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Stacey Trock is the owner of FreshStitches. After a technical failure during our interview at The National NeedleArts Association summer show in June, we talked over Skype about the success of her kit club and why she is switching to digital subscriptions. We also discussed how and why she's diversified her income and her perspective on pacing her business growth, customer service, social media, and more.
About Stacey Trock Stacey Trock, the owner of FreshStitches, recently relocated to Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. Stacey started her business in 2008 selling crochet amigurumi patterns as PDFs and has since expanded her business and diversified her income. She is the author of Cuddly Crochet, Crocheted Softies, and Modern Baby Crochet. She is a nationally recognized knitting teacher (and she explains why in the interview), as well as a crochet instructor of Craftsy/Bluprint classes. She also teaches business classes from time to time. She blogs and sells crochet and craft kits and craft eyes through her website. She designs crochet and knitting patterns. And, she recently transitioned her kit club to a digital ami club. You can find Stacey on FreshStitches and follow her on Etsy, Facebook, Instagram (as @staceytrock and @amiclub), Pinterest, Ravelry, Twitter, and YouTube. About the EpisodeThis episode was inspired by a question Delisa Carnegie, the yarn dyer behind Apocalypse Friday, asked in the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Delisa wanted to hear from someone who had a subscription club, and since Stacey's club was the most successful one I knew about, I reached out to her. (Since the original request for an interview in the spring, Stacey has actually ended her kit club. You can read more about that and watch the video where she explains this to her audience here. Her new digital Ami Club is opening soon.)
Stacey shared her perspectives on several important business topics in this interview, including:
How and why she diversified her business from exclusively selling PDF amigurumi patterns in 2008 to starting an educational blog, selling individual kits, a her kit club (which has now transformed into the digital Ami Club), selling craft eyes and other supplies, writing books, teaching, and launching a yarn line; Managing a club, starting with understanding your customers, determining your price (and cost), deciding between prepaid and month-to-month subscriptions, being strategic about supply orders, technology for managing payments, inventory, packaging, shipping, and more; Her DIY approach to running her business, how she thinks about scaling, and deciding when and if to bring in contractors and employees to help; Her business philosophy, including her focus on flexibility, customer service, time management, organization, and social media; and Mindset, including speaking your business fantasies into reality.Stacey also answers questions from Delisa at Apocalypse Friday, Angie Doherty at Hooked by Angel, Carmen Nuland at A Simple Homestead, Angela Plunkett at Little Monkeys Design, and Anita Bose Natarajan from NitaB&NishaN.
Listen to the podcast for more discussion from me and Stacey.
If you enjoyed this episodeThe Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in November, 2016. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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Kim Russo is the yarn dyer behind Kim Dyes Yarn. We met at The National NeedleArts Association summer show in June, and later I spent some time talking to Kim, who shared how her business has transformed over the past 10 years, how she transitioned her fully online business to one that includes face-to-face elements, and her approach to time management.
About Kim Russo Kim Russo, owner of Kim Dyes Yarn, lives in Virginia. She is obsessed with gorgeous colors, the way colors look when mixed and matched with each other, and how to achieve the next great idea in her head. She is a life long learner and her work reflects her continuing determination to keep learning about dyeing and color and fibers. Kim also loves baking, cooking, her family, and the Gilmore Girls. Kim Dyes Yarn uses a variety of dyeing techniques on quality yarns and spinning fibers including gradient dyes, semisolids, variegated yarns, and mini skeins sets. You can also follow Kim on Facebook and Instagram. About the EpisodeIn this episode, I chat with Kim about her business and we cover many topics including:
How she started in business 10 years ago as a maker of wool soakers (diaper covers), selling her items online as Sit on Knit. How she approached naming her current business. How she used a combination of photography, clear policies, and customer service to build her brand online. How she transitioned from an entirely online business model to one that includes selling yarn at fiber festivals and other events. Why she decided to "put her big girl panties on" to overcome her shyness at events. How she developed and uses online relationships to find business collaborators and to get advice when needed.Kim also closes the interview by sharing some words of wisdom for shy creative business owners. Listen to the podcast for more discussion from me and Kim.
