17 Simple Ways Retirees Can Re-Purpose Content for a Fun and Profitable Side-Hustle
When retirees start a side-hustle, they don’t want to spend forever and a day working on it. So by re-purposing your content, you can reach more people and make the most of what you’ve already created.
Retirement is a wonderful time to share your stories, skills, and wisdom—and maybe earn a little extra income. You don’t need to be a tech expert to get started.
For instance, click here to learn about a way to use social media to make a side-income from your special skills or interests. Using your social media and your own interests as a source of extra income.
Here are 17 different ways to re-purpose one piece of content.
1. Turn Your Written Stories into Simple Videos
If you’ve written a story, article, or even a list of tips, try reading it out loud on camera. You can use your smartphone, tablet, or computer—just prop it up and press record. Don’t worry about being perfect; people love seeing real, genuine faces. Sharing your stories as videos helps you connect with people who prefer watching over reading, and you can post these videos on Facebook, YouTube, or even send them to friends and family.
2. Break One Video into Short Clips
After you’ve made a video, you can split it into shorter clips, each focusing on a single tip, story, or moment. For example, if you recorded a 10-minute video about gardening, you could create three or four short clips, each about a different plant or technique. These shorter videos are great for sharing on social media, where people often prefer quick, bite-sized content.
3. Make Fun GIFs or Stories from Your Videos
A GIF is a short, looping animation—think of it as a moving photo. You can take a funny or interesting moment from your video and turn it into a GIF using simple online tools. Or, you can create a “story” (a short video or photo update) for Facebook or Instagram. These are fun, easy ways to share highlights and keep your audience engaged.
4. Turn an eBook or Guide into a Series of Emails
If you’ve written a longer guide or eBook, you can break it up into smaller sections and send them out as a series of emails. For example, if you wrote a 10-page guide to decluttering, you could send one tip per day for a week. This keeps your audience interested and gives them something to look forward to, without overwhelming them with too much information at once.
5. Host a Live Q&A Based on Your Guest Articles
If you’ve written for someone else’s website or newsletter, invite your readers to a live video chat where you answer their questions. You can use Facebook Live or Zoom, both of which are beginner-friendly. Just announce the date and time, and encourage people to join in and ask questions. It’s a great way to build relationships and show your expertise.
6. Turn a Podcast Chat into a Blog Post
If you enjoy chatting with friends or sharing stories on audio, record your conversation and write up the highlights as a blog post. You don’t need fancy equipment—your phone’s voice recorder works fine. Later, you can listen back and type out the main points, making your content accessible to people who prefer reading.
7. Share Your Webinar Slides on SlideShare
If you’ve given a talk or presentation, you probably have slides (like PowerPoint). You can upload these slides to SlideShare, a website where people share presentations. This helps you reach a wider audience, especially professionals and learners who are looking for helpful information.
8. Create an Infographic from Your Presentation
Take the main points from your presentation and turn them into a colorful, easy-to-read graphic. Free tools like Canva make this simple, even for beginners. Infographics are great for sharing on social media and can help people quickly understand your message.
9. Turn a Video or Blog into a Podcast
If you’ve made a video or written a blog post, you can record yourself reading it and share it as a podcast. Podcasts are audio shows that people can listen to while walking, driving, or relaxing. There are simple apps that help you record and upload your podcast episodes.
10. Bundle Your Best Work into a Product
If you notice that certain stories, tips, or lessons are especially popular, consider bundling them into a small eBook, course, or printable guide. You can sell these online through websites like Etsy or Gumroad, or even offer them as a thank-you gift for donations.
11. Share Memorable Quotes from Your Content
Pick out your favorite lines or bits of advice from your stories, articles, or talks, and turn them into quote images. Free apps like Canva or even PowerPoint can help you add text to a photo. These are perfect for sharing on Facebook or Instagram and can inspire others.
12. Turn a Challenge into an Email Series
If you’ve ever run a challenge (like a 7-day gratitude or decluttering challenge), you can repackage it as a daily email series. New people can sign up and receive one email per day, making it easy for them to follow along and stay motivated.
13. Make Graphics from Quotes and Statistics
If you come across an interesting fact or quote, turn it into a simple graphic. These are eye-catching and easy to share, and you don’t need any design experience—just use a free template and add your text.
14. Break a White Paper into Blog Posts
If you’ve written a longer, more detailed piece (like a white paper or research report), divide it into shorter blog posts. Each post can focus on a different section or idea, giving you more content to share over time and making it easier for readers to digest.
15. Create a Resource Library from Your Best Content
Gather your most helpful articles, videos, or guides in one place on your website or blog. This makes it easy for visitors to find your best work and shows that you’re a trusted source of information.
16. Answer Questions on Quora Using Your Content
If you see questions online (like on Quora or Reddit) that your content already answers, copy and paste the relevant section as your answer. This is a great way to help others, attract new readers, and share your expertise.
17. Turn How-To Articles into Downloadable Templates
If you’ve written a step-by-step guide, create a simple checklist or template that people can print and use. For example, if you wrote about organizing a closet, make a printable checklist of steps. This adds extra value and is easy to do with basic word processing tools.
18. Make Image Posts from Testimonials
If someone says something nice about your work, turn their words into a simple image post. Just add their quote to a photo or background, and share it on your social media. This builds trust and shows others the value you offer.
You don’t need to be a tech whiz to re-purpose your content. Start with what you already have, try out a few of these ideas, and watch your side-hustle grow—one simple step at a time. Your stories and experience are valuable, and sharing them in new ways can be both fun and rewarding.
