Listen to “#771 Low-Lift Side Hustles Anyone Can Do” on Spreaker.
On this episode of The Small Business Radio Show…
SEGMENT 1 with Steve Strauss, starting at 0:00: The barrier to starting a business is much lower than it used to be. Some entrepreneurs do it while they are still working at their full-time jobs, and they call it a side hustle. But what are the keys to success in getting a side hustle off the ground?
Steve Strauss is Inc. Magazine’s small business columnist. He is an in-demand author, content creator, and speaker. An attorney and entrepreneur as well, Steve has had his books translated into eight languages, and his “Small Business Bible” has become the, well, bible in the industry. Steve is often tapped to be a brand ambassador for companies such as Visa, Yahoo, PayPal, and Microsoft. His combined social media following is in the six figures. His company, The Strauss Group, creates cutting-edge content for everyone from Fortune 500 companies to small non-profits. You can learn more about Steve at MrAllBiz.com or PlanetSmallBusiness.com.
This interview opportunity is provided by: Index by Pinger.
- Why more people are starting side hustles
- Strategies to save time when working on a side hustle
- Suggestions for some low-lift side hustles that people may not realize they’re qualified for
- Ideas for how to get your first customers
- What distinguishes successful side hustles from unsuccessful side hustles
- Considerations to make before starting a low-lift side hustle
SEGMENT 2 with Mary Beth Simon, starting at 17:45: I am reading an apocalyptic fiction book that says “No plan survives contact with the enemy.” What do you do when Plan A or even Plan B doesn’t work out?
Mary Beth Simon guides business owners to create contingency plans that prepare them and their teams for extended vacations or the unexpected so the business can continue to run successfully in their absence. She founded Niche Partnership Consulting after seeing the turmoil that a lack of contingency planning caused when a dear friend developed terminal cancer. Mary Beth is a national conference speaker, a continuous learner, and loves helping business owners find peace of mind since retiring from a 30+ year career at Vanguard.
- Elements of a personal contingency plan
- Why business owners need a contingency plan
- What holds people back from preparing for the unexpected?
- The best way to test a contingency plan
- Where to store your contingency plan
- Essential steps to get started creating a contingency plan
SEGMENT 3 with John and Mica Mahler, starting at 33:15: Let’s face it. Your customers and prospects want to get to know you and you need to form a virtual connection to do that. That connection is great marketing so you can be there when they are ready to buy.
John and Mica Mahler are the co-owners of Cook, Cork & Fork, a gourmet cooking school and kitchenware store in Palatine, Illinois. Cook, Cork & Fork officially opened its doors in 2015, but John and Mica had the idea to start the store back in 2007, after taking a private cooking class on their very first Valentine’s Day together. Over the years, John and Mica have built a loyal customer base with the help of a unique social media strategy that engages followers in their buying decisions. Each year as they attend The Inspired Home Show, an annual home and housewares trade show presented by The International Housewares Association, John and Mica bring customers along virtually to help them pick out new kitchenware products for Cook, Cork & Fork via Facebook Lives and Instagram polls. With this social strategy, John and Mica have formed deeper customer relationships that help them grow their small business and compete with e-commerce giants.
- What inspired you to start virtually bringing your customers along to The Inspired Home Show?
- What kind of response did you get from your customers when you started?
- What does engagement look like now?
- How has your business grown since you adopted this social marketing technique?
- What advice would you give to any merchant who is looking to leverage social media to grow their business and compete against Amazon and other online giants?
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