Friday Inspiration: Invest in People Who Invest in You
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Invest in People Who Invest in You
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Chasing Dreams Interview with Sky Marcano, Clothing Designer at Mandala Sky
/This interview is part of the Chasing Dreams interview series. I’ve interviewed a variety of entrepreneurs and small business owners who have chosen a different path in life in order to go after his or her dream career. Have an entrepreneur in mind you’d like to learn more about? Let me know! Today’s interview is with Sky Marcano, a fellow member of the Female Entrepreneur Association. Sky shared the video below, and I knew I had to interview her! What an inspiration.
At what point did you know you wanted to follow this career path? How did you know this was the right direction?
As a small child I started drawing clothing. I told my mother when I was 8 years old that I wanted to design clothing. I was obsessed! All through elementary school and high school I would draw and create new design ideas, I was determined.
What are the biggest struggles you've faced while trying to achieve your dreams?
My biggest struggle would be finding the right people and resources to go along with my vision. I am very independent and I have gone through business partnerships, incorporations and currently running my second business on my own. I do outsource and have employees but hope to get a good team going this year. Mixing my independent strong mind with structure, rules and regulations can be hard on my creative spirit.
Owning your own business can be tough on the body and mind, between long days, instability and really putting yourself out there to reach your goals. How do you stay healthy? Do you have any rituals that help you stay centered?
This year I am trying to write more because I feel it to be a meditative exercise. I have promised myself I will write at least 6 days a week, short blog posts, so my intentions are clear. I try to eat really healthy most of the time because eating healthy helps my mind stay clear and I sleep better if I am eating well. I try to do strength training 3-4 times a week. Plus a huge priority is getting a solid 8 hour sleep; I literally cannot function as well if I don’t sleep.
Speaking of putting yourself out there, overcoming rejection is a big part of chasing dreams. How do you bounce back?
I have faced many obstacles throughout my 11 years running clothing businesses. My hardship of being a single mother earlier in my life really put things into perspective for me. Having some rejection is nothing compared to how I felt back then. I suppose hardship from the past is the source of my inspiration and not taking anything too seriously. I sent an email out today to someone who hasn’t responded to my emails in over a year. I throw things into the universe and think of it as a numbers game; I am bound to win if I keep trying. It is amazing what can happen if you put yourself out there! I have had amazing connections and successes through pounding on doors and being open to receiving. Let the sunshine in.
What do you do when you're having an off day- maybe feeling down, struggling with self-doubt, or just unmotivated?
I really struggle when I have an off day. I like to be clear, inspired and happy. If I wake up off or I let stress or worry get the better of me I go straight to things like mindless movie watching, or my favorite activity, cooking. Lately when I am feeling off, I take my father’s advice, it is just a passing thought, and it doesn’t stick around, onto the next!!
What is one misconception people have about you and/or your profession?
I think people may think fashion is glamorous, or exciting. Most of the time I am waiting for production to be complete, visiting factories, working on strategy, marketing and working really hard. Of course some parts are amazing and special but its hard work to stay in this industry.
What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned along the way?
The biggest lesson is finding out that it probably isn’t a good idea to mix family or friendship with business. Personal differences and business differences can get in the way of relationships. I lost a very close friendship because of our differences and it was very hard for me to recover.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow a path similar to what you have?
I would suggest finding someone in the industry and following them around for a few weeks. I would also research copyrights in fashion, it is a tricky industry because it is so easy to get ripped off.
When do you feel the most inspired, alive and the most like YOU?
When I am writing or illustrating my designs, or painting. My true love is sitting peacefully in the sunshine, writing poetry and drawing clothing, being at peace with myself, calm serenity.
What people, books, music, etc. inspire you?
All of the women in the world, who have the courage to inspire other women, inspires me deeply. My favorite book right now is “The Success Principles” by Jack Canfield. The two people I am most inspired by right now are Olivia Keane from Oliviakeane.com and Alice Bracegirdle from Bellyfit.com They both represent empowerment, ambition, strength and love! I also love talking to them because I feel they understand what it is like to be a female entrepreneur!
