Blogging is Difficult

I am by no means a blogging expert. But, I have 6 blogs including this one, and am considering another one. You might be wondering why I am a crazy person but in all honesty, I like writing. Not like a novel or anything. I will not be joining NaNoWriMo anytime in the foreseeable future. However, one thing I do know is that blogging is hard. Just in general, but then add on the fact that you want (if this is in fact what you want) an engaged and consistent following makes it that much harder. I think the most important parts are knowing your blog voice and having a goal, or goals, for your blog.

I started this blog to get my voice out there even if I wind up talking to myself. Like I've said before, I really see no one talking about their path to becoming a business owner and the path of being a business owner. Not in detail anyway. There are lots of coaches who will tell you what to do, in general, and if you hire them they will walk you through it. No hate towards them since that is their business but it doesn't put you in the mind of a business owner. There are a few blogs by business owners themselves but most started once their business is in some way successful so you don't get too many details since these are busy people. And no startup or pre-startup blogging ever seems to happen. Or all those bloggers could be like me, with only a small, marginalized audience.

So blogging is hard. Actually, the more appropriate word would be difficult. And I think blogging for business purposes even more so. But its not impossible. First, like anything, you have to define your purpose. Why do you want to blog? and What do you want to accomplish with your blog? Once you have that simply keep it nearby you so that whenever you are unsure about what to post you can steer yourself back on track. For me this blog's purpose is two-fold. One, to get the words, my thoughts, out of my head so that I can focus. And two, to share the journey of a small business owner and a creative entrepreneur. So my blog is not really supposed to increase my sales, though that would be a nice happenstance it would be just that.

Experts, whoever they are, would tell me to blog about my products and all things related that would make people interested in buying. They would tell me to be speak confidently and knowledgeably about what I do. They would be right if that was what I wanted to do. Its not. I am far from an expert in the aromatherapy, body care and skin care industries. I am still learning and I'd rather share my journey of this learning process than, what I feel is, bluffing my way into sales with information I'm not 100% sure of. Plenty of people do that already in these industries. Let me be clear, I am not throwing shade on any blogger, just stating my values.

I value accurate information based on tested results. And while I will test things on myself and people who will gladly volunteer for me, I also use the previous knowledge shared and tested by experts in their fields. Obviously, I am an analytical and logically-minded person. However, I am an open-minded and spiritual person so I understand that not everything can be proven. Some things I take on belief and intent. This shows in which ingredients I choose and why. I try to marry these two sides of myself in my products since I know my customers are not one or the other. But I love my customers and would not want them hurt so I am careful about what claims I make that I can't in my own head feel justifiable about. I try to include these parts of myself when blogging as well.

This is my thought process; my feelings. So when I look back to earlier this year when I clarified the purpose of this blog and sketched out ideas for future topics I realize now that some will take longer to appear than others. My goal this year were as follows: 1. to release a new blog post every week, 2. to increase the length of my posts to include more information and 3. to include links. And even though I fell off every once in awhile, I think I did pretty good job. That Blogging 101 course really helped with that. Earlier in July, I added 4. organizing my blogging process, so I looked into content calendars and how to create them. I started using one by HubSpot, which has been great. Its kept me on track since I can easily record any topic ideas as they occur to me and then write about whichever feels best when the moment comes to do so. I was also able to promote my blog posts consistently on various social networks thanks to the content calendar. My last goal for blogging this year, I started implementing this Fall I think, was 5. adding pinnable images to my blog posts. I love Pinterest and could spend all day there. But it is all about good images. I think adding images helps make each post more interesting and break up the blocks of texts in a way that makes it easier on the eye. I've been using mostly my own pictures that I took myself with a few stock photos I got from HubSpot. I came up with a overlay look that is consistent with how the blog looks and voila! I've been creating images for older posts as well.

For 2016, I'm already looking into what I want to do. These past few months I looked into creating a newsletter but I decided I'm going to wait on that. I need to do way more to build a list. Building an email list is difficult too. So I think I need to focus on that first next year and then start putting out a newsletter. For now, this blog will suffice to keep me clear and keep you informed about what it takes to be a creative business owner and what happens behind the scenes to the startup of a small business. One thing I will definitely be adding sometime next year, guest interviews. I, for one, am always curious and I have met many fabulous and interesting small business owners in various fields. So basically, I want to interrogate them about their businesses, lol. I'm torn between coming up with a set of questions I use for everyone or if I should come up with questions unique to each entrepreneur. I'll probably go with a combination of the two. I don't want these interviews to be fluff pieces; I want information that will help my blog followers and I want to help pimp out my fellow small business owners. I mean, why not? If they do great things why wouldn't I share?

This year, this blog has increased its viewers, likes, shares and comments so I'd call my many improvements a win. I hope to say the same this time next year no matter how difficult blogging can be.

~Lashette
Scarlet Moon Creations

Labels, Logos and Super Blood Moons

Scarlet Moon Creations
logo on labels

In honor of last nights Super Blood Moon, as NASA is calling it, today's post is about labeling, my logo and business name for Scarlet Moon Creations.

Let me tell you, it took me two years to get all the info on my main product label to fit in a pleasing manner. It took me awhile to make things legible on my secondary product label. Fitting ingredients and instructions for each different product is a pain. I can't wait to reveal my handmade book line since that will only need one label. So for those other small business owners struggling with labels, you are not alone. 

