ReportWire

Tag: Side Hustle

  • 3 Things To Automate In Your Airbnb To Achieve Passive Income

    3 Things To Automate In Your Airbnb To Achieve Passive Income

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Automating your Airbnb listing means being hands-free with the business. And this is the first step towards the location freedom you’ve always wanted. Location freedom is having the ability to go anywhere in the world and still earn money despite not being physically present. So when it comes to managing your Airbnb, how do you automate the process, and what strategies do you need to implement?

    Ask any Airbnb host about their goals in the business, and you’ll probably get a standard answer in return, “We all want passive income and location freedom.” And who wouldn’t want to continue earning money wherever they are, right?

    However, operating an Airbnb business is like any other full-time job — you’ll feel excitement and exhaustion during your run. But there’s a bunch of smart hosts who know how to manage their Airbnbs, remove the stress from the equation, and continue enjoying the fruits of their labor. You can be one of them. You can use their strategies and automate these three essential things in your Airbnb listing so you can work ON your business and not in it.

    Related: How To Create 7 Streams of Income for Passive Wealth

    1. Cleaning

    This is probably the most important aspect of running a short-term rental business. However, as vital as it is, you also shouldn’t try to save money by cleaning your property. If your goal is to be truly independent with your business, you need to automate it.

    For this, you can hire a professional cleaning company, or you can hire people you know. And there should be a system for your crew because for your business to be truly automated, it needs a process to follow. For example, your crew needs to be there right after the guests leave at a specific time window (for example, from 10 AM to 3 PM).

    When you put this on autopilot, your team will automatically pick up where the guests left off, clean during the window, and you don’t have to clean the place yourself.

    2. Maintenance

    The next thing you need to automate is maintenance. Hiring a maintenance person will ensure that anything broken will be fixed as soon as possible. This person ideally will work on call, and you should let them know that you have a window and that if there’s ever any handy work that needs to be done, they should do it during that window.

    As for the compensation, it is recommended you pay both your maintenance person and cleaners on a case-by-case or per-project basis.

    3. Communications

    And last but not least, the communications.

    This part of the operations is vital because it will make sure that you’re streamlining the tasks needed to be done and that you’re not doing all the work yourself. For this, you can use Slack, a communication platform that’s easier to manage.

    With proper communication, you must add the owner, the cleaners, the maintenance person and everyone involved in maintaining that property. For example, you can ask your cleaning crew to post pictures of the property after each cleaning. They can also visually inspect the property to see if anything’s missing or needs repairs.

    If there is, you can then tag your maintenance person so they can come over and handle it during the cleaning window. This will make everything easier for you.

    We recommend you do the communications for the first three properties you launch so you can experience it first-hand. Plus, it’s also difficult to delegate communication when you haven’t done it and don’t understand it yourself.

    The most important thing to remember during these operations is that you don’t do the cleaning or the maintenance yourself. Delegate those things or hire somebody else. This way, you’ll be able to start working on the business and not in the business.

    Related: 4 Powerful Tips To Create A Successful Airbnb Business

    Passive income through Airbnb short-term rentals

    As you know, Airbnb is a home-sharing platform where you can list your property so that guests worldwide can book your place for a brief time. But this is more than just a place made for visitors who like comfortable stays. It’s also a good business venture for people looking for passive income.

    So if you own a property, you can launch your listing and use the automation strategies we just shared with you. If you’re a newbie just looking around for tips for getting your Airbnb business started, then you tuck these tricks away for future use.

    Related: How to Start an Airbnb Business Without Owning Property

    [ad_2]

    Jorge Contreras

    Source link

  • Entrepreneur Guide | Best Financial Tools and Business Ideas to Make More Money in 2023

    Entrepreneur Guide | Best Financial Tools and Business Ideas to Make More Money in 2023

    [ad_1]

    Ask any entrepreneur what their most valuable asset is, and ten out of ten will answer the same: time.

    You can’t buy more of it and try as you might, you can’t squeeze more of it into a day. But you can save time, which is why we’re introducing Entrepreneur Guide, a one-stop shop for all of your business needs. We’ve pulled together this heavily-researched compendium to help you make the best decisions for your personal and business finances. No more hours wasted shopping around — Entrepreneur Guide has expert-vetted and time-tested resources to build and manage your wealth quickly and efficiently.

    Entrepreneur Guide resources

    Best banking products: Low-interest loans, money market, checking and savings accounts, bank bonuses, and more

    Best small business tools: Calculators and management systems

    Best side hustle ideas: Proven ways to make passive income or run a business during off hours

    Best mortgages: Most competitive rates to refinance or buy a new property

    Best investments: Expert guidance on navigating the markets

    Best loans: Personal loans for business and personal needs

    Best insurance products: Low-cost coverage for your home and business

    Related: Latest stock tips for beginner investors

    Daily updated trends and news

    Information equals power. Beyond tools and money-saving financial products, you will find helpful how-tos and articles in Entrepreneur Guide to put you on a path to success, including:

    7 Small Business Tax Deductions You Need To Know

    8 Best Passive Income Business Ideas of 2023

    8 Must-Have Social Media Marketing Tools for 2023

    You’ve got the passion to run a business, Entrepreneur Guide has the tools and resources to help you achieve breakthrough results. Check for daily updates as our team is constantly monitoring and updating to bring you the best money-saving and money-making resources out there.

    Check out Entrepreneur Guide now

    [ad_2]

    Entrepreneur Staff

    Source link

  • Why You Need A Ghostwriter For Your Next Book

    Why You Need A Ghostwriter For Your Next Book

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Would you believe me if I told you I just attended New York Fashion Week? If you are someone who celebrates fashion, you might know that Fashion Week is one of the biggest events in the industry. I was honored to be personally invited to participate in one of the shows.

    But you’re probably thinking, how did this happen to someone like me who is decidedly not in the fashion industry? It happened because of a book. My company wrote a book for one of the designers, and she was generous enough to let me see her collection launch during the infamous event.

    In the current age, more and more entrepreneurs are jumping into the literary space to gain authority in their field. I have heard it said that entrepreneurs having their own books is like having a really good business card. But is everyone good at making business cards?

    Not everyone is a writer. Some might not enjoy the act, don’t feel they have the skills or don’t have the time needed to create a book. Plus, writing is hard. But it can be much more manageable if you have someone who knows what they’re doing. They can guide you along the process, working with you to create your book while saving you time. Enter the “ghostwriter.”

    Related: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Writing a Book

    A common misconception

    People hear the word ‘ghostwriter’ and get weary that the book is untrue. But just because something is “ghostwritten” doesn’t mean the ideas aren’t from the author (in this case, the client or the person whose name is on the book).

    Authors play a huge role in writing the book! They’ll discuss their ideas with the writer, provide feedback on drafts and even edit the ideas in the book. With ghostwriting, someone else puts those ideas into coherent, eloquent words, but the author gets the credit because they brought the book to life. It becomes a helpful tool devised through an equitable partnership. This is why working with a trusted professional will give you the best results.

    Related: How One Man Made $200,000 Last Year Ghostwriting Tweets

    Save time

    As I mentioned, another benefit of hiring a ghostwriter is saving time in the writing process. Writing a book is nothing if not time-consuming and having a ghostwriter by your side makes life much easier. If you are an entrepreneur, you’re most likely busy balancing your personal and professional life while trying to earn the best results for your clients. This is no easy task, but the best leaders know that they cannot do everything themselves.