Describe your favorite moment or accomplishment in your career so far.
To be completely honest my favorite moment so far was reaching sales records selling my first clothing brand on the Canadian Shopping Channel. We used to fly out to Ontario a few times a year and sell the collection; we had fun and sold great designs to other women. It was really quite amazing and empowering.
What’s the most exciting thing going on in your life right now?
I launched a new Rain Jacket contest last week and it is getting spread all over the internet right now. I have decided to go back into wholesale, selling to stores and I am really looking forward to having some of my classic designs across the country and other parts of the world soon! I am very happy I have been able to run a successful online retail clothing company too! I challenged myself through studying online marketing and I still find it exciting that it’s thriving and growing! You can find out more about my business here: http://mandalasky.com On a personal note, I am excited and proud to see my 20 year old daughter living on her own and my son in high school.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BIO
Sky Marcano, author of "My Accidental Education" and professional clothing designer and fashion illustrator, has been working in the industry for over eleven years. Her collection, Mandala Sky is manufactured in Vancouver BC, Canada. Mandala Sky Clothing is inspired by other women wanting comfortable, stylish clothing, so they can feel incredible all day! Some may call the line bohemian chic mixed with stylish limited edition prints crossing into fitness and lounge apparel. If you would like Sky’s free eBook about her business experience you can find it at http://skymarcano.com
Sunday Link Love: SAD, Kitchen Hacks + Instagram Tips {Feb v3}
/Health, Fitness + Lifestyle
Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder Living in PA vs. FL during the winter opened my eyes to how much SAD affected me before.
What Does It Take To Live a Balanced Life?
How To Get Shizz Done & Be Zen About It
‘Tis the Season for too Much Food: 14 Yoga Poses to Ease Digestion - See more at: http://yoganonymous.com/tis-the-season-for-too-much-food-14-yoga-poses-to-ease-digestion/#sthash.yn8QUDXF.dpuf
Healthy Holiday Articles - Helpful or Negative?
Food + Nutrition
Is It Possible To Eat Too Clean Love this! Your mental state is just as important as the food you're eating. Becoming too restrictive or obsessive is not good!
27 Diagrams That Make Cooking So Much Easier
Crockpot Butternut Squash – Cook butternut squash in your slow cooker!
10 Tips for Successful Meal Planning
Intuitive Eating - Learning to Love Food Again
Blogging + Entrepreneurship
10 Powerful Ideas That Will Change the Way You Work
Self-Funded -- "We work hard, freak out a little, feel triumphant, freak out again, gain some security, freak out even more, find our rhythm…" I can relate to this so well! I get discouraged sometimes, but I often realize how much it’s helped me. I’ve had to pay for everything myself…like have been working since I was 14 and have disgusting student loan debt…but it keeps me motivated. I’m actually not sure I’d have my business if it weren’t for all that. Who can relate?
6 reasons why your signature offering should have a brand of it’s own
20 easy productivity resolutions for 2015
Tips From A Nutrition Entrepreneur
How To Increase Your Blog’s Traffic With StumbleUpon
How to create strong and clear photos for Instagram
Are you overthinking your email campaigns?
4 Ways To Create Shareable Images Without Using Stock Photography
Keep up with me on Twitter and Instagram.
Tell me one thing you're grateful for from this week!
Strive for Progress, Not Perfection
/Who else struggles with publishing a blog post, launching a product or maybe just completing a project because it's not quite perfect yet?
I've had too many clients who are afraid to launch their businesses because they feel it's not perfect. They are comparing their first launch to the big players in their field and are afraid they won't compare. But the thing is, of course you won't compare. This is your starting point. It's better to launch and correct later than to never launch. Think of the learning opportunities you're missing out on and the clients you aren't helping because you keep putting it off.
I've gotten wrapped up in this same issue, sending panicked emails to Danielle- "But my tag line isn't perfect yet! What about this one? Or this one??" Thankfully she sweetly sets me straight and reminds me to strive for progress, not perfection. Perfection is an illusion, and my tagline is fine how it is.
