Business love and learnings 2020 - Year 2
Gee Wizz what a year. Year 2 in business as an agency owner.
Having taken the jump into this world I can still say I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve learnt a great deal about how I want to run my business, how to manage multiple clients, projects, collaborators, contractors and more, all whilst staying afloat during a global pandemic.
It’s been mental, but also mesmerising. Just like last year, I want to reflect on how the year has been so that I can celebrate the moments, see what didn’t quite go to plan and why so that I can learn from it and better myself and my business this year.
But it’s not all about me, I’m hoping by sharing my experiences I can inspire or help anyone else who is interested in bettering their own business journey.
What went well in the second year of business? - The business love
1 | Designed and launched 6 brands and 6 Squarespace websites
I’ve added more projects to the KSD family… 6 new visual brand identities and 6 new Squarespace websites to be exact. Some of this year’s projects have been my signature brand and Squarespace website design package, which is always by far the perfect dream project as can get under the skin of the brand and business and really help my client with everything from designing every element of their vision to helping with marketing and promoting their launch.
Here’s a quick recap of the wonderful work that’s crossed my design desk:
Happy Comms (Branding and Squarespace website design)
Futurum Group (Branding and Squarespace website design)
IELTS Intelligence (Branding - moodboard only)
Georgie + Me (Super Squarespace website design)
ReCoVa-19 (Branding and Squarespace website design)
Yuj-Yoga (Visual brand identity package with additional iconography)
MWA (Branding and Squarespace website design)
Secret Project to be revealed in due course (Visual brand identity and newsletter template design)
Third Culture Collective (Branding and Squarespace website design)
2 | Cambridge Social Media Day 2020 - Conference speaking opportunity
I was over the moon to be asked to share my knowledge and expertise at the Cambridge Social Media Day 2020 as a Speaker!
With all the madness of a global pandemic, Lenka Koppova, founder of Cambridge Social Day, partnered up with Shifties and took the 2-day conference online and created a wonderful space that focused on “Growing Your Online Communities and helping you to deliver an Outstanding Customer Experience on your Social Media to Grow Your Business and Achieve Your Goals!”
It was an absolute joy to have been a speaker covering “Squarespace: The right CMS for your business?”, with key learnings and takeaways which included:
Understanding what a CMS is, and a break down of some common jargon
Learning what you should keep in mind when choosing a CMS for your business
Gaining a better understanding of 3 of the main platforms
Focusing on Squarespace - why it’s a great platform and one that should be on your radar!
If you missed it or need a recap you can still catch up!
3 | Outsourcing - Contractors + Collaborators
Super pleased to say I took my own advice from last years learnings and increased my partner collaborations. I also took a massive step for myself and my business and outsourced tasks as well.
A wonderful situation arose which meant I could not only help another business owner but also help my business grow. It was a win-win situation and I’m super pleased that Sammi Tarbit came across my radar at the right time!
I also learnt that outsourcing the tasks I don’t enjoy doing as much (like sorting out my Mailchimp) was a massive weight lifted off my shoulders, pleased to say Kate Levitt took that off my hands, it’s been great to get that finally ticked off my list.
This being said, I’m always on the lookout for designers and complementary service partners that I can collaborate with, so if you have an offering that you think would be a good fit for my business, please do get in touch and let me know. If you don't ask you won’t know, so drop me a line!
4 | The loveliest clients
It goes without saying that my clients are by far the loveliest, wonderful people to collaborate with. Without them, I wouldn’t have a business and so I am forever grateful that during such turbulent times they have been solid supporters of KSD!
I’ve had some super-secret client work this year too, which is just amazing and I can’t wait to share more on this soon - when I am allowed! Watch this space ;)
5 | Repeat client work
This one will never get old! Repeat client work is something I always enjoy doing, especially when I know that what I have originally helped them to create is being used to its full potential.
6 | Squarespace partner of the affiliate program
Super pleased that as well as being a Squarespace Circle Member (that has benefits, like 20% off the first year of Website or Online Store annual plans, and a 6 month trial period), I’m now also a partner of the affiliate program.
7 | Fully booked months in advance
Just like my first year in business, I’m tremendously grateful in that that yet again, I’m fully booked months in advance (officially taking bookings for June/July 2021). I can’t deny a lot of hard work goes into making this happen, as well as being super organised and having a streamlined process.
WHAT DIDN’T GO SO WELL? - THE LEARNINGS!
1 | Finding time for my own business - Global pandemic + homeschooling
One word. Covid-19.
I don’t really think this needs me to say anymore, but as with I’m sure a lot of business/agency owners, finding time for my own business was well and truly out of the window.
2 | Mental space - Global pandemic + homeschooling
My mental space also went out of the window, thanks to Covid-19.
If anything wearing all the hats and keeping all the plates spinning did not bode well for my mental health and space, however, I am still fortunate for what cards I have been dealt and for that I am forever grateful.
3 | Listen to my business gut + scope creep
Every time. Listening to my business gut is definitely one that I learnt the hard way during this year.
I lost out on a potentially wonderful opportunity because I took a different route on a pitch which lead me to not winning the contract.
Another learning is being firmer with myself when it comes to scope creep!
4 | Launching a new offering
Although I haven’t launched anything new (yet!), I did almost launch a new service offering and separate product offering - that’s correct, I said PRODUCT offering.
I’ve learnt it takes A LOT to get anything new off the ground, especially if you want it done properly and so rather than just ticking a box and getting it out there, I’ve decided to properly plan out the “new thing” - create it, market it, and launch it...later.
5 | Attending fewer meetups
I love attending networking events and conferences, and anything I can basically learn at.
This year, came with its challenges that those in-person meetings couldn’t happen so everything that could, went online, which is fantastic! The learning is that I needed to be super-duper organised to get involved so unfortunately, I couldn’t manage to attend as I’d liked.
Alas, maybe next year I’ll double my attendance and be really annoying and be everywhere… hah… who knows!
Thank you
… and woo! There you go! The love and learnings of my second year as an agency owner.
If you made it to the end, thank you for reading, here’s to the next year! :)