10 Ways to Monetize Your Hobbies

Many of us suddenly have a lot of time on our hands, and a lot of energy with nowhere to focus it.

If you’re using your downtime to indulge in your favorite hobbies, you may be wondering if there’s a way to squeeze some extra dollars out of something you enjoy.

Well, with the wonders of the world wide web, there are plenty of opportunities to monetize your favorite pastimes. Best of all – you can do all of these from the comfort of your own home.

1. You’re an avid reader

You might not think that letting the hours drift by with a good book could be valuable to anyone, but you would be wrong. A decent set of eyes and a love of literature can get you some extra cash.

Here are a few ways you can make that happen.

Read stories for children

While you got free time, you’ll also discover that there are a ton of young children stuck at home with working parents. You can’t provide in-person childcare, but you can still entertain.

Reading storybooks for children, either by video chat or monetized videos on sites like YouTube, is a great way to earn while you read. You’re sure to be showered with love by grateful parents.

Create audio-books

People love audiobooks. Whether your customers want to listen while they do housework or have trouble seeing, there’s always a demand for books read aloud. This is your opportunity.

You can record books either to order or if there’s a demand for a title without an audio version. Be sure to use decent recording equipment, and make sure you have permission to publish.

2. You’re a style genius

Do you spend hours in front of the mirror and know your Gucci from your Nike? Turn your love of fashion into cold, hard cash by selling your style expertise.

Here’s how to make it happen.

Giving personalized style tips

Some people just want to be told what to wear, and if they have the money, you can tell them. Giving one-on-one style advice is the perfect way to monetize your knowledge.

Just advertise your service online, perhaps through a Zyro website, and get customers to submit photos. You can advice what’s working, what’s not, and how they can improve their look.

Making tutorial videos

No, YouTube fashion tutorials aren’t just for teenagers, they’re big business. With a camera and some makeup and accessories, you can advise the world from your living room.

All you need to do is make sure you have a decent camera, consider investing in a ring light, and decide what your niche is going to be. You can earn from ads on your videos and promoting products.

3. You’re a gifted artist

So, you know which is the action end of a pencil? Great! You may doubt your artistic abilities, but you’d be amazed by the demand for people who can draw well.

You can turn this into money if you:

Sell prints

Do you have a distinct style people are going to want on their wall? Consider selling your work as art for people to display.

You can either sell PDFs over the internet or mail finished prints. This is a nice way to let people enjoy your work and earn cash at the same time.

Work with web designers

You might not realize this, but there’s always a need for artistic skills when it comes to making websites. You can make decent money, and have your work displayed across the web.

To attract business, you can create a portfolio using Zyro, and send a link to potential employers. It’s worth investing in some decent software if you’re serious about this.

4. You’re a talented writer

If only people would realize you’re the next Shakespeare! Well, you can just show them by monetizing your writing online.

There are tons of ways you can write for a living, here are just a couple:

Start a blog

Everyone has something they can say a lot about, and you can turn that interest into money. Starting a blog on a topic close to your heart will also connect you to like-minded people.

Once you can start a blog on Zyro, there are multiple ways to monetize it. From running ads to affiliate marketing, having engaged traffic is the internet’s gold dust.

Do proofreading

You don’t need to be a great writer to have an eye for mistakes. If you’ve got the patience and don’t mind what you work with, proofreading is a great little side hustle.

You can either work freelance or as part of a company and could be reading anything from book manuscripts to academic papers. This is a fun way to read things before they’re published.

5. You’re an unstoppable talker

Are your friends forever trying to get you to shut up? Well, they don’t call it ‘the gift of the gab’ for nothing. Take that gift all the way to the bank, while never leaving your bedroom.

Here are two ways you can talk your way into extra income:

Start a podcast

Yes, it’s a cottage industry that has exploded in the past few years, but there are still plenty of gaps in the market for those with an opinion and a microphone.

You’re in control of your own show and have the potential to create a big following. You can run ads or accept contributions through platforms like Patreon.

Recommended reading: How to Launch a Podcast: a Step-by-Step Guide

Do telephone canvassing

Companies, organizations, and political parties always want to know what people think about them. If you’re happy in conversation with anyone, telephone canvassing might just be for you.

