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How to be authentic (and not a hot mess)

Get more goodness and support the podcast: http://patreon.com/taraswiger

How can you be a real person and not be a hot mess, on social media?

In this episode, inspired by something Caitlin Bacher said at Schoolhouse Craft, I’m going to give you three questions to answer, so you can figure it out once and for all. These questions will help you develop your strategy and connect with your customers, without sounding like either a robot (boring!) or oversharing (ew!).

Want to be authentic online? This week we're revisiting a popular episode from the past and adding a bonus – get a FREE worksheet to help you work through the questions from this episode! Grab it here.

How to listen

You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

How to be “authentic” without being a hot mess

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

How can you be a real person and not be a hot mess, on social media?

In this episode, inspired by something Caitlin Bacher said at Schoolhouse Craft, I'm going to give you three questions to answer, so you can figure it out once and for all. These questions will help you develop your strategy and connect with your customers, without sounding like either a robot (boring!) or oversharing (ew!).

Want the transcripts? Sign up here!
Join the Business Confidence Challenge, to finally do the things you're afraid of

How to listen

You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

Bring more authenticity into YOUR marketing messages with my free e-course! Sign up below to get it!

Danielle is crafting a (whitehot) business

This is the fourth in a series of interviews with smart people who are crafting a business. Part friendly chat, part case-study, all helpfulness!
If you know someone I should interview (even you!) let me know.

Today I’m talking to Danielle of WhiteHotTruth. While her business isn't crafty in the make-a-craft-sense, it is entirely handmade, built from scratch and filled to the brim her brightly shining Daneille-ness.
I was delighted to ask Danielle a few questions after devouring her Fire Starter Sessions book. That book (and the thinking and scribbling it provoked) directly led to this site and my favoritist, love-filled part of my own business.

You combine the visual + the verbal beautifully in your notecards and in your truisms: how did you develop your sense of design?

It gets down to this: strip it down. I haven't always been a champion of simplicity, but I got there, because I got clear that it's all about the message, baby. And judging from your next question (I peeked ahead) you get that too!

Your eye, your style, the layout of everything from notecards to FireStarter Sessions to your website all reflect and highlight the meaning, the message.
And at the same time, it reinforces your brand. Do you think of it as branding? Or something else?

Whenever someone asks me about ‘how I built my brand' I giggle inside. So, nope, I don't think of it as branding…but it is. Confusing? My quick definition of a brand is a persona. Some personas are manufactured for appeal, some personas are a reflection of someone's authentic self. The latter is more sustainable, and fun.

I've got a message, and I focus on being straightforward about it…usually in Helvetica and black & white.

The exercise I found most powerful in the FireStarter Sessions was figuring out what I wanted to feel and then work on bringing those feelings into my work in whatever way I can. It sparks all sorts of crazy ideas and new directions.

How did you discover this method of decision-making?

So glad that worked for you because it's the focus of my next book. It's been a long journey to finally getting to the heart of it: that everything we do is in order the generate a desired feeling. The short answer about how I got there: take years of faking it to make it, too many new age self help books, a heaping does of passion, meditation, and consistent courage, et voila! Conclusion: the best life strategy is to get clear on exactly how you want to feel and set about creating those feelings in every area of your life. Feels…good.

What do you want to feel more of right now?

I always want to feel more innovative, affluent, connected, and…divinely feminine.

You recently wrote that doing what you say your going to do is the secret to success.

How do you make sure you aren't promising things you can't do? How do you set boundaries to respect your capacity?

I say ‘no, thank you' about 80% of the time. I work with some A+ people, so I can focus on what I do best. I pay attention to when I feel inspired, or heavy – and I try not to let heavy get on my to do list. Inspiration is a very simple, but powerful formula.

Thanks Danielle!

If you enjoyed this interview, let Danielle know! She’s @daniellelaporte on Twitter.

My favorite bits of Danielle-wisdom:

“Strip it down.”
“Inspiration is a very simple, but powerful formula.”

What could you strip down today?

Marketing Resources

Want to work on your profitability? You've come to the right place! Click any link to be taken directly to that resource.

Blog posts + Podcast episodes:

Online classes, books, and guides:

Elevate Your Business: Explore who your customer is, how to talk to her and how to use the most effective tools (instagram and email). Available only inside the Starship Program.
Market Yourself: Learn how to talk about your creative work (without feeling weird), pick the marketing tools that work for you, and craft a marketing plan that works. Buy it here!

CreativeLIVE

I partnered with the folks at CreativeLIVE to produce four online classes. Click the title of each one to learn more or sign up!

How to Talk About Your Work – You are the expert on your products and your story. Learn how to turn that story into a marketing message that communicates the value of your handcrafted products in a compelling and memorable way.
Build Your Customer Path – As a crafter you have plenty of admirers, yet persuading someone who is interested in your work to become a paying customer is no small feat. Learn how you can create a customer path that gets the people who love your products to pay for them again and again.
Create the Right Plan – The world is awash in good marketing ideas. The key to success is having a concrete marketing plan that aligns with your goals. In this class, I will help you structure a plan that is just right for the way you want to do business.
Marketing for Crafters Bundle – Get all 3 of the above-listed classes in one discounted bundle!
How to Get More Done – Stop fretting over the limited number of hours in a day and get to work – the smart way! In this class I lay out a simple action plan that will help you manage your time, your business, and your family life more efficiently.

Social Media Resource Guide

This is all of the information Tara has published on the concept of social media. Click on any link to be taken directly to that resource. (See also: Instagram Resource Guide.)

Podcast Episodes and Blog Posts:

Other Resources

Market Yourself

50 Things I loved in 2015

Last year I shared a list of everything I loved in 2014 and it was so much fun that I decided to do it again, as part of my yearly review. It's so much fun to think back through the tools I discovered or the experiences I had that are particular to this year. What are your favorite parts of the last year?

