Nobody knows what the future holds but one thing is pretty much a given, we could all use a little extra money in our bank accounts. Maybe you need it to make ends meet, or maybe you’re saving up for a special holiday. No matter your reason, lots of people are turning to independent side-gigs to make extra income.

A side-gig is a job you do in addition to your regular job. Some people work a 9-5 job and then come home to work on their side-hustle and other people might stay home to take care of their families and need a side-gig to help with the family income. A side-gig is a great way to make money because it’s flexible and usually something you can do from home or at least on your own schedule.  

Working for yourself is fun and rewarding, but it isn’t always easy. Many people mistakenly think that working from home means lots of free time, but it really takes focus and dedication to make it work. Here is a shortlist of lucrative side-gigs that can help you make money in 2020. 

#1. Amazon Affiliate Marketing

Is there anything Amazon can’t dominate? In addition to books, movies, TV shows, music, and every product under the sun, Amazon is also a pioneer in online affiliate marketing. Although the affiliate marketing concept pre-dates Amazon, the e-com giant has done a lot to shape digital affiliate marketing as we know it today.

Basically, you share Amazon product links with the world, and when people buy stuff Amazon pays you a small percentage of the profits. You can become an Amazon affiliate marketer with a blog, an email list, a YouTube channel, or even just an influential social media presence. For more details on how the program works, read this guide from Amazon. 

#2. Casino Affiliate Marketing

While we’re on the subject of affiliate marketing, there are other places you can be an affiliate for besides Amazon. Far too many to list, but if you’re looking for the highest paying opportunities then look no further than the gambling industry. Websites like Online Casino Gems send traffic to online casinos and get paid to do so. You can have a blog, social media platforms, or just send banner ads for gaining traffic. Some casinos even offer lifetime residual income for the players you send them, provided those players keep spending money. For even more details about casino affiliate marketing, check out this article by Gamblers Daily Digest. 

#3. Copywriting 

Creative writing might be an art, but copywriting is a teachable skill. That means anyone with enough drive and dedication can become a prolific copywriter and sell their services to businesses who need them. Copywriting usually refers to advertising and promotional materials.

Copywriters will often write the text on brochures, websites, emails, advertisements, catalogues, and more. These days you can also count web-based content like informative blog articles and social media posts as well. Once you have practised your copywriting skills and have some great samples ready to go, you can start advertising your services. Freelancing any profitable skill that you have is a growing trend that is driving what many people call “the gig economy.” 

#4. Virtual Assistant 

The gig economy is also a huge opportunity for people to offer simple virtual assistant services to busy small business owners. A virtual assistant might do some copywriting, social media management, answer calls or emails, set up appointments, and more.

VA jobs can include research, working with spreadsheets, and other skills you’d expect to see in an office manager, secretary, or assistant. Small business owners might need help but lack the ability to hire full-time staff, so they hire virtual assistants they can pay by the hour for just the amount of time they need per week. You can find VA work on gig sites like Fiverr and Upwork. 

#5. Trash To Treasure Reselling

Social selling is a match made in heaven for people who just love to shop. Social selling meets “reselling” in popular apps like Poshmark and The RealReal. Reselling is the act of selling something used. The second-handn market place is huge right now as people love a good deal and want to save discarded items from landfills. Poshmark has over 40 million users, around 5 million of which are sellers on the platform.

You can start out for free by selling things out of your own personal closet, but when you run out of personal items to sell, that’s when the real fun begins. People quickly found out they can source products from thrift stores, garage sales, and liquidation companies to resell online. This type of sourcing can turn your little hobby into a full-fledged business overnight. In 2018, Poshmark earned a spot on Forbes list of “next billion-dollar startups.” 

#6. Social Media Influencers, Blogging, and Vlogging 

With the right personality and the ability to provide consistent content, you can make money just by being yourself and influencing others. The best way to become a paid influencer is to pick a tightly-focused niche and start producing content on social media, a blog or YouTube. It takes time to learn how to master these platforms and build an audience but it can pay off big time when you start to get sponsorship opportunities.

You’ll be surprised to find out how many people are interested in what an ordinary person has to say if you can be informative and entertaining. Influencers make money from showing ads, recommending products, and doing sponsored (paid) content for businesses.

Now it’s time for you to put these ideas into action and start making more money in 2020. Set some small business goals for yourself and take time to learn the ropes of your new side-gig. This year is going to be full of opportunities for you.