KNIT & KNOTTED

I would consider myself a pretty optimistic person.  I’m pretty sure that Hope was my second strongest strength on the VIA classification survey.
I’m all for hope — and believing that everything is going to be okay.  Maybe I hope against the odds — but I wouldn’t say that I live in a fantasy land.
Bad things happen all the time — and to me — and I know that.  Challenges are opportunities for growth.  But I don’t think it does me any good to dwell on the negative.  So when it’s not helpful to me, I try not to. That said — I had mixed feelings about the notes.  I do think that spreading hope is a great thing, but I wasn’t sure that these notes were the best way to do it.
I thought that this one: “No one can take the place of you” might cheer someone up.   So I gave it a shot.

Anyway — I live off campus, so I was pretty sure that my friends and I wouldn’t have the opportunity to discuss any hope notes I left for them.  So, to maximize the chances of discussion, I left the notes sprinkled throughout my husband’s books one day.  (Full disclosure: He’s a psych major too, and we discuss this class all the time.  I didn’t tell him about the assignment beforehand, but I was pretty sure that he would be able to guess who left the notes.) On to the results: He read them, smiled, followed the directions on this card “today, tell someone you love ‘i love you’.” and then went back to his homework.  He was pretty indifferent about the whole thing. He didn’t think that they were “cute”, and he wasn’t really annoyed with them.  He wasn’t sure how this one: “You can be surprised by something wonderful” was supposed to make the recipient feel.

So, I think I might have gotten better results if the cards were better suited to the recipient.  I think if I had made personalized cards, that had more meaningful messages, it would have had a bigger impact on the reader.  Maybe? —Sarah Carothers

I’m writing a little blog about indie business topics.

Care to see?

www.themakery.posterous.com

I’d love to hear your thoughts about it.  If you’re interested, email me at cottageinds at gmail dot com and suggest a topic!

What do you hear when I say the word “marketing”? Is it synonymous with “manipulation”?

Does the idea of “marketing strategy” conjure images of sketchy car salesmen pitching offers that seem too good to be true?  Do you think of television commercials flashing the words LIMITED TIME OFFER and CALL NOW!!! across the screen?  Yikes…

Marketing shouldn’t be this way.  

Marketing isn’t yelling.

Marketing isn’t hard selling.

Marketing isn’t telling your customers what to do.

Instead, it’s finding the people who want to buy your product. It’s helping those people find you. And it’s helping your customers feel excited about supporting your indie business.

If you are doing something great (and you are!), then you have to put your best foot forward, and show people that you are offering something of value. You can be a super marketer and a super nice person.

(images by Pattie Lee Becker)

I’m writing a little blog about indie business topics.

Care to see?

www.themakery.posterous.com

I’d love to hear you thoughts about it.  If you’re interested, email me at cottageinds at gmail dot com and suggest a topic!

What do you hear when I say the word “marketing”? Is it synonymous with “manipulation”?

Does the idea of “marketing strategy” conjure images of sketchy car salesmen pitching offers that seem too good to be true?  Do you think of television commercials flashing the words LIMITED TIME OFFER and CALL NOW!!! across the screen?  Yikes…

Marketing shouldn’t be this way.  

Marketing isn’t yelling.

Marketing isn’t hard selling.

Marketing isn’t telling your customers what to do.

Instead, it’s finding the people who want to buy your product. It’s helping those people find you. And it’s helping your customers feel excited about buying your product.

If you are doing something great (and you are!), then you have to put your best foot forward, and show people that you are offering something of value. You can be a super marketer and a super person.

(images by Pattie Lee Becker)

So, you know you need a niche, but how do you find the perfect one?  And then - What happens when you are one of those multi-talented mavens, proficient in variety of crafty arenas?

In the early planning stages of my bid’ness, I thought it would be wonderful to sell anything and everything I might get the urge to create.  Hey!, I thought, I can sell greeting cards, knit scarves, embroidered wall-hangings, and those friendship bracelets I’m always fiddling with.  But, I realized very quickly that the best decision for the success of my shop — and for my personal sanity — was to keep the my product line focused.  Your shop will be so much more successful if you spend some time in the beginning, reflecting on your interests and carving out your niche.

