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Spotlight On: Independent Business: Big Shoe Games, Lisa Foster

November 10, 2009 — 4 Comments

I met Lisa Foster in an online personal essay writing class more than two years ago and we’ve kept in touch ever since. In addition to being talented writer who can turn out hilarious and heartbreaking prose, Lisa is a game developer. Since she recently launched her own company Big Shoe Games, I thought Lisa was the perfect entrepreneur to spotlight. Why Big Shoe Games? Because, Lisa says, “I want to spread the good cheer and fun times without smashing, stealing, or shooting anything.”

What inspired you to start Big Shoe Games? Big Shoe Games Images
I worked for years in visual effects and it bothered me the content was so violent I could never show my young daughter what it was mommy did for work. I bargained heavily to get on ‘James and the Giant Peach’ and I’m so glad I did (she loved it!). I was a single mom and generally the hours in visual effects are really long—they brought cots in for us on ‘Hideaway’ and I had to have a crib put in my cubicle for ‘Virtuosity’. So I got into games.

It became the same thing there. I was often at work at 2:00 a.m. with my daughter sleeping on a blanket beside me. And the violence was just as gratuitous, and often worse—women were always portrayed as sex objects in sometimes misogynistic themes. I felt like I was being part of the problem. I knew I loved to play games, but there weren’t any games out there that were interesting to me. Where were the games that women played? Surely you didn’t have to annihilate others to have fun. I was told that women don’t play games. So I got out. I produced a fun and educational animated children’s show that no one wanted to pick up because, as some of the networks told me, “they are not in the business of educating children.” Apparently children’s shows are only about selling toys.

I became pretty disillusioned with entertainment in general. Then I played ‘Diner Dash’, a casual game that involves running your own restaurant. Bingo! This was fun and not violent at all. I began playing these types of games and had a lot of fun with them. I did realize, though, that sometimes they missed the mark. These game development companies, although now targeting women, were 90% male. No offense, guys, but men don’t know what women want in relationships half the time. It’s just possible, a woman might have a better inside track in knowing what we want in games.

So I got together some of former colleagues, and we designed a time management game. We’re in production now and it’s due out this summer. This is a game that women will love!! I’m thrilled to finally be able to deliver a product that is fun, positive and relevant.

In the meantime, I have partnered with all the major casual game distributors so can offer other games to the public that represent our ideals. Big Shoe Games is all about non-violent games that appeal to everyone other than the 18-25 year old male demographic. I have a couple of nephews in this last category, so I’m hoping even they will get into it.

What sets Big Shoe Games apart from other games sites?
Big Game Shoes web logoIt’s a real mess out there because game developers don’t sign exclusive contracts and distribution, deals can be a little haphazard. A certain game can show up with some online distributors but not all, and some of those distributors will only carry certain versions. You can’t go to one major distributor and get it all. For instance, Big Fish might have a game you want to play, but only the PC version, or iWin has the Mac version but it’s two dollars more and GameHouse doesn’t have it at all.

Because we have partnered, we can offer more content than any one of them do on their own. And we can choose which publisher to go with for each game, so the customer doesn’t have to shop around–we choose the lowest priced title and in addition, the longest demo playing time. The industry norm is a free 60 minutes of play but some distributors offer only 30 minutes. On occasion we’ve been able to offer 80-minute demos. We present all the specials that all the distributors are offering so we’re really a one-stop shop. There is no quality non-violent game that a player can’t access from our site and we present the lowest priced retailer, always.

We also candidly review games, and warn you when a game is lacking or just plain awful, which is something the major distributors are not going to do. And we offer a Mommy Rating because, although most games are family oriented and can be played with your small children, some are best for kids 10 and up, and a few are just for adults, like ‘CSI’ or the Women’s Murder Club.

