What Women Want: the 8 Best Side Hustles for Women

The era of the traditional 9-5 is coming to an end. A growing number of women are choosing to embrace the side hustle in order to make some money on top of their main income source.

Having a job outside of the daily grind means that women can utilize their diverse talents to earn some extra dollars. Side hustles give women the opportunity to diversify income streams, follow creative pursuits, and take charge of their financial futures.

From e-commerce entrepreneurship to online tutoring, social media influencing to matched betting, this article will look at the 8 best side hustles that women are choosing in 2023. Find your new side hustle and discover how it could help you achieve financial independence and success. What a way to make a living!

The rise of female side hustlers

Over the last few years, there has been a surge in the number of women embracing side hustles as a way to supplement their income and pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations. This growing trend highlights a significant shift in the traditional work landscape. Women are taking charge of their financial futures and seeking alternative avenues for personal and professional growth.

Benefits of side hustles for women

There are a number of benefits for women when it comes to side hustles. One of the main benefits is the flexibility and autonomy that side hustles offer. Women are able to better balance multiple responsibilities and achieve a better work-life balance in comparison to traditional employment.

Additionally, by diversifying their income streams, women can reduce financial dependence and gain more control over their economic well-being.

The digital age has played a significant role in this shift, offering numerous opportunities for women to explore side hustles across various industries. Moreover, the evolving cultural and social landscape has empowered women to embrace entrepreneurship by breaking down traditional gender norms and inspiring them to pursue their own ventures.

The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated the trend, prompting women to take control of their financial destinies amidst job losses and uncertainty. Overall, the side hustle provides women with empowerment, flexibility, and personal fulfilment. Here’s to the Sisterhood of Side Hustle Success!

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1. E-commerce Entrepreneurship

E-commerce has become an integral part of the side hustle landscape. It allows businesses to reach a global audience, 24/7 without the limitations of a physical store.

Aspiring women entrepreneurs can now grow successful businesses from their couch. From selling digital products or vintage clothing to dropshipping the latest trending products, women are using e-commerce to boost their income. For those looking to pursue e-commerce, finding your niche and building your presence is key.

Finding your niche

Knowing where the gaps are in the market will help your e-commerce business thrive. Use tools such as social media searches, Amazon review mining, and Google Trends data to help you find your niche. Other things to consider:

a) Skills and passion

What are you good at and what do you love doing?
Finding a niche that aligns with your expertize and interests will help you stay motivated.

b) Market research

What’s already happening in your space? Look at current trends, your target audience, and potential opportunities.
Analyze data and find areas overlooked by existing businesses as this will be where you fit in!

c) Identify pain points

Pay attention to common problems faced by your target market. Talk to potential customers and gather insights through surveys, interviews, or online forums.

d) Competitor analysis

Differentiate your side hustle from other e-commerce businesses.
Study competitors to understand their strengths and weaknesses. Look for gaps that you can capitalize on.

Building a strong online presence

One of the most important elements of running an e-commerce side hustle is your online presence.

The Internet is a loud place to be, so make sure you’re heard! Use a range of marketing strategies to get your side hustle in front of the right people. Run active social media accounts, create regular, relevant content, and optimize everything for both search engines and your target audience.

Harness the potential of social platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest to showcase your products, engage with customers, and build a loyal following. This level of direct engagement builds a sense of community around your brand and enhances customer loyalty.

2. Freelance writing

Play to your strengths when it comes to being a freelance writer. Writing niches include copywriting, blogging, SEO content creation, resume writing, and technical writing.

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Finding lucrative writing niches

Write what you know to start with but always look around for other opportunities and build your writing skills in other areas. They may be more lucrative. For example, technical writing is likely to bring in more money than blogging because it requires specialist knowledge.

Building a portfolio and attracting clients

One of the most important parts of being a freelancer is attracting clients. And one of the best ways to do this is to build a portfolio of writing which showcases your best work. Another way to attract clients is by marketing your side hustle on social media or using a gig platform. Websites like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr are a treasure trove of freelance opportunities.

3. Online coaching

As the saying goes, "Those who can't, teach"...But what if online coaching could be your path to side hustle success? The global online coaching market size is projected to reach around $4567m by 2030.

If you have expertise in a particular subject, consider becoming an online coach. There are various platforms like VIPKid, Online Course Host, and Nudge Coach where you can host your course. Other sites connect tutors with people looking for coaching. Some are for specific subjects, so research the best platform for you.

Not only is online coaching a great way to make money, but it also allows you to share your knowledge and help others succeed. You could spark the entrepreneurial spirit in someone else.

Identifying a profitable coaching niche

In order to identify a profitable coaching niche, you need to find the intersection between your expertise, passion, market demand, and potential for growth. It requires thorough research and a deep understanding of your target audience's needs. Once you’ve done this, you’ll be able to position yourself as an expert, which in turn will allow you to attract valuable (paying) clients.

