6 Essential Tools For The Side Hustler
Oh, to be young, gifted and a side hustler.
For almost two years, I’ve been working hard to improve my side hustling game. And while that term isn’t always adorned by those who are full-time entrepreneurs, I think that it is truly the best way to define how I’ve been able to balance my professional and personal career.
Don’t get me wrong – it is truly a blessing to have a full-time job (with benefits) that affords me to enhance my professional skills. But there’s just something so enticing (and rewarding) about building and maintaining a project that I’m truly passionate about. Whether it is being a consultant in social media strategy or a contributing writer to a news outlet, I find joy in being able to stretch my ideas.
With the holidays right around the corner, it’s safe to say that we all could use a few extra coins in the bank. From making jewelry, to offering consulting services, the possibilities for creating multiple streams of income are endless.
For those of you ladies who are interested in building something awesome between the hours of 5 PM to 9 AM, here are a few resources to help you get started and keep it all together.
For idea management, use Trello. I was introduced to Trello by a friend just last week, and let me say that it has been quite the life-saver. I’m always getting ideas in the most random of places, so when I don’t have a trusted notebook and pen with me, I can head to my Trello board to organize my ideas and have a brainstorming party. What I like most about Trello is that it allows you to build various lists and invite others to provide feedback your brainstorming process.
For idea management, use Trello. I was introduced to Trello by a friend just last week, and let me say that it has been quite the life-saver. I’m always getting ideas in the most random of places, so when I don’t have a trusted notebook and pen with me, I can head to my Trello board to organize my ideas and have a brainstorming party. What I like most about Trello is that it allows you to build various lists and invite others to provide feedback your brainstorming process.
For scheduling your time, use YouCanBook.Me. While I love my Google Calendar to pieces, not everyone has Gmail. If you’re a consultant like me who is always scheduling calls and other meetings, YouCanBook.Me gives you the chance to share your availability with your clients and/or customers with ease. What’s even more awesome is that the appointments that you book via YouCanBook.Me automatically upload to your Google calendar, so there’s no need to double book!
For selling your products and merchandise, use GoSpaces.com. If you’re looking to sell tangible things like jewelry, art work or even clothing, GoSpaces.com gives you the opportunity to create and customize a platform for you to do so. If you’re looking to publishing and sell original content, (think e-books) GoSpaces also gives you the opportunity to create a community to share your work.
For keeping track of your work, use Google Drive or Dropbox. This is actually a no-brainer. Both Google Drive and Dropbox are gems when it comes to collaborating with others and sharing your work.
For promoting your work, use Buffer. A lot of the time, we find ourselves working so hard to produce, produce, produce that we neglect to promote what we’ve created! I like using buffer because it is a hub for all of my social media accounts. Whether I’m ready to share a new blog post or put old content in rotation, Buffer allows me to share things across multiple platforms seamlessly.
For meeting other fellow side-hustlers, freelancers and entrepreneurs, use Freelancers Union. I just discovered the Freelancers Union earlier this year, and while I do work full-time, it’s a great resource for anyone who may be looking to make the jump to full-time freelancer in the near future. From how to create custom contracts to what type of affordable healthcare options are available, the Freelancers Union to connect with other freelancers nationwide.
For scheduling your time, use YouCanBook.Me. While I love my Google Calendar to pieces, not everyone has Gmail. If you’re a consultant like me who is always scheduling calls and other meetings, YouCanBook.Me gives you the chance to share your availability with your clients and/or customers with ease. What’s even more awesome is that the appointments that you book via YouCanBook.Me automatically upload to your Google calendar, so there’s no need to double book!
For selling your products and merchandise, use GoSpaces.com. If you’re looking to sell tangible things like jewelry, art work or even clothing, GoSpaces.com gives you the opportunity to create and customize a platform for you to do so. If you’re looking to publishing and sell original content, (think e-books) GoSpaces also gives you the opportunity to create a community to share your work.
For keeping track of your work, use Google Drive or Dropbox. This is actually a no-brainer. Both Google Drive and Dropbox are gems when it comes to collaborating with others and sharing your work.
For promoting your work, use Buffer. A lot of the time, we find ourselves working so hard to produce, produce, produce that we neglect to promote what we’ve created! I like using buffer because it is a hub for all of my social media accounts. Whether I’m ready to share a new blog post or put old content in rotation, Buffer allows me to share things across multiple platforms seamlessly.
For meeting other fellow side-hustlers, freelancers and entrepreneurs, use Freelancers Union. I just discovered the Freelancers Union earlier this year, and while I do work full-time, it’s a great resource for anyone who may be looking to make the jump to full-time freelancer in the near future. From how to create custom contracts to what type of affordable healthcare options are available, the Freelancers Union to connect with other freelancers nationwide.
And there you have it! What are some of your favorite tools to use when it comes to keeping your side-hustle game on fleek?
Happy side-hustling!
