1 00:00:04,530 --> 00:00:05,080 Hi there. 2 00:00:05,350 --> 00:00:08,400 It's Sue and thanks for joining me for Tips and Talk 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:12,880 Day. These are bite-sized topics that I pull from community questions 4 00:00:13,060 --> 00:00:16,200 and things that I'm observing in the world of handmade small 5 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:18,600 business. If you'd like to submit a topic, 6 00:00:19,290 --> 00:00:22,800 DM e over on Instagram at Gift Biz Unwrapped. 7 00:00:23,930 --> 00:00:26,820 Have you been looking for new ways to get the word 8 00:00:26,820 --> 00:00:27,780 out about your business? 9 00:00:28,590 --> 00:00:29,260 If so, 10 00:00:29,740 --> 00:00:34,060 consider joining us on a Gift Biz Bash this Zoom. 11 00:00:34,060 --> 00:00:34,620 Get Together, 12 00:00:34,620 --> 00:00:35,940 turns into a podcast. 13 00:00:35,990 --> 00:00:37,220 Several weeks later, 14 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:41,500 you get the chance to introduce your company and product to 15 00:00:41,500 --> 00:00:45,100 those in the Bash and to my whole listening audience. 16 00:00:45,830 --> 00:00:46,540 In addition, 17 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:49,820 you can share a promotion you've been working on or give 18 00:00:49,820 --> 00:00:52,460 us details if you're looking to do a collaboration. 19 00:00:53,090 --> 00:00:57,340 Some very fruitful connections have already been made through these bashes. 20 00:00:58,270 --> 00:01:00,620 To see the dates for upcoming bashes, 21 00:01:01,150 --> 00:01:05,220 go to gift biz unwrap.com/bash. 22 00:01:06,090 --> 00:01:07,540 I do about one a month, 23 00:01:07,540 --> 00:01:10,820 so make sure to scroll through future month to see what's 24 00:01:10,820 --> 00:01:13,860 available. You can sign up for as many as you like. 25 00:01:14,250 --> 00:01:18,300 It's 100% free for you to get exposure that you wouldn't 26 00:01:18,300 --> 00:01:19,420 have otherwise. 27 00:01:20,190 --> 00:01:23,420 It doesn't matter if we've never talked one-on-one before. 28 00:01:24,460 --> 00:01:27,140 Everyone is welcome to grab a spot as long as you 29 00:01:27,140 --> 00:01:28,260 have a handmade product, 30 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:32,260 but these spots are limited to keep the podcast to a 31 00:01:32,260 --> 00:01:33,460 reasonable amount of time. 32 00:01:34,100 --> 00:01:40,940 Again, your path to finding new customers is gift biz unwrapped.com/bash. 33 00:01:43,390 --> 00:01:44,860 As we start off the new year, 34 00:01:45,330 --> 00:01:48,140 here's a thought to keep in mind as you go about 35 00:01:48,140 --> 00:01:51,260 upgrading your business processes in the months ahead. 36 00:01:51,950 --> 00:01:55,380 It will keep you smarter with your decisions and save you 37 00:01:55,380 --> 00:02:00,460 time and money because it prevents you from piling up unnecessary 38 00:02:00,460 --> 00:02:02,500 costs without realizing it. 39 00:02:03,470 --> 00:02:08,390 Let's call this skill and feature creep Skill and feature creep 40 00:02:08,390 --> 00:02:11,910 happens when you add new things in various areas of your 41 00:02:12,110 --> 00:02:16,710 business, either that never get used or duplicate what you already 42 00:02:16,710 --> 00:02:20,870 have. By consciously recognizing the potential for this to happen, 43 00:02:21,180 --> 00:02:23,750 you're more likely to make wiser choices, 44 00:02:24,110 --> 00:02:28,470 which then keeps you away from snap decisions that add to 45 00:02:28,470 --> 00:02:29,270 your expenses. 46 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:33,050 This thought analysis is totally free. 47 00:02:33,640 --> 00:02:37,020 You just have to stop and think before you're caught up 48 00:02:37,020 --> 00:02:38,700 in the moment and make a purchase. 49 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:41,190 To make this a little bit clearer, 50 00:02:41,260 --> 00:02:43,870 here are some scenarios where this can occur. 51 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:48,740 One, the almost never ending world of apps. 52 00:02:49,620 --> 00:02:50,950 I know you'll agree with me. 53 00:02:51,020 --> 00:02:53,150 It's super fun to download new apps. 54 00:02:53,500 --> 00:02:58,230 Many are free with upgrades to either access more or get 55 00:02:58,230 --> 00:03:00,040 you an advanced level of tools. 56 00:03:00,980 --> 00:03:01,600 I'm curious, 57 00:03:02,060 --> 00:03:05,240 how many photo editing apps do you have on your phone 58 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:05,720 right now? 59 00:03:06,970 --> 00:03:08,820 I used to have close to 80, 60 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,540 but in truth only used about three to five filters, 61 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:15,300 multi-screen templates, 62 00:03:15,300 --> 00:03:16,620 video editors, 63 00:03:17,150 --> 00:03:17,780 oh my gosh, 64 00:03:18,030 --> 00:03:19,580 so many different options, 65 00:03:19,580 --> 00:03:22,500 each one doing a little bit of a different thing. 