Archive | Creative Business Development RSS feed for this section

The Importance of Exercise for Your Business

By on February 22, 2012 in Creative Business Development, Productivity

Chaotic. Stressed. Tired. Excited. Motivated.

That’s what I’m feeling this morning.

My husband and I are moving from one home to another, and anybody who’s moved knows that it’s not the easiest process. At this moment, I have paint splattered on my glasses, arms, sweatpants, and sneakers from waking up at 6am to paint the hallway before getting my work day started. We’re painting every room in the house and trying to get it done by Friday, because that’s when we’re installing hardwood floors into practically the entire house.

Whenever we move, we get really ambitious about what we can accomplish, because it’s so much easier to paint and do things like put in hardwood floors when the house is still empty. But, that usually entails lots of early mornings and late evenings.

That brings me to today’s video.

This is the perfect week for me to say, “Screw it. I don’t have time to exercise. I have to paint all the rooms in our new home while keeping up with my business.” That’s the exact opposite of what I should do. Taking short workout breaks throughout the day will keep me energized, so I can focus on writing blog posts, working with the lovely ladies in my Six Weeks to a Creative Business ecourse, and preparing for my next ecourse. It’ll also help me stay energized, so I have the stamina to paint this evening.

It’s easy to put off things like exercise when you’re having a super busy, stress-filled week, but exercising will actually help you deal with that stress. Watch today’s video for more {and to see the beautiful snowy backdrop!}.

Video posts mentioned in this week’s video: No Time to Work Out? Try This via Marie Forleo and My Happy Magic Pill Revealed via Mayi Carles.

Do you have ways that you sneak exercising into your busy days and weeks? Share them in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this week’s video, please share it:

The Importance of Exercise for Your Business http://bit.ly/A6uRfv New on @blacksburgbelle {click to tweet}

Comments { 32 }

How to Stay Positive When You Have a Dreaded Day Job

By on February 15, 2012 in Creative Business Development

Are you guilty of complaining about your boring day job that you wish you could quit in order to pursue your creative business full-time?

I’ve been there–not the boring part–my job as a therapist was hardly ever boring. But, I did have plenty of moments when I wanted to be working on my creative business instead of riding the train for an hour to get to work or filling out paperwork.

In this week’s video, I’m giving you some tips to stay positive while trying to build your business on the side. I also let you know how I prepared to take the leap from full-time job with benefits to working for myself full-time.

Do you work at a day job while building your creative business? If so, share your tips for staying positive below in the comments.

P.S. Today’s background is a collage of pretty pictures from magazines. If you’re in a creative rut, try making one yourself. I bet it will inspire you.

Comments { 34 }

How to Figure Out What People Are Willing to Pay For

By on February 8, 2012 in Creative Business Development

I’m a hopeless romantic. I enjoy romantic comedies, date nights with my husband, weddings, and Rascal Flatts. Right before I walked down the aisle to marry my husband, a friend of the family sang the song, Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts.

So, you might guess that I’m a fan of Valentines’ Day, and you’d be right. That’s another reason that today’s video background is my favorite so far.

I was caught off guard at the end of this video–as you’ll see if you watch it–because my husband didn’t know what day Valentine’s Day is in February. What?!?! I need to know if the men in your life know what day Valentine’s Day is or if they have to look it up each year. Share in the comments below.

This week’s video topic came from Rachael {@kitchencourses on Twitter}. She asked if I’d talk about membership sites and how to figure out what people are willing to pay for when it comes to membership sites. You can take this information and apply it to other products and services as well.

After you watch the video above, you might want to check out this free module on getting to know your target market.

If you liked this week’s video, please share it:

How to figure out what people are willing to pay for + Lots of paper hearts! http://bit.ly/xZz0m1 @blacksburgbelle {Click to Tweet}

Comments { 45 }

Why You Should Use Video to Promote Your Business

By on January 25, 2012 in Blogging Advice, Creative Business Development

You’ve got an online business. You want to connect with and engage more of your fans and customers.

What to do…What to do?

Use video.

Hannah and Emily from @flychicksonline requested that I talk about building confidence to vlog {video blog} and what to vlog about. Before delving into that, I talk about why you should use video to promote your business–and then I go into how you can build up your confidence to do it. Watch below to see what I have to say:

Next week, I’ll cover what you should vlog about.

Do you have any tips for building up confidence to put yourself on video? Have you recently started using video? Were you nervous? Share any tips below!

Quick Announcement: Enrollment for ARTrepreneur and Six Weeks to a Creative Business closes January 30th {that’s this upcoming Monday!}.

Comments { 17 }

Are You Keeping Up With Your New Year’s Resolutions?

By on January 19, 2012 in ARTrepreneur, Creative Business Development, Goals, Productivity

{Personal Image}

We’re nearing the end of the third week in January.

This is the point where I notice less people at the gym, because they’re starting to give up on their goals—their New Year’s resolutions.

They’re starting to realize that the goals they set weren’t realistic, they didn’t realize how tough it would be to make the change, or they don’t care enough about losing 15 pounds before bathing suit season to wake up an hour earlier.

