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If you’re looking for an easy way to start making money online, look no further than your favorite hobby.
Thousands of people around the world have turned their hobbies into successful online businesses.
These people have become so influential in the business world that a new word has been coined to describe them: Hobbypreneurs.
Selling crafts on Etsy, a global marketplace for unique and creative goods, is a popular and simple way of making money from your hobby.
The website currently has 1.9 million active sellers and 31.7m active buyers, so it’s a little bigger than your typical weekend craft market.
Etsy is a popular outlet for artsy, creative types who make handcrafted or artisanal products. It’s also a top pick for profitability after giants Amazon and eBay.
You might have read the success stories from people who have developed their hobbies into full-time jobs, making upwards of $50,000 a year on Etsy.
This is a quote from California mother Alicia Shaffer, founder of the Three Bird Nest store on Etsy, which makes up to $70,000 a month:
“The first couple of weeks, the Etsy shop got a few orders, but at that time, it was a hobby and a way to make a couple extra dollars.”
There’s no reason why you can’t do the same with your hobby.
10 hobbies that make money online
The most common question people have is: Which hobbies make money online?
The answer is simple: Your hobby.
The truth is that, with some creative thinking and business savvy, all hobbies have the potential to generate money.
You might have learned to knit or crochet beautiful beanies while watching your favorite Netflix shows in bed.
Or perhaps you’ve always enjoyed woodwork and spend your weekends in the shed crafting unique furniture or kitchenware.
Or maybe you live to explore the great outdoors and make jewelry from the colorful stones you collect on your adventures.
All of these are potential business ideas.
There are people making money on Etsy from all of these hobbies already.
Here’s a rundown of the top 10 hobbies that can make money on the Etsy platform:
1. Jewelry making
You can express your creativity by crafting beautiful necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings. People love unique, handmade jewelry because it feels more personal and special than mass-produced pieces.
If you enjoy working with your hands and have an eye for design, jewelry making can be a rewarding way to turn your passion into a profitable business.
2. Knitting and crochet
Create a successful business stitch-by-stitch with cozy scarves, stylish hats, or intricate blankets.
Hand-knitted and crocheted items are highly valued for the personal touch they add to any wardrobe or home. There's always a market for these items, especially during the colder months and holiday seasons.
3. Pottery
Handmade pottery is popular because it gives everyday items a personal, handcrafted touch. You can create functional and decorative items like bowls, mugs, vases, and sculptures.
If you enjoy the process of creating something from scratch, pottery might be the perfect hobby to monetize.
4. Candle making
Whether it's for relaxation or home decor, candles are always in demand.
If you have a nose for fragrances, candle-making can be a fun and lucrative way to make money. You can play around with different shapes, sizes, colors, and fragrances to make your candles stand out.
5. Woodworking
This hobby business is about showcasing your skills in carving, joinery, and finishing. You can craft and sell furniture, kitchenware, and decorative pieces.
Handmade wooden items are often sought after for their quality and craftsmanship. If you love working with wood, this can be a fulfilling way to turn your hobby into a profitable venture.
6. Painting and illustration
Get creative and start producing original artwork, prints, and custom illustrations. Unique and personal artwork is always in demand, whether it's for home decor or personalized gifts.
If you have a passion for drawing or painting, share your work with others and start making money.
7. Soap making
Handmade soaps appeal to people looking for eco-friendly and skin-friendly alternatives. You can experiment with various shapes, colors, and natural additives like herbs and essential oils to create unique products.
If you are passionate about skincare, soap-making can be an excellent idea for an online business.
8. Digital products
Creating digital products like printable art, planners, and posters can be a great way to monetize your design hobby. These products can be easily customized.
They can also be very lucrative. Once the product is made, you can sell it over and over again without any additional cost.
9. Photography
Whether it’s a stunning landscape, a beautiful portrait, or an abstract piece of art, there is always a market for well-crafted, unique photographs. You can create posters, prints, photo books, or even digital downloads for your customers.
Selling your photos can be a rewarding way to make money.
10. Upcycling
Upcycling is about taking old or discarded items and transforming them into functional or decorative products. This could include furniture restoration, clothing redesign, or creating art from recycled materials.
Upcycled items are super popular on Etsy. People are always looking for unique, one-of-a-kind pieces.
How to monetize your hobby
Learning how to monetize your hobby allows you to get paid for doing what you love.
Having a hobby means you have goods, skills, or knowledge that can be monetized.
