Welcome to Season 2 Episode 6 of the Creative Business Success Podcast! I'm psyched about today's episode because we're going to be talking about something you don't hear a lot in creative business circles: how working for exposure can be GOOD for your business! Elizabeth, the artist behind By Elizabeth Hope, is joining me today to share how and when exposure can be truly beneficial for your business's bottom line and how to figure out when it's okay to work for exposure.Here's a cheat sheet of some of the episode highlights:Elizabeth's intro, 1:03"Exposure is the bad guy!" 2:05Elizabeth's experiences with working for exposure, 2:45How to find the right opportunities to work for exposure, 5:29Know your audience before working for exposure, 6:57Working for exposure when starting your creative business, 10:13Working for exposure as practice for working with clients, 11:06Should you get paid for other work before working for exposure? 12:41One of the most effective digital marketing methods, 15:17NEVER PAY TO WORK FOR EXPOSURE, 15:53Get creative with the value from working for exposure, 17:51How to use working for exposure as marketing, 18:26How to use working for exposure as business networking, 21:02Presenting yourself professionally while working for exposure, 21:41Improving your creative business through working for exposure, 22:23Choosing when and who to work for exposure, 24:22Finding GREEN flags before working for exposure, 25:53Other times to work for exposure, 27:01Vetting someone before working for exposure, 28:47Elizabeth's closing thoughts on working for exposure, 31:34Where to connect with Elizabeth, 33:15Let's dive deeper into a few of these key takeaways...1 | Know your value when working for exposureIf you're working for exposure simply because you don't think anyone will pay you for your creative work - STOP. That is the worst time to work for exposure and it'll only degrade your confidence as a creative entrepreneur. We mentioned this several times in this episode because it's such an important point.Some folks are confident enough in their creative work before they make a sale that it's okay for them to work for exposure before that. If that's not you, though, wait until you make a few sales before you seek out or accept exposure work. Knowing your own value will help you communicate that to your work-for-exposure clients and keep you from getting suckered into a bad experience.Working for exposure can be good for creative entrepreneurs, but you have to know yourself. Give yourself a self-evaluation to determine if you're mentally ready to work for exposure or if you should wait.2 | Vet your clients before working for exposureYou may have heard Elizabeth mention that SHE sought out her work-for-exposure clients, not the other way around. This is the opposite of most work-for-exposure stories. By seeking out her clients, Elizabeth was able to validate the opportunity before accepting it.One of Elizabeth's key criteria for accepting a work-for-exposure project was the charities the project would support. When she and her client have a mutual goal for the project, it helps Elizabeth know they share some of the same values and that they aren't in it to take advantage of her.Another good way to vet a client before working for exposure is to ask if they have a plan for marketing. If you can create a marketing plan with them before starting the project, you'll both be more likely to get good returns from the project. If they aren't willing to create a marketing plan with you, you may need to re-evaluate the project to make sure the client is in it for the right reasons.By vetting your clients before working for exposure, you're setting yourself up to be a success story instead of a horror story! Look for the green flags just as much as the red flags, like we talked about in this episode, before accepting a work-for-exposure project.3 | Find other value in working for exposureWhile we've all heard horror stories about other creative entrepreneurs who worked for exposure, it doesn't mean that's the case for everyone. Elizabeth is a great example of this! At the time of this recording, she was working on two projects that she was doing for exposure.The key difference in Elizabeth's story is that she knows exactly what value SHE is getting from these projects. Yes, she's giving value to the businesses she's working with, but she also has a solid plan to get a monetary return for her investment of time. If you go into a work-for-exposure project with a plan in place to get a financial return, you'll be in a much better place than many creative entrepreneurs.Whenever you work for exposure, there should be a solid plan in place for you to get a monetary gain in the end. It may not be directly from the project, but it could be from referrals or marketing opportunities that you receive from the project. Regardless, you need to get something out of the project in the end!Want to connect with Elizabeth?You can find her on her website, and on Instagram @artistshope, on Facebook @artbyelizabethhope, and Pinterest @byelizabethhope. Don't forget to subscribe to the Creative Business Success Podcast for more episodes and share your biggest takeaways in the comments! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 5 of the Creative Business Success Podcast! Crystal over at Crystal Clear Photography is a killer product photographer. If you're a product-based creative entrepreneur and you haven't checked out her work, you definitely should! I invited her onto the podcast today to share her best tips to help YOU improve your product photography. It doesn't have to be as hard as it may seem!Here's a cheat sheet of some of the episode highlights:Crystal's intro, 0:59How to improve your product photography lighting, 1:56How to handle product photography shadows, 3:12Should you use ring lights in product photography? 4:20What to use instead of ring lights, 4:39How to style your art photography or product photography, 7:03Know your branding! Listen to Episode 2 of Season 2, 7:34Why knowing your ideal audience is important for product photography, 7:57How to use your ideal audience to style your product photography, 9:05Tips for lifestyle product photography, 10:39Taking photographs of your art, 12:08Get even more product photography tips and tools! 12:27Creating a story with your product photography and brand photography, 15:19How to edit your product photographs, 16:21Color temperature in product photography, 17:46Should you use Lightroom on your phone? 19:07Lightroom Mobile vs. desktop, 20:18Storing your product photographs, 21:48Make time to practice your product photography! 22:45Check out Crystal's product photography course and presets, 23:32Where to connect with Crystal, 24:59Let's dive deeper into a few of these key takeaways...1 | Lighting is key to product photographyA lot can be forgiven in product photography if you have good lighting. After all, if you can't see the product in the photo, you're probably going to ignore it! Crystal recommends using natural light as much as possible, but if you don't have access to a location with good natural light for your product photography, there are alternatives.Crystal recommends avoiding ring lights unless you're doing beauty photography or something along those lines. However, softbox lighting kits are a great alternative that won't break the bank. I finally bought a softbox kit after Crystal and I recorded this episode and it's crazy how much of a difference it can make!If all you can control is the lighting for your product photography, DO IT. It's the first step toward professional-looking product photos and can be the difference between someone buying your product or ignoring it.2 | Keep your audience in mind when styling your product photographyKnowing who your ideal audience is can be an important factor when it comes to styling your product photography. Your ideal audience may be different than the audience of another creative entrepreneur and because of that, you may need to style your product photography differently than they do. If you style your product photography for the wrong audience, they won't connect with it and you could lose sales!If you don't know your ideal audience's tastes very well, check out Episode 2 of this season and soak up Britt and Kelsey's tips. Establishing a solid brand, including knowing your ideal audience, can have a big impact on your product photography!If you don't know who your ideal audience is right now, take the time to figure it out. Use what you know of your ideal audience to fit their style in your product photography!3 | Consider investing in LightroomNow, I know as creative entrepreneurs, the business wallet is often a bit tighter than we'd like, especially when starting a creative business. Sometimes you really do have to invest money into your creative business to make more money, though. If you sell products, whether it's art on your own site or handmade items on Etsy or what have you, Lightroom may be one of those necessary investments.While Lightroom's mobile version is free, as Crystal pointed out in this episode, using the mobile app can drastically reduce the quality of your product photography. If you can use the Lightroom desktop version, your product photography will retain its resolution and quality and look better on all platforms. If you can't afford the monthly cost of Lightroom just yet, give it a try on your phone and see if it makes enough of a difference to justify the cost.If you're able to use the Lightroom desktop version, it's worth it! If not, just remember that the quality of your product photography will be decreased by the mobile Lightroom app, so bear that in mind when using it.Want to connect with Crystal?You can find her on her website, and on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest @crystalclearphotographyaz. Don't forget to subscribe to the Creative Business Success Podcast for more episodes and share your biggest takeaways in the comments! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 4 of the Creative Business Success Podcast! I'm super excited to introduce you to Laura today. In case you missed the Accelerate Your Creative Biz Summit in spring 2019, Laura was one of the speakers and she had so many fantastic nuggets of wisdom that I knew I needed to have her on the podcast as well. Today, she's going to be giving you her best tips for increasing referrals - aka essentially free advertising! - to get new clients in your creative business. It may not be what you immediately think of, either, so don't miss this one!Here's a cheat sheet of some of the episode highlights:Laura's intro, 1:04Get access to Laura's summit session, 2:12Laura's secret to increasing referrals, 2:59Laura's story of increasing photography referrals, 4:27How client experience helps increase referrals, 7:12Can a neutral client experience decrease referrals? 9:08Client communication is key! 10:32Why you need a standardized client experience, 11:58Do you use your clients' first names? 14:55Do you struggle with email marketing? 16:19Why managing your energy is crucial for referrals, 16:54You can transfer your energy to your clients! 20:23You need to create a referral program, 22:14Be proactive and not reactive in your creative business, 25:20Give memorable client gifts after a project, 27:35Laura's closing thoughts on increasing referrals, 29:42Where to connect with Laura, 33:15Let's dive deeper into a few of these key takeaways...1 | Client experience is crucial to referrals!No matter what kind of creative business you run, a good client experience can make or break when it comes to getting referrals. If someone has a bad client experience, you'll get negative word of mouth, but if they have a so-so client experience, they just won't talk about it at all! As Laura's experience shows, having a stellar client experience can net you dozens or even hundreds of additional referrals than you would get otherwise.You can start with something as simple as addressing your potential clients by name. Do this in email, in person, and when referring to them on social media or to other people. That little bit of personalization can go a long way!Do you provide a fantastic client experience for your customers? If it's not the kind of experience that they HAVE to tell their friends about (and thus send you referrals!), it's time to step up your game and make it outstanding!2 | You need a standardized workflowAgain, no matter what kind of creative business you have, this is key. Without a standardized workflow, it's a lot harder to provide a stellar client experience! You end up scrambling, forgetting things, and letting your clients down. And no one wants that!If you don't have a workflow in place (and hopefully at least partially automated!), Laura and I strongly encourage you to get that set up. If you're a photographer, Laura has workflow guides, email templates, and more in her shop.Bonus tip: if you're an artist, photographer, or designer, I highly recommend Dubsado to help you automate your workflows. It's a tool created for creative entrepreneurs by creative entrepreneurs that helps you with everything from lead capture to invoicing and workflow management. It can be a serious sanity saver!Take a moment to create or update your creative business workflows today! Taking that time now can increase your referrals tenfold down the road.3 | Get a referral program set up!It's easy to think that referrals will be organic and 'just happen.' That's not always how it goes, though! It's always best to JUST ASK. If you don't ask, it's easy for your clients to forget to send you referrals. After all, how often do you remember to leave a review for something you love? Yeah, I usually forget too.By creating an official referral program, you're reminding people to do it and giving them an extra incentive to remember and intentionally send you referrals. Giving great client gifts that they'll use regularly is a great way to build on this, too.If you sell products online, you can even set up an affiliate program, making it even easier for customers to refer new business to you! Here at The Creative Entrepreneurs L.A.B., I use the AffiliateWP plugin to manage my affiliate program for the Thriving Creatives LAB and shop. If you want to create your own affiliate program for your creative business but aren't sure where to start, email me at hello@thecelab.com and I'll share my tips!Simply asking for referrals from happy customers and setting up an official referral program or affiliate program can make a huge difference in increasing your referrals!Want to connect with Laura?You can find her on her website, and on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest @lauraleecreative. Don't forget to subscribe to the Creative Business Success Podcast for more episodes and share your biggest takeaways in the comments! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 3 of the Creative Business Success Podcast! In this episode, I talked with Sarah from Love and Spreadsheets, who's here to show you how creating a system can help you do more in your business - without melting your brain. The best part is that the tool she uses and recommends is 100% free!Here's a cheat sheet of some of the episode highlights:Sarah's intro, 1:01How Trello works, 1:46How to use Trello in your business, 2:40The two Trello boards to start with, 3:40How to organize your business with Trello, 4:38Keeping your business moving, 9:21Start simple with Trello, 11:41Start small with Trello, 12:41Is Trello really for you, 13:54Keep everything straight with a client portal! 14:18Documenting your business processes, 16:02'Secret' Trello tips! 17:31Using Trello as an editorial calendar, 18:27Using Trello PowerUps, 18:49Using Trello if you're visual or kinesthetic, 23:30Who Trello ISN'T great for, 25:43Where to connect with Sarah, 28:45Let's dive deeper into a few of these key takeaways...1 | You should use Trello if...If you're a visual or kinesthetic person (i.e. you learn best when you can see something or when you can interact with something), Trello could be a great fit for you. But here's the thing: no tool is the perfect fit for every person on the planet. And Trello is no exception.If you're a list-oriented person who loves crossing off your to-do list, Trello might not be for you. If you need have more complex needs, like Gantt charts (oh man, I love me some good Gantt charts! *nerd alert* 🥰), Trello may not work for your either. Trello is a very straightforward, simple tool, which is FANTASTIC in many situations, especially if you need to reduce overwhelm.Not sure if Trello is right for you? Just give it a try! You can sign up for a free account or trial of any of the productivity tools you're considering and see which one works best for you.2 | Your first two Trello boardsSarah recommends creating an All Things Business board and an Operations Manual board. That means that you have your All Things Business (ATB) board to use as your 'brain dump,' catching all the things that don't fit anywhere else or that you just want to keep in one place. Sarah suggests using the ATB board for routine tasks, organizing things like courses you're taking, content management, etc.The Operations Manual board can be used for things like answers to commonly asked business questions, brand info, affiliate links, etc. It gives you a place to refer to when you need to quickly grab something related to your business so you don't have to search through three different tools to find it.Pick one of these Trello boards to create and start from there!3 | How Trello can keep your creative business movingThere can be a lot of moving pieces in a creative business. The cool thing about Trello is that it's visual and interactive, so you can see exactly where different pieces are in a process. If you're onboarding clients, you can have a board where you move cards for each client along the process, for example.Being able to see what pieces need to move forward to keep everything flowing can make a huge difference in your business!Want to connect with Sarah?You can find her on her website, and on Instagram and Pinterest @loveandspreadsheets. You should also check out Sarah's Trello resources page to learn more about Trello. Don't forget to subscribe to the Creative Business Success Podcast for more episodes and share your biggest takeaways in the comments! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 2 of the Creative Business Success Podcast! In this episode, I talked with the amazing Britt and Kelsey from Launch Your Daydream, where they provide branding and web design for photographers. These ladies are pros at helping creative entrepreneurs master their branding and stand out in a crowded market. After they spoke at the Accelerate Your Creative Biz Summit, I knew this dynamic duo would be perfect for the podcast too. I can't wait to dive into branding with them, so let's get started!Here's a cheat sheet of some of the episode highlights:Britt + Kelsey's intro, 0:57Branding foundations, 6:14The Brand Pizza, 6:59Establishing your niche, 9:28Fears and the importance of niching down, 12:09-Take some things off your business plate!-, 14:00How to niche down as an artist or maker, 14:38Finding your differentiator, 19:30Helping customers remember you, 22:44A branding exercise for you! 26:20Where to find Britt + Kelsey online, 26:32Let's dive deeper into a few of these key takeaways...1 | Branding is more than just a logoBritt and Kelsey talked about their Brand PIzza framework and it's a great reminder that there's SO much more to branding for creative entrepreneurs (and really anyone!) than just having a good logo. Building a solid brand foundation is crucial to your branding success. Without a good foundation, your creative business 'house' is going to crumble eventually.Don't rely on your logo or any single piece of your branding to carry you! Make sure to establish your brand foundation to make the most of your creative business.Have you established your brand foundation? If not, it's not too late! Use the strategies and exercises Britt and Kelsey shared in this episode to create your own creative business brand foundation.2 | Having a niche you love is important!Do you take every client that comes your way or sell to every Joe Schmo that shows up to your booth at a craft fair? While that's fine at the beginning of a creative business, you don't want to do that forever. Finding a specific audience that you LOVE to serve can make or break your business!When someone looks for a specific solution to their problem, whether it's finding a photographer for a special occasion or looking for the perfect art for their home, they want to find someone who's GREAT at that specific thing. Specializing in a particular area can actually help you get MORE clients, not less! When you're the go-to person in your creative business niche, it's easier for folks to refer you to new customers.Have you figured out who your favorite customers are? If not, keep experimenting until you find them! Once you know who you want to work with or make your creative product for, focus on them.3 | Find your differentiator as a creative entrepreneurEveryone has something that makes them different, even if you don't think that's the case. (I promise, it's true!) Britt and Kelsey shared some fantastic ways to find your own differentiator to help set your creative business apart from the crowd. If you're not sure what makes your creative business unique, it's time to dive in and figure it out!If you haven't found your differentiator, grab a friend and find THEIR differentiators while they find yours. It's a great way to get an outside perspective on you and your creative business!4 | Create a stellar client experienceWe've all had bad customer experiences, right? That's why having a fantastic client experience is so important as a creative entrepreneur! I loved Britt's story about her customer experience with an Etsy candle shop. If you take a moment to make customers feel special and noticed, it can go a long way towards your creative business success!What do you do right now and what could you do in the future to make your customers or clients feel special?Want to connect with Britt + Kelsey and Launch Your Daydream?You can find them at their website, Launch Your Daydream, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest @launchyourdaydream. Don't forget to subscribe to the Creative Business Success Podcast for more episodes and share your biggest takeaways in the comments. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If you want to take your creative side hustle full-time, you know it's a lot of work. Today's guest, Joyce from Modern Creative Pursuits, did just that, taking her calligraphy business from a side hustle to her thriving full-time career, and she's here to share her tips on how to make the transition to full-time. And even if you're not ready to go full-time, these tips can help you improve your side hustle, too!Here's a cheat sheet of some of the episode highlights:Joyce's intro, 0:59Taking All The Jobs, 4:20Giving yourself grace, 5:40When and how to educate yourself, 7:25When Joyce hired a business coach, 9:08What to do if you fall out of love with your business, 10:53Outsourcing to boost business growth, 13:18Automating to boost business growth, 15:20Why community is key to business success, 17:40It's going to be okay! 19:24Where to connect with Joyce online, 19:55Let's dive deeper into a few of these key takeaways...1 | Give yourself graceIt's really easy as creative entrepreneurs to get inside our own heads and feel like we have to do everything right - and get it right the very first time! The truth is, businesses change, sometimes on a daily basis. What you did last year likely won't be what or how you do it this year.That's a good thing!Without exploring your business and giving yourself grace when things don't go as expected, you won't be able to grow quite as well. Both Joyce and I have changed our business trajectories and we wouldn't exchange those 'failures' for the world!Learn how to reframe your 'failures' into learning experiences. This isn't just a cliche - it's a way of life as a creative entrepreneur! Give yourself grace when things don't go to plan and roll with the punches.2 | Educate yourself - within reasonHave you ever listened to one podcast episode or read one blog post... only to realize two hours later that you just kept going? That's not necessarily a bad thing, but if you aren't implementing what you learned, you've wasted that time.Joyce talked about how she used to consume, consume, consume other peoples' content. Even if she wasn't at a point in her business where she was ready to implement it, she consumed it for 'later, just in case.' If she had waited to consume that content until she was ready to implement, she could have implemented other strategies that might have gotten her to that point sooner.If you find yourself consuming a lot of content (even this podcast), STOP. Take a moment to reflect on whether you can implement the education within the next quarter and if not, start a list (in Google Drive, Evernote, or wherever you take notes) of content you want to come back to. Categorize it so it's easy to find when you know you need advice on a particular topic, too!3 | Community and accountabilityWhen you're running your business by yourself, you can quickly end up feeling isolated. That isolation can in turn lead to despondency and eventually you just stop following through on business tasks because "hey, what does it really matter? No one's watching anyway." That's why community and accountability are so important for creative entrepreneurs!If you aren't already plugged into a creative community, I invite you to join me over in The LAB for Creative Entrepreneurs Facebook group or join Joyce over in the Creative Biz Society Facebook group! Getting to know other creative entrepreneurs who will understand this crazy business journey can light a fire for your creative business.Accountability is crucial to your creative business success too! Finding an accountability partner or creative business coach can be a gamechanger for your creative business. You can find business friends to become accountability partners with through creative business Facebook groups or other communities, or you can hire a creative business coach or strategist like Joyce or me to help you get - and STAY - on track with your business growth.Are you plugged into a creative business community yet? If not, don't forget to join The LAB and the Creative Biz Society! We'd love to see you in there.Want to connect with Joyce?You can find Joyce at her website, moderncreativepursuits.com and on Instagram! You should also listen to the podcast Joyce co-hosts, The Modern Creative, too! Don't forget to subscribe to the Creative Business Success Podcast for more episodes and share your biggest takeaways in the comments. