Weekly-ish notes on navigating big change

Your questions answered: email list growth, self-publishing and what I’d do differently

Get YOUR questions answered: self-publishing a book, growing your email list, and advice on building your crafty biz!

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Today I'm answering questions from my Instagram followers (to get your questions answered, be sure you're following me!). In fact, I received so many questions, I split them into two podcasts!  You can find the first Q&A post here.   Today we'll cover:

  • Email List Growth
  • Self-Publishing
  • What I'd do differently

 

How to grow your email list and publish a book: @TaraSwiger answers!

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Resources:

Check out these awesome handmade businesses:

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.

Your questions answered: Coming back after illness, finding time for everything, and handling discouragement

Q&A for your creative biz: How to get back to your crafty biz after a break, time management for makers, and handling discouragement!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Today I'm answering questions from my Instagram followers (to get your questions answered, be sure you're following me!). In fact, I received so many questions, I split them into two podcasts! Today we'll cover:

    • Coming back after illness
    • Finding time for everything
    • Handling discouragement
How do you get back to work after an illness or other break? @TaraSwiger answers!

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Resources:

Check out these awesome handmade businesses:

 

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 People Get Wrong about Marketing

Are you marketing your business the wrong way or the right way? Follow these marketing steps to take to grow your creative business!

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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.

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Resources Mentioned:

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

The article that changed the way I run my creative business. Improve the marketing for your crafty business with these tips!

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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.

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Resources Mentioned:

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

What I’m reading

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

How mindset can improve your creative biz - use affirmations + grow your craft biz today!

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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?

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Resources Mentioned:

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

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. Listen in at TaraSwiger.com/podcast154/

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.

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Resources Mentioned:

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

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. Watch or listen at TaraSwiger.com/podcast153/

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

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Resources Mentioned

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

Articles:

Books:

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

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. Watch or listen in at TaraSwiger.com/podcast152/

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:

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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

What I’m reading

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!

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