Starting a Business Archives - Elizabeth McCravy https://elizabethmccravy.com/category/starting-a-business/ Showit Website Templates, Business Courses, Business Podcast for Moms Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:22:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://i0.wp.com/elizabethmccravy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/cropped-Elizabeth-McCravy-Logo_Icon-Watermelon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Starting a Business Archives - Elizabeth McCravy https://elizabethmccravy.com/category/starting-a-business/ 32 32 138427508 New Business Owners, Here’s How to Build Your First Website https://elizabethmccravy.com/build-your-first-website/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/build-your-first-website/#respond Tue, 30 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=8433 If you're a new business owner looking to build your first website, this episode is for you! I'm sharing common website words you should know, what you need (and don't) to get started, and how to build your first website step-by-step.

The post New Business Owners, Here’s How to Build Your First Website appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 19 minutes

You’ve started the business, or the side hustle, or the hobby, or freelancing. You’ve got the name, maybe even an Instagram handle, maybe your first client paid or not, but no real website yet. That means, to build your first website might be the next big step to looking professional and really solidifying your business as a business.

In this episode, I’m giving you clarity, confidence, and understanding on how to get a website up without tech overwhelm, without tons of money, or without tons of time. I'm even going to do a quickfire glossary of website-related terms you’re going to hear on your website journey so you can really understand what’s going on.

Below, I’m going to share the things you don’t need when building your first website, even though you might think you need them. I’m also going to share the things you actually do need, and then walk you through the step-by-step of building your first website. Let’s dive in.

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 329!

I truly love helping first-time business owners launch their first website because it is such a milestone. The day you launch your website as a small business owner is often the day you think of as the official start date of your business. It’s like that ribbon-cutting moment.

If you’re brick-and-mortar, the start date is often the grand opening when customers walk into the building. But when you’re online-only, especially as a service business, it’s often your website going live and you telling people about it. That is the official start.

For me, I actually count my website launch day as day one of my business. I had been freelancing for about six to nine months before that, but the day I made it official is the day I consider my business start date. That was March 29, 2016, which is almost ten years ago now, which is crazy.

I still remember the feeling of building my first website and nervously posting on my Facebook profile and personal Instagram account that I now had a business, with a name, and that I was open for new clients.

Anyway, when I launched my first website, it wasn’t perfect. My current website still isn’t perfect. There are errors that happen on it, even as a designer. But my first website was exactly what my business needed at the time, and it helped me immediately. It helped me book clients and get things rolling.

And for me, as someone who was just 22 at the time, it helped me, in the middle of feeling really nervous about the whole business thing, confidently call myself a business owner.

So before we get into it, I’m going to share what you actually need and don’t need to build your first website. But first, if you’re new here, I want to give you a quick 30-second summary of who I am. 

I’m Elizabeth McCravy and I started my business officially almost 10 years ago after quitting my first “real” job. I worked at an advertising agency as a designer, stayed about four months, and then quit with no plan. 

I had started freelancing while I was still at that job, but I really ramped it up after I quit. Eventually, that freelancing turned into a legitimate business. At the beginning, I did random design work, websites, social media management, copywriting, whatever people needed, I would do it. I was a jack of all trades and wasn’t sure what I liked most yet. I just knew what I could do and what I enjoyed.

Elizabeth-McCravy-Maternity-Studio-Shoot-30

Over time, I narrowed things down to website design and branding, and within that, I narrowed it further to using Showit as my website builder, which we’ll get into later in this episode. Now, almost ten years later, I’m one of the top Showit website designers. I sell website templates, I’ve helped thousands of businesses with their websites, and I’m also a mom of three.

My youngest is five months old, my oldest is four years old, and I work part-time from home on this business and this podcast, often during nap time. Literally right now, my little girl is napping. I love what I do. I love website design, I love keeping things simple, and I love removing the extreme confusion that often exists around this process.

I really love seeing people make their business legitimate through a website. Taking the dream, making it a reality, making money online, and making money from home. I’m all about working faster and smarter so you can get back to things like being with your family or focusing on other areas of your business.

5 Things You Don’t Need To Build Your First Website

I’m going to start with the five things you don’t need to build your website, and then the five things you do need. 

 

1. You Don’t Need to Have Your Business Running For a Certain Amount Of Time (Or Have Earned a Certain Amount of Money)

The first thing is this: you do not need to have your business or side hustle running for a certain amount of time, or have earned a certain amount of money, to have or need a website.

This mindset is really just selling yourself short. We often make up milestones we think we need to hit before our business is “legit” enough to do the next thing. But typically, you know in your gut when it’s time to get a website.

For some people, that’s day one. For others, it’s more like my experience, where I freelanced for about six to ten months before deciding to make it official with a website. And for some people, they won’t even launch their business until the website is set up.

Or maybe you’ve had a couple of clients through friends or social media, and now you’re feeling that gap because you don’t have a place to send people. You’re thinking, I booked someone through Instagram, but now this next person wants to see more than just a post. They want a website. You don’t have a home base yet.

In those cases, yes, you probably do need a website. What I don’t want you to fall into is the trap of thinking there’s some test you have to pass to prove your business is ready for one. That “ready” point looks different for everyone and depends a lot on your business and what you’re doing.

 

2. You Don’t Need Custom Coding Or To Hire a Developer

Second, you do not need custom coding or to hire a developer to build your first website, or honestly, for most websites ever. Custom-coded websites are very 15-years-ago. That’s the hill I’ll die on. Technology has advanced to the point where you simply don’t need it.

You likely do not need a developer. If you’re listening to this podcast, you’re probably starting a service-based business or maybe an online course business, something along those lines. You do not need a custom-coded website.

And I’m not even talking about AI advances here. I’m talking about website technology before AI was even a thing. 

Now, I’m not saying your website isn’t built using code, or that code isn’t happening on the backend. But you don’t need to code yourself, and you don’t need to hire someone to write custom code for you in order to have a website.

Instead, you can use what’s called a website builder. It often feels similar to using something like Canva, if you’re familiar with that, where you’re dragging and dropping elements to build your website yourself. So just take the coding and developer aspect off the table.

Again, yes, some people do need a developer. If you’re starting an app company or building software, absolutely, you’re hiring a developer. But if you’re starting a copywriting business, bookkeeping, a design company, or maybe you’re a midwife, a doula, or a counselor, you do not need a custom-coded website.

 

3. You Don’t Need To Invest Thousands in a Custom Website

You do not need $1,000 or more for a custom-designed website when you’re just starting.

Yes, you can hire a designer to custom build a website from scratch, start to finish, if you want to. And if you have the funds and feel confident that a custom website makes sense for your specific business, then sure, that can be a valid option. But for most businesses, that’s not what I recommend.

It’s usually better to invest less money into your first website and have something you can edit, adapt, and change yourself. In the first three years of your business, things are likely going to change a lot.

What often happens is someone spends $10,000 on a custom website, and then one, two, or three years later, it feels like a waste because they need to redo it anyway. Maybe they change their business name, their services, their messaging, or their aesthetic. A lot shifts early on.

Those first three years of business are similar to the first three years of a child’s life. You go from laying there, to sitting up, to crawling, to walking. Businesses grow and change in the same way, and a lot can happen in a short amount of time.

That’s why I think starting with a template makes more sense. Earlier in my career, before I sold website templates, I worked one-on-one with clients only. I didn’t have a template shop yet.

And this exact issue is what motivated me to create my templates and eventually start selling Showit templates. I had amazing women coming to me for their very first website. As my prices increased to $10,000, or more for custom websites, I’d often think, I really want to work with her, and she really wants to work with me. But I don’t think she needs to spend that much right now.

Some of these women were even willing to go into debt to get their first website. And as someone who also teaches business, my honest opinion was that this wasn’t the best business move.

One of the best things about service-based businesses is that they can be very low-cost to start and have low monthly expenses, while still having high profit margins. So going into debt for a website right out of the gate often doesn’t make sense.

That’s why I created my website templates with these business owners in mind. You’re new, you want to move from freelancing or side hustling into a legitimate business, and you want to spend less than $1,000 on your website. That’s where templates come in. 

You don’t need the “super website” when you start. Most people don’t. But it is really nice to spend under $1,000 and still have a website that looks custom and professional through a template. And for some people, they continue using templates long-term, and that works beautifully. A lot of people do that. 

Or maybe when you’re five years in, you hire a designer to revamp everything and get a completely custom website.

 

4. You Don’t Need To Have Your Website Copy And Branding Photos Ready

You don’t need to have every photo or every piece of website copy written before you start. This is something that often hangs people up. You’ll think, I need to get a photoshoot done. I need to write everything. I need to know exactly what I’m going to say on my website before I even begin.

But you can actually buy a website template first and then figure out your photos and copy after. What I’ve seen through my own customers is that the template can actually inform those decisions, rather than the other way around.

If you don’t have a super clear vision yet for your brand photos or overall style, it’s often easier to choose a template first. Then you can get brand photos done after you’ve purchased the template. The same goes for writing your copy. Once you see the layout and sections, it’s much easier to think, okay, this is what this About page includes, or these are the sections on the Services page. Now I know how to write copy for that.

So I actually think it’s a better decision to pick the template first and then do photos and copy afterward. It’s usually faster and more effective.

 

5. You Don’t Need a Giant Business Plan

You do not need a giant business plan with all of your goals and hopes for the next five or ten years before you have a website.

You might not consciously think this is a requirement, but a lot of people feel like their business just isn’t “there” enough yet to have a website. So let me be clear: you do not need a five-year business plan. You don’t need to know that you’re in this for the long haul.

You just need to know what you’re selling right now and have a little bit of money set aside to create your website. That’s it. Know what you’re selling, have a bit of money ready, set aside a little bit of time, get the website up, and then make that money back once you start booking clients or customers from your new site.

website-template-quiz

What You Need to Build Your First Website

Okay, now let’s talk about what you actually do need before you build your first website.

 

1. A Business Name And Offer

You need a name for your business. That can be your own name, like mine, or something like your name plus what you do, for example, Elizabeth Maccray Copywriting. For a long time, my business was called Elizabeth Maccray Designs, and now I mostly just use my name.

Your business name can also be a fictitious name, which is actually how I started. I had one fictitious name, then a few years later I rebranded to another fictitious name, and eventually I rebranded to my own name. Any of those options work.

You also need an offer, meaning something to sell. That could be a service like photography, a product like an online course, something online like coaching, or something in person like being a birth doula or a therapist.

Without a name and an offer, you won’t really have anything to put on your website yet. So those are the first things to figure out: what am I selling, and what am I calling this business?

Once you have those things figured out, you’re probably ready to start the journey of picking out a template.

2. A Domain Name

The next thing you need for your website is a domain name, which is your website address. You can think of this like your brick-and-mortar address. If you had a physical store, this would be the address people put into their maps app to find you. Online, your domain name is where people go to find you on the internet.

For example, my domain name is elizabethmccravy.com. In my ten years as a business owner, I’ve actually changed my business name three times, so I’ve had two other domains before this one. I share that to say, pick something that works for now. You can change your domain later if you need to. Is it a bit of a headache? Yes. But it’s doable, and it doesn’t have to be the thing you keep forever.

You can buy a domain name through places like GoDaddy. Domain names are usually much cheaper than what you’ll pay for your website template and your website platform, which we’ll talk about next.

Unless you’re buying something that’s extremely short or highly desirable, most domain names are pretty affordable. We’re usually talking around $30 a year. Something like your own name, like elizabethmccravy.com, is typically not expensive because it’s specific to you.

You do want your domain name to be short, memorable, and easy to spell and say. You also want to make sure that when it’s written out without spaces, it doesn’t accidentally spell other words that don’t make sense.

I also have a business naming guide on my website here if you want more advice about this. Inside, it talks more about naming your business and choosing a domain name, since those two things go hand in hand.

 

3. A Website Platform

The third thing you need for your website is a website platform. This is also sometimes called a website builder. Those two terms are interchangeable.

The platform I use, and that my templates work with, is called Showit. It’s very beginner-friendly, but also robust enough that large businesses earning millions of dollars still use it. It has a wide range of users, from people just starting out to very established companies.

It gives you a lot of creative freedom and it’s something you can update yourself, which is one of the many reasons I’m such a big Showit fan. I know the people who work there and build the product. They care deeply about excellence, customer support, and community. It really is one of the best platforms out there.

Head here if you want to learn more about Showit and get a one-month free trial with no credit card required, just to explore the interface and see what I’m talking about.

 

4. A Template Or A Custom Design

You either need a template that you can customize yourself, or you need to hire a designer to custom build a website from scratch.

I’ve already shared why I don’t recommend a fully custom website for most brand-new businesses. There are always exceptions, but if you’re not a designer yourself, you’ll need one of these two options.

What you don’t want to do is start with a blank screen and try to build everything from scratch on your own. That usually takes forever and becomes overwhelming. You need a starting point, either through a template or through a designer.

 

5. Website Hosting

And the fifth thing you need is website hosting. Website hosting is the tool or company that actually puts your website out on the internet.

We use hosts for lots of things. Podcasts have hosts, for example. If you’re a podcaster, your host is what gets your show onto platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts. My podcast host is Buzzsprout. Buzzsprout is what makes this episode available for you to listen to.

Sometimes the website builder and the host are two separate things, and sometimes they’re the same. In the case of Showit, your website builder and your website host are bundled together, which makes things much simpler.

In the case of WordPress, for example, the host and the builder are not the same.

A Rapid First Glossary Of Words You’ll Come Across As You Build Your First Website

Okay, now let’s do a rapid-fire glossary of the words you’ll hear when you build your first website. Even as a designer, I wish I’d had something like this when I was starting out. 

Website template (sometimes called a website theme): A website template or theme is essentially the bones of your website. It’s designed and ready, and you just add your words and images. It’s a base you build on, and you can customize it as much or as little as you want. These terms are interchangeable. “Theme” is more commonly used in the WordPress world, which is another website builder. “Template” is more commonly used with platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or Showit. 

Domain/domain name: Like I mentioned earlier, this is your website’s street address, for example, elizabethmccravy.com. You buy this through places like GoDaddy. Your domain name is where the website you design gets pointed to.

Hosting: A website host stores your website’s content, things like text and images, on powerful computers called web servers. Hosting also maintains the site and makes sure it’s secure and available to visitors. Showit is a website platform that also includes hosting, which is really nice because everything is wrapped into one place. So when you hear the term “hosting,” that’s what it means. It’s the behind-the-scenes system making your website accessible online.

Website platform (also called a website builder): Just like template versus theme, platform and builder are interchangeable terms. This is the tool you use to actually build your website. Examples of website platforms include Showit, Squarespace, WordPress, Wix, Shopify, and Kajabi. Kajabi is a good example because it includes a website builder, but it also hosts online courses and handles email marketing. Some platforms do multiple things, while others, like Showit, are more focused specifically on the website itself.

SEO: This stands for search engine optimization. SEO is how Google, ChatGPT, and other search engines find your website. And to be specific, SEO isn’t something you buy, it’s something you do. When you hear the word “optimize,” that’s exactly what it means. You’re optimizing your website to be found in search results for the things people are looking for.

Full site template: This is a Showit-specific term. A full site template means it includes your entire main website: homepage, About page, Services page, Contact page, blog, and more. You can always add pages, and you can also delete pages you don’t need. For example, if a template includes a blog or resources page and you don’t plan to use those, you can remove them. A full site template is meant to be the foundation for your entire website.

Add-on template: An add-on template is made up of pages or canvases that you add onto an existing website, rather than replacing the whole thing. This is not going to be your whole site. It’s pages you add onto a template or custom design you already have. 

Here are some examples:

  • Speaker page template: if you’re trying to book more speaking gigs and want a media kit on your website, you can buy that template, customize it, and add it to your main site. 
  • Timeline template: this is made up of canvases, meaning sections of a website page, that you add onto your Showit template. It lets you share your story or your service process in a unique way through a really intentional design.
  • Podcast page: that’s a page on your website dedicated to information about your podcast. Maybe your full site template doesn’t include a podcast page design, so you buy an add-on to include that.

Add-on templates aren’t necessary. They’re an extra option, not something you need to start with. What you do want to start with is a full site template.

So there you go - those are your glossary terms. There are probably a few I could add that I’m forgetting, but this is a really good starting point to help you understand the language around websites.

Elizabeth-McCravy-Shop-Templates-Small-office-30

Step-by-Step For How To Build Your First Website

Now let’s get into the step-by-step of how to build your first website. I’ve got five steps that outline what to actually do. I’ll also say that if you’re using a different website platform than Showit, these steps might look a little different. I’m specifically sharing how to build your first website in Showit.

1. Choose Your Website Platform

Step one is choosing your platform. Again, I recommend Showit as a first platform, but the most important thing here is just picking something and starting. Don’t get stuck in decision overwhelm.

I’ve actually changed my website platform three times. My very first website, back when I was freelancing in college, was on Squarespace. After that, I built websites on WordPress. And now I’ve been on Showit for many, many years. So just know that you can change platforms later. 

One thing I do want to clarify, because this comes up a lot, is that changing platforms does mean redoing your design. You can’t design a website on Showit and then simply upload it to Squarespace. You would need to recreate the design within that new platform.

But again, the key thing here is to just pick a platform and start. For service-based businesses, online courses, templates, and things like that, my recommendation is Showit. You can learn more about Showit here and you can get a one-month free trial with no credit card required by using the code ELIZABETH when you sign up.

You can also check out my Showit website templates here! 

Read more: Is a Showit Website Template Right for Your Business? (The BIGGEST Questions We Get Asked About Using Templates!) 

2. Pick a Template That Fits Your Brand

Step two is picking a template that fits your brand. A website template saves time, stress, and money. If you’re DIYing your website, you do not want to skip this step.

Like I mentioned earlier, as a non-designer, you don’t want to start with a blank screen and think, okay, let me drag in a button, place a photo here, adjust this spacing. That process takes forever if you’re not a designer.

As a designer, that’s literally what I do for fun. That’s what I’m doing when I create templates. I’m starting with a blank screen and designing something for you. But that’s not what you want to be doing yourself.

A website template puts you in the driver’s seat when it comes to updates. If you need to change your pricing, you can do that yourself. If you want to add a new service, you can duplicate a page and create a new info page for that service.

Maybe you launch your website using photos a friend took of you, and later you do a professional brand photoshoot. You can easily go into your template and swap out all of your images. Showit makes this really simple, and that flexibility is one of the biggest benefits of starting with a template.

That flexibility is one of the biggest benefits of using a template. It really puts you in control. So to start, you pick your platform and then you pick your template.

For your main website, you’ll want what’s called a full site template, not an add-on, like I explained earlier in the glossary section. A full site template gives you everything you need to launch your website.

And if you’re enjoying this episode, I highly recommend checking out my templates here! I have a lot to choose from. 

I have templates for photographers and videographers, wedding professionals, coaches, therapists, lactation consultants, birth doulas or midwives, copywriters, bookkeepers, podcasters, course creators, and YouTubers. When you’re choosing a template, I recommend picking one based on the design, layout, and overall vibe that resonates with you. That matters more than the industry label.

There’s a wide range of styles too, from sophisticated and modern to fun and colorful. There really is something for everyone in the shop.

I also have a website personality quiz that matches you with a group of templates based on your brand personality. If you’re looking at the options and thinking, I don’t know which one is right for my ideal client or my business, you can go here and take that quiz. When you take the quiz, you also get a discount and some free Canva templates for your social media.

Read more: How to Choose the Best Showit Template for Your Business (WITH EASE)

3. Customize Your Site

At this point, you’ve picked your platform and your template, and now you make it your own.

You customize your site by adding your brand colors, fonts, website copy, and photos. Sometimes people keep the template’s original fonts and colors, which is the fastest and easiest option. Other times, they change everything.

What I see most often is a mix. Maybe you keep most of the colors but swap out a font, or you keep the fonts and change the colors. There’s a lot of flexibility here.

The template you purchase includes placeholder content, so it’s meant for you to replace the words and images. That means swapping out photos of models or stock images for photos of you, your work, or your products, and updating the copy so it reflects your business.

My templates also come with my Showit Blueprint Course. It walks you through how to use Showit step by step. You don’t have to watch the entire course to customize your site, but I do recommend watching the first few videos so you understand the interface.

Showit itself also has great resources to help you learn the platform.

Read more: How to Customize Your Showit Website Template Really Fast

4. Connect Your Domain And Launch Your Website

Step four is connecting your domain name and going live. Your website does not have to be perfect before you do this.

Showit has clear tutorials on how to connect your domain, so I won’t go deep into the technical details. But essentially, you’re telling your domain provider, wherever you bought your domain, that the website you built in Showit is what should appear when someone types in your domain name into their browser.

That’s what it means to connect your domain and go live.

Once you do this, your website is live on the internet. It’s launched, which is such a fun and exciting moment. Now you can share the link with people. It can show up in Google search. You can share it on Instagram, add it to your Stories, and send it directly to potential clients. It’s a real link, out there on the internet, connected and working.

5. Start Sharing Your New Website

That brings us to the fifth and final step, which is to start sharing it. Add your website to your social media bio. Put it in your email signature. Do that launch post where you say, “Hey, I’m officially in business. Here’s my website. Come check it out.” You can promote it as a way to book clients or sell your offers. At this point, it’s yours to share.

I also want to say this about this step: you can continue tweaking and updating your website after it’s live. You don’t need it to be perfect before you launch.

Maybe you get your site to a solid baseline where you think, this is good enough to go live. Sure, you might want to add a blog later, or a resources page, or email marketing opt-ins down the road. But for now, it works. Launch it with what you have and keep improving it as you go.

With Showit, making updates is very simple. You just log into your Showit account, open the website builder, make your changes, and click publish again. As soon as you do that, the updates go live.

So when I say that step four is connecting your domain and going live, that doesn’t mean you’re locked into that version forever. You can make changes as often as you want, even multiple times a day if you need to. You’re fully in control, and changes take effect immediately when you publish.

You can add new pages over time, purchase add-on templates whenever you want, and those add-ons can come from any shop. They don’t have to be from the same designer you bought your main template from. That’s a question I get a lot, so I just want to note that here.

And from there, you start sharing your website and making money from it.

showit-website-template-quiz

Are you feeling ready to finally get your business online and build your first website?

I’ve mentioned it a few times, but if you’re interested, go check out my Showit website templates. They’re fun, unique, and strategically designed. They’re also built with SEO in mind, which I briefly touched on in the glossary section earlier, but SEO is a big focus in how I design my templates.

My team and I also offer really great customer support over email. If you run into roadblocks or need help troubleshooting something while you’re working on your template, you can email us and we’ll get back to you. We even often create custom videos to walk you through things. If you’re stuck and need a visual explanation, we’ll record a video showing you exactly how to do it.

I really hope to see you launching your website and officially making your business official in the near future. I hope this episode was so, so helpful for you as you build your first website!

Links Mentioned:

Shop Showit Website Templates

Not sure which template is right for you? Take the quiz!

Sign up for Podcast Success Blueprint

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

5 steps to build your first website
tips to build your first website

Thanks to our blog sponsor, Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM)! 

CHM is a faith-based alternative to health insurance—at about half the cost. You can enroll at any time and join a proven, faith-based solution that’s both reliable and affordable.

My family has been CHM members for over 5 years, and their maternity care shared all expenses for all 3 of my children’s births—from c-section to home birth. They even shared costs for key parts of prep and postpartum care, like pelvic floor physical therapy and lactation consulting.

Beyond birth, CHM has helped us through ER visits, surgeries, and procedures. Those bills were shared by other CHM members, leaving us responsible only for our monthly contribution.

I can’t recommend Christian Healthcare Ministries enough! It’s more than financial help—it’s also spiritual support when you need it most.

 Learn more here! And if you’d like to hear our full story, check out episode 305 of The Breakthrough Brand Podcast, where Adam and I dive into our experience with CHM.

The post New Business Owners, Here’s How to Build Your First Website appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/build-your-first-website/feed/ 0 8433 4 Pieces of Advice I’d Give the Stay at Home Mom Starting a Part-Time Business https://elizabethmccravy.com/stay-at-home-mom-starting-a-part-time-business/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/stay-at-home-mom-starting-a-part-time-business/#respond Tue, 01 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=7931 I’m sharing four powerful pieces of advice for the stay-at-home mom who’s dreaming of starting a part-time business. Whether you’re looking for a side hustle or a passion project, these tips will help you take that first step!

The post 4 Pieces of Advice I’d Give the Stay at Home Mom Starting a Part-Time Business appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 7 minutes

Maybe you are a stay-at-home mom, and you want to start a business. Maybe it relates to the career you had prior to motherhood, or maybe it’s a completely new idea. Whatever it is, you want to create something new. Maybe it’s to contribute financially to your family, maybe it’s because you want something that’s “just yours” and the adventure of business sounds fun/exciting to you, or maybe it’s for so many reasons that you can’t even pinpoint them exactly, you just know you’re feeling called to this, passionate about this, and you have capacity to add something else to your plate. If that’s you, this episode is for you. I’m sharing four pieces of advice I’d give the Stay at Home Mom Starting a Part-Time Business. Let’s dive in!

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 287!

Are You New Here? Hi! I’m Elizabeth.

I’ve been a business owner nearly 9 years now, and have been freelancing longer than that. I started my business before becoming a mom, which is probably different than your situation if you’re reading this. I design and sell website templates, so if you need a website as you start your business, I’m your gal! You can shop for those here. I also teach in online courses — one for designers (Booked Out Designer) and one for podcasters (Podcast Success Blueprint). I’ve also hosted this podcast for almost 5 years now. 

advice for the stay at home mom starting a part-time business

I have two boys, and at the time of recording, I have a 3 years old and a six month old.  I’m also a Christian and my faith is important to me. Plus, since becoming a mom, I have just so felt God calling me towards a vision of helping more women do exactly what I am talking about in this episode: starting a business that fits around your family life versus one that takes you AWAY from your family and costs you time that you want to have with your kids, and stress that makes it hard to be present as a mom. 

So that’s me in a nutshell. 

Now, let’s talk about you — and let me first say CONGRATULATIONS on wanting to start a business (or have already started one). I know it’s scary, and it’s a BIG deal. I know that you’ll look back on this season of your life with fondness and hopefully see beauty and strength in yourself as you made this decision. 

It feels vulnerable, and also can be a weird thing to add into your schedule when you’re already a busy mom, so just GO YOU! I hope this podcast is a resource to help you with the work of it all. 

I could give a million tips for you — but here are four pieces of advice that were on my heart as I thought about what I would tell a stay-at-home mom who wanted to start a business.

1. Know that your career prior to your career pause for motherhood is valid and relevant, even when the world and your industry changes. 

This is a big one. Go easy on yourself diving back in. You’re not irrelevant. But things like AI have popped up, or maybe the software you used back 5 years ago doesn’t exists anymore, or maybe you feel like “I was once good at X, but now I’m not sure if I am anymore”, etc. I know how that feels and my advice for you is to just go easy on yourself.

I know for me, even when I’ve just taken pauses for like 5 months for a maternity leave, things chance drastically! During my first maternity leave, two of my everyday business softwares completely redesigned their interfaces while I was gone. So those types of shifts will make you feel potentially “out of touch” and maybe there is some learning to do, but it’s okay. Do the learning! Don’t tell yourself the lie that prior experience, your prior degree, prior courses taken, whatever it is, is irrelevant. It isn’t. It’s super relevant still. And pieces of what you used to do will come back to you and practice will give you back more confidence. 

In addition to that, the skills you’ve learned while on a career pause are incredibly relevant as well. 

Moms are super humans, I truly believe that, and I admire stay-at-home moms so much because it’s a ton of work. A true daily grind. But you have developed skills in your motherhood that are going to apply to your business endeavors. Things like organization, time management, discernment, and managing a family calendar—that’s all still very relevant to starting a new business. 

Read more: Rebranding the Stay-at-Home Mom: How You Can Take a Career Pause for Motherhood with Neha Ruch of Mother

2. Focus on deciding what the business is, who you want to serve, and then go find clients. That’s your first step. 

I have a friend, who I bet will listen to this episode, who has been a stay-at-home mom for about four years, and who worked in copywriting before stopping to stay home. Now she’s starting a business. She’s absolutely wonderful, and talented, and I’m so proud of her. She’s the inspiration for the episode!

It can be hard to figure out “what the heck is the first step” because the reality is, there are a million first things you can do. So what do you pick is a real question!?

  • Do you go register your business with your city? 
  • Do you make a business card?
  • Do you hire a designer for a logo?
  • Do you come up with your packages?

My advice is that you shouldn’t do business cards or registering your business (before you even start earning money) as the first step. 

The first step is actually deciding what you’re doing to do — maybe it’s website design, maybe it’s copywriting and SEO (like my friend), bookkeeping services, photography, social media management, another type of design like wedding stationery, illustrations on Etsy, making bread and selling it from your home (I have another friend who does this business!). Whatever it is — decide. 

Maybe it has to do with your previous career, maybe it doesnt, but just decide. 

Next, decide your niche. I’ve done a recent episode on this topic, go back and listen to that for more because I don’t want you to niche down too much. Then, go get some clients. 

And in the “going to get clients” — that might involve a website first or it might mean just marketing from social media for a few months. Regardless, a website should be an early step, but it might not be the first step. I have templates that can help with that (take this quiz to see which one is right for you!). 

There are lots of potential early steps that are just distractions. For example, I think print collateral like business cards is a distraction, registering your business is a distraction, and obsessing over which software to use is a distraction. Just go! 

Read more: 4 Things You Need to Prioritize if You Want to Grow a Part-time Business as a Stay-at-home Mom with Amy Hanneke

 

shop easy templates for moms

 

3. Don’t let this new venture affect how you show up as a wife and mom, take it slow! It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. 

I really love this quote: “Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.” - CS Lewis. I also believe that this is how Jesus lived his life and ministry if we look at the Bible. Kids were not in the way, in fact, Jesus said to be more like children. That doesn't mean that we can't hold two things true, you can really care about your motherhood and your family life, and you also want to start this business. 

Adding something to your plate as a mom when you probably have systems that work for you right now in your motherhood can feel taxing. And it’s absolutely OKAY to have hustle as you get going. There’s a lot of “Soft CEO” content out there from people who absolutely did hustle in the beginning.

So as you start a business, maybe you’re working more after bedtime, maybe a day when the kids are at Mother’s Day Out when you normally do house duties, maybe you’re letting some things go and working on your business instead, that is all good and great and normal. 

I believe getting a business off the ground takes hustle, drive, and time. But my advice would be to know what your goal is for this season for how much time you’ll be working. It’s easy to let work overtake your life if you let it. Businesses, especially work-from-home businesses, are tough on boundaries. I also think that you need to be OK with slow growth so that you don’t get stressed out to the max and feel like you can’t manage it all. Your business should fit into your life, make you money, and bring you joy.

Read more: Why Traditional Productivity Hacks Don’t Work For Moms (5 Things to Remember Instead!)

4. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. 

Especially when it comes to who you’re talking about your business with. It’s hard enough getting back into work as it is, but even harder when you’re putting yourself out there as business owner. I hope that your spouse, family, and friends all believe in you! 

I’d also say, practice telling a close friend about this goal and idea, someone who you know will lift you up, and lean into that energy they have for you that “you can do this”. And if you talk to someone about this and they’re like “are you sure??? Sounds like a bad plan” or is especially negative about it, block it out, you don’t have to listen to them.  That doesn’t mean you’re not their friend, but that does mean that they are not who you’re going to for business advice right now. 

woman sitting on the floor reading the Bible with her toddler

Advice for The Stay at Home Mom Starting a Part-Time Business

Lastly, I just want to remind you if you're a stay at home mom starting a part-time business, that your career is a long game. Your motherhood's a long game. Enjoy the ride. Enjoy the changes and shifts and the interesting endeavors that this new season brings of trying something new. 

I hope that when business starts to feel stressful, because it will, that you can also find joy in it and know that you're choosing this. And if at any point you decide, “I don't want to choose this anymore”, that's okay too. That's worth saying. If you start and then decide you don’t want it or it doesn’t make sense in this season, it's okay to say, “I'm going to pause on this and go back to this and I'm going to try it again later”. It's a long game. Your career is a long game. Your motherhood is a long game.

Links Mentioned:

Listen to Episode #271 About Niching Down

Shop Showit Website Templates

Not sure which template is right for you? Take the quiz!

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

Join Podcast Success Blueprint

start a business as a stay at home mom
Advice I’d Give the Stay at Home Mom Who Wants to Start a Part-Time Business

Thanks to our sponsor, Christian Heathcare Ministries! CHM is a health cost-sharing ministry and is a faith-based alternative to traditional health insurance. My family has been using CHM for our healthcare for 4+ years now, and we couldn’t be more pleased. As a business owner we all know healthcare is outrageously expensive with CHM you can save money on your budget and know if a medical situation ever arises CHM will be there to take care of you and share 100% of your eligible bills. Learn more here!

The post 4 Pieces of Advice I’d Give the Stay at Home Mom Starting a Part-Time Business appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/stay-at-home-mom-starting-a-part-time-business/feed/ 0 7931 Don’t Niche Down As a New Business Owner — Do This Instead https://elizabethmccravy.com/dont-niche-down-as-a-new-business-owner/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/dont-niche-down-as-a-new-business-owner/#respond Tue, 11 Jun 2024 06:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=7598 You've probably heard it said "the riches are in the niches" — here's why that's advice you need to ignore (somewhat!) in those early days of business.

The post Don’t Niche Down As a New Business Owner — Do This Instead appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 6 minutes

You will often hear the business advice, “the riches are in the niches”. And while that's sometimes true, what I like to say is there's no money where there are no clients. So if you niche down and specialize too fast, you ultimately risk not actually having a business if you cannot get clients after doing that. So today, I’m going to tell you DON’T niche down as a new business owner (and then I’m going to tell you what to do instead!).

If you want to start a business and you're trying to get all your ducks in a row, or perhaps you already have started and you're in those early months of finding clients, this episode is for you. Today, we are talking all about niching and specializing in the early days of entrepreneurship. 

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 271!

First of all, I want to say congratulations on your plans and desire to start a business. This is so huge and exciting, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll actually look back super fondly on these early days years and years later after your business has grown and changed a ton. 

I’m actually 9 years into this business thing and I often look back on those early days (that felt so hard and confusing at the moment) with just such fondness over how I put myself out there, took chances, was super scrappy, and it’s AMAZING. And you’re doing it now too, so GO YOU. Whether you’re starting this thing straight out of college, after leaving a long time 9 to 5, or as a stay-at-home mom starting something on the side, you’re crushing it. And I hope the advice I have for you here is helpful today!

Read More: 5 Shifts I Made To Go From Freelancer To CEO When I Started My Business

Don’t Niche Down - It’s OK To Start Wide!

What I've learned from my business (and from teaching and consulting with other people in their business) is that you don't actually need to specialize or niche down from month one of your business to day one of your business. 

When you start, I would argue that it’s actually smarter to start with a wide range at first (when it comes to your niche and your specialization). While I agree with the phrase, “the riches are in the niches” long-term, I don’t think it’s necessarily true on day one. One thing that we have to think about during the early days of starting our business is that in order to get clients at first, you really need to cast that wider net. 

I teach them this extensively inside my course Booked Out Designer, so if you've taken that course, some of this might sound a little bit familiar even, but that course has helped hundreds of designers get started in the starting phase to actually get clients.

A short version of this is that there are two ways that you can get more specific with who you're marketing to in your business. One way is through your niche (the type of client/business), and one way is through your specialty (the specific service you provide).

So for example, you could be “a designer that works exclusively with online course creators” OR you could be “a designer that works exclusively with Showit”. Again, I would say don’t niche like this in the beginning!

 

 

3 Reasons Why I Recommend You Don’t Niche in the Beginning

 

1. You probably don’t know who exactly you want to work with yet (or what services you prefer) 

If you’re anything like I was (and like the other women I’ve coached around this stuff), you probably don’t know exactly who you want to work with and what you want to do yet anyway. You know what skills you have and what interests you have, but you need REAL PROJECTS to get more detailed than that. This is the figuring out time - so enjoy it! Often having pressure to niche will cause you to feel like you have to commit to something before you even have all the information you need to make a decision.

 

2. You don’t have a business without clients

Like I said earlier, you don’t have a business without clients. So, you can be as niche as you want, but if you’re new and super niched, there might be no one “knocking on your contact page”. 

As an example, when I started my business, I was offering a TON of different services that fell under the category of “design and marketing”. I’d manage your social media, design your website, design your brand, or even make your brochure, restaurant menu, or billboard. I even did some email copywriting. 

I did a TON, and it was all things I had experience with and interest in. 

Eventually, I got to a point where I had tons of social media clients on retainer and was booking some design work too. But I realized I didn’t love social media as much as I loved the design work. I also wasn’t as good at it and it didn’t go as well with the lifestyle I wanted. With social media management, you’re ON all the time with so many clients. So I slowly pivoted away from that work, and specialized more to brand and website design.

But here’s the point I’m trying to make: IF I didn’t start with all those social media retainer clients, I wouldn't have had enough money to do this thing. Those consistent clients were what paid the bills. 

Those clients gave me testimonials, experience, and helped me work through errors in my workflows for projects and all the things! 

 

3. The time you spend doing other types of work will benefit your business and future clients overall because you’re growing in your skills

Let me use my husband Adam as an example for this one. He’s a therapist, and he’s been practicing for around one year now. He took on ALL types of clients to start, which led to him discovering what types of issues he wanted to specialize in. It also helped him immediately bring in income (going back to my last point!). 

My point here is that all of this variety will certainly help him in the long run. If he specializes in marriage counseling, for example, he has still gained so many skills from working with teenage males. Or a single adult woman. The skills and experience you have are growing you, and this is true of your business too. 

Read more: 6 Crushing Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make Early on in Their Business (AND How You Can Avoid Them!)

Don’t Niche Down Because You Feel Like You “Have To” 

Basically, what I want to say is that you should not feel bad for going wider in your offerings to start. We hear the term like “Jack of all trades and master of none” but that’s not what we are talking about here. You will over time remove services and get more and more specific in what you're offering, but this is a smart way to start your business. 

Don't feel bad or like you're going in the wrong direction. If you take on a project and realize it's less than ideal, it's all learning and growing. The only mistake you can make, I would say, is not casting a wider net to start so that you can learn quickly, get clients quickly, and all of that. 

Another mistake would be not to eventually specialize somewhat. But I truly believe that I would not be where I am today in my business if I had not started off being that girl who was like, “give me your billboard design, give me your restaurant menu, I'll do your website, I'll do your copywriting”. All those things brought me to where I am today and helped me learn what I was best at and what I wanted to focus on more. So I truly would not be here without offering so many services in the beginning.

Elizabeth-McCravy-Maternity-Studio-Shoot-1

Starting a new business

So I hope this short little episode gives you some good ideas and helps you have more clarity around who you're marketing to in your messaging as you start your business. I also wanted to throw out, I have a free guide all about choosing a NAME for your business: Grab that here! 

Plus, if you’re a new business owner, here are a few ways I can help you as you get started:

I’d love to support you however I can! Congratulations!

Links Mentioned:

Grab your free guide to naming your new business

Shop our Showit Website Templates (use code BBPODCAST for 10% off!)

Join me inside Booked Out Designer

Sign up for the Podcast Success Blueprint!

Want the insider scoop? Join my Free Facebook community!

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

The post Don’t Niche Down As a New Business Owner — Do This Instead appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/dont-niche-down-as-a-new-business-owner/feed/ 0 7598 14 Things That Make Growing Your Business MUCH Harder (Your New “To Quit” List) https://elizabethmccravy.com/things-that-make-business-harder/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/things-that-make-business-harder/#respond Tue, 26 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=7491 Whether you're in the early days and months of your business, or you've been at it a while, we all unfortunately do things that make business harder than it has to be. These are things that both new and established business owners all do, and today, we are adding them to your “To Quit” list, […]

The post 14 Things That Make Growing Your Business MUCH Harder (Your New “To Quit” List) appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 11 minutes

Whether you're in the early days and months of your business, or you've been at it a while, we all unfortunately do things that make business harder than it has to be. These are things that both new and established business owners all do, and today, we are adding them to your “To Quit” list, because they're taking up your time, energy, and ultimately making growth slower.

Today, I’m sharing 14 things as a business owner that are making your business harder that you may not even realize you're doing. The week this episode airs, I am celebrating eight years of running my business. These are some of the MANY things that I have had to consciously quit in those eight years (and some honestly that I still struggle with quitting even today!). So anyway, this is going to be a great (and FUN!) episode!

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 260!

1. Getting input from too many voices to the point where eventually you just don’t know what to do 

Listen, I’m all about learning from different people and places and in different ways. But sometimes, too many voices and inputs can be more distracting than helpful, because people have different ways of doing things (and all of those different ways can work!). So if you’re asking too many people, you’re likely hearing a whole bunch of “do it this way” from people who have seen success with their method. And it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and not sure what voice to listen to. 

I’d encourage you to find a few trusted voices/people who have built businesses (and lives!) similar to what you desire and listen to them! Listening to too many people WILL slow down your growth.

 

2. Focusing too much on inbox zero 

Now obviously “inbox zero” on a support inbox is different, so I want to say that before I talk about this mistake. It’s normal to prioritize customers or potential customers requests and make sure they have the help they need. That inbox gets to “zero” often.

But for my personal inbox for my business, I gave up on inbox zero a long time ago. Most emails I get are not urgent or important and the ones that are, I get back to right away. That being said, there can be an obsession with getting to inbox zero, with replying ASAP to everything, and depending on your business type, this isn’t always helpful. It can actually be a distraction from the real work of your business. 

Now, I do a strategic inbox “clear out” about once a week (or even every two weeks) instead of obsessing over this. I rarely get to zero ever. In fact, the last time I did, I remember someone responded within like 5 minutes and I wasn’t at zero again!

Read More: How to Systemize Your Inbox So You Can Spend Less Time Emailing

 

focusing on inbox zero is one of the things that make business harder

3. Overbooking your calendar to where you have too many meetings and can’t get any work done 

This is such a PAINFUL mistake to make! I’ve made this mistake hundreds of times. I feel like at this point in my business I have a really good system going with my calendaring that helps this not happen to me very much anymore, but it can be so painful to make when it does!

But picture this… you have meeting upon meeting upon meeting to the point that you can’t actually work on stuff because you’re just in meetings all day. Maybe you then have stupid 1-hour gaps between all of them because you’re not strategically grouping them so then you just can’t get anything REAL done. Then, you look at your day, and are like, WAIT - what did I get done?! It really stinks. 

 As you grow your business, meetings are a must. Whether it’s discovery calls, client calls, podcast interviews, team meetings, etc, you likely can’t just eliminate meetings but you CAN be more (or less) strategic with how you let people get on your calendar. 

 

3 things that help me avoid overbooking my calendar with meetings

While meetings are inevitable, here are three things that have helped me make sure I still have time to get work done.

 

  1. If I’m only having one meeting that day, it’s always at the beginning of the day or the end of the day.
  2. If I’m having multiple meetings in a day, I group them to still get that free time (for example, if I have a meeting from 9 to 10 am, I will book another from 10:30 to 11:30 am, and then I’m free after).
  3. I try to make meetings shorter. I would challenge yourself to say, does the meeting need to be an hour? Could it be 45 mins? Or 30 mins? I know meetings often go long, so sometimes I will set a meeting as 45 minutes, knowing it will probably go a little bit over, but if we had said it was going to be an hour, it would end up being an hour and 15 minutes.

 

4. Just buying every business thing out there without any strategy. 

You know this mistake, right? Someone tells you that you need that tool or this course and that software, and you buy it ALL. Because that must be the solution, right?

Listen, I’m all about moving quickly on decisions like these versus obsessing over which CRM to go with (or which Podcast Host to use), but at the same time, you can move too fast and end up with tons of expensive subscriptions you don’t need or courses you never take or memberships you never log into. The platform/course can’t work for you unless you use it (and actually need it). 

A better solution is being strategic with what you buy, and be willing to spend, but on the right things. 

Read More: Celebrating my Business Anniversary: The Biggest Lessons & Highlights from My 7 Years in Business

5. Being unwilling to spend some money to make some money

 This one is similar to the point above, but let me explain. I both hate and love the phrase “You have to spend money to make money”. I hate it because people overuse this concept and talk about how much THEY SPEND on their growth in order to sell you stuff. 

But, I also love the statement because it is somewhat true. It’s a mistake to be too frugal in your business. Whether that’s not being willing to pay a team member that could help you, not being able to buy the software that will make your customer experience better and save you hours a week, or refusing to buy the course that you believe will help you finally launch the thing, because you're scared to make the investment is a mistake. Just make sure that you are investing smart. 

 

 

6. Not asking people where they found you so you can use that data to do more of what’s working 

By this I mean, ask customers and clients, “Where did you find me?” or “Where did you first hear about [business name]? 

When you feel stressed and overwhelmed in your business, especially with marketing, knowing the answer to this question can save you loads of stress because you can stop doing the things that aren’t driving your sales. 

Now with that being said, you have to give things time. Don’t start a podcast and then deem it not good if no sales come from it in month one. Give things time. But when you consistently ask this question, it can help you evaluate what’s helping people find you and what isn’t. 

Read More: 7 Ways To Use Your Money To Get More Time Back In Your Life (Trading Your MONEY For Your TIME!)

7. Trying to do everything and do it all alone. 

This goes back to one of the first things to not do, but having too many voices can lead you to do too many things. And then worse, deciding that YOU have to be the one that does it all. Without help!

I’m a big fan of first eliminating what doesn’t matter to your business so you can do less. But second, I would encourage you to look at hiring contractors in your business to help you be in your “queen bee” or zone of genius role. 

Read More: 3 Subtle Shifts That Make a BIG Difference When Growing Your Team

8. Scrolling on social and calling it work 

So as business owners, I would say we have a tough with social media time wasting because an hour spent on Instagram could be an hour of wasted time or it could be an hour of growing our businesses. It's really hard to tell. You look the same. You're just on your phone and it's like, Is it helpful? Is it not? You don't always know. 

That being said, getting really conscious about how you're using social media is huge, especially when you're calling it work. What you do at the end of the day to wind down is different if that involves scrolling on social media but if you're spending hours a day on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, and you're clocking that as work, you're not actually working, and that's a huge miss and a time suck that is not going to help you grow your business. 

I would challenge you when it's during what you're deeming your work time to not be scrolling on social media, but instead to be showing up as a content creator, not a consumer.