(This is no particular order, I just started listing as things came to me.)

By far the most favorite part of my year, of every year, is getting to work with amazing, inspiring, clever, curious makers and artists. I am honored to be part of their journey. All of the stuff on this list can't compare to the joy my job brings me.
Periscope. If you asked me to name one tool that changed my business the most in 2015, I'd have to say Periscope. Through it, I connected deeper to my current students and (quite a surprise to me!) I found and connected with many brand-new-to-me people who became Starship Captains this year. (You can watch all recent episodes here.)
Jess. She makes my entire life better with her feedback, editing, and smarts.
Working with Jay (my husband) as a team member in my company. Sure, we had a lot of adjusting to do, but it's not only improved our all-the-time communication, it also built our confidence for our next business undertaking. Plus, getting his insight and skillz into my projects makes everything better! (If you like the blog images, or the visual prompts of the Biz Confidence Challenge, or the fact that I now put podcast recordings on YouTube – that's all him!)
Asana! This project-management tool has streamlined all of the many pieces of my biz, and cuts down on back-and-forth that comes from having three hands in just about every project.
Finally finding a planner-system that works for me, that isn't just a notebook. I've been using Filofax + Get to Workbook.
Grants Pass + visiting my parents. For the first time in my LIFE I was able to visit my dad + second-mom three times in the same year. This is by far the best perk of my job, and the highlight of my personal life.
The Biz Confidence Challenge! The idea came to me and I sketched it out in 10 minutes and it started the very next Monday. The reactions + results have been fantastic. The #bizconfidencechallenge hashtag is an inspiration.
Pad Thai. Still my most-favorite dinner.
The entire CreativeLIVE experience. I loved working with their team, and getting the chance to grab a bite with both Abby and Megan.
My galaxy sneakers. There is nothing like having a pair of shoes that you just adore.
Craftcation! This was such a fun experience, it totally cured my fear of conferences. And of course having days to talk about life with Kim Werker is always a good thing. Plus Abby! And Blair!
My neon green maxi skirt. And my giant neon pink paper-thin scarf. The perfect traveling clothes!
Raylan! He came into our life in January and almost left us in December (scary!). He was a hot mess of excitement and energy, but through patience and playdates, he's become a snuggly, sweet (still super-curious) member of the family.
Charleston! I took a quick 2 day trip there at the last minute, with my mom and her friends, and it was lovely!
Daiya Mac + Cheese and brussel sprouts! I ate this meal about 500 times this year.
TNNA + teaching in Columbus. I got to see so many Starship Captains
School House Craft. The entire conference was fun, but the highlight was getting to know Isaac and Caitlin and Sharon better (and more Kim and Marlo!). In other words, as always, the best part of anything is the people, and I'm thrilled to get to work alongside such lovely people.
Honore Bakery is within walking distance of my friend's house in Seattle. YUM.
Finishing the first draft of my book proposal. And then sending to an agent. It took way longer than I planned, it was super scary, I have no idea what's going to happen… and yet I'm so glad I did it.
Discovering the perfect writing spot! There's a bookstore inside a coffe shop! I ONLY work on the book here, so it's easy for me to snap into focus when I sit down.
Being on other podcasts. I shared my secret inner warrior (She-Ra, Princess of Power!) with Jeffrey Shaw and talked about launching and confidence with Tiffany Han.
Writing for Yarn Market News.
Red hair! I thought about it for over 3 months and finally pulled the trigger at the very end of the year. It's an ongoing symbol of following my gut instead of focusing on what other people will think.
Inside Out. By far one of the best movies I've watched in years. It's sparked conversations with everyone I've talked to about it.
Comics! Especially Jem, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (her roommate is a knitter!), B*tch Planet, and Ms. Marvel. If you don't read comics, I highly recommend getting any of these in paperback at your library and diving in.
Knitting! I finished more knitting this year than I have in years. Mom's sweater, my Blue Sand, Boxy, mittens, Jay's hat, Mom's Pendulum.
Knitting along to the Gilmore Girls. I re-watched it all this year.
Going to afternoon matinees on Friday. The local movie theater does an extra-cheap movie between 4 and 5 pm. We took advantage of it at least once a month, which feels like sneaking out of work early. There were a lot of great movies this year!
My new business cards!
Some Starship Captains got buttons made, so they can find each other at events! I was so flabbergasted that they love the community enough to do this on their own!
Les Mis!! For our anniversary Jay took me to see the local community theater production. I cried throughout (and I met a podcast listener, which was amazing).
My new morning routine: Water, quiet time, reading (a book, not my phone), and working out. It's made my mornings so much calmer and more fun. I look forward to getting up!
Taking a full week off at the end of December. I stressed about this a lot, but I knew I needed to recover from the awesomeness (and hard work) of the Lift Off launch. It didn't turn out how I imagined, but I'm glad I did it.
Reading about fitness with the goal of loving yourself and becoming stronger, from Neghar, Jill, and Jen. I cannot recommend their programs and blogs strongly enough.
My library. It's beautiful, has a great view, and is staffed by people I'm becoming friends with!
The CSA – this is the first time in years that we subscribed and it was fantastic.
Writing and recording Explore Your Enthusiasm podcast each week is still my favorite work. And connecting with the listeners via #exploreyourenthusiasm is a delight.
Reading! I read some of my favorite books ever this year: Big Magic, Man's Search for Meaning, The Confidence Code and dozens more.
My mastermind group. It is full of women I respect and our deepening friendships (and ongoing idea-generation) has been a huge blessing this year.
Finally figuring out Pinterest. Caitlin said about 3 sentences at School House Craft that just shifted the whole thing for me.
Tailwind, for scheduling my blog posts on Pinterest!
CoSchedule for scheduling social media directly from WordPress.
Buffer for scheduling social media from anywhere.
Hiking! We went on a great hike through a new-to-us local mountain with friends, and then went on an amazing hike with my dad in Oregon. After every hike I remember how much I want to spend more time outdoors!
The new Starship site is AMAZING. I LOVE IT.
Hiring Wendy was the best decision I made. The project would never have come together without her. (Plus, she's hilarious.)
This is the first year since I started my biz that my focus wasn't on making new stuff. Instead, I focused on going deeper for my current students and on improving everything. I became more consistent, created a new platform for the Starship, improved and refreshed every single piece of every class, and really nailed the launch of Lift Off.
This was the best year of sales in my business ever. I can't believe I almost completely forgot that. It's just one sign of how much my biz is growing into something I love.
Making plans for 2016! I'll be teaching nearly every month: in San Diego, Columbus, Cleveland, Atlanta, Maryland, and Western Mass. (Want to get updates when I nail down the dates and places? Sign up here!)

