SHS004: How to Make Money with Voice Acting With Nikki Connected!
Intro
There are more ways than ever to make money online—but some of the most overlooked opportunities are hidden in plain sight.
In this episode of The Side Hustler’s Society, Elijah Bilel explores one of those opportunities: voice acting.
From audiobook narration to online gigs, voice acting has become a growing income stream for people who may not even realize their voice can be monetized.
Intro to Nikki Connected
Content creator and entrepreneur focused on helping people make and save money
Runs a YouTube channel and blog under the brand “Nikki Connected”
Formerly known as Deal Finding Diva
Discovered audiobook narration through YouTube and landed her first opportunity with no prior experience
Turned one opportunity into multiple audiobook contracts, a course, and coaching services
Built her platform by sharing real experiences that resonate with everyday people
Nikki's Website: https://nikkiconnected.com/
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Episode Overview
This episode features a conversation between Elijah and Nikki Connected, breaking down how audiobook narration can become a real income stream—even for beginners.
Nikki shares how she discovered the opportunity by simply watching a YouTube video about getting paid to read books. After taking action, she landed her first audition and quickly turned that into multiple contracts.
One of the biggest insights from this episode is how demand plays a role in opportunity. Elijah points out that there was very little up-to-date information on audiobook narration online, which created a gap in the market.
Nikki filled that gap by documenting her journey—and that decision led to rapid growth, new opportunities, and a full content series around voice acting.
Elijah Bilel also connects this to a broader principle: when there’s a lack of quality information in a space, that often signals an opportunity for those willing to step in and provide value.
Listen to the Episode
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Side Hustler’s Society Resources
Get Elijah's best selling book, The Anatomy Of Financial Success here! Find out which one of the 6 financial personalities that you are so you can start maximizing your income!
Quick Takeaways
Voice acting is a growing side hustle that many people overlook
Nikki Connected landed multiple audiobook contracts after just one successful audition
You don’t need prior experience to get started
Elijah emphasizes that gaps in information often signal opportunity
Platforms like Amazon’s ACX allow beginners to get started without upfront costs
Elijah Bilel highlights the importance of taking action quickly when discovering new opportunities
Sharing your journey publicly can create unexpected income streams
Voice acting can evolve into courses, coaching, and content creation
How to Get Started with Voice Acting
1. Start with Basic Equipment
You don’t need an expensive setup, but you do need the essentials:
Microphone
Pop filter
Recording software (like Audacity)
Nikki emphasizes that investing in yourself is part of the process.
2. Create a Recording Environment
Sound quality matters more than expensive gear:
Record in smaller spaces (like a closet)
Use foam or soundproofing tools
Avoid echo-heavy environments
3. Use Platforms Like ACX
ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) allows you to:
Audition for audiobook roles
Connect with authors
Get paid through multiple contract types
4. Understand How You Get Paid
There are 3 main models:
Flat Rate → One-time payment
Royalty Share → Percentage of book sales
Royalty Share Plus → Upfront pay + royalties
Royalties can last up to 7 years, creating long-term income potential.
5. Promote Your Work
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is stopping after the job is done.
Nikki explains that you should:
Promote the audiobook
Drive traffic to it
Continue generating income over time
Pro Tips from the Episode
Don’t record on your phone—audio quality matters
Read the full book before narrating to avoid mistakes
Ask authors about pronunciation and details
Take breaks to maintain audio quality
Small details (like mouth noise control) make a big difference
Who This Episode Is For
Beginners looking for a unique side hustle
People interested in voice acting or audiobook narration
Content creators looking for new income streams
Anyone exploring skill-based ways to make money
Key Topics Covered
How Elijah Bilel identifies new opportunities
How Nikki Connected got started with audiobook narration
Equipment and setup for beginners
How ACX works
Turning a side hustle into a scalable business
Watch The Podcast On Youtube!
If you found value in this episode, you can see some of the equipment and items mentioned in this show on Amazon here!
SHS001: The Origin Story – How Elijah Bilel Built Multiple Side Hustles & Full Time Income Streams
Intro
Every entrepreneur has a starting point.
For Elijah Bilel, the journey into side hustles, freelancing, and multiple income streams didn’t start with a perfect plan…
👉 It started with curiosity, frustration, and a desire for more.
In this first episode of The Side Hustler’s Society, Elijah breaks down his full origin story—from working traditional jobs to building multiple income streams through the gig economy, content creation, freelancing, and investing.
This episode sets the foundation for everything that follows.
