10+ Best Online Side Hustles in 2023

With increased inflation and subsequent financial demands, what better way to spend your day than reading tips on how to earn more money? Enter online side hustles – additional internet-based gigs for extra income. How do they work? By leveraging the power of the internet, which has made the world a global village, you can run a business anytime, anywhere. 

The rise of online side hustles provides something for everyone and every skill, whether a pro looking to expand their business, a beginner testing the waters, a big dreamer launching something huge, or a student looking for upkeep. We’ve put together the best 16 of 2023 to start you off. So read on for financial freedom and a thriving entrepreneurial journey.

Everything You Need to Know About Online Side Hustles

Before delving into the next big idea, how about shedding light on the why and how? We’ll also give you a few valuable tips for a robust foundation for your side hustle. This part is a must-read for those wondering why they need an online side gig.

How Will I Benefit From Online Side Hustles?

Remember how the pandemic led to various company closures and job losses? Aside from regular work, additional income from investments and a side job provides much-needed financial security to cushion you in unforeseen eventualities. Other benefits include: 

• Peace of Mind: You no longer need to worry too much about lost income in case of job loss.
• Savings: Online side hustles provide the extra income you can save for investments, holidays, a house, or a pension.
• Fulfillment: Imagine exploring your passion while earning from it; you’ll enjoy the whole process and attain a sense of satisfaction and achievement beyond just money.
• Personal and Career Growth: Online side hustles can help you enhance your skills, learn new things, and grow your networks, enhancing your experience and career advancement. 

How Do I Get Started With an Online Side Hustle?

Choosing the right side hustle may not seem easy, but with guidance, you can make the right, cost-effective moves, significantly impacting your success and satisfaction. There are various factors to consider when starting an online venture. By making the right moves from the start, you can pick what’s aligned with your skills, interests, and dreams to launch a successful gig. From analyzing your skills and target market to creating an audience, a blueprint can help you succeed. Luckily, we’ve put together a guide on how to go about it.  

• Identify and Evaluate Your Skills and Interests   

The chances of success are higher if you venture into something you love and are good at. For example, can you run a successful cake business if you’re unfamiliar with baking? No, you won’t be able to tell your products’ quality. In the same breath, you’re likely to enjoy and succeed in an online fitness coaching gig if you’re a fitness enthusiast and understand the different exercises, their impacts, and proper posture.

How do you identify and evaluate your skills and interests? It’s simple; ask yourself these questions: 

• What are you good at?
• What do you enjoy doing?
• What are you passionate about?
• What do people ask you for help with?
• What do you find yourself doing effortlessly?
• What skills do you possess that you’d like to improve?

The answers to these questions will help you quickly identify what you can create, sell, and offer, helping you match your skills to suitable side hustles you enjoy. They’ll also enable you to build expertise where needed and venture into hustles aligned with your passion. 

• Find Out Available Potential Side Hustles in Your Field of Interest 

After identifying your capabilities, research what side hustle is available in related fields. For example, if you love traveling, you’ll find ventures like travel vlogs and blogs that feature the places you visit particularly interesting. Next, choose what best suits your abilities, strengths, and interests. For instance, if you’re camera shy, you’re better off sharing incredible videos of the places you’ve been to rather than appearing in the footage in person. 

• Consider Your Availability 

You want to pick a side hustle that fits your schedule, as some may demand more effort and time than others. This step helps you leave moments for yourself, your regular job, and your loved ones. If you have limited time and skills, you’re still covered with passive income gigs like internet-sharing.

The 10+ Best Online Side Hustles to Explore in 2023

With or without a full-time job, a side hustle is possible. And the good news is all expertise and interest levels apply. Everyone gets a piece of the pie, from writers to fitness trainers, doctors and nurses, students, software developers, travelers, stay-at-home mums, and food connoisseurs! And if you want a passive side hustle or one that needs minimal to no skills and engagement, we have excellent options just for you. Let’s dive in.

#1) Sharing Your Internet  

It can’t get more passive and awesome than internet-sharing. How does this side hustle work? Simple; share your internet! This functionality is available in the Pawns.app platform, which connects you to users needing internet connectivity. All you need to do is download the app, install it on your device, and let it run in the background whenever you’re online. If you’re worried about privacy and internet security, worry not; the users on the other end won’t be able to view your device or online activities. Neither does the app slow down your browsing speed.