9. Not having a website 

Something that makes growing your business harder is not having a website or an online presence beyond things like your social media account. Maybe right now you're selling on Etsy or Creative Market or something like that, and you don't have an actual website that's just for your business.

If you didn't know I'm a website designer, I create and sell Showit website templates. So it goes without saying that I’m very pro websites. I actually don't think that you have to have a website from day one of your business (I know a lot of people will tell you that). I think in a lot of ways if you're in the early days of your business, it can be smarter to start the business and focus on getting clients before you have your site live. With that in mind, it should be a business goal for you to get a website up sooner than later. 

We live in a time right now where I feel like everything is just social media, and I just want to say: your website still matters. I have two recent stats for you that are from just last year that I want to share. 

First,  business owners who use their website to connect with customers see an average of 15 to 50% growth in revenue. Second, 84% of consumers believe a business's website is more credible than the business's social media page. 

Additionally, when we talk about not having a website, a website is what people go to when they are making buying decisions. So someone who is going to do the purchasing and looking at your packages is doing so from a website, not from your TikTok or Instagram account.

Read more: How to Customize Your Showit Website Template Really Fast

 

Elizabeth McCravy shares how she is growing her website traffic this year

 

10. Thinking of your business goals only as the BIG picture instead of breaking them down into quarterly goals 

As business owners, we set goals in January or maybe at the beginning of a quarter and are often just hoping to accomplish those goals by December of that year. But then when you don't break it down, it's really hard to get any of it done. Especially if you have six or more business goals that are BIG projects. They all just live on a list together of things you're “supposed to do” in your business, but you're not going to get them done. 

Instead, you want to break it down. For example, let’s say you're wanting to create your first course and that's a goal for the year, but that's a Q3 goal. Or, maybe you want to start running Facebook ads and that should be a Q1 goal. Maybe starting a podcast is also a Q1 goal. What you want to do is map it out and assign all the goals to quarters and then go deeper. 

Personally, I do a week-by-week of things I need to do to get there. So if it's a big project, especially something like a course, I'm not just saying “I have to make a course this year”. I'm saying, okay, this is the date I'm going to start working on it and during this week I need to have module one done, etc. Doing this in your project manager can be a really great way to stay organized, but basically, all you need to do is find some way to take the goals from “big picture wishes” to actual tactical to-do list items to really make the goals work for you and see results in your business.

11. Deciding you have to have everything completely figured out before you take action on anything 

This is a mistake I see so many business owners make, especially in the early days. And it can be easy to fall into this pattern of where you feel like you have to have all your ducks in a row. 

For example, “I have to have my website live, my social media live, everything filed with the government, etc. before I try to get a client”. That's one example of what this looks like. And really, it's a mistake. It's procrastination disguised as perfectionism. 

As a business owner, I mean one thing I've learned in eight years of business over and over again, is how important it is to move fast. I think Mark Zuckerberg is the one that said this, but “move fast and break things”. Moving fast is important and it's okay if things don't work out perfectly.

12. Surrounding yourself with people who don’t get what you do and think you should give up. 

Sometimes this is unavoidable, which makes me sad! Maybe you have an unsupportive spouse, or parents, asking you to go back to your 9 to 5. Or maybe you have friends who are judging you for starting a “little business”.

There will always be some people who don’t get it, who don’t believe in you, and judge you. That’s life. But your core people whom you’re talking to about your ideas and what you’re working on should be people who are all in with you. 

One of my favorite Sara Blakely quotes is this, "I made a conscious decision not to tell anyone in my life [about Spanx]. Now I tell people--don't tell anyone your idea until you have invested enough of yourself in it that you are not going to turn back. When a person has an idea at that conception moment, it is the most vulnerable--one negative comment could knock you off course."

13. Working all the time in every spare moment 

I know some seasons call for more hustle and are busy, and I’m not going to say “Don’t go all in on a project that makes life feel a little crazier”! I was just in course creation mode for Podcast Success Blueprint and was working more than usual for that reason, but you don’t want it to be forever. You want to make sure that during these short seasons, and that you’re not neglecting your mental health, physical health, faith, or relationships. 

If you live like this all the time, you’ll ultimately lose productivity and probably lose the freedom that was the reason you started in the first place. Too many people start businesses and then become just slaves to their business, and they're not enjoying their life. They might as well just be working a nine-to-five because they would probably have more free time back.

So ask, is that deadline the deadline it has to be? Do I need to work on this tonight or would it be better if I chilled out and enjoyed the FREEDOM my business gives me instead? 

 

Elizabeth McCravy works with family and gets to know her team

 

14. Focus tons of energy on getting unfollowed and looking at who unsubscribes to your email list.

So I want to be clear, I'm not saying don't pay attention ever to getting unfollowed and don't pay attention at all to unsubscribes. So for example, if you send an email out and you get tons of unsubscribes, much higher than normal, that should be something you check out. Or maybe you do a reel and all of a sudden you have a huge follower drop. I'm not saying to ignore those things, but if every time you send an email, you're immediately looking at who unsubscribed and you're feeling hurt by it, you’re wasting your time. 

Your Business “To Quit” List

There are so many things we do unintentionally or intentionally (but with good intentions) that are making growing our businesses harder, right? So looking at the list below, think about what you would like to QUIT next!

  1. Getting input from too many voices 
  2. Focusing too much on inbox zero
  3. Overbooking your calendar 
  4. Buying everything there is out there without a strategy
  5. Being unwilling to spend money to make some money
  6. Not asking customers where they found you 
  7. Trying to do everything and doing it all alone
  8. Scrolling social media during work hours and calling at work
  9. Not having a website
  10. Having big-picture business goals without breaking them down
  11. Deciding you have to have everything completely figured out before you take action
  12. Surrounding yourself with people who don't get what you do and think you should give up
  13. Working all the time in every spare moment
  14. Focusing too much energy on your unfollows and unsubscribes

I hope some of those will be encouraging to you as ways to take action, and things to stop doing. These are all things that I've learned over eight years in business (as I celebrate my eight-year business anniversary this week)! Thank you for reading until the end!

Links Mentioned:

Shop our Showit Website Templates (use code BBPODCAST for 10% off!)

Join me inside Booked Out Designer

Sign up for the Podcast Success Blueprint!

Want the insider scoop? Join my Free Facebook community!

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Looking for amazing stock photography and videography? Check Out Haute Stock!

Thanks to our podcast sponsor, Haute Stock! Haute Stock is my favorite stock photo and video company. I've been a subscriber over 4 years now, and it's made my business' marketing both easier and more effective. I use Haute Stock images and videos for things like course and webinar slides, podcast promotional graphics and videos, on my website, for Reels and Reel covers, and so much more. You can get 15% off your Haute Stock subscription with the coupon code code: ELIZABETH at checkout or by clicking here!

The post 14 Things That Make Growing Your Business MUCH Harder (Your New “To Quit” List) appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/things-that-make-business-harder/feed/ 0 7491 The Ultimate Web Design Course for Business Owners https://elizabethmccravy.com/web-design-course/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/web-design-course/#respond Mon, 18 Sep 2023 13:40:12 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=7074 Are you a website designer looking for the best web design course to help you grow and run your business? Booked Out Designer is here to offer an ultimate web design course tailored specifically for entrepreneurs just like yourself looking to create a profitable BUSINESS from their design skills. In this article, I’ll break down […]

The post The Ultimate Web Design Course for Business Owners appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 11 minutes

Are you a website designer looking for the best web design course to help you grow and run your business? Booked Out Designer is here to offer an ultimate web design course tailored specifically for entrepreneurs just like yourself looking to create a profitable BUSINESS from their design skills. In this article, I’ll break down the components of my comprehensive web design course so you can decide if it’s right for your business! I strongly believe in offering enough information for you to make an educated and empowered decision so if you are thinking about starting (or growing) a web design business, get comfortable and let’s dive in!

an honest review of Booked Out Designer - a web design course

Choosing the Right Web Design Course for You

I have to be honest - I take a different approach from most of the other web design course creators I see in the space in that my course does NOT focus on the actual design work. And while that might seem like a strange choice, it’s because after 7 years as a designer I know that being a great designer is NOT ENOUGH to build a successful design business. In Booked Out Designer, I focus on what you need to actually build a business that pays you while you learn and enhance your design skills every step of the way. Whether you are already an experienced designer looking to streamline and scale your business or you are brand new to business and ready to jump in, Booked Out Designer is right for you if you want to focus on making a real business out of design! We talk about design skills on things like our coaching calls and in our Facebook community, but the bulk of this course is about business.

I’m going to dive in deeper on what Booked Out Designer includes (and what I think every web design course should include!) below, but here’s a snapshot:

  1. 90+ Transformational trainings divided into 9 modules covering everything marketing, pricing, legal and business foundations and so much more.
  2. Live monthly coaching calls (if you are looking for a web design course to help you launch your business, do NOT choose one without ongoing support!)
  3. Swipe files and templates (including an attorney-drafted contract) to help you get going faster and actually implement what you learn!

This course is so much more than a surface level “how-to” guide. It offers training and support that go far beyond what you can learn from Googling design things like “how to change fonts in Showit”. It provides resources on pricing, legal and business foundations, and marketing strategies—all important aspects of successfully running a website design business. Booked Out Designer gives you the skills and knowledge to set yourself up as an authority in the industry, taking your web design game to the next level. So if that’s what you’re looking for in a web design course, we would love to welcome you inside here.

Here's what past students have to say about this web design course!

Choosing a design business mentor + web design course

First of all, I'm a firm believer that opting for a larger, comprehensive course rather than multiple smaller course options can often yield greater benefits. The advantage of choosing a larger course partly lies in its ability to provide a holistic and comprehensive understanding of the subject matter (like in Booked Out Designer, I cover in detail everything I think you need to know, and I don’t skim the surface for the sake of brevity). 

Smaller courses, on the other hand, tend to repeat and cover similar information in different modules. This is a generalization of course, and there are exceptions, but after 7 years in the online space it’s something I see come up over and over again. Duplicate information aside though, when trying to learn from different business owners and mentors it can often leave you feeling more stuck as well because you’ll find yourself in a sea of conflicting information. After all, there is often more than one way to do something and you can spend far too much time debating which approach to take than if you had gone “all in” on one strategic roadmap to get you from point A to point B.

Booked Out Designer might not be “cheap”, but it will show you how to get the results you’re after. This isn’t some $297 course that only shares just enough, but still keeps the big wins a secret. 

Investing in a larger course allows you to gain a deeper and more nuanced understanding, which is why that’s the route I chose to take for my own web design course!

Here are some tips for choosing a business mentor or business course for designers:

  1. Make sure the mentor has already achieved success in your industry: Research and look into the mentor’s past successes in web design to ensure they have a proven track record of success. 
  2. Ensure that the mentor can provide the guidance you need: Before deciding to work with a particular mentor, make sure there is enough support/time available for them to commit to helping you reach your goals. In Booked Out Designer, I offer live monthly coaching calls so that we can grow TOGETHER instead of leaving you on your own after you buy the web design course!
  3. Find out what kind of resources the mentor includes: Does the course you are considering offer any additional resources like templates, tools or software that can help you reach your goals? That was one thing that was really important to me when creating Booked Out Designer!
  4. Consider their teaching style: Make sure their teaching style aligns with what works best for you when it comes to learning new concepts or topics in growing a web design business. Want an example of my style? You can sample 2 lessons Booked Out Designer FREE here. (No credit card required!) And, if you’ve ever listened to my podcast, Breakthrough Brand, you’ll find my teaching style in the course is very similar.
  5. Make sure they understand what it actually takes to run a successful design business in 2023, 2024 and beyond. Especially for things like marketing (which you DO need to master in order to grow your business), you want to make sure the course or program is going to share what’s working now in the online world. It changes quickly.

Who is Elizabeth McCravy?

I guess this is a good time to introduce myself if we haven’t met yet? Hi - I’m Elizabeth McCravy!  I’m a website designer, Showit template shop owner, podcast host and a business coach for designers.

lifestyle blogger shares website traffic tips

Here’s what you should know about ME if you are thinking about signing up for Booked Out Designer: 

  • I’m a wife, mom, and Christian business owner whose been in business over 8 years. 
  • Over the years, I've been able to help over 2,000 entrepreneurs show off their skills through my collection of customizable website templates and my custom branding and web design work. 
  • I'm also proud to be a Showit Top Designer, Showit Design Partner and go-to resource for the online business community.
  • On my podcast - The Breakthrough Brand Podcast - I share all my business strategy tips and tricks so aspiring entrepreneurs can learn how to create successful businesses they love. Definitely tune in to get an idea if I might be the right mentor for you!

What’s included in Booked Out Designer that makes it the best web design course?

When I created Booked Out Designer, I wanted it to be a comprehensive course that covers all aspects of creating a successful design business. But at the same time, I wanted to make sure my students could jump around different sections and use it like a toolkit - taking what they need right away and coming back to it over and over again as their business evolves. That's why my course is broken down into modules that are easy to understand and digest - so you can quickly find the information you need when you need it.

Let’s recap the modules that house literally everything I believe you need from a web design course if you want to turn your design skills into a business:

Module 1: Marketing Your Design Business

Marketing is often overlooked when starting a business, but it plays a crucial role. In this module, I'll show you how to develop a solid marketing strategy. Learn how to build an audience, drive traffic to your offers, and stand out in a crowded marketplace. Don't underestimate the power of marketing - it’s a HUGE focus not only in this module but throughout the entire course! 

Module 2: Your Niche, Ideal Client, and Website

In this module, you'll gain insights into the real deal behind "niching down" and "ideal client avatars" and learn how to create and implement a customized plan that actually works for you (complete with what you need to include on your own website!). 

This module is not just about buzzwords. This module isn’t about how to guess your Ideal Client’s favorite coffee order! It goes beyond that, delving into my unique approach to niching down and highlighting the common mistakes I've observed both new AND experienced designers make. Don't underestimate its power – even experienced designers have gained tremendous value from these training sessions! We also cover some website must-haves for yourself whether you’re a brand designer, web designer, stationery designer, or illustrator. (We have them all in this course community!)

Module 3: Networking to Book Clients

This is one of my favorite modules that not enough people talk about. It's like a secret key to building a successful business! From sliding into Instagram DMs (in a non-creepy way!) to crafting podcast pitches and attending live events, this module will transform you into a networking ninja and help you make lots of fellow entrepreneur friends. Yes - I cover how to write pitches and get high-quality referrals too! After taking this module, students report getting booked on dream podcasts, gaining speaking experience at live events and summits, and so much more. 

Module 4: Marketing on Social Media

As I mentioned from the beginning, marketing is a key priority throughout the course because without customers, you don’t really have a business. If you find content creation, marketing, and social media confidence challenging, this module is truly invaluable (I assure you – my students can vouch for it saying these modules are worth the cost of the course alone!). Inside this module, I dive into everything you need to know about Instagram and Pinterest marketing (although the principles can be adapted to other platforms as well!).

booked-out-designer-course

Module 5: Legal and Financial Business Foundations

If you're considering a web design course that doesn't cover the legal, ethical, and financial aspects of your business, run! In this module, we'll make learning about contracts, LLCs, SPs, bookkeeping, accounting, and financial tracking/planning fun. 

This module is so much more than a “how to” guide. Inside, I include:

  • An attorney-drafted contract template you can swipe and customize for your business ($350 value)
  • How (and when) to hire a bookkeeper and accountant 
  • My recommended credit cards, banks, health insurance companies, and more
  • How to streamline and track your finances so you actually know how much you’re making 
  • Design Integrity principles — how to avoid copying others and what to do if you’ve been copied or accused of copying
  • A class with my personal bookkeeper on DIYing your own bookkeeping for your design business 

Module 6: Pricing for Profit

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know how important it is to me that your business does more than just hit vanity revenue numbers. When I say I want to help you grow a 6 figure business, I want as much of that as possible to be PROFIT.

In this module, I share the secret behind creating premium design packages and how to set the right prices for your services. Unlike other web design courses that barely scratch the surface on pricing, this module dives deep into my exact pricing system. I also address things like the money mindset blocks that have been keeping you stuck and spoiler alert - they aren’t always what you expect!

And by the way - in case you already know one of your weaknesses is mindset, Booked Out Designer INCLUDES an extra 5 day mini course to help you embrace an abundant mindset. It’s truly the first step to growing a thriving business! As you get going in Booked Out Designer, this mini course is a great add on to get you in the mindset to really take the course seriously and see results!

Module 7: Making the Sale (Discovery Calls & Project Proposals) 

This is another place I find your average web design course falls short! What happens when someone actually reaches out to inquire? Module 7 goes beyond just hypotheticals and instead shows you exactly how to respond to initial client inquiries with confidence (and a plan!), gives you three unique discovery call methods for booking clients, and shares how to prepare for and execute amazing discovery calls. I go through my EXACT client booking process from start to finish and give you an exact play-by-play for executing a discovery call. Don’t worry - I also share major discovery call mistakes to avoid (and prepare you for awkward things that might happen!) 

Module 8: Creating a Wow-Worthy Client Process

Inside Booked Out Designer, I am the first to admit I dedicate considerable attention to marketing, but this isn’t just a marketing course. I am firmly not one of those "gurus" solely focused on making sales at any cost. Let's talk about the course's QUEEN module where I share my comprehensive and proven client process, guiding you from the initial booking phase to the final project launch and blogging about your projectt. Regardless of your design business type, the knowledge and techniques taught in this module can be applied for your benefit. And here's the best part – I hold nothing back. You have access to every detail, and rest assured, it works like a charm! I even give you my ClickUp Project template! This is most people’s favorite module for a reason.

Module 9: Put it into Action: Real Client Calls with Elizabeth + Clients

In Module 9, you'll see that I practice what I preach around here! This course goes beyond just telling you how to run a client meeting – it shows you firsthand. Explore four diverse client meetings with real clients, all filmed prior to the creation of this course. Get ready for an authentic learning experience that highlights the expertise of a true professional in the field and see what you’ve learned put into real life situations with real life web design clients!

The Best Web Design Course: What Else Do You Need to Become a Successful Designer?

If right now you are thinking “wow - Booked Out Designer has everything!”, I want to share three more things that I think make it the best web design course ever! As I said from the start, I want this to be more than something you binge in a month and forget about. I want you to actively use this “course” as a toolkit and implement everything you learn to help you run a thriving design business. 

#1 Swipe Files and Templates

Have you ever taken a course that was all theory and no action? Not Booked Out Designer! Booked Out Designer takes your learning experience to the next level by not only providing essential knowledge but also offering all the necessary resources for immediate implementation. For instance, you'll have access to valuable tools like my Profit Sheet to optimize and plan for your business earnings, pre-built ClickUp project templates for seamless project management, and an attorney drafted contract that ensures legal protection. With these comprehensive and tangible resources, I want to make sure you'll be well-equipped to excel in your new design career. Also, those 3 templates alone are worth $687 if they were sold separately. 

ClickUp Template for brand and website designers
Know your numbers for your business with Profit Sheet by EM Shop!

#2 The COMMUNITY of fellow web designers

I believe that community is incredibly important! By enrolling in Booked Out Designer, you will gain access to our exclusive students-only Facebook group. Inside, you will find a diverse range of designers from various niches and stages in their businesses (not everyone is a web designer!). 

And let me just say - this Facebook group is well used! This is not your average free Facebook group where you may hesitate to ask challenging questions due to potential clients seeing. Our community is solely for designers, and we prioritize creating a supportive and welcoming environment.

On top of that, as your teacher, I am actively involved in the group. Many courses offer Facebook groups, but more often than not, the course creator is not actively engaged. In our group, I frequently share valuable tips, advice, and my own ongoing learning. This isn’t an "Elizabeth's Advice Group" either - our members have a wealth of amazing advice to offer as well (and they are eager to share it!).

booked-out-designer-course_mock_ups-group_coachingp-elizabeth

#3 You Get Live Group Coaching Calls 

 

From the very beginning, my vision for Booked Out Designer has been to create something that evolves alongside you and feels more like an ongoing membership than a quick course. That's why I bring you the opportunity to join group coaching calls where you'll receive personalized business and design advice directly from me. I truly believe that personalized coaching is the key to reaching your business goals faster and with greater clarity.

 

By becoming a member of Booked Out Designer, you'll gain ongoing access to these monthly calls, guaranteeing that you never miss out on the valuable insights they offer. During these face-to-face Zoom sessions, you'll have the chance to ask me anything and learn from the questions posed by other students. I can assure you, these calls will quickly become the highlight of your month. And, yes… you get ONGOING access. We still have people on our coaching calls that purchased 2+ years ago and come back each month to learn and grow.

Booked-out-designer-email-message-testimonial

What can you expect if you join Booked Out Designer? 

Are you just getting started and looking for a web design course that will teach you everything you need to know about running a profitable and in demand design business? Or maybe you are tired of feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, and under-earning as a designer? In conclusion, if you join me inside Booked Out Designer, you will:

  • Learn how to run client projects smoothly and effortlessly, thanks to our tried-and-true system that both you and your clients will love
  • gain the skills and confidence to attract high-paying clients, bringing you one step closer to reaching that dreamy 6-figure goal (or whatever number you are after!)
  • say goodbye to the 9 to 5 grind as you transform your design passion from a mere hobby to a legitimate business that gives you the financial freedom you’ve been looking for
  • become a recognized leader in your design industry and niche
  • learn professional marketing strategies that work now, allowing you to expand your reach beyond Instagram and connect with your ideal clients.

What do you think? Are you ready to take your design career to the next level? Sign up for Booked Out Designer today and unlock your full potential as a confident, successful, and booked out designer. I’ve included payment plans to help make this web design course accessible because I would love to cheer you on every step of the way! Get instant access now!

The post The Ultimate Web Design Course for Business Owners appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/web-design-course/feed/ 0 7074 Celebrating my Business Anniversary: The Biggest Lessons & Highlights from My 7 Years in Business https://elizabethmccravy.com/business-anniversary/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/business-anniversary/#respond Tue, 28 Mar 2023 06:00:54 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=6388 Tomorrow, I will be celebrating 7 years in business! While I was freelancing for a while before I officially started my business, I always count March 29th, 2016 as the day it all began. That was the day I launched my website and announced “I’m a business owner” to my friends and family on social […]

The post Celebrating my Business Anniversary: The Biggest Lessons & Highlights from My 7 Years in Business appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 12 minutes

Tomorrow, I will be celebrating 7 years in business! While I was freelancing for a while before I officially started my business, I always count March 29th, 2016 as the day it all began. That was the day I launched my website and announced “I’m a business owner” to my friends and family on social media. Today, I want to share with you some of my business anniversary lessons and some of the biggest highlights in my business over the last SEVEN years.

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 207!

When I think back to the day (and that moment!), I started it all, I can still feel the NERVES! Because it’s a big deal to start a business. It’s vulnerable, it’s exciting, it’s risky, it’s fulfilling. 

In my official announcement post from all those years ago, I wrote:

 

business anniversary post

 

Today, I want to celebrate seven years in business by sharing two things with you: 

  1. I’m sharing 4 of the biggest lessons (with an emphasis on the most recent lessons, because I’ve talked about earlier lessons on my other business anniversary episodes here and here).
  2. Share a few highlights from the last 7 years! There are a few things that stick out as the “best moments in business” and while I’ve shared some of these on the podcast, some I’ve never shared publicly before!

 

Business Anniversary Lesson #1: Success makes it harder to focus. 

Another way to put it? 

