This video is for you if you are looking for a path out of the 9-5!
I’m sharing 5 side hustles you can start from home that can take you from part-time
freelancer to full blown entrepreneur status.
(Sorry, guys! My regular intro music is missing. Pretend it's awesome. Audio coming back soon...)
What's up guys! It's Alex!
And I am so glad you clicked over to this video.
Because it is one that I have wanted to create for awhile, and after reading many of your
comments and questions lately, I decided that now was the perfect time…
So today I’m taking it back a few years to talk about how I started my entrepreneurial
journey, plus share some ideas on how you too can start making money on your own from
home.
But first, tell me if this has ever happened to you.
You’re at work, and you head out to a nearby cafe on your lunch break and you see people
everywhere on their laptops, working away with their headphones in and a fresh tea steeping…
And you’re like – what do these people even do!?
Don’t they have a job.
I know that latte is $4!
I know when I first quit my job at Mindvalley, one of the world's leading publishers of personal
growth programs online, and decided to move back to Canada, that was my goal.
I had just started my copywriting and consulting business and all I wanted was to be ONE OF
THOSE JOBLESS PEOPLE who could work from anywhere.
I would pack up my backpack every morning, and trot on down to the local cafe to set
up for the day.
I didn’t have many clients at the time, but would spend HOURS sitting there writing
and studying the science and psychology of copywriting, fueled by endless caffeine, of
course…
And it was pure bliss.
I could go home early for the holidays and work in front of the fireplace.
I could travel the world and sip on an Aperol Spritz in a piazza in Italy while tapping
away on my keyboard.
Now don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a breeze, in fact building your own business is tough
work, as many of you might know.
But I enjoyed it every single day because I had freedom.
Fast forward and today, and I have an amazing home office and studio with a team of incredible
writers and freelancers working for me.
I get to travel all over the world first class, for both business and pleasure, I speak at
high-level business masterminds and events…
And guys it all started with me sitting in that corner of that cafe, jamming on a side
hustle that I absolutely loved and one that I felt aligned with my skills, personality
and passion.
So, whether you’ve got a full time 9-5 that leaves you lifeless at the end of the day,
or you’re a new parent who wants to make money AND stay at home with your child, or
you’re a creative soul who is bursting at the seams to build something of your own,
even if it means spending your weekends learning and investing in yourself, you are in the
right place.
There are plenty of freelancing side hustles out there that you can start with nothing
more than a laptop, to give you the freedom, variety and money you’re craving…
And it’s become easier and easier to do so as businesses around the world go digital.
The best part is, you do not need to be a social media influencer or have celebrity
status to make this a reality.
Seriously though, mad props to those of you who have crushed the Instagram game but this
isn’t about that.
I have built my businesses outside of social networks, and while I do use them as part
of my business, they aren’t what make my business.
Even my YouTube channel that you’re watching right now I think of as a medium to connect
with my audience and fuel my business, rather than rely solely on it.
And the truth is, there are literally hundreds of part-time gigs you can find online through
sites like Upwork, Fiverr and Hubstaff, but in this video, I’ve narrowed down my picks
down to the top five.
These five side hustles are for the creatives, the strategic thinkers, and the operational-geniuses
of you who are looking to make some money at home learn AND learn valuable skills that
every single entrepreneur needs to be successful in the long run.
Ok, so starting off with my favorite, number one is…
Copywriting
Now, disclaimer here…
I am 100000% biased because this is how I got started.
And I truly think that copywriting is the best freelancing business in the world…
For those of you who aren’t familiar with copywriting, just think of it as words written
for the purpose of business or making sales.
So Facebook ads, social media posts, emails, promotional campaigns, website copy, and sales
pages are all considered copywriting and is needed by every single business on the planet
- in every single language on the planet.
Copywriting, really, is the most important aspect of marketing for any business, and
with the right fit of client and brand, it can be a flexible, creative, and fun pursuit…
I learned all about copywriting at my time at Mindvalley and it was there I realized
what a highly sought-after skillset it was.
Heads up though, copywriting is not for everybody or something that you can just pick up overnight.
It’s one of those hustles that requires time to develop your technique.
But guys that isn’t always bad news.
It’s what makes this the highest-paying side hustle on this entire list!
And it’s why I always say, the right phrase pays!
So, as long as you have a passion for writing and marketing, empathy, and a flair for words,
copywriting is a learnable skill that you can build with experience and training…
You simply start with creative writing, and then you layer on all the tactics, and the
strategies, and the conversion principles, and the psychological triggers, and all the
other secrets that turn written sentences into sales.
And that is what I’m here for.
