Covid Pandemic created a huge supply-demand gap in the hospitality and travel world. A lot of hospitality professionals had to lose their jobs and a lot of others suffered huge pay cuts. Not everyone is happy with their financial situation. More and more hotel industry professionals and hospitality professionals are looking for ways to create a passive source of income in addition to their regular job.
Thankfully, there are multiple methods to make money online, and the results usually come down to one’s dedication. You will need to put in work, particularly if the idea you pursue happens to be in a competitive market.
If you have been looking to improve your income, consider the ways mentioned in this article. And remember that even if your first attempt is not successful, you can move on to the next method until you find one that suits you.
Way 1 – Custom Merchandise
Use your hospitality network and become a supplier for the hospitality industry.
You can simply be an intermediary and investment is close to zero apart from an eye-catching website.
Working in custom merchandise could be your ticket to financial independence. You can start a print-on-demand store and look to scale it after the business picks up.
Even if you do not have graphic design skills, you can get yourself a partner and turn the store into a joint venture.
Most POD entrepreneurs start with custom-made t-shirts or wall hangings. However, it is recommended to ensure your product line is enriched with mugs, hoodies, face masks, coasters, cutlery, fruit baskets, and other products.
The promotion will take the majority of your time once you add the products to the website. There are different ways to approach the marketing campaign. Some focus on SEO and social media; others emphasize pay-per-click marketing and cooperation with influencers. It ultimately comes down to the available resources, particularly time and money.
Way 2 – Online Surveys
Services like Swagbucks, Inbox Dollars, and CashCrate offer people opportunities to make money by filling out surveys. Grab your smartphone or a computer and start working on the surveys if you have an hour or so to spare but would like to use that time productively.
On average, it takes about 10 to 15 minutes to fill out a survey. So if you have one hour, you can fill out five surveys. And even if the pay might not seem like that much, it is still a good way to make some extra money.
Also, it is worth noting that you can find different surveys on smartphones and computers. If you run out of options on one device, switch to another.
Way 3 – Blogging
For some, blogging is a hobby; for others, it is a great business opportunity. Of course, expecting to make money right off the bat on a blog is a bit of a stretch. You will need to work hard and attract an audience that will become your regular readers (or watchers, if you decide to create a video series on YouTube or another video platform). Become a travel/hospitality blogger to get some extra cash from within your network.
Focusing on content quality is one of the best pieces of advice you can get. As expected, there are plenty of bloggers out there that try to post every day, but because of that, their content quality suffers.
Once you have an audience, think about how you want to monetize the blog. There are a few methods, but the most popular include:
- running ads or including affiliate links
- promoting digital products, such as e-books and online courses
- publishing sponsored content
- creating a crowdfunding page
Way 4 – Customer Support
Given the ongoing pandemic, businesses are shifting towards sales online. Brick-and-mortar stores are not available in multiple locations at the moment.
And since customers are shopping online, the demand for more customer support employees is apparent.
The work itself can be a bit monotonous, but some people manage to work in customer support and another side gig simultaneously, provided that the workload is not too much.
Responding to customer queries and providing them answers is what customer support employee duties are about. It will take some time before you memorize the specifications and other information about the products or services of the store you work in, but once you get there, it will become much easier to operate.
Way 5 – Online Courses
Online courses are popular among different groups of adults. It is not just college students who are learning online. No, some people who have been stuck in the same job for years are looking for new opportunities, and online education is one of the best ways to introduce some changes in their lives.
You can make money by creating online hospitality training courses. There is no need to have an educational background. Just find a valuable topic and multiple sources for it. Compile the information in an easy-to-digest video or article series and publish it on Skillshare or Udemy.
Way 6 – Freelancer Gigs
Freelance hospitality websites like Upwork and Fiverr have multiple job opportunities. If you have graphic design, SEO, data entry, copywriting, or other skills, finding extra work should not be an issue.
Keep in mind, though, that you will be going up against competition while bidding for the gigs. It would be good to offer your services for a lower price and get some positive feedback on your profile. Building trust and authority will help you get more freelance jobs in the future.
