The wide road is blessed by God! What better way to tour the country than as a truck driver on someone else’s dime? It’s just you, your vehicle, and the wide road. Truck drivers are the heart and soul of many countries, with many logging over a million miles on the road.
Unfortunately, as automation technology advances, many truck drivers are becoming increasingly concerned about their future, and the wise ones are beginning to plan ahead.
So, what can you do right now to begin making additional money while simultaneously preparing for the future?
There are other choices that require more driving, such as Uber and similar services, but after driving all day, the last thing you may want to do is get straight into driving again. Furthermore, these positions will be obsolete as soon as they figure out how to drive robots.
So, what are some of the finest side hustles for truck drivers to earn additional cash? We’ll look at some of the finest ways to make additional money for your wallet.
Some of them even make you money while you’re driving for your day job.
1. Affiliate Marketing
A basic understanding of technology will help you make money through affiliate marketing. The technique of embedding third-party links within a website in order for users to click on them and make a purchase. After the transaction is finished, you will receive a commission from the sales that you make.
It’s a lucrative industry to be in, with over 35% of all affiliate marketers earning more than $20,000 per year (mainly part-time).
The good news is that thanks to tracking cookies, your customer does not have to buy the item right now. In many cases, you will still receive the fee if the customer returns and completes the deal within 30 days.
If you know how to put up a website and properly attract visitors to it, this might be a wonderful way to make some additional money. The good news is that after the basic setup is complete, this is a rather ‘hands-off’ means of making some additional money.
If you are not very computer smart but enjoy the idea of earning money in this manner, you could always hire someone to set up your website for you, or use one of the numerous website builders available online, which are meant to make the process easier for you.
Advantages
- Can be operated from any location.
- No fees, low start-up costs, and a diverse product offering
- Scalable
Disadvantages
- Learning curve is steep.
- It takes time to rank because Google is always changing.
Consider the following:
There is a learning curve with affiliate marketing, as with other new things. To understand the ins and outs faster, it may be worth enrolling in an online course or training program. You should also investigate several affiliate programs to see which one best meets your requirements.
It’s a good idea to spend some time researching your product niche and location ahead of time to find one that’s popular but not extremely competitive. As affiliate marketing has grown in popularity, many others have jumped on board, flooding the market with websites and promotional advertising.
Influencer marketing initiatives are especially popular on Instagram and TikTok, where marketers develop agreements with influencers who are seen as experts or authorities in their respective fields.
Bloggers excel at improving a seller’s conversions through content marketing since they may rank organically in search engine inquiries.
Here’s a step-by-step explanation of how the process works.
- Buy a domain name and determine your niche.
- Build your website.
- Source the products you will sell.
- Add product links to your site and perform SEO.
- Get traffic that buys your products.
- Make sales and earn a commission.
- Refine and repeat.
Of course, this is an oversimplification of the process of becoming an affiliate marketer, but it does cover the fundamental processes. As you advance and expand, you will learn a lot about successful SEO and traffic generation, when and how to utilize social media, and what sort of blogs or reviews you should include.
As previously said, the affiliate marketing industry is already oversaturated in several sectors. As a result, you should think about how you will effectively promote your website or items.
2. Amazon FBA
Amazon FBA is similar to affiliate marketing. This is Fulfillment by Amazon, and unlike affiliate marketing, which allows you to sell items from a variety of firms, Amazon FBA allows you to sell your own products while they manage delivery. This eliminates the need for you to manually package and transport things.
Set up your items, advertise them through your website or social media networks, and then let Amazon do the rest. You may sell almost anything you can think of, and FBA provides you the benefit of having a reputable name like Amazon as your delivery partner.
This also provides your consumers with some protection because they can easily observe and trace the progress of their shipment through Amazon’s delivery procedure, boosting customer visibility to their purchases, and there are earnings to be gained with Amazon presently holding 49 percent of all US eCommerce.
Many goods are eligible for free shipping to Amazon Prime members, allowing you to broaden your reach even further. Once you’ve registered as an Amazon seller, you’ll be capable to put your items for sale on marketplaces all around the world.
Because there are literally hundreds of goods for sale on Amazon’s Marketplace, it may be worthwhile to invest some time in making your listings stand out from the crowd. This entails creating the greatest product descriptions possible and maybe investing in some high-quality pictures.
