HN Explorer

Ask HN: What is your hustle, how you started?

30 points by throwawayt856 ↗ HN
I tried to make online income by producing YT videos, blogging, and affiliate sites, but all failed. I am over 30 and I do not know much except building simple static sites. What should I be doing to bring my career on track?

13 comments

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tmaly
I can't offer much advice, but I would suggest looking to provide value to people.

When you produced YT videos, how did you choose the topic?

What informed your decision?

zapperdapper
Your income is mostly a function of the value you create and deliver. It could be you were not creating or delivering enough value. You say you can create static sites? That's a good start if you know HTML+CSS. Why not as a next step learn JavaScript on the side and take it from there?
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superflit
OK.

I had a friend in a similar situation to yours.

Very smart guy that was able to get a PS file or Adobe Illustrator and create an HTML with all details.

My friend always took the coding part as "not for him," or he did not like it as he says.

So once in a big Javascript conference, I was talking with one of the big guys of the conference, and He knew my friend, and we both got talking:

"L. is very good. He should learn a little javascript and bang! Make money, real money".

Then once I meet my Friend L on a BBQ I had to say in front of his wife:

"L. Look everybody likes your work can you stop resisting and make an effort to code javascript. No big things, just small front-end stuff. Stop complaining and saying no. If I am wrong, you can say: "Superflit is wrong and gave sh*t advice."

Three months later, he is earning 2x. After one year, 3x.

The guy who knows HTML and all Dom/browser stuff. When it learns javascript is like a person riding a JetPack. Sure the first fly will be bumpy, but now he really can fly.

Then please: Learn one framework + jquery — something like React or Vue.

Make an effort to learn and create a portfolio.

If, in two months, nothing changes with real effort, send me an email telling me I did send you bad advice.

If the opposite: you earn more money or get a better job, you send me an e-mail with only "Thanks, bro."

anon9001
This is right. You probably can skip learning jquery these days and just work on React. Other than that, exactly right.
vcoelho
I'd recommend Vue. JSX is great but felt alien to me, who was coming from HTML + JQuery. And then you have no consensus on how to write CSS, and inline styles is still an abomination to me.
matt_the_bass
I’ve been making wordclocks as gifts for people. It started as a challenge after seeing a wordclock on hackaday. Since making my first one, lots of people said I should sell them. I’ve since refined the design and have recently started promoting them[1]. My wife and I have a goal of selling 1-2 month. So no big hustle yet, but hopefully it will be.

A pleasant side effect is that my kids are really excited about making things with me.

[1] http://www.finewordclocks.com

pryelluw
At $1400/ea. you should really look at how luxury furniture and hone goods are sold. This is not a comment on price or quality. Just an observation from someone with marketing/sales experience.
matt_the_bass
Thanks for taking the time to look at my clocks! I appreciate your feedback. I have experience with Very expensive, VERY high end yacht stuff at my day job. But no significant experience in this market.

There is one other wordclock (that I know of) in this same price range. They are really positioning themselves as a trendy factory product.

I’d like to position my clocks as unique art pieces with a connection to the artisan rather than a factory product.

All the others I’ve seen are competing on Price/diy.

Do you have any specific suggestions your recommend look into? I’d love to hear more about your thoughts.

pryelluw
Take any opinion or advice carefully.

Look at marketing and sales as a pure function. Input goes in, output goes out.

Work on your funnels. Who buys this? Aim the funnel towards them.

Good enough > perfect.

Luxury cares about the experience and story. You dont tell people about your dollar store socks, but you will talk all day about that expensive piece of art (and the story of how you bought it).

Read starterstory.com and dissect each article to learn about the products.

Read Jordan Belforts book titled Way of the Wolf. Its the best sales book you can ever read. Quick and easy. Order it after reading this comment.

Feel free to reach out my email (in profile). Ill do my best to help another HNer.

matt_the_bass
I like your opening sentence. That’s the same advice I give people when they ask me about my domain’s expertise!

My wife and I are just starting to define our funnels.

Thanks!

WheelsAtLarge
When you pay such a large premium for a clock you want a few things to standout the beauty of the product, the story behind the artist and how rare it is. When a buyer shows their home they want to highlight an item so it better have a story they can tell.

I've seen crafts people sell their art at a large premium by making limited editions and numbering them. Also market yourself as an artist, be creative. Define your story not the product. The artist story is so much more important. Since the clocks are handmade think about making one of a kind clocks that will sell at a premium.

matt_the_bass
Thanks for taking the time to look at my clocks and provide some feedback.

Yes, the current design is a limited edition.

I agree, I’d like to talk more about my story.

Thanks for the suggestions!