The earnings range from $9.60 monthly to much more based on your online hours and number of IPs. Here’s what makes internet-sharing an incredible option for making long-term income from online side hustles: 

• You earn without lifting a finger after signing up.
• It goes on as you venture into other online side hustles.
• You earn even more by pocketing a percentage of others’ lifetime earnings when you refer them to sign up.  

#2) Online Survey Taking

You can earn money by sharing your opinion! Pawns.app offers that too! Fantastic, right? Companies need people to review their products and services for feedback that can help them improve existing ones or perfect new ones. Enter online surveys that pay significant amounts for your responses. So you earn money and become a part of something big: a company’s growth and success. Plus, you’ll learn a lot.

#3) Drop Shipping

This online side hustle is for you if you want to sell certain products that are available overseas or manufactured by someone else. It allows you to source and sell merchandise to clients with minimal logistics, storage, or involvement. 

How does drop shipping work? Identify the supplier, market the products, and once you get a buyer, order from the seller on their behalf, and they’ll deliver directly to the client. You sell, pocket your margin, and run a sustainable business based solely on the internet with minimal effort.

#4) Freelancing  

This side hustle is a fantastic opportunity if you have existing skills that you use at your current job. Why not offer them to other clients at a fee? You can also learn the required expertise and start freelancing. How do you start? Identify freelancing platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, sign up and create your profile, then search the available opportunities based on your interests. There are myriad freelancing options, including the below examples: 

• Graphic design
• Software development
• Website building
• Coding 
• Copywriting 
• Accounting  

The beauty of freelancing is that you decide when to work and who to serve. Most platforms even allow you to set your preferred fees.

Pro tip: Upload samples or testimonials if you have prior work to flaunt your potential.

5. Blogging

Starting a blog can help you earn extra income. This online side hustle is terrific because you can write about what you love or know. For instance, if you’re knowledgeable or enthusiastic about mental health, why not start a blog where you can post articles imparting your knowledge in the field? You can easily build one using online drag-and-drop blog builders like WordPress or hire a site designer.

Blogging gives you a platform to share your skills, help others, and earn. Talk about multiple gains! How does blogging make income?  

• Sponsored Posts: You can feature related products and services on your blog for payment per feature or purchase.
• Google Ads: Once your site has enough traffic, you can display advertisements through Adsense and earn per click. 

Pro Tip: Choose a topic about something you’re passionate about. That way, this gig won’t feel like work at all!

6. E-Commerce: Monetizing Your Hobby

You’re crafty and enjoy making DIY stuff like handcrafted jewelry, painting and drawing, fashion designing, or gardening. Now, what’s stopping you from monetizing your hobby? How? Let’s take the example of gardening; you can set up an online shop to showcase your plants and care tips for each purchase. 

Monetizing your hobby is as advantageous as they come. Here are some reasons it’s so popular as a side gig: 

• It leverages something you already do, so there’s no hard work involved. All you need to do is take pictures of your products and upload them online. 
• You can sell your creations through social media platforms without needing an e-commerce website, making it easy to start.
• There are online platforms like Etsy, eliminating the need to build a store from scratch. 

7. Creating a YouTube Channel

YouTube has 2.6 billion users and content creators on the platform make billions of dollars from advertising revenue. Imagine what a tiny fraction of that would do if it were yours. How? Upload content on YouTube to earn viewers and subscribers by leveraging the existing online population and its interests. You can monetize your videos once you hit 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours. There’s various content to choose from, like how-to videos, vlogs, live streaming, and product reviews based on your passion or knowledge. 

Creating a channel is easy. Follow these steps: 

• Sign in.
• Click on your profile picture.
• Select “Create channel” and follow the prompts. 

8. Online Fitness Training

The pandemic elevated the trend of working from home, leading to the rise of online side hustles thanks to an increased preference for remote services, including the fitness industry. There are endless options for building an online side hustle if you’re a fitness enthusiast or trainer. Here’s how: 

• Organize live online fitness training sessions like aerobics and yoga. You can sell these to individuals or corporations.
• Sell downloadable workout plans.
• Make fitness videos and upload them on YouTube.  

