Proof to Product

Do you feel like social media is a chore? Many people I talk with find Instagram to be draining but know it's an important part of their sales and marketing so they keep posting and creating content. But what if using Instagram could be a way for you to begin meaningful conversations with your audience?

In this episode, I'm joined by Natasha Samuel, host of The Shine Online Podcast and an Instagram Strategist that helps small businesses shine online. Natasha shares Instagram trends you should pay attention to, how to use video to showcase your products, strategies specifically for product based businesses and why even introverts can create videos with confidence.

You'll learn:

• Instagram trends that are working for product based business owners
• How to use Videos and Reels to showcase your products
• Strategies and tools to help you create meaningful content on Instagram

For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp222

For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

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If you're like many of the people in our LABS and Paper Camp communities, you've probably pondered the idea of opening a brick & mortar shop for your business. In this episode, you'll hear from Jen Palacio, owner of Tiny Turns Paperie, a brick & mortar shop in Somerville, MA.

Jen uncovers what brought her to the idea of opening her own brick & mortar shop and some of the misconceptions people have about having a physical store. She talks about how she intentionally set boundaries and the shifts she made during COVID to ensure her business survived. She also shares her thoughts looking back and why she wishes she had prioritized hiring a team sooner.

You'll learn:

• The top misconceptions about having a brick & mortar shop
• Why hiring support is critical to growing your business
• Shifts she made during COVID that helped her growth

For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp221

For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

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Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

The upcoming holiday sales season is upon us! The worldwide shipping delays, supply chain issues and labor shortages have been causing some massive challenges for small businesses everywhere, particularly for physical product businesses. Take a listen to hear my 5 action steps you can take to prepare yourself so you don't face as many disruptions in your sales as we head into the holiday season.

You'll learn:

• How widespread the supply chain, labor shortage and shipping delay issues are
• The 5 steps you can take to prepare for the holiday sales season
• Why clear communication with your customers is so important

For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp220

For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

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Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

Think visibility is your problem? It's probably not! In this episode, I am welcoming back third-time guest, Brittney Lynn, CEO of the Human Connection Agency. We break down the core fears people have about being visible and how to make the most out of your visibility.

Brittney drops so many gems from her public relations knowledge about pitching, how to prioritize visibility and why the world needs your message. She and I chat about how PR has been during the pandemic and how you can use PR to reach your goals whether that be growing your brand authority or getting more sales for your business.

You'll learn:

• The 2 primary reasons why visibility isn't your problem
• How to leverage press opportunities to benefit your business
• Every place you should share your press wins

For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp219

For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

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Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

If you've been itching to grow your business then you'll love today's inspiring episode with Megan Fowler of Brown Parcel Press. In 2020, Megan's business exploded and she saw over 300% growth. Even more impressive, just one SKU accounts for over 50% of her business' annual profits.

In this episode, Megan shares how she leaned into her passion and ultimately started her now thriving business. She talks about her strategies for loving on her customers and how she's leveraged both our Paper Camp and LABS communities (along with a lot of hard work and determination) to build the business she has today.

You'll learn:

• Why it's okay to stand out and not fit the "industry norms"
• How growth is possible (even during the most challenging years)
• Why experimentation is a key component to business growth

For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp218

For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

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Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

Whether you're in the infant stages of your business or you've been running it for 10+ years, you might've had the thought at one point or another of making an exit.

Selling your business can be an appealing thought, but is it right for you? In this week's episode, I had a conversation with Chelsea Clarke of Blogs for Sale and Her Paper Route. Chelsea explains everything you need to know about selling a business and her tips on how to prepare your business for an eventual sale.

You'll learn:

• The process of selling a business from listing to closing
• 5 tips to get your website ready to sell
• The most common mistake business owners make when selling their business

For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp217

For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

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Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

The messy middle.

It's not a particularly fun place to be in business.

It can be fraught with feelings of doubt, fear and imposter syndrome. While at the same time, it is a phase of business where tremendous growth happens and confidence builds.

What is the messy middle?

The messy middle is when you're no longer a brand new business owner, eager with optimism and endless energy to tackle your to dos. In the messy middle, you've likely seen some success, but you haven't cracked the code on how to optimize or scale your business and you still have several goals you're working towards completing.

When you're in the messy middle you're stretching yourself as an entrepreneur — trying new sales channels, creating new products, developing new systems to streamline and possibly experimenting with hiring help.

In the messy middle you're learning to lead, refining your vision for the business and making an awful lot of decisions day in and day out to keep the business moving forward.

The messy middle has its highs and its lows.

But a common thread I see amongst small businesses who are in the messy middle is this…

They are trying to do too many things at one time.

Listen in for encouragement and advice on why focus is what you need, including:

- Being in the messy middle is nothing to be ashamed of, and you are definitely not alone.

- Sometimes the answer is right in front of us and it is a simpler solution than we realize. Get fresh eyes on your business.

- Give yourself space to really assess and identify what you want to accomplish with your business. When you know what you want, you can build a plan.

For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp216

For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

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Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

The challenges of running a business can be numerous. For those living with chronic illness, there are even more nuances to navigate, especially when it comes to listening and working with your body's natural rhythm.

In this episode, I was joined by Morgan Swank of Morgan Swank Studio. Morgan is a longtime student of our LABS community and a Paper Camp alumni. She and I discuss what led to her decision to start her paper goods brand. Morgan also gives us insight into what it's like to be a business owner with a chronic illness and her journey of licensing her products in big retail stores.

You'll learn:

• Why self-awareness and grace are an important part of entrepreneurship
• How to identify licensing opportunities
• How time blocking can make you more productive

For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp215

For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

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Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

Considering making an exit from your corporate career? If you feel like you're almost ready to make that jump then you'll want to take a listen to this episode to know exactly what to prepare for as you make the leap!

In this week's episode, I chat with Desiree Perez of Paper Anchor. Desiree made this transition herself in January of 2021 and she takes us through her journey of how she knew she was ready to do it, how her experience has been so far and what she's preparing for now as she is in the process of hiring her first employee.

You'll learn:

• How to know when you're ready to take on your business full time
• What to prepare for when making the transition
• Tips for hiring your first employee

For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp214

For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

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Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

Are you ready to put money back into your pocket? In this episode, I am uncovering how you can do just that by increasing your products' profit margins.

I will walk you through everything that you need to know about profit margins from a micro-level. As a business owner, you'll want to observe the profit margins for many reasons but it can be especially important when it comes to knowing what sells, what should be discontinued and to help fuel your strategic decision-making.

You'll learn:

• What profit margins are
• Why you should pay attention to your products' profit margins
• 4 ways that you can increase your product profit margins

For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp213

For more support with your wholesale marketing & sales strategies, check out Paper Camp at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/papercamp

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz