How to Become Self-Employed - Top 5 Ways for 2023

Looking to become self-employed? Good for you! To help you with your journey towards working for your own self, we have curated a list of the top 5 methods to become self-employed in 2023.

So, don’t let the daunting process of figuring it out hold you back, and read on to explore different ways you can utilize the internet to work on your own terms and be your own boss.

Benefits of Being Self-Employed

With the unprecedented popularisation of start-up culture, entrepreneurship, and online freelancing platforms, being self-employed is perhaps the most common ambition among people looking for earning opportunities today.

It is the preferred way of making a living for a lot of people today for different types of reasons from being your own boss to the 9-5 burnout. Some of the most common benefits of self-employment are:

• Freedom: You get to call the shots and control the flexibility of your work schedule.
• Power: You have the ability to make business decisions and even provide livelihood to others.
• Motivation: You are intrinsically motivated to do your best.
• Meaning: Working on your own project gives you a deeper sense of fulfilment than working on someone else’s.
• Scalability: Self-employment allows for a greater upward mobility than a regular job.

In addition, with so many great opportunities to make money online today and so, it is no longer an uncommon for students to drop out with grand self-employment ideas in their heads.

Top 5 Self-Employment Ideas for 2023

1. Ad Revenue from Social Media Videos

Allowing ads to appear on your social media videos can be a great way to monetize your social media presence if you're looking to be self-employed.

In addition to enabling you to be self-employed, it is also a great stream of passive income as once you create and upload your videos, you can earn money from ad revenue without actively working on them.

YouTube, Facebook, and Tiktok are probably the best platforms to become self-employed through ad revenue.

i. YouTube:

On YouTube, you can earn money through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). To be eligible to join the program, your channel needs to have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours within the past 12 months.

Your channel also needs to follow YouTube's community guidelines, terms of service, and copyright policies.

If you meet these criteria, you can apply for the YouTube Partner Program by following these steps:

• Sign in to your YouTube account and click on your profile picture.
• Click on "YouTube Studio."
• Click on "Monetization" in the left menu.
• Click on "Start" or "Learn more" under the "Join the YouTube Partner Program" section.
• Follow the instructions on the screen to complete your application.

Once your application is reviewed and approved, you can monetize your videos through ads that are placed by Google AdSense. You just need to set up your AdSense account and link it to your YouTube channel. Once you're approved, YouTube will automatically place ads in your videos.

The amount of money you earn mainly depends on the number of views your videos get, the engagement of your viewers, and the demographic of your audience.

However, your earnings also depend on other factors that are not in your control like the performance of the ad that appears on your videos, the advertiser’s bid, and the format of the ads like display ads, overlay ads, skippable video ads, non-skippable video ads, and bumper ads.

ii. Facebook:

With Facebook, you can earn ad revenue by allowing either in-stream ads to run on your videos or by using Ad Breaks. To be eligible for Ad Breaks, you need to have a Facebook page that meets Facebook's guidelines, at least 10,000 followers, and videos that meet Facebook's content guidelines.

If you meet these eligibility criteria, just follow these steps to have ads run on your Facebook videos:

• Set up your Ad Breaks account by going to the Creator Studio section of your Facebook page and clicking on "Monetization."
• Follow the instructions to set up your account, including adding payment information.
• Once your account is set up, you can add Ad Breaks to your videos by going to the Creator Studio and selecting the video you want to monetize. Click on "Monetization" and follow the instructions to add Ad Breaks to your video.

And then, Facebook will start placing ads in your videos, and you'll earn a share of the revenue generated by those ads. In-Stream ads work in more or less the same way, however, here are some important differences :

• To participate in Ads Breaks, you need to have a Facebook page with at least 10,000 followers and meet other criteria such as content guidelines. In-Stream Ads, on the other hand, require a minimum of 30,000 one-minute views on videos that are at least 3 minutes long.
• The placement of ads is also different between the two programs. With Ads Breaks, ads are placed in natural breaks within the video content, such as between scenes or at the end of the video. In-Stream Ads are placed mid-roll, meaning they interrupt the video content.
• With Ads Breaks, you earn a share of the revenue generated by the ads placed in their videos. In-Stream Ads, on the other hand, pays based on the number of ad impressions and clicks.

