Simple is better

Are you selling stuff you're not that excited about? (Plus, am I leaving Substack?)

It's been a hot, busy week. We're just coming out of a heat wave here in Sweden that's completely wrecked my sleep and wellbeing. So I've taken it easy at work. Most of my focus lately have been on my pro bono Business Makeovers. I finished another one this week, a project that's been so much fun to work on, and that I'm excited to showcase on the website soon.

I'm realizing more and more how much I've missed this type of work. Stretching my creative muscles and using my entire design- and copywriting toolbox. Analyzing, brainstorming, and problem-solving someone else's business, helping them improve and feel more confident. With all of the projects I've done so far, I've felt myself getting a bit jealous of my client's businesses... As well as really wanting to buy what they sell. I guess that's how you know you've hit the mark. 😅

I'm continuing to iterate on this service as I go, which feels really good actually. I used to believe I had to a) offer a variety of services to suit every potential client and all of their potential needs, and b) know exactly what I was going to do from the start, and stick with it. But now I'm thinking I'll do the opposite: double down on just this one service, make it as valuable and well-communicated as I can, and let it evolve as I go.

What a relief.

Simplifying always makes me feel so much better than overthinking things and spreading myself thin. And I invite you to ask yourself as well:

What products or services are you TRULY excited about? And which ones do you offer more out of obligation or because you feel you "should"?

Why not experiment with doubling down on just one or a few things, as see what that does to your energy, and your results? There's no need to get it perfect from the start. Just listen to your gut, and to your audience/ideal clients, and tweak as you go. Of course, sometimes the only way to get there might be to try out several different things. In which case, do that for a while, knowing you’ll simplify later when you’ve gathered intel and gotten clear on your own preferences.

On the topic of simplifying, I'm about to go on vacation. I plan to take one to two weeks completely off, and then work at a slower pace ("workation mode") for the rest of the summer. Newsletters might be sparser during this time.

I've pressed pause on paid subscriptions and opened up the archives.

You might notice, I've moved my non-newsletter content off Substack and put it on my website. Might be a bad decision, but to be honest, I'm having mixed feelings about Substack. I both love it…and kind of want to be off it. 🙄

I don't want to become too ingrained or associated with any particular platform or brand. I value my independence. And the more of my "stuff" is on external platforms, the more anxious I feel.

There is a crisis of trust right now in creative industries and the creator economy. A.I. features being rolled out everywhere and basically forced on you, tech companies competing with each other to the detriment of their customers, subscription prices going up, creatives' work being exploited for profit... I find myself growing almost a bit paranoid about the platforms and tools I rely on in my business. And more and more reluctant to put too many eggs in one basket.

Substack, although free, and easy, and lovely in many ways, seem like they're trying to be everything to everyone right now. Which makes me feel increasingly like they're not a perfect fit for me and my business. None of the recent changes and features are things I'm excited about, quite the contrary. I don't need yet another platform to receive DMs on. I don't want a bunch of A.I. features in the editor.

I'm not entirely sure what to do yet, if I will stay or if I will go (again.) But as I'm figuring it out: I'm keeping paid subscriptions off and the archive open. And if you've recently bought a paid subscription and now you're like "HEY!" Just reach out to me and I'll refund you. 😊

Alright, let's say goodbye for now. I hope you're enjoying your summer, and I'll see you again in a few weeks!

With love,

---

Some favorite things lately:

• Just started reading Dead Silence, by S.A. Barnes. A sci-fi horror story set in space. What's not to like? And I got sucked into it right away. Been in a reading slump lately so this was just what I needed.

• Ash Ambirge's latest, "How to sell the sh*t out of your art":

  How to Sell the Sh*t Out of Your Art: 40 Things I've Learned in 40 Years as a Creative Writer

  "Most of the time, creatives describe themselves with vague, obscure, cryptic terms, trying really hard to sound unique & profound. But, guess what: nobody hears “life activation coach” and thinks to themselves, “oh my god, I so need that!” So, make sure the words you use are the same ones your customers are using."

  👏🏻 The latter half of this post is behind a paywall, but well worth the $5 to unlock, in my opinion.

• Kelsey Rodriguez's video about Cara as "Instagram killer":

  Watch this if you are an artist wondering about "where to post your art online". There are so many important points well said here. The most important one being: Forget about platforms. Forget about what other artists are doing. You should show your art wherever your ideal customer is the most likely to see it and want to buy it.

  That likely won't be on Cara, since it's a community for artists, not a place where regular people go to buy art. Or where industry employers go to casually browse for artists to hire.

  Friends, we can't go on blindly posting our art all over the internet without a plan. Strategy comes first. 😊 That's why my video on marketing is 34 minutes long and refuses to give quick, simple answers.

• Speaking of art, have you seen Djamila Knopf's work? Is it not the most stunning, gorgeous, dreamy, and adorable you've ever seen?

  Almost cried when I saw this, because it's basically me:

  

• But I know your most pressing question must be: "Which Korean reality shows are you watching right now, Louise?" Well let me tell you. We're watching Siren: Survive the Island on Netflix. 24 female police officers, firefighters, bodyguards, soldiers, athletes and stuntwomen team up by profession to compete for survival on a remote island. Absolutely genius concept, and So. Much. Fun.

If you're an artist, check out my self-paced courses on drawing and watercolor painting:

If you run a creative business and are tired of the social media hustle, I have a 44-page guide + workbook called Calm Marketing you might find useful:

I help independent creatives take their businesses to the next level with my Creative Business Audits & Makeovers. If you would like to work with me one-on-one, this is the way. Limited spots over the summer, but some are available. 👋🏻