I believe we are unique in that we give 10% of our proceeds to charity.
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Entrepreneur This: Resources

September 2, 2009 — 3 Comments

A recent New York Times article about “accidental entrepreneurs, unintended entrepreneurs or forced entrepreneurs” has been nagging at me since I read it about 10 days ago. Around and About TownAbout and Around TownWhile the article features people who are finding ways to stock their refrigerators and fulfill their need to be productive and creative, it’s dismissive to call someone an “accidental entrepreneur.”

Several people I know have started a business after being unemployed. Sometimes it’s the kick they needed to pursue their dreams or a severance package served as start up capital. There are also people like me, who always wanted to start their own business and did so despite the down economy – which meant willingly leaving a job.

(Tip: you should never ask a freelancer or entrepreneur if they are “just doing this” until the find a job.)

Regardless of how or why you started your business or took the plunge to be a full-time freelancer, you should celebrate that you took a huge risk. That you are willing to do something that could fail or be a wild success.

And you should also know your resources.

You can also find tips and resources here at a.k.a writer.

Is there a resource you couldn’t run your business without? Would you like to spotlight an entrepreneur you know? Please share in the comments below.

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Spotlight On: Independent Business: Chris Reams

August 14, 2009 — 3 Comments

Fellow entrepreneur Tracy Ewell introduced me to Chris Reams. Like Tracy, Chris’ business was deeply affected by Hurricane Katrina. His story is profoundly heartbreaking and incredibly uplifting. Skip-N-WhistleBookmark this tale and then re-visit it on a day when your bank account is dwindling and clients aren’t returning your phone calls. It will help you find your own ability to skip – and whistle. If you like what you read, keep up with Chris and his store on Twitter by following @SKIPNWHISTLE.

I understand you are a screen printer/ graphic designer/ owner of a clothing store. What inspired you to be an entrepreneur in these areas?

About six years ago I was finishing up my masters degree in adolescent mental health counseling and was on track to be an LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor). I was unhappy with the starting paycheck that residency was going to bring and realized that I could have a greater impact on others by being in the business world and funding projects that mattered most to me. There is no shortage of people willing to help young kids find a place in the world, but there is a lack of proper funding for projects that make a difference. I am a self-taught artist and screen printer. One day, while driving to school, I was wondering how artists could make a living selling their pieces over and over again. I saw a bumper sticker and though to myself, “That is sort of like artwork that has been reproduced millions of times, maybe I can do that.” I actually started in the bumper sticker business first, but you have to sell a whole lot of stickers to make a living. It was a natural progression to designing t-shirts. The problem was that I did not have any money to invest in having someone else print them for me, so I had to learn to print them myself as people placed orders with me. I started printing t-shirts on the floor of my apartment and drying them in the oven on a cookie sheet until I saved up enough to buy the right equipment! After graduation I opened my first store in Covington called Ichabods. That was the beginning six years ago.

What’s the best advice you received in the early days, as you were first starting your own business?

I also do leather work and was selling some journals I had made at a church fair in Mandeville. There was this old man selling one-armed rakes called the power rake. He was running circles around me as far as sales went. I took that moment to educate myself rather than keep trying to sell journals and we got to talking. He told me, “You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, just paint it a different color.” That has stuck with me for years now. When I am designing a t-shirt, I can change the color of the ink, the color of the shirt, the style of the shirt or print the same design on tote bags – you name it. It’s total freedom.

What has been your journey as a business owner, both before and after Hurricane Katrina?

After graduate school I opened my first retail location in Covington. Two years later I opened a second location on Magazine Street in New Orleans. Then, two months before Hurricane Katrina, I closed the Covington store to focus on the New Orleans location because it was doing so well. Flush with cash and ready for back to school sales, I loaded up on merchandise for the store and consolidated all the inventory from my Covington location. When Hurricane Katrina hit, I was spared the flooding.

It was the looting that did me in. People kicked in the doors and stole everything I had in there of value. I had paid cash for everything and did not have much in savings. I was underinsured and flat busted after that storm. When I got the insurance settlement, I had to use it to have the trees removed from my house because insurance doesn’t cover tree removal. I lost my art studio where I printed all my t-shirts because tornados and trees crushed it too and property insurance did not cover it. The actual storm was nothing. The aftermath was really tough.

