7 Online Side Hustles You Can Start for Extra Income
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This article is continually updated so that those looking to create extra income (side hustle) in today’s ever-changing economy have some guidance to get the ball rolling.
Why create a side hustle?
When it comes to making money, it’s all about marketing and branding. Whether you are a Fortune 500 company, a sole proprietor working out of your home, or starting a part-time side hustle, keep that front and center as you consider the type of website you want to create.
Even with a side hustle, you have to have a way to stand out from all the noise. That’s called branding. It would be best to be perceived as someone to trust with your potential customer’s hard-earned dollars, especially when folks are holding on to those dollars more than before.
Create a list of topics you know you’ll enjoy writing about and can honestly commit to. Without this first step, your chances of success are hindered. You need to know about and enjoy the process; otherwise, you will not succeed.
Then, look at that list and think about how to find and fill a need. Or how can you offer a product or service in a better or different way than what is already “out there.” With this approach, you might be surprised at the additional income you can generate.
How to Start a Side-Hustle Using WordPress
WordPress is excellent for your side-hustle website because it is inexpensive (compared to a professional designer) and easy to set up and add eCommerce. It also offers many layouts, themes, plugins, and extensions that add as-needed features and functionality.
But before you get that far, it’s best to have a plan. You know the saying — fail to plan, plan to fail? That’s the truth right there. So, the more you can plan out what you want to do and all the necessary details, the better your chances of having a viable side hustle.
Any side hustle should be based on something you enjoy doing, are already proficient at, or want to put the time and effort into becoming great at. You must have this approach to succeed with something you will be doing in addition to your full-time gig.
There are no easy, set-and-forget revenue streams. Therefore, you will have to “hustle.” You want to ensure that your side hustle is something you do not mind dedicating a lot of time to.
Today, I will list a few side hustles that can provide extra income based on the skills you already have or your desire to learn.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing can monetize your website by recommending products and services. This approach works best on a site with many topically related content that targets the same market as the affiliate marketing programs you promote.
IDEAS: You could create a community website or forum that helps your neighborhood keep in touch. Or a local site to help promote businesses with new hours and procedures. Then, add affiliate links to products and services that folks are interested in based on those focused businesses and discussions.
Integrating affiliate marketing into the following side-hustle websites can help to create some residual income. But it takes time and affiliate products that fit your niche so they can turn to clicks.
A word of caution: Like anything that involves making money, tons of “programs” out there claim affiliate marketing is the path to riches. Be skeptical before investing. Affiliate income, like any online gig, is easier said than done.
Authority or Niche Blogging
Do you have a skill set, knowledge, or a passion for a topic you can share and help others with? Or how about something you enjoy doing that you can write about those experiences (traveling, hiking, camping, crafts, cooking)?
IDEAS: You can blog about how you are productive at home. Have kids? What are you doing to accommodate the current environment? Write about your journey as you start your business. Any lessons learned? You can share your experiences and discoveries. What are you good at? What can you write about with confidence and authority?
The more focused and niche, the better. A niche is the best way to get found in search engines over time. (The more you are about, the less you are about any one thing.) Therefore, building a site that shows your personality combined with a wealth of knowledge and sought-after information is vital.
Create eBooks
Offering detailed and helpful eBooks is another way to generate income. You will have to work on your skills if you are not a writer. Many great tools exist to help you, such as Grammarly, which I use daily.
IDEAS: eBooks or tip sheets don’t have to be very comprehensive. They can be a tips PDF that is just a page or two that you offer for a couple of bucks. The more info, the more it is desired, and the higher the cost. Folks seek projects and how-to guides on everything from home improvement to self-care. What can you offer?
It would be best to create a well-thought-out publication in PDF format and a plugin to facilitate downloads. I use Easy Digital Downloads.
Handmade Anything
Can you handcraft something neat, cool, and unique? Don’t get discouraged if you see what you can make already being made by others.
Instead, think about how you can put your spin, personality, or customization to be different. For example, invent a memorable or catchy name (with a domain name to match).
IDEAS: From making face masks from items you find in your home to creating tools that you can use for tasks you didn’t have to deal with before (or may not want to go out to purchase), folks are making some pretty ingenious things. What can you make?
