Grow Your Shop Series: 3 Ways To Make More Sales

Hey beauties! This is the last post for our Grow Your Shop Series and it's one I know we all talk about. (If you've missed the other posts, find them here, here and here.) Sure we love what we do and being creative but the bottom line is we need sales to grow. This money helps fund our passions so without sales...well, it's really really hard to make ends meet. I've broken down what I want to share in 3 categories so let's go!

SHARE THE PROCESS.

A huge myth in the handmade movement is that we have to be secretive about our craft so "others don't copy." I might get beheaded for this but don't worry so much about that! As a creative person, you received some sort of inspiration from someone else down the line...am I right? I'm not telling you to share the ingredients to your secret successful recipes but what I am saying is don't be afraid to share sneak peeks at your process, your work space and your new projects. I LOVE Instagram for this reason because that's what my customers like and what I like. It's awesome to follow brands I adore and feel like I'm getting an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how they work. It helps me feel more a part of what they are doing and I'll want to buy something not only because I love it but I want to continue supporting such an awesome shop.

SHARE THE AWARENESS.

Obviously you're aware of how awesome your shop is but you have to get out there and speak up. Getting more sales is so much more than listing items and praying someone finds it. Here are two things I've done that has helped bring in sales and long lasting customers:
- Collaborate with other shops or brands. Do a project together in exchange for free promotion on each others social media accounts. Customers are real people and as people crave community.
- Guest spot and blog ads. This is one of my favorites because it takes your shop and puts it in a storefront like in the mall. Find blogs you love with a great following and active readers. If they don't provide sidebar advertising or guest post options, email them politely asking if they would consider it. Writing a guest post on a blog shares what you do and who you are. Sidebar ads are like mini billboards on the internet. Any traffic is good traffic and ads are very good traffic.

SHARE THE GOODS.

It may sound weird when I say give something free away to get more sales...but it's true. Having a giveaway or a contest for one of your items whether through your social media, website or someone else's is a great idea. You want people to know about you but most importantly to remember you. Many times it's required that people follow your shop or social media accounts to enter. This boosts your follower numbers which will in turn increase the number of people who see your posts. More than that, you're reaching out to people and being generous. When a shop owner is seen as generous, people start caring more about them. Sure some might just follow to enter because they want free stuff then unfollow after the contest is over. Don't worry about that. The entire point is getting your brand out there and sharing your awesome talent with everyone. Blessing a lucky winner with free stuff will get your shop noticed for sure.

Keep in mind that not every follower will be a customer. That's fine! The key is to branch out so far that more people will see your brand and increase the likelihood of future sales. Oh and a bonus: list often!! I always notice a boost in my shop views and sales when I list a few times a week. If you have enough inventory to list items one to three times a day, do it! List an item in the morning, then afternoon, then night. I list a couple times a week and believe it is essential to showing people that your shop is alive and constantly spitting out items like a boss.

So be active, share who you are and what you do, remember your audience and list like crazy. May the force be with you, grasshopper. (er yeah, just good luck!)

Have any questions about sales, this post or the entire series? Let me know below, I'd love to help!

Grow Your Shop Series: Find The Financial Flow

Happy Friday! Here we are again in our second to last part of the Grow Your Shop Series. I'm glad you're here today because I'm talking about money...yay!! First a disclaimer...I'm not the best with it. Just being honest. It's only by the grace of God that I get to keep doing what I love. So for the record, this post isn't a cookie-cutter finance plan to keep your business floating. I believe there are plenty of articles from more professional and more qualified people out there than myself. We'll be talking about the flow of income and how it can help launch your business.

Utilize All Your Gifts

Apart from being an artist I'm also a writer. Having a successful online shop was always my #1 goal but I knew that I needed a financial flow to help build that. A few years back, I started working with Demand Media Studios creating content for various popular websites such as Apartment Therapy and eHow. For every article that was accepted, I was paid $25. That would change depending on topics and sections. That money would then be used to market my online shop, purchase new materials and be saved towards new products. It worked so well, I even got to pay myself once in a while!

