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Best Business To Start With Little Money In 2023

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Best Business To Start With Little Money In 2023

Best Business Ideas – Whether the economy is slow, inflation is high or a recession is in full swing, you may be looking to make some extra cash. You may find some of the best businesses to start with little money are easier to get going than you think. For less than $1,000, you could have a side hustle that can help offset extra costs or rising prices.

20 Businesses To Start for Under $1,000

1. Bookkeeping Service

Technically, you only need a high school diploma to work as a bookkeeper, so this small business idea is accessible to anyone. You can take courses at a local community college or find online classes to learn what to do as a bookkeeper and earn a certificate.

Finding contract work as a bookkeeper will require you to put in a bit of effort marketing yourself on sites including Upwork, social media or even traditional methods, such as putting an ad in your local newspaper. Generally, you can charge $20 to $60 per hour, depending on your location and your experience.

What you need: Accounting software, limited liability company (LLC) business license, professional liability insurance, professional website

Approximate cost: $300 (to start); $75 per month (ongoing costs)

2. Tutoring Business

Another great choice that doesn’t require higher education (though it helps) is to work as a tutor in any subject in which you’re an expert. As long as you have a high school diploma, you can work with students who are struggling in particular topics. Where you work is up to you and the student (and their parents); you can teach students in your home or go to their house or a library to work together.

To get your name out there, consider using social media to spread word of mouth that you’re available; join Facebook and Nextdoor groups to connect with families locally. Create a website that includes a calendar where students or parents can book a time with you. The average price range for tutoring varies, but $20 to $100 is standard.

What you need: A website, LLC business license, home office

Approximate cost: $250; $30 per month (ongoing costs)

3. Consulting Business

Similar to a tutor, a consultant is an expert in their field. The biggest differences are as a consultant, you’re likely to be hired by a professional or a business to help guide them. Typically, consultants have a college degree and plenty of experience (or experience that equates to a degree).Networking is going to be your best bet for landing contracts as a consultant. Use professional social media, such as LinkedIn, go to local networking events for professionals and stay in touch with former colleagues. You should keep your personal website updated with contact information for your consulting business. Consultant fees vary wildly, depending on your area of expertise, so your rate may be $100 per hour or $500 per hour.What you need: Professional business cards, a website, LLC business licenseApproximate cost: $500; $30 per month (ongoing costs)

4. Delivery Service

If you’re looking to make extra cash after you get off work or you’re in between jobs, working for a delivery service such as Uber, Lyft, Grubhub or DoorDash can help. While it isn’t necessary to form an LLC for your side gig, it might be worth it for protecting your personal liability. Plus, there are a lot of monthly costs (maintenance, insurance, fuel) that you could write off on your taxes.The good news is that all you really need to work for a ride-sharing service or food delivery service is a vehicle, time, a mobile phone and a clean driving record. You don’t even have to invest in marketing yourself. You could make around $400 per week driving 20 hours, according to Uber.What you need: Vehicle, clean driving record, driver’s license, mobile phone, car insuranceApproximate cost: $500 monthly (assuming average car lease, insurance, mobile phone and car maintenance costs)

5. Online Store

Many people start an online store with just one product. You don’t need to have any technical skill or specialized training to be successful as an online seller, but it is a good idea to have some marketing and sales experience. To start, you need to find a product or products you want to sell, a great business name and a website.You’ll need to get a domain name, build a website and then market your products. It’s probably one of the more involved businesses to start, but if you’re successful, it could replace your full-time job. Keep in mind that an online store comes with a lot of ongoing costs, from keeping your website up and running digital ads to email marketing and transaction fees.What you need: An e-commerce website, products to sell, professional email address, domain name, business license, payment processor, sales tax IDApproximate cost: $500; $50 per month (ongoing costs)

 

6. Pool Cleaning Service

In warm climates, it’s common for houses to have pools, and pools need servicing year round. You will need some knowledge about pool chemicals and how to properly treat a pool to keep it clean, but you should be able to educate yourself on this. At the very least, you’ll need basic math skills to figure out how much of a chemical is needed for different sizes of pools.

Getting started with a pool cleaning service requires you to get equipment, chemicals and have a vehicle to transport those things from pool to pool. You can market yourself on sites such as Angi and Thumbtack, or go hyperlocal with Nextdoor or Facebook groups. Typically, pool businesses charge $80 to $150 per month, which includes weekly services for each pool.

What you need: Pool equipment, chemicals, small business insurance, LLC formation, invoicing software, vehicle

Approximate cost: $750; $100 per month (ongoing costs)

7. Graphic Design Services

If you have some digital artistic skill, you can start a graphic design business from home. You’ll have to find clients, but you can do so through websites including Fiverr or Upwork. Alternatively, you can rely on networking and word of mouth, so try social media or get some professional business cards to hand out when the topic comes up.

In addition to graphic design software such as Adobe Photoshop or Canva, you should create a portfolio website to show off your design skills. You can choose to create a personal website or a business site to sell services—either is fairly affordable if you choose one of the best website builders with the features you need. Graphic design can bring in about $25 per hour.

What you need: A website, graphic design software, business cards, business license

Approximate cost: $250; $30 per month (ongoing costs)

8. Pet Sitting Business

Turn your love of animals into a business that can make you a bit of money. Lots of people need pet sitting services from time to time and you can open your home to dogs, cats, birds and other animals that need someone to care for them. You may need to learn some specialized training such as animal CPR and how to administer medicine to different types of pets.

Make sure you get some pet sitter insurance to protect yourself and pet-proof your home. There are a few ways to get your name out there including putting up posters around your neighborhood or joining a site such as Care.com or Rover.com. If you’re a renter, this isn’t a side gig you can likely do, by the way.

What you need: Home with a yard, pet sitter insurance, flyers, a website

Approximate cost: $350; $60 per month (ongoing costs)

9. Property Management

There are a few ways you can get into property management: find part-time work as a property manager or start your own property management business. It doesn’t have to be a business in which you own the property you manage, rather you can offer your services as a liaison to connect contractors with residents or do the work yourself.

Although no degree is required, in some states you must be licensed to work as a property manager, so do the research before you jump into this line of work. You could offer your services to homeowners who want to rent out their houses or those who are using a service such as Airbnb or Vrbo.

What you need: A license (possibly), business license, a website, business cards

Approximate cost: $700; $30 per month (ongoing costs)

10. Personal Trainer

If you have a knack for nutrition and physical fitness, you could turn that into a career or a side hustle. People often look for personal trainers to help them get into shape and you don’t necessarily need an advanced degree to pursue this job. It can help to have a degree in sport science or certificate in fitness (there are multiple certificates out there you can earn).

You can start this business with little money—especially as it pertains to ongoing costs. You should strongly consider filing for an LLC and getting personal trainer business insurance to protect your assets. How much you spend on marketing depends on the route you want to take. Use social media, content marketing, email marketing or run digital ads to get the word out and start making $20 or more per hour.

What you need: Certifications, LLC formation, a website, email marketing software, personal trainer insurance

Approximate cost: $850; $60 per month (ongoing costs)

11. Auto Detailing or Mobile Car Wash

A great weekend business to start with little money is a mobile car wash service. All you really need to procure is a wet/dry vacuum, a pressure washer, a buffer, cleansers and microfiber towels. Aside from the equipment list, you should consider getting car detailing business insurance.

You’re going to need to spread the word about your mobile business, so it’s a good idea to submit your business information to Google Business Profile, Bing Places and other local directories. Make sure you have a website with at least your contact information, but you can also set up a website with appointments to make it easier for customers to book with you.

What you need: Car wash equipment, a website, small business insurance, LLC formation

Approximate cost: $800; $60 per month (ongoing costs)

12. Dropshipping Business

If starting an online store seems like a big investment of time and money, consider starting a dropshipping business. Dropshipping doesn’t require you to keep stock on hand or in warehouses—you simply purchase items at a discount as you sell them and the manufacturer or supplier ships products on your behalf.

You can create a website to showcase the products you want to sell or choose a marketplace such as Amazon or eBay. It’s still important to put in the time and effort to be successful, and most of this will be by way of marketing, choosing the right items to sell and creating the listings.

What you need: Dropshipping supplier, a website, business license, sales tax ID, payment processor

Approximate cost: $100; $30 per month (ongoing costs)

13. Virtual Assistant

A lot of professionals hire virtual assistants (VAs) to help them organize emails and documents, schedule appointments and other administrative work they don’t have time for themselves. You can often find part-time work as a VA to make a bit of extra money on the side (or full time if you want). Consider joining a virtual assistant service to get placed with a company if you don’t want to work independently.

You don’t necessarily need experience to find work as a VA, but it helps to have good organizational and communication skills. If you’ve worked previously as an administrative assistant, a VA position could work well for you and you get to work from home. The average rate for a VA is usually around $15 to $20 per hour.

What you need: A computer, a good internet connection, a website

Approximate cost: $550; $130 per month (ongoing costs)

14. Staffing Business

Staffing businesses serve as the middleman between employers and prospective employees. They help businesses find great candidates, and in return, businesses pay the staffing agency a referral fee (often as a percentage of the new hire’s annual salary). It could be ideal for those that are well-connected with a large professional network and who enjoy talking to people. It is also a business that can be started at home for those focusing on filling fully remote positions.

