How to start a creative business
A summary of all my resources to assist you from choosing the right idea ALL THE WAY to launch DAYFind all the right podcast episodes, blog posts and downloadable resources you need
This resource list is intended help get your organised, stay on track and set yourself up for success. Bookmark this page in your browser so you can come back to it every time you need a little help with getting your business ready to launch.
The resources below cover:
Making sure your business idea will work
How to create a strong visual identity for your brand and stand out from the crowd
What the important things are to focus on as you plan a new business
Mindset and how to overcome those niggling doubts that stop you reaching your true potential.
THIS RESOURCES PAGE IS FOR YOU IF:
You want to create a fulfilling and profitable business
These resources will help you get all the vital things in place that it takes to launch a successful creative business that allows you to make money doing what you love.
You have never run your own business before
Build your business with the right tools, maximising your chances of success right at the start of your entrepreneurial journey. No more hunting around on Google trying to find the right information - it’s all right here on this page.
You have no idea where to start and it all seems overwhelming
Work your way through my podcast episodes, blog posts and downloadable resources. Split into bite-size, manageable pieces that you can fit in around your current job and commitments.
9 things to consider when starting a new creative business
YOUR BUSINESS IDEA
YOUR BUSINESS STRUCTURE
YOUR BUSINESS GOALS
YOUR IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE(S)
YOUR VISUAL BRAND IDENTITY
MARKETING PLAN
CONTENT PLAN
YOUR OWN CAPABILITIES & WEAKNESSES
YOUR AVAILABLE RESOURCES (TIME & MONEY)
Below I have organised my resources into categories to enable you to find what you need more easily if you are in the early stages of thinking about starting your own creative business. And if you want a full downloadable guide on exactly how to go about launching your creative business step by step then my book is available to download below - the perfect companion for all my free resources.
PODCAST EPISODES FOR NEW BUSINESS OWNERS
-
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CREATIVE BUSINESS IDEA
For those of you that are at the stage of wondering what to choose as your creative business idea. It may also help those of you that have decided your business idea to really make sure it’s the one for you and to tweak any details before you proceed to launch, to make sure you are building not only a business you love but one that works for your lifestyle.
-
CHOOSING & DESIGNING YOUR WEBSITE
In this episode I talk about Wordpress, Squarespace and Shopify and my recommendations for choosing which platform is right for your creative business dependent on your individual needs (whether you’re a service or product-based business) and where to start. I also cover a checklist of things to get ready before you begin, whether you are building it yourself or outsourcing.
-
HOW TO AVOID YOUR NEW CREATIVE BUSINESS FAILING
Starting up a new creative business can be exciting yet daunting. In this episode I talk about the best things you can do for yours to ensure success and to avoid being one of the 6 in 10 businesses that fail in the first 3 years. According to the Small Business administration statistics around 20% of start-ups fail in the first year. So how can you avoid being one of them ?
“I really trust and appreciate the sharing of Kate’s knowledge for small businesses. I thought I had covered everything in setting up my business but I found some extra tips and things that I had missed in this really useful guide. Not only does she have an exquisite style with her own brand identity, Kate is also a really lovely approachable person. I would thoroughly recommend.”
BLOG POSTS ON BRANDING & VISUAL IDENTITY
-
FINDING YOUR UNIQUE STYLE
Why is a strong visual identity important to building a successful brand? Recognition of your brand by your target audience is vital, you create the ‘want’ factor because of its uniqueness – how do you create in a way that no-one else does? We all have a uniquely different view of the world, and it’s translating that into our visual identity.
-
CREATING A MOOD BOARD FOR YOUR BRAND
A mood board is there to define your brand’s story, aesthetics and purpose. It’s one of the most powerful visual aids you can devise for your business and helps you position it within your market as well as clearly identifying your niche. A well-thought out design allows you to be unique, convey mood and ethos and ensure that your messaging is coherent.
-
CREATING YOUR BRAND COLOUR PALETTE
Having a brand colour palette allows you to do many things vital to your business’ success: Create a consistent look for your brand; Increases brand recognition; Create an identity that aligns with your values and purpose ; Reflects your brand personality; Sets the tone for initial impressions; Helps you stand out from the competition and so much more.
BLOG POSTS ON BUSINESS CONCEPT & STRUCTURE
-
HOW TO FIND & USE YOUR HIDDEN TALENTS
Finding and then deploying your hidden talents and skills into your creative business can be transformative. All too often we label ourselves as a ‘photographer’, ‘painter’, ‘designer’, ‘florist’ - you get the picture! We forget the life and skill-set that’s gone before (often because we have been unhappy in a former career or job). But utilising your existing skills can make a huge difference.
-
HOW TO FIND YOUR BUSINESS NICHE
In the online world we consume so much content every day that it can seem like a huge mountain to climb when we try to figure out how will be unique in our offerings. How we will stand out from this crowd. The key to this mystery is simple – it is finding your niche and then speaking directly to that niche within a strong brand identity framework.
-
TOP 10 APPS EVERY BUSINESS OWNER NEEDS
As a creative business owner for over 12 years, I’ve tried the best and the worst of nearly every business app out there in a bid to make my work look more beautiful, be more efficient, and help me keep on track with my clients. And now as a business coach I like to share what I’ve discovered to be the best tools out there to do all these things.
-
TOP 10 TIPS FOR CREATIVE BUSINESS SUCCESS
Here are some top tips to give you some help with where to begin:
Do your market research
Establish your niche
Understand yourself
Invest
Be consistent
Play the long game
Never stop learning
Keep on top of admin
Don’t undervalue yourself or your work
Ask for help
-
TRANSITIONING FROM DAY JOB TO FULL TIME ENTREPRENEUR
Many of us begin our journey into creative entrepreneurship as a hobby or side job (I don’t like the phrase side hustle – hustling is not how I describe what I or my clients do). Often it’s started as an escape or a way to pursue our true passions, or as a way to make additional income doing something you love. Sooner or later though we come to the decision-making point about whether we scale and take it more seriously, or continue doing it within a limited scope that fits with our lifestyle. So if you’re wondering when or how to make the leap, here are all my tips.
BLOG POSTS ON BUSINESS MINDSET
-
DEALING WITH IMPOSTER SYNDROME AS AN ENTREPRENEUR
If you’ve been in business for any length of time (or even if you are yet to launch!) then you are very likely to have suffered from imposter syndrome. In this blog I give some helpful tips on how to deal with it when it rears its ugly head, as well as how to build confidence in yourself and your creative business generally. Learning to put things in perspective is really key to overcoming this horrible feeling. Here are a few of my top tips for overcoming it.
-
THE KEY SKILLS & PERSONALITY TRAITS YOU NEED
Resilience
Imagination
Recognise Opportunities
Perseverance
Business Acumen
Belief in their Skills
Understanding of their Knowledge/Skills Gap
Problem Solver
Curiosity
Passion
-
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS
I work with women in their twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, sixties and beyond – some of the eldest of them have only just begun their entrepreneurial journey. I strongly believe there is no barrier to beginning – whether you’re hesitant because of your age or your background or your skillset. Everything you need to know can be learnt and experienced along the way. Imagine how you might feel to be living your best life in 6 or 12 months’ time? Is now the time you take the leap?