If you enjoyed this episodeThe Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in October, 2016. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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Dedri Uys is the crochet designer, blogger, author, and teacher behind LookAtWhatIMade. I spent some time talking to Dedri and she was incredibly open and generous in sharing how she is able to work a full time job, be a devoted wife and mother, and still find energy and inspiration for her crochet business.
About Dedri UysDedri Uys is the crochet blogger, designer and teacher behind LookAtWhatIMade. She is best known as the designer of Sophie's Universe, a stunning continuous square crochet blanket pattern available as a free, 18-part crochet-a-long. She is the author of Amamani Puzzle Balls and the coordinator/author of Big Hook Rag Crochet. Dedri is also a Scheepjes blogger and recently returned from her native South Africa, where she taught several crochet classes as part of a tour organized by BeInspired.Love. Dedri "believes that crochet is more than just a craft. It is a lifesaving panacea, a necessary creative outlet, a calming tool and a rewarding passion."
Dedri lives in London with her husband, 3 sons, and a cat. Four days a week, she's a radiotherapist at Charing Cross Hospital. You can also follow Dedri on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Ravelry | Twitter About the EpisodeIn this episode, I chat with Dedri about her business and we cover many topics including:
How she started, grew, and diversified her business. The benefits and challenges of growing organically, including how she manages looking back on past projects that may not be "perfect." How teaching keeps her energized, even though she was initially nervous about it. Working full time in addition to being a crochet designer, and her suggestions for time management, involving others in your business, organization, and caring for your loved ones. Building the self-confidence to learn to say no to new opportunities to avoid burnout, stay inspired, and find more time for family, inspired by the C.J. Langenhoven's quote, "Yes is like credit. No is like cash." Learning to be vulnerable and the difference between guilt and shame from Brené Brown. (Dedri especially recommends this interview with Brené on Chase Jarvis Live: Authenticity and Bravery in a Digital World.")Dedri also closes the show with 3 things she wishes she knew when she started her business. Listen to the podcast for more discussion from me and Dedri.
If you enjoyed this episodeThe Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in September, 2016. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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Jennifer Dickerson is the crochet and knitting designer, blogger, author, and YouTuber behind Fiber Flux. I had the chance to chat with Jennifer about how she got started with video and grew her YouTube channel to over 125,000 followers in less than two years. In this interview, she shares her practical tips for working with video, building a YouTube channel, time management, working for free, and monetizing your blog and videos.
About Jennifer DickersonJennifer Dickerson is the crochet and knitting designer, blogger, and YouTuber behind Fiber Flux. In addition to her blog, she launched the Fiber Flux YouTube channel about two years ago and has grown to 125,626 followers as of this writing. Jennifer is the author of Mini Flower Loom Crafts and has another book forthcoming. You can also follow Jennifer on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Ravelry | Twitter
About the interviewIn this episode, I interview Jennifer about getting started with video and growing a YouTube channel, but we also chatted about other aspects of her creative business.
Some of the topics we discussed about video included:
Jennifer's practical tips for getting started in video.
Start by recording your back catalog so you don't have deadline pressure. Use simple tools. Her recommendations are to use artificial lighting from a kit with a "natural light" bulb, a camera that has both automatic and manual options (should you decide to experiment with settings), and a tripod. She uses the YouTube Editor to edit her videos within the interface. Remember that you don't need to film in sequence. Jennifer credits Celina Lane from Simply Collectible Crochet for reminding her that she can film the process in any order and then edit later. Focus on transitions. You don't necessarily need to film an entire process, but remember to share a transition before moving on to the next step (e.g., "Continue to repeat this step until the end of the row and I'll meet you there.") Jennifer's suggestions for growing your YouTube channel.
Use the Creator Academy, YouTube's free resource for creators. Release videos on a consistent schedule so your audience returns to your channel often. Start each video quickly with a strong opening and link between videos on your channel to encourage viewer retention. Make the opening of your channel an "event." Remember to promote the channel itself, not just embedded videos on your other online properties. Ask viewers to subscribe. Remember that your YouTube followers may be different than your audience on other platforms.We also talked about other aspects of Jennifer's business, including how Jennifer...
Monetizes her blog and channel, Approaches her editorial calendar and time management, especially when working on larger projects (like a book), Decides if and when to work for free, Has become a published author, along with suggestions for other aspiring authors.Listen to the podcast for more discussion from me and Jennifer.