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Season 1 Episode 9 of the Creative Business Success Podcast! Today I'm chatting with Mariah from Mariah Magazine. She's a web strategist and designer who helps entrepreneurs optimize their websites. Her business systems are a bit scattered, so she wants to get them whipped back into shape, both for her own sanity and so that she can confidently hire an assistant. We're going to talk about both the technical side and the personal side of creating systems and preparing to hire a VA.Here is a cheat sheet of some of the episode highlights:Mariah's intro, 0:26Mariah's current systems and client process, 1:27A new workflow - start with a lead capture form, 2:48Splitting workflows for different target audiences, 3:28Triggering workflows, 6:42Systemizing the project process, 7:52Getting content from clients! 11:20Canned emails to improve processes, 12:11Automatically creating tasks for you and clients in Dubsado, 12:56Splitting and pausing workflows, 13:25-Link to the Dubsado Facebook group we mentioned-Getting processes and systems ready for a VA, 14:58Managing a virtual assistant- email newsletters, 15:35Prep your VA for your own brand of crazy! 16:40Creating a system to assign and monitor VA tasks, 18:04Give a new hire some adjustment time, 20:36Document specific tasks for your new VA, 21:07Don't be afraid to trial a few VA's, 22:08Where to connect with Mariah! 24:57Don't forget to grab your free trial of Dubsado to help you manage your clients and workflows!Let’s dive a little deeper into a few solutions to help you expand your local marketing and clients, though!1 | Automated workflows to the rescue!If you feel like you're going to pull your hair out when you think about all the moving parts in your client and project processes... it's time for an automated workflow. In this episode, I talked with Mariah about how she can turn her go-with-the-flow processes into a streamlined system. The tool I suggested was Dubsado because you can automate your entire workflow from start to finish!For Mariah, that means she can embed a lead capture form on her website that allows the lead to select a field that will trigger a specific workflow within Dubsado. It then automatically takes the client through the proposal (based on what they selected in the lead capture form) to the contract and down payment on their invoice. Mariah can also build in some delay so that she can check in and make sure they're suited for the package they've selected. If not, she can pause the workflow, adjust things, and restart it.Once they've paid the down payment, the client will move through the rest of the workflow. Dubsado can automatically create tasks for Mariah and her clients, enabling the clients to watch Mariah's process as she checks off tasks as well as get reminders to upload necessary content to their personal client portal. This can save Mariah HOURS of time that she would normally spend fielding emails about where she is in the process and trying to hunt down the content she needs to move forward with a project!In other words, if you want more time to relax and enjoy NOT babysitting clients (hey, we've all been there), you need to automate your systems.2 | Getting processes and systems ready for a virtual assistantOkay, so you're ready to get some things off your plate, eh? That's where Mariah was, but she didn't know where to start to prepare for that new hire. Since her systems and processes were so scattered, she didn't feel adequately put together to bring someone else in.Don't worry - she can do it and so can you!To start with, keep a running list of the tasks you do on a recurring basis. Decide which ones you'll outsource and then run a screen capture program and narrate what you're doing. That gives you a visual tool to send your new VA so they can jump right in and all they have to do is ask any questions that your tutorial doesn't answer.After the podcast recording, I remembered another resource that I'd forgotten to mention, though! I sent Mariah a link to an article which will help you get a handle on creating an operation manual for your business and I wanted to share it with you too. Creating an operations manual is great for not only a new hire but for you too!If you want a more in-depth guide to help you prepare to outsource your business tasks, check out the 5-day Outsourcing for Success Bootcamp!3 | Don't be afraid to test several optionsFinding the right fit is CRUCIAL when hiring, especially as a solopreneur! If your new VA doesn't mesh well with your personality, it's going to be tough going, my friend.Since Mariah was preparing to interview potential VAs shortly after we recorded this episode, I suggested that she give each of them a trial run. That way, she can give each person a 2-4 week trial, make note of how well they worked, and make an educated decision as to who she wants to officially hire. She would pay them all their regular rates for the trial period, of course, and she would be upfront with them that this would be temporary to start with and wouldn't be a reflection on them personally.This protects not only Mariah, but also her potential VAs! After all, one of the best things about being an entrepreneur is the ability to work with people you LIKE, right? By starting with a trial run, both Mariah AND the VA have a built-in out if they don't want to work with the other one after the trial. If Mariah came back to a VA to hire them long-term, they could apologize and say no; at the same time, if Mariah doesn't like working with someone or just plain finds someone who she enjoys working with more, she doesn't have to come back to the other VAs. Win-win!When you're ready to hire, don't be afraid to 'shop around.' This is in the best interest of both you and your potential employees.P.S. You can get your free trial of Dubsado (and save 30% off your first month or year if you end up subscribing) by clicking this sentence and signing up!Want to connect with Mariah?Find her at MariahMagazine.com, on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and LinkedIn! Don't forget to subscribe to the Creative Business Success Podcast for more episodes and share your biggest takeaways from this episode in the comments. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Season 1 Episode 8 of the Creative Business Success Podcast! In today's episode, I talked to Lyssy, a wonderful hand-letterer and calligrapher from Singapore. She has a great online following, but she wants to expand her local clients. We brainstormed ways that Lyssy can reach more of her local target market and grow her business!Here is a cheat sheet of some of the episode highlights:Lyssy's intro, 0:54The problem of marketing yourself, 0:20Promoting yourself authentically! 1:44Lyssy's current promotion and marketing efforts, 1:58Who is your target audience? 4:10Honing on on ideal corporate clients, 5:03Client outreach funnel for introverts, 5:42Creating passive online income as a creative, 6:12Setting your courses apart from the rest, 9:00-Grab the secret weapon to more time in your business!- 12:35Promoting yourself authentically over email, 13:20Getting clients rather than just sales, 16:11Finding complimentary service providers, 17:05Connecting with business resource centers, 19:30Thinking outside the box with partnerships, 20:22Keep the wheels turning for new partnerships! 22:36Where to connect with Lyssy! 