HUSTLE

Brilliant Business Advice from a Yogipreneur

June 1, 2017 by Kayla Ferguson 1 Comment

Very rarely does the entrepreneurial path—or any path—take us in the direction we expect. Frustrating setbacks, unexpected breakthroughs and unanticipated turns and opportunities mark the success of every entrepreneur. Mary Haberski, an LA-based corporate and private yoga instructor, is no exception.

A 15-year yoga practitioner, Mary moved to Los Angeles from Chicago with the intention of pursuing yoga as a full-time career. In 2013, she began to more fully develop the spiritual side of her yoga practice after completing a yoga teacher-training course in India. It was upon returning to Los Angeles after her time in India that she began to see how her yoga practice and business was going to develop.

“I moved out to California with the intention to be a yoga instructor, but to be honest I had a picture of it being a certain way; me traveling internationally, doing retreats…but it’s kind of taken a life form of its own,” Mary said about moving West. “I’m just trying to keep up with where it’s taking me.”

Mary offers both public and private yoga instruction, working with the Los Angeles Unified School District, private schools and private clients in varying capacities. And while this is a market with a lot of potential and a place she fits very well, it wasn’t how she originally saw herself working in the Los Angeles yoga community.

“I never planned to work with children, but up until now I’ve worked with thousands of children teaching yoga and meditation,” Mary said specifically about her work with LAUSD and private schools. “I thought I would be a powerflow vinyasa teacher, and now I work with children and sometimes elderly people. My heart is a little more geared towards people who don’t believe yoga is available to them…It’s not what I had envisioned for myself but it’s been going in that direction.”

The Los Angeles yoga market is highly saturated, something that Mary says can be a roadblock to making a consistent living. In some ways though, this has worked in Mary’s favor and has allowed her to find the places that most benefit from what she has to offer as a teacher.

“What I have come to find is that I’m not a studio teacher,” Mary explained. “I prefer working with smaller groups and individuals because I can physically touch people and part of my teaching is to be in more detailed alignment and use my gifts as a healer with hands-on healing through massage and pressure points.”

And, aside from the closer relationships she is able to develop with her clients as a non-studio instructor, she appreciates the sincerity of the clients that don’t “fit in” with the mainstream LA yoga scene. “I feel that when I’m working with kids and the elderly, while there can be resistance, there isn’t as much of an ego behind it,” Mary explained.

Since 2013, Mary has been able to create a yoga business away from the yoga studios and suggested the saturation of the LA yoga industry as an unlikely asset in defining what she has to offer.

“As a teacher no one can offer what you have to offer,” Mary explained. “Spirit moves through each of us in a unique way, especially those of us who are teachers and healers….I don’t believe that we can ever have too many teachers. People just need to start branching out into other communities and other places.”

Yoga by nature is a splendid teacher, reminding us to be patient, flexible and accepting of what comes. Yoga as a practice and a lifestyle embodies that of the entrepreneurial spirit, cultivating awareness, acceptance and an ever-changing balance of giving and receiving.

In both her business and in her life, Mary has embodied the essence of both yoga and entrepreneurship in a way that other aspiring entrepreneurs should seek to emulate. When asked what advice she would offer aspiring entrepreneurs, Mary offered some very down to Earth guidance.

“Until you are comfortable on the financial aspect solely from doing your work, don’t quit your day job. It will add more pressure, more stress and in reality stifle your creativity,” Mary said emphatically. “Don’t think you are deterring from your dreams because you are doing something else (for income). It’s actually the opposite. The universe responds to your action with more for you.”

Despite the spiritual nature of Mary’s work and lifestyle, she notes some very definite and down-to-earth lessons for aspiring female entrepreneurs.

“As women, we have to fight harder for more money and more of our value to remind ourselves that we are valuable and we are worthy of a higher price point,” said Mary, a sentiment felt by women at every professional level. “We need to expect more from ourselves. Because nobody is going to offer that to you if you don’t ask. You have to be able to ask for what you know you are worth.”

Mary admitted that this was a difficult lesson to learn, but she has benefited noticeably since putting it into practice. “Whatever it is that you are doing, nobody will do it like you do it,” she continued. “You will have doubt and worry and you will want to quit. That’s normal. You have to be patient with yourself. Go easy on yourself (and) don’t get caught up in the unicorn story. It’s rare that someone is an instant success….More than likely you will have to do a lot of work to get to where you want to go so you can become the person you need to be.”

