This is something entrepreneurs have heard countless times. But
the truth is, turning or transforming your hobby from a past time to a
full scale business could really be a risky venture. Sure it could
give you a success story to tell, but if you fail, it's going to be
miserable. Really horrible. You could even lose interest in that hobby
forever. Yet, every time we hear stories of people who succeeded in
creating a multi-figure income from regular past time activities. So
how did they do it?
There are laws, and these success stories came because the
characters obeyed them unconsciously or consciously. These are basic
principles you will need to adhere to if you ever start dreaming of
the possibility of taking that thing you do when you are 'less busy'
into an income yielding source. Full time or part time.
So what are the steps?
This list may be incomplete, but you could add your suggestions and
success stories if you have. Use the comment box.
1)First of all, let's be sure you have a passion for that thing you
do. That's the first step. Because it's something else when you are a
taking that leisure past time to the next level. You will need the
fire of your passion for what you do. Ok, let's make it practical, if
you love cooking make sure you enjoy every opportunity you have, to
engage in your cooking. Its important because, when you are ready to
go public, you could expect to spend much of your time cooking. The
same goes for other hobbies.
2)Upgrade and Update yourself: It's not only only commercial
businesses that need to be kept up with the newest trends. That your
hobby needs it to. If I should once again use the cooking hobby, I
would say that on this point, you will need to find out the latest
delicacies that are gaining popularity in your area. Visit other
people who do what you do as a business. Find out the latest tricks
and methods they apply. You should be able to learn the reaction of
the market to your product or services.
This is also important because it will help you find out the
right time to start moneytizing your hobby.
3) Teach others your what you do: This is the fastest way to start
earning right from the comfort of your immediate environment. Teach
other people your hobby. Gather people who are also interested in
doing what you do and teach them. You could earn by charging a small
fee. Note 'small fee'. You start small because at this level you
should be interested in building a community of people who have
benefited immensely from your tutorials.
4)Be ready to learn: You should know that their are professionals who
do what you do as a living already. Go close to them and learn. Work
hard on improving yourself with the intention of satisfying the
desires of more people for your services. Work towards the aim of
perfecting your art and bringing its value up to a professional
standard.
5)Get the best suppliers: You sure need raw materials to do the stuff
you do, and if you going on to the big stage of serving the community,
you need to make sure your source of supply is the best. Also note
that the quantity you usually need if you were doing it in your
leisure will be different from the quantity you will need when you
start getting orders. Get the supply deals that are the most
economical and efficient. You don't want to be run down by time
because the things you needed to supplying goods for that order did
not apply on time. That will make 'them' think you are not serious.
5)Create a unique brand: This a banner you will be riding under to
sell your stuff. Its also something that speaks for you whenever your
business is mentioned. It could be a 'concept name' or your real name.
For example: 'classy heels' ; 'Caroline cakes & confectionery'. The
first is what I call a 'concept name'. And that's because it tells
anyone who reads it out that there's a difference between your home
made heel footwears and that of the others. The second carries a name
to show that the product 'line' of cakes and confectionery belong to a
lady-Caroline.
But make sure your brand is distinct and unique. Shouldn't be
confused with another's.
6)Reach out and link up with customers: You have your brand and you
think you are all set? Then sure... Go ahead, connect with your
customers. Spread the word, tell people about your brand. Its a hobby
so you don't need any lessons on being bold to tell people about what
you do. Tell your friends and also tell them to inform their own
friends about what you do. If you love cooking, you could go telling
people you are able to come in contact with that you could prepare
dishes, and such a person could contact you. Even if they have a
friend somewhere hosting some party and needs someone to do the
cooking. Create samples of your stuff and give it to people to use,
and ask for their comments and suggestions.
7)Get a licence for business: This varies from region to region and
from country to country. Remember you are starting up a business so
you may require some licencing and permit from regulatory unions on
what you want to sell.
8)Create a blog or website: Make use of the vastness of the internet
and its tools to get across to customers and people who do the same
thing you do. Create a good website or blog. Put in details of your
profile and pictures of your work. You could even start a full time
web log (blog) on your hobby. Write to educate and to inform. Create
'how to ' and step-by-step posts. As you do this, you may get more
popular and consequently more visits. And then you could start earning
from your blog through target ads.
Don't forget to detail your contact on your blog profile. So
people can contact you. Don't like blogging? You could consider making
home made videos and uploading them to the largest video hosting
site-youtube.
9)Social media: this was talked about a bit in the previous point. But
it can't be over emphasised. That instagram, twitter, or Facebook app
on your smartphone can be indispensable tools that could forge you
ahead greatly in your newly established hobby-business. Tap away at
those social networking apps, post pictures of what you do. Tweet
about your daily activities as they relate to your hobby. Search
groups, forums and trends on your hobby. You get across to people and
you know what they are doing and how they are doing it.
10)Read other people's work: read and learn from the success and
failure stories of people who have tried what you are venturing into
now. Get their books and find out their secrets. Apply them. You could
even make efforts to reach out to them by asking questions.
0 comments:
Post a Comment