If you enjoyed this episodeThe Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in August, 2016. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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Heather Solos is a director at Feedblitz. I met Heather at the 2016 Snap! conference and we later had a Skype chat about best practices for growing, maintaining, and monetizing your email list.
About Heather Solos and FeedblitzHeather Solos started blogging in 2004 and became a professional blogger in 2006. She joined FeedBlitz, an RSS and email marketing company, in 2012 where she built the customer service team. She’s now a director at Feedblitz and swims in a sea of email, marketing, and best practices. When she comes up for air, she works for Home-Ec101.com, a site that earned her the blogger dream, a book deal in 2011.
Heather is raising four kids, a dog, and a hedgehog with her fiancé in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. She runs on spite, caffeine, and wine and recently picked up a crochet hook in an attempt to resist checking her phone in the evenings. She now has more washcloths than dishes.
About the interviewIn this episode, I talk to Heather about her own experiences with email lists as a blogger and what she has seen through her work at Feedblitz. (If you're new to the topic of email marketing, you may want to list to Episode 55: Email Marketing 101: Or, Why and How to Set Up an Email List for Your Creative Business.)
Some of the topics we discussed included:
Ways to monetize your email list through advertising, sponsorships, digital or physical product sales, and bundles/special offers for subscribers. The email open rate companies will be looking for before sponsoring a list. When to consider opt-in freebies to grow your list. When it's ok to use a more "salesy" approach to your list. Content ideas for autoresponders. How to approach an email list if you don't have your own website but operate out of a marketplace like Craftsy, Etsy, or Ravelry. How to find out the deliverability rate of your email list. What to avoid in your subject line, format, and email text to stay out of spam filters and when to use different email formats. List hygiene and maintenance. Tips for sending emails more regularly.Listen to the podcast for more from Heather about best practices in email marketing for creative businesses. I also share my experience using with the Feedblitz "test drive" and the service.
If you enjoyed this episodeThe Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in July, 2016. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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I answer questions about teaching crafts and self-publishing as I wrap up the virtual tour for my new book, Make Money Teaching Crochet.
About this episodeIn this episode, I share the edited audio of a Facebook Live event I hosted earlier in the week where I answered questions from listeners about teaching crafts and self-publishing. Thanks to Rosalba Bassora, Novella Bobo from MadebyNovella, Patrice Walker from Yarn Over, Pull Through, Rachel McKinney from 100 Creations, and MG Camacho from Booktalk 'n More for sharing questions beforehand!
I reference a lot of different resources, which you can learn more about by following these links:
Craft Yarn Council Certified Instructors Program: This certification program is a requirement if you want to teach crochet or knitting at a "big box" store. In the book, I talk about other reasons you may want to consider getting certification, or why it may not be necessary for your specific teaching business. Scrivener: This is the software I used to convert my book to .mobi files for Kindle and .epub files for Kobo. I also used it to organize writing the book because there is a great "corkboard" feature where you can organize what looks like little index cards for notes on your book. Scrivener has a 30 day free trial, but the days aren't consecutive. You only "use up" your free trial on days when you open the software. Kindle Direct Publishing: I used KDP to self-publish my Kindle book and my print-on-demand book. Kobo Writing Life: I used this to self-publish the .epub version of the book. Canva: I used Canva to create the cover for the ebook using the pre-sized template, my own selections of fonts, and a photo. Fiverr: Bdboss is the Fiverr seller who transformed my ebook cover into a cover for the print book to meet CreateSpace requirements. Gumroad: This is where I sell the direct downloads of my ebook. It also has a great affiliate program that is super easy to set up. If you enjoyed this episodeThe Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in July, 2016. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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Leslie Albertson is the director of marketing at Mixbook. I had the chance to get to know Mixbook in person at the 2016 Snap! conference and was later introduced to Leslie. We scheduled a Skype interview to talk about the best ways to present your creative business to potential sponsors and collaborators, following up after networking events, and more.
About Leslie Albertson and MixbookMixbook's mission is to help you share and relive life's most important memories through its custom photo products. As director of marketing, Leslie brings her passion as a storyteller to Mixbook's content, community, and customer retention programs across it's portfolio of brands- Mixbook.com, Montage, and Mosaic Photo Books. Her past roles have included driving strategic partnerships with brands including Samsung, Verizon Wireless, and the NFL.
