Immaterial Labor: How to Make Money in the Digital World

Posted 2 years ago by Max Komonov

If听you listen to听辞谤听read about economic discussions, you may have heard the听term 聯immaterial labor聰 floating around.

Immaterial labor is听distinct from material labor, which is听labor that results in听the听direct production of听material goods. On听the听other hand, immaterial labor, as听you may have guessed, is听the听often unseen labor that does not produce material goods.

The concept 补苍诲听theory of听immaterial labor is听nothing new. However, it听has received increased attention in听recent years with the听huge shift toward digital labor. As听an听increasing number of听jobs revolve around information, rather than material goods, the听role of听immaterial labor is听changing. This has caused companies 补苍诲听workers alike to听rethink labor in听general, as听well as听how to听make money.

This probably has you wondering, what are the听different types of听immaterial labor? And, how can you make money providing immaterial labor? Here鈥檚 a听breakdown of听what, exactly, immaterial labor refers to. Then, we听will take a听look at听some of听the听most common ways to听make money through immaterial labor today.

What is听Immaterial Labor?

is听defined as听labor that produces nonmaterial goods. This does not mean that there is听no听actual labor involved, 辞谤听that the听labor is听less than material labor. Immaterial labor can, 补苍诲听often does, require as听much 辞谤听more time 补苍诲听energy as听material labor.

For example, immaterial labor can refer to听labor that produces cultural, intellectual, 辞谤听informational commodities. Within the听broader category of听immaterial labor, two further distinctions are often made: analytic labor 补苍诲听affective labor.

Analytic labor

Analytic labor refers to听knowledge-based labor, 辞谤听problem-solving. This can take many forms. For instance, a听manager implementing new workplace strategies to听improve productivity has performed immaterial labor. Additionally, a听researcher developing a听new marketing strategy, without actually producing a听material product, has also performed analytic immaterial labor.

Affective labor

Affective labor refers to听labor that is听focused on听producing emotional responses. The most commonly-used example of听affective labor is听workers in听the听service industry. Customer service representatives perform affective labor by听guiding customers toward a听happy 补苍诲听pleasant experience with the听business.

Immaterial Labor 补苍诲听Digital Labor

We听can view digital labor as听another subcategory of听immaterial labor. As听the听name implies, digital labor refers to听labor based on听technology, information, 补苍诲听communication. In听addition, digital labor has taken on听a听much larger role in听our society with the听boom in听digital platforms f辞谤听all types of听services.

Digital labor is听often immaterial, but is听essential in听maintaining the听digital labor that has emerged in听recent years. Affective digital labor can take many forms, 补苍诲听is听not necessarily restricted to听online platforms. For instance, an听Uber driver performs affective labor by听transporting customers from one location to听the听next. That driver also performs digital labor by听accepting ride requests, setting navigation, 补苍诲听coordinating the听ride.

Digital labor has created a听unique trend in听our relationship with work. As听more workers turn to听forms of听digital labor, they are, in听a听sense, taking on听the听role of听their own manager. Many on-demand digital laborers, like rideshare 辞谤听delivery drivers, set their own schedules 补苍诲听decide which jobs to听take. These workers are not directly employed by听their clients, 辞谤听by听the听establishments they travel to听补苍诲听from. For example, a听DoorDash delivery driver does not work f辞谤听the听restaurant they deliver food from.

There are pros 补苍诲听cons to听these sorts of听on-demand digital jobs f辞谤听workers. But one of听the听undeniable benefits of听digital labor is听that it听can be听liberating f辞谤听workers in听terms of听flexibility. Digital labor is听often performed anywhere 补苍诲听at听any听time. This is听a听fact that appeals to听a听lot of听workers, 补苍诲听has caused many people to听seek out digital 辞谤听immaterial labor jobs.

With that in听mind, here are some common immaterial labor examples f辞谤听those looking f辞谤听new ways to听make money.

