Oftentimes, what we love to create is not synonymous with what makes us money.   You can find a balance between making money and making what you love.    But there’s a way to do it so you stay profitable.    This article shares ideas on how you can build a successful business and…

  When sales aren’t going the way you want them to go, you start researching “all the things”.    There are endless directions you could take your business in and a hundred different tasks you could work on.    But there’s a blueprint, right in front of you, that will help guide you in the…

  Opening an Etsy shop allows you to test a business or product idea without investing too much time or money. But the only way to properly test an idea is to give it a fighting chance.    If you simply list a few items on Etsy and wait for shoppers to come to you,…

  Reducing how many customers you “lose” by just 5% can increase your profits by 75% (source).   That’s a small improvement that yields big results.    Before you can reduce how many customers you lose each month and year, first determine why you’re losing customers…because you are losing customers.    If you’re lucky, a…

  It’s important for a business to retain customers. 50 – 70% of a business’s sales will come from repeat customers (source).   It pays to keep your existing customers happy and coming back for more.   Not only is it more revenue for your business, but repeat customers also increase profits.    It’s hard…

  I received an email last week from someone asking me to review their business because sales were low.   At first glance, I didn’t see anything wrong.    She was selling digital invitations and stationery. Her designs were elegant, her branding was spot on, and on the surface, it appeared as though she was…

  Most consumers require seven or more interactions with a business before they’re ready to buy (source). With all the noise and distractions in today’s world, it’s likely this number is even higher than seven.   This is why every business needs a marketing funnel and a sales funnel.    If you’re unsure about a…

  Everyone goes through periods of feeling unmotivated and stuck. Unfortunately, life and work aren’t one continuous climb to the top; they’re full of ups and downs.   Having one or two off days when you’re overworked, or when you’re trying to get back into work after a vacation are fairly easy to deal with. …

  Social media is used by many small business owners to promote their products and reach new customers. Unfortunately, many of those small business owners aren’t seeing results from their social media marketing efforts.   There are many things you can post to social media to grow your following and increase engagement.    However, I…

  Whether you have plans to keep your business local or grow it globally, promoting it locally is the best way to start.    There are so many benefits to selling your handmade products locally.    Sure, a local audience is smaller, but it’s also less competitive. And many people understand the importance of supporting…

  There are only two ways to get more customers;  1 – You find customers (outbound marketing) 2 – Customers find you (inbound marketing)   If you simply make products, post them online, and wait for customers to come to you, it’s the equivalent of saying there’s a party at your house but neglecting to…

  Dealing with a copycat is never fun. I’ve dealt with it many times throughout my entrepreneurial career, and continue to.    I remember the first time it happened in my handmade business.   I started sewing mittens using the fabric leftover from the handbags I made.    At the time, I had been in…