Lucrative Freelance Income Ideas That Transcend Traditional Jobs
If you have a vehicle and some time, you can earn extra income by driving for services like Postmates or DoorDash. The median hourly rate for this type of work is $20-$50.
With the advent of remote work, freelancing has emerged as a viable career option for many professionals. Here are some ideas that you can try out to make a decent living:
1. Tutoring
Tutoring is an excellent option for anyone who loves working with kids however does not wish to work in a traditional classroom environment. One-on-one tutoring supports students by teaching them strategies to help them learn and provides the chance for remediation. It also helps improve their overall performance, boosts confidence, and gives them more room to grow.
Whether you are good at math, a foreign language, or test prep tutoring can be a lucrative freelance opportunity. You can also use your skills to create online courses, like Outschool which is a platform that allows teachers to monetize their knowledge. Alternatively, you can put up posters around New York and let people know your services are available. This is a cost-effective way to market your services. You can even tutor remotely using a video chat service such as Skype or Facetime.
2. Blogging
Blogging is an incredibly versatile side hustle that can be used to generate some healthy extra income. If you have a knack for writing and know how to market your content, blogging can be a lucrative freelance income idea that you can turn into a full-time business.
Bloggers can earn money through ad networks that pay when readers click or view their ads. Alternatively, bloggers can also make a living through affiliate marketing by promoting products that they talk about on their blog in exchange for a commission when the reader purchases the product.
Once you’ve established a steady stream of income from blogging for clients, consider pitching additional projects that complement their content marketing strategies. For example, you might write a free special report or white paper on a topic that is relevant to their audience.
3. Selling Old Clothing
If you have some items in your closet that no longer spark joy, consider giving them a new home. Reselling clothes and accessories is a great way to declutter your closet, reduce textile waste, and earn some extra cash.
There are many online resale platforms where you can sell your old clothing. Poshmark is one such app that enables you to set up a virtual shopping party, where you can model your own clothes so shoppers can see how the pieces will fit. Poshmark charges a flat fee of $2.95 for sales under $15 and 20% for those that are priced over 15.
thredUP is another great option. They will send you a Clean Out Kit that includes a prepaid bag and label. They’ll sort through your clothing and determine what to sell and recycle, then pay you in cash or store credit.
4. Online Surveys
Online surveys have replaced traditional survey routes, like printed forms and telephone interviews. They have a lot of positive traits that traditional surveys lack:
For one, the results can be analyzed quickly and conveniently using software tools. The data also isn’t subject to human error as it’s transferred from the participants into the system.
Online survey sites pay their participants in cash or virtual currency (like Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and MyPoints). Some even offer sign-up bonuses. The surveys typically take about 15-20 minutes, but some can go up to an hour. Most people don’t make a significant amount, but they can add up and become a nice source of extra income. Taking surveys is especially great for those who want to limit their screen time or are looking for a flexible side hustle. Moreover, they can be conducted from anywhere and anytime.
5. Affiliate Marketing
If you’re looking for a way to earn an impressive profit without spending a lot of time, affiliate marketing may be the perfect solution. Just make sure that you only market products that you believe in — otherwise, you could damage your reputation and earnings.
In addition to writing long-form content and adding links in newsletters, you can also use social media and YouTube videos to promote your affiliate products. Just remember that you must create compelling campaigns to attract a large audience and convert them into customers.
This type of performance-based marketing can lead to lucrative incomes, with estimates that by 2022, the industry will be worth $8 billion. As an added bonus, brand affiliates do not have to field customer service questions from buyers, which can be stressful and inconvenient. Unlike traditional employees, they can work from home or while on vacation.
6. Become a Tester
Becoming a tester is a great way to make some extra income as a freelancer. Whether you are a video game tester or software tester, you can find plenty of opportunities to test new products online.
You can find a wide variety of testing jobs on platforms like FlexJobs and UpWork. These sites screen job listings to ensure that they are not scams.
If you are a freelance tester, it is best to build up an emergency fund to cover any potential financial setbacks. You should also get business insurance to protect yourself from liability.
Some websites, such as User Testing, offer legitimate testing jobs that pay a reasonable amount of money for each test. These tests usually involve visiting a website, following instructions and then providing feedback on your experience. These tasks take around 20 minutes to complete.
7. Rent Out Your Space
Renting out unused areas of your home or yard can be a lucrative way to make money. You can use apps like Airbnb or Vrbo to rent out your backyard, spare room, garage, or even your car.
Client work brings in the bulk of most freelancers’ income, but it is important to diversify your projects and clients. Client budgets can shrink, loyal contacts can leave, and unforeseen events could disrupt your business.
If you have a car that is sitting idle, consider renting it out on Turo or PostMates to earn passive income. However, remember that these services are not without risk: you could be liable for damage to the vehicle and other people’s property and may have to respond to reservation requests quickly. You can also earn money storing belongings with Neighbor. You determine who can store at your space and when, and you collect automatic payments.
8. Take Online Classes
For those with a knack for teaching, online classes are a lucrative freelance income idea. Many platforms offer these courses that you can take from the comfort of your home. Depending on the type of course, you can make anywhere from $100-10,000 per month.
The downside of this is that you won’t receive the typical employee benefits like health insurance and retirement contributions. But the upside is that you can focus on a specific skill and build your brand as an expert in it.
Learn the tips and tricks that top freelancers use to earn high-paying clients in this online course from Paul, a top 10% Upwork freelancer. He’ll share the cheat sheets and templates he’s used to generate consistent $10,000+ monthly income as a freelancer.
9. Sell Your Old Phone or Electronics
If you have old phones and other electronics lying around, you can make some quick cash by selling them. Many websites and apps, such as Swappa, OfferUp, BuyBackWorld and Gazelle, allow you to sell your devices for a fair price. You can also check with your carrier to see if they offer a trade-in program.
Another way to earn passive income is by running a YouTube channel. You can record yourself telling a story, playing video games, vlogging or singing and earn money from ads, sponsorships or other monetization methods. The more popular your channel becomes, the higher your earnings will be. Many people who run successful YouTube channels are able to quit their full-time jobs and focus solely on their channel.
10. Publish an Ebook
Publishing an ebook is a great way to earn extra cash. It takes time to write a book, but once you do, it’s easy to upload your manuscript to online retailers and aggregators.
It’s important to have a polished text and a high-quality cover. Whether you DIY or hire a professional designer from a site like Reedsy, your cover is key in catching people’s eyes on crowded marketplaces and drawing them into the text.
Make sure to choose a price that will appeal to readers and pay your royalties (depending on where you’re publishing, royalty rates range between 30% and 70%). You can also enroll your ebook in KDP Select to reach a larger audience. Then, it’s time to hit that publish button! Your hard work will be available to turn curious readers into die-hard fans.