This is also the point where I notice people not following through on their business plans. They started out the New Year strong and have tapered off.

I have a few suggestions on how you can deal with this, so you’re not one of those people who end up saying, “How did 2012 go by so fast? There was so much I wanted to do and change, and it didn’t happen.”

1. Don’t give up when you slip.

Making changes isn’t easy. That’s just the truth. So, when you decide that you’re going to work on your business for an hour after dinner at least three nights a week, you might realize that it isn’t as easy as just making that decision. Stuff comes up.

Scientists disagree on how long it takes to form a habit, but it usually takes at least 30 days. Once you’ve done something for a month, it becomes easier to keep doing it, because you start to do it more on autopilot. Before this time, most of us have slip ups. These slip ups determine whose going to make it and who won’t. The people who make big changes learn from their slip ups, they understand that making mistakes along the way is part of the process, and they keep moving forward.

2. Get to know your triggers and plan for them.

We all have triggers that keep us from our goals. I just started learning some new knitting techniques, and I’m really excited about them. I also have some episodes of Grey’s Anatomy sitting in the queue of my Tivo. I love to watch/listen to Grey’s Anatomy and knit. I don’t feel as bad about watching television when I do something else along with it—like knitting.

This is a trigger for me. I could be knitting and watching Grey’s instead of working and writing this post. I have to plan for that trigger. I have a rule about it. I’m not allowed to watch and knit until at least 5:45 pm. My husband usually doesn’t get home from work until 6:30 pm, so that gives me time to watch one episode and knit while fast forwarding through the commercials. I don’t get to do it every day, but having that rule in place keeps me from playing couch potato girl.

3. Tell other people about your goals and the changes you want to make.

Today, I spent an hour talking with Mayi Carles from heartmade. We were catching up, talking about our recent launches, and making plans for 2012. That hour inspired me, gave me new ideas, and will help me hold myself accountable. If I tell someone I’m going to do something, I’m more likely to do it. When I feel inspired because I’m around like-minded people, I’m more likely to stay motivated.

One way you can do this is by joining a community like ARTrepreneur {enrollment closes January 30th}. You’d be surrounded by people who want the same things you want, who are willing to tell you their secrets and failures, and who want to see you succeed. That’s one of the things that I love about it.

Tell me. Where you at with those New Year’s resolutions?

Comments { 14 }

FREE Module: Choosing Products and Getting to Know Your Target Market

By on January 17, 2012 in Creative Business Development, Marketing

Mentioned in the video module:

1. Jessica Swift’s amazing rain boots.

2. Target market biography worksheet: download here.

3. Example of a plan of getting to know your target market: download here.

This is a module from, Six Weeks to a Creative Business, which is currently open for enrollment here. Enrollment closes on January 30th. If you enroll in ARTrepreneur, you automatically get access to this course for FREE. 

Comments { 11 }

Why You Need a Marketing Plan + Basic Steps to Put One Together

By on January 11, 2012 in ARTrepreneur, Creative Business Development, Marketing

{Personal Image}

You have a product that you’re proud of and want to sell. You tell your friends and family members, and they all hope that you’re just going through a phase. In a condescending tone, your mother asks, “Do you really think you could make a living selling YOUR paintings?” Instead of throwing a tantrum like a two-year-old, you take a deep breath, plaster on a smile, and try to explain that people actually do make a living by selling their art.

You spend hours taking pictures. You realize your pictures suck–they’re too dark and blurry, and the polka-dot background completely distracts from your products. You read your camera manual and learn some tips on lighting and macro photography. You spend another few hours retaking pictures. They’re much better than the first batch, especially after you edit them.

You try your very best to write product descriptions that don’t sound too pushy and salesy. You attempt to write in your own voice to make them sound unique, because that’s what everyone says you should do, even though you don’t really know what that even means.

You bite your lip and start to sweat as you put a $15 price on a product that took you three hours to make, because you really want to sell something. {If this is you, raise your damn prices!}

You upload your products on Etsy…and you wait…and you wait. You check your shop every 3 minutes hoping that someone has favorited one of your items or actually purchased something.

Then, you think, “Maybe I’m not good at this. Maybe I’m crazy to think people would actually want to buy my stuff. Maybe I should give up.” That’s when you reach for the wine bottle and have a glass or two or three and hope that no one asks, “So how’s that little online art business of yours going?”

This is where today’s lesson comes in.

Even if you have a unique product, magazine-worthy product photos, and well-written product descriptions, you still have to bring people into your shop. You need a marketing plan. Now, watch the video below:

If you don’t have a marketing plan, I have two suggestions for you:

The first is a blatant way for me to sell one of my products. Buy my digital guide, Marketing for Creatives: How to Spread Your Message and Boost Your Sales, and learn how to market your stuff. {See how I’m marketing to you right now?}

The second is a basic way to start a marketing plan. Follow these steps:

1. List six places {blogs, websites, online magazines, print publications} where you would like to see your work featured or you would like to be featured.

2. Assign each of those places to one month over the next six months. Example: February: Design*Sponge, March: Oh My! Handmade Goodness, April: Real Simple, May: Decor8, June: Creature Comforts, July: Artful Blogging.

