Makers Mean Business® with Damon Oates and Parker Stelly of DecoExchange®

Can you believe this is already EPISODE 32?! Y'all, time flies when you're having fun.

Parker sat down to recap all the amazing content that has been covered so far in the podcast. Here's a quick reference in case there's an episode you want to go back and check out (or listen again!):

Episode 001 - 6 Tips to Battle Impostor Syndrome

Episode 002 - Getting Started, Failure, and the BIGGEST Myth about Business that NEEDS to be Busted!

Episode 003 - Introduction to Subscription Boxes (Sarah Williams)

Episode 004 - Story of a Maker (Kari Gustafson)

Episode 005 - Story of a Maker (Clara-Nicole)

Episode 006 - Intro to Facebook Ads (Gretchen Wheeler)

Episode 007 - How to Sell More on Etsy (Lauren Kilgore)

Episode 008 - Who is my Perfect Person? (WIMPPs)

Episode 009 - Let Making Bring You Joy (Andrea Brown)

Episode 010 - Building a Community on Instagram (Warren Carlyle)

Episode 011 - Story of a Maker (Rhonda Nickerson) 

Episode 012 - Scaling Your Business with Assistants

Episode 013 - Story of a Maker (Christine Jerry)

Episode 014 - Intro to SEO (Christine Jerry)

Episode 015 - Story of a Maker (Mellie Mel)

Episode 016 - Creating Quality Video Content

Episode 017 - Community over Competition (Tamara Bennett)

Episode 018 - Quick Win Weekend

Episode 019 - Story of a Maker (Amy Smith)

Episode 020 - SIO (Simplify, Implement, Optimize)

Episode 021 - Story of a Maker (Zach Hufnagel)

Episode 022 - 3 Keys to Selling Online

Episode 023 - Parker's Tips for Youtube Success

Episode 024 - Community of Customers

Episode 025 - Create with Your Customers (Jillian Leslie)

Episode 026 - Making Content for the Platform (Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, TikTok, Pinterest, Blogging)

Episode 027 - Using Live Video & Embracing Imperfection (Brooke Riley)

Episode 028 - Makers and Trademarks (Emily D. Baker)

Episode 029 - All Things MLM (Marissa Sayers)

Episode 030 - Maximize the Power of Relationships (Roberto Candelaria)

Episode 031 - Selling Digital Products (Joy)

Are you following Damon & Parker on social media, too?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decoexchange 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decoexchange/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJAN_9Npn3LIbe2klovUbUA

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Decoexchange/_shop/ 

Get Business Coaching from Damon: https://damonsbusinesscoaching.safechkout.net/

Shop DecoExchange: https://www.decoexchange.com/

Parker's Scaling Your Business with Assistants e-book: https://www.decoexchange.com/products/scaling-your-business-with-assistants-by-parker-stelly 

Today's interview is with Joy from Alphalicious Designs. She's a maker with a completely digital business... which means NO SHIPPING! She designs embroidery and cut files and sells them as digital downloads on both Etsy and Shopify, and even though her designs are small items for less than $5 apiece, she still maintains a 6-figure online business!

Tune in to hear about the resources she used to get started, how she overcame no natural drawing ability to become a 6-figure designer, and her tips for other online business-owners.

You can check out Joy's website here: https://alphaliciousdesigns.com/

Her Etsy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AlphaliciousApplique?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=606763247

Her Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/alphaliciousdesigns/

And join her Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/alphaliciousdesignsclub/

-------

Are you following Damon & Parker on social media, too?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decoexchange 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decoexchange/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJAN_9Npn3LIbe2klovUbUA

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Decoexchange/_shop/ 

Get Business Coaching from Damon: https://damonsbusinesscoaching.safechkout.net/

Shop DecoExchange: https://www.decoexchange.com/

Parker's Scaling Your Business with Assistants e-book: https://www.decoexchange.com/products/scaling-your-business-with-assistants-by-parker-stelly 

On this week's episode, Parker and Roberto Candelaria are talking all about maximizing relationships in order to network and grow your business!

Everyone needs relationships to succeed in business - whether that's building a network for sponsors, affiliates, or building your own community... it's essential to build authentic relationships with the people around you.

There are tons of people around you, and you are building relationships with them - either intentionally or unintentionally - all the time. So it is critical to consider what you want to be known as - or known for. Who do you want to be?

Roberto believes you need to be asking yourself a few other important questions, as well. What do you bring to the table? And what do you hope to get from the table? It's not just about making sales, it's about finding more people you can serve, and also about making connections with people who can serve you.

You can learn more about Roberto on his website: https://robertocandelaria.com/

He also has a Facebook group called Community Growth & Profits! Join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/propelyourprofits 

-------

Are you following Damon & Parker on social media, too?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decoexchange 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decoexchange/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJAN_9Npn3LIbe2klovUbUA

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Decoexchange/_shop/ 

Get Business Coaching from Damon: https://damonsbusinesscoaching.safechkout.net/

Shop DecoExchange: https://www.decoexchange.com/

Parker's Scaling Your Business with Assistants e-book: https://www.decoexchange.com/products/scaling-your-business-with-assistants-by-parker-stelly 

This episode is all about MLM! What is MLM, you might be asking? It stands for Multi-Level Marketing... and Marissa Sayers has both a successful creative Etsy shop in addition to her own MLM business! 

In this episode, Marissa and Parker break down several myths about MLM, the major mistakes some MLM entrepreneurs make, and what to look for in an MLM.

An MLM is a business! Not a hobby. It's a great opportunity for Makers because you already have an audience and are used to selling physical products online. When entrepreneurs treat MLMs like hobbies instead of businesses, they tend to rely on their friends and family and personal networks, instead of building their own online community with their ideal customers!

