324: How to Sell Your Art Online: What One Botanical Artist Did to Grow 521%

What if you woke up one morning, checked your stats, and realized your sales were up 521%...without running a single ad?  That's exactly what happened to Wendy Mitchell, a botanical artist who went from relying on festival sales to pay her bills, to building real online sales from her studio in Colorado. Today she's walking us through exactly what she did — and trust me, you can do this too. Here's what you can do to start now: 💌 Send more email…way more than you think you should. If you're only emailing once a month, your list forgets you exist. More emails = more people back to your store = more sales. 🚀 Launch your collection like an event, not an afterthought. Build a runway for your launch, create urgency, and make your buyers feel like VIPs. 👯‍♀️ Find your best-selling product and double down on it. Stop spreading yourself thin and put your energy behind what's already working. If the art fair grind has got you second-guessing whether you're even cut out for business, you can't afford to miss this one. RELATED LINKS: See Wendy's store here: https://www.wendymitchellart.com/ Or on Instagram: Instagram.com/WendyMitchellArt Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendymitchellart Join the Inner Circle waitlist here: https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/inner-circle-membership This Artist narrowed her focus, and quadrupled her sales https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/this-artist-narrowed-her-focus-and-quadrupled-her-sales-episode-317 How Sarah Built a Full-Time Income Selling Her Art Online (Without Ads) https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/how-sarah-built-a-full-time-income-selling-her-art-online-without-ads-episode-313  

"What's wrong with my website?" If we had a nickel for every time we heard this question… And it's heartbreaking, because even without seeing your website I can tell you, that's not the reason folks aren't buying. It's something a lot simpler, and a lot more fixable.  In this episode I'm talking with Inner Circle coach Melissa about why there is more to your conversion rate that meets the eye, and what you can do right now to get your register ringing. Listen in and learn: Whether or not your conversion rate is normal (for your niche) Why your "viral moment" felt like a flop The REAL numbers you should be focusing on How to use paid ads to complement, not compensate for, your marketing Stop tweaking your button colors and asking strangers for feedback, this episode is guaranteed to get you back on track fast.   RELATED LINKS Do you have the right traffic? Take these 5 steps and find out. https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/do-you-have-the-right-traffic-take-these-5-steps-and-find-out-episode-309 How Raquel generated 900 leads a week (and what happened next). https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/how-raquel-generated-900-leads-a-week-and-what-happened-next-episode-271 The 'Marketing First' Strategy That Grew This Business to 4.6M Views https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/the-marketing-first-strategy-that-grew-this-business-to-4-6m-views-episode-257 The thing everyone forgets about Conversion https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/the-thing-everyone-forgets-about-conversion-episode-212 ----------------------- Stop wondering if you're "doing it right" and learn how to grow your sales in a consistent, predictable way. Spend 40 minutes with me in this eye opening workshop, and you'll leave with a few simple steps that will grow your sales next month. Find a time that works for you, and register here: https://watch.thesocialsalesgirls.com/s/77wKvQ "Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can't believe this information is free"  - If you feel like this too, I'd love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help the grow their sales. Click here, scroll down, tap to rate with 5 stars and select "Write a review". Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast!  

Running a business can feel a bit like Groundhog Day. On the first of every month you find yourself staring at your sales goal as if it's looming over you from the top of a very, very steep hill. AGAIN. But what if 75% of your revenue hit your bank account…before a single bill came due? That's what's possible when you build a subscription model. My friend Sarah Williams has been selling physical products for years, and for almost 10 of them she's started every month knowing her subscription income will cover all of her expenses. Listen up, because you can do this too (and it doesn't matter whether you have a bricks and mortar shop, an e-commerce store, or both). Sarah's new FREE training will show you how.   RELATED LINKS: Register for the FREE Launch Your Box Summit here: https://www.launchyourboxwithsarah.com/launch-your-box-summit-register The Secret to growing a business you love with Sarah Williams https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/the-secret-to-growing-a-business-you-love-with-sarah-williams-episode-96 What happens in a Coaching Week with Sub Box Queen, Sarah Williams? https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/what-happens-in-a-coaching-week-with-sub-box-queen-sarah-williams-episode-25 The email strategy behind Sarah's 7 figure business https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/the-email-strategy-behind-sarahs-7-figure-business-episode-14 -------------------------------------- Stop wondering if you're "doing it right" and learn how to grow your sales in a consistent, predictable way. Spend 40 minutes with me in this eye opening workshop, and you'll leave with a few simple steps that will grow your sales next month. Find a time that works for you, and register here: https://watch.thesocialsalesgirls.com/s/77wKvQ "Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can't believe this information is free"  - If you feel like this too, I'd love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help the grow their sales. Click here, scroll down, tap to rate with 5 stars and select "Write a review". Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast!  

