That’s right. Who could say that there’s no chance that your hobby could also be the foundation of your first business venture? There are a lot of people out there who are in need of a good photographer to capture images of their son’s wedding, their daughter’s graduation or their very own wedding. Why couldn’t you be the one to supply your photography services to their needs?
For the transition of photography from hobby to your very own business, there are several tasks that you have to accomplish first.
Market Your Photography Skills – Sell yourself, in other words! Let people know about what you can do in the field of photography, why they need your skills and why they should hire you. Make sure, however, that you charge them reasonable rates since you’re still more or less an amateur in the field of photography.
To effectively market your photography skills, don’t be afraid of spending a little money on posting ads in the classified sections. Don’t stop there but post about your photography business in as many places as you can.
Join Interest Groups – This could be the local photography club in your community or the association of young photographers in your school. It could also be a Yahoo Group that you could easily join.
Usually, these groups are able to hold regular or annual exhibits of their works and it wouldn’t hurt to expose to the world the beauty of your works in photography.
Join Photo Competitions – Two things that you could enjoy when joining photography competitions: fame and fortune. Both are equally important. Fame would do wonders to your career in photography because it would let the world know about your skills and winning a photography competition may also offer the prize of having an apprenticeship under a world famous photographer. And when it comes to wealth – well, when did extra money ever hurt?
Offer Your Skills For Free to Government Projects – The government is always on the lookout for professionals who are willing to work for free and you should take advantage of this. Offer your photography skills for free because this would give you the opportunity to show them what you got.
Offer Samples of Your Work to Newspapers and Magazines – This is just like joining a photography competition. When you offer samples of your work to newspapers and magazines, you’re improving the chances that you’ll get noticed by the people who matters.
Although we can’t say that the road to victory is easy, never give up, never stop taking pictures and you’re sure to go far!
Photography: From Hobby To Your Very Own Business
Turning a Hobby into a Business
Many of us dream of being our own independent bosses by going into business for ourselves. And most of us would jump at the chance to do what we enjoy, as a vocation. Realizing that kind of dream may be easier than it sounds, and people do it all the time by doing to a business that keeps them involved in the hobby or pastime they are most passionate about in life.
If you think this is a path you want to take, make an inventory list of your favorite hobbies and areas of interest. You may have a talent that can be sold as a service, or you may have a hobby that will allow you to turn it into a business supplying products to others who share the same hobby.
For example, if you are a mountain biking enthusiast, you may notice the need for a book bike shop in your town. You could open one and put your interest in biking to good use, providing a valuable service to others who needs accessories, bikes, and bike repairs. Or if you live in a place where the biking attracts tourists and other visitors, you could start a guide service, and lead people on organized bike excursions for a fee. Many athletes parlay their talents into businesses this way, by becoming coaches, by sponsoring lines of sports products, or by participating in the sport in ways that involve the kinds of things we mentioned – opening a store, a guide service, or a repair shop.
There are retired law enforcement officers who start their own private security businesses, providing services like body guard work for VIPs or security patrols for industrial facilities. Sometimes artists open art supply stores, or musicians open music shops where they also charge a fee for teaching people how to play instruments. The possibilities are endless, and are limited only by your own enthusiasm and expertise in a particular subject. Do you enjoy gardening? You may be a perfect candidate for starting a landscaping business in your community.
But others make money by simply acting as consultants. For example, many retired firefighters become consultants to businesses that need advice on fire prevention, or to companies that make firefighting products. Some people who are tired of working in corporate America leave their jobs, and then consult about the same kind of work they used to do. Maybe you are tired of working as a number cruncher in the back office of a big company, but you could leave that job and make just as much or more money by helping small businesses with their accounting systems.
The sky’s the limit, and if you have a hobby that you convert into a job, chances are you will enjoy a high rate of worker satisfaction. That’s a huge perk for any kind of job.
Turn Your Scrapbooking Hobby Into A Profitable Business
If you are a Scrapbooking addict then you already know how fun Scrapbooking can be. But did you realize that Scrapbooking has also become one of the hottest home businesses today? A full 14% of scrappers today are involved in the business of Scrapbooking. Here are some tips to help you get started on Scrapbooking for profit.
