It is no secret I am a BIG FAN of side hustles for how they can make a big impact on your financial situation. (See here, here, here, and here.) But as we navigate life in the era of the Coronavirus, side hustles have evolved.
Not only are the more vital than ever to those trying to stay financially afloat, they've also had to evolve. So, I put together a list of some of the best side hustles for those who want to stay safe. The best part of the side hustles mentioned on this list? They can easily be adapted to life after the eradication of COVID-19.
4 Top Lockdown Friendly Side Hustles
Transcription
Transcription consists of writing word for word what someone has said; like
dictation for recorded audio. There are three main categories of transcription services people are searching for: broadly these are general, legal, and medical. It is worth noting here that legal and medical transcriptionists require specialized training to know terms and formatting.
- Legal – Legal transcriptionists will transcribe things like court hearings, police interviews, and other legal matters. Some paralegals may do legal transcription.
- Medical – Medical transcriptionists will transcribe notes from doctor’s offices, hospital records, and healthcare relevant audio.
- General – General transcriptionists have no limit when it comes to what they can transcribe. Common projects include interviews, focus groups, captioning, and podcasts.
Getting started with general transcription is a fairly easy process. There are several sites made for people who want to get transcription work. For pretty much all of them, you have to pass a test before you can get started.
Once you pass the test, you’ll start with lower-paying tasks. Many of them will start paying you more with better performance, so it’s just a matter of time before it starts paying off. Some will let you start with no experience, while others require you to have worked as a
transcriptionist before.
Companies that offer transcription work include TranscribeMe!, Rev, and CyberDictate.
Virtual Assistant
There are 5.82 million entrepreneurs in the world. (I used to be/am still one of them. Read about my journey with entrepreneur depression here, here, here, and here.)
Many of those entrepreneurs need help running their business and taking care of administrative tasks that are necessary to keep operating, or free up their time to focus on “big picture” stuff. One of the biggest perks of having a virtual assistant is that it allows business owners to focus on the money-generating tasks instead of getting bogged down in necessary busy work.
Actually, one of my biggest regrets in running this website as my full-time business was that I didn't invest in remote help.
Virtual assistants take care of those administrative tasks for business owners. Some of them might also offer bookkeeping or social media services. There’s no limit to what a virtual assistant can do, it just depends on the client need.
Many business owners hire assistants for specific tasks. However, if you’ve worked as an
administrative assistant before, you’ve likely done many of the tasks that this side hustle
requires.
Before you get started, you’ll need to identify what you will and won’t do. Outline what tasks you’re willing to help support business owners in, and which are out of reach. Is there a way to niche your services to help you stand out in the marketplace? For example, can you become a “Social media” expert or focus solely on Dropbox?
If you’re not sure where to start, you can sign up for services like UpWork or Fiverr to start
offering your services there. These are also good options if you don’t have any experience
being an assistant.
Proofreading
Proofreaders edit written content before it gets published. While this can include traditional print books, it also extends to digital content like web copy, blog posts, and social media descriptions. Proofreaders are not quite the same as copy editors.
Proofreaders don't make revisions or offer suggestions. Instead, they solely make sure content is error free when it comes to typos, punctuation, grammar, and spelling.
This gig requires you to have great attention to detail. Because of the high level of detail required, many clients prefer some kind of certification or editing experience before they’ll hire you.
However, you can get started by putting together a portfolio featuring proofread material.
Working as a proofreader can be tedious, so you’ll need a heavy dose of patience. You’ll also need to learn style guides quickly, and stick to them religiously while you’re looking over content.
That being said, once you gather a few clients they will be incredibly loyal. A decent proofreader is worth their weight in gold.
Teaching English Online
Most positions teaching English will require you to have a Bachelor’s degree or a TEFL/TESOL certificate. However, there are a few options out there that don’t require you to have an advance degree.
Depending on which company you work for, you can teach people of all ages. Many are
targeted at students in middle and high school, while others are adult-centered. Pay attention to the requirements – some let you have an irregular schedule, while others require you to commit to regular times each week, which may or may not work if you have a full-time job or are juggling other side hustles.
One thing to keep in mind is that many of these positions are paid based on performance in your initial interview and demo lesson. So, make sure you’re in peak physical and mental condition before starting your interview.
The TL:DR
Virtual-only side hustles may take more work than say, the average hustle where you grocery shop or deliver food (these side hustles are also incredibly in demand during the pandemic!) but for those willing to put in the work, these side hustles can keep you safe, healthy, and paying your bills.