Mixbook was founded by Inc 30 Under 30 entrepreneurs from UC Berkeley, and has been featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America, TechCrunch, The Verge, Washington Post, New York Times and many other global media outlets.
About the interviewIn this episode, I talk to Leslie about Mixbook's products and brands, networking at in-person events, follow up, and branding your creative business.
Some of the topics we discussed included:
Tips for approaching brands or potential collaborators at networking events, Identifying which brands would be the best fit for partnership with your business, How to stand out (in a good way) at your next networking event, Leslie's "rule of 3" for follow up after an event, Becoming comfortable with sharing and pitching ideas, and Ways to use Mixbook products as a portfolio, for packaging, and to brand your business in general.Listen to the podcast for more from Leslie about branding your business and working with brands. I also share my experience using Montage for a portfolio.
If you enjoyed this episodeThe Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in June, 2016. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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I kick off the virtual book tour for Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students by talking about how teaching has helped to grow my yarn-related business and earn me a stable side income. I also share more information about the book and self-publishing.
About this episodeIn this episode, I talk about Make Money Teaching Crochet, including...
Sharing how I got started teaching crochet and how it has impacted the development of Underground Crafter, Discussing why I wrote the book and key decisions I made in the self-publishing process, Describing the difference between the different versions of the book, and Providing more details about the virtual book tour.You may also want to check out when I was interviewed by Priscilla on Crocheter's Connection.
Follow the virtual tour!Check out the rest of the stops on the tour to read reviews, guest posts, and interviews (and for more chances to win a copy).
6/12: American Crochet 6/13: Crochet Concupiscence 6/14: Moogly 6/15: Yarn Obsession 6/16: Oombawka Design Crochet 6/17: Creative Income Blog 6/18: Underground Crafter 6/19: Kaleidoscope Art&Gifts 6/20: Fiber Flux 6/21: The Stitchin' Mommy 6/22: CGOA Now! 6/23: Same DiNamics Crochet 6/24: Nap Time Creations 6/26: Rhelena's Crochet Blog 6/27: Jessie At Home 6/28: Rebeckah's Treasures 6/29: Crochet Kitten 6/30: Poetry in Yarn 7/1: Ambassador Crochet 7/2: Persia Lou If you enjoyed this episodeThe Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in June, 2016. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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Alexis Middleton is the crochet designer and craft blogger behind Persia Lou. I had the chance to meet her in person at the 2016 Snap! conference and we later scheduled a Skype interview to talk about the panel workshop, Generate and Pitch Ideas Like a Boss.
About Alexis MiddletonAlexis is a work-at-home mother of three and a lifelong crafter. She learned to crochet from her great grandmother as a child but put down the hook until a few years ago. She started her blog, Persia Lou, as a place to share her crochet projects and it has since expanded to include other crafts and home decor projects, too.
You can learn more about Alexis by visiting Persia Lou. You can also follow Alexis online on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Ravelry | Twitter | YouTube
About the interviewIn this episode, I talk to Alexis about her panel workshop at Snap!, Generate and Pitch Ideas Like a Boss. (Her co-presenters were Colleen from Lemon Thistle and Sarah from Confetti Sunshine.) Alexis also answers listener questions from Angela at Little Monkeys Designs and Carmen from A Simple Homestead.
Some of the topics we discussed included:
Ways to organize your inspiration, Whether you should consider working for free or for product, How to ask brands to get paid, Creating a cohesive visual brand across your website, Instagram, and other social networks, Staying focused on your business goals, and Taking time off to refresh creatively.Listen to the podcast for more from Alexis about growing your blog and creative business.
If you enjoyed this episodeThe Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in June, 2016. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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Erica Dietz from 5 Little Monsters had been blogging for less than a year when she started working with sponsors. We chatted at the 2016 Snap! conference about blogging, taking risks, how to work with sponsors, and more.
About EricaErica Dietz is the crochet, sewing, embroidery, and craft blogger behind 5 Little Monsters. She shares designs and tutorials on her blog. Erica is also a stay-at-home mom to (you guessed it) 5 children.