When it comes to finding clients to work with in your new scrapbooking business, start with your family and your friends. This is a great way to help you to get some beautiful scrapbooks to showcase to your future clients. And, of course, one of the most powerful (and profitable) forms of advertising in any business is that of word of mouth.
Just imagine: You do a gorgeous and unique scrapbook for your friend and she takes it to show off to her other friends and family. They, of course, just have to know who created it and soon you have a few new customers. Do a great scrapbook for them and then they will do the same thing and, well, you can see how your scrapbooking business can grow and become very profitable.
There are many moms, college students, busy brides and others that would love to create scrapbooks for themselves or as gifts for their family and friends. But they just do not have the time or maybe they do not have the creative skills for it. These are just a few of the many opportunities for someone that has the talent to create scrapbooks for profit.
Try promoting your new scrapbooking business in your local school or church newsletters.
And don’t forget that you can also advertise for your scrapbook business here on the internet.
Of course, there are the always popular craft fairs to attend. With so many potential customers coming by to view your work, there is a huge possibility here to make some real scrapbooking profit.
Scrapbooking for profit can be a lot of fun but don’t forget to treat it as a business. Keep organized in supplies, files and forms. And remember to provide excellent customer service to your scrapbooking clients. They will expect that you are going to provide them with an excellent finished product (based on your past work) in a timely manner. Treating your beloved scrapbooking hobby as the business it is will help to insure a loyal following of customers and referrals for many years to come.
Scrapbooking is an extremely popular and fast growing craft. If you have the time, love and the talent for creating stunning scrapbooks then you have what you need to make a profit with scrapbooking.
Coin Collecting: When Hobby Turns Business
Many people are driven by the desire to do something, anything, when presented with a block of time that has no activity to fill it. For all of written history men and women have used hobbies as a way to fill up these empty blocks with something both rewarding and satisfying to the drive to not stand stagnant.
One of the most popular hobby types is collecting. Focusing upon the acquisition of a particular type of item, often those that appreciate with age, this hobby is especially satisfying for some.
Coin collecting is a favorite subcategory of this hobby type. A collection of coins is not cumbersome to own, and the coins themselves hold a very clear image of value in the mind of the collector. They know that as the collection ages and grows more robust its value gets grows as well. If it includes rare or significant pieces this value can increase rapidly.
The focus of coin collection is not usually centered on the value of the coins themselves. For most collectors the focal point is their interest in the pieces they collect. Of course the purpose and meaning of collecting can vary widely from one collector to another.
As both collector and collection grow and mature it is common for exchanges to take place between them and other collectors. Often one collector may manage to procure extra pieces unimportant to their own collection, but vital to the collection of another. It is here that the earning potential of this hobby can be most spectacularly demonstrated.
It can be very tempting for the established collector to consider taking their hobby, something they derive great pleasure from, and attempt to build it into a profitable business. In fact, many people have done exactly that with great success.
However, many more have failed to varying degrees ranging from simply not making money to disastrous losses. Without a great deal of knowledge in the field a would-be professional can easily fall victim to the many forgers at work. And as with any business there are countless financial and other concerns to be addressed before a serious effort to build a business should be undertaken.
For those who with the determination to educate themselves, plan carefully, and accept the risks involved, there is a very real capacity for significant profit.
Tips to reduce risk in a coin collecting business:
1. Make an effort to ensure that the trader is honest.
That is most important and perhaps most difficult thing to know. With all the unscrupulous dealers it can be a challenge to find individuals trustworthy enough for your business.
The best way to accomplish this is to identify whether the coins presented for trade or sale are, in fact, authentic. This is an absolutely crucial skill anyone in the business should seek to cultivate, but until such time as a determination can be made with confidence the owner should delegate this to professionals.
While authentic merchandise is a strong indication of legitimate dealers, this is not always true. Keep in mind that it is safer to buy or trade with a well-established business with a sound reputation.
