The T.E.A. with Albie Knows

Over the past year, I have been able to secure interviews and sponsored collaborations, all on the heels of a yearlong social media sabbatical. I share this with you because while I am immensely proud this, what I am most proud of is the circumstances under which I hit these milestones — with a small number of followers/subscribers across all of my social channels. We often hear about the pressure to have high numbers as social proof, but there is something to be said for the micro-micro-MICRO-influencer who, as the saying goes, is small but mighty! 

So how did I do it? On the blog, I shared the techniques that I’ll be mentioning on today’s show. Whether you have 1,000 or 1,000,000 followers & subscribers, there are a few key things you should be doing to boost your visibility and brand attractiveness, and that’s what we’re getting into today. 

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• Episode 017: The Power of Positioning Yourself As An Influencer (If You Want To)

• On The Blog: How I Secured Brand Collaborations With Less Than 1,000 Followers

• In The Shop: Courses Coming to The Influence Directory

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The Influence Directory is an index of courses designed to help you maximize your expertise and influence. From software to strategy, tools to tactics, I have pooled my knowledge and resources to help you learn, connect, and thrive on your designpreneur journey.

In the short amount of time I’ve been on my designpreneur journey, I can say more than half of the designers I’ve met are, or started as, “side hustlers” — working a whole other job full-time while pursuing a design business. That transition from "side hustle" to self-employed isn’t just quitting a job & starting a new one — it’s as much a financial & mental transition, as it is a physical one. So I am excited for you guys to hear today’s conversation with one of my fav people, Amanda Amato. 

Last year Amanda made the decision to resign from her full time "day job" to pursue AMA Designs full-time. Today we’re digging into what it was like balancing the two roles, how she came to that ultimate decision to leave her full time job, and what the transition has been like. I am confident, even if you’re not a side hustler, that you’re gonna get so much value from our conversation, so let’s dive in!

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THIS EPISODE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE INFLUENCE DIRECTORY. 

The Influence Directory is an index of courses designed to help you maximize your expertise and influence. From software to strategy, tools to tactics, I have pooled my knowledge and resources to help you learn, connect, and thrive on your designpreneur journey.

One of the tracks of last summer's conference — The Exponential Designpreneur — focused exclusively on the growth of designers, beyond design. With that a lot of the content was crafted around other avenues of income & visibility, such as personal branding & establishing yourself as an influencer within (and outside of) the design community.

Translation: being an influencer.

In this episode, I’m going to talk about what it can look like being not only a designer in the industry, but an influencer in the industry.

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Resources:

• Episode 001: Making Your Blog Work For You Instead of Against You

• On The Blog: Lessons From The Fyre Festival Documentaries

• In The Shop: Social Media Planning Calendar Template

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THIS EPISODE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE INFLUENCE DIRECTORY.

The Influence Directory is an index of courses designed to help you maximize your expertise and influence. From software to strategy, tools to tactics, I have pooled my knowledge and resources to help you learn, connect, and thrive on your designpreneur journey.

If you tuned in last week then this minisode is gonna be a real treat because we are back with Veronica Solomon for a Q & A on #allthethings when it comes to being the CEO in your business.

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Last Week:

• paying yourself first

• understanding business principles

• diversifying services

• embracing shiny object syndrome

• selling in your business model

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This week we’re answering:

• I am just getting started out & everyone says to niche down. How do I identify my niche? (2:06)

• As a solopreneur, how do you diversify my services without a team? I'm only one person. (3:19)

• I am starting out and struggling with consistently securing clients. What have been your most successful avenues for new projects to keep your pipeline healthy & consistent? (4:21)

• I just left my full-time job to pursue my side hustle as now my only career. What are the first steps to legitimizing my business? (6:37)

• I'm going to my first trade show soon & I want to make sure I represent my business best I can. Any tips for this? (7:56)

• I've finally gone from making money in my business to actually making a profit. But how do I actually pay myself? Do I pay myself, as the boss, if I want to have a team eventually? (10:09)

• My online services do way better than my in-person services even though it's all local clients. How can I shift the table to be seen as more than just e-design? (12:51)

• Setting my prices is difficult for me because I want to be profitable but I also don't want to turn people away. What's the sweet spot? (14:42)

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TODAY’S EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE INFLUENCE DIRECTORY.

Veronica Solomon has been creating beautiful interiors for the last 10 years, and knows a thing or two about the ups and downs in the business. The landscape of interior design has changed dramatically over the years, and with all the changes, she has learned how to package her  services, market her business, and create an iron-clad process that clients see value in, and are willing to pay top dollar for. These processes and systems have grown her business exponentially. And not only did clients take notice, but so do publications, industry organizations, vendors and fellow designers. 

When I asked Veronica what her super power was, off air, she said “client management, closing the deal, and diversifying services” — three areas that most creatives struggle with, especially in the beginning. But as I have continued to watch Veronica move within her business and the industry, it hit me — her real power is in being the CEO of her business. With or without a team, Veronica has adopted a mindset that completely changed her business and we dig into what  that “aha” moment was for her that took her from bankruptcy to publication features. 

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SKIP STRAIGHT TO THE CONVERSATION AT 4:51

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FIND VERONICA ONLINE

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group

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The Influence Directory is an index of courses designed to help you maximize your expertise and influence. From software to strategy, tools to tactics, I have pooled my knowledge and resources to help you learn, connect, and thrive on your designpreneur journey.