 

“Success generates opportunities — and distractions”

James Clear, Author of Atomic Habits

 

This has been one of the biggest lessons, specifically over the last two years, in my business and my life. I was listening to Tim Ferriss’ podcast (episode #648) with James Clear and they both talked about this. As soon as I heard it, I was immediately like “YES - I have dealt with this firsthand in my business and wish I had heard the advice a lot sooner.” 

And to be fair - I may have heard the advice before but I was hearing it in a different way now after seven years in business.

While I definitely recommend tuning into their episode, my biggest takeaway was that the more success you have, the harder it becomes to focus because, in the beginning, stages of your career (or mid-stages), you’re choosing between unattractive options and maybe 1-2 attractive options. I have definitely been there before.

But once you start to see more and more success, you begin to get more and more attractive options which makes it much harder to choose. 

Another quote from James Clear in the episode was “You get good at something so that brings new opportunities your way. You turn around 6 months later and don’t have time to do the thing that made you successful.” In my experience, this has definitely been true!

 

Why was this such an important business anniversary lesson to me?

I want to preface this by saying, I truly mean this in a “non-braggy” way. But in reality, my business has grown so much over the last seven years that I’ve had so many opportunities and things I could say yes to. When I was newer, there was less to say yes to, which made it a lot simpler.

 

For example, I could probably say YES to any of these and have it go well:

  • Speaking and podcast guesting opportunities 
  • Summits to participate in
  • DMs asking me to “make this course” or “make this template”
  • Growing my team (which honestly feels like a puzzle sometimes!)
  • And even joint venture opportunities 

 

The list goes on and on.  I feel like the opportunities and distractions are many at this point and my job as the owner of my business is to have a really clear vision and clear goals so I can easily navigate between what’s a real opportunity for me and what’s just a distraction. But it is hard sometimes! 

To be honest with you, I have not always done a great job at this. This is a REAL lesson for me. I have let distractions, distract me. I’ve done too many things at once. I’ve had too many balls in the air at once.

In year 7 of my business, one of my focuses is doing LESS, but with more focus. I will probably make another podcast episode on this down the road, but basically, I’m really critiquing opportunities before saying yes and asking myself “If I say yes, what will this look like down the line”.

 

sharing business anniversary lessons and bad business decisions

 

Business Anniversary Lesson #2: Build your business around your life. 

We’ve all heard this before but stay with me: You’ve got to love the life you’re building more than the business you’re building. 

First things first: the world is not going to help you here. And I truly believe this concept of a “life-first business” is countercultural to work culture for both men and women (especially in America). This doesn’t happen by accident. Most of us spend more time working than anything else… so naturally, work takes priority. Because of that, you have to deliberately focus on the other stuff. 

Read More: Morning Journal Prompts To Start Your Day With Intention

 

I also feel like this is even harder for us as business owners because we don’t have that 9-5 business structure and it may even feel counter to everything you want to do as a driven entrepreneur. We have the opportunity to work as much as we want and do as much as we want. 

Personally, though, this lesson has been huge for me since becoming a mom but was honestly even something rooted in how I’ve set up my business prior to parenthood. I’ve always been careful to try and remember that I am not my business (which to be honest - is even harder when your business is/has a personal brand element).

 

What I want you to know is this: You are not your business. You are not your job or career. It’s something you do, not WHO you are. So don’t let it be your whole identity. 

 

Because we are talking about my business anniversary lessons, I’m saying this about work but to be honest I feel the same about motherhood. I don’t want being a mom to be my whole identity, just like I don’t want being a business owner to be my whole identity. 

So with that in mind… something I’ve learned is that the business I’m building (including the schedule it requires, the mental load it takes, etc…), needs to COMPLEMENT other areas of my life. 

And with that said, I do want to be clear:  I do believe some seasons call for hustle in any one area. For example, the postpartum newborn phase of motherhood is A HUSTLE!! You’re likely not sleeping, and all your energy is going towards that baby and recovering and adjusting. That’s good and ok. We never see a new mom giving it all she’s got and think “she’s hustling too much and is too focused on that baby.”

Business is allowed to have seasons like that too. Maybe it happens when you first start your business or launch a new offer, you can recognize that “this requires MORE OF ME right now” and that’s good and ok too. I will just be here to remind you that at the end of it all, you’re building a life, not just a business. 

 

Read More: Week In The Life Running A Multi-6-Figure/Year Business As A Work-From-Home Mom (Behind The Scenes For 7 Days With Elizabeth)

 

business anniversary lessons for mom

 

Business Anniversary Lesson #3: Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. 

This was one of my biggest lessons as I reflected on 2022. Just because someone wants something, doesn’t mean you have to sell it. This lesson is very closely related to business anniversary lesson #1, but this one specifically relates to offers. 

It also feels vulnerable to share.

I love creating things you guys want me to create for you. At times in my business I’ve operated from a place of “They want it. It’s a good idea. I’ll make it and enjoy it. And it’ll sell.” Simple. End of discussion. But there is a lesson here…

 

Just because you’re being asked to do something and you would enjoy doing it and you would make money from it, doesn’t mean it’s a good decision. 

 

Read that again. 

There are more factors involved than people want it, you can make money from it, and you’ll enjoy it. This has been a challenge for me but I’m learning to be okay saying “that’s a great idea, but it doesn’t fit into my business plan at this time.” I would love to encourage you to get better at saying that too!

 

An Example of this Business Anniversary Lesson in Action

I’ve been asked for years to make a mastermind. And I’ve come close to it about 100 times. Seriously. I have notes on my phone and even have a mastermind application form ready in ClickUp. 

On top of that, I have the desire. I think I’d love it. I have a vision for what the mastermind would look like. I want to pour into people in that way. 

But right now, I’ve had to say to myself and to people who ask “I love that idea and I’d love to do that at some point, but the timing isn’t right for me at this time.”

 

You don’t have to say yes to everything either.

 

Just because it’s a good opportunity, doesn’t mean it is the right opportunity.

Another caveat here? You don’t have to do everything yourself. Not everything in your business needs YOUR hands all over it. 

I’ve learned a lot in the past few years about what it means to delegate well. It’s been challenging at times to make sure I’m keeping the things that light me up (or that need my touch) and also being ok with delegating some of the things that I thought I’d always do myself. 

 

Business Anniversary Lesson #4: God provides and he never wastes anything. 

Business isn’t easy. You’re going to get hurt, you’re going to have failures, you’re going to have bad months, you’re going to have upset clients or customers, and you’re going to have HARD-EARNED lessons that hurt when you learn them.

With that said God will provide for you. He won’t waste whatever it is you are going through. 

Over the past seven years, I’ve had so many moments in my business where God has provided when I can’t.

 

A few examples are:

  • A random hard financial month, he provides help.
  • A moment when I’m really nervous about something I’m about to do, he provides comfort.
  • When I’m really emotionally hurt by someone, he provides perspective.
  • In moments when I feel like “I cannot do my business right now because of what’s happening in my personal life.” I felt like that after my dad passed away and after I became a mom for a little bit. God provided in ALL.

 

No moment was wasted. God uses the lessons and experiences of what you go through to help you grow as a person, build you into a better business person, and bring you closer to him, or whatever it is. I’ve learned as a business owner to rely on him more than I likely would have if I had a more structured type of job. And I think that’s really special. 

 

Following God in Entrepreneurship

 

Business Anniversary Highlights

As I sat back and reflected on some of my “best in business” moments, I realized that some of the things that are meaningful and enjoyable in your memory don’t always feel that way at the moment. That’s definitely true of some of these highlights. 

I think the reason for that is that HARD THINGS are often the most fulfilling things. And I believe we like to do hard things as people. But it often means when you’re doing it, you’re like “this is scary, this is hard, this took so much time to get here.” But it’s so fulfilling.

 

8 Highlights over the last 7 Years 

In no particular order…

 

1. Getting to speak at my college 

A few years ago, I was asked to speak at my college by my old graphic design teacher. I absolutely adore her and was beyond honored. She sent me a message inviting me to come back and speak over homecoming weekend to the Arts + Communications department and I shared my business story. 

This was such a highlight for me because when I started my business one of my “goals” or things I wanted to do was go back and speak at my college. Something about that felt really exciting and fulfilling to me. My parents and Adam came and watched (and my parents had never seen me do anything like that before!). It was exciting and deeply meaningful to me.

 

2. Winning A Showit Award and Showit designer trip

At Showit United in 2019 (which has now been replaced by their Spark Conference), I won their “Showiteer of the Year” award. Which was AMAZING.

On top of that, at the same conference, I approached Todd Watson (the CEO of Showit) to introduce myself and before I could he said, “I know who you are - you’re Elizabeth McCravy”. Y’all I feel kind of cheesy sharing that with you but honestly it was such a highlight for me. The fact that he knew who I was felt so meaningful and so flattering. 

Since then, I’ve been able to join them in Cabo on the Showit designer trip in 2020, which was definitely another highlight. It was so nice to connect with the Showit team and so many other wonderful Showit designers. 

 

Showit design partner

 

3. My Sara Blakey Mug  

I’ve shared this story so many times so I won’t share the long version here but the short version is: I have an Etsy shop where I sell mugs with sayings on them. I started it as a true passion project and it’s grown a lot (I’ve had over 600 sales now!). I have one mug in particular that says, “Be the CEO Your Parents Always Wanted You to Marry”. One customer ordered it and said, “this is for the best boss ever”. I sent it off with a little note that said “Enjoy the Mug”. 

A couple of weeks later, I opened up my Instagram to so many tags and notifications. Then, I saw that Sara Blakely had tagged me, holding the mug for her "Mug Shot Mondays" IG post. It was truly one of those pinch me moments and she’s reshared it several times since then. 

Read More: 3 Lessons I Learned From My Etsy Shop Side Hustle

4. Taking a long maternity leave

This is truly something I feel so grateful for. Having a business that gave me time and space when Colin was first born was absolutely amazing, and I know it’s not the reality for most people so I feel so incredibly grateful for that. 

 

5. Selling out Booked Out Designer in 1 hour 

I know I said these were in no particular order but truly this might be the biggest one. This felt like a “pinch me” moment as well. Listen to podcast episodes #110 + #114 if you want to hear more details about that launch. 

The morning it launched, I sent out an email to the waitlist and it sold out in about 40 minutes to 40 incredible people. Between watching the eagerness of the founding members to jump in and even the process of creating it (which I really enjoyed - it felt like one of the most creative and beautiful times in my business), it was definitely a business anniversary highlight.

 

6. Making my first overnight template sale while traveling 

This was earlier on in my business and I was staying at my in-laws in Atlanta. I remember waking up in their guest room and seeing the notification that someone had purchased something. I remember seeing her name pop up (I still remember who it was!) and thinking “oh my gosh - I just got my first overnight sale!”.

 

showit is a better alternative to squarespace templates for photographers

 

7. The first time I met someone in person who told me “I listen to your podcast” or every time this happens really! 

I can’t even tell you how hugely happy this makes my heart. I love meeting real-life listeners, designers in Booked Out Designer, template customers, and more at conferences, but I have a special place in my heart when someone comes up to me and sees me “in the wild”. I love moments like that!

In the same way, it’s deeply meaningful to me when someone shares a win or appreciation for Booked Out Designer or launches their website with one of my templates. Even a message from someone telling me they’ve learned something from the podcast really motivates me and I always appreciate having a more two-sided conversation with each and every one of you.

 

8. Speaking at Business Boutique 

This was one of those business anniversary highlights that were so scary in the moment. It was back in 2028 that I was asked to speak at Business Boutique in front of 3000 people. Still, though, it was such a huge highlight. 

It was kind of a funny story because it was a panel-type situation and we had been given questions to prep ahead of time but right before I went on stage Christy Wright (the organizer) told me that “she knows they sent me prep questions - but I think we are going to go a different way out there”. I learned really quickly how to think on my feet!

 

It’s been an incredible business anniversary!

I could truly think of so many more highlights: from starting and launching my template shop, making those first sales, starting this podcast, and hiring team members (with a special shout-out to Abby and Stacey who had been with me the longest and have helped my business grow so much). 

 

Thank you for being here!

I want to close out this episode with a big thank you. I could not do what I do without you. When you support my business, you are not only supporting me and my family but supporting my team and their families as well. You are supporting us being able to tithe to so many deserving ministries and non-profits. I’m truly so “pinch me” every day. Thank you for celebrating with me! 

 

thank you for supporting my showit website templates business

 

Are you a brand and website designer? 

If you are a designer and you want to grow your business (and hear about all of the lessons I’ve learned, without learning them the hard way!), you have got to check out Booked Out Designer. Booked Out Designer truly teaches you everything you need to know to grow a booked-out branding and web design business. We go over everything from how to book more clients to managing the financial side of your business and so much more. I would love to welcome you inside (get instant access and join me on the next coaching call here!). 

Links Mentioned:

Listen to Episode #110 + Episode #114 about How I Sold Out My Beta Launch in ONE Hour

Listen to Episode #60 - What I’ve Learned From Building A Successful Six-Figure Business In The Last 4 Years

Listen to Episode #111 -  Celebrating 5 Years In Business And Sharing 5 Gems AKA Lessons

Shop the Sara Blakely Mug on My Etsy

Join me inside Booked Out Designer

Shop our Showit Website Templates

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

The post Celebrating my Business Anniversary: The Biggest Lessons & Highlights from My 7 Years in Business appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/business-anniversary/feed/ 0 6388 6 Crushing Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make Early on in Their Business (AND How You Can Avoid Them!) https://elizabethmccravy.com/mistakes-entrepreneurs-make-early/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/mistakes-entrepreneurs-make-early/#respond Tue, 14 Mar 2023 06:00:16 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=6147 Congrats friend! If you’re listening to this then you might be a business owner in your first year (or first few years) or maybe you haven’t even quite taken the leap to pursue entrepreneurship yet. That is such an EXCITING TIME. When I look back on my new business owner self, I look at her […]

The post 6 Crushing Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make Early on in Their Business (AND How You Can Avoid Them!) appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 12 minutes

Congrats friend! If you’re listening to this then you might be a business owner in your first year (or first few years) or maybe you haven’t even quite taken the leap to pursue entrepreneurship yet. That is such an EXCITING TIME. When I look back on my new business owner self, I look at her with so much love and gratitude and honestly, sometimes it truly can feel like the “good ole days”. There were so many days of excitement, learning, figuring things out, an adrenaline to get you through! That being said, today we are going to talk about 6 crushing mistakes entrepreneurs make early on in their business because I know these times can be incredibly hard too! The ups and downs are very intense. 

To top it off, you’re likely juggling other things too. Starting a business is a really big life change, so I wanted to just start this post off by saying: GO YOU!! Today’s episode was created with you in mind and I’m going to help you avoid some of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make early on (that I see) and tell you how to avoid them (of course!). 

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 205!

Are you a new brand and website designer?

Before I jump into the crushing mistakes entrepreneurs make early on, I have a quick tip for you. If you are a designer and are looking to book your FIRST client (or next client!), I’ve created a free guide for you here. I will walk you through 8 key strategies for finding clients (and booking) design clients that I believe will serve you whether it’s truly your first client or your 50th client. Grab your free copy here!

 

Honest Statistics about Starting a Business

Before I dive in, I wanted to share a few statistics with you. 

According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nearly 1 in 5 U.S. businesses fail within the first year (18.4%). Then, after five years, 49.7% of those businesses faltered. After ten years? That number climbs to 65.5%.

A little disclaimer here: I am sharing these statistics, but I also want to say there is no SHAME in closing a business. It can take a lot of courage to see that something isn’t working and sometimes closing up truly is the right decision to make room for something better. There is a lot of messaging out there are says you should just hold on to your dreams forever and ever and ever, and I just don’t believe that serves everyone. Sometimes it can make sense to close things!

On the contrary, I’m sharing those stats because business is hard! As someone who will be passing the official 7 years of business mark this month (and has really had about 10 years of experience if you include my “unofficial start” into the freelancing world), I GET HOW THIS HAPPENS! Your passion and excitement are often what get you going, but it’s often not the thing that will keep you going. 

 

new business owner excitement

 

Mistake #1: Waiting way too long to start booking clients

It’s easy to put off booking clients thinking you have to have a thousand ducks in a row first. You don’t. Truly, this is something I see all too often. A business idea stays an idea forever. I want to encourage you to be okay with starting imperfectly. Be ok with figuring things out with your clients, not before you have clients. 

Basically - start scrappy! 

Here’s my personal recommendation: when it comes to working with clients in tools like Dubsado or Clickup, you should focus on the marketing side first, THEN book a client, and THEN set it up as you go through the steps with your first client. 

This often means the first project is more work, but it saves you time in the long run. In my opinion, it’s a mistake to try to set it all up perfectly before ever trying to find a client to go through it with. Trust me - there WILL be edits anyway!

 

Are You a Designer? We have this DFY in Booked Out Designer 

In Booked Out Designer, I give you my ClickUp set up for clients so you will have that 100% ready to go for your first project anyway! I also give you what to say on Dubsado forms and in canned emails. 

So if you are a designer, you’re set once you are inside. But EVEN THEN, focus on setting up the marketing side first and then go out and get yourself your first client (we have a TON of marketing material inside the course too - don’t worry).

Read More: The 3 Biggest Myths About Starting A Brand And Website Design Business

 

Mistake #2: Going full-time immediately. 

By going full-time, I mean making this new business (that is starting at $0 revenue) your only source of income. 

Now, I know that every person’s situation is different and some people actually CAN do this. For example, if your income is supplementary “cherry on top” income to your spouse, if you’re a college student who has your parents helping out financially, or maybe you’ve saved up some money from your 9 to 5 so that you have money to live off of while you start this thing. Those reasons (and plenty of others, I’m sure!) are fine reasons to go full-time and make this brand-new business your only source of income! BUT for most people, going full-time actually puts a lot of financial strain on your business (and life). Down the road, it could actually cause you to quit your business sooner because you aren’t able to meet the financial requirements your life needs soon enough. 

So before you quit your day job, I strongly recommend having other sources of income while you get started! This might mean staying at a 9 to 5, or it could also be having a side hustle alongside your business with things like nannying, dog walking, waitressing/restaurant work, Instacart/Doordash, working for someone else in their business - you have so many options! It might surprise you, but I actually had side hustles supporting my lifestyle for the first year after I “went full-time” in my business many years ago.

I have a whole episode on this because this is one of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make early on and I feel super passionate about it! There is so much pressure to go “all in” in your business. Tune into why I believe having a side hustle is actually a GOOD thing.

 

growing your business as a side hustle

 

Mistake #3: Niching down and specializing too quickly. 

Do you remember the statistics I shared at the beginning of the episode? In the same report, businesses shared the reasons they closed their doors as follows:

  • 38% ran out of money and/or couldn’t raise new capital
  • 35% cited a lack of market need
  • 20% were beaten by competition
  • 19% feel they chose the wrong business model

After “ran out of money” (which we just covered in mistake #2!), the remaining three reasons kind of relate to this mistake #3: they made the mistake of niching down and specializing too quickly. I actually had this point written out BEFORE I found the stat but it’s funny how it lines up perfectly!

 

When to Niche Down in Your Business

I’m a big believer in niching slowly. If you’ve taken Booked Out Designer, there is a whole module focused on this stuff. Niching and specializing are different, but both are best done slowly and deliberately. I usually recommend offering many services in the beginning (and don’t be afraid to share them all on your website!) and then slowly removing the ones you don’t love as much once you try them.

I know there’s that scary phrase “jack of all trades, master of none” BUT, I truly see business owners niching down and trying to specialize too quickly as one of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make early on. It often creates cash flow problems, immediately eliminates potential clients, and to top if off, because they are new businesses, they often pick the “wrong niche” and regret it later. 

For me personally, when I started my business you could hire me to be your social media manager, copywriter, graphic designer, website designer - literally so many things. I had graphic design clients for almost a year after I took it off my website and stopped taking on those types of projects. It’s okay to do that! Take your time figuring out what you love to do and what the market wants from you.

Read More: How (And Why) To Find Your Ideal Client (Free Workbook!)

 

Mistake #4: Not learning and getting support.

I know this one feels a little cheesy (and may not apply to you since you’re clearly doing this by reading my blog after all 😊). But here’s my advice: Be like a dog at a fire hydrant. There is so much to learn when you start your business. Learn it.

 

focus on learning when you start your business

 

I do have a bit of a caveat here. Don’t learn from every person you come across or you’ll just feel confused. There are many ways to build a business and the more people you try to follow, the more you’ll find yourself getting stuck with conflicting advice. For example, there is a lot of people out there that might disagree with me on mistake #3 (but I really do still believe it’s one of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make early on.

Choose key mentors to learn from and really soak up their free content and consider their paid stuff. You’ll get places faster with help! And shameless plug, if you’re a designer (or another type of service business) who wants my strategy and support, Booked Out Designer is the way to go! 

On top of that, there are a lot of people (myself included) who put out really great free content (like this podcast/blog!). So listen to business podcasts like this, ask other business owners what books, podcasts, and courses helped them, and soak it all up. 

Even at this point in my business, I still try to do the same thing. A couple of weeks ago at a retreat I went to as an alum, I gathered up a few specific questions I had for other attendees (like - hey, I saw you do Facebook ads really well, tell me about that!). If they are like you, they won’t feel annoyed and will likely ENJOY sharing what they’ve learned (and hearing what you’ve learned as well!). Networking with other business owners is never a bad idea!

 

Mistake #5: Spending too much money on things you don’t actually need.

Cash flow is the #1 problem that crushes new businesses. 

I’m putting this as one of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make early on but let’s be honest, it’s often a mistake we can all be guilty of even when we are NOT running businesses, right?

This one probably feels funny coming from someone who sells things to new business owners but hear me out: I truly believe both my website templates and Booked Out Designer are GREAT investments early on in your business. When you purchase either of them, you are spending on things that ultimately should make you more money. 

But even with that being said, and even with me being someone who sells things, I don’t want you to fall victim to all of the BS marketing out there. 

 

Red Flags When Investing In Your Business

There are so many messages out there that are like: this really expensive $15k mastermind is going to guarantee you make 6 figures, this course guarantees you’ll have a gazillion clients, this certification that will make you $5k months - those kinds of messages. I think when programs are leading with “give us X amount of money, and you’ll make back X amount of money,” we need to be weary.

Here are a few general red flags to look for when investing in your business:

  • If people are guaranteeing any specific results (generally speaking), it’s usually not a great idea. Unless they can directly control the outcome, they can’t really guarantee anything.
  • If they won’t tell you the price of the investment upfront, I’d be cautious. You shouldn’t have to have apply for a mastermind, and then have a sales call, to learn the cost. 
  • If a coach or business mentor is suggesting you go into debt (with messages like “put it on your credit card”) to buy their thing. I’m actually not anti-credit card but if people are encouraging you to go into debt for their course or program, run the other way!

 

red flags when investing in your business

 

Just be smart with your spending! It’s okay to be scrappy. 

 

Consider Payment Plans Over Debt

I want to add a little note here about payment plans because I DO think that while cash flow is a huge problem in business, some things you’ll want to buy for your business ARE an investment (for example - a website!). One of the reasons I offer payment plans on both Booked Out Designer (which has a 12-month payment plan option here!) and my website templates (which have a 4-month payment plan!) is because I believe they are both really good investments even when you are just getting started and I WANT to make it accessible to those who want or need them.

Usually, there will be an extra cost to take advantage of a payment plan but if that extra cost makes more sense financially instead of using a credit card or being able to invest in your business sooner, do it.