You can learn more about Erica by visiting 5 Little Monsters. You can also follow her online on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Ravelry | Twitter
About the interviewIn this episode, I talk with Erica about a variety of topics, including the evolution of her business, how she started working with brands and sponsors, her tips for making connections at conferences, stepping out of your comfort zone, and the importance of follow up. She also shares an inspiring call to action at the end!
If you enjoyed this episodeThe Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in May, 2016. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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If you're like most home-based business owners, you're bootstrapping your business and keeping costs low with a DIY approach. In this episode, I interview author, speaker, and digital entrepreneur, Lorraine C. Ladish, about how she bootstrapped her business. We also discuss when to invest and spend in your business, taking risks, taking care of yourself, and more.
About Lorraine Lorraine C. Ladish is a bilingual author of more than 15 books, and a writer, editor, speaker, and digital entrepreneur. Lorraine is the founder and CEO of Viva Fifty!, a bilingual online community that celebrates being 50+. Lorraine is a contributing writer for NBC News, Huffington Post, AARP, BabyCenter, and Mom.me. You can learn more about Lorraine by visiting her website and VivaFifty! You can also follow her online on Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter About the interviewIn this episode, I talk with Lorraine about a variety of topics, including the evolution of her own business, taking risks and gaining confidence, bootstrapping vs. working with investors, staying true to yourself and your mission, and knowing when to spend on your business. Lorraine also talks about defining success and setting goals for your business, writing a book, and how her yoga practice keeps her pain free and reduces the stress of being an entrepreneur.
If you enjoyed this episodeThe Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in April, 2016. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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Have you considered joining The National NeedleArts Association (TNNA)? In this episode, I interview knitting teacher, designer, and tech editor, Beth Whiteside, about the benefits of membership, newly formed Business and Creative Services sector, and power tips for getting the most out of the TNNA trade show.
About Beth Beth Whiteside is a knitting teacher, designer, and technical editor whose curiosity has led her to visit many countries (stranded color, EPS, k1b, lace, ...) on the knitting-world map. Originally from New England, she now lives in San Francisco, where mountains, ocean, and Haight Street are always good sources of inspiration. She has been teaching locally since 2003, and nationally since 2005. What she loves most about teaching is finding ways to make light bulbs pop on in her students' heads and helping them grow as knitters. You can learn more about Beth by visiting her website, Beth Whiteside Design. You can also follow her online on Facebook | Instagram | Ravelry | Twitter About the interviewIn today's episode, I talk with Beth about the evolution of her own business, Beth Whiteside Design, and her involvement with The National NeedleArts Association for the past 10 years. We talk about Affiliate membership, attending the trade shows, and the newly formed Business and Creative Service sector, which focuses on individuals and agencies that offer creative and business services to the needlearts industry including authors, bookkeepers/accountants, copy editors, designers, fiber artists, finishers, graphic designers, illustrators, marketing specialists, photographers, teachers (business-to-business and consumer), technical editors, website developers, and those in video production.
Resources mentioned in this episodeYou can find The National NeedleArts Association online at its website. Follow TNNA on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter.
Links to other TNNA resources we mentioned:
You can learn more about membership types here. Most regular listeners will probably fall into the Affiliate member category, with the exception of indie dyers, spinners, and other yarnies (and yarn shop owners). For yarnies who sell directly to consumers, Retail membership is less expensive than Wholesale membership, but doesn't allow you to exhibit at the trade shows. There is also a Student membership option. You can find a list of upcoming TNNA events, including trade shows and webinars, here.I also mentioned a previous episode that you may want to go back and listen to:
Episode 33: 7 Steps for Pitching Your Ideas for Workshops, Presentations, and Panel Sessions to Conferences and Events If you enjoyed this episodeThe Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in April, 2016. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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I interview Elayna Fernandez, author, speaker, and owner of The Positive Mom.
About ElaynaElayna Fernandez is an author, international keynote speaker, and a key Latina influencer and storyteller through ThePositiveMOM.com. She lives with her loving husband and her three brilliant bilingual daughters (and home school students) in Fort Worth, Texas.
