Hey everyone, this week's guest post is by Savannah with SincerelySavannah.com! One of the big questions I get from readers is how they can use their existing skills to make money online like I am. Writing freelance articles was one of the first ways I started really making money online, and any type of freelancing is a great way to supplement your income if you are trying to jump into the blogging world like I did!
Check it out and let us know if you have any awesome tips for freelancing gigs in the comment section below. ~ M$M
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For those who have the skills, freelance work can be an exciting and liberating way to make a living, and it often seems like freelancers have it made. Being their own boss, working in an area they really care about, and having a flexible schedule to boot are all benefits of freelancing.
But not all freelancers are full-time freelancers. Freelancing can be a great addition to your regular day job. As a side gig, your skills can earn you some extra cash to have on hand, put toward a big purchase, or send to your savings account. And if you think you don’t have the skills to earn money doing freelance work, you’re probably wrong.
Check out our skill-based guide to freelance gigs:
Writing
If you’re a whiz with the written word, there are a ton of freelance opportunities out there. Most of which can be done in your free time, as well as part of a full-time freelance career.
- Content Creation
In marketing these days, content is king, and every company — from Fortune 500 behemoths down to mom and pop brands — is developing original content for its blog and website. A lot of companies either don’t have the time to spend on creating this content or don’t have the resources to do it themselves.
These organizations turn to content marketing and SEO companies to help them out, and those companies turn to freelancers to tackle the workload. Or some companies may put their content needs on sites such as Upwork or Craigslist for freelancers to bid on themselves.
- Copywriting
Copywriting can apply to a number of projects and industries. Advertising agencies employ whole teams of copywriters, but not every company can afford to hire an advertising or marketing agency to create its ads. Copywriting can encompass everything from coming up with a catchy tagline or branding scheme to crafting social media messages designed to grab a reader’s attention. The lines between copywriting and content writing can sometimes get muddled, but there is definitely a difference.
- Ghostwriting
A lot of books and papers that get published aren’t completely written by the people credited as the authors. Even if someone has a story to tell, that doesn’t mean they can effectively tell it themselves in writing. That’s where a ghostwriter comes in. It’s a ghostwriter’s job to take the story being told and put it down on paper. It can be a lot of work, and for some projects, ghostwriters can make a pretty good amount.
Graphic Design
Just as many companies are looking for outside writing assistance, they also have a need for graphic designers. This could encompass web design, print design or project work. About a quarter of designers are freelancers, which gives you an idea of just how in-demand this skill can be. These places might be good starts for finding freelance gigs:
- Ad agencies
- Local media such as newspapers, magazines and TV stations
- Small businesses
- Nearby chambers of commerce
- SEO or marketing firms
Driving
Are you the best driver you know? If you love being behind the wheel, have a car, and boast a great driving record, you could leverage that skill for a freelance gig as well.
Companies such as Uber, Lyft and Gett advertise regularly that their drivers can make thousands of dollars per month by driving for their services. Depending on which service you drive for, you can keep up to 80 percent of your profits. If you live in a big city or if there aren’t many ridesharing services in your area, it can mean a decent income for a side hustle.
Photography
So, you graduated with a degree in visual arts, but your day job is in sales. Use your artist’s eye to make some cash on the side, and do some work in the area you’re passionate about.
- Photo Editing
We are in the digital age, and chances are if you know anything about photography, you know about editing also. Using your Photoshop skills to edit photos for print publications, a company’s marketing efforts, or even for other freelance photographers can be pretty lucrative.
- Freelance Photography
We’re all surrounded by people who need photos taken. Opportunities for small businesses, weddings and holiday cards abound. And that’s in addition to all the actors, dancers, yoga teachers and anyone else who uses photos as their primary mode of self-promotion. By specializing in taking headshots, wedding or performance photos, you’ll create your own profitable side business and establish an impressive portfolio.
Translation
If you speak more than one language, there are a ton of doors open to you. But if you want to use those skills in your side hustle, check out becoming a translator.
A lot of companies do work in multiple countries, and instead of hiring an expensive agency to translate their marketing or corporate communications, they could come to you. Sites such as Translators Cafe can help set you up with clients who need translation into any and all languages.
Coding
In this age of smartphones, Internet-based businesses and everything else in our digital lives, coding has skyrocketed to the top of the list of the most desirable skills. Whether you’re developing smartphone apps or a cloud-based communication platform, your skills with computer languages can be used on a freelance basis. With the demand for software engineers growing along with the technology boom, you can rake in a pretty penny as a freelance developer.
If you get bored working for one company or working on the same project for too long, a freelance career can be an excellent alternative. Additionally, if you’re looking to earn some extra money or meet new people, taking up a side hustle is a good way to do it.
So take a look at your skills. Chances are you’ve got one or two you can develop into a freelance gig!
What other ways can you make money online? Please share any tips you have below!
Hi Savannah, cool article! I never heard of Upwork before. That looks like a great place to make some money. Another writing gig I’ve thought about is doing grant proposals. I was going to start by volunteering for a local animal shelter. Once I raised money for them, I thought it would be easier to get paid work. It’s a cause I’m passionate about anyway. Turns out the shelter still hasn’t received its nonprofit status, which makes it difficult to get grants. No need for a proposal writer.
I had never thought of Uber drivers as freelancers…but why not?! Just goes to show that there are tons of opportunities out there if you want them (reminds me of another guest post I had recently ????)!
My sister just joined Upwork as a freelance artist actually. Pretty cool! And a friend who was a b-school intern at Personal Capital where I consulted from 2013-2015 joined Upwork FT after graduation.
Funny how all these companies are right here in SF where I live. The biggest X-Factor I found after leaving FT work was how much freelancing consulting opportunities arose out of my blog! Folks who are blogging should think about moving to the Bay Area to blog and consult!
Sam
Sam – I’ve been wondering about your consulting gig and want to chat with you sometime about it (how you structured it, what it entailed, etc.). I’ve had a lot more interest from companies as the blog has grown, but don’t know how to approach consulting yet!
My blog has only been up a month, but I am already excited about the idea of getting into freelance writing. I have never thought of a lot of these ideas such as ghost writing or coding. Looking forward to what the future holds. Great read! 🙂
Ghost writing can be good money!
Yes, sir! All these are great freelancing opportunities that are accessible to so many more people thanks to the internet and technology.
It is crazy how much more free we can become if we just harness the internet!
Sam
^^^Yes. Internet has completely changed my life.