 

Being Scrappy is Such a Good Skill in Business - Regardless of How New You Are!

Especially when you are just starting, you don’t need the fanciest email software, CRM, home office, etc. When you are just getting started, it’s okay to go slow!

Honestly, when I think back 7 years ago to when I was first starting my business, this was my reality:

  • My office was a desk I bought at a thrift store and painted white (for $50) that I set up in our guest room inside of our small apartment.
  • I was using a “refurbished by Apple” laptop and random notebooks. That was my “office supplies.” 
  • I used free trials on things for as long as I could and was really deliberate about what I bought. 

And guess what? I’m still like that. That’s HOW you maintain high-profit margins in your business.

Even early on in my business, I DID use credit cards, but I always paid them off. I love credit card rewards, so I’m a “pro-credit card” person. But that doesn’t mean I recommend you take on debt you can’t pay. Using the rewards, it’s a great way though to make extra money. 

Read More: What My Life Actually Looked Like When I Was Starting My Business (PLUS 5 Things I Know Now That I Wish I Knew Then) 

 

The best credit card for new businesses

For example, I’ve talked about the Spark Cash Back Card before (this is an affiliate link - but it’s my favorite card). You can earn $500 in cash back once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months. When I first signed up, I got that bonus too! I bought a course that I was really excited about (that was similarly priced to Booked Out Designer) which accounted for some of it, and then I also put a few large personal purchases on the card as well. I know that’s not the best idea for accounting purposes, but I tracked it all well and then transferred the money to cover it. THAT is what I mean about using credit cards smartly in your business.

 

Mistake #6: Believing they need to do work for free for experience.


No matter how new you are, you’re allowed to charge money. You don’t have to operate your business like an unpaid intern just because you’re new to something.

Let me back up for a second because the truth here is that this is a BALANCE and there are nuances to it. Too many to discuss under one tip of one podcast episode, but let me just share some of my thoughts here. I do think there’s a time and place for free work, and certainly, a time and place for reducing the amount you’re charging when you’re super new or adding a brand new service BUT the reason I’m listing it as one of the mistakes entrepreneurs make early on is that I see business owners doing this for way too long and for too many projects. 

What I don’t want for you, is to work for free or undercharge because of your self-worth or nervousness to charge. If you’re nervous because charging all of a sudden puts so much pressure on you to “get it right” and you are worried you can’t handle that well or charging makes you realize that you’re up for scrutiny and you start thinking to yourself “what if they don’t like it?” - I don’t want you to work for free or cheap for those kinds of reasons.

When I talk to designers specifically, I usually recommend maybe 1-2 free projects and being really upfront with the person that you want a testimonial and feedback from them in exchange. In that case, those projects can be a pillar of your portfolio (like a beta student for an online course!). Then start charging from there!

 

Let’s Recap the 6 Crushing mistakes entrepreneurs make early on in their business…

The biggest mistakes I’ve made early on in my own business or see commonly made by new business owners are:

  1. Waiting for way too long to start booking clients, trying to have a thousand ducks in a row first. You don’t. 
  2. Going full-time and making their business their only source of income immediately. 
  3. Niching down too quickly 
  4. Not learning and getting support - be like a dog at a fire hydrant. So much to learn. Learn it. Choose key mentors to learn from instead of trying to learn from absolutely everyone, though!
  5. Spending too much money on things you don’t need. 
  6. Believing that everything they do has to be for free because they’re new. 

 

Those are truly the 6 biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make early on in their business!

Before I share a quick recap of the 6 mistakes entrepreneurs make early on in their business, I want to say this: don’t be so worried about making mistakes that you don’t do anything at all. I should have almost included that in the official list because it’s another BIG one I see new business owners make. You are going to make mistakes, and that’s okay! Mistakes are good as long as you learn from them. So to finish this post, I want to share three of my favorite quotes about mistakes.

“An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.” 

- Niels Bohr

It doesn’t matter how many times you have failed, you only have to be right once. 

- Mark Cuban 

“If you don’t make mistakes, you’re not working on hard enough problems. and that’s a big mistake.”

- Frank Wilczek

Whether you are brand new in business or you are a few years in - You’ve got this! I am here for you too. Keep listening to this podcast. Scroll back through the 200+ episodes that are here to help you as you build your business. If you are a designer, don't forget to download your free client booking guide to help you get your first (or next!) client as well!

And hey - if you are a designer, I would love to see you and support you inside of Booked Out Designer! It is THE business course for design businesses. 

Links Mentioned:

Join me inside Booked Out Designer

Get your free client booking guide for designers

Get 30% off of Dubsado

Get a free trial of ClickUp 

Learn More About the Capital One Spark Cash Back Card

Listen to Episode #196 about Why It's a Good Thing If Your Business is a Side Hustle: 

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Statistics Source

The post 6 Crushing Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make Early on in Their Business (AND How You Can Avoid Them!) appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/mistakes-entrepreneurs-make-early/feed/ 0 6147 6 Reasons Why it’s a Good Thing if Your Business is a Side Hustle https://elizabethmccravy.com/if-your-business-is-a-side-hustle/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/if-your-business-is-a-side-hustle/#respond Tue, 10 Jan 2023 05:00:39 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=6025 The pressure to quit your day job and go full-time in your business has grown immensely in recent years. Now more than ever, you need to prove that you are “all in” and that success looks like giving your two weeks' notice and abandoning all else in the name of pursuing your dreams. Oh, and […]

The post 6 Reasons Why it’s a Good Thing if Your Business is a Side Hustle appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 9 minutes

The pressure to quit your day job and go full-time in your business has grown immensely in recent years. Now more than ever, you need to prove that you are “all in” and that success looks like giving your two weeks' notice and abandoning all else in the name of pursuing your dreams. Oh, and of course, you also need to set a goal of making millions the year after that. While that may be fine for some people, I don’t believe that everyone is called to that. Today, I’m sharing 6 reasons why it’s actually a good thing if your business is a side hustle. You don’t have to be full-time to be successful in your business - trust me. 

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 196!

In the online business world especially, there is a lot of hatred towards corporate and the traditional “9-5”. If you’ve had your business for any length of time, you’ve likely been bombarded with success stories from people who quit their day job cold turkey and went all in on their business. Over time, that becomes the ultimate aspirational story.

Going full-time can be something exciting, absolutely, so I understand why you may want to shout it from the rooftops. In theory, quitting your day job means if your business is a side hustle, it was able to fully support you financially. I still remember going full time in my own business all those years ago and it was really, really exciting for me. Scary. But exciting.

going full-time in your business is scary and exciting

Here’s what I want to normalize today: it is OK to stay at another job to make money while you pursue your business. It’s also okay to pick up a side hustle while you pursue your business full-time. It’s also completely okay if your business is a side hustle for years and years (or FOREVER). If that’s working for you, it doesn’t need to change because of what someone else’s version of success looks like. 

 

Of course, this is all my opinion but I feel pretty strongly about it. As an online educator, it’s broken my heart many, many times, when I hear business owners who feel like they are not enough because they:

  • Have a full-time job (and are embarrassed and/or trying to hide it) 
  • Had to pick up a side hustle to continue pursuing their business 
  • Went “all in” and have to back peddle back to a traditional job
  • Actually LIKE working for someone else, but feel like that makes them a bad entrepreneur. After all, aren’t entrepreneurs supposed to hate working for other people? Hate structure and stability? And all of those other things about being an entrepreneur that is “supposed to” be true?

 

Can you relate to any of that if your business is a side hustle? I’m here to tell you that you are not any less of a business owner (you are not lacking enthusiasm or bravery) just because your business is a side hustle. In fact, that may actually be SMART.

If you consider your business a side hustle, let me first say you are WELCOME here. My podcast and blog are not just for business owners who “go full time”. So today, I want to go a little against the grain here and share another unpopular opinion. Below, you’ll find 6 reasons why it’s actually a good thing if your business is a side hustle (now or forever!).

 

1. If you have additional income sources, it takes the pressure off your business financially and helps you think more clearly.

We can talk about mindset forever, but when you are legitimately strapped for cash, afraid of losing it all, and in a scarcity mindset, it’s harder to think long-term and make smart business decisions. Even if you do make a lot of money immediately when you go full-time in your business, it’s likely going to be inconsistent which can be really hard on your personal finances. When your business isn’t your entire livelihood, it can make business feel more fun (and helps you avoid burnout). I’m a big believer that both of those things will ultimately lead you to more success. 

When I started my business, I actually had several side hustles to support me. I nannied for three families, was a dog sitter, taught yoga, and even sold a few random things on Facebook and counted that as income. And guess what? It didn’t make me less of a business owner. I actually think a lot of the decisions I made back then are why I still have a business 7 years later. I was able to grow slower and make wise and intentional decisions. 

Talking about finances, let me be fully transparent: it was a bit tough on us when I quit my 9-5. My husband was on an entry-level minister salary so we did need my income. Fortunately, because I had so many side hustles, between that and my business I was able to surpass my full-time salary fairly quickly (by quickly, I mean within a few months). So it wasn’t tight for long, but it was in the beginning.

Want to hear me talk more about the early days? I share more about finances in the beginning and 5 other lessons as a beginner business owner in episode #165. Whether you go full-time and have a side hustle supporting you, or you keep your 9-5 and treat your business as a side hustle, I think you’ll relate to some of it!

 

2. Even though it often doesn’t seem like it in the online business space, 93% of working Americans actually have a side hustle! 

Like so much of what we see online, things are not always as they appear. Here are a couple of statistics that stand out to me about side hustles:

  • The average monthly income of a side hustle is $483 
  • 1 in 5 Americans report making over $15,000 a year from their side hustle (source)

Clearly, it’s more normal than you think to do both together.

side hustles are popular in the US

To tell my own story, I often think of myself as someone who quit my traditional 9-5 job and then started my business. Technically, that IS what happened. But what I often forget when I tell that story 7 years later, is that I had been freelancing already before I quit my day job. I had a side hustle. I didn’t think of it as a business back then. I loved design work and was naturally entrepreneurial, and the freelance work felt like a passion project. It was additional income and it was fun for me. 

When I first got married, Adam and I did all of our budgeting in a spreadsheet. I looked back 7 years ago and found I was bringing in an extra $660 in income consistently from 2 retainer clients and made a little extra on top of that from projects here and there. Basically, although it didn’t feel like it at the time, I was side-hustling BEFORE I started a business. And a lot of people do it that way! 

 

I say this to say, I did not have a huge grand vision of quitting my 9-5 and launching a website template shop when my business was just a side hustle. 

 

I can honestly say my business now is much better than any dream I could have came up with on my own while working at a day job. It’s truly a God-sized dream He came up with for me. I did not have a huge plan. I’d also like to add that a lot of people do it that way for a reason! 

 

3. Starting your business as a side hustle allows you to decide how much (and if!) you even like running your own business before going all in. 

Obviously, it would stink to throw in the towel on everything else you have going only to realize you hate your business, the industry, the work, your clients - the list goes on and on. I don’t mean to be “doom and gloom” here. It doesn’t have to be “love it or hate it”. What I mean is, staying at your day job while starting to build a business allows you the flexibility to actually ask yourself “Do I like this? Do I want to keep pursuing this?”. You have the freedom to decide no without too much in your life changing if you decide to do something else instead.

 

4. Working in other types of work allows you to pursue other passions at the same time you are growing your business. 

A lot of us are multi-passionate. I would say most entrepreneurial spirits do tend to be interested in more than one thing. If your business is a side hustle, it might actually help you be more well-rounded as you pursue whatever your end goal is. 

For example, maybe you really love photography, but you are also a trained teacher and want to keep doing that. Maybe you actually love being an attorney, but you are also really passionate about health and wellness so you get your yoga certification and teach as a side hustle. 

Or maybe you are a well-paid graphic designer in a corporate setting that you LIKE, but you want to pursue passion design projects for brands you’re more interested in.

What I really want you to know, is that you can have both.

When I was working at my own 9-5 (in medical advertising - not very fun for me!), this is what freelancing was for me. I got to work with health and beauty brands I was obsessed with, without giving up the security of a full-time job. It was fun for me to pursue various passions at the same time.

When I look back at my job as a nanny, I know that I could have been that full-time too. I love kids! When I was teaching yoga on the side, I knew that would likely be something I would never go full-time with but I still really enjoyed pursuing my interests that way.

 

5. You’ll probably be more productive if your business is a side hustle.

If you listened to my interview with Josh Hall a while back, you heard him talk about how you’ll be more productive if your business is a side hustle. He talked about when you have less time to work on your business (like if your business is a side hustle), you are more likely to be productive and waste less time because you don’t have unlimited time to make it all work. I just thought it was brilliant and honestly, it’s exactly like how people report being more productive when they have kids. If your business is a side hustle, use it to your advantage! 

cat working hard on keyboard - possibly at a side hustle?

Bringing it back to my own experience, it was like when I was nannying or working random jobs when I went full-time in my design business. I didn’t quit my job to watch Friends reruns all day and kind of build a design business on the side. Having multiple side jobs gave me small pockets of time and I tried to get as much done during them as possible.

 

6. Multiple streams of revenue is ALWAYS a win, so a side hustle will ultimately just lead to financial gains. 

Earlier on, I said that most Americans have a side hustle (93%). As I pursue my own business full-time, I too have a side hustle (which is crazy to think about). If you’ve followed me for a while, you know Adam and I have started investing in real estate and we actually have 6 properties at the time of recording. 

And guess what? I’m not trying to go full-time as a real estate investor, and neither is Adam. We want it to stay a side hustle. 

If you want your side hustle to “just” be an extra stream of income for you, that’s a really great reason to go for it. The goal does not always have to be full-time. Maybe you are a 1 income family right now, and your side hustle brings in an extra $400 a month from home. That’s amazing! You don’t have to want it to become $3,000 a month. You can just enjoy it being an extra $400/month. That’s still a huge win for you and your family. Enjoy it!

Read: How We Got Started In Real Estate Investing, Buying In A Seller’s Market, Working With Your Spouse, and Picking The “Right” Property

 

Some Final Encouragement if Your Business is a Side Hustle

You don’t have to be shooting for 6 figures or 7 figures in your business. You don’t have to want to quit your 9 to 5. You don’t have to put in notice at work to be “all in” on your dreams and this business you’re building. That does not need to be what “success” looks like for you.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You can keep doing both things until you have clarity on what you want to do next. You don’t have to know “Yes, I want to do this thing full time!” or “I definitely only want this to be a side thing”. You have the freedom to decide later and just focus on doing the work you enjoy right now. It’s okay to enjoy the journey. Be present with it without putting so much pressure on yourself.

Personally, I hate how much pressure there is to “go all in”. The reality is, you can be all in without putting all your eggs into one basket. You don’t need to put all the financial burden on your business right now if that doesn’t feel right to you.

I would love to hear what your journey as a business owner has looked like (whether it’s like mine or not!), so feel free to send me a DM over on Instagram. Wherever your business journey leads you — whether you’re side-hustling forever or full-time already — I hope you know you’re welcome here. This business advice podcast isn’t just for people who are full-time entrepreneurs. 

Links Mentioned:

Hear my story of what life was like when I started my business

Listen to my interview with Josh Hall about growing your business as a side hustle

More side hustles statistics (including the ones I mentioned) 

How We Got Started In Real Estate Investing

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

Shop Showit Website Templates

why having a side hustle is a great idea
you don't need to quit your day job, if your business is a side hustle, here are 6 advantages

The post 6 Reasons Why it’s a Good Thing if Your Business is a Side Hustle appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/if-your-business-is-a-side-hustle/feed/ 0 6025 If Being a Mom and a Business Owner Feels Really Hard, Listen to This with Joy Michelle  https://elizabethmccravy.com/being-a-mom-and-a-business-owner/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/being-a-mom-and-a-business-owner/#respond Tue, 03 Jan 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=6004 When I interviewed Joy Michelle last August, I knew instantly that this interview would be perfect to kick off the new year with. I was a business owner for over 5 years before I became a mom and let me tell you, it’s been a huge adjustment (especially because we didn’t start doing outside child […]

The post If Being a Mom and a Business Owner Feels Really Hard, Listen to This with Joy Michelle  appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 19 minutes

When I interviewed Joy Michelle last August, I knew instantly that this interview would be perfect to kick off the new year with. I was a business owner for over 5 years before I became a mom and let me tell you, it’s been a huge adjustment (especially because we didn’t start doing outside child care until very recently!). Being a mompreneur, or being a mom and business owner, or whatever you want to call it can be really hard at times.

I hope as you read this blog post (or better yet - tune into the podcast!), you find the encouragement you need as we all kick off another year of business, another year of motherhood, and another year of wearing A LOT of hats.

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 195!

I personally love learning from Joy and if you are looking for a little advice (whether you are just entering the world of balancing being a mom and a business owner, or you’ve been doing it for a while and are feeling stretched thin), I really believe you are going to love this interview. Motherhood is so fulfilling (I know I can’t imagine my life without Colin now!) but I know my business took a step back as I started to balance both roles. I always want to be super present and wear “all the hats” well, but I can’t always, and although I really try to be gracious with myself in that, it can be tough at times. 

In the interview, I had a chance to ask Joy Michelle all of my burning questions from a fellow mompreneur who seems to have it all figured out. She’s a photographer turned YouTuber and business coach with 2 kiddos of her own (Clara and Lewis) and has been married to her high school sweetheart Felipe for over 10 years. We talk about things like what it looks like to be called to both motherhood and business (and how we can navigate balancing both well), what Joy’s work week looks like as a working mom, the struggle of time management as a mompreneur, and she shares a lot of advice for the mom feeling burnt out in her business (or burnt out in motherhood). 

Okay, now let’s dive right in! 

 

Why did you transition away from wedding photography after becoming a mom?

First, I had (kind of) unintentionally started another business by starting a YouTube channel. On the Youtube channel, I started educating photographers and that led to Photo Boss, which then blossomed into its own brand and Facebook group. I had just had Clara, and Photo Boss was growing so I just felt this itch of really wanting to see what I could do with my education business. I knew I couldn’t give 100% to both Photo Boss and weddings and at the same time things were shifting in my personal life with a new baby and I knew I wanted to be able to make more money from home.

 

That freedom piece for me of why I started a business became less of the original reason of “let's not commute every day into work” and became one level deeper to “let's be home more”.

 

That really was the catalyst behind the pivot, but there really were so many factors. After eight years of weddings, I really felt like I had done it (and loved it). I started to feel like, okay, what’s next?

 

How did your business change when you had your first child? 

I have to be honest with you, I was scared to introduce a baby into the mix. After all, my business was my baby before I had actual babies! I almost feared that maybe I wouldn't want to grow a business anymore and maybe my love for my business would somehow dwindle after I had Clara. Because I just loved business in general. I started my business in 2013 when I was fresh out of college, and I started my YouTube channel in 2017 (what I now consider to be phase two of my business).

I had my first child, Clara, in 2019 and I was still photographing weddings while pregnant and then postpartum. I was pumping in the bathroom, standing in the stall trying to juggle everything during the wedding reception! So while I do think it’s definitely possible to have a wedding photography business and children, the fact that Photo Boss had started growing before I had Clara made me really want to see where I could take it. I also started feeling like I wanted another baby, so it felt like “now is the time” to make the transition. While I did shoot a couple more weddings while I was expecting Lewisouis, I just remember thinking “I’m too old for this, I’m too pregnant for this”.

Read: Try These 5 Strategies To Get More Done With Your Limited Time In The 1st Year Of Motherhood And Business 

 

Were you worried that your business would become less exciting after becoming a mom?

When I was expecting, I was hyper-focused on my business (almost like nesting). I was like: let’s get a course out, let’s do this, let’s do that. It fueled me. I knew once the baby was born I would want to be able to be 100% away and just enjoy time with the newborn for six or so weeks. With a new baby, it really puts it into perspective that it’s just a business. But then after a little time off, I kind of want to get back in there. I have ideas. I get excited again.

After returning to work after my second maternity leave, I had a team to answer to and it was a little overwhelming at first (like drinking from a fire hose!). When I returned to work it was like “okay, one thing at a time”. 

 

Motherhood adds it doesn’t subtract. 

 

The part of me wanting to grow something and create never disappears. If someone does want to close their business after becoming a mom that’s 1000% fine but for me, it gave me a new focus. I think in a lot of ways it made me a better business owner, that’s for sure.

 

EM: Being a mompreneur trying to balance work and family can be a lot sometimes. I know for me personally, I had thoughts during maternity leave like “am I trying to quit my business?”. But then once I was sleeping more and not breastfeeding a million times a day, I started to have new ideas coming back again too. 

 

Yeah, you almost have to take the pressure off yourself at first. You’re trying to stay alive and keep your baby alive. For me, I see women jump right back in and I’m like “you are amazing, I don’t know how you do that”. For me, after having my babies each time I was like “I do not care. I'm not posting, I'm not checking my email.” But then it comes back and I’m like okay, it’s still there. I still got it.

 

Read: How I Planned a Maternity Leave from My Business

Read: Running A Successful Online Business As A New Mama

 

Was mompreneur life different after your second kid?

Yeah, I remember my midwife telling me that with each subsequent child, you almost need to rest more because your body is still working really, really hard to go back every time. And I felt that. I was like, okay, I've got to really not push myself to do all the things or try to prove that I can do everything. I'm gonna embrace this time and just lay here. So I did.

 

How did your business change going from one baby to two?

It's constantly changing. Even just this week my husband and I were like, I feel like we might need to change the schedule a little bit because the naps are changing and their schedules and activities are changing. The constant changing is such a real thing.

Before having kids, I would just work. I don't even know how much I worked, I just worked. If my husband was working late or he was away, or even if I just had inspiration strike, I would pull out my laptop and dive into doing things right away.

After having kids, I had to think really critically about my time and the time that I was spending in my business. I think for the first time ever. I think I thought I was being strategic, but I had the luxury of time. And I just don't have that anymore. I could no longer work in a distracted way (like for example, editing photos while watching something on Netflix). 

Having less time really forced me to do an 80/20 analysis of what was bringing in the money, and what marketing activities were actually leading to leads and conversions, and put on my business cap a lot more often than I put on the artist cap. It also forced me to grow my team more intentionally, instead of hiring for one-off projects or a bit of editing here and there. 

Having kids helped me step into the role of CEO and really think about what roles I needed to fill in my business (like in the early days, when Clara was in her DockATot next to me as I’m trying to deliver things to clients and respond to inquiries). 

 

What did balancing childcare look like in the early days of being a mom?

We started with just two different time chunks (two hours at a time or something very small) with my sister watching the baby. I didn't know what it would be like and I was constantly thinking “how was this gonna work?”.  So I would work during naps and whenever my sister would come between her high school classes. That was the phase back then!

Eventually, we slowly ramped up more and more childcare. Even now, I only work part-time. When Lewis came along, I knew my business had changed and what we did for Clara wasn’t going to work as well. I really needed some consistent working hours. I had one-on-one coaching clients and I couldn't count on nap time, especially for those booked calls.

Read: Don’t Mom Alone: How These Working Moms Have Help Inside The Home (And Their Top Tips For Getting Help With Your Kids, Business, And Household)

 

How has your time management changed since becoming a mom?

That's probably one of the biggest shifts being a mom and a business owner:  instead of just working when I feel inspired or when a deadline approaches (I'm not even really sure how I was approaching my schedule), I have to really look at my schedule and think about all the things that are coming up. It’s made me a much more organized person. 

