Hi friend,
Can an extra $1000/month outside your day job change your life?
Okay… it won’t make you rich rich, but it can definitely make life easier. Cover a few bills, pay off that credit card, or fund something nice.
For me, back in 2020, $1000/month used to be more than my corporate salary in India.
When I first started writing online, I was publishing a few articles a month, making anywhere between $100–$300 through random gigs.
It was fun pocket money, until I thought:
What if I go all in?
5 months in, I was earning over $2000/month from my side hustle. I could quit my job!
That was when I realised… online income can actually change your life.
So here’s what I’d do if I were starting again today.
1/ Learn A Money-Making Skill
See, you don’t need to invent something new to make money online.
You just need to get good enough at a skill people are already hiring for.
- Go to Fiverr or Upwork. See what’s in demand. Copywriting, ghostwriting, design, short-form editing - pick one.
- Now go to YouTube, Google, or buy a $20 ebook and learn that skill.
- Apply that knowledge and do mock projects to build a portfolio.
Don’t get stuck in analysis-paralysis. Apply your learnings as you go.
When I started, I didn’t overthink. I picked writing, practised daily, and kept improving. That’s really it… no secret sauce.
"Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune." – Jim Rohn
2/ Apply for Gigs
You’ll never feel ready. So start applying anyway 🤷🏻♀️
I got my first freelance project on Upwork. $130 for 2 hours of work.
That single gig changed how I saw money.
Pro tip: Search for clients who value writing, not cheap content mills.
There are $5 gigs out there, sure. But there are also $300/article ones, if you dig deep enough.
3/ Build in Public
Once you start working on your skill, talk about it.
- Share what you’re learning
- What you’re trying
- What worked and didn’t
This does two things:
- Builds your online portfolio automatically
- Attracts people who might want to hire you
I started doing this accidentally. Writing about freelancing and my growth on LinkedIn. Soon, people started reaching out to me.
Pro tip: Treat yourself like a content client for the first few months and take posting online very seriously. It will pay off.
4/ Show Your Services
A lot of people say: I’m doing everything, but still not getting clients.
Most of the time, it’s because nobody knows what they do or offer. If people don’t know what you offer, they can’t hire you.
Add your services to your:
- LinkedIn Featured section
- About section
- X (Twitter) bio
- Even your posts (add a simple CTA)
Make it accessible for people to contact and hire you.
5/ Try Affiliate Income
Now, passive income is a tricky topic because more often than not, people either overcomplicate it or oversimplify it.
I can only speak from my experience:
When I first earned $250 for doing nothing, it blew my mind.
Affiliate income means promoting tools or products you genuinely use and earning a small percentage every time someone buys through your link.
With some campaigns, I've made $1700 in a single day!
Insane - isn't it? Don't sleep on this one.
I only use 4–5 affiliate links. All products I already love. I don’t push them hard. I just mention them naturally.
Fun fact: Everyone who buys my LinkedIn Growth Toolkit has a chance to be an affiliate. If they like it, they promote it and make $$$!
Lastly…
Making your first $ online is the hardest. After that, it only gets easier.
Keep applying for gigs even when you get rejected. Keep showing your work.
All it takes is one good client, one connection, or one good post to change everything.
Who knows…
Maybe a year from now, you’ll be the one writing about how you quit your 9–5 and built a business doing what you love. :)
All the best!
Love,
N