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Hey Bootstrapper,

Each week, I deliver a fresh, feminist-inspired, creative marketing email to your inbox...let's dive in!

Prefer to listen to this podcast style? You're in luck! Check it out here!

Last week, I read *yet another* email about a business owner who lost their job, started a business, and immediately was supporting their family – making it sound effortless and quick.

I instantly rolled my eyes and clicked DELETE. Probably should have unsubscribed, but I'll get to that later...

Because here's the unfiltered truth that almost nobody in the online business world talks about: Building a successful business takes TIME. Like, a lot of it.

And pretending otherwise feels... honestly? Kind of condescending to everyone who's in the trenches doing the real work.

Don't get me wrong, having a gorgeous brand and website (like what I create for my clients) absolutely helps accelerate your growth. But it's not a magic wand. And I refuse to pretend it is.

So, today, let's talk about what actually happens AFTER you invest in a boldly YOU brand and a strategic website. You know, the part most business gurus conveniently skip over in their "6-figure in 60 days" promises.

First, you'll probably experience what I call the "new website high" – that amazing feeling when your brand and online home finally match your expertise. Your confidence soars. You share it EVERYWHERE. You feel legit in a way that you didn't before.

But then comes the real work: figuring out how to market your business in a way that feels good to YOU.

Nobody tells you that marketing is a relationship you'll be in for the lifetime of your business. And, like any relationship, it takes time to figure out what works.

When I first started my business, I tried everything the "experts" told me to do:

• I made reels that made me cringe
• I wrote captions that sounded nothing like me
• I forced myself into networking events that drained my energy
• I spent money on Facebook ads before I even had a clear offer

And you know what happened? I burned out. Hard.

The turning point came when I stopped trying to follow everyone else's advice and started paying attention to what actually felt good to ME.

I discovered I love writing these emails. I enjoy having real conversations on Instagram. I thrive in small groups or 1:1 connections. And guess what? The marketing strategies that aligned with my energy were the ones that actually worked.

So here's my actual, non-BS advice for what to do after you get that shiny new brand and website:

1. Give yourself permission to experiment: Try different marketing opportunities with curiosity rather than pressure. Notice which strategies energize you versus deplete you!
2. Expect seasons of growth and seasons of plateau: This is normal. I repeat: THIS IS NORMAL. These periods of slower progress are often crucial for reflection, refinement, and preparing for the next surge forward. And remember, what this looks like when you're just starting out will be very different from what it looks like when you're a seasoned business owner.
3. Focus on consistency over perfection: Showing up regularly on one channel beats sporadic activity across six platforms. And I don't mean that you have to post every day on Instagram or email your network 3x a week...just stick to one or a few things!
4. Track what's working: Not just in terms of metrics, but also: What feels sustainable? What connects you with people that you genuinely enjoy working with?
5. Remember that overnight success stories usually leave out crucial details: Like a partner who can support your entrepreneurial exploration or family money. Or a massive email list from a previous business. Or like ten years of behind-the-scenes work.

The truth? Even with the most magnificent brand and website on the planet (which, obviously, I'd love to help you create 😉), building a thriving business takes time, patience, and a whole lot of showing up when no one seems to be watching.

Just try to do what feels RIGHT to you!

Hey...if you don't mind, I'd love to know more about where you are at in your business (so I can best serve you)!

Freshly Baked ​The Female Founders Journal by Pearl Spark Pages: No matter how much you grow in business, does it still feel like you’re never quite “there”? Like you should be more confident, but doubt creeps in anyway? You’re not alone. Lisa Simone Richards is launching her Female Founders Journal! I had the pleasure of doing the branding for Pearl Spark Pages and the typography for the front cover. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy, and you should, too!!