Creatives On Fire® | How to Make Money Online Business Advice
Melanie Ferguson
The Go-To Podcast for Content Creators Who Want to Grow & Monetize their Online Business!
Check in each Monday to get your weekly dose of content creation inspiration!
Are you feeling defeated when it comes to creating content that both grows your audience and makes you money?
Do you stay awake at night wondering how to make more money without the constant hustle?
Wish you had more time and margin in your life?
Well listen, I'm Melanie Ferguson, a six-figure blog owner who's made many mistakes and felt the crushing weight and pressure of trying to do it all, growing my blog and social media to hundreds of thousands of followers, only to look up and have very little to no money to show for it.
Once I got focused and put a few key systems and strategies into place, everything changed for me. All of a sudden, I began to see consistent growth, I started making real money and had more time to do the things I want to do. Wanna learn how I did it?
Welcome to your Digital Office where you will:
*Get focused on Real Money Making Moves.
*Accelerate your online business growth.
*Learn from decades of experience and lessons passed down to you!
If you're ready, then grab your favorite notebook and pen. I'm about to show you how to take your online business to the next level and leave the overwhelm behind. Let's G-O!
Get ready to get your binge on!
Next Steps:
#1 Grab your copy of my new book Creatives on Fire : 71 Secrets to Making Money Online:
Each chapter in this book is crafted to guide you through different stages of building and growing an online business, from the foundational steps of getting started to more advanced strategies for scaling and monetizing. 👉 https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/book
#2 Join us over in Creatives on Fire HQ:
Your digital office for everything content creation: strategy, what's working now, feedback, and community. Inside this one-of-a-kind community you'll find:
The Revenue Desk — Weekly Strategy
The Workroom — Weekly Monday Live Meeting
Office Hours — Q&A + Hot Seat with Community members
The Break Room — Wins, Mindset, Casual chat 👉 https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/hq
#3 Book a personal business audit call:
Grab a spot on the calendar for us to take a deep dive into your creative business to find the missed opportunities, the areas for potential growth as well as put together a real strategy for you to work smarter not harder. Pick my brain and find out how I do things that are working for my business. Ask me anything. 👉 https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/one
Check in each Monday to get your weekly dose of content creation inspiration!
Are you feeling defeated when it comes to creating content that both grows your audience and makes you money?
Do you stay awake at night wondering how to make more money without the constant hustle?
Wish you had more time and margin in your life?
Well listen, I'm Melanie Ferguson, a six-figure blog owner who's made many mistakes and felt the crushing weight and pressure of trying to do it all, growing my blog and social media to hundreds of thousands of followers, only to look up and have very little to no money to show for it.
Once I got focused and put a few key systems and strategies into place, everything changed for me. All of a sudden, I began to see consistent growth, I started making real money and had more time to do the things I want to do. Wanna learn how I did it?
Welcome to your Digital Office where you will:
*Get focused on Real Money Making Moves.
*Accelerate your online business growth.
*Learn from decades of experience and lessons passed down to you!
If you're ready, then grab your favorite notebook and pen. I'm about to show you how to take your online business to the next level and leave the overwhelm behind. Let's G-O!
Get ready to get your binge on!
