What People Get Wrong about Marketing

There is one thing that so many people get wrong about marketing, and it drives me crazy.

Today we're going to talk about what people get wrong and how YOU can get it right, to ensure everything you're doing in your marketing and on social is effective.

Marketing isn't about the TOOLS (IG, Twitter, etc), it's about the PEOPLE.

Click To Tweet

Resources Mentioned:

Mission, strategy and tactics – Podcast episode 89
Find your right people podcasts
- Episode 117
- Episode 94
Find your right people articles:
- How my Right People changed my Business
- Connection + Your Right People
Wanna work on finding and serving YOUR Right People?To market your work in a way that's both authentic and effective? Join us in for my newest class, Elevate Your Business!

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.

The Article That Changed the Way I do Business

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In 2009 I read an article that totally changed the way I thought about my small business and shaped the way I do… everything in my business and how I make every decision.

Today we're going to talk more about the article I read, how it shaped my decisions, and how you can use the same concepts to grow and improve your creative business.

As my businesses have grown + changed, the focus is always always the same: Focus on the True Fans.

Click To Tweet

Resources Mentioned:

1000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly, the article that inspired this episode!
Tim Ferris's book, Tools of Titans.
My class with Joeli, Elevate Your Business, opens Friday! Click here to learn more.

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.

What I’m Reading: May 2017

I follow my enthusiasm by reading…a lot. And once a month, I share (some of) the books I read last month and the books I intend to read this month. You can join the informal book club by sharing your own list with me on Facebook and find all the posts here.

(The usual disclaimer applies.)

What I read

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
Present over Perfect, by Shauna Niequist
The Knife of Never Letting Go, by Patrick Ness (and books 2 and 3 in the series!)

What I’m reading

Tools of Titans by Tim Feriss
Mindsight by Daniel J. Siegel

I need some more recommendations! Tell me on Twitter or Facebook!

Here’s to another great month of reading!

What I read last May .

And in May 2015, 2014, and 2013!

How Joeli uses Affirmations

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this episode I'm talking to Joeli about mindset – how to get your mind in the right place so that you can do the work you need to do in your business. Do you struggle to do what you actually need to do in your biz? Do you get to a point where you feel so stuck that you get bogged down in feeling bad, and then you don't take any action? If so – you're not alone! Watch or listen to the episode for commiseration from Joeli and I and some tips for getting in the right mindset to do your best work.

Your thoughts affect your ability to take action. What's YOUR mindset?

Click To Tweet

Resources Mentioned:

Join the Elevate your Instagram challenge! (It starts May 8!)
My last conversation with Joeli about 3 Common Instagram Mistakes
Invisible Gorilla
Shawn Achor's books
Joeli's Lessons Learned
Fixed vs. Growth Mindset

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.

Long Term vs. Short Term Thinking

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Are you focused on the long term or short term?

Are you making decisions based on this week or next year? Do you have patience or are you going to quit if it doesn’t all turn out like you want in three months? This is another tough-love episode where we make your biz a little more sustainable by looking at the big questions.

Make a short term decision to keep the lights on, but a long term decision to grow your biz.

Click To Tweet

Resources Mentioned:

Map Your Business – Think about the long term and then plan for the short with this guidebook!
Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending

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.

Anxiety + Depression: What Works, 1 Year Later

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

About a year ago, I realized: This isn't normal. I want to get better. I'm going to have to face this head on.

I realized I had been living with anxiety, panic attacks and depression… for pretty much forever. A year ago I made that realization and last September, I talked about it with you in episode 123. Since then I've gotten so many emails, comments and conversations about your own struggles and the question: So what do you DO?

Today I'd like to share what I've found works for me.

You're not alone. You have options, so KEEP EXPERIMENTING. #anxiety #depression

Click To Tweet

Resources Mentioned

Lean more about using Essential Oils in my webinar! Sign up here!

Articles:

Books:

The Body Keeps the Score – This is a book about trauma and mood disorders. If it's possible your anxiety/depression is related to trauma (recent or childhood), I can't recommend this book enough.
10% Happier
The Feeling Good Handbook

Apps:

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.

