If you did not know, Scarlet Moon Creations is on Instagram (IG). Its been roughly 5 1/2 years now. At first, I was resistant to joining because I didn't want another personal social media account. Plus, it was image focused and I didn't see what pictures I would have to post.
This year in a bid to be more proactive about getting more customers and followers I decided to up my posts here and elsewhere. I've shared some of those ideas and initiatives. And now a new one is about to start.
I have officially been an active youtuber for 1 year now. I knew I wanted to write a blog post about this topic but wasn't sure when and then I looked at the date and voila! So I'll talk about my journey with youtube so far and what my goal is. I'm also thinking about having a contest. Something I have never done before.
Wow, so I really can't believe its been 1 whole year since I jumped in with two feet. Maybe I should be making a video about this, lol. Maybe I will but I wanted to talk about this in case those who follow my blog are unaware of Scarlet Moon Creations on Youtube.
About 2 years ago I started watching more youtube videos. I am more of a reader than a watcher so up until then my youtube activities were restricted to the occasional music video and following a few friends who made videos. I got into watching kpop reactions videos, some tv show recaps and tarot readers channels. That expanded over the next 6 months to all sorts of pagan videos and journal making videos like plan with me's and handlettering how to's and even some booktubers. Then I came across this challenge called One Book July. At the time I was deep into making junk journals and using my brand new bullet journal in a traveler's notebook system. However, I found out that One Book July is a youtube challenge. Earlier in the year, I randomly had bought a selfie stick / tripod and had been toying with showing journal flip throughs.
So I jumped into making videos for One Book July (OBJ) with the focus on Go Big or Go Home where I used my various journals daily and filmed weekly updates for OBJ. That was a huge undertaking as I hadn't filmed anything by myself before and my experience before that was 10 years ago in one college course. But I made it through and wanted to continue these journal related videos so I started doing monthly Plan With Me videos. This January, I joined another youtube challenge called 31 Days of Tarot, and filmed, edited and uploaded videos for every day in January. I had been wanting to expand my video offerings and this was the perfect segue as I was also starting to offer card readings in my Etsy shop.
In February, I came across yet another youtube challenge called the Youtube Pagans challenge. My aim was to add more videos directly connected to Scarlet Moon Creations. So spiritual and pagan related topics as well as my knowledge of self care and herbalism. This channel serves as a cross between a video grimoire of sorts and a promotional tool for my products and services both free and paid. All highlighting Sacred Self Care which is the foundation of Scarlet Moon Creations.
With that in mind you may be wondering why so much focus on journaling. Well, since day 1, offering handmade books has been a goal of mine. I've blogged about it several times as far back as this Bookmaking post. I have learned a lot more about bookmaking since then and plan to start offering handmade books for journaling and planning purposes this year. FINALLY. I know I've said it before but this year I have been making books that I will start putting up for sale soon. So look forward to those.
You've already seen some of the journal inserts I've made for myself and how I use them is you follow my on Instagram. I joined the 100 Day Project again this year with the focus being on journaling. If you haven't look up #100daysof SMCjournaling. I also show more in depth usage on my youtube channel in my plan with me video series. Coming soon you will see even more as I am joining in on One Book July this year again.
Also, coming up on my channel are more pagan videos. Honey, Intuition and Journaling are just a few of the videos coming soon. I also plan to do a giveaway for my 1 year anniversary. So subscribe to get the notification when those videos goes up.
Thanks so much for 1 year on youtube to all of my subscribers there.
~Lashette Scarlet Moon Creations
I knew I wanted to write about this topic for awhile. I considered making a video but I think the written word fits better as I organize my thoughts. This is something very important to me. A personal practice that I am building but also want to share with others.
At first glance, Scarlet Moon Creations, my shop in particular, may seem shallow or only about the indulgent types of self care. Skimming the surface of a very important topic and activity. And it is in a way. I think of my etsy shop as just the beginning. A gateway, if you will, to Sacred Self Care.
This month is National Credit Education Month. Here in the U.S. March is also when business taxes are due. April being when personal income taxes are due as well. So I thought this was the perfect time to talk about financial health and education. They say there are only two things guaranteed in life, death and taxes. How depressing. But it doesn't have to be.
