Working at home offers flexibility on your time, work, and activities. You can wake up whenever you want, reduce the time wasted on traffic, and save money for transportation. It can be considered life-changing since you have more time for your family and get to enjoy more!
Another thing is, you no longer need to deal with the challenge of getting along with your workmates and you can save energy in avoiding a grumpy boss! Kidding aside, the advantage of working from home has an endless list of advantages, but the most desirable part of it is you are earning while in pajamas.
Don’t you think working at home is the best job ever? So, are you now interested in a home-based work?
Nicholas Bloom, a Stanford University Economics professor, carried out a study in 2013 by observing people’s working attitude at home versus their attitude at the office for a week. The study revealed that these people work a bit more productively than they’ve been in an office. The study also suggests that home-based employees boasted a higher rate of job satisfaction.
A home-based work may sound ideal to you now after citing all those advantages above. However, as with most things in life, there are risks and there are rewards to freelancing. Although it may sound easy, it is the other way around as challenges and difficulties will always be present. You have to keep in mind a few things. It is a must to know what to expect and prepare for; it can help you in adjusting from the transition of an in-office to a home-office work smoothly!
Some of the most basic things you need to take note are: a quiet workspace with desk, chair or couch, and complete office supplies; a personal computer or laptop with internet and much preferably if you have a landline; and the most important thing to prepare is to orient and make your family and friends understand that you’re working at home.
Here are the 9 Home Based Careers that You Can Start Today While Sitting on Your Couch
#1. Freelance Writer
If you are naturally good at writing, then a freelance writing career is the most suitable home-based work for you. It would be easy and quick for you to produce a high-volume quality posts since producing such is needed in order for you to earn some serious cash.
As a freelance writer, you can choose if you want to be a copywriter, creative writer, editor, or anything in between. These careers are all well-paid of and reputable freelance writing jobs you will surely enjoy.
Your passion for writing is a great potential and also gives way for you to work and earn money while sitting comfortably on your favorite couch! But always remember that you have to carefully choose where or what field you will work on.
We all know the struggle of writing for like eight hours a day about something you know nothing of or doesn’t trigger your interest, it will surely drive you crazy and thereby unmotivated.
Speaking of where you will work, a freelance writer is very much in demand in the virtual industry and you will surely find a job quickly! But always keep in mind that you have to be careful in the legitimacy of your job and making sure that it is not a scam.
Foremostly, know that the site you are planning to apply is legitimate. Here are the lists of sites that are legit and have chock full of people who are willing to pay you based on your level of expertise and area of knowledge:
- BloggingPro Job Board
- Journalism Jobs
- MediaBistro
- FlexJobs
- Morning Coffee Newsletter
- ProBlogger Job Board
#2. Online English Tutor
Common fact: The English language is the official universal language. People use this language to communicate especially if they are from different places or of different races. In short, the English language is what bridges us to communicate and understand each other in this world. Thus, English tutorial is now a booming business.
Skype provides a free video chatting service that made it easy for us to connect to our loved ones who are far away from us. It also acts as a medium for other people to connect even if they are in different part of the world.
#3. Skype and English Tutorial
These are two powerful things that lead to the birth of online tutorial services that let clients of different races learn English and let the teacher earn a good sum of money.
So, if you have a personal computer or a laptop and a stable internet connect, just make a Skype account and then start to find a potential client to teach English! But bear in mind, that you need to have a complete knowledge of the language to become an effective tutor.
Many language schools are trying to enter this virtual business and giving opportunities for native English speaker to be part of their team.
The European Languages, Japanese and Chinese services are the highest payers for people who can meet all their tutorial helps. Try looking for people in that area of the world as there are lots of people who are willing to pay you.
#4. Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistant offers a skilled administrative support to companies, businesses, and entrepreneurs online. It is home-based and easy to perform. It is an easy job since you only have to make phone calls, manage emails, data entry, schedule appointments, etc.
The services that a virtual assistant can offer are endless but it depends on one’s experiences, skills, and background training.
As a virtual assistant, you can be an employee or an entrepreneur. You can work as a freelancer where you are the one who is tasked to find a client, and remember, you are also accountable for paying quarterly self-employment taxes.
You can also be a part of an already well-established business wherein you no longer need to invest or find your own clients, but your pay rate will be dependent and restricted to your work hours, and how you work.
#5. Social Media Influencer
An influencer is someone who carries influence over other people using social media. It is said that the social media influencers are more influential than celebrities. People value their opinion on a certain product or service; thus, it is a valuable form of marketing nowadays.
So many establishments see this as a potential marketing strategy, take advantage of it and use it as a form of product promotion.
If you have accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or a YouTube channel and bunch of followers, you can be a social media influencer. All you have to do is make a review about a specific product and post it online. You can do it anywhere and anytime, even at home!
Many businesses look for online celebrities and offer them this job. It is a cheap way for them to promote their business but a great opportunity for you to earn money. Remember that if you are famous online, this kind of job will be the one that fits you and it will be a win-win situation if you exert enough effort too.
#6. Affiliate Marketer
Affiliate marketing is, indeed, in demand; many industries look for an affiliate that would direct customers to them. It is an easy job and a source of easy money.
The cycle is very simple, you just put your client’s ad on your website and then netizens will click on the link and will be taken to your client’s page. You make money when the netizen decides to buy products you are promoting. It is as simple as that.
It is a stress-free job that you can look for. Amazon is a site where you can find a job as an affiliate marketer.
#7. Graphic Designer and Web Developer
It would be a great advantage for you to find many freelance opportunities if you have a background in graphic designing or web development. And if you do have background on both, well, you just hit the jackpot!
Freelance work as a graphic designer or web development offers a flexible working time, price of service, and type of job you will accept. It is highly recommended to do the things that interest you the most because it will surely yield a good result due to your enthusiasm.
Shortage of good graphic designers and web developers is inevitable since it takes a skilled man to yield a good result. You just have to learn how you can build your reputation, and it will surely open up endless possibilities and opportunities for you.
#8. Translator
If you are fluent in another language, looking for a job as a translator would be easy for you. It is in demand to many firms who are looking for bilingual that can help them in translating important documents and audio files. But it doesn’t require you know just only the language, you should also have background knowledge in the culture as well.
You have to be knowledgeable and skilled in both languages and culture of that specific nation to fully understand and succeed in the translation of the materials. Always remember that the more challenging a material to translate, the higher you will be getting paid.
#9. Consultant
As a senior manager that has taken an early retirement, it is a good advantage for you to be an online consultant. You can also be an online consultant if you are knowledgeable enough to give advice to people and review about a certain product.
You can earn money by just responding to your clients. You are now able to exercise your knowledge in your most comfortable zone and earn money at the same time.
Wrap Up
See? Working home-based is now widely possible. Thanks to the technological innovations and uses of the internet. We no longer have to stress out ourselves since we can be at our home-sweet-home all the time.
You just have to know how to do associated things properly and be smart in the effective utilization of the things we already have. Yes, it is a smart way of earning easy money. But always remember that you should make an effort while doing your job on your favorite couch.
Author Bio: Kenneth Sytian is a web designer from the
Philippines. He has been designing websites and developing web apps for
more than a decade. His no-nonsense approach to design coupled with his
vast creativity is a winning combination for his clients.
