It's 6:00am. Why Am I Blogging?

Good Morning!

I've been up since 5:30 EST, and I usually set my alarm for this time every weekday because I like to work out in the morning. I'm usually dragging, but this morning, I'm feeling rested, refreshed, and creative! I've made some new M&P soaps, and I'm working on a few new candles-all since I've awaken.

I've been kinda bummed because my online sales are extremely slow. I don't have a lot of money in my budget for marketing, so I am taking to the blogging and twittering circuit to get my name out there. One thing I've learned is it's not only what you sell, but how you sell it, meaning, not only is the visual appeal important, but the way you describe your product is equally important. Let's face it, there are thousands of soap and candle makers out here, and the Internet is very competitive. How are you going to stand out? By having top notch photos (no, I don't have a pro photographer, but a good camera, the right angles and lighting are my best friends. Using descriptive words in my product descriptions are important also, but most importantly, what will my product do for you? Hey, I've got work to do. I'm shelling out all this good advice and haven't done much myself.....Later!

Autumn Is Coming....

and I'm so overwhelmed!!!! When I officially started my business last summer, I didn't know you had to plan seasonally. Duh!! All the major retailers do it, but I never gave it much thought. I didn't change my product line to reflect that it was fall or winter or spring. I offered the same ol', same ol'. When Halloween came, I had no cute ghost soaps or pumpkin candles. When Thanksgiving came, there were no turkey soaps. When Christmas came, there were no trees or snowmen, and looking back on it, my sales really suffered. Speaking of sales, I had none. I just threw my stuff on a website, and basically said, "Here it is. Take it or leave it!" I wouldn't even consider starting a blog-more work!

Well it's a new year, and I've acquired a lot more business savvy, and I've grown as an artist. I've learned how to take better photos and offer more variety in my products. I'm going to really step up my game this holiday season. So, I put this out there: How do you prepare for the busy fall and holiday seasons?