9. Writing E-books

E-books are for you if you have skills, expertise, or know-how about a topic or field. Capture everything you know in a digital book and sell it to an audience hungry for knowledge. This online side hustle is fantastic if you prefer to stay in the background instead of speaking directly to clients. Your e-books can cover various topics, including the following: 

• Quick recipes for working moms
• Weight management tips
• How to launch an entrepreneurship journey 

10. Becoming an Online Proofreader

Many people write content but need help perfecting it, and that’s where editors and proofreaders come in. You can choose between academic, business, translation, and print media proofreading based on your interest and expertise. Moreover, there are various platforms where you can sign up to work as a proofreader, making it easy to find jobs from the onset. You’re already a curve ahead if you have excellent language and grammar skills, and most platforms will give you a sample test or reading material to prep once hired.

11. Online Tutoring  

Hello, teachers! You can earn from a side hustle teaching students online in your free time. What’s better, this gig is also suitable for non-teachers as long as they have expertise in a particular field or are fluent in a specific language. Here are examples of how you can tutor online: 

• Teach English as a second language (EASL)
• Help students prepare for tests
• Teach a technical subject, for example, biology
• Help students with their thesis and assignments by reviewing them for perfection 

You can start building your portfolio by tutoring students in your school, neighborhood, or your friends’ kids. Alternatively, sign up on online tutoring platforms.

12. Selling Your Photos Online

Professional photographer or not, you must have hundreds or thousands of photos in your phone library or pro camera. You can sell them online on stock photography platforms instead of letting them lie idle on your device. 

13. Managing Social Media Profiles

Social media management is another incredible option from our 10+ best online side hustles. Many individuals and businesses have social media accounts but lack the time or expertise to manage them effectively. You can venture into this field if you’re knowledgeable about these platforms and offer services like content creation and management, marketing, audience engagement, SEO, and captioning. This gig is fantastic because you only need your phone or laptop and internet connectivity to work anywhere. And you can manage your time effectively by using helpful tools like content scheduling assistants. 

14. Online Coaching

Besides creating digital content like e-books and YouTube videos, you can interact directly with your audience through live coaching sessions. This side hustle entails teaching a learner one-on-one online. You can use pretty much any video or voice-enabled platform like: 

• WhatsApp
• Zoom
• Microsoft Teams
• YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook Live
• Google Meet
• FaceTime  

Among the fields and subjects you can coach online are: 

• Writing
• Sales and business management
• Career coaching
• Wellness tips
• Personal financial management 

15. Transcribing Audio Files

What is transcription? It’s the conversion of audio or video recordings to written content. It presents a tremendous opportunity for online side hustle seekers. The job would involve listening to clients’ recordings and writing them word-for-word. To start working as a transcriber, sign up on online transcription platforms as a service provider and wait for assignments. You can also approach people and institutions in your networks who may need the services; businesses, healthcare providers, law firms, lecturers, and students are part of the population that maximizes transcription.

You don’t need any special skills to be a transcriptionist. You’re good to go as long as you pay attention to detail, are a keen listener, and can meet deadlines. You also have an advantage if you’re multilingual, as you can expand your reach to translate foreign audio to the local language.

16. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is all about promoting other companies’ products and services. You can venture into this by obtaining links from the service providers or through affiliate programs like HubSpot. Once you have the affiliate link, include it in your YouTube videos, social media content, blog posts, or newsletters. You’ll earn a commission whenever someone purchases the product or service through your link.

The advantage of affiliate marketing is that you can do it alongside your other side hustles. Additionally, you can make money selling products without involving yourself in the logistics or deliveries, order processing, or customer service. Easy peasy money!

How Do You Balance Your Online Side Hustle With Your Other Commitments and Regular Job?

Doing a side hustle means you have a primary job and engage in additional ones for passion, extra income, or experience. You must guard your regular job to ensure it stays intact and free of interference from your side hustle. You don’t want to lose your day job due to a side gig! The same applies to your relationships, social engagements, and other commitments. Here’s what you can do to strike a balance between your side hustles and your job: 