Have you struggled with perfection in your business? I'd love if you would share your story in the comments!
One Change That Doubled My Blog Traffic
/Let's get right to it. The one change I made was improving my blog photos. I've been thinking about this for months, but between clients and writing the blog posts themselves, it didn't happen. Right before Christmas I decided to just dig in and try some out. I redid a handful of photos, shared them on Pinterest, and got an excellent response overnight.
Since then, I've redone a few more and continue to get loads of traffic from those first few "new" images. Pinterest has now become my top referral source. My traffic also increased from many other sites, like StumbleUpon, Facebook and LinkedIn. I started re-promoting the older blog posts that had gotten a facelift.
It's still a work in progress, but I had to share in case any of you are not focusing on your images!
Changes Made to Blog Photos
- A few months ago Sarah recommended that I make my images as wide as my blog text.
- Invested in a $10/month stock photo site called Death to the Stock Photo
- Optimized them for Pinterest. I started choosing vertical images and adding large, clear text.
Tips for Perfect Pinterest Images
- Ideal Size: 735x1100
- Best times to share: 2-4pm and 8pm-1am
- Large, clear text
- Add a good description - blog post title + hashtags + any other relevant info
I'm working on a blog redesign, so you may notice my images continue to change as I figure out exactly how I like them.
P.S. I use PicMonkey and Canva to create and edit the images on my blog.
If you make any of these changes, come back and let us know how it went!
Do you optimize your blog post photos for Pinterest or any other social network?
Friday Inspiration: Leave People Better Than You Found Them
/Just sweet and to the point today!"Leave people better than you found them." <3
P.S. I'm so obsessed with this background image! SO pretty. I can't find the original source, so if you know, leave a comment and I'll update!
Sunday Link Love: Blog Growth, Relieving Stress + Meal Prep {Feb v1}
/Health, Fitness + Lifestyle
4 Ways To Break Free From Being Too Busy
A Simple Shift in Perspective That Can Improve Your Relationships
10 Ways to Relieve Stress in 5 Minutes or Less I've never thought of the password trick!
Stir the Pot, Not a Relationship: How Cooking Together Is a Healthy Date <--I love cooking with my fiance!
‘Tis the Season for too Much Food: 14 Yoga Poses to Ease Digestion - See more at: http://yoganonymous.com/tis-the-season-for-too-much-food-14-yoga-poses-to-ease-digestion/#sthash.yn8QUDXF.dpuf
Healthy Holiday Articles - Helpful or Negative?
Food + Nutrition
Sugar & The Brain- The Not So Sweet Truth
12 Brilliant Meal Prep Tips To Free Up Your Time
50 Simple Salads For Every Season
How To Make Plant-Based Super Simple
Intuitive Eating - Learning to Love Food Again
Blogging + Entrepreneurship
The Business of Blogging and Branding
How To Find Pageviews On A Specific Blog Post
How To Increase Click-Through Rates On Your Tweets
How To Create Epic Digital Downloads with Apple Pages
Staying Productive With Backup Blog Posts Pssst...here's a secret. I'm a content marketer who doesn't live from a content calendar. When I get in the mood to write, I write as many blog posts as I'm inspired to write. Then I schedule them out. This doesn't work for everyone, and may not work for me forever...but so far so good! I think of it as riding my energy flow. It can get tricky.
4 Secrets for Exponential Blog Growth
How to Create Super Share-Worthy Blog Posts (and a template of what they should include) Guys...if you're not following Regina, just do it, okay? She is the best.
Making Millions Starts With Knowing This
Keep up with me on Twitter and Instagram.
Tell me one thing you're grateful for from this week!
Vision Board Friday: Be a Legend
/"I figure, if a girl wants to be a legend, she should go ahead and be one." -Calamity Jane There's not much I need to say about this. Be what you want to be. And at the same time, do not feel guilty for whatever that may be.
