Side Hustles in Bus Travel and Home Cooking
Welcome to The Side Hustle Report, the publication that reveals two side hustle ideas you can act on. I am confident in saying you are reading the best resource for side hustle ideas. I am even more certain that we have the smartest ideas for startup businesses out there. Don’t take my word for it, read about the two stunning opportunities in our latest edition.
If you have a passion for travel or cooking then one of these opportunities could be for you.
It’s worth saying before we get started that we all find excuses why we shouldn’t start a new business. And if we don’t, someone else will. “What do you know about that?” They will say. Sadly you may agree with the naysayers and your dream of starting your own business will never materialize, or at least not until you change your mindset. It is important that we don’t spend too much time researching and analyzing an idea as we will always find fault in it. Some of the best businesses today would have found reasons not to start. We must jump in and learn how to swim as we go.
The critical point is, we must start with something. It doesn’t have to be the best idea in the world because it will evolve and it will get you in the game. What you must do however is experiment without using up all your resources. That is why many of the business ideas we present you with can be started with minimal capital. You will also receive a massive leg up by starting with a great brand name which in most cases receives significant keyword searches, saving you a fortune in marketing spend. It’s important to stand out in this crowded world, our ideas allow you to do just that.
So let’s kick off with…
Side Hustle Idea #1
Do you have a passion or an interest in travel? If the answer is yes, then you will like this idea.
The travel industry is always evolving but one thing is for certain, it is only going to grow as disposable income increases in line with our leisure time. Travel is one of the top items people spend their spare money on. Owning the domain name BusTicket.org offers a quick route into the travel business. It’s an easy to remember, catchy name. Importantly, the phrase “bus ticket” has a massive 60,000 keyword searches every month where advertisers typically pay between 30 cents and $1 to advertise on search engines. Another key point is BusTicket.org was registered back in 2019 providing credibility with both search engines and clients alike. So what kind of side hustles can you start by owning the domain name BusTicket.org? A bunch!
I have separated the opportunities by category because some of these may appeal more to your particular interests or skills.
The first category of opportunities are travel-related.
You could start an online ticketing platform where you partner with bus operators to sell tickets, bus passes, travel insurance services or even bus-themed merchandise. It’s a simple business to set up and operate and there is obviously a big inherent demand. The name lends itself perfectly to this kind of business providing credibility from day one.
Another option could be operating as a travel booking affiliate where you would earn commissions promoting bus travel packages.
The popularity of the keywords “bus ticket” makes BusTicket.org an ideal opportunity to create digital products, including:
- An E-book with a name like: “The Ultimate Bus Travel Guide.”
- An online course: “How to Plan Epic Bus Adventures.”
- Or even a travel app where you could develop a bus route planner or tracker.
As well as digital products you could use your new brand for advertising and sponsorship opportunities, including: displaying relevant ads or sponsored content. Here you can partner with travel companies. Another option is affiliate marketing where you could promote travel gear.
The opportunity to build a community-driven business such as a forum or travel blog sharing bus travel experiences, routes, and destinations is another attractive opportunity. By creating a community for bus travelers you can allow the exchange of ideas as well as build a captive audience which would be an enticing platform for advertisers targeting bus users.
Now let’s look at various monetization strategies:
There are so many opportunities available with this one idea allowing you to earn revenue from various sources including affiliate marketing, sponsored content, digital product sales, commission-based ticket sales or a membership/subscription model.
You should be able to generate anywhere from $500 to $5,000 a month in advertising revenue, and the sky’s the limit for digital product sales but we estimate monthly sales of anywhere between $2,000 and $20,000 is realistic.
You can buy BusTicket.org securely through GoDaddy for $750, which considering its potential represents tremendous value.
Building a website is likely to cost around $300. You will want to make sure you create relevant content and ensure your website is optimized for SEO which can be arranged through freelance sites such as Fiverr at a cost of no more than $100 or so. So you are all in for around $1,200.
BusTicket.org is such a versatile domain name offering many different opportunities within the travel space. The great thing is many of these opportunities require very little experience, just good old fashioned research.
Don’t hang around if you find this opportunity interesting, once someone buys this domain name it’s gone forever.
View BusTicket.org on GoDaddy now.
