4 Side Hustles That Can Make You a Full-Time Income

If you’re a student, you might be looking for some side hustles to boost your spending power or to kickstart your career. There are a bunch of different options like Uber and Fiverr, but not all platforms can give you a reliable source of income. You’re better off spending your time on more promising ventures, especially if they can give your resume some pizzazz.

A side hustle is a method of making money outside the usual 9 to 5 job, or outside of your full-time studies. Depending on how much time you put into it, you can eventually be making hundreds or even thousands a month from your side hustle, enough for it to be considered a full-time income.

1.   Freelance Writing

If you’re hoping to end up with a career in journalism, marketing or anything that involves content, freelance writing is a particularly appropriate side hustle for you. Not only will it make your resume look considerably better, you have the potential to make a full-time income from it. Freelance writing is also a great way to build your skills and to find what niches you’re most comfortable with.

However, freelance writing often requires a lot of time to build up your portfolio. You might have to work for free or charge lower prices to begin with. However, it’s important not to discount your skills or to allow yourself to be taken advantage of. Once you’ve developed your skills and clients, you can increase your prices.

2.   Social Media

Many students have found social media to be a great hobby and side hustle. It’s the perfect way to build your online presence. Similarly to freelance writing, having a strong social media following could be very beneficial for your career growth. It has a low barrier to entry and allows you to focus on whatever you want from cooking or your love of dogs.

There is a range of ways to make money from social media. On YouTube, you can run ads on your videos as well as do sponsored content. You can also do sponsored posts on Instagram and other platforms. There are other ways to make money through social media such as affiliate marketing and selling your own products.

However, you don’t have to be the star of the show to take advantage of social media’s potential. For example, you could work behind the scenes as a videographer or editor. Not only do you have the opportunity to improve on your skills, but you’ll also be building your portfolio and ideally making some income on the side.

3.   Airbnb Hosting

Of course, as a student, it’s unlikely that you have a spare property that you can turn into an Airbnb. However, if you have a spare room, even if you live with your parents (with their express permission), you could potentially list it on Airbnb. The steps involved with running an Airbnb are relatively simple. However, it will take time to set up and to maintain.

Make sure to keep the interior design neutral but unique enough to attract guests. It’s important to take high-quality photos and to write an engaging description that points out your space’s unique characteristics. Though you might not be making a tonne to start off with, there is definitely the potential to grow your income.

4.   Dropshipping

Dropshipping involves setting up an online store but allowing the manufacturer to carry inventory and ship products. You might open a store on Shopify, eBay or other similar platforms. Then, you can set up automatic systems so that orders are sent to the manufacturer when someone makes a purchase on your store.

If you have a marketing background, this could be a money maker for you. However, there are a lot of risks involved. Plus, you’ll be giving away control, making it hard to maintain quality. Research is essential to keep up with the latest dropshipping techniques and expectations!

Final Words

Side hustles definitely have the potential to make you a full-time income in the long run and they can also be a fun side project to keep alive while you’re studying. You have the chance to build your skills and to give some more weight to your resume. Everything can be seen as a learning experience, and making a little bit of extra money on the side, doesn’t seem like such a bad thing.

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