In this two-part, double-episode Ask Muse edition, Lori Vajda and Nola Boea give cartoonist Garth German, creator of GarthToons, actionable advice to monetize his art and turn his creative hobby into a profitable side business. 

     In Part 1, Garth described his main challenges: Growing his audience, turning them into buyers, and pricing his custom work for two very different types of clients. Right now he’s “feeding the social media beast” and taking requests for merchandise or custom work as they come, but much of his marketing is sheer guesswork. 

     In Part 2, Lori and Nola give Garth give overarching strategies and tactical tips to target specific audiences and attract them to a business-focused website. They also give effective ways to package and price his custom work yet retain the joy of creating art.

Thanks for Listening!

 Ready to start your business or grow your personal brand? Schedule a free 20 min. consultation call now. 

 Find out more about us at Sticky Brand Lab

 Connect with us on Facebook! 

 Would you like to be a featured guest or have your question mentioned? Ask Muse!

 Key Conversation Points:

•  7:19 How to turn a scrappy starter website into an effective business website.
•  17:28 Audience growth: What’s hindering it, and ways to achieve it. 
•  21:07 How context and content around art posted in social media incites audience engagement. 
•  22:52 Hashtag dos and Don'ts - and what to do when you intentionally “poke the bear” with controversial content
•  24:58 The 80/20 rule for posting social media, along with the two main types of content, and what each accomplishes
•  26:29 How to set a price for custom artwork that makes it worthwhile for you to spend your valuable time creating it. 
•  27:43 A tip for making lower-priced artwork more efficient - and therefore more profitable-- to produce.
•  29:49 A bonus idea for passive income 

Resources

GarthToons website: http://www.garthtoons.com/

Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @GarthToons

To download the handouts provded to Garth, go to our Podcast Freebies page

This episode was supported by Ask Muse

Podcast Transcript https://www.stickybrandlab.com

    In this two-part, double-episode Ask Muse edition, Lori Vajda and Nola Boea give cartoonist Garth German, creator of GarthToons, actionable advice to monetize his art and turn his creative hobby into a profitable side business. 

     In Part 1, Garth describes his main challenges: Growing his audience, turning them into buyers, and pricing his custom work for two very different types of clients. Right now he’s “feeding the social media beast” and taking requests for merchandise or custom work as they come. But much of his marketing is sheer guesswork. 

     In Part 2, Lori and Nola will give Garth overarching strategies and tactical tips to target specific audiences and attract them to a business-focused website. They’ll also give effective ways to package and price his custom work yet retain the joy of creating art.

Thanks for Listening!

 Ready to start your business or grow your personal brand? Schedule a free 20 min. consultation call now. 

 Find out more about us at Sticky Brand Lab

 Connect with us on Facebook! 

 Would you like to be a featured guest or have your question mentioned? Ask Muse!

 
Key Conversation Points:

•  4:36 The inspiring words that convinced Garth to bring his cartoons to the world.
•  5:29 Garth’s journey as a cartoonist, from a little tyke drawing pictures to a sizable following with real business potential. 
• 14:26 The scary part of trying to meet expectations of individual clients who commission custom work, compared to that of corporate clients.
• 17:43 How Garth’s website evolved as various opportunities arose -- and why that’s no longer an effective strategy. 
• 19:36 How Garth has been promoting on social media platforms, and what has worked thus far.
• 24:15 LIsten in as Lori & Nola begin the brainstorming process.

Resources

GarthToons website: http://www.garthtoons.com/

Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @GarthToons

This episode was supported by Ask Muse

Podcast Transcript https://www.stickybrandlab.com

In this episode, Lori Vajda and Nola Boea explore the business side of the Non-Fungible Token (NFT) marketplace with entrepreneur, NFT Mini Monkey Mafia co-founder and graphic artist, Christine Gu. 

Come hear as Christine shares her experience, lessons learned and recommendations for women who are interested in launching their own business in the NFT metaverse. Representation is important for women in the blockchain and Crypto NFT space. We hope this episode inspires you to get involved in a Discord community or launch your own business.

Thanks for Listening!

