Many times you’ll hear me say, “Put yourself out there.” Which, I know, is a vague statement. Each of us has different levels of comfort when it comes to sharing about ourselves and our business. And that’s perfectly normal. That said, I encourage you to find out what your “sharing” boundaries are and how you can maximize your self-marketing skills.

This September 4th will mark RAW Made’s 8th year in business. Actually, September 4th is an honorary date I chose to mark the brandversary because this wild person didn't think to write down the official date when I launched. And, so, this marks my first lesson learned since becoming a small business owner:

One of the most common causes of business death is resistance to change. Think about how much technology has changed in the past 10 years. Like technology, your customers, ambitions, passions, and capabilities have changed and grown over time.

Hustle. Such a complicated little word. The first thing I did when I sat down to write this blog post was google the definition of hustle. I've always had an adverse reaction to the word, even though I use it all the time. 🤪

I recently took a personality test that said, among other things, that I like rules and order. Which, is true, but I’m not sure if it’s a blessing or a curse. Probably it’s a little bit of both. The test results came at the precise moment when I was debating what to do with RAW Made’s Instagram account. As a creature of habit—and apparently rules—I was debating if I was being too stringent with my Instagram posting structure and the grid I had locked myself into.

Let us re-introduce you to RAW Made’s first brand naming and brand design project. Meet Dogs of Fun!

What’s the point of being self-employed when you don’t love the clients that hire you? Running a business is no joke. It’s exhilarating and fulfilling with many ups and a few downs here and there. Hard work, late nights, and sacrifices are all part of the deal. It might sound cliché but life is too short to not love what you do every day. One of the mantras we repeat at RAW Made is live your passion. And, a big part of living your passion and loving what you do is making sure your talent is nurturing a community you believe in.

I recently faced one of my biggest fears. My fear of business cards. And I don’t mean other people’s business cards. Those I’m completely okay with secretly judging. 😈 My fear stems from believing that having business cards printed will jinx by business and forever doom it to the cemetery of failed small businesses. 

It’s the start of a brand new year! While everyone else is rushing to the nearest gym to get a start on their New Year’s resolutions, why don’t you take the time to reflect on what you did for your brand in the past year and think about what you could do better this year?

Brands are multi-sensory strategies carefully researched and designed to engage an audience with the purpose of creating loyalty. Now, what exactly does that mean? It means well-branded businesses make YOU want to want THEM and LIKE it. Branding is the ultimate bad boy effect. You just can’t get enough of them no matter how hard you try to resist. AND YOU LOVE THIS. You do. People love being loyal, because it's one less decision you have to make when it comes to choosing which supermarket to go to, what backpack to purchase, what phone to buy or what beer to order.

What’s your favorite brand of coffee or tea? We bet the first thing that popped into your mind was the image of a brand’s name or a symbol—a logo. However, when you put your hands around that warm cup, you’re not drinking a logo or a company name. With each sip, you’re being an active participant in a larger story—a brand.