How to Start Treating Your Hobby Like a Business

Hobby to Business

I wrote a lengthy post this weekend to share with you.

Simple tips on how your endeavour (whatever it may be) can go from a hobby to a business.

Well, my editor/hubby took one look at my post and said it was wordy and that my image was a stock photo…until he noticed it was my computer and planner in the photo!

Ok, so you took a good photo, but it’s all not you!

He was right and I knew it!

This was the first time I had done several drafts and changed several things.

The post was long for my writing style and the picture was too polished.  

I trashed the post and used it as a reminder of the importance of building a brand, which is part of the first step to go from hobby to business.

Your brand is your unique voice and style that will set you apart from others.

I sat and thought about what I wanted to share with you and decided to make this post a series.

 A series of things I have learned as a newbie that can be applied to anyone attempting to transform their hobby into a business.

Step One is to Give Your Business a Name

Give your hobby a name

If your business is online this may seem obvious, but for antique dealers this is often overlooked.

Your name should be well thought out and researched to ensure you can buy your domain and social media handles.

 It must also speak to your soul.

If you’re in this for the long haul you want to create a name that inspires you…that you’re proud of.

If you operate an antique booth it is important to create a sign or a marquee that is placed prominently in your space.

How to go from Hobby to Business

 

If you make a good first impression, your customers will have a tough time forgetting your space and its location if it is easily identifiable.

We often overlook our own identity when we have a booth space.

You want to ensure that if a customer comes back to buy something they can find it.

I have met several customers looking for something they saw the week before, but never purchased it and now they can’t find the booth.

If only the booth would have had a name…something they would have remembered!

While your thinking of your name consider your brand.

What do you want to be known for?

 Who is your ideal reader or customer?

What will set you apart?

Brands are important because they represent what your business is about.

 Strong brands are about recognition and a trust that develops between a business and a customer.

If you create a successful brand someone can land on any of your social media sites, location, or blog and recognize that it is you.

If you post online you’ll slowly develop a style to your posts.

As you grow your style will be reflected in your writing, photos and the font that you use.

If you have a booth or do shows…give your customers a reason to keep coming back.

If they love your style they’ll be back.

If you can’t decide on what you sell than you may just have random sales opposed to repeat customers.

The decision is all yours!

So take some time and think of your name, your brand, and signage if you have a booth.

As always I would love to hear from you.

Kindly,

Jane

 

15 Comments

  • Looking forward to more tips about building a business from your hobby as I’ve been doing just that.

    Reply
    • Hi Vicki, we’re both blessed to be doing what we love 🙂 Thanks for following along…it is so nice to come together with others that understand & lift you up when you need it!

      Reply
  • I so agree with these words. In the past 9 years I have been remiss at having a sign with my name on it. Since we’ve just changed the name to one of permanence, we will have signs everywhere – working on one for the store NOW.
    Thank you, Jane. I will be following this series closely.

    Reply
    • Hi Daryl, I completely understand and was the same for several years! Looking forward to seeing your new store, congrats 🙂

      Reply
  • What great timing this post is Jane! This is exactly what I am doing right now, setting up my blog, getting my brand, and thinking about what defines me. I am so excited but really nervous as well and finding blogs like yours is just the icing on the cake. It is such an inspiration and I really love reading your blog. I am looking forward to this series! Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom and knowledge. Keep it coming! 🙂

    Reply
    • Hi Kim, I’m excited for you! I decided to do this series b/c I wanted to share some of the simple things that I have learned thus far. I often found and still find that some of the easy things for others that have blogged forever are not so easy to figure out when your new. I look forward to sharing with you, thanks for following me on my journey 🙂

      Reply

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