Since I started blogging a little over ten years ago I have consistently made more than $10,000+ a year while working a full-time job.

It’s been a perfect side hustle to diversify my 9-5 income, but it’s become more than that. It’s led to getting a book deal and writin books, interviews on local and national television, and becoming an expert in something that is totally different than what I do for my full-time job. It’s something that I can work on from anywhere, which is important to me.

The extra money I’ve made has not only allowed my wife and I to make progress on our student loan debt, build an emergency fund, travel, and make some major house renovations.

None of this would have been possible if I didn’t make the leap and start a blog.

In short, blogging has had a huge impact on my life – both financially and otherwise. I am not the only one with a story like this. There are many people who are consistently making thousands of dollars a month from their blogs, or who even make enough money to quit their job.

Because I’ve been a blogger for over ten years I’ve been able to see some of these remarkable stories play out. From creating a side income – whose impact shouldn’t be understated – to seeing people build a brand and business from nothing to a six figures, it’s incredible the opportunities out there for those willing to put in the effort.

The one thing all these successful bloggers have in common is this: they started a blog. Without taking this critical first step it’s impossible to make money blogging. It’s easy to think about “someday” starting a blog, but honestly the sooner you start one the better. By starting a blog today you are already far ahead of the millions of people who have the idea of blogging but have not (and may never) take the critical first step of starting a blog.

There are free blog options such as “Blogger,” and many people make the mistake of starting a blog on one of these free platforms. The problem with free hosting options is that advertisers do not like them. They like the self-hosted blogs and do not take the blogs on free hosting seriously.

I’ve seen many bloggers go through the headache of transitioning from a free hosting platform to a paid, self-hosted one like Bluehost and some have spent an entire weekend going through the process and working out bugs. Don’t make that mistake! The process can be so complicated that I completely abandoned one of my Blogger blogs instead of go through the headache of transitioning to Bluehost.

I have started a number of websites over the past 10+ years and helped many others get started. Since switching to Bluehost for web hosting I have always recommended them to people who are looking to start a blog. They are highly rated, offer affordable pricing, and make starting a WordPress blog extremely easy with their 1-click WordPress installation.

If you want to start a blog that makes money you are going to want to start one on Bluehost. Bluehost offers many advantages, including:

• Affordable – by using my link you get hosting for just $2.95 per month, which is less than $36 a year.

• Free Domain Name – you will get a free domain name when you sign up for hosting on Bluehost using my link

• Extremely Easy WordPress Installation – Bluehost has a “one-click” WordPress installation

• 24/7 Tech Support – Bluehost tech support is available 24/7 and has been outstanding every time I’ve used them

• Attractive to Advertisers – having a self-hosted blog is attractive to advertisers and will make it easier to make money blogging

• 30-Day Money Back Guarantee – if you cancel within 30 days you receive a full refund on your hosting service

• Extended Money Back Guarantee – if you cancel after 30 days you receive a prorated refund for the remainder of your hosting term

As you can see there are a ton of benefits of using BlueHost to start your blog. With their money-back guarantee there is very little risk of starting a blog through BlueHost, and so much potential for making money blogging.

1) Choose a Hosting Option

 
Once you have gone to BlueHost you will see the various hosting options. I highly recommend using the “Starter” package. Even though there are two higher-priced packages, there is nothing in the higher-priced packages that you need.

Keep in mind that this option is very affordable for self-hosting a website and comes with a money-back guarantee. If you decide within 30 days blogging isn’t for you, you can get your full payment refunded. Even at 10, 11, or however many months in, if you decide you don’t want Bluehost web hosting you will get refunded for any months you paid for but haven’t used yet.

You can also always upgrade to the other accounts if you reach any of the space limits from the basic account.

2) Choose a Free Domain Name

 
When you sign up for Bluehost using my link you get a free domain name. This is an ~$15 value if you had bought the domain name.

Once you click on the Starter package in the previous step you will be brought to a screen where you enter the domain name you want.

I will be the first to admit it’s not easy to choose a domain name. I got lucky by finding Young Adult Money, as many domains with “money” in it are already taken. But even Young Adult Money isn’t a perfect domain name.

It’s easy to overthink a domain name, but in all honesty the value of your blog will not be in the name but in the content you put out. There are many hugely successful blogs out there with obscure domain names.

It will almost for sure take a few attempts to find a domain name that isn’t already taken. Think of something unique (or not unique – i.e. Young Adult Money haha) and once you find one that is not taken, grab it. Just think of something that sounds good to you and you are good to go!