66 00:03:23,410 --> 00:03:24,300 A while ago, 67 00:03:24,300 --> 00:03:28,460 I reviewed which apps I'm paying for either annually or as 68 00:03:28,460 --> 00:03:29,500 a monthly subscription. 69 00:03:30,230 --> 00:03:32,350 Those that I really wasn't using, 70 00:03:32,540 --> 00:03:35,550 I made sure that I wasn't auto subscribed so that it 71 00:03:35,550 --> 00:03:39,830 won't bill me again when it comes due for renewal or 72 00:03:39,860 --> 00:03:42,710 I deleted the ones that I don't use that are charged 73 00:03:42,710 --> 00:03:48,280 monthly. I estimate last year I saved over $500 on this 74 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,000 one analysis alone, 75 00:03:50,580 --> 00:03:51,200 and listen, 76 00:03:51,550 --> 00:03:53,320 this is totally reversible. 77 00:03:53,770 --> 00:03:56,680 If I decide later that I want it back and I 78 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:57,280 will use it, 79 00:03:58,070 --> 00:04:00,400 I can just go ahead and download it again. 80 00:04:01,130 --> 00:04:04,780 This whole activity of adding apps comes with a price on 81 00:04:04,780 --> 00:04:05,620 your time too. 82 00:04:06,090 --> 00:04:07,700 Once you download a new program, 83 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:09,700 you need to learn how to use it. 84 00:04:10,270 --> 00:04:11,460 Is it worth that time? 85 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:13,400 Something to think about. 86 00:04:14,570 --> 00:04:17,150 The second area is subscription programs. 87 00:04:17,420 --> 00:04:22,150 This can most certainly become a sinkhole of expense because it's 88 00:04:22,150 --> 00:04:24,470 so easy to forget what you've subscribed to. 89 00:04:25,170 --> 00:04:26,270 For most things, 90 00:04:26,340 --> 00:04:30,590 I like to get the additional discount by paying annually instead 91 00:04:30,590 --> 00:04:31,630 of monthly charges. 92 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:34,890 I did a review here too for myself. 93 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,450 I honestly didn't have any idea how many things I was 94 00:04:38,450 --> 00:04:39,010 paying for, 95 00:04:39,310 --> 00:04:41,890 but I was determined to figure it out, 96 00:04:42,830 --> 00:04:45,460 so each month when a credit card statement came in, 97 00:04:45,650 --> 00:04:49,140 I began making a list of everything I was paying for 98 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:50,420 and how much it cost. 99 00:04:51,210 --> 00:04:54,100 I also documented the month these things came due. 100 00:04:54,530 --> 00:04:58,100 I had some web storage programs that I don't even know 101 00:04:58,100 --> 00:04:58,580 how I got. 102 00:04:59,020 --> 00:05:02,580 There were social media schedulers that I don't use anymore, 103 00:05:03,380 --> 00:05:05,820 computer cleanup and antivirus services, 104 00:05:06,280 --> 00:05:07,980 and even computer security. 105 00:05:08,050 --> 00:05:10,300 Things that were doubled up on each other. 106 00:05:10,840 --> 00:05:12,260 I'm only using one, 107 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:14,220 but pain for two or three. 108 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,810 I bet some of these got applied unknowingly over the years. 109 00:05:19,390 --> 00:05:22,930 You know how they used to have extra services auto checked 110 00:05:22,930 --> 00:05:25,010 in a tiny box that you don't even see? 111 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,170 I think that still exists to some extent today. 112 00:05:29,020 --> 00:05:33,580 These little $20 a year services were probably sold by the 113 00:05:33,580 --> 00:05:36,900 millions. It feels great to get these off my books, 114 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:40,860 but it did take an entire year to identify and erase 115 00:05:40,860 --> 00:05:42,220 this feature creep. 116 00:05:42,970 --> 00:05:43,660 Mind you, 117 00:05:43,660 --> 00:05:45,980 it's been building up for almost 15 years. 118 00:05:46,810 --> 00:05:48,980 A third place to look is online courses. 119 00:05:49,890 --> 00:05:53,380 Okay. You may be surprised that I'm saying this since I 120 00:05:53,380 --> 00:05:54,380 offer online courses, 121 00:05:55,270 --> 00:05:58,080 but I want you to really think about this before you 122 00:05:58,200 --> 00:05:59,160 succumb to the pressure. 123 00:05:59,270 --> 00:06:03,120 A lot of course creators deal you the program is only 124 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:06,040 available for the next few days at a lower price. 125 00:06:06,830 --> 00:06:09,800 Grab the course now because it won't be offered again for 126 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:10,680 another six months, 127 00:06:11,570 --> 00:06:15,480 or the price is going up next year and on and 128 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:19,880 on. While these may be great courses and what they're saying 129 00:06:19,890 --> 00:06:20,560 is true, 130 00:06:21,300 --> 00:06:24,240 ask yourself if you really need the course. 131 00:06:24,970 --> 00:06:28,360 Is the subject being covered something you're working on right now, 132 00:06:28,850 --> 00:06:30,680 or is it a nice to know topic? 