Next Steps:
#1 Grab your copy of my new book Creatives on Fire : 71 Secrets to Making Money Online:
Each chapter in this book is crafted to guide you through different stages of building and growing an online business, from the foundational steps of getting started to more advanced strategies for scaling and monetizing. 👉 https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/book
#2 Join us over in Creatives on Fire HQ:
Your digital office for everything content creation: strategy, what's working now, feedback, and community. Inside this one-of-a-kind community you'll find:
The Revenue Desk — Weekly Strategy
The Workroom — Weekly Monday Live Meeting
Office Hours — Q&A + Hot Seat with Community members
The Break Room — Wins, Mindset, Casual chat 👉 https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/hq
#3 Book a personal business audit call:
Grab a spot on the calendar for us to take a deep dive into your creative business to find the missed opportunities, the areas for potential growth as well as put together a real strategy for you to work smarter not harder. Pick my brain and find out how I do things that are working for my business. Ask me anything. 👉 https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/one
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 21, 2021 • 20min
26. Etsy Success with Lauren Kilgore
Are you an Etsy enthusiast, but don't know where to start when it comes to creating an online shop? My guest, Lauren Kilgore can help you with that. She's an Etsy guru that loves to help others achieve their own success by teaching in her private Facebook group and creating courses. Today, Lauren tells us how to find out what your audience is interested in and why Etsy is the best place to start selling your handmade goods. She also shares the story of how she got started and some great tips on how to get more followers and sell more merchandise! In 2014, Lauren Kilgore started creating beautiful handmade wreaths as a creative outlet and a modest side hustle. To increase her sales and followers, Lauren did her research, invested in business coaches, and applied her knowledge of accounting. Now, seven years later Lauren is known as an Etsy expert by the Creative community! Lauren shares her expertise through the Handmade Sellers University, featuring two flagship courses that she created and designed specifically for Etsy beginners and intermediates. The University also offers courses in creating Pinterest pins and SEO to increase traffic to your Etsy shop. Thanks for listening! I'd love to continue this conversation over on the Facebook Page or on Instagram. Talk to you soon! Content Planner for Creatives Creatives On Fire™️ Content Planner FUEL Group Creatives on Fire™ FUEL https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/episode26 SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW I am honored to share a new Blogging Creative on Fire each week on the podcast to bring you inspiration, behind-the-scenes secrets, and quality tips. I hope it is truly helpful for you. One of the best ways you can bless me in return is to subscribe to the show and leave a review. By subscribing, you allow each episode to be downloaded straight to your phone which helps the download numbers and ensures you never miss an episode. And when you leave a review, you help show others the value of what we provide! You can GO HERE to subscribe and review!
Sep 14, 2021 • 23min
25. Success Using Daily Videos with Sarah Brackenridge
Everyone knows that posting videos on social media can help boost your business by increasing your followers. What you might not know though is how much of an increase and over how long? For Sarah Brackenridge, the answer was 80,000 followers over a single year! Simply by posting 3 minute videos to Facebook every morning and going Live at random times on her page, she was able to create explosive growth for her business. Sarah joins me today to talk about her experience building connections and a community in the online space. She also shares some of the important lessons she has learned from running a brick and mortar store. Sarah Brackenridge is the creator of Redeemed Decor, an online business dedicated to DIY crafting tutorials, sales, and much more! Although she started out as a full time school teacher, Sarah had a gift for crafting and furniture flipping. She decided to go all-in on the creative world after people started showing interest in her projects and demanding more. In business for over 7 years now, Redeemed Decor actually had 2 brick and mortar storefront locations before transitioning 100% online. Not just a savvy business woman, Sarah is also a wife, mother of three, and a homeschool teacher for her kids. Thanks for listening! I'd love to continue this conversation over on the Facebook Page or on Instagram. Talk to you soon! Content Planner for Creatives Creatives On Fire™️ Content Planner FUEL Group Creatives on Fire™ FUEL https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/episode25 SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW I am honored to share a new Blogging Creative on Fire each week on the podcast to bring you inspiration, behind-the-scenes secrets, and quality tips. I hope it is truly helpful for you. One of the best ways you can bless me in return is to subscribe to the show and leave a review. By subscribing, you allow each episode to be downloaded straight to your phone which helps the download numbers and ensures you never miss an episode. And when you leave a review, you help show others the value of what we provide! You can GO HERE to subscribe and review!
Sep 7, 2021 • 21min
24. Growing a Direct Sales Business in the Online Space with Hiedi Scott
What are the benefits of working with a direct sales company? My friend Hiedi Scott is going to tell us today while she talks about her business DIYDreaming. Hiedi shares how she started her business and what contributed to it's rapid growth. We also discuss the teaching over selling strategy that she uses to be such a successful product promoter. In addition, Hiedi talks about how she has been able to combine her passions for crafting and Christianity by integrating her faith with her business. Hiedi Scott is the face of DIYDreaming, a company focused on teaching people how to create arts and crafts using products from direct sales businesses. Hiedi launched her business in 2019, starting with zero followers. Today she has over 120,000 followers on her Facebook page and 15,000 in her Facebook group. Although she is new to the world of online teaching, Hiedi has been working with direct sales companies since 1998. Through hard work and consistency, Hiedi has been able to expand her business rapidly and has videos and posts available on a multitude of social media platforms. Thanks for listening! I'd love to continue this conversation over on the Facebook Page or on Instagram. Talk to you soon! Content Planner for Creatives Creatives On Fire™️ Content Planner FUEL Group Creatives on Fire™ FUEL https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/episode24 SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW I am honored to share a new Blogging Creative on Fire each week on the podcast to bring you inspiration, behind-the-scenes secrets, and quality tips. I hope it is truly helpful for you. One of the best ways you can bless me in return is to subscribe to the show and leave a review. By subscribing, you allow each episode to be downloaded straight to your phone which helps the download numbers and ensures you never miss an episode. And when you leave a review, you help show others the value of what we provide! You can GO HERE to subscribe and review!
