It's March 2021, last year the Coronavirus pretty much crippled our economy here in Melbourne. Businesses closed down and millions of people cued to get their Jobkeeper payments, however during the pandemic lots of people in the community pulled together and came up with innovative ways to make some extra money on the side. Now not all of these ideas will make you instantly rich (so forget about the new Ferrari) but there is a use case for all of them, plus you can help others while making a few bucks on the side... If you are looking for some inspiration for your next money spinner, check out these 8 side hustles:

Got an opinion? Why not share it with online surveys in your free time. It's a great way to earn extra cash. It's certainly not going to turn you into an overnight millionaire but if you have time on your hands then why not use the time wisely & make some money. 

Driving for Uber can be a very rewarding way to meet people and make money by putting your car to work. You can drive and earn as little or as much as you want. And, the more you drive, the more money you can make. 

Do you have a product that you want to sell? The best way hands down to sell anything these days is online. We offer eCommerce websites from only $1449 that can help you make extra money selling the things you love. 

If you have never traded before you can get $100 of free credit on eToro by signing up and giving trading a go. You can start from as little as $50 and you can trade, foreign currency, stocks & shares & Bitcoin.
Your capital is at risk

Is the next-door neighbours dog getting on your nerves? Well it's probably getting on their nerves too! Why not offer to walk their dog for them? The going rate for a dog walker is $25 per hour plus you will get free exercise... Its a win/win

​Let's face it, no one loves cleaning, but some people find it great exercise and therapeutic. There are plenty of positions out there for part time cleaners. It might not be for everyone but it could be perfect for you. 

Fruit picking, Leave this to the backpackers? Nope, because of COVID travel restrictions there are almost no backpackers in Australia. So who is going to pick the fruit? Well if you have spare time & want to make extra cash, why not give it ago? Outdoor work, in the sun & helping the economy :)

Working from home more? Using your car less? Well maybe someone could rent your CBD car space from you. It's a great way to help someone who needs a cheap park and helps with bring in some extra money, without really doing anything. Check out Spacer for more information

. We understand that SEO can be a challenge for Small Business owners BUT choosing your SEO partner shouldn't be. Here is a list of things you need to consider before you choose your SEO provider:

1) Are they even a local business? 

When you are searching for an SEO company on Google you should check the contact details on the listing, if you are based in Australia you need to ensure your SEO company is based here so they can easily understand the local market rules and regulations here in Australia. It's beneficial for you for them to provide local support in your own timezone. First you should check their phone number if it starts with +61, 02, 03, 04, 07 or area codes you know and understand there is a good possibility they are based here in Australia. If the code is +1 they are based in the US. +91 is India. +62 is Indonesia. If you're not sure what the area code is you can easily Google it or check with a online service for International Phone Codes

2) Are they paying for their own traffic?

​Chances are if an SEO is paying for its own Google listing they aren't that good at SEO. Why would you employ a company that specialises in Google traffic if they need to pay for their own traffic?  Check out this list of Local SEO companies: 

I personally wouldn't employ any of these to manage my Local SEO because:  

a) The top 2 aren't even based in Australia
b) The 2 that are based in Australia need to pay for traffic to get listed
c) They are all paying for this Ad as you can see by the Ad symbol at the start of the add.

3) Are they Ranking on Google Maps?
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They are so many international overseas SEO companies all trying to win your business but if you want to find someone in your local area then I recommend going to Google Maps and running a local search. Not only will this tell you if they are actually based in Australia it will also give you access to their Google reviews. Type Local SEO into Google but instead of using the traditional search method click on the Maps view to see local businesses and reviews. This method also separates the paid ads from the local ads:

4) Always read the Google reviews

Google Reviews have become a very important part of Local SEO this is one of the best ways to see if the company you plan to work are credible. Here are my tips for Google Reviews:

The thing about cloud software is that it's always evolving. I have been a massive advocate of Capsule CRM since I discovered it back in 2010. The great thing about it is that I never lose any of my customer information.

If you lose your phone and you haven't backed up the data you could lose your customers phone number and maybe their email address. If your email breaks or you forget your passwords you can lose all of your customers emails. Capsule CRM holds all of this vital information online so if the worst happens and you drop your computer down the loo or leave your phone on the train it doesn't matter!

Capsule stores everything online so you can access it from anywhere, anytime you need it. On any computer, phone or tablet. It's also free for up to 2 users so why not give it a try today.