Before you get your hopes up, let me warn you that this post isn’t going to turn into an episode of “Weeds.” Instead, it’ll provide some much more tame (but workable) suggestions about how to make a little passive income on the side while you continue your main pursuit of a career on the web.

Write and Publish an e-Book

It may seem like a daunting task to write and distribute a full-length e-book, but look around. Just about everyone who works with social media seems to have managed to release at least one e-book. The reason it appears to be such a popular endeavor for those working in the social web is the multiplicity of angles there are on the subject. Your own specialized area is probably ripe with topics that would merit covering in a book-length work.

You may not even have to actually write a book to create a book. Check your existing IP to see if you have enough material to publish. It could be an archive of blog posts, or something much more technical, but if you think an audience may exist for it, go ahead and publish it. Actually creating an e-book and posting it for purchase requires almost no overhead, so any revenue you generate is profit, even it it’s only a small amount.

There are various services online that will publish and distribute your e-book. Take a look around and find one that’s right for you.

Rent Out Your Extra Space

This is definitely not a problem I have personally, but some web workers may find that they have tons of room at their home/office that they just aren’t doing anything with. You could fill that gaping hole with cats and/or flea market bric-a-brac, or you could offer it up to other, more space-challenged individuals in exchange for cash.

You can find renters yourself via an ad on craigslist or Kijiji, or you could use Sparefoot, a new web site specifically designed for the purpose. On Sparefoot, you can create an account and list for rent any space you’re not using, including rooms in your house, a garage, parking spot, empty lot, shed or whatever other square footage you might have.

On the other hand, if you’re like me and find your belongings need more nooks and crannies to be crammed into than you have available, Sparefoot also provides great search tools for finding space to rent. That doesn’t generate any income, but it might pay dividends in terms of peace of mind.

Rent Out Your Car

I suspect people will be far less inclined to rent out the use of their car than they would be to rent out extra space, but as long as you do it intelligently there’s no reason it can’t become a profitable way to get some income out of that depreciating investment sitting in your driveway.

I live in a major metropolitan area, so I don’t actually own a car myself. I used to, for the better part of my life, when I lived in a much quieter, less densely populated area. As a result, I got used to the immediacy of private transport. Not that I don’t like public transit, but sometimes you just want to be able to pick up and go somewhere, on your own schedule instead of on someone else’s.

That’s why I occasionally give a friend of mine $25 to rent the use of his car during the day (he uses transit to commute to work, and generally only needs the car on weekends), plus the cost of giving it back to him with a full tank. He doesn’t feel like the cost of maintaining a car in the city is wasted, and I get to experience the freedom of car ownership once in a while.

There are countless ways to generate so-called “passive revenue,” but those I’ve mentioned above are specifically tailored to people who work from home. They generally don’t require too much extra effort on your part, and they take advantage of your position as someone who doesn’t have to commute to an office for work, or who can be on site as a facility manager at your home during most hours of the day.

Do you have any other suggestions for generating additional revenue? What are some creative solutions you’ve come across for supplementing your income?

Photo credit: Monochrome

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One can’t blame them for leaving. Everyone wants to give their family the basic necessities such as education, shelter, food, and medical care. If other third world countries are just like the Philippines, or even worse, then there are few employment opportunities, low pay against a decent standard of living, and little hope for the average citizen. This is what forces most people to become overseas migrant workers. However, this solution to one’s personal poverty has several disadvantages.

The disadvantages of being an overseas contract worker

The most obvious disadvantage is one’s separation from family. Most migrant workers leave their children to the remaining parent or to other relatives if both parents leave the country. This means that children tend to grow up without the influence and guidance of their parents.

Another issue for most overseas workers is the higher standard of living in the countries where they work, especially if they are in North America or Europe. They have to spend more in living expenses in those countries, compared with how much they’ll be spending if they stayed in their home country.

There are also high costs that come with applying as an overseas worker. The immigration fees, agency fees, airfare, and other expenses amount to more than what the middle-class worker earns in a year. Also, there is no guarantee that your application will be accepted after you’ve paid for all the fees. Because of the money involved, there are even scammers and fake overseas employment agencies who are out to prey on the desperation of those who want to find work abroad.

Perhaps the most difficult of these advantages is the lack of protection and the level of maltreatment that these migrant workers face.

…an average of three Filipino workers escape from their employers each day due to maltreatment.

In addition to OFWs receiving lower than in-contract or delayed salaries or not getting paid at all, they have also been exposed to unfavorable working and living conditions, sexual harassment, and other discriminatory practices.

Source: The Daily PCIJ

These disadvantages are often overlooked or treated lightly because of the need to earn more.

What web working can do

I believe that web working and provide a better alternative for those who want to earn in stronger foreign currencies but don’t want to face the disadvantages of becoming an overseas migrant worker. In a way, web work will allow people from developing countries to experience the best of both worlds, gaining the employment and pay they want without leaving the country.

While it’s true that there are start-up costs attached to web work, they are only a small fraction of what skilled workers have to spend when going abroad. Internet access is also becoming more widespread, making web work a strong possibility for those living in major cities of developing countries.

The diversification of income is also more realistic when it comes to web work. Having multiple streams of income gives web workers a safety net, since they can earn from a variety of industries and establish several small online businesses.

Despite its advantages, web working isn’t a solution that applies to everyone. First of all, it only applies to entrepreneurs and knowledge workers. Manual laborers can’t have the option to work on the web because their physical presence is required.

Also, web working is a slow trend in developing countries. In most cases, the knowledge that web work is possible is limited to the tech elite. To develop widespread knowledge, local governments need to implement information dissemination about web working, as well as improve existing computer literacy programs. By doing so, web working will become a strong alternative and less skilled workers will choose to migrate.

Widespread web work in developing nations might not eliminate poverty completely, but it will give the citizens more options, help them increase their income, and allow them to be globally competitive. I know this because that’s what web work has done for me.

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But you can earn money because of your blog instead of with it. Blogging can be the centerpiece of your professional promotional and networking activities, leading indirectly to new money-making opportunities. Plus, blogging offers psychological riches — through the opportunities for personal expression and social connection it brings you.

The best reason for an individual web worker to blog isn’t to make money directly with the blog. It’s to boost your online persona, to make professional connections, to learn about your field, and to attract new opportunities, whether paid or unpaid. And note that unpaid opportunities are not necessarily less important than paid ones — because they can provide you with attention, reputation, education, and new connections.

Social media consultant Stowe Boyd describes how blogging has been his number one professional activity, and not because it earns him money directly:

I have been rededicating myself to /Message in recent months. Like Gaping Void, it doesn’t directly pay the bills, but it is the wellspring of everything else….

I was interviewed by some journalism student earlier this year, and when asked what was the single most important business decision that I had ever taken I responded “blogging.” It has trumped every other action I have ever taken, including getting my master’s in computer science, which I now consider second biggest.

Yes, you might attract a massive-enough audience that will earn you money Steve Pavlina or Darren Rowse-style. But most bloggers won’t. That doesn’t mean that blogging isn’t invaluable in your toolset of activities that lead to a successful professional life, and I mean successful both financially and psychologically. Because in addition to leading indirectly to income-earning possibilities, blogging can offer the payoff of personal satisfaction and social connection too.

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