Entrepreneur Highlight: Turning Your Creative Passion into a One-of-a-Kind Brand

I first discovered Kimberly and her artwork on Instagram several years ago. Her unique illustration style and cheery thoughtfulness stood out to me, and I was eager to follow along with her journey.

One of her posts in particular caught my eye. It featured a polaroid of a mailbox and asked, “what is your favorite thing to send through the post?” I’ve always loved paper and letters, so I left a comment. Kimberly responded but also replied with a question, which sparked a conversation and quickly led to a friendship.

When I had the idea to start a weekly series highlighting other creative entrepreneurs, Kimberly instantly came to mind.

Sprinkled with lovely photos of her work, this post includes so many wonderful insights and tips to glean about small business ownership.

Kimberly has recently taken her brand Lacelit full-time, and I am so very excited to have her join me on the blog today to share her story!

But you may want to grab a comforting cup of coffee or tea because Kimberly has an enchanting way with words, so this feature is a certain treat to cozy-up with and read.

Business, Entrepreneur HighlightSarah ForestOctober 12, 2018Entrepreneur Highlight, creative businessComment

Entrepreneur Highlight: Balancing a Productive Side-Hustle while Working a Full-Time Job

This blog post is extra special because it’s the very first in my new Friday series: Entrepreneur Highlight.

Starting this week, I’m bringing on entrepreneurs from different creative industries to share their businesses, insights, and talents with you.

One of the things I love most about working with my clients is getting to know so many different creative entrepreneurs who have created a unique business around their passion.

I’m always amazed at how each industry pocket and individual have fresh perspectives and unique approaches. And I want to share that with you, too.

My friend, Caitlynn of Rustic Oil Life, is joining us today for the debut of my new series, and I couldn’t be more excited to introduce her to you all.

In this post, Caitlynn is sharing how she is growing a side-hustle that fits her lifestyle—all while being a wife, getting ready for the arrival of their little one, and working a demanding, full-time job!

If you’re trying to find balance with your business and full-time job, or if you’re just hoping to get better at making productive use of your time, this post is for you!

15 Reasons to Utilize a Newsletter and Email List for Creative Business

The “newsletter” and the “email list” are talked about a lot these days. And it’s no wonder because they come with countless benefits.

Even if you aren’t quite sure what they do or why you need them, you’ve likely come in contact with these tools before. (Ever get emails from your favorite stores?)

But newsletters aren’t just for big, established businesses.

In fact, they’re one of the best tools for creative small businesses and start-ups, too. And the sooner you start building yours, the better off your business will be.

Read on to learn the principles of a newsletter and an email list.

And if you still aren’t convinced or simply haven’t jumped on board, I’m also sharing 15 indisputable reasons to start your newsletter today!

Branding Project: Logo Suite for Rustic Spunk Decor

Caitlynn is in an exciting season for her business. She has just decided to transition her side-hustle into a framework that fits her family even better. With new things on the horizon for her and her husband, she wanted to focus on pursuing a new-found passion of clean living.

While she will be changing up the name and theme of her business, I still had to share her branding project and the fun logo I designed for her back when she was selling handmade candles and nature-inspired home decor.

Branding, PortfolioSarah ForestSeptember 27, 2018Portfolio, Design, Branding Project, Client Work, creative business Comments

An Inside Look at the Strategy Behind My Homepage

Last week, I shared a post about the 7 essential pages to include on your website. As I was writing, the content I wanted to share about the strategy behind a homepage kept growing, so I decided to create an in-depth post dedicated just to this one topic.

If you're itching for a look behind the scenes at the thought process and purpose behind an effective homepage, this post is for you!

If you already have a website, or if you're are just getting started with one, I hope you enjoy today's insights as I spill the beans on the strategy behind my homepage.

Business, Squarespace, BrandingSarah ForestSeptember 25, 2018Website, Strategy, Blog Pod, Experience, Design, creative business Comments

7 Essential Pages Every Website Needs (and the Strategies behind Them)

It’s no secret that every business in 2018 needs a website.

It’s the best place to build your online presence because you own and control your website.

. . . And because you won’t have to worry about changes to algorithms on social media.

While the possibilities are endless for designing and setting up your brand’s website, there are 7 pages in particular that are critical for a successful site.

Keep reading to learn how you can implement these essential pages on your business’s website.

How to Transform Your Service (or Course) into an Experience

People want to buy an experience--not just a service.

An experience elevates your service to something extra special.

It makes your service more beneficial and enjoyable for clients. It provides more value, which it makes your service worth more. And when clients get more out of your service, it helps you get better reviews and testimonials.

In today’s post, I’m sharing how to turn your service into an experience in 9 simple steps. (This system applies to courses, as well!)

Business, BrandingSarah ForestSeptember 19, 2018Experience, Value, Services, Blog Pod, creative business Comments

How to Stay Motivated in Your Creative Business

Chasing your business dreams is an adventure. There’re bends in the path, forks in the road, and rocks you might stumble over.

