On Friday I told you about this big surprise I was boiling up behind the scenes + I'm so excited to finally be able to tell you all about it.

The big news is that heartmade + I have been invited to participate in a SOCIAL MEDIA BLOG SERIES in collaboration with 8 other amazingly talented + creative women bloggers. The goal is to help you learn a few things about social media. Over the next two weeks, we will be blogging about how social media has helped us + our businesses + how you can put these ideas into action.

So, are you ready to see the awesome lineup of posts? Here's the SOCIAL MEDIA BLOG SERIES calendar (psst... I highly recommend subscribing to each of the blogs below, so you don’t miss out on any of these amazing posts):

Tuesday, September 21st:

Meredith will write about the importance of relationships on Smaller Box.

Meredith says, “Social Media has been a great way to connect with our fans daily. We use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and our blog to share funny content we find online, photos, videos and stories from behind the scenes of our business. It’s a great way to get to know our customers, let them get to know us and quickly get feedback from them on projects we’re working on.”

Wednesday, September 22nd:

April will write about creating useful content on Blacksburg Belle.

April thoughts on social media, “When I first started using social media, I was skeptical, thinking that I was entering high school again. Once I realized I could make connections with other mixed media artists I’ve admired for years, Twitter, Facebook, and blogging opened new doors for me. At this point, I couldn’t imagine my business without social media.”

Thursday, September 23rd:

Angela will write about choosing social media platforms on The Artists’ House.

Angela says, “Hi, my name is Angela Flicker and I am an applique artist, an avid quilter, and owner of The Artists’ House.  I believe that social media is important because it tells the story behind your products and business.  When selling online, you’re at a bit of a disadvantage concerning personal interactions.  When people come into your “shop”, physically they aren’t greeted by anyone.  Through social media, you can create a face and a narrative behind your online business and the products you sell.  Along with that, you’re able to connect with like-minded individuals.  Together, using social media, you can learn and support one another.  These two factors have transformed my business in a valuable way.”

Friday, September 24th:

Tara will write about building a following on social media on Big Thinking for Small Businesses.

Tara says, “Social media has given me something that I – as an introvert – has never had before: a window into the world. Instead of living in a bubble of my own creation, social media has given me a platform for building a successful business, meeting influential people, and introducing me to innovative ideas. Social media, for me, is not something separate from my daily life but an opportunity to live my “real life” to its fullest."

Monday, September 27th:

I will write about blogging here on heartmade.

“I like to engage in social networking. It’s a fun + effective way to stay in touch with my clients + fans of my work. I like to use the tools that I enjoy most (Facebook + Twitter + Stumble Upon) + can commit to. I personally like to share healthy glimpses into my indie business + snippets of my personal life + bits of the things that inspire me + I’m passionate about.”

Tuesday, September 28th:

Mallory will write about twitter on Miss Malaprop.

Mallory says, “For me, social media has been instrumental in building a successful brand. I started my blog in 2006, always with the goal in mind of building up to an online store and later a brick-and-mortar retail boutique. Through the use of my blog, Facebook, Twitter and Flickr, I’ve found a community of like-minded people, and having that network already in place when I launched my online store earlier this year has made that process so much easier than if I had to start everything from scratch.”

Wednesday, September 29th:

Maegen will write about Facebook on Madeline Bea.

Maegan says, “I had been sharing my life and my journey through motherhood, creativity, and photography for years online through my blog and Flickr. But when I opened the doors of my portrait photography business this past summer, my substantial online connections weren’t helping me get local people interested in me and my photography. Facebook has allowed me to connect my online and local worlds and therefore has expanded the reach of my online messaging into my town and community…my potential clients!”

Thursday, September 30th:

Irene will write about email newsletters on Imaginative Bloom.

Irene says, “One of the most popular strategies that has always been essential to reach new readers, is advertising. Since all these social media platforms were born, we are able to easily, quickly and virally interact with hundreds and thousands of new – and old – contacts and spread content maintaining a constant connection with them. And it’s free!”