Now, I have to use a project management tool. I have to use a Slack channel with my team. I have to use a CRM like HoneyBook so that everything is just clean.

 

EM: I can relate to so much of this. It’s so funny, even just one year into motherhood, how easy it is to forget some of those early things. If you are a business owner working from home, I’m sure you’ve done the “watching Friends on your iPad while editing photos or designing a website” thing. If you are listening to this thinking about motherhood (but haven’t experienced it yet), I know you might be thinking that you don’t want to lose that. But my personal thought is this, life is more enjoyable when we just focus on the thing and get it done in less time.

 

Exactly. Before, work blended into my life. Now, I have a life to get to. I want my business to be its own separate thing. I want to have flexibility but I also love being able to know when I can “clock back in”. I know my business will always be there. 

 

You’ve been a mom for 3 years now, what is your childcare like now?

I work Monday through Thursday from 8 am - 1 pm and I'm with the kids all other times. Fridays are my “mom days” and I love those days. My sister-in-law is actually our nanny now so it’s nice that I’m able to work at home with them there. I just work in the downstairs office now because when I was working upstairs they could see me!

 

Is it ever confusing having your family provide your childcare? Have you had any weird boundary issues? I’m sure you are not the only one in that situation if you have any tips on hiring family for childcare!

 

This is such a good question! It has gone really well. It’s always a good idea to clarify “are we asking as family or are you asking as my employer?”. We make sure that we are super clear on the hours and if we ask them to watch the kids on a random Sunday or whatever I will always say “I’m asking as family” or “I’m willing to pay you” just to put it out there. Usually, they will just say “it’s fine, I’ve got them” but I always think it’s better to not assume. 

We also started with a trial period. With my sister-in-law, it was like, “okay let’s just try this for a month and see if we both like it”. So there was no family pressure to have to continue forever.

 

Do you have tips for time management for mompreneurs or advice for moms who might be feeling overwhelmed right now?

I'm raising my hand along with everybody else saying “this is overwhelming”. I'll tell you what gets me into trouble and what leads to burnout for me personally and what I see in my students as well. There are three things that I see causing overwhelm and burnout in moms who are business owners. 

 

1. Expecting too much of our brains and ourselves. 

Our brains are meant to come up with ideas and process things and have creative solutions, but not to store things. We are less creative and less effective when we try to store things like our entire grocery list in our brains (while also remembering everything that needs to happen in our business).

This is actually from the book “Getting Things Done” by David Allen. Having a central place to put everything is a game changer (whether it’s a business thing you want to do 6 months from now or a pin from Pinterest to try). I really feel it’s like clearing the hard drive. Your computer works faster when it’s not trying to run everything (AND store everything) at once and your brain does too. 

 

2. Being unrealistic with your schedule and commitments

I feel like most moms can relate to this one. Saying yes too often and not asking for help enough is something I think that we all go through. Even when setting goals - we often skip outlining them and working backwards to accurately guess how much time it will actually take. It’s almost like there is a disconnect between our dreams and our calendar!

Now, I implement time blocking to the point where whenever I want to do something, I look at my calendar and see where it will actually fit. Instead of adding something like a website update to my to do list where it will never get done. If you haven’t tried this before, it can be really eye-opening. Look at the goals and desires you have for your business, and then look at your calendar to see if the two things add up. Often, you’ll find you have to say no more often. And that can be really hard because sometimes I have to say no to really cool stuff! But ultimately I think people respect you more when you say no because you know you can’t give 100% either.

 

3. We have old ingrained habits working against us.

We all have bad habits that we've had for years that never really got us into trouble because we had more time, we had fewer responsibilities, and we had fewer people to think about. Things like multitasking, skipping meals, and saying yes to everything, all have an effect on your business and your ability to make decisions. We have all had days where we find ourselves in a frenzy of working and task hopping and then at the end of the day you don’t even know what happened. When I have days like that, sometimes I look back and realize that I started with a big cup of coffee and nothing else! So really, sometimes it’s those little things that kind of stack up and work against you. The first step forward is often just identifying which of those might be true for you, and without shaming or guilting yourself, see if you can try and make small changes to do better.

It’s not “I should be doing this and I shouldn’t be doing that” but instead, “I struggle with this but I’m working on it”.

The last thing I want to say about that though is that if being a mom and business owner feels heavy and hard, just know that doesn't mean you're doing it wrong or that you can't do this. I think that it is hard. 

 

EM: You’ve really articulated that so beautifully. It’s hard BUT it’s doable, and it’s so worth it. Oftentimes, you’ll actually be a better business owner as a mom.

 

How has motherhood helped you as a business owner?

It’s forced me to step into this new role as CEO. I had to get help and to think about my time differently. But it also made me go back to my why and I know that's kind of a cheesy thing and sometimes we don’t want to go back and think “why did I start this business” when we are already overwhelmed. It really is just such a powerful exercise though to make sure that you are not chasing someone else’s finish line. 

 

Sometimes I think when I’m burnt out, it’s because what I’m working toward isn’t even my own goal. It’s not taking me closer to freedom or whatever I’ve identified as my “why” in this season. 

 

Being a mom has made me get so much deeper and feel the heaviness that my decisions are now not just about me. I can’t just piddle around for 8 hours and then by like well, we blogged and we posted to social media. It feels like it carries more weight now, but in a good way, like it’s made me grow up in my business. 

 

EM: I completely agree with that. After Colin, I know I’m always making sure I’m building a business that supports the life I want instead of doing all the things I feel like I should do because it’s the obvious next step in my business. Even things like being on all the marketing platforms, I know I don’t want that because I don’t want to be working all the time (at least in this season). Having Colin makes me more deliberate. 

 

Yeah, that's such a good word. Deliberate. It almost gives you blinders. Like you mentioned with marketing platforms, I always think “okay, right now I just don't have the bandwidth because I'm trying to do this other thing really, really well. I can’t jump over there because I have to be here”. And those decisions feel really weighty and hard, but I really believe the most successful business owners I see have this ability to stay focused, stay in their lane and avoid shiny object syndrome. I’ve definitely gotten more focused and I hope that continues. I don’t jump on every new platform because I don’t have the luxury of time to just play around on a new social media platform. I have to stick with what’s working and be really calculated in those decisions.

 

How do you mentally transition between working and being with your baby? Especially when you are working during nap time and popping in and out between working and family time. 

If you have a set time (like you know you have a babysitter for two hours), I would block off the last 15 minutes of time and make that like a mental commute. So for me, I have a pop-up in my calendar that says “we have 15 minutes left in this workday, you need to wrap up your activities”. 

Another tip I got from the book “Getting Things Done” which I mentioned earlier, was that “having to-do’s is not always as helpful unless it has your next action”. When I leave myself notes for the next work day, I always leave myself a "next action”. 

If it’s something like a nap, if I find myself struggling, I will throw the kids in the car or in the stroller to give myself a ten-minute transition to finish my final thought and put a close on that “work” loop. I think carving out those transitional times has been really helpful. Otherwise, that mental loop stays open and it can be unsettling.

Another thing that’s really helped me is starting or ending my work day with a walk. When my childcare is still here, I will put on my headphones and just walk for 15 minutes. This is especially helpful when I want to take a walk but one or both of my kids are asleep. 

Ultimately, it’s a process to figure out what works for you, what works for your brain, and what works for your child’s schedule. And then it changes. It’s a lifelong process.

 

EM: That transition time really is so important! One thing that’s helping me lately is literally closing my laptop and saying “done” out loud! It feels like I’m literally shutting down for the day. 

 

I love your podcast name “Called to Both” for women who feel called to both motherhood and running their own business. How did you come up with it?

The name “Called to Both” just kept coming up for me. After having Clara, I felt almost at war with myself for wanting both. I bought the domain name not really knowing what it would be like. The fact that the name was available felt like it was meant to be, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do with it yet. It was a couple of years until I realized it could be a podcast! 

 

To me, Called to Both means that we're allowed to do more than one thing and that we can be more than one thing. We can do both with intention. I just believe that God created us to be multifaceted humans. Called to Both means you don't have to choose between business and motherhood. It’s not an either/or. It can be both.

 

What are your thoughts on the term “balance” in general as a mompreneur? Do you have some encouragement if sometimes work feels too heavy or motherhood feels heavy?

I don’t even love the word balance, but sometimes I feel like there's no other word that encompasses what I'm trying to get across. I think that we have to remember that sometimes when we say balance, we're picturing this old antiquated scale that has even weight on both sides. But I prefer to think of balance like a plate. Your plate can be full of as many things as you like. Maybe you have a little sliver of something on the corner, and that sliver doesn’t need to be as big as the rest of the pie. You can have different sizes at different times - it can be changing all the time. 

A good example of this is when you are newly postpartum. It's not “unbalanced” for you to be all about that baby and breastfeeding a million times a day. That is just what that season calls for. My sister-in-law said that in one talk she listened to they talked about balance “like being on a bicycle and you're never 100% straight”. You’re always leaning one way or the other. It’s okay to be like “we are going to work a little more now” or “now, I’m going to be a little bit more mom”. Balance doesn’t mean everything needs to be equal. 

Read: My Postpartum Journey (+ Tips For Surviving And Thriving In The Early Days Of Motherhood)

 

I know there are moms reading this thinking that “being a mom and a business owner is not working right now”. I know I’ve felt that already even in this first year. Any last words of encouragement for a mom reading this trying to do it all? 

You are not in a race. I don't know if there are any enneagram 3’s listening, but even just ambitious women, in general, can put so much self-imposed pressure to achieve and achieve quickly just to have these big outcomes and big numbers attached to their work. I know I’ve felt like that before. I’ve felt like I’m in a race and I don’t even remember who said “go”. I’m just running around. And then I remind myself, I get to set the pace. I choose what success looks like for my business. That's been something that's really been on my heart. I literally had it written down. 

Another bit of encouragement comes from a friend of mine. Just the other day she said, “You have to give yourself grace because your children are growing up and so are you”. I think too often we think of growing up ending when you turn eighteen. But it’s a lifelong process. 

 

EM: I absolutely love these reminders. I also love the rhyme “it’s not a race, you set the pace” - even though that’s not exactly what you said I think it’s a good way to remember it. I know when I was breastfeeding a million times a day, I was on my phone so often too. If I could add something to what you said, it would be to get off your phone. It’s easy to just consume, consume, consume, and that can be so detrimental to our minds without realizing it. I’ve made the conscious decision to stop scrolling Instagram so often and instead I will try reading on my Kindle app during that “down time” instead.  

 

Rapid Fire Questions with Joy Michelle

I know your podcast is newer, but you’ve been on Youtube forever. Which platform is your favorite?

This is like asking me to pick a favorite child - I love them for different reasons. YouTube is my firstborn. I owe so much of my business to that platform and it's incredible. Podcasting is like my new baby. If I had to choose, I guess I would say podcasting right now because it's fresh and it's fun and it's easier. Because it’s just audio, there is less getting ready and less post-production as well. I can just sit down - hair wet out of the shower - and hit record.

Have you thought about putting your podcast episodes on YouTube?

I have, but I'll be honest, I don't know how to be on camera and be looking at the camera while also speaking. It's still so new, we only have 20-something episodes up. So I think I'm hoping that I'll get to the point where it's seamless but we aren’t there yet. They're also different audiences. So there might be some topics where I will just double up and then there are some that I won't, but I'm still trying to figure that all out.

What’s an unpopular opinion you have about business?

This is a good question. I think, and this especially shows up in photography but it's probably pretty universal, I do not think that it's the most talented or creative business owners that win. I know so, so many talented photographers, but I think the business owners that are the most consistent and that lean hard into content marketing are the ones that ultimately win.

 

EM: I agree with that so much. I actually say that in my course Booked Out Designer that it’s not about being the best designer. It’s more about being able to sell and market yourself. 

 

What’s a book or resource on motherhood that’s impacted your business or life?

I love podcasts and there are a couple of podcasts that have really spoken to me in my motherhood journey. One of them is the Risen Motherhood podcast. Then, on the business side, I love the Boss Mom podcast. 

A book I love, not necessarily about motherhood, is called The Artist’s Way. I’m a huge, huge fan of that book. The book itself is like a 12-week course, and it's all about cultivating your own creativity, which I think when you become a mom, it can be easy to lose a sense of self a little bit. This book just really helped me dive back into “what do I love, what do I want, and what makes me happy?”. There are so many journal prompts inside. I had never really made time for journalling before and now I swear by it. To start the workday, I have to journal to clear my head. I never look back at my journals - it’s a hot mess - but it’s helpful for my brain. 

What do you journal when you start your workday?

It's kind of a mix. For the first couple of pages, I do “morning pages” where it's just a stream of consciousness. It's really just clearing out every thought or cobweb in your brain. I also notice in my pages that I often end up moving to business. I’ve been thinking through a lot of mindset blocks - like not having enough time or even mindset blocks on money. Sometimes, I have mindset blocks about what I can and can’t do in my business. Then it shows up in your journal and you’re like, what is that? That’s not real. If a student told me that, I’d tell them it’s not real. 

Read: Morning Journal Prompts to Start Your Day

How much time do you spend journaling when you start your workday?

Maybe 10 or 15 minutes. It's just a quick “I'm just going to fill a couple of pages”. It's so sloppy, but it just feels clearing. Then, I'll take a couple of minutes right after to think, “what do I need this day?”. What do I need to complete in order to feel like I did something more than responding to a million notifications?

 

A Final Note from Elizabeth on Being a Mom and a Business Owner

I absolutely loved this interview and if you are struggling being a mom and a business owner, I hope you did too. As I mentioned at the beginning, this podcast episode was originally recorded in August and I’ll be re-listening to this alongside you when it airs in 2023. I hope this interview blesses you and that you can step into your calling gracefully as a mama who feels called to both in 2023.

 

Want more from Joy Michelle? Here’s where you can find her.

I am @joyymichelle on Instagram or my website is joymichelle.co. I also share lots of motherhood and business content over on my podcast, Called to Both. If you're a photographer listening, I'd love to have you join me in the Photo Boss Facebook group as well. I share a ton of freebies and guides and videos about success as a photographer.

Looking for stock photo or stock video for your business? I recommend Haute Stock!

Thanks to our podcast sponsor, Haute Stock! Haute Stock is my favorite stock photo company, and I use their images ALL over my business. You can get 15% off your subscription with the referral code: ELIZABETH at checkout or by visiting this link: https://elizabethmccravy.com/hautestock

Links Mentioned:

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Check Out Booked Out Designer

Shop Showit Website Templates

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Connect with Joy on Instagram

Connect with Joy on her website

Book Recommendation: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

Book Recommendation: The Artist's Way

Hear Elizabeth on Joy’s Podcast, Called to Both - Episode #17: Blog Post  |  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify

if being a mom and business owner feels hard, listen to this interview with Joy Michelle photography
tips for balancing motherhood and entrpreneurship - being a mompreneur, an interview with Joy Michelle Photography

The post If Being a Mom and a Business Owner Feels Really Hard, Listen to This with Joy Michelle  appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/being-a-mom-and-a-business-owner/feed/ 0 6004 From Burnt Out to Booked Out: 4 Keys to Building an In-Demand Design Business That Won’t Drain You https://elizabethmccravy.com/in-demand-design-business-that-wont-drain-you/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/in-demand-design-business-that-wont-drain-you/#respond Tue, 11 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=5871 Designer friends, this is for you! If you’re feeling drained by your business or want a business that won’t drain you, these strategies I’m sharing will help. I’m going to teach some mindset tips, some super practical working with client tips, and even some marketing and productivity tips that will help you not be drained […]

The post From Burnt Out to Booked Out: 4 Keys to Building an In-Demand Design Business That Won’t Drain You appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 7 minutes

Designer friends, this is for you! If you’re feeling drained by your business or want a business that won’t drain you, these strategies I’m sharing will help. I’m going to teach some mindset tips, some super practical working with client tips, and even some marketing and productivity tips that will help you not be drained (or at least not as drained) by your business because you’re focused on the right things. These four tips are very particular things that have helped me in my business, some right now and others in past business seasons. 

If you’re not a designer, but work with clients in another way, listen up. There is plenty in this blog post for you, as a lot of what I’m sharing relates simply to businesses that work with clients. I hope this blog post encourages you wherever you are right now and pushes you toward taking action in your business to create a business you LOVE.

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 180!

1. Keep your eyes set on YOUR version of success.

Shiny object syndrome is everywhere, and when we're building our brand and website design businesses, we're likely learning from and following many different voices. Unfortunately, we often hear everyone else's version of success through Instagram, a podcast, or any other social platform. Hearing their stories can make us think we need to follow in their footsteps. 

I challenge you to figure out what success means for you in your current season. This can be the actual time of year or the current quarter. What success looks like in Q4 of 2022 will differ from success in Q4 of 2023. But, if you aim for your version of success, you’ll be MUCH happier in business.

For example, maybe you're a mom who wants to bring an extra $3K/month on one big design project. You primarily work during nap time or when you have childcare, which sounds fantastic. This will seem less glamorous than saying you have a six-figure business and a template shop that provides passive income. However, it could be your version of success that you need to lean into. 

In my own business lately, I've been working on ensuring I'm building a business that supports the lifestyle I want versus a business that looks like what I think it should look like. I'm not telling myself what I ‘should’ be doing. Instead, I'm thinking about how I want my business to support my life and family. I believe that means saying no to many things, not doing #allthethings, putting my family first, and being okay when I cannot work as much.

In the land of Instagram famous business owners and everyone sharing “behind the scenes” on their reels and stories, I just want to remind you… no good business is perfect. No growing business is ever perfect. And what you see on the front end is often just marketing. They might not even enjoy their version of success. So if you want a business that won’t drain you, don’t compare! 

If this all feels difficult, try implementing these tips:

  • Mute or unfollow accounts on Instagram that are causing you to question your version of success. You don't have to pay close attention to every competitor and business friend if it's distracting you or throwing you off course. For example, in my course, Booked Out Designer, we have an incredible community of designers who use a variety of platforms like Squarespace and Showit. They are business friends with each other. But if one of your business friends is distracting you from your version of success and making you feel like you should be doing what they're doing, it's okay to mute them.
  • Learn from educators and mentors who have similar values as you. Of course, their version of success doesn’t have to be the same as yours, BUT I’ve found that when you learn about business from people who are also doing “life outside of work,” in a value system that makes sense for you, you’re learning better business skills that fit your life and goals more. 
  • Don’t be on social media so much for consuming. Instead, pay attention to what triggers you, and do less of that. It's a great marketing tool for our businesses, but sometimes if we remove it, all that imposter syndrome and false obligation gets removed. 
  • Ask yourself this question: “If in 6 months you were to say, ‘That was the best six months of business ever.’ - what would have happened for you to make that true?

2. Set boundaries with your clients.

This is a massive part of what I talk about in my course, Booked Out Designer. I make a big deal out of this point because we often make excuses for ‘this client’ or ‘just this time’ regarding boundaries. This is a big mistake; it can make you resent your client and make you feel unnecessarily drained. You are the one who sets the boundaries for a project. It makes all the difference for your happiness in terms of your business. 

Boundaries can feel intense, but they mainly play out as you leading the project. You tell your clients how to communicate versus reacting to how they naturally communicate with you when given zero direction. Clients will appreciate having clear guidelines for communication because it helps them know what to expect. Your communication will also guide what they perceive as appropriate.

Some Things To Consider:

  • Will you text with clients?
  • Do they have Voxer/Slack access to you?
  • Do you email or only communicate over a project management system? (Check out what my team uses here)
  • Can they call you with questions whenever they want? 
  • Is your calendar always open for impromptu meetings? 

You may know the answer to these questions, but your client needs to know too. So ensure you are also communicating your turnaround time when they can expect messages from you, your office hours, when payments are due, and what happens if they pay late. The overall key here is clear communication.

So many people want to speak poorly about service businesses, usually to sell people on their course or program. Service businesses are excellent and can be great long-term. So many people will speak poorly of them because working with clients can be challenging and ‘take too much time.’ Having boundaries will help you build a design business that won't drain you.

3. Don’t box yourself into the 9-5 mentality that you have to work within certain hours or that your work should take X amount of time to complete.

I've mentioned this concept in recent posts like this one. So many of us come from corporate jobs where everyone's work requires 40 hours/week to complete. I see many new designers come in with a mentality that you must work 24/7 to achieve anything. I’m all about working smart and hard early on, which requires hustle a lot of the time, but if you want to avoid burnout, you have to focus on sustainability. 

A Few Practical Tips To Avoid Feeling Drained:

  • If you plan to work at night, do it deliberately rather than surrounding yourself with distractions. If you go into it simply working because you're bored, you won't get as much done. Doing this once or twice a week is much healthier than keeping your laptop open all day. 
  • When you’re done with work for the day, close your laptop or shut down your computer and say “All Done” or “Work Finished” OUT LOUD! I got this idea from Nancy Ray on episode 154 of her podcast. I do this every day, and I love it. Something about saying this out loud helps me! 
  • Schedule your time, what you will work on, and when you will work on it. This will keep you from working aimlessly or frantically. When you're busy, this will help you get things done. On the other hand, when you don't have much to do, you shouldn't work aimlessly simply because it's ‘working hours.’

Check Out Other Episodes About Time Management And Scheduling:

4. Work with clients who you respect, who respect YOU and your prices, and who you feel good about serving.

You might think, “Elizabeth, that sounds so dreamy, but it's hard to find clients like that.” My course, Booked Out Designer, can help you find dream clients that would love to work with you. It's just about finding them, marketing to them, and having the systems to bring more of them into your business.

Our student Facebook group for Booked Out Designer, is a spot where people who've all taken the course can ask questions and receive continual support. A few weeks ago, I saw two posts from students celebrating firing a client or saying no to a client with red flags. It feels funny to celebrate, but this is what it looks like to build a business that won’t drain you.

We've all had or will have clients at some point that you will want to fire. Maybe they're challenging to work with, don't respect your time and skill, or make a million revisions. Whatever the case, we can get distracted by dollar signs and ignore red flags. If it's going to drain you or keep you from growing your business, it is ok to fire a client or reject a project. We are simply making room for a better-suited client to come along.

I’ve seen this happen with Booked Out Designer students. They let go of a bad client and find another, much more aligned, client to work with. In the course, there is an entire video on red flags to watch out for on discovery calls. At some point, most designers will have a ‘nightmare client.’ That doesn't mean you or the client are a terrible person. It might just mean that you guys are not well suited to work together. This is a learning experience for you in your design business. It does not mean you failed.

I invite you to check out my Guide To Mastering Discovery Calls For Designers here. It will help you prepare for discovery calls to book better clients and set you up nicely to lead and be confident on calls as you sell.

Recap Of The Tips We Covered:

  1. Keep your eyes set on YOUR version of success.
  2. Set boundaries with your clients.
  3. Don’t box yourself into the 9-5 mentality that you have to work within certain hours or that your work should take X amount of time to complete.
  4. Work with clients who you respect, who respect YOU and your prices, and who you feel good about serving.

Episodes Mentioned:

177: Try These 5 Strategies to Get More Done with Your Limited Time in the 1st Year of Motherhood and Business. 

163: Quit Wasting Time: 7 Strategies To Protect Your Calendar And Schedule Meetings Like A Pro 

160: Powerful Productivity And Time Management Secrets For The Busy Working Mom (From Some Amazing Entrepreneurial Women!)