Once you have a free domain, you simply need to complete your registration and you officially have a blog! I would choose none of the extras on the last screen as they are just going to increase the cost of starting a blog.

The only one that I would consider is the $0.50 a month for “Domain Privacy Protection.” It’s not necessary, but it does shield and protect your information as a website owner.

Note: you can skip the section below and go straight to “Install WordPress” if you are registering a free domain name.

Already have a domain name?

If you already have a domain name that you bought on a site like GoDaddy, it’s easy to connect your domain name to Bluehost. Instead of registering a new domain, just choose the second option on the page and enter the domain you would like to be linked to your Bluehost hosting.

Here are the directions for connecting your GoDaddy domain to Bluehost:

To modify, add, or delete name servers (DNS) for your domain(s):

• Log in to the GoDaddy.com Account Manager.

• Select Manage Domains from the Domain Names drop-down menu or the Manage Your Account list.

• Select the domain name you wish to modify using the checkboxes and then click Set Name Servers.

• Enter your updated name server information in the spaces provided under the blue Name Servers heading on the right side of your page and click Save Changes at the bottom. Your entries should look like this:
  ns1.bluehost.com
  ns2.bluehost.com

This can all be done within the cpanel once you have purchased hosting. If you run into issues do not hesitate to email me. When I first got BlueHost I already had a domain, so I’ve personally gone through these steps a few times.

3) Install WordPress

 
Once you have signed up for an account, login to your Bluehost account and go to hosting -> cpanel.

Once on this page, scroll down to website builders and find the Install WordPress icon.

Once you click the Install WordPress icon, you simply need to click install and choose the domain you are installing WordPress to. You will then set up your login information.

To log into your WordPress blog, go to your domain name and add /wp-admin to the end of the domain. This will pull up the user and password fields that allow you to log into WordPress.

Just like that you have a living breathing WordPress blog. Congrats!

Remember, if you have ANY questions at all do not hesitate to ask. I am happy to help you with any blogging questions just as I’ve helped many others set up a blog.

Blogging Tips for New Bloggers

 
As I said earlier, I have over 10 years of blogging experience and have made thousands of dollars blogging. I do not say that to brag, but to make it clear that I can attest to the fact that it is possible to make money blogging. If I can do it, you can too.

Here are area few tips I have for new bloggers:

• Commit to 6 Months – While I don’t have a statistic to prove this, a common quote that floats around the blogosphere is “most bloggers quit within the first six months.” When you start your blog, consider making a a deal with yourself to blog for at least six months. If you still want to quit, you can, but at least you gave yourself a decent amount of time to build up content and truly give blogging a try.

  If you are hesitant about starting a blog on Bluehost because of the potential that you won’t like blogging, remember that they offer a refund for unused months that you already paid for. Even if you decide to quit after 3, 6, or any number of months you will get a refund for the remaining months you already paid for. There is very little risk in giving Bluehost – and blogging – a try.

• Connect with other Bloggers – The biggest mistake new bloggers make is thinking that traffic will simply appear. The reality is that getting ranked in search engines is difficult for established blogs and unlikely for brand new blogs. The best way to get some initial traffic and links to your site is by commenting on other blogs in your niche. This is extremely important for new bloggers!

• Plan ahead whenever possible – Many established bloggers do not write their posts on the fly. Instead, they plan their posts. This helps in situations where something unavoidable – an illness, a late night at the office, etc. makes it difficult to write a post the night before it goes live. Consider using an editorial calendar to plan posts in advance.

While this isn’t a comprehensive list of all the tips I would give to new bloggers, it should provide a good start for those who are looking to start a blog. Remember, it’s more important to actually start your blog than to have it be perfect from day one.

If you have any questions about Bluehost or blogging, do not hesitate to send me an email. I have been blogging for years and have helped many people start a blog, so I’m happy to help you as well.

But on a positive note, there has never been a better time to learn about and discover a new hobby. Even if you can’t do all of these hobbies yet because, you know, #socialdistancing and all, you can learn about them and commit to doing it when the quarantine is over.

Here are 20+ ideas for hobbies to fill your time.

Outdoor Hobbies

 
1) Running or Walking
 
What’s not to love about getting outdoors and seeing your local neighborhood? Fortunately for us, too, walking or running is a socially distant activity. Simply leave room when encountering others on the side walk.

Best of all, all you need to get started is some comfortable clothes and tennis shoes, making it one cheap hobby.

 
2) Gardening
 
Gardening is a great hobby – it allows you to get outdoors, it’s great exercise, it’s affordable, and you can learn something about each plant.

