I’m not one to sit on a grand idea! I came home from Spark Retreat blazing with the courage to be my most awesomely awesome self so that I could give as much goodness to the world as possible. So I started working on getting crystal clear on what I need to do to get there. Putting the ideas I’ve had semi-floating around for the last year into a map for what I can see our community becoming. This is what happened:
I fired myself from my design biz. I love designing but I need to stop doing client work so that I can focus on what I do best. I’m finishing up a couple of last projects and sending on referrals to all our Businessy Goodness Guide advertisers from now on!
I wrote a new about page for myself. For the first time I am feeling like all my past work has connected with my current work-I know what I want to offer and how. Yes!
I wrote a new about page for OMHG. We have grown beyond a blog for the handmade industry and into being a unique online community centre where creative entrepreneurs can connect. We’re growing up!
I crafted new submission guidelines for OMHG. Bringing our ethics and support of our community into focus and opening up a platform for you to share & be heard. There are now three fun ways to get your story seen by our readers & I am so excited to see what you cook up for us.
I’m coming to see YOU!I’m wrapping up all my knowledge about creative communities + businessy goodness and bringing them to you. I want to come to your community and share the goodness of OMHG, filling your community with creative inspiration & delivering hugs and cupcakes along the way. Come visit the new workshop page where I gave my dancing self a home for awhile (video is coming soon!) and I spill all the details on how #omhg is ready for #OMHGlive.
and I bought ohmyawesome.com…just incase.
I feel like I’ve come home to myself in the biggest way possible. All my work with communities merging with my love for creativity + collaboration into one bright shiny package of goodness I can give to you, in person. I am filled up with gratitude, from my big feet to the tips of my 3 days of non-stop working hair, all for you dearest friends. Thank you x infinity for being with me on this adventure through our busy lives of businessy goodness and for building this community together. I’ve always felt this place is ours, not mine, and my hope is that by hitting the road and coming to you we’ll be able to take this incredible support from online to offline, from <3 to real hugs, and :) to rooms of smiling, laughing, creative brilliance.
Let me know what you think of all this new news. Want to see me in your town sharing the love? Have an event that I need to speak at? Just want to tell me I’m out of my mind? Please share your ideas in the comments-I’ll meet you there (and I can’t wait to see you!).
PS: Be sure to get the ultimate jolt of community magic by reading the transcript of Thursday’s #OMHG chat. It was the best of our community ideals distilled into pure inspiration and I would love if one or more of you talented friends would play with making us a poster from the lovely tweets shared. Any volunteers?
Exciting talk last Thursday! We had the wonderful Diane (@SisterDiane) of Crafty Pod co-host the interesting topic of blogging boundaries based on her guest post: “How Much Marketing Should Craft Bloggers Do for Craft Companies?“. Read the post and then take the time to read the chat transcript because it is full of great information. Whether you’ve been a craft blogger for a while or you are thinking about starting a craft blog, the chat with Diane is definitely worth the read!
Also, try to make it to the chat on Thursday, March 29th because the awesome Jena Coray of Miss Modish (@Miss_Modish) will be co-hosting the chat and we will be discussing her guest post on ethical pitching/marketing + her Top Top Pitch Kit that will be published tomorrow. Hope to see you there!
#OMHG Highlights:
@TheSickChick I like the idea of valuation based on eyeballs/readership: companies “get” that. #omhg – @SisterDiane
@SisterDiane As far as equal exchange, I am with you, the ability to do good for something I believe in counts a lot more than $. - @TheSickChick
I’m finding it really interesting how often publishers and other craft co’s want to do giveaways on blogs nowadays. – @SisterDiane
@SisterDiane @ohmyhandmade Giveaways really seem like a waste if you’re trying to build a true customer base/readership – @threebysea
When u blog u need to be fully transparent if u earn money & how #omhg Do u have disclosure policy? @TheDesignTrust use http://t.co/n6v3lt0f – @TheDesignTrust
I like to run my own giveaways when I launch a new product range – for my own readers who are really supportive. – @cupcakes4clara
My Mom did an interesting giveaway – chose among those who had commented on her blog w/in last 30 days. Didn’t announce it; just gave. – @SisterDiane
I think great marketing is a gift-the value of a gift is in its surprise, if you constantly offer free the gift looses meaning – @ohmyhandmade
It’s really helped me to formulate a boilerplate pitch-response email that outlines the exchange I want to make… – @SisterDiane
I enjoy sponsored content which is subtle rather than overt. Seamless content (DIY tutorial?) rather than straight review. - MarisaEdghill
What is #omhg? We are a community of talented, creative and caring people who visit every Thursday on Twitter from 1-2EST with the hashtag #omhg to chat about our monthly theme on Oh My! Handmade + life, business & everything in between. Empowering, honest, supportive & full of ideas, our chats leave us all feeling ready to take on the world-come join us and make some new friends! Check out our upcoming chat schedule + co-hosts right here.