Its the end of the month and I thought instead of doing a Plan With Me post I would share something more helpful, my monthly review process. Reviewing the past is part of what helps us prepare for a better future. How did we get to where we are today and how can we change, replicate and improve yesterday for a better tomorrow? It helps to look back especially when I am feeling like a loser. Essentially, I feel like I accomplished nothing and all the negativity of my thoughts and feelings overwhelm me. I also review weekly and daily but those routines and rituals are not as lengthy as this one. If anyone is interested in seeing how I do those, comment and let me know. You can see the video down below.
I've actually had a few blog posts sitting here because my thoughts about Scarlet Moon Creations and this blog in particular were going through a metamorphosis.
Recently, I've been coming up with lots of new ideas for Scarlet Moon Creations. I've come across various pagan business types that have influenced my thoughts for how I want this business to function. So these ideas are not product related per se. I have a list for those. A bunch of which will come to fruition next year.
The first half of the year is gone. How did that happen?! After having a hard time getting out reports for April and May, I decided to just do this quarterly round up after June finished. My 2nd quarter was not very good. Nothing is up to my standards. June I did have some sales but those were due to promotions in April and May. Who knows what the 2nd half of the year will bring but I plan to step it up.
February has long passed and I did my review forever ago. I know things did not go as I had planned them and (yes I did say that last month) I think part of the delay in posting this is because I did basically nothing this month. I will be posting my March review asap so as to get over the shame of this one.
January has finished and I did my review. I know things did not go as I had planned them but that's okay. At least I know why and what I can do differently. Writing things down is really helping me. But early in the month I realized I needed some form of accountability. I've got my notes but those are easily ignored. Being an introvert makes me hesitant to just buddy up with a stranger so my blog (and whoever reads it) will be my accountability partner. I've already shared my goals and objectives for this year in my last post. Now, I plan to share my monthly and quarterly reviews. This will include traffic and income reports and wellness reports. Some areas will be more detailed than others since this is a blog focused on creation; particularly creating a successful business.
In 2015 I had discovered the NiceOps Planathon and the Creativity Planner both of which helped me set down business goals. In the past year I have found multiple ways to expand on that. One thing that is often said is you must have S.M.A.R.T. goals. My issue with that has always been how do you put a time limit on something you've never done before and don't know how long it will all take? I'll be real, I'm still not 100% sure about the answer to that question. But in the very beginning, which is where I am now, you just do your best with the info that you have and go for it. Try your best.
Six months ago I became obsessed with improving my productivity. It started after months of being off topic in life and then months of feeling like a failure, over thinking things and analyzing every move I had made the past three months. Some would call what I did the first quarter of the year soul searching. I agree, but over thinking fits too. After that I started doing what I do best, researching.
Like I vaguely mentioned in my sale post, the goals I had set around this time in 2015 did not go as planned. In fact, I would say I did not achieve any of my goals at all but others would disagree. Suffice it to say I did not do a good enough job setting SMART goals. In my head they meant one thing but do to the limited space in my planner they were written as something else. That being said, I loved the Creativity Planner. It has been the one I have liked the most all throughout my years of planning and being in love with pen and paper.
When I started Scarlet Moon Creations my goal was to make more money doing something I thought would be simple. How wrong I was and how far I have come with some knowledge. Honestly, even if it had been super simple I would have complicated it by always trying to improve.
However I did not research beyond product packaging, ingredients, basic shipping, bookkeeping and how to use Etsy. I had this image in my head of selling spa quality all natural products to the every woman. Which is not bad but not specific enough. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people doing the same and that's just on Etsy. Then there's the other products I decided to add. My handmade books (journals and photo albums) as well my pagan products. Tons of people doing those as well.
Last year after joining the Pagan Business Network and finding out how to do much more research I realized the "if you build it they will come" idiom is deceiving. I had a lot more work to do. One of the things I've realized that I needed to do was decide on a product focus and target market.
After a lot of thought and research I decided that self care would be my product focus. What is self care? I have seen several definitions but the one I am focusing on is "intentional actions to take care of yourself."Having dealt with anxiety and depression I know that bathing and grooming are big parts of self care. As is talking and writing things down. Being aware of what you are putting on as well as in your body is mindful self care. So this ties into the natural movement and the herbal and aromatherapy communities. I also see self care being a major facet of practicing witchcraft and other types of paganism. Improving oneself, sacred bathing, ritual baths, journaling, Book of Shadows and Grimoires, astral traveling, anointing, cleansing and so much more.
