In today’s economic climate, earning an extra income is becoming more and more necessary, particularly for single mothers. The significant rise in the cost of living we’ve all experienced in recent years has put many families in genuine financial difficulty – to the point that many new moms are having to work full-time jobs in order to keep food on the table.
Times can be hard, but when the going gets tough, the tough getting going, and there are no tougher crowds than moms on a mission.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to start a new side business, it can be tempting to get caught up with the fad of the hour. As an example, right now with the legalization of marijuana, many people are looking for advice on how to start a dispensary. But reacting to trends isn’t always the best approach.
A more sustainable approach is to start a business that is focused on a passion – be that making creative items, cooking, traveling, fashion, or other passions that can be turned into highly-profitable sideline businesses.
Whatever you decide to sell, you’ll need to get yourself out there and start touting your wares. This article shares three fundamentals of what you’ll need to set up shop.
- SET UP A WEBSITE OR PLATFORM FOR YOUR CREATIVE BUSINESS
You don’t necessarily need to build your own website as there are a variety of platforms such as Etsy that do all the hard work for you. Sites like Etsy allow you to tout your wares and promote your products. They also do a marvelous job of connecting you with a self-selecting audience that is naturally looking for what you offer. The beauty of having an online marketing platform is that people are coming to you, rather than you having to go out and chase customers.
If you are going to set-up your own website, you could do this via an user-friendly and relatively basic web builder such as https://wix.com. You can also purchase a WordPress theme or create a site from scratch.
- GET ON EBAY
Don’t underestimate the power of eBay. It might not be as ‘current’ and trendy as platforms such as Pinterest and Etsy, but don’t underestimate the humongous user base on eBay has. This platform is particularly good if you were to utilize your DIY skills to upcycle creative furniture sell small items such as jewelry or handmade cards, or buy and sell used cards. Just remember to list your items as “buy now” in order to get the best results.
- LEVERAGE OTHERS
There’s tremendous power in leveraging the network and customer base of aligned businesses. To provide an example, think about how many hotel owners and restaurants work with local artists in a contradeal where they get free artwork in return for advertising their business. Similarly, think about how many chiropractors advertise in doctors’ offices.Think of all the ways in which you could advertise via aligned businesses. As an example, if you were a personal trainer targeting new moms, you could leave flyers at local nurseries, pregnancy clinics, and even baby shops.
