Make your Hobby into a business and Make Money Online

Many of us enjoy interests, and many of them have the potential of earning part-time or full-time source of income. Specialized bracelets, woodwork, hand-crafted clothing, homemade games -- the opportunities for unique and original items are limitless, and so is the market.

Online marketplaces such as Etsy could be thought of as the most convenient way to launch an online store. However, they're also subject to their rules and regulations and they can be modified at any point. Indeed, Etsy automatically enrolls businesses in an advertising program which takes 15% of the revenue from eligible sales -- a big portion of the sellers' cash!

With WordPress and , you retain complete control over the content you publish, your products and where your money goes. You can create a store which is as big (or smaller!) as you'd like and customize everything to be as unique as your products.

Do you want to begin a business or expand your market beyond the local shop or farmers' market? Let's look at ways to set up an online store, generate revenues, and promote your products with WordPress and .

1. Create your own business name and then purchase the URL

Choose your name carefully -as it will become an integral element of your company's brand. When you're narrowing down the list of names to choose, make sure that the URL is accessible (and it's not prohibitively costly).

Pick something that's easy to remember and simple to spell. Avoid hyphens and numbers; they are easy to misspell or forgotten, and are hard to express in public.

If you can, purchase a URL that ends in .com. If you select a URL other that .com be sure that it has an .com equivalent that's offensive or directly competing with.

2. Select a host provider

• speed. Shared hosting plans, usually the least expensive option, store multiple websites on one server. This could slow your site down, particularly during periods that are high in demand.
• Customer support. Good customer service will save you lots of time and keep your business operating well. Search for businesses that provide 24 hour support.
• Safety. To protect your clients and investment select a hosting service that provides regular backups, protection against malware and spam filters for emails.
• uptime. Servers can sometimes "go down" meaning that visitors will not access your website. The server "uptime" is the amount of the time servers are operating. The goal is to have as high a percentage as possible -and many hosts guarantee at least 99percent.
• Review. Read customer reviews to gain insight from other's experience. It is the most effective method to find out about the service's reputation.
• Scalability. Can you easily change plans, or to increase the server's resources? You don't want to worry about lengthy migrations when your company grows.

3. Install WordPress

WordPress is a site-building tool which will be the base of your online store. It's open source versatile, powerful, and flexible and free of charge, which is why it's the preferred platform with 43% of users on the websites. And beyond that it allows you to create an attractive, fully functional website with no prior experience in development or coding knowledge whatsoever.

WordPress is known for its easy setup and, under most circumstances, takes only 5 minutes to set up. Most hosting companies offer one-click WordPress installation, straight through their website. Contact your host for the exact steps you should adhere to or follow this full guide on setting up WordPress.

4. Choose an WordPress theme

The design of a theme defines the look of your website, together with other elements of function. It is possible to select one that has "plug and play" templates, allowing users to replace the templates with content that you have created yourself. You can also pick the theme that lets you use it as a framework for absolutely any design that you could imagine.

5. Install

The eCommerce component is the eCommerce part of WordPress it can be a simple, flexible platform that allows you to sell your products online. Make use of it to design websites for products, accept payment and apply a wide range of selling strategies and extensions for customers to increase revenues. It is possible to alter the layout and functionality to meet the requirements of your particular business and expand it as the way you'd like.

Best of all, is completely free to install and make use of! To get started:

1. Within your WordPress Dashboard, click Plugins - Add New
2. Look up ""
3. Click Install now to activate

The Setup Wizard will walk you through the basics of setting, which includes a handful of the things we'll go in more detail below. You've created a store!

6. Integrate your payment gateway

7. Create product pages

Now that you have the basic structure of your shop, it's time to add certain products. It is possible to select from a range of products such as:

• Simple Basic: A product without options to choose from (e.g. the decorative pillows that are available in only one size)
• Variable is a product that offers customers a variety of options to choose from (e.g. a T-shirt with size choices)
• Downloadable: A digital product that isn't shipped (e.g. a printable knitting pattern)

Our guideline on Adding and Managing Products will help you in the process of creating each one in . It's not a problem -- no need for code!

Show several angles, and snap close-up photos of important information. It is also possible to record a short video to demonstrate how a feature works or to highlight specific the details that aren't easy to convey through text.

Then, write a good description. Concentrate on the way in which the product benefits the buyer. How will it make them feel? What does it mean for them? How can it help them live their lives more comfortably? Use language that speaks to the heart of your target group of people.

8. Design your additional website pages

Planning, inventory, and shipping

What is the time it takes to make each item you hope to sell? This matters because it is not a good idea to sell out the items you've got. If you have much more customers than you can meet, you run the risk of driving people away who showed up on your site ready to buy.

Expand the functionality of your shop

Don't forget to put on your marketing hat

The most popular ways to find potential customers is via search engines. Consider what potential customers are likely to search on Google to discover the kind of things you make, and what phrases indicate the intention of purchasing. For instance, someone searching "how to make a scarf" is more likely not to buy than someone who types, "buy homemade scarf."

To be successful in online marketing to be successful, you must put in consistent effort, remain open to trying new methods and measure the results regularly, and refine the process in time.

Do you want to sell your products online on marketplaces?

Alongside your online shop, you may wish to target other buyers through Amazon or eBay. It is possible to integrate with other marketplaces online for an easy opportunity to earn cash online. However, remember that it's best to choose an online platform that you own full control and ownership over as the digital home base.

Make your passion into a profitable business

Hopefully this introduction to eCommerce has helped you feel more confident about setting up an eCommerce store. It's possible! Follow the steps. Take your time. Don't procrastinate. Set goals and commit to them.