Episoder
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In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener:
I am hanging on your every word about Substack. I just can't seem to shake this question: Is Substack really right for my business? And if so, am I doing it right? How should I think about it and prioritize it among the many other things I could be doing with my limited time and energy?
But I keep getting tangled up in this question: is substack _marketing_ for my business, a _product_ for my business, or simply an on-the-side creative outlet?
If I'm being honest, I want it to be all three! I love the simplicity of it being everything at once. But let's get real. It seems like there's not much hope of Substack becoming a meaningful source of revenue, unless you've got a massive audience to begin with that you are transferring over from somewhere else. The typical price point is just too low to make the numbers make a real difference with a small audience.
I wonder if you could help put Substack into perspective, in the context of a service-based business that already includes regular writing and podcasting. A business that's ready to pivot into one-to-many offerings. For a person who's sort of hooked, but also worried the promise of Substack is too good to be true.
- Lisa
In today’s episode we dive into Lisa’s question and share how we’re using Substack in our business and why the platform is really just a playground to shape and use in whatever way feels aligned for us. If you’re curious about experimenting with Substack in your business this episode is here to help you explore what that could look like for you.
* Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack
* Submit your letter
* More from Sara
* Sara’s Substack
* More from Jen
* Jen’s Substack
* Dive into Sara’s The Substack Soirée
Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
And our next monthly private behind the scenes episode is now live if you’d love to become a paying subscriber. Join us this way!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener:
I'm an artist and graphic designer and I run a one-woman creative studio. Like Jen, I'm very intentional about not hiring staff. If/when I get to a certain stage I would like to hire a VA or studio manager, but for now it's just me. I've raised my rates over the last year, and I have a steady stream of work coming in, which is great and I'm very grateful for it. However being a service-based business, especially a one-woman show, there is a very clear cap on how much I'm able to earn providing services. I plan to keep raising my rates gradually, and I'm slowly starting to gain slightly higher-paying clients and am, getting better at saying no to low-paying jobs. But this feels like quite a slow strategy, at least just now when it's still just me. I also plan to set some time aside this year to make stock (vectors, illustrations and textures) to hopefully set up some passive income streams, although I know this can be tricky to get going.
Do you have any ideas, strategies or suggestions for expanding income potential for a service-based business? There are three reasons I'm asking this:
1. I'd love to have more ease and breathing room around money. At the moment I'm able to pay my way each month but I still feel a lot of anxiety around my finances.
2. It's my partner and my 10th anniversary next year and I want to treat him to an amazing holiday as a surprise. We joked about going to the Maldives, but I would LOVE if that could become a reality!
3. I want to help my parents, who after working hard their whole lives are still paying off their mortgage and aren't able to retire yet. I would love, love, LOVE to be able to help them pay off the mortgage so they can finally retire and enjoy life.
Any advice you can give would be massively appreciated!
- Laura
In today’s episode we share our own experiences of expanding our income streams in our business, why it’s also often impactful to prioritise simplifying our client business too, and our encouragement for creating 1-to-many income streams in your business in a way that works best for you.
* Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack
* Submit your letter
* More from Sara
* Sara’s Substack
* More from Jen
* Jen’s Substack
* Get Jen’s Deep Dive Kit
And our first monthly private behind the scenes episode is now live if you’d love to become a paying subscriber. Join us this way!
Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
Mangler du episoder?
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In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener:
Over the last year, I’ve found myself becoming less and less engaged and connected to Instagram as a form of marketing. I don’t enjoy creating videos. I don’t like being pressured into buying a blue tick just to stop my work being copied.
But more importantly, it doesn’t align with my values of a soul-centred approach to business and life, and honestly, it has been quite detrimental to my mental health as I’ve struggled with my physical health over the last year, comparing my reality to everyone else’s highlight reel.
My question to you Jen and Sara is, how else would you reach your audience in this current landscape if you moved away from Instagram? I’m not saying imagine it’s gone all together, but more how would you create a business that is PURPOSELY not on Instagram, when it feels like everyone else is.
I think we’re told that Instagram ‘needs’ to be integral and that ‘businesses can’t survive without it’ but businesses were thriving long before pictures in a grid were a thing!
I’m currently on a break from Instagram to experiment and navigate this myself, but to have other people’s opinions and thoughts would be amazing. And perhaps a little bit of the permission slip I’m seeking to create a business that works for me and my energy flow.
- Vic
In today’s episode we share how and why neither of us rely on Instagram as a marketing platform, our thoughts on the shifting landscape of the platform, and encouragement for building and running a thriving business without relying on Instagram for growth and reach.
* Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack
* Submit your letter
* More from Sara
* Sara’s Substack
* More from Jen
* Jen’s Substack
And our first monthly private behind the scenes episode is now live if you’d love to become a paying subscriber. Join us this way!
Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener:
I'm building a supportive platform on Substack for therapists in private practice called 'Therapists Corner'. Therapists often work alone and I hope to create a space where they can find support, advice and guidance whenever they need to and have a genuine community.
In part it will be educational around building up a private practice but i'd also like it to feel like their staff room, where they can take a five minute break or like they have a business best friend online. So as well as asking for support they might also answer questions for others too.
It's hard to get going while it's being built up and theres not too much engagement I'm sure once it gets going it will be great it's just these early days.
Also the problem with humans, even ones that are therapists is that we all have tricky brains and when you put us in groups we can become problematic and you could have an amazing group then it only takes one person to make you want to shut the whole thing down , or it might just take off in another direction with a life of it's own or become over complicated.
How have you managed things when it's gone wrong, when you have encountered that one tricky person or what do you think you do to keep your communities engaged, welcoming and enjoyable? All of your community building ideas will be very welcome.
- Sarah
In today’s episode we explore what we’ve learned from building our own engaged, welcoming, and thriving communities, why it’s our job as the leaders of our business to set the tone and expectations within our communities, and how to navigate any tricky situations too.
* Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack
* Submit your letter
* More from Sara
* Sara’s Substack
* More from Jen
* Jen’s Substack
And our first monthly private behind the scenes episode is now live if you’d love to become a paying subscriber. Join us this way!
Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener:
Right now I’m taking a good hard look at what I can outsource in my business so that I can be free to do the stuff that I really love. Sara, you mentioned that you have an executive assistant, Jen do you ? If not, I’m really curious to know why not. I genuinely wonder whether it can potentially complicate the goal of a simple and spacious business when we employ people? On the other hand, thinking we can do everything ourselves more easily than outsourcing it can be a trap. I also wondered whether you both have ongoing sessions with your own business coaches or do you feel your work business buddies are enough?
- Denise
In today’s episode we explore why Sara has intentionally built a team in her business and why Jen intentionally hasn’t, the pros and cons of each path, and why the most important thing when it comes to outsourcing is making the most intentional decision for you and your business.
* Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack
* Submit your letter
* More from Sara
* Sara’s Substack
* More from Jen
* Jen’s Substack
And Jen’s flagship group program, Your Simple & Spacious Business, is currently open for enrolment until Monday June 5th if you’d love more guidance and support in building and running a business that truly works best for you.
Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener:
I’m so happy you two are back! I listened to your podcast a few years ago when I was dreaming about creating a business, and now I’m actually starting one, so it’s perfect timing for me. I have a chronic illness that only allows me to work about 2 hours a day most days (although it fluctuates often from 0-4 hours). I just finished creating my website a few weeks ago, so I’m starting from scratch, and I’m trying to figure out how to manage the marketing side of things because I find social media extremely draining.
Realistically, I think I can dedicate one day a week to marketing without it taking away too much creative time, so I’m wondering, where should I focus my energy? Are there any social platforms or tools where it’s possible to just show up once a week and actually connect with people? I am a pretty extreme introvert, so anytime I try to do more than that, or a little each day instead, I just can’t function. I need fully uninterrupted days to get into the creative flow. I have put some time into SEO that will hopefully start working in a few months. I’ve also started a blog and I’m posting each one to Pinterest, but I’m just wondering if you have any other ideas? I’m not looking for overnight results - I’m definitely in the slow lane, as Jen would say. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
- Claire
In today’s episode we share our encouragement for how we would prioritise our marketing energy with limited time, why marketing is not a sure science but instead just one big experiment, and what marketing tasks we would prioritise at different stages of business too.
* Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack
* Submit your letter
* More from Sara
* Sara’s Substack
* More from Jen
* Jen’s Substack
* Get Jen’s The Simple & Spacious Deep Dive Kit
And the beautiful illustration Emily Charlotte Powell sent to us:
Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener:
I am 6 years into running my business and I feel like I’m running out of steam. The beginning was hard, but then came the “Instagram high” with dozens of thousands of engaged followers. Everything felt so exciting and spacious, I felt like people wanted to see what I’m up to, follow my work and buy from me. Then the pandemic happened and it left me burnt out. For the past two years I was running on the momentum I generated at the beginning of my journey. But the momentum seems to have stopped.