While those that operate staffing agencies typically come from a background in staffing or human resources, it is possible to start a staffing business without prior experience. However, as with anything, do expect a steeper learning curve if you do not have experience in the field as you will need to learn about the industry from landing clients and attracting candidates to contracts and billing.

What you need: You may need licenses and permits (varies by state), business insurance, website, internet

Approximate cost: $700

15. Tour Provider

The minimum requirements to become a tour guide include a high school diploma and an intimate knowledge of the area (or nearby area) in which you live. Tour guides don’t always drive clients around, but it’s a good idea to have a vehicle and a driver’s license. There’s such a thing as walking tour guides in areas known for hiking and such.

Many local tour guides start off on their own and post listings on tour guide websites with their rates. You can also find websites that will do marketing for you for a small fee. To get started, research your area to find out whether you need a license to work as a tour guide. As a tour guide, you can usually make $20 to $50 per hour, depending on your area.

What you need: A license (maybe), a car and driver’s license (optional), liability insurance, marketing materials, a website

Approximate cost: $250; $60 per month (ongoing costs)

16. Website Design Agency

If you have experience designing websites (and even if you don’t), you can turn it into extra cash (or a full-time job). Find one of the best web hosts to get a really low rate and create multiple websites. Alternatively, you could choose a website builder to help you create a website quickly.

It’s a good idea to learn how to use graphic design software, WordPress, coding (HTML and CSS) and some search engine optimization (SEO) tools. Marketing is a big part of being a website designer, so be sure to use sites such as Fiverr, Upwork and online directories to spread the word about your services. A website designer can make around $20 to $50 per hour.

What you need: A website, web host or site builder, subscription to graphic design software

Approximate cost: $200; $90 per month (ongoing costs)

17. Professional Cleaning Service

Housekeepers are often in need by busy professionals, people moving out of a rental and families. You don’t need much to get started, but you will need a strong work ethic, transportation and your own cleaning supplies and equipment. Check local laws to see if you need a business license to operate.

If you plan to do the work yourself, you don’t have to register a business, but it’s a good idea to have an LLC at least because it can protect your personal assets should anything go wrong. Liability insurance is more of a necessity in the event anyone is injured on the job. House cleaners make around $15 to $25 per hour.

What you need: Cleaning supplies, vacuum cleaner and other cleaning equipment, vehicle, business license (maybe), business registration, a website, business liability insurance

Approximate cost: $750; $60 per month (ongoing costs)

18. Open an Etsy Shop

Lots of people have talents and skills that translate into goods to sell. You can turn your hobby into a money-making business with very little money to start. Whether you crochet or knit, paint or sculpt or print fun T-shirts, you can sell homemade goods on Etsy.

Etsy doesn’t charge you anything to start a shop, but it does charge you per listing and fees when you make a sale. How much you can make with an Etsy shop depends on what you’re selling and how popular your items are. It’s also difficult to say how much it will cost you to get started because it depends on the price of your materials.

What you need: Materials for items, marketing plan

Approximate cost: $0 to $999 (this really depends on how much your materials cost)

19. Lawn Care and Gardening Service

A popular business to start with little money is a landscaping business. It’s a good idea to have some experience mowing lawns, clipping hedges, gardening and using a weed whacker. The equipment you’re going to use likely requires you to have a truck to haul it from yard to yard, so this idea is best for you if you already have one.

To start, you’ll have to invest in a lot of pricey equipment, but you can likely find used pieces to lower the cost. Insurance is necessary, and you should register your business to protect your personal assets. Keep in mind you’ll need to pay for fuel, maintenance and marketing as ongoing costs. Landscapers’ rates usually range from $20 to $40 per hour.

What you need: Equipment, truck, business insurance, LLC formation, website

Approximate cost: $999; $100 per month (ongoing costs)

20. In-Home Caregiver

Although most caregivers work for agencies, you can work as an independent caregiver. In most states, you need certification, but it usually isn’t necessary to be a certified nursing assistant (CNA). Your duties are likely to include shopping, light housework, cooking and transportation to appointments, for example.

At the very least, you’ll need a high school diploma, a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record and CPR certification. You should have transportation for a lot of the tasks you’re likely to do. Hourly rates for independent caregivers usually average out to $30 per hour.

What you need: CPR certification, business insurance, registered business, vehicle

Approximate cost: $150; $60 per month (ongoing costs)

Business Formation Resources

Whenever you start a business, there are a few things you need to do first to protect your personal and business assets. Setting up a limited liability company (LLC) is a good first step. Registering your business makes you more legit in the eyes of clients, too.

All new business owners should have a website with important information, including contact email address and phone number and a description of what they do. Some businesses would do well to find a website builder that lets clients book appointments from their site.

Bottom Line

Starting any new business is not an easy endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be a huge financial investment. The best business to start with little money is one you already have experience doing, whether it’s mowing yards, designing websites or helping students with a subject in which you’re an expert.

What Are the Best Domain Registrars of 2023?

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What Are the Best Domain Registrars of 2023?

Best Domain Registrars –

The Best 10 Domain Name Registrars of 2023

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How to Choose a Domain Name Registrar

When choosing a domain name registrar, it’s vital to consider a variety of factors. For example, you not only want a registrar that offers the domain name extensions (e.g., .com or .biz) you’re looking for, but also offers competitively priced domains (for your first year and every year thereafter), and includes money-saving extras. How to transfer a domain name .

Here’s what to consider when choosing a domain name:

  • Affordability: Domain registrars commonly offer discounted introductory rates for your first year. While this helps reduce your upfront cost, be sure to check the renewal rates as many jump in price greatly.
  • Extensions: All of the leading domain registrars offer top-level domain extensions (i.e., .com or .org). However, if you’re interested in a unique extension, then be sure to opt for a registrar that offers additional extensions as not all do.
  • Ease of use: After purchasing a domain, you then need to connect it to your web hosting provider or email host, so it’s important that the registrar makes this process as easy as possible. For example, many offer comprehensive help centers with robust documentation on how to connect a domain to the leading content management systems and email hosts.
  • Extras and Inclusions: In some instances, the best domain registrars offer additional features and inclusions. This may include enhanced security features or extras such as free domain name privacy.
  • Support: Ideally, you won’t need the assistance of customer support, but in the case where you do, quality support can make a world of difference. Consider not only the hours in which support is available, but also the channels in which it is available to determine which offers the support you in a method you prefer.

By looking at the factors above, you can help find the best domain registrar for you and unique preferences and needs.

Methodology

n order to determine the best domain registrars for small businesses, Forbes Advisor researched providers in the space and narrowed it down to the 10 top providers. We analyzed them across five primary categories for a total of 12 different metrics. Then, we gave more weight to the features that matter most to small businesses.

Here are the metrics we used to evaluate the top domain name registrars.

Introductory and Renewal Pricing

Pricing is one of the driving factors in determining which of the leading domain name registrars are the best. This accounts for 40% of our scoring. Domain name pricing is notoriously tricky—many registrars offer low-cost introductory pricing, followed by a steep increase in pricing upon renewal. By looking at both the intro and renewal rates, we got a complete picture of long-term affordability.

Features and Inclusions

While most domain registrars offer largely the same feature set, there are common features that many overlook, which is why we weighed this at 30% for our scoring. For example, the inclusion of domain name privacy, domain transfers, security and business email. We considered which providers offered these to determine further which ones offer the best value for the price.

Ease of Use

It can be difficult enough to find an available domain name, but it shouldn’t be difficult to use a domain registrar’s site to buy a domain. Additionally, upon purchasing a new domain, it should be as easy as possible to connect your new domain to your content management system (CMS).

We combine features, value for the money, popularity and ease of use to account for 10% of our total score.

Educational Resources

Domain registrar services should also help connect domains to websites through educational resources and guides. Not only should these be very easy to follow, but there should also be step-by-step instructions for all of the leading content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Squarespace and Shopify).

Third-Party User Reviews

To gain insight into how users find these domain registrars, we looked at third-party user reviews. We considered how the providers were rated and what users like and dislike about the various domain registrars.

First-Hand Expertise

As straightforward as buying a domain should be, users often discover nuances during the checkout process or after becoming a customer. To avoid any surprises, we included our insights gathered from first-hand experience using these domain registrars.

What Is A Domain Registrar?

A domain registrar is a service that “sells” domain names. When you register a domain name, you don’t really own it, rather you rent or lease it, which is why you have to renew your domain name every year or term. There are some add-on services you should know about before you choose a domain registrar.

Why WHOIS Privacy Is Important

Without going too in-depth to what ICANN and WHOIS are, suffice to say it’s the nonprofit corporation that is responsible for keeping the internet secure and the naming structure of websites as it is. It requires anyone who registers a domain to provide accurate identifiable contact information, including name, address, email and phone number. Not everyone is comfortable with that information being public.

