As the country is trying to get a hold on the virus, people have fewer opportunities to work or make extra money without putting themselves at risk. Fortunately, the Internet opens the door to big and small ventures without stepping a foot outside. There are many side hustles you can take advantage of during this pandemic, depending on your comfort level.
Freelance
One of the most common side hustles is through freelance work. This is where you can offer your skills for one-time projects in exchange for a fee. Fiverr is a large and popular online marketplace where you can advertise your services. Simply create a profile and showcase your previous work, if any. Upwork mainly works in the opposite direction as people with projects advertise their gigs and you can submit proposals to be hired.
Start a small business
Want to put those countless hours of YouTube and internet surfing about [insert topic here]? Well, here you go. Show your content expertise by creating a website and producing articles, videos, and other content on a consistent basis. You can eventually grow into website ads, selling digital products and using affiliate marketing links, just to name a few. Three important pieces to this: buying a domain (or website address), subscribing to a hosting company to house your domain such as HostGator, and creating the website design with platforms such as WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace.
Virtually babysit
Yes, you read that right. Be the champion of a tired parent who needs that one to two-hour break. Get hired as a virtual babysitter to watch and entertain a child for a short period of time. With a lot of parents working from home due to COVID-19, this is a great opportunity. Sitter City and Care.com are great places to start!
Tutor
Learning doesn’t stop, even during a pandemic. The fact is teachers and tutors are now less accessible. This is where you can step in. Whether you were teaching or tutoring before the pandemic or not, you can set up virtual lessons via video chat with Skype, Zoom or Google Meet as a few examples. Virtual teaching is not limited to academics or music; dance, exercise, art, repairs are other areas of demand. **Check out our directory for a variety of tutors who may be looking for new people to join them.
Become a Personal Assistant
If you are a King or Queen of organization, this is for you. Get hired as someone’s personal assistant to handle someone’s administrative duties. Opportunities are out there that allow you to manage paperwork, schedules or phone calls and get paid for it.
Surveys
Give your opinion, get paid. The formula is so simple. The spare time you have in your day can be put toward paid surveys provided by platforms such as Swagbucks, Survey Junkie and Inbox Dollars.
Mystery Shopping
If you’re unfamiliar with mystery shopping, it’s a way for companies to rate how good or bad an establishment is running their store. You, as the mystery shopper, would be tasked to a specific purchase or interaction and secretly make note of your findings. Fortunately, there are many mystery shops that can be done over the phone. Check out two of the most popular companies, Market Force and iSecretShop.
Teach
VIPKid, MagicEars and SayABC are websites where you can apply to teach English as a second language (ESL) students in China through video chatting. Besides the equipment, these platforms provide the necessary training and curricula needed to do the job. Check out each website to learn more.
Voiceover Work
Do you have a unique-sounding voice? Ever thought about exploring acting without the pressure of a camera? Voiceover work could be for you. Record a polished demo and begin shopping around for different kinds of gigs. Voice123 and VoiceBunny are great starting points.
Watch Videos
Last but not least, getting lost in the abyss of internet videos is something you no longer have to do for free. There are websites that pay people to watch their videos. Check out Inbox Dollars, Swag Bucks, Ad Wallet, and Earnably for another small, free time space filler.