How to Build a Blog-Worthy Photo Studio on a Budget

February 26, 2017 by Ty Merkel 1 Comment

It’s easy to get lost in the photography world’s endless sea of image stabilization lenses, titanium tripods, extra battery packs, and UV filters. But what gear do you really need to set up a photography studio to meet all your blogging needs? And how can an upstart photographer or entrepreneur find all that gear without breaking the bank? Fear not: I’m here to say that with a little elbow grease, a few tips and tricks, you can piece together a mini studio that produces Vogue-crisp images without the huge price tag.

You may be blogging for business or for fun. You may be a photographer who wants to break into the blogging sphere. Perhaps you are a seasoned blog star looking to switch out some worn gear. As long as you’re a tight budget and need photography gear, this article is for you.

Here is exactly what you need to build a blogger’s photo studio on a bootstrapped budget. I’ll show you the equipment I use myself or would highly recommend.

All photos by me 🙂

Cameras

I have a Canon 5Ds which I adore, but it is definitely pricey and not exactly startup friendly. So here are some sensible alternatives, which I have used and loved.

1. Canon Rebel t5i

Canon’s Rebel t5i (which is priced at $649) is a super starter and well-balanced entry-level DSLR, but its capabilities are on par with the best cameras. And if blogging and product shoots are your main outlets, then it will suit your needs just fine. The list of pros is long for this little camera. With its 360-degree tilt-able touchscreen, good image detail at high ISOs, and fast autofocus, this baby has enough technical headroom for you to really spread your creative wings.

2. Canon Rebel SL1

But if your budget is suuuuper tight and you want to shave off a few hundred dollars, you can opt for Canon’s less tech-packed entry level DSLR— the Canon Rebel SL1 (currently priced at $399).

The downside of this camera is that it doesn’t have a swivel screen, the burst mode shooting isn’t as quick, and it has less cross-type Auto Focus points. Upside is that this camera is two hundred dollars cheaper, and it has a higher effective ISO, meaning you can take photos in low light with less noise (which is when photos look fuzzy).

Lenses

When you are starting out, do yourself a favor and skip the kit lens and opt for a Canon EF 1.8 50mm lens. At just $125, it is a remarkable lens and truly the best bang for your buck. It is a prime lens (which means it has only one focal length and you cannot zoom) but the major benefit of this is that you can maximize available light and get crisp foreground/background separation. You’ll have faster apertures, crisper detail, and a whole lot more of that velvety bokeh (that out-of-focus blur in a photo’s background).

But if you are shooting flat lays all day, every day and need a wider focal length to broaden your angle of view and pack more detail into your shot, then I would recommend this Canon 28mm lens ($149).

Tripods

Everyone who has dabbled in studio photography knows that you will sometimes need to mount your camera on a tripod in order to snap from those impossible angles and perspectives (because you are a photographer not a contortionist). I keep this Targus Light Weight Tripod on hand because it is paper-light and delightfully affordable at $19.

Bonus Tip

Holding your camera over a flat lay scene can be a major workout. You can save yourself the strain by opting for this insanely versatile Vanguard Alta Pro Tripod at $135. You’ll be able to get that perfect bird’s eye view of the scene with ease, and if you’re as frugal as me, you can just use a lunchbox stuffed full of your rock collection as your tripod weight. Whatever works!

Wireless Camera Remote

A camera remote might be one of the best (and cheapest) accessories around. It allows you to be your own photographer, to step away from the small screen or tiny viewfinder to compose your photos from a different vantage point. Most of all it allows you to completely avoid that micro shake/blur caused by your hand when you click the shutter button (because the slightest movement kinda ruins the shot and it can get frustrating quick!)

Wireless remotes are especially useful in studio and blogging shots because those require a long shutter to capture enough light with a high aperture and low enough ISO so everything looks sharp and perfect.

I use this Amazon Basics controller. It’s the bare bones option, but I don’t need it for anything else. It’s $8 and only works for Canon or Nikon cameras.

But if you have a Sony, Olympus, or anything else Opteka sells remotes for nearly any camera for $8 dollars as well.

Lights + Diffusers

This kit ($121) offers just the big basics you’ll need to get started — two bright lights with diffusing umbrellas attached along with a set of large backdrops to add background behind your shots.