If you've ever run an ad campaign on Facebook or Instagram, and walked away feeling like it would have been more productive to just light that money on fire…I have really, really good news for you. You're wrong! This week on the blog and podcast I'm chatting with our social media coach Melissa Davies to talk about all things Meta ads.  Listen in and learn: Why "purchase" ads are wrong for most store owners How to build an audience of the right people on just $5 per day, and then leverage that audience to fuel your ads Why your "failed" campaigns weren't failures at all The "hack" Melissa swears by to acquire customers at a price you can afford You really do not want to miss this one, it completely blows the lid off of how a Meta ads strategy is so essential to your business you can almost think of it like rent.   RELATED LINKS: Get on the Inner Circle waitlist: https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/inner-circle-membership Here's When You're Ready To Run Purchase Ads https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/heres-when-youre-ready-to-run-purchase-ads-episode-290 The 'Marketing First' Strategy That Grew This Business to 4.6M Views https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/the-marketing-first-strategy-that-grew-this-business-to-4-6m-views-episode-257 The Most Powerful Marketing Activity https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/the-most-powerful-marketing-activity-episode-285 ----------------------------- Stop wondering if you're "doing it right" and learn how to grow your sales in a consistent, predictable way. Spend 40 minutes with me in this eye opening workshop, and you'll leave with a few simple steps that will grow your sales next month. Find a time that works for you, and register here: https://watch.thesocialsalesgirls.com/s/77wKvQ "Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can't believe this information is free"  - If you feel like this too, I'd love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help the grow their sales. Click here, scroll down, tap to rate with 5 stars and select "Write a review". Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast!  

If you've figured out how to get sales using just your grit, determination, and possibly sheer force of will…you may be in or approaching a state of burnout.  The messy middle can feel draining and endless, but this week I've got some inspiration for you. Becky Youngberry started her quilting subscription box with two subscribers, $4,000 from savings, and a really bad day at her day job. By year two, she'd hit $110,000 in revenue — putting her in the top 5% of independent ecom start ups. Listen in and learn: what it actually takes to build recurring revenue while working full time why knowing your profit numbers must come before chasing growth and how to manage mental health while building a business you love This one is for every store owner who's figured out how to make sales — and is now trying to figure out how to make it sustainable.   RELATED LINKS Check out Becky's business at blackcatco.com.au Get on the  Inner Circle Waitlist: thesocialsalesgirls.com/innercircle The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan: https://the1thing.com/book/ Inventory Genius by Ciara Stockland: https://www.ciarastockeland.com/book  Who Not How by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy: https://whonothow.com/ Metricool (social media scheduling): https://metricool.com/ ----------------------------------------- Are you constantly asking yourself how to make your website better or questioning your prices? Do you wonder if you're missing something? If you have made sales in person or on a site like Etsy, I know you can sell more on your site.   Get my FREE mini-course that will show you our step-by-step process to grow your sales without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies or discounting your products here: https://learn.thesocialsalesgirls.com/conversion-school/   "Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can't believe this information is free - If you feel like this too, I'd love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help them grow their sales. Click here, scroll down, tap to rate with 5 stars and select "Write a review". Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast!   Also, if you haven't already make sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Follow now

There's a point many store owners reach where they've been working so hard for so long, that they begin to suspect that the light at the end of the tunnel is just…never going to appear. It's a terrible feeling. In this episode I'm talking with Inner Circle coach Melissa  about the thing nobody says out loud: that if you really want to grow (sustainably) you have to slow down and build some systems and processes first. You'll walk away with three action steps that will get you on track to start scaling towards a business that works for you, not the other way around. If you've had the sneaking suspicion lately that for as hard and long as you've been working, you should be further along…this one really is for you.   RELATED LINKS: Why Your Ecommerce Store Is Doing Better Than You Think Why More Sales Isn't Fixing Your (ecommerce) Cash Flow Problem Sales Plateaued? Do this to grow profitably How to Scale Without Borrowing (or Breaking Your Business) https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/sales-plateaued-do-this-to-grow-profitably-episode-284 These 7 habits predict success, start implementing them now _______________________   Are you constantly asking yourself how to make your website better or questioning your prices? Do you wonder if you're missing something? If you have made sales in person or on a site like Etsy, I know you can sell more on your site.   Get my FREE mini-course that will show you our step-by-step process to grow your sales without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies or discounting your products here: https://learn.thesocialsalesgirls.com/conversion-school/   "Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can't believe this information is free - If you feel like this too, I'd love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help them grow their sales. Click here, scroll down, tap to rate with 5 stars and select "Write a review". Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast!   Also, if you haven't already make sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Follow now

