Broadening Horizons Podcast

If your business isn't the only "baby" you dream of having, this episode is for you! Whether you are an expentant parent, a soon to be adoptive parent, or simply want to be able to take time off without neglecting your business, we're sharing how to stay on top of marketing, inquiries, and business expensives while your focus and attention shifts to be on you and your new little one. 

Earlier this summer we hit the 8 year mark on Sweet Horizon Studio and, as always when our business anniversary came around, we reflected on how much this studio has grown and changed through the years as well as many of the lessons we've learned along the way. On today's episode, Catryn is walking you through 8 of the most important lessons she's encountered on her business journey to help aid you on your own path. 

Have you been daydreaming about a new business venture that you can't stop thinking about? We've been there! And we've also helped dozens of fellow entrepreneurs start the business of their dreams and have seen first hand what works best when turning these dreams into something more. Here is our "how to" guide on all the things you need in order to build the business of your dreams starting in 2024.  Mentioned in the episode: How to choose a business name that you will identify with for years to come Finding the best web platform for your blog or business needs Can a designer spot a DIY brand How a well rounded brand & brand strategy impacts how you market Are business owners leaving Instagram Copying vs Taking Inspiration Our Reflect - 2024 Planner & Journal  How marketing is changing in 2023: Focus on Storytelling How personal side projects can shape your business What I learned from talking to 9 other designers throughout 2019 How much does it cost to start and run a business What I am outsourcing in 2022 My journey to running my own business

We are back for the 2024 season! And we are taking a moment to look back at 2023, to reflect on what went well, what could have been better, and what our main takeaways for the year are. We're also excited to chat about some of the things we have planned for the new year and some of the major pivots we are making within Sweet Horizon Studio. 

Continuing with our series all about what should be on your website, today we are highlighting how to build out your About Page to be strategic and how you can use this often overlooked page to make it purposeful and work for your sales funnel. We never want any page on your site to be a dead-end or be neglected in anyway. That includes pages like your About Page that can easily fall into filler or wasted space on your website. We're giving you examples of sections you can include, sharing some of our favorite engaging call-to-actions that will keep your readers and customers exploring, clarifying when and how to add personality to your About Page, and explaining why we tell our clients "your About Page isn't actually about you!". Whether you are a blogger, product based business, or service based business owner, if you have ever wondered what exactly needs to be on your website, this episode is for you!

Websites are vast and complicated things we know from working with so many different types of business owners through the years that it can be overwhelming to know what exactly to include on each page of your website or how things on your website should be structured. Today we are starting a mini series here on the podcast where we go page by page of a typical website and discuss the things to prioritize on each page to give your readers and clients the best possible experience. Starting off our series, we are focusing on what to include on your Home Page and on your Main Menu of your website since these are often the first things viewers see and often what they judge your website and business off of. Whether you are a blogger, product based business, or service based business owner, if you have ever wondered what exactly needs to be on your website, this episode is for you!

We are answering one of the MOST asked questions we get from new inquiries: "Why is my website loading so slow and can you help me?" The answer: it could be a lot of things and YES we've absolutely got you! We're sharing the most common issues that contribute to a slow website and filling you in on some easy fixes that you can do today that will get your website loading quickly and running more efficiently! 

Have you ever tried to DIY your branding? We all start somewhere with our business branding and more often than not new business owners opt for the DIY approach, either by drawing a logo themselves or buying a template from Etsy and plopping their name into it, to at least have something to get them going. But what if we told you that there are dead giveaways when it comes to spotting a DIY brand out in the wild? Designers can tell immediately if a business owner has DIY'd their branding because of these 7 common mistakes that are made when attempting the design process yourself. Avoiding these mistakes can give your brand a professional look at a fraction of the budget, that is, until you are ready to get a pro to design something truly custom for you and your business.

Today on the podcast we're taking a look at the typical expenses that business owners can expect to pay. Starting a business can feel super daunting and there tends to be a lot of mystery around what it would actually take to start and run that business you've been dreaming about. We're sharing the things that we actually pay for within our business as well as the things we see our clients in other industries pay for as well. From the must-haves to the fun extras, we're sharing everything, numbers and all.

Between figuring out content strategies, trying to appease the almighty algorithm, and maybe just even crossing your fingers and hoping for the best, chances are you've had your fair share of figuring out social media marketing as a business owner. Instagram is an OG in the social media game and so often we plan our content strategies solely around this specific platform. But more and more business owners are opting out of using this classic platform and are instead trying new ways to get noticed on other apps that are helping their business get noticed by a wider audience in ways that feel more comfortable to them. At the risk of sounding like a dooms day-er, we're chatting today about whether or not Instagram is on the way out and what other platforms may be stepping up to take it's place. 

