The concept of a side hustle comes naturally to freelancers. Not being tied to one employer, one project, or even profession, freelancers are the original masters of spinning plates.
Side hustles can make for lucrative ventures alongside your main source of income, or they can become the basis of your entire career if you make a go of the multi-hyphen method of millennials.
The Key To Success
The key to a successful side hustle is flexibility. When you’re thinking about what side-hustle you want to pursue, it’s wise to think about what ventures can be started with just a laptop.
Most importantly, it all starts with a passion project. So if you could use a distraction from the news or a hobby outside of your new home office, lockdown is the perfect time to pick one up – new or old.
If it’s time you were lacking before, the extra hours at home could do wonders for perfecting your craft. Plus, there’s little chance of missing out on social plans whilst you do.
If you’re one of the many people whose ability to work has been affected, it’s important to come at this from a different perspective. There is very real economic and mental pressure all around us (take it from a freelancer – we’re no strangers to job instability and financial precarity, especially right now).
We certainly don’t want to put unhelpful pressure on those struggling. It’s unrealistic that we’ll emerge from this as fully-fledged entrepreneurs or fill every waking minute with great feats of self-development.
But if you do feel you might find inspiration in learning a new skill, purpose in directing your energy towards something different, or some comfort in just making the first steps, we have some suggestions…
Coding
There’s serious money to be made in code. It’s likely that software jobs will be more protected than others during the much predicted economic downturn. We’re not suggesting you come up with the next TikTok, but you might consider an online course in coding if you want to pick up an invaluable skill.
You could also play around with some basic content management or html coding on a site like WordPress. All you need is a laptop and at the end of it you might even be able to build a shiny website to promote your new, fully remote side hustle.
Blogging
The age of the influencer has been a lesson to us all – blogging is not to be underestimated. What started as product reviews or life journals have become full-time jobs. Sponsored posts and affiliate links alone have serious earning power.
The most successful names streamline their presence across all platforms, but any one of them is a good way to get started. Write a blog, film and edit YouTube videos or curate an Instagram feed. Granted, content might be slightly samey within the same four walls, but it shouldn’t be an object with a little creativity and a captive audience!
Community Manager
Perhaps you have all the social skills of a blogger turned influencer, but would rather be behind the scenes. A community manager is responsible for managing the content and communications behind a company’s media outlets.
Engaging online audiences is a valued skill. The drawback is having to appease customers who have complaints. But if you think you could talk down a follower on a Twitter warpath, this is one job that can be done entirely remotely.
All you need to start scheduling posts and writing captions professionally is a phone and maybe a laptop. It doesn’t hurt to polish up your own profiles in lockdown either. The need for brands to have an online presence won’t be going anywhere whilst you do.
Podcasting
If the audio medium is more your scene, podcasts can be an equally attractive investment. Besides advertising opportunities, they help to build an online presence and diversify your profile.
There are increasing numbers of free platforms you can use. All you need is your voice and something to say. Be it on football, politics or cooking, there’s an audience for everyone (some more niche than others). Even better if you can link it to your full time job, or otherwise have expert knowledge of a subject.
Recording your take on it can be a credible way of establishing yourself as an authority. You might not achieve podcast fame, but if you can craft audio editing, producing and presenting skills, opportunities to monetise them could come later.
Translation
Speaking a foreign language is a good way to keep in touch with the wider world whilst stuck at home. Don’t let the travel bans put you off. We’re more connected online than ever so there’s still a need for remote translators.
If you’re fluent you might be ready to offer your services for any number of professional projects. Or, if this particular side hustle is still in its hobby phase, apps like Duolingo are a popular way of brushing up. Even if all that comes of it are some less awkward interactions on the next business trip with your full time job, foreign languages are well-worth having up your sleeve.
Fitness Instructor
Whilst we’re all stuck at home, our need for exercise has only increased. If you have a qualification, you might consider joining the many yoga, pilates and fitness instructors that have started teaching online.
Some ask for a set for or donation in exchange for the link to join zoom classes. Other studios are streaming free Instagram live workouts. If you already have the security of being affiliated with them, there should be continued employment opportunities there.
Otherwise, now is a good time to get certified. You can become a qualified personal trainer entirely online! Most work freelance, so teaching could make for a side hustle addition to your day job post-lockdown.
Tutor
If you have a particular skill you can pass on, you can bet there’s a market for it. Even if it’s just a knack for teaching. If you have a decent academic track record, there will be plenty of parents that would thank (and pay) you for giving some extra school lessons.
If you have time to do a good deed, you could even start now. Plenty of parents struggling to juggle homeschooling with full time jobs would welcome an online class from a trusted friend or neighbor. Or, maybe your offering is more advanced.
If you’re already professional for any one of the side hustles suggested, sites like Teachable will help you to build and offer online courses of your own.
Bio
Matt Dowling who is a freelancer himself and is the CEO and founder of Freelancer Club.
Matt has 10 years’ experience working as a freelance photographer, 15 years advising the self-employed and over 6 years campaigning for the rights of freelancers. He has recently launched a campaign to push the government for a better support package for freelancers.
