There was a time that if you wanted to earn money in a creative career, you had to be the very best at what you did. Whether that was painting a masterpiece, selling a best selling novel or becoming a famous pop star. However these days, there are lots of options for creatives that mean you can actually earn a decent amount of money without having to ‘make it big’. Here are some ideas!
Blogging and Writing
Not so long ago, if you wanted to earn money as a writer then you’d need to have secured a book deal, a newspaper column, work at a magazine or something similar. Since these kinds of things are incredibly competitive, it meant that professional writing was only available for a select few. However these days, anyone with a talent and passion for writing can make a good career from it. One option would be to write a blog, you can to speak about any topic you like and it’s a great way to learn new skills and connect with likeminded people. It’s free to set up so you can start writing straight away, although it could be worth investing in things like a professional looking design and your own domain name. It can take a while to get established as a blogger, and to reach the stage where sponsors and advertisers want to offer you paid work. But it makes a great hobby while you build it up, and with hard work and after producing regular excellent content the money will eventually start to flow in. Another way you can make money as a writer is to work as a freelancer. Businesses and individuals are always in need of talented writers to produce blog content for them, write up descriptions for websites, edit, proofread and much more. If you sign up to a couple of different freelancing sites there’s usually plenty of work available, and you’re in control of the pieces you want to write. This can be a great way to earn a regular income, or you can write pieces around your other ventures. For example, if you write a blog but are having a slow month and haven’t had much paid work, you can bump up your income by taking on some freelance work. Another thing to check is job listings for writing jobs from home. Lots of companies employ writers who work remotely, they will provide you daily work with a deadline so is useful if you want a guaranteed income.
Design
‘Design’ covers a broad spectrum of things. It could be anything from art and illustration, to electronics design using software like http://www.altium.com/. It could be logo design, blog design, app design or anything else. Perhaps you’re self taught or maybe you’ve had some training. Either way, there’s money to be made with design jobs. Put together a portfolio of your best work which makes it easy to show clients or potential employers what you can do. If you want to work for yourself, again freelancing sites are useful or you can set up your own store on an online marketplace like Etsy. There are plenty of directions you could take for earning money this way either as an employee or working for yourself. If you’re newer to design and haven’t had any formal training, perhaps you could take a course or class so you can brush up on techniques and terminology that could help you on your journey.
Music
Again, once upon a time to make money with music you’d have needed to secure a record deal or similar. These days, musical creatives can make money in a variety of ways. You could use music software to create things like backing tracks, these are always in demand for things like Youtube background music and other kinds of content. If you play an instrument you could become a tutor, this can be very lucrative and if you can secure enough regular clients it could easily earn you a full time income. On top of this, you get to pass on your knowledge and passion to someone else which can be really rewarding. If you play with a band and you know you have talent, you could find out if any local establishments will offer you a paid gig. It’s something you could do in your spare time to earn a bit of extra cash, it might not be the rockstar life but you get to perform and share your music with others.
Property Manager
Property managers are responsible for the day-to-day operation of a property, from rent collection to maintenance. This career option has become increasingly popular over the years and is a great way to get involved in the real estate market. It can be demanding, but with hard work and dedication, it can be very rewarding financially and emotionally.
You’ll need to have knowledge of local regulations, strong communication skills, and an understanding of how to manage tenants effectively. Your creativity will come into play when it comes to marketing your service and finding tenants. Additionally, you’ll be able to use your creativity to enhance the look and feel of the properties you manage. Property management is a great career option for those looking for a career with flexible hours and decent pay.
Cooking and Baking
Cooking and baking businesses can do very well. Things like meal prep services have become increasingly popular, with people looking to order tasty yet healthy meals and have them delivered to their door. There’s a real focus on health in today’s world and so this is something you could capitalise on. While things like catering and baking companies tend to do well regardless, how about finding your niche and focusing on health? Offering things like vegan, vegetarian, gluten free and low calorie options could make your company stand out.
