In Episode 19 of The Side Hustle Show, Lee Drozak from MyOfficeAssist.com shares how she got started as a virtual assistant and how you can do the same. We talk setting up shop, getting your first clients, setting your prices, establishing a niche, and more. Quick background on this side hustle if you’re not familiar - a virtual assistant is not Siri, despite how much Apple wants to hijack the term, it’s a real-live person that works for you remotely as an independent contractor. This is a huge industry overseas in countries like India and the Philippines, with giant call centers staffed with low-cost workers. But you might be surprised to learn there is a thriving VA industry right here at home, and many VAs are side hustlers like you, or started their business as a side hustle. And we’re not talking about a race to the bottom on price either. According to a recent survey, nearly 90% of VAs charge $20/hr or more, and nearly 60% charge $30/hr or more. Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show on iTunes! Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show on Stitcher! In this episode, you'll learn: The "eureka" moment of working from home. How Lee got her first clients. How to get paid what you're worth. How to determine which virtual assistant tasks you love and should build your business around. Why industry certifications might be overrated. The best free resource for aspiring virtual assistants. Lee's #1 tip for Side Hustle Nation. Links mentioned: ivaa.org VirtualAssistantForums.com (Thank you, Tess, for the introduction to Lee!) Zirtual | eaHELP | Fancy Hands | Contemporary VA Elance VAclassroom.com Suzanne Evans You can connect with Lee on her site, as well as on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. What do you think of virtual assisting as a side hustle? Pretty basic, right? Identify your skills and find someone who'll pay for them. Kind of like a real job except you can do it from anywhere.

In Episode 18 of The Side Hustle Show, Spencer Haws of NichePursuits.com shares his detailed process for niche site creation and monetization, including idea generation, competitive analysis, content creation, link building, and much more. Spencer is the leading expert in this field, which is one of the most popular side hustles around. If you know a thing or two about WordPress (or are willing to learn) and can follow a few simple rules that Spencer lays out, there's no reason why you can't borrow his process to get started with a niche site or ten of your own. Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show on iTunes! Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show on Stitcher! In this episode, you'll learn: One smart way to generate "seed" keyword ideas. Why worm farms and buffalo nickels hold a special place in Spencer's heart. The tools and metrics used to evaluate a niche. How Spencer overcame a $10,000/month ban from Google Adsense. Why rumors of the death of "exact match domains" are false. The link-building strategies Spencer uses to rank new sites quickly. Links mentioned: Long Tail Pro - Spencer's powerful and proprietary keyword analysis and competitive research tool. Use that (affiliate) link for $30 off. Elance Textbroker Pat Flynn's Niche Site Duel Google Keyword Planner Moz (formerly SEOmoz) Open Site Explorer LayeredLinks.com Ubersuggest Learn more about Spencer at his blog, NichePursuits.com or hit him up on twitter. And of course, you're welcome to leave a comment here as well and I'll make sure he sees it. What do you think? Are niche sites a viable side hustle? Have you ever built one (or several)? Let me know!

In episode 17 of The Side Hustle Show, veteran app entrepreneur Benny Hsu shares his insider tips on how to get app ideas, build them out (even if you don't know how to code), launch them, and promote them in the App Store. In 2011, Benny famously made $30,000 in 30 days from his first app. Now he has a portfolio of different apps and quit his job earlier this year to be a full-time "app-preneur." More importantly, he has a new excitement for life that simply wasn't there before discovering this side hustle. Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show on iTunes! Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show on Stitcher! I was lucky to run into Benny by chance at World Domination Summit, and I'm so glad I did because his story is really inspiring. This interview is filled with tons of actionable advice for aspiring side hustle entrepreneurs and app developers, including: The letter Benny wrote to himself to “Get Busy Living.” Overcoming self-doubt and a string of side hustle failures. How to validate your app idea. Where to find developers and how to sort through all the bids. How to test your app throughout development. How to optimize your app for the best exposure in the App Store. How to reach out to app review sites and bloggers to gain traction for your app. Why Apple users are more attractive than Android users. How the freemium model can work for you. Benny's #1 tip for Side Hustle Nation. Links mentioned during this show: Smart Passive Income | Pat's podcast episode on app development Elance TestFlight Episode 3 of The Side Hustle Show w/ Alex Genadinik appadvice.com List of app review sites App Academy - Benny’s course on Udemy If you want to connect with Benny, check out his blog, Get Busy Living, or hit him up on twitter. Do you have an app idea? Have you had any experience with the App Store? Let me know in the comments below!