Friday, October 1st:

Jessica Swift will write about Flickr on Jessica Swift.

Jessica says, “Social media is important in my business on a variety of levels. On a personal level, I work at home alone every day, and social media allows me to stay connected with others and have mini conversations throughout the day. On a business level, I’m able to use social media to connect with my customers and grow my audience and community. And on yet another level, social media allows me to stay tuned in to and learn about what’s happening in my world by following and listening to other people. The importance of social media just can’t be exaggerated!”

I’ll leave you with 10 reasons you need to follow this blog series + use social media:

1. It is estimated that over 50% of new business will come from social media and internet marketing efforts over the next five years. That base number could triple by 2020, according to the Microsoft Small Business Summit 2008.(from Success Secrets of the Social Media Marketing Superstars).

2. 78% of consumers trust peer recommendations and only 14% trust advertisements. (from http://socialnomics.net)

3. In less than 9 months, Facebook added 100 million users. If it were a country, it would be the third largest in the world. (from Success Secrets of the Social Media Marketing Superstars).

4. You can build relationships with your customers.

5. You give your customers a way to get to know + like + trust you.

6. You can join in conversations that your customers are already having about you on Twitter + Facebook.

7. You can use social proof to increase sales.

8. You can establish yourself as an expert in your niche.

9. You can network with other creative women in + out of your niche.

10. Some of your competitors are using it + most of them will be soon.

xo,
Mayi Carles

A couple of months ago I saw the prettiest pair of cloud studs on Etsy. They were different from anything I had seen before. They were perfect! I immediately contacted the seller to express how much I loved them, and also to ask if she could make them specially for me in yellow gold because I'm allergic to silver + artificial jewelry. The buyer was so sweet + kindly accepted my offer. I purchased the earrings of course + wear them everytime I want to feel special.

But my happy story doesn't end there: the buyer + I actually became really good friends. We found out we were both Spanish speakers + that we loved a lot of the same things. Today, Iveth (the buyer I've been talking about - owner of The Angry Weather + Mademoiselle Cranky Pants) is even guest blogger here on heartmade, with appearances every Thursday, delighting us all with her amazing treasury picks.

Why do I tell you this little story? Because I want to talk about the power of connecting + being active in the handmade community.

One of the more unusual ways I meet potential customers + fans + friends is by actively showing interest in their work + business + shop + blog. If I stumble upon a great indie shop, I make time to write the owner to let him/her know I'm a fan. If I come across a great blog article, I share it with my network + leave a comment to express my enthusiasm. If I see a gorgeous handmade products I can't live without, I buy it to support a fellow craft person. I ACTIVELY show my interest + I make conscious efforts to approach + introduce myself. I do this because I'm a people person + I love meeting people that are passionate about art + their craft + their indie business + writing about it. It fuels me up, energizes me.. these connections I mean.

And the most magical aspect of these active encounters is that for some karmic or cosmic reason, the Universe often (if not always) conspires to transform these small connections into something greater + something more special!

Just this Friday, for example, I meet Nancy from Wolf and Willow, only the pretties blog in the planet. One thing led to another + now I'm a sponsor at her site + she is hosting a Mayi Carles giveaway on her newsletter. If I had been too shy + too lazy + too embarrassed + too busy to write, none of these opportunities would have developed.

In a nutshell: be active, show interest, express your enthusiasm, be passionate… magical things happen when you do! Just trust me on this one.

Now, I would love to hear your stories of how a simple online connection (e-mail + note + tweet + etc.) turned into something special for you or your business. Share in the comment section below.

xo,
Mayi Carles

Image Credit

via thelightfantastic

I confess: I'm a workaholic. Everybody that knows me, knows this about me. But I've also learned the hard way how harmful it is for my emotional + spiritual + physical health to put in perpetual hold my extracurricular activities like my pilates class + going shopping with my mom + lunching with my girlfriends + etc. Now, no matter how much work I have pilling up in my studio, I know better I must figure out a way to find balance my life.

