Advances in technology over the last couple of decades have opened up a whole new world of opportunity for careers and hobbies that just 50 years ago may have seemed like science fiction. Nowadays, our daily lives have been transported online in some way, and as well as entertainment moving online in the form of gaming and streaming, lifehack shows that there are many jobs that can be done online, and careers that have stemmed from this new technology. Some pay more than others, but there is something to suit everyone.

With just a laptop and internet connection, anyone can get started in this line of work. Basics include scheduling, answering calls, providing customer support and administration. People in this line of work can be employees or work on a self-employed basis and depending on the level of experience can command a fair amount.

This option is not going to become a full-time job but can certainly contribute some extra money to the household coffers, helping pay for unexpected expenses or even a nice holiday! There are many survey apps that people can download and do as many, or as few surveys, as they wish.

Many companies outsource transcription as robots and software programmes can be unreliable. The amount of money that can be made very much depends on the level of skill and experience, and how quickly individuals can transcribe. Different platforms offer different rates and building a regular clientele can be quite lucrative.

Online poker has grown substantially over the last decade. In 2019, the online gambling industry was worth around US$60 billion and is expected to grow to over US $90 billion. More and more people are visiting online casinos and playing poker, and for most, this remains a fun and exciting hobby. However, others have taken this one step further, and have made a profitable career out of online poker. 888poker offers players a range of options for low and high rollers, including live dealer games, tournaments and promotions. The top poker players in the world can win millions of dollars in online tournaments, truly elevating the game.

E Sports has also seen a huge boom in popularity recently, where players play games like Fortnite, League of Legends and Call of Duty in a competitive environment. According to MarketWatch, in 2019 the first-ever Fortnite World Cup was held, culminating in a US$3 million win for a 16-year-old from Pennsylvania.

Trading on the stock market is a very profitable way to earn a living, and plenty of people work full time in this area. Day traders, for example, will hold stocks for mere minutes, making hundreds of trades each day to maximise their profit. Successful traders who know what they are doing can make 300%+ each year, making it a hugely profitable environment to be in. However, as Canadian Immigrant states investing can be risky, so anyone planning on going down this route should ensure they do enough research.

Those with knowledge and qualifications in this area will find that on a self-employed basis working from home, they can make considerably more money than their counterparts in the corporate world offering the same services as they cut out the exorbitant overhead costs. However, people going down this route must make sure that they are prepared for the rigours of this kind of work and staying abreast of training and regulations.

This is a great option for those with grammar and spelling skills but who perhaps lack the creative flair for content creation. It offers a wealth of opportunities for scaling up as proofreaders can grow their client base and do as much or as little work as they like.

Blogging can be much more profitable than people realise, with top bloggers making six figures and working part-time hours. Anyone with an internet connection, device, and passion can start, with blogs ranging from travel posts all the way through to toaster reviews! There is a market for pretty much anything.

Freelance writers can write on any topic, any type of content, from short articles for websites right through to ghostwriting memoirs and fiction. The most profitable area is technical writing, as few people have the technical knowledge to write manuals as well as having the necessary writing skills.

Streaming is hugely popular, with YouTube, Twitch, Facebook and Mixer offering live streaming platforms for creators to connect with their fans. Each offers its own way for streamers to make money, whether it is cheering using bits on Twitch, or Facebook’s tipping mechanism. Successful streaming stars can make millions through sponsorship deals, adverts, and donations from fans.

Social media marketing is now one of the most popular forms of advertising utilised by many different companies. Social media managers work with existing companies to build their online presence, using social media platforms to run campaigns and maintain an online presence. We have provided some top tips on how to create engaging video content for social media.

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is a key component of any company with an online presence. By manipulating the algorithms, SEO consultants can ensure that their pages are on the first page of any google search, driving traffic through the site and increasing business.

Working from home can be really convenient and is a great way to work around existing family commitments as it offers a degree of flexibility that other jobs don’t. However, it is important to make sure that any opportunities are legit and won’t result in non-payment for services provided (at best) or (at worst) be a cover for illegal activity. Approaching the endeavour with some degree of caution is wise; check reviews of the company or platform, never take the relationship with the company off a reputable platform, and if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Due to the unfair implications of systemic racism, which has been heavily embedded into culture as we know it, the black community has a far lower self-employment rate than others (12 per cent, according to Policy Exchange).

As more and more consumers start to realise the true impact that buying from black owned businesses can have on the whole of society, we thought it was time to highlight some of our favourites in London. Here are our top favourite black owned businesses in London—among an even larger and growing list of others.

“See it, like it, book it.” This one is a wholly supportive business whose ambition is to help beauty professionals grow their services. Essentially, Beautystack is a booking app with a heavy focus on social community where users are put directly in contact with any beauty services they might need, which in turn nurtures the careers of those professionals who work independently. Think of it as the Treatwell of the new generation, only Beautystack truly uplifts independent professionals.

