3 LinkedIn Side Hustle Ideas To Try In 2024

Of all the online networking sites, LinkedIn is a platform that should be an integral part of every would-be global thought leader’s toolkit. In fact, thought leadership aside, even if you’re just aspiring to modestly climb the ranks in your profession, become a locally recognized industry expert, or create and launch a side hustle, LinkedIn is one of the the best places to go to accomplish your professional goals.

Here are a few reasons why LinkedIn is great for professional advancement and building your side hustle to boost your income:

Extensive Network

LinkedIn boasts an extensive network of more than one billion members in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, according to their own website. This means that when you actively use the platform, you have the potential to connect with any one of these members, without the constraints and limitations of distance or them being located outside of your country. This opens doors to many opportunities for your side hustle to eventually become your main job if you so wish, because you’ll have access to a plethora of contacts and potential clients from the comfort of your own home.

Credibility On Display

Unlike other freelancing and social media platforms, LinkedIn is very unique because it offers an array of opportunities to publicly display your credentials and expertise, both within your direct network and beyond to second- and third-degree connections. For example, it allows you to showcase your skills in its dedicated skills section, highlight your key skills in your about section, and display relevant skills in your employment history.

Others on the platform can vouch for you by endorsing your skills or choosing to leave you a public testimonial via the recommendations section. When they leave a recommendation, their profile shows, so prospective customers can see the credibility of your previous clientele and are more inclined to trust you.

You can also display previous projects you’ve worked on by inserting them across various sections of your profile, including the “services” section should you choose to create one.

Finally, you can contribute to collaborative articles on LinkedIn relevant to your field and eventually become a gold badge Top Voice within that particular skill.

Increased Visibility

Because of LinkedIn’s algorithms, the more you build up your profile, connect and engage with others, and post relevant content, the higher the chances that your profile and content will appear in various places across the platform: in search results, in the recommended LinkedIn members’ section, when people search for specific services, and in the news feed through others engaging with your content.

However, there is one caveat. LinkedIn only works for you if you put in the due diligence and effort into your profile. Every section of your profile needs to be complete and should be optimized for best results. You also need to be an active user, not a bystander who does nothing to engage.

LinkedIn Side Hustle Ideas

Now that you understand the potential of LinkedIn, here are three ways you can build a successful side hustle to showcase your industry expertise and supplement your salary:

1. LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning is one of LinkedIn’s many branches, aimed specifically towards professional training and development at the enterprise level, and for individuals seeking to upskill and progress their careers. After some time of consistently building up your personal brand and influence on the platform through your expertise on a particular subject, you could decide to create and sell courses for professional development by becoming a LinkedIn Learning Instructor.

It’s important to note, however, that LinkedIn is not another Udemy or other course platform. You cannot just propose your course and get accepted instantly. The site is exclusive and selects the best course creators who propose courses most relevant to their members’ needs. However, once you are accepted, you not only make money from the proceeds of the course, but you are able to establish further credibility and consequently clients because of your status as LinkedIn learning instructor.

2. Job Referrals

Is your employer seeking a new hire to fill a vacancy and offering a referral bonus scheme? Tap into your extensive network. This is why it’s essential to build quality connections, and not just accept connection requests from anyone because they sent it to you, or send connection invites to anyone because you want to bump up your followers and look popular.

Quality over quantity is essential. Focus on adding people into your network who will grow or contribute meaningfully to your career, work within your industry, and carry themselves professionally in their online interactions. These are the people you could recommend to your employer the next time they need to fill a role (this particularly works well if your employer has several vacancies). Not only could they end up landing a job, but you’ll get the bonus if they’re successful.

3. Offer Consulting Or Coaching

As your network grows and you continue to establish yourself as an authority through providing valuable content that solves your audience’s problems, start offering your freelance services as a coach or consultant, relevant to your industry. You could start for free or for a reduced price, to initially market yourself and build referrals, and then increase your fees over time.

Most importantly, remember that the secret of success in building a side hustle or securing extra income on LinkedIn is to consistently engage with your network, provide value in your posts and interactions, maintain worthwhile connections, and position your profile as an authority in your field.