Think about your skills...all of them. Do you write good blog posts? Take amazing photos? Are a social media whiz? You can freelance your services to help others and in turn create financial flow back to your online shop. Work with websites who will pay you for content. Sign up to be a stock photo photographer and reap the rewards of royalties every time someone downloads your photos. Ask big blogs if they could use a hand with their social accounts or emails and become their virtual assistant. Branch out rivers of possibilities to lead back towards your financial pool.

Provide Different Price Points

Another way to start a financial flow is by making sure you have a variety of different price points within your shop. For example, I design and sell graphic tees. These are very popular and bring in great financial flow. Knowing my customer base, they are very creative and many are entrepreneurs themselves. So with that in mind, I started providing painted quotes as prints for a lower price. This gives the buyer other options which in turn helps the financial flow. A customer could like a tee but also an uplifting art print and illustrated coffee mug.

Many customers would be more likely to buy from a shop if they see variety in pricing. Think about it. It's pretty psychological. How many times have we been in Target and have gone "Oh that top is great, $20!" then turn around just to go "What? Fuzzy slippers are only $8? Yup that's happening." Both end up in your cart in a heartbeat. Of course, it's Target...they know what they are doing. You can use that same mentality for your shop to create a financial flow. Here's a great article from the Etsy Blog about pricing and the worksheet they provide to help price out your products. It's a tricky game; just try one different things and track the results.

Share Your Brand

A very big myth that I see with many shop owners especially new ones is that you have to have one platform for your shop. For many, it's either between Etsy or Storenvy. I actually have written my own thoughts about the pros and cons of each in this post. If you've read it, you'll know where I'm going with this. Hello Awesome, my shop, can be found both in Etsy AND Storenvy. Now I understand most people don't want the hassel of handling two different shops. That is understandable. But my take is go where the customers go. If you are not having many sales and are struggling to bring traffic to one shop, you should consider opening another one on a different platform to try and bring in customers. I personally have more luck with Storenvy right now but it took a while. Years back I ran a graphic design shop on Etsy that was hopping. You should share your brand across different platforms to provide more opportunities for people to buy your stuff. It's really that simple. You don't have to provide all your products on both unless you want to. Think about the platform and the kind of people it attracts. What do they like? What do they don't like? What are the trends and fads? Don't compromise your work but use what you have to draw them in.

To find the financial flow is to go beyond the normal "list-sell-buy" attitude; where you list, sell for a price, they buy. Businesses rarely just run like that. Let's use Target again: do they really need Starbucks to get customers? No but it helps! Adding a Starbucks is something that pleases the customers and adds a different financial flow. It's possible that Starbucks has to pay Target a percentage to have a kiosk in their stores.

As you can see, there are many ways you can financially help your shop grow. Be creative and think of something yourself! Being flexible is essential to running a business. You've been given infinite resources to do the incredible. Try to get past the cookie-cutter mindsets to find the financial flow for your shop.

Like this post? Check out the other parts to the series:
Social Media Etiquette
Customer Satisfaction Tips

The Secret To Bossing It Online

This little brain of mine has absorbed a lot of helpful information these past 4 years. It was in 2010 that I was laid off from my job and found myself home with a heart full. Not full because of sadness and worry. Full of ambition, passion and drive but not a vehicle in which to burn it.

Flash to now and I'm still full but in a different way. I want to let it out, share insights with you, nuggets of knowledge in hopes you can turn them into pieces of solid gold action. As a blogger and shop owner, I get questions all the time. I used to do that. I used to be the one who emailed someone with a blog I loved, hoping to "get in" on the good stuff in their minds. I used to follow shops and owners who bossed it every day, making killer sales and still were humble enough to answer the measly question of an art geek from New England.

But can I tell you? I still do that. And no question is ever "measly". I still email bloggers I love, trying to connect and learn. I still look up to people who run amazing shops and take notes about how the do things and interact with customers. Why? Because learning never ends. I don't consider myself a professional. Just a girl with a notebook full of dreams that are unfolding for everyone to see.

