Seven Top Tips for Success in Ride-Share

Uber and Lyft (and other ride-sharing platforms) can be an excellent side-hustle for creatives. You can log on to the platforms at any time that is convenient for you, and you are in deep control of your earnings. However, it isn't as simple as putting your app in drive mode and start raking in the money.

Here, I've put together my seven top tips for finding success on Uber, Lyft, and any ride-sharing platform you might drive on.

1) Insurance

Certainly you have insurance for your vehicle, and all of the ride-sharing platforms offer some form of insurance coverage. However, before you begin driving, make sure you and your personal insurance company understand what you're going to be doing. Hopefully nothing ever happens, but if it does, then you're going to want to be sure that your insurance will cover it all before something bad happens.

2) Music, Music, Music

Each rider that gets into your car is going to be different. Some will want very specific music playing, and others won't mind at all. In order to earn the highest ranking possible, you're going to want to make sure you have the jams they want to cruise too. Even if you think you have a solid collection yourself, you really want to invest in Spotify or Pandora in order to have the complete world of music at your fingertips.

3) Snacks, Mints, and Water

Having a little something that your riders can have when they get in your car will go a long way in getting a top review from them. Offering them a bottle of water on a really hot day will endear your customer to you, and they will sing your praises on the app. This helps you make your bonuses and makes you eligible for other programs. It also keeps you at the top of the rotation as riders request rides. Your rating has a huge impact on your earnings - take every possible step to make sure riders leave your car happy.

4) Set a Goal (And Stick to It!)

Because it seems so easy to get started, it can be difficult to get yourself to invest fully in the job. But it is just that: a job. Your side-hustle driving ride-share is a key way you'll get your bills paid, so you want to make sure that you're going to succeed. Set a goal for yourself, either financial or number of rides. Uber and Lyft offer bonuses for number of rides per week, so setting goals that will help you earn those bonuses will be really good for your bottom line.

5) Don't Fare Hunt

Demand will fluctuate depending on the time of day and location in which you are driving. See the next tip for more about picking those times and locations. But, no matter the time and location, stick to the area. Don't drive around fare hunting. After you finish a ride, either log out and head back to a high demand area, or find a place to safely pull off the road and wait for your next fare to be sent your way. Remember, if your meter isn't running, you aren't making money.

6) Drive During Peak Times (and in High-Demand Areas)

When demand gets high on ride-share apps, then prices go up. Prices rising means higher fares. Higher fares means higher earnings. If you are able, then you want to adjust your schedule to drive at times (and in places) where your earnings are going to be their highest. When they are high, then this will mean you'll need to drive less time in order to meet the goals you've set for yourself.

7) Take Rides

Before you get started and after you get started driving ride-share, be sure and take rides on the platform you work for. You can learn a lot from drivers that have higher ratings than you. Make note of what they might do that is different than you and how it makes you feel during your experience getting the ride. Never stop learning, either. You can always improve, and you can always continue building your business and your side-hustle.

Want to learn more about building side-hustles, either on ride-share or other ways, that support your creative life? Check out my book: A Life in Art: Building Side-Hustles to Empower Your Life as an Artist