Effortless Earnings: 3 Lazy Side Hustles to Make $500/Day

Beginning a side hustle can feel extremely daunting, especially if you’re low on time and money. But would you believe that you could make $500 a day from the comfort of your couch? It is possible, and I am here to show you how! In this article, we will look at three side hustles that are “lazy” but big money-makers and very easy to set up, using modern tools and automation.

Recent advancements in AI and e-commerce have transformed side gigs and made it more easier to make extra money. Starting doesn’t require a lot of time, specialized knowledge, or even a lot of plutocracy. With these idle side systems, you can focus on increasing productivity and adding your profit aqueducts.
Starting a faceless YouTube channel, online store, or digital products can be scalable and easy for beginners. This guide will help you create a practical plan to reach $500 daily!

1: Selling Digital Products with AI

Selling digital products is one of the most profitable and low-maintenance side hustles you can start today. Because once you’ve created a digital product, it can generate passive income indefinitely. You don’t need to worry about inventory, shipping, or physical logistics. Plus, AI tools can help you ideate, create, and sell these products with minimal effort. Let’s dive deeper into how you can earn up to $500 daily by selling digital products.

Why Digital Products Are Profitable

Digital products are scalable, accessible, and require low upfront costs. Unlike physical goods, there’s no need for manufacturing or storage. Here are a few reasons they’re such a great investment:

• High-profit margins: Once you’ve made a product, you can sell unlimited copies without incurring additional costs.
• Global reach: Digital products can be sold to anyone, anywhere, at any time.
• Automation-friendly: Platforms like Gumroad and etsy automate the selling process, leaving you free to focus on creation and marketing.

For example, I started selling a simple social media planner last year. With Canva and a couple of hours of brainstorming, I created a product that now earns me a steady monthly income.

Using ChatGPT to Generate Digital Product Ideas

Not sure what to create? AI tools like ChatGPT can brainstorm for you. Ask it to “generate digital product ideas for busy professionals,” and you’ll get suggestions like:

• Productivity trackers
• Time-blocking templates
• Meeting agendas

You can even fine-tune these ideas to fit trending topics or untapped niches. For example, if self-care is trending, you might create a digital self-care planner. AI eliminates the guesswork, saving you time and effort.

Exploring Best-Selling Digital Product Topics

If you’re wondering what types of products sell best, here’s a cheat sheet:

• EBooks: Short, actionable guides on topics like money management or fitness hacks.
• Templates: Resume templates, graphic design templates, or business pitch decks.
• Online courses: Bite-sized courses on basic coding, social media strategies, or even knitting!
• Stock photos: High-quality images for bloggers, designers, and marketers.
• Printables: Planners, calendars, or daily habit trackers.

Selecting a High-Demand Niche

Choosing the right niche is key to standing out. Think about the problems people face and how your product can solve them. Here are 10 niche ideas to get you started:

1. Freelance tools (e.g., invoice templates).
2. Self-improvement guides.
3. Travel planners for specific destinations.
4. Kid-friendly activity packs.
5. Financial literacy resources.
6. Wedding planning spreadsheets.
7. Home organization kits.
8. Social media growth strategies.
9. Meal prep and nutrition trackers.
10. Study aids for students (e.g., flashcard templates).

Once you identify a niche, validate it by researching platforms like Etsy or Amazon to see what’s already selling. Look for high demand with manageable competition.

Creating a Digital Product Using Canva

Canva makes designing digital products a breeze. With its beginner-friendly interface, you can create visually stunning eBooks, templates, or guides without any design skills.

Steps to Create Your Product with Canva:

1. Pick a template: Browse Canva’s library for a template that fits your idea (e.g., a planner or infographic).
2. Customize it: Add your brand colors, logo, and text to make it unique.
3. Export it: Save your product as a high-resolution PDF or PNG for easy sharing.

I once used Canva to create a monthly budget tracker. It took me two hours to design, and I sold over 300 copies on Etsy in three months!

Formatting and Customization Tips

To make your product stand out:

• Use clear, readable fonts and a clean layout.
• Include instructional pages or tips to enhance usability.
• Add bonus elements, like printable stickers or editable versions, to increase value.

Platforms to Sell Your Digital Products

Once your product is ready, you need a platform to showcase it. Here are some popular options:

• Etsy: Ideal for beginners. It’s easy to set up and comes with built-in traffic. (Check out how to sell on Etsy here.)
• Gumroad: Great for selling eBooks, guides, or art.
• Shopify: Perfect if you want to create a personalized store for your niche. (Explore Shopify here.)
• Teachable: For courses or educational content.
• Creative Market: A go-to for designers looking to sell templates or fonts.

How to Market Your Digital Products

Creating a great product is only half the battle—you need to market it effectively.

