3 Tips to becoming a Successful Entrepreneur

Inspired by Martha Stewart – The Swimsuit Model

I love to read stories about inspiring female entrepreneurs. Who can’t resist a good successful business woman story?! Especially when age is a factor. A story about an entrepreneur that is a teenager or that started later in life still gets me every time. 

Shoot, I’m still celebrating seeing Martha Stwart as a swimsuit model on the cover of Sports Illustrated!

Martha, by the way, is one of my idols. She has built a thriving enterprise that covers all the genres of media and social media. (Fun fact ~ she is the only celebrity that I have ever written to! I sent her a letter of support when she was locked up).

So what’s her secret?  

I mean, there is sooo much to uncover when you’re talking about Martha Stewart and her business success, but there are a few things that stand out.  These are 3 things that I have used as inspiration in my own businesses. 

Martha is organized! 

Not only does she ooze organization, but she sells products to help us get organized, writes blogs on the topic, built a show around it and her website is an online exemplification (it’s so good it deserves a big word) of organization.  

As a website designer, I am always perusing other people’s websites to critique and compliment the design aspects and Martha’s was so calming. It’s made me want to grab a Pineapple-Rum Cocktail  and dive into her blogs about gardening to possibly grow my own pineapple. (I’ve tried and failed, but maybe Martha can help?). 

“ Life is too complicated not to be orderly”  Martha S.

I have found that I thrive in business when my physical space is orderly, but it doesn’t come naturally for me. I’ve had to learn some methods of organization, including in my digital space. Recently, I organized my computer file folders and WOW what a difference that made! It sped up my computer when I disposed of a million forgotten downloads and now I can find that one Word document that I forgot what I named it…

Martha is a BOSS Babe

“It is within everyone’s grasp to be a CEO”.  Martha S.

Notice she doesn’t say “to be a millionaire” or “to make $10,000 a month”. So many of us see coaching classes and webinars on making 10K a month and use that as a beacon of success.  But in reality, a webinar isn’t going to get us there if we aren’t building basic business skills and investing in it properly.

Knowing how to gather information, how to use your resources and connections, and to have a strong online presence is a place where we all begin.  Joining Facebook groups that are geared towards learning or where your potential clients are hanging out can give you some quick connections and a way to sharpen your networking skills. 

When I started my website design biz I joined designer groups and also esthetician, spa and salon owner groups. There is always a hairstylist or estie that has no idea how to update their website and I can jump in to offer helpful suggestions. I’m giving free helpful information, building connections and as you know – your network is your net worth. Since my specialty is serving the beauty business industry, I’m making valuable connections every day!

An online presence is essential for any business owner. A well-designed website can help you reach a wider audience, build credibility, and generate leads.

Have you seen her website?!

That she can have so many facets of her business all on one website and make it look beautifully cohesive is impressive. She has topics like Food, Gardening and Living and it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Kudos to her website designers that killed it! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I used to watch her show and read her magazine back in the day, but never really made any of her recipes until her website came out. Her website helped her to reach a wider audience and increased her engagement with her audience all over the world. Believe me, whenever I want to make ham, I go to her website for the Aunt Naomi’s Easter Ham recipe.  

Here are 5 things that I noticed about her website that I believe all female entrepreneurs can benefit from.

• Make sure your website is mobile-friendly. 63% of people are using their smartphones and tablets to access the internet, so it’s important to make sure your website looks good and functions properly on all devices.  I design on Showit because I can create a mobile version of your website along with the desktop version. 
• Use high-quality images and videos. Visual content is a great way to engage your visitors and make your website more visually appealing.
• Write clear and concise copy. Your website visitors should be able to easily understand what your business is about and what you offer.
• Use keywords throughout your website. This helps Google and other search engines find you.
• Keep your website up-to-date. Make sure to add new content on a regular basis to keep your visitors coming back for more.

“Once you realize that you have identified a passion, invest in yourself. Figure out what you need to know, what kind of experience and expertise you need to develop to do the things that you feel in your heart you will enjoy and that will sustain you both mentally and economically.” Martha S.

I know you’re probably thinking, Martha Stewart has a team! She isn’t a solopreneur. Which is also a great final lesson for us all as we search for business inspiration. Take the things off your plate that you hate doing or that you aren’t skilled at, and hire someone else to do it.

When I am deciding if I should make a large investment into my business I always ask myself if it is going to actually bring in revenue or is it more of an ego boost or splurge.  

I can safely say that a beautiful and welcoming, strategically built, SEO-optimized, and informative website is an investment into your business that will bring clients to your door and turn them into paying clients. 

If you are interested in talking about your website design needs, book a no-obligation discovery call.