Whether you're exploring your first online side hustle or already juggling a few, welcome!

I've spent the past several years experimenting with different ways to earn online, from selling physical and digital products to affiliate marketing, content creation, and building online businesses. Along the way, I've learned that things change quickly, and there's always something new to figure out.

That's why I'm starting Side Hustle Field Notes.

Each week, I'll share news, tools, and opportunities worth paying attention to, explain what those changes might mean for your business, and pass along a few lessons from my own experiences.

No overnight-riches promises. No unnecessary fluff. Just practical information to help us work a little smarter.

Let's get into it!

If you've considered starting a newsletter or already publish one, Beehiiv is worth keeping an eye on.

The platform has been evolving beyond email newsletters, with tools for websites, audience growth, monetization, and even podcasts. Recent changes to its plans and pricing make it a good time to revisit what you're getting for your subscription.

For creators trying to simplify their businesses, the bigger question isn't necessarily which platform offers the most features. It's which features you'll actually use.

Why It Matters: Before adding another monthly subscription, take inventory of the tools you're already paying for. You might discover that one platform can handle several jobs or that a less expensive option does everything you need.

Read Beehiiv's announcement →

Eligible U.S. creators can tag Amazon products directly in YouTube Shorts, long-form videos, and livestreams through the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program.

Of course, access to shopping and monetization features depends on eligibility, location, and the specific program. Creating videos doesn't automatically mean you'll earn commissions.

Why It Matters: If you're already creating product-focused content, consider whether some of it could become useful YouTube tutorials or Shorts. Content that answers real questions may have value long after you publish it.

Read YouTube's creator updates →

Beginning February 1, 2027, YouTube is increasing the requirements for new creators seeking advertising and Premium revenue sharing:

These new entry thresholds do not affect creators already in the YouTube Partner Program. YouTube also says the lower entry requirements for shopping and fan-funding features remain unchanged.

Why It Matters: Before building your income strategy around a particular feature, check the official requirements. Understanding the rules early can save you from spending months working toward the wrong milestone.

Read YouTube's monetization requirements →

There's something convenient about building a side hustle on an established platform.

Amazon already has shoppers. YouTube already has viewers. Etsy already has people searching for products. Pinterest can help you reach people looking for ideas and inspiration.

But there's a trade-off: When someone else owns the platform, they also control the rules.

An algorithm update can change your traffic. A commission adjustment can affect your income. A policy change can make a strategy you've spent months developing less effective.

That doesn't mean these platforms aren't worth using. They absolutely are. But I think there's a difference between building a business on a platform and building a business that can survive beyond one platform.

For me, that's meant thinking more seriously about creating content that lives on my own website, building an email audience, and finding ways to make my work useful across multiple channels.

You don't need to launch five new projects tomorrow. In fact, trying to do everything at once can make it harder to succeed at anything.

Start with one question: If your primary platform changed tomorrow, would you have another way to reach the people who value your content?

Maybe that's a simple website where you publish helpful articles. Maybe it's a newsletter. Or perhaps it's a YouTube channel where you teach a skill and gradually build an audience.

The goal isn't to abandon what's working. It's to create a little more stability around it.

The Takeaway: Use established platforms to grow, but build something you control alongside them. Even one additional way to reach your audience can make your business more resilient.

Lately, I've been rethinking how I approach my Amazon Influencer and affiliate marketing work.

For a long time, much of my content focused on individual products: reviews, recommendations, and videos designed to help shoppers make decisions.

I'm still doing that, but I'm also experimenting with a broader approach.

Through Flyover Family, I'm creating more curated buying guides and helpful content that can live on my website, be shared through Pinterest, and potentially reach people through other channels.

Instead of thinking about one product and one affiliate link, I'm trying to think about the bigger picture: What information would actually help someone decide what to buy?

I'm also exploring how AI can make the behind-the-scenes work more manageable, especially research, organizing ideas, and repurposing content.

The challenge? It's easy to get distracted by every new tool or strategy promising to save time.

I'm learning that adding more technology doesn't automatically mean getting more done. Sometimes it just creates another system to maintain.

What I'm Learning: I don't necessarily need to create more content. I need to find better ways to use the content I'm already creating—and be more selective about the tools I bring into the process.

Here's a quick exercise you can do this week.

Think about the platform that currently plays the biggest role in your side hustle.

Now ask yourself: If that platform disappeared tomorrow, what would I still have?

Would you have an email list? A website? Content you could repurpose elsewhere? Another way to connect with your audience?

You don't need to solve everything today. Just identify one small step that would make your business less dependent on a single platform.

Maybe that's setting up a simple landing page, collecting email subscribers, or turning an existing video into a helpful blog post.

Your Next Step: Choose one asset you can build or improve this week that you—not an algorithm—control.

Know someone building a side hustle?

If this week’s Field Notes helped you make sense of what’s changing online, forward it to a friend who might find it useful too.

Share Side Hustle Field Notes →

Prefer to see how things work?

I’m also sharing practical tutorials, tools, and beginner-friendly side hustle strategies on YouTube.

Explore E-Commerce Side Hustles on YouTube →