Nine years ago, I found myself juggling two jobs and freelancing, feeling stretched thin and looking for a way to earn passive income. After reading about people finding success in the e-commerce space, I decided to start my own side hustle. With no initial investment, I launched a print-on-demand shop through Amazon, selling t-shirts. My first sale, a Loch Ness Monster design, brought in $14.99 and a profit of $2.58, changing everything for me.
Today, I have expanded my business to sell a wide variety of apparel to customers in the U.S. and internationally. I have also diversified my income streams, now earning passive income through my print-on-demand business, a YouTube channel, online courses to help others start their own side hustles, and one-on-one coaching.
Automation and AI tools have played a crucial role in helping me efficiently run my business. One of my favorite tools is MyDesigns, which streamlines the process of creating product listings and generating SEO-friendly titles, descriptions, and tags. This has significantly reduced the time spent on tedious tasks, allowing me to focus on scaling my business and launching new products.
In terms of promoting my shop, Zapier has been instrumental in helping me build a social media presence for my Etsy shop. By automating the process of sharing product listings on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter, I have been able to grow my social media following with minimal effort.
As someone who is constantly multitasking, I rely on tools like OmniReader and Google’s AI assistant Gemini to help me stay productive. OmniReader allows me to listen to webpages while working, while Gemini helps me summarize emails, schedule meetings, and brainstorm new ideas.
When it comes to communication, I use Gamma’s AI-powered presentations to create slideshows for my YouTube videos. The user-friendly interface and aesthetic themes make it easy for me to produce engaging content. Additionally, HeyGen, an AI tool for video content creators, allows me to create AI avatars and translate videos into different languages without the need for captions, helping me expand into international markets.
Overall, these tools have been essential in helping me grow my business and manage it effectively on my own. As a former web developer and adjunct professor, I have leveraged technology to streamline processes, increase productivity, and reach a wider audience. My journey from working multiple jobs to running a successful e-commerce business is a testament to the power of automation and AI in today’s digital age.
