7/31/2010 | Download File (23.96 MB) - right click to download
Image by *bene*, via Flickr Creative Commons
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In this show:
• Bettie Newell, and attorney and a crafter, helps us understand legal business structures, including Sole Proprietorships, LLCs, Corporations, and Partnerships.
• We talk about why these structures are important, and which ones might be best for what kinds of craft businesses.
• ...And we talk about what's involved in getting your business set up as one of these structures.
Links:
• Bettie Newell blogs about crafts over at Handmade in Portland. You can also catch her on Twitter.
• If you're in Oregon, Bettie recommends the Small Business Legal Clinic.
• Check to see if your community has a Mercy Corps office. Some of them offer small business classes.
• Another good resource is the Small Business Development Center, which exists in many states.
• Here's how to apply for an Employer Identification (EIN) number
• Here's a directory of state Secretary of State offices.
7/17/2010 | Download File (17.09 MB) - right click to download
Image by ellajphillips, via Flickr Creative Commons
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In this show:
• I talk about why it's so important to plan at least some of your blog posts ahead. This is an idea not many bloggers seem to use, but it's really powerful.
• I share some approaches to planning and some tools that work.
• ...And I talk about how the specific benefits you can get from all this planning.
Links:
• As I mentioned in the show, my Mom plans her blog a year in advance. Check out her system!
• Charlie Gilkey offers free downloadable Blog Post Planners each month.
• ...And here's ProBlogger Darren Rowse's take on Building an Editorial Calendar for Your Blog.
• If you haven't heard it already, this podcast is a good companion to another one I did: Craft Blogging: What Should You Write About?
7/2/2010 | Download File (20.75 MB) - right click to download
Image by REMY SAGLIER - DOUBLERAY, via Flickr Creative Commons
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In this show:
• Tara Gentile and I talk about the power of personal stories - and why they're such an important way to set your crafty business apart from the crowd.
• Where can you find the elements of story in your business? And how do you go about telling it? And why can't you just tell people about your product and be done with it?
Links:
• Check out Tara's website to learn more about her web work and small-business consulting.
• If you don't read Scoutiegirl already, I think you'd really enjoy it.
• ...And here's Tara's ebook, Storytelling for Creative Biz Success.
6/18/2010 | Download File (24.57 MB) - right click to download
Image by kiki99, via Flickr Creative Commons
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In this show:
• I talk with craft-business blogger Megan Auman about a number of interesting ideas - most notably, that Etsy.com is a "pro-am community," where professional crafters sell alongside hobbyists.
• We talk about how this "pro-am" landscape affects businesses that are trying to earn a profit, and how it affects side businesses (that maybe aren't). We also talk about how this landscape affects Etsy.
• ...And we talk about where Etsy really fits into a long-term, sustainable craft business.
Links:
• Megan's blog, Crafting an MBA is a very valuable read for craft entrepreneurs.
• Here are some links to learn more about Long Tail economies: this entry on Wikipedia, Chris Anderson's book on the subject, and his blog, The Long Tail.
• If you want some really solid information about pricing, read this post series by Charlie Gilkey.