Creating effective coaching programs

An effective coaching program doesn’t ‘just’ guide someone. Instead, it should inspire, empower, and leave a positive impact on your participants. Here are some key elements of an effective program:

Individualized approach: Try to speak to the individual. Each participant has unique strengths, challenges, and learning styles which means they will complete your program in different ways. Celebrate and support them with a personalized approach.
Support and accountability: Support your participants to remain motivated and committed, both while the course is taking place and in the long term. Regular check-ins and accountability mechanisms will help them stay on track.
Assessments and feedback: Regular assessments and constructive feedback play a vital role in monitoring progress and identifying areas for improvement. This helps participants stay accountable and motivated throughout the program. You should also encourage self-reflection.
Actionable strategies: Practical strategies and tools can help participants to achieve their goals by helping to bridge the gap between aspirations and actual implementation.

This isn't an exhaustive list, but it should give you a good idea of what goes into an effective coaching program.

4. Social media influencing

Most of us have accounts on a social media platform or two…or 10. Did you know that there’s a better reason to spend open those apps than to spend hours doom-scrolling? Turn them into a side hustle instead! Build and leverage your online presence to collaborate with brands, promote products, and generate a second income.

Building an engaged online community

Women across the US are using their presence and popularity on social media to influence audiences of thousands. Through the use of engaging content, captivating storytelling, and relatable persona, social media influencers build a loyal following who trust and admire their opinions and lifestyle choices.

Currently, women are running successful side hustles as social media influencers which cover diverse niches such as:

Not all of the examples above are side hustles but some definitely started out that way. The point is to show how women are utilizing social media to make an income. Use the examples as inspo for finding a niche and making it successful, no matter what that looks like for your side hustle.
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Monetizing your social media platforms

Big brands recognize the power of social media influencers in connecting with target audiences authentically. This makes influencer marketing a sought-after strategy for businesses to promote their products or services.

By partnering with social media influencers, brands can tap into their massive reach and authenticity to drive brand awareness, engagement, and ultimately, sales. On the flip side of this, you can connect with brands to monetize your social media platforms or YouTube channel.

5. Freelance graphic design

Use your creative skills, expertise in design software, and artistic vision to create visual content, such as:

logos or corporate identities,
websites,
marketing materials,
social media graphics

As a freelance graphic designer, you’ll have the flexibility to work remotely, set your own schedules, and choose the projects you want to take on. providing them with a sense of autonomy and creative freedom in their career.

Finding clients

You can find clients in lots of different ways:

online and offline networking,
online freelance platforms like Behance, Dribbble, or Fiverr,
or through your own personal branding and marketing efforts.

Building a portfolio is a great way to showcase your graphic design capabilities and attract clients. Put together a collection which highlights your best graphic design work, demonstrating versatility and creativity in various projects. Display your portfolio online and then share it on social media to reach a broader audience.

Additionally, providing exceptional customer service, through clear communication and the delivery of high-quality results will help you build a positive reputation. This could lead to repeat business and referrals.

6. Virtual assistance

Many women are building successful side hustles by offering support to clients from remote locations. In the last couple of years, virtual assistance has emerged as a solid side hustle. It is essentially a freelancing role.

Women use their knowledge and expertize to assist businesses with a range of creative or administrative tasks. The flexibility and convenience of remote work such as virtual assistance enable women, like you, to strike a balance between their professional responsibilities and personal commitments.

Specialized virtual assistance

Specialized virtual assistance has become an invaluable resource, with women leading the charge in providing essential services that optimize operations and boost productivity. But what can you provide virtual assistance on? Again, it’s about finding your niche. From managing administrative tasks to handling social media strategies, and content creation, women are playing a pivotal role in supporting entrepreneurs and businesses.

Tools for virtual assistants

Platforms like Zirtual and TaskBullet connect virtual assistants with clients who require help with administrative tasks such as data entry, email management, scheduling, and more!

Depending on the sector you choose to focus on, there are lots of tools you can use to help with your task list. For example, if you provide social media management, you'll probably use a tool like SproutSocial or Hootsuite. Alternatively, for bookkeeping services, you might use QuickBooks.

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7. Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy where you can earn money by promoting the products or services offered by other businesses.

How affiliate marketing works

Affiliates partner with companies, receiving unique referral links to share with their audience, whether through websites, blogs, social media, or other digital platforms. When a user clicks on the affiliate's referral link and makes a purchase, the affiliate earns a commission from the sale.

The key to successful affiliate marketing lies in selecting products or services that resonate with the affiliate's audience and effectively promoting them through authentic and engaging content.