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Entrepreneurial Marketing: Part 3 of 3

August 12, 2009 — 1 Comment

Despite what it might seem like these days – especially earlier this month when the top news story was a hacker attack taking down Twitter and Facebook – there is more to marketing than social networking. Target Apple. Image courtesy of stock.xchng®

E-mail Marketing

You can reach your network and prospective contacts very effectively with e-mail. A great way to do this is through a well-written letter of introduction (also known as LOIs). These letters are commonly used by writers and are also effective for any freelancer or business owner. You can find tips for writing these letters here and here.

If you’ve already mastered marketing yourself through e-mail, how about a newsletter? This can be an especially valuable tool if you have tips to share with your readers. Here’s an example inspired by an entrepreneur profiled here. She posted a picture on Facebook of her beautifully highlighted hair and labeled it “recession hair” because she had done the color herself. The photo generated an extremely positive response. This freelancer could offer a top DIY (do it yourself) tip in a monthly e-mail newsletter. The same newsletter could also include links to her recent interviews and projects.

For all you need to know about e-mail newsletters, check out The Urban Muse. Susan Johnston ran an amazing All About E-mail week on her blog. The posts are labeled as Day 1, Day 2, etc. With Susan’s sure-handed guidance, you’ll be producing a must-read e-mail newsletter in no time.

Go Local

One of the best benefits of focusing on your local community is that you can become the go-to expert in your field. It can take some networking and pavement pounding, but you can definitely achieve this goal. Local

  • Introduce yourself to local editors. Find the names of editors at your local newspapers and/or magazines. Then introduce yourself and offer to be a source for articles. (Those LOIs will come in handy here.) If you have local TV stations, do the same thing there. Try to target editors in your industry, such as the food editor if you’re a baker.
  • Look for city-specific marketing opportunities. Denver (where I currently live) is very focused on promoting and nurturing locally owned businesses. There’s a website where business owners and freelancers can list their services and/or products for free. Try an online search for your city’s name + local business to see what you can find.
  • Network. In person. Networking can be one of the best ways to get your name on the lips of the locals. Many people rave about their local Chambers of Commerce. Another option to find groups is through Meetup and Likemind.
  • Go door to door. Look for locally owned stores that are in or related to your industry and talk to the owners and employees. Let’s say you make gorgeous wedding cakes. Then the staff at every wedding-related store should have you top of mind when asked for cake recommendations. Local stores might let you leave your business cards or postcards advertising your services. Stick with the locals because corporate-run chains are less likely to allow you to promote your services.

This entrepreneurial marketing trilogy is just a taste of the options available to independent business owners and freelancers.

  • Another fantastic resource for establishing yourself as an expert and source in your field is Help A Reporter Out (HARO). Reports will send queries asking for people to interview. If you fit their criteria, it could be an excellent way to build your credibility – and get some press in the process. Just be sure you read and understand the rules when you sign up for HARO.
  • The blog and book Anti 9-to-5 Guide by Michelle Goodman is also one of my favorite freelancing resources.
  • Refer back to Entrepreneurial Marketing, Part 1 and Part 2 for more tips and links.

Do you have a favorite resource? Is there a marketing strategy that’s worked for you? Please share in the comments. The floor is yours!

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Entrepreneurial Marketing: Part 2 of 3

August 5, 2009 — 4 Comments

Target Apple. Image courtesy of stock.xchng®In Monday’s post, I focused on making the most of LinkedIn to market your business. If you’ve mastered those tips and are looking for something more advanced, you may be ready to build your own company profile. Interested? Check out this how to post from Mashable.

Moving beyond LinkedIn, other social networking sites can play significant roles in your marketing strategy.