One of the biggest pitfalls is losing the excitement and desire to work hard and pursue those dreams. And unfortunately, it’s often an easy path to find yourself on.

Motivation is what gets you from point A to point B. It’s essential to the success of your business because it sustains you along the trail to your X’s on the map.

Today’s blog post is for the times you experience a lull in your drive for your creative business (or if you just want to give your motivation a boost).

Dive into 10 ways to stay motivated and help you spring into action each day.

Productivity, Business, MotivationSarah ForestSeptember 17, 2018Motivation, Blog Pod, creative business Comments

25 Ways to be Strategic with Your Time and Efforts

Have you ever listed out every single task you do for your creative business?

I’m willing to bet that it’s a long list.

Each one of these tasks take time. And time is very, very limited.

For some people, an 8 hour workday feels painfully long, but for many creative entrepreneurs, a 16 hour work session never feels quite long enough for all of the things we hope to accomplish.

Can you relate?

Since we’re a hustling bunch, we have to be extra careful with where our time goes. Because, after all, the clock doesn’t stop for even a second.

My calendar is always filled with things to check off. I used to wonder where all of my time went. But since then, I’ve gained some insight into making more progress and having more to show for my time.

So today, I’m sharing my favorite 25 tips for being strategic with your time and efforts.

Why and How to Define an Audience for Your Creative Business, Blog, and Social Media

Who is your audience?

It’s perhaps the most important question you will ever answer about your business.

Your audience is the group of people who are ecstatic about your brand and want to buy your products or book your services. They’re your potential customer or clients.

If you want to have a profitable business, you need to reach and connect with them. And every element of your business needs to be designed and intended for that market.

Until you know your audience, you won’t have complete clarity or get the full potential out of the work you put into your business.

You’ll miss opportunities to speak to your potential customers or clients through intentional branding and messaging.

And you’ll likely put time into creating content that isn’t effective.

But once you follow the steps in today’s blog post, you’ll be on your way to building a loyal following for your creative business.

Business, Marketing, Blogging, Social MediaSarah ForestSeptember 11, 2018Blog Pod, Strategy, creative business Comments

10 Reasons to Use Squarespace for Your Website Platform

I’m all about saving time.

As an entrepreneur, there’s always so much to do. From creating content for the blog and website to managing design work, my to-do list is in constant ebb and flow.

I’m sure you can relate, too.

Since my website is the headquarters of my business, it’s essential for me to use an effective platform that keeps things simple.

That’s why Squarespace is my website platform of choice. It’s among my list of top 5 things I couldn’t run my business without, and it’s one of the most effective time-saving tools I use.

Squarespace is simple, streamlined, and straightforward. And it has allowed me to be more intentional and strategic with my business. I recommend it to each of my design clients and to almost every creative entrepreneur I meet.

I’ve been a Squarespace user for over a year now, and here are 10 reasons why I love it.

Squarespace, Website DesignSarah ForestSeptember 7, 2018Blog Pod, Website, creative business Comments

My Favorite Proven Productivity Secrets for Getting More Done Each Day

We often kick-off the year with a motivated mindset that helps us get headway on conquering our goals.

After a few months in, the excitement begins to wear off, and we tend to lose traction on some the things we wanted to get done.

It's easy to let discouragement sink in, and we wonder if we set out with too much ambition or if we aren’t capable of accomplishing our goals.

But missing the mark isn’t always because our goals are unrealistic or because we don’t have what it takes; it’s usually because we haven’t used our time in the best way possible.

Productivity is a creative entrepreneur’s best friend. Failing to utilize it is the biggest opportunity you could ever miss out on for your business.

After lots of experimenting with ways to be productive while working from home, I can’t wait to share my favorite 10 methods with you in today’s blog post. They have been the biggest game-changers for my entrepreneurial journey to date.

Productivity, Time ManagementSarah ForestSeptember 5, 2018Blog Pod, creative business Comments

7 Powerful Benefits of Strategy-Based Brand and Website Design

As creative small business owners, we wear a lot of hats.

From creating new offerings to blogging, marketing, and research, we strive to get the attention of our ideal customer or client.

Once we get their attention, we work hard to show them how our products or services can give them value.

Because we wear so many hats, it’s a game-changer when your business is equipped to carry some of that work for you so you can focus on what’s most important.

A well-designed brand does just that.

It puts the best face forward for your business so you don’t have to work as hard to attract your ideal audience or show your worth.

Not only does it make your business more appealing and professional, but the strategy behind a high-quality brand design creates many advantages.

If you have a creative business, here are 7 powerful benefits of a well-designed brand that no entrepreneur will want to miss.

Branding, DesignSarah ForestSeptember 3, 2018Blog Pod, Design, creative business Comments

The latest insights for creative entrepreneurs