Here we have a few ideas to help you find, define, and refine your niche: 

1. Ask yourself, first.  One of the first steps to take in discovering your niche is to sit down with a pen and paper, and make a list of your various skills, talents, and interests.  Write down the things you are best at.  Write about the activities that satisfy your creative spirit.

   Okay. If you are like me, your list of interests is 4 miles long. Now for some editing.

   First of all, look at your list of items, and sort them according to your skill level.  Put a little star next to your greatest talent.

   Then, sort your items according to interest.  Which activity could you do for hours on end?  Star that one.

   Finally, sort your items according to how much they satisfy you.  Which activity are you the most enthusiastic about?  Star the item that fulfills you the most. Choose a niche that you are passionate about, and your business will be sustainable.

2. Ask your friends.
Still at a loss when it comes to carving out your niche?  Try asking your friends and family for their input.  They know you pretty well, and can likely tell you where you’d be a good fit.

Also, you can find ideas for your potential niche by asking your friends and family about their unmet needs.  Be observant of the needs that exist in your community, and think about ways you can fill those needs.

3. Be mindful of the market, but don’t bend to trends. 

   It is important to pick a product with a sustainable number of potential customers.  But, you do not need make the latest trendy thingamajig to be successful.  Be inspired by your competition, but don’t copy them.

   Monetary success should not be the motivating factor in carving your niche. At the risk of sounding like an after school special, I just have to say:  You will be more successful and more fulfilled in the long run if you remain true to your passion.

Take the time to experiment and find the niche that is represents you.  Find the niche that you know you’ll enjoy, and you’ll get a head start on achieving success.

(image credit: Le Petit Pig)

Pronunciation: \ˈnich also ˈnēsh or ˈnish\

You are creative. 

You have sketchbooks filled with great product ideas, and you dream of starting your own indie business.  You’re yearning to get your name out there and be noticed.  How can you find your place in our larger community of talented makers and sellers?

One of the most important steps in starting a creative business is to define your niche.

While finding your niche is one of the strongest tools in your marketing toolbox, trying to put your finger on what makes your business unique and special isn’t always easy. But one of the best ways to carve out a niche for yourself is to cultivate a unique style for your products.  Ask yourself this:

What sets your shop apart from the others? 

What is unique about the products you sell?

What is the “something special” that only you can offer?

Your goal in discovering your niche is to concentrate all of your creative ideas and thoughts into the most focused business concept you can.  Your niche helps you discover the groups of customers that are most likely to be interested in your products. A well-defined niche serves the specific needs of a specific group of people. Find that need, and fill it.

Why You Need a Niche

Sometimes, business owners fight against the idea of defining a niche market. “My target audience is everyone!”, they say.  They are afraid that the idea of a niche is limiting.  But the reality is this: no matter how hard they try, no retailer can be all things to all people. 

And honestly, why would you want to be?  One of the best things about indie designers, in my opinion, is that they offer a unique point of view, products that come from their heart, products that exude integrity and personality.

Not everyone is going to want to buy your product.  But that’s okay.  What you need to do is find the people who do care, who want to know what you have going on, and who will tell their friends about you.

The good news is this: You have the ability to create something that no one else has made before.  You don’t have to create based on what’s “trendy”, what you “think” might sell, or what you’ve seen work for other people.  You are the something special that defines your niche.

When you’ve focused your business concept, you’ll have a big head start in the marketing department.  When you are marketing to the right people, they’ll tell thier friends, and become one of your greatest assets.  Here are three more reasons you need to define your niche:

1. You can use your niche to start building your brand.
2. You’ll have a better idea of where to focus your advertising dollars.  You’ll know where to look to find blogs and related sites that are catering to your niche.
3. You’ll be more successful in attracting loyal and dedicated customers.

Next steps:

Remember those questions I asked you earlier in the post?  It’s time to get out that notebook and starting jotting down ideas.  Tell me, what about your business idea sets you apart.  What can you offer your customers?  What is your unique point of view?

(image credits: Andrew Daniel)