133 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:33,830 Do you even have time to devote to the course? 134 00:06:34,610 --> 00:06:38,860 Will you have lifetime or only limited time access to the 135 00:06:39,020 --> 00:06:42,580 material? Consider all of this before you spend your money. 136 00:06:43,430 --> 00:06:46,740 If you do elect to take the course schedule time in 137 00:06:46,740 --> 00:06:49,300 your calendar to really do it, 138 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:51,340 not just take the training, 139 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:53,860 but then implement it into your business. 140 00:06:54,810 --> 00:06:59,100 I have two articles with accompanying downloads on how to decide 141 00:06:59,100 --> 00:07:00,980 whether to purchase an online course, 142 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:02,860 and then once you do, 143 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:06,020 how to get the most out of your online course. 144 00:07:06,570 --> 00:07:08,900 I'll put the links to these in the show notes. 145 00:07:09,870 --> 00:07:13,490 The final area of skill and feature creep we'll discuss today 146 00:07:13,540 --> 00:07:14,570 is your website. 147 00:07:15,150 --> 00:07:18,750 Maybe you haven't been seeing sales coming through on your e-commerce 148 00:07:18,750 --> 00:07:22,470 site and you're discouraged because you hear about others getting orders 149 00:07:22,470 --> 00:07:23,590 every single day. 150 00:07:24,500 --> 00:07:28,250 So you think that maybe by switching platforms you'll have stronger 151 00:07:28,250 --> 00:07:32,050 performance. If all you do is jump providers, 152 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:36,050 more than likely you'll spend a lot of time transferring over 153 00:07:36,050 --> 00:07:38,170 and be left with the same results. 154 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:42,530 A much better option might be to educate yourself on how 155 00:07:42,530 --> 00:07:46,530 to enhance your existing site or learn ways to drive potential 156 00:07:46,770 --> 00:07:51,210 customers to your online shop versus investing in a change. 157 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:54,690 Most website providers have free training centers. 158 00:07:54,690 --> 00:07:59,010 You can resource on your own time for learning and depending 159 00:07:59,210 --> 00:08:02,330 on the platform or the topic that you're looking for in 160 00:08:02,650 --> 00:08:03,370 addition to this podcast, 161 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:07,250 I bet you there's another one focusing on that exact area. 162 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:12,130 A situation where a website platform switch would be a good 163 00:08:12,130 --> 00:08:15,450 idea is if you're paying a lot of money for a 164 00:08:15,450 --> 00:08:18,850 custom site that you had built years ago and you're still 165 00:08:18,850 --> 00:08:22,450 stuck having to ask for outside help every time you wanna 166 00:08:22,450 --> 00:08:23,090 make a change, 167 00:08:24,270 --> 00:08:28,500 or your current website doesn't include services that you now need 168 00:08:28,500 --> 00:08:29,660 to conduct your business, 169 00:08:30,290 --> 00:08:33,180 then you should make a switch or jump to the paid 170 00:08:33,180 --> 00:08:36,980 level of your current program where those services are available. 171 00:08:38,060 --> 00:08:41,850 So these are four different areas for you to consider to 172 00:08:41,850 --> 00:08:45,890 analyze and determine if you really need all of these things 173 00:08:45,890 --> 00:08:46,610 that you have, 174 00:08:47,530 --> 00:08:48,510 all the apps, 175 00:08:48,890 --> 00:08:50,510 subscription programs, 176 00:08:50,860 --> 00:08:51,750 online courses, 177 00:08:52,370 --> 00:08:54,110 and things like your website. 178 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:55,280 Of course, 179 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,360 there are so many more that you have included in your 180 00:08:58,560 --> 00:09:00,960 business. I just wanted to give you an example here. 181 00:09:01,690 --> 00:09:06,230 All I'm suggesting is that before you make any additional moves 182 00:09:06,230 --> 00:09:08,390 and add more to your processes, 183 00:09:09,590 --> 00:09:12,470 evaluate what you already have and ask this question, 184 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,510 do I really need it? 185 00:09:18,060 --> 00:09:19,030 That's a wrap. 186 00:09:19,330 --> 00:09:21,190 I'm a get to the point kind of girl, 187 00:09:21,290 --> 00:09:24,310 and this is what you can expect from these quick midweek 188 00:09:24,310 --> 00:09:27,110 sessions. Now it's your turn. 189 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:29,870 Go out and fulfill that dream of yours. 190 00:09:30,190 --> 00:09:32,070 Share your handmade products with us. 191 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:33,390 We want them, 192 00:09:33,490 --> 00:09:35,070 and they bring us both. 193 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:36,670 So much happiness.