This is why I want to share with you a huge secret. I call it that not because no one wants you to know. Everyone knows. It's only a secret because not all of us can see it. We are blinded by so many things that the basics get blurred. Let's go back, shall we?

source

I recently read a post by fellow artist Gary Bolyer called "How to Sell Art Online: The Secret Sauce." Hold it. Don't close this tab just because you don't sell art. We are talking about bossing it online, whether it be as an artist, blogger, shop keeper or small business owner. What Gary had to say applies to all areas and I love it because it's the truth.

If you look at any successful person online, you will see that they have fantastic relationships. Did you catch that? The secret is relationships!

Gary says: "The Secret Sauce has two ingredients.  Ingredient Number One is: Get the relationship started. And Ingredient Number Two is: Grow the relationship." Boom. Any questions? And Gary knows what he's talking about; he has over 13,000 followers on Twitter.

I was so busy when I first started spamming social media with links to my products, shop and blog. Instead of commenting about what I loved about a post, I pleaded for them to follow me and dropped a link (I'll be talking about this more on a future guest post.) We almost don't want to work for customers but we expect them to just eat up everything we dish out. Fact: people don't like being force fed.

Love my new tote from Faces!

Think of the best restaurants you've been to. It's not just because they have amazing food. That's only part of it. A restaurant can have awesome meals and a killer menu but if the hostess is chomping gum like a cow, the waitress forgets everything and the cook is back there blowing his nose without washing his hands...so what? Exactly. Your favorite place to go eat is not actually about the food...but the connections you make. We love that the owner knows our name, takes time to ask how things are, the waiter is kind and the chef is professional.

So whether you are a seasoned blogger or a newbie shop owner, the secret is the same. Spend more time building relationships and less time worrying about promotion. If you invest in people, they will invest in you.


I wanna hear from you! It's so important to learn from each other and have teachable spirits.  

What's one thing you've learned about blogging or being a shop owner? 

3 Things To Remember When Changing Your Brand Name

Guys, I have a confession. It's been about a week since I posted last. In the blogging world, I should be dead but alas that's not the case. Honestly, I was pondering how I was going to transform this little space...again. The one consistent thing about running this blog is how inconsistent it's been. This is the part where I normally would beg for forgiveness and make up some excuse about being busy in the "real world." Truthfully...I needed time to think.

You may notice some changes around here and it's probably going to stay that way for a long, long time. The sidebar is all cleaned up and categories easy to access. New profile pic, header layout, appropriate links...it's almost professional up in here! But then again I'm running the show, so good luck. Actually, this works out perfect because I've had this topic sitting in my drafts for like ever. This past February I changed my blog name and it was the best thing. Things clicked for me and all of my years of blogging and running an online shop made sense. Finally. 

Whether you have a blog, shop or both, your brand is important. What do I mean by brand? It's the overall essence of who you are and what you do. And all of that has to nicely fit into a name that speaks about that essence. No pressure. However, these are 3 things to remember when changing your brand name. If you are finding yourself not happy with the title of your blog, shop or business, then you need to stop and take some time figuring out your purpose.

Keep it simple.

When I was debating about changing my brand name, I knew it had to be something everyone could relate to. Both of my previous names had my actual name in it (Art By Jacy, Jacy Lee Pulford). This didn't tell new customers or readers anything about what I was offering! These names didn't sound catchy nor were they reflective of my personality. When choosing a name, go with something that will highlight who you are, not just what you do. It's was easy to put "Art By Jacy" because, duh, tha's what I did and that was my name. But art can mean so many things to so many people and nothing to some people. I had to think of a clear message, appeal to a fresh audience and love it for a really long time. Try not to add more than 4 words to your brand name. Choose something that will be memorable.

Customer contact.

After you have survived the process of choosing your brand name, it's time to implement the change. Pick a date and make that an official relaunch event. Tell your readers, post about it, share it on social media, send it out in the next newsletter...make sure that those who are following you now will be able to find you when your name changes. This includes making sure they are aware of the new url address and any new social media handles. Not connecting with your customers or readers will be damaging to your brand. Take the time and reach out.

