It’s tried and tested.
I must be honest.
A few years ago, I had no clue that I would soon begin a side business that would enable me to earn more money than I ever imagined.
First of all, I started my first technical content side hustle while I was still in engineering. It generated $30 in the first month. You did read that correctly.
Next, it made $50 in the second month, and the third and fourth months witnessed essentially the same results.
Therefore, if you believe that making money is simple and quick, you need to reconsider. It requires perseverance, hard effort, and consistency.
But what happens next, Nitin? To be honest, after a few months, I was in the top 500 on Medium. Even my earnings climbed significantly, as did my follower count, views, and subscription.
After that, I explored numerous additional side hustles, made connections with other like-minded individuals, and discussed how they generate money, and this piece will be all about that.
Note: You need to learn some of the skills to start any of these side hustles; I will not write about shady side hustles like playing web3 games or filling out surveys.
So, without further ado, let’s get started.
1. Technical Content Writing
Technical Content Writing is the first side hustle that I want every programmer to explore.
The advantage of writing technical content is a lot more.
Some of them are:
- Writing about a technical topic can help you better understand the subject and identify any gaps in your knowledge.
- By writing about a technical topic, you can share your knowledge with others and potentially help them understand the subject more effectively.
- You can make more connections. People will be going to look at your skills and your profile, and you may even get hired or get an opportunity to work with some of the cool companies.
- The best part is you can make money.
There are a lot more.
If you ask me where to start? My answer will be, you can start from LinkedIn, Twitter, Medium, Dev.to, or Hashnode. These are pretty good platforms where you can share your expertise.
Also, talking about the time that you need to spend is a bare minimum. Actually, It needs no time, you can write articles on weekends on whatever you learned in a week. And you can share with the live audience.
That’s it.
Talking about money there is no limit, I make 4 figures every month based on my expertise.
2. Building Online Products Using ChatGPT
My two colleagues devote their weekends to trying to create great products for everyone to use.
The first thing they created was quite excellent, and they gave it out for free. Later, beginning with the second product, they continue to charge money based on subscription.
Nitin, how do they promote or advertise their product? First and foremost, they list on ProductHunt and spam each and every friend they have, asking them to test the product.
Believe it or not, these kinds of advertisements are effective, and they generate money as a result.
What comes next? They develop content on LinkedIn and Twitter based on their product, and as a result, they gain more connections and paying customers.
Isn’t that great?
And, owing to ChatGPT, productivity has increased while production time has decreased. You may also attempt it if you have particular skills in Machine Learning, Web Development, App Development, or any other specific sector.
Note: They made some basic apps at first, such as AI Image Generator and Motivational Quote Generator, before moving on to something more complex.
Remember that producing public products may benefit you in a variety of ways, including gaining a job based on the project, more consumers for your product, and, of course, more connections.
3. Selling APIs
Selling APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) as a side hustle can be a lucrative and flexible way to make money, especially if you are already a web developer familiar with APIs.
APIs are a way for different software systems to communicate with each other and exchange data, and they are used in a wide range of industries including finance, healthcare, and e-commerce.
If you want to start, you can watch some YouTube videos. Personally, I like this one.
There are several platforms, such as RapidAPI, where developers can sell APIs and earn a percentage of the revenue generated by their API usage. In order to sell your API on these platforms, you will need to create and document your API, and set pricing for its usage.
You can also sell your APIs directly to clients, either through your own website or by reaching out to potential buyers.
When selling your APIs, it’s important to clearly communicate the value and functionality of your API to potential buyers. You should also make sure to set clear terms of use and pricing and consider offering different pricing tiers for different levels of usage.
If you are approached by a company asking you to develop APIs for them to sell, it’s important to do your due diligence and research the company before committing to work with them. Make sure to ask about their business model and revenue generation, and ensure that you are comfortable with the terms of the arrangement.
It’s also a good idea to get everything in writing to avoid misunderstandings or disputes.
Overall, selling APIs can be a rewarding side hustle for web developers with the right skills and marketing efforts. It’s important to do your research and understand the market, and communicate clearly with potential buyers to ensure success.
4. Earning With Figma
I decided to deep dive into web development while I was in engineering college. Similarly, one of my friends decided to study UI/UX design.
To tell you the truth, he ended up with a large number of clients who paid him to create designs for their businesses or projects. The amount of money he made was quite astounding.
Yes, he did design work for some of my projects.
When I asked him how he obtains more clients and generates more money, he said it was easy. Most individuals are interested in seeing what you’re capable of and the work you can do. And for that, he posts his projects on the internet and finds clients that way. He also claimed that he does all of his design work in Figma.
