I have worked so many freaking side-hustles and it’s wild to me to think about. I’ve participated in focus groups, mock trials, medical trials in college, brand ambassador work and events. When I say I’ve done it all-I’ve done it all. Except for OnlyFans, no one wants that. In my Michelle is Money Hungry content I talk a lot about personal finance, access and policy. But, I find that personal finance content creators don’t spend enough time talking about income growth and efficiency=especially when talking about side-hustles and gig-work…something that A LOT of people are engaged in right now. Ultimately, most people’s goal is to make as much money as possible in as little time as possible? How can you make that happen when you’re doing gig-work or other side-hustles?
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5 Strategies to Help You Earn More With Your Side-Hustle
- Avoid gigs that heavily rely on driving-Yep, I said what I said. Gas has gone down quite a bit, but side-hustles that involve a ton of driving are hard for me to get excited about because:
- The wear and tear on your car
- Cost of gas
- Low-tipping customers
- Complicated incentive models
- Focus on the earnings-There are brand ambassador gigs that pay well-over the minimum wage. For people who enjoy meeting new people, working at fun events-brand ambassador gigs are a great way to make money and have some fun. Here are some examples of how to strategize your next brand ambassador gig.
- Love the product! Easier to do the work of sharing the brand
- High hourly rate-over $20+ an hour (Alcohol brand ambassadors get paid significantly more)
- Work cool events that have a concentrated number of hours vs. a few hours a week. Events such as:
- Home shows
- Major conferences
- Festivals
- Your goal should be to earn as MUCH as possible per hour.
- Embrace technology-I am a huge, HUGE fan of how technology empowers people to find the gigs that work best for them. Here are the key components to consider when looking for your next gig:
- Can you work from home? Is there a cost (even nominal) that you might incur?
- Is it possible to multi-task while doing your side-hustle? Loopie-Laundry side-hustle is a great example of this. You get paid to wash someone else’s clothes from your home. You could still-tutor, teach or focus on an additional other side-gig at the same time.
- Think outside of the box-We often focus on side-hustles or gigs that everyone talks about BUT there are side-hustles or gigs that you can focus on that you work independently.
- Drone mapping-Love drones? Enjoy the outdoors? Understand how to map things? This is a really lucrative side-hustle.
- Newborn photoshoots-MUST love kids and families. This can be a very lucrative and fun side-gig.
- Technology support-Love technology and have the PATIENCE to explain current and emerging technology to others? Work with organizations to host workshops or webinars. I used to help AARP with this type of assistance. I ended up helping my high school principal!
- Niche down-Instead of offering general virtual assistant assistance, offer virtual assistance for Podcasters, Bloggers, etc.
- If you’re doing a side-hustle or gig such as: virtual assistant work, event photography or audio editing, design services packages vs. working hourly. This is ideal if you’re able to complete your tasks quickly without impacting the quality of service. Hourly services can give your clients way too much power over your output and time. You providing a service and as long as you delivery what you promised-there’s no reason to have an hourly service.
Ultimately, it’s important to spend time reflecting on the logistics of your gig work or side-hustle. Ask yourself the following:
- How can I make more in less time?
- Make sure to manage your budget and the extra money your side-hustle is bringing in. The Budgeting for Dummies book is a great way to learn about how to budget better.
- How can I optimize any incentives offered-Free tickets, gas subsidies, or other benefits.
- What do I really enjoy
- Is this side-hustle or gig sustainable with my current schedule?
Hopefully this episode has given you some ideas on how to earn more with your gig or side-hustle. The major point of this podcast is to be intentional about earning more with your side-hustle or gig.
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