You can work from your computer and generally just need to complete surveys or collect information. Cash in while having a chat.

6. You’re a great gamer

That’s right. You can actually make money while playing video games. It might sound like a childhood fantasy, but sitting on your tush having fun can actually be your livelihood.

Here are a couple of ways to monetize your gaming:

Live stream

Platforms like Twitch make it possible for you to share your games with the world and make an income from viewers. You might want to invest in some better equipment, but you can always use what you have.

Don’t worry if you’re not the best gamer out there. Some of the most popular streamers out there get by on a sense of humor and funny reactions to their successes and failures.

Game tester

Yeah, it’s a real thing. Video game developers are always on the lookout for avid gamers who are willing to try their latest product and offer feedback.

Not only will you have the opportunity to play games that aren’t on the market yet, but you’ll also help make new games even better.

7. You’re a big joker

woman holding smiling emoji balloon and laughing

Are you the person who always has their friends rolling about laughing? Did you know you can turn that sharp wit of yours into cash?

Here are a couple of ways to do so:

Make short video clips

There are loads of social media channels where people get famous by posting hilarious, short video clips. Platforms like TikTok have plenty of ways you can monetize your videos.

The best thing about this approach is the simplicity. All you need to do is pick up your smartphone and start recording. Upload your gags, and start collecting followers.

Produce a web-series

This certainly takes a little more investment in terms of time (and potentially money), but the payoff can be huge. Whether you make a cartoon or live-action comedy, web-series are big.

You might need to team up with different people to realize this dream, or if you’re determined, produce the whole thing yourself. Don’t forget to create a Zyro website to share your creation.

8. You’re multilingual

Since you’re reading this, we’ll assume you understand English. If you can team that with one or more other languages, you’re halfway to becoming a translator.

There’s a couple of ways your gift with languages can come in handy while working from home:

Translate documents

Companies always need translation work done. Whether it’s to launch their website in a new market or make sure their brand is understood everywhere, translation is essential.

If you’re translating documents, the rule tends to be that you should translate from other languages into your mother tongue. The more languages you speak, the more you can earn.

Translate via video

There’s also a big market for translators for spoken languages. If two people without a common language are having a meeting, they might employ your services to help understand each other.

This kind of translation is a different kind of skill, as you need to listen carefully and think on your feet. Be sure you understand both languages intimately, as you’ll need to translate both ways.

Recommended reading: How to Advertise Your Small Business Website on Google

9. You’re an origami master

Umm… this one is probably quite niche, but is a good example of how you can monetize your unique talent. So, if you know how to turn a piece of paper into a beautiful swan, listen up.

Make instructional videos

As with pretty much any skill, there are plenty of people on the internet who want to learn what you know. Making instructional videos is a great way to show them while earning yourself.

You can either monetize public videos or simply sell access privately. Make sure your instructions are clear, and viewers can clearly see what you’re doing.

Sell your creations

If your origami skills are really exceptional, there are people who will want to buy and display your work. This is a pretty standard way for artists to make a bit of extra money.

Don’t limit yourself to just paper. Many origami artists work with materials like old soda cans or plastic. To charge top dollar for your art, think outside the box and be creative.

10. You’re a master musician

You’ve put the hours in learning an instrument, and now you’re just sitting at home playing to yourself. Luckily, you don’t need a concert hall or street corner to turn notes into notes.

Produce music

Yes, the bedroom producer is a bit of a cliche, but making music for use in films, commercials, and other media can be a great little money earner. Though, you do need the right gear.

Alternatively, you might charge other musicians for input and collaboration, or to produce the tracks they already have in the pipeline.

Offer lessons

Kids and adults alike dream of being able to shred a guitar or dazzle with their skills on the piano. There’s an untapped market of folks sitting at home hoping to learn how to play.

Music lessons are surprisingly easy to conduct via video call. What’s more, you’ll be saving on the travel and rehearsal space rental other music teachers are saddled with.

Have you successfully turned your hobby into a career? Tell us about it in the comments below.