Successful Women Entrepreneurs

10 Tips for Running a Creative Business.

10 Tips for running a creative business.
Creative business owners often have the same challenge. That challenge is how to be creative and successful. This isn’t always easy to achieve, so I’ve put together these ten tips to help you in your venture.

10 tips for creative business owners written on a white background with a photo of a camera and coffee 10 Tips for running a creative business

Focus on one area of expertise.

Put your focus into one area and become good at it. If you focus on what you’re good at as opposed to doing what people want, you’ll notice you have a greater chance of success. This is because you specialize in one area, allowing you to offer more value in your specific area of work.

Plan where you want your business to go.

If you have a good vision of what you want, this will be very helpful. You can always change your plan as things in life change, but having your plan written down will keep you focused on your goals.

Do different things.

When you change things up a little bit, people are bound to notice and pay attention to you. Realize that if you only offer the same things as everyone else around you, you won’t stand out in the crowd of businesses. Taking risks gets you noticed.

Pay attention to the numbers.

You may work in a more creative field but that doesn’t mean you can forget about numbers. You have to ensure that you have a regular cash flow and without an organized way to go through all of the numbers, you’ll never know how successful you are.

Share your ideas to revolutionize.

Talking to others is the key to a successful business. Having a great diversity of ideas can help you to adopt an innovative way of doing things for your business. Collaboration helps you to succeed in this world.10 Tips for running a creative business. 10 tips for creative business owners written on a white background with a photo of a camera and coffee

Have proper protection of your ideas.

You don’t want to ever run into the issue of someone stealing your ideas. Be sure to be able to defend your ideas if you ever do run into this unfortunate issue. Your ideas are the essence of what you and your business are, so ensure that you know how to protect yourself including use of trademarks and/or copyrights as needed.

Take a digital approach to your business.

Engage with your customers, employees, and suppliers. Learn how to use different social media platforms to help promote your business. This will help you to extend the boundaries of your business and how to appeal to people to support you and your business.

Don’t lose hope.

People always make mistakes but it’s important that you move away from them and learn from them. You need to be determined to run a business of your own so don’t give up easily.

Always strive to improve.

Continuous improvements help to make a business succeed. This includes looking back at things that went wrong and making them better.

Have fun.

You’re supposed to have fun while running a creative business. Having fun makes work enjoyable, even the more routine tasks that form part of any business.

It’s not easy running your own creative business but when following these tips, hopefully, it can help your business run a little bit easier.

Did I miss anything? I would love to hear from you! What are some of your top tips for a creative business owner? Please share in the comments below or join us inside the Studio Workshop Community group!

P.S. Another great article that might help you out is 7 Ways to Plan Your Rate Hikes – A TVS Business Program, check it out!

 

10 Tips for running a creative business.

10 Tips for running a creative business.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Image
Happy New Year!
It’s a new year with a new vision!

It is that time again. Time to make New Year’s resolutions and start fresh. Everywhere you go you will be asked: “What are your New Year resolutions?” Why? Because that is just how it is. This year, my answer will be different than it has been in the past and I suggest you do the same. When asked what this year’s resolutions will be, I will have one simple answer:

No resolutions this year.

I honestly can’t remember the last time I made a New Year’s resolution that lasted longer than a couple of weeks, can you? This is why I say ditch the resolution and kickstart the year with something that will move your business forward.

Instead of yet another ill-fated resolution, articulate a vision. The good thing about having a vision, instead of a resolution, is they are broad and can evolve as you and your business grow. If you consider your vision with every action you take, you are more likely to move in that direction.

People are goal-driven and accomplished goals, big and small, keep the momentum going. So, create a vision and set the first goal to make it happen. Make it a SMART goal. SMART being specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-limited. These goals can only be achieved if specific actions have been taken to ensure it is accomplished within a timeline. They are easy to track and will be stepping stones to a broader destination, your vision.

So, write it down, create a vision board, yell it from the rooftops, whatever your method is – get started and create a vision. I would love to hear about it, so please share! We can accomplish goals and carry out our visions together.

