Our topic on this episode of #MakerBizChat is How to Use Instagram to Create Profitable Collaborative Opportunities. Our guest is Sharon Fain of the Academy of Handmade, a membership organization that supports makers through community, workshops and an awards show. You can read the full transcript on Instagram at this link. Because Instagram is designed…
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Welcome to Season 3, Episode 5 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this fifth episode of my Makers on Main Street series, you’ll meet Kismet Andrews of Bar Maids in Brush Prairie, Washington. Kismet held down a full-time job working eighty hours a week for several years after the started her business, and when she…
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Welcome to Season 3, Episode 4 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this fourth episode of my Makers on Main Street series, you’ll meet Michelle Rhoades of Mossy Creek Soap in Perry, Georgia. Michelle’s introduction to business ownership began with a foray into the world of direct sales. She was very successful at it, but…
What sets apart Makers and Handmade Entrepreneurs who use Instagram successfully to grow their businesses and those who do not? According to our guest on today’s Success Call, it includes things like consistent posting and using a pre-determined schedule. In other words, like in so many other areas of life and business, discipline is the…
Today is a day of remembrance and celebration. We remember the sacrifices of those who gave, and are giving, so much of themselves so we have the freedom to learn and grow as individuals. We celebrate the blessings of America, and with gratitude, acknowledge the selflessness that makes it all possible. Thank you for your…
The #MakerBizChat event has been retired, but I invite you to enjoy this article, which is useful to all entrepreneurs who want to build a solid and sustainable brand. You can binge on all of the other #MakerBizChat posts at this link. On Wednesday evenings from 8 to 8:30pm ET, I host #MakerBizChat, an Instagram…
Today is the best day ever because it’s our coaching call day! Each month, I and our Head Coach, Christine Laureano, host a private member call designed to give members an opportunity to get the answers to their most pressing business questions NOW! This month, our Head Coach, Christine Laureano (left) will be joined by…
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Welcome to Season 3, Episode 3 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this third episode of my Makers on Main Street series, I introduce you to Jamyla Bennu of Oyin Handmade in Baltimore, Maryland. You’ll be so inspired by how Jamyla has grown her business from a tiny kitchen operation to a retail store with…
I received this fun video via email over the weekend. It’s all about the product that that put in motion the sequence of events that led to the start of the Indie Business network: soap. The first part of the video is about the many varieties of soaps and detergents (key word there) on the…
On Wednesday evenings from 8 to 8:30pm ET, I host #MakerBizChat, an Instagram event to help Makers and Handmade Entrepreneurs build a solid business foundation, increase your income, and use your business to create the life you love. Our topic last night was How to Pitch Your Products to Holiday Gift Guides, and my guest…
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Welcome to Season 3, Episode 2 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this second episdoe of my Makers on Main Street series, I introduce you to Keith Emmons and Robert Ungemach of Opportunity Market in Dallas, Texas. Keith and Robert are partners in life and in business, and each serves a different leadership role at…
On Wednesday evenings from 8 to 8:30pm ET, I host #MakerBizChat, an Instagram event to help Makers and Handmade Entrepreneurs build a solid business foundation, increase your income, and use your business to create the life you love. Our topic last night was 5 Step To Use Instagram to Tell Your Brand Story, and my…
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Welcome to Season 3, Episode 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this first episode of my third season, I’m thrilled to share the theme for Season 3: Makers on Main Street. Don’t you just love that?! Considering all the talk we hear from lawmakers and media pundits about “Main Street” businesses that are really…
The links in this post have been updated to reflect that registration for Connection Day: New York City is closed. To register for upcoming Connection Day events in a city near you, click here. Thank you for visiting! I am pleased to announce Connection Day 2015: New York City, on September 14, 2015, with hotel…
If you and I have known each other for a while, then you know that I am a big fan of helping people build a personal brand that leverages and supports their Maker brand. Lately, I have had more opportunities to work with people who are more interested in strengthening their personal brand to support…
On Wednesday evenings from 8 to 8:30pm ET, I host #MakerBizChat, an Instagram event to help Makers and Handmade Entrepreneurs build a solid business foundation, increase your income, and use your business to create the life you love. Our topic last night was 10 Facts to Know Abut the Personal Care Products Safety Act of…
Find Indie Makers has been replaced by IBN’s official Member Directory. I am pleased to announce the launch of Find Indie Makers, a new website that helps you find and buy the locally made artisanal and handmade products you love so much! Find Indie Makers is a showplace for the products and services produced and…
Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have introduced S-1014: Personal Care Products Safety Act of 2015. You can read it here. This piece of legislation is the latest in a string of proposed cosmetics laws that have been introduced and/or circulated on Capitol Hill since 2008, but which have either never been referred…
On Wednesday evenings from 8 to 8:30pm ET, I host #MakerBizChat, an Instagram event to help Makers and Handmade Entrepreneurs build a solid business foundation, increase your income, and use your business to create the life you love. Our topic last night was How to Add New Income Streams to Your Maker Business, and my…
On Wednesday evenings from 8 to 8:30pm ET, the Indie Business Network hosts #MakerBizChat, an Instagram event to help Makers and Handmade Entrepreneurs build a solid business foundation, increase your income, and use your business to create the life you love. Our guest this week was ME, Donna Maria! Our topic last night is near…
Today is one of my favorite days of the month because we host our monthly member coaching call this afternoon! I love expert authors and gurus, but peer-to-peer mentoring is the best because you get insights and advice from people who are doing what you are doing. They GET you, so they know how to…