If you haven’t yet, go ahead and read this post by our co-host, Anile (@anile) – “Pinterest Ethics: Questioning, Considering and Doing Our Homework“. Ok, done reading? Now, get ready to read a lively (and super informative) discussion about Pinterest and sharing on the web. As always, I’ve only posted some of the highlights here, but check out the whole transcript to enjoy the whole conversation. Plus be sure to join us tomorrow for our chat with co-host Diane of CraftyPod on crafty blogging boundaries based on her awesome guest post!
#OMHG Highlights:
Tip: If you are a blogger /creator/website owner, take advantage and clearly share your permission policies on your site - @anile
Since the issues have come up I only pin from sites that have a pin it button or have a #pinterest icon on their site – @mylovebugbaby
it seems for now as users we have to give credit and remind others that it’s the way things should get done. – @lightboxsf
I actually don’t mind folks pinning my work. More concerned about pinterest having ability to sell as their own - @CreationbySasha
Creators of content can work to advocate for ethical sharing on a larger scale-projects eg. @linkwithlove & http://t.co/HX3XSR1o - @ohmyhandmade
@ohmyhandmade images are only owned by the creator unless they are licensed. it’s not right to force sharing, no? - @traceyselingo
Privacy settings on Pinterest would solve all our problems. Share what is allowed,keep private what youre unsure of. - @BessCallard
@tkpleslie @embergrass If only using images you are licensed to and you’re ok with TOU, no reason to stop using Pinterest. - @anile
Alternatives to Pinterest: @imgspark and @dropmark. Both allow you to keep your collections private. - @anile
much bigger issue is being able to opt-out, pinners respecting others wishes. Traffic is not a justification. - @anile
I have just decided to go back to making inspiration folders on my computer…tried and true ;) - @MoxieLisa
What is #omhg? We are a community of talented, creative and caring people who visit every Thursday on Twitter from 1-2EST with the hashtag #omhg to chat about our monthly theme on Oh My! Handmade + life, business & everything in between. Empowering, honest, supportive & full of ideas, our chats leave us all feeling ready to take on the world-come join us and make some new friends! Check out our upcoming chat schedule + co-hosts right here.
The internet is such a great tool to use to share your creative business with the rest of the world. Personally, my creative business would not be what it is today without the internet. Plus, I have met and made some great friends through the world wide web. With the awesomeness of the internet comes the negative aspects of endless spam, copyright infringement, the disregard to give credit where credit is due… The need for a Code of Ethics is even more relevant now than ever. The chat last Thursday was about personal/professional ethics and how it affects our creative business. It was interesting to see what the #omhg community had to say about their personal and professional practices when it comes to interacting on the web.
What is #omhg? We are a community of talented, creative and caring people who visit every Thursday on Twitter from 1-2EST with the hashtag #omhg to chat about our monthly theme on Oh My! Handmade + life, business & everything in between. Empowering, honest, supportive & full of ideas, our chats leave us all feeling ready to take on the world-come join us and make some new friends! Check out our upcoming chat schedule + co-hosts right here.
I know this subject has come up a time or two around the blogosphere but I still continue to see small businesses spamming their products all over the place. My biggest pet peeve in social networking is seeing a timeline of nothing but “new items listed” and “my item is perfect for”. Most of the time, I just don’t follow and that keeps my timeline filled with genuine people who want to reach out and connect. After all, isn’t that the whole point of SOCIAL media…to be social? Since we are talking about ethics for the month of March, I thought I would add a little post about the ethics of spamming…or how to get your products seen without spamming. You get the point! ;)
You should want to connect with your potential customers on a more personal level before you try and sell them something. Just think of Twitter like real life for a second. You have someone walk up to you on the street with a friendly smile and they say hello…you wouldn’t immediately scream at them to look at your latest Etsy listing would you? Pretty silly right?
You have to take the opportunity to get to know people. Some experts will tell you not to post silly things like the place you went to lunch or that your kid just cut off her bangs while you were in the bathroom trying to have 3 minutes of quiet. I have a different view of this. I think social networks are made for this type of thing. When you enjoy your lunch and tweet about the great restaurant, that helps them! When you tweet about your daughter, someone else may have gone through the same thing and can relate with a tip on how to hide the new doo. If you post these type of every day life things, posting about new projects and products no longer seems spammy.
