One of the best ways to start earning extra income is by learning a skill in something that is in demand. Years ago I started learning videography because I really enjoyed the process of making videos. I got a camera, became an expert at video editing, and started volunteering with my new videography skills. At the time, I didn’t know how many people were looking for videographers to shoot their weddings, corporate events, interviews, etc. My passion of videography ended up turning into a pretty lucrative side hustle that I still enjoy doing today.

I’ve also seen a countless number of my friends and acquaintances take up photography. Many of these people are not even skilled photographers, yet they still get clients and make extra money with their “skills.” I make that point not to encourage charging people for subpar work, but to illustrate just how in demand skilled creative people are.

Where to start

The first thing you need to do is decide what sort of skill sounds most appealing to you. There’s all sorts of ways you could go, but here are just a few off the top of my head and where you can learn the skill:

• Photography — YouTube, Lynda, SkillShare
• Videography — YouTube, Lynda, SkillShare
• Graphic Design — YouTube, UX Google Career Certificate Program
• Data Analysis — YouTube, Data Analytics Google Career Certificate Program

These are just a few skills I thought of, but there are many more. You just have to pay attention to what businesses are looking for, and what they’re willing to pay for.