Introducing The Blueprint for Client Success: How to Get Off To a Spectacular Start
I don’t know about you, but I adore being generous. I’ve been thinking about how I can make your life a little easier as you navigate your client work. This got me to thinking about how I’m just finishing up the beta round of my own business building group course so I had tons of possible topics! I ran the beta program specifically for web designers this time. I’m thrilled with the feedback and can’t wait to offer it for other creative entrepreneurs later this year. One of the last modules in my course dives deep into client systems and…
VIDEO TUTORIAL: HOW TO CREATE AN ACCORDION DROP DOWN AREA!
Today’s video tutorial will walk you through how to use a Wordpress plugin called Shortcodes Ultimate to create an accordion drop down or tabbed area on your website to display big chunks of content in a smaller area. It’s super helpful if you’re creating a FAQ section on your website. I take you from through each step of creating an area on your website from installing the plugin to creating the area on your page or post. Enjoy!
APRIL GIFTS, MADE FOR YOUR PHONES, TABLETS, AND COMPUTERS!
April snuck up on me this month! In Nova Scotia I’m already seeing the April showers, robins, and pussy willows. It’s so refreshing to see the grass starting to grow and buds begin to appear. Here are your April Screensavers/Wallpaper — ready for you to download and install. Enjoy! xo, K
How to say no to the people in your life who want your time for free
We’ve all been in the difficult position of giving our time and expertise away for free. If you’re at the early phase of building your business, it’s likely you’re even enjoying the fact that friends, colleagues, and professional acquaintances are seeking you out for your expertise. There comes a a time in every creative entrepreneur’s life where you find yourself wondering where the line is between casual advice and crossing over into your own services. I show up all the time in online communities and give my time away for free by answering questions, providing support, and championing those who…
How to wow your potential clients after your first consult (script included!)
Imagine this: You have just finished your first consult with a potential new client. And it felt good. You consciously decide to move this potential client solidly into the “she would be great fit” column. Instead of getting to work on her proposal and sending it her as promised, you’ve got a golden opportunity to wow your client right now {as soon as you finish your consult} to make an even better first impression. We all know that proposals take time. The amount of research and effort that goes into creating a sound proposal can’t be rushed. Sometimes it can…
10 things you need to know if you’re doing this thing called being a boss
Before my journey into entrepreneurship, I was a teacher. I helped to shape the minds of our future generations. I’m now teaching women how to activate their own awesome through workshops, retreats, courses, and coaching. I’m also using the skills I honed as “the computer expert” on staff when I was working as a teacher to build websites for more amazing women. Standing fully in my own zone of genius means teaching, creating, and coaching. It took me some time (read: years!) to identify the three areas that truly lit me up. And, as I’m sure any creative entrepreneur will…
March gifts, made for your phones, tablets, and computers!
I can hardly believe it’s the last day of February tomorrow! AND it’s a leap year. I’m going to take some time tomorrow and celebrate the last four years. I’m going to revel in my successes, take note of where I strayed off course, and begin to imagine the next four years. I hope you do too :) They say that March can come in like a lion and out like a lamb. This year, in Nova Scotia at least, it appears that Mother Nature is going with the “in like a lamb” analogy. And in honour of that, this month’s free…
3 Mistakes Introverts Make by Thinking They’re Not Good at Marketing
I’ve noticed a lot of people leaning into their introversion lately. I wanted to lend my own introverted voice to the bigger conversation that I believe is also happening. (Fellow introverts will understand just how hard this really is!) Firstly, it’s important to acknowledge that introversion means you focus on the inner world and get energy through reflecting on information, ideas, and/or concepts. You actually prefer being alone and are comfortable with your own thoughts & ideas. Extroverts, on the other hand, focus on the outside world to get energy through interacting with people and/or doing things. They actually get…
How You Can Use a Bad Client Experience to Grow Your Business
If you been in business long enough, you’ve likely had at least one sticky situation arise with a client. You may have avoided even addressing the issue in hopes that things didn’t get awkward. Or you may have agreed to do what’s necessary to keep everyone happy because it’s easier to give in then take a stand and risk offending someone. Regardless of how you handled the situation, you know FOR SURE it’s not something you ever want to repeat. In today’s blog post I’m walking you through the exact questions I use when reflecting on my own sticky situations…
The Gmail Hack that will save time when replying to clients
Today’s video tutorial will walk you through how to set up a process in your Gmail or Google Apps email that will cut down on your time when replaying to your initial client inquires. I’ll also be sharing the very client email script that I created to use as the example in this tutorial. To get very own script (the exact one I’ve been using!), just enter your name and email and you’ll receive an instant download: [gravityform id=”17″ title=”false” description=”false”]
February Wallpaper for your Devices | free downloads
It’s the last day of January! I wanted to give you a total #girlboss wallpaper for your computers, tablets, and mobile devices. Enjoy! xo, K Desktop & Laptop Tablets & iPads iPhones & Mobile Devices
HOW TO AVOID SOUNDING LIKE EVERYONE ELSE + REACH THE CLIENTS YOU LOVE
Have you every noticed that when you genuinely share a personal story that people connect to you on a deeper level? One look on social media and you’ll see it in real time. I’d be willing to bet you’ve seen it in person too. You’ve talked to someone who’s shared something so real, you’ve become engrossed in the experience if the story. Audiences crave that same connection. It’s how we build trust. When you show up for real whether it be online or in person, I’d be willing to bet you want to feel that connection too. It feels good.…
How to Optimize Images for your Wordpress Website to Help Your SEO
Did you know that images can generate a TON of traffic from image-based search engines like Google? It’s true. In today’s video tutorial, I’m showing you step-by-step how you can optimize the images on your own Wordpress Website to help boost your SEO. Please note: I use an Apple Computer. If you’re not a Mac user and you are using a PC — here’s a link for instructions on how to change the file names in Windows. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments!
