Interesting suggestions not only for budding entrepreneurs, but for hobbyists as well ~ Kim Komando is a very credible 'techie' ~ I often visit her website and do subscribe to her newsletter [links below] ~ Sooz 

Websites can help you make money doing what you love
Kim Komando
CyberSpeak

Kickstarter

Kickstarter helps fund creative projects. Projects range from films to books to ice cream clubs. The success of some is astounding.

Take the TikTok+LunaTik Multi-Touch Watch Kits. The project sought $15,000 to create watch band kits for the iPod Nano. It raised a jaw-dropping $941,718.

There are no listing fees. Rather, Kickstarter takes 5% of pledges once the goal is met. Amazon, the payment processor, takes 3% to 5% in fees. All projects must reward the donors. Most rewards are tiered, with bigger contributions earning bigger rewards. Some offer a CD or a print. Other artists meet with big donors.

You set a financial goal for your project. If it's not met, no money changes hands. You aren't obligated to continue the project. Kickstarter says donations average $68, with $25 being most common. I recommend promoting your project on your social-networking profiles.

There are a few restrictions on projects. For example, it can't be used to fund businesses or charities. Kickstarter reviews all projects to make sure they meet its guidelines.

Etsy

Etsy is the most popular online marketplace for handmade goods. You can also sell crafting supplies and vintage items. Items range from food to furniture to jewelry. Sellers get their own Etsy store.

A four-month listing costs 20 cents. If you list multiple copies, you'll pay that for each. Etsy takes a 3.5% cut of final sales.

RedBubble

Art can get lost on Etsy. I recommend a specialized site like RedBubble. Upload digital files of your artwork. Then select the items you would like it to appear on. RedBubble offers prints, cards, shirts and more.

RedBubble charges a base price for an item. You set the retail price, keeping the difference. RedBubble does all the work, from creating to shipping items. Tools help you promote your work on Facebook and Twitter.

Artbreak

Artbreak lets you sell original works like paintings for free. There are no listing fees or commissions. However, a Plus account gives you an ad-free experience for $5 monthly.

Not all work on Artbreak is for sale; it is also a sharing site. And it offers tools for promoting your work on Facebook and Twitter. Artbreak may not be appropriate for younger sellers; it contains nude works.

CreateSpace

Amazon's CreateSpace helps you sell books, CDs and DVDs in physical or digital formats. Physical items are created on demand. You pay nothing until an item sells. List your work on CreateSpace or on Amazon.

You name your price; CreateSpace takes a cut. For example, you'll pay $5 per CD or DVD. Pay an additional 15% for items sold on CreateSpace. The commission jumps to 45% for Amazon's site.

Book pricing is more complicated. Length, trim size and content affect the price. A Royalty Calculator shows your cut of sales. I priced a 300-page, 6x9-inch, black-and-white book at $25. Royalties ranged from $5.55 to $12.50.

UPLOADnSELL

Maybe your work doesn't fall neatly into these categories. Maybe you want to sell computer wallpapers or Web templates. UPLOADnSELL helps you sell digital downloads.

Upload your work and set your price. You'll get a link to share on your site or via Facebook. PayPal processes payments. It takes 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction. UPLOADnSELL sends buyers a download link for your item.

There are no guarantees that you'll get rich or even be moderately successful at these sites, but you'll never know until you try.

Kim Komando hosts the nation's largest talk radio show about computers and the Internet. To get the podcast or find the station nearest you, visit www.komando.com/listen. To subscribe to Kim's free e-mail newsletters, sign up at www.komando.com/newsletters. Contact her at [url=mailto:C1Tech@gannett.com]C1Tech@gannett.com[/url].

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