Here are a few tips + strategies that have helped me so so much to strike a balance between my work life + personal life:

1. Take lunch breaks. This one sounds simple, but it's really a bit complicated. We all have to eat right? But eating in front of the computer is no eating ethic any of us should be following. Use your 1-2 hour lunch break to really sit back + relax. This is a great opportunity to cook a homemade meal + go out for a short walk + lunch out with your gals or any other activity that gets you to disconnect + vent.

2. Make appointments after work. Doing extracurricular activities outside the office environment is essential to the feeling of balance. Book a yoga class + cooking class + dance lesson + learn a new language + make appointments to see your friends. When we make plans ahead of time we are more likely to stick with them.

3. Establish your limits. Set strict bounds about when you will start + stop checking your BlackBerry messages + e-mails + Etsy convos + etc. Resist the urgency to stay connected 24/7. When we don't establish clear limits between our professional + private life, we lose sight of balance.

4. Free days. Pick a day of the week to really disconnect 100% from all responsibility. I used to work everyday of the week with the excuse that work was crazy busy. Now I  work harder during the week + organize my schedule so I can take my weekends off to go to the beach with my boyfriend. This has been the single best decision I have taken in my career. I feel happier + less stressed + because I organize my weeks so well to be able to leave for the weekend, I actually get more work done during the week. Listen to me please: get off your computer at least one day a week - you will thank me later.

5. Me time. Pick a moment in the day or week to really be by yourself + meditate + think about your week + write down your goals + dreams + read an inspirational poem + listen to your favorite tune. The time you take for yourself is sacred + extremely important for finding inner peace.

6. Make time for your body. Your body is your temple, nourish it by eating foods that are good for you + exercising regularly + sleeping your 8 hours. A healthy body is a happy body.

What do you do to juggle your work + personal life? How do you find harmony in your life?

xo,
Mayi Carles

Image Credits

via pinterest

via katie armour - the neo traditionalist

Check out my cute little booth at In Motion Boutique (a gorgeous boutique in Panama that sells my designs):

blocks :: specially made for me by nurserylove

tables + headband wood racks :: designed by me, made by marco

packaging :: made by me

postcards :: colordpi

wood frame :: farmacias arrocha

leaf displays + postcard holder :: piex

Now, if I could offer you some pieces of advice when it comes to display settings, I would have to say:

1. Keep it simple so your pieces are always the center of attention. Too often I see booths filled with stuff that it makes it impossible to see the products on display.

2. Don't over fload your table with ALL your products. You don't want your booth to look like a dollar store. Be classy + select your pieces carefully + show you are not a factory, but a handmade indie business. Let your pieces breath, it makes them look more high end + exclusive.

3. Branding, branding, branding. Have your company name + logo ever present on your booth table. I like to place a few postcards with images of your work + business cards so people can take home with them. A cute little sign with your company name + a small frame that has a little legend about my work is always a great touch. Your packaging is also a great way to promote your brand - I place my logo in all my tags + headband displays. Use every opportunity you have to create brand awareness!

4. Price your items. Sometimes people are too lazy to ask for prices, or sometimes even embarrassed. Make it easy for them to shop your products by labeling all your merchandise (in a classy + professional way) with tags + prices.

What do you like to do with your displays? Please share!

xo,

Mayi Carles

Whether you are a crafter + artist + designer + indie business owner, there will always come an opportunity when you need to share a condensed version of your business into a short elevator pitch. The bottom line is this: we want to be able to share our concept + ideas efficiently to be able to land new account + clients + projects + ultimately sales. The key to a successful elevator pitch is to keep it short + sweet + simple. And by short, I mean about 30 seconds. It is statistically proven that by minute 45 you lost the attention of your receptor… and we don't want to that to happen, don't we?

Here are a few tips I've gathered to help you create your perfect elevator pitch.

1. Don’t get into the little details. There is no time to lose. Focus on the main big picture + stress what your business is currently offering NOW + how it is unique + who your customers are. There will be time for cookies + coffee later. First you need to nail that first approach.

