Thursday 19 March 2015

3 tools that are improving my entrepreneurship

I never saw myself as an entrepreneur. I thought I would be a worker bee, settled into a comfortable hive somewhere.

There are things in life beyond our control. Like your company laying off 400 people during a reorganization. Including you.

When I found myself holding an envelope with details of my severance package, I had no idea of what was to come. I missed being a worker bee. As I started doing temp work to keep engaged in the labour market, I discovered something else. I missed being a queen bee. Because that's what it felt like, having my niche and my strengths in my former position.

Part of the stress of job hunting is that so much is out of your control. You can have a great resume and have a great interview - but you can't do anything about someone else being more qualified.

So that's how I started putting together Enchanted Mermaid Treasures. I planned it as a source of extra income and a way to maintain my HTML and CSS skills, while celebrating my love of mermaids.

So I built it. And started building Angela Boyko Art, because I've been returning to my creative roots over the last year.

Sounds simple, right? Well, you can build the site, but that doesn't mean visitors will come. I have had some sales, but I discovered that there was a lot I didn't know about marketing and SEO. Google Analytics and Webmaster Tools have helped me see where my traffic is coming from. Now I need to know how to get better exposure.

I tried a Facebook ad - ended up paying $1 a click but no sales. I tried Google Adwords - averaged .15 per click but also did not produce a sale.

So now I'm digging in to figure out how I can improve my site and my advertising. These have proven to be valuable resources:

Wordpress SEO by Yoast
I had a love/hate relationship with this plugin when I started, because it was so hard to write at least 300 words per page! But now I love it. It points out specific things to update, such as putting the keyword in the title, URL, and alt tags. It tells me to have at least one image per blog post. And it's free!

Chapter 1 of "The Definitive Guide to Copywriting"
Yes, chapter 1. I haven't finished the guide. I'm including this because chapter 1 asks some really good questions about your product. The questions had me thinking about my sites from a different perspective, and I'm going to be revising a lot of copy.

Google AdWords courses
Google wants you to buy advertising. Google wants you to reap the benefits of advertising with them. So they've provided free online courses. I'm in the second course and the worksheet is asking some very thought-provoking questions. I'm not sure how to define my audience when I don't have much of one right now. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

And because every blog post should have a photo ...

Today I received my new business cards and new postcards for Etsy #cards #etsy

A photo posted by Angela Boyko (@angelamermaid) on

13 comments:

  1. Online reputation management services Reputation Pride Offering Best Online Reputation Management (ORM) Services - Pride generate positive reviews - comments for your Business

    ReplyDelete
  2. I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.
    mod-apk

    ReplyDelete
  3. Domain Networks is an online directory listings top websites from local businesses from around the world. We do not provide domain registration or domain renewal services.
    domainnetworks

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would like to say that this blog really convinced me to do it! Thanks, very good post.
    horse browbands

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great job for publishing such a beneficial website. Your web log isn’t only useful but it is additionally really creative too.
    shlomo

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nice post! This is a very nice blog that I will definitively come back to more times this year! Thanks for informative post.
    shlomo yehuda rechnitz email address

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you so much for sharing this amazing articles regarding tool to improve entrepreneurship skills. I am glad to read this information and improving my knowledge. I must share this with others. Keep sharing.
    Solar Gel Battery

    ReplyDelete
  8. gafas.pk, is an absolute delight! The sleek design and intuitive layout make it a breeze to navigate through your collection. I'm impressed by the wide range of eyewear options available, catering to diverse tastes and preferences. The user experience is seamless, and the detailed product descriptions help in making informed decisions. Kudos to your team for curating such a fantastic platform for eyewear enthusiasts like me. gafas

    ReplyDelete
  9. Absolutely love the range of kids' garments on Kidzaad.pk! The collection is vibrant, trendy, and perfect for little ones. The quality and variety are impressive, making it a go-to destination for parents looking for stylish clothing for their kids. The designs are not only adorable but also practical, catering to different tastes and ages. Keep up the fantastic work! Can't wait to see more additions to your already fantastic collection.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Muchata has become my daily dose of inspiration. The blog posts are not just informative; they ignite curiosity and spark conversations. It's refreshing to find a platform that values both substance and style. Keep up the great work.

    ReplyDelete
  11. These three tools have been instrumental in boosting my entrepreneurship journey:

    Canva: It simplifies graphic design, allowing me to create eye-catching marketing materials effortlessly.
    Trello: It keeps my tasks organized and ensures smooth project management, enhancing productivity.
    QuickBooks: It simplifies accounting tasks, helping me stay on top of finances and make informed decisions.
    For more insights into how diversity and inclusion efforts can positively impact businesses, check out this article: https://starbuckspartnerhourss.com/starbucks-diversity-and-inclusion-efforts/

    ReplyDelete