Building a Website for Your Side Hustle

Having a side hustle is a way to pursue your passions, generate extra income, or test the waters of entrepreneurship. A website is one way to make your side hustle stand out. It adds a level of professionalism that you can’t achieve with word of mouth or social media alone.

If you’ve got a side hustle you want to promote, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of social media platforms and communication channels. What you need is a solid website that can serve as your home base to connect customers to the information they need to make a decision about hiring you. Imagine you’re a trades person who specializes in small renovation and repair projects, you can have social media channels with regularly updated photos and videos; but a website can bring it all together to share a full picture of who you are, what you offer and most importantly how to get in touch to book a job.

Here’s why building a website for your side hustle is a smart move:

• Establish credibility: A well-designed website instantly elevates your side hustle from “hobby” to “business.” It shows you’re serious about your work and dedicated to serving your customers.
• Get found online by customers: By building your site with relevant keywords and content, you increase your chances of people finding you online when they search for solutions your side hustle provides. This translates to organic traffic and new customers without the need for constant social media updates.
• Be your own public relations machine: Your website is a platform to showcase your work, highlight customer success stories, and offer exclusive content. You own the story on your website and you choose what people see first.
• Earn more money: With a website, you can set your own prices and negotiate directly with customers without a third-party taking a cut of the revenue. This gives you more control over your income and higher earning potential.

Chances are, you started this side hustle because you wanted to be your own boss. Building your own website is another way to take ownership of your business. Here’s what you need to get started.

Essential elements of a successful side hustle website

Choose a domain name that sets you apart

Help people easily find your website by selecting a domain name that’s short, informative and easy to remember. Some additional tips for choosing a domain:

• If your side hustle is local, consider including the location or service area in the domain name, i.e. albanyhandyman.com.
• Avoid hyphens, numbers and alternate spellings – i.e. denver-handi-man.com – that may not communicate well via word of mouth.
• If you can’t find a good .com domain, consider an alternative domain extension – also called top-level-domain (TLDs) – that matches your business exactly. For instance, if you’re a trade professional, consider a TLD like .repair, .contractors, or .plumbing to make your domain name easy for customers to search and find.

Choosing the right domain is first so the time and effort you spend will pay off. Start your domain search with Name.com’s domain search tool.

Homepage how-to

The homepage is your website’s storefront. It needs to grab attention quickly and clearly communicate what you do. Here’s what you need to consider:

• Capture attention quickly: Start with a strong headline that highlights your unique selling proposition or clarifies the problem you solve. Are you the most affordable dog walker in town? Do you offer the most reliable handyman services?
• Keep it concise: Attention spans are short. Use clear, concise language and avoid lengthy blocks of text. Focus on the key benefits and put the most important information first.
• Elevate your expertise: Showcase your qualifications and experience. Include any relevant certifications. Add logos of companies you’ve worked with or customer testimonials that set you apart from the competition.
• Local focus: If you offer local services, like landscaping or house painting, make sure your location is prominently displayed. You can even include a map for easy access.
• Clear call to action: Tell people what you want them to do next and make it clear and easy for them to take the next step. Include a form, phone number or email address so they can contact you directly.

Convert customers with additional web pages

• About: This page tells your story. Let your personality shine through and explain why you’re passionate about your business or side hustle.
• Products/Services: This is your chance to showcase exactly what you offer. Use clear descriptions, high-quality visuals, and consider including pricing information here.
• Contact Page: Make it easy for potential clients to reach you with a separate page for contact information. In addition to including the info on the homepage, you can add this page to your site menu to make it easy for people to find.
• Pricing: This can be a separate page or integrated into your Products/Services section. Transparency builds trust, so consider offering clear pricing options for your services.
• Testimonials: Let your customers do the talking. Feature positive quotes, reviews, or case studies that demonstrate the value you provide.
• Photos: Don’t underestimate the power of high-quality visuals. Use real photos of yourself, your work, and even happy clients to make your website feel authentic and engaging.

Once you’ve registered your domain name and built your website, you can create a custom email – [email protected] – to add more credibility to your side hustle. It only takes a few minutes to set up and a custom email that matches your website URL is a great way to convey professionalism on your Contact page.

Market your side hustle website

Building a website is just the first step. To attract visitors and convert them into paying clients, you need a solid marketing strategy. Here are a few places to start:

• Friends and family: When you are starting out, people close to you are obvious prospects for your side hustle – and great evangelists via testimonials and referrals.
• Social media promotion: Share your website link across your social media platforms and encourage interaction. Include links to social platforms on your website or embed your social media feeds so that you can drive traffic in both directions.
• Search Engine Marketing (SEM): SEM, also known as Pay Per Click Marketing – is a highly targeted and effective way to get new customers. Consider setting up a Google Ads account and learning how to run campaigns that market your services.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Research relevant keywords and optimize your website content to improve search engine ranking.
• Content marketing: Publish blog posts, articles, or videos that showcase your expertise and attract potential customers.
• Local listings: If you offer local services, get listed in online directories like Google My Business and Yelp.
  With a professional website and a marketing plan, you can propel your side hustle into a thriving business you can build and scale on your own terms.

Build your side hustle website with Name.com

Name.com is your one-stop source for domains, websites and custom email solutions for solopreneurs, side hustles and small businesses. Get started today!