Got a side hustle? You’re in great company.
According to U.S. census data, business formations rose by nearly 42% in 2020. Many of these formations were side businesses started by new or part-time entrepreneurs.
Some side hustles are intended to stay small. Others have the potential to grow and attract investment. Whatever future you envision, there are ways to level-up your side business to make it look a little more established.
Why should you bother? Because a brand that looks well-established, however small it might be, can help you attain more of the right business. Sure, it can help you win more sales and more customers; but more importantly it can help you gain long-term repeat business with loyal customers.
So how do you do it?
As with any business, it comes down to trust and credibility.
Think about perception and first impressions. If a potential customer searches online for your business, what do they see? If it’s a poorly constructed website with missing information, or social media accounts that haven’t been updated for weeks, they’ll probably skip over your business and go elsewhere.
Potential customers need to trust your brand. Without trust, they won’t feel confident doing business with you.
That’s why it pays to strengthen the credibility of your side hustle. What’s more, it’s not just about outside perception. It’s also about you. If you think big, you’re more likely to create a stronger, more stable brand — and you stand to win some great customers and loyal supporters along the way.
With that in mind, here are some tips on how to strengthen the credibility of your side hustle business:
- Build your commercial presence online: When creating a website, use a quality template builder or even better, have it designed by a freelance professional. Take time to write your content carefully; small errors and typos make your hard work look sloppy and rushed. Use attractive, high-resolution imagery (try to avoid stock photos if possible) and use your own domain name with an email address.
- Keep your social profiles up-to-date: A regular blog will do wonders for your on-site SEO, and you can support it with one or two carefully-chosen social media profiles. Don’t be tempted to create too many social media accounts — it’s too time-consuming. Instead, choose one or two that fit your audience, and keep them updated with fresh, relevant, and helpful content. A business profile that hasn’t been touched for several weeks or months looks like you’ve gone out of business.
- Nurture your network: Look after your connections. That goes for customers (past, existing, and prospects) as well as suppliers, advisors, potential partners, and anyone who shows an interest in your business. Even if the connection doesn’t make sense right now, who knows what the future holds? Set up a newsletter and send it to your connections on a regular basis — start with monthly and make it more frequent if demand (and time) allows. It doesn’t need to be packed with information; a few short updates and links to your website, blog, and social media accounts will keep people in the loop.
- Create a professional presence: Many side hustle entrepreneurs work from home, which is cost-effective and convenient. However, to the outside world, a home-based business doesn’t carry the same credibility as one that has a recognized commercial address. You can get a business address through a Virtual Office, which is a cost-effective way to build an instant presence in your target location. Our partner, Alliance Virtual Offices, provides commercial business addresses starting from $49 per month. They offer a host of other affordable options too, including hot desks and coworking plans.
- Use meeting rooms, not coffee shops: As life gets back to normal, you may feel confident meeting in a coffee shop. However, it’s not the ideal place to talk business — especially if you’re discussing sensitive information such as finances. Consider using a meeting room instead. Business centers and virtual office providers such as Alliance offer fully equipped meeting venues starting from just $10 per hour, which can be booked online quickly and easily. Search for a local meeting space here.
Whether you plan to grow your side hustle, or keep it small and low-key, it pays to focus on building your business credibility to help you attract the right type of business. Good luck with your venture and don’t forget to check Tycoono regularly for more useful side hustle tips and advice.