>>image credit: I'm not sure what the original source is. If you know, please leave a comment so I can update it.
How to Use Your Personality to Get More Business
/"Not many employee manuals instruct you to: be strategic with your dreams. Leverage your contradictions. Say no to resentment and yes to inspiration." - Danielle LaPorte in The Fire Starter Sessions I'm full of contradictions, as everyone is. I'm introverted and reserved, but am usually a leader in small group situations. I'm pretty conservative but have 5 tattoos (that often surprises people!).
I really connect with the above quote from Danielle LaPorte. I came across a similar notion while listening to a Lively Show podcast with This Epic Life founder Kristoffer Carter, where he talks about integrating all aspects of your life. You can use your hobbies to enrich your day job. His example is using music to liven up a speech at a work retreat. Maybe you’re an artist or photographer in your free time, but an accountant during the day. Instead of feeling like you can’t express yourself fully at work, what if you offered to photograph a work event or painted a mural for the office? Chances are, people will respect your ability and you never know what other opportunities may open up for you.
While “being yourself” and embracing your quirks could help in a lot of career settings, as mentioned above, it's especially important for entrepreneurs. Your contradictions, passions and quirks will set you apart. Your love for running but also creating decadent cakes could be exactly what helps you connect with potential clients who like to balance fitness with indulgence. People want to work with real people and they want to make real connections. 
That's one reason I love working with other entrepreneurs. There's a rise in people starting their own businesses, and they gain loyal followings based on not only their amazing work, but their unique personalities. That's wonderful and inspiring. Their passion shows through in their work, and they're not tethered down by hiding behind a corporate identity.
"Finding yourself" is about understanding your energy flow, recognizing your unique strengths, embracing your passions and not feeling guilty about anything that makes you stand out. For example, I'm very introverted, so I know that I need to have plenty of alone time to recharge. I know that I can do well in group settings, but I tend to do better with behind-the-scenes and written communication. So, knowing that, I’ve found that blogging and working online are a good outlet for my work. Through this, I've found a way to combine my passions for health + wellness, writing, psychology and marketing.
How can you use your personality traits to get more business?
Let's do an exercise to find out. We'll make lists because it's one of my favorite things to do.
1. Make a list of your best qualities, unique characteristics and deep passions.
Are you funny? Are you an open book? Great at encouraging others? Maybe you communicate better through visuals, are passionate about helping animals, have a knack for organization or are fluent in 4 languages. It can really be anything that sets you apart or that people tend to love about you.
2. Make a list of what you want to sell.
Services like graphic design or health coaching? Products like ebooks or raw desserts?
3. How can you put these together?
Maybe you...
+are a life coach who tells it like it is. Your clients reach their goals because you don't let them lie to you or themselves.
+are a sassy web designer. You draw in new clients because they love your edgy blog and cutting-edge designs.
+are a conscientious, detail-oriented copywriter, so you work very well with business-to-business technical writing.
When you embrace yourself + your work style, you'll be more efficient and produce greater results.
If you're struggling to come up with ideas from the exercise above, start with a few personality tests.
-Myers-Briggs/ Jung Typology Test
What makes your stand out? What contradictions make you unique?
Sunday Link Love: Freelance Taxes + Outsource Your Life - BIG ROUND-UP {Jan v4}
/Health, Fitness + Lifestyle
I'm attempting to make my own mineral makeup this weekend. Have any of you tried it?
Want more and be kind… and 10 other points on success.
Pilates or Yoga: Which Practice is For You? [infographic]
15 things you should never feel guilty about <--YES
Women’s Satisfaction with Body Tied to What Men Think
Tips On Getting Up & Holding A Handstand I've been doing yoga consistently for over a year + did gymnastics as a child, but can't do a handstand!
50 Apps For Tracking Everything In Your Life Hah...this could be bad for my Type A personality!
BPA alternative disrupts normal brain-cell growth, is tied to hyperactivity, study says hmmm...it's always something, right?
