5 Things I Wish I Knew When Starting My Business
Learning as we go is always a part of the process, but I’d rather you learn from my hard-earned lessons and bypass some of the time and stress of figuring out these key pieces to owning and running a successful business! Whether you are working with clients on custom projects, or selling your art online, these are the 5 things I wish I knew when starting my business!
Invest in a Website and Domain Name: When I first started my business back in 2013, I had no idea what I was doing! I wanted to earn a little side income while I was in graduate school, so I opened an Etsy shop. The wonderful thing about Etsy is that it is a low-cost way to get your work visible to the world, but it’s not necessarily ideal for all types of creative businesses. Depending on your business and the type of ideal client you are trying to attract, I would highly recommend investing in your own website. This doesn’t mean you have to hire an expensive web designer - there are plenty of companies that offer easy to use templates to build your own website. There is definitely still a learning curve involved, but I am proof it can be done! I personally use Squarespace, and love that it has so many different features, like e-commerce, blogging, and more. There are many different options you can explore, including Wordpress (great for SEO, but less user friendly), ShowIt, or even Shopify if your main focus is product sales. With your own website, you can customize it to match the look and feel of your brand, and showcase your wonderful work. If you have some patience, you can definitely tackle this on your own! Even if you want to wait to start your own website down the road, purchase the domain name as early as possible! You don’t want to risk someone else snatching it up, and it is a very low cost investment. You can easily create and purchase your domain through sites like GoDaddy or Squarespace.
2. Build an Email List: I have listened to hundreds of hours of business Podcasts, and literally every single successful entrepreneur out there says the same thing – start building an email list EARLY. I know, I know – you might be thinking, “but I don’t even have anyone who would sign up” or “how the heck do I do that?” but hear me out! An email list is a direct link you have to your customers and a wonderful way to build relationships. Posting on social media is becoming less and less reliable as a way to get in front of your potential customers, and very few of your followers may even see your posts. I use Flodesk, which I love because it is an extremely user friendly, template based system. If you want to try it out, you can save 50% off your first year with this link! And guess what?! You can do this even if you don’t have your own website! Flodesk makes it easy to create a stand alone web page that you can direct people to sign up for your newsletter on.
3. Use a Project/Client Management System: This is another tool that I wish I had invested in earlier! If you are working with clients, this will be a game changer for you! Instead of having to sift through 20 different scraps of paper with notes or endless emails back and forth with clients digging for information, you can have all of your projects and clients organized in one place online! I use Dubsado, and I honestly don’t know how I survived without it for so long! This is where I keep track of all of my current and future projects, due dates, contracts, proofing forms, and invoices. Asana is a great option for project based businesses, while Dubsado and Honeybook are ideal for client based work. If you want to try out Dubsado, you can get 20% off your first month or year with code “thescribblist” or by using this link!
4. Utilize Contracts!!: Let’s say it again louder for the people in the back – you NEED to use contracts!!! Contracts protect both you AND your clients! They lay it all out on the table, so that you can provide clear expectations, timelines, refund policies, and more. Never start work on a project without a signed contract and deposit paid! I can’t tell you how much time I wasted early on creating sketches and working on artwork for potential projects, only to have the client ghost me or decide to back out. You will want to work with an attorney to draft up a good contract that covers your booty and your business, or purchase a template through a reputable source. Using a system like Dubsado also makes sending contracts out for signature a breeze!
5. Creating Boundaries: I know it can be hard to say no, to people, to projects, to potential income…but sometimes, it is necessary. Before I set clear boundaries for myself and my business, I was on the verge of burnout. I would say yes to any project that came my way, be constantly available for clients, and work day and night. I did learn a lot along the way – trying out so many different types of projects helped me understand what I actually enjoyed doing and what I definitely DID NOT, and working all the time was a by-product of having a day job in addition to the business. But at some point, something’s gotta give. Once I was able to commit full time to my business, I was able to set clear work hours and ensure I had plenty of downtime to rest, recover, and just enjoy life! I started to niche down, and hone in on the types of products and services I offer. Having clear boundaries is the best thing I ever did for myself and my business.
So there you have it, folks! Implementing these systems and practices will get you started on the right foot, and set you up for success! Not to mention you’re going to look SO professional and impressive to your clients with your spiffy website, beautiful emails, and oh-so-profesh contracts! Just remember to make time to relax, recover and enjoy all of your hard work! For more on running a creative business, sign up for our newsletter here!
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