A no-nonsense and often foul-mouthed look into running your own business. We're taking you along every step of the way and sharing our successes, mistakes, and favorite pieces of advice to help you start + grow your dream company. We cover a wide range of topics like mindset, business plans, produc…
Today I'm chatting with Kemi Adegoroye. Kemi and her business partner Claire Ryberg started Alveo Creative, a digital platform that provides support, community, and resources to independent artists. We're chatting about the big mistakes we made in our business by dreaming too much, how to outsource your daily tasks to keep space for creativity, and using this time to plan the future of your life and business.
An audio recording of our recent 2020 Company Retreat where we discuss what worked this year, what didn't work this year, what we're focusing on in 2021 and how to figure all this out!
I'm chatting with Missy Graff Ballone, the founder of Wellness for Makers. Missy is an artist and movement teacher who helps creatives to prevent the aches and pains from daily work. We're talking about mistakes we made in the beginning and how to pivot your business, our favorite ways to create passive income in any niche, how well email marketing works (seriously!), and how to create a loving connection to your body.
I'm walking you through how I use blog and social media content to make sales!
Tailwind is a way to post on Pinterest and share your content with thousands of dream customers. I'm sharing how we use it to bring in over 100 email subscribers every week.
I'm sharing my strategies for sharing content on Pinterest, bringing dream customers back to my website, and starting an automated sales process with them!
We're talking about the things I've learned (or re-learned) as I'm starting our brand new business: how to find the right products + services, how to create systems as you go, the importance of saying yes to everything, and why it's okay to grow slowly.
It's not enough to post a story of your dinner and call it good. We need a strategy! And we need it quick because our to-do list is already full. We're showing you the 5 minute trick to post stories that actually make sales. It'll save you time and make you money. Promise!
This literally built my business. Find your dream clients on Instagram, follow them, comment on their posts, and build an actual friendship with them. I'm walking you through how I built my following step by step, how this 15 minute a day task can explode your sales, and why I don't care about the follower ratio!
I'm chatting with Jaimi Brooks, an entrepreneur + therapist from Los Angeles, about how she built her business, how to manage anxiety, ways to find your priorities, and her tips on how to live a more fulfilled life as an entrepreneur.
If I could tell people one thing about Instagram it's this: stop worrying about having a pretty feed. You need a content strategy. One that positions you as an expert, helps people with real daily problems, and shows them exactly how they can work with you. In a way that's fun and entertaining. It's no easy task! But I'm walking you through exactly how I do it.
I'm chatting with Kelsey Formost about the new Business Bundle, which is available this week only. We're sharing which courses in the Bundle we're investing in right now. Plus, we're talking about how we evaluate partnerships and how we know when to say "yes"! You can find the bundle here: http://bit.do/sproutbundle
In 2009, Marisela and her husband, Mario, struck out on their own and started renovating homes at the height of the housing crisis. Marisela shares her creative strategies for helping the business survive then and now, as we navigate the COVID crisis. Plus, for all you hustlers out there, she's sharing how to turn your empty space into passive income with garage conversions. And she's walking us through how she landed dream partnerships with HGTV and top influencers. Find Marisela here: https://www.newgenerationimprovements.com
Cash is Queen and Content is King. You need to blog to drive traffic to your website. But what the heck do you write about? We're talking about how to find your blog topics, the fun way to plan a year worth of content, and how to find content that drives sales.
I've tested + updated my website for the past year with HotJar. I'm sharing the 10 changes I've made that have the biggest impact on keeping people on websites longer and making more website sales. From your homepage to your blog to optimizing for mobile!
Do you ever see a home in a magazine and think, "I wish my space looked like that"? Elsa is showing us how to achieve it! She's sharing actionable tips to declutter our homes so we feel calm, productive, and happy in our most intimate spaces. Plus, she's walking us through her social media strategy: how she decides what to post on her gorgeous instagram and how she grew her following. Check out Elsa's free 30 day challenge: https://www.composedliving.com/blog/2019/2/8/30-days-to-clutter-free-living
Your website homepage needs these 6 things: hero image, trust bar, about section, trust bar, bestsellers, and email opt-in. We're walking through what to include in each section for a high-converting website. This is the same formula that I use on all my websites. Plus, the #1 thing you can do to improve your website.
This month, we're planning our products + services. We're deciding between one-on-one services, packages, done-for-you marketing systems, downloads, courses, memberships, coaching, and conferences. I'm sharing which ones we're choosing and why. Plus, I'm talking about the BIG investment that I made this month.