159: Multiple 5-Figure Months with Part-Time Work Hours — HOW?!

Links Mentioned:

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Get The Designers Guide To Mastering Discovery Calls

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

Shop Showit Website Templates

4in-demand-design-business-elizabeth-mccravy
in-demand-design-business-elizabeth-mccravy

The post From Burnt Out to Booked Out: 4 Keys to Building an In-Demand Design Business That Won’t Drain You appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/in-demand-design-business-that-wont-drain-you/feed/ 0 5871 From Cabinet Maker to Multi-Six-Figure/Year Website Design Business with Josh Hall  https://elizabethmccravy.com/six-figure-website-design-business-josh-hall/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/six-figure-website-design-business-josh-hall/#respond Tue, 27 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=5852 I’m so excited to have fellow website designer Josh Hall on the podcast today. Josh is a web designer turned educator for designers, and he’s bringing the good stuff today! Josh and I jump all over the place from his business story to his advice for scaling your web design business, maintenance plans, messaging as […]

The post From Cabinet Maker to Multi-Six-Figure/Year Website Design Business with Josh Hall  appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 15 minutes

I’m so excited to have fellow website designer Josh Hall on the podcast today. Josh is a web designer turned educator for designers, and he’s bringing the good stuff today! Josh and I jump all over the place from his business story to his advice for scaling your web design business, maintenance plans, messaging as designers, time management, fatherhood, and so much more. 

Josh built his business to 6-figures/year as a solopreneur, and we talked extensively about this journey and the exact HOW of him doing this. We also discuss his journey as a cabinet maker by day and drummer by night in 2009 to starting his freelance website design business journey. He built his web design career as a solopreneur from 2010-2016 and scaled his web design agency up before selling it in the summer of 2020 to focus full-time on teaching others how to build their website design businesses. 

Josh and I had so much fun chatting together. We did back-to-back interviews for both of our podcasts. First, I interviewed him, and then he interviewed me. So all together, we chatted for about 3 hours. Hear my interview on Josh's Podcast! Listen on: YouTube  | Apple Podcast  |  Spotify

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 178!

Josh Hall’s Business Story

Josh is an online course creator who helps people build their dream website design business. In addition, he is the host of the Website Design Business Podcast. Before starting his personal brand, though, he was a solopreneur and web designer for a decade. 

Josh shares that his path to web design was anything but typical. “I was a cabinet maker for a tour bus customizing shop. I was also a drummer in a rock band at that time. So I was kind of a weekend warrior in a rock band. I was always interested in art, and I was always interested in design. We were playing a festival, and a guy asked me one time, how much would you charge to design art t-shirt stuff? This was a lightbulb moment because I realized I could make money at something I enjoyed doing.” Eventually, Josh got into graphic and web design and started his own business. 

How ‘Unrelated’ Skills Can Transfer To Your Business

Josh believes it is vital to lean into your background. Even unrelated things can help you in business, as a web designer, and as an online entrepreneur. With cabinet making, Josh explains that precision is everything. If something is slightly off, you'll hear about it from your client, just like web design. 

 

Josh Hall’s Offers at The Beginning of His Business

Josh started out doing a little bit of everything. His first business card is still on the website; you can find it here. In the early days of his website design business, Josh explains, “When I designed MySpace pages, it was before WordPress. I learned to build websites on Dream Weaver. So I was doing pure code, which was awful. And I hated it. Because I was also doing graphic design, I made cards, brochures, flyers, door hangers, and t-shirts.” 

When Josh created his first business card, he did drum lessons as a side gig. So his card said, “Websites, graphic design, drum lessons.” Once he started getting real clients, it dawned on him that keeping his drum lessons on the card was irrelevant to his offer. Over time, Josh transitioned away from graphic design to focus entirely on his website design business. 

Niching Down As a Website Designer

Josh believes that even though he could have made more money if he had niched down sooner, it taught him a lot about the value of being specific with your offer. Now, as an online educator, he can warn people about waiting to niche down and how costly that can be in the long run. 

Most people start out offering everything they are interested in doing. Over time, you can see what you're best at and pursue that alone. Despite stepping away from graphic design, Josh believes this helped his web design career. He shares, “I would do business cards for a company, and they would say, ‘Oh, you do websites; we need website help.’ I also had a lot of brochure jobs that led to excellent website jobs.” 

Josh remembers a precise moment when working on a $250 business card: his web design projects were making him thousands and Josh realized his time was better spent there. This was when he shifted his focus. A quote emphasizing this says, “What got me here, won't get me there.” 

 

How Josh Hall Got His First Paying Client + His Advice For New Designers

His first clients were within his network, from T-shirt design jobs in his band days. After that, Josh made it known to everyone that he was doing website design for business. He shared that he still sees referrals from the first few times he shared about his website design business. 

Josh shares, “I know so many people are curious about how to start getting clients. The easiest way to do it at first is to start with who you already know because of who they know. If you post on Instagram or Facebook saying you do websites now, maybe some of your friends and family will be interested. They're probably not going to be your best clients, but they may know a hundred other people in their professional networks that need web design.” 

One of Josh’s first paying clients, a construction company, came from Craigslist. It was his first experience trying out an ad. He primarily received ‘junk’ messages, but this one was real. He ended up doing brochures for them and eventually designing their website. He continued to work with them for years after that. 

Josh reminds us that if your marketing language makes you sound cheap, you will likely only get cheap clients. You will want to get to a place where you can charge premium prices that keep you in business and attract good clients. Your messaging makes a massive difference in the clients you attract. 

Even in a networking group, Josh explains the importance of your marketing, “In a networking group with 20 people, if I say, ‘I'm Josh, and I do cheap websites,’ I will only attract the people just starting, with little to no budget. But if I say, ‘I’m Josh. I build websites that help convert and grow your business,’ that will attract a whole other serious business person. They will be much more willing to invest 2,000 to $15,000+ for websites, if it grows their business.”

If you start talking about what a website can do for your clients early on, you will land more clients than simply saying you build websites. If you can share how your websites are built to help them increase traffic and turn visitors into customers, this will help the client see your work as necessary. 

How Josh Learned Business in The Beginning

Josh shares that he did not start by investing in courses or training to help him develop the correct business mindset. Reading a lot of business books shaped his perspective the most. At first, he felt like he was fumbling around. But, before hitting six figures, Josh knew he had to get serious about what he enjoyed doing and what would truly help his clients.  

[Are you a new designer starting your web design business? Check out this post with the top 3 myths new designers believe about business.]

What It Looked Like For Josh Hall to Build His Business to Six-Figures

Josh scaled on a small level and did not consider his business an ‘agency’. This helped his clients feel more confident in him because agencies had burned many in the past. In the beginning, it was 100% Josh doing all the work. Along the way, he had friends and the occasional subcontractor come in and help. 

Josh shares an impactful quote from Free Time By Jenny Blake “There is no reward for wearing all the hats in your business other than burnout.” You may feel your work has to be hard, success should be challenging, and you must do everything yourself. The problem is that you will burn out and stop enjoying the business you started with the intention of loving what you do. 

Josh elaborates on his outsourcing process, saying, “I got to a point where custom contracting became important. I was in the WordPress world and used a builder called Divvy. I ended up finding a contractor who was awesome and started building websites. I was essentially doing all the sales and project management, and then he started building sites. I ended up giving him more roles, and then eventually I started scaling it a little bit more to the point where I was just at the end of the agency, just focused on sales and getting projects started.”

However, Josh did achieve six figures on his own. This was due in large part to his maintenance plan. When he learned the power of recurring income, he began offering a  maintenance plan that became the bottom line for his business. This grew month over month and brought many people back for additional work. Eventually, he increased his prices, pushing his website design business to six figures. You need high ticket services and streams of recurring income to see high-level growth. 

What is a Maintenance Plan for Website Designers?

Early on, Josh had a mentor who told him to start charging around $39/month to update plugins for his clients. Josh didn't initially think anyone would go for it, but he realized many business owners don't want to touch their sites or mess with them. So instead, they'll willingly pay someone else to update the website monthly. 

Josh learned, “With maintenance plans, it is ideal to wrap in hosting as well on the WordPress side, because as a web designer, you almost become a ‘webmaster’, and you're going to get a call if they have a domain issue or a hosting issue. So you might as well charge for it. I'm sure everyone's had the situation where you get a call from somebody who can't remember their domain information, or they're trying to set up an email or something, and you're probably doing free work. So that's what I put in my maintenance plan.”

Eventually, Josh learned that it's extremely powerful to have a few different tiers of maintenance for your different types of clients. For example, a local business is not going to need much maintenance. However, an eCommerce shop is a whole other ball game. They will need you in their corner every month. 

Creating an Offer to Retain Clients on Other Web Design Platforms

Josh has a lot of students now who have been through his maintenance plan course who don't use WordPress. Many people will call it a “care” or “optimization plan” instead of a maintenance one. Aside from the WordPress world, you can update plugins and other things. You can also offer general website optimization. You could provide SEO services in a maintenance plan, like adding alt text on images and other technical stuff you need to do for better results.

In terms of high-end monthly services, Josh suggests adding additional pages each month, adding more features to their site, and helping with blog posts, content, copywriting, and messaging. You could also offer conversion and traffic management for things like their email list. It’s also important to blend the right services. For example, you might not want to offer general hosting with SEO because hosting is more likely to be a constant need. 

Clients want to have their web person. If you can be that person for them, they will pay you to stick around, and you can eventually build great relationships with them. If you can give your clients results, they'll pay you more, and they'll pay you consistently. 

Need help booking clients as a designer?

Hey Designer! I created my freebie, the Designer's Guide to Mastering Discovery Calls, exactly for you to help you book more clients. This PDF guide will walk you through how not to dread discovery calls with potential clients, how to feel confident because you know what to say and do, and how to book dream clients on these calls with some of my best client booking tips. It's absolutely free! 

Figuring Out a Price Range For Website Maintenance Plans

Josh says you'll see people charging $39/month for basic updates on the low end. He recommends starting closer to $49/month because most people will be willing to pay that much. The three average tiers would be $50, $99, and $149. You might also create a top level that costs anywhere from $199 to $499. The higher price points are the place to put additional add-ons, so people never turn off the services they need. 

Josh Hall’s Advice for Finding The Right Team Members

The hardest thing Josh has seen with scaling is giving up control. This is especially true when you've always been the one who does everything in your business. When you begin to scale, you will have to give up pieces of control. Josh emphasized that to start, you give your subcontractors smaller tasks and let them figure it out. One of the keys to hiring in web design is finding someone who loves to learn and can figure things out. 

Josh shares a personal example: "I would lay out the design for the homepage, the main pages, and the main design elements. Then I would have him fill in everything else. So if I had the main page, the header, the footer, and one service page done, I might have him create the about us, the rest of the services pages off of that template, the contact page, fill in content and get some stuff from the client. So I could tag team with my contractor and get the whole website done.” 

Eventually, Josh gave his contractor more and more control of the project as they moved forward. Finally, it got to the point where Josh would get the website's strategy, ideas, and visions and then turn it over to him. Eventually, some of the designs in Josh's agency portfolio were designed entirely by his contractor. It took them about two years to get to that point. Josh adds, “I know it's tricky because you'll pay more per build. But if you save time and free up yourself to run and grow your business and get better clients, you'll make much more money quickly.” 

What it Looked Like For Josh Hall to Build And Sell His Agency

Josh says, “I think it's probably obvious now I fumbled into business. I did not have a five-year plan and started my web design agency to scale and sell it. When I started my business, my goal was to become a web designer and get a job at an agency. But because I was starting to make some money, I realized that if I made this a business, I could probably make six figures. And I did, but I did not have a long-term goal or vision. At the time when I started scaling, I had started teaching. Teaching just became such a passion project for me. The fifth anniversary of starting my personal brand website just passed.”

Josh started because he loved answering questions in the online groups he was a part of. He began to post tutorials for using WordPress and Divvy on Youtube. When Josh started getting into course creation, it took off for him. At this point, he wasn't doing much in his website design business anymore. He was mainly making sales and kicking off projects. Eventually, Josh reached the ‘seven-year itch’ period in his business. He realized he was making more money creating online courses and no longer had the time to create content while running his primary business. 

Josh knew he had to choose where to go next. He consulted a student who had reached six figures in his own business and discussed what it would look like to go to the next level. This student ended up being the one to buy out the agency from Josh. Josh retains a consultant role in the business, knowing his clients are well taken care of. Despite not feeling burned out from the business, he knew his interest had shifted to courses and teaching and chose to go in that direction.

Josh describes the benefits of his current role, saying, “I'm really happy with how that all worked out because I still am an agency founder. I still have a foot in the door with what's going on and what isn’t working. A lot of that relays directly to my students now, which is cool. So it's kind of the best of both worlds.” 

Josh says that if you’re considering selling your business, you need to make it a point to create recurring income. Otherwise, you end up selling a job and a few leads, which are not high value since many of Josh’s clients then needed their website redesigned, which was a perfect support plan to keep the business going. 

What It Was Like to Transition to Being an Educator

Josh says, “It’s a unique skill set to sell and build a personal brand online. It differs from networking in person and being a service provider.” While being a designer is hugely fulfilling, Josh and I agree that it’s nice to have more control over your personal brand and not have to wait on clients to complete a project. It’s a different form of selling than direct services. 

Josh explains that a benefit of working in design is learning to complete projects under time constraints. When he first stepped into his brand full-time, Josh found it challenging to focus on specific things and get them done on time. You have to set your deadlines and be strict with yourself when you move away from client work. 

With something like a course, you will need to come up with a due date for yourself. One way to do this is a pre-launch. If you know people need this content by a specific day/time, you can get it done on time. 

 

Josh Hall’s Experience Selling His First Course for Website Designers

Due to a difficult season of life when his daughter was first born, Josh relied on the income from his maintenance plans to support his family. This led him to create a maintenance plan course and see how he felt about course creation. He didn’t have a complete plan yet, but he knew he loved teaching and wanted to pursue that. 

Josh shared every detail of his maintenance plan, processes, the back and forth of selling a maintenance plan, and how he sealed the deal. This was a game changer for his business, and he brought in 82 students in the first round. 

 

Josh Hall’s Tips For Managing Your Offers

Josh shared, “I am pivoting slightly to higher tier programs that are a little more confined as far as my offers. A lot of my prime example students have gone through all the courses. They learn web design and start getting clients; they build their businesses and recurring income. What I have realized is that I'm at a point where I’m refining who I'm serving.”

Josh knows his passion is for teaching business rather than teaching web design. This will help him combine and condense his offers to be as relevant as possible. The business is headed toward specific offers at a higher level to give the highest quality education possible.

How Much Time Josh Hall Spends on Pieces of His Business

Josh’s business structure takes a few different forms. He has courses you can purchase and do entirely on your own. He has a support center for all of his students. His membership, The Web Design Club, is a community of like-minded business owners helping each other grow and scale. Within the membership, there are monthly pieces of training where members can communicate with Josh directly. He says this takes around 10 hours a week, and it’s his favorite thing to do. 

Josh noticed a need for a membership structure when he saw many people go through his courses, find success, and never share that with him. In a membership, however, he’s been able to build deeper relationships with students. Josh learned that backing up your business offers with a subscription will help you see the results your customers get more clearly. 

Rapid Fire Questions

What is Your Unpopular Web Design Opinion?

“There are so many people who are obsessed with site speed, and speed is essential. However, my site does not load very quickly, and I have no issues. So many people will add different CDNs or cloud flares and all these optimization plugins. And then they often conflict with each other, and it can be a big problem.

Now I'm not against those things. And I recommend the basics of speed, but I would say so many people will say, ‘Your website's slow. You need to speed it up.’ Yes, but don't let speed overshadow usability. One of my close colleagues has an agency in Nebraska. Their site is super slow. But all their clients are in Nebraska. And it's not that big of a deal. They have a high conversion rate with a very slow site. So, speed is important, but don't let that overshadow a well-laid out, usable site.”

 

What is Your Unpopular Business Opinion?

“Most people in business just harp on productivity. Particularly if anyone comes out of a corporate job, you're probably used to being a machine and getting as much as you can done in a certain amount of time.

What I've found to be way more critical in the online entrepreneurial world than productivity is priority. What you're working toward is way more important than what you're working on potentially.  

Think about what you want to do over the next few months and what you want your days to look like. This will help you prioritize all your offers and everything you're doing in your business, and then you can be productive in the time you allow. Just don’t be productive because you feel like you should be working! This might end up being costly in the long run. 

That's why I scaled to six figures a lot slower than many of my students because I didn't sit back and think and prioritize my best services and what I wanted to get out of my business.”

 

Josh Hall’s Tip For Working From Home

“I would just say plan for the days not to be perfect, like having scheduled times where you have a call or a deep work segment. It's very rare if you work from home that you're going to work eight hours straight; interruptions will occur. You might do a work segment and have a little one to take care of. So I would say you need to embrace the chaos. Don't expect things to be perfect.

There have been times on my podcast, especially in the earlier episodes, where you will hear my daughters going a little wild in the background. I could go into loads of tips, but honestly, right now, embracing the chaos and just expecting it not to be perfect is essential. Otherwise, you're going to feel like this is just impossible. You're going to feel overwhelmed, but it's just what it is.

That's one of the significant benefits of the website design business. You can 100% work near your kids and be involved as much as you want. You can align your projects and your deadlines and your day, and just get a lot done in the segments you have for work.”

 

What Impactful Business Book Are You Reading Right Now?

“I'm reading Free Time By Jenny Blake. That book has already really helped me. It helped me realize I'm doing a lot of things that I shouldn't be doing if I'm going to get to the next level for what I envision in my business. So I've gotta give up a little more control and dish that out.”

If you enjoyed this blog post and interview with Josh, I invite you to check out my online course and coaching program for designers, Booked Out Designer.

In this program, I teach you how to build a successful, in-demand, booked out business. As a designer, you'll learn everything from the exact experience I take my clients through to things like figuring out your niche, mastering discovery calls, pricing your services for profit, creating contracts that won’t cause you legal troubles, and my exact social media strategies to book clients.

You can even watch recordings of me in meetings with my clients. So you can learn through what you're seeing. We take things you're learning on this podcast. And so many topics I never even cover on the podcast, and deep dive into them.

So, in addition to this fantastic nine-module course, filled with over 90 lessons, you get group coaching calls with me and access to an exclusive Facebook community of designers, just like you. You'll always find me there, ready to help you out with any business question you have. Click here to get info on the course and see when the doors will be opening again. I hope to be able to coach you and teach you inside of the course soon.

Links Mentioned:

Hear my interview on Josh's Podcast! Listen on: YouTube  | Apple Podcast  |  Spotify

Get The Guide to Mastering Discovery Calls Freebie

Connect with Josh on Instagram

Check out Josh Hall's Website 

Check out the Web Design Business Podcast

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

Shop Showit Website Templates

cabinet-maker-to-multiple-six-figure-design-business-josh-hall-elizabeth-mccravy
cabinet-maker-to-multiple-six-figure-design-business-josh-hall-elizabeth-mccravy

The post From Cabinet Maker to Multi-Six-Figure/Year Website Design Business with Josh Hall  appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/six-figure-website-design-business-josh-hall/feed/ 0 5852 The 3 Biggest Myths about Starting a Brand and Website Design Business  https://elizabethmccravy.com/web-design-business-myths/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/web-design-business-myths/#respond Tue, 02 Aug 2022 05:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=5788 This one's for you: brand designers, website designers, and people who want to be brand and website designers. When you're first starting a design business, it can be confusing what you need to do and how to do it. If you went to college for design, they likely did not teach you any of this […]

The post The 3 Biggest Myths about Starting a Brand and Website Design Business  appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 6 minutes

This one's for you: brand designers, website designers, and people who want to be brand and website designers. When you're first starting a design business, it can be confusing what you need to do and how to do it. If you went to college for design, they likely did not teach you any of this business stuff in college.

You might be struggling with confidence that you can do this thing solo. Maybe you're a self-taught designer, and that can come with all kinds of doubts. A lot is going on, and it can be overwhelming.

First, I want to say: You've got this. You've chosen an excellent, fun, exciting, and much-needed field to go into. You're going to love having a design business.

But, there are plenty of myths about starting and running a successful business as a designer. These myths are likely holding you back from getting going, getting clients, and making money as a designer.

This blog is all about BUSTING the three design business myths I commonly see new designers (and even more seasoned designers) believing. These myths could be holding you back from booking clients and seeing results. 

What we're covering in this article

Myth #1: Finding clients will be easy if you're a good designer.
Myth #2 You have to have everything ready to go systems-wise before you book your first client.
Myth #3 Your website needs to be perfect because you are a designer.

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 171!

My gift to you:

Marketing is a huge part of running a successful design business. You have to get clients somehow, right? So I've scooped one of my favorite lessons from my course, Booked Out Designer, and I'm giving it to you for FREE.

Click HERE to watch a training on Magnetic Marketing Principles for Designers and get some foundations to build your design marketing on. You'll also see what else is included in the course, some student testimonials, and more. Yep, all free — no credit card required. Get the free lesson here!

Myth #1: Finding clients will be easy if you're a good designer.

We're starting with a sad myth that reminds us that the truth isn't always fun. We often believe this myth because we WANT it to be true. The truth is, you have to market.

Some of the best designers are broke and do not book any clients. Why? They are great at design but not so great at marketing. No matter the type of business you're in, you need to be able to market and sell your services. 

Having great design skills IS beneficial and essential and will help with marketing. However, some people want to believe their skills and work will speak for themselves, and they leave it at that. People WILL see your work is excellent, but there is more to it.

As someone who has been freelancing or owning my design business for over ten years, I've seen countless amazing designers have to quit their business because they're not booking any clients.

They think it's because they aren't good at design, but that's not it! They just don't know how to FIND clients, which is an entirely different skill. 

The Office GIF

If you need help with marketing and learning how to find clients when starting a design business, my course, Booked Out Designer, is excellent for this. You likely already have the skills and desire to be a designer, but you may need help with the marketing and business skills you didn't learn in design school.

Myth #2: You must have everything ready to go systems-wise before you book your first client.

This is FALSE! You don't have to have everything sorted out or have all your fancy backend systems ready in order to book your first client. It is scary to start working with someone and have them pay you, and there is a lot of mindset work to be done there.

For that reason, I have two complete trainings in Booked Out Designer on mindset + a mindset coach who works with students inside the course. 

Often as designers, we put off getting paid for our designs because we think we need to have it all figured out before we start booking clients.

For example, you might feel like you need a client process thoroughly planned out before taking on your first client. You may also think you need your exact package suite figured out.

control giphy

Whatever it is, you procrastinate because you feel you need to have it all done. Sometimes it's intentional because you’re nervous, but other times it's accidental because it seems like the right thing to do.

Whatever boat you're in, I'm here to tell you that you don't have to have your whole client process figured out before your first client. Even if you're determined to start with it all figured out, you'll likely change parts of it once you have your first client.

When you're mapping it out, it's all just theory. Then, when you do finally work with a client, you'll realize things didn't work how you wanted them to, or you'll see how they could be done better.

My advice is to figure out the process WITH your first client. Focus your energy on getting that first client. You can come in with a general plan and package, but then just DO IT. Record what you do and how it goes to save as a template for next time.

But do it WITH the first client. Just starting a design business can feel so complicated and intimidating. You've got this; your first few clients will probably be more gracious than you think.

