Tired of working for someone else? Ready to create the business of your dreams?

If you’re looking for up to date information about how to start a small business, then you’ve come to the right place…

Are you:

* Working full time but not sure for how much longer?

* Wondering how to turn your passion, hobby, or skills into real income?

* Ready to be your own boss but not quite sure where’s the best place to start?

While ArtSHINE is here for everyone who’s looking to start a small business, we specialise in what we call “transition from full-time employment to self employment.” Or to put it another way… “Working 5 to 9.”

What does that really mean? Consider this scenario:

Imagine working in a full-time job, earning good money, but you’re not entirely happy. You’re thinking that now’s the time to start your own business. It may be because there’s some changes coming at work - “restructuring”. You think that you’re in the firing line, or on that list for redundancy. It may be because you’ve had enough of all the politics and pettiness that goes on at the office. You want to take back control of your own life. It may be that you’ve had a burning desire to do something different for quite a while…

You have a burning desire to follow that dream… A burinng desire too live your passion…

We’ve worked with lots of people who have decided, for one reason or another, to leave the corporate world and start working for themselves; to become free-agents as it were. (In fact, we’ve even done it ourselves!)

For some it means opening a restaurant or cafe, for others it’s becoming an artist or designer. It could be a move into consulting, or using your skills, knowledge and experience for your own profit and gain rather than somebody else…

But here’s the trap, and the danger…

One of the biggest issues for most new start businesses is cash flow.

And we’ve seen it so many times!

Here’s what most people do… They quit their jobs! And then they start their business…

What does that do for cash flow?

Well, you’re earning good money one day, then the next, as you’re starting your business, you’re spending money - start up costs, purchasing equipment and product, on it goes… You’re either eating into savings, or getting deeper into debt. Either way, it’s a negative position.

And you’ve go to ask yourself too:

How many small businesses are profitable from day one?

How long could you survive with little or no income

as your business gets off the ground?

We’re here to show you another way!

Now don’t be fooled… We’re not offering a “Magic Pill” or some easy path to riches… This isn’t about getting something for nothing, or being initiated into some “Secret”…

It’s about planning, and passion, and doing the hard work that’s required to make your dreams a reality.

So, what ever your vision and passion…

We’re here to help.

Ask yourself:

* What if you had a business coach walking along side you as you start out?

* What if a personal coach was always there for you urging you on?

* What if you had a mentor who’s successfully been where you’re going?

Now think about how that sort of support and assistance would make a real difference to you and your new business…

* Would that mean you could get up and running faster and easier?

* Would that mean you would make money, and make more money sooner?

* Would it mean that you could skip over mistakes other new starts make?

* Would it mean that you’d sleep easier with less concerns and worries?

We offer start up business coaching across Australia including Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane; as well as around the world. Where ever you are we’re ready to help you create the small business of your dreams.

Nothing could be simpler. Take the action you need to take to make your dreams a reality.

How to post a successful blog

If you’ve been reading a few blogs you’ll know that there’s no real "standard" approach. What really counts is how effective you are at communicating the messages or news you want to get across to your selected audiences. From personal diary to magazine-style blogs there are a lot of different approaches that can be effectively used to make your blog-work for you. Here’s some quick points that we use when we work with our Quantum Compass clients:

Stay on topic

Consider a single topic for each blog. Most of your audience will be interested in content that relates to a specific defined topic or a loosely defined area of interest. Your audience won’t care what you had for breakfast in the morning. However, they are more likely to be interested in handy tips or advice. Talk about what you know, and what you’re passionate about. Your audience wants to learn new things and gain personal knowledge. So define a topic and stick to it.

Themes

There are a number of approaches that you can take when you’re writing your blog. Here’s some ideas:

• Inspirational blog - you can talk about what or who inspires you to do what you love. It’s also an opportunity for you to welcome new fans, discuss other blogs or websites that inspire you too.

• Promote what you do blog - talk about your latest or up coming ranges. Share exciting new projects, collaborations with other designers, or joint ventures.

• Educational blog - Share your knowledge, skills, and experiences. Position yourself as the leader of your creative field by offering expert tips and advice.

• Trends forecast blog - What’s in and what’s in demand in your creative field? Materials, colours or techniques? What about new technologies or eco friendly applications etc? Do you have some favourite or useful websites that you can share with your audience?

• Useful information If you’re attempting to create the impression that you’re an expert in your creative field, then you need to make sure that you’re always up to date the most current news. If you’re endorsing or expressing an opinion, be sure to check your facts too. Your reputation depends on it.