Robin is an event planner who focuses on connection. She's sharing how we can connect with others to make everyday moments and special occasions meaningful right now. Robin is teaching actionable tips to help us celebrate. Plus, she's sharing her early mistakes and how she built her business. Robin is now offering Celebrate Safe at Home: virtual planning and design consulting for your at-home events and experiences. Because now more than ever, we need to keep celebrating! Find Robin here: http://www.rmbocollective.com
Are you putting out content on Instagram and not seeing any return? No sales? No growth? You're probably stuck in phase 1 of our marketing strategy. The bad news- there's no money in phase 1! The good news - you can move to phase 2 + 3 to start seeing results. Grab a notebook + pen...walking you through it all step by step.
I use the same pricing strategy with all my businesses. When I first start, I don't really have any customers. No one knows me. And no one wants to book with me. So my prices are low and that brings sales in the door. As I start building my business and things pick up, I increase my pricing to industry standards. I'm sharing how that works in today's podcast.
A breakdown of my week at the creative conference in Palm Springs, CA. Why I love it, when it's right for you, and when it might not be the best investment.
It's a crazy time to run a small business. I'm sharing my legal tips on the two contract clauses you need to review, the #1 thing to do if you don't have a contract, how to reach out to your clients, how to issue payment extensions and late fee waivers, and how to document it all for future government benefits.
Here's my strategy for finding a bestseller: try a lot of products and services. Play around with the marketing + copy. Give them a few months. Keep the bestsellers and drop the rest. Build it all around them. I'm sharing how I find bestsellers on the podcast today. Plus, I'm talking about the signature services that we're trying in our new biz!
Bored? Here's your to-do list for the week: prepare your business for growth! We're talking social media, outsourcing, how to improve products + services, content calendar + blogging, writing + testing email funnels, organizing, and making changes for next month.
A lot of small businesses will be hurt by this. But we can also use this opportunity to build a stronger business. I'm sharing the 8 things I'm doing right now to prepare my business and capitalize on this new opportunity to help my clients. Everything from creating new products + services to working from home tips to mindset practices to financial plans to helping others.
I love passive income. It pays for my rent every month. But to be honest, it takes some time to figure out. I've tried video workshops, courses, webinars, downloads, templates, etc. Some worked. Some didn't. I'm sharing my tips for creating passive income on the podcast today. Plus, I'm giving you a sneak peek into the passive income ideas that I'm adding to my new business.
I love new revenue streams. I want to diversify the ways that my business can make money. Plus, it allows me to help our customers in a variety of ways. I'm talking about the revenue ideas you can add to your business, how to test them out, and how to know when you've found a winner. Plus, I'm sharing which revenue streams we're trying in our new business.
We’re building a new business: an online marketing firm. The goal is to hit six figures in revenue this year. As I was brainstorming, I had a crazy idea: What if we walked through every step of this business together so you could see how to use these strategies to build your business? Here's a sneak peek of our new business this month. It's what we focused on in February, where we spent money, and how the numbers look.
We have a dream client, a problem to solve, and a brand theme. Now, let's turn that into a full brand. We're talking color psychology, how your brand makes your audience feel (and subconsciously believe), how to create color combinations that work together, font choices, and how to create a logo for less than $50. Plus, how to tie your brand theme into all of your marketing: website, email downloads, business cards, etc.
This is probably the question we get the most! Here's our exact naming exercise that we use for all our businesses. We're showing you how to find the right name and how to tie it into your brand theme. Plus, we're announcing our new business name!
Image your brand is a party. What's your theme? Your brand theme is how you know what to write on your website, blog posts, social media captions. It's how you pick a name, colors, fonts, and logo. We're showing you how to find the right theme for your brand, how to stand out from the competition, how to connect with your audience as friends, and how to build a mood board.
Complete strangers should message you on Instagram saying, "OMG I love your brand! Thank you!" Seriously! That's when you know you've built a strong brand. It sells for you. I'm sharing my exact process to build a brand that people love, how to build real relationships with your audience, how to stand out from the competition, and how to keep your audience happy!
We’re building a new business: an online marketing firm. The goal is to hit six figures in revenue this year. As I was brainstorming, I had a crazy idea: What if we walked through every step of this business together so you could see how to use these strategies to build your business? Here's a sneak peek of our new business this month. It's what we focused on in January, where we spent money, and how the numbers look.
