Side hustles are growing fast in the gig economy. From 2005 to 2016, Canadian gig workers increased by 70%. The pandemic is making more people look for extra ways to make money. But, with so many in the game, how can you make your side hustle stand out? What are the most powerful strategies to promote your side business online and build a thriving customer base?
Side hustles can be anything from freelance work to selling online to arts and crafts. One must for these side gigs is being noticed online. If you love blogging or find Pinterest fascinating, using these platforms together can help a lot. I have seen how blogging and Pinterest can help others notice your business. These two can bring more people to your online store or service.
This guide will look at different ways to market your side hustle online. We will cover using social media, paid ads, referrals, and email marketing. By the end, you will have a clear plan to market your business better and make it grow.
The Rise of Side Hustles
Recently, side hustles have become very popular. According to Statistics Canada, the number of gig workers in Canada increased by 70% from 2005 to 2016. The pool expanded from 1 million to 1.7 million people. Several factors are responsible for this notable growth.
Statistics on Side Hustle Growth
More folks are turning to side hustles to boost their earnings. They involve in jobs like freelancing, part-time businesses, and small entrepreneurship. This choice has become more common amid the COVID-19 crisis. Many do so to stabilize their finances, looking for extra income.
Reasons for the Increasing Popularity of Side Hustles
The growth of platform technologies has played a big role. It’s now easier for individuals to start their own side hustles. Also, the pandemic led people to find more ways to financially support themselves. Side hustles help folks earn more without fully depending on the gig economy. They allow for more financial stability while providing the benefits of being your own boss. The flexibility and empowerment of running a side hustle have attracted many, from online business owners to creative freelancers.
Choosing the Right Side Hustle
Starting a side hustle is exciting. It’s key to pick something that fits your passions and skills. Lisa Tanner, a side hustle expert, notes choosing a gig you enjoy. Since you’ll spend your free time on it, enjoying what you do is crucial.
Be aware of what you can and can’t do from the start. Remember, the side hustle path is about learning as you go. Being open to trying new things and changing your approach is vital for success.
Aligning with Your Interests and Skills
It’s wise to pick a side hustle that connects with what you love and are good at. This could be anything from writing or designing to tutoring online. If it matches your talents and what you care about, you’ll likely find it more rewarding.
Low-Cost and Risk-Free Options
Finding a side hustle that doesn’t need much money up front is smart. Luckily, there are several low-cost or risk-free choices. You could set up an online shop, provide services online, or sell digital items. These can be affordable to start and easy to grow, letting you explore without a big financial gamble.
Building an Online Presence
Setting up a solid online presence is key for any side hustle’s success. It starts with a dedicated side hustle website or a place to showcase what you do. This step makes your business easy for target customers to find online.
Importance of a Website
A website for your side hustle acts like a digital shop front. It shows off what you offer and helps customers get to know your business. Having a beautiful and well-thought-out website can boost your credibility and brand recognition.
Website Development Tools and Costs
Making a low-cost website for your side hustle is now simpler than ever. Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress provide easy-to-use, drag-and-drop tools for building websites. These let you design an eye-catching website for your side hustle without needing tech skills.
The costs of website building can change based on what you need. But, getting started with these website development tools for side hustles is often affordable. They have budget-friendly plans, making it easy for anyone to create a side hustle website.
Leveraging Social Media
Besides a website, using
can boost your business. It helps you connect with new customers.
Personal Social Media for Side Hustles
is a good start. Lisa Tanner suggests you use your own social media accounts. Share links and show your work. Talking to potential customers on your personal channels makes a real connection. It gets them interested before you even launch your business.
Business Social Media for Side Hustles
It’s good to engage this way early on
Promoting Through Personal Accounts
Use personal platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. It’s great for boosting your business. Post updates, link your website, and talk to your network. This approach builds awareness and interest. It shows potential customers your skills and passion.
Creating Business Accounts
After sparking interest on your personal accounts, make business accounts. This makes you look professional. It lets you target your messages at your ideal customers. Business Social Media for Side Hustles allows you to highlight your work and interact with more potential customers.
Social Media Commerce Platforms
There are specialized options for selling directly on Social Media Commerce for Side Hustles. Instagram Shops, Facebook Marketplace, and LinkedIn Services are great for this. They help you sell, take payments, and create a strong customer base, all within social media.
Advertising and Paid Promotion
Want more people to see your Side Hustle Ads? Think about using paid advertising. Investing in Google Ads for Side Hustles lets you bid on keywords. This means your ads can show up when people search for what you offer.
It helps you get noticed by those who are already looking for your products or services.
Google Ads and Keyword Targeting
Google Ads are great for connecting with your audience. Do your homework on keywords. Target the ones that mean your ads show up for people looking for what you have to offer.
It’s a smart move, especially if your services or products are something many people want. It helps you stand out when people are looking online.
Social Media Advertising
Social Media Ads are another good option. You can use Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for this. They offer affordable ways to target your ads to the right people.
Make your ads eye-catching and interesting. This way, you can draw in more potential customers. It’s a great way to direct more traffic to your Side Hustle Ads.
The Power of Referrals
For many working on their own or doing a side job, getting recommended by current clients means a lot. Lisa Tanner tells us how crucial excellent service and strong client bonds are for these recommendations. She’s an expert on boosting your business with referrals.
Providing Excellent Service
Being consistent in providing excellent service makes clients happy. They then happily tell others about your services. This helps you grow your business without spending a lot on marketing.
Building Strong Client Relationships
Along with great work, it’s vital to build strong bonds with your clients. Knowing what they like and making sure they are happy can turn them into your biggest fans. They will be eager to tell others about the work you do.
