I Tried 5 Online Side Hustles for a Month—Here’s What Didn’t Work!
Introduction
If you’re like me, you’ve probably searched for ways to make money online. With so many side hustles being promoted, it’s hard to know which ones actually fail. So, I decided to test five online side hustles for a month to see which ones weren’t worth the effort. Some were disappointing, some were time-consuming, and one completely frustrated me! Here’s what happened.
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1. Affiliate Marketing
How It Works:
Affiliate marketing involves promoting products and earning a commission for each sale. I chose Selar to promote digital products in my niche (side hustles and online income).
My Approach:
Signed up for Selar’s affiliate program.
Promoted products through TikTok and a blog.
Used Pinterest and Twitter to drive traffic.
Results:
Earnings: $160
Time spent: 2 hours/day
Verdict:
Affiliate marketing has uncertain potential, and it requires too much effort to get traffic. I made sales only through TikTok videos that got lucky. Not worth it unless you have a massive audience. The amount of content you need to create and the constant struggle to get traffic make it an exhausting process. Many gurus promise passive income, but unless you build a dedicated following, it’s a frustrating game. Also, commission rates vary, and some platforms have delayed payouts, meaning you might not even see the money immediately.
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2. Freelancing (Writing & Graphic Design)
How It Works:
Freelancing involves offering services on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. Since I enjoy writing and design, I created gigs for blog writing and logo design.
My Approach:
Created Fiverr gigs.
Posted daily on LinkedIn to attract clients.
Joined Facebook groups to network.
Results:
Earnings: $220
Time spent: 3-4 hours/day
Verdict:
Freelancing is too time-consuming, and competition is fierce. You have to fight for every dollar, and clients often pay late or disappear. Not worth it unless you love the grind. There were days when I would spend hours just applying for gigs with no response. Even after getting a client, revisions and communication delays made it difficult to scale. If you don’t have a high-demand skill, you might struggle to land consistent work. Some clients also expect high-quality work for incredibly low pay, making freelancing feel more like a job than a side hustle.
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3. Print-on-Demand (T-Shirts & Stickers)
How It Works:
You create custom designs for products like T-shirts, mugs, and stickers, and sell them on platforms like Redbubble, Teespring, and Etsy.
My Approach:
Used Canva and Photoshop for designs.
Uploaded 15+ designs on Redbubble and Teespring.
Promoted them on Pinterest.
Results:
Earnings: $35
Time spent: 1-2 hours/day
Verdict:
Print-on-demand takes too long to gain traction. It only works if you get lucky or create viral designs. Not worth it for quick money. I found that most of my designs got buried under thousands of others. Even after researching trending topics, it was nearly impossible to stand out. It’s frustrating to put in effort designing and uploading products, only to make a few dollars after a month. Some platforms also take a large percentage of sales, making it difficult to profit unless you sell a high volume.
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4. YouTube Automation (Faceless YouTube Channel)
How It Works:
This side hustle involves running a YouTube channel without showing your face. You use stock footage, AI-generated voices, and simple editing.
My Approach:
Chose motivational content.
Used Pexels and Pixabay for videos.
Edited using CapCut.
Posted one video every 2 days.
Results:
Earnings: $0 (but 2,000+ views in the first month)
Time spent: 2-3 hours/video
Verdict:
YouTube takes too long to monetize, and the competition is brutal. It may never pay off, making it a waste of time unless you’re willing to wait years. I underestimated how difficult it is to rank on YouTube. Even though my videos got some views, they didn’t convert into subscribers fast enough. The algorithm favors established creators, and new channels struggle to gain traction without paid promotion. Monetization requires 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours, which can take months or even years to achieve.
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5. Dropshipping (Selling Digital Products)
How It Works:
Dropshipping digital products means selling items like e-books, templates, and guides without handling inventory. I used Gumroad and Selar.
My Approach:
Created a simple e-book on "How to Start a Side Hustle."
Used ChatGPT to help with content.
Marketed it on TikTok and Instagram.
Results:
Earnings: $85
Time spent: 1-2 hours/day
Verdict:
Selling digital products is unpredictable and requires aggressive marketing. Not worth it unless you have a solid audience already. I expected better results, but most people don’t trust random e-books from new sellers. Without a strong brand presence, it’s difficult to make consistent sales. The competition is high, and free alternatives make it hard to justify the price of digital products. Additionally, refund requests and chargebacks can eat into earnings, making it more of a hassle than a passive income stream.
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Final Thoughts: What’s Not Worth It?
After one month, here are my final rankings from worst to least bad:
Key Takeaways:
Freelancing is exhausting and unreliable. If you need fast money, it’s a stressful option.
Affiliate marketing is a gamble. You need too much traffic to make real money.
YouTube and Print-on-Demand are slow burners. They take forever to pay off.
Selling digital products is hit or miss. If you don’t market aggressively, you won’t make sales.
If you want consistent money, stick to a traditional job. Online side hustles are mostly overhyped and unpredictable. Unless you have patience and a long-term strategy, don’t expect overnight success. Many online entrepreneurs only show their wins, but the reality is that most side hustles require months or years before they become profitable.
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What’s Next?
I’ll keep testing other side hustles to see if anything actually works! If you’ve tried any of these and had different results, let me know in the comments. Have you found an online hustle that actually pays well? Share your experience!
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