Wishing you a new year rich with the blessings of love, joy, warmth, laughter, and success.

P.S. Be sure to check out the Studio’s all-new Resources Page and the TVS Workshop Community!

Advantages of Face-to-Face Networking

With the internet making the world a smaller place, it’s easy to think that networking can be done through social media and social media alone.

However, even with those you meet on social media, you still need to find a way to have face-to-face meetings, when possible. Here are 5 reasons why there are advantages to face to face networking.

Gives that personal touch.

Having face-to-face meetings is more personal and will give you a better way to show who your true self. It’s hard to see what someone’s personality is when you can’t see or hear them. If you want your personality to shine, then you need to have those face-to-face meetings.

Builds stronger relationships

We all crave human connection and when we get it, it builds stronger relationships. You can think a person is great when you meet them online, but to see them in action and be a part of their energy creates a better and more inviting experience.

It is hard to build a strong relationship with someone if you’ve never shared physical space. In person, you get to see how they connect with other people and truly know how strong your connection is with them.

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Provides Immediate feedback

 If all of your meetings are done through email or on social media, then you don’t get that immediate and direct feedback that you do when you’re face to face. You also can’t tell someone’s tone or demeanour if everything is done through typing. This makes it very easy to misconstrue someone’s intent or what they were saying.

When you are discussing something in person, then the exchange you have will go differently. There’s more give and take, so to speak. It’s just faster this way.

Ability to Read Body Language

There’s a way that we communicate in person that just cannot be expressed on the internet. You can read someone’s body language; you can pick up on sarcasm better when you can hear the tone of someone’s voice or see their face. You just learn so much about a person by seeing their mannerisms.

Avoid misunderstandings

You might think you are being very clear when you communicate on the internet, but how someone else interprets can be entirely different. This is why emotions fly and things get so heated on the internet. A simple misunderstanding escalates into something out of your control.

Using social media to network is great but it is still important to get out there and make personal connections. Whether it be at local business events or you find ways to meet up with your online connections, it’s crucial to create face-to-face meetings to strengthen those connections and build your business.

Now, I want to hear from you! How often do you get out to a local networking event or see your customers face-to-face? Share below in the comment section or join the conversation in the Facebook group.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

We have all heard the saying “don’t sweat the small stuff.” right? I am sure you know that getting stressed over the little things is a significant way to bring unnecessary grief into your life. It’s believed that we can avoid a lot of negative feelings, and even health problems, simply by learning not to let the little things get to us.

I truly believe it so, here are a few things that I try, and I do mean try, to do and hope they also help you not sweat the small stuff!

Focus on the Big Picture

When something small happens that makes you want to get angry, compare the moment’s significance to everything else going on in your own life, and in the world around you. You may have spilled your cake batter on the floor an hour before your guests are due to arrive, but… Are your friends still going to love you and enjoy the evening even if you don’t have a freshly baked cake for them? Probably, so clean up that mess and put your energy somewhere other than berating yourself for this small mistake.

Don’t Forget That We All Make Mistakes

When something threatens to destroy your positive outlook, remember that everyone makes mistakes. Whether it is yourself or someone else who caused the situation that right now, feels like a train wreck, keep in mind that mistakes are a normal part of life and they happen to everyone. Don’t let one bad moment take you by surprise.

don't sweat the small stuff

Forgive Others

It can be hard to forgive someone else when it feels like they have brought you extra work and stress. If someone rear-ends your vehicle or swings their car door open far enough to bang into yours, you may be tempted to lash out at them verbally. However, stop and think about how it would feel if the roles were reversed. I am pretty sure these types of things are not done on purpose, so don’t act and feel as though you have never made a mistake. React with kindness and choose empathy.

Forgive Yourself

Forgiving others, for the most part, is easy. Forgiving ourselves – not so much.  There are many moments that we treat ourselves worse than we would ever allow a friend, client or even a stranger to treat us.

