The Create & Thrive Podcast

Do you struggle when it comes to growing your Instagram following? Do you wonder how people gain a ton of engaged, loyal followers?

 

Social media has become such an important tool for running a creative business – so it is super important now more than ever to ensure you are using it effectively.

A lot of people spend (or perhaps even waste) time on Instagram without a clear plan or any idea of why they’re using it. They don’t know how to grow an audience at all, let alone how to grow the right audience.

If that sounds like you – never fear, Steph is here!

Steph is one of my Thriver Circle members, and when she shared her story of Instagram growth (and concomitant business success) in the Circle, everyone wanted to know how she’d done it. So, I asked her to come on the podcast and share – and lucky for you, she said yes

Do you struggle when it comes to growing your Instagram following? Do you wonder how people gain a ton of engaged, loyal followers?

 

Social media has become such an important tool for running a creative business – so it is super important now more than ever to ensure you are using it effectively.

A lot of people spend (or perhaps even waste) time on Instagram without a clear plan or any idea of why they’re using it. They don’t know how to grow an audience at all, let alone how to grow the right audience.

If that sounds like you – never fear, Steph is here!

Steph is one of my Thriver Circle members, and when she shared her story of Instagram growth (and concomitant business success) in the Circle, everyone wanted to know how she’d done it. So, I asked her to come on the podcast and share – and lucky for you, she said yes 😉

So, in this episode I chat with Steph Wallace from Mostly Miniature about how she managed to grow her Instagram following from 280 in July to over 5,000 in less than 5 months!

She shares the exact steps she used, and you can use her advice to go about growing your own genuine community of followers who will fall in love what you create – and hopefully, turn into customers, too.

 

 

 

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* Get clear on your ideal customer

* Have a look at your most popular posts so you can get a good idea of what people enjoy about what you do.

* De-clutter

* When you discover someone new on Instagram you always go look at their account. So do this to your own!

* Have a look at your account and see which pictures pop up and how they look as a whole.

* The next step is to get rid of all pictures that are not relevant or don’t fit well within your feed.

* Create with consistency

* ‘Is it pretty, does it serve my brand, does it serve my customer?’ {Steph}

* Use the same photography tips and efforts for your Instagram as you would for your Website or Etsy store.

* Find when your audience are online the most and so having posts ready to go at these times is super important.

* Have your core hashtags saved as a note on your phone to save time.

* Connecting with your ideal audience

* ‘Don’t sit back and wait for people to find you because it’s just not going to happen’ {Steph}

* Hashtags are great for making these connections.

* Use hashtags in the form of keywords such as #kidsclothes and also use niche hashtags. Niche hashtags are like a community such as #geekery.

* A great way to find people is to put something in the search bar – see what shows up.

* Nurture community

* Once you start generating your followers you need to ensure you are engaging with them.

* Share your followers content once they post pictures of your products – always credit the person.

* Collaborate

* Find other users that complement your business and work with them.

* Giveaways in a group help share across everyone’s audience.

* Convert to sales

* ‘Don’t underestimate the value of a relationship’ {Steph}

* When you are ready to sell to your audience don’t be embarrassed to ask for the sale.

* Step into the sales role and own it. Be proud of it.

* So much of your audience will miss posts so make sure you put out offers more than once.

* Make sure you always have a link in your Instagram bio so people can follow through.

* Make sure you are going out there and finding your ideal customers. Connect with them. Chat with them. Be authentic.

It can feel like the worst thing in the world to have an unhappy customer.

And I get it, I’ve been there – it’s almost impossible to not take it personally, especially the first time it happens to you in your business journey.

The fact is: it’s inevitable that at some stage in your business you will have an unhappy customer. The old saying ‘you can’t please 100% of the people 100% of the time’ holds true for every business, no matter how hard you try or how awesome you are (and I know you’re awesome!).

You can’t live in fear of it happening though! You must contemplate in advance that it is going to happen one day, and rather than stick your head in the sand, be aware and realistic, and ensure you are prepared to deal with an unhappy customer when the time comes.

