5 Side Hustle Mistakes I Made That You Should Avoid in 2024

Last updated: 15/02/2024 Written by: Ruby Layram

Starting a side hustle can be an exciting and lucrative venture, but it's important to learn from the mistakes of others to avoid common pitfalls. In this article, I will share five side hustle mistakes that I personally made and provide tips on how to avoid them in 2024.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of success and make the most out of your side hustle.

My Biggest Side Hustle Mistakes

When I started my side hustle journey 6 years ago, I made a LOT of mistakes that cost me valuable money and time.

To save you from repeating my errors, I thought I would share the five biggest mistakes that I made. I will also share my top tips for starting a side hustle that I have learned over the past few years.

1. Jumping in at the deep end

One of the biggest mistakes I made was starting a side hustle that was beyond my current skills and resources. I was eager to make profits and decided to jump right in and try side hustles that require a lot of knowledge and experience.

By doing this, I felt overwhelmed and had no clue how to manage what I was doing.

It's crucial to choose a side hustle that aligns with your current abilities and resources. Starting with something too advanced can leave you feeling overwhelmed and demotivated.

To avoid this, try starting with something simple like reselling, paid surveys, or signing up to a micro-tasking platform. Starting with something simple is a good way to build your confidence and learn about managing a side hustle around your 9-5 job.

2. Ignoring the importance of marketing and social media

Another mistake I made was neglecting the power of marketing and social media in my side hustle. I failed to promote my services effectively, resulting in limited visibility and a smaller customer base.

Years later, I realize that creating an online presence or investing money into marketing could have helped to accelerate the time that it took me to make any money online.

To avoid this mistake, it's important to invest time and effort into marketing strategies and utilize social media platforms to reach a wider audience and promote your side hustle.

3. Giving up too soon

One of the most common side hustle mistakes is giving up too soon when faced with challenges or setbacks. I admit that I fell into this trap myself. In fact, I fell for this mistake about 6 times before I realized where I was going wrong!

Most side hustles take months to generate results. If you give up too soon, you could miss out on lucrative returns.

It's important to persevere and stay committed to your side hustle even when things get tough. Remember that success takes time and effort, and giving up too soon can prevent you from reaching your goals.

Also read: How to make £100 a day

4. Not investing in education

A crucial mistake I made was not investing in education to improve my skills and knowledge. This meant that I fell behind my competitors.

Side hustles require continuous learning and development to stay competitive and provide value to customers. Investing in courses, workshops, or books related to your side hustle can give you a competitive edge and help you deliver high-quality products or services.

5. Choosing profits over passion

Lastly, I made the mistake of prioritizing high-profit potential over something that I was actually good at and passionate about.

While profitability is important, it's also essential to choose a side hustle that aligns with your skills, interests, and passions. This will not only make the journey more enjoyable but will also increase your chances of long-term success.

You may have to work for weeks, or even months, at your side hustle before you see the results that you want to. This unpaid work is a lot easier when you actually enjoy it. Try choosing a side hustle that you’re passionate about or at least enjoy doing in your spare time.

Top Tips for New Side Hustlers in 2024

As well as making a number of mistakes, I have also learned a lot about side hustle success over the last few years. Here are 3 top tips for making money with a side hustle in 2024.

1. Start Small

Starting small is a key factor in side hustle success. It allows you to manage your time, energy, and resources effectively, avoiding burnout and overwhelm.

By focusing on a specific area or niche, you can establish a strong foundation before expanding your side hustle.

Starting small also enables you to learn and refine your skills, identify what works and what doesn't, and make necessary adjustments along the way. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and the same applies to your side hustle. Take it one step at a time, and you'll gradually build momentum and achieve your goals.

2. Use a Planner

A planner is an essential tool for any side hustler. It helps you stay organized and prioritize tasks effectively, ensuring that you make the most of your limited time and resources.

Start by setting clear goals and breaking them down into smaller, actionable steps. Use your planner to schedule specific tasks and allocate dedicated time for your side hustle. This will help you stay focused and accountable, preventing procrastination and ensuring consistent progress.

I also found it useful to keep track of my achievements in my planner. This helped me to feel motivated on days when it felt like I wasn’t making any progress.

3. Set Realistic Goals

Setting realistic goals is crucial for sustained success in your side hustle. While it's important to dream big and have ambitious aspirations, it's equally important to be practical and grounded in your approach.

Set goals that are challenging yet achievable, taking into account your current skills, resources, and time constraints. Break your goals down into smaller milestones or targets, making them more manageable and less overwhelming.

Having realistic goals allows you to stay motivated and measure your progress effectively. It also gives you a sense of accomplishment when you reach these milestones, boosting your confidence and propelling you forward.

By setting realistic goals, you'll maintain focus, stay on track, and ultimately achieve long-term success in your side hustle.

Conclusion

In this guide, I have shared the 5 biggest side hustle mistakes that I made at the beginning of my journey. Taking steps to avoid these errors is a good way to increase your chances of success and avoid wasting time or money.

It is very normal to make mistakes when you try something new. Don’t be disheartened if the first side gig that you try doesn’t go smoothly. Making money with a side hustle requires consistency and the ability to adapt your strategy when things don’t go as planned.

Also read

• 40 passive side hustle ideas for 2024

• How to make money from your phone

• Best side hustles for beginners