One of the really interesting things that happened last year is that we launched a "new" product, Web Ready Kit. This offering seemed to click the rest of our packages into place. I say "new" because all of these services are things we've been doing for clients for years. But it's just been the last 12 — 18 months or so that we've started to formalize this process into even more clear cut steps:
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When I was doing my MFA, I was really comfortable with the idea of drafting in the creative process. When you first sit down to write a book, you literally CANNOT write the final draft. Your job is to get all of the story out of your brain. And from there your job is to shape the story, to edit and refine. Maybe you get lost, and you definitely write chapters that never see the light of day. It's part of writing a book. You cannot write version 17 without first sitting down and writing version 1, 2, 3, ...16. So why would I think I could jump to "final" with my business?
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Jenni here, and it's no secret that when it comes to our partnership dynamic, I am definitely the one who is always geeking out about new systems and technology. I love a good CMS, or automation platform — anything that you can program to "make it do" without having to manually participate. Last October we launched a "Primd 2.0" if you will — new website, and LOTS of new systems to help us tackle growing and scaling in 2016. Today I am going to share with my 3 favorite systems we've implemented in the last 6 months, and why they work for us.
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Sophie here, and this week I will be talking about obstacles of working from home. When it can be mentally hard to switch gears, the boundaries of running a household and running a business can blur. This time of year boundaries can also come into play if you give up our home office when family or friends come to stay with you.
Here are some suggestions to help you set healthily boundaries working from home, and how to adapt to change over the summer without it affecting your productivity and consequently your income.
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As summer begins to the sound of the school bell ringing, those who run their business from home while raising kids will be about to embark on a fragmented schedule over the next few months. Sophie here, and the warmer long days are a nice prospect but the juggling act that comes with them can be challenging. You will be adapting to finishing earlier in the day to head off to camp pick up or arranging childcare cover that will change week to week. Friends will be heading to the park or the pool, but the endless emails and calls from work, will make you feel divided and overwhelmed at the thought of slowing down to be with your kids. This was me last summer. But I have decided this year will be different, and adapting to the change requires both preparation and a new mindset.
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How do you get clarity when your feel stuck or divided about an importance decision?
Perhaps its an unfamiliar issue that feels like you are trekking through uncharted territory without a compass, or maybe it is a reoccurring problem that is draining your energy and affecting the efficiency of your business. A few easy and creative ways to make better decisions have presented themselves to me recently that I wanted to share with you.
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"Do we really need a blog?" is a question we hear from our clients all the time. And there is a facial expression that accompanies that question: head tilted slightly forward, maybe an eyebrow raised and a gaze that says: You don't understand — I am spread so thin already. If am even going to consider adding something else to my plate, I need to know that it's going to pay off. I am so tired. And so busy. And so tired. Sound familiar?
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In the last few weeks, we've had some exciting activity elsewhere on the Internet — Jenni wrote an article and featured in a video for LinkedIn around her experience losing a job and leveraging that opportunity to get herself into a new career field. It's gone viral! So we thought we'd share part of it here on Prim'd Notes blog for those who are hustling for their first break!
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As a business owner, motivating yourself is probably one of the hardest parts to running your own business. Whether you are trying to get a business idea off the ground or trying to move things forward to grow your business, when you find yourself stuck at a roadblock or what feels like a dead end, it can be challenging and sometimes makes you want to give up.
The good news is, there are many ways you can help yourself in these situations, and most of them involve taking the time to be around other people in similar situations to you. Its amazing how talking about the everyday problems you face, and exchanging stories can be so helpful and rewarding.
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These past twelve months have been one heck of a year for Sophie and I. In fact, twelve months ago, we were working together at a different company, but we had no idea the wild ride that was just around the corner for us.
In the spirit of this week, we thought we’d try something a little different. We took some time to think about what we were really thankful for as business owners and entrepreneurs, especially since this is our first Thanksgiving as Women in Business.
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LinkedIn (as part of Imagine LinkedIn) is doing a series they're calling "Here's To Your Success" where they're featuring everyday success stories of business folks. I was featured in this short spot, telling the story of how I found marketing and ultimately started my own business (read: THIS MEANS I WAS IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA instead behind the camera of planning the shots like I normally do. Gulp.).
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A couple of weeks ago, I left Prim’d Headquarters and headed out to the wilderness. Jenni here, and if you’re like me, nothing beats heading off the grid to hug trees and hike around under a big blue sky. My husband and I have had been planning a trip to the Grand Canyon for over two years, and this past month we finally made it happen. We spent five days backpacking around Hermit Loop, one of the more desolate areas of the park. I was excited to clear my mind of work-things, but somehow along the trail I kept coming back to Prim'd, and the last few months of business ownership. Today's blog post is a little more personal than normal because lately I've been thinking a lot about pacing and entrepreneurship, and I felt like it was our readers likely deal with too.
I don’t have to spend paragraphs telling you how completely-mind-blowingly-beautiful the Grand Canyon was. It was ridiculous. Quiet. Full of breath. There was even a moment where the sun was shinning and two yellow monarch butterflies the size of our fists landed on each of our shoulders and my husband looked at me and said, “Are you kidding? Is this a Disney movie or something?” (totally true story).
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“WHY THE NAME PRIM’D?” IT’S A QUESTION WE HEAR A LOT, AND A BIT OF A CONVERSATION STARTER.
Sophie here, and you may think the name came from me, the tea sipping Brit wanting us to be all prim and proper — an unrealistic expectation in today’s world and something I am definitely not.
When it comes to marketing however, looking put together is actually really important. “Prim’d” (pronounced Prim'd not Primed) is a word Jenni came up with to describe “looking and sounding buttoned up” online – we get you Prim'd! Helping our client to market a consistent message that are clear and concise, that resonate with the right customers and looks great is the reason we set up Prim'd. Getting “prim’d” is something most business owners strive for, if they had more time and the-know-how. We hear a lot of business owners who wish they could turn to a reliable person, team, or expert to help figure out where on earth to start. We know this struggle, and we know it well. To explain this we have to go back to the start of our story.
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