Collecting and Showcasing Reviews
Don’t hesitate to ask happy clients to review your work. Their positive reviews can be a big help in bringing in new clients. It also helps to show that you’re a trustworthy expert in your field.
Email Marketing Strategies
Running a Side Hustle Email Marketing operation can be very effective. It lets you stay connected with your audience and advertise what you offer. MailChimp, Constant Contact, and Klayvio on Shopify offer tools for creating and sending out marketing emails. These tools are user-friendly and do-it-yourself.
Automating Communication
Setting up automated email campaigns is a smart move for Email Automation for Side Hustles. It keeps you in touch with subscribers without constant manual effort. These campaigns can share new content, promotions, or updates easily.
Segmenting and Targeting Your Audience
Using Email Segmentation for Side Hustles and Targeted Email for Side Hustles makes your emails more powerful. By understanding your subscribers’ demographics, behavior, and interests, you can send personalized messages. This leads to more opens and clicks on your emails.
| Email Marketing Metric | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Average Return on Investment | Companies gain an average return of $42 for every dollar spent on email marketing campaigns. |
| Mobile Email Openings | About 61.9 percent of all email openings occur on mobile devices. |
| Subscriber List Limits | Email marketing platforms limit the number of subscribers you can have on your list and may charge more for larger lists. |
| Pricing Plans | Some email marketing platforms offer flexible pricing plans based on the size of your subscriber list, while others have fixed pricing plans allowing unlimited subscribers. |
| Email Segmentation | Email tags can be used to categorize subscribers based on demographics, behavior, or interests, for more personalized and targeted emails. |
Marketing Tips for Side Hustles
Two key strategies for marketing your side hustle are blogging and using Pinterest. Blogging showcases your knowledge and connects you with your audience. Pinterest attracts people visually and helps you stand out online.
Blogging as a Side Hustle
Blogging positions you as an expert and draws in potential clients. Write regularly about industry insights or share how-tos. A well-done blog can boost your credibility and attract more people to your work.
Pinterest for Side Hustle Promotion
Pinterest is perfect for Pinterest for Side Hustles because of its focus on visuals. Create appealing pins and boards to highlight your work. This engages interested users and helps you appear in search results.
Reasons to Choose Blogging and Pinterest
Blogging and Pinterest for Side Hustles together form a strong marketing mix. Blogging shares your expertise, while Pinterest grabs attention visually. Using both can broaden your reach, strengthen your brand, and increase sales for your small business.
Low-Cost and Risk-Free Business Models
Starting a Low-Cost Side Hustle is great because it doesn’t need a lot of money upfront. This is unlike starting a full-time business, which can be very costly. Many Profitable Side Hustles can grow from just a small investment.
Did you know that only 25% of businesses last 15 years? This shows the risk of traditional businesses. However, with a side hustle, you try new business ideas without risking everything. You can make extra money and see if your idea works, all while keeping your main job safe.
If you become a virtual assistant, you can earn a lot. There was a VA who made $144,000 in just one year after leaving her old job. The future looks bright for affiliate marketing too, with it set to be a $27 billion industry by 2027. Plus, the need for digital marketing is growing fast, with over $660 billion expected to be spent by 2024. For those with the right skills, there are many Low-Cost Side Hustles out there.
If being a virtual assistant, working in affiliate marketing, or providing digital marketing sounds interesting, it’s a good time to start. With little risk and low investment, these options are tempting for new entrepreneurs.
Scaling and Growing Your Side Hustle
Your side hustle is picking up speed. Time to look at what’s working and what isn’t. Lisa Tanner stresses how reflecting is key to success.
Reflecting on What Works
Find out what parts of your marketing and growth are really helping. Maybe your Pinterest efforts bring in new clients. Or your email list keeps business coming back. Knowing your best moves lets you focus on them to grow your side hustle.
Seeking Professional Guidance
Feeling stuck on how to up your hustle? Getting advice from pros can help a lot. “Scale Your Side Hustle®” program offers great help. You get mentorship and join a supportive group. Success stories show the power of this kind of help.
Gearing up your hustle demands hard work, fresh ideas, and being ready to change. Check on how you’re doing regularly. Also, getting advice from those who know can push you further. This way, you pave a way for your hustle to reach even greater success.
The Benefits of Side Hustles
Side hustles are great because they help boost your income and give you more choice in how you work. They can also make you feel more powerful and in control. This can be a huge change for the better for many.
Supplementing Income
A side hustle lets you earn extra money. This can be really helpful if you want to save up, pay debts, or just have more to spend. It’s a reliable way to make more money outside of your main job.
Having this extra money can give you a sense of security. It can also help you reach your financial goals faster.
Empowerment and Flexibility
A side hustle not only boosts your income but also lets you be your own boss. It gives you the freedom to create a business based on what you love and are good at. This freedom and personal satisfaction is really fulfilling.
This kind of work is great for people wanting more control over their time. It’s also ideal for those curious about other jobs they might like better.
Avoiding Burnout and Maintaining Balance
Exploring side hustles has shown me it’s vital to balance a full-time job and extra work. Many people handle a job, a side hustle, family, and more. It’s key to manage all these roles with focus and care.
Pacing Yourself
Key to avoid burnout is pacing. Applying the Pareto principle, I learned 80% of my results come from 20% of tasks. So, I focus on what matters most. I work on my side hustle a few days a week at specific times. Also, I wake up early for an extra 30 minutes. This simple change is a big help.
Prioritizing Primary Job Responsibilities
Keeping focus on my main job is crucial too. Using habit tracking has improved this. It lets me see how often I work on my other projects and helps spot overcommitment. This way, I can use my time wisely.
Finding balance is a constant effort. I aim to balance side work with my job through flexibility. By managing my time wisely and always improving, I believe I can avoid getting overwhelmed. This approach helps my career and side work thrive.