Ready to start your business or grow your personal brand? Schedule a free 20 min. consultation call now. 

Find out more about us at Sticky Brand Lab

We love hearing from you! Leave or speak your message here

Connect with us on Facebook! 

Would you like to be a featured guest or have your question mentioned? Ask Muse!

In This Episode You’ll Learn 

• How the NFT marketplace provides business possibilities for creatives and entrepreneurs. 
• Why now is the ideal time for women to learn, explore and get involved in the NFT space. 
• Terminology basics to build your confidence and help you overcome your fear of blockchain and how it works.
• Learn how women can safely get involved and start their own businesses in the NFT space.

Key points Nola and Lori are sharing in this episode:

(3:24:79) Learn basic terminology used within the NFT space, including metaverse, blockchain, and how to engage.  

(6:07.79) How to find, buy and sell NFTs on platforms like OpenSea and other Ethereum platforms.

(7:26.45) Step-by-step guide to making purchases using Ethereum, gas fees, fluctuations, digital wallets and Metamask. 

(12:47.68) How ownership/transactions of art, contracts, content, and other products works and why more entrepreneurs will start businesses on the blockchain.

(21:20:35) Christine explains the operations of starting and running a female co-founded business in the NFT space. 

(32:09:85) Unique business ideas for those wanting to explore the NFT space and how to get started.

Resources 

Subscribe to Lori and Nola's show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Links: 

Christine's personal portfolio: https://christinegu.com/ 

Christine's Twitter: https://twitter.com/chr15tine_gu 

Mini Monkey Mafia OpenSea link: https://opensea.io/collection/minimonkeymafia 

Mini Monkey Mafia website: https://monkeymafia.co/ 

Click here for a list of NFT links mentioned in this episode

ConvertKit: Our #1 Favorite Email Marketing Platform  (This is an affiliate link)

Podcast Transcript

In this episode, Lori Vajda and Nola Boea explore the exciting new business opportunities awaiting in the emerging Non-Fungible Token (NFT) market with entrepreneur, NFT Mini Monkey Mafia co-founder and graphic artist, Christine Gu. 

In part 1 of this two-part interview, Christine shares her startup story and the lessons she and her co-founder learned along the way. Come take a listen and find out how this creative entrepreneurial team launched 5,000 uniquely generated pieces of crypto art that sold out on the blockchain in three hours. It just might inspire you to explore the new and exciting business opportunities within the crypto NFT space.

Business success strategies are in the works. Come have a listen!

In This Episode You’ll Learn: 

• What Crypto Art is and how it prevents counterfeiting making it an ideal technology for nonprofits and for profit businesses as well as musicians, writers, legal, chefs, and many other businesses. 
• Why getting in on the ground floor of the NFT space is the best time to launch a business. 
• Learn the basics so you can have good conversations with experts in the field and marketplaces.
• As we demystify the terminology, and level the playing field through information so you make fewer mistakes.
• How anyone with a digital business idea or solution can get into the marketplace.

Key points:

(2:59:83) In the world of cryptocurrency, there's a huge gender gap. Research shows that women make up only 15% of crypto users. And it's even a smaller number for NFT creators.  

(8:44.79) Learn basic terminology used within the cryptocurrency space, including Ethereum, the currency used on many of the decentralized platforms on the blockchain.

(15:43.59) Because you can build on top of Ethereum, more people are seeing the value and wanting to do business in this new economy where they can buy, sell and trade. 

(23:13.27) One of the intriguing aspects of doing business on the blockchain is how it protects the creator or originator of the idea, art or solution greatly reducing the need for copyright.

(33:14:16) Hear how the Mini Monkey Mafia collection originated and the assets sold on the NFT blockchain. 

Resources:

You can subscribe to Lori and Nola's show, (we love you and want to make it easy) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Links:

Christine's personal portfolio: https://christinegu.com/ 

Christine's Twitter: https://twitter.com/chr15tine_gu 

Mini Monkey Mafia OpenSea link: https://opensea.io/collection/minimonkeymafia 

Mini Monkey Mafia website: https://monkeymafia.co/ 

OpenSea - https://opensea.io/

Discord - https://discord.com/ 

Solidity - https://soliditylang.org/ 

This episode was supported by: Be-YOU-nique

ConvertKit: Our #1 Favorite Email Marketing Platform  
(This is an affiliate link)

Podcast Transcript

In this episode Lori Vajda and Nola Boea share 5 creative branding tips so you can develop irresistible messaging to promote your side business with confidence!

