Want to Get That Side Hustle You've Been Dreaming of off the Ground This Year? Stop dreaming. Carve out 30 minutes a night after the kids are in bed, and start putting together something tangible.
By Syed Balkhi Edited by Dan Bova
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Want to make extra income? Who doesn't? That's why so many people in recent years have been taking their talents and skills and turning them into a side hustle. In fact, according to a recent survey from Bankrate, nearly four in 10 Americans polled (37 percent) said they have a side hustle.
Related: I Built My Multi-million-Dollar Side-Hustle While Working a Full-Time Job and So Can You
Unfortunately, though, a lot of people get stuck in the "dreaming" stage. They sit around brainstorming ideas and dreaming of the day they have a successful side hustle that brings them joy and money but never actually get started. Well, scratch that: This is the year to turn it all around.
And to do that, and get one step (or multiple steps) closer to turning your side gig idea into an actual money-maker, check out these five tips for how to get your side hustle off the ground this year.
1. Change your mindset.
A lot of people never get their side hustle off the ground because they have the wrong mindset. I know it seems simple, but believing in yourself and thinking of yourself as a business owner and not just a hobbyist will make all of the difference when it comes to starting a successful side hustle.
Related: 50 Jobs, Gigs and Side Hustles You Can Do From Home
Even if you're nowhere near to being a successful business owner yet, act like one. In fact, the "fake it until you make it" strategy actually works. According to a study in Psychology Today, people gain influence by acting dominant and confident. This strategy has the ability to convince people you're serious about your side hustle and can win you customers, too.
2. Create an agenda.
You can't expect your side hustle to take flight on its own; you've got to put in the hours to get it off the ground. I know it's hard to feel motivated to do that when you've already got a full-time job and a ton of other responsibilities, but you've got to set time aside.
Luckily though, you don't have to fear burning out to get it done: Chris Guillebeau, founder of the Side Hustle School and author of Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days, says that you can develop a successful side hustle by carving out just 20 to 30 minutes of your day. If you're a parent, you might choose 30 minutes each evening after the kids are in bed; or you could even use your lunch break at work. Whatever time you choose, put it in your calendar, set an alarm for it, stick to it and don't let anyone drag you away from it.
3. Join a community.
Sometimes we all need a little bit of inspiration to give us the push we need and some good solid advice to help us improve. That's why you should join an online community for side hustlers. Joining with like-minded people can help you build a support system of buddies who have been where you are now and can provide a wealth of information to get your side hustle going.
There are tons of such groups onlines. Simply search for them on Facebook and LinkedIn and you'll discover numerous groups for every niche. Ask questions, bounce ideas off other members, learn from others' mistakes and get inspired by stories of success. All of this community interaction will push you in the right direction.
4. Build a tangible brand.
Branding is the personality that identifies a company to its customers. Even if your business is only part-time, you still need to build a brand in order to attract customers and present yourself as a professional business. This means creating a logo, coming up with a tagline and developing a theme for your website, including a color scheme and personality. All of this will work together to show your target audience who you are as a business.
If you're thinking that all of that sounds expensive, don't worry. For side hustlers who are strapped for cash, there are a number of ways to create a stunning brand while still saving your pennies. If you set up your website with WordPress, for example, you'll find many free and affordable website themes to help you build a brand with just the click of a button. You can also use a free tool like Canva to create a gorgeous logo, business cards, flyers and more for your side hustle venture.
5. Start marketing your side hustle.
The final step to getting your side hustle off the ground is to start putting yourself out there. So, whatever you do, don't keep your side hustle a secret! Start telling all your friends, family and neighbors about your side hustle. One of them could become your first client or customer or could recommend you to someone he or she knows.
Next, get online and start marketing your side hustle on social media. Social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram are particularly great for marketing product-based side hustles. Other free ways to market your side hustle online include joining forums like Quora, blogging and building an email list and cold-emailing potential clients to offer your services.
Related: Your Side Hustle Is More Likely a Dead End Than a Path to Entrepreneurship
Over to you.
Don't sit around again this year wondering if your side hustle has what it takes to make money. Get out there and make it happen. With the new tips you've learned, this year will finally be the year you hit the ground running.
