10 Ideas to Make Passive Income + Top Tips For Remote Workers

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Passive income is a great way to make a bit of extra money – and if you’re a freelancer or remote worker, you can use your spare time to expand your revenue streams.

But what exactly is passive income? Let’s take a closer look!

What is passive income?

Passive income is a way to make a constant stream of money without actively working to maintain it.

So while you’re working, eating, sleeping or going out with friends, your passive income stream can work in the background to make you extra money.

With many passive income streams, it may take some time and effort to set up your idea – for example, if you want to sell an ebook, you’ll need to write it first. Or if you want to make money from your blog, you’ll first need to establish a loyal following.

However, once you’ve got the right processes in place, you can make money while you work – or even while you sleep. The opportunities are endless!

10 ideas to make passive income as a remote worker

I’ve put together a list of 10 ideas to make passive income – including a few tips and tricks for remote workers.

Just a note that I’m not a financial advisor. These are just ideas and aren’t intended as advice. Consult a professional for help and support.

1. Create an online course

Creating an online course can help you teach other people in your industry or impart wisdom to those looking to expand their knowledge.

You can create an online course on anything – from blogging to marketing. There are so many opportunities to share valuable insights and create helpful resources for other people.

Once you’ve created your course, this is a simple passive income stream. Apart from promoting or updating it, you can let your course do the work!

2. Write an ebook

An ebook is a great way to make a bit of passive income. Whether you love knitting, blogging or golf, there are lots of different ebook ideas to explore – and there’s a market out there for your valuable knowledge.

In 2021, I wrote an ebook about writing engaging content – and it was such a fun experience that I recently updated it for 2024, including information about AI and updated content resources.

I love connecting with other bloggers and writers through my ebook – and once you’ve written your book, you can put it out there and let it bring you some cash each month.

If you’re interested in improving your writing, check out my writing ebook on Gumroad.

3. Get a lodger

If you have a spare room, you can rent it out on Airbnb or advertise for a lodger. This is a simple idea to make passive income.

Getting a lodger can help you make money towards your mortgage and bills – and it’s a great way to earn a constant stream of cash.

Some landlords may also let you sublet your flat if you’re moving elsewhere, or you can take in a housemate to help you pay your rent.

4. Photo licensing

If you like taking photos, photo licensing is a good way to make a bit of passive income. License your photos to stock image sites like Unsplash or Pexels to make some extra money.

If you’re a remote worker, you can organise this in your spare time, keeping on top of any submissions or updates alongside your job.

5. Self-publish a book

Self-publishing is a popular choice for authors and writers today. You can upload your novel or non-fiction book to a site like Amazon to start selling copies.

It can take some time to set up your book online, grow your customer base and promote it to your audience. However, once you’ve uploaded your book, you can make a sale at any time!

6. Create a digital resource or template

Many people make passive income from digital resources, templates or designs. You can sell these via your website or on sites like Etsy or Redbubble.

Whether you want to make a creative design or something more practical for people in your industry, the opportunities are endless!

You could create a template for Notion or a content calendar for social media managers, for example.

Creating a digital design allows people to download your template in their own time – and once you’ve created your resource, you just need to promote it.

7. Affiliate sales

Affiliate marketing involves using links to products or services that will earn you money if you make a sale. You can promote anything and everything through affiliate sales, from small businesses to huge brands.

Once you’ve put affiliate links on your blog or in a social media post, you can start reaping the benefits. Any time someone uses one of your links to make a purchase, you’ll make a small kickback.

Try choosing a range of different affiliate opportunities. Affiliate payouts can be quite low, so selecting a few high-ticket products could give you a better return for your time and effort.

Diversifying your affiliate programs can also help you avoid relying on a single revenue stream. This could boost your potential income – and it reduces the risk if one affiliate source underperforms.

8. Blog ads

If you have a blog or website, ads are a great idea to make passive income. You can easily add them to your site to start generating a passive stream of income.

There are lots of common ad programs for site owners, such as:

• WordAds
• Mediavine
• Google AdSense

You can also write sponsored posts for your website or social media channels to make extra money. However, you’ll need to take a more active role in organising these opportunities.

9. Music licensing

Similar to photo licensing, if you like to create music, why not try licensing your tunes to stock music sites?

If you already have the tune ready to go, you’ll just need to look into how to get it submitted to the site of your choice and you’re sorted!

10. Create an online community

Try creating a community for people in your sector or other remote workers. Whether you’re a freelance writer or a translator, everyone needs a community of colleagues, friends and mentors.

Although this may take some time to set up and promote, you can automate certain elements, giving you a diverse passive income stream.

For example, if you charge members a small membership fee to access certain resources, events or products, that’s money in your pocket each month!

Do you have any ideas to make passive income? How do you earn money as a remote worker? Do you have any tips for remote workers to make extra money?

Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

Happy reading x