Domain registrars have found a way to keep your info safe and still provide ICANN with the info they need. These domain privacy features replace your information with the registrar’s info, at least publicly. Anyone can look up who registered a domain name, so having domain privacy can reduce spam for you, and keep you safe.

What’s the Difference Between Domain Extensions?

Arguably, the most popular domain extension is .com, but other TLDs include .net, .org, .edu and .gov. There are literally hundreds more from which you can choose, and the less popular extensions are usually less expensive, with a few exceptions. The popularity of .io and .co has skyrocketed recently, so they’re pricier.

Some extensions are restricted and you can’t purchase them unless you meet certain requirements. Restricted extensions include .edu and .gov. Overall, all extensions work the same. The .com extension is preferable because it’s easy to remember.

Tips for Choosing a Domain Name

Because .com is so popular, you may have difficulty finding your business name available as a .com. You can try one of the more obscure extensions, such as .info, .store, .shop or any other of the hundreds available. If you’re set on getting a .com, though, consider using modifications on your business name.

Let’s assume “ghostlycastle.com” is not available, and then try these changes:

  • Add articles, such as “a” “the” or “an” (aghostlycastle.com, theghostlycastle.com)
  • Try adding another word to your domain (ghostlycastleexperience.com, myghostlycastle.com)
  • Possibly include a hyphen (ghostly-castle.com, the-ghostly-castle.com)

Disclaimer: It’s worth noting that many of the domain registrars we include in our list of the best domain name registrars are subsidiaries of Endurance International Group (EIG), including Bluehost, HostGator, Domain.com and BuyDomains. The fact that they’re all under one umbrella should not affect the service you receive for domain registration, but it’s good to know.

29 Side Hustle Ideas To Make Extra Money In 2023

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29 Side Hustle Ideas To Make Extra Money In 2023

29 Side Hustle Ideas – Side hustles are a great way to boost your income, plus they let you explore potential business ideas with little upfront costs or major time commitments. There are a variety of successful side hustle opportunities, whether in-person or online, so chances are there is a side hustle that could work for you. To help you find the right side hustle for you, here are 29 side hustle ideas.

Earn cash for taking free paid surveys while influencing the next generation of products, services and much more.

The global commerce platform – Build your business with Shopify to sell online, offline, and everywhere in between.

1. Freelancing

Freelancing is a tried-and-true way to earn extra money and deserves a top spot on any list of easy side hustle ideas. Freelancers deliver work on a per-project basis for one or more clients and you can schedule it in your spare time. Freelance graphic designers, writers, editors and website developers are in high demand, and other fields offer freelance opportunities as well. Skilled mechanics, trained bookkeepers, video editors, interior decorators and even licensed real estate agents can find flexible project-based work within their skill sets.

Costs and platforms: Market your freelance skills to your personal network for free via email and social media accounts. You can also reach potential clients using freelancer portals such as Fiverr, Upwork and Freelancer.com, which handles project management and payments for you. Marketing skills on your own website adds professional polish, plus lets you offer convenient online invoicing and payments via Square or another online payment provider.

Learn more: See how to make the most of your side hustle income with the top tax deductions for freelancers.

2. Pet-Sitting And Doggie Daycare

A pet-sitting side hustle is ideal for animal lovers and easy to set up and promote. You can provide in-home care for pets while owners are working or vacationing or keep pets in your home for daytime or long-term care. Some states and municipalities require permits, so research requirements in your area. You can also earn added income by marketing pet insurance to your clients.

Costs and platforms: Costs are minimal for in-home care, but initial setup in your own home might require investments in kennels or gates. Find clients and manage gigs using popular pet-sitting apps such as Rover or Care.com, or set up your own bookings and payment system using Square’s free tools.

3. Dog Walking

Love dogs but don’t have enough free time for pet sitting or space to commit to a doggie daycare setup? A dog-walking service might be the right side hustle for you. This side hustle is easy to fit into a busy schedule and offers the added benefit of getting exercise while making extra cash.

Costs and platforms: Costs are minimal since owners generally provide leashes, but you might want to invest in a few leashes and waste bags. In urban areas, you can find dog walking gigs using Wag!, TimetoPet and Rover, or manage your own bookings and payments using Square’s free tools.

4. Tech Setup Services

Are you a tech whiz when it comes to setting up home networks, smart home devices, computers and cell phones? You can easily make extra cash by marketing these skills to your community via social media and handyman apps. You can also seek tech certifications, and provide insurance and bonding to boost your credibility for in-home services.

Costs and platforms: Startup and ongoing costs are minimal, however, you might need to invest in a few tools to help with installations. Find and manage gigs using handyman apps such as HelloTech and TaskRabbit or set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

Learn more: Tech setup is a great side hustle idea for college students.

5. Blogging

If you enjoy writing and sharing information with people, consider starting a blog focusing on a niche that interests you, such as travel, food, beauty or fashion. As you attract traffic, you can monetize the blog with ads or affiliate sales. Ads pay per view or per click while affiliate sales pay you to promote a product or service. When someone clicks on an affiliate link, you get paid a commission if they complete a purchase.

Costs and platforms: Expect to spend $50 to $100 per year to run a basic blog. You’ll need to buy a domain and build a blog website using a WordPress hosting service or web builder platform such as Wix or Squarespace. All offer user-friendly design tools and attractive blog templates so you won’t need to pay a designer or developer.

Learn more: Review the best blogging platforms on the market to find the right fit for your needs.

6. Senior Sitting and Companion

With advances in in-home senior care, more families are keeping aging relatives at home. This opens up side hustle opportunities for anyone looking to make extra cash as a companion or sitter while primary caregivers are away. To add credibility to your services, you can take CPR and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) courses.

Costs and platforms: This is a very low-cost side hustle. You can market your services and manage clients on care-based apps including Care.com, Sittercity and Papa.com or set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

Learn more: Understanding senior care costs and the Medicare savings program is helpful for this side hustle.

29 Side Hustle Ideas

7. Babysitting and Child Care

Babysitting and in-home child care are in demand, and this side hustle is a great way to earn extra income in your spare time or on a set schedule. While certification isn’t a requirement in most areas, the American Red Cross offers online and in-person babysitting certification courses that cover CPR, first aid and behavior tactics that can bolster your credibility.

Costs and platforms: Babysitting is another low-cost side hustle. You can market your services and manage gigs and payments using apps such as Care.com, Sittercity and UrbanSitter, or set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

8. Personal Assistant

Busy professionals need help getting day-to-day tasks done, and many prefer to have one person handle it all rather than juggle various service apps. This is an excellent opportunity for a side hustler who loves to check all the boxes on a to-do list, from grocery shopping and dry cleaning pickup to dog walking and getting kids to their destinations.

Costs and platforms: You can launch a personal assistant side hustle with few costs. However, in nonurban areas, you’ll probably need a vehicle. Top gig and payments apps for personal assistant services include Thumbtack.com and TaskRabbit.com, or you can set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

Learn more: Personal assistants often perform executive assistant-type tasks on a contract basis.

9. Mobile Car Washing and Detailing

Car washing is another low-cost side hustle and an ideal gig for anyone who loves working outdoors. You can offer this service to individuals at their homes, or contract with local businesses that run fleet vehicles or that want to offer weekly car washes as an employee perk.

Costs and platforms: Cleaning tools, a sturdy hose and nozzle and a vehicle are the primary startup costs for this side hustle idea. Top mobile car wash gig and payments apps include MobileWash and Spiffy, or set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

10. Local Handyman

Are you the first one friends call to fix a light switch or hang a ceiling fan? Cash in on your handyman skills in your spare time while helping your neighbors check home improvement tasks off their to-do lists. To protect yourself and your clients and boost your credibility, you can become insured and bonded, but that’s not a requirement in most areas.

Costs and platforms: Costs are minimal for this side hustle, especially if you already have the tools of the trade. Handyman apps such as Thumbtack.com, TaskRabbit and Angi help you market and manage gigs and payments, or set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

Learn more: See how handyman insurance adds protection and professional polish to your side hustle.

11. Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants provide personal assistant services in the digital world and handle tasks including appointment scheduling, customer emails, travel bookings, data entry and much more. If you’re organized and tech-savvy, this side hustle is an ideal way to make money from home in your spare time.

Costs and platforms: You’ll need a reliable computer and internet connection, but those are your only costs to this side hustle. Virtual assistant apps including TaskRabbit, ChatterBoss and Upwork help you market services and manage gigs and payments. Or, manage bookings and payments using Square.

Learn more: Check out more top virtual assistant platforms to help you find clients and gigs.

12. Sell at Local Markets and Festivals

Many product-focused side hustlers profit by selling goods unique goods that they source or create themselves at local markets and fairs. With travel time to markets and setup, this can be a time-consuming side hustle, but if you love getting out and mixing and mingling with people, it can be the perfect way to make extra money on the side. Plus, you can use these in-person sales to build brand awareness and promote your online store and social media platforms to attract sales between market appearances.

Costs and platforms: Startup costs for in-person product sales can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands since you need to stock your booth. You can lower your initial investment by sticking with suppliers that support returns of unsold goods, or by offering custom-order items that don’t require deep stock. Faire is an excellent source of unique resale and private label items and supports returns of unsold stock. You can also open a free Square account to accept in-person card payments, track sales in a sleek mobile POS and integrate with online sales on your own Square e-commerce website.

