How to turn your hobby into a business without spending money

I enjoyed making jewellery so much that the upkeep of my hobby was making a dent in my bank balance. I decided I would begin a small business to sell what I made – more to feed my bead habit than to make my millions! Because I was unsure of how this would all take off I did not want to spend money on a website and advertising etc so I tried to do it all without spending a bean! Below are some of my top tips if you are thinking of doing the same thing:

- Get a free website: watch here because there are some very good [and conversely very bad] hosts you can get free websites from. I chose Microsoft Office Live Basics package and chose a .NET domain address which was also free. I have found this package to be more than adequate and would give Microsoft full marks!

- Free Advertising: Try to get reciprocal links going. This can take some time but is worth it. Be choosy as to who you link with – you don’t want to be linked to a site that is disreputable or else it will taint yours. Don’t worry if you are linking to people of a similar trade – crafting is a community and I don’t think you will drive away business. You can also try PLUGBOARDS though it depends whether you personally like them.

- Get family and friends on board: sending out e-mails just letting people know that you have started your business can really help to spread the word. Don’t be embarrassed, people like to look and see what you have done.

- Be prepared to play the long game: don’t expect sales for a while – concentrate on getting you site up and running before you expect the traffic to really come in their droves.

- Use contacts! Do you have a friend or relation that owns a shop/hotel/B&B/cafe? Why not approach them and see if they would mind selling some of your pieces?

- When taking pictures of your crafts don’t worry if you don’t have all the right equipment. My husband took pictures of my jewellery in my daughter’s wardrobe with a desk light and some paper!!! [BE INVENTIVE!]

- Paypal will offer you a free basket checkout – though they will charge commission for the sales. It is easy to use and there is no upfront money which I liked!

These points are all really important but you must make sure that you really take time to perfect your website. It must look and feel professional or there is no point in really taking this further. People will link with a quality website so you need to make yours desirable [if you don’t think this is possible check out www.beadecked.net to see what can be done with NO money spent on the design!].

Good luck! Please e-mail if you have any questions or comments charlotte@beadecked.net

The Friday Feeling

whoop whoop got that friday feeling! Everything looks better on a Friday, the washing pile seems smaller, my bathroom looks more sparkly and the fact that my daughter covers herself in humuus makes me laugh rather than tear my hair out at the state of her outfit!!!

Been making some jewellery for a friends collegue - have actually felt like Iv been running a business this week rather than faffing around which has been so nice.

Happy Days

Been fairly busy of late.....I feel I am always saying that..........anyway where was I........yes Iv been busy with jewellery, actually making some money [I know I know dont faint].

Got an article published and that seems to be pushing my traffic up, hooorah. Need to start replenshing stock.

Just about to wake my darling up from her afternoon nap and bundle her out for a walk, theres nothing like a bit of fresh air and all that!

Monday Monday

Yo dudes out there, had a good weekend? Iv had a lovely weekend - been at a hen night which was great. Been making some jewellery sets which Iv actually really been enjoying. I keep striving for jewellery that can be worn together and yet does not just look exactly the same. I hope its working!

Met Mum and Dad yesterday and had a lovely lunch, managed to buy Dad a book for fathers day that he had already read which was very me!

Been LOVING Prison Break, watch some of it behind my hands but Marc and I get fairly addicted to these things so we can watch hours every night!

Settled on an invitation design for Marc so am now just needing to make about 70 [hence the reason Im spending many an hour faffing around the internet].

Burst Water Pipe - Eeek

Ok so picture this..........Im sitting having coffee with a friend and I hear a funny noise, sort-of whooshing waterfally type noise. I go and look and feel its coming from the bath though I cant see anything. Just as I begin to wonder if something is going to explode the doorbell rings and the people downstairs say there's water coming from the ceiling. Yup you guessed it my friends a pipe burst. Called hubby home early from work and cos this is a family show Ill not divulge the words coming from his mouth but rest assured they werent pretty. Long story pretty short...........I cant flush the toilet, cant wash my hands in the bathrooom AND this morning I boiled up water on a stove so we could get two inches of water in which to try to resemble clean people! And you wonder why there hasnt been posts for the past couple of days!??!?!

Apart from the water situation everything is pretty dandy - darling bubs is learning to clap her hands [cute cute cute] and I am trying to understand google adwords.

Will show photos soon of what Iv been working on.

Busy Busy Busy

Wheeeeesh been as busy as a little bee........family and friends round and a darling bubs who has learnt the joys of crawling!

Tried to tidy up but the more I tidy the more I notice mess..........anyone think it better just not to tidy!?!?

Been making some jewellery for a friend at church to give his sister which Iv really been enjoying, hopefully Ill show you a pic in the next few days!

Making invitations

I have been up to my elbows in glue and paper trying to sort out a template for Marcs invitation - he's 21 this year [my toyboy ;-).....]. Anyway we havent even decided on a final idea and already Im sick of the numbers 2 and 1 and the word INVITATION! If you have any ingenious ideas out there let me know [Iv tried making them in the shape of a key and a 21!].

So........got bussiness cards yesterday, whoop whoop, feeling rather professional and a bit of a fraud [still not actually MADE money with my jewellery].

Darling daughter is moving and shaking her way to all things dangerous in the flat, its like there is a magnet attracting her to the fire, sissors, wires of any description, phone, computer..........we need a playpen me thinks!