How to outsource your life Fun! Outsourcing is something I need to start doing more of. The in-home massage sites are ones I've actually been looking for. Too bad I live in a tiny town!
The Best IBD Resources on the Web
‘Tis the Season for too Much Food: 14 Yoga Poses to Ease Digestion - See more at: http://yoganonymous.com/tis-the-season-for-too-much-food-14-yoga-poses-to-ease-digestion/#sthash.yn8QUDXF.dpuf
Healthy Holiday Articles - Helpful or Negative?
Food + Nutrition
When Clean Eating Becomes Unhealthy <---so true!
And, related: From Detox To Elimination Diets, Skipping Sugar May Be The Best Bet
How To Roast Veggies 101 Roasting veggies is my go-to side. So easy!
How To Create A Healthy Dinner System
Why Does Spinach Make My Teeth Feel Funky?
Real Food Tips: How To Organize Your Kitchen
The Best SCD Resources on the Web
Intuitive Eating - Learning to Love Food Again
Blogging + Entrepreneurship
These digital wallpapers from Lauren Conrad's site are BEAUTIFUL.
3 Tools To Save You Massive Amounts of Time + Free Printable Excellent interview and post with Rita Barry! I use all of the things she mentioned and they are lifesavers!
Are you overlooking this important aspect of branding? I'm still working on this...consistent photos and imagery are SO important!
What You Should Be Doing Now To Avoid Tax-Time Stress - See more at: http://www.freelancetofreedomproject.com/tax-preparation-freelancers/#sthash.dVjyO8dg.dpuf
What You Should Be Doing Now To Avoid Tax-Time Stress
13 Ways To Grow Your List You (Maybe) Haven’t Thought Of
7 Ways to Make Money Blogging (apart from sponsorships)
10 Ways To Be Productive As A Solopreneur
The Scientifically Proven Best Time to Think and Write Creatively [infographic]
The Basics of Visual Hierarchy (and why it's important for your website!)
Other
A friend posted this picture on Instagram with a link to Tree Change Dolls. The picture alone sends a great message, but the site is pretty interesting! It sounds like she's working on an etsy shop to sell the dolls.
"These dolls have been rescued and rehabilitated from op-shops and tip shops around Tasmania. These lil fashion dolls have opted for a "tree change", swapping high-maintenance glitz 'n' glamour for down-to-earth style. I hand repaint the dolls faces, mold new shoes, and my Mum sews and knits their clothing."
Making Millions Starts With Knowing This
Keep up with me on Twitter and Instagram.
Tell me one thing you're grateful for from this week!
Vision Board Friday: Do One Thing Every Day That Makes You Happy
/While you're furiously jotting down your to-do list, make sure you leave time for things that light you up. At least one thing per day that really puts a smile on your face. When you feel like you don't have time to attend that dinner with friends, that's probably when you need it most. Go. Enjoy it. You need it to keep going.
Vision Board Friday: Live Less Out of Habit + More Out of Intent
/"Live less out of habit and more out of intent." Intentional living has become important to me over the past two years. I value being able to listen to my gut and make decisions with purpose. Everything from the direction of business to buying clothes can be decided with intention and purpose.
Start questioning WHY as much as possible. Are you making this decision with how you want to feel in mind? or with a specific goal? Or are you just doing what feels easy and familiar?
Take a few minutes to check out my favorite intentional blogger, Jess Lively. She is full of inspiration!
Chasing Dreams Interview with Lindsay Cotter: Nutritionist, Blogger + Owner of Healthy Bites
/This interview is part of the Chasing Dreams interview series. I’ve interviewed a variety of entrepreneurs and small business owners who have chosen a different path in life in order to go after his or her dream career. Have an entrepreneur in mind you’d like to learn more about? Let me know! Today’s interview is with my friend Lindsay from the popular food blog, Cotter Crunch. Lindsay has a lot of great things going on. She's a nutrition specialist, fitness professional, blogger, gluten free recipe developer, owner of Healthy Bites + helps her Triathlete husband train! She's also super nice and great at inspiring balance in life and work.
Owning your own business can be tough on the body and mind, between long days, instability and really putting yourself out there to reach your goals. How do you stay healthy? Do you have any rituals that help you stay centered?
I take breaks. And not just daily breaks, but monthly. I learned the hard way that rest is needed when you are working towards big goals. In order to refocus, I take a 2 week break, sometimes more.
Speaking of putting yourself out there, overcoming rejection is a big part of chasing dreams. How do you bounce back?
Oh, that's hard. But I just think about it as a door closed and another one is going to open, at the right time.
What do you do when you're having an off day- maybe feeling down, struggling with self-doubt, or just unmotivated?
I usually go for a hike with my dog and husband. Just get away in nature with no distractions.
What is one misconception people have about you and/or your profession?
That it's easy and we lived a comfortable life. No, not at all. It is HARD and life is a struggle at times, but I chose this life and wouldn't have it any other way! Very thankful.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to run their own business?
That success doesn't happen overnight, and God might have other plans for you. But know it's ALL the right plans, just might look different than you imagined.
What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned along the way?
To put your energy where your heart is. I tend to spread myself way thin, trying to do everything which leads to being unfocused and energy drained. I learned (again) the hard way. FOCUS On what ONE thing that brings you JOY.
When do you feel the most inspired, alive and the most like YOU?
When i am rested. haha. Really!
What people, books, music, etc. inspire you?
I read a devotional from proverbs31 ministries every day.The women on there are so encouraging!
Describe your favorite moment or accomplishment in your career so far.
When Healthy Bites was featured in Triathlete magazine!
What’s the most exciting thing going on in your life right now?
Well, it's good and bad. My husband will most likely have to retire after this last Ironman in March, but that just means more time to focus on our future. For me, it means I can back off other distractions and just be a wife. I also can't wait to create more Healthy Bite ebooks and hopefully a few other cookbooks!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BIO
Lindsay Cotter is a 30 something year old Nutrition Specialist and Fitness Professional married to a professional Triathlete from New Zealand (aka the Kiwi). As a nutrition specialist, she focuses on making nourishing GLUTEN FREE recipes (and Healthy Bites) for athletes and all! That's why she's called the SHERPA wife; to nurture, support, and FUEL other's for their passion! Stay balanced, be real, and Dream BIG!
Website // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest
Sunday Link Love: Fitness on YouTube + NEW LINK UP! {Jan v2}
/Health, Fitness + Lifestyle
Five Fitness and Health YouTube Channels
Do You Use The Right Shoe? I've been wondering about the differences, so this is good!
2015 Printable Wellness Calendar <--Love this!
14 Productivity & Happiness Blogs To Read in 2015 <--These are all so good!
75 Ways To Be Healthier in 2015
10 Best Airports for Wellness Infused Layovers
20 Tiny Changes That Can Completely Overhaul Your Life
These Energy-Boosting Tips Are Better Than a Midday Nap
How to Stop Tying Your Worth to Things Outside Yourself
‘Tis the Season for too Much Food: 14 Yoga Poses to Ease Digestion - See more at: http://yoganonymous.com/tis-the-season-for-too-much-food-14-yoga-poses-to-ease-digestion/#sthash.yn8QUDXF.dpuf
Healthy Holiday Articles - Helpful or Negative?
Food + Nutrition
Apple Gingerbread Muffins Apple flour? Sounds awesome!
10 Easy Ways To Add More Vegetables To Your Day
5 Reasons To Avoid Detoxes & Cleanses
Intuitive Eating - Learning to Love Food Again
Blogging + Entrepreneurship
The Under-appreciated Benefits of Consistency
10 Things We Learned About Social Media in 2014
5 Ways To Embrace Mindfulness At Work
How to Get Through Social Media Burnout
5 Ways To Really, Actually Enjoy Networking (Or At Least Hate It Less)
Fake Followers Will Never Be Your Friends I get this question all the time and I always say "Don't buy fake followers!"
