If you want to start a side hustle to make extra cash you can throw at your debt, it’s possible to do it without having to leave the comfort of home. As long as you’ve got a computer and an internet connection, there are tons of things you can do to earn a little or a lot. To help you get started, we’re breaking down what you need to do to find a side gig online.
Evaluate Your Skill Set
The web is full of opportunities to make money, but finding the right one starts with knowing what you’re good at. Taking an inventory of your skills can guide you in the right direction if you’re clueless about what to do.
For example, freelancing may be the logical choice if you’re a strong writer. Many companies outsource their customer service work to remote employees, which is great if you’re a people person. If you know your way around an office, you might consider working as a virtual assistant.
If you don’t have any specific marketable skills, it doesn’t mean an online side hustle is out of reach. Taking surveys is one option that can add a few dollars to your wallet. Sites like Cash Crate pay you to sample new products and share feedback on what you think of them. SwagBucks rewards you with cash for searching the web. The point is, there’s something out there for just about everyone.
Check Your Schedule
Working online can easily become a full-time job if you’re able to put the time into it, but that’s not realistic if you’ve already got a regular 9 to 5. Some online ventures tend to be more time-intensive than others so the one you choose has to be a good fit for your daily routine.
If you’re trying to squeeze a side hustle into a tight schedule, there are a number of sites that allow you to make quick cash without a huge investment of time. UserTesting, for instance, pays $10 for writing short reviews of websites or apps while MTurk allows you to perform HITs or Human Intelligence Tasks that pay as much as $50 each.
The more time you have for a side hustle, the bigger the pay off is likely to be, but you don’t want to overextend yourself. Figuring out how much money you want to make going in makes it easier to narrow down the side hustles that are going to yield the best return for your time.
Scout out Opportunities
When you’re just getting started with an online side hustle, it’s tempting to jump on the first thing that comes along but that’s a big mistake. For every decent-paying gig, there are hundreds more that simply aren’t worth the effort involved and you need to be able to spot the difference.
Where you look for work ultimately depends on what it is you want to do. While there are plenty of general job boards like Monster.com or Indeed, there are also a number of places that feature opportunities for side hustlers who work in specific fields. If you’ve got a knack for programming, for example, you might try GetACoder. If writing is your thing, MediaBistro features plenty of listings for print and online publications that hire freelancers.
While it’s possible to find work on bid sites like Elance or Upwork, you’re going to find a lot of low-paying gigs here. The same is true if you’re scouring through the want ads on Craigslist. Sticking with sites that charge posters a premium to place their ads is the best way to filter out the junk so you can find online work that pays you what you’re worth.
Build Your Online Presence
Networking isn’t just for people who work in a traditional job–it’s also essential to establishing an online presence if you want to broaden your side hustle horizons. If you want to go big, you could set up your own website or blog but something as simple as a detailed LinkedIn profile can be enough to get you started.
Social media can also turn up side hustle opportunities. With Twitter, for instance, you can search for job titles or services using hashtags. If you see that a company you like is in need of freelance help, you can reach out with a simple tweet that includes a link back to your LinkedIn page or online portfolio. Just remember that if you’re going to use social media to look for work, you want to be as professional in your interactions as possible.
Don’t Get Sucked in by Scams
There are a virtually endless number of ways to make money online through legitimate avenues but some of these can end up being scams in disguise. If you see an opportunity that sounds great but requires you to pay money up front or provide personal information like your Social Security number or bank account number, those are big red flags that it’s probably too good to be true.
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