Business Challenges

I'm not sure who out there can relate but as I work toward my goal of having a successful craft business, I find that the learning involved is sometimes overwhelming!  Any of you who may also be just starting on your entrepreneur endeavors, may also be realizing that that there is a lot to know.  As an example, today I worked in my craft studio for just under three hours finishing up some cute Halloween post-it note holders with mini pens.

Aren't they cute??!!  But what you don't see is the hours of prep to get them out to the public.  The "making" part is something I feel I have down after making these for the last couple of years.  But I want to get the word out that these are available and that leads to my dilemma:  learning new things!  I feel I should post on Facebook so I can start getting the word out but maybe I should also post to Instagram because that is where "everyone is at" and don't forget here on my blog.  How much posting is too much posting?  How little is too little??  I have a few followers on my Facebook business page but don't know how to link to it from anywhere else.  I just opened an Instagram account but have no idea what I am doing!  Etsy is my prime online selling area and I am in the midst of learning SEO (for those of you who don't need to worry about being found online, that is the acronym for Search Engine Optimization) and if you do it wrong, you won't be found in the millions of searches done everyday.  And there's Pinterest!!  Plus I am trying to design a brand/logo so I can order new business cards and make all my online areas look the same to be cohesive.  See where this is all going?

So, since I feel so overwhelmed, I sit here writing a blog post instead!  I am not looking for pity or links to videos or an assistant.  I just wanted to get it off my chest so I can move on.  Sometimes you have to reboot, take a step back so you can go a couple more steps forward.  My products are great, my photos need some work, my SEOs are coming together, my descriptions are getting better and I am being seen by a few more people.  It's a great day!!

Thanks for listening and happy holiday weekend!  Please enjoy your time off, if you have it!!

Stampin' Up! Christmas is July Sale!!

One more great deal from Stampin Up! for July - for every $50 you spend (before tax & shipping) by July 31, 2017 you will receive a code for $5 to use on any order August 1-31, 2017!  Stampin' Up! will be releasing a Holiday set early - a whole month before the Holiday Catalog is released - and you could use your codes on that bundle.  Here's a sneak peak sample card from that set:

You can use your $5 bonus codes on any order from my online store in August.  But remember, your initial $50 order must be in by 7/31/2017 in order to receive your code(s)!!  Visit my online store at https://www.stampinup.com/ecweb/default.aspx?dbwsdemoid=2136262.   If you have any questions regarding this promotion, please contact me!

And, please let me know if you would like a FREE Holiday Catalog.  They will be available September 1st and I would love to share it with you!!  I love looking through an actual catalog so much more than one online - if this is you, too, please drop me an email at stampinjenni@yahoo.com or a text at 973-896-0901 with your name, snail mail address and phone number and I'll get one out to you in the mail as soon as I can.

Happy Stamping!!

FREE Holiday Stamp Set!

There is a fantastic promotion going on right now with Stampin' Up!  If you have ever considered being a Happy Shopper, now is the time to sign up!  The deal has always been great - $125 worth of product for only $99!  But now, you get that deal PLUS a $72 kit of FREE items in addition to the $125 for a total of almost $200!!  Contact me or visit http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stampinjenni/jointhefun.  This offer ends 7/31!!

Just a quick funny for you today!!

Weekend Crafting

Some weekends seem to fly by and I don't get anything accomplished.  Does this happen to you, too?  I'm writing this on Sunday afternoon and feel like this weekend I was able to get a few things accomplished.  Probably nowhere near what I should have done but I do feel like I was productive!

Here's a couple of shots of my new Daisy Post-it Notepads.  Just posted to Etsy today for the first time and the first time using Etsy's Variation feature.  If you get a chance, take a look and let me know what you think!  https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/JenniCraftyCreations/tools/listings/stats:true/532197690

Hope you had a great weekend!  If you are a crafter, stayed tuned ... there are two super promotions from Stampin' Up!  All the details will post in the next couple of days!!!