It also means that you are part of a global community of people with the same or similar hobby.
In other words, you have a market to sell to.
However, it can be hard to understand how to turn your hobby into a viable online business when you’re just starting out.
If you find yourself stuck for ideas, try using these prompts to kickstart your journey towards making money from your hobbies.
5 ways to make money from your hobby on Etsy
1. Sell items you’ve created through your hobby
This is the most common way to monetize your hobby on Etsy.
If you’re a creative person who makes crafts, jewelry, clothing, or artwork, then you already have a product to sell.
However, just because you make decorative cushion covers for fun doesn’t mean you’re necessarily ready to start listing them on Etsy.
You want to have a clear idea of what sets your cushion covers apart from the rest.
Transforming your hobby into a viable business also means your goods need to be of a satisfactory quality.
You also need to be comfortable with the idea of creating your goods at scale, which may take some of the enjoyment out of your hobby.
2. Sell items you’ve acquired through your hobby
If you don’t have creative hobbies, you can always sell items that you acquire through your hobby.
For instance, if you’re a collector, you’re going to know how to source specific items better than most.
A hobby of yours might be browsing antique stores or garage sales for bargains. Or maybe you love trawling through thrift stores and buying vintage clothing.
Etsy is full of secondhand antique, retro, and vintage goods that people are willing to pay top dollar for.
If you do create goods, you may also acquire materials that can be sold on Etsy, such as fabric or yarns of wool that you buy in bulk.
Think outside the box for ways to monetize your hobby, and you might be surprised by what you come up with.
3. Sell skills you’ve developed through your hobby
If you’ve had a hobby for several years, you probably have knowledge of skills related to that hobby that people would be willing to pay for.
And the great thing is that Etsy allows you to list digital products to share that knowledge.
So you could write an ebook teaching people a skill you’ve learned through your hobby, such as how to screenprint for beginners or how to do night photography.
People even sell shop critique services for hundreds of dollars, teaching people how to make the most of their Etsy stores.
That just goes to show that any skill is worth something to somebody.
What unique skills have you developed through your hobbies?
4. Sell trending items related to your hobby
A great way to come up with fresh ideas is by doing research on Etsy. You can search for products related to your hobby and get a feel for what’s selling.
If you feel that you can hold your own in a large, competitive market, then you may benefit from following trends.
If you are a true hobbyist and connected to online communities related to your hobby, you may be in a good position to anticipate the latest trends.
For instance, if you’re a sketch artist who sells prints on Etsy and you know there’s a new Marvel movie coming out in three months, you might consider producing a series of prints to coincide with the movie's release.
It’s about being proactive and fluid while still utilizing your unique skills and doing what you love.
5. Sell complimentary items related to your hobby
Etsy is a crowded marketplace, and hundreds of thousands of people are already working to make money from their hobbies.
You might find that there is too much competition in your market. But don’t despair!
Look at what’s trending and see if you can come up with something similar or complementary that’s related to your hobby.
If your hobby is making women’s summer dresses, but there’s a lot of competition in that market, you might have more success making custom dresses for toddlers.
Think about ways that you can create unique business opportunities by looking for gaps that you can fill in trending markets.
Bonus tip: Sell wholesale items related to your hobby
Selling wholesale products or private-label goods on Etsy is also a good way of making money from your hobby.
You can use a website like SaleHoo to source products related to your hobby at wholesale prices and sell them on Etsy for a good profit.
For example, your hobbies might include meditation and yoga, so you could source meditation cushions, yoga mats, and blocks from a wholesale supplier, add your own private label to them, and sell them on Etsy.
You can use your unique knowledge of your hobby to source products that you know will be popular. You will also be in a good position to market to a niche you’re familiar with.
Selling wholesale products on Etsy means you don’t have to spend time making goods yourself, which is particularly useful if you’re still working a regular job.
How to turn hobbies into profitable ventures on Etsy
If you’re serious about living the life of a “hobbypreneur” you need to start thinking of your hobby as a business.
Here’s how you can start your first Etsy store and make $50,000-plus a year from your hobby.
Step 1: Identify your hobby
Let’s start with the basics. You need to identify which of your hobbies you can turn into a business.
You might only have one hobby, but most people have several.
Let’s use the hypothetical example of Sally from San Diego.
Sally enjoys paper handicrafts and is known for creating funny, personalized birthday cards for her family and friends.
