One Thing: Facebook Groups to Grow Your Business

Our One Thing series is all about fitting an action into your day that is fast, efficient, and hopefully, effective for your business. Last time, we connected your personal profile and your Business Page on Facebook.  Let's go one step (or One Thing) further and join a relevant group on Facebook.

From your Facebook homepage, you'll find a column to the left listing Favorites, Pages, Groups, and more.  If you click on Discover under the Groups heading, you'll be taken to a page of suggested Groups in many categories that may be relevant to your business. 

As you search for a group that suits your business, read the descriptions provided on the individual Group page in the right-hand column. You may need approval from the Administrator of a Closed Group, but if you are selecting a relevant group, approval usually happens quickly.

Facebook Groups are about participation, conversations, and sharing of ideas and resources.  Linking to your own content is usually a no-no. Bringing value to a group through real engagement via comments should be your goal. If members of the group are curious about who you are and what you do, they can hover on your name, see your business link, and click through to your business page.

There are so many groups to choose from that could help your business grow.  It's exciting to find business peers, potential customers, or a wealth of business knowledge right at your fingertips.  Good luck and happy searching!

One Thing: Ask Questions

Running your own business is one of the most exhilarating and satisfying adventures. You make your own choices, set your own hours and your boss is pretty awesome. You work really hard at creating your social media following, branding and building your overall image. "Hi, my name is _____ and I am taking over the world!"

Glitter & Bold

With that said, sometimes it is hard to admit that you don't know something. I just want to let your know that "It's Okay!" No matter what stage you are in business there are things you don't know and that's good - it means you are growing. You didn't get an employee handbook when you started your position as Owner, CEO, CFO, Secretary, Customer Service Rep, Mailroom Associate and Janitor. We deal with complex scenarios and paperwork that many of us have no background in. SO ASK QUESTIONS!

Cinder & Salt

One of the best parts of this whole lifestyle is connecting with other businesses. Bouncing off ideas, collaborating, and sharing creative energy is crucial to your success. So find an online forum, pick up a phone, check with your local commerce organization or bring it to social media.

Written by Alonda Baird-Juhasz, owner of Designer Dwellings, who believes in adding color to life. An avid DIYer, sparkle-loving, all things fabulous addict, her shop features bright and fun home decor accessories and gifts. When not in the shop you can find her interior decorating or visual styling events and photo shoots.

Productivity with the 1-3-5 Rule

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Being your own boss has many benefits, but controlling your productivity relies solely on you. Everyone has a different method that works to keep tasks, big and small, in mind. Some of you may still be searching for that method, so I am sharing the one that works for me.

I have a weekly meeting with a fellow creative business woman where we discuss all things business in our lives and how our jobs relate to our families and the time we have to make things happen. She suggested this 1-3-5 method from The Muse and I have been using and loving it for almost a year.

I usually write 2 lists: one for business and one for personal. I try to write them the night before, but my brain definitely works better in the morning, so I generally create my tasks early in the day.  Some days are more ambitious than others and a task or two can carry over into the next day (or the next!) The daily list-making of both large and small TO-DOs keeps my business and personal responsibilities easier to accomplish.

Do you have a method that keeps you productive and sane? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

Cyn Thomas is the illustrator, designer and pattern maker of RiverDog Prints. Her paper goods and gifts are guided by earth, animals, function, food and cocktails. You can also find Cyn canning in her kitchen, walking her dog, being outnumbered by her boys and husband or reading herself to sleep.
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | woof@riverdogprints.com

One Thing: Update Your About Page.

Let's talk for a minute about your About page: when is the last time you updated it?  If you go to it right now, do you still have the same hairstyle/boyfriend/pets/products/philosophy?  Are you still the same person who set up the page?

Your About page is a small glimpse into who you are and what you do, what your purpose is online, your background, your favorites, and so on.  It's also a huge look into your personality- do you use humor, lots of photos, a bullet-point list?  The folks who drop in on your About page are looking to get to know you better, so make sure you are giving the truest version of yourself.  If you haven't looked at your About page in awhile, hop on over to it and consider updating the photos, information, and links- anything that is new that is relevant to your online self.  Just a little tweaking can go a long way with helping you connect to your viewers.

Written by Kristen of Milo and Molly.  Kristen runs her business while staying at home with her two small children. Fueled by an endless supply of tea, she sews late into the night when the house is quiet, most often accompanied by her faithful poodle, Casey.