A Side Hustler’s Guide For Creating An Effective And Profit Driving Website

If you are a side hustler, then you are already aware of just how precious time is for your business. Since you don’t have all day to work on your business as a full-time entrepreneur, time management is key! How you choose to manage your time each week throughout your business can be a game-changer. This is why your website is so important as a side hustler. The number one goal of your website is to sell your products and/or services. So when you have a side hustle, your website can be thought of as a passive employee who works for you full time FOR FREE! How amazing is that?

When you go to create your website for your side hustle, it’s even more important to be as clear as possible. No missed lead is fun for anyone. However as a side hustler, you absolutely want to ensure you’re taking advantage of any potential opportunity you may have through your website. Your limited schedule is not a bad thing. But more of a great reason to ensure your website is a lean, mean side hustling selling machine! Here are the top mistakes side hustlers make then it comes to their website and how to correct them.

The goal of your site as a side hustler

Your website’s number one goal is to sell your products and/or services. And so as a side hustler with a limited work schedule, this goal becomes even more important. When building your website for your side hustle, you want to ensure that your communication is very clear throughout the site. This will decrease the bounce rate and give you a higher chance of gaining new leads. Your website can be fun, cute and highly branded. However just make sure you keep the number one goal in mind and ask yourself this question along the way. Does my website effectively sell my products or services?

Above The Fold Communication Is Not Clear Enough

The most valuable piece of real estate on your website is above the fold on your homepage. This is the area of your homepage that a visitor sees before scrolling down. For my websites, this is where you will see the logo and main menu along with anything below within the frame. For visitors, this is THE place where they understand who you are and what you do. According to a benchmark set by Hubspot, the average all-industry time someone stays on your website is 54 seconds today. That means answering the two questions; who you are and what you do, is extremely important to do above the fold.

This doesn’t mean you need to completely introduce yourself above the fold. Consider this more of explaining to visitors who your business is and what it does. For example, your above-the-fold messaging could state that you create the best custom charcuterie boards in Columbia, South Carolina. OR that you are a hub that teaches side hustlers how to double their paycheck. cough-cough.

Take a look at your website today. If you feel like your above-the-fold messaging isn’t clear enough, try changing it up! And if you’re a local side hustle, try to include your area above the fold! By being as clear as possible above the fold, visitors can land on your website and know they are in the right place.

Pain Points Are Not Addressed

Another common mistake side hustlers make when it comes to their website is not addressing pain points. Staying away from problems and pain may sound like a dream. However for your website, you must highlight and identify the problem that your customer is facing. This does a few great things for you and your website!

One, it makes the potential customer feel seen and understood. Through this, you can create trust and appreciation. Two, this ensures that the customer is in the right place. They relate to the problem or pain point you’re addressing and lock-in. And three, this gives you the opportunity to set yourself up as the subject matter expert, introducing your business as a solution for the problem.

There are a few places on your website you can introduce the problem or pain point:

• Above the fold on your homepage
• Below the fold on your homepage
• On your services page
• Sales page(s) for products and/or services

By not addressing any pain point on your website, you’re proving a strong reason to visitors oh why they need you. Take a look at your website and see how well you’re currently addressing a particular pain point. And if you’re not addressing a pain point or problem, let’s change that! Identify your ideal client and what they are struggling with? How does your business help with that struggle? Bring this problem/solution duo to your website and you’ll see a big difference!

Personal Branding Is Missing

Not including enough personal branding is another common mistake side hustlers make with their websites. This doesn’t mean your website or business model must be heavy with personal branding. There are many successful and profitable businesses that do not emphasize branding or social media as much. You could even be avoiding personal branding due to having an intention of selling your business down the road.

With personal branding, you do not need to be the face of your business. However it is important that when visitors land on your website, they feel like there are hands behind the business, not robots. If you don’t want to personally be the face of your business, try using an avatar or building a “community business”.

If you do want to be the face of your business, be sure visitors can get to know you on your website! You do not need to disclose every personal detail or show unprofessional or “relatable” photos. Keep it professional and likable. Include some fun facts about yourself that aren’t related to your business and then share your reason why you created your business. This will build a know, like a trust factor with visitors. Plus people just like to know who they are doing business with.

Next Steps Are Not Clear or naturally placed

The next common mistake side hustlers make when it comes to their website is not naturally creating a “next step” for the visitor. Selling can feel awkward. Sometimes it can even feel rude and pushy. However the number one goal of your website is for it to sell your products and services. As a side hustler with a limited schedule, you want your website to be a lean, mean selling machine! Wouldn’t it be amazing if you got off work from 9-5 and saw that you’ve made a sell? Or got a new inquiry? Your website should be your passive, full-time free employee!

With all of that being said, your website cannot sell if it isn’t naturally set up for it. A lot of times we miss out on leads because we don’t lead visitors to the next step. For example, if a visitor is looking at your services page, can they inquire or book immediately? Or do they have to go to your contact page? And before that part, is there somewhere on your website where they can know for sure the service is for them?

To observe how naturally your website is navigating visitors through each step, have a friend log onto your website. Without saying a work, ask your friend to inquire, book or purchase a product. Observe how long it takes them to do so and how natural the process is. Can they be guided through education, options and booking smoothly?

No website at all

The last most common mistake side hustlers make when it comes to websites is not having one at all. If you are a side hustler and you do not have a website, let’s change that today! A website is absolutely needed for your side hustle and there are few to zero exceptions. The good news? Your website is easier to create than you think. Sign up for my free course, How To Build Your Website From Scratch, and let me walk you through each step from domain to launch! And for the side hustlers making money without a website, shoutout to you! Because that’s amazing! However, I promise you that you can make even more with a website! So let’s start that process!

Your website is an additional cost. However, each cost is pretty reasonable. If you’re starting out, I highly recommend creating a hosting account with Bluehost. Web hosting will allow you to put your website online. Think of this as “paying rent” for your website. Plus with Bluehost, you receive a free WordPress site and your first domain is free! Bluehost plans start at $3/month (not a typo) and come with amazing customer service that I have used for years with 100% satisfaction.

WordPress websites are very user-friendly but also king for SEO or search engine optimization. This means the content you put on your WordPress website can perform better and get you found faster. Plus WordPress is the leading blog platform. Not sure if you’re business need’s a blog? Read this! With your WordPress website, checkout 17th Avenue Designs for a premium template. These templates were made with strategy in mind. They won’t just have your website looking amazing but will have it converting!!

Your next steps for your side hustle’s website

As a side hustler, do not underestimate the power your website can have within your business. You don’t need to work 40 hours a week to fun a successful and crazy profitable business. It is possible to grow your side hustle into a money-making machine when built strategically. And your website is a huge part of the process!

If you already have a website for your side hustle, give it a full audit today. Walk through your website from start to finish and make note of anything that may need tweaking. Then, have a friend do the same! Sometimes our friends can be the best sources of feedback for projects like this!

Having a website for your side hustle isn’t just great for business, it’s great for the soul! Your website is your piece of the internet that you can claim as your own! You have the freedom and opportunity to create anything you want and launch it into the world! Plus the first time you can simply direct someone to your website instead of diving into a sales pitch- that’s pretty awesome! Give your side hustle the 24/7 employee it deserves by creating an effective and profit-driven website!