23:35Don't forget to grab your free trial of Dubsado to help you manage your clients and workflows!Let’s dive a little deeper into a few solutions to help you expand your local marketing and clients, though!1 | Promoting and marketing yourself authenticallyDo you hate the term "selling yourself" as much as Lyssy and I do? It seems to be a buzzword in some circles, but it just feels icky. Rather than feeling sleazy while marketing your services, let's talk about promoting yourself authentically!Approach your marketing efforts from a place of giving and connection. While you do need to make sales to pay the bills and all that, I'm betting that's not the only reason you're in business. You love what you do and you want to help your clients, right? That's where marketing starts. You're filling a need - in Lyssy's case, she's teaching people how to reach their own hand-lettering and calligraphy goals, as well as providing hand-lettering services to entrepreneurs and local businesses.When Lyssy talks to these local businesses, she doesn't need to go in trumpeting her lettering prowess. That will speak for itself when she shows them her work! Instead, she can humbly approach the business owners and show them how her services can help them improve their client experience and grow their own business.If you approach marketing from a place of giving and connection, you'll be able to promote yourself authentically.2 | Client outreach funnel for introverts!If you're an introverted entrepreneur, you're not alone! One of the great things about working for yourself is... well, working for yourself. Your social reservoir doesn't have to be depleted just by doing your work and that's great. However, you do still have to find and connect with new clients to keep your business going and that can be a huge challenge for introverts.In this episode, I introduced Lyssy to my own client outreach 'funnel.' That's the best term I've come up with for it, but it's essentially just an organic form of outreach that makes connections easier. To get started, you can send a simple letter or postcard, introducing the business owner to your services. They may or may not read it; that's okay either way. The point is that you sent it and maybe they at least glanced at it.A few days after you expect your note was delivered, you can follow up by phone or email. Just tell them you're following up on the note you sent a few days ago; have they had a chance to look at it? Even if they haven't, it still gives you a connection point to tell them a bit about your services or products and how it can benefit them.From there, you can set up a meeting with them or, if you don't get hold of them during the follow-up phase, you can go to their business in person. It's much harder to ignore an actual person than it is a phone call or email! You may even decide to skip the second phase if the business is somewhere you frequent. Regardless of which steps you take, sending the first point of contact gives you something to talk about right away. This eliminates the awkward tension that can arise from a cold call. Hooray!Give the client outreach 'funnel' a try and see how it goes. You might be surprised!3 | Keep the business partnership wheels turningDon't stop with the ideas you come up with yourself. Ask your friends, family, and business acquaintances where your services might be helpful. Having a referral can be huge, and even if it's just a suggestion of somewhere that your friend or family member knows of, it's still a starting point.Asking for suggestions also keeps the wheels in your head turning. By the time we wrapped up this episode, Lyssy was excited and coming up with even more ideas for potential clients! Her sister had sparked one of those ideas and it snowballed from there.Don't discount suggestions from those you know. They often know you best and can have fantastic ideas!P.S. You can get your free trial of Dubsado (and save 30% off your first month or year if you end up subscribing) by clicking this sentence and signing up!Want to connect with Lyssy? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Season 1 Episode 7 of the Creative Business Success Podcast! In today's episode, I talked to Amber, a fantastic wedding photographer from Arizona. She knows who her ideal client is, but has been having trouble finding and connecting with them. We brainstormed some ideas to help Amber grow her photography business so she can go full-time!Here is a cheat sheet of some of the episode highlights:Amber's intro, 0:52Finding Amber's ideal clients, 1:39Amber's current marketing and outreach efforts, 3:04Expanding services and client follow-up, 6:10Partnering with other local businesses, 7:10Capitalizing on special interest groups, 8:12Localizing your online efforts, 9:00-How to automate your workflow/process!- 9:29Local networking while having fun! 10:35Optimizing your vendor email funnel, 11:25Setting yourself apart from the masses, 14:14Incentivizing interaction from qualified leads, 15:55Where to connect with Amber! 18:38Don't forget to grab your free trial of Dubsado to help you manage your clients and workflows!Let’s dive a little deeper into a few solutions to help you connect with your ideal clients, though!1 | Expanding services and client follow-upsWhen you're working towards freelancing full-time, your signature service might need some boosters to get you started. Amber's main service is wedding photography and she supplements it with engagement sessions. One of the things she can do to expand her services and keep her clients connected with her is to offer anniversary sessions. It's a natural progression from wedding photography - Amber's clients will already be familiar and comfortable with her, after all!By doing something as simple as adding a client's wedding date to her calendar with a yearly reminder and then sending a Happy Anniversary card with a 10% off coupon before their anniversary date, she could start to book consistent return clients for anniversary photography. People like to be remembered, even if it's just a quick handwritten note with a memory of their wedding. This is a simple action that could have a huge return on investment!Go beyond what you already offer and find complimentary services. These little extras and personal touches can set you apart from your competition and bring your clients back time and again!2 | Network while having fun!Networking DOES NOT have to be a drag or a chore. There are so many ways to organically network. After all, one of the first questions that many people ask after meeting someone is, "So what do you do?" This is the perfect opportunity to tell them what you're up to in your freelancing career without being pushy or salesy. If Amber goes to a Harry Potter trivia night at a local bar, she'll meet plenty of other Potter nerds. When they ask what she does and she responds that she's a wedding photographer, there may be someone who says, "Oh my gosh, my best friend Suzy just got engaged and you guys would get along so well! Can I have a business card?"Don't write off organic networking opportunities! They can be even more powerful for client referrals than traditional networking.3 | Incentivize qualified client leadsGetting leads is great, but if they aren't qualified (aka aren't your ideal client), they can end up being a waste of time for both of you. Amber had gotten a great response to a date night giveaway that she did at a bridal show, but many of the leads she received from it weren't even engaged. By finding ways to better qualify those leads, she can improve her return on investment from future giveaways.One of the ideas that we came up with was a more specific date night combined with engagement photo session. That way, the couples who enter are clearly engaged or soon to be engaged and meet at least one of the other criteria of Amber's ideal clients. This means that bridal show visitors who aren't interested in the outdoors, Harry Potter, or whatever other specific date night theme Amber chooses won't bother entering the giveaway and thus won't waste both their time and Amber's time!Amber can also qualify leads by offering a "What kind of bride are you?" quiz in her initial follow-up email after a bridal show. This sets her apart a bit from the typical "BOOK ME!!!!!" emails participants will receive. It also allows her to only send follow-up emails to brides who would be more likely to mesh well with Amber!Make sure that you're qualifying your leads. Without this step, you'll be wasting everyone's time, including the time you could spend with people who will be a good fit and actually pay you! P.S. You can get your free trial of Dubsado (and save 30% off your first month or year if you end up subscribing) by just clicking this sentence.Want to connect with Amber? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Season 1 Episode 6 of the Creative Business Success Podcast! In today's episode, I talked to Anni, a creative consultant for ethical and sustainable businesses. She has a mish-mash of tools cobbled together to form a makeshift client onboarding procedure, but it isn't her dream system. Anni would like to move her client onboarding to a single program (i.e. a client relationship management system like Dubsado) as much as possible, but she first wants to have a concrete plan in place for how to set it up. That's what we're talking about on Sparking Growth today!Here is a cheat sheet of some of the episode highlights:Anni's intro, 00:55Anni's current client onboarding system, 1:40Dubsado: Anni's new CRM, 3:43How workflows will help Anni's client onboarding, 4:40Reducing your email inbox overload within Dubsado, 7:12Setting up a new client onboarding system within Dubsado, 8:24Budgeting and why a CRM like Dubsado is worth the cost, 10:41The importance of a CRM's customer service, 12:43Back to the client onboarding workflow! 14:05Invoicing and accounting in Dubsado, 15:36-If you're looking for an accountant, here's the link I mentioned for my accountant Shaneh!- (Don't forget to tell her I sent you. ?)Dubsado's 3-client trial, 17:50-Here's the link we mentioned for Dubsado's Facebook group-Dubsado's canned emails and free template library, 20:33-Here's the link I mentioned for Dubsado's list of upcoming features-Where to find Anni! 22:42Let’s dive a little deeper into a few solutions to help you improve your client onboarding system, though!1 | Utilizing workflows in a CRM system like DubsadoWhether or not you have a system in place already, moving to a CRM like Dubsado can drastically improve your client experience and reduce the administration time you have to spend on each project. Dubsado works for SO many types of businesses - photographers, consultants, coaches, even retail locations! By setting up workflows within a CRM, you can streamline your system and make it seamless for your clients.For example, Anni could set her workflows up like this:A lead fills out the inquiry form on her website → Dubsado sends them an emailing thanking them for their inquiry along with a questionnaire based on which service they selected on the inquiry form → Once the questionnaire is filled out, they receive an email with Anni's scheduling linkAs of the time of this writing, Dubsado's upcoming built-in scheduling tool isn't available yet, but once it is, these two workflows would merge. For now, after Anni meets with the lead, she could trigger a second workflow that could look something like this:After the meeting, Dubsado sends the client Anni's proposal → If the client accepts, they just have to sign and initial as indicated → Dubsado automatically signs the contract AND invoice and fills in the client's details for Anni → The client initials and signs the contract and pays their 50% deposit, all from the same window as the proposal!That's it. Literally all Anni has had to do is meet with the client and make sure that the proposal meets their needs, then trigger the second workflow. Dubsado is like entrepreneurial magic!Don't let yourself get pulled into a time suck. Just because your current system mostly-kinda-sorta-works-usually doesn't mean you should keep using it!2 | Why a CRM like Dubsado is worth the costThere's more that goes into a decision like whether or not to purchase a CRM system than just the money. Anni estimated that she spends about an HOUR per client to go through the same process that Dubsado could do almost completely automatically. That's an hour that Anni could spend with her son, take a break, or make connections with even more new clients! That one hour of Anni's time is worth SO much more than the $25 she would spend each month on Dubsado. (Of course, she could also get a yearly subscription and save $4+ each month, plus get 30% off her first month or year of Dubsado through this referral link.)If you think that you can't afford a CRM, take a look at how much time you're spending on administration tasks. Grab a trial of Dubsado or another CRM and see what tasks you could automate. If you realize you're spending more than an hour on each client's administration, it's worth it to subscribe to a CRM. (Because I hope you're charging at least $25 per hour!)The time you'll save through a CRM is time you can spend on other income-generating activities like networking or building new programs or services, or even just letting yourself relax so that you don't burn out.3 | You have nothing to lose on a CRM like DubsadoTrials are free! Seriously, you have nothing to lose. That is all.You can get your free trial of Dubsado (and save 30% off your first month or year if you end up subscribing) by clicking this sentence and signing up!Want to connect with Anni?You cand now find her on Instagram and Twitter @heyannejeanette. Don't forget to subscribe to the Creative Business Success Podcast for more episodes and share your biggest takeaways from this episode in the comments. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Season 1 Episode 5 of the Creative Business Success Podcast! I know that sales/landing pages are not a favorite task for most of us entrepreneurs. In today's episode, I talked to Christa, who provides ministry coaching and project services to her clients. She's been struggling with conversion on the sales pages for her courses, so we're working on some ways that she can update her sales pages to improve her conversions. If your sales or landing pages are making you want to rip your hair out, this one's for you!Here is a cheat sheet of some of the episode highlights:Christa's intro, 0:48Christa's landing page problem, 1:38Optimize your page above the fold, 3:01Spell things out, 3:24Reduce text - show; don't tell, 3:52What's in it for the customer? 4:52What are the three big course takeaways? 6:59Rearrange or remove sections as needed, 8:18Reiterate three big takeaways with pricing, 8:55Make sure your imagery is inviting! 9:30Use descriptive copy, 12:143 biggest takeaways + icons for clarity, 12:56Using video to draw in different learning styles, 13:46Tell them what they get! 14:46Use social proof (e.g. testimonials, partnerships), 15:12Be CLEAR with your pricing, 16:32Use concise FAQ sections, 17:21Offer referral program to drive customers, 17:53Make sure to have social sharing available! 18:28-Click here for the Share Link Generator we mentioned-Where to connect with Christa, 20:16Let’s dive a little deeper into a few solutions to help you improve your sales or landing pages, though!1 | Optimize your landing page above the foldAttention spans these days are less than stellar; we all know that. You need to take this into consideration when designing your sales or landing page, though. After all, if the first glance doesn't turn up anything interesting, many people won't bother scrolling further and you'll lose the sale!Industry lingo for this tactic is keeping content 'above the fold,' with that fold being the point at which someone must scroll to get to the rest of the page. Take a look at your existing sales or landing pages and see how well your pages conform to this. If you realize you're wasting space, re-evaluate your page design ASAP to potentially rescue lost sales.Make sure that the most important information on your sales page or landing page is above the fold. If you can capture attention right away, you're more likely to make the sale.2 | Find your three biggest takeaways"What am I going to get out of this course/service/product?" That's what's going through the mind, either consciously or subconsciously, of every visitor to your landing page. If they can't identify what they get from what you're offering, they'll lose interest and look elsewhere. It's up to you to keep that from happening!Give your offering a good hard look and see what the main selling points are. Highlight those aspects and make them a focus on your page. If you make it easy for your customers to see what they'll get, it's easier for them to feel connected and make a purchase.If you find your course/service/product's biggest takeaways, you'll be able to highlight them on your sales or landing page and drive higher conversions.3 | Be clear and concise in your sales copyHave you ever gone to a website and thought, "What in the WORLD is going on here? This page is so confusing!" That might be what your customers are thinking when they visit your sales or landing page. First, try cutting out 30% of your text. Does it still make sense? Find ways to show, rather than tell. Next, try reading your text out loud. Chances are, you'll find areas that just don't flow or make sense. Cut 'em! Well, you could rewrite them too. Either way, clarify those points and ensure they make sense to your customers.Don't let your sales copy hold back your sales or landing page. Clarify and update your sales copy to speak to your ideal customer.Want to connect with Christa?Find her at DoANewThing.com and on Facebook at Do A New Thing. Don't forget to subscribe to the Creative Business Success Podcast for more episodes and share your biggest takeaways from this episode in the comments. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Season 1 Episode 4 of the Creative Business Success Podcast ! I got to chat with Douglas Humphries, a writer and editor I met through the #createlounge Twitter chat. His writing is currently a side hustle, but he would love to make it his full-time job eventually. In today's episode, we explore ways that he can move towards writing full-time, how to leverage the opportunities that come your way while side hustling, and being patient while growing your business. If you're building a freelance career or thinking about entrepreneurship, this episode is for you.Here is a cheat sheet of some of the episode highlights:Douglas' intro, 0:56All the plates are spinning, 2:46Douglas' current big project, 4:10Time management, 4:41Finding alternative revenue streams, 7:50Leveraging viral opportunities, 9:36A place for your creative process, 10:50Being patient while growing your business, 12:05Where to connect with Douglas, 14:45Let's dive a little deeper into a few solutions for expanding your audience, though!1 | Finding alternative revenue streamsA 9-5 job is necessary for many, but it isn't always the most fulfilling option. For Douglas, he's okay with where he's at for now, but he wants to find ways to make an income doing something he LOVES: writing. Many folks consider writing to be something you do for fun, not for profit, but it doesn't have to be that way! Yes, it's hard to 'make it' in the publishing world, but there are other ways to make a living writing. In this episode, Doug and I explored alternative writing revenue streams, including tutoring writing students and offering post-NaNoWriMo editing services.If you think outside the box a little bit, you can find new ways to make money doing what you love!2 | Leveraging viral opportunitiesOne of the big projects Douglas takes on every year is NaNoWriMo. This is a huge event in the writing community and could be one of the keys to his success. Back when I was running The Spare Room Project (now Scintilla Studio), I had a series of NaNo blog posts that I shared strategically on Pinterest. Even though The Spare Room Project is now on permanent hiatus, those posts are still bringing in a surprising amount of traffic. Douglas could capitalize on this recurring seasonal virality to drive traffic to his website and draw in his ideal clients!Knowing what the viral events in your niche are and leveraging them can be key to your success. Go find those opportunities and make them work for YOU!3 | Being patient while growing your businessSo many small businesses fail in the first few years. It's hard to start a business from the ground up! You have to wear all the hats, find clients, and you may end up feeling like a headless chicken. Don't give up, though! Douglas and I talked about why it's important to be patient while growing your business. Even if it feels like your business isn't going anywhere, you may be in the seed planting stage. Sow your crops and then tend them diligently and they'll bloom eventually. That person that you helped with a business problem out of the goodness of your heart? They might refer your best client at some point. You never know what can grow out of the smallest projects or helping hands.Let your business grow at its own pace. You can push it a bit harder, but don't get discouraged if it takes a bit of time. If you want a boost, apply to be a coaching guest on the Creative Business Success Podcast to overcome your own business obstacle!Want to connect with Douglas?Find him at DouglasHumphries.com, on Twitter at @Douglas_AmongUs, and on Instagram at @Douglas_AmongUs. Don't forget to subscribe to the Creative Business Success Podcast for more episodes and share your biggest takeaways from this episode in the comments. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Season 1 Episode 3 of the Creative Business Success Podcast season! In this episode, I talked with Sarah, an assertiveness coach from California. She wants to empower women to become more assertive, but she's been struggling to reach her ideal clients. In today's episode, we work through opportunities for her to connect with the women who need her, creating a community, and leveraging her website to grow her services.Here is a cheat sheet of some of the episode highlights:Sarah's intro, 0:54Her online presence and audience building obstacles, 3:16Where are your current clients coming from? 4:34Ensure you have adequate opt-ins, 5:45Where does your audience hang out? 6:08Get offline and connect! 7:33Networking on Facebook groups, 8:29Leveraging your free materials, 10:30-Check out Dubsado to save time on your client emails!-Leveraging your website to promote your services, 11:18Speak to your audience through your copy, 13:48Look through your audience's eyes, 15:30Promote your go-to pages in your sidebar, 19:20Building a community for growth, 19:38Where to connect with Sarah! 21:57Let's dive a little deeper into a few solutions for expanding your audience, though!1 | Where are your clients coming from?Sometimes the answers are right under our noses. Many of Sarah's current clients have found her via Facebook groups, even though the groups she's been frequenting don't target her ideal clients. In the episode, we talked about some ways that she could better leverage Facebook groups to grow her client base.We also talked about figuring out where her ideal clients actually hang out. Since they aren't in most of the Facebook groups she's currently in, Sarah knows she needs to expand. In her case, they may be in Facebook groups, but they are also very likely at therapists offices and would benefit from additional coaching and community to build them up. Determining where your ideal client is naturally going to be found is so crucial to success!If you notice that the majority of your clients are coming from a particular place, whether it be social media, a referral, or whatever it may be, dig deeper! Figure out why they're finding you this way over others. See if you can bring those methods to your other marketing and outreach efforts.2 | Leveraging your business assetsOne of the big things we found in this episode is that Sarah wasn't fully utilizing her website and opt-in assets. She has a great freebie, but the copy on her landing page wasn't necessarily conveying the value. She also didn't have the opt-in promoted in enough places and it wasn't always clear where she wanted website visitors to go on certain pages. We talked about some ways that she could improve the copy and leverage her opt-in to increase engagement.Sarah also had some great blog posts, but they weren't being found as much as they could be. I think that by doing a few simple things like tweaking the blog post titles, she'll be able to improve her website traffic and reach more women who need her. Since the recording, Sarah has already implemented some of the changes we talked about, and her website is looking great!Evaluate your business assets and see if you're fully utilizing them. Sometimes, having a second pair of eyes can be helpful, so grab a business friend or a coach and find the areas that could improve.3 | Look through your audience's eyesIt's so easy to get into tunnel vision within our business. We start to speak in jargon and disconnect from our audience. Remember those blog post title tweaks I mentioned? That's one of those areas that I noticed Sarah's blog could benefit from when we talked. Her post titles were very straightforward, but they didn't draw the reader in. Most were not something that her ideal client would think to search for on Google, even if it's what they were really looking for without knowing it. By tweaking those titles, Sarah will be able to make her posts more accessible and engaging.Always try to see your business through your ideal client's eyes! What do they need from you? What will they be searching for at the point where they need your services or products? Answer those questions and they'll feel like you're reading their minds in just the right way!Want to connect with Sarah?Find her at The Assertive Woman and join her Facebook group to learn how to teach others how to treat you with respect. Don't forget to subscribe to the Creative Business Success Podcast for more episodes and share your biggest takeaways from this episode in the comments. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Season 1 Episode 2 of the Creative Business Success Podcast! In this episode, I talked with Shawna, a sculptor from Maine. She has been working on finding the right audience for her work. As a military veteran, she has found that she often gets pigeonholed as "good for a veteran" rather than simply a good sculptor. Being pigeonholed is all too common for many of us, so in this episode, Shawna and I work through a number of ideas to help her find and connect with her ideal audience, expand her business through unique marketing, and partner up with other entrepreneurs to further her work.Here's a cheat sheet of some of the episode highlights:Shawna's intro, 1:02Her obstacles to defining an audience, 2:12Getting out of the pigeonhole, 2:49Bridging audience gaps and creating stories, 6:35New ways to connect and engage with clients, 8:25Collaborations and growth opportunities, 10:07When we get tunnel vision in our business, 10:33Identifying your audience, 11:22Finding beneficial partnerships, 13:09Diversifying your revenue streams, 13:57PR and how to approach it, 15:05Why it's important to open up to your audience, 17:09Should I keep my product lines separate? 