Side hustle ideas can be found almost anywhere! From driving for Uber to creating an online course, there are plenty of ways to bring in some extra money outside of your regular 9-to-5 job.
With the average person working more than 40 hours per week, it’s hard to find time to pursue any side hustles you might have thought about, especially if you already have a family and other obligations that need to be tended to on top of your day job.
1) Side Hustle Idea #1: Become an SEO Expert
While it’s not easy to become an SEO expert overnight, it is possible to make a decent living from optimizing websites. You just need to make sure that you don’t get wrapped up in black hat tactics – otherwise you risk your business being shut down by Google.
Start by getting involved with forums and other online communities; try interacting with people on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and even Snapchat (don’t judge me). Post questions and offer advice; if you keep your head down and work hard, there’s no reason why you can’t start ranking for how to rank higher on Google! Pretty soon you could be earning more money than most of your friends who still have full-time jobs.
2) Side Hustle Idea #2: Teach an Online Course
Another option for selling your expertise online is to build a course around a specific skill and sell it on platforms like Udemy or Teachable.
These sites take care of everything involved with selling your course (affiliate marketing, handling payments, etc.), leaving you to focus on what really matters—creating quality content and teaching others how to use it.
And, thanks to mobile apps like Udemy for Business and Skillshare for companies, there’s never been an easier way to sell your knowledge without leaving your desk. Here’s our guide on how to write a killer Udemy course.
3) Side Hustle Idea #3: Start a Dropshipping Business
Have you ever purchased an item online, only to find out later that it was significantly cheaper elsewhere? That’s called retail arbitrage and for many people, it is a great way to earn extra income.
To do retail arbitrage effectively, you need to know how to research products and find them at their lowest price point.
It helps if you already have retail experience and some cash to invest upfront. If not, don't worry — there are other ways of starting a dropshipping business (i.e., with no initial investment).
One platform that makes it easy is called Spocket. I've been using it for a few months now as a side hustle experiment and so far am quite happy with my results.
4) Side Hustle Idea #4: List Something on Craigslist
There are a number of different ways you can use Craigslist to make money online, but I like to focus on one particular method that produces income quickly.
Many people turn to Craigslist when they’re moving and either have too much stuff for their apartments or need help getting rid of their old junk.
To give them my professional opinion, I offer a service where I come by, take photos of all their things, create an inventory list of these items, and then post it to Craigslist on their behalf.
For example, say someone is moving out of his apartment and has 5 dressers and a coffee table he doesn't want.
5) Side Hustle Idea #5: Do Freelance Work
Because side hustles are about generating a little extra income, your fifth side hustle idea might be to do freelance work.
Whether you have a skill that’s in-demand or a hobby that can be done from home, there is probably someone out there willing to pay for your time and skills.
Start by figuring out what skills you have and what marketable services you can offer. Then, look for jobs on sites like Fiverr and Freelancer, connect with people on LinkedIn and browse through online job boards such as Problogger to find opportunities.
A few to get you started: writer, translator, virtual assistant and social media manager. From there it’s all about networking!
5 Side Hustle Ideas in the UK - The bottom line
On one hand, you might feel overwhelmed by all of your options. On the other, it's exciting to think about all of these potential side hustles as new sources of income. How do you decide what opportunity is right for you?
Start by thinking about what kinds of skills and resources you already have—these will often inform your decision. For example, if you love to bake but aren't super entrepreneurial, a cake-decorating business might not be right for you.
Think big and brainstorm any side hustle ideas that come to mind with these questions:
What kind of experience and skill sets do I have? What would I love doing most in my free time? Is there an industry or subject area that interests me? How could I make money off my interests or skills?