Let’s uncover nine genuine side hustles that could give your income a boost in 2024. This article will walk you through three levels, each with different skill sets and investments required. Find the perfect fit for your current situation.
Level one demands no skills and no money. Level 2 asks for some skills but still no money, and to reach level three, you need both skills and money.
No worries, I won’t suggest you waste time on ads, testing websites, or useless online surveys. It only pays a few dollars, so what’s the point?
I’m all about the big bucks. These side hustles are where you can make good money. Of course, the faster you progress through the levels, the more money you can make.
Level 1: Baby Steps to Big Bank (No Skills, No Money)
It’s all about using your time strategically to create the most amount of money.
Become a Content Critic
Creators crave honest feedback, and you can provide it!
Offer unbiased honest feedback on YouTube channels, blogs, or social media content.
Honesty is a rare thing to find.
Most negative comments come from haters, and fans rarely like to offer criticism, as many people take it the wrong way. Content creators are actively looking for ways to improve, and if you’re a genuine fan of a particular YouTuber, you could be more valuable than you realize.
Flip Instagram Theme Pages
This is something you can do with just an iPhone and a bit of time.
These are pages focused on specific subjects. When I first heard that you can make money from flipping these, I was actually quite shocked.
Back in my day, I had to buy and sell physical products like cars. Now, doing this online makes complete sense.
Just think about it.
When was the last time you scrolled on Instagram and didn’t see a sponsored post? They’re everywhere, aren’t they? This just shows brands are putting loads of money into Instagram adverts, which makes the pages more valuable.
If I were you, I would start and grow pages in particular niches by posting regular reels. Personally, I’d pick a car theme page, as I used to race cars, so I know the niche has a big demand from advertisers.
I’ve seen some of these Pages sell for thousands.
Level 2: Level Up Your Skills, Level Up Your Profits (Some Skills, No Money)
These online side hustles require more upfront work initially, but as you develop your skills, you’ll be able to charge a lot more than the average person, providing more value and, of course, higher pay.
Become a Thumbnail Designer
I ran a competition to find a thumbnail editor for my YouTube channel.
We had hundreds of submissions.
You might be thinking if hundreds of people applied, isn’t there too much competition? In all honesty, only four designers actually stood out to me in that competition, as they took the time to understand my style.
Rather than just creating a pretty graphic, they really considered how they could get people interested in clicking.
Creating effective thumbnails is more of a psychological task than graphic design.
The best thumbnails are often simple to create, but the idea behind them is very clever. Just think, if you can increase a YouTuber’s click-through rate by even one or two percent, then hiring you means instant profit, and you’re justifying your own wage.
If you can master this skill and sell 10 thumbnails in a day for a hundred dollars each, then that’s a thousand dollars right there. You could charge less and do more or even charge more and do less. The choice is yours depending on your skill level.
Become an Online Tutor
Now, before Covid, I probably wouldn’t have added this one to the list, as most people wanted in-person tutors, and honestly, this business model isn’t great.
It’s very time-intensive, and the amount you can charge is also pretty capped, depending on the competition in your local area.
However, I really think the world has changed now.
If you’re talented at a particular subject, it may be a great option to teach it online.
Facebook is the perfect place to advertise, as it’s full of moms that want their kids to do better than everyone else’s. Trust me, if you find the right Facebook groups, the demand is sky-high.
The great thing about doing it online is that you can cut out all the travel time, which means you can work with more people and earn more money. You also don’t have to just work for people in your local area, as you can teach anyone anywhere in the world.
If you’re able to sell 10 spots in a group class for $25 each, then that’s $250 an hour. Once you achieve this, you can start filling more hours.
Of course, if you’re selling the outcome of getting into medical school or completing your exams as a doctor, then you can charge way more, as the potential outcome you’re selling is worth a lot more money.
Become a Logo Creator
Have you ever looked at a famous logo and thought, “That’s so simple, I could do that”?
With this side hustle, no one cares about your school grades. Instead, your past work acts as your qualifications.
So it’s really important to build a great portfolio to seal the deal with your clients.
You can use several AI based user-friendly online tools like Looka, LogoMakr and Canva to generate logo concepts based on your preferences.
