​Keeping track of payments, expenses, and making sure your business accounts stay afloat can be a daunting task when you’re just starting out. I love using YNAB “You Need A Budget” budgeting software to help me manage my businesses finances. This user-friendly software has made it really easy to keep track of my outflows and inflows, set aside money for upcoming expenses, and keep my businesses operating in the black. Here’s how I use YNAB for my business. 

​Did you start your Etsy shop with initial success but now you’ve had trouble getting more sales since? You’re not alone. It’s pretty common after you start your Etsy shop for things to slow down. But now isn’t the time to throw in the towel and give up altogether. There’s a lot you can do organically to increase your Etsy views and sales. Here’s my top five tips: 

​Are you running your Etsy shop blindly? Are you just kinda going along making, listing, and selling things but not really paying attention to your numbers? If that sounds familiar, you’re missing out on key data that could help you get more Etsy sales and grow your business. So, what numbers do you need to pay attention to and what do they mean? Let’s get into it. 

​As a small business owner, you’re probably wondering if investing in email marketing and newsletters is a good strategy to get more customers and ultimately grow your business. New business owners are quick to jump on social media marketing, but often forget or don’t know about email marketing. Here are five reasons why you shouldn’t forget about email marketing for business! 

​​Are you struggling to get views, saves, and sales on Etsy? Even if you had initial success on Etsy, it’s pretty common for your Etsy sales to slow down after a time. But you don’t have to let it stay that way. The truth is that although I’ve written before about how Etsy is a great place to get your business started, you can’t rely on Etsy alone to make sales and grow your business. 

​With nearly a 100 million shoppers on Etsy, you have probably considered it as a potential way to start selling your products online. But you might be wondering if it’s worth it. You might be asking: Is Etsy too saturated? Is Etsy too expensive? Should I do my own website instead of Etsy? I’ll answer your burning Etsy questions in this post, but here’s the root of it: I believe that Etsy is still the best way to get started with selling your products online. Here’s why:

​Do you have a love and hate relationship with social media? Perhaps you love it when it’s good, hate it when it’s bad. You love using it to connect with friends, but hate “all the fake” you regularly see. Maybe you love consuming it yourself, but the thought of having to actually make your own posts (or show your own face, gasp!) on social media has you paralyzed. “I want to run my business, but I don’t want anything to do with social media.” Does that sound familiar? 

For a myriad of different reasons, social media can be a big hangup for new business owners. So you might even be asking yourself if it’s really even needed. Here’s three reasons why you should plan on incorporating social media into your business. 

​Soloprenuer is a trendy new word that means someone who works alone in their business. A lot of people have been using this word as a descriptor, adding it to their Instagram bios and email signatures. Heck, I might have even said (or typed) it at one point. However, now a few years into this building businesses thing, I can firmly say being a soloprenuer isn’t a good thing. And here is why... 

​Many new business owners will announce their idea, open their business, and turn on their website without a plan, without fanfare, without a proper launch because they don’t want the “added stress” of a launch. Sound familiar? 

Unfortunately doing it that way usually falls flat and leaves new business owners feeling despair over the state of their new business. Listen, the sound of crickets doesn’t mean you have a bad business idea, it probably means you didn’t tell anyone about it! 

Launches, whether it’s a new business entirely or a new product or service within an existing business, are a fantastic and strategic way to grow your community, expand brand awareness, and fuel your content marketing strategy. 

Taking a vacation away from work is good for your soul, mind, and body. The change in pace and environment can stir creative thoughts that can push your business forward when you return. The break will allow your mind to rest and reset. And your body will appreciate the additional sleep that vacation can provide. No one was made to work 24/7. Even robots get powered down for maintenance once and awhile. 

Here are 5 reasons why you should plan to take a vacation. ​