In Episode 15 of The Side Hustle Show, I'm excited to have the hardest working man in radio, John Dumas on the show. John's Entrepreneur on Fire podcast is tearing up the airwaves and earning him a healthy six-figure income less than 1 year after launching. We discuss the viability of podcasting as a side hustle as well as the monetization strategies he uses to bring home the bacon giving away free audio content. Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show on iTunes! Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show on Stitcher! In exchange for your half an hour, you'll learn: What makes podcasting an awesome medium. How an investment in coaching "paid back in spades." The savvy way to find and pitch sponsors for your show. How to expanding the brand beyond the earbuds. John's strategy for podcasting as a $500 per month side hustle. Links and resources mentioned: Jaime Tardy | EventualMillionaire.com John's sponsorship rate sheet for July 2013. John's Book Podcast Launch Cliff Ravenscraft | PodcastAnswerMan.com Pat Flynn's podcasting tutorial video series Check out John's awesome show on iTunes or through his site, EntrepreneuronFire.com. You can also hit him up on Twitter. This post wraps up Podcast Week on Side Hustle Nation. You'll also want to check out: How Much Does it Cost to Start a Podcast? How to Get a Podcast to the Top of iTunes in 8 Weeks — With No Audience or “Celebrity” Guests [Case Study] What do you think of podcasting as a side hustle? Have you ever thought of launching your own show?

In Episode 14 of The Side Hustle Show, Chris Guthrie helps me explore the idea of buying income-producing websites as a side hustle investment strategy. It takes a little bit of capital to play in this game, but Chris explains the first site he bought cost just $500 and has paid for itself many times over. Buying websites is a risky endeavor, which is in part why the potential returns are so attractive. In the interview, we talk about how to mitigate your risk, find some winners, and make some money! Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show in iTunes! Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show on Stitcher! Listen to the episode to learn: How websites are typically priced. How Chris finds sites to buy that aren't even "for sale." How to identify sites that might be undervalued or under-monetized. How to do your due diligence to avoid getting screwed. Ways to increase the earning power of a website acquisition. How to transfer the site into your ownership. Chris' #1 tip for Side Hustle Nation. Links mentioned during the show: Flippa.com - the leading marketplace for buying/selling websites 3dtvreviews.org - Chris' first website purchase CopyCatCrafts.com - a site he bought for public case study semrush.com - shows what keywords the site is ranking for moz.org compete.com - can give an estimate of site traffic ahrefs.com - link analysis tool Copyscape - tool to determine if a website's content is original or not Vibrant Media / Kontera - contextual advertising services Escrow.com - for safe funds transfer WordPress Search and Replace Plugin - for swapping out affiliateIDs on a newly acquired site. One thing we didn't talk about during the show but is worth mentioning is an inexpensive software tool Chris built to help filter and sort through the madness on Flippa. It's called SiteFinderPro, and I actually used it a lot last year when I was spending time looking through all the Flippa listings. Ultimately, I didn't find anything attractive enough to pull the trigger on, but that tool definitely saved me time. You can learn more about Chris at MakeMoneyontheInternet.com and check out his Kindle books here. What do you think about buying sites as a side hustle strategy? Faster (and potentially more affordable) than building one yourself, but without the DIY satisfaction. This is one I would certainly love to get more involved in, so curious to hear what you think. Let me know!