    Did somebody say delegation? Having someone who helps you out is okay, especially if that individual understands your goals. Reaching out to someone like a ghostwriter doesn’t make you fraudulent or a bad business person; it just makes you a person who is willing to ask for help, which is an admirable quality if you ask me.

    How do ghostwriting services work?

    While every ghostwriter may have a slightly different process, typically, it starts with a discovery interview where they ask what you want to write about. Here the writer will gauge if you have any topics that you want to be implemented. This is a great time to lay out those ideas that have been brewing inside your head. This way, the writer can already start piecing together what the actual text of your book might look like.

    Usually, ghostwriters will then take your input and put it into words that foster connection and empathy from your audience. Ghostwriting is an intimate process so expect the call to get personal at points, especially if it is a nonfiction book and even more so if it’s biographical. You must feel comfortable with your ghostwriter so that you and your work don’t suffer in creating your book.

    Related: The Entrepreneur’s Complete Guide to Ghostwriting

    After the preliminary call is done, the ghostwriters get to work. Once they have the first draft done, they will typically send it to you, encouraging you to make any edits you deem appropriate. Remember, this is your book! So this is an excellent time to clear up any misunderstandings or bumps in the manuscript.

    Even if you are not a linguist at heart, you can create your own book with a good ghostwriter by your side. When you start to promote your books (especially if it centers around you and your field of business), others will see you as an authority. Books are a great way to prove your knowledge in your field, allow your customers to get to know you better, and allow you to flex those creative muscles.

    [ad_2]

    Morissa Schwartz

    Source link

  • Make Digital Photos Look Like Film With This Tool and Save 48%

    Make Digital Photos Look Like Film With This Tool and Save 48%

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Is starting a side hustle among your 2023 New Year’s resolutions? Whether you’d like to start a side gig to earn a little extra cash, or you’re experimenting in a new field and hoping to turn it into a full-time career, the internet is ripe with opportunities.


    StackCommerce

    If your passion happens to be photography, you understand the demand for certain types of photographs and how difficult it can be to navigate the common apps while editing photos. PsdFilm Emulation Photoshop Actions helps you turn your basic Photoshop into a true film lab right on your computer. And right now, the Mega Bundle of these actions can be yours for only $19.99.

    The PsdFilm Emulation Photoshop Actions help you recreate the highly sought-after look of film stock right on your computer. This bundle offers 128 film actions and 20 grain patterns to provide a wide variety of options guaranteed to please potential customers. And they’re even more accurate than the options offered by Lightroom these days.

    Give photographs a real, vintage, and classic look with the help of these tools. FilterGrade’s exclusive methods emulate old films in perfect fidelity. You can even recreate the look of a black-and-white film.

    Curious about what this Mega Bundle includes? It offers 32 slide films, 32 instant films, 32 black-and-white films, 32 color films, and 20 different film grain patterns. Customer Nanihta raved about this bundle, sharing, “I recommend PsdFilm to those photographers who want something different in their creative work.” And buyer Ana wrote, “These actions give me complete freedom to make adjustments and fit my style perfectly.”

    Get the PsdFilm Emulation Photoshop Actions Mega Bundle now for only $19.99 (reg. $39) — which is 48% off!

    Prices subject to change.

    [ad_2]

    Entrepreneur Store

    Source link

  • Earn a Second Income in 2023 Through Private Labeling

    Earn a Second Income in 2023 Through Private Labeling

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Entrepreneurship is all about being dedicated to the hustle. You always have your nose to the grindstone, trying to make your dreams a reality. But if you’re struggling to get the capital to start your dream business and toiling away at a 9-to-5 to earn the money you need, it might be time to start a side hustle.


    StackCommerce

    Setting up passive income streams takes work up front, but by leveraging tools like Amazon FBA, you can start a dropshipping and private labeling business that basically operates itself while putting real money in your pocket. Moreover, thanks to our Same You, New Job campaign, you can learn how to do it for a budget-friendly price. Now through 11:59 p.m. Pacific on January 9, you can get The 2022 Complete Amazon Dropshipping & Private Label Master Class Bundle for just $29.99.

    This comprehensive bundle includes 11 courses from some of the web’s leading entrepreneurial instructors, including Brock Johnson (4.1/5 star instructor rating), Bryan Guerra (4.5/5 star rating), and Ryan Ford (4.6/5 star rating). They’ll teach you proven strategies to launch, sell, and grow private label products on Amazon FBA, helping you find profitable product ideas in the right niches with low competition and high demand. You’ll learn how to source products from the best manufacturers, properly label and ship your products to Amazon FBA warehouses, promote your Amazon listings, and much more. Just as importantly, you’ll learn the operations skills to stay compliant with Amazon’s rules and discover multiple scaling techniques.

    Earn some extra income in 2023. Enroll by the end of the day on January 9 to get The 2022 Complete Amazon Dropshipping & Private Label Master Class Bundle for just $29.99 — that’s 98% off with no coupon needed!

    Prices subject to change.

    [ad_2]

    Entrepreneur Store

    Source link

  • Is Real Estate Investment Trusts a Good Career Path in 2023?

    Is Real Estate Investment Trusts a Good Career Path in 2023?

    [ad_1]

    Getting into real estate is often considered to be a lucrative career path. But you don’t have to buy and sell properties to join this industry as a professional. You can enter a real estate investment trust (REIT) company or become a REIT investor.

    Keep reading for the info you need to consider to decide if real estate investment trusts are good career paths for professionals like you.

    Real estate investment trusts explained

    A real estate investment trust or REIT is a group of funds or securities for real estate. REIT management companies oversee real estate acquisitions, sales and diversification.

    Think of a REIT similarly to a mutual or exchange-traded fund (ETF). With a mutual fund, several stocks or securities are gathered together into a group. Investors can then purchase mutual fund shares rather than individual shares in the fund itself.

    Similarly, with a real estate investment trust, investors can purchase partial ownership or shares of the trust, thus gaining the financial benefits of simultaneously investing in multiple pieces of real estate or other securities.

    Through REITs, investors can invest in portions of real estate projects or properties and generate profits. Most real estate investment trusts are collections of properties such as hospitals, shopping malls, apartments and other large properties rather than single-family homes, though this is only sometimes true.

    Related: The Most Stable REIT to Buy for a Recession

    Real estate investment trusts are often attractive to investors because they don’t require those investors to finance, purchase or manage any properties by themselves. Instead, REIT companies and their employees handle all the details.

    What does a REIT company do?

    A REIT company acquires real estate properties and securities for its clients. It monitors the market, sells properties when necessary and continues to grow the collected trust and portfolios under its control for the financial prosperity of its clients.

    A REIT company is similar to a mutual fund manager. They take care of the day-to-day monitoring of properties of investments for their clients, plus give out dividends to those clients every month.

    REITs in more detail

    Only some companies that invest in real estate qualify as REITs.

    For a company to be a legitimate REIT, it must:

    • Invest 75% or more of its total assets in real estate and U.S. treasuries for cash.
    • Derive 75% or more of its gross income from interest on mortgages, real estate sales or rent payments.
    • Pay at least 90%of its taxable income as shareholder dividends each fiscal year.
    • Be a taxable corporation.
    • Be managed by a board of trustees or directors.
    • Have at least 100 shareholders or more after the first year of operations.
    • Have no more than 50% of its shares owned by five or fewer people.

    Related: 3 REITs That Could Be the Backbone of Your Portfolio

    Do REITs pay investors dividends?

    Yes, which is part of what makes them so desirable for investors. Both residential and diversified REITs pay monthly dividends to their shareholders and investors. This monthly income comes from rent and mortgage payments from the people who own the properties in the REIT.

