Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

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{grow your online presence with Indie Shopography! a feature + giveaway}

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Filed Under: blog & handmade advice, giveaway, shop feature

This giveaway is now closed.

…I would guess that you do! ;] Today’s fabulous giveaway is from Emily of Indie Shopography, a 4-week ecourse that’s focused on small biz owners who want to develop and/or grow their online presence. Emily has 7 years of experience as a small business owner {amazing!} and has put together course content in the form of lessons, videos, printables, podcasts + community. Indie Shopography is awesome stuff ~ take a peek at this video to see what I mean:

Indie Shopography from emmarie Designs on Vimeo.

♥ Read on to learn more about Indie Shopography and how you can strengthen your biz with the help of this ecourse. Plus, there’s a giveaway at the end {a $99 value}!

* * *

In the two years that emmarie Web Design has been running, I have helped well over 100 small creative businesses with branding and website development. I quickly became aware of a gap in knowledge where these business owners and the actual nuts and bolts of getting and running an online shop is concerned.

Indie Shopography is my attempt to educate small creative business owners about the ins and outs of starting and growing a business online.

It’s about discovering your online purpose, finding a content management system that works for you (also, explaining what a content management system even is), and lots of other topics you need to know before pouring in a crazy amount of money and/or [wo]man hours into building an online shop.

Indie Shopography first launched in August of 2011. The first round of this 4-week course began in September, and was both a blast and a hit. The second round is now open for registration and will begin on January 30th.

My biggest accomplishments with regards to my business are seeing clients’ businesses grow. When I can see a client, with whom I have developed a business idea into something wonderful and effective, take what we’ve created and all-out run with it, surpassing both their goals and my expectations, I sometimes just want to cry big happy tears.

Looking back at the last two years of my life, both personally and businessly (don’t worry, that’s a word), it’s that you have to take chances. You have to do things you aren’t positive about and you just have to take the risk. I’d rather regret doing something than not doing it. You’ll never succeed by not trying, and even if you fail you’ll have a good story.

For those wanting to open an online shop, know all your options. Even if you don’t commit to Indie Shopography, do your research! I cannot stress this enough. No business decision of this caliber should ever be made on a whim. I’m all about taking risks, but taking uneducated risks is not a smart move, more often than not.

A bit of research can give you the knowledge and confidence boost to go into this successfully. And success is goooood.

WANT TO WIN A BASIC SUBSCRIPTION TO INDIE SHOPOGRAPHY? – a $99 value?

Here’s how to enter:
Leave a comment below telling us why you’d love to win! {required}

For extra entries:
* Tweet this giveaway {then come back here and let us know you sent a tweet}:

    Want to grow your creative biz? Learn more about Indie Shopography + enter to win: http://bit.ly/tZSGP7, via @gussysews & @emmariedesigns

* Share this giveaway with your blog and facebook communities {then come back here and share the post/feed URL with us}

This giveaway will be open through Friday, December 23 and the winner will be announced the following week. Good luck! xoxo

PS. Can’t stand the wait? Register for Indie Shopography now!

Join over 4,400 women who receive Maggie Whitley Designs inspiration & encouragement:

 

Comments

  7. Nadir@StitchSense says

    Oh wow, I would LOVE to win this giveaway. I’ve read so much about how to grow your online business & its so hard to filter what’s right for you or not. I’d love a chance to win this. :-)

  8. Lucy Jane says

    Running a small business is always a learning process. I love when an e-course is geared toward the indie business owner. Would love to win!

  17. andi says

    i have a new etsy shop and relatively new blog and would love the support and encouragement to grow them both! thanks for the opportunity!

  20. Lauren says

    I want to win because my goal in 2012 is to get to where I can either quit my job or at least cut back my hours and focus on my OWN business. I think this would really give me the tools that I need to help me achieve that goal. I have dreamt of doing this for so long and now it is time to make that a reality and stop dreaming about it! Thanks for the chance!

  22. Kasey M. says

    I’m working very hard right now to lay the foundation for my small business. This class would be amazing for me – an invaluable education that I know I need, but it isn’t currently in my budget. (Even though I know $99 for a 4 week course is a steal!). I would love to win. If not, I hope the course is still being offered in 6 months when I’ve had time to save up!

  25. Lynda says

    I have been playing with the idea of starting my own small business next year, so this would be perfect for me!

  27. Kristin Offiler says

    I would love to win this! Just this weekend I made the decision finally to launch my etsy shop. I’m building my inventory right now and plan to open on January 23. This course would be invaluable!!

