When I first had the idea to start a side business my thoughts were that it would take approximately a year to bring in enough income to account for anything. And – I was partially correct.
When I first started, my online income ideas were a mix of all sorts. I thought I would make money selling items on eBay and Craigslist, helping local businesses with their websites, earning money through blogging, and by creating niche sites. Freelance writing was nowhere near the top of my list.
It wasn’t until I was browsing blogs one day that I began to notice the same few freelance writers on several sites. I was intrigued and impressed by this, so I emailed one of these writers (Melissa from Mom’s Plans) asking her how she broke into freelancing. She replied back giving me some helpful tips and pointed me to a blog that could teach me more.
From there I was literally hooked on the idea of writing for money. Why hadn’t that been one of my original goals?
So, I soaked up all of the marketing and freelance writing information possible. I started experimenting with different marketing tactics and ended up getting my first couple of jobs.
I can only think, if freelance writing had been my interest one year ago where I’d be at now.
Consider ALL of Your Options
I can’t help but feel that writing wasn’t on my agenda for the fact that it intimidated me. Nobody wants to be told “No, you aren’t good enough.” But the thing is that’s all you have to be – good enough. Not the best just good enough.
I am not the best writer in the world but I enjoy it. I’m full of ideas and I’m pretty quick. Add a dash of confidence and you’ve got a freelance writer.
When you set out to choose your side business you need to pick something that you enjoy doing. When considering your options push all fears aside. You can overcome your fear. What you can’t overcome is dealing with a side business that you hate.
Learn, Learn Some More, & Then Act
I have always been a learning junkie so when I choose a new side hustle I thoroughly research the subject. And when you are wanting to break into a new field you need to learn as much as you can.
Once you have narrowed down your side business idea you need to learn how to market yourself. You need to know what type of a time commitment the business will involve and you need to be very specific about what type of customer you’re going to target.
Learn as much as you can and apply what you’ve learned. Keep mixing it up until you get it right.
Make Specific Goals
When I first started this blog my side business goals were pretty vague. They looked something like this:
Make an extra $400 this month.
Okay, but how?
As time went on my goals got pretty specific. I’d set a goal to get X number of clients per month or to send out X number of writing inquiries per day or week.
In the beginning, progress simply cannot be judged in dollars. It needs to be judged in effort. Send out letters of introduction. If they don’t work tweak your marketing approach. Keep marketing yourself until you land your X number of clients.
Even if you don’t meet your goal you tried and know the next month you need to take a different approach.
Another thing I do differently now is set a certain amount of money I want to make per hour in addition to what I want to make per month. This way I can make sure that my time is managed well.
Apply Laser-Like Focus
I am happy with where I’m at but, I also feel like if I knew then what I know now I’d be a whole lot farther. When it comes to starting your side business you need to be specific. And most of all you need to find something that you enjoy.
It doesn’t matter if you’re writing, designing websites, selling products, writing books, blogging, or anything else. The tighter you focus your business plan, marketing, and goals the faster your side business will grow. Period.
What do you wish you knew when you started your side hustle that you know now?
Excellent tips. When I did my first freelance spreadsheet job I definitely felt like I did not have the experience needed to get the job done. I had to keep telling myself that I was definitely qualified and was charging the right rate (lower than market since I had less experience than the average freelance spreadsheet consultant). Learning from your mistakes is a big one as well.
I love reading about how you’re succeeding at your side business. It’s especially cool to hear it from someone who didn’t know what they were doing a year ago. I guess a little confidence goes a long way. I’ve just started making some money from blogging and it makes me feel like the possibilities are endless.
I’ve been learning a lot about creating a side hustle from people like you. I like your conclusion here about focusing in on one specific thing you can do really well. I think it’s true in many areas of life that the more focused we can be, the more success we will see. Trying to do everything well is not usually a fruitful strategy.
