How to Make Money Online as an Archivist: 10 Actionable Ideas

In today's digital age, the role of archivists is evolving. Traditionally, archivists were mainly responsible for preserving physical records and documents. However, with the rapid shift to digital formats, many archivists have embraced the opportunity to expand their skills and income streams by making money online. Whether you're a professional archivist or someone passionate about preserving history and organizing information, there are numerous ways to leverage your expertise and generate income online. This article explores 10 actionable ideas for archivists to make money online.

Freelance Digital Archiving Services

Freelance work is one of the most flexible and lucrative ways to make money as an archivist. Many businesses, libraries, museums, and individuals need help with digitizing and organizing their archives, but they might not have the internal resources to do so. Freelancing allows you to offer your archiving skills on your terms, from the comfort of your home.

How to Get Started:

• Create an Online Profile: Sign up on freelancing platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr, and create a profile that highlights your expertise in archiving, digital preservation, and organizational skills.
• Target Specific Industries: Focus on industries that require archiving services, such as legal firms, educational institutions, historical societies, and private collections.
• Set Competitive Rates: Start with competitive pricing to build your portfolio and get your first few clients. As you gain more experience, you can increase your rates.

Tips for Success:

• Build a Portfolio: If you're new to freelancing, create sample projects or offer free services in exchange for testimonials and portfolio material.
• Offer Niche Services: Consider specializing in certain areas, such as archival metadata creation, document digitization, or historical preservation.
• Deliver High-Quality Work: Ensure that your work is meticulous and organized. Positive client reviews can lead to repeat business and referrals.

Online Archival Consulting

With the growing demand for digital archives, many businesses and institutions need expert advice on how to manage and preserve their digital collections. As an archivist, you can offer consulting services to help them streamline their processes and ensure long-term preservation.

How to Get Started:

• Develop a Service Offering: Create packages that cover various consulting needs, such as digital archiving strategies, metadata standards, file storage solutions, and best practices for managing digital archives.
• Network with Professionals: Reach out to businesses, museums, libraries, or educational institutions that may benefit from your services.
• Market Your Services: Use platforms like LinkedIn, your personal website, or social media to connect with potential clients who need your archival expertise.

Tips for Success:

• Leverage Industry Knowledge: Stay up to date with the latest technologies and practices in digital archiving to offer the best advice.
• Create Educational Content: Position yourself as an expert by writing blog posts or creating videos that educate others about archival best practices.
• Offer Personalized Solutions: Each client's needs are unique, so tailor your consulting services to their specific situation.

Sell Archival Content Online

If you have access to rare or valuable archival content, you can sell digital copies of these materials online. This could include historical documents, photographs, records, and even rare books. Online platforms allow you to monetize these items by selling access to or copies of your collection.

How to Get Started:

• Digitize Your Archival Materials: Ensure that your archival items are scanned or digitized in high-quality formats that are easy for buyers to access.
• Choose the Right Platform : You can sell your materials on platforms such as Etsy, eBay, or specialized websites for archival sales like Archives.com or the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA).
• Market Your Content: Use social media, email newsletters, and SEO strategies to attract buyers interested in historical or rare materials.

Tips for Success:

• Provide Proper Licensing: If you're selling access to materials, ensure that buyers understand their usage rights.
• Focus on Niche Markets: Certain types of archival content may be more desirable to niche audiences, such as genealogists, historians, or collectors of vintage materials.
• Create High-Quality Digital Versions: Buyers will appreciate high-resolution scans and thorough documentation of the archival materials.

Teach Archival Preservation Online

As a trained archivist, you have a wealth of knowledge to share. Teaching others about archival practices, preservation techniques, and digital archiving can be a rewarding way to make money online. Many people are interested in preserving their family histories, documents, and even digital media.

How to Get Started:

• Develop a Course or Workshop: Use platforms like Udemy, Teachable, or Skillshare to create and sell an online course about archival preservation or digital archiving.
• Offer Live Webinars: Host live webinars where you teach specific archival skills, such as digitizing photographs, creating metadata, or setting up archival systems.
• Market Your Course: Promote your course on social media, blogs, and YouTube to reach potential students.

Tips for Success:

• Offer Practical Tips: Make sure your courses offer actionable, real-world advice that students can apply to their own archiving projects.
• Engage with Your Audience: Interact with students through forums, live Q&A sessions, or private groups to increase student engagement.
• Provide Certification: If possible, offer a certificate of completion for students who finish your course. This adds value and increases the appeal.

Work as a Virtual Archivist for Institutions

Many institutions, including universities, libraries, and museums, are now offering remote work opportunities for archivists. These positions can be highly flexible, allowing you to work from anywhere while managing and organizing their digital or physical archives.

How to Get Started:

• Research Virtual Archivist Positions: Check job boards like Indeed, LinkedIn, or FlexJobs for remote archivist roles.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience with digital archiving, cataloging, and metadata creation. Emphasize any prior work with virtual or remote teams.
• Apply to Relevant Jobs: Look for positions that match your skills and offer opportunities for remote work in archiving.

Tips for Success:

• Emphasize Remote Work Skills: Ensure that your resume highlights your ability to work independently and manage tasks remotely.
• Stay Organized: Virtual archivists need strong organizational skills. Demonstrate your ability to keep digital and physical archives in order, even when working remotely.
• Be Tech-Savvy: Familiarize yourself with remote collaboration tools, such as cloud storage, project management software, and communication platforms like Zoom and Slack.

