Services You can Sell for a Side Gig

Skilled services are frequently in demand, but not often enough to employ a full-time staff person. This is where you can come in and offer your services on a gig basis. Although these services require skill, training and sometimes real talent, they are easy to start as a side gig. Just be careful that your side business does not compete or conflict with your regular job.

As always, if you don’t already have the skill and equipment, perhaps this gig is not for you.

  • WordPress Sites
  • wordpress taking offI have set up a number of WordPress sites for not-for-profit and charities. As a volunteer I did this because I wanted to help out. Because of this, I did get a number of profitable requests from paying businesses to set up their websites.

    Designing a WordPress site is frequently much more involved than just setting the site up. As soon as something more than choosing a theme is required, a designer is required. If you are good at graphic design, then you may be able to offer web design as well. Artwork is not something that I ever provided!

    Since I am trying to be well and truly retired, I no longer accept webwork commissions. Writing for my blogs is enough to keep me busy.

    If you have the skill and knowledge to set up this type of site, you could definitely make a tidy sum on the side. If you have the ability to create and incorporate graphic features in your designs, you could do quite well. Set up a few freebies to showcase your talent.

  • Graphic Design
  • This is another area that can be a nice side gig. You could provide artwork for signs, posters websites, etc., if you have the skill and equipment. If you don’t already own the software and other equipment, I would not rush out to buy it. If you haven’t already invested into the software and equipment as your hobby, you probably don’t have the skill and training to do this.

  • Video Production
  • Many small to medium sized businesses are in the market for short videos to showcase their wares on Facebook, YouTube, etc. If you are already making your own videos for social media sites, this might be a nice segue into for profit gigs. You should only consider this gig if you are producing high quality videos for yourself.

  • Video Editing
  • If you are a skilled video editor, you could offer your services to individuals and businesses that are making videos already. A great market for this service is YouTube channels.

    Many successful video channels could use the help of a skilled and talented editor. You could clean up their videos by deleting extraneous material, adding lower third info, making smooth transitions to b-roll, intro and extro clips, etc. You can practice and upgrade your skills by volunteering at a local cable channel. Our channel even provides training for interested volunteers.

  • Audio Mixing & Editing
  • Audio EditingAudio quality is more important to a video’s success than the video quality. Although it seems backwards, viewers will put up with amateurish video, but if they can’t hear the audio clearly, they are gone!

    If you have the software and equipment, can use it to clean up audio and make it sparkle, then this could be a gig for you. You would be marketing your services to the same folks, pretty much, who require video service. A chance for a partnership?

  • Virtual Assistant
  • Being a virtual assistant is much like being a regular assistant, but you never actually meet or work in the same space. As a virtual assistant, you would offer services that a busy entrepreneur might require. It could be anything from managing their email or social media accounts, to posting to their blog or website, to entering their data into a spreadsheet or other program, to organizing their calendar and travel, to providing customer service, to most any service that can be offered through the internet.

    There are many good videos on YouTube than can help you start your virtual assistant business. There are also a number of courses, both on-line and off that you can take if you need help.

    Just don’t do things that endanger your day job! It’s not a good idea to offer bookkeeping services on the side, if your full-time employer is in that business.

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