When it comes to problem solving, or achieving goals within our business, we all want the same thing: to handle the tasks in the best way possible. Though it has come to our attention that we tend to go about the actual process of problem solving with slightly different approaches. Catryn is a planner who likes to look at the big picture and break it down into smaller, achievable steps. Mike is more reactionary and likes to focus on just the tasks at hand. Today we are chatting about these two ways of problem solving, breaking down the pros and cons of each, and learning from each other's differences in order to strengthen our own problem solving skills.

Chances are you've heard of the 5 love languages? These are 5 common ways that people tend to show and receive love within their romantic and platonic relationships. But what about how we tend to show love to our clients during and after our time spent working together? In today's episode, Catryn is sharing 5 business love languages that she thinks most business owners show to their clients, customers, and audience based on her time working with a wide range of fellow creative business owners. Which of the 5 business love languages resonates most with you and the way you choose to show up for your clients?

We are big proponents of anti-hustle culture around here. In other words, we don't believe that you have to devote all of your time and energy to your work. But in the midst of anti-hustle culture does is all productivity a bad thing? And if it's not, can productivity still be a thing we actively pursue in our daily lives while still taking time to rest and do things we enjoy?  

Today we are talking all about manifesting for business in the new year. Manifesting comes in many different forms from "words of the year", to journaling intentions and goals, to writing a letter as your future self, to prayer. No matter what your form of manifesting looks like we are interested in whether or not this actually impacts our business throughout the year or has real merit in how we achieve our goals.

This season my sweet husband Mike is joining the podcast to chat about all things business. Today I'm telling him about how storytelling is taking online marketing by storm, how to show up truly authentically with your audience, and how storytelling can benefit small businesses and make advertising easier. 

Today I'm sharing one of the most important lessons I've had to learn as a business owner: that is, how to find rest in my work/life balance. Resting may seem like a totally normal thing until you end up in a career where you are solely in charge of everything, even giving yourself time off. When more work means more income, and taking off means missing out, it can be harder than ever to make time for the most important things in life, even ourselves.  FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

Today we're talking about ways that I have recognized perfectionism in my work, in my life, and how I'm positioning myself in order to let go of some of those perfectionist tendencies. If you find that you put pressure on yourself to always be "perfect" in your work, if there feels like there are never enough hours in your work day to get through your to-do list, or if you find that you tie your self worth to your productivity, today's episode is for you. FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

Today we're talking about what it means to actually manifest ideal clients in order to book dream projects. If you've ever been curious about what manifesting clients actually is, and how business owners do it, or how they turn that manifestation into literal dream projects, this episode is for you. FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

Today we're talking about what it means to actually manifest ideal clients in order to book dream projects. If you've ever been curious about what manifesting clients actually is, and how business owners do it, or how they turn that manifestation into literal dream projects, this episode is for you. FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

Today I'm giving a bit more insight into how I'm running my business in 2022 and, specifically, how I'm letting go of the idea that I have to control every single thing within my business. If outsourcing is something you've been interested in for awhile or you are looking to do more of it in 2022, this episode is for you. FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

Today we are starting out the New Year by giving some insight into how I am planning for my business in 2022. A lot changed in my business and in my personal life last year and there are just several things I did NOT want to carry over into 2022 with me. This is a chance to reevaluate how I plan to show up for my community, what I want to be known for, and what I need to leave behind me in the year 2021. FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

Today I'm welcoming Morgan Rapp, the designer, mentor, educator, and business expert behind the course Design Biz Mastery. We're digging into some of my favorite modules from DBM, why value based pricing is a literal game changer for designers, why sales calls don't have to scary, how she's grown her own design business to 7 figures, and why it's so important to her that female entrepreneurs get comfortable with making money and earning what they are worth MORGAN RAPP FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

Today I'm welcoming Alyssa Ziegelbauer, owner and photographer behind Leigh Photography, who is an absolute master behind the camera and has a flourishing wedding and boudoir photography business in the Rockford/Chicago, Illinois area. Alyssa also happens to be the mother to an awesome 8.5 year old daughter and she is showing her daughter what it looks like to be an absolute boss that can create a career for herself. LEIGH PHOTOGRAPHY FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

Today we're going to continue our conversation on branding and the importance of brand strategy, a topic we've talked about a few times here on the podcast already, and how understanding your branding can take the guesswork out of marketing yourself and your business.   FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

Today I'm welcoming Annelise Worn, a business strategist and marketing mentor who specializes in helping service based businesses meet and connect with idea clients through social media. She has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to marketing and how you can reach your audience through your copy, ads, comments and DM‘s. Today we're chatting about her favorite business marketing tips and how you can get the most out of social media without “paying to play”. ANNELISE WORN FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

