Hello, all. Today, we have a guest post from Forrest of Don’t Work Another Day. If you happen to be reading this when it’s new, you will probably understand the reasoning.
After all, with all of the madness around the coronavirus and this emphasis on social distancing, it is certainly beneficial to have a list of side hustles you can complete indoors.
That said, it’s always nice to have a list like this because most of these side hustles can be completed from anywhere.
Without further ado, I will let Forrest take over!
Working from home and staying inside is the new norm in our society as the novel coronavirus continues its rapid spread across the globe. For many, this could mean missed paychecks or a lack of work altogether.
With all of the uncertainty, there’s no better time to start your side hustle. But which side hustles can you do indoors or with little social interaction? Keep reading to find out!
Copywriting and Editing
Copywriting and editing are great side hustles for just about anyone. All that’s required is a reliable computer and a strong brain to write and edit efficiently and flawlessly.
There isn’t much experience needed for many writing gigs, but better pay will come for those who are more seasoned.
Copywriting comes in many different forms. You might be tasked with writing a blog post for a companies website or just a few lines about one of their products. Each form of copywriting requires a unique skill set. After all, a 2,000-word blog post requires different skills than writing a 10-word product headline.
Editing requires extreme attention to detail in order to catch even the smallest of grammatical errors. You can often find that many copywriters are also editors but some will specialize in editing.
There are many places you can find work for copywriters and editors and the pay will depend on the amount of work and your experience. Fiverr and Upwork are the most popular freelance sources to find work, but there are many other options.
Furniture Flipping
You might initially think you need exquisite woodworking skills to become a successful furniture flipper, but you’ll be surprised at how easy it can be. There are many online resources that can help you along the way.
Flipping furniture does not require much social interaction. You’ll need to purchase, refurbish, and sell your pieces, most of which can be done online or with limited social interaction.
You can source your pieces on auction websites like eBay or that offer both shipping and local pickup options, or you could consider local classifieds to help your search. If neither of these options work, consider checking out your local thrift store.
The goal of flipping furniture is to purchase a distressed piece and refurbish it to sell it for a profit. There are many different pieces you can consider but many people chose to refurbish armors, tables, and dressers.
You’ll need some empty space to set up your workspace, many people will use garage space as painting is typically required. Your materials can be purchased at any local hardware store or online through Amazon or other retailers.
When the time comes to sell your pieces, you can often sell them in similar places you purchased them such as Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or other local classifieds.
Blogging
If you enjoy writing and have a calling for a specific niche, blogging could be a great way to earn some extra money during your free time.
NOTE: Blogging is not a way to make money quickly! It can require years, yes years, before you begin profiting from your work. You should never underestimate the amount of time required to become a successful blogger.
For those who are in it for the long haul, blogging can provide a strong passive income for years to come.
You’ll need to be excellent at expressing your ideas thoroughly and methodically, making it easy for the reader to consume.
When it comes to blogging, you’ll need to be capable of more than writing, however. You should understand the basics of SEO (search engine optimization), social media marketing, and other marketing tactics that enable you to cut through the crowd and get your content noticed.
Graphic Design
Another popular side gig that can be completed indoors is graphic design. Once you’ve learned the basics of software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, you can create various graphics for companies and people alike.
Many businesses will need graphics for their marketing efforts in many different facets. It could mean creating a social media graphic or crafting a full company brochure. There are many different paths when it comes to graphic design and many designers will specialize in a few areas.
Similar to copywriting and editing, you can find these jobs on many popular freelance websites like Fiverr or Upwork and vary widely on pay.
Web Design & Development
For those that are more technically savvy, you could consider designing and developing websites online. If you have the skills, these gigs can provide a great source of income that you can do from a computer with a technical skillset.
Developing websites will commonly require the skills of HTML, CSS, and some version of Javascript, but there are many website builders that allow you to build without any coding knowledge at all. If you do not have the skills, you could consider using one of these website builders for your client. You should also have some sort of design skills to create engaging and user-friendly websites to keep customers engaged.
The pay for website design and development varies on the complexity and size of the site. You can expect at least a few hundred dollars to build a basic website with more advanced websites costing over $10,000.
Virtual Assistant
For those who have a plethora of time, you can consider becoming a virtual assistant. You can expect to be tasked with many different items like sending and responding to emails and completing other trivial tasks for the client in need.
These jobs can be found on many different freelance websites or job boards and the pay will vary depending on the complexity of your tasks and the amount of time required to complete them.
Affiliate Marketing
The basics of affiliate marketing are quite simple. Whenever you direct a person to complete a purchase through a link given to you, a portion of the proceeds will be given to you.
For example, if you sign up for the Amazon Associates program, you can promote your links on social media or your website. Whenever someone clicks on your links and makes a purchase, you will receive a portion of the sale.
There are a wide variety of affiliate options. You should aim to pair your program with your audience. For example, if you own a fitness blog, you should partner with companies in the industry to promote their products or services to better your conversion rate.
It is a misconception that you must have a large following or audience to be a successful affiliate marketer. If you have a smaller but more engaged audience, you might even be more profitable than those with a larger, less engaged audience.
The amount you receive for your portion of the sale depends on the program. Amazon typically pays anywhere from 2 to 6% of each sale you stimulate.
Customer Service Representative
Becoming a customer service rep is a great option for those looking to make some extra cash while staying inside. The job will consist of helping people resolve issues and maintain satisfaction with customers.
You can find these jobs throughout various job boards such as Indeed and CareerBuilder.
The pay for this gig is typically an hourly rate dependent on your experience. You can expect to make anywhere from $7.25 to $15 per hour.
Online Personal Training
For those who are gifted and knowledgable in the personal training and fitness space, you can consider moving your services online. You can schedule a time to meet with clients over video conference or you could opt to craft printable PDFs or eGuides for clients to download themselves.
Becoming an online personal trainer doesn’t necessarily require a specific skill set so long as you are knowledgeable about fitness and the mechanics of the human body.
Clients might be considering completing exercises at home, so be sure to stay on this trend with exercises that are easy to accomplish indoors with little equipment needed.
Create a Flipping Business or Online Store
Becoming a flipper can be a great way to boost your income while staying indoors. You can opt to source a product online through a wholesaler or create your own product to sell.
You’ll need a few things to get started including some basic inventory, a website if you plan to sell directly, and some operational materials if you are selling a physical product (shipping boxes, tape, etc.).
You can also choose to sell your products through third-party vendors like Amazon or eBay, but it’s important to understand the additional costs that come with this to remain profitable.
Conclusion
Creating multiple streams of income is a great way to diversify your earnings in the chance that one of them is at risk and with the global uncertainty regarding the coronavirus, there’s no better time to get started.
From starting a blog to crafting websites or graphic designs, there are many ways you can start a side hustle in the leisure of your home.
Have a side hustle you recommend? Comment below!
Forrest McCall
Forrest is the owner of Don’t Work Another Day, a personal finance, investing, and entrepreneurship blog devoted to helping individuals achieve life long wealth. Our mission is to help others get away from the 8-5 life, and live life on their own terms.