Aug 31, 2021 • 24min
23. How to Grow a Brick and Mortar Storefront Online using Memberships with Tracy Pounds
My friend, Tracy Pounds, has not one but FOUR paid memberships! how did she get there? Well, when the pandemic hit, Tracy made a massive pivot to the online space from her brick and mortar store and she succeeded! She used her knowledge of the types of customers she catered to in person and turned it into a membership empire! With some creative Live marketing and clever use of kits, Tracy has been able to grow four unique spaces where her clients can express their creativity and find a way to enjoy a sense of community, even when they can't get together in person. Tracy Pounds, or Miss Tracy Creates as she's professionally known, is the owner of the Little Blue House store and studio. Tracy used to teach art classes and do demonstrations in person out of her brick and mortar storefront, but then made the jump to the online world. Tracy started out her membership journey with the Page Builder's Clubhouse for scrap bookers and memory keepers. She has also created the Faith Journaling Experience for her bible journaling clients and the Napkin Club and Fabric Fan Club as well. These last two clubs also include kits that customers' have shipped to their homes on a monthly basis. With the launch of these additional revenue streams, Tracy has been able to keep The Little Blue House open, even through the hardships of the Covid 19 pandemic. Thanks for listening! I'd love to continue this conversation over on the Facebook Page or on Instagram. Talk to you soon! Content Planner for Creatives Creatives On Fire™️ Content Planner FUEL Group Creatives on Fire™ FUEL https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/episode23 SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW I am honored to share a new Blogging Creative on Fire each week on the podcast to bring you inspiration, behind-the-scenes secrets, and quality tips. I hope it is truly helpful for you. One of the best ways you can bless me in return is to subscribe to the show and leave a review. By subscribing, you allow each episode to be downloaded straight to your phone which helps the download numbers and ensures you never miss an episode. And when you leave a review, you help show others the value of what we provide! You can GO HERE to subscribe and review!
Aug 24, 2021 • 27min
22. LIVE SALE SUCCESS with Jennifer Hagenbuch
When the Covid 19 pandemic was putting so many brick and mortar stores out of business, Found For Home wasn't just surviving, it was thriving! How did it do it? My friend, Jennifer Hagenbuch, credits her business' growth to quickly pivoting and making genuine connections with her customers. She speaks with me today about how she made her Facebook Live events successful and the strategies she used to transition to the digital space. Jen also explains how she created an online community and her use of "micro influencers" to increase her site traffic. This episode is packed full of amazing tips and insights, so tune in! Jennifer Hagenbuch is the creator and President of Found For Home, a home décor store located both online and at physical storefront in Tallahassee, Florida. Before starting her business, Jennifer had been in banking for 20 years, working her way up from teller to senior management. Finally accepting that she had a talent for interior design, an eye for amazing pieces, and a way with people she opened her store in 2017. Although she started small and took her time growing, Jennifer was doing well with steady sales. Changes wrought by the pandemic forced Jen to get strategic and increase her online presence, resulting in the massive success Found For Home is today. Thanks for listening! I'd love to continue this conversation over on the Facebook Page or on Instagram. Talk to you soon! Content Planner for Creatives Creatives On Fire™️ Content Planner FUEL Group Creatives on Fire™ FUEL https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/episode22 SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW I am honored to share a new Blogging Creative on Fire each week on the podcast to bring you inspiration, behind-the-scenes secrets, and quality tips. I hope it is truly helpful for you. One of the best ways you can bless me in return is to subscribe to the show and leave a review. By subscribing, you allow each episode to be downloaded straight to your phone which helps the download numbers and ensures you never miss an episode. And when you leave a review, you help show others the value of what we provide! You can GO HERE to subscribe and review!