And if you don’t have a garden, it’s not a problem. You can start enjoy gardening by planting a few house plants and keeping them in your apartment.

 
3) Hiking
 
If you are craving an escape from the city or suburbs, then hiking is an excellent hobby. There are tons of state parks that offer hiking trails, no matter if you are a novice or expert hiker.

If you’re just getting into hiking, start with some gentle trails. As you get more into it, you may want to consider buying some basic hiking gear, such as boots, safety supplies, and a backpack.

 
4) Geocaching
 
Do you like scavenger hunts? Then you will love geocaching.

There are millions of geocaches hidden around the world. A geocache is basically a small box of inexpensive treasures. You can download a geocaching app and use GPS to find geocaches near you. Happy searching!

 
5) Camping
 
Camping is the perfect summertime hobby. For those looking to disconnect and get away to nature, you really can’t go wrong.

The best thing about camping is it can be as comfortable or rugged as you like. If you aren’t so sure about sleeping on the ground, you can always look at renting a camper or staying in a cabin. Or, if you’re truly ready to embrace the outdoors, you can load up your belongings in a backpack and sling a hammock in the woods.

 
6) Canoeing or Kayaking
 
Whether you live near a river or a lake, you can take advantage of canoeing or kayaking.

For around $50, you can rent a canoe for the afternoon and get in a killer workout while enjoying the peace of the water.

Hobbies that Can Make Money

 
7) Blogging
 
Of course, we had to mention blogging! Blogging is truly a fun way to make money. You get to write about a topic that matters to you, you can share your insight and knowledge, and you get to meet a ton of people all over the world.

Starting a blog is easy – you can follow this guide to get started.

 
Related:

• 7 Years of Blogging as a Side Hustle – Should You Start a Blog?

• How to Make Money Blogging

 
8) Writing
 
Onto my personal favorite hobby – writing.

Freelance writing is the perfect hobby (in my not so humble opinion!) It allows you to work with clients to create informational and engaging content, all from the comfort of your own home.

Freelance writing is near and dear to me, as it allowed me to pay off all of my student loans. Not too bad for something I truly enjoy doing.

It’s also worth noting that you can write as a hobby without the intention of making money doing it. There is nothing wrong with keeping a journal, writing stories, or even blogging simply because you like to do it.

 
9) Selling Printables
 
Printables are a file you create for others to purchase. Once someone purchases it, they simply download the file and print it off in their own home.

Not only are printables fun to sell, but they are super fun to create. You can use really any program, including free ones like Canva, to create downloadable printables on your computer.

 
10) Flipping Furniture
 
Flipping furniture might sound like an arduous task, but it can be a pretty simple way to make money if you do it right.

To flip furniture, you score sites like Craigslist and Facebook to find beat up old furniture for a steal. You then bring it home, fix it up, repaint it, and make it look new. Then, you resell it for a much higher cost than you bought it for.

 
11) Coding
 
Learning how to code is fun, and sites like Codeacademy will teach you how to code for free.

Once you become a skilled coder, you can find online coding gigs and earn money from home.

Hobbies that Educate You

 
12) Take a Course
 
Thanks to the internet, you can learn just about anything. Take a course through sites like Udemy, or simply watch how-to videos on YouTube.

 
13) Learn an Instrument
 
There’s such a wide variety of instruments that you aren’t limited in what you can learn. From piano to guitar and from trumpet to drums, you can teach yourself on any instrument that interests you.

YouTube is a great resource for free lessons while you are stuck at home. And if you don’t have any instruments, you can search your local Facebook Marketplace to find a cheap and used one.

 
14) Reading
 
Even if your local library is closed due to COVID, you can still find plenty of ways to read books.

First, check out your library’s website. They often have free subscriptions to apps like Libby, which gives you unrestricted access to thousands of audio books and e-books. Some libraries are also offering curbside, no-contact, pickup. Finally you can always buy books on Amazon, like DC’s Student Loan Solution.

Artistic Hobbies

 
15) Coloring
 
People who haven’t tried it might roll their eyes at adult coloring books, but coloring can be a great way for adults to relax and release stress. In fact, some of the best-selling books on Amazon are adult coloring books. There are some that may surprise or shock you, such as the best-selling Calm the F*ck Down coloring book.

 
16) Photography
 
Photography is a fascinating hobby to learn. Not only do you get to learn about taking the perfect photo, but you can learn how to master editing software.

Don’t have a fancy camera? No problem. Nowadays, many people do photography right from their smartphones.

