The Creative Entrepreneur

Building content for companies can be a challenging feat. Cedric Bollag has been building content for close to four years now. His business in Switzerland takes him to parts of the country where he interviews business owners and invests his own money in startup companies.Content CreationBuilding content is a great way to set your company apart from the crowd. Consistent content allows you to establish a following where you can showcase your product or service and help engage with your audience on a different level than written. Because video provides the opportunity to build emotion, it can be a powerful way to get results as well as boost your SEO.It is important to know which direction you are taking with your content. You should have a vision of where your content is going to go and how it is going to be used. This type of planning allows you to build a strategy around your niche market.Know your audience and build according to your niche. If you have established yourself in other areas of the market, consider tackling those areas separately. Understanding your audience gives you some insight into how your content will connect with your customers.Providing Superior QualityWhen providing content to customers, it is important to have the right people doing the right jobs. From the initial shoot to thumbnail it is important that there are people working on providing the best product for the customer.Content can be recorded on almost anything nowadays. From smartphones to thousand-dollar cinema cameras, content can be recorded and edited to create some stunning results. Whether you choose 1080p or 12K video, it is important to give the customer quality products.SleepWhen starting a business, we oftentimes forget what’s important, family, time and even sleep. Poor sleep will increase lathery, weight gain and often times contributes to less productivity. Getting the right amount of sleep helps with concentration and overall health.Leaving Your LegacyLeaving a legacy for many people can mean many things. For some it’s being a great father or mother, for others, it’s changing the world and leaving your stamp on the future. What will they etch in your tombstone? How do you want to be remembered? The impact you leave on your family, friends, community or the world can be a book you write, money to your descendants, or a business you started. What will be your legacy?Cedric Bollaghomehttps://www.facebook.com/cedric.bollag★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Starting a barbershop can set you back quite a bit of money, but if you plan right you may be able to start with minimal capital. The idea of starting with minimal capital will require extensive planning, knowing your target market and how much money you will need to bring in to break even. For many barbershop startups, you can easily start with 100 to 200 thousand dollars, but David started by saving money for his vision with only 8,000. He has grown his business and now has five other barbers working at his shop. Have a PlanStart with a plan. David is an avid reader of the bible, and he mentions that planning is essential in mapping out your specific goals. Know how much money you are investing in and how much money you are going to need to sustain your business. This can give you a good indication of your target market. Target Market AnalysisUnderstanding who your customer is can make or break your business. Research demographics, population, and look at prolific barbershops and how they are making money. You could for example search for adult males in the area. Culture and ethnicity could play a role in how you market your business. Obtaining PermitsRemember that there is always going to be regulation and licenses that are required prior to opening up your store. Your permits may require you to have local and state requirements. Many states require a license and local governments may have city ordinances that need to be followed. Branding Yourself There are three main areas of focus for South Town Barbers.  Location and cleanliness Customer Service An Amazing Haircut “This is what will keep people coming back and sets us apart from everyone else.” Establishing a brand for yourself can be challenging but using social media like Instagram or Facebook to promote your business can help. “Primary business is from returning customers and if they are treated right, they will bring others with them.” South Town Barbershttps://www.instagram.com/southtownbarbers/?hl=enGrey Bug Photographygreybugphotography.comThe Creative Entrepreneurthecreativeentrepreneur.net★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Starting a business is challenging enough but starting a videography business requires some key components to building a business. First, we need to start a portfolio. Have a name, website and if you don’t have any equipment. Find a company that will rent it to you. If you have the equipment, just use what you have and work from there. Have some lighting and utilize your resources. Building a portfolioVideo has become a central part of many areas of the digital world. Professional quality videography has become ubiquitous in social media, advertising and business. Building a portfolio is essential in standing out from the crowd. How do you build your portfolio? Practice, practice, practice! Initially keeping your videos short and to the point so that you can showcase your best work. Customize your portfolio to utilize categories and essential areas of your niche market. Get creative and put together a myriad of clips that might showcase all of a category in one clip. Create a Business NameLooking for a name can be easy for some, but one thing to consider is when you are naming your business is trying to add the business name that many people on the internet are searching for. A good keyword in your domain will get you a lot of free exposure and may save you money when you begin to optimize your website. Building your WebsiteWhen building your website make sure that you utilize keywords that are relevant to your business. Creating content online is not just for video. You want to make sure that you are telling a story in the verbiage that you use on your website. Make sure that all the content on your website is relevant information and it coincides with your phraseology. Rental EquipmentMany people starting out don’t have the means to purchase an expensive video camera. If you are using a DSLR or some form of camera equipment, you will have limits to what you can produce but doable. Consider renting equipment from your local camera shop to get higher-paying jobs. Utilize your ResourcesEssentially you can work with what you have. If you have something that will create