BONUS: Step-by-step guide to setting up a travel booking affiliate website using BusTicket.org
Step 1: Research and Choose Affiliate Programs
- Identify reputable affiliate programs for bus travel:
- Commission Junction (CJ)
- ShareASale
- Travelpayouts
- Bus-specific programs (e.g., Greyhound, Megabus)
- Compare commission rates, cookie durations, and program terms
Step 2: Set Up Website
1. Install WordPress or similar CMS
2. Choose a travel-themed template
3. Customize design and layout
4. Install necessary plugins (e.g., affiliate link manager, SEO optimizer)
5. Alternatively, use the services of a freelancer from a site like Fiverr
Step 3: Create Valuable Content
1. Develop a content strategy:
- Bus travel guides
- Route information
- Destination reviews
- Travel tips
2. Create high-quality, engaging content
3. Optimize content for SEO
Step 4: Join Affiliate Programs and Get Affiliate Links
1. Sign up for chosen affiliate programs
2. Obtain affiliate links or codes for bus travel bookings
3. Set up affiliate link tracking using plugins (e.g., Affiliate Links, ThirstyAffiliates)
Step 5: Integrate Affiliate Links
1. Add affiliate links to relevant content (e.g., bus route pages)
2. Use link cloaking to mask affiliate links
3. Test affiliate link functionality
Step 6: Promote and Drive Traffic
1. Develop a marketing strategy:
- Social media promotion
- Email marketing
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Paid advertising (Google Ads, Facebook Ads)
2. Create engaging social media content
3. Build and send targeted email newsletters
Step 7: Track and Optimize
1. Monitor affiliate earnings and website analytics
2. Analyze user behavior and conversion rates
3. Optimize content, marketing strategies, and affiliate links
Technical Requirements:
1. Web hosting (e.g., Bluehost, SiteGround)
2. WordPress or similar CMS
3. Affiliate link management plugins
4. SEO optimization plugins
Potential Revenue:
1. Affiliate commissions: 5%-10% per booking
2. Average booking value: $50-$100
3. Potential monthly revenue: $1,000-$10,000
Ongoing Maintenance:
1. Content updates and fresh content creation
2. Affiliate program management
3. Marketing and promotion
4. Technical maintenance and updates
Now let’s get into…
Side Hustle #2
HomeCook.org
If you have a passion for cooking then this side hustle could be one for you.
A little about the domain name HomeCook.org first. The name was registered in 2020. There are 64 extensions registered, that number demonstrates the popularity of the name “HomCook” while .org is one of the top extensions. There are 12,000 monthly searches for the key term “home cook” with advertisers paying between $2.35 and $10 per click. As you can see it’s the perfect name for a cooking related business allowing the owner to get a head start with organic traffic landing on your new website with minimal marketing spend required.
So let’s take a look at what side hustles you can use the domain name HomeCook.org for.
Firstly there are food-related side hustles including:
A recipe blog where you can share home cooking recipes, tutorials, and stories. There is the opportunity for a meal planning service offering customized meal plans and grocery lists. You could also tap into the massive online course market by offering cooking classes via video or live sessions or create an online course through platforms such as Coursera. Owning such a relevant domain name allows you to build a captive audience who you can sell your online courses to whether they be hosted on another platform or your own.
You could offer food product reviews, where you can review cookware, kitchen gadgets, and ingredients.
HomeCook.org also lends itself perfectly to digital products.
Possible digital products could include an e-cookbook which compiles favorite recipes into a downloadable book.
You could launch a community-driven business such as a forum or discussion board where you could host cooking discussions and Q&A, manage cooking-focused groups on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest or offer cooking challenges where you would organize community cooking challenges.
Another lucrative area is in personal chef services where you would offer in-home cooking or catering.
Finally, you could even enter the meal prep service business preparing and delivering healthy meals.
In terms of potential revenue from your new business.
As well as revenue from sales of courses, e-books or chef services there is also the possibility of affiliate marketing and advertising on your platform. The costs of setting up your new business are minimal. There is the cost of the domain name which is $595, the website which will cost around $300 and that is pretty much your total outlay.
You should be able to generate advertising revenue of between $500 and $2,500 a month, and product sales of at least $1,000 a month to begin with.
You can buy HomeCook.org securely through GoDaddy for $595
That’s it for now. Two great ideas for you to think about. But don’t be one of those people who ponders on an idea, there is a time for pondering and a time for action! If you like an idea, do your research and then move on it. Good luck and until next time.
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Check out previous editions of The Side Hustle Report here:
Edition #1 – Neck Pillows and Solar Power
Edition #2 – Weighted Hula Hoops and Home Valuations
Edition #3 – Urban Agriculture and Cryptocurrency
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