Self care as my product focus leaves the door open for future products that I have been considering as well. With all of this in mind earlier this year I changed my Facebook pages focus to posts promoting self care and inspirational messages as well as my products. I have started organizing my Pinterest page to do the same there. Next will be Instagram and Google+. When I finally have an email list my newsletter will highlight self care as well. Don't get me wrong self care is different for everyone and it includes emotional, spiritual, and mental activities as well as physical ones like using your favorite scented body scrub to scrub the day away. But I want my products to help you help yourself. For those people that do see an at home spa experience as helpful to their well being I am your gal. However, I also think the acts of scrubbing or washing away and putting or smoothing on to be symbolic. And I plan to make more products that tap into that symbolism to help those in need take away the unwanted and put on those good feelings. If nothing else, helping people feel good and take care of themselves helps me feel good, so why not?
~Lashette Scarlet Moon Creations
I apologize for my absence. I've been working hard to get Excelsior Events, my event business, off the ground. You know, that other creative business. I've been focusing mostly on building my brand, logo and website. People when I tell you to get help with these things, get help. I designed my own logo and it took forever. There are too many options and I went way off the image I wanted to have (well not totally). Now I'm wondering if I should start over. I wound up editing my slogan to better explain my logo but then I didn't feel like it fit my business name. So I shortened it. The full version and explanation are in my business plan of course but I was recently reminded that too much information confuses people.
That aside, I did a pretty good job. Its not completely original art but its distinctive enough. I used Gimp, a program I didn't have much familiarity with but I found its similar enough to photoshop, with its many features, and its free. It moves slowly on my old computer but that's the price I pay. With some instruction reading and lots of youtube video watching I got what I wanted.
My hesitation in changing the logo is because I don't think my other idea will translate well for more serious and sober business events clientele. Also my website launch date has long passed. Thinking about keeping it at this point doesn't feel like settling. More like a good business decision. Maybe one day I will have a pro update it. For now, I am quite proud of my creation. And I am happy with its versatility.
It is easily blown up or downsized. I have a black and white version for when necessary. 3 colors can get expensive when printing but not beyond what I am willing to pay. I also think it looks pretty enough for potential wedding clients as well as meeting clients.
I have been neglectful in talking about the Pagan Business Network. Its amazing how much this group has done for me and I have done for them in the short time that I have been a member. I cannot believe it has taken me this long to write about this great group.
The Pagan Business Network (PBN) is exactly what its called. Created by Charissa Iskiwitch in the fall of 2014, PBN is all about networking and creating resources for pagan business owners and pagan-friendly businesses. I found out about the Pagan Business Network through an article on Patheos Pagan about it last year.
In the spirit of collaboration and cooperation PBN offers many benefits depending on your needs. For me the most useful part of PBN is the Facebook group. There you find many people in the same or similar position to you. Whether you are pre-startup or are in your 10th year of business; doing ecommerce or a brick and mortar store; offering a supply or a service; a pagan or just pagan-friendly, as long as you are there are people and businesses willing to help you and do business with you. I love that it is a judgement free zone. And I have learned a lot and improved my business thanks to the many knowledgeable and helpful people within the group.
But the group is not all. The website, PaganBusinessNetwork.com, offers tons of more official resources. Such as paid membership, the blog roll, a list of wholesalers and other suppliers, upcoming events of interest for those who are vendors, business spotlights (an interview of your business), free swag bags for event organizers, a chance to have your business products and/or literature in those swag bags, PBN radio, reviews, many advertising opportunities and much more. Then there is the Pagan Marketplace by PBN a free place to advertise your business, products, services, and events.
And of course I can't forget the various social media channels where PBN has accounts set up to spread the word about its most active members and other important information. For example, The official Facebook page offers pagan and business news and advice from around the web as well as sharing ladders to help get your business, products and services out there. There is also an Etsy Team created to help those with shop on the Etsy marketplace take advantage of all Etsy has to offer. Look for PBN on Twitter, Pinterest and Google+ as well with more to come soon.