Learn more: Most top-rated POS systems fully integrate in-person mobile, retail and online sales so you can sell anywhere using one system.

13. Tutoring and Instruction

Do you have academic, musical, fine arts or sports skills? Tutors and personal instructors are always in demand, opening up all sorts of flexible side hustle opportunities. You can market in-person and virtual instruction services to parents looking for convenient sessions for kids, but don’t forget about adult students. Adults love to expand their horizons and can often attend sessions during school hours if that’s better for your side hustle schedule.

Costs and platforms: Startup costs are minimal in most cases, and apps and online platforms such as Wyzant, Skooli and TakeLessons.com help you market services and manage gigs and payments. Or, manage bookings and payments yourself using Square.

Learn more: Tutoring and instruction is another great side hustle idea for college students.

14. Self-Publishing Ebooks

Self-publishing ebooks is another side hustle idea that’s perfect for writers, but you don’t need to be a skilled wordsmith to cash in on this opportunity. If you can craft a creative story or explain how to do something, you can hire ghostwriters and editors to complete and polish your work. Then, you simply publish to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing and other ebook platforms such as Smashwords, Barnes & Noble Press, Lulu and others, and wait for the royalties to roll in.

Costs and platforms: Self-publishing ebooks can be very low-cost if you write your book and develop your own cover art. But most serious authors tap cover design and editing pros for the finishing touches and spend upwards of $100 per title to publish. Ghostwriters can cost $200 or more to develop a complete manuscript, based on book length and topic. Publishing to most ebook platforms is free, but these outlets take a percentage of the sale price, plus marketing adds costs as well.

Learn more: Start your ebook side hustle with a clear publishing and marketing plan.

15. Online Courses and Coaching

Do you have an area of expertise? You can cash in on your knowledge by creating and selling online courses and coaching programs in your spare time. Thanks to user-friendly, low-cost online course platforms, this is another side hustle idea that’s easy to launch. Plus, combined with social media marketing, ebooks, YouTube promotion and blogging, online courses and coaching side hustles can grow into a lucrative business.

Costs and platforms: Online course platforms such as Udemy, Thinkific and Podia walk you through the course creation process and help you pair courses with personalized coaching. Most have monthly fees or retain a portion of the fee when you sell a course. You can also add online courses and members-only content to website platforms including WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, and others to create your own branded platform.

Learn more: Explore top-rated online learning platforms to find the best fit.

16. Digital Product Sales

Do you have a creative streak? Creating and selling digital products in your free time is another low to no-cost side hustle idea. Digital artwork, logos, music, photography, video and website design templates are a hot market You can cash in by creating these digitally and selling via download on your own website, social media platforms and myriad digital product marketplaces.

Costs and platforms: You can create digital products using your own graphic, photo, video or music software, or tap free online platforms such as Canva, PhotoPea and the Garageband app for creation. Monetize your creations on your own website or an Etsy store, and by uploading to creative marketplaces including Canva, Envato Market, Creative Fabrica, Shutterstock, iTunes, SoundCloud and many more.

Learn more: Many top e-commerce platforms support all types of digital product sales.

17. YouTube Channel

YouTube side hustles are a great way to make money in your spare time by sharing what you know, discussing current events or providing entertainment. YouTube is free to use, and you can monetize YouTube videos once you’ve reached at least 1,000 subscribers and average over 4,000 video watch hours per year. This can take a while to achieve, but with work, it’s possible to earn many thousands each month. Many dedicated side hustlers have turned their YouTube channel into a highly profitable full-time gig.

Costs and platforms: YouTube is free to join and you can upload unlimited videos for free. You can also create videos for free using a smartphone with a good camera and free video editing apps such as iMovie, Loom, Canva and AdobeSpark. To grow your YouTube channel, you can tap low-cost YouTube ads and share videos on your blog and social media accounts.

Learn more: Now you can monetize both full-length videos and the new YouTube Shorts format.

18. Viral Social Media Creator

Viral social media content takes many forms and you can cash in if you know how to create it. Top platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram have creator programs that let you monetize edgy entertainment shorts, helpful how-to’s, commentary videos and more. You need high-volume views to earn money, but it’s a fun and low-cost side hustle idea with big income potential.

Costs and platforms: This is a no-cost side hustle opportunity. Social media platforms are free to join and let you upload unlimited posts and videos. Most platforms provide their own free post and video creation tools, too, so you just need a cell phone with a camera to get started.

Learn more: There are many social media management tools to help you with this side hustle.

19. Influencer Marketing

Successful influencer marketers build a brand by posting engaging content across multiple platforms such as an affiliate website and blog, podcast channel, social media accounts and a YouTube channel. Influencers earn money using all types of content, such as product reviews and suggestions, entertaining videos, how-to tips and tricks, edgy social commentary and much more.

You can launch an influencer brand as a side hustle and earn money through affiliate links, ad income and sponsored content and monetize videos when views and followers reach certain levels. For example, earning money on YouTube requires 1,000 channel subscribers and 4,000 hours of views per year, while Facebook Reels profiles require 100,000 reel plays within 30 days to pay out.

Costs and platforms: It costs nothing to start an influencer side hustle on social media and YouTube since those accounts are free. You can also launch a free or low-cost website and blog using WordPress, SquareSpace, Wix and other website platforms, then upgrade your storage space and features as you grow.

Learn more: Using the right SEO tools across all channels helps boost your brand’s reach.

20. Create a Podcast

Podcasting is another popular low to no-cost side hustle idea that’s easy to launch and build. Podcasts are pre-recorded audio files that you record, edit and upload to podcasting services so listeners can access them at their convenience. Podcasts can be monetized through ads, sponsored content, affiliate links in the podcast descriptions and paid subscriptions.

Costs and platforms: You can record and edit a podcast with audio recording apps built into your smartphone, tablet or computer, then upload them to channels you create on platforms including iTunes, Anchor, Buzzsprout and many more. Some have free plans, and most offer premium paid plans that support earnings via paid listener subscriptions, downloads and ad revenue splits.

Learn more: Launching your podcast is easy with this step-by-step podcast guide.

21. Become an E-Commerce Reseller

Many successful side hustles center on classic e-commerce, where you buy, stock and sell a collection of items from multiple vendors yourself. This side hustle does require more upfront investment and time than other side hustle ideas listed here. However, plenty of entrepreneurs grow full-time businesses out of this side hustle. You can also boost income by combining standard e-commerce sales with POD goods, dropship products and affiliate blogging income.

Costs and platforms: Startup costs for this side hustle can range from $500 to $5000 or more, depending on initial stock purchases. However, a top-rated e-commerce platform won’t set you back too much. Starter plans on Shopify, WordPress with WooCommerce and Weebly by Square range from free to just $29 per month.

Learn more: Stay on top of the latest e-commerce trends to spot profitable side hustle categories for e-commerce sales.

22. Take Online Surveys

Many marketing research companies are happy to pay for your opinion on various products, systems and topics. This side hustle idea doesn’t help you build your own business, but it’s an easy way to make extra cash in your spare time. Most survey outfits have you create an online account and connect a PayPal, Venmo or CashApp account for payment. Then, you can search and sign up for surveys that interest you via an app or online dashboard. If selected, you complete the questionnaire or project and typically get paid within a few days. Many surveys pay $2 to $10 for a few minutes of your time, others pay upwards of $100 for in-depth product reviews or questionnaires.

Costs and platforms: This is a no-cost side hustle idea. Legitimate survey groups such as User Interviews, Survey Junkie and Dscout have no upfront or monthly fees. However, reviewing and applying for various opportunities can be time-consuming. To avoid wasting time, check survey or project descriptions to ensure you fit their target demographic.

23. Test Apps and Platforms

Market research firms, app and game developers and website designers seek users of all technical skill levels to review their platforms and provide user feedback. Like online survey side hustles, testing apps and platforms doesn’t help you build a business. However, with payouts of $10 to $150 or more for a few minutes or hours of your time, it can be quite lucrative.

Costs and platforms: This is another no-cost side hustle idea since it costs you nothing to apply for legitimate testing opportunities. Swagbucks, UserTesting and Enroll are a few of the top app and software platforms to check out.

24. Sell Artisan Products

If you love painting, woodworking, baking, sewing, knitting or crafting other handmade goods, you can cash in on your passion by selling artisan products in your spare time. To earn money with this side hustle idea, sell your ready-made or made-to-order handcrafted goods online and at local fairs and markets.

Costs and platforms: This side hustle idea has upfront costs for supplies and tools, but you can market and sell online with little to no upfront costs using Etsy, your own e-commerce website and social media accounts. If you plan to sell both online and in-person, consider Square or Shopify. Both offer sleek systems with fully integrated online stores, retail POS apps and mobile card readers.

Learn more: You can start selling artisan goods on Etsy in just 9 easy steps.