Results from YOUR Income Reports

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

What was your income last month? What’s the average listener to the podcast making in their business? How long have they been in business? I’m sharing it all in today’s episode.

Here are some break-downs of the responses from our handmade sellers and designers:

All told, there were 80 responses, and of those 37% make handmade products and 47% sell patterns or designs I've split up the answers into two sections and will talk about each of them separately. Watch or listen to the episode to hear all about it!

Hey! @TaraSwiger is breaking down the real income of 80 makers + designers! Get the scoop here:

Click To Tweet

Resources Mentioned

Have you looked at your numbers? Are you ready to take control of your business finances? Sign up for Pay Yourself, where I'll walk you through the whole process of finding your profit margin (and tweaking it as needed), determining the profitability of prospective projects, and how to adjust your finances so that you can regularly begin to pay yourself. You'll find it right here: TaraSwiger.com/profit
Of all the people who are rocking their goals, their secret formula was consistency. More on that here.
Want the break-down of all the responses and my notes? Enter your email into the box below and I'll send you the transcript for this episode!

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.

What I’m Reading: April 2017

I follow my enthusiasm by reading…a lot. And once a month, I share (some of) the books I read last month and the books I intend to read this month. You can join the informal book club by sharing your own list with me on Facebook and find all the posts here.

(The usual disclaimer applies.)

What I read

Jab Jab Jab Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk
Watchmen by Alan Moore
Postcards from the Edge, by Carrie Fischer
Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending, by Elizabeth Dunn
Forward, by Abby Wombach

What I’m reading

Pre-Suasion by Robert Cialdini
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
Present over Perfect, by Shauna Niequist
The Knife of Never Letting Go, by Patrick Ness

I need some more recommendations! Tell me on Twitter or Facebook!

Here’s to another great month of reading!

What I read last April.

And in April 2015, and April 2014!

One pricing strategy does NOT fit all

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

I often get asked: how should I price my work? What should I charge for my time? Is there a formula I can use?

And the answer is: it depends.

In this episode, we'll discuss pricing strategies, why you should avoid formulas you find on the internet, and how to charge for your time.

For the entire month of March we've been talking about money and profit in your business. And I know you have questions, about profit margins, bookkeeping, all of it – so tomorrow, April 6th, I'm going to hold a live webinar where I answer all your questions and give you first access to my most popular class, Pay Yourself. To sign up for the webinar, enter your information into the box below:

Join the FREE Webinar!

Enter your e-mail to join my free webinar, April 6, where I'll answer all your pricing questions and give you access to Pay Yourself!

You can't use a stock pricing formula + expect it to work well for YOUR unique business.

Click To Tweet

Resources Mentioned

Get the transcript for this episode and a FREE worksheet on pricing + profitability when you enter your information into the signup form on this page!

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.

The Adventures

Here’s a round-up of what I saw, did, and read this month! Follow my Instagram Stories for in-the-moment photos + videos. You can find years of Adventures here.

The News:

I've started a new Friday video series where I talk about the lessons I'm learning while I build my own biz. Find it here!
Pay Yourself re-opens this month! If you wanna get real about your biz finances, sign up here to be notified when it does!
I was a guest on Me & Orla's podcast last month! Listen here.

The View

A post shared by Tara Swiger (@taraswiger) on Mar 11, 2017 at 5:21pm PST

A post shared by Tara Swiger (@taraswiger) on Mar 13, 2017 at 10:30am PDT

A post shared by Tara Swiger (@taraswiger) on Mar 18, 2017 at 7:49pm PDT

A post shared by Tara Swiger (@taraswiger) on Mar 22, 2017 at 7:14pm PDT

A post shared by Tara Swiger (@taraswiger) on Mar 23, 2017 at 11:05am PDT

The Finds:

I’m reading:

I'm listening to:

I'm obsessed with:

Essential oils! I've been using them to stay healthy and get a handle on my anxiety. I'm going to talk more about it in an upcoming (free!) webinar. Head here to sign up and learn more.

What did you read, listen to and eat last month? Come tell me on Facebook!