I make $3,000 monthly with my ‘lazy’ LinkedIn side hustle – it’s only five steps to start but it’s all about connections

AN entrepreneur says she makes thousands of dollars in extra income each month with her LinkedIn side hustle.

Connections are key with the ghostwriting side hustle , which takes just five steps to get started.

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In a video from April and a video from June, TikToker Courtney Johnson detailed the “lazy” side that made her $18,000 in the first half of this year.

“I have a very niche side hustle that makes me an extra $3,000 a month that literally anybody with like two brain cells can do,” said the entrepreneur.

She shared that she ghostwrites for CEOs on LinkedIn , charging around $500 per post.

“It’s a pretty good gig – pretty easy,” she said. “You don’t have to have a ton of copywriting experience because the content on LinkedIn is not that good so the bar is very low.”

Johnson said the side hustle was a great opportunity for those with a background in marketing, writing, sales, or content creation.

“I’ve been doing this as a side hustle for a couple of years now and it’s really fun,” she shared.

“The demand for this is so high right now. Everybody is starting to recognize the importance of a personal brand, especially for executives on LinkedIn.”

FIVE STEPS

The writer shared five key steps for getting started.

1. Create Your Business

The first step Johnson shared was to set up a business so clients take you seriously.

She suggested using a tool such as Tailor Brands to easily build your business.

The service helps with every aspect of constructing a business, including the LLC, trademark, license, business permit, business bank account, finance manager, website, domain, and branding.

2. Optimize Your LinkedIn

The next step Johnson shared was to optimize your own page on LinkedIn, making posts to see what works and what doesn’t.

She suggested getting familiar with the LinkedIn algorithm, which she called “very easy” and “slow-changing” in comparison to TikTok’s algorithm.

What is ghostwriting?

Ghostwriting is the practice where a writer produces content that is officially credited to another person.

This can include books, articles, speeches, blog posts, or any other form of written content.

The ghostwriter is typically hired to write on behalf of someone else who may not have the time, skill, or inclination to do the writing themselves.

Johnson also advised adding a call to action to your profile to encourage CEOs to message you regarding a LinkedIn profile or post audit.

3. Make A Portfolio

The third step to take on the ghostwriting side hustle is to make a portfolio of your LinkedIn posts.

The entrepreneur suggested including mock posts, posts you’ve written for friends, and posts from your own page.

The portfolio helps showcase your work and share the skills you offer clients.

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4. Network

One of the most important steps for the side hustle is to network with CEOs on LinkedIn.

Adding a bunch of CEOs on the professional networking site is key to gaining exposure to your page.

“They’re gonna start seeing your LinkedIn posts and be impressed with what you’re doing,” said Johnson.

She suggested messaging them and offering a free trial, which could be either a free LinkedIn post or a week of posts.

Side hustles and tax implications

The extra income made from side hustles may need to be reported to the IRS.

If you receive more than $600 in gross payouts from a selling platform like eBay, the site will issue you a Form 1099-K to use in your tax return.

Individuals should calculate their adjusted gross income, taxable earnings, and deductions for the year.

Once they have that, they can use the 1040-ES form to calculate estimated taxes.

The TikToker said that if you reach out to 100 CEOs, around 20 would potentially take you up on the offer for a free trial.

“At least a couple will convert into clients,” she said.

Once you have secured clients, Johnson advised charging between $500 and $2,000 per month for one to two posts per week.

Those with more experience can charge up to $3,000 per month.

5. Get Content

Johnson suggested conducting a one-hour interview with each client every quarter.

The ghostwriters can transcribe the interview to use as the basis for future LinkedIn posts.

“So technically you’re not even writing the posts, you’re more so formatting the posts,” she said.

Another TikToker shared how she makes $4,500 monthly with her Audible ghostwriting side hustle .

Plus, an entrepreneur was in debt when he started his “dirty job” side hustle – a secret quoting method makes $2,000 daily.