How to start a side hustle
Side hustle are the new words around town. So what is it? It’s a business on the side of your normal day to day job. People are adopting side hustles as a way to enhance their careers, learn new things or simply to increase their income. It gives people a chance to pursue their passion, which doesn’t always align with their day to day job, and that in itself can be quite empowering and motivating.
But before embarking on any side hustles, there are a few factors to consider:
Do what you love
This may seem obvious, but make sure you enter this journey with well-equipped skills and knowledge. Your business will only succeed if you really love what you’re promoting and you’re good at it. There’s no point in starting a cupcake business simply because you like eating them – you need to be able to connect with your client base and give them confidence in your product.
How much time do you have?
A lot of people that have grand ideas of starting a side hustle without actually planning how it will affect their lives. A great deal of time needs to be set aside to concentrate on the building of a mini business, which will encroach on personal time you normally cherish. This may mean working before & after work and weekends. Make sure you schedule time to work on your project that works best for you and make sure you are have a plan in place of what needs to be done. Read this on how to be organised for work.
Test the waters
Validate your side hustle with a sale. You may think it’s the best idea in the world, but other people may not share your same enthusiasm. If you can make a sale with a genuine customer (who is not your Mum or Dad) then it may be worth pursuing. If not, perhaps there just isn’t the market for it, or people just can’t see what you see. You can also try testing interest through asking potential customers to pre-purchase your product. If all you are hearing is crickets, it might be time to abort mission.
How are you different?
How are you going to differentiate yourself from your competitors? Remember you will be competing against others who do this for their actual 9-5 job. Try and choose an angle that is different from the rest, whether that be a cheaper price, better quality or service.
Deadline!
Set realistic deadlines so you are forced to get the ball rolling. Tell family and friends so you are accountable. Having a good plan in place of what you want to do and when you want to do it will be beneficial in helping you achieve your milestone.
Design & Print
If you’re really serious about your side hustle, it’s a good idea to get a brand produced, which can be applied to all collateral such as business cards, flyers, social media and a website. Unless you are a designer or know the in’s and out’s of design, it’s a good idea to enlist in the help of a creative to produce a professional logo. This will allow your customers to see you are a serious brand and one trust. Ensure you claim your social handles & web url early in the piece, just in case it’s already taken. And while you may think you can manage your social media accounts, its actually more time consuming that you might think. Consider hiring a social media manager that can get your name out to the right people. (Remember created2print offers design, printing & social media all under one roof!).
Don’t get sacked!
Remember that a side hustle is just that – a side hustle. Don’t make the mistake of using company time to fuel your own passion, as you might end up not having a job at all! A side hustle should never overpower your main job unless you are at a point where you might like to quit your job and pursue your side hustle as your main gig.
There are so many options to set up a side hustle, whether it be selling something online or using your skills to set up your own business, but whatever it is, make sure you enjoy it! And make sure you give your idea a try – if you don’t, someone else will and you’ll always wonder, what if.