3. For each month, concentrate on getting your product featured on that site or in that publication. Learn what you need to do to submit your work and submit it.

Note: Your work may not get featured in that month. For instance, you might submit work to a print publication that doesn’t get featured until six months down the road. That’s okay. It’s just important to focus on getting these features.

Leave me a comment below letting me know one place where you’d like to see your work featured in 2012. I love hearing about your plans!

Announcement: ARTreprenuer {the membership site that helps you turn your creative dreams into reality} will be open for signup January 16th-January 31st. I’ll be offering a special discount for email newsletter subscribers on January 16th. Want to be on the list? Sign up below:

Comments { 33 }

Thinking like an ARTrepreneur: A Must to Succeed

By on January 9, 2012 in ARTrepreneur, Creative Business Development

{Personal Image}

What would it mean for you to have a business that revolves around your lifestyle? What would it mean for you to have a business that revolves around your strengths, your creativity, and your passion?

Can you imagine filling your day with creativity, passion, and self-care while profiting and producing meaningful products and services?

This is what it means to be an ARTrepreneur.

ARTrepreneurs treat their businesses like businesses—not like hobbies. They let their creativity and passion lead them to make unique products and services that add something beautiful to the world. They focus their businesses on their strengths, and they don’t apologize for their prices. They love what they do, and they don’t buy into the idea of the starving artist.

Want to be successful as a creative business owner? Then, you need to start thinking and acting like an ARTrepreneur:

1. Know your numbers.

ARTrepreneurs know how much they make. They know how much their materials cost. They know how much they need to price their products to make a profit. They keep these numbers organized, because they know it’s important to keep track of how much is going out and how much is coming in. You can’t know if you’re profiting without this information.

2. Invest in your business.

Most creative entrepreneurs don’t have to spend a lot of money when they first start their businesses and this is a really good thing. But, you do have to be willing to invest in your business when necessary. And, when I say invest in your business, I don’t just mean money—I also mean time. For example, if you don’t know how to take magazine-worthy product photos, you’ve got to invest the time {and probably a little bit of money} to make it happen.

3. Set business goals.

ARTrepreneurs know what goals they are striving to reach. They know how much money they want to make, and they know what steps they need to take to start reaching these goals. They plan on success.

4. Brand your business.

ARTrepreneurs understand that they have to put time and money into branding their businesses. They know that all the details matter. They also know that each aspect of their business should relate to their brand—the packaging, shop banner, blog design, and email signature should be cohesive.

5. Have multiple revenue streams.

ARTrepreneurs know that they need multiple revenue streams, because one could dry up. They know that it’s best to sell their products in different stores and online. They know that more than one product line encourages multiple purchases and repeat customers.

Here’s something else that ARTrepreneurs know: You aren’t born knowing how to do all this stuff. You have to learn how build and run a successful creative business.

If you’re striving to be an ARTrepreneur, you’re in luck. ARTreprenuer {the membership site} will be open for signup January 16th-January 31st. I’ll be offering a special discount for email newsletter subscribers on January 16th. Want to be on the list? Sign up below:

 

Comments { 4 }

Hitting a Post-Holiday Sales Slump? How to Use This Time Wisely

By on January 4, 2012 in Creative Business Development, Goals, Productivity, Success

We all want sales, but downtime can be your friend if you use it wisely.

In between big projects, I always give myself more time to do fun stuff like baking vegan chocolate chip cookies, reading a new Jodi Picoult novel, and watching girls breakdown on The Bachelor. But, I also use the time to get ahead, plan out creative marketing ideas, and stock up on blog posts.

In this week’s video, I give you five ideas on how you can use time in between sales to your advantage. Check it out:

Wanna quick recap? Here are the five ideas on how to fill your downtime:

1. Make a marketing plan to get out of your feast or famine cycle.

2. Pitch a guest post or interview.

3. Stock up on your best-selling items.

4. Stock up on blog posts.

5. Take a class related to your craft or a business class that will help you move forward in your business.

Have you heard?

In a couple weeks, I’ll be launching a group coaching program for crafters, artists, and creatives who want to turn their passion into a business. It’s a simple, straight-forward course that will walk you through each step to setting up a successful creative biz. Want to know when it launches and get in on the special only for newsletter subscribers? Sign up below.

Comments { 26 }

FREE Digital Guide: The Best of Blacksburg Belle 2011

By on January 2, 2012 in Creative Business Development

I can’t put into words how excited I am for 2012. I’ve got BIG plans. I mean BIG.

But, before I move into 2012 full force, I compiled some of the best posts from 2011 in case you missed some of them, wanted them all in one place, or wanted to reread some of the most popular ones.

Download your copy of this 65-page FREE digital guide right here.

In a couple weeks, I’ll be launching a group coaching program for crafters, artists, and creatives who want to turn their passion into a business. It’s a simple, straight-forward course that will walk you through each step to setting up a successful creative biz. Want to know when it launches and get in on the special only for newsletter subscribers? Sign up below.

 

Comments { 10 }
← Older posts