Keeping things in balance!

How do you…?

*Manage your time…most importantly
*Have enough time to do your work, love what you do, and still have time for YOU!
*Keep a healthy balance in your life

Recently having become overwhelmed by the responsiveness of potential customers and having to turn some away, because I just didn’t have enough time, made me sit back and think about this, unfortunate, but good!, dilemma I have been faced with. “How am I going to get it all done, done well, on time, and still have time to do other activities that I enjoy?” 

We all need that ME time. Time to do nothing, go for a cup of coffee with a friend, exercise, listen to music, dance, read, play with your dog, spend time with your family!

Small business, big world

 

…let’s face it.  In today’s world, many small businesses may find it difficult to break into the greater universe. However, in my experience, the right exposure and key words in marketing your “brand” make all the difference!

It all started with creating my very own Facebook page for increasing my visibility – I was able to “invite my friends” to “like” my page. Wow! In a matter of days I had close to 50 likes. Now I’m at 225. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashions-by-Tamara/229784013701474?ref=hl

 Ok, so then I wanted to create a more professional version of my services, so I created a website, for free. I just got my domain 2 years ago!  http://fashionsbytamara.com/

 Not stopping there, I began to blog about my business, giving it a person spin.  I actually really like my blog…hope you do too. http://fashionsbytamara.blogspot.com/

 Now, many years ago, probably when it began to be the “thing”, I created a Twitter account. I signed up in 2009 and my first “tweet” was an entry about the Jimmy Fund walk I was about to do. Thinking, that all my then followers (maybe 5 at the time) would re-tweet my post and I’d raise a ton of money! That didn’t happen. I didn’t really use it much until recently when I really learned how to use it for my business. It’s still not my favorite form of social media for my business, but I am gaining followers, so who knows where it will take me! https://twitter.com/tamarakenney

Oh yes, then there’s Instagram (yes I have one for my business as well as personal), Alignable – where you can connect with local businesses, and local advertising (which I don’t get ANY business from, but I like to support schools and organizations in my town). I even put myself on YELP, and have been found that way too!

 So with all this going on, and making sure I use the right “tags” on my blog and twitter accounts, and from a recommendation of another small business owner in my town, I make sure I keep my Facebook business page current with at least one post a week, and pictures of my work as well.  I am told, and it’s true because I’ve googled myself, that when certain specific words are typed in a search, my Facebook page comes up as the #1 search at the top of the page!

 Try it! (buzz words: Alterations, Bridal, Melrose, Seamstress)

The infamous purple dress

Jennifer was going to be the maid of honor for her sister's wedding in October 2014. A very special day indeed. And for this day she chose a dress that was a shade of purple, with a lace overlay. Let me back up a few steps....she had taken the dress to be altered at the shop where it was purchased. They had butchered the hem and didn't complete any of the other alterations they said they would do! She left the shop distressed and unhappy, with a dress that was a total disaster. They searched around for someone to "fix" the hemline and complete the rest of the alterations, and found me through an online search. They came to me in hopes that I could repair the damage that had been done, and salvage this beautiful dress. I did!

Jennifer was so happy with the work that I had done, that she asked if I would be able to alter the dress again, after her weight loss surgery, to be worn at another wedding in June 2015. Sure, I'd love to!!! I asked her to wait until about a month before the wedding. Fast forward to April 2015. She emails me - subject line "the infamous purple dress" -  I had been waiting for her email, and so happy to have finally gotten it!.

She arrives for her first fitting, excited and noticeably (50 pounds!!!) lighter from when I saw her last! She looks fantastic! She tried the dress on, I'm already pinning the waist in 4 inches at least! Take the length up too, she asks...Her next fitting, I'm taking in the waist some more! I am so proud of this girl and her determination. Finally she comes to pick it up just days before the wedding and it looks amazing on her! She's gonna rock this party dress!

Here she is, before and after!