Being an admin gives me the privilege to know what is going on behind the scenes, because I'm nosy. And let me tell you there is so much more to come. PBN is only going to get bigger and brighter from here. So go if you consider yourself pagan and have a business or run a pagan-friendly business you should definitely check out the Pagan Business Network (PBN).
Now I am off to do some more work. Have a great day and see you next week,
New Year, New Me? Ha! I don't think so. That only works for me on my birthday. Its just the continuation of my story. That being said, I am just continuing my story here from a few weeks ago. I had planned to have blog posts in January but doing stuff took priority over writing about it. January is National Creativity Month and Get Organized Month. Oddly, without knowing this I proceeded to do both. Maybe its symbol of art imitating life.
We had the first of four mercury retrogrades in January. Everybody I know was preparing for and/or cursing it. I ignored it as usual but I now have to wonder if my mindset of continuing what I had already started last year rather than thinking of it as the start of something new was worked. I don't normally have any issues during mercury retrograde so I can't be sure. Whatever works though.
The plan for January was to focus on Excelsior Events but in the beginning that was hard. I don't actually think I accomplished that fully. In December I received a critique on my product photos for Scarlet Moon Creations and asked for more advice from others. Since then my brain had been worried about improving so that I can get more sales. I also came up with a posting plan for SMC on Facebook so I've been trying that out. I've also been renewing listings and the gods know what else.
Meanwhile, for Excelsior Events I have finally typed up my business plan and have been designing a logo like crazy. All in between trying to get hired as a wedding officiant. I added my business listing to yellow pages and have been outlining my marketing plan. Next is to do the same with my financial plan. Put it all together and go up to the business solutions center for help with the next step.
Personally, I've been looking for a job to help me pay for all the things I want to do with my businesses. I also started doing the Grimoire Challenge on tumblr. Its been very helpful personally and professionally. Thanks to this challenge I discovered One Note which I now love. I also finally finished reading the Mabinogi and two other books. I've also found myself taking on more responsibilities with PBN. Oh, I have to make a post about PBN. They are amazing. I took an ad out with them in a pagan magazine last month. I'll be trying again this month too.
As for what happened to the blog, well I didn't have the urge to blog with all that other stuff going on. I actually wrote this post on the 31st. Now I have ideas for new topics and the need to get those I've already written out there. So expect more blogging this month. Topics such as analytics, logo design, business plan writing, bath magic, hair magic, PBN, photography and more to come.
Happy New Year and thanks for staying for more,
~Lashette
Scarlet Moon Creations
As 2015 is coming to a close we all naturally look back at the year we've had as well as look forward to the new year ahead. This year for me was very hyper-focused on moving ahead and moving on. I did something very scary and huge which was quit my job. I didn't have another job lined up and neither did I immediately go out looking for one.
My goal was to work on my businesses and myself. And I did. My family was very supportive in that and I found various new friends to support me online as well. This I am grateful for because after taking this plunge I was able to research and finally write a business plan for Excelsior Events. I was also able to drastically increase my sales for Scarlet Moon Creations. Not only those tangible changes occurred but I was able to improve my mindset and emotional state. So I am good and I have a positive outlook for my future.
With 2016 about to start I am nervous and excited to see what the future holds but I have a plan so that it is not completely unknown. More importantly I believe this plan is doable by none other than myself. For Scarlet Moon Creations, that plan is to continue promoting my products with a consistent social media schedule. Product-wise, I will first be bringing back some older products with better photos. I will try to work in some outdoor photos as well as more dynamic photos of my products in use. This will happen over time since I now have 70 products. Then, I plan to start pushing more gift sets for various purposes and to hopefully get two new product lines out there. The first being the long awaited handmade books. The second being Bath Magic, a line of intentional and mood altering bath and body products.
Meanwhile, my main focus next year is to launch my successful event services business, Excelsior Events. I've already been working on draft #2 of my business plan and cementing the image I want this business to have. I'll be buying the business license very soon maybe even before the year is out. From there its designing the logo, finishing the website and creating all the forms I will need. Then marketing myself and my business. I hope to have at least 8 clients next year.
That's a lot but I know now that I can do it. This will be my last post of the year. I figured I would give us all a break next week and come back with new stuff on the 4th. For me the holidays started already but no matter what your beliefs I wish you and yours a Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.