2. Verify the state of the coins or merchandise.
Never purchase anything sight-unseen unless you can afford for the product to arrive in extremely poor condition. If it has not been examined by someone absolutely trustworthy the true condition of the item cannot be guaranteed.
Take note of dented coins or any other value-altering deformities or damage. Because this will degrade the value of the item it will be important to decide whether the item should be passed over or purchased at a price more accurately reflecting its true value.
3. Practice evaluating merchandise.
It can be very difficult to properly identify a coin during trade if you do not know much about the proper classification of coins.
Being able to demonstrate relevant knowledge during the trade or purchase of an item will reduce the likelihood the other party might believe themselves at an advantage and behave unscrupulously. Through study and practice a dealer can hone the skill of classifying merchandise properly and spotting the key details that are vital to properly negotiating a deal.
Coin collecting can be turned into a rewarding and successful business, but doing so requires more than the average collector can bring to the table. However, armed with the necessary education, financial backing, and confidence it make the dream of earning a living doing something you love a reality.
Creating A Home Business From A Part-Time Hobby
If you have a hobby that you think could be turned into a full-time business venture, you should consider making the transition. Working from home doing something you enjoy is one of the greatest feelings you can have. Because we all need to earn a living, finding a job that we can be passionate about in addition to earning a steady income is a dream for most. But if you research your idea, create a business plan, and work within your means, this dream can come true.
When most people think about starting their own business, they usually come up with a million reasons why the business would fail. They may not even have an idea about what they want to sell or provide. If you already have an idea, you are ahead of most people. The next step is research to determine if there is a market for your product and if you will be able to sell it quickly and easily. Most research can be conducted at home on your computer. While you may need to visit the library, retail stores, and other outlets, you can rely on your computer to give you a lot of useful information.
Finding a market for your product may be difficult depending on what it is. But you may also find many avenues including opening your own store, selling your product at trade shows, flea markets, or online, or you may find others who are looking for products like yours and who may want to go into business with you. There are many possibilities. If you are interested in selling your product online, you can create a website or sell your product on online auction sites. The Internet has created many opportunities for those who want to sell a product, but who don’t want to pay for retail space each month.
Creating a business plan is essential especially when you have a certain budget or you aren’t sure how successful your business will be. A business plan is one or two pages that include your budget, your accomplishments, and any other considerations you may need to make before creating and selling your product. You can change this plan at any time if it becomes impractical or if you exceed expectations.
Since most people have to create a budget when starting their own businesses, being realistic about the cost of materials, shipping, and advertising and marketing is important. If you don’t estimate enough, then you may fall short, so be sure to create a budget that fits your needs. As your business grows, you can adjust your budget and start generating a profit. This is when your will see the results of all your hard work.
Attention Entrepreneurs: Your Hobby Should Not Be Your Business
America was built on the premise of following your dreams. Today, that maxim is applied to everyday life, especially careers. You’ve probably seen plenty of advice about turning your hobby into your job and making money doing what you love. Unfortunately, it usually doesn’t translate well into business reality.
Look at it this way: the reason you picked up your hobby in the first place was probably because you enjoyed it. Hobbies are supposed to be fun. If your hobby becomes your business, you’ll have to work at it! Hard work is rewarding, but it can quickly douse the spark of fun you previously derived from your hobby.
Still not convinced? Here’s something else to consider – everyone I’ve met who own a golf, fishing, or scuba-diving business tells me they play, dive or get on the water less than before. Owning a business that is related to your hobby will not get you more involved in the enjoyable part. Instead, it will take you away from the fun of the hobby.
Objectivity is another major concern when it comes to translating a hobby to a business. For example, let’s say you enjoy fishing, so you decide to open a fishing supply store. You will typically stock your store with products you like – which won’t necessarily be what your customers want. Also, you may enjoy fishing, but sitting in a boat with a pole is not the same as running a store, and you may not have the skills necessary for retail management. See the problems?