25. Sell Goods Via Dropshipping

Dropshipping lets you build a robust e-commerce store without worrying about purchasing, stocking and shipping the items you sell. With dropshipping, you only pay for the items you sell when a customer makes a purchase. The dropship vendors take care of all storage, packing and shipping details, then charges you the item’s wholesale and shipping costs per order. Dropshipping can be a time-consuming side hustle since you manage your own website and customer service, but it’s the cheapest and easiest way to break into e-commerce sales.

Costs and platforms: For this side hustle, you need a good e-commerce platform that integrates with dropshipping vendors, such as Shopify, WordPress with WooCommerce and BigCommerce. Proven dropshipping suppliers including Doba, AliExpress and Sprocket are the best place to start building your product collection.

Learn more: You can launch a dropshipping side hustle in just 6 simple steps.

26. Sell Print-on-Demand (POD) Products

Do you like to create fun graphics and sayings or have a talent for illustration or photography? You can turn your creativity into extra cash by adding your creations to various POD products, such as tee shirts, mugs, pillows, wall decor and much more. This side hustle idea is a cousin to dropshipping because the POD vendor takes care of all the details for you. You simply upload your artwork and add it to various items available for print to build a product collection. When ordered, your POD vendor prints, packs and ships the item and charges you the wholesale cost and shipping fee.

Costs and platforms: Like dropshipping, you need an e-commerce platform that integrates with POD vendors such as Shopify, WordPress with WooCommerce and BigCommerce. For POD items, start with proven suppliers including Printful, CustomCat and Printify.

Learn more: Shopify is a user-friendly e-commerce platform that integrates with most top-rated POD vendors.

27. Self-Publish Print-on-Demand (POD) Books

Are you a writer or illustrator or interested in capitalizing on the latest innovation in self-publishing? Then POD books might be the right side hustle for you. POD books cover the full spectrum of printable books, from novels and nonfiction to notebooks, planners, cookbooks, coloring books, puzzle books and more. You can create books using free or low-cost online tools, then upload the digital files to POD book sales platforms. When a customer purchases your title, the sales platform prints and ships the physical books and pays you a royalty.

Costs and platforms: Several free and low-cost platforms make it easy to create POD book files, including Canva, Reedsy and the BookBolt Studio. It costs nothing to list your titles with top POD bookseller platforms such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Lulu and IngramSpark. Printing and shipping costs are charged when a book is sold, so you have no upfront print fees for this side hustle idea.

28. Sell Products Using Retail Arbitrage

Are you a savvy shopper who can sniff out a deal and isn’t afraid to do a little price research? Then retail arbitragemight be the side hustle idea for you. In retail arbitrage, you buy clearance and markdown products from retail stores, then sell them online at a higher price. If you’re willing to check out local sales, compare prices on Amazon, WalMart.com and other online marketplaces, and invest a little money purchasing goods, this side hustle can be a real cash cow.

Costs and platforms: The retail arbitrage side hustle comes with upfront costs in purchasing and shipping products, and some time commitments running to stores and comparing prices. However, free and low-cost price checker apps including Amazon Seller App, Profit Bandit and Scoutly help you make smart buys.

Learn more: Most retail arbitrage side hustlers start by finding discounted items to sell on Amazon.

29. Sell Proprietary Goods

If you have an idea for a product and don’t mind making an upfront investment, you can contract with factories to create proprietary goods. Many side hustlers simply find a product that already exists, make a few improvements, and produce it at a reasonable cost. You can wholesale these goods under your own brand to retailers, plus sell direct to consumers on your own website, on Amazon and Walmart, and through social media marketplaces. This is another side hustle idea that has launched many successful businesses, but it does take research and work to get it right.

Costs and platforms: Startup costs for this side hustle can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands, depending on your product design needs and factory order, but that’s the primary cost. Searching for factories and custom suppliers on Alibaba.com costs nothing, and e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, WordPress with WooCommerce and Weebly by Square range from free to just $29 per month.

Learn more: Inventory management software with supply chain and sales management features is key to making this side hustle work.

30. Sell Private Label Products

Many side hustlers create unique branded goods using private label suppliers. These are products that a factory already makes, but will package it using your logo, labels and unique packaging specifications. This supplier method is especially suited to a side hustle since most private label sellers have lower order minimums than ordering proprietary goods direct from a factory.

Private label products let you build a complete grouping of items such as a cosmetic line, kitchen tool collection or gourmet food brand without a huge cost investment. Like most other product side hustle ideas in this section, you can wholesale private label goods or sell direct via your own website, social media profiles and marketplaces such as Amazon and Walmart.

Costs and platforms: Startup costs for a private label side hustle can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands, depending on the items you’re purchasing. However, some suppliers offer returns on unsold items and dropshipping, which lowers your investment. Check out private label goods on Faire, Alibaba.com and Mana Products and sell via a low-cost e-commerce website using Shopify, Weebly by Square or WordPress with WooCommerce.

Learn more: Some private label products support dropshipping and help you launch a side hustle with minimal upfront costs.

Side Hustles to Avoid

Some side hustles seem like great money-making opportunities. But in reality, many require hefty investments of time, money or both, and deliver limited returns without a serious commitment. Here are some red flags to watch out for when considering side hustle opportunities and gig work.

Hustles That Require Licensing or Certification

Salon services, real estate sales and certified accounting and tax prep services are often touted as top side hustle ideas. While these fields can be very profitable, you must have the required education and licensing or certification. To get this, you’ll spend anywhere from $500 to $10,000, or more, to complete your initial education, plus pay initial and annual licensing fees in most states.

If you’re hoping to build a career in these fields, this investment can be worthwhile. However, it’s a considerable time and cost commitment with no guarantees if you just want to make extra cash.

Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) Schemes

MLM companies are skilled at convincing you of easy money and big profit potential, and there certainly are many who do well in this model. However, you should carefully research any MLM opportunity’s required costs and product investment—which can be hefty—and examine their sales and profit model. In most cases, you’ll only profit if you build a large team of downstream salespeople, and that takes ongoing time and effort.

If high-pressure sales are your thing, an MLM side hustle might work for you. But if not, you might end up with a stack of unsold items that you can’t return, and no profits to speak of.

Side Hustle Coaching Programs

As you explore various side hustle ideas, you’re sure to stumble across coaching programs that tout untold profits and promise to help you quickly succeed. This is another group of skilled marketers who know how to convince you to pay $100s or $1000s for their “foolproof” system. While some coaching programs offer sound techniques and good advice, none are a ticket to quick riches.

Before paying for any coaching program, explore YouTube, Google and Kindle Unlimited to find free videos, how-to articles and e-books for the side hustles ideas that interest you. In most cases, you can find plenty of free information to help launch and grow your side hustle.

Bottom Line

Side hustles are a great way to earn extra income, pursue a passion or launch a new business in your spare time. With so many side hustle opportunities, it’s wise to explore the options to determine which hustles fit your skills, goals, budget and available time. No side hustle is a guaranteed success or get-rich-quick scheme, despite what some clever marketers and coaches claim. Like any business, a side hustle requires attention, commitment and follow-through. But done right, they offer great profit and growth potential, and can even turn into a full-time gig.

How To Start A Blog And Make Money In 2023

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How To Start A Blog And Make Money In 2023

Starting a blog can be both a rewarding and lucrative venture that opens exciting opportunities. Through blogging, you can establish yourself as a credible expert in your field, earn a part-time or full-time income, and connect with like-minded people who share your interests and passions.

In this article, we’ll explain how to start a blog and make money no matter your experience level.

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What Is a Blog?

In the early days of the internet, blogging was more akin to journaling. Some of the earliest blogs were used as a way to chronicle someone’s personal viewpoints and experiences.

Blogging has since evolved to become much more than a form of digital record-keeping. Nowadays, both businesses and individuals alike create blogs to share information and to bring in sales or commissions.

7 Reasons You Might Want To Start a Blog

There are several reasons to start a blog. You could be looking to start a blog to try a fun hobby, generate some side income, build a community or for any of the following reasons:

1. To Document What Happens to You

The word “blog” is actually a shortened form of “weblog,” a relic from its origins as a way to document what was happening. You may want to create a blog to have a space or a way to save your thoughts and photos in one centralized place.

2. To Have a Creative Outlet

Blogging encompasses writing, editing, and to some extent, design. This makes it a very creative pursuit. If you’re looking for a relatively low-cost way to express yourself, blogging is a great option.

3. To Share Your Thoughts and Experiences

No one else is you—which means you have thoughts and experiences that are uniquely your own. A blog is a platform through which you can share your thoughts with others, have discussions and build genuine connections while doing so.

4. To Connect With People

Blogging is an excellent way to connect with others, whether they be other bloggers, content creators or your intended audience. Blogging opens doors to meet people that you otherwise may not have come into contact with. The blogging community is highly active on sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Reddit.

5. To Get Better at Writing and Digital Marketing

Blogging is a craft. If you’re looking to brush up on your writing skills, writing daily or weekly for a blog could be beneficial.

Similarly, running a blog takes a lot of work behind the scenes. Bloggers are often their own webmasters and social media marketers in addition to content writers. If you want to build skills in those areas, starting your own blog will allow you to gain valuable experience.