Video Tutorial: How to Update Wordpress to Secure Your Website
I had eleven sites hacked last week. Yes, 11. I have three security plugins installed. I thought I had strong usernames and passwords. Turns out, I didn’t. After I got the hack repaired and back up and running (if you don’t already know about the amazing guys at Websavers…you really should check them out for your hosting needs!), I began the tedious process of changing ALL my passwords and at the same time creating much more secure user names. I created a video tutorial for you showing you step-by-step how you can do this for your own site. Please take…
November Free Gifts Just for You | Screensavers and Wallpapers
It’s November already! I am back from the Action Academy Retreat I co-led with my good friend Jac McNeil last week. I’m feeling totally inspired. Watching the amazing women who gathered at beautiful Oceanstone Resort bond and make big boss decisions in their own businesses was amazing. Here’s a gift for you. The quote I used for your November Wallpaper became our unofficial manifesto at our retreat. I’ve created a wallpaper for you to use on your mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. Enjoy! You can get your own copies here (just right click and save once the new window opens):…
3 Ways You Can Activate Your Creativity & Discover What Experience Your Dream Clients are Craving From You
As a female entrepreneur, I know what the whispers in your heart sound like. I know because I have them in my own too. I know the mental energy it takes to be able to plan your next exciting offer. The thing is we are often so busy working in our businesses it’s difficult to find the mojo to work ON our business. Between clients, marketing, social media, networking, family, friends, and passions {to name only a few}, where can you find the time to get creative + inspired? In today’s post, I’m sharing my top 3 tips for activating that…
3 Smart Strategies to Attract More Business
My teenage daughter and I are currently making our way across Europe. It’s incredible. Last night I sat watching the sunset over the Aegean Sea and thought about our experiences thus far. As I sat with breeze blowing in my hair and the sweet smell of the sea air, I was quickly reminded how slowing down can help the women I work with gain some serious traction in attracting more clients. I thought about how my daughter and I started this journey alone, not knowing what to expect. And how after our first few hours, we got to know and…
Claiming My Truth: I Am a Teacher
We are all on a journey. This I recognize. Some journeys are bumpier than others. Some are smooth sailing. It will not come as a surprise to you that I LOVE all things tech-y. Designing and coding a website is fun for me. It’s easy and there is no better challenge in my world than conquering a new software and making it work for my clients. What you may not know about me is that I started off in this world as a teacher. An elementary school teacher to be exact. I was Miss MacKinnon long before I became Krista Smith. I loved…
FREE: New Screensavers/Wallpaper for Spring!
