For anyone considering a side hustle, here are the goods and bads I have experienced from starting an online business to generate extra income:
Here are the ‘goods’:
- Since this is a new and different venture, it is exciting and fun to imagine what this online business could become. There is unlimited potential.
- I am learning new skills in website design, marketing, and sales along the way. The intellectual stimulation is great. I enjoy learning new things and feel I can acquire many transferable skills that can be applied to other areas of my life and business.
- Building a genuine online business selling digital products utilizing passive income strategies has been something I have wanted to do for many years, so it is exciting to do it finally.
The ‘Bads’:
- Implementing all the basic elements, such as creating a website or blog and a marketing strategy, can take time.
- Several hurdles have been encountered, including learning WordPress to start a blog, which I have never done before. Also, finding a good affiliate marketing program that I felt provided enough products and done-for-you solutions to allow me to be successful was challenging and time-consuming.
- No money is being made initially. My efforts are going towards organic traffic (not paid traffic), so building an audience and customer base takes time.
- Uncertainty about when and how much money I can make.
- Only having 1–3 hours per day for 4–5 days a week to work on this makes me wonder if it is enough time to make it work, which creates doubt and makes me second-guess my efforts.
- I am wondering if I will give up at some point before I start making consistent money.
The side hustle concept is excellent for those looking to make more money, try new things, and find new opportunities. The sky is the limit in terms of what is possible. But from my experience, there are also headwinds along the way that are simply part of the process.
What are your experiences with a side hustle?