You could argue that diffusers and reflectors are the most important tool in a studio photography kit. They allow you to avoid harsh shadows, and they make photos look bright and clean even on stormy, grey days.

Backgrounds + Props

Larger photo gear companies typically overcharge when it comes to tabletop backdrops (backgrounds that you lay across a table or the floor). Don’t waste your money. You can DIY your own for just a fraction of the cost.

When it comes to color backgrounds, I typically head to the nearest craft store and pick up some colored paper, or better yet project poster boards (since they are sturdier, stiffer, and easier to set up than paper). This white board ($13) is my go to for most projects.

Also, if you can swing it, I would recommend these 24-inch reflective acrylic boards ($29) that give a lux glean to your snaps.

Finally, Amazon’s Interesting Finds offers some quirky bright objects for staging scenes that you can use over and over again. For example, this shot right here is quite literally half objects I found on Amazon.

This is also the time to hit up thrift stores or dig through your attic for interesting knick knacks to populate your shots.

Memory Card

When you are shooting on a DSLR, the files are large and always end up eating more space in your memory card than you expected. Even when it comes to studio photoshoots, you end up taking dozens of shots just to get that perfect angle.

So allow yourself the luxury of buying a SanDisk SD 32 gb memory card for $15. As a photographer who is chronically running out of space on every device, my opinion is the bigger the better, because running out of memory can really throw a wrench in your workflow.

There you have it! That’s everything you need to set up a killer studio for creating some dreamy images for your blog, Instagram, website and beyond! Get your budget studio set up and get creating those stunning images!

Beyond the Law: My Unlikely Path to Professional Photography

January 31, 2017 by Jen Dziuvenis Leave a Comment

Ten years ago, I was finishing my last year of law school, preparing for the bar exam, and looking forward to a stressful career sitting behind a desk, navigating the American legal system. If you had told me that nearly a decade later I’d be getting paid to follow adventurous couples into the backcountry or jetting off to Iceland to photograph an elopement, I would have told you that you were nuts.

But that’s where I am and I wanted to share a bit about how I got here.

As with many of the best changes in life, my move into the world of professional photography was brought on by some pretty extreme discomfort. My “real” job had been making me miserable for way too long when one day I hit a breaking point. I realized that the small amount of money I was taking home after I paid for our son’s daycare wasn’t worth the anxiety I was experiencing at work … and that continuing to do what I was doing was the definition of insanity.

That night I had a heart-to-heart with my family, drank a couple glasses of wine, and mustered up a heaping dose of courage. There may have been some tears. Turning in my resignation the following day was equal parts scary and liberating. I didn’t know what was next but I was damn sure that I needed to be doing something different.

All images by Jen Dziuvenis.

At that time I had been doing photography as a hobby for several years, mostly taking pictures of pretty landscapes and crazy cyclists ripping up trails in the mountains. Friends had asked me to take their family photos or suggested that I shoot their weddings and I had flatly refused. “That’s not really what I do …” were the words that came out of my mouth.

“No freaking way!” is what I said in my head.

Being a wedding photographer couldn’t have been farther off my radar. I didn’t especially enjoy going to weddings. Why would I want to photograph them?

Then one day, through the magic of social media, I stumbled on photographers who were doing stuff that I loved — work that spoke to my sense of adventure and search for authentic connection. People like Ben Sasso and Jordan Voth completely changed my idea of what wedding and portrait photography could be. Stiff, awkward poses were replaced with real emotion, undeniable human connection, and some of the most incredible landscapes on earth. A fire had been lit.

I decided to step out of my comfort zone and try my hand at photographing humans. I begged my friends to model for me and answered Craigslist ads looking for photographers. I connected with an online community of local photographers and did some second shooting at weddings. I agree when a friend offered to pay me to shoot her own wedding day.

I was scared as hell and full of doubt. I did it anyway.

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In a span of a few months photography went from an expensive hobby to a baby business that was bringing in enough money to convince me that this could actually be a thing. I booked a few weddings, doubled my rates, and booked some more. I invested in training and equipment. I landed my first international destination wedding. I had photos go wildly viral. For a very new business, I was having far more success than I had ever imagined was possible.