Part Two: Social Media Marketing: Facebook and Beyond

Facebook

Facebook is widely considered one of the most popular social networks. One exception, if you’re a musician around age 29 (or targeting that age range), you may want to focus on MySpace. Otherwise, Facebook can be an easy way to keep in touch with your network, customers and prospective customers. It’s one of my favorites, largely because it’s helped me stay connected with a large number of colleagues even though we’re no longer in the same city. People tell me that they look to Facebook to keep up with me professionally and personally.

facabook logoAnd there’s the catch. If you’re going to use Facebook for professional marketing, you have to be careful. While I like that I can show my personality a bit more than on LinkedIn, I still edit what I post in my status updates. Unfortunately, I also have to edit my “wall” and have even had to delete a few inappropriate comments posted by well-meaning friends.

So how do you strike that personal-professional balance?

  • Check your tone. While everyone relates to a rant about severe weather, make sure that overall your tone is positive. If your status updates lean towards complaints, you’ll find yourself labeled “negative” all too quickly.
  • Interact beyond the “happy birthday” wish. Stay in front of people by writing on their walls or sending brief private messages beyond special occasions. I once posted a “thinking of you” note on a former co-worker’s wall and minutes later received a message saying “call me, I have a referral for you.”
  • Mix your messages. Think about the LinkedIn status updates you’re doing (or are about to do). You can use some of those on Facebook, too. For example, I may write something about a movie I loved and the next day, I may mention a client project that’s keeping me busy. Of course, I don’t name the client, but it works. A new client once called with a specific direct marketing project – she knew I did that type of work because of a status update I posted.
  • Link Up. Do you have a blog? Do you have a website where you post news? Share those links on Facebook, too. It’s a great way to spread the word and get views to visit your site.

You can also create group pages and fan pages, which is another fantastic and easy way to market your company. The “help” section on Facebook has excellent instructions on how to create these pages. Mashable also has a collection of posts about Facebook you might find helpful.

Two quick tips if you go this route:

  • Be sure to keep your business page updated regularly.
  • Spread the word. If you create a fan page, invite all your friends to become fans – and their friends, too. It won’t do you any good if you don’t use this page to grow your fans (a.k.a prospective customers).

Okay, so what about other social networking sites?

Be sure to research where you’re target audience is spending their time. Part 1 of this trilogy lists a few sites to get you started. One site I’m curious about is Bebo. I just recently learned about it. Word is that it helps you connect all your social networks in one place. I know some people do this with Facebook and Twitter – and there’s lots of opinions about this. While I like the efficiency of using one program (like TweetDeck) to automate my updates, it doesn’t feel quite right to me. When I see a Facebook update that uses Twitter-specific language, it just doesn’t read “real” to me.

Twitter

Twitter LogoSpeaking of Twitter, you can make incredible connections there. The key is to interact with people, as I’ve shared in an earlier post. I love using Twitter because it connects me to people in a way that feels like it breaks the ice. For example, I have connected with several editors, PR gurus, and advertising gurus that I can network with and learn from. Without Twitter, I don’t know how I would have developed connections with them. The hard part about Twitter is that it can feel overwhelming to get started. A great place for tips and tricks (and help in getting your toe in the water) is TwiTip.

One more tip on social networking: The Dash

It can seem overwhelming, but it’s easy to accomplish your goals, especially if you take things in bite-size chunks. A great resource to help you break things down – but not slack off – is The Dash. This weekly newsletter features one social networking action for you to complete each week. Laura Roeder, the entrepreneur behind The Dash, will show you in step-by-step instructions (including video) how to get yourself out there.

Do you have Twitter-spefic questions? Or do you want more information about other sites mentioned here? Share them in the comments. I’d be happy to write future posts answering your questions.

Part three of this series will focus on marketing yourself locally – including pounding the pavement.

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Entrepreneurial Marketing: A Trilogy

August 3, 2009 — 7 Comments

One of the reasons I love to interview entrepreneurs here is because I so strongly relate to them. I consider myself an entrepreneur just as much as I consider myself a freelance writer. Target Apple. Image courtesy of stock.xchng®My grandparents loved to promote their wares (antiques and jewelry) at flea markets and they owned a few companies at various points in their lives. They were definitely the first entrepreneurs in my life!