2. Think of the final goal. Whether you are talking to the press + a vendor + a retailer + a boutique owner + a magazine editor make sure you recognize + respect who your selling the product to. The ultimate goal is to land the deal, and you want to be specific + cater to their needs.

3. Show the benefits. Explain how what you do can help + benefit their business + their audience. And also explain how your business is currently benefitting your audience + customers. 

4. Keep in mind the time. Times flies. This happened sot me a lot when I'm talking about myself + my business hehehe, I get too excited). So remember, stay focused. I recommend practicing your elevator pitch at home in front of the mirror or even with friends. Practicing will help you recognize your strengths + weaknesses,  and also help you manage your time more efficiently.

5. Keep a mental checklist.  Create a mental checklist of 3 to 5 points you want to cover in your pitch, then mentally check each one off as you deliver your elevator pitch.

6. Make it stick. Are you familiar with New York Times best seller book "Made to Stick"? This phenomenal book that I love so much explains very well why some ideas survive, while others die. Your goal is to make your pitch catchy + additive + memorable. You want your idea to stick, not washed away with time. You need to really communicate well why your idea is so fantastic. You know why, you just need to be able to explain it in a why that sticks. If you have a hard time with this one I recommend reading "Made to Stick", it has personally helped me a ton to craft my pitch.

An effective pitch delivery, will most certainly guaranty a second opportunity to talk more about your product + business. So don’t worry about not saying enough. Your time will come if you deliver the pitch right! So remember, keep it short + sweet + simple! A perfect elevator pitch can exist, but with a little practice + patience!

xo,
Mayi Carles

Image Credit

via teconlene

If you're curious to know what your particular brand of creativity reveals about you, take this little quiz from Psychologies magazine. 

I learned that for me, creativity is first and foremost a release, a form of expression: it creates a special link between the internal and external worlds. It allows me to get a grasp of my powerful emotions, by moulding them into a physical form. In fact, the most important thing for me, I also learned, is to be able to release my emotions. I need to be able to touch them or look at them in concrete form, and to do that I have to find a way to make them come alive. This is how my desires and anxieties take shape. Keeping things bottled up creates a tension that can only be resolved once I have expressed how I feel. This means I have to be strong enough not to let myself get swept away by chaotic impulses: if I turn my creative urges on everyday life — making a picnic, singing to the baby, choosing what to wear — I can express myself while staying rooted in reality.

I also learned that for me, creativity is principally cathartic. It relieves a deep need, an almost primal, archaic impulse. For me, being creative is about having the power to give form to something I feel, to those deep personal issues that are often raw and disorganised. For these reasons, I am usually attracted to art that demands physicality, that allows me to express what’s inside, and that unites spontaneity, strength, freedom, power and movement. 

Fascinating. Psychologies magazine was right on target with this one!

What's your creative style? Go find out!

xo, 

Mayi Carles

Image Credit

via thehouseofmouse

It's not your coffee, Etsy has undergone some major surgery + has a brand new look to show off!

The main changes include:

1. Wider format pages for shops. 
2. More featured items.
3. More items on shop's main page.
4. Shop sidebars are now on the left hand side. 
5. The shop announcement preview is shorter.

I have been reading so much talk (both positive + negative) about the new changes. And after much thought + consideration, I wanted to voice out my perspective. The way I see it is this:

1. Wider format pages for shops. The larger gallery images help my items jump off the screen.

2. More featured items. Instead of 3 featured items, now we have a chance to display 4. One more item to show off to my clients, I'm not complaining.

3. More items on shop's main page. Google Analytics tells us that the first page of our shops is the most visited + clicked (by a large amount, followed by page 2, 3, an so on). So for me it's great news to have more items on display on page 1. More items for my clients to love on our home page - 24 to be exact, instead of 21. 

4. Shop sidebars are now on the left hand side. Although it might be tricky to adjust at first (for us sellers) this sidebar switch from right to left follows the conventions of other major e-commerce sites. As long as it helps my customers navigate + shop in a more friendly way, I'm happy.

