A man wiser than us once said - choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. Life in the middle of the pandemic has reminded us all about the things that matter. Many people have decided to leave their boring office jobs and explore whether they can make a profit from their true passions. But, it's not easy to turn your hobby into a business. Here are some tips you should follow to make it possible.
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1. Find a common interest

A hobby is something that you enjoy doing. But, for it to become a business, other people have to have their part of the enjoyment. There is no business without customers. That should be the deciding factor when deciding whether your hobby is profitable. The most bizarre hobbies could become a great small business idea with only one crucial ingredient - common interest with many people. 

Your 'weird' hobby could become a business

Who would've thought that making slimes would become a profitable business? Some of the successful crochet sellers certainly did not believe that would be a thing when they started making their first piece out of fun. There are so many exciting hobbies-turned-into-businesses that are overflowing TikTok these days. The weirder the hobby is, the more attention online it gets. More attention means more customers - and there's sufficient ground to do your business on.

2. Spread the word

You're sure your goods and services are fantastic - then you should spread the word to the rest of the globe. Marketing does not have to be prohibitively costly to be effective.

1. Begin by creating free social media profiles.
2. Participate in community activities to help spread the word in your area. And when your sales increase, you may experiment with paid marketing alternatives such as social media advertisements.
3. Create a website and social media sites to promote your business. Be sure to constantly improve your communication with the market and other small businesses.

Having a web presence, as well as the appropriate tools, may assist you in expanding your target market.


3. Don't skip writing a business plan

A business plan serves as a blueprint for a company, and it is often necessary to get business financing. However, even if you are not seeking money, you should not neglect this phase. It was recently reported in some studies that entrepreneurs who prepare a formal business plan are 16 percent more likely to reach viability than those who do not. Be sure to include some of the essential points, such as:

1. an executive summary 
2. an overview of the company
3. products and services 
4. market-oriented tactics
5. plan for sales and marketing
6. metrics and benchmarks (measure the progress)
7.  financial strategy

Writing your plan down will help you spot its possible flaws, so you correct them before it's too late!

4. Use your budget wisely

'If you want to profit, you have to invest,' you might say. And that would be true. But, be careful with that. Many people diving into the world of small businesses invest more money than they can gain. We know that you're excited that you're becoming an entrepreneur, but don't make this rookie mistake that can make it harder to turn your hobby into a business. Be wise with your money and invest little by little in the beginning. Always look for ways to save money in your startup budget rather than spend it. Calculate your gains carefully and use your budget according to it. 

5. Figure out the office space

Depending on the nature of your small business, you will need an actual office to work in, or you won't. But, even if you're fully equipped to work from the comfort of your home, it's good to find an isolated space where you'll work in. When you have a desk or even the smallest area dedicated to your work/hobby, your productivity will increase drastically. The more your creative juices are flowing, the more groundbreaking ideas you'll have for the development of your business. 

To avoid mess and clutter in your 'office' while your business is developing, you should consider packing your belongings and renting storage. Professional storage companies will keep your inventory safe and ready for sale. You'll have clear office space in front of you, maximizing your productivity.

6. Be realistic about your possibilities

Maybe you've come up with a fantastic idea that will attract many people at once. But, it's essential to be true to yourself and your potential customers. Pay special attention to good time management. In the beginning, you surely won't be able to take on too many orders and maintain the quality you want. So, set up a scale for every week (realistically) and keep up with it. That way, you won't disappoint any customers, and you won't be overworked from the very start. You want to turn your hobby into a business and do something enjoyable in your life. But that will not be possible if you take on too much all at once.

7. Don't forget the life-work balance

Even if we poetically said at the beginning of this article that you wouldn't work a day in your life - every effort you make should be balanced out. It's especially easy to forget to go home and rest when you're working from home. More so if that work is your hobby. But, to preserve your mental health, it's good to establish some boundaries in your life-work schedule. Having good time management is crucial. It's to be expected that you'll work a bit more than usual when it's all starting, and you have to figure a lot of stuff out. But, as time goes by, you should take the reality checks more often and decide rationally what amount of work is within your boundaries of pleasure. 

It's the best time ever to turn your hobby into a business

After the pandemic started, many people saw the value of small businesses. The amount of support that is provided is the best it's ever been. That's why you shouldn't fret - dive into this beautiful world of opportunities. Share your talents with the world. Turn your hobby into a business and don't work a day in your life! 

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Many parents are interested in starting a business. If you have kids and are looking for ways to begin your entrepreneurship journey, read on as this article explores the best ideas to explore and how to start a home-based business.
  
Here are four of the best low-cost business ideas you can pursue as a stay-at-home parent.
 
Sell Products Online
 
Selling products is one of the easiest ways to have complete control over your work hours and income. You can decide the number of goods you want to sell and undertake the necessary expenses and effort. Popular goods to consider selling include – jewelry, collectibles, paintings, t-shirts, and accessories. 
 
Etsy is a great platform to sell your goods as a newcomer. It is a well-established marketplace with a large customer base and low listing fees. But, they do charge a commission per sale which should be taken into account while pricing your products.
 