    Most REITs have an average rate of return of about 10.5%, similar to the rental rate of return landlords can expect in their first years of operation. Unlike landlords, however, REIT investors don’t need to spend much time and money maintaining or managing properties.

    Note that REIT managers or companies collect a small commission from accrued mortgage and rent payments as the cost of their services. This is what pays the workers of real estate investment trusts, their managers and other professionals.

    So, should you get involved with real estate investment trusts?

    That depends on your career ambitions and prospects. REIT management is a complex and even potentially risky field for many.

    If you get into REIT, you’ll often need to start at the bottom and work your way to the top, so your salary may not be exceptional in the first years of your career. However, the potential rewards of sticking with this career for several years could be pretty enticing.

    You should consider getting into real estate investment trusts as a career path if:

    • You are already interested in investing in real estate. Joining a REIT company could be the best way to learn about this unique investment field and how best to operate within it.
    • You are interested in acquiring real estate and learning more about the real estate market.
    • You have strong management skills.
    • You are comfortable with a certain level of risk — not for yourself, of course, but for your clients.

    What will you do in a REIT company?

    That depends on your exact job title and responsibilities.

    For most in the REIT industry, career paths begin by obtaining a position at a REIT company’s headquarters. You may start with essential maintenance or secretarial work, but gradually learn more about how a REIT company chooses its assets, communicates with its clients, and advertises its services to acquire new clients.

    Real estate investment trusts career paths

    There are multiple potential career paths you can pursue in any REIT industry. Here are just a few examples.

    Related: The Best Careers for Your Personality Type (Infographic)

    Property manager

    You might work as a property manager. Many REIT companies work with third-party property management companies. In a nutshell, property managers maintain rental properties, like apartment complexes or multiple homes throughout the same neighborhood.

    If you work for a property management company, you might eventually be able to work for a REIT. Alternatively, if you work for a REIT, you might work as a property manager for that trust. In this case, the trust takes care of various rental properties, which it maintains and oversees on behalf of its clients.

    Asset manager

    You could also pursue a career as an asset manager. REIT asset managers decide which properties they should purchase and how much debt they need to take out in terms of loans or other financing arrangements to purchase those properties.

    Asset managers also oversee all the aspects of owning and operating properties and ensure property expenses align with projections. This mid-level management job requires a lot of experience in real estate, investing and similar areas.

    Development executive

    Development executives are chief executives for these funds. Thus, they have a lot of sway regarding what properties the REIT purchases, its profit and debt targets, and how the fund evolves.

    Development executives identify opportunities to purchase new properties for the fund’s clients to improve financial prosperity for everyone involved.

    This position pays well and is an excellent stepping stone to senior management positions in other real estate investment industry companies. However, expect to acquire lots of experience in the REIT arena before qualifying for this position.

    Acquisition analyst

    Acquisition analysts are closer to the entry-level or middle manager position than development executives. That said, they are critical.

    REIT acquisition analysts plan, implement, coordinate and identify properties that the fund they work for should acquire. For instance, they may find an attractive apartment complex that needs new investors, then recommend that the REIT company purchase it to diversify the portfolio further.

    Related: 3 REITs to Buy and Hold for the Long Term

    Because of this, acquisition analysts need skills and experience in the real estate investment industry. They need to know how to recognize and understand market trends, spot available properties and know what properties are worth.

    It is also beneficial to have contacts in the real estate or investment industries before applying for these positions in a REIT. For instance, if you are friends with local realtors, you can get an early scoop about up-and-coming properties or new listings from your friends, allowing you to recommend properties to your REIT company or more quickly than other analysts.

    Summary

    Ultimately, you might enjoy working for a REIT company if you like investing, real estate, analysis and similar topics. If you’re successful in this field, you’ll also make a pretty fair salary.

    Check out Entrepreneur’s other resources and guides today to learn more about real estate, investments, and related topics.

    [ad_2]

    Entrepreneur Staff

    Source link

  • Learn How to Earn Passive Income Through Day Trading and Investments

    Learn How to Earn Passive Income Through Day Trading and Investments

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    On average, it can take up to four years before a startup begins to see a profit. You may have an excellent business idea, but it’s important to have a steady influx of capital to sustain yourself and any unplanned enterprise needs in the meantime. Set yourself up with some extra cash by launching a passive income pursuit. One option? Candlestick trading.


    StackCommerce

    The Ultimate Candlestick Trading & Analysis Masterclass Bundle may be able to help you get started on your first investments. Learn to analyze stocks, identify patterns, and day trade in this five-course bundle.

    Start earning passive income.

    Once familiar with the Candlestick method, you can start identifying trade chart patterns. Before long, you may be able to start day trading with confidence. Learn to read “the tape” and form conclusions based on the record of stock transactions throughout the day. With enough study and practice, you could start predicting reversal points that tell you when it’s time to sell.

    Each course is taught by Travis Rose, a full-time day trader and investor. Like Rose, you may be able to turn investing into a full-time job, or you could use it to fund your next business venture.

    Day trade your way to a profit.

    There is a steep learning curve in investing, but you can study the same methods professional investors use to maximize their profit potential. Get the Ultimate Candlestick Trading and Analysis Masterclass Bundle on sale for $29.99 and start planning your first investment.

    Prices subject to change.

    [ad_2]

    Entrepreneur Store

    Source link

  • The Ultimate Side Hustle Playbook for Launching Your Consumer Goods Product

    The Ultimate Side Hustle Playbook for Launching Your Consumer Goods Product

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    We spent an afternoon with David Greenfeld, who started Dream Pops out of his family’s kitchen while also working an arduous finance job. David saved up his vacation days and launched the company in two weeks, and the rest is sweet, sweet ice cream victory. His plant-based, naturally sweet treats are now available in Whole Foods, Erewhon, Bristol Farms, and more retailers. His advice might just be the cherry on top of your dream business!


    Dream Pops

    David Greenfield is an expert on launching consumer goods products. Book a 1-on-1 consulting call with David today!

    Related: How to Start a Coffee Shop

    Step 1: Find the Big Idea

    David’s advice: “Ask what’s missing?”

    When you look around at the way you live and the things you love and care about, ask yourself what kind of product would greatly improve your quality of life. What do you wish existed? Bonus points if you belong to a big group of people who feel the same way.

    For David, the thing that was missing was a way to satisfy his sweet tooth. “Working long hours in finance, you find yourself craving a little afternoon treat.” And like many children of the ’80s and ’90s, David craved nostalgic confections like Dibs, Dunkaroos, and Gushers. But as a vegan and lactose-intolerant dude, those weren’t options.

    So he set out to make a product that had the whimsical, snackable allure of these sweets, but without all the artificial sweeteners and dairy. And so, his dream snack, Dream Pops, was born!

    Step 2. Make Your Prototype

    “The early days I was literally in my mom’s kitchen making these products.”

    So many entrepreneurs agonize over every detail of their prototype, but here are two important things your prototype doesn’t need:

    1. Perfect execution from the get-go. You can and should get used to iterating it with feedback.
    2. Instant scalability to 1 million units.

    The most important thing your product does need, however, is to be differentiated in its look and function. David had the vision to build something “equally as beautiful internally as it is externally.” Dream Pops aren’t just delicious, they are architectural, colorful, and unique-looking.

    If you’re prototyping a food product, follow his advice:

    • “Deliver on taste” with simple ingredients.
    • “Make it look cool” with geometric design and unique packaging that stands out

    Step 3. Put your product out there

    Unlike other businesses out there, consumer goods really do make for a great side hustle.