5. The shop announcement preview is shorter. Currently set at 340 characters, our shop announcements have drastically been shortened. But before you panic, consider this: 

(a) shortening the shop announcement area brings our items up the page + gives more attention to our products.

(b) search engines like Google typically display the first 160 characters of our shop announcements anyways, so we really should be more efficient in the way we get our main points across to our buyers. Here's a link to a free character counter tool to help you tweak your announcement (I found this thanks to PhenomeGNOME in the Etsy Forums).

(c) Etsy has three great sections for writing our hearts out: profile +  shop policies + item descriptions . Here's were we (sellers) should really be writing everything they is to know about our shops. I've personally given lots of care + attention to my profile + shop policies + item descriptions. You might want to take a look to see what I've done. It might help you get your sections up + running + in good shape for your buyers.

So ladies + gentleman: embrace change. It's a wonderful thing. Just let go + enjoy the Etsy ride. Etsy is the prominent handmade market for a reason. They do their homework + you are in good hands!

xo,
Mayi Carles

I'm still a baby indie seller. my eco -friendly boutique is only turning 7 months this month, but I already feel I've learned so much in this tiny time frame. So much so, that I got excited and began to share my experiences + successes + mistakes with my friends + peers in blogs + forums, informally. And then, something very special started to happen.  Sellers + artists + crafters from around the world started to contact me + asking questions + seeking advice, saying they had read my short posts + notes + wanted more. I felt so honored + so happy! I soon understood why they were contacting me. It was because I was approachable + transparent + friendly + honest with them + more importantly: willing to share with them all that I knew: the good + the bad + the ugly.

So, today I've compiled a quick list of my top 10 lessons learned since I first started my indie business. I'm calling it my "10 little pieces of advice" - "little pieces" because I'm still wearing pampers when it comes to selling my work, but "advice" nevertheless, because the successes + failures learned thus far are really worth voicing + sharing. I will touch on these 10 points shortly, and will elaborate on each of them in the near future to keep it short + sweet for today. Because, come on! who wants to read an essay on a Friday?

Here are my top 10 little lessons learned from selling my work online:

1. Have more than just a couple of items for sale on your shop. Have choices for your clients.

2. Your shop is not a flea market. Make sure every single item on your shop fits your shop aesthetic + philosophy. 

3. Take great photos. I can't stress this one enough. Shoot your items from various different angles + use all your images slots + most importantly don't rush through snapping your pictures. Taking great pictures takes time + patience.  

4. Add new items to your shop. It will keep your clients interested in coming back for more. 

5. Only add items to your shop that you feel super proud about. I've learned the hard way that it's not smart to list every single product you make. There is a learning curve that comes with creating + perfecting each single design. Now, I only list items when they have evolved into perfection.

6. Invest in offsite advertising. Don't penny pick in this department. Your shop deserves to be known. I've learned that spending $10 a month on advertising doesn't do a thing for my business. Instead a spend a significant portion of my marketing budget on ads in super high traffic indie blogs + sites that I love + are compatible with my business. For me, this has proven to be a great move for my boutique.

7. Offer awesome customer service. Respond to your messages in a timely manner + ship promptly + include a thank you note in your packages + be friendly.

8. Be active in the indie/handmade community. Find some good indie blogs + participate in the conversation. Go to craft shows + support other fellow artists. Visit the (Etsy) forums + seek and offer advice. Join a team. Don't be afraid to ask for advice from a seller you admire. Pay it forward by returning favors. Be a friend.

9. Take your time writing your item descriptions + profile + policies. They are the core of your shop + need to be clear + cover all the basis.

10. Be humble + accept when you make mistakes. Be a person of integrity + own up to your errors + learn + grow.

Bonus: Love what you do. There will be magical times of joy + big sales + success, but there will also be harsh times of criticism + losses + failures. In these most difficult moments, only your passion for the things you do + create will help you stay afloat. I firmly believe that only those that really truly passionately love what they do, triumph at the end!

I sure wish someone had told me all of this when I first started. 

