Crafts and art are both great ways to express yourself. They help to develop confidence, reduce stress and anxiety and improve fine motor skills. However, while both are creative, they do have differences. Arts are more expressive, whereas crafts have a more tangible outcome.
Start Small
Crafting with art is a fun and creative way to earn extra money. However, turning your hobby into a professional career takes careful planning and preparation.
First, you need to decide if your hobby is truly business worthy. Does it solve a problem, educate a niche, or fulfill an unmet need?
Second, you need to figure out how much time you have to devote to your new business. If you have a family or other commitments, it may be difficult to start a new business.
If your goal is to turn your hobby into a full-time career, it’s important to set realistic expectations about the amount of time you will have to commit and the financial investment you will need. This will help you avoid disappointments down the road.
Determine Your Goals
Setting goals is a great way to motivate yourself and get your work done. It also allows you to track your progress and set benchmarks.
To determine your goals, write down a list of things you want to accomplish for your craft. Then, place them in order of importance.
You should only include goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. These are the SMART criteria for goal-setting.
If your goal is vague, it can be hard to measure or may not be attainable. For example, if your goal is to sell 20 knitted hats per week, it might be impossible to achieve.
However, if you change your goal to something more realistic, like selling 5 knitted hats a week, it is easier to measure your progress and maintain your goals. You can even set a timeline for achieving your goal, such as by the New Year!
Set Up a Website
A craft website is an excellent way to showcase your work, share tips and tricks, and communicate with potential customers. It also gives you a platform to capture leads and send newsletters.
If you’re ready to get started, there are plenty of tools and resources to help you set up a website that reflects your style and makes your work stand out. For example, Strikingly offers a range of templates that are perfect for sharing your passion or hobby online.
Once you have your website up and running, it’s time to start promoting it. One effective method is to join Facebook Groups related to your niche.
Another way to promote your website is by using online forums. Sites like Reddit allow you to find a subreddit for your niche and join it.
Whether you’re selling handmade jewelry or a handmade quilt, having your products on an e-commerce site is a great way to reach new customers and increase sales. However, if you have unique items that aren’t reproducible, you’ll need to make sure you track inventory so that you don’t end up with duplicates in your listings.
Market Your Work
If you have a crafty hobby, you may want to consider selling your work. There are sites like Etsy, or you could even set up your own business, supplying goods that other people need or want.
To turn your hobby into a professional career, it’s important to evaluate whether the product or service you offer will meet market demand. You can do this by reaching out to potential customers and asking them if they would be interested in your goods or services.
In addition to the financial feasibility of your hobby, it’s also important to ask yourself if you have the time to devote to your new business. You may have to make some sacrifices in your personal life if you’re working on your business full-time, but it’s worth doing so to ensure that your hobby becomes a successful career.
