13 Brilliant Ways to Make Money Teaching Your Skills to Others

Are people always asking to pick your brain? Do you find yourself spending hours every week having coffee with people who want to learn how to do what you do, or fielding questions on social media? Helping others is great — but your time and expertise is valuable. Consider taking your teaching to a more formal level, for financial gain. Here are a few ways you can do that.

You've probably heard of YouTube stars who buy mansions and yachts on the profits from their video gaming or package-opening videos. But you don't need to be famous: Plenty of lesser known people are earning respectable side incomes on the popular video platform. YouTube even has its own resources for teaching people how to create income-earning videos.

What could you make videos about? If you're good with technology, videos about troubleshooting computer and phone problems are popular. Others have made money teaching music and cooking lessons on YouTube. The options are endless.

If you prefer writing over making videos — or if you want to do both — you can teach your skills via a blog. You may not be able to quit your day job right away (or ever), but successful bloggers can earn thousands a year through advertising and affiliate sales, and many also enjoy receiving free products and travel opportunities. It's easy to find a free or low-cost blogging platform — like WordPress — to get started. 

You may have seen heavily marketed online courses taught by celebrities, but did you know that anyone can create an online course on any topic? You can choose any length you want, from a few hours to a 30-day course or longer.

Online class platforms such as Udemy, Skillshare, Braincert, or Teachable can help you get started. This money-making gambit is especially suitable for folks who are already doing the previous two items on this list, since having a large following on YouTube, Facebook, or a blog is the best way to sell an online course. 

Writing about a skill you have to share, especially one that can help others make money, can mean big business. But before you get your hopes up, consider that not everyone rakes it in selling an ebook. What makes the difference? As with creating an online course, having a built-in audience helps. Another approach is to pick a popular topic. Take a look at the sales figures of other books on the topics you want to write about, and choose the one with the best numbers. 

You've probably been invited to at least one party where you enjoy adult beverages while a teacher guides you through creating a simple oil or acrylic painting. If you're an art teacher looking to make money on the side, or simply an artist by hobby, you probably have the skills necessary to teach one of these fun classes. You could get an instructor job at a paint-and-sip place, or simply try hosting a party at home or in a rented space.

What did Marian the librarian in The Music Man do during her off hours? That's right — she gave piano lessons. Teaching music is one of the oldest side hustles around. But like everything, the internet has changed that game, so now you can offer online lessons, or list your in-person lessons on sites such as Moonlighting.

If you're an expert in a particular field, but would rather talk about it than write it down, a podcast may be your vehicle. You can purchase quality microphones pretty inexpensively these days, and if you don't know how to get started, you can take an online course in podcast launching. Once you get the hang of it, you could even make money teaching others to podcast.

Did you train your dog to sit, heel, and change the channel on the TV? Lots of other pet owners would like to learn to do the same. There aren't many courses out there for aspiring dog trainers, so a good route is to apprentice an experienced trainer. Volunteering at a local shelter can also help you build up your animal-handling skills.

Local museums, libraries, and school districts host classes on anything from how to use Excel, to how to knit socks. If you're interested in building a (potentially more lucrative) business giving private lessons in your expertise, teaching a class might be a good way to get the word out.

Even if you don't have an advanced degree, if you're successful in your field, you may be a welcome voice "from the industry" in a college program such as journalism or computer programming.

All those years playing softball or soccer could pay off in the form of a school or city youth team coach. There are also lots of parents out there who want to give their kids an edge by hiring a one-on-one coach. List yourself on a site such as Coachup, and don't forget word of mouth as well.

You can post a notice on a school bulletin board or local online group to meet one-on-one with kids preparing for the SATs or struggling in school. Or, you can sign up for one of the many online tutoring sites. Some, such as Chegg and VIPKid, pay $20 an hour or more.

If your skill is kayaking, hiking, or trailblazing, you can share that by leading groups into the great outdoors on anything from a day hike to a multiweek camping trip. Freelance or connect yourself to a tour company for steadier work.

This article by Carrie Kirby was originally published on Wise Bread.