There are several ways, you can make money using Figma:
- Freelancing(It’s hard if you don’t have clients): You can offer your design services to clients as a freelancer, using Figma to create and share your designs with them. You can find clients through online marketplaces, such as Upwork or Freelancer, or by marketing your services through your own website or social media channels.
- Selling design templates: If you have a talent for creating high-quality design templates, you can sell them through platforms like Creative Market or Envato. Figma allows you to create and share design templates with others, making it a useful tool for this type of business.
- Creating and selling courses: Another option is to create and sell courses teaching others how to use Figma or how to create specific types of designs using the software. You can use platforms like Udemy or Skillshare to reach a large audience and monetize your courses.
- Designing and selling physical or digital products: You can also use Figma to design physical or digital products, such as t-shirts, stickers, or phone cases, and sell them through platforms like Redbubble or Society6.
5. Earning with Canva
Have you ever considered using Canva for website design or creating some templates? Some of my colleagues(even me) use it and have found it to be a great tool for creating designs quickly and easily.
Canva has a wide range of templates that can be customized to meet the needs of your clients, and the pro subscription service gives you access to even more templates and design elements.
Using Canva can help to streamline your workflow and make it easier to create high-quality designs in a short amount of time. This can be especially useful if you’re working with tight deadlines or have a lot of clients.
And did you know that you can also make money by selling templates on Canva? The Canva Creators program is currently only open to select designers, but if you’re skilled in design and interested in making money through template sales, you can apply to join.
In addition to selling templates, some designers also make money by teaching their clients how to use Canva. This can be a valuable service for clients who want to create their own designs but may not have the necessary design skills or software.
In short, Canva can be a great tool for website design, and templates, and has the potential to help you increase your productivity and efficiency. Give it a try and see how it can work for you!
6. Using Blockchain Technology
Let me tell you a secret: I’m studying Hyperledger Fabric and other blockchain technologies on the weekends in order to create a blockchain product.
Yes, this is the first time I’ve revealed this information publicly.
Believe it or not, cryptocurrencies and NFTs have simply vanished from the global market, and individuals no longer want to invest their money in something that has no value.
Instead, developing certain products with the use of blockchain technology can genuinely help the consumer with their problem, which is what I am doing. And trust me when I tell you that blockchain products are receiving a lot of attention.
For example, on October 21, 2021, the FTX Exchange raised $420 million dollars. You now know where it is. Instead, if you create a basic product that can benefit others, it will be considerably more valuable.
Let’s get back to the side hustle. So spending time on the weekend building a product is a side hustle for me. You can do it in the same way.
7. Become an Online Consultant
Do you have experience with web development, app development, or other programming expertise? If so, have you considered leveraging your particular knowledge to gain money as a consultant? It’s certainly a possibility, and it may be a good way to boost your income.
On this, I can speak from personal experience.
A firm from LinkedIn reached me about a year ago, saying they were seeking a consultant with some web development expertise. They required someone to assist their developers when they encountered big problems and to be available at client meetings to address consumer inquiries.
I agreed to take on the role because I have experience with Next.js and React.js and it was a fairly straightforward job for me. Also, I wasn’t required to code or work traditional 9–5 hours, and it was a great way to use my skills and knowledge to make some extra money.
Even I know some of my friends, like Sam(one of my best friends), also make money by offering hourly consulting services or by helping businesses choose the best technology stack for their needs.
It’s a cool way to earn some extra income, and while you may not be able to dive into it right away, it’s something to consider once you reach an intermediate level in your field.
8. Selling a Programming Product
For a couple of years, I’ve been following a lot of individuals on Twitter, and I’ve observed that many of them are selling digital products online. These are usually programmers or other tech-savvy people who have linked their products to their profiles.
I also decided to try my hand at selling digital products and picked Gumroad as my marketplace. While Gumroad currently charges a bigger % for each sale, I was still able to earn a decent income by selling my products there.
The screenshot above depicts my overall payment. Isn’t that great?
Yet another bit surprising: the first product is offered for free, yet customers paid money for it.
To be honest, I don’t have enough time to produce new products and market them, therefore I’m not going further with this. However, if you have the time, you can give it a go.
If you’re a programmer or have other digital products to offer, I strongly advise you to start selling on a marketplace. It’s an excellent way to monetize your abilities and talents, and with a little promotion and work, you might earn a substantial income.
Hope you like it.
That’s it — thanks.