It is always worthwhile to invest in training that gives insights and direction to give you a competitive advantage. There are a few excellent Amazon FBA training programs available that have assisted in the development of 6-figure and 7-figure Amazon enterprises.
I’ve included useful steps for novices, and I hope you find them beneficial. Amazon FBA for Newbies:
- Decide on your goods and range.
- Evaluate Amazon’s income.
- Seek a supplier.
- Create an Amazon Seller account and enroll in Amazon FBA.
- Build and optimize your Amazon listings.
- Create an FBA shipping approach.
I recommend checking out high-quality Amazon FBA courses like Marketplace Superheroes to learn how to sell on Amazon. I highly urge that you read our in-depth ASM review, which is one of the most popular Amazon training courses.
Advantages
- Shipping time is reduced.
- Items may be tracked.
- Amazon offers customer service.
- Buyers may be eligible for free shipping.
Disadvantages
- Because of Amazon’s accommodating policy, more things may be returned.
- Lose the customer’s relationship
- Inventory management may be difficult.
- There are fees to be paid.
3. eBay
While traveling through several cities, you may have the opportunity to stop at numerous charity or bric-a-brac stores and score some easy sellable deals. List them on eBay, drop them off at the post office for delivery, and you’ll make a handsome profit.
The wonderful thing about eBay selling is that you don’t have to be in one place to do it, and with 182 billion buyers worldwide, it’s a captive audience. You can use a laptop to access eBay from anywhere, and being mobile may allow you to locate greater discounts depending on your location.
From books to sports equipment, the products you sell can practically be anything you can discover. Anything that you believe you can profit from may be acquired and resold.
eBay will deduct listing costs and a sales commission before passing the remaining funds to you.
To get money on eBay online and build a thriving eCommerce business, follow these simple steps:
- Create an eBay account.
- Find a product to sell.
- Investigate the products and their pricing.
- Promote your eBay listing.
- Create your first eBay listing.
- Complete your eBay transaction.
Advantages
- Simple to assemble
- Remote operation is possible.
- Anything can be sold.
- Ships to any country
- feedback rating system
Disadvantages
- Listing costs can quickly mount up.
- Returns must be refunded
- Items that are extremely competitive may not always sell.
Consider the following:
Because eBay has been operating for a long time, many sellers have developed a dedicated client base, and many successful merchants have established eBay businesses. It may require a significant amount of work to persuade clients to switch from their favorite sellers.
It may be beneficial to invest a few more cents on each listing to promote them or move them to the top of the category, at least until you make a few purchases and receive some customer feedback.
Selling products necessitates a constant flow of inventory, so you’ll need to continue obtaining the items you want to sell. If you rely on products that can be advertised and resold, your inventory may change depending on what you can find.
4. Etsy
If you are artistic or crafty, you may convert your pastime into a source of income to supplement your income. Etsy is a terrific location to sell your crafts whether you have a skill for painting, jewelry making, wood modeling, or anything else.
Rob Kalin, Chris Maguire, and Haim Schoppik founded this handmade selling powerhouse in Brooklyn, New York. Simply post your products for sale and pick a price for them.
These determine the appearance and feel of your store, so make sure they are consistent and reflect your brand.
On Etsy, you may make a variety of electronic payments. You may accept payments through PayPal or Etsy, which is what most merchants do. Etsy Payments enable merchants to receive funds via a variety of methods, including credit and debit cards, as well as Etsy gift cards.
This will introduce you to visitors and boost your trustworthiness as a merchant. Etsy sellers are allotted 5,000 characters to compose their bio. You may also provide links to your shop’s social media accounts here. More Etsy Selling Suggestions.
Etsy may require a credit card for permission and identification purposes. You will also submit a credit card on which Etsy can bill fees and commissions. Improve Your Shop. Here are a few tips for optimizing your Etsy business and increasing sales.
Set up your product listings and start earning by following these instructions.
You can establish your own prices on Etsy, so look at what similar goods are selling for and use that as a reference for your own products. Make careful to account for listing costs, since there are some, but once they are paid.
1. To begin, go to Etsy.com.
Go to the Etsy homepage, then click the Sell on Etsy option, followed by Open your Etsy Shop.
2. Tailor Your Shop’s Settings.
You may configure your store settings for how you wish to market your items as your own shop manager. Choose a language for defining your items, a currency for trading, your region, and so on.