The truth is: sometimes things go wrong. Sometimes you will stuff up. Sometimes it will be out of your control. Sometimes you will be able to turn it around… and sometimes you won’t.

No matter the situation, this episode outlines some ways you can be prepared and ensure you manage the situation effectively: with compassion, rationality, humility, honestly, and grace.

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* An unhappy customer can express themselves either publicly or privately.

* A private conversation is preferred but often an upset customer will leave public feedback or a bad review – it’s best if you can avoid this, for obvious reasons!

* There can be so many reasons why people are unhappy. Sometimes it is their fault, sometimes it is yours, and sometimes it is out of both your hands. Whatever the case may be, always approach the situation calmly and be polite, helpful and upbeat.

* ‘You can’t control how people are going to respond, and you can’t control peoples emotions’. {Jess}

* First up, don’t panic!

* If this is the first or second time it has happened it is hard not to panic.

* Don’t ever respond to a customer in the heat of the moment.

* If you have someone you trust it can be a good idea to share with them. Two heads are better than one.

* Be the bigger person

* Approach the issue from a place of calm rationality.

* ‘Don’t get caught in the drama’. {Jess}

* Think logically and rationally and try and be compassionate to your customer.

* ‘Really try to put yourself in your customer’s shoes as much as you possibly can’. {Jess}

* Try and work out the underlying reason the customer is upset – often it is not initially clear.

* Admit your mistakes

* If you have made a mistake you need to fix it.

* ‘Own it, fix it, and then move on’ {Jess}

* Learn from the issues that arise

* You need to fix the part of the system that is broken so that the same thing never happens again.

* Stick to your policies and don’t be held ransom

* If you have not made a mistake and something has gone wrong don’t feel like you’re held ransom by the possibility of a bad review.

* Your policies should outline all information your customer needs to know so that there are no surprises and you are covered.

* Always be understanding and kind even if you have not made the error.

* ‘Think of a way to respond that is empathetic and understanding’ {Jess}

* If you follow all of the steps you will hopefully be able to turn an unhappy customer into a satisfied or even a happier customer.

 

Download or Listen to This Episode

(You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher – just search ‘Create & Thri...

It can feel like the worst thing in the world to have an unhappy customer.

And I get it, I’ve been there – it’s almost impossible to not take it personally, especially the first time it happens to you in your business journey.

The fact is: it’s inevitable that at some stage in your business you will have an unhappy customer. The old saying ‘you can’t please 100% of the people 100% of the time’ holds true for every business, no matter how hard you try or how awesome you are (and I know you’re awesome!).

You can’t live in fear of it happening though! You must contemplate in advance that it is going to happen one day, and rather than stick your head in the sand, be aware and realistic, and ensure you are prepared to deal with an unhappy customer when the time comes.

The truth is: sometimes things go wrong. Sometimes you will stuff up. Sometimes it will be out of your control. Sometimes you will be able to turn it around… and sometimes you won’t.

No matter the situation, this episode outlines some ways you can be prepared and ensure you manage the situation effectively: with compassion, rationality, humility, honestly, and grace.

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* An unhappy customer can express themselves either publicly or privately.

* A private conversation is preferred but often an upset customer will leave public feedback or a bad review – it’s best if you can avoid this, for obvious reasons!

* There can be so many reasons why people are unhappy. Sometimes it is their fault, sometimes it is yours, and sometimes it is out of both your hands. Whatever the case may be, always approach the situation calmly and be polite, helpful and upbeat.

* ‘You can’t control how people are going to respond, and you can’t control peoples emotions’. {Jess}

* First up, don’t panic!

* If this is the first or second time it has happened it is hard not to panic.

* Don’t ever respond to a customer in the heat of the moment.

* If you have someone you trust it can be a good idea to share with them. Two heads are better than one.

* Be the bigger person

* Approach the issue from a place of calm rationality.

* ‘Don’t get caught in the drama’. {Jess}

* Think logically and rationally and try and be compassionate to your customer.