What are some of the lessons you've learned? Please do share them!

xo,
Mayi Carles

Image Credit

via turnerscollectibles

Mayi Carles

I'm a girl that loves handmade products + talent + good ideas + tips that help my business + DIY projects. So it doesn't take a genius or rocket scientist to figure out why blogs like Paper N' Stitch + Modish + Going Home to Roost totally rock my world. 

The thing is, there aren't enough hours in the day to do all the things my heart desires + plans my calendar lists, so I've learned the hard way to be very picky when it comes to choosing the blogs + reads + artisans + indie businesses that I'm going to follow.

I personally no longer care for the blogs that belong to artists or indie businesses that only talk about themselves and not enough to their target audience. Of course I enjoy the occasional backstage sneak peak + personal creative inspirations, but a blog that constantly bombards me with information about daily shores + sales + new products + it's-all-about-me stuff, loses my attention quickly. And I truly feel that no matter how much your customers love you or your products, they will eventually lose interest in your blog if you offer them no real entertainment + useful information. 

To help you build an awesome blog and not just another one, I've come up with a list of tips that will help your bring customers to your blog + website + twitter + facebook, not bore them away.

So what type of stuff should you be writing about? I'm still no expert, but I would like to share with all of you what personally works for me:

1. Relevant information (very often): Providing useful information is one of the best ways to keep people coming back + again to you. If your target audience is the handmade community, give them tips to buying + selling online. If your target is parents, give them fun + playful projects to do with their kids. If your target is the culinary community or the food-addict, delight them with delicious month watering recipes + restaurant reviews. 

2. Entertainment (frequently): Everyone loves a good time. If a website or twitter account makes me smile + laugh, I add them to my list of daily reads, it's that simple for me. This is why sites like Cuteoverload + Regretsy are so popular. You don't have to make your blog a comedy show, but you might want to consider throwing a bit of humor for you audience. When you entertain people they tend to share your content with their network. Providing good entertainment is a great marketing tool for you business.

3. What do you think? (sometimes): People love to feel their opinion matters to you. It's allowed to ask your customers (every so often) to participate in your creative process. You can ask your readers to suggest a color scheme for your new fall collection; suggest names for your new line of hats; or even have voting contests + surveys, offering them free prices for their participation. This really gets your customers engaged in your production + process.

4. Back stage pass (sometimes): Every so often I like to read funny anecdotes about how a particular product was made or why it was named the way it was. And, of course, if your products made it to the Martha Stewart Show or Good Morning America, share it. Just make sure you aren't constantly rambling about yourself. Make it interesting to your customers so they keep coming back.  

4. Your products (very seldom): "Just released a new necklace", "Made some beautiful new earrings", "Come check out my new headband"… Do this headlines + twits sounds familiar? Boring after a while right? So many artisans fall into this cycle. Sure, tell your customers about your latest collections, but please don't swamp them everyday with communication about all your product releases. People don’t like to feel like all you want to do is sell, sell, sell to them all the time. 

If you want people to follow you, you have to give them a reason to do so.

What are you doing today in your blog to keep your readers engaged + encouraged?

xo,

Mayi Carles

Image Credit

via joettamaue

I thought some of you might be interested in my super talented e-gal pal Bonnie Forkner's new e-class: selling the handmade way.  Bonnie is the owner of Going Home to Roost, one of my favorite blogs dedicated to everything handmade and anything homegrown. 

Bonnie's 7 week e-course this fall, and will cover all the basics (and more) of growing a handmade business.

 
Bonnie says, “You’ll feel right at home in this workbook style, hands on, personal approach to learning about selling your goods.  You’ll not only have the opportunity to learn and grow your business, but also to meet other inspirational business owners and get personal feedback and advice from me, along with a few very special expert guests." 

Sounds exciting doesn't it? The class will be held on a private (password protected) blog from September 6th – October 22, just in time to get you and your business geared up for the holidays. I encourage you to visit Bonnie's new e-course site for selling the handmade way to learn more about the class.

You have until Friday, September 3, 2010 to register!

Who wants to join the fun?

xo,

Mayi Carles