    David spent a year and a half catering events and hosting pop-ups with brands. Well-known brands like Patron, Soul Cycle, and H&M would pay $5K-$10K for a popsicle event. David would listen for real-time feedback and update his formula.

    Did you see the Beats by Dre DreamPops at Coachella?

    Step 4. Scale thoughtfully

    Don’t get lost in the sauce.

    Getting into Target doesn’t make sense right out of the gates. Don’t chase revenue, but consider profitability, product quality, and overall risk.

    Some retailers require you to pay “slotting” where you spend $50K to $100K to be on the shelf for eight months. And, as David shares, “if you don’t perform, you’re out.” The risk is massive and can put you out of business before you have the opportunity to flourish.

    Instead, find independent grocery stores and regional grocers with 3-10 locations. Find partnerships that like supporting local brands. For Dream Pops, Erewhon and Bristol Farms were the perfect partners. Similarly, Stacy’s Pita Chips started at Berkley Bowl and eventually sold the business to PepsiCo for $250 million.

    As demand for your product increases, you’ll have to leave mom’s kitchen!

    David tells us, “Don’t be afraid to ask around. Find experts in your field through friends, family, LinkedIn, Google, you name it. Then you can truly find the best contacts for suppliers and factories.”

    It’s ok to change the way you build your product, but you must know your non-negotiables. For Dream Pops, they keep several promises to customers:

    • Dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free
    • No high fructose corn syrup and no artificial ingredients
    • A fun, whimsical brand that delivers on taste

    The integrity of the product should never be compromised.

    Enjoy this article but not sure where to get started? David is available for 1-on-1 video coaching powered by Intro. Book time today! Browse all experts here.

    [ad_2]

    Brad Klune

    Source link

  • How These Friends Started a Lucrative Charcuterie Side Hustle

    How These Friends Started a Lucrative Charcuterie Side Hustle

    [ad_1]

    Starting a side hustle? It might pay to find yourself co-founders who have something you don’t.


    Courtesy of Platterful

    That’s what Ryan Culver, Caroline Elston and Lowell Bieber, the Indiana-based friends behind charcuterie subscription service Platterful, discovered when they teamed up to launch their venture last year — and made $40,000 in their first month.

    Culver and Bieber previously partnered on a health-and-wellness subscription box, which they successfully scaled and sold in September 2020.

    This time around, Culver’s logistics and shipping experience and Bieber’s operations expertise proved to be the perfect pairings with Elston’s background in digital marketing and burgeoning charcuterie business.

    Entrepreneur sat down with the trio to learn how they built their meat-and-cheese side hustle — and continue to fuel its growth.

    Related: Meats and Cheeses and Olives, Oh My! How this Veteran Launched a Successful Charcuterie Franchise

    “We really didn’t have any idea of how to pair things well together — certainly not how to create a board.”

    Culver and Bieber wanted to start another subscription service after the sale of their first, and recognizing the gap in charcuterie offerings, saw a prime opportunity.

    “We definitely wanted to repeat the subscription model,” Culver says. “We could’ve just created this brand [that had] standalone products that you could buy, which we do offer as well. But really the crux of the business is tied to that subscription model. We were both still highly interested in the recurring revenue that comes in each month. It’s almost like a guaranteed buffer to keep the baseline cost of the business covered.”

    The only problem?

    Culver and Bieber didn’t know anything about the business of meat and cheese.

    “We had no knowledge of charcuterie,” Bieber recalls. “We just knew it was a growing space and that we liked to eat meat and cheese. But we really didn’t have any idea of how to pair things well together — certainly not how to create a board.”

    Image credit: Courtesy of Platterful

    Related: How Subscription Services Are Changing Brand and Consumer Habits

    “Meeting Ryan and Lowell [who already had] all of that operational background on subscription boxes and fulfillment was like the perfect timing and the perfect marriage.”

    Culver and Bieber began looking for someone to help them get their venture off the ground. Their search led them to Elston, a marketing professional who also operated a grazing-table side hustle serving events like weddings, birthday parties, bridal showers and more.

    “I love meat and cheese as well — no surprise there,” Elston says. “I loved cheese boards and would get them at restaurants. They were starting to catch on two, three years ago, so whenever people would come to my house or there were family gatherings, I would always make a board.”

    Elston continued to get creative with her boards in 2020 for her college friends’ 30th birthday celebrations, and when people suggested she go into business for real, she decided to do just that. From there, it “caught fire;” Elston would craft 10-15 small boards every weekend in addition to five to six grazing tables for larger events. She was also about to become a parent.

    She knew it wasn’t sustainable.

    “Meeting Ryan and Lowell [who already had] all of that operational background on subscription boxes and fulfillment was like the perfect timing and the perfect marriage,” Elston explains, “because it was a way that I could continue this creative outlet that I found and fell in love with, but I didn’t have to run all over the city of Indianapolis to do so.”

    Image credit: Courtesy of Platterful

    Related: 12 High-Earning Side Hustles for Creative People

    “We took a month or so to build out our website, and that blew up in December, which was great to see.”

    Platterful planned a crowdfunding initiative on Kickstarter to gauge market interest but had to pull the campaign at the last minute when the co-founders learned their business was considered “reselling” — “even though it’s much more than that,” Elston says.

    But with a quick pivot to Indiegogo, Platterful was back on track.

    “The Indiegogo did well,” Bieber says. “And then we took a month or so to build out our website, and that blew up in December, so that was great to see.”

    Platterful did $40,000 in sales during its first month, and despite being a “very seasonal business” with spikes in popularity around major holidays, it’s been able to sustain that growth. This December, the business is poised to at least double last December’s earnings.

    Culver’s logistics company Lessgistics fulfills Platterful’s orders. “So I kind of see both sides of [the process], which is interesting,” he says. “It gives us full control over the shipping experience, which we like.”

    Image credit: Courtesy of Platterful

    Related: Here’s How You Can Grow in the Logistics Business

    “One of our big 2023 goals is just to ensure our packaging and presentation looks very nice when customers open it.”

    But Platterful’s journey hasn’t been without some challenges. Even though Culver and Bieber had subscription experience, the co-founders did have to contend with a new complication: cold shipping.

    “Some of the meats are shelf stable, but all of the cheeses need to be refrigerated,” Bieber says. “So we have to make sure that they’re arriving cold, and that [brings] a whole new set of challenges that are frankly kind of expensive. We had to figure out how to still offer good value to the customers at an affordable price.”

    That’s meant constantly refining Platterful’s packaging.

    “We’ve gone through six or seven iterations of packaging so far,” Culver says, “and we’re still working on that now, continually making that better. One of our big 2023 goals is just to ensure our packaging and presentation looks very nice when customers open it. So it’s always been kind of a work in progress.”

    Image credit: Courtesy of Platterful

    Related: 5 Creative Packaging Ideas to Delight Your Customers

    “[With co-founders] you have other people to lean on — if you’re having a tough day, maybe someone else is having a good day.”

    Of course, balancing full-time jobs with a fast-growing side hustle is no easy feat either. But having dependable partners to fill in the gaps makes all the difference.

    “We all have our core jobs, but there’s also still a lot of free time, pockets at night or in between lunches, breaks, whatever,” Culver explains. “So we stay in contact throughout the day, each day. Not Saturday and Sunday, that’d be a little too much. But Monday through Friday for sure.”

    Platterful also has two employees in the Philippines who handle significant portions of customer service and corporate outreach.

