10 ESSENTIAL LESSONS I LEARNED IN CREATING A BUSINESS

In starting a business, the best move you can make is to learn from people who have done so. Learn from people’s mistakes and learn from their successes. I’m going to share some tips I have learned along the way in making an income outside of getting a minimum wage job and working up.

So before the making of this blog, I was self employed as a Fashion Designer. I was selling my clothing mainly using Instagram. I had done many farmer market type events, I’ve spoken to manufacturers, and I made a profit for about two years doing so. Every dollar I mainly put back into getting the best machines, business cards, fashion ideas, websites or towards marketing.

After getting pregnant and dealing with Covid affecting my business, I switched business ideas to something that fit my new mom life more. The month before I slowed things down, I made $10,000 in just one month of working my butt off. I tell you this, because if I can do it then so can you. But let me warn you, it is difficult and I probably worked more than I did at my old minimum wage jobs. Creating a business falls all on you. If you do not put the work in, no one else will for you. The success relies on you to hustle and push your business out there. So expect long hours, lots of hard work and research, and expect to spend money to make money.

1. A website alone won’t drive sales.

I thought when I made a website I would seem more official and my sales would go through the roof. Let me tell you how many times my custom order sales went through my website: none. That’s right. In two years, not one order was made through my website. All orders were placed through social media, texting, in person and direct messages. What does this mean?

This means you need to constantly post of your website on your social medias to push engagement off of that platform and move potential clients to your website. It is very difficult, but it comes with constant reminder. Now that I have implemented this knowledge on the website for our blog. We have had ACTUAL sales made on our website which is the only way to purchase hats and support our blog.

I have even experienced this. I see people post daily of what they sell, what they do and I never engage or respond. Yet, when I am in need of these things, they are the first people I think of because I have seen it so many times. It may take a while, but you brand yourself so that when someone is thinking of your product or services they go to you FIRST.

2. Delegation

Wow was this an incredible thing to learn. I always thought I could not grow a team without having the means to pay people. How could I pay someone when I could barely pay myself?

In that month that I hit my peak of $10,000, I paid so many people to help me. I was paying a women to supply me with fabric and elastic. I was paying someone to help me sew, someone to cut fabric, someone to just reply to messages for me and someone to help me hand out purchases. I didn’t have the money to pay them, but in choosing to have them come on and pay as we go, we made more than I ever have before. That alone shows you the power of a team and having help. Do not fear how you will pay people and also spoil your new coworkers. They deserve it in helping bring your visions to life.

3. Rejection

How afraid are you of hearing a no? Of hearing you didn’t do enough? Or aren’t enough? You will not please everyone. I have gone through times where people were not satisfied with what I delivered. It is so important to go above & beyond for every client and to fix the issue. I have lost money in making orders two or three times to make sure I meet their expectations. These people were more often returning clients, because we built that trust that you won’t leave unsatisfied.

So when you face rejection, take it as a challenge to prove why your product or services actually will help or add value. Don’t take rejection hard. I have knocked doors selling and had doors slammed on face, people tell me they want nothing I have to offer, people who have made me feel dumb and it has never hurt me. It’s just that much closer to a yes. And one yes can make all the difference.

4. Full Send

I know this is a slang word and I only know it because of my Fiancé. Full send means to go all the way!! So many times in the beginning of me putting myself out there, I was not full sending. I didn’t believe in myself and I was fearful. I wish I had the knowledge and confidence in myself back then like I do now. I wish I had put more effort in. So if you are beginning, believe in yourself so much and do everything you can to better yourself and your business venture.

5. Read Books

In the process of bettering yourself & your business, you need to learn & research. I HIGHLY recommend using Audible. I pay $15 monthly and I listen to one book a month. I have learned an insane amount based off of this. Knowledge is confidence. The more you prepare and fill yourself with knowledge and other people’s experience, the more confidence you build in yourself. Some of my favorite authors that pumped me up are Grant Cardone, Jen Sincero, and Tony Robbins.

6. Set Small Goals Every Month

Sometimes looking at the big picture is very overwhelming. Setting small goals to get there every week and every month will get you there before you even realize it. Write it down on a planner or whiteboard and cross them off as you go. Everyday do 1% more in bettering yourself or putting in that much more work or energy.

The goal to success is in your everyday routine. Slowly change it to look like the everyday routine you envision for yourself.

7. Research!!

Look up your successful competitors. How are they marketing to their clients on social media? What does their website look like? How many emails are they sending out weekly? How many times do they have sales? What does the quality of their product or service look like? How do their prices compare to yours? You need the answers to this question to successfully reach your clients. If you look at people who are already successfully doing this, you can easily learn tips and tricks to apply to your business.

8. Ask for Reviews or Shares on Social Media

The more people see people they know buying from you, the more trust is built and the more chances you will get for people to actually make the action of buying from your business. Find creative ways to persuade your buyers to share their purchase! Maybe offer a discount if they share a selfie and tag your store!

9. Quality over Quantity

This is something I am STILL learning. It is better to have less variety, and higher quality. Ensure that you are very proud of the quality of the product or service that is being put out. Put yourself in the consumer’s experience. If I paid this much for this, how happy would I be with quality and service? Make the experience memorable.

10. Take Rest Days

It is very easy to get burnt out and overwhelmed. Especially in the beginning stages of a startup. The vision can seem very far, very large, and unattainable. I find that when I take rest days, I not only recharge but I also have some brand new ideas that excite me. They usually come from allowing my mind to rest and not stress and then I think wow it would be great if ____. I take rest days often let me tell you. Even now. And it always helps me come up with fresh ideas and fresh energy to keep moving towards the vision

Follow our journey on Instagram ad we build this blog to something huge! I have visions of helping so many women through this and having an incredible team of women to work with and create amazing things with. I eventually want to create a clothing line with our writers and so much more! Follow us on Instagram @womantimedaily. Search us on Youtube at Woman Time Daily. And shop our store now to support our mission! 💕 Tag us in your selfie so we can share too🙏🏻

Xo

E