Some people make all the money they will ever need. Good for them! They worked hard for that success. The rest of us, however, work a job we love but don’t make as much money as we would like.
The need for a side hustle could grow out of a goal, such as saving for a house, or it simply could be a way to create a little breathing room in a budget.
Here it is in all it’s glory: how to find a side hustle idea, how to find your first clients, how to grow your side hustle, and tools to help manage your side biz all in one place in a neat, pretty package.
Step #1 – Determine What Your “Side Business” Will Be
Often our biggest and best side hustles are in our back pocket already.
The biggest question: What are you already doing that you could monetize or package in a different way in order to make side income?
The second question: Is there a need for this business?
Step #2 – Start Small (a.k.a Ask People You Know)
If you’re looking to start a side business start small and do two things:
a) figure out what product or service you want to sell
b) tap your personal network.
Don’t be shy, people love to recommend others who do great work for them.
It may also be worth it to do a job for a discount or freebie for a friend or family member in exchange for a glowing testimonial you can use for your website or marketing initiatives. (If you’re doing a service based side hustle.)
Step #3 – Do Great Work, Deliver a Fantastic Product, Create a Memorable Experience
This is the most crucial step. You need to kill yourself doing/giving a great job/product/experience, for these first few clients. It is off of this business that all referrals and positive word of mouth will be built. Not that you don’t always do a great job, but be especially awesome when you’re just starting out.
Step #4 – Get a Website (Or some place where people can FIND YOU online)
Everything is online nowadays. It’s how the world works, how now-referral clients will find you, and how referral clients will vet you.
Even if you are side hustling under your own name, you need a website: either yourbusiness.com or yourpersonalname.com so people can find you, links to your work, information about pricing and services, and testimonials from happy clients all in one place.
Nowadays, it takes three clicks to build a website, so there really isn’t an excuse for you not to have an online, digital footprint.
Step #5 – Start Networking
With your website up and rolling, it’s time to get out there and start networking.
Mastermind groups, your local chamber of commerce, professional associations: these are all rife with opportunities to meet people and sell your services. Just be sure to go armed with confidence, a smile, a business card, and be able to sum up what you do in three sentences or less.
Once you’ve networked and hopefully get a business card from a potential lead, then you can email a follow up about how you’d like to work with their company.
Step #6 – Add a “Hire Me” Page on Your Blog and Social Media Channels
If you are already online via a blog or are active on social media, simply adding a “Hire/Work With Me” page or putting out the word over social channels is all it takes!
Your business is so new and young, it takes awhile to get word of mouth out. The important thing to remember when starting a side hustle is that you have to ask for business when you’re starting out.
Step # 7 – Get the Right Tools
What will you need to run your business? I use an accounting software, Dropbox, HelloSIgn, and many social automation tools to run my “side hustle.”
Step #8 – Set up an Email List to Keep Marketing
Whether you are a freelancer, sell products online, or do one-time gigs here and there, it’s important to keep an email list of your old and prospective clients and buyers. This way you can email them consistently or from time to time to pitch for work or remind them of what an excellent service and value you provide.
It doesn’t have to be big or fancy, and not every side hustle needs a blog or super active content marketing strategy. But ever side hustle/business does need a way to keep in touch with those who are buying your products or services.