What’s the one challenge that all entrepreneurs face? Marketing. Whether you love marketing yourself or consider it your biggest struggle, it’s key to your survival. This isn’t something that only writers must do – every business owner and creative freelancer must master getting in front of potential customers.

With that in mind, I’m doing a special three-part post, geared at marketing for non-writers. Of course, that doesn’t mean writers can’t use these tips. If you’re reading these posts and have tips to share, please do so in the comments!

Part One: Social Media Marketing: LinkedIn

LinkedIn_LogoThe key to successfully leveraging social networking is to know where your customers – and prospective customers – are. For example, it’s a fairly widespread opinion that teenagers are not on Twitter. If teens are your target market, then you’ll be wasting your time trying to connect with them there. Here are a few sites to help you research: socialmeditoday.com, emarketer.com, and socialenginewatch.com.

Since LinkedIn and Facebook are two of the most popular sites, I’ll provide marketing tips for them both. From the seminars I’ve taken and the research I’ve read, it’s fairly likely that at least some of your customers are on one or both of these sites. Today, let’s focus on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn

Strictly professional, LinkedIn is an excellent resource for building your network and staying in front of them. Make sure your take time to fully create your profile and secure recommendations. Those are the basics. If you need help getting started, go directly to Help.

What most people don’t realize is that LinkedIn can help you market yourself on a weekly basis through the “Network Update” email that most members opt into. Are you subscribed?

To check:

  • Go to “Account & Settings” (upper right hand corner)
  • Choose “Receiving Messages” (under Email Notifications)
  • Under “General” look for “Network Updates” and make sure you have clicked on the option for “Weekly Digest Email.”

Okay, so now you’re subscribed. How do you market yourself with LinkedIn’s own email? Easy.

At least once a week, answer the question “What are you working on now?” It’s located on your home page, directly below Network Updates. (See the screen shot below.)

LinkedIn-Screenshot_What-Are-You-Working-On

These updates are included in the weekly Network Update distributed by LinkedIn each week. If you need help remembering to do this, set a weekly reminder on your calendar.

Tips for making the most of your LinkedIn updates

  • Keep it positive. Having a really bad week? Force yourself to find something good to share. For example, a project I was really inspired by was postponed indefinitely because of the client’s budget. It was a big disappointment. My update that week? “Jesaka has an unexpected opening in her schedule for next month. Let’s talk about that revamped website copy you keep meaning to do.” Someone did contact me to do just that.
  • Be specific, but don’t name names. While some clients may love being in your spotlight, others may prefer you keep their projects confidential – even if they don’t spell it out. Being specific is a great way to show potential clients the kind of work you’re doing. Example: “[Your name] just booked four weddings in June as the photographer. Brides-to-be say they love my use of outdoor lighting.”
  • Share your accomplishments. Were you just mentioned in a magazine article or interviewed for a website? Share the link in your update. Maybe you weren’t named, but your work is featured somewhere (e.g. you took a couple’s engagement photo or did the hair for a local designers revamped website design). Share those links, too. No links? Still share. Example: “[Your name] just finished creating a table setting and menu design for a women’s business networking luncheon.”

Groups on LinkedIn

Joining groups on LinkedIn is another way to expand your network. It’s also a great way to position yourself as an expert in your field. Here’s how to make the most of your involvement with groups.

  • Be sure to join a local group. I’m a member of two Denver-based groups and I find them both extremely valuable. It helps me stay up on business trends in Colorado and hear about networking events close to home.
  • Look beyond your industry. If you design dog collars and you only join LinkedIn groups for dog collar designers, you aren’t going to expand your customer base. Sure, it’s a good way to network with your peers, but are they going to buy your dog collars? Probably not. In this case, joining group for veterinarians and retailers would be a fantastic way meet potential new business contacts.
  • Show your expertise. You can do this by participating in group discussions and answering questions posed by other members. You can also post your own questions – just do so with caution. For example, if you ask something basic, such as “how much do I charge for my service?” that could brand you as a newbie. A better approach would be to post a short item about industry trends you’ve spotted and invite others to share their observations.