videos, then you are ahead of the game. Use your phone, internet and camera equipment to get those essential sales. Practice your craft and use the camera equipment that you have available to create content. Type of Equipment used: Red CameraSony FS7 Canon EOS C200Need Videography Contact Rogy Productionshttp://rogyproductions.com/https://www.facebook.com/RogyPro/The Creative Entrepreneurthecreativeentrepreneur.nethttps://www.facebook.com/TCEPodcast/★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Mike VolkinHave you ever heard that red makes you stop, blue is soothing or black is luxurious? If you have then this is due to neuromarketing? Companies have been using neuromarketing to elicit responses and behaviors from customers for some time now. Neuromarketing can be defined as the science of understanding the decision-making mechanisms of a customer and their behaviors. The way certain customers respond to marketing stimuli differs according to your approach, but one of the more difficult tasks is presenting colors, literature or shapes that evoke the kind of behavior necessary to improve business. Image by Ashutosh SonwaniEye MovementMost recently, the ability to know where eyes are focusing first when looking at an ad can be attributed to eye-tracking technology. Eye-tracking technology can identify where the customer will hone in on key messages, product advertisements or how the customer moves chronologically to help with branding or package design. NeuroimagingThe packaging is important in creating and attracting customers. Companies like Campbell’s and Frito Lay consistently apply neuroimaging to create packaging that has been recorded as positive. The results from neuroimaging are followed up with feedback on color, text, and images. Companies have been able to utilize neuromarketing for effective marketing strategies. Photo by Britta JacksonColor EffectivenessWe have often heard that certain colors evoke a wide range of customer emotions. Experienced marketers will use colors to elicit anger, hunger or calm. Color in advertising has been an effective marketing tool used by large companies like Coca Cola with their red can. Companies have also been able to split the colors to create subgroups such as cool blues for professional looks. Photo by Sharon McCutcheon The Decision to DecideMany customers are inundated with decisions. Companies like Clickfunnels have made it possible to limit the decision making process to specifics. Sometimes less is more and providing too much information to the customer will create an overwhelming effect. In many cases, the customer will get frustrated and not decide. This is called the decision paralysis.About Mike VolkinMike is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, trainer, Army veteran, and author of 5 books (one bestseller). He has built and sold 4 companies. As a marketing leader, he specializes in helping small businesses scale.  Throughout his career, Mike has worked with over 400 small and mid-sized businesses and has a tremendous track record of driving company growth and brand awareness through the development and implementation of marketing programs. mikevolkin.comfreelancermasterclass.com/freeThe Creative Entrepreneurthecreativeentrepreneur.nettcepodcast.netDownload Podcast Here: https://share.transistor.fm/s/7cdc530a★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

What is Budget Photography?For many aspiring photographers, the idea of using used or older equipment may seem to limit their photography, however with the right technique, you can deliver photography that competes with top photographers in the industry. The idea of spending a lot of money on equipment certainly brings the perception that your photos will be better, however many photographers in the industry have not even upgraded because they are consistently getting quality photography from older cameras. You don’t need the latest and greatest photography equipment to produce stunning photos. With practice and knowledge, you can take your budget-conscious equipment to produce photos many would envy. Consider buying used equipment, become proficient in the equipment you have, and get out and practice.Buying Used Equipment to Start Your Photography BusinessPhotography is an expensive business. One camera and one lens can set you back thousands of dollars. If you include the top of the line or flagship camera and you could spend nearly five thousand dollars or more on just one camera and one lens. For many aspiring photographers, starting out is a challenge because you have not even built up a reputation of being a photographer or even a trusted one. People put a lot of trust in their photographer. For some customers, there is only one shot at getting it right and knowing that they can trust their photographer in an important decision-making factor. So a photographer starting out may choose to buy a Nikon D850 or you can buy a Nikon D810 which is about two thousand dollars less. Some of the DX cameras can produce some high-quality photos for the more budget-conscious photographer. The D7500 has a crop sensor and works well with many lighting systems on the market. The D7500 is a semipro crop sensor camera that can be purchased for just under eight hundred dollars. Many used or refurbished D7500s can be purchased for as little as six hundred. An ideal lens for portraits is the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 AF-S VRII is an excellent choice. This older lens can be purchased for as low as one thousand to thirteen hundred dollars. This lens allows photographers to widen up a frame to 70mm or zoom in to 200mm to completely blur out the background at f/2.8. Essentially you can start your business with a used D810 and Used 70-200mm.Lighting Your SubjectWhile cameras and lenses can be expensive, so can lighting. Being able to properly use light for headshots or portraits can be instrumental in creating images that set you apart from everyone else. A Nikon SB-800 TTL AF Shoe Mount Speedlight can be used to create some amazing photos for less than one hundred dollars. How many do you need? Some photographers will say that they can use one Speedlight, but an ideal option would be using two. One as a primary and one as a rim light. You could probably use a reflector to highlight as needed.Become Proficient at Your CraftUsing your equipment regularly makes you a better photographer. A better photographer will know how to use their equipment in most conditions. Practicing your photography only helps you position yourself and your photography. Knowing your capabilities allows you to know where you stand with other photographers.Want to learn more about how you can generate more leads for your business? Click HERE: GENERATE