What were your favorite parts of 2015?

Podcast Transcripts

As a giant THANK YOU for subscribing, I'm sharing my podcast notes with you!

Please keep in mind that these aren't word-for-word transcripts of what I've said, but rather, the notes I make before I record, edited to make a bit more sense and to link to anything I've mentioned. If you enjoy the podcast, please tell your friends and leave a review on iTunes!

We started making transcripts with episode 56, but we're willing to go back and edit (and prettify) the notes from earlier podcasts, just let me know which one you'd like!

#26: How to use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for your Business – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#56: What you can learn from Income Reports – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#57: The Difference Between Effective & Sleazy marketing – Podcast episode – Podcast transcript

#58: What I've Learned in 33 Years – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#59: The Most Effective Way to Grow Your Business – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#60: An Interview with Fiber Artist Sasha Torres – Podcast Episode – No transcript since this was an interview!

#61: The Four Tendencies: How to Make Real Change in Life + Business – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#62 – An Interview with Knitwear Designer Corrina Ferguson – Podcast Episode – No transcript since this was an interview!

#63 – Business Boundaries: How to create boundaries + expectations to keep you sane – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#64 – Mo' Money, Mo' Problems – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#65 – 5 Steps to Grow Your Business – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#66 – Get the Support You Need: 7 Steps to Hiring Your First Person – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#67 – Focus: How to Get it and Keep it – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#68 – Megan Auman on visual marketing, neuroscience of desire, and MBAs – Podcast Episode – No transcript since this was an interview!

#69 – Get More Done: A Sneak Peek at the CreativeLive Class – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#70 – Abby Glassenberg on Email Marketing for Crafters – Podcast Episode – No transcript since this was an interview!

#71 – Lisa Jacobs on Copywriting and Income Reports – Podcast Episode – No transcript since this was an interview!

#72 – Make 2015 Awesome: It's Not Too Late – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#73 – The Secret of Reaching Goals (and how I forgot it) – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#74 – Why Your Creative Business Dreams Haven't Come True – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#75 – Why aren't people buying? Here's how to find out + crush it – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#76 – An interview with Knitwear Designer + Instructor Jill Wolcott – Podcast Episode – No transcript since it was an interview!

#77 – The Introvert's Survival Guide for Conferences – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#78 – Grace Dobush on Making the Most of Craft Conferences – Podcast Episode – No transcript since it was an interview!

#79 – Defeat Self Doubt – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#80 – An interview with artist Laureen Marchand – Podcast Episode – No transcript since it was an interview!

#81 – How to be “authentic” without being a hot mess – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#82 – Fear + Success are not Mutually Exclusive – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#83 – Enjoy the end of the year in your creative business – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#84 – How to get traction in your creative business – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#85 – The biggest challenge your creative business faces – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#86 – 3 Creative Biz lessons I learned in 2015 – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#87 – 7 Principles to have your Best Year Ever – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#88 – Marketing Burnout: How to avoid it and deal with it – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#89 – Mission, Strategy, Tactics – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#90 – The 8 Best Books for your Creative Business – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#91 – Why you're afraid of setting a goal – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#92 – Inspiration isn't enough – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#93 – The difference between arrogance and confidence – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#94 – 4 steps to sound like a human, connect with your customers, and sell more stuff – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#95 – How to fit all of your marketing pieces together – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#96 – Yarn Shop Owner and Craft Wars Survivor Esther Hall – Podcast Episode – No transcript because it's an interview

#97 – Singer, designer, + intentional living guide Lynn Hershberger – Podcast Episode – No transcript because it's an interview

#98 – Be the Captain of your Own Ship – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#99 – Interview with Retreat Organizer and Knitwear Designer Varian Brandon – Podcast Episode – No transcript because it's an interview

#100 – A live call-in show with Tara! – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript (and FREE worksheet!)

#101 – Why Your Goal Failed (and a free worksheet to make a better goal!) – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript (and FREE worksheet!)

#102 – Stop Creating Marketing Distractions – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript (and FREE worksheet!)

#103 – How to stop feeling weird talking about your work – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript (and FREE worksheet!)

#104 – How to make time for marketing – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#105 – How to Set Marketing Expectations – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#106 – An interview with video podcaster, knitwear designer, and retreat host C.C. Almon – Podcast Episode – No transcript because it's an interview!

#107 – 3 Lessons from The Introvert Entrepreneur – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#108 – You're invited to love your business (the #MonthofBizLove challenge) – Podcast Episode – FREE #MonthofBizLove workbook

#109 – How to Have a Business you Love – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#110 – The Magical Power of Celebration + Review – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#111 – Interview with Fiber Farmer Lisa Check – Podcast Episode – No transcript because it was an interview!