As a new entrepreneur you don’t want prospective buyers comparing you to your competition. That’s why branding is so important for small businesses to get right, sticky right! Come take a listen and find out how to develop branding for each of the  touchpoints and interactions between your business and your prospects and buyers.

Thanks for Listening!

Ready to start your business or grow your personal brand? Schedule a free 20 min. consultation call now. 

Sticky Brand Lab is the place for professionals who want to take their knowledge, experience or ideas on the road less traveled. 

If you enjoyed this show, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you’ll never miss an episode. Want to get to know us more? Find out more about us and our services at Sticky Brand Lab

We love hearing from you! Leave or speak your message here

If you haven’t already, please connect with us on Facebook! 

Would you like to be a featured guest or have your question, comment or review mentioned? Ask Muse!

Business success strategies are in the works. Come have a listen!

In This Episode You’ll Learn 

• The difference between brand and branding and why you need to know them!
• Why branding is just as, if not more, important for small side businesses as it is for large companies.
• How to communicate your key competitive advantages.
• Tips for quickly discovering your business differenientators.

Key points Nola and Lori are sharing in this episode:

(6:30:37) Defining the difference between brand and branding and how that can lead to powerful messaging.  

(8:36:45) Three companies who are breaking with traditional branding and messaging to create something innovative.

(12:14.21) What you can learn from those innovative companies changing the way we think about branding.

(13:28.69) Using branding to go beyond delivering messaging around your products, But using it to include how you deliver memorable customer experiences.

(16:20.32) The framework you can use for branding your business so you can move from being a company similar (‘me too’) to your competition, to one (‘only me’) that truly differentiates your small business.

Resources 

You can subscribe to Lori and Nola's show, (we love you and want to make it easy) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

This episode was supported by: Be-YOU-nique

ConvertKit: Our #1 Favorite Email Marketing Platform   (This is an affiliate link)

Podcast Transcript

Noel & Mariana, co-hosts of The Bliss Project, recently invited Sticky Brand Lab co-host, Lori Vajda, to be a guest on their podcast. We share that podcast interview with you here. 

Lori Vajda, MSW, Founder, and CEO of GB Brand Partners, and co-founder of Sticky Brand Lab. You could say she is convergent, but she prefers multi-hyphenated and multi-faceted because that is what she believes we all are. Just like you, the whole of who she is, is made up of all her life, career, and personal experiences. Gratefully, those experiences have guided her to where she is today.

For more than a decade, she has been infusing her background as a therapist, dating coach, and content creator into all her entrepreneurial endeavors including being a podcaster. Now she shares her knowledge and experience with professional women to inspire, empower, support, and help guide their badassery decision to create a personal enterprise and brave an entrepreneurial journey.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Lori's personal journey that led her to where she is today
• The Power of a Mindshift when receiving bad news 
• Taking her Wellness into her own hands when cancer entered her world, including finding a team in a different city to support her during this process
• Why she prefers multi-hyphenated as a way to describe all the different interests that women have and how this reframing is empowering 
• The Sticky Brand Lab podcast and what led her to start this as a way to inspire and help women
• The other programs she is creating through her brand, to assist women in becoming more successful and empowered

RESOURCES

Website:  www.Stickybrandlab.com

Learn More About The Bliss Project: www.theblissproject777.com

Connect with Noel & Mariana here: [email protected]

Instagram: @TheBlissProject777

@noelteubner

Every new business needs a website. Jill Kuehnert, co-founder with her husband of Lucky Fish Scuba, has created several iterations of their website, and each time, was able to apply lessons learned to make it (and their business) better and better. Lori Vajda and Nola Boea hear how her love story turned luxe charter service taught her a few things about building a website, a brand, and awards -- with a few key tips and some wise advice. 