Embrace it.

Go all in and be it! Try to avoid being apologetic about changing. Change is some times good and especially when your streamlining a brand. The new name is your new identity and though you might be fearful of the unknown, if you love it, there's nothing to fear. Yes, there will be a moment when you transition things might seem slow. Keep plugging away and embracing the new identity of your brand.

If you're not confident in what you're doing, no one else will be either. Let go of the insecurities and remember that if your brand is not reflecting you, then who is running the show? It's not enough to be passionate about your blog or shop. You must be passionate about your message and the way your brand speaks to people. It's okay to want to change. It's easy to feel like you're stuck but believe me, that's far from the truth! Take a break and refocus.

For me, the decision to change the name came about because if I was going to be working my behind off, I wanted to have a brand name that would be worth the work. At the end of the day, the message needs to be clear, communicated to your followers and reflect the passion inside of you. "Hello Awesome" shows the positive side of my brand and it works!

Have you been thinking about changing your brand name? Nervous, excited, anxious? I'd love to chat about it in the comments! And feel free to shoot me any questions, I'll do my best to answer them.

Etsy or Storenvy?

I want to start this post by saying this is not a platform bashing party. There have been many things flying through my mind about both Etsy and Storenvy. I've had many shop owners ask me my thoughts and so here they are. The purpose of this post is to layout the pros and cons of each based on my personal experience.

Have you been thinking about opening an online store? Have you been wondering which platform is best for your business or products? Or have you been selling online for a while but are itching to try something different?

I'm there with ya. It's confusing when choosing a platform for your business because in the beginning it ALL sounds great. The real truth won't be revealed until you actually dive in and try something out. There is nothing I can say that beats your own experience. However, here are my two cents anyway since this is my blog and I can do whatever I want (ha!)

ETSY

Known for it's trendsetting ways, many creative folks flock to Etsy from all around the world. I started dabbling in the Etsy ocean in 2010 and there have been many changes (good and bad) to the platform since then. Many shop owners find huge success while others are lost under the current. Here are some pros and cons based on my 4 years selling on Etsy:

Pros:

• Community. Etsy has always been known for it's diverse community of like-minded crafters. Oh you like antlers and anchors? Me too! Wow I love your hoop art, I'll add it to my next Treasury! You are guaranteed to connect with someone else who loves what you love. With the benefits of Etsy Teams and Forums, you can not only share your products but also find that one-of-a-kind (or OOAK for you Etsians) doily scarf for your Aunt Lucy.   
• Exposure. With the power of community comes the added exposure your shop can receive. Not only from people browsing the marketplace but Etsy is now a household name and has been featured in some of the top Home Decor/ DIY magazine as well as popular television shows.
• It works. Sure it takes a lot of hard work and time but the bottom line is if you follow the Etsy formula, it works. Though every shop is different and may not thrive the same, Etsy does give every shop owner enough tools to turn their dreams into reality. The less time you devote to your shop, the less likely you'll see an increase in sales and vise versa.

Cons:

• Fees. Obviously we know we have to spend money to make money but the amount of fees included with running a shop can sometimes be daunting. Yes, it is only .20 cents to list an item but if you list enough times during one day to stay on top of the product pages, it can get expensive. Not to mention the nice percentage Etsy takes from each sale. Learn more about their fees here.
• Trend driven. While this may seem like a pro to some, I list being trend driven a con because trends fade over time. If you want sales, look at what people are adding to their treasuries and you'll be sure to see a pattern. Antlers. Anchors. Mustaches. Chevron. Hoop art. Your unique products can find their own place but it might be hard to find a spot at the cool table.
• Not shopper friendly. When I looked for a different platform to sell from, it was because I actually had customers tell me they were confused with how to buy! Okay, if you are already on Etsy and have an account, it's easy. But what about the average customer who browses Google and finds your amazing product? I love selling to other sellers but being really successful is making sure everyone else can get your product in their hands.

STORENVY

Like many small businesses, we often feel like the under dog in a corporate run world. Storenvy gives handmade shop owners more freedom to create a storefront and brand they not only love but are proud of. While this platform is still fairly new, it's popularity is growing due to their humble beginnings and desire to give small businesses a voice.

Pros:

• No fees. Seriously. No catch. You can upload up to 500 products at no cost to you. Storenvy gives you the option of adding a custom domain url as well to your shop for only $5 a month but if you don't want to spend that, you don't have to. You can just use the url they provide when you sign up. There are also other add-on options such as super discounts for customers (besides coupon codes) that also have a fee but again, don't use them if you don't want to. For more information, read more here.
• Customizable. Running an online shop is not only about the products but about a first impression. While Etsy has a lot more shop keeper tools, Storenvy allows full customization for your storefront. You can choose to alter one of their templates, purchase/download a custom template from a designer or if your HTML savvy, have at the code. So many possibilities for creating a shop that speaks about your brand. I actually purchased a premade template from Dana +Wonder Forest  in her Envye design shop. Take a look right here.
• Simplicity. Yup. This platform is so simple and easy to use, as well as shop from. It took me a few months to get one sale on Etsy but with Storenvy it was only a matter of weeks. The tools available are great plus the 3rd party integration features is not as confusing as some may think.

Cons:

• Still new. One thing about being part of a newish platform is that community is being established and exposure is on it's way. You do have to work a bit harder at sharing your products/shop. Also, people may be a little apprehensive about shopping with a platform they haven't heard of.
• No forums. While Storenvy allows you to watch stores, create product collections and envy (instead of heart) items, I do miss forums. On Etsy, I have to rely on forums to bring internal traffic to my shop. Sharing my product link within Teams helps bring exposure to my shop. Getting used to not having a place within the platform to chat with other shop keepers is a bit of a challenge, although they do have a great Facebook group.
• Kinda techy. Even if you want a basic storefront, in order to be a success, you have to be somewhat techy or be friends with someone who is. Customization is definitely a pro but how to get there might be a turn off. The basics provided are great but you will soon realize it may not be enough. You'll start to want to branch out ideas and grow your brand. Brush up on your HTML skills and get simple coding down. You will need it eventually. 

Honestly, I have both right now. One of the best things you can do as an online business owner is keep all avenues open. The more opportunity you give people to see your products and experience your brand, the better. While I can't afford Etsy fees all of the time, the money is well spent as my items get exposure and I can be a part of a larger community. And while Storenvy is still new, it still provides me full control over my brand, how to create my storefront and is easier for my customers to purchase from.

I've been using the Storenvy platform more now because of the amount of traffic it's getting. The shop is well linked to my social media platforms and this blog. My product sales have doubled since switching the majority of my inventory to Storenvy. However, I have made sales in the last couple of months on Etsy so I keep it open and list items that would appeal to that audience. 

We should never throw these two in a ring and say "fight." The handmade community as a whole can benefit by coming together and bringing forth good quality products made from the heart. I truly believe both platforms stand for the same things and I fully support them. So think about your shop and what you'd like to accomplish. Write down your goals and a financial plan. Take a look at what is beneficial all around for your brand and choose that way. In the end, handmade still wins!

Check out my shops and tell me your thoughts in the comments.

ETSY / STORENVY

How to Dominate Your To-Do List

If you are like me (or human in any way) you have a to-do list that just keeps on going. It seems the list is doing more harm than good, eating away at your sanity and consuming your precious thoughts. Have no fear! I'm sharing some simple steps that I personally use when I want to dominate tasks and take back my life. I'm not being dramatic at all, right?

Set a timer

It is not enough to just have a list of stuff that needs to get done. Whether it's a home to-do list or blog to-do list, use a timer to help dominate the tasks. Sometimes I set the timer for 10-15 minutes and start it. I allow myself that span of time to complete one task and when the timer goes off, I reset it for a different task. Of course this doesn't work for everything like cooking and laundry but it sure helps with smaller things like tidying the living room, putting clothing away or dusting.

