Side Gig Success: Launch & Monetize Your Skills on LinkedIn
- Lisa Dupras
- Oct 7
- 7 min read
Updated: Oct 7
You've been searching on Google again, "how to make extra money," "side gigs for tech professionals," and " what to do when you can't find a job."
Here's the challenge: You know how to architect cloud infrastructure, lead acquisition integrations, implement security protocols. But when someone asks, "what services could you offer?", you freeze. You don't know how to translate your skills into something a client would hire you for. The problem isn't your skills—it's knowing how to package them."
And with searches now stretching nearly six months, figuring out what you can offer isn't optional anymore—you need to start earning. One in four professionals are now unemployed over half a year! Whether you're searching for the right offer, or ready for more control over your career, the traditional path isn't enough anymore. You need to create your own opportunities.
Side gig statistics back this up: According to Lending Tree, nearly 2 in 5 Americans have a side hustle, with 77% saying it improves their quality of life, and 44% calling it essential for long-term financial security. This shift isn't a trend, it's a response to an incredibly tough job market.
Here's what most professionals don't realize: The technical expertise, leadership experience, and problem-solving abilities you've spent years building are exactly what clients will pay premium rates for—if you know how to package them.
5 Reasons Why Tech Professionals Struggle to Start a LinkedIn Side Gig
The potential barriers can feel overwhelming. Here's why:
Fear of the unknown: You've never run a business before. What if no one wants what you're offering? You could spend months building something nobody buys.
Imposter syndrome: After years as an employee, positioning yourself as an expert feels like fraud. Other consultants seem more established and legitimate."
Marketing yourself: Do you need a website? A portfolio? Case studies? The 'should haves' list keeps growing while you haven't landed a single client.
Time and risk: You're already working or job searching. Where do you find time to build something from scratch when you're not even sure it will work?
Going solo: You've always had teams and infrastructure. Can you deliver the same results on your own without that support?
Meanwhile, opportunities are passing you by. Less experienced professionals are landing clients and building case studies while you're still researching. Every month you wait is income you're not earning and momentum you're not building.
The good news: You don't need most of what you think you need.
You need a way to show up as the expert you already are on LinkedIn and connect with people who need your help
Why LinkedIn Is Your Side Gig Solution
LinkedIn is the world's largest professional networking platform with over 1 billion users. Your experience is documented, your connections exist, and Service and Company Pages are ready to use. What you need is to reposition yourself from job seeker to service provider, and that's what we'll help you do.
You're in good company: Millions of professionals already sell services and products on LinkedIn. You can study their profiles to see what they offer, how they position themselves, and validate demand. You're learning from proven examples, not guessing
You can leverage your credibility: Years of experience, projects, and recommendations prove your expertise. You're not an anonymous stranger claiming to be an expert—your track record validates it.
Pre-delivered marketing tools: Service and Company Pages are designed for professionals selling their expertise, products, or solutions. Plus, you can market your services for free through posts, articles, and videos—no paid ads required. No website to build. Learn how to build a strong LinkedIn company page. The platform is ready."
Over 1 billion potential clients: Decision-makers, business owners, and buyers are actively using it to find solutions and connect with decision makers and experts.
You already have a network: You're not building an audience from zero. Your connections already know you and your expertise. Many are one conversation away from becoming your first client or referral.
LinkedIn solves the barriers that keep most professionals stuck from launching side gigs. You don't need months of setup or a fancy website. You have the platform, the credibility, and the network. What you need is to shift how you position yourself—from job seeker to business owner.
As Forbes notes, "Small companies also are realizing that LinkedIn is a great venue for interacting and building relationships with prospects, customers, partners and vendors." The platform works.
Selling on LinkedIn: More Than A Profile Update
LinkedIn is ready. Your network is there. But transforming your profile from job seeker to side gig owner isn't about updating a few lines—it's a complete repositioning.
