Calligraphy Biz Corner

We're taking a short summer break! Thank you for all of your support over the last six months! We're so grateful for every listen, follow, review, DM, and comment you've shared with us. In this episode, we share a preview of some exciting things that we'll be working on during July and August, and are excited to come back and better than ever in September! HAGS!

Help us help you: Fill out our short survey so we can make this podcast even better! 

🎙️ In this Episode:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 03:42 Slowing Down to Speed Up
• 06:27 What We'll Be Working On
• 11:04 We Need Your Help - Fill Out Our Survey!
• 11:27 HAGS!

Support the show

👩‍💻 Learn From Me:

• Get Hands On Support from Shaochen: Apply for Business Coaching
• Start Your Profitable Calligraphy Business: Join Shaochen's Free Masterclass
• Freebie! Download my free tech guide for the programs you need to run your business

👯‍♀️ Keep In Touch:

• Follow Calligraphy Biz Corner on Instagram
• Follow Shaochen on Instagram
• Visit the website

We're thrilled to be joined by Kara Duncan, founder of The Kara Report, a content marketing agency that serves women-owned service-based businesses. In this episode, we dive into the essentials of search engine optimization (SEO) and long-term marketing from the lens of calligraphers and wedding professionals!

Kara shares valuable insights into the differences between long-term and short-term marketing, practical SEO strategies, and how to effectively integrate blogging into your business. Tune in to learn about actionable steps you can take TODAY to improve your website's SEO, the importance of diversifying your marketing efforts, and how to use AI tools like ChatGPT for content creation. Kara truly blessed us with her expertise and after listening, we have no doubt that you'll be able to start optimizing your online presence for sustained growth!

If you're interested in working with Kara, she specializes in website copywriting and offers done-for-you marketing services to get your business found in a sustainable, search-driven way using Pinterest and blogging. She's worked with six and seven-figure businesses across a variety of industries, from wedding pros and course creators to fashion designers and more. You can learn more about her business at thekarareport.com.

🔗 Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

• Connect with Kara on instagram here!
• Learn more about Kara's offerings here!
• Listen to Kara's Podcast, The Kara Report
• Need a website hosting platform? 
  • Try Squarespace for free
  • Get a free month of ShowIt
• Free keyword research tool mentioned: Ubersuggest

Support the show

👩‍💻 Learn From Me:

• Get Hands On Support from Shaochen: Apply for Business Coaching
• Start Your Profitable Calligraphy Business: Join Shaochen's Free Masterclass
• Freebie! Download my free tech guide for the programs you need to run your business

👯‍♀️ Keep In Touch:

• Follow Calligraphy Biz Corner on Instagram
• Follow Shaochen on Instagram
• Visit the website

In this week's episode of Calligraphy Biz Corner, we dive deep into advanced pricing strategies for calligraphers! These are strategies that we believe aren't talked about enough, so we're bringing them to light!

We cover the importance of investment minimums, the added value of design and project management fees, and discuss when and how to do work for free. Learn how to confidently set your prices, boost your business profitability, and avoid common pricing pitfalls!

🔗 Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

• For a comprehensive, actionable guide plus worksheets that walk you step by step through setting your prices, check out our Pricing Toolkit

🎙️ In this Episode:

• 00:00 Introduction 
• 04:28 Our Pricing Framework and Formula
• 16:21 Pricing Strategy #1 - Doing Work for Free 
• 28:06 Pricing Strategy #2 - Investment Minimums 
• 41:23 Pricing Strategy #3 - Design and Management Fee
• 50:33 Let Your Values Be Your Guide

Support the show

👩‍💻 Learn From Me:

• Get Hands On Support from Shaochen: Apply for Business Coaching
• Start Your Profitable Calligraphy Business: Join Shaochen's Free Masterclass
• Freebie! Download my free tech guide for the programs you need to run your business

👯‍♀️ Keep In Touch:

• Follow Calligraphy Biz Corner on Instagram
• Follow Shaochen on Instagram
• Visit the website

Can you believe we're on our 10th episode?! We can't either! Today, we're sharing our favorite tools and programs that have helped streamlined our calligraphy businesses, and they can do the same for yours! Tune in to hear our top three tools for marketing and our top three for efficiency. Whether you've heard of these programs or they're new to you, we hope you walk away with some new ideas on how you can maximize your marketing efforts and run your biz more efficiently!