• Leverage social media: Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are perfect for showcasing your digital products.
• Email marketing: Build an email list and promote your product through newsletters.
• SEO optimization: Use platforms like Etsy or your blog to target keywords your audience is searching for.

2: AI-Powered Online Store

Running an online store has eliminated the long hours of manual inventory management and customer services. This is because AI-powered tools have entered the fray. Setting up and running an e-commerce business has become easy. Let’s go deeper and learn how to use AI for setting up, automating, and scaling an online store and earning $500/day or more..

The Growth of E-Commerce

The e-commerce market is booming, with over 2 billion digital buyers worldwide. By 2025, e-commerce sales are expected to surpass $7 trillion globally. This trend shows no signs of slowing down, making now the perfect time to jump into the market.

Building an Online Store with AI Tools

Gone are the days when you needed coding skills or a hefty budget to create an online store. Tools like Shopify and Wix make it incredibly simple to design professional-looking stores in hours. Pair these platforms with AI-powered features to save even more time.

For example, tools like Zyro’s AI Website Builder can handle:

• Designing your store layout
• Adding optimized product descriptions
• Generating SEO-friendly headlines and tags

You can even let AI analyze user behavior on your website to recommend changes that increase sales conversions.

Overview of the AI Store Builder Process

The process of building a store with AI tools looks something like this:

1. Choose Your Niche: Select a product category or niche based on demand (more on this below).
2. Set Up Your Store: Use Shopify, WooCommerce, or a similar platform to create your storefront.
3. Let the AI tools do all the content generation- you can even create product descriptions, category names, even blog posts.
4. Add Products: Source your inventory (or go the dropshipping route).
5. Market Your Store: Run ad campaigns, email marketing, and social media promotions.

Selecting a Niche for Your Store

Choosing the right niche can make or break your store. Here are 10 examples of profitable niches to consider:

1. Fitness gear (resistance bands, yoga mats)
2. Eco-friendly products (reusable straws, sustainable bags)
3. Pet accessories (collars, pet beds)
4. Tech gadgets (wireless chargers, LED lights)
5. Home office supplies (ergonomic chairs, desk organizers)
6. DIY and crafting tools (paint sets, knitting supplies)
7. Fashion accessories (sunglasses, watches)
8. Travel essentials (packing cubes, portable chargers)
9. Baby and kids’ products (toys, baby monitors)
10. Personal care items (skincare tools, bath bombs)

Automating Dropshipping with AutoDS

One of the best ways to run an e-commerce store without managing inventory is dropshipping. With dropshipping you are acting as a middleman by forwarding all customer orders directly to the supplier who would handle the fulfillment process.

Tools like AutoDS make this process seamless:

• Product Research: AutoDS identifies trending products in your niche.
• Order Fulfillment: Automatically forwards orders to your supplier.
• Inventory Updates: Tracks stock levels in real time, so you never oversell.
• Price Adjustments: Adjusts prices based on supplier costs to maintain your profit margins.

For instance, let’s say you want to sell phone cases. AutoDS can help you find the most popular designs, track your supplier’s stock, and fulfill orders—all while you focus on marketing.

Check out AutoDS here to start automating your store.

Setting Up Fast Shipping and Competitive Pricing

Fast shipping is a dealbreaker for many customers. To stay competitive:

• Work with suppliers who offer expedited shipping (e.g., U.S.-based warehouses).
• Offer free shipping for orders over a certain amount.
• Use tools like ShipBob to manage logistics if you scale up.

Competitive pricing is another critical factor. Research competitors using tools like Price2Spy to ensure your prices remain attractive while still profitable.

Using Ad Spy Tools for Marketing

Marketing is the key to driving traffic and sales to your online store. Ad spy tools like AdSpy allow you to see what’s working for your competitors.

For example, let’s say you’re selling pet accessories. Using AdSpy, you can:

• Identify successful Facebook ads in the pet niche.
• Learn which products are trending based on ad engagement.
• Use winning ad formats as inspiration for your campaigns.

Pair this with social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to run targeted ads for your store.

Branding and Product Customization

Building a strong brand sets your store apart. Here’s how you can use AI to enhance your branding:

• Logo Design: Tools like Looka and Canva can generate stunning logos in minutes.
• Custom Packaging: Services like Packlane let you design personalized packaging for your products.
• Brand Identity: Use AI tools like Namify to generate catchy store names and taglines.

Scaling Your Store

Scaling is all about growing your revenue without significantly increasing your workload. Here’s how:

• Upselling and Cross-Selling: Use tools like Bold Upsell to recommend complementary products.
• Expanding Product Lines: Once you’ve nailed your niche, gradually introduce new products.
• Improving Customer Retention: Email marketing tools like Klaviyo can help nurture repeat buyers.