That’s not to say that it’s been easy or that I’ve been able to turn this into a fulltime gig overnight. Even with quick success, it’s slow going and a huge percentage of what I make goes straight back into the business. I’m working harder than I ever have — and doing it for less money.

And yanno what? I’m loving every damn minute of it.

I had a regularly occurring meeting at my last job that caused me considerable anxiety. Every few weeks it would pop up on my schedule and I’d curse and cringe. I left it on my calendar when I quit that job as a constant reminder of why I left. That message still pops up every two weeks but now it doesn’t cause me angst. Now it makes me feel proud. It’s a reminder that I left that world behind, took control of my life, and am hustling like hell to pursue my passions.

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My Best Advice for New Photographers

January 14, 2017 by Jen Dziuvenis 2 Comments

Editor’s Note: All images taken by the author.

I’ve been shooting for a long time but it was only recently that I made the jump from doing this for fun to doing this for work. The transition went far more smoothly than I expected — mostly because I’ve gotten a lot of really good advice from some really smart people. If you’re wondering how to make photography a business — not just a hobby — I know what you’re going through. I was there too… and it wasn’t all that long ago.

I’m far from an expert on any of this stuff but I’ve learned some things along the way — and I wanted to share them with all of you. I’m not trying to sell you anything — this post doesn’t include a sales pitch or affiliate link. I’m just sharing the love because I’m 100% on the “community over competition” train.

So with all that in mind, here is my best advice for new photographers:

Don’t be afraid to invest in your business.

Yes, I own a lot of bikes and camera gear but the reality is that I’m pretty freaking thrifty. I have a hard time parting with my money but pretty early on in this adventure I realized that if I wanted to be successful, it was going to cost me. Especially early on. I’ve enrolled in workshops (more on that later), upgraded equipment, paid for software, ordered samples, bought presets, and done all the boring things necessary for starting a business (hello liability insurance, registering an LLC, etc.)*. I’m not telling you to start throwing money around wildly (please don’t do that) but I am saying that you’re going to have to be OK with spending some cash.

*As a side note, if you’re wondering why photography is so expensive, this is why.

Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself.

Shortly after I started taking this thing super seriously, a spot opened up in a popular, sold-out workshop. It was expensive and on the other side of the country. I sucked it up and registered anyway. It felt indulgent at the time but I am SO glad I did it. Yes, I learned a ton (OMG did I learn a ton!). It was a commitment of time, money, and energy, and once I had made it, I felt like there was no going back. I was all in. I’m hoping to make this an annual thing (I’m dusting off my passport for next year’s workshop!). I’ve also spent money on online classes, local workshops, and shootouts and I’ve never regretted any of it. You are not throwing money away. You are investing in yourself.

Find your tribe.

I was going to title this “network” but, to be honest, it never really feels like networking to me. I’m an introvert (a very outgoing one, but an introvert nonetheless) and everything about “networking” kind of gives me hives. I initially found my tribe online (which was perfect for a quasi-hermit). I joined photography groups on Facebook, which led to other photography groups on Facebook. I learned stuff. I met people. I got clients. I got inspired. And oh yeah, I also made friends. Having people to go to for advice, critiques, and inspiration? It’s been invaluable. This leap would have been a lot slower and harder without getting help along the way.

Find your niche.

Look you guys, there are a lot of freaking photographers out there — and a lot of them are very good. It’s competitive. You don’t want to compete on the quality of your photos alone (not because you’re not good but because A LOT of people are good) and you don’t want to compete only on price (the race to the bottom is one you don’t want to win) . You need to find what you’re good at and what you love and then foster the hell out of it. For me, I love photographing authentic connections between fun, adventurous people in the outdoors – and that is what all of my efforts are geared towards. And while you’re finding your niche? Make sure it’s authentic. Because clients are smart and can see right through it when it’s not. Be you – even if “you” is someone who is pretty informal, is obsessed with dogs, and really loves “that’s what she said” jokes. (Hi, I’m Jen. Have we met?) Your clients will appreciate who you are and the ones who don’t are not your clients.

Shoot with other photographers.

I don’t think this can be said enough. SHOOT WITH OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS. Do it at workshops. Second shoot at weddings. Sign up for shootouts. Meet up with randos you met online and go take pictures of each other. Shooting with other people was super intimidating for me at first. To be honest, I was sort of terrified. But now I realize the value in it and I do it every chance I get. You will learn SO MUCH about how to shoot, how to pose, and how to connect with your clients. You will learn how you like to shoot … and how you don’t. And all of it will be helpful.

