At the Blacksburg Belle headquarters, I receive lots of questions about my business. How did you get started? How do you promote Blacksburg Belle? Why did you shut down your Etsy shop? What camera do you use? And, so on.
I’ve collected a list of the most frequently asked questions and decided to start a new column to answer them.
First up is how I decide what new products and services to offer.
In the beginning, I created products that made me want to sing Ice, Ice Baby in the shower. An idea would pop into my mind {usually in the shower or on a morning walk with my dogs} and if I couldn’t stop thinking about it, that’s the one I’d choose. This is how I decided to put together ARTrepreneur.
I came up with the idea in February of 2011 and launched ARTrepreneur in March of the same year.
When I decide on a new product or service, I’m consumed with it. I work on it every day for as many hours as possible. I get swept up in the creating process and I love writing new sales pages and composing courses.
Through offering things from individual consulting to blogging courses to group coaching, I’ve learned a lot. I’ve discovered more about what works and what doesn’t and this has impacted what I sell.
Now, I consider three things when deciding what to produce next: 1. what I’m excited about creating 2. what my audience has been asking for 3. how difficult the creation process will be.
First, the idea has to light me up.
If the idea doesn’t spark jumping up and down like in my high school cheerleading days, it’s out.
I’ve had lots of requests to teach a technical course on how to set up a membership site. I’ve done this many times for my business, but it’s not something I’m interested in teaching. I’d rather endure a pap smear than teach anything technical. Setting up the site is my LEAST favorite part and I often hire out the design. Even though I believe I’d make good money from offering something like this, I never sell anything just for money. Ever.
I know that if I don’t enjoy the creation process, it won’t be my best work and I’m not willing to settle like I did when picking my date for my freshman homecoming dance.
Second, I listen to what you ask for.
I pay close attention to the emails I receive and the comments on Blacksburg Belle. When I designed Blogging for Your Creative Business, I’d been receiving lots of inquiries for a course like it. And, blogging is something I love to help others with, so it was an easy YES.
Third, I consider how difficult it’ll be from start to finish.
I like a challenge, so I don’t give up on an idea just because it’ll be tough. But, it’s something that I acknowledge, because I’m running a small business. Teaching a course on blogging was a no brainer, because I’d already done it and I’d blogged for over five years. I had a lot to say on the topic and I knew I could help creative entrepreneurs turn their blogs from hot messes to beautiful successes.
When I first thought about designing and writing a digital guide, I figured it wouldn’t be painless. My head throbbed the first time I clicked around in InDesign {the software that I used to create it}, realizing that I’d have to spend many hours learning how to use the program. And, I knew that covering the topic of marketing in depth would take a lot of work. But, I enjoy writing and I wanted to offer my target audience a budget-friendly option that would help them promote their creative businesses. I took on the challenge, because the idea inspired me and my target audience was asking for something like it.
This decision process happens over time and in stages.
I usually have a handful of ideas I’m thinking about, and I take into consideration the three things above. If I narrow it down to two or three options, I go with my gut. I pick the one I can’t stop thinking about and can’t wait to work on.