What Needs to Shift | Job Seeker | Side Gig Owner |
Headline | Target job, skills, and what can be brought to target employers. | Skills, product/service, and strategy for how the business brings value to potential clients. |
About Section | Shares responsibilities, skills, career history and accomplishments | Describes who you help, what problems you solve, and the transformation you provide |
Experience | Focused on skills and accomplishments for future jobs. | How past experience, skills, bring value to clients |
Mindset | Here's why you should hire me. | Here's the problem I solve for you |
Goal | Get a job offer | Attract ideal clients and projects |
Content Strategy | Posts that network and attract employers. | Posts that demonstrate expertise and attract ideal clients |
Services Offered | None - profile focused on getting hired | Profile references and connects to company and services pages where potential clients can contact you |
Target Audience | Recruiters and hiring managers | Potential leads and clients |
Repositioning a LinkedIn profile requires an objective eye and transformation from a 'here's why to hire me' to 'here's how I can help you' perspective. The new profile needs to market and sell your business and your services without under or overselling while leveraging LinkedIn business offering to their maximum value. The messaging needs to fundamentally change. This transformation is the core offering of our accelerator framework.
The Elev8 Side Gig Accelerator Framework: Three Steps to Monetizable Services
This isn't generic advice—it's a 4-week intensive coaching framework that transforms your technical experience into a client-ready service launching on LinkedIn in under a month.
Step 1: Clarify Your Service/Product and Build Your Brand
Clarify your side gig idea into a marketable service or product, define your target client, and craft a professional story that positions you as a trusted partner.
Step 2: Transform Your LinkedIn Profile
Shift your LinkedIn profile from a job search focus into a client-attracting service hub. Set up and position your Company and Service pages so you and your products can be easily found.
Step 3: Build Your Marketing Plan
Strategically expand your professional network, convert connections, and plan your communication strategy to gain qualified leads using proven LinkedIn marketing strategies.
The 4-Week Elev8 Side Gig Accelerator Roadmap
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
We identify your unique value proposition, define your ideal client profile, and create your positioning statement. You clarify what you're selling and who needs it most. | We rewrite your profile (headline, About, Experience), launch your Services Page, and create your Company Page. Your LinkedIn presence shifts from job seeker to service provider. | We map your warmest opportunities, develop your content strategy, and create outreach templates. You have a clear plan for attracting and converting clients. | You begin implementing your marketing plan, start posting content, reach out to warm connections, and generate your first client conversations. |
Case Study: From Government Employee-->International Consultant in 30 Days
Frequently Asked Questions About LinkedIn Side Gigs
I don't have a huge network—can I still build my side gig?
Yes. LinkedIn has over 1 billion professionals, and we teach you exactly how to strategically connect with your ideal clients. You're not limited to who you already know—we show you how to expand your network with the right people who need what you offer.
What if I have trouble getting clients from my side gig?
We provide the framework, positioning, and strategy to launch your side gig—but client acquisition requires your consistent marketing efforts. Most people see first conversations within 30-60 days of launching. We're not selling guaranteed clients; we're selling the proven roadmap to get there.
What if I get a job offer while building my side gig?
Great! The LinkedIn optimization works for both employment and client opportunities. Many people keep their side gig running after landing full-time roles—extra income and career insurance. You're building options, not choosing one path over the other.
Why start my LinkedIn side gig now instead of waiting?
Every month you wait is income you're not earning and momentum you're not building. The job market isn't getting easier, and less experienced professionals are already landing clients while you're still researching. The best time to build your financial safety net is before you desperately need it—not after.
Ready to Launch Your LinkedIn Side Gig?
You have the expertise and the desire. What you need is the strategy to launch.
Book a Free Discovery Call where we'll:
Assess your background and identify your most marketable expertise
Clarify your positioning and ideal client
Map out your 30-day launch plan
Determine if the Side Gig Accelerator Program is the right fit for you
Plus, you'll get instant access to our Side Gig-erator Tool to start validating your ideas before we even talk!
Want to Explore First?
Get your FREE Side Gig-erator Tool and 5 ChatGPT prompts and discover:
Monetizable side gig ideas tailored to your career background
5 ChatGPT prompts to refine and validate your offering
Customized results based on your specific expertise
Lisa's expertise has been seen in:
Yahoo Finance - 5 Ways to Make Money with Your Microsoft Excel Skills
About the Author:
Lisa Dupras is a LinkedIn Certified Expert and Certified Career Coach who helps tech professionals transform their expertise into profitable LinkedIn side gigs. With 20+ years in HR and IT, she specializes in translating technical capabilities into client-ready service offerings. Through her Side Gig Accelerator program, she's helped dozens of professionals launch income-generating businesses in 30 days or less.
Comments