She’s also a massive sci-fi movie geek and loves Star Wars.
And on Wednesday nights, she does salsa dancing.
These are Sally’s hobbies. To audit her hobbies, Sally writes them down on a piece of paper and brainstorms potential ways to make money from them.
This is an opportunity to write down everything that comes to mind, no matter how ridiculous your ideas may seem.
Sometimes, the most far-fetched ideas can lead to the most original and successful business ventures.
From this list, Sally identifies several products that she could make to sell on Etsy, including handcrafted birthday cards and bookmarks.
She might also be able to combine two of her hobbies and create cards and party invitations with sci-fi movie quotes and sketches on them to target a more specific niche on Etsy.
What does your hobby audit look like?
It’s possible that your hobby audit won’t immediately generate a list of great business ideas.
This part of the process is just about getting your creative juices flowing and helping you to think about your hobbies in a new light.
Step 2: Create or source your products
Once you've identified your hobby, it’s time to get down to business.
You need to turn your hobby into something you can actually sell.
If your hobby involves making things by hand, start creating a few items to build up your inventory. Whether it’s jewelry, knitted scarves, or something else, take your time to make sure each piece is something you’re proud of.
Quality is super important. Buyers on Etsy are looking for unique, well-made items.
Think about the variety of products you want to offer. For example, if you’re into knitting, you might want to make a mix of items like hats, scarves, and blankets. This gives your customers more options and can help attract a wider audience.
Don’t overwhelm yourself at first – start with a few key products and expand your range as you go.
If your hobby doesn’t involve making things from scratch, you can still create a great Etsy shop by sourcing unique products.
Spend some time hunting for treasures at thrift stores, flea markets, and online.
The SaleHoo Directory is one of the best places online to find unique, handmade products at wholesale prices. There are over 8,500 vetted suppliers in the directory, with 7,916 handmade products currently listed.
You can find a variety of items related to your hobby, buy them in bulk, and sell them on Etsy. This way, you can offer more products without compromising on quality.
It’s also a good way to source products that you can customize and add your own touch. For example, you can buy plain tote bags and customize them with unique designs.
Adding your personal flair can make the products more appealing and help your shop stand out.
Step 3: Set up your Etsy shop
You’ve got your products ready to go. Now it’s time to set up your Etsy shop.
This is where things start to get exciting.
First, head over to Etsy.com and create an account if you don’t already have one. Once you’re logged in, look for the option to open your shop.
This will trigger the helpful shop setup wizard. You just need to fill in a few details about your store.
Etsy will guide you through the process. But there are a few key things to keep in mind.
Choose a shop name
Your shop name is your brand. So, take some time to choose something that reflects what you’re selling and is easy to remember. It should give potential customers an idea of what they can expect from your shop.
Don’t worry if your first choice has already been taken. Get creative and come up with something unique that still conveys your brand. You can use Shopify’s free business name generator tool if you need some inspiration.
Create your listings
This is where you’ll add all your products. You’ll need to upload photos, write a description, and set a price for each item.
Make sure your photos are high-quality and show the product from different angles. This is super important for selling on Etsy. According to a recent survey, the quality of images is the most influential factor in purchasing decisions on the platform - even more important than price!
Your product description should include important information like size, materials, and care instructions. This is your chance to tell the story of your product and why it’s special.
Write a shop announcement
Your shop announcement is a short message that appears at the top of your shop. Use this space to welcome visitors and give them a quick overview of what you sell.
Here’s a great example:
This can also be a good place to highlight any special promotions or new products.
Step 4: Price your items
This step is really important. You want to make sure you’re covering your costs and making a profit, but you also need to stay competitive.
It might take a bit of trial and error to get your pricing right. Here’s what you need to consider:
Understand your costs
First, figure out how much it costs to make each item. This includes the cost of materials, any tools or equipment you use, and even the packaging.
Don’t forget to factor in your time. Think about how long it takes you to create each product and what you want to pay yourself per hour. Add up all these costs to get a clear picture of what it costs you to make each item.
Check out the competition
Take some time to browse Etsy and see what similar items are selling for. Look at shops that are successful and have lots of sales. This will give you an idea of the price range for your type of product.
Consider Etsy fees
Don’t forget that Etsy charges fees for listing items and processing transactions. Currently, there’s a small fee to list each item and a percentage fee on each sale.
You can use Alura’s free Etsy fee calculator to work out how much you’ll pay in fees for each sale.