I’m not sure where you live but here in Nova Scotia it’s been a loooooooooonnnnnnng winter. In the past fourteen days alone, we’ve received just over 90 centimeters of the white stuff (that’s 35 and 1/2 inches!) here in the Halifax area. SERIOUSLY. You’d think as a Canadian, I’d be use to snow. The thing is we live in a Maritime climate. A typical winter for us means 10-15 cm of snow followed by rain a few days later that washes the white stuff away. We generally have cold temperatures but our proximity to the Atlantic Ocean brings a mixed…
Why it’s Finally Time to Get Friendly with Mobile for your Website
It’s time, pretty lady. Google has made a decision that will impact how your website shows up in search results. And it’s starting on April 21, 2015. My inbox has been flooded with emails the past couple of months from clients, colleagues, and friends asking why they are getting a notification from Google that their beautiful website has mobile usability errors. Or, they have noticed the buzz on social media talking about Google making changes and rewarding websites who are recognized as mobile friendly. What exactly is Mobile Responsive Design? I made the move early last year to design…
How to create custom graphics for your blog posts
All around the interwebs lately I’ve had clients and colleagues ask me how they go about creating a custom graphic for their blog posts. Are you curious why adding an image to your blog post or on social media is a savvy online move? I’ve outlined my top five reasons here: Bigger engagement – it’s true. Your followers or users are much more inclined to engage with you when there is an image attached to your post. I’ve personally seen at least a 5x increase in engagement when I share a an image compared to sharing a text only post.…
A New and FREE E-course just for you :)
Hello Beautiful! February is here and I’ve been in full on creation mode since January began. I’m hoping you’ve been nourishing your own creative inner self too! I’ve just finished an intensive weekend course called Pattern Camp by Jessica Swift. I loved every second of learning new things. Being a student again took me back to thinking about when I was a teacher myself. I educated young minds here in Nova Scotia for ten years. I loved every second of it. I’m certain that’s why I’m so excited about a new e-course I’ve developed with my very good friend and…
Happy New Year to You – Screen Savers for Your Computer & Mobile Devices
It’s a time of new beginnings. New ideas. Dreams. Plans. As we enter into 2015, I’m so excited for what’s possible. I had amazing feedback from you last month with the wallpaper screensavers I created for you! I was inspired this morning to create three more choices for you for January. Here’s my favorite on my iPad: Enjoy & please share with your friends! All you need to do is click on the one you’d like to download (it’ll open in a new window), then simply right click, save as, and then download to your device. Once it’s saved, go into your screen saver settings to…
Five Things You May Be Missing on Your Contact Page (and How They Can Improve Your Client On-boarding Process & Bottom Line)
One of the pages on a newly designed or redesigned website that often isn’t given as much thought as the essential about, services, or portfolio page is your contact page. The page that people land when they’re ready to reach out to you. Some web visitors will land here after spending time getting to know you either on your website or through social media or even in person. I believe there are five things that most online entrepreneurs miss out on when creating this page that can impact how you bring new clients into your process and can impact your bottom line in…
December Treats for You – Screen Savers for your computer and mobile devices
It’s December and for me this is a time of quiet reflection. When I pause to think about the amazing people who’ve come into my life in the past year. This year I’m grateful for the incredible women who chose me to design their online home. It’s a time of year for me to be grateful for all the goodness I’ve seen, felt, heard, and witnessed. It’s the time of year where I find myself spending extra time on Pinterest, curating inspiration for next year. In early November, I was lucky enough to reconnect with one of my best friends from…
A Digital DNA Design for Insightful Gail Gaspar
Today I have the privilege of introducing you to Gail Gaspar. Gail is a co-active coach who helps her clients create the lifestyle they crave in the “next-stage” of their lives. Through her own eye-opening transformation, she designed a process of Leading True that enables her clients to navigate business building and career changes with a fulfilling lifestyle outcome in mind. Gail fully believes it is possible to reinvent yourself with a renewed sense of purpose at any stage of life. Don’t you just love that? Let’s meet Gail and get inspired: What’s the best way to bottom line what…
A Digital DNA Design for the Beautiful Monica Faux-Kota
Today I’d like to introduce you to Monica Faux-Kota. Monica is a soul-sister. She’s equal parts intuitive, compassionate, genuine, and nurturing. Her web design journey took a little longer than most of my clients. She came to me looking for a dream site for her massage therapy practice. The certifications, courses, and creds Monica has under her belt combined with her passion for supporting women on their journey makes her speciality in empowering women to be the best they can be a perfect fit for her loving personality. One of the things I’ve come to love about working with Monica is that she never stops…
A Digital DNA Design for the Insightful Lorena Knapp
Today I’d like to introduce you to Lorena Knapp. Lorena is an Accountability Coach specializing in helping people identify their next steps and creating a plan of action to move forward. What would you be doing if you weren’t waiting for someday? An Accountability Coach (like Lorena!) will help you identify what’s holding you back and create a plan of action to help you move forward. The thing I love about Lorena is that she walks the walk and talks the talk. She’s a dream chaser and helps her clients chase their own big dreams. Her upcoming group program, Big Life Accountability Support Team…
Customizing and Personalizing your Opt-In Process using MailChimp
Imagine this: Melanie (who happens to be your most perfect client, though neither of you know that yet!) is clicking around online. She’s searching for just what you have to offer. She spends time with your website and gets more and more drawn in as she scans through your site. She reads your last couple of blog posts and feels an instant connection with you. She’s not quite ready to buy what you’re offering yet but she’s very interested to see how your services might be exactly what she’s been searching for. She spies your newsletter sign up, is intrigued…
A Digital DNA Design for the brilliant Michelle MacLean
Today I’d like to introduce you to Michelle MacLean. Michelle works primarily with women who are struggling with the effects of sugar. She helps them reclaim their inner sweetness and let go of sugar for good. Her new signature service, The Sugar Shift, is an eight-week transformational program in exploring how you think and feel about your body, about food, and about sugar. By signing up to Michelle’s newsletter, you’ll receive her free primer workbook, or Module 0 of the Sugar Shift, with 4 powerful exercises to figure out if you are ready for a Sugar Shift. I adore how this site came…
