Many sources portray passive income as an easy way to get rich with minimal effort. The truth is a bit more complicated. Plenty of people indeed make a living through passive income streams. However, this passive income requires a decent amount of initial active work.
Not only do you need to conduct market research to see what’s selling and what’s not, but you also need to cultivate the necessary skills for your passive income stream of choice.
To try making passive income online, look at some in-demand skills you can leverage.
1. Digital Art
If you’re interested in digital art or traditional art, there are many opportunities for you to master and monetize this skill. All you need is a tablet and the proper drawing or painting software. Even traditional artists can photograph their art and make a few adjustments to turn it into digital elements.
Before you assume you’re not “artistic enough,” remember that great artists are made, not born. While some people may learn techniques faster than others, anyone can improve their art with time, patience, and practice.
How to Get Good at Digital Art
There’s no secret formula for becoming a great artist; you must draw as often as possible. Every aspiring artist creates thousands of lousy drawings before producing exceptional work.
Skillshare offers numerous courses to help you learn and improve your technique. Moreover, there are several Skillshare alternatives and even YouTube, where you can find inspiration and learn new techniques.
There are dozens of categories that can generate passive income for you as a digital artist. Here are some of the most common ones to get you started:
Digital clipart Emotes T-shirts and other merch Live-streaming overlays Coloring books Instagram story covers Phone icon packs and backgrounds VTuber and PNGTuber models
Remember, you may not and probably will not learn to draw overnight. But if you make an effort, you can develop artistic skills that will benefit you for years
2. Writing
If you’re good with words, there are many things you can write to earn passive income. Like with art, many people believe that good writers are born that way. This is not true. With practice and suitable learning materials, anyone can learn to be a good writer.
How to Get Good at Writing
As Stephen King says in his book, “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft,” you must write and read a lot to become a good writer. Start reading books about how to write, and remember to take digital notes so you can put the information into practice. Share your work with friends or writers and ask for constructive feedback.
Once you’ve written something you want to sell, you can look into publishing it through a company or on your own. If you want to publish eBooks on Amazon, look at Amazon’s KDP University to learn how it works. Here are some ideas of what you can write and generate passive income with:
eBooks Guides and workbooks Lesson plans Classroom worksheets Online courses and workshops
When you’re confident in your writing skills, generating passive income is a matter of writing something you can repeatedly sell to interested readers. Content creation doesn’t fall under this category, as the income earned isn’t passive.
3. Design
Every business needs good graphic design to stand out. Nowadays, even individuals want logos, unique fonts, or custom graphics to add to their content. From games to websites to apps and beyond, sound designers are worth their weight in gold.
How to Get Good at Design
Regarding design, some people might have a better “natural eye” than others. However, most designers follow design principles surrounding color theory, visual hierarchy, composition, and more.
Many resources are available to learn graphic design, such as Skillshare, YouTube, and Canva’s Design School. Once you’ve learned how to design a logo or something similar, you can leverage your graphic design skills to earn passive income. Here are some things you can create to generate income:
Logos Fonts Templates and tutorials Graphics Digital textures and patterns
Graphic design is a highly sought-after skill in today’s market, with countless opportunities to earn income through its application. Fortunately, with a wealth of resources available, honing your skills in this field has never been more accessible.
4. Pattern Making
In the digital age, many crafters download patterns from sites like Ravelry and Etsy rather than pull them from physical books. Though pattern-making may seem a bit random compared to other high-paying digital skills you can learn, it’s the perfect skill for creatives and makers.
Learning how to make patterns for your craft(s) of choice can open up a new world of passive income and grant you creative fulfillment.
How to Get Good at Pattern Making
To start, you should choose a craft you’re more or less familiar with: sewing, knitting, woodworking, or anything else. Research the different patterns and the challenges that come with each. If you’re not skilled at any craft, choose something interesting and go from there.
Each type of pattern will have its challenges. For example, a crochet pattern is easy to draft and doesn’t need special software. However, if your pattern is for a crocheted garment, you’ll need to learn how to grade it for various sizes.
If you’re unsure where to begin, purchase a commercial or independent pattern and make the item yourself. Take notes on any improvements you can make to the pattern, then brainstorm ideas for your item and apply what you’ve learned. Copying is a no-no; you should avoid it for legal and ethical reasons.
YouTube has a lot of resources for learning how to make patterns for a variety of crafts. Once you’ve honed your pattern-making skills, there are plenty of things you can make and sell:
Crochet patterns: clothes, accessories, amigurumi, storage bins, bags, hanging planters, granny squares Knitting patterns: clothes, accessories, socks, knitted toys, decorative pillows, blankets, decorations Sewing patterns: clothes, accessories, bags, toys Woodworking patterns/blueprints: tiny houses, doghouses, playhouses, jungle gyms, furniture Cross stitch/embroidery: typically, just the patterns themselves are sold
Building revenue may take some time, but pattern-making can become a successful and fulfilling career path with dedication and perseverance.
5. Photography
In the past, photographers could only make money through photo shoots, special events, or by selling their physical photographs to publications. These days, you can sell your photos online, and you don’t even need a fancy camera to do it.
How to Get Good at Photography
Like design, learning the craft of photography involves a set of defined principles. Taking a single course on photography through an online learning platform or even YouTube will help you tremendously. Start as a hobby photographer and get the basics down before you invest in a DSLR camera or expensive software like Photoshop.
Once you feel like a pro, here are some things you can create and sell as a photographer:
Photoshop filters & presets Stock images Reference photos for artists Prints of your photos
Remember that being a successful photographer also involves building a solid portfolio, networking with other professionals in the industry, and continuously improving your skills. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles and techniques to find your niche.
Learn Passive Income Skills Online
There are a variety of skills you can learn to aid you on your journey to passive income. From writing to art and pattern making, you can try a new skill and earn cash in the long run.
You don’t need to run down to your local community college to sign up for classes; You can quickly learn all the skills mentioned here from the comfort of your home. There are numerous online learning platforms where you can learn valuable skills for a fraction of what a college course would cost.
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