When you are having a difficult time forgiving yourself, think of how you would handle a similar mistake made by a team member friend. Stop and think before bullying yourself, and consider seeking professional help if you can’t stop a cascade of negative thoughts every time you fall short of perfection.

A perfect example would be when a team member falls ill, do you tell them to stay home, rest and get better? I am sure you do! Then why do you push yourself to work when you fall ill? If you are anything like me, you would power through and rest after work is done for the day.  It wasn’t until after I started seeing a counselor that I realized that I was not able to treat myself with kindness and forgive myself for the littlest of things.

Ask Yourself Will It Matter in Ten Years?

We all have problems, and usually, at that moment, any problem seems big. Perception is not always the truth, though, and it is up to us to put our situation into perspective so that we can adequately deal with whatever comes our way.

When something negative happens in your life, ask yourself if it will matter in ten years. If it won’t, let it go. Heck, I sometimes ask if I will even remember in 10 days!  So, if someone gives you the middle finger in traffic, don’t lose your cool, it’s just not worth it. Save your emotions for things that are life-changing and deserve your full attention. Laugh it off and move on.

I guess, in short, when something goes wrong, you have two choices. You can slip into a range of emotions, or let it go. Making the choice not to sweat the small stuff will bring you life-changing happiness, and you will be thankful for your own shift in perspective.

Now, I’d love to hear from you. What are some of the things that you practice and suggest for others to do, to help not sweat the small stuff?

3 Surefire Ways to Create In-Demand Products and Services

If there’s one thing that holds promising entrepreneurs back from launching their business, it’s this: a lack of confidence in their products. Sure, you think that new product or workshop is a great idea, but how do you know it will sell?

Imagine spending weeks or even months of time—plus the cost of document design, video editing and all the other pieces that go along with it—only to discover it’s not what your audience wants or needs.  How frustrating would that be?

You don’t have to leave it to chance, though. There are plenty of ways to test your idea before spending the time and energy on a full launch.3-surefire-ways-to-create-in-demand-products

1. Ask

This is the simplest way to get a feel for what your market needs and wants. Simply ask them. Create a survey with Survey Monkey (or even a Google form) and send it out to your mailing list. For best results, keep it short, but do ask:

  • What they’re struggling with?
  • What problems are these struggles causing in their life?
  • How would their life be different if they had [insert your product or service here]?
  • What do they feel your product or service is worth (what would they pay)?

These four pieces will tell you everything you need to know to create a product or program that’s practically guaranteed to sell.

2. Listen

If you have a community (or are part of one) that is full of your ideal clients, pay attention to what they’re asking about the most. These are the things they need help with. For example, if you’re a business coach and your Facebook group is filled with questions about running Facebook ads, then clearly there is a need for some training in that area.

3. Know

Hopefully, you have a list of competitors and you’re reading their blogs and emails,  joining in their Facebook groups and getting to know them. Network and build relationships with them, this is a great way to gain insight into what is out there—not to copy them but to discover what’s hot in your industry right now.

Creating products in a vacuum is a great way to waste a lot of time and money on programs that won’t sell. Instead, pay attention to what your market is asking for, find out what they’re willing to pay, and delve into your competition’s offers. The information you gain from these three activities alone will give you incredible insight. Not just into your market but what they want and need, making it easy to create your own hot-selling products.

Now you know what to creat, take a peek at 3 Proven ways to Market Your New Business to help promote your new product!

 

 

 

No List? No Problem! How to Build an Audience with Paid Ads

We’ve been told (and told and told) for years that “the money is in the list” and that “your mailing list is your biggest business asset.” But if your list numbers are hovering in the low four-figures—or fewer—with no sign of growth on the horizon, such advice can seem a bit unhelpful.

The fact is, building a list is a catch 22: You can’t get signups without traffic and it’s difficult to find traffic when you have no list. What’s a busy entrepreneur to do?no-list-no-problem

Paid Ads Make List-Building Easy

By strategically placing ads in front of your target audience, you can drive tons of traffic to your opt-in offers and enjoy conversion rates of two or three percent or more. Even better, with some tweaking and split testing of your offers, you can carefully refine your ads and copy so that you’re attracting your exact ideal client and filling your list with buyers who are ready to take action, rather than freebie seekers.