Thanks for Listening!

Ready to start or grow your business? Schedule a free 20 min. consultation call now. 

Find out more about us and our services at Sticky Brand Lab.com

Please connect with us on Facebook! 

Have your question answered on the show. Ask Muse!

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• Why you might want to DIY your website and ways hiring a pro can help
• The importance of stepping away from working IN the business so you can work ON the business
• How your website reflects your joy when you run a business that energizes you
• Tips to get web traffic and high-quality leads without paying for ads

(11:03) What to do right away, before you spend a lot of time getting your website perfect

(14:21) How to use photos on your website to enhance your brand and your logo

(14:57) An easy method to gather and use your customers’ language in your web content

(15:31) Where to find already-written, and super-relevant content to repurpose for your website

(16:13) An example of how plans -- and therefore websites -- change after you’ve been in business for just a little while

(18:46) How great web content led to unexpected PR and prime stream of leads to their website

(20:29) A creative, no-pressure way to ask -- and receive -- reviews that can lead more traffic to your website and more customers to your business

Resources 

Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts,  or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Lucky FIsh Scuba

Sticky Brand Lab’s DIY Website Course

Sign up for one of our clarity sessions at  www.stickybrandlab.com/contact 

ConvertKit: Our #1 Favorite Email Marketing Platform  (Affiliate link)

Episode 26: Four Couples Tell What it's Really Like Having a Spouse as Your Business Partner. (Includes Jill Keunhert) on Apple Podcasts

Lori Vajda and Nola Boea sit down with Certified Professional Coach, Barbara Fonti, to get help for people ready to start their side business. Learn how to identify and quiet your particular ‘saboteur’ voice, that enemy of the mind guilty of holding you back. Learn how with a little practice, you can ignite the ‘sage’ voice from within. 

Thanks for Listening!

Ready to start or grow your business? Schedule a free 20 min. consultation call now. 

Find out more about us and our services at Sticky Brand Lab.com

Please connect with us on Facebook! 

Have your question answered on the show. Ask Muse!

In This Episode You’ll Learn 

• How to conquer self-sabotaging thoughts so you find happiness and success
• How your thinking can hold you back from creating the impact, income, and reinvention you dream about.
• Why shifting your thinking from self-sabotage to optimal performance can help you move forward with your entrepreneurial goals.
• How to control and convert negative thoughts into improved performance.

(4:30:46) Identify the things you may unknowingly be doing to self-sabotage your success. They might be the reasons why you're not at the level you could be. 

(7:22:45) Recognize the behaviors and thoughts at that pivotal moment when our positive thinking changes to doubt and how to get back on the right track.

(10:06.75) The 3 things you need to do to achieve your entrepreneurial full potential. 

(12:03.36) The internal feeling of fear that can often be the result of a particular saboteur. 3 tips to identify and utilize the more powerful, productive parts of our brain.

(14:49.80) Move from Darth Vader to Yoda. How to turn stress into resiliency.

(23:49.13) Some people use negative emotion as a motivator, but does it work as well as positive emotion?

Resources 

Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts,  or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Barbara on episode #22 Sales Tips for Solopreneurs Who Don't Like to Sell on: Apple Podcast Spotify Google Podcast  Sticher

Barbara Fonti - Big Dream Executive Coaching 

Positive Quotient Assessment Link

Saboteur Assessment Link

Sign up for one of our clarity sessions at  www.stickybrandlab.com/contact 

ConvertKit: Our #1 Favorite Email Marketing Platform  (Affiliate link)

In this episode Lori Vajda and Nola Boea share 5 tips to help reduce networking stress and increase your confidence, even if you’re an introvert!

Networking has changed from the days of attending an in person event and ‘pitching’ yourself and your company. Now, every conference, lecture, and social event, whether virtually or in person, is an opportunity to meet prospective buyers, build your brand reputation and expand your circle of influence. Yet, for many entrepreneurs, networking can be a real challenge. Listen and find out how to improve your networking skills.

Thanks for Listening!

Ready to start your business or grow your personal brand? Schedule a free 20 min. consultation call now. 

