February 2023 – IttyBiz

Month: February 2023

Mailbag Monday: “Should I pay for the logo?”

February 27, 2023
Mailbag Mondays
by Naomi Dunford

Dear Naomi,

I have two businesses. One is a local service business I have been running for seven years, and the other is new, “the project of my heart” as you call it.

I have a small question, but it has been nagging at me and distracting me.

I really want a nice logo for my new business!

My first temporary logo was an image I found in the public domain. I liked it but it was a placeholder until I could get something better. My next logo was something inexpensive that I really liked but after buying it I found out I had commercial rights, but not exclusive rights. Other people could have it and use it and I do not want that.

I’ve found a local designer with a perfect style for me. I really like their process and their work. I’d like to go ahead with it, but it’s $750!

I want to do this but I’m conflicted. That is a lot of money in my part of the world. I’ve been conscientious and careful about bootstrapping and DIYing everything I can so this would be a very lavish splurge for me…

Naomi Explains… Cold vs. Warm Traffic

February 7, 2023
Naomi Explains Marketing
by Naomi Dunford

Listen & subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts

Everybody talks about “cold traffic” and “warm traffic”, but what do they even MEAN? What’s the difference? Where do these people come from? What about ads and social media? And what do we do with this information? In today’s episode, I’ll explain it all.

Just click play, and I’ll meet you there.

(Click “Continue Reading” for full transcript & shownotes.)

Mailbag Monday: “It’s all been done before.”

February 6, 2023
Mailbag Mondays
by Naomi Dunford

Hi Naomi,

I sat on the fence about starting my business for a long time – too long, it seems. Now that I’ve finally gotten started, every idea I have has already been done by somebody else. Every product idea I have has several existing products like it already on the market. Every service I think of is already saturated. Now that I finally got off my indecisive butt, literally everything I think of has been done by somebody else.

What do I do when it’s all been done before? How do I find something actually new? And if I can ask a related question, what do I do if I can’t find something new and unique? I don’t want to quit before I really start, but I don’t want to be a copycat either.

Signed,

Late to the party

Hey Fashionably Late!

I’ve decided to change your name because I find my version much more empowering.

This is a great question – thanks for writing in. This comes up a lot and I am delighted to put this tenacious issue to bed, once and for all. I will do so through the power of allegory.