New Year, New Side Hustle: 5 trends for the year

Photo Courtesy of DreamSky, Pexels.com

Welcome to  The Side Hustle University, your ultimate resource for unlocking innovative opportunities to make money online. In today’s ever-evolving digital landscape, individuals worldwide are seeking additional sources of income by exploring new financial avenues. They have started turning to the online jungle for financial empowerment and side hustle opportunities.

Going through today’s financial uncertainties is a shared experience, and I know about the anxiety of ensuring there’s enough money for rent, putting a decent meal on the table, or a shirt on the backs of my children. I feel your pain. I understand your challenges and I am committed to guiding you toward useful methods and ideas for creating your very own money-generating machine.

That is precisely why I started my blog over at The Side Hustle University. The inception of The Side Hustle University stems from my desire to share insights into diverse online money-making methods. Methods and ideas that I wish I had been shown or even knew about a long time ago. This platform is meticulously curated to equip you with the knowledge and strategies essential for thriving in the virtual landscape. Explore actionable techniques, from freelancing and remote work to e-commerce ventures and digital investments, guaranteeing you possess the tools to transform your online endeavors into a lucrative reality.

Embark on your journey towards financial independence right here, right now. Let’s delve into the hidden gems of the online money-making world together! Discover a wealth of opportunities at The Side Hustle University.

2024 Has Begun, Make It Count

In the unsettled world of the internet, the pursuit of that elusive virtual goldmine and money-printing machine is a never-ending quest. Many things have changed in the digital world over the last year. With the creation and mass adoption of AI technology, the changes in rules and regulations of social media platforms, and just the overall sentiment of the online community in general, making money online has become more challenging, yet more lucrative.

Photo Courtesy of Walls.io, Pexels.com

I would like to take the time today to discuss what I personally believe will be the hottest trends for making a sustainable stream of income online this year. 

Here is my list of the Top 5 trends for making money online for 2024.

Maximize Your Online Freelancing Success: Unleashing the Power of Your Skills for a Thriving Business

In 2023 we saw the unfortunate growth of unemployment numbers worldwide. According to a report published by Statista Research Department, the unemployment rate in Canada was at 5.4% and in the US it was 3.7%.

With inflation consistently going up, as well as the cost of living, people are still searching for ways to make a living. One such way is remote working and freelancing. According to an article published on Self.inc, 45% of working Americans claim to have a side hustle.

Photo Courtesy of RDNE Stock Project, Pexels.com

Getting started as a freelancer is quite easy. First, create a profile on popular freelance marketplaces like SproutGigs, Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer. It is essential to showcase your skills and experience in your profile and create compelling proposals for each job you apply to. Tailor your profile to highlight your expertise and watch clients come knocking. Optimize your profile with relevant keywords in your bio and use skill descriptions that will enhance your visibility in search results. With hard work and dedication, you can build yourself a solid portfolio and earn a sustainable income as a freelancer.

Platforms like  SproutGigs, Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer offer several opportunities for freelancers in various fields, from writing and graphic design to programming and digital marketing. If you have the skill set, you can find the work.

Photo Courtesy of Markus Winkler, Pexels.com

Businesses worldwide are outsourcing a variety of jobs now as well such as administrative tasks, data entry, scheduling, and so on creating a huge demand for remote workers. If you excel in organization and communication, offer your services remotely. But note that there is a huge influx of people looking and applying for remote jobs, so competition is pretty high. The best course of action here is to find niche jobs that you have a skill set for, like copywriting for example.

E-Commerce Entrepreneurship: Turn Passions into Profits

Every single one of us here reading this, is here for a reason; to escape that rat race. We all have individual skills, some may overlap with one another, but we all know one thing well about something. Why not take that knowledge and turn it into a money-printing machine?

Photo Courtesy of Pixabay, Pexels.com

It has never been easier than now to start your very own website. So, I mean…..why not??? A quick Google search will show you that there are people out there selling things such as farts in jars. Yea….you read that right, literally farts in jars. There are people out there making 5 to 10 thousand a month selling pictures of feet, and in some cases, it isn’t even their own feet. Or even their own bath water. Like…what?!?!?! Don’t believe me, Google it. Better yet, check this story out at Business Insider.

The point here is none of us have any excuse to not at least give this a try, right? If we are serious about starting a side hustle, I think we would do anything and everything we can to make it work. If there are people out there willing to buy something like a fart in a jar, then I am sure you can come up with a product or service that is actually of some benefit to society.

And the product you choose doesn’t have to be original. Head over to Etsy and you can find 100s of shops selling things like stickers. These individuals have learned and perfected their store, website, and products and they can make well over 6 figures a year. JUST SELLING STICKERS. Keep digging and you’ll find things like planners, t-shirts, handmade jewelry, and artwork.

You also don’t even need to sell a physical product. You can create e-books and sell those as well. Don’t know how to? Me neither, but there are loads of videos and tutorials on YouTube that can be found to teach you how. In the near future I will be diving into Amazon KDP. If that is something you have heard of before or are interested in what I find out about it, drop a comment below.