As the affiliate's audience grows and trust builds, their potential to drive more sales and generate passive income increases. With the ability to reach a global audience and a diverse range of products and niches to choose from, affiliate marketing presents a potentially-lucrative side hustle opportunity.

8. Matched betting

Matched betting is a betting technique that lets you take advantage of promotions and bonuses offered by sportsbooks and casinos, without risking your own money.

Thousands of people across Europe have been using matched betting as a way to make money online for well over a decade. And now American women are discovering this fantastic side hustle. Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, a college student seeking a side hustle, or work a full-time job, matched betting could provide that alternate income stream you’ve been looking for.

How matched betting works

Matched betting involves placing two bets on the same event. This allows you to remove the risks associated with traditional gambling and unlock the generous free bets offered by sportsbooks, at the same time. You can then repeat the process in order to lock in a guaranteed profit.

Let's take a quick look at how matched betting works. For this example, we’ll use an NBA game: Phoenix Suns vs New Orleans Pelicans:

A sportsbook is advertising a promotional offer: ‘Bet $25 to get a $25 free bet’. You can turn this into actual profits. One of two outcomes can occur in this match: either Phoenix Suns will win the game, or New Orleans Pelicans will win the game. The eventual outcome doesn’t matter when you do matched betting because you are betting on both teams to win.
Place a bet at one sportsbook on the Phoenix Suns to win (this represents your first bet). Then, to make this bet risk-free, place another bet at a different Sportsbook. This second bet is placed on the New Orleans Pelicans to win.
By placing the two bets, both outcomes of the event are covered. Using this method one bet will win and one will lose leaving us in the same position at the end of the two bets. As you can probably work out, you have won nothing but you’ve also lost nothing. However, you have now qualified for the free bet bonus without risking any of your own money.
Next, repeat the process but use the free bet instead of your own money. Again, you cover both outcomes by placing two bets on the same event. This time, you’ll turn the free bet into real profit.

Where to do matched betting

ProfitDuel is the first matched betting platform available in the US. It’s brought to you by the team behind OddsMonkey. OddsMonkey is the creator of some of the top matched betting tools, including OddsMatcher. They know their stuff.

But let’s get back to this side of the pond. ProfitDuel is here to help you kick-start your matched betting side hustle. Find all the tools and training you need to get to grips with matched betting and boost your second income stream.

Start your ProfitDuel FREE trial today to find out more and start earning.

What are the best ways for women to find side hustle opportunities?

There are lots of ways for women to find side hustle opportunities and the internet makes it easier than ever. Whether you're a stay-at-home mom, a student, or simply want to supplement your income, the online world offers a whole range of options. We’ve only covered a few side hustles in this post, but use the tips and info above to find what works for you. To recap, here are some of the best ways for women to find side hustle opportunities:

Make a list of your skills, your interests, and the potential opportunities you think exist for your side hustle.
Turn this list into a Venn diagram. Right in the middle is your side hustle sweet spot. And if one of the circles is something that can bring in a lot of money, even better!
Do as much research as you can into your areas of interest. Look at what’s already out there, what they’re doing well, and things they’re missing. How can you do things better? What can your side hustle bring to the table?
Talk to people. This is one of the best ways to find a potential side hustle. How will you know what’s a problem for people, if you don’t ask them?

How can women manage their time to fit side hustles into their schedule?

We're busy. We have a million plates to spin. And we definitely don't have the same 24 hours as Beyonce. But even in today's fast-paced world, it's becoming increasingly common for women to explore side hustles as a way to earn extra income. So how do they manage their time to fit side hustles into their schedule?

Effective time management is something a lot of women struggle with. We have so many commitments that we've committed to! But a side hustle is still absolutely achievable. On average, Americans spend 13 hours a week on their side hustle. Here are a few quick tips to help you maximize your productivity and free up some time for your side hustle.

Prioritize

To create space for your side hustle, it's crucial to identify your priorities and allocate time accordingly. Begin by evaluating your current commitments, both personal and professional, and decide which tasks are essential and which can be delegated, postponed, or eliminated. Adopting this approach will help streamline your schedule and unlock opportunities for side hustle success.

Establish a routine

Creating a structured routine can work wonders in managing your time effectively. Set specific hours each day or week dedicated solely to your side hustle. By adhering to this routine, you'll develop a sense of discipline, improve focus, and limit distractions, allowing you to achieve more in less time.

Technology is your friend

Use tools and technology to streamline your daily tasks and responsibilities, creating more time and flexibility to dedicate to your side hustle while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

The best side hustles for women: a recap

As you can see, there are so many opportunities for women to start a side hustle. And we've only covered a few options in this article.

Whether you're looking for flexibility to suit your home life, or want to feel a bit more financially secure, there's a side hustle for you. Utilize your skills, look for a gap that needs filling, and get yourself out there!