 
17) Crocheting
 
Crocheting requires minimal materials, and is an easy hobby to start. All you need is a hook, some yarn, and a little patience. Start with learning something simple, like a scarf, and you can then work your way up to more advanced items.

Food and Beverage Hobbies

 
18) Cooking and Baking
 
Since you are likely eating most of your meals at home anyway due to quarantine, why not start learning how to cook or bake?

Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated. Start off with some simple recipes, and master the technique. You’ll be on your way to becoming a gourmet chef in no time.

 
19) Mixology
 
Interested in beer, wine, and spirits? Practice mixing up the perfect cocktail at home.

For recipes and inspiration, check out Liquor.com. This website will help you pick and choose your spirits, plus walk you through how to create some pretty tasty drinks.

More Popular Hobby Ideas

 
20) Traveling
 
Though traveling is limited during quarantine, that doesn’t mean you should stop planning your travels.

Create a list of every place you want to go, and start researching! Now is a great time to plan your upcoming trips.

 
Related:

• Top Travel Rewards Credit Cards

• Here’s How Much It Cost Us for an 11-Day Trip to Thailand and Vietnam

• Chase Ultimate Rewards: Our Simple Guide to Maximizing Your Points

 
21) Volunteering
 
What better hobby than to serve others?

Find a cause you care about and volunteer your time. Whether you want to help at the food bank, local schools, animal shelters, or something else, there are thousands of opportunities to volunteer.

 
22) Home Projects
 
If you rent or have an apartment or condo you may be limited in this hobby, but if you own a home why not spend your free time fixing up your house? You can start small by painting or taking on other low-pressure house projects, but the sky is the limit.

 
What did we miss? What is your hobby?

If so, we’re here to say that your dream is definitely achievable! In fact, many entrepreneurs got their start doing freelance work – and now make a solid living doing what they love most.

Whether you are a writer, a blogger, a digital marketer, or any other kind of online freelancer, there are ways to grow your practice into a full-scale business.

To prove it, we have decided to interview someone who has done just that.

Freelancer to Entrepreneur: Interview with Katia Myroniuk of Search Eva

Katia Myroniuk got her start doing freelance work as a search engine optimization (SEO) specialist, but now runs her own agency, SearchEva. We wanted to ask her some questions about what it was like starting out as a freelancer and then becoming a full-time entrepreneur.

 
YoungAdultMoney: What made you first decide to become a freelancer?

Katia: I always thought of traveling while working or getting paid without going to office as of something cool. However, I never thought it could happen to me. First time I felt that freelancing is possible when working with freelancers as an SEO of a product company. But I never knew where to start. Things figured out themselves when I decided to go to South America for 1 month and quit my office for that reason. After coming back I never thought of going back to the office, so I managed to live on savings and started to search for online clients. After a couple of months, I found my first client and began to grow my portfolio.

YAM: As a freelancer, where did you acquire most of your clients?

K: Mostly on Upwork.

YAM: What was your favorite part of making money online?

K: Ability to be my boss, set up personal working schedule and choose clients I want to work with. And I used freelancing perks of traveling in its fullest :).

YAM: What was your biggest struggle as a freelancer?

K: I don’t think I had any. I had a certain picture of how it is going to be, and the reality was quite similar to that. Having stable clients cuts off the headache of finding new ones.

YAM: What was the deciding factor in your becoming an entrepreneur?

K: The deciding factor of becoming an entrepreneur was willing to scale. When being a freelancer, you can only work a certain amount of hours. As an SEO, I wanted to have my team whom I can rely on, and deliver better results for my clients. There are certain things you can’t do by yourself. So, I thought I’ll give it a try, and things worked out pretty well.

YAM: How are you able to market your business?

K: Now at SearchEva, we do SEO and content marketing for SaaS companies. The niche is quite focused that is a benefit when it comes to marketing. I want to provide the best results for my clients so at the moment we are not focused on growing the number of clients. Our focus is on the high level of output for each project we have. Thus, having a razor-focused niche and positive feedback helps our company to grow.

YAM: What has entrepreneurship presented to you what freelancing did not?

K: On the first place, it is scaling of efforts. When you have a team, you multiply your abilities. Of course, it comes together with the search for right employees and management. But for me it is worth it, I always wanted to have my own company.

YAM: What would be your advice to someone who wants to move from freelance work to having their own business?

K: Just do it. I’m a person that acts first and then learns on the go. For someone who is already in freelancing, it should be easy to transfer to entrepreneurship.

YAM: What are your next business goals?