3. Choose a Shop Name.
This is the point when your imagination may run wild. You should call your Etsy business something that matches your own brand. Customers should be able to recall your name if it is synonymous with your product offers. The name must be four to twenty characters long, with no spaces or special characters.
4. Begin Adding Products to Your Catalog.
Set up your product listings by following these steps:
Add Images: It is recommended that Etsy sellers have a minimum of five photos for each item, taken from various perspectives so that consumers can get a good sense of what your product looks like. The photographs should be of great quality and taken against a pleasing backdrop.
Adjust thumbnails: Thumbnails are the first images that a consumer sees when they search for or come across your goods. These determine the appearance and feel of your store, so make sure they are consistent and reflect your brand.
Complete the following listing information: Your product description should include a title and a detailed description of what it is.
Use the 13 ‘tags’ provided for each product as well. Buyers use keywords to find things on Etsy, so be sure your keywords match what is in your tags.
Enter the following inventory quantity and price: Add the prices for each item and be sure to include all charges in your final sale price. Include the number in stock as well as any product variations such as size, color, and material.
Set the shipping charge: Include the shipping fee, country of origin, processing time, weight, and size here. If necessary, you may easily amend this information later.
Examine your Etsy listings: Examine the shop to determine if any modifications need be made. Before publishing for the first time, make sure you like how your business looks from the standpoint of a consumer. When you click Finish, you will have completed the process of uploading your first product.
5. Choose a Payment Method.
On Etsy, you may make a variety of electronic payments. You may accept payments through PayPal or Etsy, which is what most merchants do. Etsy Payments enable merchants to receive funds via a variety of methods, including credit and debit cards (as well as store credit) and Etsy gift cards.
6. Include Billing Information in
This is determined by your country of origin. Etsy may require a credit card for permission and identification purposes. You will also submit a credit card on which Etsy can bill fees and commissions.
That’s all. You’ve completed the setup process, and it’s time to begin optimizing and marketing your items.
Advantages
- List your own for sale stuff.
- Simple procedure
- Fees are relatively modest.
- You have the ability to establish your own pricing.
- Depending on the location, there may be certain tax advantages.
Disadvantages
- There are a lot of comparable goods for sale.
- Your business is under the management of Etsy.
- Pricing may be low as a result of undercutting.
- SEO is a demanding task.
Consider the following:
It might take time to create and sell your own handcrafted creations, so you may want to test the market first. Once you know what type of weekly or monthly sales you can expect, you’ll need to develop enough things to meet up with demand.
Choose a payment option and stick to it so that you can simply monitor transactions and keep track of money generated for tax purposes. Money made from selling your items online, like any other kind of income, is subject to income tax, so keep careful records.
5. Air BNB
If you have a laptop and a few hours to spare when not driving, you might make some additional money by handling social media marketing for small businesses. If you are experienced with Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter, you may charge a monthly fee to corporations for management services.
This may be a profitable company with little investment, but you may want to invest in a social media calendar or scheduling tool to keep track of postings and accounts. It’s also a good idea to perform some hashtag research for the company you’re marketing so you can post straight to their target audience.
If you’re strong at marketing, you may broaden your social media marketing and offer to set up paid ad services. With over 3 billion active social media users, there are several options for you to get clients. Many individuals are unclear about how to set up Google, Pinterest, or Facebook advertisements, and this is where you may supplement your income by assisting them.
Advantages
- There is no outlay.
- You have the ability to determine your own rental pricing.
- Plan your own availability.
- Fees are relatively modest.
Disadvantages
- Visitors in your house
- The possibility of theft or harm
- If you are not present, a cleaning and/or property manager will be required.
- Restrictions may apply based on your location or if you are a member of a HOA.
Consider the following:
Because strangers will be in your house, you may want to consider removing costly or emotional objects and storing them in a secured closet or off-site storage.
The same is true for family images; you are renting the property to individuals who will use it as their own, so having photos of you, your wife, and your children were strewn around may not create the nicest environment for visitors.
Determine which portions of the house your visitors will be able to enter and which will be off-limits. You should also look at your liability for certain things. For example, who is responsible for the damage if one of your visitors sets fire to the kitchen? You might need to make a modification. You may need to modify or raise your insurance coverage now that you are officially a landlord.