    “We’re all in and out all day long,” Elston continues, “and very stressed with a lot to balance. [But it’s] a blast and stuff I really want to do. So we all make time for it because it’s like our baby, and it’s going very, very well, and we’re all very committed to making it work.”

    Bieber agrees.

    “I feel like it would be really hard to do [these things] alone,” he says, “because you don’t have a support system. [With co-founders] you have other people to lean on — if you’re having a tough day, maybe someone else is having a good day. That balancing act of having three different people going in it together, plus the rest of the team, is what makes it sustainable.”

    So for those breaking into the subscription box industry? Find yourself a complementary set of business partners first.

    [ad_2]

    Amanda Breen

    Source link

  • 4 Holiday Side-Hustles for Extra Cash

    4 Holiday Side-Hustles for Extra Cash

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    The holiday season is such a busy time that you might not think of taking on a side hustling gig. It’s the perfect time to do so because you are not the only one whose time is stretched to the limit. Everyone is going in ten directions at once; now’s your chance to step in, lend a hand, and make some excellent side-hustle money. Maybe you’d like to earn for that weekend getaway during the cold winter months or pay off those smoking-hot credit cards after your busy shopping season. Let’s look at some tremendous seasonal side hustles that also let you enjoy the fun of the holidays.

    Related: The Holiday Season Means More People Take on Side Hustles — the Difference This Year? They Don’t Plan to Quit Anytime Soon.

    1. Take your e-business live at a show or festival

    The holiday season is bustling with craft fairs and shopping festivals. Here’s your chance to combine a side hustle with valuable business research. My company, Hollywood Sensation Jewelry, has been an online business from the start. This year, my ingenious husband Anthony Hood suggested we participate in the Sunset Market, a huge outdoor market in Oceanside.

    Quite economically, we rented a booth, set up a tent and spent four hours selling Hollywood Sensation merchandise in public. I admit I had doubts about whether this would work for us, and I was even nervous about the public interaction. But, if you’ll forgive the pun, the results were sensational! We sold more than enough to offset our expenses. More than that, however, we got live feedback from real customers with whom we could speak one-on-one.

    If you have a product you’ve never taken out of the e-store, check your community calendar for upcoming festivals, conventions and fairs to get in on a new revenue stream and free market research. The cost of renting a booth will vary depending on the popularity and turnout of the event. I recommend starting small and scaling up if things go well. Be certain that you select an event that jibes with your brand. We might not want to take Hollywood Sensation Jewelry to a plumbing expo, but that sunset beach atmosphere was perfect for some glamor.

    Related: Unlike Many Things That Are a Lot of Work, Trade Shows Are Worth It

    2. Take your skills to the masses

    Do you have a knack for holiday décor? Fancy gift-wrapping? Event planning? Delectable baked goods? Well, not everybody does, and that’s why they need your services, especially at this time of year. Maybe you have a holiday cake or cookie recipe that gets rave reviews everywhere you go. Let folks at the office potluck and the church social know you’re available to bake one for them, too.

    Utilize social media to get your name out there as someone who can put up a beautiful Christmas tree (indoors or outdoors) and otherwise deck the halls. And don’t forget – while many people love to decorate for Christmas, almost no one loves taking it all back down again. Are you willing to do the untangling, repackaging and boxing of all that holly and mistletoe? Maybe you have a pickup truck and can haul away trees for responsible disposal.

    Sites like TaskRabbit.com let you create an account as a helping hand for a limitless variety of tasks and get customer reviews to build your reputation and bring in even more business. For example, TaskRabbit offers the following average costs for these services: “Party Clean Up” for $49-$80, “Toy Assembly” for $40-$99 and “Christmas Decorating” for $48-$86. You can even get paid to stand in line for someone else. I am not kidding!

    Related: 44 Profitable Ideas to Make Extra Money on the Side

    3. Reap the perks of a seasonal job

    Stores and delivery businesses always seek reliable help for the season. Showing yourself as an excellent seasonal employee means you can almost certainly be welcomed back the following year. And don’t forget – many stores offer their regular employee discounts to seasonal workers. If you’ve got your eye on an expensive purchase, you might get another 10% or more off the cost. My friend worked for five weeks at a home furnishings store and saved his family a bundle on new flooring and a refrigerator.

    Here’s another option: party companies are slammed this time of year, and they need people to prep, decorate, serve, check in guests, take coats, valet cars, conduct table games and clean up afterward. I have a friend who deals blackjack at holiday parties and enjoys it. She attends several fancy parties each year, hears the bands, meets fun people who are all having a great time and gets paid for doing it.

    Seasonal job salaries depend on your location, but here are some examples. On average, delivery companies pay about $16.00 per hour, warehouses about $13.80, and store gift wrappers earn around $12.00 an hour. When applying at retail stores with an eye on purchases, ask if their employee discount extends to seasonal help.

    Related: Start an Amazon Side Hustle and Earn Extra Money

    4. Be a sitter

    What do the holidays bring besides good cheer? Travelers! People have places to go and things to do, whether for an evening party, a busy shopping day away from the children or two weeks out of town. Ease their travel stress by being the person who holds down the fort. Reliable and friendly childcare, eldercare, housesitting and pet care take a load off everyone’s mind.

    It’s a relief to know someone is there to keep an eye on the house or check in on older relations to ensure all is safe. Once more, multiple gig websites let you register as a sitter (check out Rover.com or Care.com, for example). Or, get established in one neighborhood as a terrific house — or pet-sitter, and you’ll get more offers. Word gets around on the homeowners’ websites fast, and having multiple gigs in the same neighborhood adds to your convenience.

    Enjoy your holidays

    A holiday side hustle is more than just a way to supplement your income. Getting out into the holiday atmosphere is a great way to enjoy the season’s spirit, ease the stress for others and help create wonderful memories. Of course, giving is better than receiving, but if you can do both simultaneously with a holiday side hustle, that’s quite a reason to celebrate.

    [ad_2]

    Mary Hood

    Source link

  • Start an Amazon Side Hustle and Earn Extra Money

    Start an Amazon Side Hustle and Earn Extra Money

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    It’s the holiday season and everybody’s feeling a bit of a budget crunch. One of the best ways to earn a little extra money is by starting a side hustle. But who has the time to add an extra hustle on top of their primary one? Finding the time and energy to run a side hustle is challenging, but it’s certainly possible. With tools like Fulfillment by Amazon (Amazon FBA), it’s easier than ever to earn passive income without expending extraordinary effort.


    StackCommerce

    If you want to learn how to launch a profitable side hustle on Amazon, check out The 2022 Complete Amazon Dropshipping & Private Label Master Class Bundle while it’s on sale for a limited time.

    This bundle includes 11 courses from some of the web’s top entrepreneurial instructors, including Ryan Ford (4.3/5-star instructor rating), Brock Johnson (4.1/5-star rating), and Bryan Guerra (4.1/5-star rating). Designed for absolute beginners to dropshipping and Amazon FBA, the bundle will teach you proven strategies for launching, selling, and growing private label products on Amazon FBA. You’ll learn how to perform productive product research, source the best products from the best manufacturers, develop branding, and learn how to rank your products at the top of the Amazon search for your desired keywords.

    In addition to the practical steps of ideating and executing a private label brand, you’ll learn essential skills like how to identify your target customer, avoid Amazon account suspension, and more. There are also courses on leveraging Google Trends and Amazon PPC marketing to broaden your reach and increase your bottom line. Before you know it, you’ll have a private label brand up and running.

    Earn some extra money this holiday season. Right now, you can get The 2022 Complete Amazon Dropshipping & Private Label Master Class Bundle on sale for just $34.99.