Thanks for sharing! After over a year of blogging I am JUST starting to put myself out there for freelance work. I’ve been operating at a loss (my blogging expenses) and putting in so many many hours, I think it’s time I took some income producing steps on my blog journey.
That was what I did five years ago. I used to blog and had tons of posts to follow up with. I just kept blogging since that was what I liked to do back then. I spent a lot of money on the website until I started to develop my own and restart everything over. Now, I am in the proces of starting my new blog.
Great post, Alexa. I think that anyone can do it if they’re willing to put the time and effort into it.
I wish I knew how to effectively manage my time better, and make better plans and goals. I’m kind of a fly by the seat of my pants gal, and that’s just not going to cut it in this world.
I really needed to read this today. I’ve been freelancing for over a year now, but without a really strong focus. I know that I need to buckle down and really get clear on what I want and how I’ll go about doing it. Thanks for another inspiring post
I think I wish I’d done less worrying about every detail and just started sooner. You really don’t have to know everything to get started in the online world.
I think I was a lot like you when I started blogging – I was going to get rich trying every possible scheme out there! But as the old saying goes – when you do everything all at once, you get nothing done. I can really identify with your tips such as setting specific goals. If I really want to make a $1000 per month or whatever, how will I get there? How many articles do I have to write? How many sales do I have to make? How many things do I have to do? I think there are many people who have good intentions to do something great, but they get lost on the actual “execution” of a plan because they can’t put together a solid road-map for how to get there. This is a very valuable skill you’re acquiring!
Yes, you have to have a solid plan. One thing I have learned is that keeping up with what you have planned (such as blogging) is not easy. It takes a lot of efforts and dedication to build the recognition.
I’m mostly just impressed by how hard you work above and beyond your normal job & blog. What a work ethic!
I agree that with some hard work and dedication anything can be done! Well done for going after what you want (it’s okay if there’s a little delay, you got there in the end).
Great tips, Alexa! I just started freelancing and I definitely think I need to make my goals more specific. It will definitely help me manage my time better.
This is a great post. I particularly like how you stress the need to have specific goals in order to succeed. This is something I’m working on – trying to break the big picture down into little bites.
As an aside, I’d be interested to know what tools you use to keep track of your freelance jobs, clients and accounting. Do you just use spreadsheets or more dedicated programs?
I’m a freelance web designer, but most of what you posted here applies to me too. It’s not easy to become successful as a self-employed professional, but it can surely be done. I started getting some good revenue in 3-4 months since starting (but I was desperate since I was in debt and this was my only way to make money)
Alexa, you’ve done SO well for the short time you’ve been doing this. Plus, the lessons you’ve learned along the way are great for content – you can help many others move quicker even than you have! So excited to see you get into full-time side hustle stuff. Woohoo!
Great advice Alexa! I definitely haven’t been as focused as I should be. I tend to have plenty of ideas but not enough time to implement them all. I need to borrow a page from your book and focus on the most important and profitable tasks first.
The most important factor in the whole thing is patience.. I know that this site has virtually exploded onto the scene , but you do need to be willing to wait out the slow times.
I often think if I only started something 6 months ago I’d be so much further ahead. I realized that it never works that way though. IMO, things happen when they are suppose to happen.
Having an action plan and execute it are very important. A lot of times people fail to plan their ventures and only dream of things. Do you have certain benchmarks?
I am so impressed! Seriously, great job!!! So is writing your main job now or a side-job?
I think you’ve done amazingly well!
PS: I like the way you write. It’s very down-to-earth and simple.
Thanks Alexa for another great and inspiring post
You may not have known what you know now, a year ago…but you DO know it now, which is just as important! And as you are writing for others now, we will also benefit from your knowledge as you pay it forward with your insight! That’s just awesome
Keep up the great work and rock on – or write on!!
Take care and all the best.
Lyle
I agree with you if I know then what I know now it would have been completely different but at the same time I love all the experiences and learnings I got along the way.
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