Don't forget to download our FREE tech programs guide for a list of the tools that we use in our businesses and why we love them!

🔗 Links to the programs mentioned in this episode (Please confirm all software plans & pricing directly on the websites linked below.):

• Canva
• Preview
• Manychat
• Zapier
• Loom
• ChatGPT

🔗 Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

• Book a free discovery call with Alane for 1:1 Business Mentoring!
• Get 20% off your first month or year of Dubsado
• Get 25% off your first year of Honeybook
• Buy Canva templates and more on Creative Market
• Try Squarespace for free
• Get a free month of ShowIt
• Get a website launched in FIVE days with Launch38!

Support the show

👩‍💻 Learn From Me:

• Get Hands On Support from Shaochen: Apply for Business Coaching
• Start Your Profitable Calligraphy Business: Join Shaochen's Free Masterclass
• Freebie! Download my free tech guide for the programs you need to run your business

👯‍♀️ Keep In Touch:

• Follow Calligraphy Biz Corner on Instagram
• Follow Shaochen on Instagram
• Visit the website

We're so excited to be joined by Suzie Consoli, Founder and CEO of Lawson House, a full-service marketing and design agency based in Atlanta! Lawson House helps businesses stand out and thrive in a competitive market through strategic branding, web design, and high-converting marketing solutions. They transform visions into impactful realities and ensure businesses get the recognition they deserve!

In today's episode, we explore effective marketing and web design strategies for calligraphy businesses with Suzie. She shares insights on the five pages every website should have, advice on selecting the best platform for your website needs, and the most common mistakes she sees businesses making when it comes to creating their websites. Suzie also gives an actionable process for DIY-ing your website, practical tips for SEO, and shares her expert opinion on whether or not to list pricing on your website. 

Stay tuned until the end, when Suzie shares more about her brand new offering, Launch38 -- a truly unique service that will give you brand messaging & design, a website, launch strategy, and content plan in just FIVE days! 

🔗 Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

• Apply for Launch38 here! Use code CALLIGRAPHY250 at checkout for $250 off! 
• Connect with Suzie below: 
  • Lawson House Website
  • Lawson House Instagram
  • Launch38 Instagram
• Try Squarespace for free
• Get a free month of ShowIt

🎙️ In this Episode:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:51 Meet Suzie, Owner of Lawson House
• 04:22 The Five Must-Have Pages for Your Website
• 14:50 Practical Steps for DIY-ing Your Website
• 21:09 Choosing a Platform to Host Your Website
• 28:28 What Really Matters for SEO
• 35:39 The Biggest Mistake People Make with Their Website
• 44:14 Create Your Website with Launch38!
• 54:03 Connect with Suzie

Support the show

👩‍💻 Learn From Me:

• Get Hands On Support from Shaochen: Apply for Business Coaching
• Start Your Profitable Calligraphy Business: Join Shaochen's Free Masterclass
• Freebie! Download my free tech guide for the programs you need to run your business

👯‍♀️ Keep In Touch:

• Follow Calligraphy Biz Corner on Instagram
• Follow Shaochen on Instagram
• Visit the website

In today's episode of Calligraphy Biz Corner, we have two very special guests! We're so excited to welcome Courtney and Will, owners of Crew and Co, a hand-lettering business that over the past 10 years, has transitioned from weddings and calligraphy workshops to creating products that encourage families to make scripture a practical part of their daily lives.

Their second book, Abundant Grace, was recently published on April 2nd, and we had the privilege of chatting with them just before it was released! In this episode, Courtney and Will share the evolution of their business, starting with Courtney's beginnings in wedding calligraphy to Will joining the team as they entered the product world by creating children's screen-printed t-shirts. Their inspiring journey leads us to where they are today, which is launching their second book and developing products that bring joy and hope to families through encouraging messages, beautiful designs, and vibrant colors.

Throughout the episode, Courtney and Will expand on the importance of building a business that's aligned with personal values and rooted in authenticity. Tune in to hear their experiences of figuring things out as they go, and their exciting story of navigating the book publishing process for two books, including their latest release, 'Abundant Grace.'