K: At the moment I’m working on the launch of my software. It is an entirely different story – every day discovering something brand new. But I like it!

You can find out more about Katia on LinkedIn or on Twitter.

Do you want to become an entrepreneur? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Millennials have several advantages when it comes to side hustling. In most cases, they’re fresh out of school, could usually use the extra cash, and have few responsibilities, resulting in more free time.

Make the best use of your twenties by starting one of these side hustles today.

1) Rent out a room

 
Have extra space to spare? Renting out a room is the perfect option for millennials.

Renting out space on sites like Airbnb can be a fun and profitable way to get to know people from all over the world. Whether you have an extra couch, room, or a whole separate house, you can make money on Airbnb.

2) Start freelance writing

 
I started freelance writing in my twenties, and I can’t say enough positive things about it. Freelance writing is easy to complete from anywhere in the world, and you can earn quite a bit of cash while doing it.

Freelance writing allowed me to pay off my student loan debt entirely. For any millennials in similar situations, I highly recommend freelance writing.

3) Tutor

 
Tutoring is perfect for anyone just out of college who is looking to earn some extra money on the side. If you specialized in any particular subject, you can find tutoring clients to share your knowledge with.

Here’s 8 places to find tutoring clients.

4) Care for others

 
Need to earn more money on nights and weekends? Then becoming a caretaker could be a great option for you.

There are many ways you can work as a caretaker, depending on what your interests are. You can house-sit, watch cats or dogs, babysit, or assist the elderly in their homes.

Whatever you like to do, it’s fairly easy to find caretaker gigs. Check out sites such a Care.com or Rover.com to find work near where you live.

5) Start a blog

 
Of course, we think blogging is one of the best ways for millennials to make money. As a blogger, you get to run your own business all while writing about the topics that interest you most.

Plus, if you keep at it, blogging has the potential to be a very lucrative side income for you.

Anyone can start a blog. In fact, we even have a free step-by-step tutorial below to show you how to do it.

Related:

• How to Start a Blog

• 8 Reasons Why Blogging is the Best Side Hustle

6) Practice graphic design

 
Have an eye for design? You can work as a freelance graphic designer to earn extra money on the side.

You can work on a freelance basis by yourself or you can sign up for services such as Fiverr or Upwork to offer your creative services for a set rate. Pick and choose the projects you want to work on and build your portfolio as you go.

7) Sell on Etsy

 
Have a passion for crafts and arts? Take advantage of your talent and sell your homemade items online.

With websites like Etsy, it’s never been easier to find dedicated buyers for your homemade goods. In fact, you can ship your crafts all around the world, and make a pretty penny while doing it.

8) Work in social media

 
For any millennial who spends their days on social media, it may seem like a dream to be able to earn money by creating social media plans for companies.

Social media is always changing, so companies are constantly looking for specialists to handle their online presence.

9) Drive for a rideshare

 
Anyone with a car, a license, and a clean record can drive for ride sharing services such as Uber. The best part about driving for Uber is that you can set your own hours and drive as much or as little as you want.

This is a perfect gig for anyone who can drive in the evenings and on the weekend, since that’s when the highest demand is. The bigger the demand, the more the rates increase, meaning more money in your pocket.

 
 
Related:

• The Beginner’s Guide to Side Hustles

• 12 Productivity Hacks to Help You Side Hustle Better

 
 
Did you start a side hustle in your twenties? If so, what did you start doing? Do you wish you would have started a side hustle in your twenties? Why or why not?
 
 

Side hustles are a powerful way to make additional income outside of your 9 to 5 job. However, since you’re typically making money without having taxes taken out of your earnings, there are quite few more steps that you need to do to ensure you care managing your earnings in the safest and most efficient way ever. Failure to track your income and expenses can result in owing significant money come tax time – something no one wants.

Fortunately, there are plenty of valuable tools to help you manage your side hustle finances, all for little or no cost. If you make money through a side hustle, you’ll want to be sure to check out these 5 tools.

1) Separate High-Yield Bank Accounts

 
The absolute easiest and simplest thing you can do to help keep track of your side hustle income and expenses is to open a new savings and checking account, separate from your personal finances. Everything else on this list is certainly helpful, but at the very least, having a separate bank account makes it easy to know exactly how much you are earning and how much you are spending on business-related expenses.

Not only that, but it ensures you are saving enough for taxes. Overall, it is just much easier to keep track of, and helps limit some of the liability that may come if you try to keep all of your accounts in one place.

