Guide To Social Side Hustling

Having multiple sources of income, also known as “side hustles” has become a way of life for many — whether it be to earn more money or to have a creative outlet to pursue a passion. While the term “side hustle” has been around for close to 70 years, there has been a significant rise of side hustlers particularly among the younger generation or students.

Nowadays, having a side hustle means you can work from almost anywhere in the world.

In the past, a side hustle usually meant an extra blue-collar job to make ends meet, but today, there are so many industries and professions to choose from. And with the increasing power of the internet and social media, side hustlers no longer need to step out of their homes to get a little extra. With a smartphone and a steady following on social media platforms like Instagram, you can be earning good money easily.

Of course, even if side hustles don’t take as much time and maybe require a little less effort than a regular nine-to-five, it’s still important to have enough time to rest after a long day’s work. Make space for some “me time” where you can relax and not worry about anything. Trust us, having extra income is not worth it if you don’t even have time to enjoy. You’ll also need to consider the tax implications of side hustles and make sure you’re doing everything by the book. But once you’ve done all that, here are the social side hustle tips to help you get started:

Be a social media manager

Scott Bateman, the CEO of the property management software Kolmeo says, “Big companies and startup businesses alike will always have a need for a social media manager to handle their different online accounts. While the role may vary, generally, being a social media manager entails having to create content (ex: photos, captions, tweets), responding to comments and queries, and running ads.”

Source: https://twitter.com/arb
Amy Brown is the social media manager behind the extremely sassy Wendy’s Twitter.

While some might think having a half-decent feed on Instagram will qualify you for the role, being a social media manager will require skills in marketing, an eye for design, strategic communication, and to some extent, analytics

Source: https://www.instagram.com/airbnb/
With great photos and captivating captions, @airbnb is a great example of stellar social media management.

To aid you in your role as a social media manager you can use apps like Instasize for easy photo editing, and Hootsuite for all your scheduling needs. Read How to Build Your Social Media Marketing Strategy

Become a micro-influencer

A micro-influencer is defined as someone with 2,000-50,000 followers on a particular social media platform. The micro-influencer typically has a focused passion or niche market, which determines what type of brand matches their aesthetic. If you fit the bill, then brands may approach you to post about their products. 

Source: https://www.instagram.com/christiancaro_/
@christiancaro_ is a creative consultant, a micro-influencer who posts about his life in SoCal.

More than just your fee, what would differentiate you from the bigger influencers, is that you have a more targeted audience, which means higher engagement. 

To get started, you will have to identify your niche. Is it food? Fashion? The outdoors? Once you’ve figured it out, it’s a good idea to streamline your content based on that. You will also have to research trending keywords and hashtags you want your personal brand to be associated with. If you have yet to build your following, doing simple actions such as sharing stories from other accounts that fall under your niche will help you gain valuable traction. This may result in a follow request from the original poster, and reciprocal engagement. 

The key is to reach out to companies that fit your personality, and only accept collaborations with brands that you actually support. This way, you are still able to maintain authenticity, and build a personal brand that’s both unique and consistent. 

Repost sponsored or promoted content

 

Source: https://instapage.com/blog/what-are-promoted-tweets
Sample of a promoted brand Tweet you can be paid to repost.

Many big brands would tap social media influencers or individuals with a sizable following to repost their Tweets, Instagram Stories, or Facebook posts. It’s a simple way to make money, without even having to create the content yourself. To be able to do this, you will need to sign up with companies like SocialSpark, who will connect you with brands that best represent your online personality, and reward you for your social shares. 

Source: https://www.instagram.com/rei/
Companies like @rei are always in search of great photographers.

If you take great photos but don’t want to go the influencer route, you should consider selling your work. Many brands are in constant need of photos to fill their social pages, but don’t have the time and budget to organize a shoot. To sell your photos, you can try apps like FOAP, which splits the profit with you 50/50. 

Put your organization skills to good use

 

Source: https://www.instagram.com/jaycosolutions/
Like @jaycosolutions, you can post about your VA services online.

Virtual Assistants (VAs) are people who can assist companies with administrative tasks from a remote location. This includes things like managing calendars, setting appointments, and handling a company’s social media account. So, if you consider yourself highly-organized, and you have time to spare, this side hustle could be perfect for you. 

Remember that tasks and the complexity of the role can vary from client to client, so be sure to align with your client before taking on a VA job. 

Things to consider

Like any other job, having a side hustle is a commitment, so choose wisely. You don’t want to be stuck doing something you don’t enjoy. Consider something that’s more related to your passions and interests. And most importantly, don’t get blinded by that extra paycheck. 

 

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Written By Luke Fitzpatrick

Luke Fitzpatrick has been published in Forbes, Yahoo! News and Influencive. He is also a guest lecturer at the University of Sydney, lecturing in Cross-Cultural Management and the Pre-MBA Program. You can connect with him on LinkedIn.