Robert Farrington is more successful than 99% of all bloggers on the planet. He routinely earns between $3000 and $5000 a month from his blogs. And the kicker? Yeah, he still has a full-time job completely unrelated to this amazing side hustle! His sites: TheCollegeInvestor.com KidsAintCheap.com EntrepreneurshipLife.com MyMultipleIncomes.com (inactive) BeatThe9to5.com. He shares his tips for blogging success as well has his plan to leave the corporate world behind in the next two years. Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show on iTunes! Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show on Stitcher! In this episode, you'll learn: Why other bloggers in your niche are NOT your competition. Why content-rich sites like blogs will outlast and out-earn thin niche sites. The smart strategy that got his content tweeted out by the Shark Tank hosts The importance of building a real brand around your blog. The unique monetization strategy that blows Adsense out of the water. One savvy way to identify sites that might be for sale. The important action most bloggers overlook. Mentioned during the interview: Derek Halpern - "Newsjacking" or "drafting" SmartPassiveIncome | NicheSiteDuel 2.0 Spencer Haws - NichePursuits.com Help a Reporter (HARO) Yakezie Financial Bloggers Conference What do you think? Is blogging a good side hustle? Hey just a quick favor to ask -- if you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to drop in a quick review in iTunes. It's a huge help, thank you so much! Transcript Download the transcript here.

I love the idea of having something for sale in an established marketplace, and I think there's no better example of that than Amazon. If you don't have a book for sale on Amazon you're missing out on a huge audience of buyers. You might not make a fortune, but self publishing is a viable side hustle and one I'm particularly excited about. And even though I have a couple titles myself and am earning a little bit of "passive" income from them, there are a ton of authors with far more success than me. One of those is Steve Scott, the author of 15 (and counting) Kindle books. He's created this impressive portfolio in a little over a year, and it's turned into a business that generates thousands of dollars in royalties every month. Plus, it allows for the freedom and flexibility to work from wherever he wants. A couple days after recording this session, Steve was jetting off to Greece for a month with his girlfriend. Ready to learn how it's done? Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show on iTunes! Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show on Stitcher! In this episode you'll learn: How to write your book in just an hour a day. How long your book has to be. Whether it's better to write fiction or non-fiction. Why a book might earn you more money than a blog with the same content. The proven path to $300 a month in royalties. Why giving your book away for free can actually help sell more copies. One innovative way to use Amazon to build your email list. The importance of building your own brand, independent of Amazon. Mentioned in this episode: Pat Flynn's Facebook group for authors Steve's blog Steve's author page on Amazon My 30 Day Writing Challenge Elance Problogger job board Steve's new habits website What do you think? Do you have a book in you? What's stopping you from writing it? Have you already published on Amazon? What's your experience been like? Let me know in the comments below!

In this episode of The Side Hustle Show, we meet Jeremy Blanchard, a soon-to-be full-time Life and Leadership Coach. While working as a web developer, Jeremy has been cultivating his coaching business as a fun, profitable, and fulfilling side hustle. During our interview, he shares his passion for the business of helping others, and gives his firsthand advice on how you can do the same. Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show via iTunes! Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show on Stitcher! In exchange for your 34 minutes, you'll learn: The value proposition of coaching. The importance of having a mentor who's walked the path. How to get your first paying customers. How to overcome the common objections. The sales strategy that produces a 50% conversion rate. Why coaching is "the best job ever." Links mentioned in this episode: BlanchardJeremy.com/hustle <-- claim your free coaching session! The Academy for Coaching Excellence Are you considering hiring a coach? Have you ever worked with a coach before for non-athletic pursuits? I'm curious to know how it went. Let me know in the comments below!

In Episode 6 of The Side Hustle Show, I have a chance to sit down with Emma Perez of OrlandoWeddingDances.com to discuss how she's built her side hustle business by leveraging her passion for dance along with some savvy marketing moves. This show has some great tips on how to crack the multi-billion dollar wedding market without spending a fortune on advertising. Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show via iTunes! Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show on Stitcher! In this episode you'll learn: How to get paid for your skills and passions. Why word of mouth and social proof is crucial in a business without (hopefully) many repeat customers. Emma's killer free strategy for breaking into the multi-billion dollar wedding market. The opportunity in local SEO for an offline business. Where to find targeted, local advertising opportunities online. How to use Kickstarter to fund ambitious, big idea projects. Her #1 tip for side hustle entrepreneurs. Links mentioned in the show: OrlandoWeddingDances.com (no longer online) Rhythm of the World (no longer online) Rhythm of the World Kickstarter Project If you have any questions or comments for Emma, please leave a note below and I'll make sure she sees it. What do you think? Is there an opportunity for you to create a similar part-time business in your area?