#112 – The 4 Foundations of Your Creative Business (aka, where to spend your time) – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#113 – The Real Challenge: Consistency – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript – Free Bonus Worksheet!

#114 – What's stopping you? – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#115 – Reframe it: Turn obstacles into action – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#116 – Criticism: Should you ignore it or accept it? – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#117 – How to Focus on Your Right People – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript (and FREE worksheet!)

#118 – Talking Collaboration + Promotion Partners with Knitwear Designer Lisa Barnes – Podcast Episode – No transcript because it's an interview

#119 – Feeling unmotivated? Here's how to get more done – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript (and FREE Guide!)

#120 – How to be authentic (without being a hot mess!) – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript (and FREE worksheet!)

#121 – How to say NO to anything – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript (and FREE worksheet!)

#122 – How do YOU Get Stuff Done? – Podcast Episode – FREE Resource Guide

#123 – The Truth about Depression and Anxiety – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#124 – Collaboration + Self-Publishing with Kathleen + Anne of Filament – Podcast Episode – No transcript because it's an interview

#125 – You are ENOUGH – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#126 – What Confidence IS and IS NOT – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#127 – How to Handle Failure – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#128 – Don't Wait to be Chosen – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript (and FREE worksheet!)

#129 – Accept All Compliments – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#130 – You Have Permission – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript (and FREE permission slip!)

#131 – How to take action, without waiting around for more confidence – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#132 – When you need to take a break from your business – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#133 – A conversation with Yarn in the City co-founders Allison and Rachel – Podcast Episode – No transcript since it was an interview

#134 – Apps + tools for the international biz lady – Podcast Episode – No transcript (links are at the bottom of the post!)

#135 – How to get back to work after a break – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#136 – The importance of New Year planning (and how I do it) – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#137 – The One Resolution you Need to Make (and how to do it) – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript (with free worksheet!)

#138 – Instagram Stories, Choosing the Right Idea, + More of Your Questions Answered – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#139 – Avoid these 3 Instagram mistakes: a conversation and a new challenge – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#140 – 9 Emails you can send for your handmade business tomorrow – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#141 – The Key to Consistency + Success = Grit – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#142 – Conversations around the TNNA Floor – Podcast Episode – No transcript because it was a live event

#143 – 5 Steps to Effective Copywriting – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#144 – How to have a business you LOVE – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#145 – How to get out of bed in the morning when everything is awful – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#146 – Lessons Learned from REAL Income Reports – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#147 – The 5 Accounting Terms You Need to Know in Your Small Biz – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#148 – Should you work for free? – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#149 – How to Stay on Top of Your Accounting – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#150 – Do you have a business or a hobby? – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript (and FREE worksheet!)

#151 – One pricing strategy does NOT fit all – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript (and FREE worksheet!)

#152 – Results from YOUR income reports – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#153 – Anxiety + Depression: What Works, 1 Year Later – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#154 – Long Term vs. Short Term Thinking – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#155 – Your Mindset Matters – Podcast Episode – No transcript because it's a conversation with Joeli!

#156 – The Article That Changed the Way I do Business – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#157 – What People Get Wrong about Marketing – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#158 – Coming back after illness, finding time for everything, and handling discouragement – Podcast Episode – No transcript because this episode was a Q&A!

#159 – Email list growth, self-publishing, + what I'd do differently – Podcast Episode – No transcript because this was a Q&A!

#160 – Reflections on my 35th Birthday – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#161 – How I changed my relationship with money – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#162 – How to launch your next product or design – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#163 – 2017 is halfway over. How about your goals? – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#164 – Your Questions Answered: making friends, failed launches, and why you need a business profile – Podcast Episode – No transcript because this was a Q&A!

#166 – How to make a great day every day – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#167 – Happiness and Radical Responsibility – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#168 – How (and why) my business has changed over the years: an inside look – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#169 – The social media tools I use and why – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#170 – Your Questions Answered: Pricing, Quitting Your Day Job, and more – Podcast Episode – No transcript because this was a Q&A!

#171 – How to get more rejection & grow your biz – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#172 – Inside the Starship: Who, What and How we build stellar businesses – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#173 – How to fix YOUR relationship with money – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#174 – How to apply The Slight Edge – Podcast Episode – No transcript this week!

#175 – Are you limiting yourself? – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#176 – Habits make the business – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#177 – Mindfulness: our favorite tools with Kara Gott-Warner – Podcast Episode – No Transcript this week!

#178 – How I Found Time for a Whole New Business – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#179 – My best-ever marketing tool (and how to use it in your creative business) – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#180 – How to be great at sales (without being sales-y) – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#181 – Your Questions Answered – Podcast Episode – No Transcript this week!

#182 – Fear of disapproval: get over it – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#183 – How Emotions are Made (and how that impacts your business) – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#184 – Sane Holiday: 3 questions for the busy creative – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#185 – Permission to Rest – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#186 – My Favorites: 2017 edition – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#187 – How to plan for what you really want in 2018 – Podcast Episode – No Transcript this week!

#188 – How to make a fresh start – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#189 – Stop seeking approval (and build a great business) – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#190 – What if your success if a fluke? – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#191 – Stretch Goals: the key to hitting big goals – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#192 – What I've been reading: January 2018 – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#193 – What do to when sales are low + you feel awful – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#194 – Stand by your prices – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#195 – Your Questions Answered – Podcast Episode – No Transcript this week!

#196 – What I'm reading: February 2018 – Podcast Episode – No Transcript this week!

#197 – Pressure to be Perfect – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#198 – The Power of Knowing Your Numbers – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#199 – Interview with Tara – Podcast Episode – No Transcript this week!

#200 – Episode 200, the call in show! – Podcast Episode – No Transcript this week!

#201 – What I'm reading: March 2018 – Podcast Episode – No Transcript this week!