Now slowly coming back to myself and my business I can’t help to feel like it’s almost dead. For the past few months I’m working on different ideas to get it all back up and running but I noticed no one cares. I set up a Substack but the engagement is very low, sales are low and so is my mood. Long story short, my main concern is: did they only like me because they didn’t know real me before and now that they do, they checked out and there’s no hope left? How do you run a business when you don’t feel like one of the popular girls anymore?
- Unpopular One
In today’s episode we share our encouragement for today’s letter writer, our perspective on audience engagement and behaviour evolving, and how we would prioritise re-engaging our audience and breathing fresh life back into our business.
* Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack
* Submit your letter
* More from Sara
* Sara’s Substack
* More from Jen
* Jen’s Substack
Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
After a three year hiatus we are so excited to be coming back into your podcast feed today.
In today’s episode we re-introduce this show after our 3 year break, share why we’re hosting this podcast on Substack this time around, share some updates from our own businesses since we last recorded, and invite you to submit a letter that you’d love us to dive into in a future episode too.
* Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack
* Submit your letter
* More from Sara
* Sara’s Substack
* More from Jen
* Jen’s Substack
Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to feel confident in their new business. Together they dive into the different ways we can all find courage and confidence in our own journeys, and share some encouragement for today’s letter writer moving forward too.
Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-47
You can write us a letter at our website
More from Sara
More from JenLetters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is finding more joy, ease, and freedom in their business and life during this time of forced lockdown and is wondering how they can bring this into their daily life when they’re back to business as usual. Sara and Jen dive into how we can bring more freedom, ease, and joy into our businesses and lives and how we can navigate the fears and beliefs that can hold us back from doing this too.
Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-46
You can write us a letter at our website
More from Sara
More from JenLetters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to decide whether to focus on creating products or building a community first. Today’s letter writer also shares a whole lot of fears that are holding them back at the moment too, so Sara and Jen dive into how today’s letter writer can feel confident and courageous in the pursuit of their business goals while also exploring how best to approach balancing product creation and community building too.
Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-45
You can write us a letter at our website
More from Sara
More from JenLetters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is wondering how best they can refocus and adjust in their business during this world health crisis. Sara and Jen explore how we can feel grounded in this time, how to re-route some of the goals and intentions that we set for ourselves this year, and why they believe we all still have permission to remain optimistic in our business in this time too.
Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-44
You can write us a letter at our website
More from Sara
More from JenLetters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is wondering how (and if) they should sell in this time while we all navigate this world health crisis. Together they explore how to make business decisions from a place of integrity in this season, how to navigate any feelings of fear and shame that comes with selling, and how they’re both approaching running their business in this time too.
Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-43
You can write us a letter at our website
More from Sara
More from JenLetters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to decide where to focus next in their business. Together they dive into the lessons they’ve learned about finding focus in their own businesses and explore their advice and encouragement for today’s letter writer too.
Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-42
You can write us a letter at our website
More from Sara
More from JenLetters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who wants to take the freelance career they’ve built and turn it into a thriving business instead. Sara and Jen explore the difference between being a freelancer and a business owner, how you can start to develop a vision and a plan for your business, and the mindset shifts necessary to go from freelancer to business owner too.
Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-41
You can write us a letter at our website
More from Sara
More from JenLetters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is battling with burnout in their business and is struggling to show up and run her business in this season. Sara and Jen share their own experiences with burnout, the lessons they’ve learned, and their advice and encouragement for today’s letter writer too.
Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-40
You can write us a letter at our website
More from Sara
More from JenLetters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to find focus in their work and is curious as to whether or not they can still build a business on Instagram. Sara and Jen encourage today’s letter writer to think bigger than just Instagram when it comes to building their business, and share how they encourage them to get moving forward too. Today’s letter writer also shares that they live with ADHD, something Sara has recently been diagnosed with too so she shares her advice for anyone navigating this diagnosis right now too.
Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-39
You can write us a letter at our website
More from Sara
More from JenLetters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
We’re coming back from our break with another ask us anything episode, diving into topics like how to deal with a bad client experience, how to prepare for starting a family when you’re self employed, whether or not to put your prices on your website and lots more!
Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-38
You can write us a letter at our website
More from Sara
More from JenLetters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to decide what to automate, eliminate, and delegate in their business. Sara and Jen share their own approach to this in their business, the lessons they’ve learned, and their advice for anyone else struggling with this too.
Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-37
You can write us a letter at our website
More from Sara
More from JenLetters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe -
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling with their work being copied online. Copycats is such a tricky subject that so many of us have to navigate along the way, and in this episode Sara and Jen share their own experiences of being copied, how they deal with it, and the mindset they embrace when it comes to the inevitability of being copied too.
Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-36
You can write us a letter at our website
More from Sara
More from JenLetters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe - Se mer
