Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to make some extra income from a skill or hobby you already have and enjoy? Whether it’s a crafty skill like jewelry making, or a more digital skill like graphic design, there are many ways to monetize your talents. Here are five tips on how to turn your creative hobby into a business:
1. Get in the Right Mindset
You might have all the skill and talent in the world, but if you don’t believe in yourself or have doubts about starting a business, you’ll stay stuck. More often than not, people don’t start businesses because of their limiting mindset.
Before you start working on your business, ask yourself how you feel about it. Are you scared of what other people will think of you? Are you worried about trying something and “failing” at it? Ask yourself why you feel this way and see if you can come up with an alternative belief to help you get into a healthier mindset.
2. Do Market Research Before You Go All In
If you already have a business idea, that’s great. But, how can you test it out with as little risk as possible before fully committing? All savvy business owners will do some market research before starting their business to validate their ideas.
Find out who else is operating a similar business. You can start by Googling how big the market is and figuring out who your main competitors are. Is there a need for this kind of service in the market segment that you want to serve? Many new business owners create surveys to send out to a dozen or so people to gain some preliminary market research.
3. Be Resourceful
Online resources on how to start a business are plentiful – you could search any business topic on Google or YouTube and find thousands of resources. If you want to learn how to start a calligraphy business, check out my blog post on how to start a calligraphy business from scratch.
Locally, there are incredibly helpful organizations like Small Business BC that can help you jumpstart your business journey. When I got started, I took advantage of their 30-minute advisory appointment and found the advice invaluable.
4. Market Within Your Social Media Network
Social media is often a good choice when it comes to marketing your new business. When I first started my calligraphy business in 2018, I promoted my holiday greeting cards on my own Instagram and Facebook and got 20 orders from friends. As business owners, we often underestimate the power of using our own network.
When starting your social media marketing, decide which social media networks you’ll focus on. Many creative businesses start building a portfolio on Instagram because it’s a visually-driven platform. If you’re unsure how to start growing your Instagram profile, check out the 6 strategies I came up with to grow your Instagram.
5. Do a Little Every Day
Starting a business can be overwhelming. To make it bearable, start small and do a little bit every day. Even as little as 30 minutes a day can add up over time and will help you build your business in the long run.
If you want to integrate your business more seamlessly into your life, try listening to a business podcast while exercising, connecting with other creative entrepreneurs on Instagram, or brainstorming business ideas during your daily commute.
They say that we overestimate how much we can do in a day, but we underestimate how much we can accomplish in a year. What’s something you can do today to start your creative business? Starting a business can be very rewarding and fun. If you enjoy your hobby and have some extra time, why not try to make some extra cash on the side?
Small Business BC is Here to Help
SBBC is a non-profit resource centre for BC-based small businesses. Whatever your idea of success is, we’re here to provide holistic support and resources at every step of the journey. Check out our range of business webinars, on-demand E-Learning Education, our Talk to an Expert Advisories, or browse our business articles.