You happen to be on a channel dedicated to teaching the foundational concepts of good
copywriting.
So if you're looking to start or scale your business with copywriting hit subscribe so
you don’t miss any more videos from me.
And hit that little bell icon to be notified when my next video goes live.
Alright, moving right along to the second side hustle you may want to consider…
Project Management
Project Management is such an important role in every single business.
Project managers are the left-brain organizational geniuses that are responsible for ensuring
that projects are completed on time and on-budget.
They are the ones in charge of coordinating teams of writers, designers and developers,
delegating tasks, managing a project’s workflow, and monitoring and tracking deadlines and
deliverables.
This side hustle is a great fit for someone who likes working with systems and processes,
is great with interpersonal communication, and has an eye for seeing the details without
missing the big picture.
And thanks to apps like Asana and Slack, it’s becoming even easier to manage teams and projects
from anywhere in the world!
I have a project manager from the Philippines who is currently traveling around Europe.
The last time we chatted I think she was in Georgia!
And I just hired another project manager who is Canadian but happens to live in Bali.
Like copywriting though, it does take experience to really rock this role, but if you’re
organized and productive, this may be the side hustle for you.
Plenty of companies are looking for trainable project managers who fit these qualities.
And, as long as you stay on track and on time, you can do it from anywhere.
And, if you’re just starting out as a copywriter, taking on the role of a project manager in
an organization can be an excellent way to get your foot in the door and add value while
learning copywriting on the side.
Project management is also a great value-added service to include in your copy projects.
And I did this a lot with my clients when I was just getting started.
Ok, moving right along to number 3 on the list..
Affiliate Marketing
If you’re not familiar with affiliate marketing, it’s the concept of promoting other people’s
products or services in exchange for a commission for every sale or successful referral you
make.
This could range anywhere from memberships and subscriptions to softwares and online
programs to physical products and goods.
So, If you have access to a large list or network or you’re interested in learning
how to drive traffic or master paid advertising, affiliate marketing has the potential to earn
you some great cash.
Especially if you find the right product to promote to the right audience.
Affiliate marketing is it also a great way to test your copywriting skills and get immediate
feedback and data before approaching new potential clients.
Now the amount of money you make, of course, depends on how many products you’re able
to sell, and what your commission is.
For example, Shopify will pay you $2,000 for every merchant you refer!
That’s pretty sweet.
Clickbank is another great marketplace to search for products you can sell on behalf
of vendors around the world.
You simply sign up for an affiliate link and start promoting to earn commissions.
Ok, moving right along to…
Number four on my list of side hustles to make money from home…
Virtual Assistant
Now there’s a growing demand for virtual assistants or VAs from business owners around
the world who need help on various projects, and to grow and maintain their brands.
Being a VA is a great place to start earning money from home and enables you to specialize
and grow in countless areas, depending on the client you’re working with.
It can involve tasks such as calendar and inbox management, bookkeeping, transcription,
compiling meeting notes, research, proofreading and other administrative tasks.
Most VAs charge by the hour, so it’s a pretty easy gig to do on the side of a regular J.O.B.
If you’re unable to be on standby and jump on immediate requests, though, be sure to
communicate this with the client so that you can focus on scheduled tasks and weekly to-do’s.
Okay the final side hustle on my list is…
Community Management
If you’re a great communicator and a natural people person, community management might
just be the perfect side hustle for you to start earning moolah from home!
Community management can range anywhere from customer service, like managing customer requests
via email, phone, live chat and inside customer membership areas.
But it can also involve social media management and engaging with audiences via social commenting,
DMs on FB and IG and responding to questions and feedback on blog posts .
Now while it might seem simple, businesses around the world are heavily investing in
customer service and community management as audiences take to multiple channels to
interact with the brands they follow!
As Omni-channel, multi-touch marketing is on the rise, more and more companies will
be looking for personable team members to represent their brands across-the-board.
And guys, for the record, this is EXACTLY how I got started.
My very first role at Mindvalley was Customer Service, answering customer emails for a new
program they had just launched.
Now although I didn't stay in that role long, because over the 3.5 years I was at the company
I very quickly worked my way up to Creative Director.
However, starting in customer service was the perfect way to get my foot in the door
and learn the ropes!
And look at me now, mom!!
The most important thing I want you to take away from this video is that none of these
things are magic money buttons.
They require dedication and commitment, and you have to PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE to get
clients.
Always remember to be honest about where you’re at, share your passion for growth and lead
with value!
So to get started, you can check out my video on my 4 ways to get clients.
You can watch that right here.
And guys, thank you for watching and subscribing.
Tune in next week for my next video.
Until then, I’m Alex, Ciao for now!