As Creatives, we are usually not short on ideas. We all have LOADS of ideas — the tricky part is figuring out when to say no, and not letting idea overload keep us from getting started on anything.

(I know that I’m always pushing the just start thing. It’s what I do.)

So, how do you balance all of your NEW AMAZING BRILLIANT ideas and inspirations with the need to actually get stuff done?

Here are a few tips to keep you from idea overwhelm and help you recognize where you need to spend your time:

1. What can you do right now?

Often we love the thought of something shiny and new, but have no idea how to make it happen. By focusing on things that you can do right now, today, you’ll be able to make movement on something. And any kind of movement is a good thing.

2. Where’s the low-hanging fruit?

Psychologically, it’s an amazing feeling to cross things off your list. What’s something quick and easy you can take care of right now?

3. Know that you may never get it all done and make peace with that.

It’s okay. By accepting that you’re only one person who can’t do it all (wait? what?!), you’ll be able to avoid idea overwhelm and get back into the real world.

4. But don’t give up on your ideas!

If you’re a dreamer who’s always coming up with crazy schemes or plans, write them down! Putting pen to paper and getting the ideas out of your head will make it so much easier to come back to them when you’re lacking inspiration.

Your turn: How do YOU deal with inspiration overload?

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*image via MothballCharlie: More

Tiffany Moore, co-founder of Teahouse Studio is a life and business coach. She helps creatives take their business (and LIVES) to the next level with her sparkly and sassy coaching and thinks that everyone in the world is beautiful, including you.

But that’s not the focus of my post this morning. I want to switch things up this year and say thanks for being so awesome – give you something and spread the b-day love.

So today, I am offering Track This, at a “pay what you can” price.  ANY price you want $1 or more.

Just change the regular retail price ($27) at checkout to whatever you’d like and click “update cart” before paying.

I hope this will inspire you to take action and get a leg up for the rest of the year and beyond.

If you aren’t familiar with the workbook already, it is a 33 page plan of action, so you can organize your thoughts, understand what you truly want for your business, and use that knowledge to propel yourself forward. Learn more about Track This here.

If that sounds like something you need right now, click here, press the ‘buy now’ button, and choose your price.

I sent this offer out to my list yesterday and it has been purchased by 150 people in less than 24 hours. Thank you to everyone who has made a purchase, whether it was for $1 or $27.

“Pay what you can” will end tonight (May 15th) at 11:59pm pacific.

This guest post was written by Jena Coray of Miss Modish.

You’ve probably heard people dishing out advice on how to pitch to blogs before- I know I’ve been shouting ’bout it for years now! It’s great advice that’ll get you to the point of hitting send, which is a big step!

But what do you do after you send your pitch? How long do you wait to hear back? What happens next?

If you’re feeling confused about the next steps, read on!

How long do I wait to hear back before I pitch another blog?

Out of the 28 editors I surveyed for my Tip-Top Pitch Kit, 96% said they get back to pitches that are a great fit within a week and most of them said they’ll respond in a day or two! So if your pitch is a fantastic fit, they’ll be sure to let you know, pronto!

That’s why I suggest waiting a few days to hear back, and if there’s no response, assume that it’s not quite a fit/not the right timing, and move onto pitching to the next blog on your list.

I also think it’s ok to send pitches to a few blogs at once if they don’t have heavily overlapping audiences. ie: if you make clutches and are from Melbourne, you could send a pitch to a handmade blog, a wedding blog & an Aussie focused one in the same day- wait a few days to hear back, and then send another pitch or two, and keep going.

Sending pitches to two design blogs with similar style/audiences at the same time tho? Not so kosher, unless it’s for an event/date specific thing you’re trying to get the word out about.

And what if I never hear back at all?

That silence on the other end can often be deafening and hype our critical self-talk into overdrive- believe me, I know!

But don’t start interpreting that silence as: “they don’t like it”, “my work’s not good enough”, “I’ll never get a write-up, anywhere!” Because if you’ve taken the time to do your research, write a personal pitch addressing them by name and include awesome photos of your work and you still don’t hear back?

Don’t sweat it at all! It’s not personal. It just means, it wasn’t the right fit for them right now. That’s it!

Should I follow up if I don’t hear back?

In a word, YES.

But following up to see if they read your email? And what do they think? And “if you could just please get back to me, I’d appreciate it!” Well, that isn’t the most effective way to go about it.

