How to Monetise Your Hobby

Hobbies are an important part of being human. They stimulate the brain and can be a form of escapism. But what if your hobby could generate an income?

Some of us like to write, others like to read, I mean why else would you be here? But there are a broad range of hobbies ranging from the normal to the far out which some may consider weird that are there waiting to be monetised.

The great part of monetising a hobby is that it is something that you may already be doing and that you enjoy. The hard part is finding the avenue to go down to make it a reality.

Gaming

· Create a gaming blog/website — There are so many options when it comes to creating a website whether you want a free hosting service or something more elaborate. A small income can be generated from affiliate links, but the real gold mine is within the sponsored content. Gaming companies are prepared to spend big bucks to get their games out there so if you put the time and effort into your blog you could catch their eye.

· YouTube / Twitch — Streaming games online and creating YouTube videos has become a modern-day phenomenon with the likes of PewdiePie, Ninja and Ali A all making huge sums of money from this particular income source. If your channel meets the criteria you get a percentage of the advertising revenue so although it may take a while to build your audience, this can be very lucrative.

· Gaming Tournaments — One of the most watched games online in 2019 was Fortnite and if you are a bit of a Fortnite master you could earn big with the latest tournament prize pool being worth an estimated $2 million. Other games which hold tournaments with monetary prizes include Call of Duty and the FIFA series just to name a few.

· Become a tester — Some development companies hire testers to test their games before they go to market and report back about any issues and general play experience. This could be a great way to earn some money as well as test the latest games before release.

· Gaming developer — If you enjoy both playing and creating games have you considered making your own app? The costs involved can be high but if you genuinely believe your app can work and you can get a finance backer you could see yourself on the app store in no time.

Cooking/Baking

· Sell your goods — If you are a keen baker there are plenty of people who love cake! Set up a Facebook page with some delicious looking photos to tempt your customers in. Birthdays, weddings, christenings, you name the event and I guarantee cake will be involved!

· Create an E-book — There are many ways you can build and publish an eBook online. A social media presence may be best with this one in order to build your audience and increase sales. Top chefs such as Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey have jumped on the YouTube band wagon to have cook-alongs and to showcase their cooking skills. This social media presence will not only get you noticed but it can also create a dialogue and relationship with your potential customers.

· Neighbourhood / Pop up restaurant — Have you considered turning your home into a 5-star dining experience? You can advertise within the local community to hold an evening of fine dining and conversation. You may not earn a great deal from this but you can test out your latest recipes as well as get to know your neighbours, the nice ones are likely to give you a tip for your hard work and hospitality!

· Sell your recipes — If you have an old family recipe or one which you have created that always goes down a storm consider being a freelance writer for recipes. Contact magazine to find out their application process and if you are accepted this could turn into a regular gig. You can also find freelancing opportunities online on websites such as Fiverr.

Yoga/Exercise

· Teach a class — Set up your own class and advertise online or contact your local gym to see if they have any opportunities. The benefit of setting up your own class is that it is flexible, and you can determine your earnings. This can also give you a chance to get out in nature if you decide to run a class in your local park.

· Dog Walking — Advertise for dog walking services or use a dog walking app such as Rover. You can pick and choose when you would like to work, and chances are you could get return business as well as make a new furry friend.

· Litter picking — This may not be the most glamorous of jobs but it will get you out walking , you will also get the fulfilment that you are making a difference to keep the planet clean!

Painting/Drawing

· Sell your art/prints online — Having a digital platform that can reach millions of people can really boost your earnings. By using websites such as Etsy, Instagram, and Twitter you can show your work to so many new sets of eyes and hopefully they love it enough to part with their hard-earned cash!

· Exhibitions — Exhibitions do not have to be huge events. They can simply be a small space for you to feature your artwork on a local scale. If you find you have an opening in your schedule hire a space, put out some flyers, advertise online and see who turns up.

· Teaching — You have a talent that other people want to learn, so show them your techniques. Evening classes are a great way to let off some creative steam and to meet new people.

· Become a caricature artist — This may not be for everyone and you need a certain type of skill, but you can use online platforms like Etsy to sell your drawings. People can send you photos of who they wish to have a caricature made of and you are then free to drawer them at your own pace in the comfort of your own home.

Gardening

· Sell your plants/produce — Everybody loves produce that is home grown, and this is definitely a market that you can tap into. Local jams, fruits and vegetables can also demand a premium price tag.