If you've read my Aromatherapy Laws in the U.S.A. post, you know that for bath and body products there are so many label regulations.  I must include company name, product name, net weight, directions and a list of ingredients on all products. For the ingredients list I have to include INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) names or scientific names of all ingredients as well as list them in "descending order of predominance". That makes for a lot of text. Honestly, the ingredients need to have their own label.

So, I was very happy to be able to finally settle on a logo design for my labels earlier this year. As you may have guessed the drawing of a red circle is my official logo. I drew that myself in paint back when I had no other access to design software or professionals. I needed something quick for my Etsy shop at the time. Something to go with my business name. I am quite partial to this image so even though I have an updated version ready, I'll wait for a business anniversary to reveal it. I do have a design background but it's time consuming and I'd like to fiddle with the scarlet moon image I created a bit more.

Obviously, the logo was made to go with my shop name, Scarlet Moon Creations. I think I've explained the creations part pretty well in my updated About page. To me the moon represents emotion, water, the changing tides and the color red, passion and warmth. Red happens to be my favorite color. Scarlet or blood red being my favorite shade. My bedroom walls are that color and have been since the end of high school, so over a decade now and I've moved a few times. In the early mornings its like being in the womb again.

Lunar eclipse October 8 2014
California Alfredo Garcia Jr
from Wikipedia

As you probably know by now thanks to the media, the Blood Moon happens during a total lunar eclipse where the earth gets between the sun and the moon during a full moon phase and cast it shadow on said moon. The red tinge happens because little bits of sunlight peak through our atmosphere. The Super Moon is when the moon is closer to the earth than usual so it looks much bigger. The fact that these two things happened last night is rare. But we all got a good look at the moon. I'll leave it to the Farmer's Almanac to explain if you want more details.

The Blood Moon is also what folklore usually calls the first full moon in autumn or the full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox, which was on September 23rd here in the northern hemisphere. This is also sometimes called the Harvest Moon for obvious reasons. The full moon is considered a very powerful time and a lunar eclipse even more so since the moon is full yet appears new (or dark) for a time. New moons are a time of new beginnings but also a time of reflection. Now add in the fact that the moon is much closer to the earth, appears bigger and definitely has a greater affect on the earth and those of us on it and you have a very powerful celestial body in its prime. Super Blood Moon indeed.

These things are acknowledged in various cultural folklore's and in science. So adding these meaning to my own made for the best business name ever. Literally (okay being a little hokey but whatever)! This is what I put into each of my products, passion, emotions, warmth, caring and power. I create to serve those parts of me that are passionate and powerful. Every time I create something I am starting something new and when I offer it for sale, I am harvesting and reaping what I have sown. I put my all into this business all by myself; blood, sweat and tears (sometimes literally) go into every aspect of Scarlet Moon Creations. And when you purchase something created by me, you can rest easy knowing it was something made with care from the logo and label on the outside to whatever is on the inside.

~Lashette

Check out my Etsy shop, Scarlet Moon Creates to see what's available now. 

NYC Small Business Initiatives Part II - WE NYC

We are back with Part II of my experiences with local initiatives for small businesses here in NYC. This is part of a series and though each post is written to stand alone, you may want to read Part I to learn about some of the acronyms I will mention here.

So, as you know my first foray out into the world of small business initiatives didn't go so well. My next one however, was definitely promising. I regularly check the websites for the SBA, SBDC, and SBS for updates and help for whatever new step I am on in my path to business ownership. One day, or night, the work never stops, I came across a promotion on the SBS site about a new initiative called WE NYC. WE NYC stands for Women Entrepreneurs New York City. This new initiative was created by the first lady of NYC, the Commissioner of SBS, and many others, to focus on giving more support to women entrepreneurs here in NYC.

I, as a woman in NYC looking to start my own business, thought this was a lovely idea. Now this is a brand new initiative so they haven't gotten off the ground quite yet. But, they did hold forums to ask local women entrepreneurs questions about what kind of support they need. I attended the forum held in the Bronx at Startup Box a South Bronx-based organization co-founded by Majora Carter, a local celebrity business  woman. Or at least that's how I think of her. 

Anyway, the forum went great. They asked us lots of questions about how we feel, what our experiences with starting our businesses were, and what we would want out of this new initiative. It was nice to be listened to for once; to be asked about my wants and needs as an entrepreneur. The workshop was also a great networking event as well. It was nice to meet and hear from other local women entrepreneurs; to see what we had in common and what made each of us different. Also in attendance were several partners of SBS. They shared their client feedback and experiences during the workshop and afterwards were glad to talk to those entrepreneurs in attendance that were looking for the types of assistance they provided. 

Overall, I had a good time at the WE NYC workshop. Even though the initiative didn't give me anything concrete they helped by letting me interact with others in a similar situations and they let me be apart of brainstorming ideas for future programs that will be to my benefit. Also, I believe that many of the people met may become beneficial relationships in the future. If nothing else, I got a confidence boost because I know that I am not the only one doing this and that there are people out there ready and willing to help us all succeed.

Look out for next week's post about the NYC Business Solutions and the classes I have taken with them.