5 Ways to Transform Your Creative Hobby into a Business
Most people have a hobby that they separate from their work life. Others, though, have found a way to combine the two – by taking their creative hobby and turning it into a profitable business. If the idea interests you, here are five ways to make it happen.
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1: Sell Your Products on a Marketplace
Before investing in an expensive e-Commerce website, start by selling your products on a marketplace. You never know, that might just earn you enough to make a good living! There are plenty of marketplaces out there, so choose the ones that work best for you. Some of the best for selling creative goods include Etsy, ArtFire, and Folksy, but you can also choose more general marketplaces like eBay.
2: Improve Your Skills
No matter how talented you are, there is always room for improvement – especially if you want people to pay good money for your products. So, spend some time working on your craft, focusing on the areas you’re maybe a little weaker at.
A great way to improve your skills with little effort is to purchase higher quality equipment – see it as an investment! For example, if you love designing images, you could purchase a laser engraving machine for wood and start a personalized wood engraving business.
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3: Sell at Craft Shows
While you might not make a living by selling at craft shows (at least not at first), it will help you make a name for yourself and increase your profits by a little. Plus, you’ll get to meet lots of other small business owners there, making room for collaboration and the sharing of tips.
To make your time at craft shows more profitable, focus on finding the right craft shows for your product and brand. That way, you won’t waste too much time standing around waiting for a sale!
4: Set Goals
While your creative hobby may have once been something you did only now and again, you need to set both goals and deadlines if you want to turn it into a business. After all, it takes a lot more organization skills when you’re creating for other people! Your aims can start small at first – sell to your first five customers; purchase a certain amount of equipment. Over time, though, those goals will become larger and require more focus. To make sure you stay on track, it is recommended that you stick to a business schedule to avoid falling behind.
5: Market Your Business
Marketing is essential for all businesses, so try out some marketing strategies to get your brand name out there. Social media is a great place to start, as you can connect with a wide range of people who are interested in your craft – just be sure to stay active and post relevant content!
Another way to market your business and reach more people is to build a website. Not only will this serve as a place for users to find you, but you can also sell your products there.
Turning your creative hobby into a business takes a load of grit and determination, but if done right, you can become your own boss doing something you love.