· Advertise gardening services — If your roses are the envy of your street or your lawns can give Wimbledon a run for its money offer your services to your neighbours. Many people work 9–5 and the last thing they want to do is gardening in their free time, especially if they have allergies!

Music/Singing

· Sell Music/Samples — You can sell your songs online or go old school and produce a CD. There are also companies that purchase sound effects for media projects, a quick Google search will find everything you need to know about this one!

· Events/Bars — Wedding and bar singing can be a good source of income, but you may have to work late nights! If this does not bother you pick up your microphone and get on that stage! People will likely want to hear your work before hiring you so if you are able to set up a website or YouTube channel with some audio clips this will help to make you stand out from the crowd.

· Teach — If you are a particularly good piano player and like children have you considered teaching? Music lessons can cost between $40 — $60 per hour so if you can gain traction this can really add up. You will probably need to advertise your services at first, but chances are a lot of your business will come from being recommended as parents do like to talk about these things!

· Busking — A more traditional way of earning a buck through music would be to busk. You may not feel comfortable doing this and in some places it may not even be legal, but it is something worth considering.

· YouTube — Many artists have got their big break after being discovered on YouTube, take Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes for instance. There is also Billie Eilish who shot to fame and went viral after releasing a song on Soundcloud. Use this free platform to your advantage, who knows where it could take you.

Arts & Crafts

· Workshops — If you have a speciality, run a workshop. From “Zero waste gift wrapping” to “Creating a dream catcher” there are craft workshops available for everyone. Consider running two events, one running just before Christmas and one running after. Your pre-Christmas customers will be those who like to make handmade gifts. Advertising for an event just after Christmas is the perfect opportunity to tap into those people who like to give gift experiences as Christmas gifts to their loved ones.

· Arts & Crafts fairs -These fairs run all year round so can be the perfect place to sell your wears.

Photography

· Sell your photos to stock libraries — There are various websites such as Shutterstock and Adobe Stock which will pay you for your photos. They will then use these photos in their stock libraries.

· Set up a photography business- There are always going to be people who need a photographer but as a result this market can be flooded with a lot of photographers fighting for the same business. Find a niche! Take Anne Geddes for example, who knew babies dressed up like flowers or bumble bees would be so popular and cute!

· Real estate photography — Many real estate businesses have their own photographers in house, you could apply for one of these positions or go freelance.

· Competitions / Contests — A single photo could net you a big cash prize if it is selected as winner. The main prize for the Sony World Photography Awards in 2020 is $25,000!

· Sell to publications — Contact your local and national magazine/newspapers to find out if they are looking to take on freelance photographers.

Fashion

· Vintage reselling — The vintage clothing market has exploded in recent years and if you can pick up a piece at a bargain price you can be sure to sell it for a good profit. There are so many platforms available for you to do this including Poshmark, Depop, eBay and you could even set up your own Facebook page.

· Personal stylist — A lot of the higher end stores hire personal stylists to help with their customers. You could also set up your own business and build your own client base.

· Design merchandise / make clothes — If you are the creative type you can make your own clothes from scratch or create designs to upload to pre-existing items. Your design could be printed on anything, for example T-shirts, bags, and mugs via websites such as Amazon. The best thing about this is that you do not need to worry about shipping or storing the products, they take your design, print it and you benefit with the money in your pocket.

· Blog — Take your love of fashion and write about it!

Makeup

· Makeup artist — Apply to be an in-house makeup artist or go it alone. People hire makeup artists for all sorts of events all year round such as proms, weddings, and Christmas parties.

· Teach — You could set up a 1 on 1 tuition or a group class.

· Test makeup — A lot of brands have ambassadors who they will send out products to in exchange for feedback. You may not make a lot of money this way, but it is a good way to get free makeup as well as perhaps a small incentive.

· Sell from home — Become a representative for a makeup brand. Companies like Avon and The Body Shop will give you a percentage of whatever you sell.

· Blog — A common theme in this article but it can be lucrative!

· YouTube — The beauty community on YouTube is huge with so many influencers earning their fortunes. In 2019 it was reported that Zoella has an estimated wealth of £4.7 mllion , equating to $5.8 million (Cosmopolitan.com) .What started for her as a beauty channel has escalated into book deals and a lifestyle brand, she can also earn a whopping £12,000 ($14,800) per sponsored Instagram post!

Too many people get stuck in a mundane system doing jobs that they hate so if you can go against the grain and earn money doing something that you truly love you should definitely do it or at least give it a go. Who knows where it could take you and as they say , in the end we only regret the chances we didn’t take.