Be prepared to work your ass off.

I used to have a regular 9-5 job. I sat at my desk, put in my hours, and at the end of the day I’d go home and not work again until I went back in the next morning. That’s not the case anymore. If you follow me on social media you see that I spend a lot of time outside during normal “working” hours — hiking, mountain biking, hanging out with my kid and my dogs — but don’t let that fool you. I work way harder now than I ever did before — I just do it at different times of the day, on different days of the week, and on my own schedule. I heard someone say that you have to work 16 hours for yourself for every 8 hours you worked for someone else. It’s true — and it takes a boatload of discipline. But don’t let that scare you because it’s also super satisfying.

Be good at being uncomfortable.

You guys, I was so anxious before my first paid shoot. The day leading up to it was pretty much ruled by fear and anxiety. I was scared. And while the nerves have subsided a good amount, they are still there. If you get nervous before a shoot I’m here to tell you that you’re not alone. I still get nervous (although much less so now) every single time. And ya know what? I’m OK with that, mostly because I believe the nerves actually help. They keep you on your toes. They keep you constantly pushing to be better. They mean that you care. I’ve heard photographers who I look up to who have been doing this for years say that they’re still terrified every single time. Maybe it will get better. Maybe it won’t. Either way, it doesn’t really matter. So ya know what? Embrace it. Be good at being uncomfortable — learn how to deal with fear. And yes, this applies to way more than just photography.

I hope this was helpful to someone out there in internet land. What did I miss? What advice do you have? And if you’re new and trying to make the leap, tell me what your biggest struggle is. Maybe we can help. We’re all in this together, y’all. Leave your comments below!

Author pictured above.

12 Ways to Make More Money With Your Photography Business in 2017

January 9, 2017 by Ty Merkel 4 Comments

Author pictured above.

This is the year that your photography business is really going to take off. How do I know? Because if you follow many of the tips I’m going to offer below, you’ll be well on your way to a successful 2017.

Do you want to make more money this year? I’m going to guess the answer is “heck, yes!”

Where do you even start? Raising your prices? Starting a referral program? Offering freebies? (wait, that sounds wrong… but it actually works!)

Read on to learn some solid strategies to attract more clients, increase your visibility and grow your brand, and at the end of the day — and year — pad your profits.

1. Offer a Freebie

Offering your services for free may seem counter-intuitive. After all, you’re trying to make more money, not less. Still, if you’re relatively new to the photography biz, one of your most important assets is word-of-mouth advertising. So get out there and work it! You want to generate buzz, and get as many people familiar with your brand as possible. Say you give out freebies to 10 people, and “only” two of these clients decide to purchase a larger package. That’s a 20 percent “conversion rate,” which is actually a fantastic return on investment — and you now have two customers you didn’t have before.

Whatever you offer, whether it’s free canvas prints, free headshots, or free retouching, just make sure to offer something that is valuable since everything you produce (even for free) is reflective of your brand’s quality. Still, make sure those nifty free goodies are quick to produce and not too expensive — no sense going into debt for freebies.

2. Book Mini Sessions

Mini sessions are an excellent way to entice commitment-phobic clients. For example, a $50 session might only take you 15 minutes and your client walks away with five finished images. That’s a very satisfied client who’s likely to rave about you to other prospects.

Keep in mind that mini sessions are not a full session at a discount. Gently remind clients that they are scoring a deal, so make sure to streamline these sessions to make it worth your time. One location, 15-20 minutes tops. Don’t offer these quick jobs expecting an immediate payday. Just like freebies, mini sessions are an investment in networking and converting clients into loyal customers.

3. Streamline Your Editing

Using your time efficiently is one way to generate more income. Time saved is money earned. This was actually my first mistake while starting out: I spent way, way too much time in post-production. I would devote three extra hours a day trying to get my color balance and white highlights just right. Avoid my mistake by using Lightroom presets and Photoshop actions. You can automate these programs to overlay filters and customizable edits onto your imports, create your own presets and actions, or (in the true spirit of time saving) you can just purchase preset packages (No shame, here. I’ve always opted for pre-made filters. Hey, it works for those influencers on Instagram!).

