Not Attracting Enough Customers or Clients? Your Blog Strategy Might be to Blame

I find the most difficult part of being a creative entrepreneur is managing the constant flow of new ideas. Everyday, I think of more and more possibilities and directions to explore for my business, and it can be quite a task to manage, analyze, and sort through them all.

The largest stream of ideas is usually for my blog content. There are so many things I want to share on my blog, but it often seems impossible to check each one off my never-ending list. Which posts should I write first? Which ones will be most strategic for my business? Which posts will be most helpful for my audience?

With a huge number of tentative posts, topics, and tips to create, it can be a bit overwhelming to figure out which blogs to write—especially while juggling other areas of business, such as client work, social media marketing, newsletter content, product development, and so on.

It takes a lot of time and energy to think through every blog post possibility, decide which ones to write each month, and map out titles into an editorial calendar.

In a panic, it can be easy select and write posts on a whim because we know creating content is key to growing a successful business. Gotta stay consistent. Gotta show up. Gotta build that SEO.

But this frantic approach leads to “idea clutter,” and it can quickly cause your business to crash and burn. Your posts are all over the place. They’re hard to write. They don’t grow your readership. They feel like a complete and utter waste.

And yet, you keep on blogging because you’re still hoping to strike gold one day.

But take a deep breath because today I have a simple solution to make blogging easy again. In this post, I’m going to show you how to cut the clutter, get to the point, and create blog posts that convert.

It’s time to whip your blog into shape so it can become a powerhouse for your business—instead of a burden.

Let’s begin!

Goal-Smashing Planning Techniques for Creative Business

Going into the new year, I had a refreshed perspective about planning.

Because in 2020, I let some of my goals go without stressing about it. I took some time off to enjoy several other creative hobbies I hadn’t done in a while.

After a few months of making polymer clay earrings, doing home decor projects, and working on my fiber arts brand, I dove back into my Ponder Trail business tasks. But this time, with a different mindset.

It was still 2020, after all, so I decided to just take it day by day without planning or setting too many goals.

But what happened surprised me: I ended up checking off more things on my to-do and projects list than I had expected. My productivity somehow increased, and I achieved several goals earlier than I’d originally intended.

I launched my first few digital products for Ponder Trail, officially opening the entrepreneur resource shop that’s been on my list for a while now. I brought on new clients. Blogging became easier than ever. And all without following a rigid schedule or routine. It kind of blew my mind.

After some reflecting, I realized what had changed: I spent less time over-thinking, balancing all the things, and maintaining the status quo. And instead, I spent more time doing high-impact tasks, focusing on only 1-3 goals at once, and prioritizing project-creation.

I had much more clarity, and my productivity increased drastically once all of the extra things were off my plate and weren’t competing for my attention.

So going into January this year, I knew I wanted to restructure the way I tackle tasks, using my 2020 findings as a jumping-off point.

The main hang-ups that linger in the background of managing business to-do’s are typically (1) not feeling prepared enough (hence not taking action), and (2) feeling torn in too many directions (hence not being able to stay focused).

I knew plans and strategy were still they key to getting things done, but I wanted to simplify things and be more efficient.

I needed to find a way to still work towards my desired goals while also have less to manage at a time—and fast: I had no plan, and it was already one week into January, and my first launch for the year was fast approaching.

And then, I had an idea . . .

Welcome to the Treehouse: the Brand Strategy Membership for Creative Entrepreneurs

Over the past few years, I’ve discovered the value of adopting a laser-focused mindset. It creates clarity and an open runway to brainstorm and bring your ideas to life. It gives you space to think strategically, create a plan, and stay on track. It cultivates productivity, action, and progress like nothing else.

Once I switched my approach and dedicated my attention to one part of my strategy, I started saving time, seeing more progress, and finally getting in the groove. And I haven’t looked back since.

I started seeing the difference it made in my business first-hand, so I set out to help other creatives do the same. And after coaching brand strategy clients one-on-one for over a year, I wanted to find a way to help even more creatives.

So I landed on the perfect idea: a self-paced membership program. It’s a brand strategy subscription that’s part-course, part-service, and part-library, so it meets the best of all worlds for entrepreneurs who are looking to take action in their businesses.

I’m calling it the Brand Strategy Treehouse.

It’s my all-new signature membership, and it’s available to you today!

My Step-by-Step Process for a Successful Year

It’s that time of year again—when everything feels fresh and new. Goals swirl around our minds with ever-growing excitement about what we hope to accomplish in the new year.