Don’t be scared! I know it can be a little intimidating to put yourself out there but by doing so and connecting with others, it will make you a stronger person. Besides, you may be the person who knows how to hide the scary, kid “I cut it myself” hair!
Another way to build relationships is to join tweet ups or groups that let you connect with other small business owners that share the same issues as you. Oh my! has a tweet up every Thursday at 1:00 pm EST (#OMHG) which is fantastic! Once you start to establish a relationship with people then you may feel more comfortable telling them about your latest product in daily conversation. In fact, it will probably come up without you even realizing it!
The whole point is to use social networks to build relationships and connect. Then when it’s time to promote your business, more people will be listening!
Happy March! Our theme for this month is “Entrepreneur Ethics” and I am looking forward to the wonderful chats/conversations that will follow the wonderful posts scheduled. Well, I hope you have your “jumping” shoes on, because yesterday’s chat was all about taking leaps in both business and life. Thanks to our chat co-host Tracey Selingo (@traceyselingo) for inspiring and encouraging us to take the leap! If you missed it, read Tracey’s post “Own Your Leap Day” – super inspiring!
Ready… Set… Leap!
#OMHG Highlights:
it’s totally fear of failure and loss of control. i always manage to screw up the courage though. - @lightboxsf
I think if you focus on taking little leaps it gets easier and easier to build the muscle for the big ones - @traceyselingo
@ohmyhandmade @traceyselingo definitely a common thread! the path to success is a bumpy road, but it has some beautiful scenery.– @tif_smith
When we fail/fall/falter we also learn what it is we don’t want to have in our lives-this is equally as vital as knowing what we want. - @ohmyhandmade
ive planned a lot. ive lost a lot. but i think its finally starting to come together w/ a force. - @traceyselingo
@ohmyhandmade @traceyselingo I will reflect on past but only for a moment, otherwise it tends to hold me back from making future leaps – @blah_cubed
you know, nothing is easy. you need to seriously prepare for your leaps, find your nets, know your plan even tho it will change. - @traceyselingo
As long as you learn then it’s never a failure. - @deannamullican
@tif_smith I heard someone say if you are sweating a bit, that means you are stepping outside your comfort zone! good! - @monicaleeart
It can feel like its all uphill-and it usually is. But there are moments on the climb that feel easier + company makes it sweeter – @ohmyhandmade
Don’t consider it a fall, consider it a leap sideways to new scenery :) - @embergrass
What is #omhg? We are a community of talented, creative and caring people who visit every Thursday on Twitter from 1-2EST with the hashtag #omhg to chat about our monthly theme on Oh My! Handmade + life, business & everything in between. Empowering, honest, supportive & full of ideas, our chats leave us all feeling ready to take on the world-come join us and make some new friends! Check out our upcoming chat schedule + co-hosts right here.
Happy March! After all this leaping and loving I hope we are ready to dive straight into exploring Entrepreneur Ethics. Last year’s ethics theme and ongoing posts about ethics are some of our most popular posts of all time and something that is continually being raised in our online and offline creative communities. This month we will investigate ethics with humor and compassion; from Pinterest, fine print and copyright law to non-spammy marketing, online etiquette, and building a creative business with integrity-we are jumping into this topic with both feet and a whole lot of heart. I hope you will join us as we dig deeper into the ethics of entrepreneurship!
What separates creative entrepreneurs from the corporate monoliths of the old economy? Our ability to define business on our own terms. We are not confined by outdated models of profit over people and can create businesses that sustain us and our communities. Together we can chart out some shared values and ethics for what this changing economy can look like and the part we want to play. Along with our always amazing contributor posts this month I’ve lined up a group of insightful creative business ‘ethics experts’ to share their knowledge with guest posts and Twitter chats!
Mark your calendars:
March 8 1-2EST: #OMHG chat -introduction to our ethics theme & chat on personal + professional ethics
March 15 1-2EST:#OMHG chat with co-host @anile on Pinterest ethics
March 21: Diane of Crafty Pod offers insight into craft blogging + setting business boundaries
March 22 1-2EST:#OMHG chat with @sisterdiane to go deeper into her thoughts on blogging + boundaries
March 28: Miss Modish is going to polish our pitches & help us promote with integrity
March 29 1-2EST:#OMHG chat with @miss_modish on pitching your products with passion and compassion.
We also have some incredible posts from Rena Tom on transparency, Laura of Bugs & Fishes on professional promotion & other TBA guests!
