When you have a dream, the best thing you can do for yourself is chasing it. I’ve had a passion for creating art for as long as I can remember, and I’ve turned the passion into a side hustle following a long time of dreaming about it. After finding interest in digital art and being gifted a Cricut Explore Air 2 machine during quarantine, Stardust Design was born.
Stardust Design is a brand that I created in May 2020 to grow my design and illustration skills. It began as an Instagram account to challenge myself to continually practice and improve my talents, and now it has transformed into a small business. I’m currently selling products on Etsy, such as custom digital portraits, stickers, tote bags, t-shirts and hopefully even more in the future. I try to focus on positivity when creating designs for Stardust. I create positive affirmations as stickers using pastel colors and accompany them with thoughtful and lighthearted captions.
Throughout my time spent working and creating for Stardust Design, I’ve learned a lot of things. I feel more knowledgeable regarding social media marketing and growing an online presence. I have grown to be confident in myself, my ideas and my artwork. I have also gained vital skills in time management because running a small business and being a full-time college student is not easy. It can be a challenge at times, but there are so many benefits that make it all worth it.
Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned about creating a small business and balancing my workload with college:
Don’t be scared to just go for it.
Seriously, don’t be afraid. Don’t worry about if anyone will like what you’re making or worry about judgment from others. This is something that took months of practice to understand. I have always had the idea of creating a small business to sell my art in the back of my mind, but I never followed through. Why? Because I was scared.
I was afraid of what the people on my social media might think. I was afraid of criticism. I enjoyed keeping my creations to myself, rather than showing them to the entire world — which isn’t the way to live. Yes, people might judge you. Yes, not everyone is going to like what you’re creating or the content you’re posting. But — who cares? As long as what you’re doing makes you happy, there is no reason to be fearful. Instead, have confidence in who you are and what you’re doing.
Make your side hustle something you are passionate about.
There is no reason to put hard work and dedication into something you don’t truly enjoy only because you think it will sell. Don’t create something that you dread putting effort toward only for the prospective money, and instead follow something you are passionate about.
When I created Stardust Design, it was something that had been weighing on my mind for a few years. I knew it was something I would enjoy taking time to do and not just a way to make money. If your audience can see your interests and love for what you’re doing, you will draw more customers and followers. In the end, it’s more beneficial to create something/a product you like.
Use social media to market yourself and your business.
I know that in today’s world, this lesson seems obvious, but it’s something you should listen to. The world of social media is amazing. The power to go viral on TikTok from posting one video or being featured on thousands of Instagram users’ explore pages is incredible. Social media algorithms are an amazing tool for content creators and also for small businesses! Since seeing the opportunities to reach more people, I have been trying to put more of an effort into my Instagram Reels and TikToks.
One of my current small business inspirations is Allie Rose Co., which built her company off of social media. Through the use of TikTok, she has amassed 1.3 million likes and has translated this to over 20,000 Instagram followers. She posts inspiring time-lapses, behind-the-scenes clips of product creations, day in the life videos, tutorials with voiceovers and more. I think that aspiring or current small-business owners can learn a lot from her story and utilize these ideas to market themselves on all platforms available. The more views and reach you achieve, the more purchases will be made.
Etsy is a great platform to begin selling products, either physically or digitally.
Financial aspects of creating and maintaining a business can be a challenge in the beginning, but there are many great resources out there to help you succeed. A lot of people might think they need their own website to create a business, but Etsy might be a cheaper and easier way to dip your toes in the water and see what happens. I’ve been using Etsy ever since I started my business, and I think it’s a great platform. There are small fees for listing and selling products, but these fees do not compare to the initial domain payment and monthly subscription payments to other website platforms like Shopify. Driving traffic to your website can be a challenge. But, with Etsy, specific keywords and tags that you include in your listings can help you generate views and possible purchases on your items.
Another cool feature of Etsy is that it allows you to sell digital products. Whether it’s a handmade font or a digital print, you can provide a file that customers can download right after their purchase without additional shipping fees. But, if you are interested in making and shipping physical products, Etsy also has an easy way to estimate your shipping costs based on product size and weight. You can also buy your shipping labels from USPS through Etsy’s site.
Stay organized by using a planner.
Again, this might be an obvious tip but use a planner. I like to use a planner because it can keep my mind on track, whether it’s regarding classwork or content for my business. I use different colors for each of my classes and Stardust Design.
I use the monthly calendar overview for important dates and as a reminder to schedule Instagram content. It helps give me a brief idea of what I will be creating throughout the month, and it keeps me motivated to work on new pieces. Overall, if you don’t have a planner, I highly recommend using one (even if you don’t have a side hustle).
Also, there are a few apps like UNUM and Later that allows you to preview and schedule your social media content. These apps can help plan the perfect Instagram feed and even auto-post your photos with a pre-written caption at a scheduled time. This is a great resource to make sure your social media is as aesthetically pleasing and inviting as possible.
Don’t focus on the numbers… growth takes time.
This is something that took me a while to learn, but it might be the most important: Don’t make yourself anxious by worrying about the statistics. Don’t worry about the amount of unfollows versus follows you received for the week. Don’t get upset that your reel didn’t get more views. Lastly, don’t be discouraged if you don’t have as many sales as you hoped you would. Growth on social media can seem easy for some people, but the path is different for everyone. It’s important to not let yourself compare your follower count to someone else’s, and instead focus on the positives of the following and support that you do have.
Overall, creating a small business or side hustle can be overwhelming, especially if you’re also a college student. It can be terrifying and confusing, and it might take up a lot of your time. However, it can be extremely rewarding. I am so happy that I decided to create Stardust Design because it has taught me many things that I will carry with me throughout my career. It’s helped me build a stepping stone into many different categories of advertising, social media and design, and I’m excited to see where it takes me. Creating a small business as a college student is a completely achievable goal, and all it takes is motivation, passion and organization.