6. Social Media Marketing
If you have a laptop and a few hours to spare when not driving, you might make some additional money by handling social media marketing for small businesses. If you are experienced with Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter, you may charge a monthly fee to corporations for management services.
This may be a profitable company with little investment, but you may want to invest in a social media calendar or scheduling tool to keep track of postings and accounts. It’s also a good idea to perform some hashtag research for the company you’re marketing so you can post straight to their target audience.
When it comes to social media, marketers’ main priorities are to advertise their products/services and raise brand recognition.
Many companies, however, fail to create interesting content and reach their target audience. With social media playing such an essential part at the top of the funnel, let’s delve into everything social media marketing – what it is, the benefits it provides, and how to really construct a social media marketing strategy that will work for your individual organization.
Because you’re advertising to individuals who have chosen to connect with you by following your account, promoting and sharing your items on social media is a straightforward approach to enhance lead generation, boost conversions, and increase sales.
Here are some ideas on how to use social media to create more leads.
- Create competitions on your social media pages for your visitors and followers to enter.
- In the bio part of your profiles, include links to your website and offerings.
- Host live videos to make product introductions and to offer updates or specifics about exciting corporate news.
- Launch a social media marketing campaign using one of your platforms.
- Use your social profiles to sell your stuff. You can, for example, activate Facebook’s Shop. On your profiles, include a section or Instagram’s Shopping function. These capabilities allow your visitors and followers to access details like price, material, and size by clicking on goods you’ve featured in posts. Then, visitors may quickly go to the platform’s checkout and purchase the product straight from you.
- If you’re strong at marketing, you may broaden your social media marketing and offer to set up paid ad services. With over 3 billion active social media users, there are several options for you to get clients. Many individuals are unclear about how to set up Google, Pinterest, or Facebook advertisements, and this is where you may supplement your income by assisting them.
Advantages
- Low initial investment
- Can operate from anywhere and set service levels
- Flexible
- Only fundamental social media expertise is necessary.
Disadvantages
- Competitive
- Obtaining new clients is difficult.
- Client acquisition costs include advertising expenses.
- Client expectations can be difficult to handle, and it can be difficult to keep track of several accounts.
Consider the following:
Although no formal skills are necessary to work as a social media manager, the industry is highly competitive, so it may benefit you and your clients to take a few of online courses to understand the finer tactics that may be used when maintaining customer accounts.
Have a mechanism in place to efficiently monitor and deal with consumer concerns, and work rapidly to reach a resolution. When you first start out as a social media manager, it can be difficult to gain clients, and one negative review might damage your reputation.
7. Write an E-Book
After a long day of driving, you might want to stretch your grey cells and share some of your knowledge with the general public. If you have any abilities or talents, or if you simply wish to create a novel, consider releasing an eBook on Amazon Kindle.
You may sell your book online by publishing it here. You may choose your own sales price based on the content and length of the book. Amazon provides several useful tools for tracking and monitoring sales across multiple nations.
Choose a Basic Concept Starting an eBook is similar to starting any other book. Sit down and develop a phrase or one to two phrases that describe the essential content or notion underlying your eBook. Assume you wanted to write an eBook about how to start a dog grooming business. Under each one, write a phrase or one to two words, attempting to link these concepts until you see a framework forming. Because each component will become a chapter in your eBook, you may choose to divide these chapters even more. Create Your E-Book Others may like to begin in the midst of their book or go about from chapter to chapter, adding bits here and there. Create Your E-Book Others may like to begin in the midst of their book or go about from chapter to chapter, adding stuff as they go. If your simple title is widely used and you want to distinguish your eBook from others, try using your name in the title.
To effectively sell your eBook, you’ll need an eye-catching cover. Because publishing an eBook does not cost the publisher anything, you should not expect to pay to publish. If you only require simple publishing, you should avoid purchasing these products. The cost and utility of these alternatives vary greatly, but all will allow you to publish an eBook without limiting how you sell it. You may either pay a marketing firm to advertise your eBook or promote it yourself.
Furthermore, you have a free creative license within reason to write your book any way you want, and there is the possibility of earning higher sales commissions than usual.
How to Create an eBook in 7 Easy Steps
- Investigate your target market
- Choose a subject
- Examine the competition
- Prepare your framework with your solution in mind
- Select a writing platform
- Flesh out your plan with useful material
- Professional editing is required
- Get it out there in the world
Advantages
- You have the ability to write at your own speed.