Stick to a schedule

Plan your blogging schedule and stick to it. Blogging requires time and effort, so don’t set unrealistic expectations push yourself too hard. An occasional lapse or time off for a holiday is generally acceptable. But the real disappointment for your readers is when they return to your blog only to find old and out of date content.

Frequency

Have a think about how many blogs you would like to post each month. A good bench-mark would be two posts per month (fortnightly). Once you’re experienced and have built up a greater following (your fans) then you can post every week. When your blog is updated frequently search engines will tend to pick up your new pages at regular intervals. Set a regular day to publish your blog. That way your readers know when to come back to you and read your blog.

Keep it clear and simple

Keep your blog clear and easy to understand. It’s best to steer clear of jargon too. Tell your stories in plain English. And use the language that your audiences can relate to and understand.

Embed Keywords

If the objective of your blog is to increase visibility you need to include related keywords in the title and text of your blog. Use the title as a headline to attract interest. Each post needs a title that attracts attention. Aim for a title no longer than ten to twelve words.

Engage your readers

Your audience loves to know what you do; that’s why you want to interact with them and ask them to participate with you and the other readers. Ask for feedback or throw in a question or two. Ask for their opinions. Create a forum for your readers too.

Quantity matters

To attract the attention of search engines you’ll need to develop your content over time. A single headline or a simple sentence is not going to generate the interest of readers or help you with search engine ranking. Make sure you’re archiving old blog posts too. That way you’ll build a big portal of similar themed content over time.

Spelling checks and proof reading

Take a few extra moments and save yourself from having to make embarrassing explanations. Keep in mind that whatever you publish on the net can be found and archived. Think carefully about what you are going to write. Triple check everything.

Images and photos

“A picture tell a thousand words”. Pictures and images inspire your readers. A blog with lots of images makes for more interesting and inspiring reading than a long boring essay.

Would you like an invitation to attend the next Quantum Compass ‘Writing Successful Blogs "  workshop- contact us now here: Writingsuccessfulblogs@QuantumCompass.com.au

Want to know more? It’s as simple as 1... 2... 3...

1: Like  ArtSHINE's Facebook page

2: Send an e-mail to this Quantum Compass address: writingsuccessfulblogs@QuantumCompass.com.au and get more info about our workshops for creative professionals.

3: Contact Vinh for a no cost, no obligation coaching session: just call Vinh direct on 0410 636 138, Vinh@QuantumCompass.com.au, or go to: http://www.quantumcompass.com.au/shine/

Creating your “Bio” or “Profile”

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One of the first and one of the most important promotional tools in your toolkit is the “profile”, or “personal biography”.

You’ll be amazed with the real results a well worded and credible biography can generate for you. And a well structured biography or profile can enable a genuine connection between you and your audience too.

That’s because there are some things about you that it’s very important that every prospective client knows. So when you start to prepare your own bio; and write about “YOU”, you’ll discover that you have many life skills and experiences that are valid and relevant to your audience. 

And perhaps your story about your own passions and purpose will even inspire your audience too.

Here is a list of things you might consider including in your biography:

• Your DPP (Desire, Passion & Purpose) and what you love doing.
• Specifically what you bring to your audience, and everything unique about you (your “Quirks”).
• All your relevant successes (career, awards, businesses, exhibitions, and designs).
• All your relevant training (design courses, diplomas, qualifications, degrees or certificates that are relevant or show your accomplishments. And don’t discount and ignore on-the-job training, work experience training, etc either).
• Membership of any relevant associations (Chambers of Commerce, Networking groups, etc).
• Positions on industry committees, etc.
• Charity groups that you support.

Remember... Keep it simple.

Two or three paragraphs should be more than sufficient.

Because you’re keeping it short, every word needs to be relevant, interesting and engaging.

Two or three powerful lines are much better than a full page of waffle.

Are you ready to create your own Profile?

It’s as simple as 1... 2... 3...

1: Like  ArtSHINE's Facebook page

2: Send an e-mail to this Quantum Compass address:FreeBioBook@QuantumCompass.com.au and receive a free e-book that teaches you the steps to creating your own artists’ bio.

3: Contact Vinh for a no cost, no obligation coaching session. : www.quantumcompass.com.au/free-coaching.php

Cashflow Concepts for Artists & Designers

Have you heard the phrase "a starving artist".