I think it’s best to “follow-up” by adding something new to the conversation. If you didn’t hear back on a pitch you sent regarding a certain line, but have something new coming out you think might fit the editor’s taste better? That’s a good opportunity to follow-up.

If you their blog recently mentioned their love of plaid vintage dresses, and, oh my! You happen to have a really cute one in your shop right now. That’s a good opportunity to follow-up.

If you don’t have anything new to add to the conversation, just take the lack of response as a no, and move right along.

What about you- have you pitched your products/shop to blogs before? What was the response? Did you continue pitching?

I’d love to hear in the comments below!

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 image above by Amanda Blake “Every night she sent out messages and waited for an answer.”

Jena Coray is the mojo-maker behind Miss Modish, helping artists, makers and indie-prenuers create fulfilling businesses. She doles out biz advice 1-on-1 in her mojo sessions, and helps people self-promote with style and confidence in her Tip-Top Pitch shop!

This contributor post was written by Tiffany Moore.

There are a million resources out there written about how to grow your mailing list — contests, giveaways, promotions. All of these are great, and having an effective newsletter campaign can do wonders for your business.

The flip side that you don’t often hear about is how NOT to grow your newsletter list, but this is just as important in terms of fostering good relationships as what you do to grow it.

The #1 rule of how NOT to grow your list:

adding people who haven’t expressed direct interest in being added.

Meeting someone at a conference who says they like your jewelry or are curious about what you’re working on is not reason to take the liberty of adding them to your list. Neither is sitting next to someone at a dinner party or wanting to get the attention of an influential blogger.

In fact, there is no quicker way to sour a relationship than to effectively spam someone who already has more than enough email to handle.

It is bad form, it is rude, and it’s likely illegal. Don’t be that person. Your efforts are better spent reaching out to the people who actively want to hear from you, who have already given you money, and who have expressed major interest in the work you do.

Subscriber numbers are meaningless without the engagement of your audience.

An alternative is to send an email to the people you would normally add, saying something along the lines of:

Dear (lovely person I met/blogger/friend of a friend),

 

It was great meeting you recently at (conference/friend’s home/grocery store) and I wanted to follow up with you since you had expressed interest in my (shop/art/product).

 

I have a newsletter that I send out on a (weekly/monthly/regular) basis to announce new products and keep folks updated on what’s going on. You can sign up here if you’re interested: provide link.

 

Again, it was great meeting you!

 

Thanks,

Your Name Here
(link to shop)

A succinct, lovely email always goes farther. Always.

Tiffany Moore, co-founder of Teahouse Studio is a life and business coach. She helps creatives take their business (and LIVES) to the next level with her sparkly and sassy coaching and thinks that everyone in the world is beautiful, including you.

I know you love custom business cards and clearly, so do I! Which is why I am excited to share a little biz card project I’ve been working on with online printing resource, UPrinting (plus a giveaway for you – but I’ll get to that in a minute)…

I already have a stack of standard business cards that I use for conferences and events, but I wanted an alternative design that I could include with freebies and packages that are a little more fun and memorable. That’s the whole point of business cards anyway, right?

So I worked with UPrinting and designed a custom die-cut circle card that could pull double duty. I am really happy with how they turned out and the print quality is perfect, even with me at the helm (I am not the best designer and have been known to mess up formats and pixel dimensions in the past when it comes to business cards).

Here’s how they turned out…

And here’s how I plan to use them at networking events and craft shows, etc…

Kind of fun, huh? And speaking of fun, it’s time for a giveaway!

UPrinting is generously giving away a set of custom die-cut business cards (which come in lots of different shapes, not just circles) to three very lucky winners. Yay!

Here are the giveaway details…

What’s up for grabs? Three winners will be chosen to win a set of 250 die-cut business cards for free (with free shipping as well). Here are the details in terms of options for the three winners: 2 x 3.5″ Rounded Corners, 2″ x 2″ Rounded Corners, 1.75″ x 3.5″ Rounded Corners, 2″ x 3.5″ Leaf, 2″ x 3.5″ Rounded One Corner, 2″ x 3.5″ Half-Circle Side, 2″ x 3.5″ Oval, 2.5″ Circle; 14pt Cardstock Gloss / Matte / High Gloss (UV), or 13pt Cardstock Uncoated, on a 6 Business Days Turnaround. Free Shipping for US residents

Giveaway open to US residents only.  *Winner/s must not have won the exact same print giveaway from UPrinting in the past 6 months.

