Want to know more about making money? Need a bit of extra cash but unsure where to start? Got a burning question about setting up your own business? Well, help is at hand: Jasmine will be answering a limited number of reader's questions on money-making. Use this thread to post your questions until Tuesday 26 February. We'll then collect a selection and put as many to Jasmine as possible.(New to posting? It's free to register and easy to do: check out the Frequently Asked Questions for more info.)

i have set up an online store selling my crafts,  and am going to give them a trial run at a farmers market on the 16th. 

i have links to my online store on all my networking profiles, my blog, in my email signatures and many other craft websites.

but how else can i promote it?  in a non-virtual way too.

thank you in advance for any suggestions.

Jenny

Please help me.  I've been stuck at home a lot recently, and to stop myself going made, i've been making re-useable carrier bags out of old (but decent) material.  This makes them environmental friendly as they help re-place carrier bags, and they can be foled up small enough to fit into your handbag.  Is there anyway/means of selling these bags, as i now have loads of them.  Would it be best on a car-boot or possibly put them on ebay?  HELP ME!!

Hi, What can I do from home to make extra money in the evenings, that doesn't involve a computer?  Is there anything? I work on the computer all the time in my day job so would really like a break from staring at the screen. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Hi, I'm quite good in the kitchen and I really fancy trying to start my own little catering business.  However, I've got absolutely no idea how to go about advertising and sorting out any hygiene certificates that I would need to have.  Do you think starting a website would be a good way to get business and if so, how could I advertise my website address to start getting customers? Thanks

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Hi Jenny, Really good idea to take a stall at a farmer's market. I would also recommend that you look at craft markets around the country too. There are some that are run at stately homes, polo clubs and posh schools that have a really good profile locally. Their visitors have money to spend so you can potentially make a lot there, although it can cost a fair amount to have a stall. There are also markets like Portobello, Greenwich and Camden in London which are good on certain days (mostly weekends) for selling crafts, depending on what your products are. I'm surprised at how reasonable the cost of hiring a stall is too. If you do these 'offline' markets I would suggest that you have a big banner made for around your stall with your website address on and also that you have some postcards or flyers done with information about your site and some sort of incentive for people to go on it. Perhaps you could create a special landing page for those who pick up a flyer that has a discount voucher code that they can use to buy one of your online products - or they get their purchase with free postage and packing. It's not good enough (I have learnt) just to have your web address on a postcard or flyer, you also need an incentive for them to go to your site. Also, consider setting up your own marketplace on eBay, if you haven't already. Crafts and jewellery sell well there and it's potentially a good way of getting more links back to your site. Do you have a newsletter? I would recommend that you have one that goes out, say, once a month or once every couple of months updating customers on your latest products. Again, you could offer an incentive (say a money-off code) to people to join your newsletter. We use Aweber and we think they are great - good price too! You could also set up some selling parties at friends homes. Offer them a percentage of the sales and get them to invite their friends round for an evening to have a look at your products. Get them to go on to the site too with your special voucher codes. Have a look at www.moneymakingmates.com for more ideas each month. Also, do keep looking at our small business blog (the one that Kate Bendix writes). She is doing something a little like you, except she is selling pet food!

What a good idea to create re-useable, recycled carrier bags, Jules. That's very 'of the moment'.

It sounds like something that needs to be marketed properly - in other words, give the product a bit of 'gloss'. I assume that someone has already come up with the term 'Eco-bags' but do see if you can come up with a special name for them along those lines. Giving something a name and a brand can really help when selling them. That way they're not just "re-useable carrier bags out of old (but decent) material" but they're trendy, cool, handy and eco-friendly bags that everyone should have.

Do have a go at selling some on eBay to see how much you can get for them. In fact, once you  have created a brand image for them (and it doesn't have to be complicated, just a name and some sentences that really 'sell' them) you could set up your own marketplace on eBay for them.

You should also get your own website up and running, to sell them. In fact, you could just have a blog to start off with and sell your bags of that. Just get people to pay you through Paypal. And, yes, why not try selling them at a car boot sale - just to see who bites. It's a nice, cost-effective way to get your own market stall for the day.

Also, you could get some local publicity by sending out a press release to local media about your bags and where people can buy them. Put in, say, a list of Top Ten Facts about plastic carrier bags and what they are doing to the environment (e.g. I have just heard that 23% of all plastic carrier bags in the Uk are from Tescos). Journalists love 'facts' and it could help you get free publicity, which is the name of the game! Hope that helps. Jasmine

Yes, there certainly is - particularly if you're into making things.

If you're crafty the evenings are a good time to get into making greetings cards to sell, or jewellery, or knitting for designers who need good knitters to create their designs. If you are good with a sewing machine then there is a big need (particularly in cities) for people who will do alterations or make clothes, including wedding dresses.

Or, if you are not interested in crafts, then I suggest getting into babysitting or dog-walking in the evenings. Get in touch with agencies locally and see if they will take you on their books and also put an ad in local newsagents' windows offering your service. Do get a police check first, though, as anyone looking after children needs to have that certificate.

Can you tutor? If you have specialist knowledge in some area then you could teach it to children or adults in the evenings and at weekends. It could be anything from maths skills to a language or a musical instrument.

Do have a look at our Making Money section for other cool ideas!

Best, Jasmine

Good idea - go for it! Actually, if you look at our article on selling cakes and jams there is information in there about getting a food hygiene certificate. It's surprisingly easy and doesn't cost much at all. If you are serious about making money through food then it's an essential, so do get on with that part of it now. I do think that it's a very good idea to have some sort of Web presence if you have any sort of business so yes, do get a website going - even if it's just a single page with your contact details. You could even do it for free by setting up your own blog on www.blogger.com to start off with. Why not start by offering cut-price dinner party catering to your friends? Email everyone you know telling them that you are setting up this business and that if they will promote you then you will do a dinner party for them at a cut-price rate. Of course you don't want to do too many of these but if you have friends who are well-connected it can be worth the effort. It would also be worth making some of your specialities (maybe cakes or pies or breads) and selling them at your local farmer's market or just general market. Make sure your contact details are on the packs that you sell them in and a few lines about the services you offer. Once people have tasted your produce they should be interested in getting you to do their catering - we hope! Do some market research into catering companies in your area. Ring around to see how much they would charge to do a wedding, for example. That way you could come up with a better package and offer that locally for couples organising their weddings. Also, get networking. Go to any networking event you can find. Have some business cards printed (you can get them for free at Vistaprint) and hand them out. Also, always keep your cards with you in case you are at a party, at a wedding, at the gym or on the bus and you get talking to someone who needs someone to do their catering for them. You never know! Best Jasmine