Hi First name / friend No, this isn't a Fleetwood Mac-style break-up message from me to you. It's just a quick reminder, in case you need it, that you can go your own way when planning and running your creative business. Maybe, like me, you're sensing that as creative business owners, in a post (ish? almost? maybe never?) pandemic era, we need to be bendier and more flexible than ever before in the way we operate. We're now so used to our plans changing, the plots twisting, that we ironically might actually have some space to rethink how we want to work on a day-to-day level. I wonder if we're shifting away from definite checklists, dogmatic 'how to' guides, and business gurus who lack nuance and sensitivity. They feel at odds with the enormously complex backdrop against which we work these days. Instead, there is now a 'yeah, but what about…' caveat when we follow this kind of imperative advice. I'm going my own way in my business by keeping things simple (there are just two ways to collaborate, for example) when many mentors/ coaches/ consultants around me are adding to their services. I'm also continuing to work on the boundaries I've developed around my use of social media; I listen to the advice, and I run it through the Firain filter to check that it works for me. I'm running an Instagram workshop in a few weeks time to dig into this more (scroll down to book your place). If you get the chance, let me know how you go your own way in your business, perhaps against some of the conventional advice out there. I'd love to know. |
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You know when something in your home is just 'off'. Maybe you need to declutter? Perhaps you need to re-arrange a room to make it easier and more joyful to use? I'm going through this process with my home office/ guest room, and it feels GOOD. Spring is also the perfect time to take a fresh look at our Instagram accounts, one of our valuable online homes, and figure out what is working for us and what we can improve. If you know that you are not using Instagram in a way that works for you, this workshop will help you think reflectively about what to change and why. Join me on Wednesday, March 9 at 11 am BST for a fun, action-packed 90-minute workshop. Tickets are £30 and include a week of email support from me after the session. - Reflect on what we enjoy about Instagram, and pinpoint what isn't working for us.
- Spring clean our accounts! We'll review our accounts from top to bottom: we'll look at how to optimise our accounts, declutter our followers and accounts we follow, consider how to make better use of DMs and the many Instagram surfaces like grid posts, stories, and Reels, and importantly we'll discuss how to create boundaries that make us feel good.
- Brainstorm actionable, next-step ideas to maintain our refreshed Instagram accounts.
By the end of the workshop, it will feel like we've decluttered, re-arranged, and are ready to enjoy a healthier relationship with the app. Tickets are £30 and include: - An easy-to-follow workbook which I'll send before the workshop.
- A recording of the session, so please don't worry if you can't make it live!
- Email support from me afterward for up to a week to help you through any niggling issues that arise during the workshop.
My workshops are productive, welcoming, and relaxed online learning environments. I look forward to seeing you! |
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In this section, I share helpful, practical ideas and tools to use in our small, creative businesses - and I share them in a jargon-free way. Hoorah! Please think of this as a communal shed on an allotment where we skillshare and swap best practices for online shopkeepers. This week, let's focus on quick website updates you can make whilst you watch Netflix: - Personalise your favicon, the little icon that appears in the address bar of a browser viewing the site. Squarespace users, click here. Shopify people, click here. WIX, here and WordPress, here. It's wise to use your business logo. (Not sure what I mean? Click on Firain.com in a browser, and you'll see a pink 'F' in the far left of the tab.)
- Update your copyright notice at the footer of your website (and your email marketing, too!)
- Remove references to holidays and special offers that have passed.
- Check that you offer a variety of ways to contact you. For example, if you have a contact form, add an email address (not everyone is comfortable using forms online).
- Refresh your images.
- Re-arrange product listings to refresh your online shop (especially if the first items a site visitor sees are sold out!). Think like a brick-and-mortar shop and tidy those shelves!
Let me know if you try any of these updates! |
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Welcome to this week's new subscribers - Paige, Josie, Pippa, Meg, Carole, Sophie, Sarah, Laura, Hannah, Anna and Ana (love that!!), Nicola, Rhi and Karen. A big hearty, huggy hello to you. I'd love to know your thoughts, comments, feedback, and suggestions as I develop Firain - a place where I support creatives to plan, open and grow online shops. Get in touch if you fancy a natter. 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. If you'd like to support my micro business by treating me to a virtual coffee, click here (and thank you!) |
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