- There is no limit to the number of eBooks you may publish.
- Possibility of setting own sales pricing
- Excellent tracking tools
- Increased commissions
Disadvantages
- Pricing may be decreased if there is a lot of competition.
- There are several books that address the same subject.
- Will need to perform my own marketing.
- Plagiarism is acceptable.
- Less editorial assistance
Consider the following:
When self-publishing, you have a lot more creative flexibility and control, not to mention no deadlines to meet. You are free to write at your own speed. This, nonetheless, implies that you do not have any kind of editorial crew to give assistance, proofreading, or motivation.
You will want to check into getting copyrights for your work if you are handling your own book development and sales. Because having your book online allows it to be easily used or duplicated, you will need copyrights to safeguard your work from being stolen.
8. Become a Twitch Streamer
Twitch streaming is growing in popularity. While it began as a game platform, it is rapidly expanding to accommodate other forms of content. To make money quickly on Twitch, you must first build your following. If you’re consistent, Twitch can help you quickly establish a significant audience.
Locate a popular game or channel that isn’t extremely competitive so that people may easily find your stuff. To generate money online through streaming, you must establish a consistent style for your channel: will it be humorous, instructive, or entertaining? Participating in Twitch’s chat section is another approach to increasing your following. You should communicate in popular chat rooms.
However, you should also interact with folks who are talking on your feeds.
Selling items, brand sponsorships, fan contributions, subscriptions, and Twitch adverts are the five methods to monetize your Twitch channel. To maximize your financial advantages as a Twitch streamer, you should focus on utilizing all five monetization techniques. Twitch has the potential to pay more than YouTube, making it one of the top money-making options for video artists.
9. Photography
You may monetize your photography in a variety of ways, whether you’re a professional photographer or just like taking images. Posting your photographic services in local Facebook groups for your town might help you generate money quickly.
You’re constantly traveling and visiting new areas in your truck, so if you can get some great images, you may make money by selling them.
If you want to increase your visibility, you may utilize a service like Burst. However, if you want to fast sell your phone pictures, you may utilize Foap. More product photography techniques to help you start generating money with photography may be found here.
Best websites for selling photographs online
- Adobe.
- Canva.
- Crestock.
- Dreamstime.
- Fotolia.
- Freepik.
- Getty Images.
10. Consider Print on Demand
Print-on-demand is also becoming increasingly popular. To better monetize their work, graphic artists are turning to the business model of selling their designs on apparel and other things. They may develop a consistent and recognized brand for their firm by using their own designs.
Print on demand is similar to Dropshipping in that you do not need to keep inventory or transport items to clients. However, there are two minor distinctions. On begin, you may apply branded labels to packages, which is excellent for brand awareness. Second, transportation expenses are significant, making it difficult to build a profitable business unless you charge higher rates or sell in larger quantities.
However, you have wonderful suppliers in the United States, Canada, and Europe, such as Printify or Printful, to get started right away and realize your goal of producing your own clothing line.
What is the greatest approach to profit from your print-on-demand business? Marketing channels that are free. Your best chance is to market your items for free on Instagram, Pinterest, or Instagram influencers that have a high conversion rate.
You can receive a comprehensive overview of print on demand versus Dropshipping by watching us engage in a spirited conversation with Wholesale Ted about the benefits and drawbacks of each business strategy.
Summary
Just because you spend many hours a day behind the wheel does not mean you are limited in your options for making extra money. This list should provide you with some useful ideas and tips for increasing your income.
The reality is that there are legitimate methods to generate money online – millions of people do it every day. There are a plethora of business ideas you may test at home utilizing your laptop and a reliable internet connection, ranging from freelance digital nomads to clever marketers to aspiring entrepreneurs. So, let’s go through how to generate money online in the right manner.
Making money online can help you earn some additional money as a side hustle, but it can also help you escape your normal work and become a full-time entrepreneur. You acquire greater financial independence, enhance your financial stability, and get closer to living life on your terms by brainstorming online business ideas and deciding to establish an online business.
If you are bored of driving for long periods of time, you may have contemplated abandoning tracking and getting off the road entirely. If that’s the case, many of these concepts may be developed into full-time businesses with full-time incomes.