Create an Archival Blog or YouTube Channel

Another way to make money online as an archivist is by sharing your knowledge through a blog or YouTube channel. By educating others about archival practices, sharing tips on preservation, or discussing historical topics, you can build an audience and monetize your content.

How to Get Started:

• Start a Blog: Use platforms like WordPress, Medium, or Ghost to create a blog where you can share archival insights, tips, and advice.
• Launch a YouTube Channel: If you're comfortable with video, create a YouTube channel where you can demonstrate archiving techniques, review tools, or interview experts in the field.
• Monetize Your Content: Once you've built an audience, you can monetize your blog or YouTube channel through ads, sponsorships, affiliate marketing, or by selling your own products or services.

Tips for Success:

• Create Engaging Content: Make your blog posts or videos informative, engaging, and visually appealing. Include step-by-step guides, tutorials, or case studies.
• Collaborate with Others: Partner with other archivists, historians, or preservationists to create collaborative content.
• Optimize for SEO: Use SEO best practices to ensure your content ranks well in search results and attracts organic traffic.

Sell Archival Tools and Resources

If you have a collection of useful archival tools, resources, or software recommendations, consider selling them online. Many archivists and institutions need access to tools that help with digitization, cataloging, and metadata creation.

How to Get Started:

• Create or Curate Resources: Compile a list of recommended tools, software, and resources that would help other archivists in their work.
• Sell E-books or Guides: If you've developed expertise in using certain tools, create e-books, guides, or tutorials that show others how to use them.
• Use Online Marketplaces: Sell your resources on platforms like Etsy, Gumroad, or your personal website.

Tips for Success:

• Offer Detailed Instructions: Make sure your resources come with clear, actionable instructions that help users get the most out of the tools you recommend.
• Focus on Quality: Whether it's a tool, guide, or e-book, ensure that your resources are well-designed and easy to use.
• Promote Your Offerings: Use social media, your blog, or YouTube to market the tools and resources you're selling.

Assist with Genealogical Research

Genealogists often need help organizing and preserving family records, including birth certificates, letters, photographs, and other documents. As an archivist, you can offer your services to help individuals and genealogists with their research.

How to Get Started:

• Offer Research Services: Advertise your services as a genealogical researcher or archivist who can help individuals organize and preserve family records.
• Join Genealogy Communities : Participate in online forums and groups dedicated to genealogy, such as Ancestry.com or FamilySearch, where you can find potential clients.
• Provide Organizational Solutions: Help clients organize their genealogical records, digitize documents, and create accessible systems for future generations.

Tips for Success:

• Understand Genealogy Software: Familiarize yourself with popular genealogy tools and software, such as Family Tree Maker or MyHeritage, to better serve your clients.
• Provide a Personal Touch: Genealogical research can be highly personal. Be empathetic and respectful when dealing with sensitive family histories.
• Offer Custom Solutions: Tailor your services to the specific needs of each client, whether they need help digitizing records or creating a family archive.

Create and Sell Custom Archival Boxes and Supplies

Many archivists specialize in the preservation of physical documents and objects. You can capitalize on this expertise by creating or curating custom archival boxes and supplies that help individuals and institutions store and protect their valuable materials.

How to Get Started:

• Source High-Quality Materials: Purchase materials for creating archival storage products, such as acid-free boxes, folders, and sleeves.
• Create a Product Line: Develop a line of custom storage products, such as archival boxes for photographs, books, or documents.
• Sell Online: Use platforms like Etsy, eBay, or your own website to sell your archival storage solutions.

Tips for Success:

• Focus on Quality: Ensure your storage products meet archival standards for preservation and durability.
• Offer Customization: Allow clients to personalize storage boxes or materials based on their specific needs.
• Market to Archivists and Libraries: Reach out to other archivists, libraries, and museums that may need your products for their collections.

Offer Archival Services for Personal Collections

Many individuals have personal collections of photographs, documents, and other memorabilia that they want to preserve for future generations. As an archivist, you can offer services to help people organize, digitize, and protect their personal collections.

How to Get Started:

• Advertise Your Services: Promote your archival services locally or online, offering to help individuals preserve their personal collections.
• Provide a Range of Services: Offer a variety of services, such as scanning photographs, organizing documents, or creating digital family archives.
• Provide Ongoing Support: After digitizing and organizing the collection, offer clients support in maintaining their archives over time.

Tips for Success:

• Offer a Personalized Approach: Each personal collection is unique. Tailor your services to meet the specific needs and preferences of your clients.
• Be Empathetic: Understand the sentimental value of the items you're handling. Treat each collection with care and respect.
• Follow-Up Services: Offer follow-up services, such as periodic updates or digitization of new items, to keep clients' collections current.

Conclusion

The opportunities for archivists to make money online are diverse and growing. By leveraging your skills in archiving, digital preservation, and organizational strategies, you can build a profitable online business or side hustle. Whether you choose to freelance, consult, teach, or sell products and services, the key to success lies in identifying a niche that aligns with your strengths and expertise. With determination, creativity, and the right approach, you can turn your passion for archiving into a rewarding online career.

View Product