Remote side jobs are exactly what they sound like, usually part-time gigs that people can do remotely. Remote jobs, also called side gigs, gained a lot of popularity and growth after the pandemic, and many people chose to pursue them because they allow people to work from home.
In the article below, we’ll discuss some of the flexible work opportunities that the gig economy provides. Most of these are part-time remote jobs, but there may be opportunities that are full-time as well. We’ll also discuss some of the benefits, including the benefit of side hustle income and how you can get started with a remote side job.
Benefits of Remote Side Jobs:
There are tons of benefits that you may be able to find with remote side jobs; here are a few:
- The Flexibility To Work From Home — One of the most obvious benefits of remote work is the flexibility and convenience that have the ability to work from home or anywhere else! In some cases, along with where you can work, you may be able to choose what times you work too.
- Earn Extra Income While Maintaining a Work-Life Balance — Another benefit, of course, is the extra income that you can get from these remote side jobs. Depending on what kind of job you pursue and your skill sets, you could have an excellent source of income. Some people are able to juggle multiple remote side hustles, which can, of course, mean more money.
- More Financial Freedom When Compared to On-Site Jobs — Having an on-site job definitely takes up more time, but in some cases, it can also mean paying more to simply work there. With a remote job, in most cases, you can work from anywhere in the country or sometimes the world. With this ability, you can be strategic with your rent or mortgage payment, which is usually the most prominent payment for most people. There are also other ways you can save, such as transportation costs, wardrobe, food, and so much more.
- Develop Existing Skills and Learn New Ones — Another benefit of remote work may be the ability to develop existing skills and learn new ones. Remote side hustles can be a great way to improve what you already know. Or they can help you learn a new skill, which may be hard to do while working a traditional nine-to-five job. Once you hone in on new or existing skills, you may see career growth!
- Work-Life Balance — Another huge benefit that you could look forward to with a remote side gig is a work-life balance. You won’t have to worry about things like a commute, getting ready for work, packing for lunch, and more. This can help you have more time for things outside of work which is so important.
[H2] How to Get Started with Remote Side Jobs
Not sure where to begin with a remote side job, here is how you can get started:
- Finding the Right Remote Job — Finding the right job may be the most challenging part, but once you get this down, everything else in the process should be much easier. There are lots of places to start your job search. Certain websites, like Upwork and Fiver, are built for remote work. You can also look for remote jobs on classic job search websites like Indeed, Glass Door, Linked In, Zip Recruiter, and more.
- Setting Up a Home Office — If you work a remote job, it will be in your best interest to have a home office setup. This can be as simple as having your computer or laptop on a desk, or you can add more to it by having a whole work-from-home setup. This can be helpful for a few reasons: it will keep your technology safe, it can look and feel more professional, and it may help you with productivity.
- Time Management Skills — If you haven’t worked a remote job before, then you may not know how challenging it may be to manage your time wisely. Unlike an office setting, time management and productivity can be tough when working from home. The good news is that there are all kinds of tools out there that can help you develop important time management skills. From apps, calendars, work management programs, and simple accountability, you can develop these essential time management skills. These skills can help you be successful in whatever remote side job you choose to do alongside your full-time gig.
- Keeping On Top of Your Work — Once you get your job, it’s essential that you meet deadlines and treat your side job just like you would a full-time gig in terms of deliverability and professionalism. This will ensure that you are successful and can keep your job.
Popular Remote Side Jobs
There are all kinds of remote side jobs out there; below, we’ll go over some of the most popular ones, which include freelancing (which can include almost any job), virtual assistance, online tutoring, e-commerce, content creation, customer service, social media management, data entry, transcription jobs, translation services, and online surveys/market research. The responsibilities and work types may vary depending on each role; for example, a job like customer service may require certain availability and be more customer-facing, while something like data entry may be the opposite. We’ll discuss this more below!
1. Freelancing
Freelancing may be the more flexible option from the list below. It can be almost any kind of job, where you set your own hours and simply meet the due dates or deadlines for the projects/work.
The unique thing about freelancing is that because it’s up to you when you want to work, you may be able to juggle multiple freelance gigs from various industries and companies/organizations.
To find freelance work, you can use some platforms we mentioned earlier, like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer. The freelance marketplace is huge, and there are kinds of freelance gigs out there spanning multiple industries, many of which we’ve included in the list below. Freelancing can also be referred to as self-employment, which is when you do this for your primary source of income.
2. Virtual Assistance
Virtual assistants can help with all kinds of tasks, which are usually administrative tasks, but may have to stray from that depending on the needs of their employer. A few tasks that most virtual assistants will have are:
- Scheduling and calendar management
- Talking to and working with customers, associates, vendors, etc.
- Emails, social media, and other communication/correspondence.
- Writing and editing
- Project management
Of course, your actual workload as a virtual assistant will depend on the employer. VA jobs have definitely become more popular after the pandemic, and remote admin jobs may be easy to find, especially if you already have experience with remote assistance.
3. Online Tutoring
Online tutoring is another great remote side hustle, even if you aren’t a teacher. An online tutor helps students (adults, young adults, or even children) learn a subject. Thanks to technology, this tutoring can be done virtually, and online teaching is an option! There are online teaching platforms that connect tutors with students, or you may be able to find tutoring jobs on your own. Keep in mind that in order to do this, you will have to be proficient enough to teach whatever subject matter you are interested in.