#202 – Best Advice Ever: Your questions answered – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#203 – Advice to a new business owner: Your questions answered – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#204 – Dealing with Uncertainty: Your questions answered – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#205 – What I'm reading: April 2018 – Podcast Episode – No Transcript this week.

#206 – Combat Information Overwhelm: Your questions answered – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#207 – The emotional side of uncertainty – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#208 – How to get stuff done when you don't want to – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#209 – What I'm reading: May 2018 – Podcast Episode – No transcript this week

#210 – Fit it all together: Your marketing plan – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#211 – On my 36th birthday – Podcast Episode – Podcast Transcript

#212 – Announcement! Insight into a personal decision – Podcast Episode – No transcript this week!

#213 – Your questions answered: Blogging, benefits and slowing down sales – Podcast Episode + Transcript – No transcript this week!

#214 – What I'm Reading: July 2018 – Podcast Episode + Transcript – No transcript this week!

#215 – Goals vs Systems: How to reach your 2018 goals – Podcast Episode + Transcript – Podcast Worksheet

#216 – When things don't go as planned – Podcast Episode + Transcript – Podcast Worksheet

#217 – Translate Love into Sales: Your questions answered – Podcast Episode + Transcript – No worksheet this week

#218 – What I'm reading: August 2018 – Podcast Episode + Transcript – No worksheet this week

#219 – Branding vs Marketing vs Sales – Podcast Episode + Transcript – No worksheet this week

#220 – How do you keep going when everything is GOOD? – Podcast Episode + Transcript – No worksheet this week

#221 – Foundations of a healthy business: what you truly need to succeed – Podcast Episode + Transcript – No worksheet this week

#222: Upgrade your “everybody” – Podcast Episode + Transcript – No worksheet this week

#223: What I'm reading: September 2018 – Podcast Episode + Transcript – No worksheet this week

#224: How I dramatically simplified my business – Podcast Episode + Transcript – No worksheet this week

#225: Post-summer Renewal – Podcast Episode + Transcript – Post-Summer Kickstart Worksheet

#226: Why you self-sabotage – Podcast Episode + Transcript – No worksheet this week

#227: What I'm reading: October 2018 – Podcast Episode + Transcript – No worksheet this week

#228: When you have too many ideas – Podcast Episode + Transcript – No worksheet this week

#229: Taking Parental Leave with Stacey Trock – Podcast Episode + Transcript – No worksheet this week

#230: Play Your Own Game – Podcast Episode + Transcript – No worksheet this week

#231: How stress is affecting your (& what to do about it) with Joeli Kelly – Podcast Episode + Transcript – No worksheet this week

#232: What I'm Reading: November 2018 – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#233: Imposter Syndrome: How to stop it from stopping you – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#234: 6 Episodes you HAVE to listen to – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#235: Trust Yourself: A beginner's guide – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#236: What I'm Reading: December 2018 – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#237: In Conversation: Mary Roth and Joeli Kelly about goals, milestones and Starship – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#238: Staying sane: Let go of holiday expectations – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#239: How to plan the best year ever – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#240: How to be an introvert in business with Stacey Trock – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#241: Turn a bad day around: mental health checklist – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#242: Celebration is important to your business success: how and why to celebrate – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#243: What I'm reading: Winter 2019 – Podcast Episode +Transcript

#244: Beyond goal-setting: daily and weekly plans – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#245: Seasons in business – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#246: How to stop being hard on yourself – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#247: What I'm Reading: February 2019 – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#248: My favorite podcasts – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#249: When to quit – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#250: Q+A: schedules, toddlers, and why we do foster care – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#251: What I'm Reading: March 2019 – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#252: Get your confidence back – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#253: Q+A with my husband! – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#254: How to plan in uncertain times – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#255: What I'm Reading: April 2019 – Podcast Episode

#256: Time: there's never enough – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#257: The Myth of “Balance” – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#258: You have impact – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#259: How to be unapologetic – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#260: What I'm Reading: May 2019 – Podcast Episode

#261: 37th Birthday Lessons – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#262: Mindset is Contagious: a conversation with Jay Swiger – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#263: Failure as Fuel – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#264: Summer Reading Resources – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#265: 10 Years of Self-Employment: What I've Learned – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#266: Episode 1: Getting Started (rebroadcast) – Podcast Episode + Links

#267: How to Launch Anything (rebroadcast) – Podcast Episode + Links

#268: Fear of Success (rebroadcast) – Podcast Episode + Links

#269: Be Yourself (rebroadcast) – Podcast Episode + Links

#270: Stop Seeking Approval (rebroadcast) – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#271: Get Over Your Fear of Disapproval (rebroadcast) – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#272: Stretch Goals (rebroadcast) – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#273: Pressure to be Perfect (rebroadcast) – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#274: How to recover from summer – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#275: What I Read: Summer 2019 – Podcast Episodes + Links

#276: Q+A promotion, saying no, and balancing multiple businesses – Podcast Episodes + Links

#277: Business Plans: Do you need one? – Podcast Episodes + Transcript

#278: Business Plans: Sneak peek into our business plan (+ how to make your own) – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#279: How to survive social media burnout – Podcast Episodes + Transcript

#280: Biz lessons from (foster) parenting – Podcast Episodes + Transcript

#281: How to invest in your business – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#282: Get your shop ready for the holidays – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#283: How to make time to APPLY what you learn – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#284: You have more than enough time – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#285: Mental health during the holidays – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#286: Favorite books: Autumn 2019 – Podcast Episodes + Transcript

#287: How I use planners in my business – paper planner edition – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#288: How I use planners in my business – Asana edition – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#289: How to decide on your next goal – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#290: Skip the Resolutions, Transform your Life – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#291: How I'm planning 2020 – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#292: Your Launch Plan: 5 Steps to Growth – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#293: What’s next? Continuous sales after launch – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#294: What's holding you back? – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#295: Get out of your own way – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#296: Fix Your Mindset – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#297: Favorite books of Winter 2020 – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#298: How Instagram Creates Sales – Podcast Episode + Transcript

#299: Why Instagram Stories?