  29. Kristin Offiler says

    And I shared with my FB community. Not sure how to post the link, though… I’m using Timeline and I’m not familiar with it yet. BUT! Maggie, I mentioned Gussy Sews, so hopefully you can see the share on your page.

    Thanks! :)

  31. Jessica says

    I am in the very beginning stages of starting my own business. My business will be largely dependent on the online market. I need direction and guidance and this course sounds like it would be an amazing boost to my (currently) unrealized dreams!

  32. Erin says

    I would love to win because I have been praying about and really researching a new business idea. Since I am 98% sure I am going in this new direction, it would be nice to start off on the right foot!!

  36. krystina / lollipops says

    i would love to win this opportunity! i have a little handmade stationery shop and am beginning a new venture in web design. i think there’s ALWAYS room for learning! Indie Shopography looks absolutely perfect! thank you for hosting Gussy!

  42. Chelsea says

    I’d love to figure out how to continue to grow my blog and I’ve also been interested in starting an Etsy shop– so this would be very useful for me! Thanks for the giveaway!

  44. Chelsea says

    My friend, Morgan, and I just opened our Etsy shop a few weeks ago and have been learning a lot as we go. This would be an awesome chance for us to learn and grow. Thanks for the giveaway, Gussy! (P.S. You are a HUGE inspiration to us!)

  45. Hannah from FlyChicks says

    I would love the chance to win something like this because I am at a standstill with my business. I need to take it to the next level, but I am drowning in fear, responsibility, commitment and doubt. All I think about is sewing and making my dream a reality, but I keep getting dragged down with doubt from others that really matter to me. All I want is to make this all “real” and focus on this aspect of my life full time. I know that it will be A LOT if hard work, but for the end result being happiness, I think it would all be worth it. To think that I could wake up and do what I love to do, and get paid for it, would be the ultimate goal!!!
    Fingers crossed. I want 2012 to be my year!

  46. Patty B. says

    Oooh crossing my fingers and toes to win! My big goal for 2012 is to expand into wholesale accounts and start to partially rely on my shop income, so this is perfect timing. Thanks for the amazing giveaway!

  50. Cerrisse Wood says

    This is awesome! I opened my little shop in September and business is slow. I would love to open up a little boutique, but I need to become successful online first. This would help me gain great tips on how to do that! :)

  53. amy says

    I’ve been thinking about opening an online shop for all of the things I make…this would push me over the edge!

  54. Jenny says

    I would love to win this! I have a small handmade business, but predominantly sell at boutiques and local shops. I would love to increase my online sales, especially now that I am expecting a baby in May and hoping to become a stay-at-home/work-from-home mama!

  58. Kara B. says

    I’ve had an online shop for almost a year. I’ve made wonderful friends & some loyal customers but I am ready to go big or go home.

  64. erin says

    I’d love this. I’m a local girl, I love that interaction with the client at a fair or through word of mouth, but selling online has a lot of ease. I’d like to learn more on how to grow that without going crazy! :)

  65. Cat says

    I would love to win! I’m at the crossroads of either finding a way to make my business grow, or having to close my shop. I can use all the help I can get!

  70. Lexi says

    I am just starting my own small business and would love to win this course to learn more about the small business process.

  71. Maureen S says

    I would love to win this because 2012 is the year I plan to open a shop and need much help the the online presence arena. This would be a great course that would help me avoid some potential mistakes and start me off on the right foot…even the left foot would be ok, as long as I’m off. Thank you for the chance to win.

  72. Mindy Harris says

    i am a creative mind but NEED business sensibility. i know success doesn’t happen overnight and would love to learn how i can make my Etsy shop and blog more noticeable.

  77. Andrea says

    I have so many little things i love to make and sell but would love to know how to help this grow into something bigger!

  79. jordan chaffin says

    I will probably be the only guy inthe room, but the course sounds great! I’m in the planning stages of launching my business from home, and this would be a great help. Thanks

  85. Jody says

    Oooo I would lOvE to win this!! I have skills, but NO idea how to turn it into a biz…. a mommy/painter/mosaic artist doesn’t learn those things in school : /
    Sincerely, stuck.

