The number one question I get asked when people find out that my odd job is being a professional bridesmaid is:

How did you actually do this?

How did you start this business?

How, How, How?

The answer is one that’s not quite as simple as you’d think.

Yes, I started It sort of by accident (a Craigslist ad I posted went viral).

But there were calculated steps and I’m going to share those steps with you.

How to Start an Odd Business - or Any Business

The steps below are quick summaries. But I go way more into detail inside this course.

Understand the Problem

Businesses solve problems. The way you solve the problem is what can make your buzz unique, different, or even go viral.

Maybe there are 1,000 other businesses solving that problem. Great - how can you do it better or for a specific audience?

Maybe nobody in the entire world is solving that problem. Figure out why. What are the challenges?

How you solve the problem = your business plan, your brand and marketing strategy, and the way you figure out your target audience.

Can’t think of an idea for a side hustle? Try this:

Spend this week jotting down every single problem you encounter - big or small. At the end of the week, look at the list and see if anything sparks an idea in your mind for how to solve it.

Test Your Audience

Businesses aren’t started for everyone - they are started for a group of people, especially at first. The more focused - the better - because then your product/service can really speak to them.

Your audience is more important than anything else. Without an audience, you’ll have a stockpile of products you can’t sell.

Invest in getting to know your audience, understanding how this problem fits in their lives, how they’d like it solved, and more.

If you’re not sure of who your audience should be, look at competitors. Do you want to go after the same audience or a completely different one?

Have an audience in mind? Ask them:

Take the problem and solution you have for the side hustle and float it by 20 people who are in your audience. Get their feedback, the price point they’d pay for the product/service, and any ideas they have that would get them to want to buy this product/service. If you can’t easily find 20 people - offer to pay them a coffee gift card for 15-mins of their time.

Create an MVP

Get to work. This is the step that makes people hesitate or procrastinate. NO. Build the product, create the website, strategize your services.

GO, GO, GO.

Don’t wait.

It’ll never happen or someone else will make it happen.

More on developing a product prototype / here’s how you can develop an app / launch a website using an easy website builder like Wix/Squarespace.

Package it With a Brand

For a business to be odd or unusual, it needs a brand. It needs a story. It needs a unique personality. It needs to stand out.

Stand out and show up.

That’s the motto.

When you think about brands, think about products in any category. Toothpaste, for example. There are tons of choices. Why do you buy the one you buy? Is it the packaging, the messaging, the benefits, the logo, the reputation.

All of that is branding.

Branding drives sales, loyalty, and is the best way to get attention.

Ps. the same goes for your personal brand.

Revise! Revise! Revise!

Don’t be scared to launch the buzz. Launch it. Businesses change every single day. You’ll make edits and changes along the way, just get it out there and see what works and then make your changes.

Ps. want some more help? Try some 1:1 coaching / or take this course (it comes with personalized feedback).

Leave a comment

The Odd List of Random Things

🤔 Add to your life:

Books & Stuff:

A fun little list of all the things that I adore the most in this world - from books to oddities for your desk.

Tools: Here are some of my go-to platforms to use.

The best course platform

An awesome email provider

How I built my website

Time management and to-do list management tool I use daily

Random:

These things are always good to keep handy

The most delicious healthy pick-me-up soda. I love the root beer, cola, and cream soda flavors the most.

When I need a good gift for someone, I send them a wine subscription or a treat from this site. If they are engaged, this is the ultimate gift to send.

Other newsletters to enjoy: Monday Pick-Me-Up, The Gist (if you love sports), Morning Brew (all your news in one spot).

🙂 Work With Jen Glantz:

Let’s work together, whether 1:1, through a course, or even for a company workshop.

1:1 Coaching

Courses - Check them out! I’m offering an all-access pass to these courses + a 1-hour coaching session (a $1,000+ value for a LOT less). Grab the all-access bundle here.

Company Workshops & Speaking

🥳Jen Glantz is the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire, host of the podcast You’re Not Getting Any Younger, and the creator of The Pick-Me-Up newsletter. She offers 1:1 coaching and company workshops. Follow her adventures on Instagram @jenglantz.