Additional Resources:

Curious about what my life was really like when I started my design business? Check out this blog post for the full story.
Check out Dubsado, the CRM I use for my lead to client process, and get 30% off!

Myth #3: Your website needs to be perfect because you are a designer.

This applies to starting a design business, but it also applies once you’re a more seasoned designer. As designers, we can feel that our design work for our business has to be perfect.

You have to get away from this mindset. If you're a designer, you know that designing for yourself can feel impossible. 

A few things can cause this. First, you're not limited by clients' abilities, so it is tempting to do more complicated stuff. Second, you like all the different styles and vibes, and you don't know which suits your brand. Third, changing things around is easy, so you want to tweak things constantly.  

Designing for yourself is HARD, but it is not impossible. You have to practice “self-control” and resist the urge to change things constantly. The best way to do this is by knowing that your brand will never feel perfect.

There will always be changes you can make, but it doesn't have to be perfect, and it likely won't ever be. Your website is not the only thing that speaks to your skills. Put your client work front and center on your site because it says even more about your skill level. 

Don't obsess over your site, especially your first site. Let it grow and evolve as your business grows! In the first year, you'll probably make tons of changes to it anyway because your business offer will develop so much. Whatever is in your portfolio will be tweaked a good bit in the first year.

So don't obsess over perfection; get something up and start finding clients. Believing it has to be perfect can be another form of procrastination. It may be good to see if it's a mindset thing. Ask yourself, "Is there something else you're scared of? Are you scared of putting yourself out there?"

TO RECAP:

Myth #1: Finding clients will be easy if you're a good designer. 

Myth #2 You have to have everything ready to go systems-wise before you book your first client. 

Myth #3 Your website needs to be perfect because you are a designer.

So those are the three myths! I'm curious, which one do you struggle with the most? Do you disagree with any of those? Send me a message on Instagram or comment on this blog post, and let’s chat about it! To the new designers- you've got this! Enjoy the early days and have fun with it! You're jumping into a fun and much-needed field! 

And if you are a designer, check out that sample I mentioned at the beginning of this blog post from my course Booked Out Designer HERE. You can learn the magnetic marketing principles to begin doing the necessary work in starting a design business. This will give you a head start on booking clients to generate revenue.

Also, check out Booked Out Designer and learn about the course through the sample lessons HERE. You can join anytime you feel ready. It truly is a holistic course on building a successful design business. Inside, you get 90 amazing lessons, access to our Facebook community where you can ask questions to other designers and me, and bi-monthly coaching calls with me. The results are amazing, and it's LESS than the cost of a college class. Over 100 students will tell you, it’s totally worth it!

Episodes Mentioned:

Episode 125

Episode 24

Episode 165

 

Links Mentioned:

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Get on the Breakthrough Brand All Access waitlist

Get the FREE discovery call guide for designers

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

Shop Showit Website Templates

3web-design-myths-elizabeth-mccravy-pinterest
4web-design-myths-elizabeth-mccravy-pinterest

The post The 3 Biggest Myths about Starting a Brand and Website Design Business  appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/web-design-business-myths/feed/ 0 5788 4 Signs That It’s TIME for Mentorship in Your Business  https://elizabethmccravy.com/4-signs-you-need-a-business-mentorship-program/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/4-signs-you-need-a-business-mentorship-program/#respond Tue, 21 Jun 2022 05:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=5741 Does your business need a mentor? I'm talking about a coach, a person in your corner who can help you out and that you can consistently learn from. Let's find out. In this blog, I'm walking you through 4 signs that it is time for a mentor, plus how a business mentorship program can help […]

The post 4 Signs That It’s TIME for Mentorship in Your Business  appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 4 minutes

Does your business need a mentor? I'm talking about a coach, a person in your corner who can help you out and that you can consistently learn from. Let's find out. In this blog, I'm walking you through 4 signs that it is time for a mentor, plus how a business mentorship program can help you achieve solopreneur success. I believe that having a mentor is a HUGE key to business growth and getting unstuck. I hope this will give you some clarity around whether or not a mentor would be helpful.

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 166!

1. You're getting input and advice from a ton of places but not taking much action.

Free content is SERIOUSLY the best. I love it and create a lot of it! I love listening to business podcasts and other content, like so many of you guys. Chances are, you listen to quite a few business podcasts and receive tons of free information. You might also buy lots of courses or grab free eBooks all the time. 

Either way, you're getting so many different opinions and voices, which can be super overwhelming, even if every voice adds value. The struggle is that you don't know what to implement, where, and how to make it all work. 

I'm not here to tell you to eliminate all the voices or stop consuming quality content. BUT you need a place to consume AND implement what you're learning with a good mentor as your guide! If finally getting actionable guidance sounds like the perfect solution, a business mentorship program would be perfect! In Breakthrough Brand All Access, the focus is on streamlined learning on the go while still implementing what you learn! 

schitts-creek-david-rose

2. You want to grow your business to the next level. And you feel like you just need more help from someone who has already done it to hit the next big goal in your business.

Whether reaching your next big goal looks like booking your first client or launching your first course, you might feel like you need a little (or a big) boost! 

If, in this stage of your business, you feel like you need:

  • Encouragement.
  • Step-by-step advice from someone who has done it.
  • The ability to ask questions.
  • The secrets to making it all work....

Friend, you're ready for some mentorship! 

A commonly missed key to real growth in your business is getting outside input and advice from a coach instead of looking to yourself, your team, or your free Facebook group! 

In my business mentorship program, Breakthrough Brand All Access, I'm ready to be your coach, mentor, and friend who is a few steps ahead — however, you want to phrase it. Inside, we are going through ALL the parts and stages of running a business together! There will be content for those just starting out and those who are advanced and want to scale even more.

Here's what you should know about me as a coach: I successfully and sustainably grew MY business, right? I was able to provide the finances to start our real estate business and not burn out along the way. BUT, I also know how to give advice and apply things directly to your business!

Whether you've been loving the podcast from day 1 or you've recently binged all the episodes, this membership will be the 'turnt up' version of everything you get from me right now. That means access to me, more pieces of training directly for your business, and a community as well! 

working together as a team to work one day per week

 3. You find yourself with a ton of questions but no one to ask.

If you're regularly full of questions that feel too complicated for google or the free Facebook groups you're in, you need mentorship. You NEED someone to ask those questions to and get honest feedback. You need a space to say, "I know this is kind of complicated, but here's my big question…". 

This is where having a mentor is perfect because you can get your hard questions heard, and they can follow up with their own questions. You can then have a real conversation with them to problem solve and get directive feedback that goes way beyond the free content you're used to. 

This is a HUGE part of my mentorship program. It plays out in a few ways:

1. You can submit a question any time for me to answer in the member content. There's a form for you to submit your questions. I'll respond on our member-only private podcast, where all the training materials live! This is a way for you to get me to teach exactly what you want help with. 

2. You can ask those complicated questions in the membership community. You can post what you need help with and get my feedback and feedback from others in the membership. 

3. You can ask me questions on our group coaching calls where we do back and forth responding and conversation to solve your problems and get you clarity! 

4. You feel burnt out and unsure how to move forward in business.

A mentor will make a difference if you're feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, and exhausted by your business. Or maybe you're not burnt out, you're actually excited, but you just feel like you need help from a mentor to take your business to the next level. Mentorship adds clarity while scaling and growing. 

im-tired-crying

YES OR NO?

Do you find yourself getting input and advice from a ton of places but not taking as much action as you need to?

Do you want to grow your business to the next level?

Do you have lots of business questions but no one to ask them to?

Are you feeling burnt out like something has to change, and you're unsure what steps to take next?

Links Mentioned:

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

Shop Showit Website Templates

5Signs-you-need-a-mentor-pinterest
2Signs-you-need-a-mentor-pinterest

The post 4 Signs That It’s TIME for Mentorship in Your Business  appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/4-signs-you-need-a-business-mentorship-program/feed/ 0 5741 Here’s What My Life Actually Looked like When I Was Starting My Business (PLUS 5 Things I Know Now That I Wish I Knew Then)  https://elizabethmccravy.com/5-essential-beginner-business-lessons/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/5-essential-beginner-business-lessons/#respond Tue, 14 Jun 2022 05:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=5722 A detailed look into the scrappy start of my online business from quitting my first ever 9-to-5 at 22 to becoming a nanny, then starting my business as a side hustle!

The post Here’s What My Life Actually Looked like When I Was Starting My Business (PLUS 5 Things I Know Now That I Wish I Knew Then)  appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 11 minutes

We’re walking down memory lane today, back to 2015 when I first quit my job and then the process of starting my business. As a business owner who has been in it for a while, it can be easy to forget to share about the early days because you get so focused on what’s going on now. So, this isn’t going to be one of those “I was at the bottom, now I’m here!” stories. But, I do want to just share with you what things were like when I was freelancing and in the early days of making my business official. So, I’m sharing the story of it all, what an actual day in my life was like, and my top tips for business owners!

You’ll learn about things like what our family’s finances were like back then, all the side hustles I did to make money while building my business, my work days between all the odd jobs, and more! I’m even sharing details from a document I wrote in 2015 titled “Ideas for $ freelancing.” 

If you’re in that first year of business ownership, thinking of starting a business soon, or are freelancing and unsure what to do next, I hope this encourages and motivates you in your journey! And if you’ve been at it a lot longer, I hope this will be a fun get to know each other better episode for you. I’ll also be sharing throughout this episode 5 different tips for the early days — those things I WISH I knew back then as a new business owner that I know now and that I want you to know! 

L I S T E N  T O  T H I S  E P I S O D E  N O W:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 165!

Quitting My Job and Looking for Another Job

I’m not going to share the story of my first job, quitting it, and why I quit it, mainly because it has already been told! (Click here to read about it in my very FIRST podcast episode) Leaving my job in 2015 led me on the path to my business! If you’re curious about what the first job was, I worked at a corporate ad agency, doing design work on medical ads. I worked mainly with Illustrator and After Effects, one of my favorite programs (even though it's commonly disliked among designers). 

I was working typical corporate hours, sitting at a desk all day - even when there was no work to do, and slowly being driven crazy! I WAS freelancing while at this job already, which came from my college internship turned first job (remote work for a PR agency in California). 

When I decided to quit, I thought I’d have time to find another job before being out on my own. However, I had no plans to start a business once I left. I loved my freelance work and had tons of fun doing it (not to mention the side income!), but I planned just to find another corporate job ultimately. 

Once I looked in the company handbook and saw that the company required 30-day notice, I felt confident that I could find another job before leaving the company. Instead, I left JOB LESS. No more steady income or hours in the office.  

Leaving that job made me feel so light and free and excited. I got home, went for a walk (one of my favorite ways to think and relax), and felt ALL the feelings about the choice I had just made! I started my first day of unemployment, applying for every job in sight! I had the skills and experience to work in social media marketing, ad agencies, and PR agencies. This started a season of a LOT of applying and waiting. 

In the early days of my business, I didn't even know I was starting a business! I found one of our budget spreadsheets from 2015, and in those days, we did all of our budgeting in Google sheets! Together, Adam and I made about $4500 a month, but my income was the vast majority. He worked for Young Life at the time, and his salary covered our most basic expenses. So I knew I needed to bring in more money while I waited for a steady job. 

How I Made Money in the Waiting-Some Ideas When You're Starting Out

While looking through old documents in my Google Drive, I came across a doc titled “Ideas for $ Freelancing.” It was essentially a roadmap to help me earn as close to my old salary as possible while freelancing. Even if it feels like a guessing game early on, mapping your finances is very smart! 

 

The Google Drive document mentioned in this article by elizabeth

My document with ideas for how to make money as a freelancer.

 

 I broke my ideas into two main groups —  “lowest possible payments” and “more hopeful payments.”

  • I wrote that I planned to teach three yoga classes per week at $25/class, totaling $75/week. I also planned to teach one private lesson a week at $60. This would give me about $540/month on the low end.
  • I priced my graphic design work at $250 for logo design and $500 for web design (It's wild, but my prices increased as I got better).
  • I could write 1 article for a local magazine in my hometown at $100/article.
  • The random work from my old PR agency job was about $200/month.
  • I wrote about UpWork design jobs I thought I might get and how much they could pay.

The Early, EARLY Days of My Business Journey

Early on, I was waiting for a job, but also kind of exploring doing things on my own. I don't talk about this piece of my story often, because I’ve felt at times like it’s confusing. Because, hey, it kind of is. But my goal is to show you that entrepreneurship is NOT linear. 

My mindset at this time was pretty much ‘the corporate thing doesn't work.’ I thought I could do yoga and personal training as a career since I love health and fitness, and am a 230-hr certified yoga instructor. So I taught yoga a few times a week and also tried to start a personal training business. I actually had 2 clients that I trained (shoutout to them!). Even though I didn't make a career out of yoga, getting certified taught me SO much about how to teach well!

Yoga teaching certificationNA example of a yoga class taught by elizabeth

Lesson 1: Entrepreneurship is not linear. And, it’s ok if you change your mind!

Your first business doesn't have to be what you stick with. It's OK and necessary to recognize when you’re unfulfilled. However, I want you to know that you're NOT a failure if you decide to go back to being an employee rather than a CEO. 

If I had decided that I loved teaching yoga and doing personal training, then this may have ended up as my career. However, since I recognized early on that I didn't LOVE it, I went towards my true passion, design! 

We must drop the ‘failure’ dialogue around closing your business. I've talked a lot about this with my good friend, Jena Viviano Dunay, who quit her 6 figure a year business a few months ago. That doesn’t mean she’s wrong or may not start a new business later in life. It doesn’t have to be what it starts as. 

I haven't shared much about it, but I tried out lifestyle blogging after personal training. Oddly enough, that's a large part of what I do in my business now! Back then, I just blogged about my interests in hopes of being able to monetize them with things affiliate marketing and banner ads. I quit that too! It was an essential part of my journey to where I am today. It's also ok to create products or services, then delete them if you change your mind. 

The Next Iteration of My Business Journey: Nannying + Freelancing

I set myself up on Care.com (think babysitting, house sitting, etc.) and Upwork! Upwork is for freelancers in all sorts of industries to find work worldwide. I'm so grateful for these sites and would recommend them to anyone. 

At this point, I had pretty much phased out the personal training and teaching yoga. Yoga was a gradual decline, whereas I quit training cold turkey.

Real-life in this season (around early 2016) was full of jobs I did before AND after officially starting my business. However, the side jobs gradually stopped once everything was official in my business. During those in-between months, I was waiting on a job while learning that I loved business, and I actually had clients at the time. 

I had freelance clients for social media management, graphic design, and other marketing things. For a time, I was doing business, nannying, and picking up odd jobs all day, EVERY day! Once I got into a routine, I nannied for 3 families and was a date night sitter for a few others. I was not the babysitting type in high school or college, so this was the first time I had a real ‘kid experience’. 

How I Saw God’s Handiwork in My Experience as a Babysitter

When I look back on my season of babysitting and nannying, I can see God's hand within it all. Being a babysitter was my first time truly being with kids. It ended up serving as first-hand training for motherhood. 

A beautiful part of my babysitting experience came when I was hired by a couple amid a divorce. Their two kids needed someone to be with them while everything changed chaotically. The boy and girl were the same ages (and age gap) as my sister and I were when our parents divorced. God provided healing for me through that experience while also using my pain for His purpose. I got to love them through their pain and give them the wisdom I wish I had at the time. 

The Hard Thing About Having a Side Hustle While Building My Business

Since becoming a parent, I have seen caring for children as the most critical work. Whether you're a nanny, parent, teacher, or daycare worker, caring for kids is vital kingdom work. Babysitting for me was equally fulfilling, fun, challenging, and worth it because I loved the kids I was with. 

The hardest thing for me in this season was the discomfort I felt being in an in-between place career-wise. I knew nannying wasn't for me long term, but I also had no idea WHAT I wanted to do next. I was honestly just trying to figure it all out. I vividly remember my mom’s friend telling me “Honey, you're not supposed to like your job; you just do it.” She was very unsettled by the ‘sideways’ life I was living after quitting what seemed to be a great first job. 

Lesson 2: There is no shame in having a side hustle (or multiple side hustles) while starting your business in order to have a consistent, predictable income.

If you're in this season, it’s important to remember that having a side hustle is SMART! It does not make you less of a business owner, or less legitimate. It doesn't mean you've given up or don't believe in your business. Especially in the beginning, having that consistent income will allow you to take risks in your business because of the security of a second job.

So, get a side hustle if you want or need one! It could be babysitting and house sitting like I did. Maybe for you, it's keeping your 9-5 or doing admin work for someone else’s online business. You do not need to be afraid of doing something in addition to growing your business. I wish I felt confident instead of embarrassed that people might think my business wasn't working. People will ask questions, but you can confidently own where you're at! 

 

Don't know what to say when people ask questions about your business and your side hustle? 

  • Here's what I said: “I’m a freelance designer, I’m building design business. I’m also babysitting right now so that I have a predictable income because starting a business has a lot of up and down months! I love what I’m doing right now!” 
  • Here is how you can use this: “I’m a (whatever your new title is), I'm building a _____ business. But, I’m also (whatever side hustles you're doing) so that I have a predictable income because starting a business comes with many up and down months! But I love what I’m doing right now!”

What a Day in the Life Was Really Like As I Built My Business

Morning (6:00 to 8:30)

  • Around 6:00 AM, I arrived at the first family’s house as their mom left for work. I basically rolled out of bed, brushed my teeth, and packed breakfast to take with me. Since I got there before the kids woke up, I would fold laundry, pack lunches, and unload the dishwasher-pretty much whatever needed to be done for the day. If there was nothing to be done, I got to work on freelance/business stuff. Once the kids were up, I made them breakfast and brought them to school! 

Midday (8:30 to 2:30)

  • From 8:30 to just before 12:00, I had a few hours to work on my business, which had lots of clients, just no official structure. My clients at the time came from UpWork, local contacts, and a staffing agency. Then around noon 3x/week, I took care of a boy whose parents worked from home. Together, we would go to the park, bookstore, or his taekwondo practice. During his practice or nap time, I had 30-minute increments to work on my business. 

Afternoon (3:00 to 5:00)

  • I went straight from being with the younger boy, to picking kids up from school and being with them until their parents were off work. I even got some work done on my business in the carpool lane while I waited to get them! Since these kids were older, they had a snack or did their homework while I worked. Then, around 5:00, I would head home. 

Night time (5:30 to EOD)

Nights varied on a day-to-day basis. It looked like anything from babysitting to leading Young Life to date nights to time with friends. I have always enjoyed doing design work at night, so that was also something I did often. Some weekends I nannied or picked up odd jobs, but that wasn't extremely common. 

 

My business in those days was built in-between my other jobs. So I got to have some days where I took the kids to school, then worked until 3:00! Then, as my business grew, I let go of afternoon pick-ups, the boy I was with 3x/week, and finally, the family I was with in the mornings. I kept the morning babysitting job the longest because I adored those kids, and it didn’t affect my work day at all since I was always done by 8:30 am. Being up so early in the morning made it easy to work on my business and have some great extra income- it even helped make me an early riser! 

Lesson 3: You don’t have to work yourself to burn out and hustle your way to build a successful business.

We often hear about successful people who built an incredible business… but it came at a huge cost. They talk about how they never slept, neglected their family, had no social life, worked 60+ hours a week, and the list goes on. But, no matter their story, the gist is that they now believe they're qualified to help you reach success without burning out along the way. 

Building your business does not have to be that way! I can't remember a time I felt burnt out in the early days (not saying it wasn’t hard, but I wasn’t burnt out either); I could have probably done MORE than I did! Most of the time, my life was well balanced and looked like the opposite of the typical success story. I had a thriving social life, spent time focusing on my marriage, traveled, spent time with my family, volunteered as a Young Life leader, went to church, and tithed. I read tons of books, exercised plenty, and lived an everyday life while building my business. 

Elizabeth and her old Young Life group

Me and my old Young Life group!

Treat this as your memo that you don't have to hustle and burn out to build a successful business. Of course, it will still feel hard or scary at times, you may have to work more hours than usual some days, but it doesn’t have to be pulling all-nighters and surviving on energy drinks. 

Lesson 4: Don’t focus on what people are saying now.

In the beginning, it’s so easy to get in your own head and be worried about everyone else's opinion on what you’re doing. For me, I felt embarrassed to pursue something atypical. I often thought about what people would think of me if I failed. It's important to remember that people don't care nearly as much as you think they do. When it comes to the people who do judge you, they're often buying your products down the line and asking how you did it all. 

Years ago, I noted something I heard Allie Casazza talking about on her podcast regarding validation from others versus yourself. She said: “You’ve got to give yourself validation. By the time they do, you’ve already proved it. And people are so quick to give you validation when you’ve made it.” Validation is much more common when people see you succeed. It’s less “How is your cute business?” and more of “Wow! It looks like your business is doing incredible!”  When something specific happens in my business that hard, I ask myself two things: “What would God say about this?” and “What do I know to be true?” It's much better to focus on self-validation instead of looking externally to find validation. 

Lesson 5: Enjoy the journey. There is JOY in it.

You will be sorely disappointed if you live as a business owner thinking, “This is so hard or annoying, but it'll be better when I'm there.” (whatever ‘there’ is). It is easy as a business owner to think you'll be fulfilled in your business when you hit a particular milestone. Chances are, hitting that milestone will just make you look back fondly at the journey of getting there. 

I have truly enjoyed my own business journey, even in the hardships that came with it. I remember that time fondly because it WAS wonderful and grew me into who I am today. But, even when you get “there,” you'll still have another goal you want to reach. So don't spend all your time chasing happiness; otherwise, you will struggle to find joy in your business. 

Episodes Mentioned:

Episode 100

 

Links Mentioned:

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

Shop Showit Website Templates

woman typing on laptop in public
Woman working at her laptop

The post Here’s What My Life Actually Looked like When I Was Starting My Business (PLUS 5 Things I Know Now That I Wish I Knew Then)  appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/5-essential-beginner-business-lessons/feed/ 0 5722 You Can’t Be Everything To Everybody: A Business Lesson From A Very Rude Email https://elizabethmccravy.com/you-cant-be-everything-to-everybody/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/you-cant-be-everything-to-everybody/#respond Tue, 11 Jan 2022 05:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=5533 I’ve got a short and sweet episode for you today! We are talking about how and why you shouldn’t create a business that is the “right fit” for everyone — the art of attracting some and repelling others. And, this topic is inspired by a funny and extremely rude email I got during my Black Friday […]

The post You Can’t Be Everything To Everybody: A Business Lesson From A Very Rude Email appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: < 1 minute

I’ve got a short and sweet episode for you today! We are talking about how and why you shouldn’t create a business that is the “right fit” for everyone — the art of attracting some and repelling others. And, this topic is inspired by a funny and extremely rude email I got during my Black Friday sale from someone who my products are not right for!  

So, volume up for the story plus my tips for how to differentiate yourself and be less vanilla in your business!

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 151!

“Don’t try to make a product for everybody, because that is a product for nobody.”

A business lesson from a rude email.

Links Mentioned:

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Get on the Booked Out Designer Waitlist

Shop Showit Website Templates

Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable

Creating A Truly Remarkable Business – A Review Of Purple Cow By Seth Godin

Learn a business lesson from a rude email by Elizabeth McCravy.

The post You Can’t Be Everything To Everybody: A Business Lesson From A Very Rude Email appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/you-cant-be-everything-to-everybody/feed/ 0 5533