#300: Celebrations! A Q+A

#301: 3 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Creative Business

#302: Global Uncertainty (How to deal)

#303: How to Make a Decision

#304: How to Plan in Uncertainty

#305: Finding Enthusiasm in Uncertainty

#306: Mindest and Business Podcasts by Black Women

#308: Favorite Books of Spring 2020

#309: BIG Changes in Life and Business (new baby!)

#310: MORE Big Changes (3 more kids!)

299: Why Instagram Stories

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Are you using Instagram Stories? Is it connecting with your customers and helping you reach your goals? Or are you confused about what to do to make it effective? Today I’m going to answer your questions about WHY you should be using Instagram Stories and HOW to make them work for you!

Today we’re diving into the tool Instagram Stories and how you can use them to connect with your right customers, build trust and make sales.

If you’re reading this podcast, thank you! You may wanna hop up above to the video of this episode as well because the video has a few extra minutes of showing you what exactly I’m talking about! You’ll find it at the top of the post.

What is Instagram Stories?

Instagram Stories is an extra feature on Instagram, where you can post images or 15 second videos from your day. They expire after 24 hours.

You can shoot them “live” from inside the app, or you can use the photos in your photo library on your phone. You can also share your regular Instagram posts (if viewers click on them they’ll be taken to your post where they can like and comment) and you can share other people’s Instagram posts, which means you can share your customers photos of your work!

Why do Stories?

What is the best way to build trust with potential customers? It’s in-person events. Customers get to talk to you, touch the product, then buy directly from you. The second-best option is live video, it is the most similar to being in-person. The potential customer gets to see how you really talk, see what you’re working on.

This builds relationships and it builds trust. And more trust = more sales.

Stories allow you to show way more than you can in your Instagram grid. Are you packing orders, getting supplies, making products everyday? In Stories, you can show that!

What do you have in common with your customers? You can share that in Stories. For example: reading, relationships, personality type, preferences, etc.

Remember: You get to decide what to share.

How do you use Stories effectively?

What kind of Stories build relationships?

Personal
Unedited

Use Engagement tools

Polls,
Questions,
Sliders

Use DMs

Use Stories to tell your Marketing Message, and then save it to “Highlights”

You may be thinking – uh, what is my marketing message? What do I talk about? I outline what goes into your effective marketing message in my free workshop “4 Foundations” and we can work together on your Marketing Message inside the Starship Program. To watch the free workshop and learn more about how we can work together go to TaraSwiger.com/foundations

I’d love to hear how you are using Instagram Stories in your business! Come tell me on Instagram. I’m @taraswiger.

I’m going to give you homework right now to put this into practice:
Take a screenshot of your podcast app as you’re listening, then open Instagram Stories, share this photo and tag me @taraswiger and add the hashtag #exploreyourenthusiasm. This is such a low-stress way to get started, you don’t have to talk to the camera or anything.

While you’re on IG, send a DM and tell me what you learned from this episode!

Thank you so much for listening and I’m wishing you an enthusiastic week!

I can't wait to put these tips on using Instagram Stories into practice!

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How to listen

You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

298: How Instagram creates sales

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Is Instagram worth it? How do you make sales with Instagram? I know! This is one of the ongoing questions my students have about any tool, and Instagram in particular. Today I’m going to explain EXACTLY how you can increase your sales by using Instagram.

Before we dive into Instagram, we are coming right up on episode 300, and I am including YOU in this episode! To participate, head over to my free FB group: fb.com/groups/taraswiger and the info on how to be involved is right there, pinned to the top!

Today’s question comes directly from the FB group: Does Instagram actually make sales for anyone? It seems to be just a waste of time, a bunch of content going into the void.

First of all: yeah, it can DEFINITELY feel like a waste of your time!

The good news is: YOU are in charge of whether it's a waste of time or not. It’s true! You don’t have to wait for Instagram to send you people, or for your right buyer to just stumble upon you.

Instead, make Instagram effective for your business by creating a plan and using it to find, connect with, and build trust with your ideal buyers. You will make sales with Instagram when you talk to, connect with and build trust with your Ideal Buyers.

So how do you connect and build trust on Instagram?

Identify your Right People.
Talk to your Right People on YOUR profile
Find and connect with your Right People on their profile.

Now let’s get into it deeper.

Identify Your Right People

Who buys your item? Who wants what you sell? These are your Right People. This is who ALL your marketing should be for. This will impact what photos you use, what captions you write, what hashtags you utilize, everything about all of your marketing.

This is a deeper process than just answering a few questions and it is what I do with Captains inside the Starship. So if you want to know more about your people, check out the free workshop at TaraSwiger.com/Foundations and we can work together to identify your Right People.

On Your Profile

If you’re taking the time to post photos on your Instagram, then take the extra time to make it effective at making a connection with your Right Buyer.

How? Captions.

A photo might grab someone’s attention, but captions are how your customers get to know YOU, get to know your brand and what you stand for, and feel connected to you.

Yes, you could just write three words and be done, but if you’re taking the time to post, shouldn’t you take the time to make it worthwhile? Writing a longer post (over 65 words, which is the average), it will take longer, but it will also be more valuable.

The data shows that posts with longer captions generally have higher engagement than those with a shorter caption. Engagement is when your followers interact with your post (comment, like, save or share it). And more engagement leads to more people seeing your post.

Ok, so what do you write? This is where you come back to your RIght Buyer – what is she interested in? What does she need to know about your product or your company? We answer all these questions in the Starship, so you create effective posts.