Become a Virtual Assistant
 
As a parent, multitasking becomes second nature. So why not monetize this skill by working as a virtual assistant (VA). As a VA, common tasks you can expect to be hired for include data entry, call/email screening, appointment scheduling, making travel arrangements, and more. 
 
A laptop and reliable internet connection is all you need to start a VA business. As a beginner, you can find gigs on Upwork or Fiverr. As you gain experience, you can earn more.
 
Work as a Digital Marketing Manager
 
If you have prior experience in the field of marketing, you can start a lucrative business as a digital marketing manager. With an increasing number of companies moving operations online, the demand for experienced marketing professionals has increased. You can plan to sell various services such as graphic design, strategy creation, social media management, performance marketing, and more. As an independent contractor, you’ll be able to work with multiple clients and increase your earning potential.
 
Start a Blog
 
Blogs are an inexpensive way to earn a steady income. Yes, it will take some time to generate adequate content and views on the blog, but once you get the ball rolling there are various avenues to monetize. For instance, you can start running ads, engage in affiliate marketing, and write sponsored content. 
 
Tips to Grow Your Business
 
Along with a great idea, the success of your business will depend on having strong foundations and good management, which you can achieve through the following steps:

• Write a Business Plan: This should include information regarding your target market, short/long term goals and steps to achieve them, a financial plan, product insights, and pricing.

 

• Leverage Social Media: When it comes to promoting your business, Instagram is one of the best platforms, as it is actively used by consumers to find new products. This is reflected in research done by Sprout Social which states that over 90% of Instagram users follow at least one brand.

Posting on social media platforms is free, and with a business account, you can add links to your website/contact form directly on feed posts and stories, through which customers can make purchases. Keep in mind that you'll need to cater to unique post requirements. Fortunately, an easy to use image resizer online will allow you to adjust image dimensions in under 30 seconds.

• Learn to Delegate: As a parent running a business, you’ll have numerous things on your plate at all times. Instead of trying to tackle everything yourself, hire professionals who can do the work for you, this can include a babysitter for your child, writers for your website, or a virtual assistant.

Not only will delegation improve business efficiency, but provide greater free time which you can dedicate to spending with family, taking a rest, or pursuing a hobby.

Being an entrepreneur as a parent will provide you with the perfect balance between pursuing your professional goals and experiencing the joys of parenthood.

Be sure to visit Real Online Career for more actionable tips for working from home!
​Photo via pexel

Guest Post by https://www.citebrain.com

​Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many things have changed. And even though we are gradually returning to some sort of normalcy, some aspects will probably never go back to the way they were. Among the changes that we have witnessed is an increase in the number of people working from home, which also heightened the need for a productive home office for many. 

This trend started as a necessity, particularly for large companies, but it gradually became a choice for many. Regardless of which category you fit into, working from home might seem less stressful. Nevertheless, it can become a bit too relaxing at times since you only need a laptop and you can work from your bed. So, if you just moved into your new home and intend to work from there, here are seven tips on setting up a productive home office.
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When you move into a new place, you have the luxury of choosing where to set up your office. Of course, if it's a small apartment, you won't have too many options, but if it's a house, you do. In any case, it's important not to make a rash decision.  To have a productive work-from-home experience, you need a quiet place separate from the areas where the family’s daily activities occur.

​However, some people can't concentrate in complete silence, so if that's you, play some music while you work. However, if having a separate room is impossible because there’s not enough space, then you can always design a multi-purpose area in your living room.
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If you have this option, set up your office in the vicinity of a window to have as much natural light as possible. Not only is this good for your eyesight, but studies have shown that some artificial lights can even cause headaches. Now, even if you can’t have natural light all day, don't use dim lights because you might fall asleep instead of being productive.

Once again, having a window nearby would be perfect, because then you can air your office whenever you begin to feel tired. Fresh air stimulates your brain and makes you more productive. However, even if you don’t have this option or it’s simply too cold outside to open the window, you can at least get a plant. Plants help filter the air and generate oxygen, which in turn help you stay focused.
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The colors you choose for your home office are critical because they can influence your mood and, thus, your productivity. You have two options here: paint your walls or buy colorful office furniture. Either way, it's effective. According to the research, blues and greens are the colors that inspire the most productivity. Of course, this is not a rule; you can choose whatever color makes you feel good.

Before you even start thinking about the furniture and other office supplies, you need to have a clear image of what type of business you’ll be conducting from your home office. This is important because it will help you figure out what you need to be productive. For example, if you require two monitors to do your job, you will need a larger desk. Would that fit in your office? Or maybe you need a whiteboard to make diagrams and plans, for which you will need an empty wall. These details should be well-thought-out before you start filling up the place.
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​Working from home has become the new normal for many people. Therefore, setting up a productive home office is crucial. So keep in mind these tips when you move into your new home and have the option to design your workspace. The main idea is to make it both comfortable and practical.

Photo via  pixabay, freepik, pexels