Notes from Chris
Episode 134
LISTENER Q&A: Our listener questions for this week come to us from Elise in Denver, CO and Jonathan in Phoenix, AZ:- Elise has been listening to the show for a while now, and she's been inspired to start her own personalized coloring book side hustle. In addition to selling the actual coloring books, she's considering creating YouTube tutorials for those who'd like to learn how to make their own using a free design program called Canva. She's looking for some perspective regarding someone who creates a product in conjunction with a DIY tutorial video for those who are interested as a sort of added value.
- Jonathan mentions that we feature a lot of success stories on the show, but that a lot of side hustles are not always successful. He wants to know what kind of advice I have for someone who has experienced failure and is looking to adapt their hustle so that it can be successful or move past that initial failure.
CHRIS' RECOMMENDATIONS: If you have a Wordpress site or are considering starting one for your side hustle, here are some essential plugins to help you out.
- Yoast to Optimize SEO: SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and it's all about making your website and the posts on your website more friendly for Google so that you can get a higher Google ranking. Yoast is simple and easy to use, and you get most of their features absolutely free!
- Simple Page Tester: Simple Page Tester is an easy to use (and free!) plugin that allows you to conduct A/B testing which allows you to essentially use market testing on your page visitors! With this plugin, you can test your headlines, prices, and offers to see which your customers are more receptive to.
- Ep. 128 - An event planner in Boston proves that you can capitalize on fun with his creative scavenger hunt side hustle that brings in six-figures annually and has expanded to include five new cities
- Ep. 129 - In this story about a pair of college students who start their own bow tie hustle, we take a look at a global directory called Alibaba that helps you connect with suppliers and manufacturers. It's a great resource for those looking to create a product
- Ep. 130 - How a resourceful employee jumps on an opportunity to run his own branch of the company he works for and brings in $40,000 on the side
- Ep. 131 - A former NASA employee with an unbridled enthusiasm for horseback riding changes her hustle strategy from screen printing to a P.O.D. service and proves she’s no one trick pony
- Ep. 132 - A a woman in Baltimore creates comfortable mittens for runners, getting a patent on her unique product along the way
- Ep. 133 - In this coaching side hustle story, we feature a psychologist who brings in an additional $74k on the side with his consulting side hustle that helps students get into top universities
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEK: Here are some quick highlights for each episode this week. Listen to this week's recap for a more comprehensive highlight reel.
Side Hustle School Live:
Make a plan to start your hustle in 28 days or less.
You need more than one source of income. This in-person workshop (NOT available online) will show you exactly how to set up your first—or your fifth—hustle. We just added two more dates to the lineup for August! Here's where I'll be next:
- Washington, D.C. - June 8th
- Atlanta, GA - June 10th
- Portland, OR - August 19th
- Anaheim, CA - August 20th
Don’t See Your City? Let me know where you live! I’ll use your input to decide on future workshop locations. If we get enough people together in your city, I’ll be there.
Here's what's coming up next...
Each week I'll feature more stories from people who are starting side hustles without quitting their job. Here's a sneak peek of what's coming next week:
- An avid plant collector in the UK makes the most out of a temporary unemployment situation by building and selling glass terrariums
- After a doctor diagnoses her husband with a corn syrup allergy, a fraud analyst mixes up a line of healthy, sweet baked goods that everyone can enjoy
- Adventures in creating homemade presents for friends and family lead a Beyoncé-obsessed duo to lip balm world domination. Bonus: learn Abraham Lincoln’s favorite dessert recipes
Do you have a side hustle story you'd like to share? Fill out the Side Hustle School submission form and your story may be featured on the show!
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