In case you have been thinking about creating a side hustle for a long time, and want to improve your chances of starting a successful business from home, you will need to step up your game and improve your skill set. You might have a satisfying full time job, but you might not find it hard to make ends meet. You could be saving up for a holiday of a lifetime or your kids’ education. No matter what your long term goals are, you can learn new skills to create an extra income stream. Below you’ll find a few ways of improving your offering for potential employers and starting a business online.

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1. Online Communication

For every remote job, you will need to learn the basics of online communication. Familiarize yourself with the most commonly used cloud collaboration platforms, such as Google Suite and Slack. If you are thinking about becoming a freelancer, you will be likely to use them on a daily basis. There are several online courses available for free to teach you the ins and outs of the latest software you will need for communicating with potential clients.

2. Google Analytics

If you would like to make money off websites and earning commissions or selling your own products or services, it is important that you learn how they work, and study Google Analytics. You can sign up for a training program online, or enroll to Google Digital Garage, where you can get certified and learn how to drive traffic to your site for free and make the most out of your paid traffic at the same time. You can maximize your profits if you don’t have to pay an online marketing agency to do the job for you.

3. Web Design

It is also important that you learn how to create and maintain your website. While there are several online drag-and-drop website makers out there that will make the job seem easy, you might want to learn WordPress or other platforms, so you can save time and money, and still create a unique website that makes you stand out from the crowd. The good news is that once you can put a website together in just a few hours, you can create an unlimited number of income streams.

4. Online Trading

If you are a risk-taker, you could also learn online trading. There are numerous programs you can enroll to, and learn how to make investment decisions that will bring you profits. You can automate your trades once you are familiar with the different methods, and use CMC Markets to trade Forex on your phone.

5. Writing

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Writing online is different from creating your university essay. You can find plenty of companies offering training on Associated Press style journalism, as well as blogging. Most of the best bloggers out there, however, have their own voice, and they can engage with their audience on a personal level. If you would like to create your own content and maximize the traffic to your website, you will need to study the art of online writing. Choose a course that provides examples, technical skills, and feedback.

6. Accounting

In case you would like to become a virtual assistant, you might want to take an online accounting course or a business administration training. There are plenty of online modules available for future virtual assistants who would like to offer a variety of services to their clients, including customer service, ordering, bookkeeping, and online chat services. You can secure a long term contract with a company if you can show them your skills and knowledge.

7. Software Development

There is money to be made from software. Whether you are solving online marketers’ problems to drive traffic to their sites, or simply want to sell your white label software to other marketers, there are plenty of options to make money. From simple online applications that work with different website platforms to CMS systems that help companies reduce overhead, you can focus on the type of software development you are interested in. There are various courses for those interested in app development, too.

Making money from home and topping up your income can be a great way of achieving your long term goals faster and staying out of debt. The development of the online communication technology has now made it possible to create an extra income stream in just a few hours a week from home. To get ready for the challenges, however, you will need to update your skills and knowledge, whether you are starting your own business or want to become a freelancer.