Meredith talks about this important strategy as a way to strengthen affinity and loyalty amongst your customers.
We provided some other examples of businesses (aside from The Inside Source) that employ this strategy last week from a product/retail perspective.
We also wanted to share 2 examples of services businesses who take a similar approach.
The ever so talented dog photographer Erin Vey not only provides gorgeous imagery for her followers and clients through her site and blog, she also demystifies the photography experience and provides lots of education for novices who want to take better pictures on their own.
For example, here she shows how she got this terrific shot of my friend Katie and her fabulous dog Hank.
Another woman who creates a fantastic online editorial environment for her service business, is interior designer Kelly Galvin Robson. Her blog, High Street Market and curated Etsy shop of vintage finds both provide interesting, editorial, interactive ways for those interested in her design services and style to create a connection.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
* As a service business, what editorial tactics can you employ to increase not only customer stickiness but also your profile in the industry?
* What kind of curated experience can you create for your customers and potential customers?
Entrepreneurship is fraught with golden opportunities to embrace a “good enough” attitude and we have found that those who are new to this mentality find it to be extremely liberating! It helps save them from the perils of perfectionism.
We often see women struggle, worrying that things should be perfect before they are initiated, shared, or made public. However, this desire to have things be “perfect” gets in the way of doing anything at all. Everything takes longer, your time and energy is invested into “behind the scenes” things that you cannot leverage or benefit from. Perhaps worst of all is that entrepreneurs in this position are missing out on opportunities daily…valuable opportunities for feedback, learning, success, collaboration, and promotion.
Like that old saying goes: the perfect is the enemy of the good.
For example, during the start up phase, we often see women stall their launch because their site is not perfect yet. Of course you don’t want something totally embarrassing to be posted but the reality is that for most businesses a website is a work in progress that will never be completed and will forever be altered. Your website is a perfect opportunity to try on this “good enough” mentality. Determine what will be your version 1 and post it knowing that it will be "good enough” for a certain time period.
During various growth phases, we see women who are trying to perfect a new product or offering and in the meantime are fearful to share their idea until they have it 100% completed. Of course they are all the while missing opportunities to get priceless feedback that will ultimately shape and tailor the new offering to actually be a “perfect” fit for your customers. Perhaps instead, getting a "good enough" description of the product or service will allow customers to have even more buy in and feel included in the development process.
Of course this is the whole theory around a beta version or test, though I think you are afforded some level of protection by declaring something a “beta”. It is publicly stamped as an experiment and you are pre-forgiven any errors it may contain. What we are encouraging is to consider where you can take this one step further. Where can you allow yourself start with what is “good enough” without the protection afforded to a publicly labeled beta? In many instances this is not only brave because you will be approaching a new process expecting and braced for feedback but also time and energy efficient because you will not be wasting time behind the scenes but instead will be allowing the idea to “perfect” itself in the marketplace.
Remember - nothing is set in stone. It is perfectly professional to say, you know, we tried that and have found that it doesn’t work for us for X, Y, Z reason. In many ways, the idea of "good enough" implies room for improvement, growth and change but also indicates that the concept, idea or product has legs of its own and needs some room to breathe and experiment.
(eBay finds selected by Christiane Lemieux of Dwell Studio)
We’ve had so much fun profiling Meredith Barnett, editorial director of The Inside Source, this month! In addition from learn more about Meredith and her talents, we’ve spent tons of time on TIS and trolling eBay for fantastic finds. The TIS weekly email has quickly become one of my favorite subscriptions.
I have also been so impressed by the quality of the editorial pieces and excited by how many of my own personal heroes have been profiled on the TIS site.
I wanted to share a few of these rocking women with you, in case you are not already familiar with them!
A couple weeks ago Nancy Ancowitz led a great discussion on her new book Self-Promotion for Introverts ®at In Good Company.
Both Amy and I attended and used it as an opportunity not only to learn but to reflect on our own partnership! We have been talking and writing about it a lot since, and I think you’ll find from the articles below that there is something for everyone…regardless of your style!
Amy shared some of her reflections from the event in this post
Additionally, Adelaide Lancaster was also interviewed by Howard Greenstein for Inc Magazine about being an Introverted Entrepreneur. In this article, Introverts as Entrepreneurs, she shares tips for other kindred spirits.
Curious about whether you are a introvert or extrovert? Here are a few resources...
(image of Simple Shapes vinyl wall sticker calendar)
As you know we are thrilled about our new book deal! And oh joy - the interviewing, writing & research has begun!
A big part of our book will be including stories, experiences, anecdotes & tips from women entrepreneurs and all of you! We will be posing weekly questions to help us with our writing and brainstorming.
Sometimes we will be soliciting a tip and other times a reflection on your own experience.
When you work for yourself it can be a bit challenging to identify your most productive and energizing work patterns. What have you found works best for you in terms on structuring your work day and week?
We’d prefer if you reply in the comments because it makes the conversation richer and I think you’ll see that you’re not the only one with the same insights or challenges! If you’d feel more comfortable sending me an email, you can do that too. Adelaide@
We are Adelaide Lancaster and Amy Abrams. We run a community and workspace for women entrepreneurs in NYC. This blog helps us share interesting news on small business ideas, models, resources, and innovation with our members and other entrepreneurs.
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