Johannesburg - Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that your favourite pastime could make you more money?
It’s not about chasing the idea of being an award-winning novelist or a renowned graphic designer. But rather about figuring out how your love for drawing, writing or puzzle-solving could transform into a resourceful and sustainable side-project.
And who knows, maybe you’ll discover “the next big thing” as Jack Dorsey did. He had a love and skill for programming. In 2006, he came up with an idea for a text messaging service that could update people on the lives of friends in real-time.
That idea evolved into what we now know as Twitter.
The team at online education company Getsmarter suggested four hobbies that you could turn into money-makers:
1. Use your love for writing to start up a blog: Blogging is a simple and effective way to hone your writing skills and use them to outsource yourself as a freelance writer. A bonus is that you can apply this skill to your current job and add more value to your role and the business. Research has shown that businesses that blog receive 55 percent more website visitors than those who do not.
2. Turn your notebook doodles into noteworthy designs: Art is needed in every aspect of business. From graphic designers to web designers – a little drawing skill can go a long way in creating logos and illustrations for marketing campaigns, for example.
3. Outsource yourself as a freelance social media manager: If you love using your spare time to interact and engage with people online, turn your interest into profit in the social media sphere.
4. Passion for photography can pay: A report by InfoTrend has predicted that 1.3 trillion photos will be taken next year. Photos are needed for websites, newsletters, marketing campaigns, personal and corporate events, the list goes on.
* For more career ideas and advice, visit www.getsmarter.co.za.
THE STAR