Start up your side hustle: How to turn a hobby into a business:
Now more than ever, people are picking up side hustles to earn additional income. From being a ride share driver to managing social media accounts, endless side gigs are available.
But if being an Uber driver doesn’t excite you, think of something you’re passionate about. Are people always asking for your homemade soaps? Do friends and family rely on you to create their websites? Do you love dogs and want to spend more time with your four-legged friends? If you’re great at and passionate about something, there’s nothing stopping you from turning a profit on your passion.
Business News Daily talked to entrepreneurs and career coaches, and here are five tips to help you turn your passion into a side job.
1. Decide if the market exists.
The first step is determining if people will buy your product or service. There is no need to invest time and money into a business that people aren’t interested in.
“Passion is a huge part of a successful side hustle, but at the same time, you must know that there is a need for your product [or] service,” said Rachel Rusnak, founder of UnCubicle
“Just because you have a passion for something doesn’t mean it’s something that you[r] audience will want,” said Amber Dee, business coach and consultant. “To have a successful side gig, I recommend talking to those that fall in your target market and asking about their needs and if your service or product would be something they would need.”
Anna Sabino, creative coach and author of “Your Creative Career,” recommends testing your products or services with the public. “Attend a fair, get a table space at an event, open an Etsy store,” she said.
If you offer a service, put it online and see if it generates interest. Once it’s clear there is interest in your product or service, ask how much people would be willing to pay for it, Sabino said.
2. Start slow, but be consistent.
Because it’s a side hustle, you don’t have to rely on it as your sole source of income and can put as much or little time into as you want.
However, once you decide to turn a profit, you should consistently dedicate time to your craft. Rusnak said it’s important to take the time needed to grow your side hustle. It can be baby steps – it just has to be consistent. She suggests setting goals and milestones to ensure traction.
“Even if you hate your 9-to-5, use it for saving money so that you are prepared if you want to turn the side hustle into a full-time job,” she said.
3. Develop good time management skills.
Working a full-time job, managing a side hustle and balancing your other responsibilities is no easy feat. Time management skills are essential for anyone who wants to successfully turn a profit on their passion.
Both Lara Galloway, business coach and GoDaddy Partner, and Rusnak suggest using technology such as Trello or Basecamp to keep everything organized and on track.
“[Time management] is essential for parents or anyone with a side hustle, but [it] is hard to do without reminders,” Galloway said. “Learn how to use technology to map out and keep up with your to-do list.”
4. Create a website.
It’s important for any business to have a working website. A website can do a whole lot of work for you, said Galloway. It can market your business, help people find you online, and educate potential clients about your products or services and how they can hire you.
“Your website can actually be a marketing team, a sales team and a customer service team for you – and that really saves you a lot of time as a business owner,” Galloway told Business News Daily.
“A website gives your project credibility as well as a way for people to find your business and learn more about you,” she said. “Find a website builder that allows you to make changes on the go and has marketing and payment tools built in.”
5. Utilize social media.
Social media is a cheap and effective way to market your company or side gig. Growing an online presence allows you to engage with potential clients and receive feedback on your product and services.
“When you are ready to start your side hustle, it’s important to create a separate social media account and immediately start building your audience,” Dee told Business News Daily. “You can do this without having anything to offer, because it’s important to have a market that’s ready to purchase your offer. Afterwards, decide on ways you want to monetize your passion and create content that is useful to your audience.”