Immaterial Labor: How to听Make Money

Buying 补苍诲听selling products online

Manufacturing is听a听form of听material labor. However, retail, 辞谤听selling products, is听immaterial labor. One common form of听digital labor today involves creating 补苍诲听operating an听online store. With the听availability of听services like dropshipping, the听demands of听running an听online store are less than you might think.

When running an听online store, your role is听largely to听facilitate customer purchases 补苍诲听ensure a听positive user experience. The role of听manufacturing, storage, 补苍诲听shipping can all be听handled by听third-party providers like 辞谤听.

Buying 补苍诲听selling products online is听appealing to听many f辞谤听a听few reasons. First, it听has a听low barrier of听entry. And second, the听income from running an听online store is听often passive, requiring minimal work.

Copywriting

Copywriting is听an听essential job in听the听digital labor market.听 The digital economy is听largely dependent on听communication 补苍诲听information exchange. Companies often rely on听copywriters f辞谤听these tasks, whether it鈥檚 f辞谤听website copy, content marketing, 辞谤听other forms of听digital media. If听you possess strong writing 补苍诲听communication skills, 补苍诲听a听basic understanding of听SEO, copywriting could be听right f辞谤听you.

Graphic design

Graphic design is听another essential job in听the听digital economy. Digital platforms rely on听having eye-catching 补苍诲听user-friendly interfaces. While these components are dependent on听several jobs, graphic designers are among the听most important. Just about every industry in听the听digital economy needs graphic designers. Working as听a听freelance graphic designer is听an听excellent way to听make money providing immaterial labor.

Rideshare 辞谤听delivery driving

As听mentioned in听the听example above, rideshare drivers perform a听form of听immaterial labor. Driving f辞谤听Uber, Lyft, UberEats, GrubHub, etc. have all become popular jobs because of听the听freedom 补苍诲听flexibility they allow. The workers who perform these jobs are free to听set their own schedules 补苍诲听act as听their own manager. They work as听much 辞谤听as听little as听they prefer.

Translation

Translation has always been an听important form of听immaterial labor. But the听rise in听digital services has created even more opportunities f辞谤听translators to听find work. Digital platforms connect people across the听globe. This global audience often necessitates multilingual accessibility.

If听you are fluent in听more than one language, finding work as听a听translator is听an听ample opportunity. Translation services fill a听vital need, 补苍诲听you can perform them from anywhere in听the听world.

Virtual administrative assistant

Administrative assistants perform various tasks from day to听day, ranging from responding to听emails to听balancing schedules 补苍诲听finances. The rise in听digital labor has given way to听the听role of听virtual administrative assistants. Virtual administrative assistants can perform all the听duties of听a听traditional administrative assistant, but from the听comfort of听their own homes.

This is听a听great remote work opportunity f辞谤听those with strong organizational skills who are looking f辞谤听extra cash.

Website development 辞谤听website tester

Nearly every company needs its own dedicated website in听the听digital world. Simply having a听website is听often not good enough. Companies often devote significant time 补苍诲听resources to听developing a听smooth 补苍诲听user-friendly website. So, this role often falls to听website developers. Those with programming 辞谤听development expertise can make good money working as听freelance website developers.

If听you lack all of听the听technical skills 补苍诲听experience required f辞谤听development, some companies will also hire website testers. A听website tester is听responsible f辞谤听testing website features f辞谤听any听bugs 辞谤听friction points that negatively impact user experience.

Final Thoughts

These immaterial labor examples are just a听few common jobs you can choose from. There are plenty of听other ways to听make money by听providing immaterial labor, both digitally 补苍诲听in-person.

However, one thing that鈥檚 clear is听that digital labor has created more value f辞谤听immaterial labor than ever before. Understanding the听new 补苍诲听emerging opportunities f辞谤听digital labor can be听a听great advantage.

Helping you find innovative ways to听make money in听the听digital world is听something that 51视频 was designed for. Follow 51视频鈥檚 blog f辞谤听more helpful resources 补苍诲听creative business ideas.

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About The Author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.

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