Online Course Guru

Everyone’s an expert these days. Like I said earlier, we all know one thing well about something. Why not share your knowledge on anything and everything by creating online courses? From knitting to advanced quantum mechanics, there’s an audience for everything. Hell, why not create a course on how to sell and market farts in jars, since there seems to be demand for that. Remember, knowledge is power, but in this case, it’s also profit.

Photo Courtesy of Katerina Holmes, Pexels.com

You can use sites like Canva to create your course, and you can sell it on sites like Etsy, Udemy, and even place ads on Facebook.

A niche market I have discovered is tutoring online courses. Tutoring classes such as math, science, teaching English, baking classes, or anything someone may need help and guidance with, you can teach it online. I actually came across this from speaking to a teacher. They started offering online services to supplement their income, and have now reached a point where they make the same amount of money teaching online as they do at their full-time job as a teacher, and in half the amount of hours.  The beauty of this is that you can set your own rate, however, I do advise setting a reasonable rate. Something in line with what other people are charging.

Content Creation: Monetize Your Creativity

If you possess a flair for writing, podcasting, or creating engaging videos, the digital world is your oyster. Platforms like YouTube, Medium, or Patreon enable content creators to monetize their passion. With dedication and consistency, you can build a loyal audience and generate income through ad revenue, sponsorships, or direct contributions.

Content may be king, but consistency is king-er. Once you become consistent with putting out content, you will begin to see your audience grow much faster. The best advice I think I ever received for this was to treat this like it was your day job. Stay with it, be consistent, and put your best effort forth every day. You would be spending your time and effort to make someone else rich, so why not direct that time and effort on yourself?

Photo Courtesy of Img Flip, Meme Generator.

Research trending topics in a niche that interests you, and incorporate relevant keywords into your content titles and descriptions. You can check out some of my other work on Medium or The Side Hustle University for tips and tricks to help you with this.

AI-Powered Side Hustles

Machines and AI are taking over the world. I am sure you have seen Terminator and know all about Skynet, and The Matrix and all about the Sentinels. Welllll…..we are bringing that on with the onset of AI and its enormous capabilities. Even the Earth’s resident super genius, Elon Musk, says we need to be more careful with the things we are doing with AI. But this is a topic for someone else to discuss. Let me tell you how to use AI to your advantage to help with your side hustle.

Photo Courtesy of Tara Winstead, Pexels.com

If you were to do a quick search on YouTube or Google, probably the most common way to use AI to your advantage for a side hustle would be to use it to write content for you in some form. Something like a blog post, let’s say. Now, I’m going to keep it real with you….I hate this. I hate everything about this. I personally do not use AI to write my content. Speaking for myself here, but why would anyone want to spend their valuable time reading something that I didn’t even take the time to write? Makes no sense.

But hey, I’m just some dude on the internet so don’t let me tell you what to do. If you want to use AI to write or make your content, then have fun. All the best.

But another use for AI that I have come across is using AI to create works of art. It is absolutely amazing to me that by just typing in a few words, you can have AI create some pretty impressive images. Sites like Dall-E, Midjourney, and Deep Dream Generator are useful for this. Simply, create some images and use them in some form to sell. Make t-shirts, canvas pieces, comic strips. You can even make short videos using them and plaster them all over YouTube.

Photo Courtesy of Is Generative AI Stealing From Artists, Forbes.com

So what I am getting at is to use AI to help you. Don’t use it to do your job for you. With AI, the possibilities of things to do are endless, and really only limited by your imagination. Again, if someone can sell farts in a jar, you can sell something as well.

Conclusions – the TL;DR Version

There you have it folks, my take on 2024’s hottest ways to start a side hustle and turn your time into a financial powerhouse. Remember, financial success often involves a combination of strategic decisions, hard work, and adaptability. Be cautious with high-risk ventures, and focus on building a sustainable foundation for long-term financial growth. Explore these lucrative options, adapt them to your strengths, and stay informed about industry trends to ensure your business thrives

I hope this blog post has given you some useful insights on another side hustle idea that may work for you. Tell me what you think. I want to hear your thoughts, opinions, and experiences. Don’t be shy—share your insights by leaving a comment below and let’s ignite the spark of inspiration together!

Finally, if you haven’t already done so, please check out my website, The Side Hustle University, where you can learn to unleash your potential and unlock your financial freedom with my comprehensive website designed for individuals looking to begin a rewarding side hustle journey. Whether you’re craving that extra cash, or looking to launch a thriving business, The Side Hustle University has you covered! Explore several captivating articles, insightful blog posts, illuminating reviews, and innovative ideas, meticulously curated to liberate you from the rat race we all despise. Don’t miss out! Visit The Side Hustle University today and take a bold step towards a brighter, more prosperous future.

To your success,

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company, organization, or employer. The author has not received any compensation for writing this post, however, there may be some affiliate links throughout the piece. Individual results may vary based on effort and other factors. Any action you take based on the information presented in this post is strictly at your own risk. The author assumes no liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in the content of this post.