The app further helps beauty pros reduce the time they usually need to spend on social media ‘managing’ their businesses alone, as bookings are advertised and easily made through the app. This also provides protection to those who are self-employed within the beauty industry.

As written by TechCrunch in an interview with Beautystack’s founder Sharmadean Reid, “the beauty pro’s time is better protected against cancellations, too, with a 50% upfront booking and 50% upon completion. An image of the beauty treatment sought is attached to each booking and the beauty pro can view the client’s profile to gauge their taste before they even walk through the door.” Beautystack is fundamentally one giant B2C conversation and its events are organised to inspire, connect and support anyone who has a dream, and wants to make it reality.

Bonus, Reid recently launched The Stack, a membership focused on beauty, wellness, business, culture, and society. What’s not to love, right?

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Founded in 2011 by Femi Adeyemi, NTS has now become a cult global radio platform. “Built by music lovers, for music lovers. Broadcasting live from London, Manchester, Los Angeles, beyond,” reads NTS’ website.

The Guardian reported it as “somewhere between BBC 6 Music’s diversity and pirate radio’s DIY spirit.” The station, along with its super loyal community, has also made a name for itself for championing underground scenes and supporting exciting music and cultures through both its online radio and its pre-pandemic (and hopefully post-pandemic) events. As well as luring music fans back to radio, it connects them to each other.

As written in Trippin, since its launch in 2015, gal-dem “continued to hold truth to power through platforming the stories of women and non-binary people of colour.” The new media publication further explains on its website that it is “committed to telling the stories of people of colour from marginalised genders,” and it certainly does just that! As with all of the other wonderful brands and initiatives on this list, gal-dem is community driven.

The publication’s journalism and creative work is known for shaping debates and discussions to create important and necessary shifts in the way we think, and by doing so, gal-dem succeeds at empowering as well as supporting the creative work of its diverse community—a platform that everyone should add to their bookmarks.

Founded by Gynelle Leon, PRICK is London’s first ever cactus and succulent shop, based in Dalson, East London—although its online shop is pretty ‘busy’ too. It offers a selection of unusual and exotic plants (that are hard to not keep alive, for any non-green fingered souls out there). PRICK sees cacti and succulents as living sculptures that can take years to fully develop and through her business, Leon successfully sheds light on these plants as a sustainable way to brighten up city living. Plant pet, anyone?

Founded by Karl Jouanni, Alive & More is a streetwear label that lets customers unlock real clothes through a video game. By merging Alive & More with his other venture, TEAM RELMS, Jouanni created a gravity defying fashion brand like no other. The concept is simple: users download the RELMS app, play the game and travel to a virtual fashion shrine to unlock their garments. Welcome to the future!

Founded in 2004 by Edson Sabajo and Guillaume ‘Gee’ Schmidt in Amsterdam as a means to provide themselves, as well as their friends and family with a steady supply of footwear and gear, Patta quickly shifted from a hobby to a thriving business and recognisable brand.

By 2016, the London Patta store opened its doors, and the community surrounding it continued to expand. Unlike mainstream and unsustainable fashion houses, Patta is built on love and necessity rather than profit and novelty. 

“From Lagos to London.” Founded by Louie Akinwale in the midst of the global pandemic, Lu by Lu is an accessory brand that currently makes handbags in Nigeria, but aspires to create much more in the near future.

Although still new, Lu by Lu has a strong message surrounding it already. It is where sustainable luxury meets an underground community that is committed to authenticity in contemporary fashion. The brand is ushering a modernist view of Africa, and all that it entails. At its core, Lu by Lu is a movement, a stylish one at that, and is definitely one to be a part of.

Founded by Screen Shot writer Marcia Veiga, Nobody’s Native is an independent ceramic business that sells quirky homeware, from your go-to cups to the cutest smoking pipes you’ll find on the gram. Available to be purchased through DMs on Instagram, you’re bound to find an ideal gift for yourself or a friend on there.

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Gyms are open, and we’re excited about it! Instead of signing up to the gym giants that usually run the scene, why don’t you sign up to community based gyms where you might actually interact with other fitness enthusiasts? Elite Evolution is a black owned gym based in Hackney, East London, that specialises in providing quality health and fitness in personal training and fitness classes.

Elite Evolution’s goal is to create a safe and connected space for groups and individuals to improve their lifestyles through health, fitness and general wellbeing. Yes please!

The global pandemic induced lockdowns had us spending a lot of time in our homes, giving us a new sense of appreciation or motivation to spruce up some change within them. If you’re looking for furniture that is intricately sourced from around the world, have a look at Bleu Furniture, which is based in Herne Hill, South London.

Most of its products are mid-century modern, 20th century design, decorative art, vintage industrial furniture, vintage African masks and art. The shop also offers specialist upholstery and restoration!

This is a miniscule list in comparison to how many up and coming black creators are out there taking the plunge into self-employment, but it’s a start. Keep an eye and an ear out for the people behind the products that we buy daily, and ask yourself if there are alternative local businesses that you can support too.