Kasey, the designer at Pen + Posh, is the kind of businesswoman I strive to become in so many ways. I’ll let her words tell her story:

“With a formal education in marketing, and combined background in Internet Marketing and graphic design, Kasey launched her first Etsy shop with zero followers to her name. She was able to rise to the top 1% of shops selling on Etsy, replacing her corporate income, in the first 6 months after launching. The Pen and Posh SVG shop has earned over six-figures in revenue, 54,861 sale orders and 3,000 average five star reviews!

The best part? Every single sale is automated, giving her time to care for two feisty toddlers and live the flexible lifestyle she once thought only existed for others…

Professional Headshots for Business Owners in Visalia

Every business owner needs a professional headshot at some point, even if you do not own a service-based business. Showing your brand’s unique personality through its team is a great opportunity to set your business apart from other competitors. From countless interactions with entrepreneurs all over the Central Valley area from Fresno to Visalia and beyond, I know that a lot of business owners take a one-and-done approach, never updating their first headshot…

Case Study: Google Ads Campaign for The Plush Flush

Back in 2022, the owner of The Plush Flush contacted me for marketing help. His company rents and delivers luxury, portable bathroom trailers for weddings, corporate events, and other private functions when bathrooms are not readily accessible or the available options are less than the high standards desired by his clients. At the time, his company was running some Google Ads with limited success, and he wanted to improve his ads results as well as the overall search engine visibility of the website.

Here is what I did, as well as the results and how I was able to help the business’ online presence.

The One Mindset Shift I Needed

I think all of us tend to play the ‘what if’ game from time to time, or even on a daily basis. We play mental games to try and prepare ourselves for the worst case scenarios…

What if I lose my job or my business fails?
What if that person never speaks to me again?
What if I messed up in too big of a way to ever come back?
What if…the list goes on, and I’m sure you have no trouble filling in the blanks with your own fears and worries.

BusinessMaria Grace PhotographyOctober 31, 2022business owner, small business owner, small business

The Best Thing to Do for Your Small Business

Marketing options are absolutely endless, and it’s just one of so many business decisions you need to make every month, week, and day. I have felt overwhelmed at times trying to juggle everything, from taxes to advertising to client relationships and more. At the end of the day, though, the question is simple: what is the best thing you can do for your small business?

Luckily, in terms of marketing, the answer is even simpler. It’s not about the exact right amount of money spent, or even the perfect design for your website. It’s all about who your customer is. So, in short, the answer to the question is this:

How to Prepare for Professional Headshots

Let’s face it: almost nobody is a natural in front of a camera, and it’s not generally a normal part of life to have professional pictures taken! Most people can avoid having this done, but business owners usually need professional headshots for a variety of purposes, from LinkedIn to the website, to social media content. While the look and feel have changed over the years, the principle of business headshots stays the same: look confident, professional, and relatable to your ideal client.

If you’re nervous about taking pictures for your business, here are a few of my top tips on how to prepare for your professional headshots:

5 Marketing Ideas that Cost $0

One complaint I often hear about marketing: it’s expensive. On the one hand, I truly believe that great marketing will pay off far more than any monetary investment you make but on the other hand, I completely understand that everything is expensive (especially right now!) and a lot of entrepreneurs and small business owners are constantly looking for ways to cut costs.

The good news is that good marketing does not have to mean big money, and since I regularly work within the constraints of a tight budget, I have learned a lot of free marketing ideas over the years. So if you need a few easy and free ways to marketing your business, here are my top 5:

One 5-Minute Change that Saved Me Hours

A few weeks ago, I was totally overwhelmed. I had just picked up some new clients, increased hours a LOT for Easton Outdoors, and a lot of life was happening in between the working hours, not to mention the intense amount of training I’ve opted for leading up to the Boston Marathon. As I juggled everything I had to do day in and day out, I knew that I either had to make some changes or offload a few things from my plate. I know myself well enough to realize that cutting back would be a pretty drastic measure if it had to happen, so it wasn’t my first choice. But something had to give…

Three Business Investments to Make This Year

Every year there are dozens of possibilities for business purchases and investments, and the beginning of the year usually brings a lot of those decisions to light - along with the cost of buying the things you’ve been eyeing for awhile! With a lot of opportunities before you it can be easy to get overwhelmed, so I’m here to help. Here are my three recommendations for the best investments to make in your small business as the year begins.

