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Writer's picture은사시 Arisu Chris

How to start an online business as a side hustle

Many people want to start an online business. Here is how I started an online business as a side hustle.

It was in 2018 that I started getting interested in a side hustle. But I wanted to start an online business without risk.

At first, the question was whether it was possible to make money online.

But most importantly, I started with the belief that I could enjoy doing what I love. Starting a blog to reduce the risk, and building the cornerstones of building an online business.

There are some people who are doing online business on a full-time basis, but at that time, I still lacked experience and knowledge, so I started as a side hustle.

It is possible to start as a side hustle in conjunction with your full-time job until you gain some sense and achieve your target monetization.

When I started my business, my plan was to combine work and a side hustle for a year. When the income pipeline is stable to replace a full-time job, I could decide to focus on my online business as a full-time job. By then, I started a blog first.

I started by sharing what I learned while studying my favorite writing and graphic design.

For those of you who are thinking about starting an online business right now, I will tell you my process.

My process of starting a side hustle business.


Starting a business as a side hustle

Starting a business as a side hustle

Step 1: Start creating content

The first thing I did was start a blog for fun with my favorite design tips and life tips for self-improvement. I had a passion for drawing as a hobby.  

I had a passion to study design. However, I didn’t want to go back to college and major in graphics. I learned little by little through short-term courses such as SkillShare and YouTube and started posting what I learned.

If you look at social media, there are a lot of ads, and doing this will get you a lot of followers. But at that time, I enjoyed posting as far as I could.

Here’s what I didn’t follow at this stage:

  1. I didn’t overthink the process – I focused on the content I liked and started writing.

  2. I didn’t think what people thought of me. In the early days, there were no subscribers, and there were not many visitors, so there was no need to recognize others.

  3. I didn’t worry about whether this could be monetized.

However, I have been working on my blog with a few principles.

  1. I should have fun.

  2. I have to follow my passion.

  3. share the things I love.

  4. Keep posting a blog consistently.

Step 2: Start Connecting with People

As I got subscribers and my followers on social media increased, I started talking in the community with my content creation. I joined a community I was interested in to share opinions, share tips I know, and tell them what I do.

As introverts like me, probably, community activity felt awkward and embarrassing. I was too. However, I was able to overcome it because the community supported and supported each other.

Practices to overcome this imposter syndrome have made me grow one step further.

Step 3: Free work and free talent donation

I had an opportunity to help with my friend’s design project. This experience changed my thinking. I wanted to share these things.

So, I started sharing free resources with my blog post for those in the same situation as me.

As a result, the number of subscribers increased, and fortunately, I could work on paying projects. This was my first paycheck when I started building buildings online.

Step 4 Expansion of the revenue pipeline

I was still working for the company, and at the same time, I did design projects as a side hustle. It was my first income pipeline.

And on a quarterly basis, I released my designs or products to the marketplace. Digital products take a bit of time to first launch, but after that, it’s not a lot of work, so there’s little risk in creating an additional revenue pipeline.

Through this process, I have learned a lot and will continue to expand.

Here is a list of the benefits I have gained while starting an online business as a side hustle.

  1. No financial stress

  2. Gaining experience without a big investment.

  3. I found my passion for what I love.

  4. I can test whether I can run my own business.

  5. I can prepare for my retirement.

You don’t need to invest a lot of money and time to start an online business. Some people quit full-time jobs and start a business. Of course, if you have enough emergency funds, there should be no problem.

Generally, It takes 3-5 years for a business to return to its normal track.

I dare to recommend it to you. Don’t start your business recklessly, start as a side hustle at the first.

If you’re willing to spend your spare time building new business ideas, please bear in mind. While doing so, you should maintain a full-time job to avoid financial hardship. This way can help you build the life of your dreams without giving up.

This is my process of how I started an online business as a side hustle. And I hope that it is helpful for your dream business. Starting an online business as a side hustle will give you the chance to try out your business idea without taking any risks and see what you can build.

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