Aug 17, 2021 • 20min
21. Painting Her Way to Success with Amy Sadler
From working for others to working for herself, my guest today is an inspired painter and entrepreneur. Amy Sadler believes in hard work, taking the initiative, and reaching out to make connections. These principles have served her well in creating her business, Amy Sadler Designs and her working group Mica Mixology. Amy has harnessed her gift for mixing paints and colors to create a successful online business that has recently expanded to in-person events. Today we're going to talk about how Amy started her business, the pivots it has taken, and her plans for the future. Amy Sadler started out as a broke single mom in Missouri. After taking a few classes in painting, she quickly started getting jobs painting kitchens for people. Eventually she transitioned to the online space and started reaching out to make new connections. By believing in herself and taking risks, Amy has been able to expand her business by creating partnerships with brands and other artists and speakers. She now has a lucrative business and is writing a book on paint finishes and flipping furniture with the Michigan artist Rick Cheadle. Thanks for listening! I'd love to continue this conversation over on the Facebook Page or on Instagram. Talk to you soon! Content Planner for Creatives Creatives On Fire™️ Content Planner FUEL Group Creatives on Fire™ FUEL https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/episode21 SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW I am honored to share a new Blogging Creative on Fire each week on the podcast to bring you inspiration, behind-the-scenes secrets, and quality tips. I hope it is truly helpful for you. One of the best ways you can bless me in return is to subscribe to the show and leave a review. By subscribing, you allow each episode to be downloaded straight to your phone which helps the download numbers and ensures you never miss an episode. And when you leave a review, you help show others the value of what we provide! You can GO HERE to subscribe and review!
Aug 10, 2021 • 21min
20. ABC Always Be Collaborating
"Always Be Collaborating" is our mantra for today's show. Working with a co-creator can produce amazing results for your business and your brand. In this episode, I'll be sharing 20 ideas (at least!) to help you grow your business by building collaborative partnerships with other Creatives. I have cooperative ideas for bloggers, product developers, podcasters and more. We'll also talk about giveaways, contests, and cross-promotion opportunities to grow your audience! You might be thinking to yourself, "Melanie, that all sounds great, but how do I find people to collaborate with?" Don't worry, I'll be giving you great tips for places you can go to network and expand your contacts. I also have some suggestions on who to approach as a partner when you're trying different strategies and initiatives. I'm also very excited to tell you about Creatives on Fire Insiders, a collaborative resource dedicated to the success of Creatives online. Great partnerships lead to great success, so get out there and get collaborating! Thanks for listening! I'd love to continue this conversation over on the Facebook Page or on Instagram. Talk to you soon! Content Planner for Creatives Creatives On Fire™️ Content Planner FUEL Group Creatives on Fire™ FUEL https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/episode20 SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW I am honored to share a new Blogging Creative on Fire each week on the podcast to bring you inspiration, behind-the-scenes secrets, and quality tips. I hope it is truly helpful for you. One of the best ways you can bless me in return is to subscribe to the show and leave a review. By subscribing, you allow each episode to be downloaded straight to your phone which helps the download numbers and ensures you never miss an episode. And when you leave a review, you help show others the value of what we provide! You can GO HERE to subscribe and review!
Aug 3, 2021 • 19min
19. Blogging for Profit with KariAnne Wood
If you're wondering how to make money from blogging, just ask my guest today KariAnne Wood. She is the creator of Thistlewood Farms, a blog focusing on DIY, home decorating, recipes and so much more! KariAnne has over a million people that follow her blog and she's here today to give us some amazing tips. She has some great advice on how to make money when you're starting your blog and how to grow your readership. She also shares some must-have organizational tools and strategies to help you make money. KariAnne has been running the Thistlewood Farms blog for 9 years now. She has also written 5 books and has several different product lines. Although she was just trying to make friends and never intended to create a business, KariAnne has enjoyed huge success with her blog and it's extensions on other social media platforms. Looking to share her wisdom and good fortune, she also started a coaching group for only $10 a month. KariAnne has maintained her joy in writing Thistlewood Farms and has lots of great projects and collaborations planned for the future. In this episode, we cover: - How to get people to share your content. - The best days of the week to publish a blog. - Where to meet like-minded bloggers. - The importance of growing your email list. - Why you absolutely NEED an editorial calendar. - How to make money when you're just starting your blog. - Where to go to find out about new and exciting trends. Thanks for listening! I'd love to continue this conversation over on the Facebook Page or on Instagram. Talk to you soon! Content Planner for Creatives Creatives On Fire™️ Content Planner FUEL Group Creatives on Fire™ FUEL https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/episode19 SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW I am honored to share a new Blogging Creative on Fire each week on the podcast to bring you inspiration, behind-the-scenes secrets, and quality tips. I hope it is truly helpful for you. One of the best ways you can bless me in return is to subscribe to the show and leave a review. By subscribing, you allow each episode to be downloaded straight to your phone which helps the download numbers and ensures you never miss an episode. And when you leave a review, you help show others the value of what we provide! You can GO HERE to subscribe and review!