You can easily open up a new savings or checking account. If you have side hustle income, consider opening up a high-yield, online savings account through CIT Bank. Currently, they are offering 2.45 percent APY, which is much higher than you can find at a traditional bank in your hometown. Plus, online banks offer all of the same ac abilities as regular banks.

Related:

• CIT Bank Review – High Yield Savings Account

2) Low-Cost Invoicing Tools

 
Any freelancer will tell you that invoicing fees are one of the most dreaded expenses.

What’s an invoicing fee? These are fees charged by companies such as PayPal. Whenever you send out a digital invoice and someone pays you, these platforms take out a small percentage of your earnings as a payment to themselves for you to use their services.

PayPal’s fees are currently 2.9% + $0.30 per sale. While that might not sound like a lot of money with smaller invoices, it can really put a damper on your earnings when you’re charging $500 or more. Plus, it’s just another unnecessary expense as a freelancer.

Instead of paying high fees for these types of services, find a lower paying invoicing system. Freshbooks is a popular option, and for good reason. Instead of charging per transaction, you can purchase monthly subscriptions to send unlimited invoices out to a set number of clients each month. For instance, for just $15 a month, you can send out invoices to up to 5 clients, saving you a significant amount of cash if you tend to send out larger invoices.

3) Project Management Software

 
It isn’t easy to side hustle on top of your full-time work. When you’re busy working so often, you can sometimes forget to side aside time to manage your finances.

I know there have been a few times where I literally forgot to invoice clients. It’s pretty silly looking back, because that was quite a bit of money I simply forgot to bill my clients for. Not only was I missing out on income, but my clients were probably a little confused and would have likely appreciated a little more consistency.

In addition, when I didn’t pay enough attention to my business finances, it made it impossible to play catch up. Trust me – it’s not fun to try to count all of your quarterly income the day that quarterly taxes are due. It’s much easier to keep track of your finances on the front end.

In order to do this, I had to get myself organized. I started using a variety of free project management software available online to help remind me of each task I need to do.

Currently, my absolute favorite software is Trello. I put everything, including to-do lists for my personal life in Trello. It makes it easy to keep track of deadlines, assign tasks for each day of the week, and more.

4) A Budget Tracker

 
Like with anything, you will need to develop a budget for your business.

Since you can’t always anticipate when income will come in with a side hustle, you need to be extra diligent about staying on budget. You never want to find that you’ve overspent and won’t get paid for several more weeks.

One of our favorite and most affordable budget trackers is Tiller. Tiller lets you easily create unique Excel spreadsheets to fit your financial needs. You can then link them to your bank accounts and it will automatically export your financial transactions to your Tiller spreadsheet. Think of it like a massive export of your current financial picture. Tiller also has a pre-made spreadsheet specifically for business income and expenses.

Tiller costs just $4.92 per month, but they give you the first month as a free trial when you use this link, so be sure to check it out.

5) A Business Credit Card

 
Some of the most profitable side hustles incur many expenses along the way. Take photographers for instance – they have to pay for travel to meet clients, materials fees, and have to periodically buy expensive equipment or props. When you have a number of business expenses, you will want to sign up for a credit card dedicated to just business expenses.

Why a credit card? Credit cards make it easy to keep track of your spending. Your credit card statements can serve as an additional form of record keeping come tax time, further providing security in the event that you need it.

Not to mention, credit cards may offer rewards like points and cash back, which is enough to help offset many of the costs of your business. Hey, if you’re going to spend money, you might as well try to get some perks out of it.

You can see other top business credit cards here.

 
Related:

• 7 Side Hustle Ideas That Might Surprise You

• 10 Things My Side Hustles Taught Me About Money

• 12 Productivity Hacks to Help You Side Hustle Better

 
 
Do you have a side hustle? If so, what tools do you use to keep track of your income?
 
 

One of the hardest parts of tutoring is finding your first clients. But don’t fret – we’re here to help.

While tutoring typically happens in a classroom setting, there are surprisingly a number of companies that will hire you to tutor from home. We’ve researched and found our favorite (and legitimate) ways to find tutoring clients, so check them out!

1) Chegg

 
You may know Chegg as one of the most popular textbook rental companies, but did you know they also offer a ton of tutoring gigs?

No matter where you live, Chegg Tutors is constantly hiring applicants from around the world in just about every subject imaginable. And best of all? You can work online from the comfort of your own home.

To sign up as a Chegg tutor, you must have a Facebook account and either be enrolled or graduated from a university.

Once you’re approved as a tutor, you will be matched with students who are looking for help in your area of expertise. Pay starts at $20 per hour and has the potential to increase from there.

2) TutorMe

 
TutorMe offers online tutoring for well over 300 subjects. They also hire ACT and GRE tutors regularly.

To be eligible to become an online tutor with TutorMe, you must either be enrolled or graduated from an accredited university. They also require you to have previous tutoring or teaching experience, so be sure to include that on your resume. TutorMe pays $18 an hour with occasional bonuses.

3) QKids

 
QKids hires tutors who can teach kids between ages 5 and 12 English as a second language. Each class is a half hour in length.

To work as a tutor for QKids, you must be a native English speaker who resides in the United States or in Canada. You also must be enrolled or graduated from a university. Lastly, you must be available to teach for at least six hours a week. With QKids, you can earn $16-20 USD per hour.

4) Skooli

 
Skooli allows tutors to set their own schedule, as they can operate completely online.

Skooli tutors are paid $25 an hour, and are eligible for Paypal payout after they earn $100.

Specifically, Skooli is looking for English as a Second Language tutors, and tutors with either (or all) a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree.

5) Care

 
You might know Care.com as a great place to find housekeepers and babysitters, but what you may not know is it’s also a great place to find tutoring gigs.

If you’re looking to go the freelance route, Care.com is something to consider. With Care, you utilize the platform in order to find clients, but they take a much smaller percentage of your earnings since you aren’t actually employed by them.

To get started with Care.com, it’s always a good idea to have positive reviews before you find more work.

6) Local Schools

 
Want to start tutoring in the local setting? Ask the school nearby if they are in need of any tutors.

You might be amazed at what demand there is for tutors in your school district. Spread the word and ask teachers and principals if they know of any students in need of tutoring near you.

7) RevolutionPrep

 
Want to develop your skills as a tutor?

Then RevoutionPrep may be the place for you. Every tutor at RevolutionPrep must undergo 150 hours of training and development each year to continue employment with the company.

Tutors provide private and semi-private online tutoring for grade levels 6 through 12. They are a solid option for tutors looking for full-time employment. Payment is typically between $25 and $30 per hour, and they provide benefits for eligible employees.

8) Elevate K-12

 
While working with Elevate K-12, you will teach live group classes online. This program is unique, as you will teach while students are actually in school. You will be provided with a pre-assigned group of students and will create a schedule each week. While the schedule is up to you, you are provided the lesson plan for each session, which takes the pressure off of many tutors.

In exchange for your work, you will be paid $15 per hour.

Related:

• 5 Steps to Start a Tutoring Side Hustle

• How to Become a Paid Freelance Writer

• 10 Underrated Side Gigs That Will Make You Money

 
 
Have you started a side hustle? If so, how do you earn money on the side? If you don’t have a side hustle, have you considered starting one?
 
 

Nearly everyone, including business owners, has a presence on social media – whether it be Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or all of the above!

Social media gives us the ability to connect with people on a wider scale, promote our businesses across platforms, and network with some of the greatest minds in our industry.

For that reason, having a strong presence and dynamic social media strategy can be essential to growing a business. The problem? Not everyone knows how to do this

Becoming a Social Media Manager

 
This is where you come in!

Many business owners struggle to manage their social media accounts effectively and are willing to outsource it to someone who does. You can make big bucks if you know how to harness the power of these platforms to help businesses attract more followers, leads, and so on.

Becoming a social media manager goes beyond just being well-versed in social media, though. It takes skills, strategy, and great business sense to begin taking on clients and making good money as a social media manager.

In this post, we break down the steps to becoming a successful social media manager and start making the big bucks!

1) Pick Your Platform(s)

 
One of the keys to becoming a successful social media manager is focusing on one or a few platforms to specialize in.

Many entrepreneurs new to the industry try to be a generalist and apply their skills to a range of platforms, but this makes it much more difficult to brand yourself and stand out in the sea of other social media managers.

It is best to pick one platform to become very good at and market yourself as an expert for that platform. You will then instill more confidence in potential clients who see that you are highly skilled on one platform rather than a “jack-of-all-trades”.

Think about it… many people can call themselves “social media managers”, but there is far less competition if you focus on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and the like. You can then create a cohesive brand that stands out and can scale up as you just get better and better.

2) Refine Your Skills

 
This is a rather obvious step, but it is amazing how many people enter this industry with little to no experience. I do NOT recommend offering services that you have no experience. Not only do you risk not being able to give your clients a return on their investment, but you can tarnish your brand before you have even started.