Plus, Marissa recommends entrepreneurs consider MLMs because it's another opportunity to diversify your income! The more revenue streams, the better. 

When considering an MLM, some things to think about and explore include:

1) Who you might want to sign up under and what they can offer you in terms of support and coaching

2) What outside coaching and training influences you can pursue to support your MLM business

3) Finding a company that aligns with who you are and how you like to spend your time 

4) Consider how you will get paid as part of a particular organization and make sure you understand all the ins and outs of any contracts

Marissa is a passionate entrepreneur with multiple businesses, a mom and wife, and is planner and stationery obsessed! She loves to help people figure out how to monetize their gifts and make their dreams come true.

You can learn more about Marissa and her various business endeavors here: http://www.marissamaesayers.com/

You can follow her on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/MarissaMaeSayers 

Follow her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/marissamaesayers/?hl=en & here: https://www.instagram.com/sayersandco/?hl=en 

And check out her Etsy shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/sayersandco/ 

Today's episode features the Emily D. Baker, former Deputy District Attorney now helping clients navigate the wild world of online business! She loves to talk about trademarks, terms of use, and other important legal issues for online business owners.

We are covering two major topics today:

1) Can you make stuff inspired by other brands (like Disney, Louis Vuitton, Coach, sports teams, universities, etc)? (The answer is no.) What happens if you do? What kind of action can they take? Will they sue you and take all your money? Will they have your website taken down? (The answer is: they can!) 

2) What do I do if someone is stealing my designs? What kind of action can I take? 

You can follow Emily all over the internet:

Her podcast, Get Legit Law & Shit: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-legit-law-sh-t/id1486229281

Her website: https://emilydbaker.com/

Her legal shop (for legal documents, terms of use, etc, to protect your business): https://getlegitshop.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theemilydbaker/

Facebook (she goes live on Fridays, don't miss it!): https://www.facebook.com/TheEmilyDBaker/ 

-------

Are you following Damon & Parker on social media, too?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decoexchange 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decoexchange/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJAN_9Npn3LIbe2klovUbUA

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Decoexchange/_shop/ 

Get Business Coaching from Damon: https://damonsbusinesscoaching.safechkout.net/

Shop DecoExchange: https://www.decoexchange.com/

Parker's Scaling Your Business with Assistants e-book: https://www.decoexchange.com/products/scaling-your-business-with-assistants-by-parker-stelly 

This week Damon interviewed Brooke Riley of Re-fabbed. Brooke started her blog and her Facebook community at the same time, and she's setting the record straight that blogging is not dead and that it can still be profitable! As long as we are consistent and strategic.

Damon and Brooke discuss the importance of building a community, using live video - even when it's not perfect, and how to get around that fear of imperfection... and even to embrace it! 

And, as usual, let's get clear on one thing: collaboration over competition, y'all! There's enough room for all of us to have success on the internet, Brooke says, because there are billions of people out there! You only have to target a group of them in order to have massive success online.

So what's coming next for Brooke and Re-fabbed? A kids' clothing line, perhaps a doggie clothing line (thanks to Damon's pressure - err.... suggestion!), more live events (post pandemic!), and more. Check out the Re-fabbed blog, boutique, and subscription box below!

Blog: https://www.re-fabbed.com/ 

Boutique: https://www.re-fabbedboutique.com/

Join the Re-fabbed VIP Text Club: 270-200-5848 

Join the waitlist for the Re-fabbed subscription box: https://re-fabulousbox.pages.ontraport.net/waitlist 

Parker is dropping some serious knowledge today about not only what content works best on each platform to reach customers, but also how to repurpose one piece of content to use on multiple platforms!

He's talking about:

1. Facebook

2. Instagram

3. Pinterest

4. YouTube

5. TikTok

6. Blogging

Join the course with Parker featuring SEO Queen Christine Jerry all about creating effective content and repurposing it here: RecycleYourContent.com

Follow DecoExchange on all the platforms so you don't miss a thing!:

https://www.facebook.com/decoexchange/

https://www.instagram.com/decoexchange/

https://www.pinterest.com/Decoexchange/

https://howtomakewreaths.com/blog

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJAN_9Npn3LIbe2klovUbUA

Jillian Leslie, of the Blogger Genius Podcast, MiloTree, and Catch My Party, joins us today for a deep dive into the evolution of her online business and everything she's learned. Spoiler alert: it hasn't all been easy! 

You can check out her podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-blogger-genius-podcast-with-jillian-leslie/id1327139513

Join the Blog Start program here: https://transactions.sendowl.com/stores/12718/187465 

This week, Damon is giving you 6 Tips to grow your Community of Customers!

1. Listen to your community! They will point blank tell you what they want and need, and what their pain points are. 

2. Keep the content engaging! Use your platforms wisely.

3. Be SEARCHABLE. Make sure you are using SEO terms in titles, posts, and SEO fields!

4. Make it PERSONAL. People want to do business with other PEOPLE.

5. Don't just build a community on borrowed ground - make sure you're building an e-mail list and pushing your community to your own website.

6. Turn your best customers into BRAND ADVOCATES!

For more information on the 4-Day Challenge to help raise funds for those impacted by Hurricane Laura, check out: damonsbowchallenge.com 

Or, text Damon directly at 504-553-3451 and include the word BOW.

You are going to LOVE today's episode with Parker's top 10 tips for YouTube Success!

YouTube is a real thing, y'all, people are searching on there and sales are happening and extra money can be made! So tune in to learn about how to create high impact titles, effective descriptions, intro videos, cards, tags, and more!

Oh! And you are definitely going to want to check out https://www.tubebuddy.com/decoexchange - they have an awesome system to help you optimize your YouTube Tags, Titles, & Descriptions!