Make sure to factor these fees into your pricing so they don’t eat into your profits.
Step 5: Promote your shop
Once your Etsy shop is up and running, it's time to get the word out and bring in some customers. Promoting your shop is key to driving traffic and making sales. Here are some practical ways to promote your Etsy shop.
Use social media
Social media platforms can be a great place to showcase your products.
Platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook can be useful, but Pinterest is the best place for Etsy marketing.
According to Similarweb, 38.96% of Etsy’s social media traffic comes from Pinterest:
Sign up for an account and create eye-catching pins with high-quality images of your products.
Think about what terms potential customers might use to find products like yours and incorporate those into your pin descriptions. Detailed and keyword-rich descriptions can help your pins appear in more searches.
Optimize your listings for SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for getting your products found on Etsy. The better your SEO, the higher your products will rank in Etsy search results.
We’ve already covered this topic in depth. Check out our Etsy SEO bible for a step-by-step guide on how to improve your visibility in Etsy search results.
Utilize Etsy Ads
Etsy offers advertising options that can help boost your visibility. You can set a daily budget and promote your listings within Etsy’s search results.
Your products will appear at the top of search results when a shopper searches for a related keyword.
This can be especially helpful when you’re just starting out and trying to make your first few sales. Keep an eye on your ad performance and adjust your budget as needed.
Step 6: Provide excellent customer service
Providing excellent customer service can make a huge difference in your Etsy shop’s success. Happy customers are more likely to leave positive reviews, recommend your shop to others, and become repeat buyers.
Respond quickly
First off, be responsive. When a customer sends you a message or asks a question about a product, try to reply as quickly as possible. Even if you don’t have an immediate answer, quickly acknowledging that you’ve received their message can go a long way.
Pack orders carefully
Take care when packing your orders. Use appropriate packaging to ensure that items arrive safely and in good condition.
Packaging is part of the overall experience, so make it a good one. Adding a personal touch, like a thank-you note or a small freebie, can also leave a great impression.
Encourage reviews
Positive reviews are crucial for building credibility and attracting new customers.
But happy customers often don’t think to leave a review unless you remind them. After a purchase, send a friendly follow-up message thanking them for their order and encouraging them to leave a review.
Getting positive reviews will also boost your SEO performance. Here’s how Etsy describes the impact of product reviews and customer service on placement in search results:
Step 7: Expand your range
Great job! You've set up your shop, listed your products, and started making some sales.
Now, it’s time to expand your range. This step is all about adding variety to your shop, attracting new customers, and keeping existing ones coming back for more.
Introduce new products
Think about what complements your current offerings and start creating some new items. If you’re a jewelry maker, maybe begin with earrings, then add necklaces and bracelets. If you knit scarves, you might branch out into hats and mittens.
Offer different variations
Adding variations of your existing products is another great way to expand. This could mean offering different colors, sizes, or styles.
For example, if you sell candles, you might offer new scents or different sizes. If you make digital prints, consider creating a series in different color schemes.
Variations give your customers more choices and can increase sales.
Seasonal and holiday items
Consider creating products that are seasonal or holiday-themed. People love buying items that are tailored to specific times of the year. Christmas decorations, Halloween crafts, or summer-themed goods are all good options.
Seasonal items can bring in a surge of sales during those times and keep your shop relevant year-round.
Make a business plan for your Etsy Shop
If you want to become a future Etsy success story, you need to have a plan for how to make money from your hobby.
This means breaking down the cost of making your Etsy products and deciding how much you can sell them for to make it worth your time.
You need to calculate how many items you need to sell to make $50,000 a year (or whatever your target is), taking into account Etsy’s listing and transaction fees.
You should spend time looking at other sellers on Etsy and identify ways to differentiate your products.
Can you sell yours for less? Can you add a feature that no one else has? Are there opportunities for up-selling and cross-selling?
If you are still working a full-time job, you will need to decide how much time you can invest in your Etsy venture.
Once all your ducks are in a row and you have some inventory ready to go, it’s time to set up your Etsy shop and start selling.
The most important thing to remember when creating a business from your hobby is to have fun.
Because if you’re not having fun, then it’s no longer a hobby.
Ready to take your Etsy shop to the next level? Consider using the SaleHoo Directory to find high-quality products at wholesale prices to expand your inventory.
Try the SaleHoo Directory risk-free!
If you have any questions about selling online, don't hesitate to contact our 24/7 customer support team.
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