9 Side Hustles I failed at & why (learn from my mistakes)
Starting a side hustle can be an exciting way to make extra money and explore your passions. But not every attempt is a hit. Here are nine side hustles I tried and failed at, along with what I learned from each experience. Hopefully, my journey can help you avoid some of the same mistakes!
1. Resin Jewelry
Why I Failed: Resin jewelry looked amazing on Instagram, so I thought I’d give it a shot. But it turned out to be way harder than I expected. I had trouble with bubbles and getting the resin to set just right. Plus, I didn’t leverage social media as much as I should have. I didn’t make any videos or focused on the trends. I made what I wanted to make and not what the people wanted to BUY.
Lesson Learned: Patience and practice are crucial. Make sure you understand the technical aspects and have the right equipment. Also, keeping up with the trends is a must! Create captivating videos on Instagram and TikTok to grow your audience and strategically plan release dates to generate excitement.
2. Watercolor Paintings
Why I Failed: I love painting, so I thought selling my watercolor pieces would be fun and easy. But my paintings weren’t as perfect as they needed to be, and the market was super crowded. It was hard to get noticed. The competition is fierce, and online it was practically impossible to sell. I tried craft markets too and sold only a few greeting cards.
Lesson Learned: Keep practicing until your work is REALLY high quality. Also, find a unique style or niche that makes your art stand out from the rest.
3. Canva Templates
Why I Failed: Designing templates on Canva sounded easy and fun. But making templates that people actually wanted to buy was tougher than I thought. My designs didn’t really stand out, and I struggled to keep up with the mega-bundles being sold for a few bucks.
Lesson Learned: Stay updated with what’s popular and always refine your skills. Make sure your templates offer something unique and valuable. Also, create as many as you can, and leverage the PLR trends with bundles.
4. Digital Paintings and Cards
Why I Failed: Digital art seemed like a perfect fit for me. No materials to buy and endless possibilities! But I underestimated how long it would take to create each piece and how hard it would be to compete with established artists. Marketing myself was a whole other challenge.
Lesson Learned: Building a strong portfolio takes time. Be ready to spend a lot of time promoting your work on social media and engaging with your audience. And if you want to sell on Etsy or other platforms, be ready to place hundreds of listings before you start to make a real profit.
5. Crochet Stuffies/Amigurumi
Why I Failed: I love making cute crochet animals, so I thought I’d sell them. But each piece took a lot of time to make, and it was hard to price them in a way that covered my time and still seemed reasonable to buyers.
Lesson Learned: Make sure you’re charging enough to cover your time and costs. Find ways to streamline your process without sacrificing quality. Use social media and make tons of cute videos to attract an audience willing to pay a higher price.
6. Handmade Soaps
Why I Failed: Handmade soaps are super popular, so I thought I’d give it a try. But the market is really crowded, and my soaps didn’t have anything special to make them stand out. I sold a few at craft markets, but I didn’t even bother selling them online.
Lesson Learned: Find a unique selling point for your product. Invest in good packaging and branding to make your soaps look professional and appealing. And just like for every craft business: videos, videos, videos, on Instagram and TikTok!
7. YouTube Craft Videos
Why I Failed: Making YouTube videos sounded like a fun way to share my crafting skills. But filming, editing, and promoting my videos took up way more time than I expected. I couldn’t grow my channel fast enough to make it worth the effort.
Lesson Learned: Consistency is key. Post regularly and engage with your viewers. Learn about SEO and trends to help your videos get discovered.
8. Pyrography
Why I Failed: Wood burning is a cool art form, and I enjoyed it as a hobby. But turning it into a business was tough. My designs weren’t as polished as they needed to be, and it was hard to find a market for my style.
Lesson Learned: Master your craft before trying to sell it. Focus on creating pieces that are unique and high-quality, and find the right audience for your work.
9. Stock Photography
Why I Failed: I thought stock photography would be an easy way to make passive income. But the competition is fierce, and getting my photos accepted on big platforms was hard. Plus, you make PEANUTS for each photo sold. So you’ll need to publish hundreds of high-quality photos that people actually need, in order to make a substantial income.
Lesson Learned: Focus on taking high-quality, unique photos that fill a niche. Learn what stock photo sites are looking for and keep improving your photography skills.
Final Thoughts
These side hustles taught me a lot about the importance of being consistent, staying on top of social media trends, and understanding marketing. If you’re thinking about starting a side hustle, make sure you’re ready to put in the time and effort. Success doesn’t happen overnight, but with patience and persistence, you can turn your passion into a profitable business. Good luck!
