Online solopreneur life

Having an online shop is not as easy as it sounds. It involves quite a lot of work , and it can be daunting if you are a 'solopreneur' like me.

Things I have to do include:

Doing the illustrations.
Adapting those illustrations to the objects they are going to be printed on.
Research prices, times and production of those objects -and order them.
Deciding on packaging, and packing them!Also stocking up envelopes ,bubble wrap, tape, pens and labels.
Keep track of finances (I am terrible at this).
Manage social media accounts on Twitter(I don't), Facebook (barely), Instagram (most days). I am also the one who ends up deciding on content, producing it, researching hashtags, trying to interact with other users...
Uploading listings on Etsy , writing descriptions, finding the right keywords.
Photography : sometimes my friend helps me with the Etsy photos and some social media ones. She does some editing as well!
Search for ideas for more illustrations.
Customer service: posting orders, replying e-mails.

I am juggling this with a full time job in central London, with its commute included! Plus some outings, housekeeping stuff, cooking some of the meals, grocery shopping, holidays and some lazy days added to the mix.

So next time you look at an indie maker's online shop, think about all that's going on behind the scenes -which is a lot.

And if you are a solopreneur like me, pat yourself on the back -you are amazing!

Comments

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