* ‘Really try to put yourself in your customer’s shoes as much as you possibly can’. {Jess}

* Try and work out the underlying reason the customer is upset – often it is not initially clear.

* Admit your mistakes

* If you have made a mistake you need to fix it.

* ‘Own it, fix it, and then move on’ {Jess}

* Learn from the issues that arise

* You need to fix the part of the system that is broken so that the same thing never happens again.

* Stick to your policies and don’t be held ransom

* If you have not made a mistake and something has gone wrong don’t feel like you’re held ransom by the possibility of a bad review.

* Your policies should outline all information your customer needs to know so that there are no surprises and you are covered.

* Always be understanding and kind even if you have not made the error.

* ‘Think of a way to respond that is empathetic and understanding’ {Jess}

* If you follow all of the steps you will hopefully be able to turn an unhappy customer into a satisfied or even a happier customer.

 

Download or Listen to This Episode

(You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher – just search ‘Create & Thri...

Running a creative business brings with it many ups and downs in your level of creative inspiration – I call this the Creative Cycle.

One aspect of this cycle is creative block – which can be incredibly frustrating and worrying, especially if it is your first time experiencing it.

In this episode I again chat with my friend Christina Lowry, who outlines some action steps that you can take to kick yourself out of a creative slump, while still honouring creative lulls as a natural part of the Creative Cycle.

 

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* Christina created a ‘How To’ for herself to help her deal with creative block.

* ‘Inspiration and action are not the same thing’ {Christina}

* Don’t start with a blank page

* This creates expectations and pressure.

* Just start making marks, get your hands and mind working.

* Make it a habit

* Make space in your day to be creative.

* There will always be a cycle in your business and your creativity.

* ‘You have to believe it will pass’ {Christina}

* Take a shower

* Take a shower or a bath, a long one, and lock the door.

* Have a notebook ready because taking that time to yourself will get the ideas flowing.

* Driving, sleeping, running, walking or knitting are all examples of activities that can get the ideas flowing.

* ‘Doing any kind of creative endeavour influences your creativity’ {Christina}

* Make something different

* Make something in a completely different medium to what you usually use.

* Make something you don’t have to sell.

* ‘Do something for your own fun and your own fulfilment’ {Jess}

* Look back through old sketchbooks

* Look at old ideas or designs to reignite some inspiring action.

* Maybe you have old designs that you didn’t have the means to make? Has this changed?

* Fill your well

* Self care cannot be a secondary thing.

* Never drain yourself. Self care should be a daily thing.

* Surround yourself with creative people

* Immerse yourself in others creativity.

* Use Prompts

* Prompts can help you open that creativity and smash the creative block.

* Step away

* If you aren’t being productive sometimes walking away is the best option.

* If it is making you angry or stressed walk away and come back to it later.

* Know that you are not your work

* It is not healthy to think you are a reflection of anything external to yourself.

* ‘You are not your work’ {Christina}

* The cycles will become easier to recognise the longer you are in business.

* Find Christina online at christinalowrydesigns.com

Download or Listen to This Episode

(You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher – just search ‘Create & Thrive’.)

Running a creative business brings with it many ups and downs in your level of creative inspiration – I call this the Creative Cycle.

One aspect of this cycle is creative block – which can be incredibly frustrating and worrying, especially if it is your first time experiencing it.

In this episode I again chat with my friend Christina Lowry, who outlines some action steps that you can take to kick yourself out of a creative slump, while still honouring creative lulls as a natural part of the Creative Cycle.

 

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* Christina created a ‘How To’ for herself to help her deal with creative block.

* ‘Inspiration and action are not the same thing’ {Christina}

* Don’t start with a blank page

* This creates expectations and pressure.

* Just start making marks, get your hands and mind working.

* Make it a habit

* Make space in your day to be creative.

* There will always be a cycle in your business and your creativity.

* ‘You have to believe it will pass’ {Christina}

* Take a shower

* Take a shower or a bath, a long one, and lock the door.

