Maybe you’re an introvert. Or you don’t like office politics, making small talk, or socializing with co-workers.
If you want to make money without talking to anyone, you can. There are plenty of ways to earn money without speaking to anyone regularly or at all.
If you’re looking to make a full-time income or extra cash on the side and prefer to avoid talking to others as much as possible, it’s a matter of finding the right type of work and opportunity.
1. Write for Others
Writing is a solitary pursuit many introverts enjoy. Freelance writing offers an opportunity to make money that could become a new career. The types of writing that are in high demand include:
- Blog posts
- Sales pages
- Email marketing sequences
- White papers
- Press releases
- Ghostwritten ebooks
Freelance writers can keep their day job and make money on the side. An extensive portfolio of work and a roster of steady clients could result in your freelance writing income eclipsing your paycheck and becoming a full-time business.
2. Start a Blog
Starting a blog makes for an excellent side hustle for introverts. It could eventually replace your day job if you stick with it.
You can build a massive audience without ever speaking with anyone. Interacting with your readers through blog comments, social media, or email might spur your blog’s growth, but it’s not required.
Running a blog might mean learning new skills, such as creating content with WordPress, SEO, affiliate marketing, or photo editing. Even with the necessary skills, it could take months or years before you have an audience large enough to generate real money. You can make a living blogging, though.
Bloggers can earn money through advertising, affiliate links, and sponsorships. Many bloggers also sell products they create, like ebooks, courses, or consulting services.
3. Sell Your Photos
If you enjoy taking pictures, you can sell stock photos online. You can do so in your spare time and scale up your business with enough experience.
Bloggers, small business owners, marketing professionals, and others buy stock photographs for their projects. They save time and money while photographers earn royalties.
You can sell your pictures to stock photo sites like Alamy, Shutterstock, Dreamstime, or Depositphotos. Familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions of any stock photo seller. Terms and pay rates differ from site to site.
Selling stock photo bundles or subscriptions from your website is another way to monetize your photos. You’ll need other skills and tools for building a website, promotion, payment processing, and product delivery, but you’ll get a bigger piece of the pie.
4. Publish Your Book
You may enjoy writing but want to avoid bidding on freelance jobs or commit to blogging constantly. If so, you can still monetize your writing skills by becoming an ebook author. Anyone with a finished manuscript can publish it through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform.
Consistent income from self-publishing comes from having several titles available. A fiction series or multiple books, each covering one area of a broad topic, can earn you fans who buy all your books as you release them.
You can also create low or no-content books such as coloring books, blank recipe books, planners, and word search puzzles or Sudoku books.
Writing ebooks could be your ticket to making money without talking to anyone.
5. Proofread and Edit Documents
Proofreaders review documents, correcting spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors as they go. A proofreader might also check for formatting inconsistencies when working on print publications. Copy editors improve written material by evaluating word choice, style, factual accuracy, and readability.
You don’t need to be an employee at a book publisher, publication, or marketing firm. These businesses often assign proofreading and editing work to freelancers who work remotely.
You can make a decent income as a proofreader or editor. Freelance proofreaders on platforms like Upwork and Freelancer typically charge $25 to $40 an hour.
The work itself is quiet and requires little human interaction. If you have a firm handle on grammar, spelling, and style rules, you might be well-suited for proofreading or copy-editing work.
If making money reading books appeals to you, you can upgrade your skills or get certified through organizations such as the Editorial Freelancers Association or the Poynter Institute.
6. Translate Documents
Being fluent in English and one or more additional languages opens up many possibilities for translation work. You can translate written documents, videos, audio recordings, and websites.
Employment for translators is expected to grow 24 percent by 2030, making it a fast-growing field. Most translators work remotely and are self-employed, so a bilingual introvert might find translation an ideal gig. A bachelor’s degree is helpful, but proficiency in English and another language is typically all that is required.
There are several platforms for finding freelance translator jobs, including Upwork, Rev, Interpreters & Translators, Inc., and many more. You can also search the major job sites like FlexJobs, ZipRecruiter, CareerBuilder, and Indeed for part-time and full-time translation jobs.
7. Transcribe Audio Files
Transcriptionists convert audio into written form. The job entails listening to audio files and typing out what you hear word for word. Doing transcription work is a good side hustle for those who like working independently.
You’ll need excellent typing skills since pay rates are based on the length of the audio file rather than how much time you spend transcribing. You should have a reliable computer, high-speed internet, good command of grammar, familiarity with word processing applications, and strong attention to detail.
You’ll also need a good pair of headphones. You might want to invest in a foot pedal, allowing you to pause, rewind, or fast-forward the audio without taking your hands off the keyboard.
You can get started on Rev.com by signing up, taking a quiz, and submitting a work sample they assign you. In addition to searching job boards and freelance websites, there are freelance transcription marketplaces such as Transcribe Me, Go Transcript, and others for finding work.
8. Become a Scopist
Scoping is one of those side hustles no one talks about, but it’s another way to make money that doesn’t require talking to anyone. It’s similar to transcription work, but unlike being a transcriptionist, you don’t have to type each word.
A scopist is a transcript editor for court reporters. For accuracy, the scopist compares a court reporter’s shorthand to the official transcript.
Scoping involves making sure there are no errors in the translation from steno notes to the official transcript. The scopist may also fix punctuation, grammar, and formatting issues. This ensures an accurate record of the court proceeding is preserved.
The work can be done remotely, and pay is typically in the $16 to $24 an-hour range, according to Salary.com. If the work suits you and you can round up enough work, you could make a decent income as a scopist.
Before you can start earning money as a scopist, you’ll need specialized training in addition to strong typing and editing skills. Learning to read steno notes and getting to know computer-aided transcription software are musts.
The Internet Scoping School offers training programs for scopists. You can take the free intro course to determine if the opportunity is for you.
9. Design Graphics
If you can create engaging visual content, you can make money designing graphics. As a graphic designer, you’ll bring concepts to life. You might find work creating graphics and illustrations for websites, books, advertising, product packaging, and more.
According to Upwork, freelance graphic designers enjoy flexible schedules, the ability to work from home, and an average hourly rate of $25.
You don’t need a degree to secure graphic design gigs. You can create an extensive portfolio of your work on sites like Wix or Weebly to showcase your talents. Create profiles on freelancer platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Behance and link to your portfolio.
10. Edit Videos
If you have a talent for turning video footage into a compelling story, video editing is in high demand. Video editors spend a lot of time alone in front of a monitor, making it an excellent side hustle or career for creative introverts.
All kinds of videos across a variety of industries need editing. Businesses and content creators hire editors to trim footage, combine video clips, fix audio, and spice up their projects. The wider your skillset is, the more types of jobs you can bid on.
If you’re interested in making money editing videos, you can start by creating your portfolio site and then applying for jobs online. Some of the best places to find work are Upwork and Behance, two beginner-friendly freelancing websites that connect businesses with freelance creatives.
You can start by creating a portfolio site or YouTube channel featuring your work. You can create video editing gigs on Fiverr to get some paid work under your belt. You can add profiles on sites like Upwork, Peopleperhour, and Behance, then start bidding on jobs.
11. Sell Printables on Etsy
Etsy is one of the most popular online marketplaces for selling crafts, handmade items, and digital files for download. Printables sell very well on Etsy.
You can make printable calendars, labels, planners, trackers, checklists, invitations, templates, or worksheets. You could also make printables for events like birthdays, baby showers, bachelorette parties, holidays, and more.
Printables and other digital downloads are a good source of passive income for introverts. You create the file once, upload it, and it sells without you having to do much else. Etsy takes care of file delivery, and the buyer prints the product on their own paper.
You can create your printables using a free tool like Canva. If you have experience with Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, use those. You can also make your products with software like Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
12. Sell Your Drawings
If you love to draw and are good at it, why not make some extra cash with it or turn it into your job? There are plenty of opportunities to make money drawing if you have talent.
You can sell drawings directly, create products or t-shirts featuring your artwork, or create a video course teaching people how to draw. It’s a creative side hustle that could replace your day job if one or more of your ideas takes off.
You can get started with print-on-demand services like Teespring and have your drawings printed on various products like t-shirts, coffee mugs, or posters. You can sell prints of your work through DeviantArt or ArtPal. You can also set up gigs on Fiverr and draw caricatures, tattoo designs, or anime characters, which are all popular on the platform.
13. Open an Online Store
Thanks to dropshipping, anyone can open an online store and start selling within days. Dropshipping is reasonably low-risk and can be profitable because you do not handle manufacturing, inventory, or shipping. Customers browse your online shop and make a purchase then you have the order fulfilled by your supplier.
Dropshipping sounds like an easy way to get rich quickly, but it’s not. The downsides of dropshipping include the following:
- Low margins
- Finding reliable suppliers can be difficult
- Taking responsibility for problems that aren’t your fault
- Scaling is challenging with a limited ad budget
- Competitors appear overnight
- Products fall out of favor or become saturated
On the plus side, if you can select the right mix of products, market your store effectively, and generate consistent sales, e-commerce can replace your day job.
You can find suppliers through platforms like AliExpress, Zendrop, or Doba, set up your online store with Shopify, and be in business. You’ll also need a marketing budget to cover ad creation and advertising on social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, or search engines.
You could start a thriving dropshipping business with research, planning, and a few hundred dollars.
14. Rent Out Your Vehicle
For a few years, I owned a car and drove less than 10,000 miles a year. I lived in the city, so I walked to a nearby station and took the subway daily to work. Most days, my car sat in a parking spot, depreciating and collecting pollen.
If I had the option to rent it out when I wasn’t using it, I would’ve done it in a heartbeat. Now you can with peer-to-peer car rental websites like Turo and Getaround. If you have an RV, camper van, or popup trailer you don’t use frequently, RV Share and Outdoorsy will help you rent them out.
The rental services list your vehicle, screen renters, take care of insurance, and collect the fees. Depending on the site, you usually make between 60 and 80 percent of the payment. In my area, cars on Turo rent from $45 to over $200 per day, depending on the vehicle.
15. Rent Out Your Stuff
If you have a closet or a garage full of stuff you’re not using, rent it out. Things you can rent out for profit include:
- Power tools
- Musical instruments
- Camera equipment
- Baby stuff
- Clothes
Some people rent these things because they don’t want to buy something they won’t use often. Others are considering a purchase but want to try before they buy. They turn to platforms like Loanables and others to see if they can rent it from someone in their area or online.
Peer-to-peer rental sites connect renters with owners. They handle the communication, billing, and insurance for a cut.
The money can be pretty good as well. Some camera equipment on KitSplit will rent for $100 a day or more. A gorgeous dress can rent for $75 and up on StyleLend.
If you’re looking for a passive income idea that requires very little interpersonal interaction, renting out your things might be worth a look.
16. Create WordPress Themes or HTML Templates
While in school, I made extra money building 5 to 10-page websites for small businesses in my area. As a side hustle, it paid pretty well, but it was a grind.
I liked the design work. I did not like everything else around it. Finding new clients, chasing people for money, and doing a lot of back-and-forth on design changes took a lot of work.
If you have web design skills but prefer not to talk to people, sell pre-made templates or WordPress themes instead. Bloggers, small businesses, startups, online retailers, and Shopify store owners buy templates to showcase their content while saving money over hiring a designer. You can sell via a platform like Envato or directly to customers via your website.
17. Write Code
Coders use their programming skills to build and manage applications and websites. Coding jobs pay well, and opportunities are plentiful, but the market is competitive. You spend most of your time alone on your computer.
If you’re looking to change careers or want to explore becoming a coder as a money-making hobby, here’s the path I took to exit the banking industry and get into the software business:
- Learn on your own. Sites like W3Schools and freeCodeCamp offer free structured learning resources. I spent months learning HTML, CSS, and Javascript in my spare time before I decided to pursue a new career.
- Attend a coding boot camp. Coding boot camps are expensive, but you emerge with real-world skills that are in demand. Flatiron School and Hack Reactor are well-known and reputable boot camps. I went back to school full-time and started a web design side hustle for extra money while I studied.
- Start freelancing. You can build up your portfolio with freelance work before applying for full-time work. Create profiles on freelance job sites like Upwork, Freelancer, and PeoplePerHour. At first, I found freelance work through friends, former co-workers, and word of mouth.
- Apply for full-time work if desired. Once you gain some experience and references, you can look for contract work or employment on job sites like FlexJops, Indeed, or ZipRecruiter. However, corporate gigs can be meeting-heavy and include forced socializing, depending on company culture. You could make a career out of freelancing if it suits you better.
Deadlines, bugs, customer expectations, and competitors mean it’s not a way to make money without stress. Even though being a coder is not a low-stress job, if you love solving problems and bringing ideas to life, it could be for you.
Making Money Without Talking to Anyone
Whether you’re an introvert looking for full-time gigs, side hustle ideas to make extra money in your spare time, or you’re interested in starting your own business, it is possible to make money with little to no customer or client communication.
Some of the best jobs and side hustles for introverts involve work you can do from home. Popular online jobs for introverts include freelancing, offering virtual assistant services, and selling digital products or online courses. If you don’t mind leaving the house, house sitting, dog walking, and doing deliveries are good options.
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