I hope you’ve had a wonderful month. I did, overall. Here’s why!

(Psssst: New here? I write a monthly recap of my journey to becoming a service-based business owner. Along with my [very honest] highs and lows, I share a helpful tip, trick, and tool of the month. Interested? Sign up to get first access every month!)

August Highs

I switched to Dubsado and am PUMPED about leveling up my client experience.

Remember last month, when I shared my obsession with my new business management software?

Yep, I’m STILL obsessed with Dubsado — especially now that I’ve had a chance to get all mostly set up on it.

Fair warning, should you choose to use Dubsado for your business (using my 20% off code, of course!): It takes a looong time to create and organize all your projects, templates, and settings. At least, if you’re as meticulous as I am.

BUT, I believe the work will be worth it, both for future me and for my future clients.

(Plus, Dubsado actually offers free data migration, which helped me move much of my client info from Bonsai and saved me a good chunk of time!)

I initiated a promising partnership with a brand designer.

Where my fellow Facebook group lurkers at? 🙋‍♀️

Since starting my business, I’ve had a bad habit of joining random Facebook groups and then promptly forgetting about them, or just creeping on other people’s problems.

Recently, though, I did stick my neck out there. Someone posted that she was looking to collaborate with a copywriter on her design packages, and after peeping her (stunning) Instagram, I actually thought we might be a good fit.

So I offered my name, and we ended up chatting a few times. It looks like we may try to collab on a project (or more!) down the line.

I’m optimistic about the prospect of working not just with this talented designer, but also with her creative clientele, as that is the audience I would truly love to serve.

I don’t want to jinx anything, so I won’t share her handle just yet… but keep your eyes peeled (and your fingers crossed for me, please!)! 👀 🤞

I’m making good progress with my current clients + prospects.

After a busy (or simply distracted) couple of weeks months, I’m finally feeling “on top of” my current projects.

(…And fully expecting this feeling to last 0.5 seconds.)

Regardless, I’m hoping to capitalize on this momentum in September by continuing to check in on clients, follow up with prospects, and actually hold myself to my Asana list… even when I don’t feel like it.

Which is, frankly, a lot of the time.

But that’s the job I’ve signed up for.

August Lows

I’ve had a couple of rejections.

I told you last month that I had sent out a few big proposals.

Well, one of them has said “not now” (do people really mean that, or are they just blowing smoke? Don’t answer that), and another is STILL waiting on approval from her higher-ups.

The silver lining is that I did book two clients in August, which was my goal.

And I know rejection is just part of the deal, too.

But still.

I haven’t done as much marketing as I’d like.

With a little more time on my hands, I’ve started to think more seriously about my own branding.

Which reminds me — I booked a brand photography session for October! Shoot, that should’ve gone in the “Highs” section. 😄

I know I need to start taking my own marketing more seriously. The “photography” on my website is a hodgepodge of iPhone photos, my blog is waaay more sparse than it should be (remember when my goal was to post once a week?? LOL), and my Instagram account features practically nothing about my business (well, except this little video of my gold-embossed business cards… which I have yet to hand out in any professional setting. LOLOL).

I’m viewing this brand photography session not only as a way to get some cute pics of myself (and Pali, of course), but also as a kick in the pants to really zero in on my brand — and my business as a whole.

Is it time to “niche down”?

We shall see…

Tip / Trick / Tool of the Month

Tip: If an opportunity feels wrong, it probably is.

Speaking of “niching down”…

I was recently offered a writing project that didn’t seem like the best fit — both for myself and for the client. I wasn’t passionate about the subject matter, and I was fairly confident the relationship wouldn’t work long-term, anyway.

But I took it.

Sure enough, the project itself went just fine — the client loved the copy — but it has become clear that, financially, the partnership doesn’t make sense moving forward.

I don’t regret this experience, and the client and I may still work together in some form down the road. BUT this has been another reminder that if an opportunity has been laid before you, you do NOT need to snatch it up, just because it’s there.

Don’t step over a dollar to pick up a penny.

Don’t compromise on your services just to make money or please people.

Always ask yourself: Where is my time best spent?

Trick: Mascara… on your hair?!

Okay, I’m going way out of the box on this one. 😂 But hear me out!

Months ago, I read in a magazine that some celebrity (I forget which one) always carries a tube of clear Great Lash mascara in her purse. Why, you ask?

To tame flyaways.

GENIUS, let me tell you. As a naturally curly-haired person who usually straightens her hair, I almost ALWAYS have stubborn little strays along my part line. Hairspray and other products have always just made the problem worse.

Until now.

These days, I will literally not leave my house without that cheap ol’ green-capped bottle in my bag. Bless you, Maybelline. 🙏

Sorry, gentlemen… I just couldn’t resist with this trick. I’ll try to go back to keyboard shortcuts next month.

Tool: Flodesk

I’ve been using ConvertKit to send my monthly updates so far because, well, it’s free.

Up to a point, that is. In the free ConvertKit plan, you get up to 1,000 subscribers and NO automation or other advanced features.

To be clear, I don’t need to upgrade yet. (I wish. 😅 )

But — as when I switched from Bonsai to Dubsado — I’m playing the long game here. I’m betting on myself, on growing my business for years to come — which means I want to set myself up RIGHT, from the START.

(Or, you know, eight months in.)

So, I’m testing out the free 30-day trial of Flodesk. While ConvertKit is considered more feature-rich, Flodesk is considered more aesthetic — and it’s still pretty young, so it should continue to add new features as it grows.

Word on the street is that Flodesk is increasing its pricing soon, so I want to see whether it’s worth locking in that price before jumping ship on ConvertKit.

So far, so good.

Wanna join me? You can start your own free trial of Flodesk, and get 50% off your subscription if you decide to upgrade.

And if you have any thoughts on ConvertKit vs. Flodesk (vs. any other email platform), I’m all ears!

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That’s all for August.

Whether you’re building your own biz or going back to school this September (or both), I pray that this season is one of great growth for you.

See you in October, if not before!

Favorite Photos from August 2021