How to enter…

This one is so easy to enter! Just leave a comment below explaining (briefly) why you need new business cards OR what you hope to do with them if you win. The winners will be chosen on Monday, May 7th at 11:59pm  and announced here on this post by the following day. Bonus entries for giveaway tweets (up to three) - just make sure to include @papernstitch in your tweet(s).

Good luck!

UPDATE: Winner’s have been chosen. Congrats to Kyla, Caroline W, and Brooke. Please email me at brittni(at)papernstitch(dot)com to claim your prize. Thank you to all who entered!

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Disclosure: I was compensated by the advertiser for this editorial feature. All opinions and ideas, however, are my own.

This contributor post was written by Genevieve of Lightbox SF.

I still get told quite frequently by clients, “I know I should be on social media, but I just don’t know what to say.” They struggle with feeling like they’re being too spammy only talking about their products, but not wanting to be too personal because they’re communicating with customers not just friends. This sentiment also seems to carry over to blogging.

Not only is there a fine balance to be found, but it’s also a level of sharing that isn’t immediately comfortable. Most of us don’t think our every thought and interest matters to others and generally we’re right, but as a business owner marketing your products there is a level of connection and engagement that customers are seeking. They really do want to know more.

So my advice?

Find information you would seek out or share anyway that fits with your brand image and would be of interest to your target audience.

A jewelry designer that I’ve worked with asked me this very question in regards to what to post on Twitter and Facebook. Right away I knew the answer. She loves clothing and shoes, she is always saving images and commenting on items she “must have”. I suggested she begin sharing these more regularly. Lusting after products is a great way to connect with people and share your style. It also gives her a way to connect with designers and style bloggers who might share her work with their audiences.

Because this strategy is easy for her, she’s looking for these items anyway, she has more of a presence on social media, she’s sharing things that people can comment on easily and it doesn’t feel too personal. She’s also able to connect with potential customers who have a similar style.

In finding content to share on your blog and via social media you need to pick something or a series of things that you feel inspired to talk about over and over again, most likely information that you already seek out.

It might be images that inspire you to create your work, or your hunt for materials or the music you listen to while you work. It doesn’t have to be hard.

By creating an overarching theme for your blogging and your posting you not only create consistency for your readers and followers, but you also establish yourself as a go-to source or expert on your topic.

You want your business to be known for a certain product or style, it’s the same with the information you share.

It’s more than just what you share though, you also need to consider the tone in which you share. Will you be funny, conversational, authoritative or informational? This voice or style should mirror or compliment the image of your business. If you make delicate metal jewelry with soft flowing shapes, most likely your tone won’t be short and quip or use a lot of slang. Your tone comes across in the words you choose, the phrasing of your sentences, and even the references you choose to link to.

Use a voice that feels natural, write and post the way you would talk to a friend and share information you love to talk about anyway.

What are your favorite things to share?

Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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image above: Can you hear me now tie tack by Mama’s Little Babies

Genevieve Robertson writes about creative marketing strategies over at Lightbox SF. She helps makers, artists, and crafters brand their businesses by telling their stories and embracing what makes them unique. Reserve your spot now for  Ink Yourself: Discover Your Unique Story, a 5-week guided e-course designed to help creative business owners shape their story and define their ideal customer. Only 20 spots available!

Obsessing over your product photography? Not sure how to get the perfect shot with your point-and-shoot or DSLR?

Don’t worry! You can totally do this.

Great photos are just a couple of clicks away. And to make things a little less overwhelming and a lot more doable, here are nine photography articles that will help you turn your photo duds into total delights.

1. above Create a simple portrait setup with natural light + white reflector (via Savor Photography blog).

2. Ten (photography) things not to do from Elsie Larson of A Beautiful Mess.

3. Lindsay of Shrimp Salad Circus shares 5 secrets to great product shots.

4. Go behind the scenes with Lauren Elise in her studio while she shoots her latest diy.

5. Putting together a mini in-home studio (via Clickin Moms)

6. How to photograph your embroidery (via Stitch Punk)

7. Top ten tips for better product photography (from papernstitch – that’s me)

8. Photography school with Camille Styles – all about aperture.

9. Learn how to make an animated GIF using your newly awesome photographs with the help of my Seattle buddy Jenny from Hank & Hunt.

Want more? Visit my photography tips and tricks pinboards now.

This contributor post was written by Tiffany Moore.