6. To Build Your Brand and Credibility

Creating a blog can help you build your brand and establish you as a credible expert in your niche or industry. Your blog content can demonstrate how knowledgeable or experienced you are on certain subjects.

7. To Bring In Sales or an Income

Blogging can be used to bring in sales—whether that’s for your existing business or an entirely new one. According to Indeed, bloggers bring in an average annual income of $37,073.

How to start a blog,Starting a blog

Misconceptions About Blogs

You don’t need to be famous to start a profitable blog. Anyone can blog, no matter their experience. Here are the most common misconceptions people hold about starting a blog:

Blogging Is Expensive

You can start a blog for free, as long as you have an internet connection. Even if you decide to pay for a custom website, domain name or photography, these costs are relatively nominal compared to the amount of money you can potentially generate from your content.

Blogging Is a Dying Medium

Blogging is not dead or dying. It is more saturated now than it was a decade ago, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a successful one. Building a profitable blog nowadays may take more effort and initial investment than it would have if you started earlier but that shouldn’t necessarily dissuade you from starting one.

Every Blog Post Needs To Be Perfect

You should publish blog articles that you’re proud of, but don’t let the fear of your content not being “good” enough or “perfect” enough hold you back. Blogs are editable, so if you find you’re not satisfied with something after it’s gone live, you can always go back and change it.

You Need To Have an Existing Following To Start a Blog

You don’t need to be a celebrity or existing social media personality to start a blog. In fact, many now-famous bloggers, including Joy Cho, Carly Riordan and Blair Eadie, were not famous until after they started blogging.

Blogging Is Easy

Blogging may seem easy in theory: write words, press post, done. But in reality, unless you have a staff or have outsourced the marketing or webmaster aspects of running a blog, you’ll be spending time on more than just writing.

Depending on your niche or goals, you also might need to spend considerable time researching your topic or creating complementary assets such as photos or videos. Blogging is not necessarily easy, but that doesn’t mean it’s not enjoyable or rewarding.

Blogging Is a Fast Way To Earn Money

While it’s true that blogging can be used to earn an income, it’s not something that will help you “get rich quick.” You need to build an audience that wants to purchase items from you before you can start earning any money.

12 Steps To Start a Blog

If you’re ready to start a blog but don’t know where to start, these steps will set you up for success, regardless of your ultimate goals.

1. Define Your Topic or Niche

Finding a niche can be tough or feel limiting, but will help you build stronger credibility in the long term. You can certainly talk about more than one subject, but make sure your main focus is consistent and specific enough to draw readers in and encourage them to keep reading your work.

2. Do Competitor Research

After deciding what you want to write about, do some initial research to understand who the other key players are in your space. Is your niche already fairly crowded? Or are very few people writing about your intended topic?

No matter the case, doing your research beforehand will help you understand how you can create content that’s better than or different from what’s already out there.

3. Define Your Audience

In addition to nailing down your niche, you should also consider your audience. Who are you going to be blogging for?

Having the answer to this question will help you write articles that are valuable and relevant to your readers. Try to determine the following information about your ideal reader before diving right into writing:

  1. How old are they?
  2. Where do they live?
  3. What do they do for work?
  4. What other forms of media do they already consume?
  5. Do they read any other blogs?
  6. What do they do in their free time?
  7. What issues or problems do they face on a regular basis?
  8. What do they wish they were more of an expert in?

4. Plan Your First Blog Post

Once you’ve nailed down your niche and desired audience, you can start planning your first blog article. Again, this may require some research to ensure you’re creating something that your audience will want to read.

As a starting point, type your desired topic idea into a search engine to see what kinds of articles appear in the results. If you find that the existing results don’t accurately or aptly explain the topic, that’s a great indicator that you’ll be able to write something better.

5. Name Your Blog

Every blog needs a name. You’ll want to ensure that your blog’s name makes sense given your niche or brand, is memorable/catchy, and is easy and quick enough to type.

If you have a name in mind, scour the web and social media to make sure that no one else is already using that name. If your desired name is already taken, you can either create a new one or contact the website owner to see if they are still actively using the name that you want. If you really want to protect your assets, you can even trademark your business name.

6. Create Branding Elements for Your Blog

In addition to a name, you’ll need to select a font and color palette for your blog that you’ll incorporate once you’ve built your website. You can do this yourself or outsource it to a graphic designer.

If you want a custom logo for your blog, you can design one with a free platform such as Canva, or work with a designer.

7. Claim a Domain Name

After settling on a name for your blog, you’re ready to select a domain name. You can check to see if a domain is available by typing in your desired domain name in your browser and see if a live website appears. Most domain registrars will also have a tool to help you find available domains.

When you’ve chosen a domain that’s available, you’ll need to pay for the rights to use it through a domain registrar. Owning and setting up a domain is a separate process from selecting a hosting site and web builder, which you’ll do next.

8. Choose a Hosting Site

Choosing a web host is an essential step in creating your blog. Without a host, you won’t be able to build a website; a host is what lets you effectively “rent” a presence on the internet.

Some platforms will host your blog for free, but in exchange, they’ll tack on their brand name to your web domain, e.g., thefancyblog.squarespace.com or thefancyblog.wordpress.com. In these examples, to remove the “.squarespace” or “.wordpress” from the URL, you would need to pay for web hosting in addition to buying the domain name thefancyblog.com.

Web hosting can cost anywhere from 50 cents to $10 per month depending on how much speed and storage you want to purchase. There are dozens of different hosting options out there, but we recommend selecting one of the best web host services that fits your budget and needs.

9. Build Your Website

You can build your website from scratch or by using a template or theme—it all depends on your budget and desires. A no-code web builder, such as Blogger or WordPress, will allow you to design and build a beautiful website even if you have no prior web development experience. Some templates or themes are free, but others may run you anywhere from $10 to $200.

Certain web builders allow for more customization and flexibility than others. Be sure to read the specs of each website builder you’re interested in to understand what’s possible when designing your blog.

10. Upload and Publish Your First Article

After you’ve built your website and are satisfied with its look and feel, it’s time to upload your first article. You can type and edit your content right from the back end of your website, however, it’s wiser to create all your content in a separate, cloud-based editor such as Google Docs. That way, you’ll have a secure backup of your blog content in case your site experiences any technical issues.

Before you hit publish, it’s a good idea to preview your blog post to see if it displays exactly how you want it to. You can always go back and edit it later, though, if you want to change or update anything.

11. Promote Your Blog

Once you’ve published content to your blog, you can share your links. Social media is a popular and effective way to distribute your blog content. You can share links on your existing social channels, or create new accounts to complement your blog.

12. Track Your Analytics

After you’ve published and publicized your blog, it’s important to track metrics such as views, visitors and clicks. Your hosting platform may have a default analytics dashboard built in, but we strongly recommend connecting your blog to Google Analytics. Google Analytics is a free tool that will allow you to track your traffic as well as important demographic and conversion details.

You’ll need to use your analytics to earn brand sponsorships and/or advertising revenue.

How To Make Money With a Blog

Bloggers can make money using a multitude of different strategies. Some require more effort than others. Most blog income streams rely on precarious conditions, such as search engine algorithms and brand budgets. Therefore, it’s highly recommended that you diversify your revenue by choosing multiple methods.

Brand Partnerships

Bloggers often team up with brands to create sponsored content. This usually entails having to review a specific product or incorporate a product mention into your regular content.

Brand partnerships can be one-off deals or turn into long-term relationships based on your content’s performance and mutual interest.

Advertising Networks

Advertising networks will pay you to either run ads on your blog or when someone clicks on an ad, or both. Certain networks, such as Mediavine, require you to have a pretty hefty amount of monthly views (50,000) in order to run ads, whereas others, such as Google AdSense, have no minimum view count requirements.

Affiliate Links or Codes

Bloggers can join what are known as affiliate networks. Affiliate networks allow you to generate unique links to products that you talk about on your blog to help you earn a commission when someone makes a purchase. Amazon Associates and LTK are two common examples.

Affiliate codes work similarly to links in that you earn a small commission when someone makes a purchase. Brands may give you a unique code for your readers to enter at checkout when they shop online, and you can promote this code throughout your content to drive sales.

Digital Products

If you want to sell products without the logistical hassle of coordinating packing and shipping, digital products might be a better fit. Digital products are a relatively low-effort, inexpensive way to create products that your audience wants to buy. Most digital products can be accessed or downloaded by your customers immediately after purchase.

Some examples of digital products you can sell include but are not limited to:

  • Printables. These can be anything from calendars and lesson plans to budgeting sheets.
  • Online courses. You can use a platform such as Teachable to create more detailed lessons or tutorials than what your blog provides.
  • E-books. An e-book is usually a self-written, self-published title that comes in PDF form.

Physical Products

Your blog can be used to sell physical products, too—whether you already sell things on another channel or want to create entirely new ones.

You can insert links to any existing products you sell into your blog posts, or you can create merchandise that aligns with your content and audience. For example, if you have a fashion blog, you can sell items such as T-shirts, hats or tote bags with your blog’s logo.