On Her Profile

How does your customer find you?
Well, she may be searching, she may click on hashtags, but the most direct way for your customer to find you is… you find her.

Stop waiting for your Right Buyer to find your photos, or to find your shop – find her!

How?

This goes back to the work you did to identify your RIght Buyer – once you have a very clear idea of who she is, you can look at who she follows, what sites she reads, what she’s into. One of the easiest ways is to look at your Actual Customers. See what they’re posting, who they’re following, what hashtags they use.
And… connect with her! Follow your customer on Instagram, comment on her posts, when she asks for a recommendation, give it! You’re not going to be SELLING to her, but you will be CONNECTING with her.

Look at who else they follow and who follows them. If that person seems like your Right Buyer, follow them! And connect.

Does this work? Doesn’t it take a lot of time?

Oh, I know, I hear you moaning now – but Tara! Doesn’t this take a lot of time? Does this work?

And the answer is yes and yes. It does take time. But you are already scrolling on Instagram. Right? You are already spending time on social media that is not building your business. I’m not asking you to spend MORE time, I’m asking you to spend your time EFFECTIVELY. As in, doing stuff that will make a change.

As for it working, listen. I don’t recommend you do only this. This is one strategy in what should be a full plan for marketing, that includes clear messaging, email marketing, in-person marketing, along with Instagram.

This is not linear. You don’t get a 1:1 result. Or even a 10:1 result. Some posts will connect with people and get 5 new followers. Some will have a strong call to action and hit someone at just the right time and generate 2 or 10 sales. And some will just build a relationship and build trust, so that when you post your newest product, your followers are ready to click over and buy.

How does this actually work?

Well, here’s the thing: I’ve actually said all of this backwards to how your customer will experience it. How it’s going to work is that you are going to go out and connect with your Ideal Buyers on her profile. Leave comments, make recommendations, answer questions. Then, she will move from her profile to yours. You will be building a profile (full of photos and captions) that connect with her so she’ll stick around, maybe click through to your products, maybe follow you. Keep posting, with calls to action that lead her to click, and she’ll click through to your website and buy when she’s ready.

As I was sharing this in the Facebook group, I had someone ask “What about commenting on a post that already has tons of comments? Won’t I just get lost?”

Yes, yes you will. For marketing purposes, don’t bother with accounts that are super big, with dozens of comments. Your comment will mean so much more to someone who doesn’t get very many.

What I’ve noticed is that people have so much resistance to this idea. They don't want to do it because they don’t see immediate results. They don’t want to comment on other people’s posts, but they want people to comment on theirs.

Why? You show people how to interact with you. If you are never in comments, no one else will be. If you never follow anyone or interact, you can’t expect anyone to interact with you.

Yes, you will do work – captions, comments, stories, that won’t get a response.

So what? You’re learning, you’re creating a library of content. You are trial-and-error-ing it. You are getting better at your marketing messaging.

And guess what?

This podcast is built on the very principles you’ll apply to your Instagram. I create content that will delight you. It takes me a LOT of time and energy to create each episode I give it to you for free. I connect with you on social media, you may listen for a month or two years, all the while feeling more trust and connection with me, until you feel ready to join the Starship and work with me.

Are all those episodes I create where you didn’t buy a waste of time and energy?
No, they were building a relationship.

But don’t forget – your posts aren’t building that relationship with ONE person, they are building it with many people who are seeing today, and people who will scroll back and read it a year from now.

If you’ve been listening for a while, and you are curious about learning more to work together, check out how we can work together in my free masterclass – 4 Foundations to a Thriving Handmade Business. You can find it at taraswiger.com/foundations

Can't wait to try out this method of using Instagram to create sales.

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How to listen

You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

293: What’s next? Continuous sales after launch

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How do you keep sales going? When you don’t have anything new? When you’re not launching? What can you do to stay consistent?

Today we are diving in to making more consistent sales!

Recently Starship Captain Brenda asked: “I just launched a pattern last week and had a good amount of sales, but now what?”

I’m going to share with you what I told her.

This is the second episode in a series about reaching your 2020 goal of increased sales. You can listen to the first, which was about launching and find the Massive Launch Resource Kit at taraswiger.com/launch

Ok, let’s get into it: what do you do to keep sales going?

The answer is simple: Send another email.

Yes, if you send 3-5 emails during your launch and now it’s over, get right back into it! Send an email! Post on Instagram! Use the momentum to establish a consistency you might not have had before.

I know you're worried your people won’t want to hear from you too much – YOU ARE WRONG.

They want to hear from you even when you’re not launching. If they stuck with you through the launch, they are VERY interested. In fact, they are closer to buying now than they ever were before.

(If not, they would have unsubscribed or stop opening… in which case they won’t see your messages anyhow!)

Always always remember: you are talking to people who WANT to hear from you.

So what should you send?

Well, if you’ve just held a launch that made more sales than usual, then your products are landing in the hands of your customers – which is what you should feature!

If you’re a knitwear designer or yarn maker, you can see your customer projects on Ravelry. If not (or if no one is sharing them yet), you can ASK them to share, better yet, INCENTIVIZE them to.

Yep, offer them something for sharing. Maybe it’s free shipping code for the next 5 people who post a photo with your hashtag or you host a giveaway and everyone who posts a photo and tags it gets entered to win. Now, it’s not ethical to give anything in exchange for a REVIEW. I’m not saying to incentivize reviews, rather incentivize word-of-mouth – people sharing their product on their own social media, while tagging you and using your hashtag.

Then comment on every single one of those posts and ask the share-er if they give you permission to share it on your account!

Then you’ll have customer images and stories to post!