    Prices subject to change.

    [ad_2]

    Entrepreneur Store

    Source link

  • How to Spot Winning Business Ideas at Your Day Job

    How to Spot Winning Business Ideas at Your Day Job

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Curiosity is the spark behind every leading innovation. Without it, we never would have harnessed electricity, rocketed to the moon or developed a Covid-19 vaccine in record time. But while it’s easy enough to come up with a good idea — they’re everywhere — the ones that revolutionize entire industries and professions require us to keep our eyes open to the challenges right in front of us in our daily lives and then ask, “How can I change that? How can I make things better? How can I use my curiosity for good?”

    That’s precisely what I discovered as I made the move from full-time professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University to entrepreneur, co-founding Acuity Insights, formerly Altus Assessments, a Toronto-based company that now employs 150 people. It all started with an assessment that challenged the concept that being book smart was all it took to be a good doctor, nurse, teacher or business person. The test measures social intelligence and professionalism that is used alongside measures of knowledge — and we’ve found that the more holistically we can assess someone, the more we are able to understand and support them.

    I saw a problem and realized there was a potential for a game-changing innovation. We have now broadened to a full scope of products for higher education programs that connect key data across the learner journey from application to graduation, providing key data points to inform decisions. Acuity is partnered with over 530 higher education programs worldwide.

    And my experience shows that almost anyone can spot an opportunity in their day job and turn it into a viable business. Here are five things you can do when opportunity knocks so you can knock that new venture out of the park:

    Related: How to Know When That Business Idea Is Good Enough to Pursue

    1. Watch out for workarounds

    You know how when we leave a pile of books on the floor, the longer they remain there, it becomes easier to walk around them? As time goes on, we forget they’re even there because we’ve become so accustomed to finding an alternate route.

    The spark for my business started with the realization that an ineffective workaround — depending on letters of reference and personal statements when assessing students’ applications — just wasn’t cutting it. They were inherently biased. Medical schools, my own included, needed to do better when accepting students. Being an excellent doctor is more than academic scores, high grades or knowledge. It’s about how you apply that knowledge to serve your patient using communication skills, empathy, collaboration, professionalism and ethics.

    So, we did our due diligence: We spent over five years collecting data and refining the assessment tool to make sure we were measuring what mattered. Then other programs and institutions started to become interested in what we were doing, too. But we wondered: Can we give them access to our innovative software? Should we monetize it? Soon after, I realized our groundbreaking business idea locked in the ivory tower was ready for the real world.

    2. Listen to yourself

    Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out what we’re most passionate about, particularly if we’re juggling a lot of priorities. To zero in on the one idea that might hold your interest and enthusiasm long-term, you need to listen to yourself. If, years ago, I’d recorded myself talking about the need to revolutionize medical school assessments, I’m sure I would have realized that it was a true passion.

    So, talk to a friend or someone in your network about your project. Do you light up? Become more animated? Feel free? These clues could be the launch pad for turning a side hustle into a new career and maybe even revolutionizing your industry in the process.

    Related: How This Entrepreneur Kept His Day Job While Starting a Business

    3. Notice where you’re spending your extra time

    How are you spending your extra time even when you don’t have time to give? Do you feel passionate about a side project and can’t stop tinkering with it? Do you tend to lean in at certain meetings or ask more questions about specific topics? Pay attention to what drives you.

    The leap from a highly respected career in academia to the wild unknown of startups wasn’t easy, though. For years, I put in long hours at the university as a professor before working even longer hours at night and on weekends on the business. I was at a tipping point and realized if I wanted to make a difference, I had to swap my priorities. I eventually traded in a secure career in academia for the full-throttle existence as an entrepreneur when I was seven months pregnant, building Acuity Insights with my co-founder, Harold Reiter, a radiation oncologist with an equally demanding job. Because I was able to follow my curiosity, I never gave up, even when it was hard.

    4. Prepare for pushback

    When I first decided to leave my full-time university career for the corporate world, I sent an email out to colleagues to tell them — and some of them accidentally cc’d me on their responses to others about my decision. That was an eye-opener; but I understand that many of them may not have considered a profession outside of academia. But later at conferences, I was able to share with them why I was so passionate and excited. I could tell them my “why.” I had realized my “why” wasn’t tied to my profession — it was about how I could make the largest impact.

    If you experience pushback about a change in your career, reach out to people who have made the same leap or are working in an area you want to move toward to learn about the barriers and opportunities you might face. And don’t forget to take some time and dig into your own “why.” Knowing what truly drives you will keep you working toward your goals.

    Related: 10 Things You Must Do Before Quitting Your Job to Start Your Company

    5. Get unstuck

    If you had told me a decade ago that I would become a VP and co-founder of a business, I wouldn’t have believed you. I thought I didn’t have the right skill set. Sometimes we assume we can only do the role we’re currently in and have a very set idea about what’s possible for us. But as someone entrenched in an industry, you probably bring a valuable perspective and expertise to a broader problem. There are a lot of people with sales, marketing and accounting degrees who can be hired. But innovators bring vision. Understand that, and get out of your own way. And with time, your vision, curiosity and passion will spark innovation in those around you, too.

    Pay attention to what’s going on around you at work — and what fires you up — to uncover the next industry-changing business idea. Because when it comes to forging a new professional path, passion and curiosity rule.

    [ad_2]

    Kelly Dore

    Source link

  • Why You Should Start a Business Only While You Have a Job

    Why You Should Start a Business Only While You Have a Job

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Many people that I meet tell me that they dream of starting their own business. I always ask them, “Then why don’t you?” They typically respond by saying that they have so many financial and personal responsibilities, that they can’t just quit their job to start a company, etc. Then I tell them my story …


    Hero Images | Getty Images

    Related: How to Use Your Current Job to Start Your Next Business

    [ad_2]

    Jeff Bonaldi

    Source link

  • Feeling Stuck in Your Career? These 8 Tips Will Help You Move Forward.

    Feeling Stuck in Your Career? These 8 Tips Will Help You Move Forward.

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    I know what it feels like to be stuck in a career and not have any room for growth or a fair evaluation of your efforts within the company. Although I had what many people would perceive as a successful career in public relations, I felt a prolonged progression in my promotions, a lack of opportunities to grow in other areas of the field and not a great work/life balance. I started to lose a sense of determination in my work. My personal story began when Covid-19 first hit; like many people, I lost my job, which left me in a whirlwind of confusion and heartbreak.

    Related: A Successful Career Path Doesn’t Have to Be Linear

    How I got unstuck

    I had a moment to sink in the fear of job security but then realized I was luckier than most. I was already working on my side hustle with freelancing which was making more than I was making at my full-time position, and I was able to keep that up while I tried to figure out what my next move would be. Would I continue to just freelance and maintain, or would I push myself to do more?

    My next move came sooner than I realized. After all, at the time of the pandemic, I possessed a skill many companies needed most — public relations. I realized that this skill allowed me to work from anywhere. In the past, my personal success was hindered in this area, thanks to a full-time job that ate up a lot of my time with commutes and late nights. I realized I had enough clients to get going, with eight customers that quickly grew to 15 in just a few weeks, ranging across a plethora of industries. Things went so well that in the time of a global pandemic, a young 29-year-old female was able to create a growing business.

    This is something I never contemplated and didn’t think was possible just three years ago, but now it is a reality with over 25 people on my team and counting. When opportunities come your way, and you realize people want what you offer, you simply don’t turn that down. You acknowledge this as a sign it’s time to grow, your time to live into your potential and to take that leap in creating a business. These opportunities are coming your way because people are gravitating to what you offer. You need to invest in your vision and potential to realize you found something unique and something that companies want. This all starts with believing in yourself.