Have you ever sat down at the end of a rough month, exhausted, head in your hands, and thought… Is it even worth it? Am I ever going to get to the point where I make an income that is aligned with all the work I do?  If that's you - I'm talking with profit expert Ciara Stockland about the most common money mistakes that keep ecommerce product stores like us financially stuck . And together we're sharing what you need to do to fix it. Listen in and  learn: Why Chasing Sales (instead of profit) is keeping you spinning in place The pricing mistake you're probably making, and the mindset shift that will fix it Why the reality of doubling revenue is a lot harder than it seems Why NOT paying yourself is setting your business up to fail The warning signs you can't afford to ignore Every single one of us can benefit from this one. It's time to take your head out of the sand and take control of your numbers. If Ciara and I can do it, so can you. RELATED LINKS: Ciara's Debt Detox Bootcamp: https://www.ciarastockeland.com/a/2148268513/2cz2f3cA What Every Store Owner Needs to Know About Business Debt https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/what-every-store-owner-needs-to-know-about-business-debt-episode-267 How to create profit goals https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/how-to-create-profit-goals-episode-209 How to get control of your $ https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/how-to-get-control-of-your-episode-158 _______________________ Stop wondering if you're "doing it right" and learn how to grow your sales in a consistent, predictable way. Spend 40 minutes with me in this eye opening workshop, and you'll leave with a few simple steps that will grow your sales next month. Find a time that works for you, and register here: https://watch.thesocialsalesgirls.com/s/77wKvQ "Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can't believe this information is free"  - If you feel like this too, I'd love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help the grow their sales. Click here, scroll down, tap to rate with 5 stars and select "Write a review". Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast!  

If you're an artist who's ever wondered if your brain just wasn't built for business ownership, this episode is a great demonstration of how all creatives can grow a successful business online. Victoria Mlady of Victoria Bright Home went from burning time & money schlepping across the country several times a year to sell her pattern designs at trade shows, to quadrupling her sales in her first year on Shopify. And she did it by selling ONE thing: her own wallpaper. Listen in and learn: Why going deep on one thing beats going wide, every time The mistake many creatives make when building their own websites How to stay the course and pile up little wins along the way Why Victoria refuses to "tone it down" (all the way to the bank) What Victoria shares is equal parts honest and genuinely useful. Especially if you're still in the "I have no idea what I'm doing" stage. ______________________________ Stop wondering if you're "doing it right" and learn how to grow your sales in a consistent, predictable way. Spend 40 minutes with me in this eye opening workshop, and you'll leave with a few simple steps that will grow your sales next month. Find a time that works for you, and register here: https://watch.thesocialsalesgirls.com/s/77wKvQ "Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can't believe this information is free"  - If you feel like this too, I'd love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help the grow their sales. Click here, scroll down, tap to rate with 5 stars and select "Write a review". Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast!

In the last few months, three members of our community — store owners just like you and me —  have faced lawsuits over website compliance. So I sat down with my favorite lawyer, Tannia Ospina, to talk about what you actually need on your website to stay compliant, why it matters more than most of us realize, and how to get it done without it taking over your life. Three things you'll take away from this episode: Small stores are targeted first, and your store is likely easier to target than you think. Copy-pasting from Google or AI isn't enough. Your existing policies may already be working against you.   Tannia is a longtime Inner Circle member, a business law and intellectual property attorney, and a former e-commerce store owner who built her brand Bell Threads from scratch since 2014. She created a legal compliance bundle specifically for product-based e-commerce store owners, and in this episode she breaks down exactly what's at stake and what to do about it. Listen in, and you'll sleep better tonight. Get Tannia's Compliance Bundle here: https://lawbizette.com/pages/starter-bundle ________________________ Stop wondering if you're "doing it right" and learn how to grow your sales in a consistent, predictable way. Spend 40 minutes with me in this eye opening workshop, and you'll leave with a few simple steps that will grow your sales next month. Find a time that works for you, and register here: https://watch.thesocialsalesgirls.com/s/77wKvQ "Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can't believe this information is free"  - If you feel like this too, I'd love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help the grow their sales. Click here, scroll down, tap to rate with 5 stars and select "Write a review". Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast!

Brandon Love is the founder of Bewilderment.com — a fragrance and art studio in Columbus, Ohio. He started the business at 17 and is now in his 11th year. When tariffs hit last year and his Facebook ad performance collapsed, Brandon came into the Inner Circle looking for a different way forward. It would have tanked most stores' sales;  he ended up doubling them instead. In this episode, he shares exactly what changed. Listen in and  learn: Why list segmentation unlocked the gold in Brandon's list How offering subscriptions changed cash flow How Brandon overcame tariff troubles The social media strategy Brandon never thought would work  This is a story about what's possible when you stop chasing new customers and go deeper with the ones you already have. ----------------- Stop wondering if you're "doing it right" and learn how to grow your sales in a consistent, predictable way. Spend 40 minutes with me in this eye opening workshop, and you'll leave with a few simple steps that will grow your sales next month. Find a time that works for you, and register here: https://watch.thesocialsalesgirls.com/s/77wKvQ "Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can't believe this information is free"  - If you feel like this too, I'd love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help the grow their sales. Click here, scroll down, tap to rate with 5 stars and select "Write a review". Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast!