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My mum saw me writing this letter and said she feels like she's just read one from me, although I last wrote two weeks ago. She is right! I sent an email last week. Consider this an extra treat! And now with the correct links… Time is indeed buzzing by. June is here! Already! Our allotment is exploding with goodies, and we're plotting some staycation days while the sun is beaming down over North Wales. Do you have summer plans? When the sun is high and our not-quite-post-pandemic-energy is low, it's understandable that we push our least favourite tasks to the bottom of the pile. I sometimes chat with people who downright avoid the 'boring business stuff,' the essentials for running a profitable creative business. They know an online business involves specific jobs, but they avoid tech tasks, avoid tracking finances and avoid setting up systems for fear they will stifle their creativity. I can't blame them for having this view. At school, at least in the UK, kids are described as either 'academic' or 'good at art.' As adults, we're either 'businessy' or 'creative' (thus, the false romance of the starving artist cliché continues). After all, the antonym of creativity includes such words as uninspired, uninventive, destructive, sterile, unimaginative. Nah, that's not us! But, as creative business consultant Holly Howard expressed, building a business is probably the most creative thing we can do. We're carving, shaping, sculpting something in a way that no one else can. This activity is especially exhilarating at the very beginning of a new business journey. I'm working with a client right now who plans to open an online shop in a few months, and our conversations blend the 'boring business stuff' with the big vision stuff, and we both leave the call buzzing with creativity. If you're seeking a balance between the necessary tasks to run a business and developing your creativity, try these ideas: - Create more than you consume. You don't need another course, another download, another checklist. Spend time figuring out how you work best, and trust that it will work for you if you keep at it. Your approach might not look like the most efficient way to another person, but if it means you achieve what you want, then it's good enough.
- Create easy-to-stick-to systems. Many profitable businesses operate in a lean way. They use systems, set up workflows and structures, but only enough to keep the wheels turning. If a scrappy notepad works better for you than a colour-coded Trello board, use that. Are you struggling to share 'consistently' on Instagram? Read this brilliant post from Suzy and relax those shoulders.
- Ship before you're ready. I share this short Seth Godin nugget of gold almost weekly with clients. Show your work, think out loud, ask for help, collaborate, outsource if you can. Don't let perfectionism and procrastination paralyse you.
Let me know your thoughts. I'd love to hear them. |
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It's a privilege to work with creatives and independent shops, and I love to shout about them from the rooftops! Here are some of the latest goings-on from Firain clients. |
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June/ July is a great time to take stock and plan, especially for Q4. I'd love to support you in your creative work; reply to this email to arrange a discovery call, or pop to Firain.com and send me a message via the contact form. If you're ready to book a 1-hour Sow call, click here. I want my services to be accessible; I never charge you more to pay in installments, and returning clients get 10% off future bookings. |
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In this new section, I'll share the most useful, practical tools we can use to run successful online businesses - and I'll share them in a jargon-free way. Hoorah! Think of this as a communal shed on an allotment. If you'd like me to feature a particular tool, let me know! This week's subject, as requested by a reader: email marketing. It seems everyone is talking about email marketing, especially as many feel fatigued by social media. It's a vast topic, but don't be put off from starting your list. You'll need: - A reason to send emails (probably to talk to customers and build a community). Name your emails (there is a backlash against describing your emails as 'newsletters' because it adds pressure to send actual news, which might be challenging for a micro or small business). Click here and here for ideas. I call mine 'Firain Mail,' but I might change it to The Allotment…any thoughts on that?!
- An email service provider. Please don't overthink this, as you can easily switch. Compare the most popular, including Flodesk (my preferred provider), Mailchimp, Klaviyo (designed for eCommerce), and ConvertKit. Your website platform may also allow you to create campaigns. If you're confused, sign up for free trials, play around and send yourself some test emails. Note the emails you enjoy reading and the platform the sender uses. If you really can't tell, unsubscribe from the list and check the URL for clues.
- A way for people to sign up. Add a sign-up form to your website with compelling reasons why people should join. Promote your list on your other marketing platforms.
- Plan, write and send your email. Again, don't overthink this. If you have three addresses, send it. Your first attempts might feel clunky, but you'll improve. Ask for feedback. Track the responses. (Read more ideas on my Instagram post from a few weeks ago).
Reply to this email if you have any questions about starting with email marketing. I'll happily help. PS - in case you missed it, in the last newsletter, I shared resources for choosing a camera and 7 Beginner Tips for Better Product Photography. |
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This week's new subscribers are Meg, Ange, Sharon, Kim, Sally, Verena, Verity, Rubbi, Vic, and Pauline - welcome! Why not send this email to a friend (and if a lovely person sent you this email, join the list here!) Get in touch if you fancy a natter. I'd love to know your thoughts, comments, feedback, and suggestions as I develop Firain. Thank you for your continued support and for allowing me to greet you in your inbox. |
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I designed this email in Flodesk , which I find much easier to customise than other email providers. Click here for my discount code if you'd like to try it out. Firain photos by Tom Wright Firain branding by Somewhere Off Grid |
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