    Related: 4 Tips To Overcome Career Transition Anxiety

    How you can do it, too

    Some of the most frequent questions I receive are: “how did you change your work situation?” “how did you start your side hustle?” or “how do I market my skills?” As someone whose primary mission is to make an impact on others, I am here to help. Now I realize that many people are feeling stuck in their careers, and in the time of the “Great Resignation,” I want to guide you to feel less trapped and put you on a path where you can recreate your career. Here are my eight tips for getting started:

    1. Remember we have more opportunities than ever: There are more avenues now than ever to pick up a side gig and work on it from the comfort of your home. This makes recreating your career and focusing on the work that makes you happy easier than it’s ever been.

    2. Take the time to create a list of what skills you possess, are great at and love doing: Often jobs have us doing numerous tasks. Some we are great at, and other ones we wish were better at or just don’t like doing at all. You may simply not have had the opportunity to hone in on certain talents. Now you have the luxury of getting to focus on what you are great at and monetizing that skill. If you don’t have a skill that you’d like to hone in on yet, no worries! Many sites offer courses that are free or at minimal cost so that you can gain critical knowledge to create your new side hustle!

    3. Register for freelance sites: Join freelance sites like UpWork, Fiverr, ThumbTack, Freelancer, etc. Take a scroll through the types of jobs on their sites, then finalize which area you would like to focus on.

    4. Create a pitch about yourself: Many of these freelance sites will ask you to write about your accomplishments, skills and share your job qualifications on your profile page. It can be awkward for some people to boast about themselves, but if you don’t share all the fantastic things you did, no one will know. Learn to be your own publicist. Be sure to include what you can do for prospective clients on your profile page and show previous success stories.

    5. Draft a template cover letter: You can quickly modify a cover letter for different proposals you want to apply for and make simple edits per job posting. This will save you a lot of time.

    6. Ask for reviews or referrals: On these sites, you can boost your chances of getting opportunities by asking peers, previous companies you’ve worked for or other side gigs you’ve had in relevant spaces to get their review of you on the platform. This builds your credibility and also builds potential clients’ confidence when deciding whether to talk and eventually hire you.

    7. Research price points: When putting yourself out there, there is always the question of how much you should charge for your skillset per hour or per project. On many of these sites, you can do some analysis of what others are charging for similar fields. Starting a little lower at first can help you break through to start building your freelance roster, and once you have a couple of reviews of current clients under your belt, that’s when you can move the needle up.

    8. Start applying and putting yourself out there: Once you find a side gig or two, you can really craft yourself, put your passions outside of your current career and start honing a path for yourself that will make you happy.

    Related: Do You Feel Unfulfilled in Your Work Life? Here’s How to Change That

    Whether you want to try this until you find your next job, need extra income or are considering freelancing as your new full-time job for more flexibility, these eight tips above will help you succeed. As Christopher Robbins says, “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.”

    [ad_2]

    Mary Elkordy

    Source link

  • 3 Steps to Getting Paid Speaking Engagements

    3 Steps to Getting Paid Speaking Engagements

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    So, you’re looking to get paid to speak as part of both a personal and business growth strategy, but have no idea how to get started? As someone who’s been a paid speaker since 2001, I’m pleased to share that the process is actually not as hard as you might think. As a matter of fact, if you’re a service professional with a good message and entertaining delivery, then getting a handful (or more) paid gigs a year is more than doable.

    A few steps you’ll need to take in order to move forward:

    1. Get Super-Clear About Topic Titles

    This sounds like the easiest step, but can actually be tricky. Why? Because when you’re doing free gigs, organizers don’t typically ask many questions regarding what you’re going to talk about. They likely already know who you are (you might have worked with them or with someone they know), and are thrilled that you’re going to make them look good in front of their group. But a paid speaking gig is the professional equivalent of going from the minors to the majors (and that implies no disrespect: I still do the odd free engagement).

    Related: 3 Straightforward Ways to Get Paid for Speaking Engagements

    Just like going from the Birmingham Barons to a starting position for the Yankees is a quantum leap, so is this. And it’s not because you’re playing a different game (speaking is still speaking), but once you’re getting paid, conference organizers usually have a different set of expectations.

    Suitable preparation begins by having an indelibly clear title — one that succinctly and engagingly articulates the topic, as well as what you will provide an audience. Personally, I’m a “how-to” man when it comes to titles, such as:

    “How to Overachieve Without Over-Committing”

    “How to Lead So Others Will Follow”

    “How to Talk So Others Will Listen”

    Titles that include phrases like “communication skills” or “leadership skills,” by contrast, might sound a lot less appealing to an organizer looking at 20 other folks for a paid speaking gig.

    Related: 3 Steps to Book Your First Paid Speaking Gig

    2. Provide Video of You Speaking

    One small positive ramification of Covid is that this step isn’t nearly as hard as it used to be, as most of the presentations over the better part of the past 24 months have been virtual. If that’s all you have, so be it, but in a perfect world, you’ll also have footage of you out on stage, in the real world, which offers organizers and meeting planners a better feel for your style. It’s been my additional experience that these professionals actually prefer two videos — one of an entire presentation (“full reel”) and another with perhaps two minutes of highlights, professionally edited and maybe even with a music track.

    If you don’t have something quite so refined on offer, that’s fine, but you have to supply something that people can look at.

    Related: The 5 Things You Must Know Before You Pursue Paid Speaking

    3. Get Clear on the Types of Events You Want

    A common misconception I’ve run into is that approaching corporations is the only way to get paid to speak. These gigs can be lucrative, certainly, but don’t sleep on other paid options like trade associations, schools, non-profits and business conferences. So, find an avenue (or two) that works for you, then get into action finding good opportunities.

    There are a few additional actions you’ll want to take along the way, such as setting up a website and developing a lead pipeline for potential paid gigs, but these early steps will get you on the road to success.

    [ad_2]

    Brian Hilliard

    Source link

  • 5 Lucrative Metaverse Jobs You’ve Never Heard of

    5 Lucrative Metaverse Jobs You’ve Never Heard of

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    It’s no secret that the world of work is changing. With the advent of new technologies, such as virtual reality and the metaverse, many traditional jobs are disappearing and being replaced by new ones. In this article, we’ll explore five professions anyone can enter in the metaverse without any prior experience.

    It’s likely that your kids already spend time in the metaverse, and by taking on one or more of these five lesser-known metaverse jobs, there’s a good chance that their wealth could grow tremendously. Below I’ll discuss what these jobs entail and how money can be made with each one:

    Related: The Metaverse Is Where the Money Is

    1. Metareal-estate agent

    With metaverse property sales topping more than $500 million in 2021, it’s no surprise that becoming a real estate agent is one of the best ways to make money in the metaverse. If you want to make it big in metaverse real estate, you’ll want to find virtual spaces that are in demand that you can eventually sell to clients who have extra cash on hand.

    For example, the Sandbox Metaverse may be a great starting point for beginners. Celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Snoop Dogg have already purchased property here, which has attracted a lot of attention from the media and fans who are willing to pay thousands to live near someone famous.

    As a real estate agent, you’ll be responsible for finding good properties and presenting them to potential investors. You can find clients on Discord servers or crypto-related subreddits, and you can pitch and sell your properties using public presentations or direct messages. With the right approach, you can earn a high income by selling metaverse real estate.

    2. Connector

    With more than 9.5 million gaming developers on Roblox, there’s no shortage of creators who need help with funding to create and launch a game. This is where you come in.