Elayna’s mission is to encourage, empower, and equip moms to have more influence at home, more impact in the world, and more income to make it happen. Elayna is also an award-winning Certified Guerrilla Marketing Master Trainer and the creator of the Guerrilla Positioning System™ (GPS) for mompreneurs or aspiring mompreneurs who want to increase their Credibility, Visibility and Profitability™.
You can learn more about Elayna by visiting her blog, ThePositiveMOM.com. You can follow her online at Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Twitter | YouTube
About the interviewI had the chance to meet up with Elayna in person at the #WeAllGrow Summit by Latina Bloggers Connect in Long Beach, California. She was part of a very inspiring keynote panel. In the interview, Elayna shares her suggestions for involving your family in your home-based business, talks about how she uses her morning ritual to set herself up for success, gives recommendations for dealing with negative feedback and negative energy, and explains the way she organizes her time so she can be more productive.
Resources mentioned in this episodeElayna recommends the following:
The Four Agreements: A Practical to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz The 5 Love Languages website If you enjoyed this episodeThe Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in March, 2016. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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Today's episode is a double header. I'm interviewing Kara Gott Warner, host of Power Purls Podcast, and she's interviewing me! Read on for more details and then have a listen to both episodes.
About Kara Gott WarnerKara is the Executive Editor of Creative Knitting magazine. She began her career in the yarn industry as a knitting designer in 2002. Kara's designs have been published in several magazines, including Creative Knitting, Vogue Knitting, Family Circle Easy Knitting, and Interweave Knits. Kara has also worked as a technical illustrator, working with craft book publishers such as Random House, Lark Books, Sterling Publishing and F+W. Kara joined Annie’s Publishing in 2008 as knitting book editor, and she became the Executive Editor of Creative Knitting and Annie’s knitting publications.
Kara's also a podcast host! Her first show, the Morning Cooldown is a seasonal program that is currently on hiatus. Knitters and yarn industry folks may prefer her latest show, Power Purls Podcast, where she loves to dig deep and ask those burning questions about what turned her guests on to the “two sticks and fiber,” in the first place, and what keeps their needles moving.
You can find Kara online on her website, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.
About the interviewKara shares an editor's perspective on the magazine design submission process, along with tips for increasing your likelihood of getting a design accepted, and how to build a strong relationship with a magazine as a freelancer.
We also talk about the importance of networking within the industry, developing multiple streams of income, and using morning rituals to increase your productivity.
Resources mentioned in this episodeKara recommends the following books:
The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert Jocelyn Glei's Make Your Mark, Manage Your Day-to-Day, and Maximize Your Potential, Designing Knitwear by Deborah Newton Knitwear Design Workshop by Shirley Paden Sweater Design in Plain English by Maggie RighettiYou may want to listen to these back episodes of the Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show for more discussion about topics addressed in this episode:
Episode 1 Episode 43 Episode 49 Episode 56You can find Kara's interview with me on Power Purls here.
If you enjoyed this episodeThe Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in March, 2016. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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This episode is all about multi-business collaborations, including blog hops, multi-designer make-a-longs, and in-person events. I share 4 reasons you might want to participate in such a collaboration, 7 tips for organization a multi-business collaboration, and 5 ways for being an ideal collaborator when you're not organizing the event.
4 reasons you might want to participate in a multi-business collaborationThere are many reasons you may want to participate in such an event, but here are the four major ones:
Introduce your business to a new audience and expand your reach. Network with other businesses and sponsors you may not have access to on your own. Earn more money. Develop friendships with like-minded business owners.I share more details about each of these in the episode.
So, are you ready to organize one of these collaborative shindigs?If so, here are 7 tips for successfully organizing a collaborative event.
Manage your fear of rejection. Decide who's in charge. Choose to curate or have open invitations. Get organized. Invite and follow up. Reach out to sponsors. Keep your word and thank your collaborators.I go into more detail about each tip in the episode.
Hmm, that sounds hard. I'd rather participate than organize.Here are 6 ways to be an ideal collaborator that gets invited back again and again.
Join groups. Read and follow directions. Ask questions if you're confused or have concerns. Communicate, especially about problems or delays. Promote the entire event/collaboration, not just your participation in it.And, for bonus brownie points, offer to help the organizer(s). I share more details on each way in the episode.