Tips for Sustained Growth

1. Regularly Update Your Store: Add new products and refresh your website’s design periodically.
2. Optimize for SEO: Use tools like Ahrefs to rank higher in search results.
3. Engage with Customers: Build trust by responding promptly to customer queries.
4. Monitor Analytics: Use platforms like Google Analytics to track your traffic and sales data.

3: Faceless YouTube Channels: A Simple Way to Make Money

Starting a YouTube channel doesn’t mean you need to show your face or be an on-screen personality. Many people are making money with faceless YouTube channels, where the focus is on the content, not the creator. If you’re shy or prefer staying behind the scenes, this side hustle is perfect for you. Here’s how to start your faceless YouTube channel and earn up to $500 daily.

Why Faceless YouTube Channels Are a Great Idea

Faceless YouTube channels work because they focus on creating valuable, engaging content. You don’t need fancy equipment or to worry about being on camera. Here’s why this is such a great hustle:

• Stay Anonymous: You don’t have to reveal your identity.
• Low Cost: All you need is a computer, microphone, and some basic software.
• Quick to Scale: You can produce videos in batches and upload them consistently.

How to Start a Faceless YouTube Channel

1. Pick a Niche Choosing the right niche is key. It should be something you enjoy and has a good audience. Check out the list of popular niches below to get inspired.
2. Plan Your Videos Use tools like ChatGPT to come up with ideas and even create scripts for your videos. For example, you can ask, “What are 10 fun facts about space?” and turn it into a video script.
3. Get Visuals and Tools Websites like Pexels, Unsplash, and Pixabay offer free stock photos and videos to use in your content. Tools like Pictory.ai or Canva can help you create professional-looking videos without much effort.
4. Add a Voiceover You don’t need to record your voice if you’re not comfortable. Use AI tools like Murf.ai or Synthesia to generate clear and natural-sounding voiceovers.
5. Edit and Upload Simple software like iMovie, Camtasia, or Adobe Premiere Rush is perfect for editing. Once your video is ready, upload it to YouTube with an SEO-friendly title and description.

Best Niches for Faceless YouTube Channels

Not sure what your channel should be about? Here are 10 great niche ideas that work well for faceless channels:

1. Tech Reviews: Talk about gadgets, apps, or software.
2. Meditation and Relaxation: Share calming videos with relaxing music.
3. Educational Videos: Teach history, science, or life skills.
4. Cooking Tutorials: Show recipes step-by-step without showing your face.
5. Unboxing Videos: Review products by unboxing them and explaining features.
6. Movie and TV Reviews: Share your thoughts about the latest releases.
7. Travel Videos: Use stock footage to create travel guides.
8. Book Summaries: Summarize key ideas from popular books.
9. Study Tips: Help students improve productivity and learn better.
10. Fitness Videos: Demonstrate workouts using animations or stock footage.

How to Make Videos Using AI Tools

Creating videos is easier than ever with AI tools. Here’s how they can help:

• Scriptwriting: AI tools like ChatGPT or Jasper can generate scripts quickly. For example, type in “Write a script about top productivity tips,” and you’ll get an outline in seconds.
• Video Creation: Tools like Pictory.ai allow you to turn your script into a video with visuals and voiceovers.
• Thumbnails: Use Canva to design attractive thumbnails that grab viewers’ attention.

How to Make Money with Your Channel

Once your channel grows, there are several ways to make money:

1. Ad Revenue: YouTube ads can bring in steady income once your channel is monetized.
2. Affiliate Marketing: Add links to products or services in your video description. Earn money whenever someone makes a purchase through your link.
3. Sponsorships: Work with brands to promote their products in your videos.
4. Selling Merchandise: Offer branded items like mugs, T-shirts, or digital downloads.

Pro Tip: Always disclose sponsored content to maintain transparency with your audience.

Tips to Grow Your Faceless YouTube Channel

Here’s how to make your channel a success:

• Be Consistent: Post at least once a week to keep your audience engaged.
• Use SEO: Use tools like TubeBuddy or VidIQ to find the best keywords for your video titles and descriptions.
• Engage with Viewers: Reply to comments and ask your audience for suggestions.
• Analyze and Improve: Use YouTube Analytics to see what’s working and adjust your content strategy.

Example of a Faceless Channel

Imagine creating a channel about Meditation Guides:

• Use stock videos of nature and calming music.
• Write scripts for guided meditations using ChatGPT.
• Monetize the channel by promoting meditation apps like Calm or Headspace with affiliate links.

Conclusion

Starting a side hustle does n’t have to be exhausting. With tools and robotization at your fingertips, earning$ 500 a day is attainable — indeed if you’re starting from scrape. Whether you choose to vend digital products, run an AI- powered online store, or produce faceless YouTube content, the openings are endless.

At 99Hustle.com, we’re then to support your side hustle trip. Check out our other posts for further tips and strategies to grow your income aqueducts!