Let’s face it: Instagram is a money making machine that we (as business owners) can’t live without. If you are a product-based business, you should be on Instagram. You can throw any and all arguments at me and I will still convince you that you need it. It’s is the easiest and cheapest (free!) way to market to your target audience and ideal clients. However, you want to make sure you are using Instagram effectively and efficiently in order to utilize it’s benefits.
Read More
I’ve got a superpower. It’s not something that many would consider a superpower, but for me, it’s been extremely helpful in the growth of my business. If you ask anyone in my family about how observant I am, they would tell you that I know where everything is at all times. The joke when I was growing up was how I could find anything. Lost your wallet? Ask Skip (my childhood nickname). Don’t know where your keys are? I bet Skip knows. To this day, whenever someone can’t find something, they still come to me first and ask me if I’ve seen it.
Read More
Have you ever wanted to book a coaching call with someone, but unsure if it’s really going to benefit you? I mean, you’re about to invest in a phone call, isn’t that kinda crazy? Yes, if you’re talking to the wrong person.
Read More
It’s finally here! In February, I launched the first round of #thehearfeltgrid and it went way better than I ever dreamed! I was blown away by how many people were hungry for deeper connections on social media. I was surprised by how people took the challenge to heart and changed the way they were using Instagram.
Read More
If you’ve been around my business for awhile, I would hope that you know that I am centered around running a heartfelt business and helping others to do the same. I started my business with the mission to serve and love others above all else. Yes, I need to make money to pay the bills and buy diapers, but those worries are secondary to me. And thankfully, I know there are other people out there like me. There are business owners who seek and strive to serve their clients well. They aim to be heartfelt and honest in their business. They want their business to make a difference in the lives it touches and serves. This fact gives me so much joy and hope.
Read More
Entering into entrepreneurship as a new business owner can be incredibly scary, overwhelming, and confusing! That's why I have developed my top ten tips for new business owners. There are so many voices out there telling you what to do and what not to do, and sometimes it would be easier if we just had someone give us a formula. Unfortunately, there is no perfect formula to success in business, or anything for that matter! However, there are a handful of tips that I believe all new business owners should know!
Read More
The other day I was catching up with a friend from college and at one point in the conversation he said “I’ve never known you to ever stuff or hide your emotions” to which we all chuckled and joked that two hours was a long time for me to go without processing how I feel about something.
Read More
What’s the first thing you click on whenever you first come across a website or blog? If you’re like me, it’s the “about page.” I want to learn about the person behind the screen. I want to know what they do, why they do it, and who they do it for. I want to know their story, where they’re from, what they were like in high school, and what they’re like in person. This whole digital age we live in is weird, but it’s also pretty cool because we get to “meet” people we would otherwise never come across.
Read More
If you really knew me, you would know that I love structure. I thrive on it. I don’t like when plans get changed. I like knowing what to expect. I like waking up every morning knowing how the day will pan out. This worked really well for me before I had a baby and worked at home by myself. I didn’t have a boss to tell me what to do. I didn’t have co-workers who depended on me. I wasn’t required by law to take a lunch break. And I could work whenever and wherever I wanted. Work from the couch? Yep. Work at night and take the day off? You betcha.
Read More
Have you heard of the Five Love Languages? If you haven’t, you need to do some light reading real quick (by clicking that link) and learn what they are. This information has the potential to transform all the relationships in your life. You will learn how to show love to your parents, children, spouse, and friends.
Read More
As I write this, I am sitting on the couch as my husband and son nap together on the other couch. Knox will be 4 weeks tomorrow. It feels like it’s been forever. But it also feels like I blinked and now he is 4 weeks old. My life has completely changed in every single way since Knox arrived on July 17th, 2017. It’s been the best and hardest four weeks of my life. I never knew I could feel so many emotions all at once. I never knew I could survive with such little sleep. I never knew it would be so hard and amazing all at the same time.
Read More
We live in a very fast-paced world. There is always something to do, purchase, volunteer for, and travel to. We are constantly told that we need more stuff or we need to do more. As a business owner, I am constantly feeling like there is always more that can be done to improve my business. There are an abundance of courses I could buy that would make me a better business owner. There are numerous systems that could be implemented that would help my business run smoother.
Read More
If you’re like me, the word “networking” makes you think of spending a mid-week evening out at a restaurant, awkwardly mingling around a room with watered-down cocktail in your left hand. Just thinking about it makes you anxious. Yeah, I hate that stuff. In fact, I avoid it at all costs.
Read More
If you’re like me, you are always looking for ways to improve. I want to improve my health, I want to improve my business systems, I want to improve my productivity, I want to improve my marketing skills, etc. I am always eager for ways to improve. Chances are, if you’re here, you want to improve your business. If not, no worries. Enjoy your time and get comfortable! I suggest reading this and looking here. I digress.
Read More
“You need a mailing list”
If you’re a business owner, I’m sure you’ve heard or read this within the past year. I am guessing you’ve noticed that social media has changed and you aren’t able to depend on Instagram for all your marketing purposes. You’ve probably read blog posts about Mailchimp vs. Convertkit. And I’m also guessing that at some point in the process of learning about email marketing, you’ve also felt stressed and anxious about it.
Read More
I know that this could ruffle some feathers, but I feel this is something that needs to be talked about in the creative community. As an artist and product shop owner, I work VERY hard to create the images in my Instagram feed. I plan product shooting days. I buy props for my photoshoots. I pay my friends to model for me. I buy coffee to brew for the glass coffee mugs. I buy donuts (and try really hard to not eat them). I write out a plan for every single picture I create. I have a checklist. I edit the photos. I export them and upload them to my phone.
Read More
Let’s face it: Instagram is totally different these days. It makes sense. But still, it’s a bummer. Instagram is a business and they want to make money--can’t blame them--but it cramps our style, right? Well, first off we just need to accept that it’s different and learn to “adapt and overcome” as my husband would say. And second, we also need to learn to put our time and energy into other marketing platforms.
Read More
We all know it: social media gives us unrealistic expectations, breeds jealousy and comparison, and contributes to the viral spread of FOMO. You can’t deny it. You can’t argue with it. It’s just the truth. But, I believe, there are ways for us to use these apps in a way that doesn’t compete with our emotional health and positive self-talk. I am just as guilty as the next person for falling into the traps of comparison, FOMO, and unrealistic expectations. I’m not immune. Either are you. But, let’s work together to find some ways to use these apps to do the opposite.
Read More