Starting your Business, Basics

Let me say upfront, that I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination. Having said that, I have been selling online for over 10 years now. I love the freedom it gives me and has given me for years.

I made the leap to working fulltime for myself when I got made redundant. I gave myself 8 months, from May when I became redundant to January. 

I told myself that if it wasn't earning me a decent wage by then I would get another job. That's a great incentive, especially in the winter, when it's wonderful to not have to go out in the cold, the rain, snow and whatever else winter throws at us.

This is literally the basic bare bones to get you started. Which is still more than I had when I started. If I can do it, so can you!

How to get started!

Nowadays the internet is a big part of our lives and most of us are fairly internet savvy.

I knew nothing and had to learn it from the ground up. I hadn't even been on any social media sites at that point, so it was a big learning curve.

It was easiest to start on a selling platform for me. It is a good way to get started. It wasn't a thing then but now, many start on Facebook and some sell only on Facebook. Whether you sell on there or not, it is a good idea to have a business page anyway.

A shop

Wherever you sell from, you need good detailed descriptions and good quality photographs. 

WHY?

Because that is the only way your customer will get to know what it is like before buying. Photos show them and the description obviously describes it in more detail. This is what will sell your goods.

You will be charged a small amount to list each item and generally the listing will last for 3 months.

Any selling platform now tends to have clear set up instructions and videos to show you step by step.

You will learn to tag your items with terms that people search for and including such words in your description and Title. This is called SEO or Search Engine Optimisation. 

My Shops: Etsy & NOTHS

A website

You can build your own website which is easy enough to do. I know because I managed it several years back. I had it up and running in less than a week just spending a little time here and there when I could.

Many of the platforms that host websites will have a free basic starter site you can sign up for. 

Many crafters I knew just stayed with the free version, especially if they linked it back to their shop for selling.

My Website

Social Media

If you want to have your own business selling goods or services, you need people to find you. That is where social media comes in.

You get business pages on each platform, all free, and start to build each one. Logo, business name a little bit about you and a link to your shop or website. You can usually only add one link. 

That is where a website is useful as you can add a button for any shops or social media.

Which Ones!

The main and important social media platforms are probably ones you use all the time; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. 

There are others but don't overload yourself at the start as you need to use them regularly and interact with others to gain followers. 

The more followers you have, the more people that will get to see what you have to offer as your followers comment and share your posts. 

What else?

If you are making goods, keep making. In quiet times, yes there will always be times where you sell less than other times. Design new products, get on social media and get busy gaining followers. The more you do towards building those followers the more your business and goods will get seen.

TAX: Get registered with your local tax office. Even if you don't make much at first, it is very important to ensure your business is legitimate. I have heard about people being caught and fined because tax offices look online for those that haven't registered.

Yes there are a lot of new businesses springing up and there were lots before the Pandemic brought more. So is it overcrowded? 

With 4.6 BILLION people using the internet worldwide as of November 2020 (more now) I don't think we need to worry too much. 

The Internet is a growing business market, so get in there and get started.

Now is the time! A ditty!

         

Time to take the leap?

Most people are fed with working for someone else and having their working hours dictated by someone else. 

You know what they say about a J.O.B.? Just Over Broke!

I'm not interested in watching Television, so the evening is a great time for me to work. My daytime hours are decided by family and what else I have to do. 

In normal times I travel to stay with family at least 3 times a month, then my working hours change accordingly.

Yes it's hard work but it's for YOU!

Motivating tips for working from home.

Don't let fear hold you back

-------------------------------------------

I hope you enjoyed this post on the basics of starting a business. 

Sometimes basics are all you need. It can be very easy to get caught up in research on what to do and never actually make the start.

When I began over 10 years ago, I had no idea what online selling entailed. I decided and went for it, built it up alongside a job, home and family. 

I LOVE every minute of it!!

-----------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for visiting, hope you enjoyed the post.

Questions and comments welcome.

From Handmade Hobby to Business

We have seen many new businesses start up during last year, especially online.

Some out of boredom and some from a need to earn money as jobs were lost and workplaces closed during the restriction tiers and lockdowns. 

Many people who were already selling odd items they made, more as a hobby, really stepped up their game and turned that hobby into a business.

