Tag Archives: small business advice

my instagram hook- not just pretty photos

So I began my instagram account a few years ago and I was so excited at having this way to post pictures of my product to people all over the world.  I thought, awesome, my product will be a perfect fit for IG b/c all the advice columns were saying have ‘interesting content’.  Well, painted baseballs are super visual and very interesting content! (I know I am a bit biased)  And although that has drawn many viewers to my instagram page, I think it takes a bit more to keep them there.

I wanted my IG page to be pure, full of only my baseball designs and no other content.  But honestly I have found that over the past year, adding photos that show a general love of the game has added much more to my page then just my own cool baseball pics.  I have a video of a 3 yr old at his first baseball game, and great sayings about baseball, it adds another element that I think was lacking.  Now it is more of a ‘for-the-love-of-the-game’ page, which is what I was ultimately going for.  On IG I am @unforgettaballs it’s a great place to see the baseballs in painting progress, come take a look. 🙂

 

Focus! Why I act like a toddler…

Small business lessons: So here is what happens- I try very hard to wear my ‘big picture hat’, but as a one person business I get very easily distracted. I have to look at each day and spend time working on parts of my business that look to the future and the growth of the business, it is so easy for me to get caught up in artwork and then forget that I am suppose to be running and growing a business!

I have to remember that book ‘the e-myth’ go read it if you haven’t yet- will really give you the right perspective on how to run your business.

Big picture, all the way, every day. that is my rhyme of the evening! Good night!

Snapchat?! Ok let’s see..

Well as the media maven that I am (read newbie) I am trying my next platform and seeing if snapchat could be good for business.

What I like about it:

  1. It doesnt have to be taken with a good camera, my lack of photograghy skills don’t matter.
  2.  Seems pretty damn easy to do at any point during my day.
  3. Could be a good way to show people the life of a 1 person business- striving to be a million dollar company!

What I don’t like about it:

  1.  How do I get people to know I’m there?!
  2.  Having to ask my son constantly what the different symbols mean
  3.  Is everyone there under the age of 20??

I will keep you all posted- meanwhile- go check me out there! @unforgettaballs

How to expand your business to something larger

So I am one of those people who is endlessly reading branding books b/c i am always eager to learn the latest thinking on how to best brand your business. The latest one I am reading is by Daymond John, from Shark Tank. He talks about going from a brand to a lifestyle. So I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about what my brand is and who it speaks to best. What makes my product unique is that it appeals to both men shopping for themselves, and women shopping for men. This makes it tricky to figure out who I am speaking to specifically- I guess maybe what unites them is just being a baseball fan!