Make it happen online with Lisa M. Butler of Elembee.com
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Sometimes it IS about you.

This week on the blog I wrote about how when it comes to business, it’s not about you. But today I’m going to contradict myself and say that in some ways, it IS about you.

A couple weeks ago I was participating in the #createlounge Twitter chat on tips for beginning bloggers. One of the discussion points was about finding your audience and defining your niche.

The conversation was naturally focused on other people — after all, your audience is made up of a group of people with specific attributes.

But I think an important part of the equation is yourself. There’s a difference between the people you can help and the people you want to help. The people you want to help are going to be bigger fans of your work because your enjoyment will shine through.

So when you’re thinking about what you should write for your audience or what social media you should be on to connect with your people, start with what you personally enjoy most, first. People can get information anywhere, and you can find the right people anywhere. What makes people want to come to you specifically is the way you share information. And at the end of the day, people would much rather get information from the person who’s clearly most passionate about the topic at hand.

Do the work

What do you enjoy the most when it comes to your work and growing your site? How can you do more of that and less of the things you don’t like? Can you eliminate something you hate doing?

 
 
 
 

The Latest from the Blog

 
 
 
How to create an editorial calendar you'll actually follow from elembee.com

How to create an editorial calendar you'll actually follow.

You’ve heard of editorial calendars. Everyone talks about them as an important tool for blogging. But it just seems like a lot of work, right? After all, you’re too busy winging it to plan ahead. And what if you don’t feel like writing the post you planned when the time comes? Wouldn’t that make planning a waste of time?

Here’s the thing: Starting with something is always easier than starting from nothing. An editorial calendar gives you a starting point for your posts, an idea to work from. It means you can skip the whole thought process of what to write about and go straight to the actual writing.

Like blogging, editorial calendars get faster and easier to create over time. It may seem like a lot of work at first, but once you get your system down, you’ll be a pro in no time. And you’ll feel extra grateful for your editorial calendar on those days when you just can’t think of anything to write about. Here’s how to create an editorial calendar you’ll actually follow.

It's not about you from elembee.com

It's not about you.

Designers can get very personally attached to and invested in their work. Anytime I’m around a group of designers, someone inevitably mentions how upset they are that their client just rejected their favorite design, which of course might be their best work yet.

I’m sure this isn’t limited to designers. After all, when you’re a creative entrepreneur, everything feels personal. You’ve sacrificed time, money, and sometimes your sanity to get this thing off the ground. Your work is so entwined in your life that sometimes you aren’t sure where the separation is, if it exists at all.

But here’s something you have to remember: It’s not always about you. When a client rejects your work, it’s not because your work is bad or you’re a horrible person. It’s simply that something isn’t the right fit. It may be that your work isn’t quite the right solution for their needs, or that the client just isn’t the right fit for you, or maybe it’s just a simple miscommunication!

 
 
 
 

Who sent this email, anyway?

 
 
 
Lisa M. Butler of Elembee.com

Hello! I’m Lisa M. Butler.

I offer straightforward web guidance for making it happen online. I got to where I am because of my website, and I want to help you get where you want to be.

As a web designer and developer, I’ve guided my clients through the tech-y stuff, step by step. I’m here to share that same advice and guidance with you so you can get your website together and be awesome online.