Be sure you also collecting customer feedback when it’s sent directly to you – via DM or email. Have a template that you send in response to nice emails. Mine says something like “Thank you so much, this made my day! Would you mind if I shared this on my social media or website? I will tag you or link to you when I quote you!” (Now, the testimonials for MY business might be private (eg, if someone shares their sales numbers, they may not want to do that publicly), so I also offer to post it anonymously, but most of you sell something people are happy to talk about publicly.

Almost every time I’ve shared this strategy with a Starship Captain, the maker or designer has been SO nervous to start asking their customers if they can quote them. They are certain their customers will not agree or be upset, but you know what? In every single case their customers have been THRILLED and really flattered. People LOVE to talk about what they love!

This has held true for product makers and service providers – tech editors, yarn shops, jewelry designers, glass artists, knitwear designers, home decor brands, life coaches, knitwear designers – your customers WANT to see you succeed and share their great experience with you!

So that is going to provide a new category of content. Every time you share a customer photo or quote, be sure you link to how to get the thing.

Another strategy that it’s easy to forget is to focus attention on your older, great products. If you followed the directions for a great launch, then you know that it takes some time and effort to really highlight what’s great and valuable about a product. Of course you should do this when you have a new product, but you should ALSO give this attention and love to your older products!

Answer the questions about both benefits and value that I posed in the Launch Plan, and then focus on communicating that for a week or two for your older stuff.

A few years ago I helped a knitwear designer increase her sales when she took a break from publishing new designs with this strategy. She was working on a book, so she couldn’t also be designing and selling individual patterns. She went through her back catalog, chose some customer projects to highlight, wrote up what customers loved about it and her inspiration and highlighted one older pattern in each email and scheduled them to go out once every two weeks for six months. She was surprised that very few of her email subscribers even knew that she had these older patterns (she kept getting comments like “I love the new design!”) and she was even more surprised that her overall sales increased, while she wasn’t actually working in her business at all.

That increase in sales happened for a few reasons:

She was being more consistent, her readers started to look forward to her emails
Every time she sent an email about a “new” pattern, it reminded people to go on and buy the pattern they were considering last month.
The consistency and large back-catalog communicated trust and reliability, which built her brand’s perceived value (a.k.a. people are willing to spend more money when they trust you)

Nowadays I would also add in schedule Instagram posts highlighting the same patterns she was featuring in her emails.

Even though you may not be a designer, please think through how you can apply this to your own business! You could feature older products, or the craft shows that you’ve done, or the retail shops you’re in, or your bestsellers.

Note what worked – do more of it.

This may sound really obvious, but take a minute to think – do you really keep track of what’s working, really working (not just how you feel about it) and then purposefully re-use it?

You can use the same strategies.
The same photos.
The same captions.
The same sales emails.
The same schedule.

Will people notice?

Not really. I used to use the same exact emails to launch the Starship every 3 months, with only a few updates…and they worked as well the 2nd year as they did the first year. Why? Because new people were seeing them every time. New people are coming to you, they don’t know what they used to do.

And if it’s the same people, they haven’t opened and read and looked at and MEMORIZED every single thing you’ve done. So try it!

You can also do more of what worked by looking at WHY it worked. Do pictures of your face do better? Take more! Are captions that are long or short do better? Do that!

You can see all of this on whatever platform you’re using – your email stats, your Instagram “insights” (you have to have a “Business” account to see them, and you should definitely upgrade in order to have access to that!).

Use those stats to shape what you’ll do next.

Keep Going

Above all, the way to keep sales going is to keep TRYING new things (and old things!), to not give up when you have a dry month. To not get discouraged when you need to step back or take a break or something goes wrong.

At the heart of this philosophy is to take responsibility – to realize YOU have a job to do to increase sales. Etsy isn’t going to do it, Instagram isn’t going to do it – YOU have to figure it out by learning and trying and iterating.

It is very easy to say, well, sales are down because of… the election, or Brexit, or Ravelry made a change. But there are businesses who thrive in every condition, in every change. Giving up and blaming outside circumstances is not the way to grow. Taking responsibility for what you can control (and letting go of what you can’t) is the way to reach your goal.

If you implement any of these strategies, let me know, I’m @TaraSwiger on IG. Be sure you come join our Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/taraswiger so you can chat about it with other makers and artists committed to their business in 2020.

Thank you for listening and have an enthusiastic week.

Absolutely LOVE this advice from @TaraSwiger about how to continue making sales after and between launches!

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How to listen

You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Searching for "hot mess"

How to listen

Find all the podcast episodes here.

How to listen

Find all the podcast episodes here.

Bring more authenticity into YOUR marketing messages with my free e-course! Sign up below to get it!

You combine the visual + the verbal beautifully in your notecards and in your truisms: how did you develop your sense of design?

Your eye, your style, the layout of everything from notecards to FireStarter Sessions to your website all reflect and highlight the meaning, the message. And at the same time, it reinforces your brand. Do you think of it as branding? Or something else?

The exercise I found most powerful in the FireStarter Sessions was figuring out what I wanted to feel and then work on bringing those feelings into my work in whatever way I can. It sparks all sorts of crazy ideas and new directions.

How did you discover this method of decision-making?

What do you want to feel more of right now?

My favorite bits of Danielle-wisdom:

What could you strip down today?

What is Instagram Stories?

Why do Stories?

How do you use Stories effectively?

How to listen

Find all the podcast episodes here.

Identify Your Right People

On Your Profile

On Her Profile

Does this work? Doesn’t it take a lot of time?

How does this actually work?

How to listen

Find all the podcast episodes here.

Ok, let’s get into it: what do you do to keep sales going?

So what should you send?

Note what worked – do more of it.

Keep Going

How to listen

Find all the podcast episodes here.

Your eye, your style, the layout of everything from notecards to FireStarter Sessions to your website all reflect and highlight the meaning, the message.
And at the same time, it reinforces your brand. Do you think of it as branding? Or something else?