4. Partner with an Influencer

Speaking of… social media influencers attract a massive following because they have captured some sort of zeitgeist. There are many reasons to work with influencers: They will help you tailor your message with their insider experience.They are typically cheaper than a proper advertising campaign. And they’ve already established trust with their cult fans. With their quasi-celebrity stamp of approval, they help make your brand more effective and trustworthy. If all goes well, their fans will be tempted, and artfully encouraged to become your fans.

5. Offer Word-of-Mouth Incentives

In the world of creative services like photography and graphic design, referrals are king. They provide “social proof,” or evidence of your value based on someone else’s opinion. Some people who totally ignored my business suddenly came calling after their cousin, or teacher, or sorority sister put their stamp of approval on my work. So don’t be shy, and openly encourage your clients to vouch for your business. But remember to reward them accordingly with a discount or free prints. Even if you can’t offer an incentive, give them a shout out on good ol’ social media. Public flattery is always a good idea; it’s free, and takes just a few hot seconds.

6. Update Your Website

For the majority of customers, your website is their first impression of your business. It is the online equivalent of a storefront and customers will decide your value and trustworthiness within seconds. Your website needs to communicate your capabilities, your personality, your brand, availability, and some ballpark of your fees. Always make sure it is painfully easy to locate that golden “book me” button. Also, invite friends and clients alike to test the usability on your website, whether they get lost navigating around your portfolio, or whether certain wording is a major turnoff. Then make the appropriate alterations. If you aren’t a software developer in your free time (I am most definitely not; numbers and HTML scare me), then it would be best to start with a WordPress or Squarespace template. You can put up a professional-looking site in mere hours with these services; no coding required. If you can afford one, it’s worth hiring a website designer to customize your online portfolio.

7. Improve Your Marketing Automation

Automation tools are gifts from the tech gods. With of these tools, you won’t waste your time sending emails and texts with every new submission or booking. Establish automated responses and then fill in the gaps with personalized content when necessary. Schedule your blog posts, newsletters, social media updates to go out when your audience is online. For instance, if each task takes just one minute, at my current rate of over 7,000 tasks per year, that’s about 14 working days back in my pocket for more shooting, post-production, Netflix binges, whatever!

8. Spread Your Content

Having multiple points of contact with your brand is vital. It increases brand awareness and adds another layer of trust to your product. It is the Web equivalent of leaving breadcrumbs for customers to follow back to your booking site. You need to scatter your work across all platforms—Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Google+ (if only to improve your SEO), magazines, and blogs like this one! (There are some tips to get published in your dream magazines.) You don’t just want views, you want attention from people who are interested in your service. Compose a content calendar to help yourself brainstorm what promotions, content and platforms you are posting on for a given day or week. Also, remember to set up specific, measurable goals to help yourself determine if your efforts are successful or need adjustment in the future.

9. List on Deal Sites

Sometimes folks aren’t brand-loyal, they are deal-loyal. Thus, coupons are a way to introduce them to your business. Listing photo discounts on sites like Groupon is a simple way to expand your clientele and dip into that frenzied coupon crazed market. Fair warning though: Set up an enticing deal, but not one that’s so cheap it devalues your brand or isn’t worth your time.

10. Advertise on Social Media

When it comes to advertising, it’s a given that you’ll turn to social media platforms like Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook. Why? Because their image-driven formats are perfect vehicles to showcase photography businesses, and because your target audience is already on these networks, waiting to be wowed. And because it’s almost impossible these days to stand out with “organic” traffic alone. You need to boost your presence with paid advertising. Make sure to target your ads to specific audience groups so your photos are landing in front of qualified leads, so you don’t waste money marketing to people who have no business learning about your business.

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11. Bundle Together Package Deals

Rather than book one shoot – book two, three, five! Aim high, because the worst someone can say is “Eh, no.” Use a discount to peak their interest. For example, you could offer a newborn shoot that is paired with a photoshoot for the child’s first birthday, or you could book engagement snaps along with wedding photos. In the end, bundling several shoots into one package is really just a photographer’s version of a short-term subscription service. Less courting and more commitment and money from your clients. Sounds dreamy, right? Also, your clients will love the simplicity and discount you’ll give them for upgrading to a package.