Jul 27, 2021 • 24min
18. Grow Your Relationships & Business at Haven Conference with Kristin Stockdale
The Haven Conference is a place to celebrate the DIY spirit, learn new skills and build an online business! Entrepreneurs, makers and leading influencers gather together to share, teach, and inspire. Mingle with sponsors, try new products, and grow your brand. Most importantly, the Haven Conference is a place for community. Haven is more than just classes and hands-on demonstrations. There is time set aside to share knowledge, ask questions, and build relationships. The DIY/ home decor blogging niche is special, and we encourage you to form connections with those in it! You are guaranteed to walk away from Haven refreshed and inspired. The people at this event are SO supportive and the collaborations and connections you make during this networking event, are huge! In this episode, we cover: - Where the idea for the Haven Conference came from and why YOU will want participate in the next one! - How Kristin's interior design business led her to creating special events - What it takes to put on an event that is so powerful and seamless - A new concept of having a mentor while attending a live conference - The concept "all ships rise up with the tide" - Implementing what you've learned after attending a live conference - Finding groups in your niche that will help support and grow your business - and, finding inspiration when things get tough Thanks for listening! I'd love to continue this conversation over on the Facebook Page or on Instagram. Talk to you soon! Content Planner for Creatives Creatives On Fire™️ Content Planner FUEL Group Creatives on Fire™ FUEL https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/episode18 SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW I am honored to share a new Blogging Creative on Fire each week on the podcast to bring you inspiration, behind-the-scenes secrets, and quality tips. I hope it is truly helpful for you. One of the best ways you can bless me in return is to subscribe to the show and leave a review. By subscribing, you allow each episode to be downloaded straight to your phone which helps the download numbers and ensures you never miss an episode. And when you leave a review, you help show others the value of what we provide! You can GO HERE to subscribe and review!
Jul 20, 2021 • 21min
17. How to Grow Using Evergreen Content on YouTube with Lori Jacobs
Are you looking to grow your following on YouTube? Do you want to make money doing it? My guest today, Lori Jacobs, was able to leave her full time job for her YouTube crafting channel within two years of posting her first video! On this episode, Lori shares some great advice with us about how to be successful on YouTube and how she makes sure that she's reaching the right audience. She also talks how to monetize your YouTube channel and why doing the work you love is so important. Lori Jacobs is the creator of the Hard Working Mom channel on YouTube and it's sister sites on various social media platforms. Lori was a CPA for 25 years and the CFO of a hospital before she decided to make the move to an online career. With children and her parents to take care of, she was looking for more flexibility in her job and she found it on YouTube. Lori now has a career she loves, sharing her crafty creations and business tips with her followers online and she's making great money while doing it! In this episode, we cover: - What to do when you're nervous about recording - How to make a personal connection with your customers - The number of subscribers and watch hours you need to make money on YouTube - How easy it is to Evergreen your content on YouTube - The differences between Facebook and YouTube followers - The best time to start your YouTube channel - How long it takes to start making money on YouTube - Finding Groups on Facebook to share your YouTube content Thanks for listening! I'd love to continue this conversation over on the Facebook Page or on Instagram. Talk to you soon! Content Planner for Creatives Creatives On Fire™️ Content Planner FUEL Group Creatives on Fire™ FUEL https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/episode17 SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW I am honored to share a new Blogging Creative on Fire each week on the podcast to bring you inspiration, behind-the-scenes secrets, and quality tips. I hope it is truly helpful for you. One of the best ways you can bless me in return is to subscribe to the show and leave a review. By subscribing, you allow each episode to be downloaded straight to your phone which helps the download numbers and ensures you never miss an episode. And when you leave a review, you help show others the value of what we provide! You can GO HERE to subscribe and review!