Instead, I recommend that you learn as much as you can about your chosen platform(s), even going as far as to take a course to get some extra knowledge.

A good idea is to create your own social media accounts and test your strategies there. Then you will quickly figure out what works and what doesn’t.

3) Brand Yourself

 
As I mentioned in point number 1, it is important to brand yourself so that you stand out from the bunch.

It is easy blend in with the tons of social media managers out there and as with any industry, it really helps you to niche down and have laser focus when it comes to your target audience.

For example, you may decide that you want to do Instagram management for fitness trainers, or Pinterest management for lifestyle bloggers.

Though this may seem counterintuitive at first, you are actually positioning yourself to be an expert in a particular niche – which means more money in the long run. If you are too broad, you will be constantly competing with other generalist social media managers over price.

You may want to work with a branding expert to establish a solid website, logo, and more to really take your status from “freelancer” to “entrepreneur”.

Related:

• 5 Ways Millennials Can Build Their Personal Brand

4) Grow Your Social Media

 
If you are a social media manager, it doesn’t hurt to have the numbers to prove it!

Though having a large following isn’t necessary, it can only help you to show that you know what you are doing – and work to attract more customers.

At the very least, you should have a presence on the platform that you are planning to do social media marketing for, and make it professional and engaging. Many potential clients will look to this as an example of your work.

This also gives you a great medium to test your strategies without risking messing with a client’s account. Having some “social proof” can really help you stand out as an authority in your niche.

Related:

• Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Blog

5) Get Experience

 
One of the best ways to get experience without the stress of trying to land your first clients is to offer work for free or at a discounted rate.

When you are first starting out, people may be hesitant to hire you without any case studies. Fortunately, you can often offer your services for free in exchange for a testimonial or to feature the results on your website.

I have found that Facebook groups are the best place to offer up free services. Look for business owners in your niche and work out a deal with them if you can. You don’t need many – just a couple solid examples to refer potential clients to once you are ready to start really doing business.

6) Gather Testimonials

 
Once you have done some work for people, you will want to start gathering testimonials.

An easy way to do this is to create a business Facebook page and refer past clients to that page. Having testimonials here will be good proof to potential clients that you are skilled in what you are offering.

If you have a website, I recommend showcasing these testimonials there as well. Just a few can go a long way!

7) Build Out Your Offers

 
Once you think you are ready to start approaching potential clients, it’s time to establish what your services and offers are going to be.

When it comes to deciding on your offers, it is best to do a bit of research into what your target audience is looking for.

Talk to people you have helped in the past and other social media managers to figure out what offers make the most sense for your platform(s). You may also get an idea of costs as well.

To secure consistent income, it is ideal to create packages that will keep clients on a retainer. For example, you may offer to schedule 5 Instagram posts per week and Instagram Story management for $400 per month, or Instagram engagement for $600 per month. That way, clients will know what to expect month-to-month and you won’t have to depend on one-off projects.

8) Network Online

 
Don’t underestimate the power of networking!

Social media marketing is a rather competitive industry, and now more than ever it is important to grow your online network.

Trust is a big part of potential clients hiring you on, and having a referral makes it that much easier to make that leap.

Connect and partner up with digital marketing agencies who may need to outsource social media marketing for their clients. Reach out to influencers in your niche. Do all you can to forge that meaningful connection, build trust, and cultivate relationships with people who are open to sending business your way.

9) Land Your First Clients

 
Landing your very first client can seem like an intimidating feat, but once you do, the process just gets easier from there.

Be confident in your offer and be prepared to show past results. Speak to what their pain points are and how you can address them. Don’t be afraid to compromise a bit on price if they seem like a good fit, as you can later use their case study to justify higher rates for the next client.

Over time, you will learn where you target customers “hang out” and how to market to them. This varies depending on your niche and the kinds of clients you are after. Stay in tune with their needs and match them.

In my experience, Facebook groups are a great place to start. Find a group that includes your target audience, and share value in there. Avoid being salesy. Soon enough, people will come to trust you as a source of information and will inquire about your services. Then it will flourish from there!

Ready to Become a Social Media Manager?

 
Hopefully, you have found this post helpful in paving the way for your future as a social media manager.

With the right skills and business know-how, you will be making money in no time! By branding yourself and forging those important connections, you can scale up and really make waves!

 
Related:

• How this Digital Nomad Funds Her Dream of Traveling the World
• How to Make Money Blogging
• Free Editorial Calendar in Google Sheets
• 5 Ways Millennials Can Build Their Personal Brand

 
 
What do you love most about social media? Do you have plans to turn it into a career?