12. Shoot for a Cause

Shooting for a charity or nonprofit is a brilliant way to increase exposure while messaging to clients that your brand has heart. Back when I was starting out, I routinely offered free photography and videography to a nonprofit that helps the homeless population in downtown San Francisco. Why? Because it was a cause I cared about and I had a valuable skill that could contribute to their marketing. In turn, I was able to count the organization as a bona fide client and showcase my work.

Most people get stuck on trying to drum up fast money-making schemes. The secret is that your greatest chance for success is routinely implementing a series of small changes, like these strategies, over a long period. So test, try and explore. Have any of these tips worked for you? Did I leave out any illuminating advice? Let me know in the comments below!

10 Surprising Ways To Earn More From Your Business In 2017

November 7, 2016 by The FCA 1 Comment

Now is the best time to start making your big plans and dreams for growth for your business before you get caught up in festive madness and before you know it’s February!

Here are 10 Surprising Ways To Earn More From Your Creative Business in 2017.

1. Create Done For You Services

Right now, done for you services are HOT!

Nobody has time to do the things they don’t want to do – in an age when we are all encouraged to ‘do what you love’ where does that leave all of the things we DON’T love to do- setting up and running ads, admin, content syndication (yep, your content should be spreading far wider than just your social media pages)! even things like content creation itself for those who struggle to write?

Well, they become those nagging things that eat away at us on our ‘Really SHOULD do but REALLY don’t want to’ list.

Which leaves a wide open door for you to step in and offer your multiple skills and talents as a Done For You Service.

What is it you have been great at in your own business?

Perhaps it was designing your own website.
Perhaps it was writing content at a super fast pace.
Perhaps it was transcribing your own audio because you’re a super fast typer.
Perhaps it’s running and optimising your ads.
Perhaps it’s writing your sales and marketing materials.
Perhaps you’re just supremely organised (and if that’s you, send us an email. We are always looking for dynamic Virtual Assistants!)

Whatever it is, someone out there is probably waiting to hire you for it.

Create a new page on your site, advertise your services on your facebook page, register yourself with fiverr and / or upwork, post about your new services in groups you are part of. And watch the cash roll in.

2. Partner Up

Joint Ventures are common in the online marketing world, but not so common outside of it, for reasons why I can’t quite fathom.

When you team up your services (and promotional skills) with someone who has a complimentary business, you open yourself up to double the business.

They can either promote your business or product for a commission, you can promote theirs, or you can create something brand new together. It doesn’t have to be an entirely new business, but a course or program or combined skill can work brilliantly.

Like the videographer who partners with a photographer to offer a combined service, or the florist who partners with a stationery designer to create a floral-inspired contemporary range, like the graphic designer who partners up with an Instagrammer to create an online course about creating a beautiful visual brand.

Reach out to people at a similar level / with a similar aesthetic to you. The chances are they would love the opportunity.

3. Run A Workshop

So many of us put this off, either because they seem like so much work to organise (they are)! or because we don’t feel ready. So make it easy on yourself.

Work in small groups.

Run it for beginners.

Hold it in a cosy and lovely room or outside even! rather than a grand venue.

Whatever makes it feel like FUN to you. We tend to overthink events and workshops as this far off goal, but if you have had paying clients and you know you are good at what you do or you have any sort of social media following, official ‘training’, or have been in business for a long time and know the ropes inside out which you can then teach to others, this could easily be a viable option for you which grows your reputation as an expert as well as generates a good ‘lump sum’. Just make sure you set your costs beforehand so you can calculate a good profit margin!

4. Monetise Your Blog

We fall into the trap of thinking that our blogs have one purpose only; to showcase our work. Not only can that often be a missed opportunity for you to connect to your clients, it also is a missed INCOME opportunity!

If you can write interesting articles that you then share across social media and can generate traffic, you can earn from that traffic.

*Sell your own programs or someone else’s.
*Recommend a service or a product and earn commission via places like Amazon Affiliates.
*Use your blog as a sales tool to sell more of your own products DIRECTLY FROM YOUR BLOG> link to your shop, create reviews out of blog posts, write stories about particular items, share your behind the scenes processes, and so on. Include direct links so people know where to buy or book right away! *Sell advertising space

Are just four ways to start earning directly from your blog!

5. Diversify Your Main Product Line Or Service

So for example. If you are a florist, you could create an incredible floral calendar or line of downloadable holiday-themed cards with the help of a photographer.