What has worked for you on LinkedIn? What’s your favorite tip for this professional networking site?

Part Two of this post will feature other social networking sites, including Facebook.

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Spotlight On: Independent Business: Tracy Ewell

July 15, 2009 — 9 Comments

Meet Tracy Ewell, professional freelance makeup artist. A mutual friend connected me to Tracy and her background instantly intrigued me. She’s resilient and creative, surviving Hurricane Katrina and rebuilding her business in Atlanta. Tracy's DeskTracy has owned her own shop, which was featured in Daily Candy and Allure magazine. She’s also done makeup for print (including a Fortune magazine cover), videos and movies.

Now, Tracy is again living in her beloved New Orleans – where her grandfather was a famous astrologist – and is building a plan for the next phase of her business. Regardless of your chosen independent or freelance field, you can definitely gather some priceless business tips from Tracy. You can also check out her website at www.tracyewell.com.

What inspired you to become a makeup artist?

My attraction to the art of expression. I literally drew on my [bedroom] walls in high school and, if you came over to visit, you were asked to draw something, too. I had managed hair stylists in a big fancy salon for years before I was hired by a professional makeup artist. Susan Spaid was the first professional makeup artist to show me the platform of looking at a women’s face as a canvas. She showed me a few of her tricks, then I began to practice on the only subject I had: me. I loved the way I became the subject. How did I feel? How did I look? How did I want to look? I always came to makeup with a bigger picture in mind. The makeup was one aspect of the work. I learned makeup strictly by the knowledge I had from studying art and my ability to get people to talk. I would look at a person and see things that they didn’t and I would be challenged to show that to them. And then, of course, I fell in love with it.

Why makeup?

Makeup is first washable; it is not permanent. It can be all about color, it can be all about neutrals, but most of the time it’s all about light and dark. The medium of makeup is a great texture, easy to manipulate and fun to use. Makeup has so much variety in styles, formulas, techniques, colors, trends, etc. It’s more than just a pretty blush.

What’s the best advice you received as you were striking out on your own?

Perhaps it wasn’t advice but I swear that when I was 15 my grandfather, who was a famous astrologist in New Orleans, told me, “You will be discovered when you decide, you have to believe in yourself before anyone else can.” I was a child but I knew had something to share with people.

What advice would you give to someone starting up his/her own business?

Know your craft inside and out, and then challenge that often. Know your clients, where they live, what they buy, what they really want. Listen, be patient and know that you will go crazy, which is why you have to love what you do. You first have to believe it can happen before it ever can.
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Spotlight On: Independent Business: The Simple Feast

April 10, 2009

Meet the creators of The Simple Feast: Amanda DeSeta and Michelle Sy, two women in their 30s who love to entertain their friends from the comfort of their own homes. They are self-taught cooks who find cooking to be relaxing andsmall-monogram-plate1 The Simple Feastrewarding. Amanda and Michelle met while working in the entertainment industry – which, they say, has served the launch of The Simple Feast (TSF) immensely. They have been able to draw on their media backgrounds for promotional ideas, content development, and marketing strategy. And Amanda and Michelle have found that by running the site, their own feasts at home have become “a lot more fabulous and a lot more simple!”

What inspired you to start The Simple Feast?

We both entertain at home a lot, and our guests constantly ask us how we do it; saying they could never do it themselves, or that they want to, but don’t know where to begin. So we decided to share our tips and advice by creating a site that shows just how easy it is to pull off an affordable, elegant party in your own home – with the right recipes and planning.

Why focus on cooking and entertaining at home?

We believe there’s no better way to share time with friends and family than in the comfort of your own home. People tend to stay longer, talk more, and are more relaxed in a home setting over a bar or a restaurant. Also, entertaining a group of people at home is often less expensive than the price of a night out, so it’s simply more practical than going out all the time.

There’s more to this story!

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