In today’s episode we’ll discussing the ends and outs of something that is absolutely rampant in just about every creative community that exists, and that is copying or stealing someone else’s creative intellectual property. I’ll be breaking down what constitutes as copying, how this impacts your business in some major negative ways, and how to properly take inspiration from other creators and come up with your own beautiful ideas. FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

Today I’m welcoming Melissa Perkins of Sweet Daddy Designs to the podcast who is an absolute master at design and brand strategy. Melissa creates beautiful brands for her clients that are formed from a foundation of extensive brand strategy and industry research. She knows exactly how to take the guesswork out of knowing what visuals your brand and business needs in order to reach ideal audiences and she is an expert at getting to the root of what’s essential for a business to succeed.  Her brand strategies are super thorough, giving her clients all the tools, info, and market research they need in order to attach and work with ideal clients and customers, and I get to ask her all about it on today’s episode. If you’ve ever wondered what goes into a great brand strategy, what the most important takeaway from a strategy session is, and why your brand archetype can be a gamechanger for your business, this episode is for you! SWEET DADDY DESIGNS FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

Today I'm chatting about how personal side projects can shape your business and how I think they can be a huge asset to your business no matter what stage you are in. This is a hot topic in the design and entrepreneurial spaces right now, and for good reason! More and more people are implementing personal side projects into their business plan and I’m about to break down several reasons why introducing these types of projects aids so many businesses. FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

Today I’m welcoming Kirsten Lawler of Alway Services to the podcast. Kirsten is your go-to girl for basically every small business need including content creation, copywriting, sales and marketing strategy, social media strategy, and content scheduling. We're chatting about some of her best social media strategies, what it means to engage on Instagram in a way that’s actually boosting your reach and how to actually ENJOY showing up on the app again. ALWAY SERVICES FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

Burnout comes in all shapes and forms and truly looks different for every business owner. Often it will creep in as we go about our day and before you know it our productivity comes to a sudden stop. While burnout is perfectly normal, and something we all go through, it's important to still keep it in check to avoid it effecting our long term goals or causing our businesses to struggle. FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

Today I’m welcoming Jess from Jess XO Copywriting to the podcast to talk about how business owners can craft compelling copywriting in all areas of their business. Jess is a master at getting to the root of what needs to be said and how best to say it. We personally used her website promptlates on our own website re-launch and Jess literally blew me away with her style of creating genuine copy that's full of purpose and understanding for our clients. JESS, XO COPYWRITING FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

Today we’re digging into how hiring a small graphic design studio compares to hiring a corporate design firm for your next project. There are a LOT of differences between the two, including process, communication, connection, not to mention final deliverables. This episode will help you decide what avenue would be the best choice for you and your business, so that you get the design experience you are looking for. FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

Today I’m so excited to welcome one of my favorite design friends to the podcast, Hannah Batkoski of Duende Design Co. Hannah's incredible talent as a brand designer has gained her major recognition in the online design community and recently she has skyrocketed on TikTok. Last summer, she took the leap into running her business full time and had a seamless transition from the corporate world to entrepreneurship because of her growing success through TikTok. DUENDE DESIGN CO FOLLOW US ON INSTA READ THE POST

In today’s episode, I’m talking about why I took my website down for an entire calendar and how that actually launched my business forward by leaps and bounds. I chose to talk about all of this today not to say your website isn’t important. I'm here to reiterate just how important your website is for your business. It can drag your business down or it can launch your business forward. And this past year proved it to me in a major way. READ THE POST HERE! FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM

Passive revenue streams like courses and shops are allowing services based businesses to broaden what they offer, reach entirely new audiences (sometimes even people in their own industry) and it’s firmly placing them as experts in their field. If you are anything like me, you’ve probably wondered what all goes into making a course or a shop, and if it REALLY brings in additional income.  Today I’m so thrilled to be jumping into our new monthly interviews with one of my friends Abbey McGrew from Wayfarer Design Studio. Abbey is known for being an incredible branding and web designer and she now helps other designers tackle some of their biggest obstacles like streamlining their design process, sending out proposals, and getting feedback from clients through her course the Designer Essentials Kit. Her template shop and course are changing the game for designers and now I get to ask her all about what it takes to put something like together, how she’s maintaining it for future students, and how she’s effectively added this course to her already flourishing design business. Read the Blog Post here! Follow along on Instagram!

It’s no secret around here that I am a planner. One of my favorite aisles to peruse in Target is the stationary aisle. You know the one. It has all the pretty office stuff and has tons of lovely calendars and fresh planners that look so full of potential. Opening a blank planner fills me with the same excitement that a blank sketchbook or canvas does. There’s something so intriguing about thinking through all the possibilities that lay ahead of you. Pour yourself a cup of something yummy, get comfy, and tune in for another episode of the Broadening Horizons Podcast! Read the Blog Post here! Follow along on Instagram!