Listen in to the end of the episode to hear how you can win a copy of their newest book plus store credit to crewandco.com!

🔗 Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

• Enter our Instagram Giveaway here!
• Purchase a copy of Abundant Grace
• Check out Crew + Co's products
• Connect with Courtney & Will on...
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • TikTok

🎙️ In this Episode:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 03:28 Welcome Will & Courtney!
• 05:56 Courtney's Calligraphy Beginnings 
• 11:22 Launching Crew + Co & Transitioning to Products
• 15:22 Working as a Husband & Wife Team 
• 19:33 Growing a Product-Based Business
• 35:27 Getting a Book Deal!
• 46:09 Enter Giveaway & Connect with Crew + Co

Support the show

👩‍💻 Learn From Me:

• Get Hands On Support from Shaochen: Apply for Business Coaching
• Start Your Profitable Calligraphy Business: Join Shaochen's Free Masterclass
• Freebie! Download my free tech guide for the programs you need to run your business

👯‍♀️ Keep In Touch:

• Follow Calligraphy Biz Corner on Instagram
• Follow Shaochen on Instagram
• Visit the website

Today, we're talking about everyone's favorite topic! ...Okay, maybe not your favorite topic, but one that plagues all of us: Imposter Syndrome! Tune in to hear our personal experiences with imposter syndrome and of course, both tactical and mindset strategies to combat it. These include methods like looking at the evidence, creating more than you consume, leaning into discomfort, and writing your own narrative. 

We hope this episode helps you feel less alone when it comes to dealing with imposter syndrome, serves as a reminder that YOU have something unique to offer, and encourages you to lean into discomfort because it's a sign of big growth potential!

🔗 Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

• Shaochen's Pro Wedding Calligrapher Course
• Alane's Flourish in Biz Mentoring Program

🎙️ In this Episode:

• 00:00 Celebrating 2 Months - Thanks for Listening!
• 02:42 What is Imposter Syndrome?
• 05:40 Strategy 1: Look at the Evidence
• 11:14 Strategy 2: Create More Than You Consume
• 16:26 Strategy 3: Lean into the Discomfort
• 25:09 Strategy 4: Write Your Own Narrative
• 30:43 Now, go share your gift with the world!

Support the show

👩‍💻 Learn From Me:

• Get Hands On Support from Shaochen: Apply for Business Coaching
• Start Your Profitable Calligraphy Business: Join Shaochen's Free Masterclass
• Freebie! Download my free tech guide for the programs you need to run your business

👯‍♀️ Keep In Touch:

• Follow Calligraphy Biz Corner on Instagram
• Follow Shaochen on Instagram
• Visit the website

In our first-ever guest interview episode, we're highlighting the unique journeys of three successful calligraphers as they transformed their calligraphy hobbies or side hustles into full-time businesses! We chat with Hannah of Tally Mark Calligraphy, Dani of Paper Cliché, and Alice of Penned by Alice about what prompted them to take their businesses full-time, the challenges they faced, and their advice for anyone considering making calligraphy their sole source of income. 

From Hannah's transition from an athletic trainer to a wedding and live-event calligrapher, to Dani's shift from bartending to running an intentional stationery business, and Alice's move from a finance career to balancing calligraphy with motherhood, these stories emphasize the importance of passion, community support, strategic planning, and showcase how different each of our journeys are. 

We hope this episode encourages you to take things one step at a time, focus on your specific goals, and trust the process to achieve your dreams!

🔗 Where to find our guests:

Hannah of Tally Mark Calligraphy:

• www.tallymarkcalligraphy.com
• Follow Hannah on Instagram!

Dani of Paper Cliché:

• www.papercliche.com
• Follow Dani on Instagram!

Alice of Penned by Alice:

• www.pennedbyalice.com
• Follow Alice on Instagram!