Some began to discover crafts as something to do, some realising there was time now to have a go at that craft they always wanted to do. Still others were trying different things until they found one they really enjoyed. More rediscovered a love of creating because suddenly there was time in abundance. 

Popular Crafts

There are many old favourites that people have gone back to, such as knitting and crochet. Also many newer crafts and craft mediums that have appeared over the last few years.

I intend to do a series of blogs about the different crafts and where you can get kits to try and plans to make things etc. After all you don't want to buy everything in bulk and then realise you don't like it.

Some crafts use basic tools that many already have, like power tools for woodwork.

Many learnt basic woodworking form school and others learnt from parents/grandparents etc. Grandparents were often a good source of knowledge about many crafts and passed this on to the young ones if they were interested. 

Now though new crafts with different materials available spring up and really capture the imagination.

I am loving the resin creations that have popped up. So many innovative ideas and created with such gorgeous colours.

Learning Crafts

Crafts are not everyone's cup of tea of course but creating things by hand has had a major revival in recent years as it can be a big help with mental health.

My daughters learnt various skills from us. One was more interested in woodworking and other practical skills than the other. They both learnt knitting/crochet/baking and sewing which for a time when they were young seemed to be skills that were dying out.

I learnt knitting and crochet mainly from my grandmother, baking from my mother and school. Sewing was not something I enjoyed but the basics and more were instilled at school.

Nowadays, of course, you can learn just about anything from YouTube from basic skills to more advanced as well as from various blogs.

Getting the Basics!

Ask around to find out if anyone you know has a few basics you can try with. If you have shops open (Not shut due to Covid-19) its worth checking out charity shops. They occasionally get a variety of unused craft kits that were unwanted gifts. They often sell balls of wool too, if you are using yarn.

This time of year they get lots of unwanted items or even items passed on as people clear cupboards to find space for the new gifts.

A lot of people are decluttering now because they have time on their hands. 

Craft kits are a less expensive way of getting started too. See Candle making and Embroidery

Getting started

Many start selling from a Facebook business page. These are easy to set up and you can ask people you know to come and like your page to get you started.

Costs are minimal online. Opening free business pages etc. 

Open a shop on a selling platform such as Etsy. 

You have to list your items by writing descriptions of each one and adding photographs from every angle. 

There are tuition videos to help you and YouTube has videos by successful sellers to help also.

The first few listings will take the most time as you get used to what is required it will get easier.

My Etsy shop is Uniquely Your Word Art if you want to take a look.

There are other selling platforms too.  I started out selling on Folksy, a UK based platform and I also have a shop on Not On The Highstreet.

Do some research and find the best one for you. I have been on new platforms, only 2-3 years old but selling is harder as they aren't as established as the older ones. 

I have been on newer ones and despite working hard to market my shop, rarely sold anything. 

Try a more established one to start with.

Website:

You can build yourself a website, quite easy on most platforms, with the drag and drop set up most have. There are many platforms where you can start off on the free version to see how you get on.

WordPress takes more time to learn and build but it's another option.

Take the step!

Now it's the time for you to keep

learning alot as you take the leap.

Just follow your dreams

its not as hard as it seems

its never really all done

but it makes life more fun.

The step that you take first

feels scary and is the worst.

So jump in, don't look back

else you might give yourself the sack.

If you don't try you'll never know

if that business would start to grow.

You're not too old or too young

just don't leave your song unsung!!

What do you think?

Many start their business alongside their job. In these trying times, many of you have lost your job and are looking for alternative ways to earn a living.

Nobody is happy about the Pandemic, lives have been lost and jobs have vanished. 

But many have reconnected with family and got to know their local community because they aren't on the treadmill of work long hours, eat, sleep and repeat. 

Others have found a new direction in life online, Facebook pages sprung up to help local areas to help each other by exchanging goods and belongings. 

Still more took up hobbies at the beginning, or expanded the hobbies they had. Then as the restrictions continued turned them into businesses. Often, as much for something to do, as to earn money.

If you always fancied an online business, there has never been a better time!

A few links with more information:

How to create an online Bussiness 

How to start a Profitable Website

-----------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for visiting. If you enjoyed this post please share.

Questions and comments welcome.