Side Hustles for Introverts...and a Troubling Update on Upwork

...And, for paid subscribers, some limited time, but lucrative hustles and some of our favorite ways to make money.

You could use some extra cash. But the idea of chatting it up with a bunch of strangers to sell your services sounds like torture. By nature, you are the shy and retiring type, better suited to doing work than competing for it. What you need are side hustles for introverts -- jobs that can be done independently with a minimal amount of social interaction.

And, thanks to an increasing number of online platforms that offer remote work, you have plenty of choices. Here are a half dozen side hustles for introverts that you can pick and choose among, depending on your interests and skills.

Website testing

You don't need specialized skills to be a website tester. You just need a computer, high-speed internet, and you may need to download software that will allow clients to track how you interact with their site. Website testers help companies understand how consumers use their sites to improve the user experience.

You may be asked to do simple intuitive tasks, like finding the check-out function. Or, a website test might simply involve flipping through a site's pages to see if they're engaging to the site's target market.

As a result, most website testing sites will want to know a bit about you. They'll ask your hobbies and interests, demographics and family status. This helps the testing sites match testers with tests that would pique their interests. A baby gear site, for example, might be a good fit for young parents. A hiking site would be a good fit for exercise enthusiasts.

Tests typically pay $10 to $15 and require 15 to 30 minutes of your time. So, in most cases, you'll earn about $30 an hour.

Where can you sign up? UserPeek, UserFeel, UserTesting, Userlytics and PingPong.

Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping typically involves managing financial records, balancing accounts, and preparing financial reports. And where bookkeeping was always a somewhat solitary activity, it's more so now that many auditing firms have gone remote. Pay for virtual bookkeepers varies by skill level and credentials. Those with advanced skills and certifications, such as Certified Public Accountants, can earn over $100 an hour, while entry-level bookkeepers typically earn $25 to $50 per hour.

Dozens of sites enlist freelancers for these jobs. Some of the best include Robert Half, AccountingDepartment, Acuity Financial, Bookminders and Paro.

Freelance writing

Just because you don't particularly like talking to people doesn't mean you're inarticulate. Quite the opposite. Introverts are often great written communicators, which makes freelance writing a great side hustle for introverts.

Clients typically send assignments via email or messaging systems. And aside from meeting any agreed-to deadlines, the work can be done at any time of day or night from wherever you happen to be. Better yet, freelance writers often specialize, writing mainly about topics that suit their skills and interests.

To get started, it's a good idea to create a portfolio of your work on sites like Skyword, nDash and Contently. These sites also help you connect with clients. If you want to focus on a tight specialty, such as writing dating profiles or resumes, also consider signing up with Fiverr. 

Editing and proofreading

Those who have a keen eye for detail and strong command of grammar, may want to offer proofreading and editing services. As a proofreader or editor, you help craft stories and ensure that written content is free of grammatical and factual errors. Most communication with clients is done via email and messaging -- or simply through mark-ups in a manuscript.

You can find proofreading and editing jobs through Reedsy, ServiceScape and PenguinFreelancers. The pay ranges from $20 to $50 per hour.

Transcription

Do you have strong listening and typing skills? Then consider transcription. Transcription involves listening to audio recordings of court hearings, interviews, medical examinations and academic meetings and converting them into written text. Pay is generally calculated by the audio minute. So the faster you transcribe, the more you earn. 

Some of the best sites to find transcription work include DittoTranscripts, Transcription Outsourcing, and Rev. 

Web development

Web development typically involves building and maintaining a website. This process combines both coding and creative design. To start, you should know programming languages such as CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. (Even if you don't already have these skills, all of them can be learned through online courses or coding bootcamps.)

With the continued growth in ecommerce, there's plenty of work. And pay is typically generous -- in the range of $50 per hour or more. 

There also are plenty of platforms that give web developers access to gigs, including Fiverr, Upwork, Braintrust, TopTal and FreeUp. 

Troubling Update on Upwork

If you read our recent comparison of Upwork and Fiverr, you’ll know that we think Fiverr has become the better platform. But Upwork used to work well for people who had been on the platform for years and had a lot of repeat business. That’s changing. And the site recently changed its terms of service to make it more costly to bid on projects from repeat clients.

We are updated our Upwork review; our Upwork vs. Fiverr post; and have pulled our affiliate links from our platform. (Affiliate links can pay sites like ours a small referral fee — at no cost to our readers. However, SideHusl.com does not accept affiliates that we don’t recommend and Upwork now falls into that category. You can read our very short, very simple affiliate policy here.)

Side Hustles for musicians

Even if your garage band hasn't taken off like you'd hoped, there are solid side gigs in music that can help you earn money with your passion. The best thing about these side gigs is that most offer needed exposure without any upfront costs.

Here are 5 solid side gigs in music, including where to find them and how they work.

...And, for paid subscribers, some limited time, but lucrative hustles and some of our favorite ways to make money.