This podcast interview wraps up Fiverr Week here on Side Hustle Nation. From earlier: 15 Ways to Start, Grow, and Expand Your Side Hustle Using Fiverr 19 Fiverr Gigs to Help Start Your Side Hustle Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show via iTunes! Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show on Stitcher! In this episode of The Side Hustle Show I'm joined by AnarchoFighter, a Top-Rated Fiverr seller who earned enough money in his first year on Fiverr to buy a house in cash. His inspiring story holds some valuable tips and actionable strategies for aspiring side hustlers looking to make something happen on this exciting new platform. You'll learn: Why Fiverr is the perfect place to start a side hustle. How to "level up" and open up new earning opportunities. How to earn far more than $5 per sale The best time to make an upsell "recommendation." The actual feedback request script used to generate tons of positive ratings. Why the fortune is in the follow-up. The best way to structure your gigs to maximize your hourly rate. How to create a winning "Top Seller" application. Why Fiverr might be a path to world peace. “The fastest and surest way to change the world is to find a way to make a profit doing it.” --AnarchoFighter Mentioned in this episode: fiverr.com/AnarchoFighter And a special thanks to madmoo for the introduction! If you have any questions about Fiverr or any of the points made during this episode, please leave a comment below. What do you think? Is Fiverr a worthwhile platform on which to set up shop? What kind of experience have you had on the site?

In Episode 4 of The Side Hustle Show I'm joined by fellow entrepreneur Kai Davis, who built an impressive freelance business in his spare time that allowed him to move from Oregon to Hawaii. Kai's a real hustler and drops a ton of great value in this interview. Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show via iTunes! Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show on Stitcher! In this episode you'll learn: How a teenage Kai first turned a hobby into a profitable business. Why he stood in the middle of his university campus yelling, "Get your weekly enema!" How he crafted the escape plan that allowed him to move to Hawaii. How to overcome your fear of raising prices. How to pitch freelance services as a long-term investment. The importance of figuring out your big-picture vision of success. Kai's #1 tip for side hustle entrepreneurs. Mentioned in this episode: Fancy Hands | Kai's Free Guide to Getting Started w/ Fancy Hands Fiverr Look Shiny (Kai's business) Patrick McKenzie Patio11 Kai on Twitter If you want to learn more about Kai, feel free to ask questions in the comments below, and check out his blog as well.

In Episode 3 of The Side Hustle Show, I'm joined by Alex Genadinik, a smartphone app developer whose apps have been downloaded more than 100,000 times! I love his story because it's about building an audience from scratch and learning along the way. Plus, the cool thing about Alex's apps is they're built to help aspiring entrepreneurs plan, market, and grow their businesses. If all goes well, we'll see tens of thousands of new side hustle enterprises as a result! Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show via iTunes! Subscribe to The Side Hustle Show via Stitcher! In the interview, we talk about: The 4 options for getting an app developed. The importance of listening to your customers. The downsides of outsourcing app development. How to get your apps discovered in the app stores. How to prevent negative reviews. Why business planning is still important, even for the smallest side hustle operations. Why in-app advertising might not be the best monetization strategy. Alex's #1 piece of advice for side hustle entrepreneurs. Mentioned in this episode: GlowingStart.com (Formerly Problemio, where you can find Alex's apps) Elance (to find outsourced app developers) Stack Overflow (helpful developer's forum) Google Keyword Tool The Oatmeal cartoon Tapjoy (mobile ad network) Apptopia (app marketplace) This is the longest Side Hustle Show interview to date, and I feel like we still only just scratched the surface of the fascinating world of apps. If you have any questions for Alex or regarding app development in general, please leave a quick note in the comments below. See you in Episode 4!