Isn’t the notion of the starving artist such a cliche? Yet why does it persist? Why do we have the expectation that artists must "suffer for their art"?

Well, we're here to tell you that it doesn't have to be that way.

You can be an artist and also live well!

The first step along that path is to acknowledge that you're actually deserving of living well. Yes. it's something that seems obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many artists and designers that we've worked with start off with a belief that they can't (or shouldn't!) make money for following their passion and doing what they love.

It's been our experience that the subject of finances and "cash flow" is generally low on the list of priorities, if not avoided altogether.

At Quantum Compass we work through a simple "cash flow concepts" formula to help our clients start on the path of increasing their wealth and generating the incomes that they truly deserve for simply doing what they love.

At the start we work with you to get a clear understanding of your current cash flow. Ask yourself these questions: Where is your money going right now? How do you generate income?

Once you have an understanding of what's happening for you right now, you have the perfect opportunity to make some real decisions.

Are you happy with the ways you spend your money? Is your income sufficient for your current lifestyle? What will you need to sustain the lifestyle you aspire to?

Moving to the next level is all about having a plan, and increasing the number of ways that your art & design practice can be making you money.

We’re very clear that it's certainly not about "selling-out", or making some crass compromises. Many artists & designers assume that they somehow have to change their art to be successful financially.

In fact, we're very clear that the opposite is true. You don’t necessarily need to change your art; you need to get very clear about who you really are, and find those things that are unique to you.

Cash flow is one of the key fundamental elements of a design practice that we focus on during the Quantum Compass ArtShine Coaching Program.

Why?

Because financial stress doesn’t usually enhance creativity. We believe it’s critically important for designers & artists like you to understand the power of financial control.

Financially successful designers & artists focus on what you’re good at; your art and creativity.

Successful designers also understand and use “cash flow concepts” to manage finances and leverage the analytical help of advisors like accountants, agents, business coaches, IP advisors, etc as they're needed along the way.

Want to learn more about “Cash Flow” the Quantum Compass way?

It’s as simple as 1... 2... 3...

1: Like  ArtSHINE's Facebook page

2: Come along to the next “Cash Flow Concepts for Creative Professionals” workshop. E-mail Quantum Compass: CashFlowConcepts@QuantumCompass.com.au ) for details of the next half day session near you.

3: Contact Vinh for a no cost, no obligation coaching session: www.quantumcompass.com.au/shine

Who are you really? And who do you really “sell” to?

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In this section you’ll begin to define your target market.

The simple truth is that if you try to be all things to all people, then you’re likely to be nothing to everyone. And you may end up with no customers because of it!

Getting very clear about who you are, and who you appeal to, is probably the most critical step in designing your successful Business LifeStyle.

Why “narrow the market”?

One of the biggest issues we’ve faced with clients is that they want to have the widest market as possible in the belief that if they appeal to the widest possible market then that will generate the greatest interest in their product or service.

We don’t disagree that this strategy has a valid place, it’s just that we’re yet to see it work with clients like you in the context that you live and work in...

What we do see with clients who follow this strategy are people who are constantly flipping their focus, trying to be something they’re not, for people they don’t like, creating work they don’t love, and most sadly; creating work that they feel has compromised their own personal integrity.

We don’t know about you, but that’s not how we want to live and work... What’s important to you?

Being very clear about who you are, what you do, who specifically you appeal to, and who specifically you desire to attract means that you’re only taking action that brings you those things. And you’re not wasting time and energy to bring yourself the people that you don’t really want to work with and serve.
 

The advantages of further narrowing and re-defining your “Niche”

·    Narrowing your market and building genuine expertise in a narrow field means that you can become an expert in what you do, instead of being a “Jack of all trades; Master of none”.

·    Deeply researching your particular niche group in order to learn more about what they want and need means that you can also test-market your products or services.

·    It makes it easier to communicate with potential clients and customers because you can appeal specifically to this narrow group instead of to everyone. Your target market will be attracted to you instead of pass you by. Your marketing materials can now be targeted and now add very real value to your audience, instead of being “generalised”, and just a little bit useful to everyone.

·    Using this “Attraction marketing” method you can set up marketing campaigns purely to target this specific group and communicate directly to them. This means you will attract the right customers and referrals.

·    Because your target market is aligned to you, and who you are, you’ll find yourself enjoying networking and ‘hang out’ with them. Your interests are their interests. And it’s a more natural fit.

·    You can achieve more credibility than your competitor who appears to handle everything.

·    You can create specific products and services that appeal to your niche group.