Premium Content or Memberships

Blogs are free to read, but you can put exclusive content behind a paywall to create an additional revenue stream. Dedicated readers or fans will then need to pay for access to read it.

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7 Steps to Create a Complete Marketing Strategy in 2023

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7 Steps to Create a Complete Marketing Strategy in 2023

Marketing Strategy in 2023 – Creating a marketing strategy is essential to effectively nurture your customers, improve the bottom line at your business, and increase the ROI of your efforts.

A marketing strategy is especially critical if you want to leverage the highest-ROI trends for 2023: short video, influencer marketing, and branded social media. To get powerful results, you must carefully weave both emerging trends and proven strategies into your plan.

Let’s dive into the critical components of a complete marketing strategy in 2023, followed by some examples for inspiration.

Marketing Strategy

A marketing strategy is a detailed, structured plan of a company’s promotional efforts across a wide range of platforms and channels. A marketing strategy typically includes objectives, target audience profiles, content creation steps, key performance indicators, and other components.

A marketing strategy will:

  • Align your team to specific goals.
  • Help you tie your efforts to business objectives.
  • Allow you to identify and test what resonates with your target audience.
  • Empower you to capitalize on emerging trends.
The last one is especially important for this upcoming year. Keeping up with marketing trends is important for your strategy, but could be a full-time job.

Why? Because in one year alone, we’ve seen a major shift to short-form video content; the rise and fall of new platforms (looking at you, Meta); and the continuing impact of the global pandemic. In short, what worked for your marketing strategy in the past might not fly today.

To succeed in the fast-paced marketing world — and maintain a sense of relevance with your audience — it’s vital to stay ahead of the curve.

To help ease some of that uncertainty, we’ve going to show you step-by-step how to create a marketing strategy that leaves no stone unturned. But first, let’s go over the individual components that make up a strong marketing strategy.

Marketing Strategy in 2023

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Marketing Strategy in 2023

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Marketing Strategy Components

  1. Marketing Mix (4 Ps of Marketing)
  2. Marketing Objectives
  3. Marketing Budget
  4. Competitive Analysis
  5. Segmentation, Targeting, & Positioning
  6. Content Creation (Including Trending Content)
  7. Metrics & Key Performance Indicators

1. Marketing Mix

marketing strategy components: marketing mix,Marketing Strategy in 2023

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The marketing mix, also known as the 4 Ps of marketing, is the preliminary document you must create to understand what you will be marketing, where you’ll be marketing it, and how you’ll be marketing it. The following P’s make up this framework:

  • Product: What are you selling?
  • Price: What is the price?
  • Place: Where will you be selling the product?
  • Promotion: Where will you be promoting the product?

You can then extrapolate this information into a full-fledged marketing plan for each promotional channel. It’s important to lay out the information in broad strokes so that you understand the overall direction of your marketing strategy.

2. Marketing Objectives

marketing strategy components: marketing objectives,Marketing Strategy in 2023

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You can set your marketing objectives in conjunction with your 4 Ps, or right after. Either way, you should outline your marketing goals before building upon your strategy. Why? Because your goals will inform other components of the plan, including the budget and content creation process.

With every objective, you should aim to be as specific as possible. Try to create SMART marketing goals divided by channel or promotional tactic, and don’t forget that you can always come back and revise your goals as your priorities change.

3. Marketing Budget

marketing strategy components: marketing budget

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A marketing budget is an essential element of your strategy. Without allotting funds to hiring the right talent, using the right software, advertising on the right channels, and creating the right content, your marketing strategy won’t have a powerful impact. To get a high return on investment, you must first invest.

Remember that you can always start small — hyper-focusing your budget on one or two efforts — and build upon them once you generate an ROI.

4. Competitive Analysis

marketing-strategy-components-competitive-analysis-1

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Knowing your competition is key when creating a marketing strategy. Otherwise, you risk “yelling into the void” without measurable results. Worse, you won’t know whether you’re differentiating yourself enough from the competition and effectively drawing the attention of your intended audience.

You might already have an idea of whom your competitors are, but it’s still essential to sit down and identify them. You might end up uncovering a surprise competitor who’s vying for your target buyer’s attention and engagement.

5. Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning

marketing strategy components: audience segmentation, targeting, and positioning

Segmentation, targeting, and positioning (STP) refers to the process of delivering “more relevant, personalized messages to target audiences.” In other words, rather than publishing posts and advertisements on a whim, you’ll go through a methodical process for creating content that resonates with your target buyer.

During the segmentation, targeting, and positioning process, you’ll take three steps:

  • Identify your target audience. This process not only entails interviewing your current customers, but carrying out market research and creating buyer personas.
  • Target a segment of your target audience. It’s best to speak to a narrow group of highly qualified buyers than to send your message out to everyone.
  • Position your brand relative to other brands. What do you do better than your competitors? It’s essential to map this information when creating a marketing strategy.

6. Content Creation

marketing strategy components: content creation

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Once you have your budget, competitive outlook, and STP information, it’s now time to take the most critical step: Creating your marketing content. But it’s essential to undertake this effort strategically. For one, you don’t want to publish random content that doesn’t solve for the customer, and for two, you must aim to capitalize on emerging trends so that your brand enjoys high visibility in the marketplace.

The competition is fierce across all formats. According to HubSpot Research, “half of marketers are using videos, with 47% leveraging images, followed by 33% posting blogs articles, infographics (30%) and podcasts or other audio content (28%).” Of these, video has the highest ROI.

marketing strategy components: content strategy dataClick here to see a larger version of this image.

It’s even more essential to invest in trends that have a high ROI, such as short-form video, influencer marketing, and social media DMs.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest in blogging, one of the most proven content marketing techniques. It’s simply important to know where to allot the most resources, especially if you have a limited budget.

7. Metrics & Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

marketing strategy components: metrics and kpis

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Last, but certainly not least, your marketing strategy must include metrics and key performance indicators to understand how well your strategies are working. The KPIs you choose will vary depending on your business type and preferred customer acquisition channels. Examples of KPIs include:

Now, let’s dive into why it’s important to follow the steps of a marketing strategy.

The Importance of Customer-Driven Marketing Strategy Steps

A robust marketing strategy will reach your target audience — this includes those who have never heard of your brand all the way to repeat customers.

Without a defined strategy, you’ll essentially be throwing things to the wall to see what sticks. And it’s costing you cost, time, and resources.

There are seven key steps to crafting a successful marketing strategy: Build your marketing plan, create your buyer personas, identify your goals, select the tools, review your existing resources, audit and plan media campaigns, and lastly, execute your strategy.

Let’s get into the details of each step in the next section. Or you can jump to the section you’re most interested in

7 Steps of a Marketing Strategy Process

  1. Build a marketing plan.
  2. Create buyer personas.
  3. Identify goals.
  4. Select the appropriate tools.
  5. Review your media.
  6. Audit and plan media campaigns.
  7. Bring it to fruition.

1. Build a marketing plan.

Wait, I have to make a plan for my strategy? What’s the difference?

Your marketing strategy provides an overview of the reasons why your marketing team will need certain resources, take certain actions, and set certain goals over the year. Your marketing plan is the specific actions you’ll take to achieve that strategy.

Not sure where to start? This free marketing plan template can help.

marketing-strategy-template-free

Download for Free

The right template can help you build a marketing plan that identifies your budget for the year, the initiatives your marketing organization needs to tackle, and the marketing channels you’ll use to implement those initiatives.

Plus, it’ll tie everything back to a business summary, to keep you aligned with overarching company goals.

2. Create buyer personas.

If you can’t define who your audience is in one sentence, now’s your chance to do it. A buyer persona is a snapshot of your ideal customer.

For example, a store like Macy’s could define a buyer persona as Budgeting Belinda, a stylish working-class woman in her 30s living in a suburb, looking to fill her closet with designer deals at low prices.

With this description, Macy’s Marketing department can picture Budgeting Belinda and work with a clear definition in mind.

Buyer personas have critical demographic and psychographic information, including age, job title, income, location, interests, and challenges. Notice how Belinda has all of those attributes in her description.

You don’t have to create your buyer persona with a pen and paper. In fact,HubSpot offers a free template you can use to make your own (and it’s really fun).

You can also use a platform like Versium, which helps you identify, understand and reach your target audience through data and artificial intelligence.

Buyer personas should be at the core of building your strategy.

3. Identify your goals.

Your marketing strategy goals should reflect your business goals.

For example, if one of your business goals is to have 300 people attend your annual conference in three months, your goal as a marketer should be along the lines of boosting online registration by 10% at the end of the month to stay on track.

Other marketing goals might be to increase brand awareness or generate high-quality leads. You might also want to grow or maintain thought leadership in your industry or increase customer value.

Whatever your goals, identify what they are and how your marketing organization can work to achieve them over the next year.

4. Select the appropriate tools.

Once you have your goals identified, make sure you have the right tools to measure the success of those goals.

Online software like social media schedulers gives you analytics to help you keep track of what your audience likes and doesn’t. Alternatively, you might considerGoogle Analytics to measure blog and web page performance.

Additionally, make your goals SMART – to do so, take a look at How to Write a SMART Goal [+ Free SMART Goal Template].

