Marketing doesn’t have to be an obnoxious task you dread. Many small business owners are uncomfortable talking about themselves and their work with the public. Create an Instagram Reel? With me on camera? No, thank you.

According to Nicole Stevenson, CEO and Creative Director of Dear Handmade Life, it’s not about you. It’s about your message.

“I can’t serve my community if nobody knows about me,” she says.

Dear Handmade Life curates events, education, and community for creatives and small business owners. During her time as CEO, Nicole has done many things that made her uncomfortable. Marketing is one of those things. In her work with other small business owners, she finds this attitude toward marketing is pretty common. 

Sharing your story is essential to building a community. And for Nicole, that community is everything.

“I would not have a business without this community that we’ve curated,” she says.

On this episode of Be a Marketer, Nicole and host Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, discuss being more open to new systems and technologies, creating processes to complete your big tasks, and why it’s important to sit back and appreciate yourself once in a while.

👉 Marketing for Makers Summit, July 11 & 12, 2023

👉 How to Create a Custom Landing Page with Constant Contact

Meet Today’s Guest: Nicole Stevenson of Dear Handmade Life

☕ What Nicole does: Nicole is the CEO and creative director of Dear Handmade Life, which helps curate events, education and community for small business owners.

💡 Nicole’s key quote: “Don't wait ‘til you're ready. Just dive in and get started. Just build that list. Do not only rely on Instagram or social media. Just don't do it. You've got to focus on email marketing as well.”

👋 Where to find Nicole: Instagram

👋 Where to find Dear Handmade Life: Website | Podcast | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest