No IT Skills Required! A Complete Guide to Starting a Side Hustle with Crowdsourcing in Japan
Hi everyone, as a summary of my research on crowdsourcing services, I’ve put together this guide for salaried workers who think, “Crowdsourcing seems difficult,” or “I can’t do it without IT skills.” In this article, I’ll explain specific types of work, rewards, difficulty levels, and success stories.
Jobs and Rewards on Crowdsourcing Platforms
| Job Type | Difficulty | Average Pay (per task) | Time Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry | Low | ¥100 – ¥500 | 30 minutes – 1 hour |
| Document Creation | Medium | ¥500 – ¥2,000 | 1 hour – 3 hours |
| Writing | Medium-High | ¥1,000 – ¥10,000 | 2 hours – 5 hours |
| Survey Participation | Low | ¥100 – ¥1,000 | 10 minutes – 30 minutes |
| Simple Image Editing | Medium | ¥500 – ¥2,000 | 30 minutes – 1 hour |
Examples:
- Data Entry: Entering survey results into Excel. Once you get the hang of it, you can complete many tasks in a short amount of time.
- Writing: Writing product reviews or blog articles. While some tasks require specialized knowledge, there are many beginner-friendly options.
- Survey Participation: Earn rewards by trying new products or answering surveys.
Preparing to Start Crowdsourcing
- Create a profile: Write a detailed self-introduction and highlight your skills.
- Create a portfolio: Having a portfolio of your past work or achievements can give you an advantage in getting jobs.
- Prepare tools: Make sure you can use basic office software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Three Steps to Success
- Start with easy tasks: For beginners, it’s recommended to start with relatively easy tasks like data entry or survey participation.
- Build your track record: By completing tasks carefully and earning high ratings, you can get bigger projects.
- Continuous learning: It’s important to learn new skills and continue to grow.
Success Stories
- A started with data entry and gradually took on writing jobs. Now, they earn over ¥100,000 per month.
- B leveraged their knowledge of cooking to succeed in recipe creation.
Cautions and Risks
- Low pay: Initially, many tasks have low rates, but you can get higher-paying jobs as you gain experience.
- Meeting deadlines: Failing to meet deadlines can lower your rating and affect future job opportunities.
- Troubles: There’s a possibility of encountering dishonest clients. Be sure to carefully review the terms of the contract and avoid getting into trouble.
Summary Even without IT skills, you can start a side hustle with crowdsourcing. The key is careful work and continuous effort. Start with easy tasks and gradually level up.
Recommended Crowdsourcing Sites
- Cloudworks, Lancers, Coconala, etc.

