What do you need to start your business???
First and foremost you must have the desire to want to start a business, with out this you are dead in the water with no fuel for your boat. Your desire is what drives you and keeps you going. Do you know why most businesses fail??? They give up to quickly. Yes there are trouble and there will be things that you do not like, but if you can't overcome these things you will never learn and grow into the business you want to be. I have been open about a year and half and I have made plenty of mistakes and with in those mistakes I have learned sooooo much and that will make me that much more confident the next time a problem comes up, or will prevent a problem from happening all together. If you want to do something bad enough then you will take the ups and the downs and go on. Do you know how many times Edison failed before he invented the light bulb? 1000 times!
That is the same with most successful inventors they didn't have an idea do it once and succeed, no they failed a lot but the difference is they kept going. So if you want to do this you must keep going!
Next you need to find something that you are really good at, everyone has something they are good at and you do to. We all do, we all do something better than someone else you just have to find that thing. Whether you are crafty or are great at giving advice , if you have a skill there is a need for that skill.Pick the skill, develop the skill as much as you can, this creates confidence in your work and someone who is confident in there work WILL sell it.
Where do you sell?? Well there are so many places and opportunities online to sell these days, you don't even have to have any real capitol to start. I started my business with nothing, yep that is right nothing! I had just moved and I was pretty down and out, this was last hope to do something amazing and I decided it was all or nothing. I started on Etsy and grew to my own site and now I put my stuff everywhere I can because, it means more exposure and it works you may not see the effects right off the bat, or maybe you will be it all that effort does come back around.Any effort put out will definitely come back to you in a good way. Online it is so easy to go viral all it takes is a video or a good picture or an article and your stuff can be spread like wild fire through the internet.
Becoming successful is a state of mind and being pessimistic will not get you where you are going, you must believe in what you are doing! You must also be ALL in! What do I mean by this?? It means you are willing to make up your mind and decide that you will do what it takes to make this succeed. Now that may sounds a little scary, you know there will be obstacles but most of them come an go and disappear with out much effort.
Ok here are some down right good info to making your business GROW....
First where ever you decide to sell here a few options that I have tried and liked:
www.Etsy.com ( starting out this is the whiz-bang! This is the best for immediate traffic and you could be selling as soon as you open your new shop, if you have the right keywords in place, I will talk more about that below)
www.bigcartel.com ( I loved this place it was least expensive and I got a lot of views but I didn't sell as much here, but that does not mean you won't. I did a girls blog who sold on here and had many sales daily)
www.sqaurespace.com ( I love this one also and I got great views, there wasn't any paypal for payment which some of you may like and design was a snap)
www.shopify.com( This is my current home and I love the ease of everything, they have a lot of apps to help make your store appear very professional, my views where not right off the bat great but I changed up some keywords and with average views I make A LOT of sales! ) 
www.Storenvy.com ( I love this one also it is completely free and I get a lot of views but have not sold anything, there are folks who sell lots of stuff on here, it all comes down to research who is shopping here)
The proof is in the pudding!
Do research with other similar products/services this is going to give you a real life example of what you can do and the best place to do it at. This also gives you something to expect in your own business if you service/products our comparable then you to can be sitting in the same boat. Don't let competition discourage you,let it inspire you knowing that you will just as great! Plus there are A LOT of folks in the world and more each day, you will never lack an abundance of customers you just have to see it that way:)
Keywords
I am not a keyword or SEO guru I have done my research and found what works for me.
I find that 5-7 good keywords per listing/page is all you need for fantastic search results
If you have no clue what I am talking about you here are some good tools for quick and
easy research, because I must stress this is important.
www.wordtracker.com This is a week free trial and it is all you really need to the research. I used it and it helped my site SO much. They explain what you are looking for and make it easy to quickly pick tons of great keywords for your site.
Keywords don't work immediately for traffic give them about 2 weeks to work there magic and you will be seeing an influx in traffic if you have done your research correctly.
Social media
Social media is your friend and you can use it to make your products and service go viral...use these avenues and you will see some amazing results!
www.facebook.com ( create a page invite some friends, encourage your friends to share your page. Kick backs are always good incentives if you can offer something free people will love you and be happy to share!
www.pinterest.com ( people love a pretty picture, make sure you are taking good pictures and you can post, post, post and people will repin, repin, repin fanstastic source for traffic)
www.blogger.com ( I love blogging, create blog and share your day to day life with your business post product ideas and support others, good info is worth a lot)
www.opensky.com( something I just discovered it is a like a store on social media and it is CRAZY awesome I have got a ton of traffic posting my items on her. I always link back to my main store though for more traffic.
There are many more social media sites out there and each one that you put your stuff on is another chance of a sale! Do not think that what you are doing is not bringing you any return because one day soon you will find people flocking from all these sites.
Ok so that is my adivce for all you new entrepreneurs, I hope to hear that you are all successes!
If you have any questions or need any help please contact me I would love to help you grow or start your business. I am full of ideas and advice for all and truly believe that we can all win and suceed if we all help each other!
NEVER, NEVER give-up!
Did you know that all of our inventions and conveniences have been made from about 3% of the worlds population of all time??? That means do not listen to the majority because they are not what created what we all enjoy listen to your desire and know you are a success!
~I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Thomas A. Edison
~Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.”
Mark Twain
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
XOXO ~Shana
I am pumping out signs like there is no tomorrow since December 1st hit the shopping season has been on. I have been making some pretty cool signs. I always love making signs and learning what words and quotes mean the most to people. Every sign has it's story and a meaning for it, the design will correspond with the receivers personality. So here are few signs I have done this week.