1) Hire a CPA…

Four Apps I Can't Live Without

Let’s admit it: we’re all on our phones all day long. While I could write (and have read!) a dozen things about some potentially negative side effects, I also find my phone to be an incredibly valuable tool for business. I have gotten better about not being on my phone during non-work hours, so I use it to the fullest for my business during the week.

Over the years I have found some incredibly useful apps and tools that could help any small business owner - and a lot of non-business owners as well! Here are four apps I can’t live without…

BusinessMaria Grace PhotographyNovember 22, 2021business owner, small business owner

How to Be More Productive

Awhile ago my sister asked me how I am so productive and efficient during the day. I laughed at that thought, because I often feel like I’m running around with constant interruptions. My days look so different from each other, and working right now is the hardest it has ever been. There are a lot of factors beyond my control that add some disorder and difficulty to my life as far as being productive is concerned.

But then I realized that maybe, just maybe, this is one of my strong suits. As chaotic as I feel inside, I know my business has remained strong and most people probably have not noticed much of a difference. I am still adding new clients while I serve my current clients. I continue to actively learn more about SEO, Google ads, and social media marketing in general. Of course my personal life hasn’t slowed down, and neither has my running. With that in mind, I began to think about how exactly I can accomplish this in the midst of life upheavals. I came up with a few pointers…

How to Get More Done Every Week

Productivity. It’s a word that can bring up a lot of emotions, both good and bad, that may change from day to day or month to month. When we are at our best and most productive we can feel accomplished, powerful, and efficient. But we cannot live life at the top of our game all the time, and as a result there will be seasons when being productive is not a consistent part of our lives.

I first started this business when I was working full-time at another job, and it didn’t take long to realize that I had to make the most of the limited time I was given each day after work. I tried and failed in a few different ways, but over time I have streamlined a lot of my processes to make sure I can get done what I need to in the time frame I’m given…

Top Books of 2021: Part 1

As an avid reader, I’m constantly looking for book recommendations that encompass business, good stories, or a mix of both. And as I pore through these books, some good and some not-so-great, I want to share the best of the best with you! Whether you want to take your small business mindset to the next level, read a good memoir, or immerse yourself in some captivating fiction, here are the top books of 2021 so far.

New Squarespace Website: Dr. Pamm, Psychotherapist & Mindfulness Teacher

As much as I love new businesses and working with them to establish an online presence, I also get so excited when an established business owner who has had a website for years decides it’s time to update. This isn’t an easy decision - it’s hard to let go of something you love! - but the world we live in is a mobile-friendly, responsive one that demands a sleek, modern website. So, without further ado, here is the latest Squarespace website launch:

Dr. Pamm, Psychotherapist & Mindfulness Teacher

New Squarespace Website: Beacon of Hope Psychological Services

As an avid user of Squarespace’s platform since 2014, I can attest to the fact that it has grown and changed a lot since then - but in a lot of very good ways! In the past year, I have been able to build several client websites using Squarespace, so I thought it was about time to showcase a few of them! I’ll talk about the advantages of building a website on Squarespace a little bit later, but before I get into the technical details, I’m thrilled to introduce:

Beacon of Hope Psychological Services

The Best Way to Utilize your Google Business Page

First things first: if you don’t yet have a Google My Business page, click here and get yours set up now. Even if you aren’t a brick-and-mortar store (I’m not, either!), it’s extremely important for Search Engine Optimization AND for business in general to have your page set up. Once you’re done, come back here to learn exactly how to make the most of your Business page on Google.

