Ready to take your side hustle into the big leagues? There’s no time like the present to take that big leap into creating the business that you’ve been dreaming of, with more than 1.66Billion Global Digital Buyers waiting to snap up your product or service.
A lot of businesses are grown from the kitchen table and make it out to the global stage using social media to become a thriving business. Do you see yourself as the next Samantha Wills who took her homemade jewellery that she sold at the local markets out to the international fashion stage, or the next Naomi Simson of Red Balloon fame? From graphic designers to artists to candle makers and website designers, there is so much opportunity for you to use social media to build a thriving business.
There are five steps to work through so you can generate the money you want, doing what you love.
Commit
The three things you need to commit to are marketing, more marketing and delivery. Social media marketing must be a key commitment before you start to ramp things up. Marketing ensures that people familiarise themselves with you and your products or services.
For example, if you have built up a side hustle with soy candles and you have dreams of getting them into main-stream stores and in 5-star hotels, then you’re going to need commit to marketing yourself in every avenue possible in order to build up a reputation that people trust.
You’re not alone
It takes a tribe to raise a family and it’s the same with a thriving business. There are many different types of support that you’ll need to have around you from mentors to cheer squads to people who are happy to promote you.
Janine Garner says, there are key people you need to have around you are people who are not going to let self doubt or setbacks get in your way. Four of these key people are your Pit Crew who are with you up to their eyeballs with you! Your Cheer squad are your advocates and who sing your name from the heavens. A Teacher is necessary in your team of people around you, for they’ll help you and guide you through this next phase. The final people you need around you are your Butt Kickers who will ask you to commit to something and then hold you accountable.
Top Teacher tip: Learn about social media from someone who has done what you want to do and, in the way, that you want to do it. It will shortcut your learning curve.
Rockstar your brand
Firstly, invest in great photos for use on social media. These should be done by a professional photographer. Rockstar your photos because stock photos aren’t going to cut it.
Secondly, you’ve got to have a good email management system (often known as a CRM) so that you can utilise to collect and store email addresses of prospects who are interested in buying from you in the future. Assume the position of an expert at what you do.
For instance, if you have side-hustled a range of swimwear and you know your customers love it, invest in great photos that showcase them. Do something unique that makes your products stand out. Using this same example with building up your email list, you can offer style advice for different body shapes or even how to style your swimwear with accessories.
Create more content
Online content is one of the major keys for creating a thriving business. Consider the audience that you want to buy your product or service and answer these questions: What are their goals, dreams and desires and how does what you do help them to achieve them? What are their problems, stress points and worries? How can you help solve that for them before they buy from you? Creating online content is a great way for your audience to get to know you as someone who cares about them and what they’re going through.
For example, if you’re a graphic designer, consider who your main audience are and what their problems are – like creating their own logos or not having brand guidelines. You could share advice about how not having these things in place costs money in lost revenue.
Keep telling people how to get more
One of the biggest contributors to businesses failing to thrive is that people often don’t like asking for the sale. Without sales, though, you don’t have a business. Continue to remind people how to buy from you or how to access further help from you. You can afford to do it more than you think, with most people not even realising that you have something for sale.
You could say something like “Click here to buy this” or “Download this free style guide here”. Make it clear and simple.
The great news for you, is that this is all doable and you can do it all from your kitchen table or home office. Look out world, here you come!
Nicola Moras is a social media and online visibility expert, sought-after speaker and author of Visible, a guide for business owners on how to generate financial results from social media and digital marketing. Nicola helps clients around the world achieve visibility, impact and profits. Find out more at www.nicolamoras.com.au
