Debunking Outdated Side Hustles: Are They Worth Your Time and Effort?

Every day, people are searching for ways to make money online or in general. It seems like every online influencer is offering ways to do it. That's great, right? Well... it could be. The problem is that most of them regurgitate the same old, copy & paste outdated stuff. It creates even more noise on the internet that you have to cut through to get the actual information you want. By the time you eventually get to the stuff that may help you, you've been jaded and tired from all the fluff. These so-called "experts" never fact-check or update the stuff they recommend to see if it's still viable.

So today, I want to list 3 side hustles that aren't as profitable or worth your time as they used to be. Let's get started, shall we?

**1. Surveys**

This one is on everybody's list of side hustles and ways to make money. YouTubers and bloggers swear by it. The concept is simple: stay at home in your pajamas, go online, take a few surveys, and make a living. But here's the truth: it's a waste of time. Most survey sites are spammy and not worth your while. Not to mention, they can be a good way to give away most of your private information.

Now, I'm not saying you can't make ANY money from surveys. It just depends on what you consider money. Most surveys will pay you a few cents an hour. Some won't even pay you and just ask for your opinion (Evil Empire: 4,002 pts. The people: 3 pts).

With that being said, if you have no job and plenty of time on your hands, there is one site that I found to be legit - Qmee. They even have an app. While it's still time-consuming, they actually let you cash out instantly, and their pay is higher than most. But I wouldn't quit my day job over it.(PS. if you use my link i get 1$ whole dollar)

**2. Dropshipping**

Oh, the good ol' "make money without investing anything or keeping inventory" idea. The concept is enticing: find a product you like online, advertise it for a higher price, and then buy it for a lower price after a sale. You keep the difference and repeat the process. Sounds good, right? Yeah, back in the late 2000s and early to mid-2010s, it used to be profitable with platforms like eBay, Amazon's FBA, and Shopify. Buying bulk cheap products from places like AliExpress vs. Alibaba to resell after a sale was a viable strategy.

But here's the problem that most influencers won't tell you: the expenses. The cost of your site, domain, ads to make your page stand out, and also the research. The profit margin isn't what it used to be. Not to mention the headaches and potential money you might lose on returns and refunds. When the influencers tell you or show you how much they grossed in sales, ask them to show how much they spent and how much of that huge number is profit. Another thing to consider is the timeline on delivery, as most of the inventory is kept overseas (if you're reading this from the U.S.).

Of course, on the other side of the coin, if you're still interested, there is some money that could be made. But it will take a lot of luck, research, timing, and planning. Research trending items or least competitive items that have a demand. Use tools like Google Trends, eBay's past history, or Amazon keyword

search to get started. You don't want to sell the same things a million other people are selling. Quality products are important. Not selling crappy products goes a long way.

Ads can be effective if constructed well. Also, if you have a large enough following, you can monetize it if you have a good reputation and offer a product that you know your audience would be interested in. Additionally, enlisting influencers with a big following to promote the product for a price could pay off in the long run. Shopify is a good place to set up a shop, as they give you a free trial. Alternatively, you can use eBay, which is completely free. That's a crash course starter pack for you. Contact me if you want more information.

**3. Affiliate Marketing**

Now, don't get me wrong, I love me some affiliate marketing, and I still make money from it. I believe you CAN make money from it too. However, it's on this list because it's not as simple as people make it out to be, especially for beginners. The concept is basically making money from making a referral. When someone else makes a purchase from a company using a code or referral sent by you, you get paid.

"Experts" mention how easy it is and how you can instantly make money. Technically, that's not a lie, but they neglect to mention who it's meant for and where to go or how to pitch. This is not the best route for certain types of people, such as those who don't even have a network. Many people who are looking to start from square one without a huge online following face challenges. Some factors to consider are:

- Lack of Traffic: To be successful with affiliate marketing, you need to have a large and engaged audience. Without sufficient traffic, you won't be able to generate enough sales to make a meaningful income.
- Competition: Affiliate marketing is a highly competitive field, with many people promoting the same products. This makes it difficult to stand out and generate sales.
- Poorly Chosen Products: Choosing the right products to promote is key to success in affiliate marketing. If you promote products that aren't in demand or have a poor reputation, you're unlikely to generate many sales.
- Lack of Expertise: You need to have a deep understanding of the products you're promoting and the market you're targeting. Without this knowledge, you may not be able to effectively promote the products and generate sales.
- Inadequate Marketing Skills: To be successful in affiliate marketing, you need to have a range of marketing skills, including search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, and content creation. If you don't have these skills, it can be difficult to generate enough sales to make a meaningful income.

Assuming you've considered the above, there is a lot of potential though. For someone with a decent following of at least 50-100 followers who you know like certain things, you can start soon. Sites like Amazon and ClickBank are good places to start. Even the most popular brands and products have some form of affiliate program that your audience or your social network already uses.

So, to sum everything up, surveys, dropshipping, and affiliate marketing aren't necessarily bad ways to make some money. However, they are either not worth the effort, not as profitable as they used to be, or not suitable for certain types of people. I hope you found some value in this. Let me know if there are any side hustles that you've been hearing about and want me to look into.

*Money*
*Debunking*
*Side Hustle*