  91. Samantha says

    I would love to win this giveaway as it is my dream to start my own online store aiming to one day own a boutique. I am still lacking in confidence about beginning this journey but I am trying to learn as much as I can. Winning this would mean that I am able to learn more and have the knowledge and the courage to open my own store. :)

  92. Carissa says

    My husband and I have always talked about my dream; when it could begin to come true, how it would come true, the right steps to take, etc. Just recently we’ve decided that in order for it to happen we have to just start. My passion is photography and it’s not a hobby, it’s more than a love and want (hard to explain). Well, anyway, I will be starting my own small business in the next month or so and would love all the help and advice I can get-I want this to be successful! I want to make people happy seeing their reflection in the photos I take! :)

  93. Emily says

    I could use a boost in my biz; also, DH is finally thinking about making the jump to a biz online – I would like to win more on his behalf.

  99. danielle m. says

    I would love to win not only for my business Hopeknots, but because everything I do and learn I teach inner city middle/high school girls how to do as well, we are teaching them entrepreneur skills right now and about becoming an opportunity, and the more I teach them about crocheting/design the more they will have ownership in the business, Hopeknots (that funds the program they are a part of!), until eventually I can turn it over to them and it will be theirs!! Any professional business help we could get would be a HUGE blessing!!

  100. Carly says

    I would love to win this . Where can I begin ? I need it all directions, advice on how to even get started .My friend Nina and I want to pursue our dreams of owning our own online biz.

  101. Jane @ The Borrowed Abode says

    I’d love to win this! I’ve had my shop for about 8 months now, and I’ve learned a lot but I am ALWAYS eager to learn more and more and more!! :) In my opinion, you can’t continue to grow as a business owner unless you keep learning.

  106. EFY says

    I think Shopography would be wonderful to win. I desire to start an online shop but need to research more before taking the plunge. Looks like it would be a perfect opportunity to learn. Blessings

  107. JESSICA says

    Shopography would really help me! I am afraid I need to learn EVERYTHING about running an online shop.

  108. Wendy says

    i would love to win this. I have just dipped my toes in and opened an etsy shop. I have a blog that I just started as well. I would like in the new year to make this my business and to be able to quit my JOB. Gussy Sews is one of the reasons that I have done this in the past month. I have read blogs for years and thought to myself, that could work for me. Just now is the season in my life opening to make it happen. I will be making it happen! Thanks for the giveaway! I also blogged about it. http://uniquebywendy.blogspot.com/2011/12/i-said-it.html

  111. Jaimie says

    This giveaway would be absolutely amazing for me. I mean a. maze. ing. I’m just starting out with an online biz and I would love to learn from a seasoned pro! I’m a bit scared and want to do things right… But I’m not sure what “right” is. Thanks for the opportunity!!

  112. Equest2005 says

    I would LOVE to win this package!! I really need the help, as I don’t have any business experience (except as a consumer of course). Need help badly!

  113. amy says

    Would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win this! I’m anxious to learn more about growing my business! Thanks for doing the giveaway!

  115. Christina Clarke says

    I would love to win this because I have been contemplating opening an indie business for some time I just feel like I don’t have enough knowledge about the basics to make it successful.

  118. Autumn says

    Oh ma gosh! I NEED to win this. I have had a shop and blog for about 9 months now and I could really use some direction. My goal is to quit my day job and do what I LOVE while getting to enjoy time at home with my two sweet little girls.

  120. Jenni says

    We would love to have our shoppe online….but we are hesitant at times. Would love to win this to kick us in gear:) Jenni K.

  122. Erin says

    Santa please bring me this for christmas, if not I want to win this sooo bad! I have had my shop for a year now and I really want it to become the success that Gussy has had and many more like her. I need some help and direction on how to build shop and what I can do better! :)

  127. Cindy @ Creating at Home says

    I would love to win this prize! My goal for 2012 is to have a successful online business and I have a lot to learn!

  130. heather smith says

    I would love to win this so that I can learn some new stuff (we are always learning!), network with like minded individuals and get motivated by people that may have the same goals as myself! I love taking courses to pick up a few pointers and get a new fresh perspective on things =)

  131. Jaime says

    This would be fantastic! I’ve had on online shop for a while, but would like to focus a bit more on it in 2012. My business is more than just about me, but also supporting orphan care. I would love to be able to grow that and take it further!

  135. Trish says

    I would love to win this cource b/c my online jewelry biz is currently in a rut. I want to grow & find success, but seem to just keep spinning my wheels.

  142. Julie F says

    it would be sooo wonderful to win this cuz my sister and i have had a local shop for about five yrs now and at the beginning of the new year will be closing it and going online! sounds like an awsome course!

  143. Heather D says

    Just started my website/blog and trying to decide in which direction I should move. There is so much information that it is almost overwhelming. The I.S. video repeated all the same topics that I have had questions about. This e-course would definitely help answer some of my questions, AND Emily looks like a fun person to work with. :)