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1. After launching Teakie.com back in November, I quickly realized that as much as I believe in the platform (and I do), as a solo entrepreneur (for now), it’s going to take a ton of marketing to get this thing off the ground in a meaningful way.
Ultimately, there were a few core items that were front of mind. Figuring out how to handle them would be key to our long-term success.
Here they are:
- While a lot of designers know how to use Photoshop, Illustrator & InDesign, not many entrepreneurs do. In fact, it even seems daunting to them at first (even if it’s a time saver and money maker)
- How can we best serve our audience and solve their problems?
- Who exactly is our audience anyway?
2. I lost over 1,000 followers and I’m not even mad about it
After the “Instacrash” of 2017 where so many of us saw big drops in engagement, it’s been a hard time for entrepreneurs & creatives — people who pour their heart and soul into their work. It’s tough to put yourself out there, only to get less and less likes with each passing day (a form of external validation) .
Many of us, myself included, grew concerned. How would we, the small guys, continue to reach and grow our audience through the one platform that we love so much? How would that affect our business? Our income and our livelihood?
I’ve got a lot to say on this topic but for now, this break was a great way to regain focus and perspective. To take it away from the numbers and put it back on my craft, my business and my voice.
3. I put together a Digital Marketing Game Plan which I’ll be sharing with you
Frankly, we need to look at our marketing objectively. Take off the creator’s hat and put on the business one. Should your strategy be solely focused on one platform? What else should you be doing? And most importantly — do you even have one in the first place?
For me, in order to execute such a big marketing project, I needed something more tangible. I needed something concrete to take into account various strategies and techniques market my products & services to the people who need it most.
4. I got more clarity on who I am, what I want and who I’m here to serve
- It’s important for me to have a voice and to make an impact
- It’s important for me to create, design and develop
- I want to run a mid-to-large size company that I’ve built from the ground up
- I never want to work for anyone else again
- I never want to feel the financial squeeze again
- I’m obsessed with design and I am with technology
- Love the heart of small business and helping others achieve their dreams
- I want to help women who have been in business for less than 5 years
- I have a disproportionate obsession with problem solving and perfection. When
5. I had a few breakdowns
It hasn’t always been easy. I don’t think it is for any real entrepreneur. And if you know me by now, my Cancerian nature, “moon” swings and big heart can have me feeling very, very deeply. So while I do my best to give you my best, I have my rough days. Where the gap between where I am and where I want to be seems too big. Impossible.
But even in my darkest hours, I remember… I’m possible.
6. I had a few breakthroughs
Ray Dalio, founder and CEO of the impressive hedge fund Bridgewater, talks about a series of loops. These loops are cycles that you need to complete before moving on to the next level. You need to realize that there’s a problem. Determine the problem. Strategize around it. Work towards solving it. And move on to the next loop. It’s this cycle of up, down, up, down that ultimately trends on an upward path.
With all of this reflection, this refining and fine-turning, I’ve made some key realizations
- For Teakie.com as a marketplace and creative community to survive, it will take marketing, and a lot of it
- I’m completely bootstrapping this project and for some reason, I have a stubborn pride about it. Maybe this will change, but for now, this is what it is
- Which means that I have to be extremely smart, selective and laser-focused on my marketing efforts
- While making money is essential to any for-profit business, what ultimately drives me is impact. This comes from having a voice, connecting with others and helping them achieve incredible things along their journey
- The challenge is in being the developer, operator and builder of your business while being the marketer, the spokesperson and educator
7. By responding to the market, I created a new product called TeakieCare
Our mission at Teakie is to empower people to do work they love. Our way of doing that is by helping people grow their business online. Our latest offering, TeakieCare, is totally in line with that.
Even with DIY builders like Squarespace and Wix, there’s still a large number of people stuck in the in between phase. Unhappy with their websites (or not having one at all). Not knowing what to do. Spending hours trying to figure out the technical stuff when they should be focused on their business. And even if they wanted to invest in a professional web design, it just wasn’t the right time.
A lot more thought and analysis went into this, but essentially, TeakieCare is a solution for bloggers, entrepreneurs and business owners who are looking for a modern, reliable and hassle-free website to build their digital empire. Our plans is incredibly affordable, starting at just $49 per month. You can read more about TeakieCare here.
8. We landed several wonderful new clients (if you’re reading… we love you!)
It hasn’t always been easy. And if you know me by now, my Cancerian nature, “moon” swings and big heart can have me feeling things very deeply. So while I do my best to give you my best, I too have some rough days. Where the gap between where I am and where I want to be seems too big to overcome. Impossible. But even in my darkest hours, I remember… I’m possible.
9. I dream of building Teakie into the most inclusive, heart-centered, smart, female-run tech company of the century
It hasn’t always been easy. And if you know me by now, my Cancerian nature, “moon” swings and big heart can have me feeling things very deeply. So while I do my best to give you my best, I too have some rough days. Where the gap between where I am and where I want to be seems too big to overcome. Impossible. But even in my darkest hours, I remember… I’m possible.
10. And most importantly, I missed the heck out of everyone.
When I look back, all the interactions. The intimacy. The support. The impact… It’s the impact I want. The impact you have on me and I have on you.
It’s not just likes and followers. It’s people. We’ve got a group of incredible, talented, big-hearted people.