Turn off your phone

Okay, I really recommend this if you have a home phone and are not running errands in town.  Tell your spouse you are turning off your cellphone and then do it. Just shut that baby down. If your phone is like mine, social media and email notifications are crazy distracting. I end up stopping in the middle of a task to check what happened and then 20 minutes later I look around and wonder where I am. Seriously, if you don't need it, keep it off. Or keep it on but in a separate room. You are less likely to go running across the hall in the middle of a task to check a Facebook notification.

Accountability partner

It is nice when you can remember to do things or actually be accountable for yourself but the reality is, we fall. When we have a to-do list that needs to be done in, sometimes it helps to have a partner in crime. Someone that sees you slipping and can whip you back into shape. Or if they don't live with you and can't see what you are doing, they can call you periodically throughout the day or once a day to check in. Yes, this may get annoying but that can actually help! You may want to finish tasks just to get them off your back. Most likely though, you will choose a spouse or a good friend who is supportive and wants you to succeed at drop-kicking those tasks.

Man up.

Just do it. Suck it up, sour puss, hike up your big girl boots and go work in the mud. Many times we use our to-do list as a crutch for our laziness. We add things to feel important and have some place to put them but never actually complete them. Enough. Stop wallowing, sniffling about how much you have to do and don't just make plans or talk about it but actually DO something! Call in reinforcements if necessary. Mama's, call grandma or auntie to watch the kid for an hour or two. Overwhelmed? I completely understand! I'm not saying you shouldn't feel the way you do but I am saying that something has to give. The list will always be there. You can however make it less work.

Remember, don't let your lists control you! They serve a purpose and that is to keep you organized and focused but not obsessed. I've seen many people beat themselves while trying to complete their to-do lists. They get fiesty. They get easily irritated and annoyed. They are not fun to be around and they seem to be doing it to themselves. And have no clue how they affect those around them.

Dominate your list by making a plan and sticking to it. Be the boss of your task, don't let your tasks boss you!

What are your methods to completing your to-do list?

4 Reasons Why You Should Write

Lately I've been thinking about how much I love writing. It has been a passion since my childhood. I would read and write all of the time, even snuggling on my favorite tree branch overlooking our yard. There is something about streaming your thoughts through your fingers onto a page that is so freeing. As a wife and a mother, I frequently use writing as a way to express my love. Handwritten notes for my man in his lunch bag and personal mommy-to-son letters for my boy when he is old enough, he can read them and see my true heart. You know. That mommy is a person with emotions not just a chore-giving droid.

If you want to write or enjoy writing already, I've come up with some reasons why you should continue. Whether it's a book, article, letter or just a sweet note to a friend, writing holds so much value. I admit. I am not very good with words in a regular conversation. I scramble my sentences, switch letters, stutter syllables {say that ten times fast!}

When I write, though, I become someone I actually like. I'm more myself, dipping into the depths of my mind and heart and bringing forth something flourishing that can do great things. So if you are thinking about starting a blog, writing more on your blog, dreaming about a book or just wanting to send someone a thank you note, here are four reasons why you should write:

Be a Voice.

If you've got something to say, then say it. Keeping things bottled up helps no one, especially not you. It is actually unhealthy. If you don't have a writing project to let loose on, try starting a journal. Nothing specific, just a place to write down your thoughts and ideas. You'd be amazed how much you have to say and you might even learn something about yourself. Being a voice means turning your inside energy into an outside power source. Go ahead, plug in and write something. 

Make a Difference.

When I started writing this blog, I wanted to inspire others who lived with fear and encourage people to follow their dreams. I never thought how much it made a difference until I started seeing positive feedback from readers. It feels good to write something that touches a heart and creates waves that might bring about profound change. I don't see myself as anything special; just a dork with a computer. But through writing and sharing, lives connect and good things can happen.

Find Peace.