Think of a fun visual way to display your items with a solid, consistent color palette and creative photography that shows your distinctive style and personality. Then, continue this creativity via your product packaging (wrappings, containers, business cards, promo items).
Podcasting
If you have the gift of gab and are comfortable speaking on the fly, podcasting is for you. To start, download Audacity and purchase a quality microphone.
Listeners can donate to your Podcast to help support your efforts. Also, check out services like Patreon.
IDEAS: People crave that human connection. How can you “connect”?
Check out Blubrry for podcast hosting. Their site has lots of great resources. There are also a bunch of WordPress podcasting plugins to choose from, including one from Blubrry. Here’s a great podcasting rundown on Medium: Podcasting Resources.
Online Courses / Tutoring
If you excel at a skill many folks need to hone, tutoring or online classes can be a great way to earn additional revenue. I’ve used and recommend WPCourseware.
IDEAS: Downtime and “at home time” can get monotonous fast. Now is a perfect time to pick up new skills and learn new things. Think about the skills or experience you have that others may want to know about/from. What can you teach people?
Sell on Amazon/eBay/Etsy.
Each marketplace is different, and some products do better on eBay than on Amazon or Etsy and visa-versa. Here again, finding a niche product folks seek (or don’t know what they need) is the best approach.
I’ve sold on all three, but my website has always been my primary selling channel. Putting all your eggs in marketplace baskets dictates how and what you can sell, and believe me, it can be frustrating with all the rules and obligations you must abide by.
So you want to thoroughly review the rules and policies of any marketing place you want to sell on before diving in. Remember that 3rd party marketplaces can change their policies anytime and without notice. They can also change their fees too.
Some marketplaces charge a percentage of your sales in addition to any other fees. Those fees can add up, so be sure to do the math before committing.
That is why it is wise to invest in your side-hustle website if you decide not to use a marketplace in the future. This way, you are not starting from scratch to build your brand.
Before you list a single item, read each marketplace’s Terms of Service, Rules of Participation, and fee schedule. The fees, while small individually, can add up fast! And you may find that some of the rules are not those you can (or are willing) to follow. This is another reason why you always want to have your website in addition to any marketplace presence you may have.
Setting Up Your WordPress Side-Hustle Website
Now, we need to get your side hustle website in place. Let’s go through the steps.
Choosing a Domain Name
Setup Your Web Hosting
My preferred hosting providers, tools, and services are in my ToolKit. Web hosting may be one of your most important decisions, as it provides the power and support for keeping your website up and running.
Just like with anything online, do not decide based on price alone. Consider expenses as investments in your success.
Plan Out Your Website
Before choosing a theme, consider the structure of your site. For example, how many pages, categories, and topics do you want to have? By contemplating how much and what content you will have in advance, you can better envision its display when looking at theme demos.
You will want to plan on having a Blog to share your expertise and show you are the one to do business with. Brochureware sites (a handful of pages with no solid content) are no longer effective or convincing to those who may consider buying what you are selling.
Choosing Your WordPress Theme
With all the premium WordPress themes available, finding one to fit your personality and the layout for the information you want to provide is easy. WordPress makes showcasing your products/services easy while looking credible and legitimate.
Adding eCommerce is simple with the WooCommerce plugin and the numerous add-on plugins to enhance features to meet your needs.
Sign up for a Payment Gateway
You’ll need a payment gateway if you want to accept payments through your site. I use PayPal. However, WooCommerce Payments, Stripe, or Square are alternatives you can investigate.
Read my article: Realistic New WordPress Website Expense Planning.
Plan on Being Super Active on Social Media
You’ll need to promote your side hustle on social media. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram are the primary options. You don’t do social media; you are social media.
Do your best to have the same username/handle across all platforms to help build your brand. Then, ensure your header and visuals are consistent in color schemes and personality. You want customers to recognize you regardless of what platform they see you on.
The Sky is the Limit
Of course, this post is not the end-all-be-all, but I hope it helped you start thinking about how you can set the groundwork for your online side hustle. My blog is full of how-tos and tips on everything you need to consider. So bookmark this site now so that you can read and learn!
You never know… It could turn out that your side hustle turns into your main hustle.
At your service,
P.S. Have questions on how to start or need someone to bounce your ideas off of? Schedule an hour-long brainstorming session.