Now that you have an official Google presence, here are ways to optimize your Google My Business page, increase your SEO, and earn new clients through this simple and free tool…

Why You Should Pay Attention to Your 404 Page

Lest I make any assumptions, I realize that there is a strong possibility you don’t even know what a 404 page is - let alone why you should pay attention to it! Every website has a 404 page. It’s the landing page for any broken links or misspellings in the URL. For instance, if you visit www.nike.com/1234, the page doesn’t actually exists…and you are quickly redirected to this page instead.

You’ve definitely seen a similar page before on multiple websites, letting you know that you’ve gone somewhere that doesn’t really exist. For most people, this is a standard page that says something like ‘Page not found.’ But what if you could actually use this page to market and brand your business? I’m here to argue that no web page should go to waste - even one that doesn’t technically exist!

From Photography to Online Marketing: My Story

When I first got called a serial side hustler, I was a little taken aback. Owning my own business seems like such a natural way of life right now (it’s been over 4 years since I’ve done anything else!) that I hardly think of it as anything different. And yet, this life I lead was started by a side hustle, a dream that many can relate to, whether you’re working hard to build a retail business, selling oils, or hustling hard online to create a life that you love.

It was with this concept in mind that I talk to Josie from the Josieology Podcast a short time ago, as I relived my experience of growing and launching into both my first and second side hustles - because not too long ago (a year this month!) I finally decided to transition from wedding photography to online marketing as my main focus. What a year it has been…

What I'm Reading Lately | Summer 2020

If you’ve been around here for a minute, you know that I’m an avid reader. For me, hard copy is the way to go - while I understand the convenience of e-books and audio books, I want to hold paper in my hands and physically turn the pages. Maybe I’m old school, but I swear it helps me both concentrate better and enjoy what’s in front of me even more.

During quarantine I’ve been reading a ton of books. Most of the time I gravitate towards good stories, usually fiction, that take my mind off the here and now and let me escape a little bit. With the events of the world going on right now, my priorities have shifted a bit as I’ve worked to educate myself on the history of civil rights and the Black Lives Matter movement. Additionally, as I added a new member to my team, I realized how important it is to learn how to be a good manager. I’ve managed people in the past, but I want to do it well, and I have a lot of learning to do.

Yet, of course, I want to read fun books, too, so here’s an even mix of all three. Take a dive into one or all of them as you add to your summer reading list for 2020!

The Three Best Podcasts for Online Businesses

I tend to listen to podcasts when I have a little extra time during the day…and, actually, when I feel like I have less time than usual. Let me explain…

When I have more downtime (which, I’ll be honest, is rare), I might sit and listen to a podcast and occasionally take notes. I spend time really focusing on what each word says, and thinking through it all. However, on most days I am rushing from one thing to the next, just trying to fit it all in. On days like that, I turn on a podcast whenever I am doing something with my hands but not my head.

If I’m trying to feed my toddler lunch, there’s almost no way I can listen clearly, but if I’m prepping dinner while she plays outside or I’m making graphics for blogs like this while she naps, I often turn on a podcast. Sometimes, admittedly, my mind wanders and I don’t soak in all the information, but every little bit helps, and I love learning while I’m doing other day-to-day tasks.

So what podcasts have helped me grow as an entrepreneur? Here are the top 3 podcasts I would recommend for any online business…

Beacon of Hope Psychological Services

Maria Grace, LLC
Online Marketing Solutions for Small Businesses
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday; 8am-5pm

Copyright 2023 Maria Grace, LLC

Beacon of Hope Psychological Services

Maria Grace, LLCOnline Marketing Solutions for Small BusinessesHours of Operation: Monday-Friday; 8am-5pm

Maria Grace, LLC
Online Marketing Solutions for Small Businesses
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday; 8am-5pm