In the past, days have gone by without me even touching a pen let alone open my laptop to write. Those days were usually sad. I always felt like something was missing, even if that day was filled with great things. I am not complaining about my life; I am truly blessed beyond measure!! I'm saying that those days I did not unleash, unload, let go. I felt like a walking bubble bursting from the seams, with thoughts and ideas pending in stagnate waters. Writing can bring peace of mind and clarity.

Leave a Legacy.

Fact: no one can tell your story but you. Writing establishes a foundation and paves the way for others to follow your story and be inspired by it. Leaving a legacy may sound intimidating but it isn't! Think about it. Do you remember the last person who wrote you a handwritten letter? How did it make you feel? Think about the last book you read. What did you learn from it? How did you feel when you walked away? It's in those moments, those nuggets at the end of the writing rainbow that makes the process worth it. The fruit of your labor. The impact you leave with your words can plant seeds and sprout roots in the hearts of writers to come.

The "Catch Up" Bug

“The minute I start to try and mimic someone else, is the minute I suck.

You will always get the best response when you’re being yourself.”

{Mariel, or so she says blog}

About two years ago I discovered blogging. When I mean discovered, I don’t mean that I didn’t have a blog. I had one for a while but I was never really connected to it. I am talking about community. I don’t even know how it happened, really. It seemed a wonderful community of amazing bloggers found their way into my heart and now I have many relationships/friendships with people all over the country. I was pretty much hooked. The challenge came when I realized my little space on the internet was, well, behind. I had neglected my blog so much, that I felt I had to “catch up” to where other bloggers were. Yup, I had gotten bit by the “catch up bug.” What is “the catch up bug?”

If the thought “Man, their blog is so advanced and awesome, I really have to get on the ball and get moving” ever has come to mind, then we are on the same page here. “The catch up bug” is when you are cruising through the blogosphere and stumble upon a blog or some blogs that you start to admire. Then all of a sudden, wham! You get bit! You start to compare your blog with theirs. And that is when you start to feel woozy, confused and dizzy. Did you ever feel like that? Maybe you are going through this right now!

When we admire other blogs, it can either make or break us. Admiration is not the problem; the problem lies when we move from admiration to comparison. Feel me? It’s when you go from “I love their blog, the graphics are great and the posts are full of valuable resources” to “Wow, my blog does NOT measure up to their blog at all! I really have to change something, make a new header, create bigger buttons, blah, blah, blah…” You then feel as though your blog is less valuable.

There is a saying that is fitting here:
"Don't compare your beginning to someone's middle."

What I want to tell you is that even though other blogs seem like they have all the bells and whistles {I really dislike using this phrase but it’s the only one that fit what I’m trying to say}, you have to take care of your blog in the state it is currently is in. It’s taken quite a bit of time for those bigger blogs to get to where they are. Focus on the stage your blog is right now, having goals but not neglecting the present. I am preaching to the choir here, that is why I’m writing this…because I’ve been there! Like yesterday haha

It is okay to have goals and things you want to try that other blogs are doing, whether it’s graphics or post ideas, but the challenge then is to make sure you are still genuine.

You see, there are many advantages and disadvantages to being bitten by the “catch up bug”:

ADVANTAGES

-         You get ideas & references to something different you want to try

-         It gets you out of your comfort zone

-         Your mind starts thinking in different ways, exploring new options

-         Helps to motivate you into “do it mode” and away from “what if mode”

DISADVANTAGES

-         You start to feel inadequate

-         You lose the essence of who you are by trying too many things

-         You don’t take time to think things through and instead act without a purpose

-         Your readers may start to get turned off

The fact is, there will always be a blog bigger, better and greater. Sorry it’s true! {except for this blog, it’s pretty much the best overall, in the entire universe.} Turn it around though; some people may just be starting out and looking up to your blog. They may start to compare their blog with yours. I’ll leave you with this advice if the “catch up bug” ever bites you. Before you take any action, wait a few days. Think about what you want to do, why, how it will benefit or not benefit your blog. Make a plan on how you can make it your own. After all, there another bug that is much worse than the “catch up bug” and that is the “copy cat bug”!