10 Ways to Make More Money as a Creative Person

Posted by Crystal on Dec 12, 2009 in Management | 4 comments

There has always been a ‘poor and starving artist’ stereotype among us creative people, but in today’s world, it is realistically quite the opposite. Opportunities for creative people to make more income are left and right. Best of all, these opportunities are perfect for those slow times in business, when we have little clients.

Because we all want to make more, there are a number of ways we can do the work we love and still make extra income. Beyond the extra revenue, these outlets are great for advancing one’s own skills and focusing more on one’s own creativity, rather than client needs for once. Here are ten ways to make more money (either actively or passively) as any sort of creative person.

1. Sell Products on CafePress

While there are a number of websites like CafePress, from my own experiences and via the experiences of others, CafePress seems to have the most success. During downtime, or during a ‘creative itch’, why not just turn your designs into merchandise?

The best thing about CafePress is that there are no set-up fees, and the market is large enough to sell itself. So, all you have to do is create, and it takes no additional effort on your part. Of course, with further time you can market your goods actively, and earn even more.

At CafePress, you set your own profits, your own designs, and your own shop settings. CafePress handles the rest, so it is the easiest way to make an extra buck at no cost to you.

Click here to visit CafePress.com and start selling your own designs on merchandise!

2. Resell Web Hosting

If you are a web designer, or web person otherwise, why not resell website hosting with profits that go to you? Many web hosts have reseller options that are fairly cheap, and that give you complete control over space usage and price. This can also help you provide an additional opportunity for communication between you and the client.

Many clients don’t know how to set up web hosting, and offering it too them along with your other services gives them an ‘all in one’ package. Easier for the client, and more income for you.

This Web Host is where The Free Creatives is hosted, and they provide a hosting packages with reseller access at a very trendy price. Their first package that offers reselling access is only $5.99/mo., which is often times the cheapest package at other companies without that access. Best of all, you can easily upgrade/downgrade that package to fit the needs of your business.

Click here to check out This Web Host’s package deals for reseller hosting.

HostGator also offers reseller packages at a more expensive price, but with more reliability in terms of quality. If you are looking to host a few clients here and there, This Web Host would be the better choice, but for a full-fledged reselling business expansion, HostGator is the best deal.

Click here to check out HostGator’s reselling packages.

3. Creative Private Coaching

Are you an awesome creative person? Do you have mad skills? The best thing about our own unique talents is not only that we can provide services to clients, but also to our peers. If you have some free time, why not offer coaching services, or even a premade program (e-course) to help your peers gain your knowledge?

People will pay for education, and if you can give that to them, you can make more money. Offer tutoring, either online or in person for an additional rate.

4. Write an E-book

E-books are increasingly popular because they benefit the readers of them in two ways. 1) They are cheaper than printed books (not to mention more environmentally safe) and 2) they provide instant gratification because you are able to download it right away.

Many others are providing free e-books, but often times these are just teasers into selling more e-books/services/products, and they are not as long or useful as a priced version. This is why anyone can always sell an e-book for profit; it just takes time and effort to create a full-length quality piece.

Try giving away a few free chapters, or selling a ‘prequel’ that promotes a paid version of an e-book you wrote. Sharing knowledge and helping others is the best way to write an e-book that sells.

Best of all, selling an e-book only costs you your time in creating it. There are no additional costs!

5. Sell Stock

Selling stock in your spare time will not make you rich, but it can add up to a decent extra income. If you do it regularly, too, your earnings will grow exponentially — all while you’re just being creative in your spare time.

Websites like Themeforest can sell a WordPress Theme for around $30 or a website template for even cheaper, but with multiple sales you can potentially make hundreds (or thousands!). The main concept here is that you are not only making passive income, but you are also getting your name and brand out there.

Some great examples of places to sell stock include: ActiveDen, ThemeForest, VideoHive, AudioJungle, GraphicRiver, ShutterPoint, and iStockPhoto.

6. Upgrade Yourself and Your Services

People will pay more for quality, and as a creative person, the only person in charge of your quality is you. This means, the only person in charge of your pricing is you as well. Rule #1 of pricing yourself is to never undersell yourself, but why should you settle for mediocrity instead? Make yourself a premium, high-quality, high-priced candidate!

Increase your hourly or project rate, and always provide the quality that is demanded by your clients. If you give them what they need out of a project, they will recommend you and your services even if you’re more expensive than the guy next to you (that may be doing a half-ass job). Be sure you have the experience and skill set necessary, though, as to not rip your clients off! Know yourself, never under pay yourself, but certainly never over-price yourself either.

7. Automate the Way You Do Business

So you can simply take on more. Whether you are a freelancer or not, work can always be more automated so you can take on more clients without being overworked yourself. Can you outsource anything for a low cost? Can you automate your marketing so you can spend more time doing the actual work opposed to finding clients? Can you find a way to get through each project quicker so you can take on another sooner?

8. Sell Premium WordPress Themes

This is pretty much the same as selling stock, altough more specific. I make the separate point of WordPress themes because selling themes right now is a hot business. If made the right way, they can sell over and over again, market yourself and your services, and even make you some advertising sales.

Try to put Adsense on a WordPress theme if giving it away for free, so you’re adsense earnings can spread across the Internet effortlessly! Otherwise, sell WordPress themes for $50-$150 dollars a piece to make a nice profit repeatedly. You can also sell licenses to sell exclusive rights to a theme at the regular price of a custom-made theme, or start an affiliate program so others sell your themes for you!

The WordPress Theme business is hot right now, and for good reason. Help someone’s business out by creating a platform and design for them that will sell. In return, you can make a steady and strong profit from many buyers. This type of business model is easy to start up, has many options, and is available to anyone with a bit of practice making themes.

9. Affiliate Programs

I’m a huge fan of affiliate programs because they have indefinite value. Unlike ad spaces, while still leading to more income per sale, affiliate programs don’t have a limit of potential earnings. With correct usage and a good following, you can make any amount of additional income through affiliates.

If you’re an expert at anything, your peers will listen to you. If you use a certain service, product, or program, tell your readers about it — and show it to them via an affiliate link so you make money while helping others!

10. Sell Ad Spaces

If you have a blog or other sort of web presence that has a decent following, why not sell ad spaces to make a bit of extra monthly income? The difficult part about ad spaces is that there is a limited number of revenue you can make from it, but as an upside, it is a guaranteed amount of revenue you can make. Even if it only provide a few hundred a month, it’s that much more.

Look for others looking to buy ad spaces on websites like Sitepoint forums, or Web Design Forum. Be smart about ad spaces though. Don’t over sell them, and don’t over price them. Furthermore, it’s best to offer one on one service for your advertisers to create a bond with them. Treat them more like a partnership rather than an an advertiser, and they are more likely to stay longer.