Here are a few tools that can help you track and measure the success of your marketing goals:

HubSpot Marketing Hub

The Marketing Hub allows you to consolidate all of your marketing tools into one centralized platform.

hubspot marketing hub dashboard

Too often, you’ll find a tool that’s powerful but not very easy to use. With this tool, you can attract users with blogs, SEO, and live chat tools. You can then convert and nurture those leads through marketing automation, the landing page builder, and lead tracking features.

With custom reporting and built-in analytics, you can analyze your data and plan out your next move. Plus, HubSpot Marketing Hub integrates with over 500 tools.

Pricing: Free; Starter, $45/month; Professional, $800/month; Enterprise, $3,200/month.

Trello

trello-for-marketing-planning

Trello keeps your marketing team on track and openly communicating about the projects they’re working on. Create boards for individual campaigns, editorial calendars, or quarterly goals.

Built-in workflows and automation capabilities keep communication streamlined, and simplicity keeps your marketing team focused on the work that matters.

Pricing: Free; Standard Class, $5/month; Premium Class, $10/month for 100 users; Enterprise, $17.50/month for 250 users.

TrueNorth

truenorth-softwareTrueNorth is a marketing management platform built to help you hit your marketing goals. Built specifically for marketing teams, TrueNorth turns your marketing strategy into a visual projection of your growth, which is used to create monthly milestones that help you stay on track.

One of the key benefits of TrueNorth is that it centralizes all of your ideas, campaigns, and results in one place, with everything tied back to your goal.

Pricing: $115/month (free for 30 days).

Monday.com

monday.com hubspot integrationEverything on Monday.com starts with a board or visually driven table. Create and customize workflows for your team and keep groups, items, sub-items, and updates synced in real-time.

You can also transform data pulled from timeline and Gantt views to track your projects on Monday.com and ensure deadlines have been met. Plus, with more than 40 integrations — from SurveyMonkey to Mailchimp and, of course, HubSpot— you can visualize your data and ensure your whole company is collaborating.

Pricing: Basic, $8/month/seat; Standard, $10/month/seat; Pro, $16/month/seat; Enterprise, contact for pricing.

SEMrush

semrush dashboardSEO continues to be a huge factor in the successful ranking of your website.

SEMrush allows you to run a technical SEO audit, track daily rankings, analyze your competitor’s SEO strategy, research millions of keywords, and even source ideas for earning more organic traffic.

But the benefits don’t stop at SEO. Use SEMRush for PPC, building and measuring an effective social media strategy, content planning, and even market research.

Pricing: Pro, $119/month; Guru, $229/month; Business, $449/month.

Buzzsumo

buzzsumo marketing strategy tool

BuzzSumo allows you to analyze data to enhance and lead your marketing strategy, all while exploring high-performing content in your industry.

Use the platform to identify influencers who may help your brand reach, monitor comments, and find trends to make the most of every turn.

As your needs evolve, you can also leverage their crisis management and video marketing tools.

Pricing: Plus, $179/month; Large, $299/month; Enterprise, contact for pricing.

Crazy Egg

crazyegg website optimizationNeed to optimize your website this year? Consider getting started with Crazy Egg. You’ll be able to identify “attention hotspots” on your product pages, track ad campaign traffic on your site, and understand if shoppers are clicking where you want them to.

You can even make sure your “Buy Now” buttons are in the best place.

Crazy Egg also offers recordings, A/B testing, and more to help ensure your website is offering the best user experience.

Pricing: Basic, $24/month; Standard, $49/month; Plus, $99/month; Pro, $249/month; Enterprise, contact for pricing.

5. Review your media.

Decide what you already have in your arsenal that can help you create your strategy. To streamline this process, think of your assets in three categories – paid, owned, and earned media.

  • Paid media means any channel you spend money on to attract your target audience. This includes offline channels like television, direct mail, and billboard to online channels like social media, search engines, and websites.
  • Owned Media refers to any of the media your marketing team has to create: pictures, videos, podcasts, ebooks, infographics, etc.
  • Earned media is another way to say user-generated content. Shares on social media, tweets about your business, and photos posted on Instagram mentioning your brand are all examples of earned media.

Gather your materials in each media type and consolidate them in one location to have a clear vision of what you have and how you can integrate them to maximize your strategy.

For example, if you already have a blog that’s rolling out weekly content in your niche (owned media), you might consider promoting your blog posts on Twitter (paid media), which customers might then reTweet (earned media). Ultimately, that will help you create a better, more well-rounded marketing strategy.

If you have resources that don’t fit into your goals, nix them. This is a great time to clean house and identify gaps in your materials.

6. Audit and plan media campaigns.

Cleaning house segues straight into this step. Now, you must decide which content is going to help you.

Focus on your owned media and marketing goals. For instance, will updating the CTAs at the end of your blog posts help you increase RSVPs to your event?

Next, look at your buyer personas. Let’s say you work for a video editing software company. If one of your persona’s challenges is adding clean sound effects to their videos but you don’t have any content that reflects that, make a 15-second demo video for Instagram to show how great your product is at solving that challenge.

Finally, create a content creation plan. The plan should include topic clusters, goals, format, and channel for each piece of content. Be sure to include which challenge it’s solving for your buyer persona.

For ideas on content creation or a more in-depth look at how to create a content plan, check out our post, The Ultimate Guide to Content Creation.

7. Bring it to fruition.

At this point, your market research and planning should help you visualize how your strategy will be executed – and by which teams.

The final step is to bring that all together and assign actions to your plans.

Create a document that maps out the steps you need to take to execute your campaign. In other words, define your strategy.

Think long-term when creating this document. A standard strategy document is 12 months. This structured timeline should be the home base for your strategic marketing efforts.

To paint an example, let’s go back to the video software company.

Maybe in January, you will launch a software update that improves the exportation process for users. In April, you want to publish an ebook that explains editing terms to your buyer personas, and in September, you plan to launch an integration with other software.

Remember, your digital strategy is unique to your business, so the document should be as well. As long as the strategy includes the pertinent details outlined in previous sections, you’ll be set.

Now that we’ve explored the critical steps of a complete marketing strategy, let’s look at some “Why didn’t I think of that?” strategies to inspire your own.

Examples of Successful Marketing Strategies

1. Regal Movies

Digital strategy: Owned media

Regal Movies took the Halloween spirit to a new level, even renaming its Twitter account to reflect the spirit of the season. This “Monster Madness” poll is a fun, interactive way to get followers invested in Regal’s content:

regal movies' owned media

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Regal’s tweet is an example of owned media because the company was in full control of the answers followers gave (and, apparently, American Werewolf didn’t stand a chance).

Regal effectively kept true to their brand by using only classic movies in their poll while still putting a modern spin on it.

This is also a good example of how retweets don’t necessarily equal success. While four retweets aren’t that big of a deal, check out the votes: 461. That means there were over 400 interactions with a single tweet.

2. La Croix

Digital strategy: User-generated content, earned media

User-generated content is one of the best ways to gain traction in your strategy.

It demonstrates your appreciation for loyal customers, builds community, and also incentivizes other users’ to promote your products for the chance at a similar shout-out.

Plus, sometimes the content your brand loyalists create is really, really good.

lacroix

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In this case, the consumer is praising the brand’s product. Doesn’t get better than a fantastic review like that.

3. Small Girls PR

Digital strategy: Event marketing

Wait, is that Keke Palmer?

olay

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Small Girls PR is a boutique PR company based in New York, and one of the company’s talents is throwing amazing events for their clients, like Olay. This event recap carousel on Instagram is an effective event marketing example, as it boosts awareness for your brand and offers social proof by featuring a public figure.

4. Superside

Digital strategy: Paid media

Design agency Superside launched an Instagram ad to promote a lead magnet: Their digital ad design guide. While the brand may have created the guide specifically for paid promotions, it’s also possible that they repurposed a high-performing blog post into a downloadable ebook.

marketing strategy paid media example

In this case, all they had to do was repackage their current content, build an ad around it with creative assets, and run it.

In previous sections, we discussed the power of leveraging multiple forms of media in your marketing strategy. This is a great example of it.

5. Target

Digital strategy: Paid media, Twitter cards

If you’ve got the budget for paid media, take full advantage of it.

Paid media is when you pay social channels, like Twitter, to promote your content on their site. By doing this, your content reaches new audiences you might not be able to reach organically:

target marketing strategy example

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This inclusive ad from Target about fall shopping uses Twitter cards to promote the brand and make shopping easy with the click of a button.

More social channels are offering ways for shoppers to purchase in-app or close to it, driving sales and boosting exposure for brands.

What to Expect After Following Your Marketing Process Steps

Ultimately, creating a complete marketing strategy isn’t something that can happen overnight. It takes time, hard work, and dedication to ensure you’re reaching your ideal audience, whenever and wherever they want to be reached.

Stick with it (and use some of the resources we’ve included in this post), and over time, research and customer feedback will help you refine your strategy to ensure you’re spending most of your time on the marketing channels your audience cares most about.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in October 2019. It has been updated for freshness and accuracy.

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