If you enjoyed this episodeThe Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in February, 2016. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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I share six different income streams for yarn-related business owners to consider in this episode. Many of us start our own businesses part time and by leveraging our existing skills. As you plan for expansion in 2016 and beyond, consider these different options for earning money for your business.
Six Income Streams for Your Yarn-Related BusinessHere are some options to consider. Most successful businesses have a combination of income streams which helps to mitigate risk and to standardize cash flow.
Consumer Products: This is a very broad category including... Handmade products you sell directly to the end user (e.g., crochet/knit finished objects, artisan hooks and needles, hand dyed or hand spun yarn), Handmade products you sell via retailers (wholesale or consignment), Items you purchase from a manufacturer/wholesaler and resell, Digital products you sell directly to the end user (e.g., patterns, ebooks), and Services including teaching face-to-face and online. Advertising and Sponsorship: You may work with an ad network (like Google AdSense, Media.net, Rivit, etc.) or negotiate your own relationships with brands. Affiliate Marketing: As an affiliate, you promote another company's products and earn a commission when items are purchased through you. Business to Business Services: Many yarn-related business owners provide services to other businesses on a freelance or contractual basis. Some examples include writing, designing patterns, tech editing, sample making, social media coordination, and virtual assistance. Membership/Subscriptions: Magazines, pattern subscriptions, and yarn clubs are some examples of yarn-related membership and subscription options. Crowdfunding: Crowdfunding can be used in exchange for product pre-orders through KickStarter, IndieGogo, and other services, or by allowing your fans to support your business on an ongoing basis through Patreon and related services. If you enjoyed this episodeThe Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in January, 2016. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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If setting up (or enhancing) an email list for your business is on your list of New Year’s Resolutions, listen to this episode.
In this episode, I talk about why you should start an email list, how to get started, the different approaches you can take to an email list, and how to grow your subscriber base.
Why should you have an email list?Here are just a few reasons why having an email list by benefit your business.
It provides you with a direct connection to your fanbase without another platform as an intermediary. People check their email regularly throughout the day, so you can connect with them on their schedule. Your subscribers will have a direct, individual connection to your emails (rather than the feeling of being "broadcasted at" that comes with social media posting). Business report seeing boosts in sales after sending out emails to their subscribers. When your business faces another disruption (e.g., your website goes down), it's a great way of letting your audience know what is happening. How should you set up an email list?The most important thing is to get started, not to develop the most masterful email strategy that ever existed. You can always improve and update over time.
I recommend starting with MadMimi or MailChimp, both of which have permanently free accounts for small subscriber lists. Both offer affordable plans for people with smaller lists, as well, so you can grow your list before spending a lot of time researching different companies and features. MadMimi is a bit easier (more "low tech") to use, while MailChimp offers more features in its free plan.
How should you approach your email list?There are several simple options to consider for your email list.
RSS feed: If you have a website or blog that you update with some regularity, you can set up an RSS feed so that your subscribers are alerted via email to any new posts on your site. Newsletter: You may want to write an email to your list on a regular basis (e.g., weekly, biweekly, monthly, quarterly). This can include links to your latest posts, original content for subscribers, roundups of relevant information you’ve found online, and more. Updates: You may choose to send sporadic emails to your list when something new happens in your business (e.g., a new product is released, you’re teaching a new class, or there’s a sale). Autoresponders: You may choose to set up a sequence of replies that are automatically delivered to your subscribers on a schedule based on when they subscribed. For example, the first email can be sent one day after they subscribe and the second email can be sent two weeks after they subscribe.Listen to the episode for more details about each approach.
How do you get subscribers?Once you understand your approach, you can start recruiting subscribers. Consider letting potential subscribers know more about your approach wherever they can opt-in to subscribe.
Here are some other ways to grow your email list.