Ingrediants:
Olive oil
sugar (white or brown)
lemon juice
Now please don't laugh at how simple this is because this scrub is the BEST! You have to try it! This is what this amazing homemade scrub can do..
Do you have issues with acne or break outs minor or major?? I do after I had my kiddos I sometimes get breakouts. I have searched everywhere for something that works and this is the only thing that keeps it under control. Why? you ask? Because this stuff has olive oil in it and most people think that pimples are caused by oil?? Yes and no, when we use chemicals on our face like acne treatments it dry's out our skin and thus causes wrinkles early...no wrinkles please. This method destroys your skin, and ages it faster. Our skin need oil and all around balance. Olive oil has been used for 1000 of years by the beautiful people to keep there skin firm, supple and radiant. Olive oil actually protects your skin from dirt and nasty stuff from getting in your pours. The benefits of olive are amazing and this is why I use it everyday on my skin and why I put it in this sugar scrub.
The sugar of course is the exfoliate the dead skin and if you happen to get some in your mouth it makes it taste good:)
Lemon juice is awesome also, it clarifies your skin and even skin tone, this bit of lemon juice is enough to keep your skin feeling fresh and clean with out over drying it.
This Christmas season if you are stuck on a gift, give them a big batch of this stuff. People love it even men. I have had men begging for this scrub. We who live in the north suffer from dry skin all winter and this scrub keeps you glowing all day!!
We are fast approaching Christmas and I couldn't be more excited! My favorite thing to do in my business is brainstorm ideas with customers for there signs that will be gifts for people that they love.
I am always amazed with the quotes and phrases that used. They always reflect the feelings of the giver. Some are loving and sweet others are funny and outrageous but they are all made for one reason and that is because they care.
When I first started making signs I had no idea some of the impacts I would make in peoples lives, I didn't realize what a beautiful thing sign making could be. I have made signs for weddings and anniversaries business and friends even funerals and one of my favorites was a letter written by a women who passed from cancer. Her last words to her family where painted on the sign to hang and remember forever.
I love what I do so much and I always find myself becoming friends with the customer because we are making something together that is so personal.
Signs really and truly are one of the best gifts you can give and they are fit for anyone. There is always a quote and saying, song or words that is so meaningful for the person, always.
Words are just so meaningful. The define our lives when we speak them.
I have had so many orders this year for signs and I am excited to be able to make a gift that will make an impact to the person receiving it.
I wanted to write a little post about how words affect our lives and how they make an impact.
Did you know that everything is made of energy even words when you speak them, that is why they can affect us so deeply. Someones says something negative to us and it goes to the core of us making us feel terrible. My father use to tell me your words are like a double edged sword it penetrates into the soul...which is from the bible and it is so true. I remember I was in the 6th grade and I said some choice words to little friend of mine. He sat me down and told me those words will never go away in her mind.
Also when we put something in our home it has an energy on it so say you had a sign made from me, the sign would bring it's own vibe into your home and the sign would either make you feel good or bad...hopefully good:) This is what feng shui is centered around bringing things and arranging things in your home to bring you the most joy. It is amazing how when our home is messy and then we clean it how much we feel better, it is energy!
When you put a positive statment on someones wall that makes them feel good they will look at everyday and make them feel WONDERFUL. Now when I started painting signs I didn't really know the power of words. But being able to really experience the emotion behind the words that people speak to one another is amazing thing.
I think and this is just my opinion, I think signs are one of the best gifts you can anyone!
I am always amazed with the quotes and phrases that used. They always reflect the feelings of the giver. Some are loving and sweet others are funny and outrageous but they are all made for one reason and that is because they care.
When I first started making signs I had no idea some of the impacts I would make in peoples lives, I didn't realize what a beautiful thing sign making could be. I have made signs for weddings and anniversaries business and friends even funerals and one of my favorites was a letter written by a women who passed from cancer. Her last words to her family where painted on the sign to hang and remember forever.
I love what I do so much and I always find myself becoming friends with the customer because we are making something together that is so personal.
Signs really and truly are one of the best gifts you can give and they are fit for anyone. There is always a quote and saying, song or words that is so meaningful for the person, always.
Words are just so meaningful. The define our lives when we speak them.
I have had so many orders this year for signs and I am excited to be able to make a gift that will make an impact to the person receiving it.
I wanted to write a little post about how words affect our lives and how they make an impact.
Did you know that everything is made of energy even words when you speak them, that is why they can affect us so deeply. Someones says something negative to us and it goes to the core of us making us feel terrible. My father use to tell me your words are like a double edged sword it penetrates into the soul...which is from the bible and it is so true. I remember I was in the 6th grade and I said some choice words to little friend of mine. He sat me down and told me those words will never go away in her mind.
Also when we put something in our home it has an energy on it so say you had a sign made from me, the sign would bring it's own vibe into your home and the sign would either make you feel good or bad...hopefully good:) This is what feng shui is centered around bringing things and arranging things in your home to bring you the most joy. It is amazing how when our home is messy and then we clean it how much we feel better, it is energy!
When you put a positive statment on someones wall that makes them feel good they will look at everyday and make them feel WONDERFUL. Now when I started painting signs I didn't really know the power of words. But being able to really experience the emotion behind the words that people speak to one another is amazing thing.
I think and this is just my opinion, I think signs are one of the best gifts you can anyone!
I made a short video explaining our sales for this weekend! Hope you enjoy!