If you are a photographer, you could sell some of your images on stock sites or creative market.

If you are a write poetry books, you could sell poems as gifts on fiverr.

If you write children’s books, you could create an entire line of audio books around your central character / s as bonus stories.

The ideas are endless- to get started, brainstorm who else would want your services aside from your current core target market.

Enjoying this post so far? download this PDF on 57 more ways to earn more in 2017

6. Write A Book

Writing an e-book increases your authority in your industry AND your business income. Plus it can also fulfil a lifelong dream! (I don’t believe I am the only creative who dreamed of writing a book when I was growing up)

And they’re surprisingly easy to write. The most important thing is to set aside time to write it, and to set your intention simply to share what you know. Start from this base where you have time to write, and an idea of what information would be useful to others, and just write!

I wrote my first book in a weekend with two children under the age of 2! If I can do it you can too- and generate lovely extra income from your business as you do so.

7. Raise Your Prices

I know, this one isn’t too much of a shocker. But why not move into a new price bracket, and target slightly more affluent clients or clients willing to pay for what you are creating?

So often, it is our mindset around raising our prices that holds us back from charging more. We tell ourselves things like ‘nobody here would pay that much’ and ‘I’m not ready to increase my prices yet’ and we continually hover around wanting to but letting our excuses hold us back.

If you know you’ve been holding back from increasing your prices in 2016 because of reasons like this now could be a perfect time to work on your money mindset and increase your income as a result.

(If you haven’t already read it, grab hold of a copy of Denise Duffield Thomas’ Get Rich Lucky Bitch as a starting point. It will be a wake up call to how you approach and treat your income).

8. Send More Newsletters

I think every client I have ever worked with struggles in this area! But the truth is this- when you send newsletters you deepen and strengthen your relationships with the clients who love you and your work. (You will also of course lose subscribers, which is totally normal, it just means right now they aren’t the perfect fit for you and your business).

And when you have good solid relationships, you can use newsletters to make sales not just every week, but EVERY DAY – and this is the key part – WITHOUT coming across as salesy or slimy.

If you know you use expressions like ‘I don’t want to bother people’ ‘nobody has time to read frequent emails’ and ‘I don’t know what to write about’ the chances are you are resisting sending them;

due to it either being one of those things you just don’t want to do (in which case you could outsource this and consider the expense an investment into your business when you can make direct sales as a result) or

(most often) because you haven’t yet spent the time invested into how to create and write newsletters, which leaves us feeling unconfident, so therefore we avoid it.

Creating great email newsletters are EASY when you know how. Start with a simple email newsletter program like mailchimp and make a commitment to sending them weekly to begin with.

Research it online to find out all you need to know- and if you want to become an awesome writer and know how to generate sales from your newsletter, check out the FCA Storyteller course here.

9. Hire Out Your Equipment

When I first started my hair accessory business I was desperate to get my hands on solid brass millinery tools from the Victorian era. I knew it could provide a real bespoke and unusual element to my work, and I couldn’t wait to experiment and play with them. The only problem was the only ones I could find for sale were in Australia and would take three MONTHS to arrive.

If someone had them for hire I would have snapped them up for a weekend play in a heartbeat!

What do you have lying around that you could rent out for a short (or long) period of time? It could be anything from unusual tools, a spare room or garage for storage or an office space, or your everyday equipment when it’s not in use.

10. Public Speaking

Yes- if you can speak authoritatively or knowledgeably about a particular subject – whether that’s raising ten kids or setting up a business in a recession or growing seeds- whatever it is, you can earn money from it.

You might have to start speaking for free to begin with, but Youtube and Facebook Live has made that very achievable. After a while when you have gained followers, or demonstrable experience speaking, you will be able to charge for your speaking gigs and earn from it. This also helps to boost your main income as you will be seen as a further authority in your niche / specialism.

So that’s it- ten unusual ways to make more income from your business in 2017. If it’s been useful to you, share it with others you think might need to hear it using the share buttons below!

To your successful (and creative) 2017. Oh, and before you go, don’t forget your free download- containing 57 MORE ways to earn extra income from your business in 2017.

Get your download here!

Of course there are also many further avenues to explore, from creating online courses to mentoring – check out this link to learn how to create a successful secondary income stream through mentoring and coaching others in your industry.

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