• Be bold and ask for help: Seek assistance if your online side hustle demands a lot of engagement or grows to a vast venture. This step could entail getting someone to answer your calls, messages, and emails while you’re away at your regular job or employing a delivery service if you have overwhelming orders.
• Allocate working times and set limits: It’s vital not to let your side hustle interfere with your regular work hours. This strategy is achievable by setting times to attend to the side hustle. You should take advantage of time trackers and to-do lists.
• Stick to the boundaries: Drawing the line is one thing, and respecting it is another. Ensure you stick to the set timelines and resist the urge to stray, like checking your social media account while working.
• Prioritize your activities: The best way to ensure your online side hustle doesn’t come calling with an urgent need during regular work hours is to attend to priority tasks first. That way, the others can wait until your next availability.
• Take breaks: It may be tempting to keep going when you enjoy the activity or the money starts trickling in. But this is counter-productive. Why? You’ll suffer burnout if you don’t take breaks. The result? Illness and the inability to work at all. If you’re a writer, you risk writer’s block, while an online test taker can suffer ear damage due to prolonged headphones use. Therefore, take occasional breaks to breathe, unwind, eat, exercise, spend time with family and friends, and care for yourself. That way, you’ll be in the best possible state for optimal performance. 

Do Online Side Hustles Come With Any Challenges?

Just like any business, online side hustles also have challenges. Nonetheless, knowing that some, like internet-sharing, pose zero risks or challenges is important. Let’s look at some of the common ones and how you can conquer them: 

• Unstable Connectivity 

A side hustle, when based online, depends on the internet, making connectivity your top priority and risk. Why? You cannot access your content, portfolio, or platforms if you’re offline. To overcome this challenge, invest in a stable connection to ensure reliability. Additionally, have a backup like mobile data. 

• Uncertain and Low Income 

Some side hustles have low returns. Others stabilize slower than expected, causing low income at the start. To beat this challenge, diversify your income sources by investing in several online side hustles. For example, if you’re an online fitness trainer, create a YouTube channel for your videos, write a fitness e-book, share your internet while at it, and sign up for surveys. This tactic will give you multiple money sources and a buffer should one medium go down. 

• Insufficient Skills 

Assume you are an expert in forex trading and want to blog about it but need more search engine optimization (SEO) or WordPress skills. You may need help to set up a blog on which to share your content. But you can solve this issue. How? Enroll for a free online course on blogging, writing, SEO, building a blog, or grammar. Doing so will give you the killer tools to launch your online hustle. 

• Difficulty Finding Clients 

Finding clients at the start may be challenging. But don’t give up; this hurdle is also solvable using the following tips:  

• Market your products and services through social media platforms.
• Attend networking events like workshops and webinars to meet potential clients and like-minded businesspeople.
• Offer excellent customer service. Your customers will return, give you terrific reviews, and refer new ones to you.
• Create a catchy site. If you’re blogging or setting up a YouTube channel, make it interesting to attract audiences at first glance.
• Utilize digital advertising like YouTube and Google Ads to make you more visible.   
• Lack of Self-Discipline   

It can be challenging to stay motivated and stick to goals in a self-supervised venture without tight company targets or someone to answer to. You can overcome this obstacle by setting clear, specific, and achievable goals. Also, how about rewarding yourself for achievements? This secret will keep you inspired to keep going and achieve more. 

• Technical Glitches   

Issues like bugs, dysfunctional tools within your blog, outdated software, and failed updates may be inevitable and outside your control. But there’s a solution to avoid occurrences or solve them when they occur. Take online courses or review tutorials about the basic technicalities of your platform. This background will enable you to understand the problem when it happens and troubleshoot it immediately to ensure an uninterrupted online presence.  

• Tough Competition 

The online space has several other users venturing into your preferred field. Don’t let this competition deter you. You can beat it by providing original content in addition to the following tips: 

•  
• Upload up-to-date content.
• Produce high-quality images and videos.
• Caption and index your content with relevant keywords to reach the right audience.
• Let a pro do the work if you need more time to hone your skills in a particular area; for example, let a web builder build the site for you if you’re venturing into blogging.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, online side hustles present a fantastic opportunity to earn additional income. Moreover, you can do them in your spare time, from anywhere, and on your preferred schedule. You only need the skill and knowledge you want to share, a phone or laptop, and internet connectivity. And you can do anything from photography to surveys, writing, and tutoring. Using the tips and 10+ best hustle ideas in this article, you can find one or a few that pique your interest and start your entrepreneurship journey. So what are you waiting for? Get moving. Even better, you can start internet sharing right now as you prepare.

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