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Who doesn't love hearing the success stories of how individuals turned their side hustles, which stemmed from hobbies, into lucrative entrepreneurial ventures? I know I do. For me, that's motivation with a capital "M." Although side hustles have been around for quite some time, we saw an uptick around March 2020 when Covid started, employers were closing doors, and employees were either working from home or being let go. “According to an article titled "Majority who started side ventures during pandemic ‘still keeping them up’’ by Vicky Shaw, Editor of Yahoo! Finance, "The majority of people who started “side hustles” during the coronavirus pandemic are still keeping them up, a survey has found. "Nearly a fifth (19%) of those polled by insurance provider Aviva said they had taken up a side venture at some point since March 2020, and 63% of those are continuing to pursue them," as the article continues.
Side hustles can be a great way to earn money while pursuing your passions, and there is no more perfect time than right now to start a side hustle, especially if you want to build off your tech savviness and creativity. I myself dabbled in a few of the below, such as e-commerce, podcasting, and content creation. I started blogging almost 12 years ago on Google Blogger; if I had stayed consistent like I am now. Who knows, I could've been a six-figure blogger.
Are you ready to start a side hustle? If so, here are five of the best side hustles for tech and creative-savvy professionals.
Graphic Design
If you're skilled in design, you could do freelance graphic design for businesses and individuals who need logos, flyers, or other marketing materials. Graphic design is an easy side hustle that pays well. Online platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer are helpful starting points for finding clients needing design services. You can also create a website to house your portfolio and attract potential clients. Whether you have a graphic design degree or design as a hobby, graphic design is a lucrative side hustle.
Social Media Management
Do you love spending time on social media? If so, you can monetize that time spent by offering social media management services to companies or individuals who need help maintaining their online presence. Social media management is a profitable virtual side hustle. It involves creating and posting content, managing social media accounts, and analyzing data. Platforms like LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook are great places to discover new clients. HubSpot has many great and FREE certifications to help build upon your experience.
Content Creation
Content creation is a tremendous online side hustle for writers or videographers; it covers many different jobs, so it's easy to find one that suits your skills. Blogging is still a popular way to get your thoughts out there, and platforms like WordPress, Wix, and Substack can help simplify creating a website so you can start blogging immediately. Long and short-form video content is also in high demand, so consider starting a YouTube channel or creating content for platforms like TikTok or Instagram. And if you're up for freelance work, creating content for businesses and individuals can be a lucrative side hustle.
Podcasting
Podcasting is an easy side hustle that has been around for many years and has recently increased in popularity. Consider starting a podcast if you have thoughts and ideas that others would like to listen to. On the other hand, if you have audio and video editing skills, you can offer podcast editing services to podcasters who need help editing their shows. Podcasting involves recording and editing audio (and sometimes video) content, and there is a high demand for podcast editors in the market.
E-commerce
Many options are available, but a few of the best e-commerce business models include dropshipping, print-on-demand, selling products on e-commerce marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, and creating your
website. As for the best e-commerce platforms, I highly recommend Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce. These platforms are user-friendly, customizable, and have great integrations to help you grow your business.
Side hustles are a great way to earn extra income while pursuing your passions. If you're tech-savvy and creative, there are many side hustles that you can follow. So, what are you waiting for? You can choose any of the above side hustles and earn extra cash while working from home.
Sources:
Shaw, V. (2022). Majority who started side ventures during pandemic ‘still keeping them up. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/majority-started-side-ventures-during-060004022.html