Getting good advice is really helpful when running a small business, but finding it can sometimes be difficult. There is so much of it available online that getting to the best stuff can be a bit of a chore. I have spent many an evening trawling the internet for some sage wisdom and have found a number of gems. To save you putting in the hours I thought I'd share my favourites.
Rock & Roll BrideYou may think a wedding blog is a bit of an unusual place to find business advice. I am neither getting married nor working in the wedding business, but I have found Kat's blog so helpful. The blog is cleverly split into wedding posts and green room posts. While I enjoy looking at the spectacular alternative weddings, it is the green room posts that keep me coming back again and again. They are filled with stellar advice applicable to all types of creative businesses.
The Design TrustA treasure trove of business advice for those in the craft and design industry, this site has tips suitable for those starting out and useful stuff for more established small companies. They feature training and business opportunities as well as offering e-books and online workshops. I'm signed up for the free newsletter so I get the best the site has to offer sent straight to my inbox.
Indie Retail AcademyThe emails I get from Indie Retail Academy always make me laugh. Clare writes in a very down to earth and easy to understand way with a focus on how to sell your work to shops. She offers practical advice and a rather kick ass free starter kit. A must visit if you're looking to sell your work wholesale.
Hip Hop Side ProjectI've mentioned Kim's blog on here before but it definitely deserves mentioning again. Though she blogs about a whole range of things her 'Working For Yourself' posts look great out and are jam packed with useful information for the self-employed.
Crown & GloryI have been aware of Crown & Glory's amazing accessory range for quite some time but have only recently checked out the blog. In amongst the style and lifestyle posts are some brilliant articles about running your own creative business. These come under the banner of 'It's Business, Baby' and cover topics such as networking, social media and working with bloggers.
Steal Like an ArtistI bought this book for a friends birthday and couldn't help having a read through it before wrapping it up. The simple layout and illustrations are engaging and the information is easy to understand. It gives advice in a direct and thought provoking way, stripping creativity down to the basics.
So those are some great sources of advice that I have found super useful while running Jolly Good. But what if you still want to search out more? Here are my tips for spotting the good stuff.
How to spot awesome advice:You can understand it. It's no good reading advice that you can't get your head around. People who give this kind of advice are usually more interested in looking really smart rather than helping others. The genuine advice givers will make what they have to say accessible and engaging to read.
It comes from a successful source. Check out who is giving the advice. If they're a leader in their field, successful at running their own business or talking from their own experiences you're probably onto a winner.
It comes recommended. If you got to the advice through a link from someone you like and trust this shows that it will probably be something you'll find interesting and helpful too.
You can't wait to use it. You can see how you can apply the advice to your own business and you have an idea of how to do it. Advice should be inspiring and make you excited about improving what you do.