Update your website: Include subscription opt-ins in a sidebar, your About and Contact pages, and even in posts on your site. Update your social media profiles: Use the “sign up” option on your Facebook page, and include a link to your email list on your Ravelry, Etsy, G+, and other social profiles. Update your “thank you” message: Change the automatic reply sent to your customers on Etsy and Ravelry (or other marketplaces) to include a link to your mailing list. Giveaways: Some companies offer giveaways to their subscribers as an incentive to encourage people to sign up. Lead magnet: Offer a free ebook, checklist, or other desirable product “in exchange” for a subscription. Tip: Do not get stuck on this. If you don’t have a lead magnet, you can still start an email list. Resources mentioned in this episode Listen to Episode 27: Connecting with Your Mailing List and More with Vashti Braha to learn more about Vashti's approach to her email list and how it impacts her business. Read 10 Reasons To Use Email Marketing (As Told By Small Businesses) on Forbes Check out the Useletter by Amy Lynn Andrews as an example of a curated/roundup approach to an email list Read more about (or sign up for) a free MadMimi or MailChimp accountIf you enjoyed this episode
The Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in December, 2015. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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Time management can be more challenging for part-time business owners. Whether you work full time, run another business part time, or rely on several part time jobs or gigs, if your yarn-related business is part time, you may struggle to manage your time and stay productive.
In this episode, I share my time management approach to being a part-time business owner:
Start by setting your short- and long-term goals Look for "chunks" of time in your schedule that can be devoted to your business Arrange the activities required to meet your goals into types of tasks Organize the tasks into your available time slots Find a time management system that works for you Don't compare yourself to other businesses (especially those run by full timers) Find social supportYou can hear more details by listening to this episode.
If you struggle with time management, you may also want to listen to Episode 10: Time Management Tips: An Interview with Lindsey Stephens from Poetry In Yarn.
If you enjoyed this episode
The Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in December, 2015. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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As creative business owners, we thrive on feeling inspired. But what about those days when you just aren't feeling inspired or creative? I share 5 things that I do when I'm not feeling inspired to keep my business moving forward.
Work through it Focus on other crafts Do a "mindless project" Take a break from the creative side of your business Express gratitude to someone elseOther resource mentioned in this episode:
Interview with Steven Pressfield on The Creative Penn podcastYou can listen to the episode for more tips on dealing with a lack of inspiration.
If you enjoyed this episode
The Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in December, 2015. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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In this episode, I talk about increasing blog traffic in response to feedback from the listener survey and and email exchange with Lindsay Lewchuk from Knit Eco Chic.
I'm listening to episode 48 & am a bit bummed that she wouldn't get into particular dollar amounts. I've got content on my site (content I'm proud of), but I have very little traffic... I know I haven't done any SEO but am completely lost online with how to do it & what to do. I want to budget for this, but have no idea. Do you have any insights of which company I should be looking at and how much I need to budget for it? Is it really as simple as the yoast plug-in (which makes absolutely no sense to me)?Lindsay was previously a guest in Episode 26, where we talked about niche marketing and eco-conscious knitting. (She also shared a great tip in Episode 47: Best Advice for Yarn-Related Businesses.)
Here are my suggestions for increasing your blog's traffic.
First, focus on strategy and measurement. Clarify your blog's purpose in relationship to your entire business. Begin tracking your blog's traffic. Analyze what you've tracked, and make changes as appropriate. Some of the tactics I've used to increase my blog traffic in the past year include... Establishing an editorial calendar. Posting more frequently and focusing on specific types of posts based on my goals. Adding subscription options, including an RSS feed subscription and a weekly email newsletter (with links to that week's blog posts) subscription. Guest posting on other sites. Participating in link parties. (See below for a list of link parties.) Linking your blog posts to projects and stash on Ravelry, and sharing those projects and stash in groups. Sharing old/archived posts on social media daily. Changing social media schedule, frequency, and/or platforms based on analysis of blog traffic. Submitting links to referral sites more regularly (especially the growing network of Prime Publishing sites). Joining private blogging groups where you can share information with other bloggers. Attending blogging conferences, reading blogging books, and/or taking online blogging courses to further develop skills.Listen to the episode for more details.
If you're focused on improving your blog and increasing traffic, you may want to listen to these prior episodes: Episode 4: 6 Ways to Engage with the Blogging Community Episode 23: Diversifying Your Income and Boosting Your Blogging with Tamara Kelly from Moogly Episode 32: Journey to 100k Monthly Blog Visitors with Sedie Maruska from Yarn Obsession Episode 48: Website Strategy and Working with Digital Marketers for Your Business with Carol Lyn RiveraIf you enjoyed this episode
The Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in November, 2015. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
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