You have so many things on your to do list. But there are some areas that have a bigger impact than others. We're talking about the 10 areas to prioritize and spend your time/money for the best growth.
I'm sharing the 6 things that I'm spending money on this year: website, branding, email marketing, product/service necessities, virtual assistant, and training. I really believe these are the only things you need to spend money on to make your business work. Plus, how to create a business budget and creative ways to fund your business in a pinch.
It's a whole new year! Let's plan our business goals, organize our lives, and get back on track so we can have serious growth in 2020. Plus, a sneak peek at our new business and membership.
I'm bringing in my podcast guru, Sydney Weiss, to chat all about podcasting. Sydney and her podcast are all about honestly, vulnerability, and joy! She's sharing why she started a podcast, the equipment she uses for the show, how she started to build traction with it, and the innovative ways that she monetizes the show. You can find Sydney at www.seekthejoypodcast.com
We're constantly striving for something in business, but what is it? A certain revenue goal? A fancy office? A number of employees? A magazine cover? I'm on a mission to figure out what is "enough" for me and what to do with my time when I get it.
I'm chatting with my friend, and fellow member of the multiple business club, Renee about how to do all the things. She's sharing how she grew her business, how she creates a marketing plan, how she pitches press and podcast sponsors, how she makes time for content creation, and her secret to scaling the business. Plus, I'm picking her brain about how to plan events for your business. You can find Renee at https://everydaycreativebos.com and https://www.urbansoireeboston.com
Every year, I take the month of December off. Yes, really. I still check my emails occasionally to make sure there are no fires to put out. But I intentionally step away from the day to day work. I'm talking about how you can do the same thing and how to deal with the people who comment "must be nice." Answer: it is!
This is a conversation that I keep having with my business owner friends: what's the best way to handle haters? It's hard to know when you should ignore, engage, and block. I'm sharing what works for me in different situations, the mindset mantras I tell myself, and opening up the dialogue so we can figure this out finally!
I'm bringing in my friend, and communication expert, Kelsey Formost to chat about how to write better sales copy on your website and social media. She's sharing things you can do today to improve your website copy and make more sales! Plus, she's bringing her actress skills (from Modern Family, New Girl, etc) to help us shoot professional photos and videos at home! You can find her at @kelsey.writes
A year into my skincare line, we had to rebrand everything. I'm talking about what happened and how to prevent the same thing from happening to your brand. Plus, a breakdown of the trademark process (timelines, fee structures, everything you need to know)
I’m a control freak and I like my work done a certain way. My way. But I was also struggling to keep up with everything in the business. I started interviewing and hiring people. These people all had great resumes but they didn’t always do great work. I started thinking about a better way. I created this process to weed out the wrong people at every step. I ask about situations that have already happened in my business and I see whether they would handle them the same way. That way, I can avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Competition and copycats are no fun. There are plenty of legal options, like copyrights and trademarks, and we'll talk about them all this month. But there are still some things that the legal areas can't protect: like your business idea or your target market. I'm sharing how I deal with competition popping up and how I adjust my mindset to leave them behind.
There are a lot of ways that I maximize productivity: I work at a co-working space that limits distractions. I listen to a classical music playlist. I have a productivity tracker. I keep a master to-do list in Trello. I pick three important tasks to do each day. I keep time in my email inbox limited to 30 minutes a day. I batch my content. I automate my entire client process and my email system. We're walking through all of them today!
You need to automate. It’s the best way to save time. And it helps build your business. Here’s how to do it... 1. Make a task list (what we're focusing on today!) 2. Try out options and learn how they work 3. Create your systems
I've made a lot of mistakes in my businesses. These are the 3 things that were hurting my profits the most. And once I fixed them, my business started growing really fast. They're also mistakes that I see 95% of businesses making.
You want a business that makes money. And it's actually not that hard once you know how to do it. We're sharing our top tips on creating a business plan, changing the conversation you have with your customers, how to get more instagram followers, and how to make more sales. We focused on these 4 areas to turn 3 different ideas into moneymakers.
On January 1st, 2018, I spread out index card ideas all over my living room floor. I was determined to hit six figures by the end of the year. So I started brainstorming and decided to focus on a new area of business each month: business plan, brand, products + pricing, website, email, instagram, pinterest, operations, legal, finances, mindset, etc. I'm walking you through the process and what I learned each month, the changes I made, and how you can do the same.
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