We dream big about our businesses and can’t wait to get started on our latest and greatest ideas.

But without a methodical way to set and reach goals, there isn’t much hope for success.

So today, I’m giving you my step-by-step process to effectively plan for a successful and productive year. This is an in-depth blog post you won’t want to miss.

Entrepreneur Highlight: Balancing a Productive Side-Hustle while Working a Full-Time Job

This blog post is extra special because it’s the very first in my new Friday series: Entrepreneur Highlight.

Starting this week, I’m bringing on entrepreneurs from different creative industries to share their businesses, insights, and talents with you.

One of the things I love most about working with my clients is getting to know so many different creative entrepreneurs who have created a unique business around their passion.

I’m always amazed at how each industry pocket and individual have fresh perspectives and unique approaches. And I want to share that with you, too.

My friend, Caitlynn of Rustic Oil Life, is joining us today for the debut of my new series, and I couldn’t be more excited to introduce her to you all.

In this post, Caitlynn is sharing how she is growing a side-hustle that fits her lifestyle—all while being a wife, getting ready for the arrival of their little one, and working a demanding, full-time job!

If you’re trying to find balance with your business and full-time job, or if you’re just hoping to get better at making productive use of your time, this post is for you!

15 Reasons to Utilize a Newsletter and Email List for Creative Business

The “newsletter” and the “email list” are talked about a lot these days. And it’s no wonder because they come with countless benefits.

Even if you aren’t quite sure what they do or why you need them, you’ve likely come in contact with these tools before. (Ever get emails from your favorite stores?)

But newsletters aren’t just for big, established businesses.

In fact, they’re one of the best tools for creative small businesses and start-ups, too. And the sooner you start building yours, the better off your business will be.

Read on to learn the principles of a newsletter and an email list.

And if you still aren’t convinced or simply haven’t jumped on board, I’m also sharing 15 indisputable reasons to start your newsletter today!

An Inside Look at the Strategy Behind My Homepage

Last week, I shared a post about the 7 essential pages to include on your website. As I was writing, the content I wanted to share about the strategy behind a homepage kept growing, so I decided to create an in-depth post dedicated just to this one topic.

If you're itching for a look behind the scenes at the thought process and purpose behind an effective homepage, this post is for you!

If you already have a website, or if you're are just getting started with one, I hope you enjoy today's insights as I spill the beans on the strategy behind my homepage.

Business, Squarespace, BrandingSarah ForestSeptember 25, 2018Website, Strategy, Blog Pod, Experience, Design, creative business Comments

7 Essential Pages Every Website Needs (and the Strategies behind Them)

It’s no secret that every business in 2018 needs a website.

It’s the best place to build your online presence because you own and control your website.

. . . And because you won’t have to worry about changes to algorithms on social media.

While the possibilities are endless for designing and setting up your brand’s website, there are 7 pages in particular that are critical for a successful site.

Keep reading to learn how you can implement these essential pages on your business’s website.

25 Ways to be Strategic with Your Time and Efforts

Have you ever listed out every single task you do for your creative business?

I’m willing to bet that it’s a long list.

Each one of these tasks take time. And time is very, very limited.

For some people, an 8 hour workday feels painfully long, but for many creative entrepreneurs, a 16 hour work session never feels quite long enough for all of the things we hope to accomplish.

Can you relate?

Since we’re a hustling bunch, we have to be extra careful with where our time goes. Because, after all, the clock doesn’t stop for even a second.

My calendar is always filled with things to check off. I used to wonder where all of my time went. But since then, I’ve gained some insight into making more progress and having more to show for my time.

So today, I’m sharing my favorite 25 tips for being strategic with your time and efforts.

Why and How to Define an Audience for Your Creative Business, Blog, and Social Media

Who is your audience?

It’s perhaps the most important question you will ever answer about your business.

Your audience is the group of people who are ecstatic about your brand and want to buy your products or book your services. They’re your potential customer or clients.

If you want to have a profitable business, you need to reach and connect with them. And every element of your business needs to be designed and intended for that market.

Until you know your audience, you won’t have complete clarity or get the full potential out of the work you put into your business.

You’ll miss opportunities to speak to your potential customers or clients through intentional branding and messaging.

And you’ll likely put time into creating content that isn’t effective.

But once you follow the steps in today’s blog post, you’ll be on your way to building a loyal following for your creative business.

Business, Marketing, Blogging, Social MediaSarah ForestSeptember 11, 2018Blog Pod, Strategy, creative business Comments

The latest insights for creative entrepreneurs