Do you have ethical questions about business you want to see answered this month? A story to share about a sticky ethical situation? Your own ethical philosophy for business? Let us know in the comments!
Last night Hollywood had it’s award ceremony and today we get to have a celebration of our very own! Dim the lights, pass out the popcorn, and get ready to witness an amazing transformation. Adriana Willsie entered our New Biz/New Year giveaway in December because she was ready to make 2012 her year and to build a business that would support her while she did the work of her dreams. We were won over by her contagious optimism, bright engaging smile, and the obvious joy she brings to her work. I dare you to watch her entry without smiling. After winning 3rd prize in our contest Aeolidia treated Adriana to a custom logo designed by the brilliant Sara Jensen. Arianne of Aeolidia and I got Adriana’s feedback on her extreme business makeover and if winning our giveaway really did end up changing everything. Watch Adriana’s reaction to winning our giveaway and sound the drum roll please…
Jessika: Hola colorful lady I am so happy to have you here. This is my absolute favorite part of our whole giveaway-the big reveal of your new look. Its like Extreme Makeover Business Edition! You entered our giveaway hoping to propel your new business to superstardom in 2012. Your entry and enthusiasm impressed all of us and we chose you for 2nd place! So, did winning our giveaway change everything? How?
Adriana: Well, let’s just say that in the 45 days since winning the contest, I’ve gotten a gorgeous new logo, redesigned my website, met a couple hundred new online buddies, and did my very first craft show! So, the short answer is: heck yes.
But winning the contest has given me so much more than just the rebranding, the books, and the new connections; I’ve come away from this experience with a whole new level of professionalism and confidence in what I do. I feel like I’ve gone from a girl with a paintbrush and a dream to a gal with a real business and a grown-up brand.
And you know what I’ve learned? Professionalism + confidence = hello, sales! This past month, I did double the sales that I would have previously expected. I don’t say this to brag, but rather to illustrate how making small tweaks and strategically investing in your business can get you big results
Arianne: What surprised you about working with a designer on your brand? Did the process go as you expected?
Adriana: The two things that surprised me the most about the rebranding process were: 1) how mind-bogglingly fun it was, and 2) how brain-twistingly hard it was to make a final choice. The process itself couldn’t have been easier, even if the decision-making was hard. Aeolidia had me start by filling out a detailed questionnaire about my business’s identity and my target market. After reading my preferences and checking out a sample of my handwriting, my uber-talented designer Sara mocked up the first set of logos in three different color palettes.
Let me tell you, looking at your name written in 7 different super-gorgeous and creative ways makes you feel like a kid in a very colorful candy store. I wanted to pick them all! The decision was so hard that I ended up mocking up my website with each different logo, making a PowerPoint presentation, and sending it to some of my friends and family for feedback (can you say, overkill?). I agonized over the decision, but ultimately went with the logo that had caught my eye from the moment I first saw it!
Now that my logo is done (and that I’ve slapped it on absolutely everything) I feel like there’s been a seismic shift in the level of professionalism in my business. I feel as though I’ve officially taken that step from hobbyist to creative entrepreneur.
Arianne:Was it hard to let go and have someone else create an identity for your business? What would you say to other small business owners who are thinking of doing the same?
Adriana: Before working with a real graphic designer, I was definitely guilty of sporting a “DIY or bust” mentality. When I first started my business on a shoestring budget, I had to do everything myself! And I got very used to that. When I won the logo design package, I figured it would be super fun to work with a designer, but I also thought of it more as a bonus than as a necessity. Now that I’m on the other side, and stamping my shiny, new logo on anything that moves, I can really see the benefit of having a professionally-designed brand. It was definitely hard to let go of the creative process. I mean, after all, I am an artist! But the result was so worth it. A painter doing graphic design is kind of like a dentist doing acupuncture. Yeah, you’re sorta in the same field, but you should probably leave that kind of work to the professionals! You’ll thank yourself later.
Jessika: Did this giveaway make your dreams seem more reachable? Of course you were already working hard to grow your business but do you feel having the support of our community and giveaway sponsors has helped you reach further, stretch higher or feel more confident in your work?
Adriana: Oh my gosh, my answer is a resounding yes! It’s been so wonderful to connect with such a talented and incredible group of creative people. As a community, OMHG folks have such a wealth of experience and knowledge, and it blows my mind how openly everyone shares it with one another. I’ve learned so much in the past month from e-books, blogs, and one-on-one conversations. I can only hope that I have the opportunity to contribute as much to this community as it has given to me (a tall order, for sure)!
