Business Development Archives - Page 3 of 3

Take Your F* It Pills and Sell With Confidence

Selling your work can feel like stepping into a minefield of self-doubt. What if they think I’m pushy? What if they ignore me? What if they gasp—get mad? These thoughts creep in and keep you from putting yourself out there. But here’s the thing: you’re allowed to sell your work. In fact, you have to.

During a recent Grow With The Pros session for 3pts Co-op, sales expert Rob Miller dropped a truth bomb: Take your f* it pills. Seriously. With over a decade of experience in sales, Rob reminded us that overthinking how someone might react is what holds so many creatives back. The reality? You won’t win everyone over, and that’s okay. People’s responses aren’t personal—they’re shaped by timing, interest, and circumstances beyond your control.

Yes, your work is personal. But selling is just part of the process. Detach from the fear, embrace the fact that you’re running a business, and remind yourself: if you don’t put yourself out there, no one else will. So take your f*** it pills, press send, and keep moving. You’ve got this.

Success Spelled Out

Don’t Wait for Approval, Do the Work First

About Your “About Page”

When people visit your website, they’re not just looking for information about you—they’re looking for how you fit into their story.

Too often, About pages are filled with unnecessary details, personal backstories, and information that doesn’t actually serve the visitor. But here’s the truth: people care less about your journey and more about how your journey connects to them.

Everyone is the main character in their own story. If your About page is solely focused on you, without showing how you create value for them, you’ll lose their interest. Instead, frame your story through the lens of your audience—what you do, why it matters, and how it benefits them.

Your About page shouldn’t just be a biography—it should be an invitation. Show your audience how you fit into their world, and they’ll be far more likely to stick around.

The Secret to Audience Growth: It’s Not What You Think

When it comes to growing an audience, many creative entrepreneurs assume the key lies in perfecting their social media strategy—posting more, tweaking their content, and hoping for a breakthrough. But here’s the truth: audience growth doesn’t start online. It starts with relationships.

The Myth of Online-Only Growth

If you look at the people who’ve built substantial audiences, especially artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs, you’ll notice a pattern: they didn’t just gain followers by posting content. They built a name for themselves in real life—through community, collaboration, and relationships.

Think about it: an actor gains followers because people recognize them from their work. A designer grows their audience because they’ve been featured in exhibitions, residencies, or collaborations. Their visibility in the real world naturally translates to an online following.

The Missing Piece: Being Social (Not Just Posting Media)

Social media has two words: social and media—and too many people focus only on the latter. They prioritize content distribution over actual engagement. The creatives with thriving audiences aren’t just churning out posts; they’re engaging with the world. They’re attending events, collaborating with peers, teaching workshops, and getting involved in their niche.

By being social offline, they create natural pathways for people to discover them online. Their name is passed around, their work is referenced, and their collaborations get shared—all of which drive people to their social channels.

How to Build an Audience the Right Way

Instead of stressing over the perfect post, shift your focus to building relationships. Here’s how:

Engage first. Comment on others’ work, start conversations in DMs, and support your creative community.
Collaborate. Work on joint projects, create with others, and share the process. Collaboration brings fresh eyes to your work.
Show up in real life. Teach a class, attend a meetup, volunteer, or join a group related to your niche.
Create with people, not just for people. Instead of trying to “reach” an audience, embed yourself in a creative ecosystem where mutual support fuels growth.

People Follow People

At the end of the day, people are drawn to people—not just content. Your work matters, but your relationships are what make it stick. So if you want to grow your audience, stop obsessing over the algorithm and start investing in real connections. The followers will come.

Think it, Plan it, Do it

The Simple Trick to Selling More

Want to make your marketing, sales, and website work harder for you?

Try the 3 x 3 Framework—a simple way to tap into what your customers really need.

1. Write down the top 3 questions you get from customers.
2. Write down the top 3 comments you hear most.
3. Write down the top 3 obstacles stopping them from buying.

Now, take what you’ve learned and apply it everywhere—your website, sales pages, emails, social content, and even product descriptions.

Use this as your filter for what you create and share. When you align your messaging with what’s actually on your customer’s mind, you:

✔️ Grab their attention instantly
✔️ Keep them engaged longer
✔️ Anticipate and address concerns before they even ask
✔️ Reduce back-and-forth communication
✔️ Make buying from you easier—and increase your sales

It’s not about guessing—it’s about listening. Try it and see the difference.

On Being Your Best Asset

“I don’t see talking about my work as tooting my own horn—I see it as sharing my honest perspective. I know how it was made, what I was thinking while creating it, and that excitement is contagious. If I’m genuinely excited about my work, I’m the best asset to sell it and introduce it to more people.”

“The key is getting comfortable talking about your work in a way that feels natural to you. For me, it’s all about the creation process—how it was fabricated, the technique, the craft. I’m not necessarily drawn to sharing my personal experience while making it, but for others, that might be the most important part. Find the conversation you love to have about your work, and have it with as many people as possible.”

– Kate Casey of Peg Woodworking

📷 Wrenne Evans

You Can Afford Help—Here’s How

Let’s talk about a common challenge for most creative entrepreneurs: getting help.

You want help. You need help.

The issue? You think you can’t afford it.

But here’s the truth: You can. Regardless of your circumstances, getting help is within reach—and it can be a game changer for your business (and sanity).

Let’s break it down through a fictionalized conversation inspired by many real ones I’ve had on this exact topic.

The Conversation

Maxed-Out Maker: I need help with my business, but I can’t afford to hire someone.

Kim: Good help shouldn’t actually cost you money. It should make you money.

Maxed-Out Maker: What do you mean?

Kim: Most business owners think they have to personally foot the bill, but that’s where they go wrong.

Maxed-Out Maker: How so?

Kim: First, you personally are not paying anybody—your business is. And second, the right hire pays for itself (and more) in one of two ways:

Direct Revenue Impact: They help generate money—whether that’s through sales, marketing, or production speed.
Indirect Revenue Impact: They free you up to focus on the things that do generate money.

Maxed-Out Maker: That makes sense, but taking that financial leap is scary.

Kim: Of course! We all struggle with the “What if it doesn’t work out?” fear. But flip the question: What if it does? What if help gives you the relief, momentum, and revenue growth you’ve been needing?

Maxed-Out Maker: What if I don’t need full-time help?

Kim: That’s the beauty of it—help comes in all forms. Interns, specialists, shared resources, communities, consultants, part-time workers, software… you name it. There’s an option for every budget, from free to high-cost.

Where to Start

Look within. What tasks (if handled by someone else) would increase revenue or save you time? Think sales, production, admin, or marketing support.
Clarify the role. Before hiring, write down what you need: objectives, responsibilities, and expectations. Most hires fail due to misalignment.
Delegate, don’t abdicate. Learn the difference. You still need to provide oversight and direction to make it work.

The Bottom Line

It’s easy to let fear and scarcity thinking keep you stuck in the grind. But real growth requires support. You took a leap to start your business—now take the next step to make it sustainable.

And if you’re looking for the most cost-effective, turnkey way to get the support you need, consider 3pts Co-op. For a fraction of the cost of hiring an employee or consultant, you get access to expert support, guidance, and community—all designed to lighten your load and help you move forward.

You can afford help. You just have to choose it.