How much time do you spend creating content for your business? If you are anything like me, I bet you spend anywhere from 60-80% of your time each week creating content to attract, market and sell to your ideal customer. Your content creation may even BE your business (looking at all you bloggers out there)! So what happens when people don't connect with the things you are creating? Maybe they don't get it, maybe they are interested, or maybe worse of all, they don't like it at all. Do you take it personally?? It can be hard NOT to, especially when you are pouring your heart and soul into this content. Today I want to have a chat about protecting your emotional well-being when you are constantly putting yourself out there for the world to see each day with your content creation. Pour yourself a cup of something yummy, get comfy, and tune in for another episode of the Broadening Horizons Podcast! Read the post and get all the details here! Follow along on Instagram!

Do you view your business as a journey or as a destination? For me personally, my business has continuously evolved through the years and I know it's not done yet. If you thought that I always knew I wanted to be a graphic designer, you're about to be surprised. Everyone's career journey is different and today I'm sharing my own journey to running my own business and the different paths that all led me here. Pour yourself a cup of something yummy, get comfy, and tune in for another episode of the Broadening Horizons Podcast! Read the Blog Posts here! Follow along on Instagram!

I love a good personality quiz or really anything that gives me a new perspective or a fresh look into the human mind and our behavior. I've always been interested in the zodiac and have found Myers-Briggs to be especially enlightening. But then I was introduced to the enneagram and my whole mindset shifted when it comes to myself, my habits, my stressors, my relationships, and my business. Pour yourself a cup of something yummy, get comfy, and tune in for another episode of the Broadening Horizons Podcast! Read the Blog and Sign Up for the Freebie Here! Follow along on Instagram!

I did one the best things for my business during 2019. It wasn't taking a course, or even working with a specific client. I built up a community of fellow business owners that I could talk candidly with about work! I reached out to 9 women that I admired in my field, asked them all the questions, and made several great friendships throughout the year. Now I'm sharing some of my main takeaways. Pour yourself a cup of something yummy, get comfy, and tune in for another episode of the Broadening Horizons Podcast! Read the post and get all the details here! Follow along on Instagram!

Choosing a business name can be a daunting task but it's not impossible! Here on this episode of the Broadening Horizons Podcast we are breaking down all the traps that can cause you to pick a business name you are ready to ditch in just a couple of months and how to focus in on the best ways to pick a creative business name that you will identify for years to come! Pour yourself a cup of something yummy, get comfy, and tune in for another episode of the Broadening Horizons Podcast! Read the post and get all the details here! Follow along on Instagram!

Being a business owner is hard work and NOT for the faint of heart. We are out here hustling and trying to do all the things ourselves, and sometimes we can be our own harshest critic. At the end of the day we are only human and we can only do so many things on our own. It's so important to find ways to be kind to yourself and recognize that what you are doing is not easy for anyone. Pour yourself a cup of something yummy, get comfy, and tune in for another episode of the Broadening Horizons Podcast! Read the post and get all the details here! Follow along on Instagram!

Does the term SEO make you nervous? Are you unsure the best practices you should be implementing on your blog? Are you not even sure what I'm talking about right now? Don't worry, I got you! Today we are chatting all about the best SEO practices specifically for bloggers and how to make sure your blog gets great traffic and loads quickly. I'm breaking down 38 things you must work on to boost your SEO and let Google do the rest! Pour yourself a cup of something yummy, get comfy, and tune in for another episode of the Broadening Horizons Podcast! Read the post and get all the details here! Follow along on Instagram!

Do you feel like you have to blog about ALL the things? Nowadays it can seem like you have to share every single aspect of your life online in order to gain a following in the blogging world. But guess what? It's actually so much better to limit your content to just a few categories in order to build a following that really values your opinions. Plus, no more having to guess what to post. Total win-win for you! Pour yourself a cup of something yummy, get comfy, and tune in for another episode of the Broadening Horizons Podcast! Read the post and get all the details here! Follow along on Instagram!

Do you consider yourself someone that plans or someone that wings it? While winging it can make life more exciting, when it comes to building a business or blog, planning is the name of the game. By creating a content calendar for your blog, or for your social media presence, you never have to wonder what you are going to post. Instead you can spend most of your time doing the thing that you love, creating! Pour yourself a cup of something yummy, get comfy, and tune in for another episode of the Broadening Horizons Podcast! Read the post and get all the details here! Follow along on Instagram!

There's a lot that goes into successful blogs these days. Between the planning content, setting up a website, taking great photos, and building an online presence, it can be daunting! The good news is, you don't have to figure all this out on your own! I’m about to break down the Do’s and Don’ts of starting a blog so that you feel confident striking out on this journey. Pour yourself a cup of something yummy, get comfy, and tune in for another episode of the Broadening Horizons Podcast! Read the post and get all the details here! Follow along on Instagram!