You won some other fun goodies in addition to your new logo, what did you take away from your books by Erin Giles & Meagan Visser? Also I hope you are writing some handwritten letters with Moxie Pear’s package of sweetness!
Adriana: I’ve been having a grand old time drawing on, drawing with, and reading my package of prizes! The first thing I explored was the Cultivate Your Creativity e-book. It was such a refreshing way to jumpstart the creative process, and I found myself turning to it when my brain needed a break from number crunching. Next, I read through Meagan Visser’s e-book on SEO and search relevancy for Etsy shops. It’s packed with very clearly-explained and manageable tasks that help you pump up your Etsy store traffic! I’ve already implemented about 2/3rds of her tips, and I am seeing my traffic begin to rise. Then on to Erin Giles’ e-book Give It Away Now. I’d never really thought about how powerful a marketing tool giving stuff away could be! What I loved most about her book was that it explained how to market yourself without spending a dime. Yes, please! And I’m so excited to use my Moxie Pear goodies to write my first letter in years! I recently joined a pen pal project, and they will be the perfect set of tools.
Jessika: What is next in your plans for spreading your unapologetic enthusiasm in 2012 & where can we expect to see you taking your business this year?
Adriana: Well, I’m going to start by celebrating my little website’s big new look with a pet portrait giveaway on my blog this week! Be sure to stop by and check it out. And after that, well, I think it’s full steam ahead with reading, learning, writing, improving my marketing, blogging, and meeting new people — all while painting as many pet portraits as I can! Some of my big goals for this year include breaking into the craft show circuit (just had my first show last week!), building relationships with brick and mortar pet stores and groomers, and continuing to meet and collaborate with other businesses online. I cannot wait to see where I’ll stand one year from today with the help of the whole OMHG community!
Light your creativity on fire – today’s chat was hot! We had the lovely ladies of @SparkRetreat join us as we talked about nurturing our creative sparks on today’s chat. Don’t forget to check out the upcoming Spark: Creative Entrepreneur Retreat happening in May 3-7th. Plus, our most awesome #omhg editor, Jessika Hepburn will be a speaker along with the amazing Alexandra Franzen. So exciting! Also, if you would like to help a creative entrepreneur attend the retreat, support the Spark Retreat Scholarship.
Here’s to nurturing those creative sparks!
#OMHG Highlights:
@SparkRetreat my creativity comes from allowing myself to step back and stop working when needed or focus on something else - @embergrass
learning something new helps spark my creativity - @SparkRetreat
@SparkRetreat the more projects, the better i work. my creativity flows when i allow myself to be still - @traceyselingo
i’m most creative under deadline but just getting out of my studio and exploring is key to keeping fresh - @paperparade
Procrastination is bad for creativity, as is having too many ideas. You arrive at a standstill (and we all know that’s not good!) – @RocajoStudio
Sparks need flexibility not rigidity-there needs to be room for life to happen not to force things & make it awkward/painful to create - @ohmyhandmade
@SparkRetreat failure/mistakes are part of the creative process. You need to get all the junk out before the good stuff comes – @myCHILDish
Sometimes procrastination is just that…you gotta put that creative spark under your butt & JUST START! - @ThreeBySea
To help break procrastination, keep track of how you spend your time for a few days. you have more time than you think - @SparkRetreat
Awesome chat (as always), so don’t forget to check out the whole transcript right here. ***the curatED program that we use to publish our chats is having tech difficulties so I can’t publish the full transcript will update as soon as I can-jess***
What is #omhg? We are a community of talented, creative and caring people who visit every Thursday on Twitter from 1-2EST with the hashtag #omhg to chat about our monthly theme on Oh My! Handmade + life, business & everything in between. Empowering, honest, supportive & full of ideas, our chats leave us all feeling ready to take on the world-come join us and make some new friends!
We had an action packed #OMHG chat on Thursday sparked by Jenelle’s post about starting an OMHG Etsy team. Lots of friends visited to share their ideas, excitement and also potential concerns about choosing Etsy as the place for our community building. I have a pile of thinking to do and reflecting on everyone’s insight but the two things that stand out as amazing to me is everyone’s willingness to speak their mind and look out for OMHG, each other and myself! The second is how we share similar values about what this community is-inclusive, open, & welcoming to all. It is proof of the strength of our community and the friendships we have built!
Read the transcript of our chat and then head on over to Jenelle’s post to join in the ongoing conversation-would you like to be part of an OMHG team on Etsy or right here on the site? Have some ideas for how we could make it the best team ever? We want to hear them! Read our transcript here.