4. E-commerce
E-commerce is the buying or selling of goods over the Internet for a profit. All kinds of goods may be involved with this, and things like supply and demand will be helpful to understand. E-commerce is usually something that doesn’t involve an employer; you will do it yourself. Usually, this works because you’ll buy items in bulk for cheaper and then sell them for a higher price online, so you will need some money that you are willing to put in.
In some cases, you may not even have to handle any physical product on your own, instead, a third party may be able to do all the work for you, as long you pay them. If you don’t use a third party, then things like managing shipping/handling, keeping track of product stock, processing returns/exchanges, and storage will all be your responsibility, even with an online store.
E-commerce can be a fairly easy way to make extra money, but you do run the risk of not being able to sell your products and losing money. Of course, this may not be a good option if you want a consistent income stream.
Platforms/websites like Shopify, Amazon, and Esty are all options for setting up your e-commerce business and beginning to sell online.
5. Content Creation
Content creation has grown significantly in the past decade or so, with brands and online creators realizing how important it is to have a consistent brand voice and effective communication.
Usually, a content creator will have to write for several different marketing channels, which can include social media, emailing, blogging, podcasting scripts, website copy, web development (usually done with website creators like Squarespace or WordPress), and video scripts for things like reels or Youtube scripts.
Other than simply creating printed and/or digital content, you may be responsible for content strategy specifically related to content monetization and engagement. Additionally, you may have to take on the responsibility of running certain channels like social media, email, and something like GoFundMe or Patreon, where donations/money can be collected.
So, while content creation may seem pretty straightforward, there may be many other roles and responsibilities.
6. Customer Service
A customer service representative provides customer support via email, phone, or through a website. This remote support can be for things like procedures and tech or things like customer experiences and inquiries. Here are some examples of the different duties that a remote customer service representative usually will do:
- Responding to customers (inquiries, issues/complaints)
- Processing returns or exchanges
- Maintaining records and relationships with customers
- Resolving technical issues and collaborating with other departments
Some skills you will need to have for online customer service jobs include empathy, attention to detail, and technical skills. You’ll also have to be able to work under pressure when working with a call center! You can find customer service jobs on all the job platforms that we mentioned earlier.
7. Social Media Management
A social media manager takes care of a company’s or individual’s social media accounts, which may be personal or business accounts. Managing this online presence can include tasks such as:
- Content creation (graphics, copy, videos, and more) and content scheduling
- Monitoring engagement
- Replying to comments/ being a moderator
- Keeping up to date with trends
Social media jobs fall under digital marketing in many scenarios, and so any platform where you can find those kinds of jobs, you should be able to find social media management.
8. Data Entry
Data entry involves inputting data, usually from different sources, into online databases/spreadsheets. A few other key responsibilities of data entry involve:
- Updating records as needed
- Mangaing confidential information
- Learning different databases.
Online data entry jobs can be found through freelance and regular job search sites. To be successful at this kind of job, you will need to be precise and sometimes be a fast typer.
9. Transcription Jobs
Transcripters listen to spoken language, usually audio files or videos and they then write what is said into text. Online typing jobs are available widely throughout the country, and sometimes, you may not even need to have experience. Sometimes, transcribers are also translators. Some skills to be successful as a transcriber are being detail-oriented, being a fast typer, being good at meeting deadlines, and not minding repetitive typing. You can find remote transcription jobs or online typing jobs through freelance and regular job sites.
10. Translation Services
Translation service jobs involve converting written or spoken content from one language to another while maintaining the original meaning, tone, and context. To be a successful translator, you will, of course, need to speak and write whatever languages you are translating fluently.
Along with general translation, Here are some of the tasks that you may have to do with online translation services/remote translation jobs:
- Research target audience
- Project and time management
- Proofreading and editing
To be successful, you’ll have to be a great communicator, a good listener, and attentive to detail.
11. Online Surveys and Market Research
Online survey takers may test out an experience, service, or product and then answer questions about it. Online survey takers are essential for businesses to understand the needs of their customers and improve on a product or surveys. Lots of these types of businesses will pay people to take surveys! The best thing about surveys is that you don’t need to do much to qualify in most cases, but you may have to fit some demographics.
They will usually get a flat payment to complete a survey. Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and Pinecone Research are just a few of the online platforms you can begin your search for survey jobs and market research gigs! To maximize your earnings, you may want to sign up with several different platforms, check for surveys frequently, and go for higher-paying surveys (usually focus groups). The more experience you have with market research, the more opportunities you may find with a higher average pay.
Start Your Remote Side Job Today From Your Home!
There are all kinds of remote side hustles out there; a few popular options include freelancing (which can encompass a wide range of jobs), virtual assistance, online tutoring jobs, e-commerce, content creation, customer service, social media management, data entry, transcription, translation services, and online surveys/market research. Getting started is as simple as getting online with your computer or even your phone! Although a remote job may not be your dream job, it can help you make extra money to get there eventually. The best remote side hustle for you depends on your skills, education, and the time you have.