Sticky Brand Lab is the place for professionals who want to take their knowledge, experience or ideas on the road less traveled. 

If you enjoyed this show, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you’ll never miss an episode. Want to get to know us more? Find out more about us and our services at Sticky Brand Lab

We love hearing from you! Leave or speak your message here

If you haven’t already, please connect with us on Facebook! 

Would you like to be a featured guest or have your question, comment or review mentioned? Ask Muse!

Business success strategies are in the works. Come have a listen!

In This Episode You’ll Learn 

• How to lessen anxiety so networking isn’t so nerve-wracking.
• Why you need to network both in person and virtually.
• How setting goals ahead of time can help you come up with questions to ask yourself (and others) about what you want to accomplish or have happen.
• Prepare to introduce yourself in a unique way as a means to make a impactful introduction

(2:40:10) Knowing how networking has changed can help you be memorable whether you’re online or in person.  

(5:19:45) Introducing yourself virtually requires a different approach than in person. This tip will help you do it in a way that is unique to the listener.

(6:27.29) Being approachable in person looks different from being approachable virtually. These tips will help you be successful at both venues.

(12:52.36) There’s a difference between being approachable and being memorable. These tips and one bonus will help you with the latter.

(15:53.80) Writing your WHY Statement starts with asking and answering yourself these questions. This exercise will help you develop your Big deep meaningful WHY so you can memorably introduce yourself.

Resources 

You can subscribe to Lori and Nola's show, (we love you and want to make it easy) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

This episode was supported by: Be-YOU-nique

Simon Sinek - YouTube - Start with WHY - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4ZoJKF_VuA

ConvertKit: Our #1 Favorite Email Marketing Platform  (This is an affiliate link)

 Podcast Transcrip

As an entrepreneur, writing can be a great way to share your ideas, opinions, and thought leadership. It’s also the perfect way to position yourself as an expert within your market niche, and nurture engagement with current customers as well as prospective buyers. How can you use thought leadership to boost brand awareness and build trust with referrals, buyers, prospects?

To find out, Nola Boea and Lori Vajda sat down with authors and bloggers Kristina Adams and Ellie Betts. These writers share their tips, tools, and resources to help smart, successful, aspiring entrepreneurs get started as writers and thought leaders.  

Why You Should Listen To This Episode. In It You’ll Learn: 

• Why, as an entrepreneur, you should be writing articles, blog posts, and books.
• How writing on topics with a fresh perspective, no one else has, is an innovative way to garner attention and helps you stand out.
• Why thought leadership builds trust with prospective customers and those who might be a great referral source.
• Tips to help you transform the way you write into engaging and interesting thought leadership. 

In today's increasingly connected digital world, your writing has the power to foster engagement with current customers (who you want to retain) and prospective buyers (who you want to convert into paying clients). And not to mention, 83% of buyers believe it helps them trust an organization.

(9:34.84) Why using cute titles for your blog posts, articles and books is a terrible idea! And how to choose titles that deliver a unique selling point.

(11:03.46) Help for writers so they can get over the mental roadblocks that are holding them back from starting or finishing their books, articles and blog posts. 

(13:47.48) Why writing one book is not enough and how you can use the Netflix model to write, publish and profit from your books.

(14:35.22) 7 tips to improve your business and thought leadership writing, and how you can use it to set yourself apart from the competition, get referrals and attract your ideal clients.

(18:57:10) Why your writing needs a niche and how you can turn your opinion pieces, blogs, and books about your business, industry or marketplace into one.

(25:11:47) 5 tips to use blogging or writing to develop an income stream.

Resources 

DIY Build Your Own Business Website - Course Link

Episode #45 with Kristina Adams: Three Authors Share Their Tips to Help You Write Your First Book. Listen on Apple podcast, Google podcast, Spotify, Stitcher or Sticky Brand Lab

The Writer’s Cookbook website

The Writer’s Mindset podcast

Books from author Kristina Adams

Writers Cookbook Facebook page

Recipe for Victoria Sponge Cake

ConvertKit: Our #1 Favorite Email Marketing Platform  (This is an affiliate link)