build your portfolio and land bigger clients that will pay you “day job income”. As this is a business that takes time to develop, it can be helpful to learn how to balance a side hustle with a full-time job until you can only focus on writing.
But where do you begin? If you’re just getting started, it’s best to work with content mills like Textbroker or WriterAccess (that pay some cash) to learn more about what clients will expect from you and what type of work you will encounter along your journey.
If freelance writing is something you’re still interested in after your foray into the field, you can then pitch publications, get credited for your work, and use that to approach new clients who will pay good money (without having to give a good chunk of your earnings to another company).
For those who love writing, what could be better than engaging in your favorite hobby for extra money?
Start a Blog
Along the lines of freelance writing, starting a blog for cash and fun is always a great option as well. Almost everyone can start a blog today as long as they have a deep interest in a specific topic and the ability to voice that interest in an appealing way.
However, it’s important to know that blogging isn’t easy, and there are plenty of blogging mistakes you may make along the way. After all, you’re responsible for content production, SEO, marketing, and more as a blogger.
(Unless you have a budget to work with to pay graphic designers and marketers, of course.)
So, why do people get into blogging? Blogging can be quite lucrative if you like passive income. Beyond just advertising revenue, you can also use affiliate marketing programs or sell your own products like online courses or e-books to boost your earning potential.
This side hustle idea may take a long time to execute. Once you’ve managed to bring in enough organic traffic, however, you will see the extra money start to accumulate, making it one of the best ways to hit your smart financial goals.
If you want to start a blog, you can get started with Bluehost using our link that will get you a discount only for ILTD readers.
Sell Products Using Amazon FBA
Anyone who operates their own online store knows how difficult it can be. If you don’t want to deal with all the work yourself, you can start dropshipping with Amazon FBA to make some extra money.
Fulfillment by Amazon is a program where you ship the products that you sell on Amazon to fulfillment centers. Once received, Amazon takes care of the rest. Everything from storing, packing, and shipping to customer service is all handled by Amazon.
This gives you the freedom to focus on other aspects of your business that may have been overlooked while you were worried about dealing with the fulfillment process.
Does selling goods online through Amazon and earning passive income appeal to you? If so, make your journey easier and sign up with FBA so that you never have to worry about taking on the fulfillment process by yourself.
Proofreading
Being able to catch grammar mistakes is a talent, and it should be utilized to make some extra money on the side. How? By proofreading, of course!
Proofreaders are hired by writing services and independent clients to pick up on mistakes that may have been overlooked by the writer or the editing plugins and tools that they employ. Given that proofreading is easy for those with stellar grammar, this is a very simple side hustle.
Keep in mind that there’s a major difference between proofreaders and editors. Editors focus not only on grammar but style, tone, and flow. Both opportunities are great if you’re looking for extra cash, but the former is far less work than the latter (which may mean less extra cash as well).
If you wish to find proofreading clients, you can look for editing platforms or start your own portfolio and look for clients on platforms like Problogger. With time, you can create a resume that will turn the heads of any writing client.
You can even get started proofreading with this free workshop.
Consulting
Consulting is the perfect side hustle for business professionals with extensive experience and a proven track record in a certain area.
For example, if you’ve spent years as a marketer for a variety of top brands, creating a portfolio that illustrates your experience can help you approach new businesses that need support as they grow and scale their business model. Your knowledge is valuable.
You may even consult for specific items like Facebook marketing using Facebook Ads (if you have extensive knowledge of Facebook and its algorithm).
Unlike coaching, consulting does require you to have case studies and a lot of positive feedback and support prior to approaching clients. As such, consulting is better reserved for those who can prove their value and know-how upfront.
As with the previous suggestions, all you need to do to become a consultant is to approach businesses posting freelance consulting positions on various job boards. Once you have more experience, you can create your own online business and sell your own materials to clients!
Sell Handmade Goods on Etsy
Have a knack for creating awesome homemade goods? If so, one of the ways you can target your desired audience without the hassle of setting up your own shop is by selling items for extra cash on Etsy.
Etsy is the go-to marketplace for craft sellers who want to create their own online storefront in a platform known for its creative vendors. Whether you love making soaps, bath bombs, or even decorative furniture for homes, there are plenty of ways to make money on Etsy.
All you have to get started is sign up for an account, start listing your items, and wait for the orders to roll in. It still takes time and effort to build a following on Etsy, but you benefit from the fact that they host your store rather than having to set up everything on your own.
If selling the goods you make is something you’ve thought about but you want to start small, consider setting up your own Etsy shop and marketing this via social media and other channels. Then, you can save your money and go independent if your shop leads you there!
Bookkeeping
Like consulting, bookkeeping is one of the best ways to use your financial experience and education.
Bookkeepers are tasked with helping businesses and individuals keep track of their finances by overseeing their financial records and generating financial statements and income reports. This can be an essential component of leading a more financially responsible company or lifestyle.
If you already have experience working with others as a bookkeeper, have experience with software like Quickbooks, seek out clients who need your services and begin working on your own income potential!
Teach English to Kids
Tutoring English is arguably one of the most accessible ways to make extra income.
While there are certainly platforms with more stringent acceptance guidelines, platforms like PalFish have made it easier than ever to teach English conversationally. This means that you don’t have to have a college degree or teaching experience to join.
Regardless of your past experience, you will find that there are ample opportunities out there to teach English to children, with some of the most notable platforms being Cambly or VIPKID.
Just make sure that you account for the time difference for some students. If you get bored, you can always fill up your time with another side hustle like being a dog walker.
Sell on eBay
eBay is still running strong, even when they’re up against popular platforms like Amazon. As such, turning to a platform like eBay to sell goods you no longer need or goods that you got for a steal is one of the top ways to make monthly income.
The trick to getting the most out of eBay is to look for products that are trending and to make sure that you’re getting a great return for your efforts. For example, creating your own store where you sell popular books is much better than selling whatever is around the house.
With the right hustle and strategy, making extra money on this platform can be the next big thing for you.
Flip Furniture
Have you ever seen online listings for furniture that’s still in good condition? Have you ever come across great furniture on the curb that looked like a shame to waste? If so, you can turn furniture flipping into your part-time job!
People who flip furniture make money by fixing up furniture that’s in good condition and selling it for more than they initially bought the item for. Some furniture flippers may even make extra money by charging for furniture removal.
Both the buying and selling of the furniture can happen online. But picking it up and transporting it does require a truck or other large vehicle.
As long as the furniture you acquire can be fixed and sold without any health concerns, you can definitely make extra income reselling furniture. You may even want to look into more lucrative items like appliances as well for even more quick cash.
Write an Ebook
Traditional publishing is an extensive process that many modern authors don’t have the time or the patience for. The good news? Traditional publishing isn’t the only way to go about getting your book out there.
Now, you can use platforms like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing or Apple iBooks to get your work in front of audiences. The only thing to keep in mind is the royalties that they will be paying for your work and whether or not you have to sign an exclusive contract.
As long as you do your due diligence, you should be fine publishing your book on your own or with the support of another platform.
Making extra money online is easier than ever.
However, finding the right opportunities are crucial to your success. If you want to make $1,000 a month online from scratch, use the ideas listed above to help you pad your bank account!
Related:
- 49 Best Side Hustle Ideas to Create More Income in 2021
- 10 Digital Products to Sell for Passive Income
- 7 Best Digital Nomad Jobs for Location Independence
- How to Get Started Freelance Writing
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Garit is a former SEO manager, now SEO consultant and writer.