    As a connector, you will be responsible for seeking out the best potential game projects on the Roblox forum and connecting these creators with investors willing to invest money into them in exchange for a share in the project. You can find these investors on websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo or by networking with people in the metaverse community who have extra cash to spend. Once you’ve sealed the deal, you’ll earn a commission for making the connection.

    3. 3D modeler

    The metaverse is a digital universe that is growing exponentially. And as it grows, the demand for 3D assets also increases. This presents a unique opportunity for those with the skills to create 3D models. With the right tools and a little practice, anyone can become a 3D modeler and start earning money by selling their creations. You can make hundreds of dollars from selling one model.

    A great way to begin your journey if you’ve never created a 3D model is to practice in the Shapeyard app. This simple tool will allow you to create 3D models that can be exported and sold in the metaverse. Once you’ve mastered the basics of 3D modeling, you can begin selling your creations on marketplaces such as ArtStation, Turbosquid, and Sketchfab. With tons of potential buyers in the metaverse space, from Roblox game developers to property owners in the Decentraland platform, the opportunities are endless for 3D modelers.

    Related: 3 Ways to Build Sustainable Wealth in the Metaverse

    4. Trader for 3D gaming assets

    While the hype around NFTs has drastically declined, the market for trading 3D gaming assets is still growing exponentially. You may be wondering if a virtual weapon could even be worth anything. The answer is a resounding yes! In fact, a CSGO knife costs more than $1.5 million.

    However, you’ve got to be a visionary if you want to make money in this space. You need to be able to identify which 3D assets will increase in value over time and purchase them at a low price so you can sell them for a profit later.

    To get started, find a concrete meta space, spend time there, and really take the time to understand and integrate into the community to find truly valuable objects. Then, when you’re ready to buy and sell 3D models, you can use in-systems marketplaces like Roblox Items. If you want to trade in many gaming metaverses at once, try trading platforms such as DMarket or Traderie.

    5. Metfluencer

    In the metaverse, becoming a rich and famous influencer isn’t hard if you have talent. In fact, one of the most influential people in Roblox, Albert Spencer Aretz, otherwise known as Flamingo, is said to be making more than $20 million annually. So, how does he do it? Simply by making funny Youtube videos where he plays Roblox, earning him both ad revenue and donations from his fans.

    Do you want your success story to be similar? To get started, you’ll want to identify a metaspace that isn’t overcrowded, explore it, and begin writing scripts to create your own gameplay videos. As the audience of that metaverse grows, you’ll become one of the early influencers in this space. However, you will need to be patient and shoot consistent videos until you go viral. Once you do, you could be on your way to earning tens of thousands of dollars.

    Related: Here’s a Beginner’s Guide to Crypto, NFTs, and the Metaverse

    As you can see, there are many ways to make money in the metaverse. Whether you’re a 3D modeler, trader or metfluencer, there’s ample opportunity to earn a good living by creating and selling virtual assets. By following the tips in this article, your kids could be on their way to becoming metaverse millionaires.

    [ad_2]

    Ashot Gabrelianov

    Source link

  • Teacher Resigns After Filming OnlyFans Videos at School

    Teacher Resigns After Filming OnlyFans Videos at School

    [ad_1]

    A middle school teacher, who says she made OnlyFans videos as a side hustle to supplement her meager income, has resigned from her position after feeling “pressure.”

    Samantha Peer taught science for five years at Thunderbolt Middle School in Lake Havasu, Arizona. Her husband, Dillon Peer, is also a teacher.

    Related: Teacher Turned OnlyFans Model Says She Made $1 Million in 3 Years

    In a recent Facebook video, she claims she started an OnlyFans account with Dillon when they couldn’t pay the bills.

    “I created content at the beginning of the summer in order to earn extra money on the side to help pay for our basic necessities that our salaries were no longer meeting,” Peer said. “I chose an anonymous name as well as blocking the entire state of Arizona on my OnlyFans so that it wasn’t accessible to anyone living in the state.”

    Using the alias “Khloe Karter,” Peer and her husband filmed X-rated videos—some allegedly on school grounds during off hours.

    Somehow, students at the school caught wind of the extracurricular activities and started sharing images amongst themselves, according to Today’s News-Herald. A member of the community eventually contacted the police.

    “The teacher was later identified to be Samantha Peer,” the police said in a statement. “Additionally, it was reported that some of the pornographic image(s) of Mrs. Peer depicted her in a classroom-type setting, presumably on Thunderbolt School Property. The superintendent of schools was advised of the report, and it was learned at that time that they had also received the same information that was initially forwarded to the police department.”

    The police are still investigating if any laws were broken.

    Pressured to resign

    Peer insists she wasn’t fired but placed on paid administrative leave and probation by Lake Havasu Unified School District pending an investigation. She decided to resign after receiving unwanted attention from the public.

    Her husband was fired from his school a few days later.

    Many Thunderbolt parents are upset about what they say their kids see online.

    “That was my friend’s daughter’s desk. And she is mortified over the situation,” Kristina Minor, a student’s mother, told WSAZ News. “She [Peer] doesn’t care knowing students have seen her everything and on students’ desks.”

    “I am absolutely outraged,” said Alea Bilski, another student’s mother. “Our kids shouldn’t have been exposed to this.”

    Peer says angry parents and kids have harassed her and even pressured her gym to cancel her membership.

    But she insists she only created the OnlyFans as a harmless way to make ends meet.

    “It got to the point where our family was not able to survive on our two teacher incomes,” she said.

    Teachers in Arizona are among the lowest-paid in the U.S.

    [ad_2]

    Jonathan Small

    Source link

  • How to Start a Dropshipping Side Hustle on Amazon

    How to Start a Dropshipping Side Hustle on Amazon

    [ad_1]

    Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

    If it seems like everybody has a second job these days, that’s because a whole lot of people do. The most recent numbers show that 44 percent of Americans have a side hustle, and with no shortage of ways to make extra money, it’s not all that surprising.


    StackCommerce

    Entrepreneur readers tend to be mostly focused on their main hustle, but if you’re looking for a way to drum up some more capital, starting a low-effort, high-yield side hustle like dropshipping might be up your alley. Fulfillment by Amazon (Amazon FBA) makes it easier than ever for anyone to sell items online and make a profit without having to house any inventory. However, it’s not exactly a secret, so it’s highly competitive and not easy to scale.

    In The 2022 Complete Amazon Dropshipping & Private Label Master Class Bundle, you’ll learn what you can do to launch this side hustle and grow it into your primary source of income.

    This bundle includes 11 courses from top-rated entrepreneurial instructors, including Ryan Ford (4.3/5-star instructor rating), Bryan Guerra (4.5/5-star rating), and Brock Johnson (4.1/5-star rating).

    In these courses, you’ll learn proven strategies to launch, sell, and grow private label products, leveraging Amazon FBA to handle all of the processing and distribution. You’ll discover ways to find profitable product ideas, learn how to validate your ideas, and know where to find the best manufacturers for your product.

    More importantly, you’ll learn how to properly build your Amazon listing pages so your product will rank at the top for your desired keywords and ship seamlessly to Amazon FBA warehouses. Eventually, you’ll get into the comprehensive marketing skills you’ll need to successfully brand and promote your product to attract customers from all over the globe.

    It’s time to start a side hustle. Grab this Amazon Dropshipping & Private Label Master Class Bundle on sale for just $34.99 now.

    Prices subject to change.

    [ad_2]

    Entrepreneur Store

    Source link