Episode Overview
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How Elijah got started with entrepreneurship
The early businesses and jobs he worked
Why he left traditional employment
How the gig economy changed his trajectory
How YouTube, freelancing, and affiliate marketing became income streams
How Financial Anatomy and Airbnb entered the picture
The inspiration behind starting The Side Hustler’s Society
Listen to the Episode
Check us out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! While you’re there, hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episodes!
Quick Takeaways
Elijah Bilel built multiple income streams before going full-time
Early business attempts taught control, marketing, and sales
The gig economy became a launchpad—not the end goal
YouTube, freelancing, and affiliate marketing created scalable income
Strategic pivots led to Financial Anatomy and Airbnb
The Beginning: Jobs, Frustration & Early Entrepreneurship
Before becoming known for side hustles and online income, Elijah’s journey started with traditional jobs:
Janitorial work for his aunt’s company
Walmart
Whole Foods
Amazon
At one point, Elijah was working around 68 hours per week…
👉 Yet only making about $35,000 per year
That realization sparked a major shift.
The First Business: Learning Control
After trying network marketing, Elijah realized something important:
👉 He wanted control
So Elijah Bilel launched his first independent business:
👉 Asili Tiba (Indigenous Remedies)
This gave him experience with:
Pricing
Marketing
Selling directly to customers
The Turning Point: Leaving the 9–5
Even after getting promoted at Amazon, Elijah knew:
👉 He wasn’t reaching his full potential
So he left and went all-in on finding alternative income paths.
The Gig Economy Era Begins
Elijah revisited Uber and started with:
Rideshare
Then Uber Eats
Why?
👉 More flexibility
👉 More control
👉 More independence
The Hidden Advantage: Getting Paid to Learn
While doing Uber Eats, Elijah used his time strategically:
Audiobooks
YouTube
Business content
👉 He was getting paid to learn skills that would later generate income
YouTube + Affiliate Marketing Breakthrough
Elijah started a YouTube channel called The Uber Lifestyle (Later changed To The Side Hustler's Society) focused on:
👉 Uber Eats content
He monetized it through:
Ad revenue (~$100/month early on)
Referral income
Referral earnings:
👉 $500 to $2,000/month
This was his first scalable income stream.
Freelancing with The Rideshare Guy (Major Income Boost)
After learning from Roberto Blake, Elijah reached out to Harry Campbell.
That turned into:
👉 Ongoing freelance video editing,content & channel management work
Income from this:
👉 $1,500 to $2,500 per month
This added:
Stability
Consistent cash flow
Professional experience
Financial Anatomy: Building a Brand
Elijah knew Uber wouldn’t last forever, so he started a new youtube channel:
At first, growth was slow…
But over time, it became a strong income stream.
Earnings from Financial Anatomy:
👉 $1,200 to $1,900 per month
This came from:
YouTube ad revenue
Financial content monetization
Audience growth
Stacking Income Streams (Full Picture)
At this point, Elijah had:
Uber Eats income
Referral/Affiliate income ($500–$2,000/month)
Freelancing ($1,500–$2,500/month)
Financial Anatomy ($1,200–$1,900/month)
Combined:
👉 Multiple income streams working together
This is what allowed Elijah Bilel to fully step away from traditional employment.
Entering Real Estate: Airbnb
From there, Elijah expanded into:
👉 Airbnb hosting
This introduced:
Asset-based income
Real estate strategy
Additional scalability
Now instead of just trading time…
👉 He was leveraging assets
Creating a Product: Becoming an Author
Elijah also created the bestselling book:
👉 The Anatomy of Financial Success
This added:
Authority
Brand positioning
Product-based income
The Bigger Pattern
Across every stage of Elijah’s journey:
👉 Learn → Apply → Monetize
He didn’t wait for perfect conditions.
He:
Took action
Tested opportunities
Built income streams
Why This Podcast Exists
The Side Hustler’s Society was created to:
👉 Help others follow a similar path
By sharing:
Real experiences
Real numbers
Real strategies
Key Lessons from the Episode
1. Start With What You Have
You don’t need perfect conditions
2. Learn While You Earn
Use your time to build future income
3. Stack Income Streams
Multiple sources = stability
4. Focus on Scalability
Time-based income has limits
5. Always Be Ready to Pivot
Every opportunity has a lifespan
Who This Episode Is For
Beginners starting their first side hustle
People stuck in a 9–5
Gig workers looking to level up
Entrepreneurs building multiple income streams
Key Topics Covered
Elijah Bilel’s origin story
Gig economy strategies
YouTube and affiliate marketing
Freelancing with The Rideshare Guy
Financial Anatomy and Airbnb