Intarsia Concept

Four Things Your Hub Site Should Do

This month we're discussing how to lay the foundation for your creative business. Find all topics in this discussion in the Foundation category.

First of all, I'd like to apologize for going so long without posting more on this series. I planned a long list of topics, but didn't anticipate how much energy I needed to follow through and got overwhelmed last week. I still want to post on the list of topics that I had intended, but I realize now it will take longer than just a month, so this will be ongoing rather than restricted to just this month.

That said, today I want to talk about your hub site. By this I don't just mean a www.blahblahblah.com, but the place you establish that acts as a hub for you to direct people that gives them the basic information about you and your creative business.

So here I'm going to list what your site should do for you and then some alternatives you can choose that fit best according to your circumstances.

Four things your hub site should do for you (at a minimum)


1. Establish your existence: By setting up your little corner of the web, you will put yourself on the map. If you're not online, it's as if you don't exist.


2. Describe and/or show your product or service: So people know what you're doing.


3. Display your bio: So people know who they're dealing with.


4. Provide a way clients can contact you: This business thing won't work if people can't call, email or get in touch with you in some way.
   
   
   Hub site alternatives to consider
   

• LinkedIn Profile: You can do all of the above just by setting up a LinkedIn profile. If you're a service professional, you also have the opportunity to get recommendations (i.e. testimonials) and do microblogging. If you're not ready to put time or money into a full-blown website or blog, just set yourself up on LinkedIn and start from there.


• Facebook Page: Also known as public profiles, there is a lot you can do with a Facebook Page (here's ours). Aside from the four minimum things you can also have discussions, post video, slideshows, use the Notes feature to start a blog, or connect to a sales outlet (like Etsy) if you have one.


• Etsy (or other retailer) account: Etsy is just one example, but I know many people who run handmade craft businesses and all they have is an Etsy account. If not Etsy, here is a list of over 80 places to sell crafts online.


• Google Profile: A Google Profile will have the four basics covered, and you can add on pieces as you create them. At the moment we've set up www.behindthebazaar.com to point to our Google Profile while we recraft our website. It houses our Picassa photo albums, but will bring in any photostream you specify. We list our contact information and link to our blog. And it's super easy to set up.


• Blog: From free to paid, a blog will get you set up on the web and with that you will be well on your way to meeting your minimum web requirements. Which to choose? I did a search on "blogging platforms" and got a list of top rated platforms, free services, etc. Pick the one that's best for you. This blog runs on Typepad, but I run three other blogs using Blogger.


• Website: A classic option, but with all the other choices out there, don't assume you have to go directly to a static website.
  
  
  
  Today's Exercise:

1. Explore the different alternatives I've mentioned above and decide which one is most suitable for you right now.
   
   
   
   

Have a Stash of Professional Photographs

This month we're discussing how to lay the foundation for your creative business. Find all topics in this discussion in the Foundation category.

Today I'd like to review something I mentioned in last week's post on profiles; having a professional photograph of yourself.

I want to clarify that I don't mean you should have a professional photograph taken (though you certainly can), just that the photograph you use to portray yourself on your business materials should convey a sense of professionalism.

What business materials?

Though it varies according to the circumstances, you will need a photograph of yourself for some of the following:

• Any place on the web where you use your bio, you will also most likely have the opportunity to upload a photograph.
• Social networking platforms
• Your personal sites
• Your media kit
• Your business card
• Newsletters
• Web banner
• Interviews
• Guest posts or articles that you write

Why is a professional-looking photo important?

Let me demonstrate ...

Here are some photos of the same person. Look at them and tell me who you would rather take advice from.

    

Though both photos were each taken in non-professional settings, the one on the left definitely conveys more professionalism more than the one on the right. And that's my point, that you don't have to get professional photos taken, but do use photos that show an image of someone who personifies your creative business.

Your photo will speak for you when you aren't there to speak for yourself. Most especially on the web where trust is everything, you only have so many pixels to present yourself, so I invite you to choose the images that will represent you the best.

Today's Exercise:

1. Gather two or three photos of yourself that you feel portray you in a professional way. If you don't have any photographs of yourself that you feel are suitable, ask a friend to take some of you and work with those.
   
2. Do some editing so that you look your best. If you aren't comfortable with photo editing tools, ask for help from your peers (the IC forum is a good place to ask).
3. Crop the photos so you are the only one represented in the frame and there is a good view of your face. People want to know who they are interacting with.
   
4. Store your photos in the same place you've filed your bio and name them something meaningful. I like to tag them with my name, date, and purpose (ex. 200906_TaraLutmanAgacayak_avatar).
   
5. Save them in various sizes so you can use them in the different places I mention above.

Building Your Creative Business

This month we're discussing how to lay the foundation for your creative business. Find all topics in this discussion in the Foundation category.

Last Friday I decided to wrap up the week with a summary of that week's topics. I thought it might be useful to do that again listing what we've covered so far.

If you've been following along, you have:

• Defined your product and/or service
• Crafted your mission statement
• Turned elements of your mission statement into your tagline
• Identified the visual elements for your logo
• Put thought and research into your business name
• Written three versions of your bio/profile

How's it going so far? Do you have any questions? Are you stuck somewhere? You're welcome to email me if you need a little advice or encouragement. The questions I've received so far have been incorporated into blog posts, so I really appreciate them.

Do you have any advice from your own experience that you can share? Challenges you've overcome? Anything I've said that you disagree with?

Next week I plan to discuss topics geared mostly toward web-related things you'll need to lay the foundation for your creative business, so in preparation for that, I've given you a weekend assignment.

This Weekend's Homework:

• If you haven't already, put all of the work you've done so far into one place on your computer - either in the same document or same folder. Give the folder or document a name that indicates professionalism so you will start thinking of yourself that way. I call mine "Business".
  
• Make a decision about what you want to call your business (even if it's just a form of your name like Tara Lutman Designs or Figen Cakir Photography).
• Have someone who knows you review the profiles you've written about yourself and give you feedback (side note - There's a great interview with Daniel Pink about peer reviews for solopreneurs. I took some notes and link to the audio recording in this post).
• Enjoy your weekend!