Do you have what it takes to turn your passion into profit?
Around the world there are hundreds of people stuck in 9-5s who work the entire day only to come home too exhausted to pursue their hobbies or interests. It’s soul-destroying, to say the least.
But for a select few, those who have a burning desire to monetize the thing that they love, there’s a way of breaking out of the monotonous capitalist cycle and, instead of working for someone else, work for themselves but with a project that they are fervent about.
It’s not for everyone, but if you think you’ve got what it takes, then there are some steps you can take to turn your passion into a career.
Recognize Your Passion and How it Can be Monetized
Understanding what you love, why it fires you up and how it keeps you excited is key when deciding to pursue your interests full time.
Identifying what you love and understanding how it can be monetized and commodified is the first step before you can turn your passion into a full-time venture.
If you love archery, for example, think about the different ways in which shooting arrows could become your job.
Do you plan to take part in competitions? Perhaps you could go into the market and sell specialized bows or arrow shafts?
If you’d like to share your skills with others, maybe it’s more prudent to create instructional videos and dedicate yourself to gaining a following on YouTube?
Once you identify this first step it’ll be way easier to establish the groundwork to getting paid.
Find Your Niche
The internet has gifted us with seemingly endless possibilities and connections. This can feel like a blessing and a curse.
On one hand, it’s easier to find like-minded individuals who could be potential customers or collaborators. On the other hand, it can feel like there are already too many people doing something similar to you.
It’s important to determine what unique gifts you have to offer.
Maybe you’re an artist looking to open up an online store for your work and also a music nerd who loves going to see local musicians’ shows. You could consider an online store that’s geared towards custom merchandise designs for local bands.
No matter what your gifts and interests are, you have a unique perspective that can set you apart from the competition.
With finding your niche, a good place to start is asking yourself what kind of site or service you wish existed within your field. Necessity is the mother of invention, after all.
Read also: How to Make Money as a Musician
Market Yourself
Your audience or your clients aren’t going to find you without some marketing.
It doesn’t matter what you do, whether you’d decided to become a potter and sell your wares, or have decided to start tutoring languages online, for you to make money, you’ll need to connect with your audience.
The fastest way to do this is with a website. Find yourself a reliable website provider. Ideally one with a website builder, a unique email address, and cloud storage.
This will allow you to lay your ideas out succinctly and tell your audience why they should use your product.
Focus On Your Web Presence
With passion projects and side hustles, creating online content that catches people’s eye and sticks in their memory is half the battle of making a profit.
You’ll need a website that aligns with your brand and provides customers with all the information they need to know about your services or products.
Having a logo is a sure-fire way to show that you are a legitimate business operation, even if your business is just crocheting hats in your bedroom.
Logos strengthen your brand and set you apart. If you yourself aren’t a designer, premade logos can help take your branding, and therefore your earning potential, to the next level.
If your web content catches the eye and your unique voice, a little bit of advertising can go a long way. Many social media sites offer fairly inexpensive ad promotions.
You shouldn’t rely on boosted ads to drive your growth, but if your content looks intriguing enough, increased visibility will pay off.
Become Qualified
Once you have your niche identified and you know how you’ll be able to sell it, it’s time to become good at your chosen passion.
Let’s use the archery example again. If you’re going to be taken seriously, you have to be good. For people to follow you, they’re going to want to know that you have some sort of expertise.
After all, why would they buy bows/take lessons from you, when they know of a hundred better archers out there?
Put in the time and you’ll see rewards. As the saying goes: the more you learn, the more you earn.
Read also: Why Expertise is Key to Success in Business
Expand Your Network
The more people you can get buzzing about your business, the better.
Be active on your social media accounts and website, constantly updating your customers and followers on any news or new products. Foster connections with other individuals in your field with similar goals to you.
Consider discounts for customers who share their experience using your service or product on their social media pages.
Take a good look at the connections you already have.
Do you have a friend who’s great in front of the camera that could model your products? Or maybe a roommate with a podcast who would be willing to interview you about your latest project?
When it comes to small-scale business operations, you are your own advocate. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or pursue collaboration.
You have the power to turn passion into profit. We are most productive when we’re excited about the work we’re doing. Don’t wait another day to start building your dream.