19:39Where to find Shawna! 22:55Let's dive a little deeper into a few solutions for expanding your audience, though!1 | Bridging audience gaps to find new opportunitiesOne of the defining attributes of Shawna's sculptures is that they provoke conversations. If you look at Doc the Ambulance dog, whom we mentioned in the episode (and which has, since the recording, won an Honorable Mention at his latest art show!), you immediately have some questions and can start to envision his story. Check out Shawna's sculptures portfolio. Take a look at her pieces and see how they grab your attention.Because of the stories her pieces bring to life, I suggested she consider working with writers to TELL those stories. Rather than just sending the piece itself to buyers, she would be able to send the STORY as well. This adds value to the piece without requiring more sculpting and it sets it apart from many other sculptures. Because of the historical aspects of her pieces, Shawna could work with historical societies and possibly even educational organizations to bridge the gaps in her audience.If you're struggling to find the right audience for your products or services, think about ways that you can bridge the gaps and reach new segments of potential buyers.2 | Diversifying your revenue streamsThis is SO important for entrepreneurs in any field! If you rely on a sole income stream, you're setting yourself up to get burned. In Shawna's case, sculptures are a high-end piece with a limited audience (due simply to the cost to produce them). She can also only make so many large pieces at a time, which limits her income from these pieces. She's been smart in that she has not restricted herself to these sculptures; she also has a line of housewares and decor items that she sells through Etsy. This allows her to produce more items at a wider variety of prices, opening her work up to a larger audience.Something else we discussed in the episode was taking the stories that were written about her pieces and turning them into an anthology coffee table book. She could accompany each short story with a picture of the finished sculpture and create the book from there. This would give people who aren't able to afford the sculptures themselves to still engage with it while at the same time further diversifying Shawna's income streams - a definite win-win!If you're putting all your income eggs in one basket, STOP. You need to find other revenue streams to keep you going in case one dries up.3 | Why it's important to open up to your audienceBeing vulnerable is hard. It's something most of us struggle with at some point. Shawna isn't shy about the obstacles she faces because of her health, but opening up still isn't easy for her. When you tell someone about the difficult areas in your life, it can feel like complaining or looking for pity. We all struggle, though. Sometimes, knowing we're not alone can be such a blessing.By sharing - in a positive light - the challenges of your life, you might be able to lift someone else up. Be willing to be vulnerable and your audience will be able to connect more deeply with you.Want to connect with Shawna?Find her at shawnabarnes.com and on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Don't forget to subscribe to the Creative Business Success Podcast for more episodes and share your biggest takeaways in the comments. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Season 1 Episode 1 of the Creative Business Success Podcast! In this episode, I talked with Angela, a personal stylist from St. Louis. She’s been struggling with finding her ideal clients in order to grow her business, though. In this episode, I worked with Angela to find opportunities to identify and connect with her ideal clients, create mutually beneficial business partnerships, and get the word out about her services.Here is a cheat sheet of some of the episode highlights:Angela’s intro, 0:50Her local marketing obstacles, 1:41Creating mutually beneficial partnerships, 2:28Expanding your network, 3:14Thinking outside the box, 4:37Going beyond your current audience, 5:28What to do with all your new options, 7:37Finding partnerships for workshops, 7:49Expanding your testimonials, 8:28Check out Dubsado to improve your workflow, 9:46PR reach, 10:25Emily Richett’s PR webinar, 11:46Why we all need an outside perspective on our business, 13:20Where to connect with Angela, 15:29Let’s dive a little deeper into a few of these local marketing obstacles and solutions, though!1 | Create mutually beneficial partnershipsAs an entrepreneur and especially a solopreneur, it is SO easy to get in the “it’s just me, myself, and I” mindset. That’s just not true! There are so many others out there who would love to collaborate with you if you’ll just ask. For Angela, I suggested finding some partnerships in her local area, but depending on your type of business, you could do this online too. In this case, Angela could reach out to travel agents to offer packing services to their clients and wedding coordinators to offer wedding party styling services, just to name a couple.Get creative with your partnership ideas, too! If you’re having trouble thinking of any, ask your friends and family what other kinds of services they think would complement yours and start there.2 | Go beyond your current audienceThis one may seem kind of obvious, but it’s surprising how often we overlook it. Angela was focusing on young moms as her primary personal styling audience. The problem is, young moms often don’t have much time or disposable income, which means they can be a hard sell. Instead, I suggested that she consider reaching out to business women and groups that cater to them instead. These women often have the money for a great wardrobe, but don’t want to waste the time picking out an outfit every morning. Angela’s personalized lookbooks would be perfect for this audience, as it would give them a quick way to choose an outfit without sorting through their closet fifty times!When you start to think about who needs you AND has the ability to hire you or purchase your products, you’ll find your sweet spot (or two!). Don’t get stuck in the rut of who you’ve already been reaching out to – go beyond it.3 | Expand your testimonialsIn Angela’s case, she had some great testimonials on her site, but they’re easy to pass over. Instead of relying on text-based testimonials, I suggested she consider getting video testimonials as well. This is perfect for her services because they are so personal and visual. Showing HOW she helped a client dress well for a particular body type is powerful. Video garners much more attention than text these days, so she can use it in other applications besides just her website. Those testimonials could become Facebook ads, be featured in webinars, and so much more.If your testimonials are not helping you convert leads into clients, it’s time to try a new tactic. Go outside of the standard text testimonials and see where they take you!4 | Connect with local media for PR!This is something that terrifies a lot of entrepreneurs. After all, what would I even talk about? What if they turn me down? I don’t even know how to get started! When I suggested PR to Angela, she was a little hesitant, but as we talked through some PR ideas, she got excited. I’m SO proud of her: she ran with the ideas we talked about and landed a Christmas family photo styling segment on Show Me St. Louis after our recording! Not only did she get to bring her expertise to life on television, but she was invited back for another segment as well.If you’re afraid of public relations outreach, take a deep breath and go for it anyways. Getting your name out there is such a big step and could change your business forever!And if you’d like to check out Angela’s segment on Show Me St. Louis and see how she rocked it out, check it out HERE.Want to connect with Angela?Find her at her website, www.angelamoorepersonalstyling.com and on Instagram! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Creative Business Success Podcast for more episodes and share your biggest takeaways in the comments. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.