* Have a notebook ready because taking that time to yourself will get the ideas flowing.

* Driving, sleeping, running, walking or knitting are all examples of activities that can get the ideas flowing.

* ‘Doing any kind of creative endeavour influences your creativity’ {Christina}

* Make something different

* Make something in a completely different medium to what you usually use.

* Make something you don’t have to sell.

* ‘Do something for your own fun and your own fulfilment’ {Jess}

* Look back through old sketchbooks

* Look at old ideas or designs to reignite some inspiring action.

* Maybe you have old designs that you didn’t have the means to make? Has this changed?

* Fill your well

* Self care cannot be a secondary thing.

* Never drain yourself. Self care should be a daily thing.

* Surround yourself with creative people

* Immerse yourself in others creativity.

* Use Prompts

* Prompts can help you open that creativity and smash the creative block.

* Step away

* If you aren’t being productive sometimes walking away is the best option.

* If it is making you angry or stressed walk away and come back to it later.

* Know that you are not your work

* It is not healthy to think you are a reflection of anything external to yourself.

* ‘You are not your work’ {Christina}

* The cycles will become easier to recognise the longer you are in business.

* Find Christina online at christinalowrydesigns.com

Download or Listen to This Episode

(You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher – just search ‘Create & Thrive’.)

I started the Create & Thrive Podcast in April 2015, and I have loved creating a new episode (almost!) every week since then for you, my lovely listener.

Here we are, at episode 80, and as the year is slowly ticking down, I decided it was time to turn the tables. Instead of you learning from me this week, I want to learn from you!

Each week, I try to create useful, interesting, and relevant episodes that will help you on your handmade business journey. And I believe that there’s no better way to ensure I’m doing just that than to actually ask you.

So, this week I’m asking you to take 10 or so minutes of your time to help me make the C&T Podcast more interesting, more relevant to you, and more helpful in 2017.

I have created a survey, which you can access right here, for you to fill in. Every question is optional, and it is anonymous (unless you’d like to tell me who you are, which is most welcome!).

In it, I’m aiming to get a picture of you, your business, AND exactly what you’d like to hear me speak about on the podcast. I also ask you to share the names of anyone you’d like to hear me interview – I’d love to start doing more interviews next year. I also give you the chance to pitch yourself as a guest!

I know surveys can be a bit blah and boring, but please, please – if you are a loyal listener (or even a sporadic or new listener!) this will REALLY help me to help you going forward! This isn’t just a lip-service survey, I fully intend to utilise as much of your feedback as I possibly can.

Enormous thanks in advance for helping me to help you!

Jess

I started the Create & Thrive Podcast in April 2015, and I have loved creating a new episode (almost!) every week since then for you, my lovely listener.

Here we are, at episode 80, and as the year is slowly ticking down, I decided it was time to turn the tables. Instead of you learning from me this week, I want to learn from you!

Each week, I try to create useful, interesting, and relevant episodes that will help you on your handmade business journey. And I believe that there’s no better way to ensure I’m doing just that than to actually ask you.

So, this week I’m asking you to take 10 or so minutes of your time to help me make the C&T Podcast more interesting, more relevant to you, and more helpful in 2017.

I have created a survey, which you can access right here, for you to fill in. Every question is optional, and it is anonymous (unless you’d like to tell me who you are, which is most welcome!).

In it, I’m aiming to get a picture of you, your business, AND exactly what you’d like to hear me speak about on the podcast. I also ask you to share the names of anyone you’d like to hear me interview – I’d love to start doing more interviews next year. I also give you the chance to pitch yourself as a guest!

I know surveys can be a bit blah and boring, but please, please – if you are a loyal listener (or even a sporadic or new listener!) this will REALLY help me to help you going forward! This isn’t just a lip-service survey, I fully intend to utilise as much of your feedback as I possibly can.

Enormous thanks in advance for helping me to help you!

Jess 🙂

 

Click here to access the survey.

 

 

 

 

Download/Listen to this Episode

(You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher – just search ‘Create & Thrive’.)