To learn more about in-stream ads and other ways to make money on Facebook, refer to our article ‘’ How To Make Money On Facebook Without Any Investment’’.

iii. TikTok:

On TikTok, you can earn money through the TikTok Creator Fund. This program allows eligible creators to earn money through ads that are placed in their videos.

To be eligible, you need to have at least 100,000 followers, have at least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days, be 18 years or older, and meet TikTok's community guidelines.

Once you're eligible, you can apply for the Creator Fund by going to the TikTok app and navigating to the "Creator Fund" page. You'll need to enter some basic information about yourself and your account, and then TikTok will review your application.

Once you're accepted into the Creator Fund, you can enable monetization by going to your settings and turning on "Monetization". This will allow TikTok to place ads on your videos.

2. Online Recruitment Marketing

No irony intended, but helping others get a job can be a really good way to be self-employed. The Synkdup Headhunter Program, for instance, allows you greater flexibility and freedom than most self-employment options and all you need to do is give visibility to job openings on your social media handles.

It is a novel recruitment marketing program that involves the following simple steps:

• First, you need to go on the website and sign up to be a headhunter.
• Once you are verified, you get a Headhunter dashboard of your own where you regularly get web links to latest job openings across America.
• As a headhunter, you are supposed to share these web links on your social media accounts.
• For every applicant who applies to a job following your link, you get a commission of up to $25, regardless of whether they get the job or not. The only condition is that it has to be a genuine applicant.

As a headhunter, you work on your own time and schedule, when you where you want and how much you want. And the really great part is that you are self-employed in a noble pursuit.

There are many other share-and-earn methods of making money online but they all involve making people buy stuff. But with the Synkdup Headhunter Program, rather than pushing people to spend money, you are bringing job opportunities to them.

To make the most of this program, you can make a page on your Facebook/Insta where you regularly post job links that show up on your Dashboard. And then, all you need to do is post a link to this page in the captions and description of your normal social media posts including reels, feed posts, stories, live streaming, etc.

This way you can have job applicants landing on your collection of job openings and earn handsome payouts without needing to modify the kind of stuff you post on your social in any way. You could even include a link to the page in the caption of a post a mirror selfie or a picture of your food!

The list of self-employment ideas with Headhunter links is endless depending on your assets/skills and requirements. For instance, if you can write and want a passive stream of income, Blogging is a very practicable idea.

3. Blogging

If you have got a passion for writing, you can use it to become self-employed by starting a blog. It can be a rewarding and lucrative way to be self-employed, provided you are willing to put in the time and effort to establish and maintain a successful blog.

There are many free blogging platforms out there today that you can build your blog on without having to pay for a domain name and hosting. Here are our top picks from them:

• WordPress.com: WordPress.com is a popular and user-friendly blogging platform that allows you to create and publish content without any technical skills. It offers a wide range of themes, plugins, and customization options to help you create a professional-looking blog.
• Blogger: Blogger is a free blogging platform owned by Google that is easy to use and offers a range of customization options. It is ideal for beginners who want to start a blog without any technical knowledge.
• Wix: Wix is a website builder that offers a free blogging platform with a range of customizable templates, themes, and design options. It also offers e-commerce features and integration with social media platforms.
• Tumblr: Tumblr is a microblogging platform that allows you to share short-form content, such as photos, videos, and GIFs. It is ideal for creating a visually appealing blog and building a community around your content.
• Medium: Medium is a popular blogging platform that allows you to write and publish content on a range of topics. It offers a clean and simple interface and a built-in audience of readers. You can earn money through the Medium Partner Program, which pays you based on the engagement your posts receive.

