You might have been wondering how people like you earn money while also having fun from the comfort of their desks. The secret can be revealed when you learn the trick. There are quite a lot of fascinating side project ideas you can explore to get entertained and even earn money without having to go through too much work or effort. In addition to being a source of income, these side projects are also proven to be beneficial in broadening one’s knowledge and uncovering exciting new career opportunities.
But the one million dollar question now is: how? Well, here are 10 of the most creative side projects you can jump on this new year.
Start a Podcast
Unlike textual content, podcasts allow you to effectively communicate your knowledge and expertise to a specific audience. Starting a podcast is one of the most creative side projects that can be lucrative if you have a passion for speaking. You may share anything with the world through podcasts and expand your network.
As a matter of fact, in a recent update by Demand Sage, there are over 424 million podcast listeners across the globe. So, you might want to consider starting a podcast directly related to your professional creative pursuits or out of a hobby. With that, you can make money from sponsorships or advertising partnerships.
Also, consider investing in podcast advertising to grow your fan base and gather valuable feedback from your listeners.
Create an Affiliate Website
Creating an affiliate website is another best side project idea to explore and earn some money. You can easily leverage your website by embarking on affiliate marketing. You can create your own affiliate website with just a few steps.
You would need to check which brands offer affiliate marketing that may have products you are interested in. Your created affiliate website then allows you to promote these products of your selected brands and earn commission on each sale.
Create Digital Art
Digital art or graphic design is among the most popular and sought-after skills in almost all branding and marketing materials. You can start with a few quick steps, such as learning to use Adobe Photo, Adobe Illustrator, or Canva. And the most exciting thing about digital art is you can always use it for personal or professional materials, which can fetch you as much money as you can imagine. Thus, you can try freelance graphic designing and make something huge out of it.
Create an App
Creating an app may be one of the most challenging ideas, especially if you still need to learn the ropes around app design and development processes. However, you can jump on new project ideas by learning the right tools to employ.
First, think of an app that has never been made before that can solve a problem you’ve identified. Then you find a way to develop it with appropriate features to attract potential users. In this case, you may need to hire a dedicated development team. This team can be beneficial if your app idea has too many vague requirements.
Start Blogging
Blogging is not a new side project idea in the digital age. But it’s always a fascinating niche to explore if you are someone who has a flair for writing or not. It is a convenient side project idea that has proved lucrative over the years. First, you can engage in as many blog topic ideas as possible by acquiring the right resources on topics you want to write about.
Then, you can choose a blogging website and ensure you subscribe to a hosting service. You can explore niches such as fashion, travel and lifestyle, love, music etc.
Launch a Newsletter
Newsletters are one of the few side project ideas you can use to market yourself as an expert. A well-constructed newsletter can educate your subscribers and build connections with them.
Email newsletters are also a great way to connect with customers and potential customers. It’s a newsletter’s job to inform, persuade, and sell to your audience. Although newsletters require much effort, dedication, and passion, you can always find your way around them through the right methods and earn money.
Start an Open Source Project
The amount of money you can make from open-source code as a side project depends on several factors. First of all, the popularity of your open-source project plays a significant role in determining your possible revenue. On top of that, adoption and credibility play an essential role.
An open-source project can be deemed successful when it manages to create a software product that is widely adopted by a large user base. The popularity of the software is often an indication of its usefulness, effectiveness, and efficiency.
Create Online Courses or Tutorials
Online courses or tutorials can a side project idea for making money. You can leverage your knowledge and essential skills and create online courses on SkillShare or Udemy. Also, you can expand this venture by marketing other information products such as eBooks, templates, webinars, workbooks, and paid subscription newsletters. If you are an expert in your field, you can easily earn substantial money with courses you create.
Become Airbnb Host
You can start as an Airbnb Host online and rent out properties. Whether you rent out a room or your entire house, property rental is a reliable option for generating additional revenue. Although some threats are associated with allowing strangers into your property, this can be one of the more passive forms of side projects if you do it right. This venture can fetch you money; it is a business that does not die as long as people exist.
Sell your Photos
If you take high-quality pictures or photographs, you can become a freelance photographer and sell your photos to stock image sites. In addition, you can market your images to local publications or journals for sale. And there are different kinds of photography categories you can venture into, such as wedding photography, product photography, nature photography etc.
Summary
Everyone has a passion for something or another. And you will always find it surprisingly exciting when you realize that you are always satisfied every time you work on this newfound passion. Having a side project idea like one of those discussed earlier gives you something to look forward to every day. Another kicker is: they don’t just excite you but also fetch you some money.