MORE LEADS HEREType of Equipment Used by RafalNikon D800https://amzn.to/2EUKRehadorama.rfvk.net/6Lx2qNikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR Lenshttps://amzn.to/37izGs5adorama.rfvk.net/nxADASoftboxElinchrom 39″ Rotalux Deep OctaboxElinchrom 27.5” Rotalux Deep OctaboxSpeedlightNikon SB700 TTL AF Shoe Mount Speedlight FlashRafal WegielRafalwegiel.comhttps://www.facebook.com/rafalwegielphotographyhttp://thecreativeentrepreneur.net/Follow Us:http://tcepodcast.nethttps://www.facebook.com/TCEPodcast/https://www.instagram.com/tcepodcast/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5AVs2vvLBnhU8vnDzfSEUw?view_as=subscriber★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Fulltime MusicianWhat do you have to do to break into the country music industry? Whether you are experienced or not you should take some steps to break into the industry. Understand that your decision to go into the music business has its challenges but it is even more difficult if you are doing something else like a second job or going to school. By making the decision to focus music one would be able to feel a sense of urgency and commitment consistent with losing a job. By doing music full time, you are now obligated to make something of your career as a musician. Many people are looking to break into the industry, but few people know-how.  Seek a MentorIt is important to take advice or start out with people who are experts in the industry.  Heading into the country music industry, many musicians will attempt to take advice from anyone willing to give it and that’s not a wise decision, especially from people who are not experts in growing a successful business. Network with people who are familiar with building a business or have achieved a level of success in the industry commensurate to where you want to be. Even if they have achieved a level you seek to surpass.  Supplement Your IncomeFor many people working in the music industry, they will choose to have a secure or safe place for income. This may hinder your progress as a musician as this often keeps a person complacent and shackled to their security blanket job. Leaving a job that pays can be a difficult decision, but the decision to leave can help you utilize the most productive time of the day and will allow you to balance your business and family time equally. A good way to supplement your income could be teaching lessons for your instrument. This will allow you to dictate your time more efficiently and give you opportunities to focus your time on your music when you have the best chances for creativity.  Is a Music Degree Necessary?Many musicians will go to school to get a music degree. This could be difficult while building a career in music. If you are going to school for business, then this may be more beneficial for you to build a business. Degrees in music will help in composition and prepare you to play your instrument more efficiently, but the degree will do very little for you for landing record deals or gigs. It is important for a musician to seek out an experienced musician. Someone who has already tied the knots greased the wheels and built their business. If you can find someone willing to take you under their wing, it would be a good opportunity to learn something very quickly from someone who has already built their business.  Using Social Media to PromoteSocial media is an important part of building your business. Just like most entrepreneurs building a business, building a music business is exactly the same. Using your gigs and scheduling them regularly is an important way to gain followers and keep them apprised of your scheduled gigs. For many people starting out, you will find that you get a lot of support and people will push you to do better. They will support you by going to your gigs and spreading the word.Try and avoid the guesswork of the music industry you are entering by doing your research. Figure out the politics, cost, entrant threats and educate yourself on how the business works. This will improve your chances of success and avoid any pitfalls before they become mistakes you cannot come back from. https://www.facebook.com/LaurenCorzine/http://thecreativeentrepreneur.net/index.php/2019/12/26/the-business-of-country-music/http://tcepodcast.net★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode, we talk to TJ Neal for some insight into how he has built his photography business. We talk about how to avoid procrastination, the perfectionist syndrome, and building leads from existing customers. Avoiding procrastination is a daily challenge for many people. Recognizing the challenge is the first step. Organization can be crucial in setting up your tasks for the day and identifying your priorities. Set up simple achievable goals and move towards them. The task doesn't have to be daunting. Take small bites toward's your goal by creating a timeline or schedule and set a deadline. Avoid any distractions, take your time and find some incentives. Last reward yourself for accomplishing your task. The perfectionist syndrome is known by many starting a business or task for the first time. The website has to be perfect, the letterhead needs to look perfect and of course, the office and logo need to be perfect before we start making those essential phone calls. Building leads from existing customers can lead to a prolific business. Calling customers that are familiar with your work and asking them to kindly provide some people that might be wanting your product or service has a powerful effect on the referral on the other line. If the person referring you has any credibility, they will be a powerful asset for your referral. The Creative Entrepreneurhttp://thecreativeentrepreneur.nettcepodcast.nethttps://www.facebook.com/TCEPodcast/TJ Nealhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002753461834★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

This week we focus on building passive income through education and training while utilizing affiliate programs as an additional stream of revenue. Francisco Hernandez talks about building his business through the concept of educating other photographers on his techniques while utilizing affiliate programs like Amazon and Adorama. As photographers and business owners, we are continually looking to add streams of revenue and sometimes you have to think outside the box. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1ENgqPt3FajvflmxNIgMqAhttps://www.facebook.com/FJHPhotography/https://www.instagram.com/fjhphoto/?hl=enEquipmentC Stands https://amzn.to/2DoiIvjSony A7R IV https://amzn.to/2L1iePVhttps://adorama.rfvk.net/BJgYqhttps://adorama.rfvk.net/VePjEthecreativeentrepreneur.net★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★