While we are all in the midst of the busiest time of year – selling, making, shipping and promoting our wares in time for Christmas – it is important to take stock of all the craziness. Soon it will be over and you will very likely be faced with the dreaded quiet time.

Quiet times will happen in any business: even the most established will have its ups and downs.

It’s so important to be prepared for this, to put yourself in the mindset that it is okay to have slow times (they are just a regular part of business) and therefore devise a plan for how you will spend the extra time wisely.

In this episode Meredith and I discuss some ideas that you can use to start your own ‘slow times list’ of jobs that are not urgent but can be done during the quiet periods if your creative business.

 

 

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* Some ideas for you are:

* 1. Revamp your website

* Websites are always a work in progress so quiet times are really great for doing any updating of information and making it new and fresh.

* 2. Learn something new

* Do some reading, update your skills, do an online course or sign up for some lessons locally.

* The Thriver Circle workshops are great to revisit and keep those skills up to date!

* 3. Re-organise, de-clutter, clean up.

* There is no better time for this than when you have some spare hours available.

* It is so nice to have a clean workspace in preparation for more making and to keep you inspired.

* 4. Work on your email list

* If it has been a while since you sent an email to your subscribers or you are yet to begin this journey quiet times are perfect for this!

* It let’s people know you are still there and can help drum up business.

* 5. Update your photos

* Shoot some new photos of your best sellers for a refresh.

* Take some new photos to be shared on social media, some beautiful images that reflect your brand.

* 6. Focus on Social Media and SEO

* Update your social media schedule to ensure you are keeping on top of it.

* Having a plan is really great to ensure you never run out of content and you are aware of what you should be promoting.

* Search yourself online to see what comes up – this is a great way to see what you could be doing with SEO.

* 7. Reward yourself

* Take the opportunity for some down time. Either schedule a holiday or take a day to just spend on yourself.

* It is important to rest and recover in between being busy!

 

Download or Listen to This Episode

(You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher – just search ‘Create & Thrive’.)

While we are all in the midst of the busiest time of year – selling, making, shipping and promoting our wares in time for Christmas – it is important to take stock of all the craziness. Soon it will be over and you will very likely be faced with the dreaded quiet time.

Quiet times will happen in any business: even the most established will have its ups and downs.

It’s so important to be prepared for this, to put yourself in the mindset that it is okay to have slow times (they are just a regular part of business) and therefore devise a plan for how you will spend the extra time wisely.

In this episode Meredith and I discuss some ideas that you can use to start your own ‘slow times list’ of jobs that are not urgent but can be done during the quiet periods if your creative business.

 

 

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* Some ideas for you are:

* 1. Revamp your website

* Websites are always a work in progress so quiet times are really great for doing any updating of information and making it new and fresh.

* 2. Learn something new

* Do some reading, update your skills, do an online course or sign up for some lessons locally.

* The Thriver Circle workshops are great to revisit and keep those skills up to date!

* 3. Re-organise, de-clutter, clean up.

* There is no better time for this than when you have some spare hours available.

* It is so nice to have a clean workspace in preparation for more making and to keep you inspired.

* 4. Work on your email list

* If it has been a while since you sent an email to your subscribers or you are yet to begin this journey quiet times are perfect for this!

* It let’s people know you are still there and can help drum up business.

* 5. Update your photos

* Shoot some new photos of your best sellers for a refresh.

* Take some new photos to be shared on social media, some beautiful images that reflect your brand.

* 6. Focus on Social Media and SEO

* Update your social media schedule to ensure you are keeping on top of it.

* Having a plan is really great to ensure you never run out of content and you are aware of what you should be promoting.

* Search yourself online to see what comes up – this is a great way to see what you could be doing with SEO.

* 7. Reward yourself

* Take the opportunity for some down time. Either schedule a holiday or take a day to just spend on yourself.

* It is important to rest and recover in between being busy!

 

Download or Listen to This Episode

(You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher – just search ‘Create & Thrive’.)