10 little things that make a BIG difference in your blog design
Making Millions Starts With Knowing This
My Life Lately According to Instagram...
Paint Nite! My sister and I painted a scene of the northern lights.
I'm trying something new this week! Who wants to link up?
[inlinkz_linkup id=484355 mode=1]
Keep up with me on Twitter and Instagram.
Vision Board Friday: It All Begins + Ends in Your Mind
/"It all begins and ends in your mind. What you give power to has power over you." Why waste your thoughts on worry, comparison and negativity when you could be focusing your power on optimism and reaching your goals?
7 Lessons for the Blogging Entrepreneur
/Have you ever felt like time is simultaneously flying by, but also going in slow motion? I have no idea where the time went this year. But the year also felt very full. It was full of some of the hardest struggles I've faced, but also full of travel, time with family and friends, growing my business and learning so much.
When it comes to blogging and content marketing, this was nothing new. I've been doing this since before the term "content marketing" was really a thing.
When it comes to writing your own blog and finding your own voice, however, it's much trickier. I still struggle with how much to share on a personal level, but I know that's basically a universal blogging struggle.
I launched my blog at the very beginning of last year, so I wanted to do a little roundup! Who doesn't love a good list? This year also marks year 2 of running my own business.
4 Lessons from my year with this blog:
- Focus on building community. Guest blog for as many (relevant) blogs as possible. I had some wonderful opportunities and met many great blogging friends this way, but I should have spent more time working on these connections. In 2015 I'll work on more guest blogging opportunities with other bloggers and MindBodyGreen. (So if you want to work with me, let me know!)
- Focus on consistency. Stick to 2-3 fonts and 2-3 colors. I knew this going in, but didn't listen to my own advice. I like playing around with details too much.
- High quality images are worth the time or expense. At first I didn't pay much attention to photos. Now I'm working on using stock or original photography, plus making sure they're sized as wide as my post text when possible. Small details like that can make a big difference. Improving my photography skills is a goal of mine for 2015.
- Give up the urge for perfection. Perfection really is an illusion. You should use good grammar, spelling, and a digestible writing format, but don't stress yourself over having everything perfect. You will make mistakes, and you'll learn from them.
3 Lessons from running a business (year 2):
- Track expenses monthly + know what you can claim. I found this list a few months ago and realized that I missed A LOT of things I could have claimed in 2013. Track everything, even if it seems little and insignificant. Little expenses add up and can make the difference between one tax bracket and another. I use Mint.com but am also going to start tracking with a spreadsheet because that's just how I am.
- Automate + simplify as much as possible. I resisted this all through the first year. I wanted to feel in control of everything. At one point I was so overwhelmed I had to give in. And it WAS WONDERFUL. I automated every bill I could, streamlined my invoice template and hired help during my busiest months.
- Write down your goals yearly, monthly + daily. For the past two years I've written down my financial goals and general goals for my blog and business, but I didn't plan out stepping-stone-goals along the way. When I started breaking my financial goals down by quarter and even month, I noticed I was exceeding my goal. It helped me stay focused.
Thank you all so much for supporting me this year! If you have topics you'd like me to focus on in the coming months, let me know in the comments.
Share one lesson you learned this year in business or blogging in the comments!
Vision Board Friday: Be Still
/It's a fresh, new year. Take time to reflect on 2014 and envision how you'd like to shape 2015. >>image credit: Julie Song Ink
Book Review: The $100 Startup
/
The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau has been on my to-read list for quite awhile. I was hesitant because I already have a business, but it re-awakened some inspiration and new ideas. So whether you just have a fledgling idea or are running your business successfully, you can get something out of this book.