All you need to run paid ads to your opt-in pages is:

  • A compelling offer, such as a video training series or live webinar
  • Copy to grab the attention of your target audience

Best Ad Placements

Once you have your components in place, the only question remaining is where to run your ads. You have dozens of choices, from Twitter to Google to YouTube to solo email spots.

The key is to first determine where your market is most likely to be hanging out. If they’re on LinkedIn, then running ads on Twitter will be a waste of time. Keep in mind the cost as well. Ads on Facebook are generally less expensive and less competitive than a Google Adwords placement.

Start Small, Then Refine

Once you’ve decided where to place your ads, it’s time to set your budget and begin running a small set of ads. Consider setting a small daily budget, such as $10 or $20 at the beginning, so you can get a feel for how your ads will perform. Watch the traffic, track your conversions, and create split tests of your landing page and ad sets to determine which performs the best. You can also refine the audience you’re targeting based on the stats you receive. For example, if you find that men between the ages of 20 and 30 are clicking but not opting in, you might want to remove them from your audience.

At least at first, it’s best to avoid running ads for paid products. Conversions for a free offer will far outshine those to a paid product—especially if your program is expensive. After all, those who are clicking on an ad most likely do not know you at all, so it takes a much bigger leap of faith to offer up a credit card number than it will to provide an email address.

Ad Copy Blunders to Avoid

Have you ever clicked on an ad because you saw an adorable pair of sandals that you just had to have, only to land on a page full of sneakers, with not a sandal in sight? It’s frustrating, to say the least, and that kind of ad to landing page mismatch will kill your conversions.

Your ad copy is making a promise to the reader. If your landing page doesn’t fulfill that promise, your readers will click away, and you’ll have wasted the money you spent to get them there. Before running any ads, be sure your ad headline, image, and copy all match the message on the landing page.

Paid advertising was once a tool used only by big companies or marketers with a lot of money to spare, but today they’re more cost-effective than ever, and the technology makes them easy to create and monitor. If you haven’t yet tried your hand at this useful traffic generation method, it’s time to do some experimenting. You might just find your list numbers—and sales—growing.

How to Simplify Your Business Message

If I were to ask you, what is your business message? Do you have a great answer? Or will you overthink and blubber out both your purpose and mission statement? Have you taken the time to simplify your business message? Me, I was a blubberer for years.

My husband always tells me that I over-communicate. How is that even possible? I don’t know but apparently, I have managed to master it. He is constantly reminding me to use as few words as possible to get my message across. (Still trying to figure out if he is right or just wants me to be quiet…)

That being said; I had to really work on how to simplify my message. My clients are busy, too busy to read through the nose, so the goal is to try and simplify.

Here are three keys to simplify your business message:

Remember what’s important

Break down your business message to what is most important. Can you make it a second or less slogan? Look at Dove’s business message: You are more beautiful than you think.  What is the most important message they are getting across to their audience? It is simple, basic and provides women with the confidence that Dove wants to provide through their products.

Provide clarity

Don’t get overly complicated with what you are trying to get across. Be clear, direct and to the point. “You are more beautiful than you think.” With 7 simple words the message here is that you are beautiful, don’t judge yourself, be confident, realize your beauty potential, feel your best, accept yourself for who you are. SO much put into a simple and clear message.

Leave out the tech talk

Speak the language that people understand, there is no better way to muddle up your message than using words that only those in the industry will understand. When you start using industry jargon, your audience will lose interest. Fast.

Remember, you want to kill complexity. Both your clients and your sanity will thank you.

Simplify Your Business Message
keep it real, keep it honest, keep it simple. Simplify your business message.

Be sure to follow the Studio’s Facebook Page, and share your business message with us! We’d love to hear from you. The page is a free space where you will find business-focused training and support for female entrepreneurs, as well as inspiration and Studio updates!

remember to follow the Facebook Page

If you need more support and accountability, join us inside the Studio’s Study Hall and let us know what your passion is or something you don’t like to do – but love when it is done!  The group is a community of supportive women, where you will find business-focused training and support for female entrepreneurs.