Of course, your dreams and desires are important, and you need to be passionate about your company to be successful, but it is a mistake to let your interests and not your skills dictate the type of business you should own if you decide to become an entrepreneur. Now that you know what you should not do, it’s time to look at what you should do when getting into your own business:
* Consider looking to your current career instead of your hobby. What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most, and what kind of business would allow you to concentrate on those enjoyable aspects?
* Focus on your strengths, and be honest with yourself. Are you a strong manager? Good with people? Talented at a craft? Try to find a business that will let you capitalize on your strengths, while incorporating what you love to do.
* Do your research! Starting or buying a business is a huge investment, and if you buy the wrong business for your skills and fail, you probably won’t want to try again. Know what you’re getting into before you begin to give yourself the best chance of success.
You can run a business that you enjoy, as long as you are realistic in your decision-making process. You don’t have to give up on your dreams – simply refocus your intentions, and go for it!
4 Reasons to Create Your Own Podcast for Your Business or Hobby
Podcasting is a powerful, inexpensive and easy new medium for sharing your message with a focused and passionate audience. As a podcaster you’ll become a recognized expert in your area of interest or expertise.
You can use podcasting to boost your credibility, build your list of customers and gain a fan base very quickly. This makes podcasting a great tool to promote a product or service.
Here are four reasons you need to start a podcast today whether for fun or for business.
1. Become a Recognized Expert or Celebrity in Your Chosen Niche
How would you like to be recognized as an authority in your area of interest or expertise? Podcasts are popping up all over the internet on every imaginable subject.
But things are just getting started. Chances are you can still be one of the first to start a podcast in your chosen niche.
You can quickly be recognized as an expert in your field. This is a powerful way to build a following or strong customer base.
Think about when you hear or see someone on the radio or TV. They have instant credibility. As a podcaster you will enjoy the same credibility. People will value your opinion.
You can leverage this position to influence your audience, promote yourself and even make money. If you have an audience that is interested in a specific niche, there will always be others who want to reach that audience, too. This is how you find advertisers or sponsors.
2. Quickly Gain a Very Focused Audience
With the right content, you will gain listeners fast. Not only that, but your audience is potentially worldwide. You can offer quality content to keep in touch with your customers and keep yourself, your product or your service in the front of their mind.
Podcasting is a great way to cut through the clutter and reach your audience. This is not like the radio where your listener is waiting for something that interests him. He has chosen to listen to your podcast because it interests him.
This makes podcasts very effective for promotion, marketing and growing a focused audience.
3. Podcasting is a Convenient, Automatic and Inexpensive Way to Reach Your Audience or Customers
One reason that podcasting has become so popular is that it's automated. Listeners subscribe to your feed. This means they don’t have to remember to return your site to check for new content. When you post new content, it's automatically downloaded to your listener.
Because listeners subscribe to podcasts, they have chosen to receive your content. They have already shown interest in your message by subscribing. In addition, a podcast does not get lost in SPAM like with e-mail. You can be sure your message is reaching a focused audience.
This means your content automatically reaches your audience without any barriers increasing the efficiency and ease of delivering your message.
Because your podcast is delivered over the internet, it's a very inexpensive means of communication.
4. With Equipment You Probably Already Own and For Very Little Cost, Your Podcast Could be Online in Just Hours
All you need to start your podcast is a computer, a microphone and a broadband internet connection. Later, you can buy nicer gear if you want. For now you can get started with very little cost. All you need is something to say and a desire to say it.
If you were to try and do the same thing on the radio, you would have to face all kinds of FCC regulations to learn and follow. Plus you would have the expense of broadcasting. Podcasting removes all of that cost and trouble.
With my how to podcast tutorial web site, your first podcast can be online in less than a day.
SUMMARY
Podcasting is a powerful and easy way to reach a focused audience. Whether for fun or to make money, podcasting allows you to easily reach a focused and loyal audience. You can brand yourself as an expert or celebrity in your niche.
You can get started with no more gear than your computer, a microphone and a broadband internet connection. People could be listening to your podcast in less than a day. Make your voice heard.