Amazon summarizes the book as, "In preparing to write this book, Chris identified 1,500 individuals who have built businesses earning $50,000 or more from a modest investment (in many cases, $100 or less), and from that group he’s chosen to focus on the 50 most intriguing case studies. In nearly all cases, people with no special skills discovered aspects of their personal passions that could be monetized, and were able to restructure their lives in ways that gave them greater freedom and fulfillment." Read the full summary here: The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future
Overall, I liked how realistic and approachable the ideas and cases Chris describes are. He mentions numerous times that no special skills are needed, but I'm not sure I agree. Being able to see outside the box and develop creative solutions to problems isn't ordinary. However, it's not something you need to go to school for or get special certification. The people who make the best entrepreneurs are often "accidental entrepreneurs" who started with an idea or are following their passion, rather than setting out to make money and deciding on the idea later.
Themes that stood out:
- You don't need permission to start. Just do it.
- You don't need to go into debt. Many people started a business for under $100.
- A great option to save money and get experience is to barter services with others.
- Creativity + motivation are the backbone to success as an entrepreneur.
- Grow only to the size you want. Keeping your business small deliberately can have great advantages.
The book kept me interested the whole time and had me writing down ideas to apply to my own business. I definitely recommend it for anyone with a blog, small business, or idea to start either of those.
What's the best business book you've read this year?
Vision Board Friday: Small Steps Every Day
/Break your goals down into small, bite sized pieces. You'll be amazed at how much less intimidating it will become! Lasting changes are more likely to be made by small changes over time rather than big changes all at once. With new year's resolutions coming up, how can you turn your big goals into small, attainable steps? What small steps can you start with TODAY?
>>image credit: Dara Muscat
SEO Basics: How to Optimize Images, Alt Tags + Page Speed (SEO 101 Part Two)
/This post originally appeared on The Lean Green Bean blog, as part two of a series. If you missed part one, I recommend checking that out first- SEO 101: How to Increase Organic Search Traffic for Blog Posts. All caught up? Let’s dig in to part two.
You’ve installed an SEO plugin and fill out your title tags religiously. You spend time coming up with a catchy title and include at least one image with each post.
Now what?
Alt tags Even if you made a pretty title image, Google can’t read the text. So if you want it to show up in search, you have to help the search engines by filling in the alternative text. I like to do this as soon as I upload the photo so I don’t forget. If you want to go back and fill in alt tags for old photos, you can either click on the photo in each post, or go to your media gallery.
Don’t stuff this area with keywords! Either use your post title or a relevant phrase or sentence.
If you use a share button for Pinterest, the alt text is often what will show up in the description for the pin, so this is another great reason to be filling it in!
Photo NameThis is an often overlooked area of optimization. Just like you want to optimize the URL for your blog post, you want to optimize the name of your photo, which turns into a URL of its own once it’s hosted on your blog. The name should be short, simple and related to your post.
Title + Description What you fill in here will show up when you hover over the image or while the image is loading.
CaptionYou only need to fill this out if you want a description to show up under your photo in your blog post.
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Compressing Photos
Images are one of the biggest culprits for slow page load time, which affects everything from reader retention and engagement to SEO rankings.
Here are three ways you can shrink your images and optimize them for the web:
Plugin optionsInstall the WP Smush.It plugin to optimize your images. This plugin will optimize each new photo you add behind the scenes, and you can also run all existing photos through the plugin in your media library.
Manual OptionsSave your images as PNG files and upload to http://www.tinypng.com. Then download and upload to your blog. If you’re creating your image with Picmonkey, like many bloggers these days, you’ll see the formatting option when you hit “save.”
Save for Web If you’re using photo editing software like Photoshop, you can choose the “save for web” option.
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Page Load Time
According to Kissmetrics.com, “40% of people abandon a website that takes more than 3 seconds to load.”
Test your load time with GT Metrix. GT Metrix also gives you a detailed report of what you can do to improve your speed. I recommend having a developer take a look and help you make the changes. Some of them can be technical and require understanding code.
WordPress can install the WP-Cache 3 plugin. “W3 Total Cache improves the user experience of your site by increasing server performance, reducing the download times and providing transparent content delivery network (CDN) integration.”
Here are 26 other tools to improve your site’s speed.
Want to expedite your blog rankings and traffic? Join my brand new, FREE 6-day Challenge…
I’m hosting my very first online challenge and I’d love for you to join us.