It is important to read up on a platform thoroughly before deciding on one. Once you have selected a platform that aligns with your style and preferences, you should consider these ways to monetize your blog:

• Affiliate marketing: Affiliate marketing is when you promote someone’s products or services on your online platforms and earn a commission on the business they get through you. You can sign up for affiliate programs such as Amazon Associates or Commission Junction and use your blog to promote a wide range of products..
  Also Read: Affiliate Marketing - An Amazing Side Hustle In 2023
• Sponsored content: You can earn money by publishing sponsored content on your blog. Sponsored content is when a company pays you to publish an article or post promoting its product or service.
• Headhunter links: You can create a Facebook page where you constantly post links to the latest job openings across the U.S. available on your Headhunter dashboard. Include a link to this page in your blogs and earn a commission whenever someone applies for a job following your job links.
  Also Read: Share Jobs The Right Way And Earn Up To $3000 Per Week!
• Donations: You can include a donation button on your blog and ask your readers to support your work if they find it valuable.

If your blog establishes you as an expert in your niche, you can also use your writing skills to offer freelance writing services to other bloggers or businesses.

4: Dropshipping on Instagram

Instagram is a great platform to sell things that photograph well and if you are particularly Instagram savvy, advertising such products and selling them by dropshipping is a great idea to be self-employed.

Dropshipping is a business model where you sell products without actually handling or storing inventory. Instead, you work with a supplier who ships the products directly to your customers. Follow these steps to start a dropshipping business on Instagram:

• Choose a niche: Select a niche or product category that you're interested in and that has a viable market. You can use tools like Google Trends or keyword research to identify popular products and trends.
• Find a supplier: Look for a reliable and reputable supplier that can provide the products you want to sell. You can use platforms like AliExpress, Oberlo, or SaleHoo to find suppliers and manage your inventory.
• Set up an online store: Create an online store or website where customers can purchase your products. You can use platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce to set up your store.
• Create an Instagram account: Set up an Instagram account for your business and start posting photos and videos of your products. Use relevant hashtags, engage with your followers, and promote your products through sponsored posts or influencer partnerships.
• Fulfill orders: When a customer places an order, notify your supplier to ship the product directly to the customer. You'll receive payment from the customer and pay the supplier for the product and shipping costs.

Check out our article ‘’ How to Make Money on Instagram’’ to read in more detail about dropshipping on Instagram and other ways to be self-employed through Instagram.

5: Online Tutoring

Virtual tutoring has got really popular in recent years, especially after the pandemic. And with the rise of virtual classrooms and so many e-learning platforms available today, it's easier than ever to connect with students from all over the world.

Depending on the platform and the subject matter, you can earn anywhere from $10 to $50 per hour as an online tutor. And if you are an experienced teacher with impressive credentials, you could even demand more.

There are a variety of online tutoring platforms out there, some of the most popular among which are:

• TutorMe: TutorMe offers on-demand tutoring in more than 300 subjects and pays its teachers around $16 an hour. The platform has a strict selection process for teachers to ensure that only qualified and experienced individuals are accepted.
• Chegg: Chegg offers online tutoring in a variety of subjects and pays its tutors an average of $20 per hour. The platform has a subscription-based model that allows students to access tutoring services at a flat rate per month.
• Skooli: Skooli provides personalized one-on-one tutoring in more than 70 subjects and pays its tutors an average of $25 per hour. The platform offers a virtual classroom with audio and video chat features, a virtual whiteboard, and a file-sharing function.

To apply to online tutoring platforms, you'll need to create an account and fill out a registration form. Many platforms also require tutors to complete a subject test or an interview to assess their qualifications and teaching skills.

Once your application is approved, you can start accepting tutoring requests and earning money. Most platforms offer flexible scheduling, so you can work as much or as little as you like and reap the benefits of being self-employed.