You may have to work for free in the early days to do this. I know that working for free sounds like a waste of time, but it’s a great way to check out the competition and also see how to price your services.
Once you have a solid portfolio, you can either go directly to your clients or offer Graphic Design Services on websites like Fiverr and Upwork, as they already have a huge Marketplace.
If you’re good, there’s no reason you couldn’t be earning $500 to a thousand dollars per day in your spare time.
Become a High-Ticket Closer
Imagine being the mastermind behind sealing deals and locking in sales for influencers, course creators, consultants, and business owners.
These types of people are usually extremely busy managing operations, delivering their products, and making content. So they need someone with the gift of the gab that can focus entirely on closing deals.
This is exactly what one of my friends does, and he regularly takes home more than a thousand dollars in a day from commissions, and he has no formal qualifications to his name.
This just shows how you can add value to a business by selling their high-ticket items and earn more than a doctor’s salary.
The advantage of being a high-ticket closer is the fact that you don’t need to create your own thing. You’re just simply selling someone else’s product. It’s a much simpler business model that you can do from anywhere in the world.
If you have a phone, you have a business. And that’s about it.
Become a Web Designer
No business can survive long without a good website, and most people are lacking the skills to build one themselves.
So, if this interests you, then why not learn web design skills?
I know two teenagers that decided to take up web design, and they both went in two completely different directions.
One decided he’d use website Builders such as Squarespace, which means he only had to edit really simple templates to build a basic site for his clients.
The other decided to code bespoke websites from the ground up for larger clients that wanted something more original.
Now, both are extremely successful at what they do, but they both serve entirely different markets at different price points. You’d get paid more for a bespoke site; however, this takes a lot more time to learn.
I’ve paid anywhere between $10,000 to a hundred thousand dollars for custom websites in the past.
It’s an absolute Gold Mine.
Level 3: The Sky’s the Limit (Some Skills, Some Money)
Once you work your way up to this level of the pyramid, you should have enough skills and money to start making a great income.
Sell Digital Products
Create and sell valuable digital products like Instagram templates, ebooks, or online courses. Invest in targeted advertising to reach your audience and watch your recurring income roll in.
My friend Olivia created a bundle of templates for Instagram, and she sells them for $30 per download. Last year, she made a quarter of a million dollars, which is pretty crazy.
If you invest your time making these digital products, then you can sell them year on year and never ever run out of stock.
The reason you need some money is for the advertising costs.
You could run Facebook or Instagram ads or even try out TikTok.
There are also some free ways you can promote your products, such as affiliate marketing, but this is harder to get going if you don’t already have a steady stream of sales and positive reviews.
If I was selling something Tech related, I’d reach out to YouTubers such as Unbox Therapy or Marcus Brownlee, who have millions of subscribers and offer them a percentage of every sale they bring in.
Now, I’m not saying they would definitely accept; however, if you reach out to enough people, then you’ll find collaborators that are interested in what you have to offer.
Start a Software Business
Building a successful software business requires significant effort and investment but can lead to substantial rewards.
Identify a problem you can solve with technology and dedicate yourself to developing a user-friendly and valuable software solution.
Though not a mere side hustle, venturing into a technology-based business represents the fastest route to substantial wealth. Tim Armo, who reportedly exited his business for $40 million before turning 28, exemplifies this path.
Tech businesses present opportunities for significant profits through substantial exits, but this window of opportunity won’t remain open indefinitely.
Initiate the journey as soon as possible to capitalize on this potential.
Key Takeaways
- Start small and work your way up the pyramid as you gain skills and experience.
- Focus on providing value and solving problems for others.
- Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself and your skills.
- Market your services effectively to reach your target audience.
Summing Up
Your journey to financial freedom doesn’t require a magic wand or a lottery ticket.
It starts with a simple decision: to take charge of your own income.
This article has presented a ladder, not a magic leap. Each rung, from offering feedback to building software empires, represents a step towards a more fulfilling and financially secure future.
Remember, the climb starts right now. Don’t let the lack of skills or money deter you. Level one is full of potential, and every level above it builds upon the one before.
Choose your path, invest in yourself, and most importantly, never stop hustling. With each step, you’ll witness your earning potential expand, proving that the only limit to your success is your own ambition.