I had the pleasure of attending the (first ever!) Craftcation Conference at the end of March in Ventura. There were so many amazing speakers, presentations, and classes, and I want to share my greatest hits with you today. So much great information!

“When people come to Etsy, they’re specifically coming to a handmade marketplace, knowing that a human made the items they’re buying. Remind them that you’re that human in everything you do with your shop and brand: talk about how you were inspired to make your item, included a personal touch when you mail their purchase.

Robots didn’t make your awesomeness, a human did!” – Steph Cortes (aka nerdJERK) from Etsy 101

Be a person, y’all, not a robot. If someone wants to buy something made by a robot, they’ll go to Wal-Mart.

“It’s not how many ideas you have, it’s how you make them work.” – Amy Tan of Amy Tangerine

Yes times a million! The primary difference between people who are running creative businesses and those who are just dreaming about creative businesses is the ability to get things done.

“Make something awesome!” – Melanie Harvey of Harvey’s Seatbelt Bags

This is the ultimate way to make sure your products sell. Start with the awesome, figure out the marketing later.

“Rule #1 of making the best of the media: DON’T BE HUMBLE…Reporters are waiting for your amazing story. You have to tell them who you are and what you’re up to…Brevity is critical: keep it short and sweet.” – Gustavo Arellano, editor of the OC Weekly

Gustavo’s talk was full of amazing advice for how to get into the media. It’s up to you (yes, YOU!) to show the world your brilliance. Don’t wait around for someone to notice.

“Making things is fundamental to being human.” – Evan Kleiman

I think that pretty much sums up why we’re all here doing what we’re doing. Keep up the good work, friends!

Tiffany Moore, co-founder of Teahouse Studio is a life and business coach. She helps creatives take their business (and LIVES) to the next level with her sparkly and sassy coaching and thinks that everyone in the world is beautiful, including you.

Life is filled with distractions.

And for that exact reason, time management is something that everyone struggles with at one point or another – whether you have a traditional 9-5 or you work from home.

But the thing about working from home that makes things more difficult than going into an office every morning is that many of those distractions become more apparent.

You live where you work, so there is a lot less separation. The dishes need to be done, the laundry is piling up, and your dog is practically begging you to take her to the dog park.

AND you don’t have a boss breathing down your neck, so accountability practically flies out the window. Uh-oh!

So you are going to need a game plan for combating those constant disturbances, so you can stay productive (and motivated) while working from home.

I am going to give you that game plan in this five minute video.

If you are currently struggling to stay on top of it all, take a few minutes to watch this video, and then let me know in the comments below which of these 5 tips was the most helpful for you.

Have your own time management tricks? Great! You can leave your response in the comments below too.

This contributor post was written by Tiffany Moore.

For most small businesses, finding your audience is key. Having a vision of who you’re selling to will not only help you along your path as you communicate your value, it will also make your job of marketing yourself so much easier.

The key to remember is that while finding your audience is important, choosing your audience is even bigger. That’s right: I said choose.

When you first start out, it’s easy to think that the audience you’re speaking to is your actual audience ~ your mom, your best friend, and a few random folks you went to high school with who saw your postings on Facebook. Just because this is your current audience, you get to choose who you really want to sell to.

Focus on who makes YOU come alive:

Do you love creating artwork for children’s bedrooms that focuses on unicorns and umbrellas? Then don’t try to sell to people who want tugboats! You make things that start with U — own it!

Are you a photographer who hates crowds? Weddings probably aren’t your thing then. Even if you think you *should* be a wedding photographer, if big groups of people make you anxious, it’s never going to work. On the flip side, if you hate one-on-one interactions and love to slip into a crowd and take pictures of all the little bits that make up a party, you might want to stay away from selling yourself as a portrait photographer.

Close your eyes for a moment and picture your dream client: ask yourself these questions:

Who is it?
Where does this person live?
What does this person like to do for fun?

If you’re able to, name the person. Reese Witherspoon, George Clooney (DEFINITELY on my dream client list!), your Aunt Sara…being able to picture a real person as you work on your marketing will make a world of difference.

The key is: you get to choose your target market.

If a market has chosen you, and you feel resentful or it doesn’t resonate, that’s a really good sign that it’s time to step back and rethink things.

*image via LittleFotoFox: Easter Peeps (peeps! get it?!)

Tiffany Moore, co-founder of Teahouse Studio is a life and business coach. She helps creatives take their business (and LIVES) to the next level with her sparkly butt-kicking and thinks that everyone in the world is beautiful, including you.