🔗 Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

• Shaochen's Pro Wedding Calligrapher Course
• Alane's Flourish in Biz Mentoring Program
• Rising Tide Society

🎙️ In this Episode:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:04 Redefining Identity with Hannah of Tally Mark Calligraphy 
• 22:26 Leading with Alignment with Dani of Paper Cliché
• 42:38 Running a Biz as a Full-Time Mom with Penned by Alice
• 01:02:08 Key Themes and Takeaways

Support the show

👩‍💻 Learn From Me:

• Get Hands On Support from Shaochen: Apply for Business Coaching
• Start Your Profitable Calligraphy Business: Join Shaochen's Free Masterclass
• Freebie! Download my free tech guide for the programs you need to run your business

👯‍♀️ Keep In Touch:

• Follow Calligraphy Biz Corner on Instagram
• Follow Shaochen on Instagram
• Visit the website

Buckle up for a spicy episode! 🔥 After a few teaching-heavy episodes, we're spilling the ink on our top pet peeves as wedding calligraphers! From misspelling "stationery" to referring to calligraphy as a "font" to ghosting, join us for some real talk about what it's like being a calligrapher in a world where we constantly have to explain what we do (JK! Kind of...).

Of course, this wouldn't be a Calligraphy Biz Corner episode if we didn't also share our learnings and ways to mitigate some of these pet peeves! Tune in to hear our biggest frustrations, join in as we laugh about them, and then hear how we combat them. 

🔗 Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

• Download Shaochen's FREE Ghostbusting Guide

🎙️ In this Episode:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 05:08 Pet Peeve #1 - Stationary vs. Stationery
• 07:23 Pet Peeve #2 - Not Being Tagged in Photo Credits
• 12:02 Pet Peeve #3 - Flowers that Cover up Calligraphy on our Signage
• 14:04 Pet Peeve #4 - Referring to Calligraphy as a "Font"
• 17:26 Pet Peeve #5 - "The invites will end up in the trash"
• 21:14 Pet Peeve #6 - Clients that Don't Have a Budget
• 25:45 Pet Peeve #7 - Ghosting
• 40:10 Key Takeaways 

Support the show

👩‍💻 Learn From Me:

• Get Hands On Support from Shaochen: Apply for Business Coaching
• Start Your Profitable Calligraphy Business: Join Shaochen's Free Masterclass
• Freebie! Download my free tech guide for the programs you need to run your business

👯‍♀️ Keep In Touch:

• Follow Calligraphy Biz Corner on Instagram
• Follow Shaochen on Instagram
• Visit the website

As a follow-up to Episode 3, we're sharing the mistakes we've seen and made when growing a calligraphy business, and what to do instead!

In this episode, we talk about three key mistakes that calligraphers should avoid in the growing phase of their business, such as not niching down and not having proper systems in place. We also chat through actionable things to consider during the growth phase to help set your business up for maximum success. These include the importance of getting clear on personal financial goals, identifying what you want your business and personal life to look like, investing in professional growth, finding community, and outsourcing.

If you're ready to take on more clients, increase your revenue, or expand your services, this episode is for you! 

🔗 Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more about Alane's 1:1 Flourish in Biz Mentoring Program
• Learn more about Shaochen's Pro Wedding Calligrapher course
• Need help with pricing? Check out the Creative's Pricing Toolkit!

💻 Software Programs Mentioned

• Calendly for meeting scheduling
• Zapier for connecting different applications
• Honeybook CRM free trial and 25% off
• Dubsado CRM free trial and 20% off

🎙️ In this Episode:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:47 Mistake #1 - Not Niching Down
• 06:23 Mistake #2 - Comparing Your Biz Growth to Others'
• 12:08 Mistake #3 - Lack of Systems 
• 21:14 Do #1 - Get Clear on Your Financial Goals
• 26:37 Do #2 - Build Your Business on What You Want Your Life to Look Like
• 30:05 Do #3 - Lean on Community to Accelerate Your Business
• 39:14 Do #4 - Invest in Your Professional Growth
• 48:37 Do #5 - Outsource to Maximize Your Money-Making Time
• 01:00:35 Final Thoughts

Support the show

👩‍💻 Learn From Me:

• Get Hands On Support from Shaochen: Apply for Business Coaching
• Start Your Profitable Calligraphy Business: Join Shaochen's Free Masterclass
• Freebie! Download my free tech guide for the programs you need to run your business

👯‍♀️ Keep In Touch:

• Follow Calligraphy Biz Corner on Instagram
• Follow Shaochen on Instagram
• Visit the website