10 Reasons Moms make great business owners.

You have thought and heard, countless times, that motherhood is a thankless, underpaid job, right? Well, I hate to say it, but so being a business owner. I learned the hard way that starting my own business wasn’t all about coffee dates with girlfriends or a large boost in my income. But, like being a Mom, I just jumped right in, learned every day, and worked hard at being good at it. 10 Reasons Moms make great business owners

So should you.

10 Reasons Moms make great business owners. photo of a woman and baby at a desk.

With no explanation needed for each item on the list, here are ten underestimated reasons why moms make the best business owners.

  1. They are great at uniting people.
  2. Moms have mastered the art of event planning.
  3. Natural leadership instincts.
  4. Amazing negotiators.
  5. Multitaskers – if you can call it that.
  6. Strong problem solvers.
  7. They have the ability to meet urgent deadlines.
  8. They are always asking a lot of questions.
  9. Know how to deliver bad news gently.
  10. Moms understand the importance of planning ahead.

These are just TEN reasons why moms make amazing business owners. This list could have easily been the top 100 reasons but that would defeat the purpose. My goal, for this article, is to help you realize why you will make a great business owner.

If you are still unsure, read this article on why starting your own business is a good idea.

[Tweet ““Being a mom gives you superpowers for doing stuff you don’t want to do.” Solly Baby founder Elle Rowley”]

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make great business owners

 

Define your own success. If I can, so can you.

Are you able to define your own success? For the longest time, I wasn’t. I am talking years, of feeling that I was not successful. Even though my business was booking 50+ weddings a year, family portraits, commercial work, corporate events… the list goes on and on. I was shooting as often as I wanted, editing and providing product and value to my clients. Every. Single. Day.

Yet, in my head, I was not successful. I could not put my finger on why I felt that way, I was doing what I loved and loved doing it! It wasn’t until I burned out that I realized what it was. I didn’t have anything to measure my success with. I had goals, yes but they were broad, vague and seemed to always be in the distant future.

At my wit’s end, I sat down and decided it was time to define what success meant to me, not to everyone else. I mean, specific goals aside, what EXACTLY did it mean?

So, I did what any reasonable person looking for answers did. I googled it.
What did I find? I learned the definition of success is:

‘the accomplishment of an aim or purpose’

That sure hit me like a hammer! I looked at my monitor and said, out loud, “So setting a goal and accomplishing it is the meaning of success? No, too easy!” I had to dig deep to define my version of success. Getting it in my head that it is not what my family and friends think or even my industry collogues or leaders think, but MY definition of success. It was vital that I stopped comparing myself to others in the industry and realize their success has no bearing on my own.

define your own success and build a life your proud of

I took a few days to reflect and truly work out precisely what it is I needed to feel fulfilled and know what success meant to me. I realized I wanted to spend as much time with my family as possible.  As well as continue to build my businesses and inspiring other women, like me, to follow their path. I needed to know that I was making a positive impact on the business world and genuinely making a difference. Finally, I wanted to be able to go to Starbucks or out for dinner whenever I felt like it without needing to see if I could afford it and have a Broadway Across Canada subscription. Very clear, very specific and very attainable.

So now, I work from home running two businesses, I help hundreds of women run their businesses and have the freedom to enjoy that latte whenever I want AND I have my subscription! Les Misérables in July! BAM!

For me, that’s success. For others, maybe not.

I guess what I am trying to say is, I changed my perspective on success and you can too. By no longer viewing what was perceived as success through the “glazed over” look of thinking I needed more, I was able to dig deep within myself and figure out what success meant for me.  Which made it that much easier to achieve.

To help you out, if you haven’t already, download the free 2018 goal setting workbook, define your success, set and accomplish your goals!

Now I’d love to hear from you. How will you define success for yourself? Let me know below in the comments or visit V-Net and share with a community of women in business, like you.