Proof to Product

Ashley Jankowski, the Founder of The Typeset Co., shares her expertise in marketing strategies with a focus on SEO. She reveals how prioritizing SEO led to a remarkable 600% increase in website traffic, climbing from 1,100 to 11,000 visitors in just a month. The conversation dives into the impact of video content, including stop-motion, on audience engagement. Ashley also discusses the delicate balance of content creation and outsourcing, along with the challenges of converting traffic into sales and maintaining a low-stress work environment.

Ashley Jankowski shares her journey from branding agency to product business, discussing challenges of finding overseas manufacturing partners, shifting to new product categories, and expanding with themed sticker displays to meet customer demands.

Do you have a product idea that has never existed before? If so, you may be wondering what it takes to bring an entirely new product to market or how to find suppliers and manufacturers. How do you market and sell something that no one has ever heard about? Kristina Schlegel of Make Bake faced these questions and concerns when she created edible stickers. In today’s episode, she’s taking us behind the scenes of how she broke into a new category, challenges she faced with packaging, and how she sourced her manufacturing! Today’s episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide which will help you map out a year’s worth of marketing emails in under an hour.  If you’ve ever struggled with what to say or how many emails to send to either your wholesale or Direct to Consumer customers, then this tool is for you.  GRAB THE GUIDE You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/272 If you're currently feeling stretched thin, needing to refocus within your business, or you just want to connect with other product makers who are starting and scaling their sales and marketing, come join us in Proof to Product LABS. We'll be opening up the doors again at the end of the year and everyone on our waitlist will get early access to secure your seat. JOIN THE WAITLIST

Feeling overwhelmed in your business? Unearth strategies to reclaim your focus by learning how to delegate effectively. The conversation dives into the benefits of hiring and sharing responsibilities to lighten your workload. You’ll discover practical insights that help you pinpoint what tasks can be passed on to others, making your entrepreneurial journey less stressful. Plus, gain access to a helpful masterclass that further refines your delegation skills!

Is a retail store an avenue you’ve been wanting to explore in your product-based business? Lisa DiVito of Tiramisu Paperie joins us today to share her own experience in opening a retail store as an additional revenue stream to her already successful wholesale business. Listen in as she shares what she’s learned through the process and shares advice for anyone looking to open a brick-and-mortar store. Today’s episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide which will help you map out a year’s worth of marketing emails in under an hour.  If you’ve ever struggled with what to say or how many emails to send to either your wholesale or Direct to Consumer customers, then this tool is for you.  GRAB THE GUIDE You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/270 If you're currently feeling stretched thin, needing to refocus within your business, or you just want to connect with other product makers who are starting and scaling their sales and marketing, come join us in Proof to Product LABS. We'll be opening up the doors again at the end of the year and everyone on our waitlist will get early access to secure your seat. JOIN THE WAITLIST

Danella Ruth McKinnon, co-owner of McKinnon Collective, shares her journey in the handmade leather goods industry. Since 2019, they've successfully participated in over 150 retail markets, focusing exclusively on direct-to-consumer sales. Danella offers tips on standing out at markets and effective merchandising strategies. She discusses their decision to avoid wholesale and highlights the importance of email marketing for building customer connections. The couple’s plans for a limited-time e-commerce store in November showcase their innovative approach to holiday sales.

If you’re looking to develop a strong product line for your business, I highly encourage you to stay away from assorted products. While some brands can make them work well, I highly despise them. In today’s episode, I’m sharing exactly why assorted products can hurt your business and why you should consider discontinuing any assorted products in your product line. You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/268 Today’s episode is brought to you by our free Is Wholesale Right for You? Masterclass! During this class, I'll walk you through 12 questions to ask yourself to determine if your products and your business are ready to sell wholesale, plus I'll provide tips so that you can move forward with confidence in your next steps. Get access to this free masterclass inside our resources library! GET FREE ACCESS NOW

Are you building a 90-day marketing roadmap that provides results in your business? In today’s episode, LABS community leader and alum, Shea Bailey-Burkett of Planned and Proper joins us to share how her 90-day roadmap helped grow her email list to over 10,000 subscribers in one year! Listen in as Shea shares how she built and implemented her 90-day roadmap with LABS guest expert, Lyndsay Clements, and how it’s helped keep simplified and improved her business’ marketing efforts. Inside LABS, our 12-month group coaching program, we focus on specific topics each quarter to push our businesses forward. Q1 was focused on hiring, where we shared sample job descriptions, pay structures, and even had a call with an HR compliance expert. Q2 focused on product development and talk through sourcing fulfillment and inventory management. Q3 was all about marketing and we learned how to create and implement our 90-day marketing roadmap with Lyndsay Clements.  In Q4, we’re focusing on sales. The value in this ongoing group coaching program isn’t just the education, but the opportunity to implement and get feedback. We offer this accountability and sharing through our peer mastermind, our accountability check ins, and our community coffee chats, which is where a portion of today’s episode comes from. You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/267 Today’s episode is brought to you by LABS, our 12-month group coaching program that was built for product based business owners who want to streamline their systems and revenue. If you’re already a LABS member, make sure you review Lyndsay’s full training! If you’re not a member, but want access to the full training and are ready to join, make sure you’re on the waitlist for when we open enrollment! JOIN THE WAITLIST

If you haven’t raised your prices in the last 6-12 months, it’s time for you to audit your product costs and pricing to see exactly what your profit margins are. It’s likely that costs have risen and your profit margins aren’t as high as they used to be. In today’s episode, I’m sharing a few approaches you can take to communicate your price changes with your customers. You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/266 Today’s episode is brought to you by my free Email Marketing For Product Makers Guide, where you’ll learn how to  map out 12 months of emails in under an hour and learn more about strategies for wholesale and direct to consumer audiences! GET ACCESS NOW

Mei Pak, Founder of Creative Hive Co., offers invaluable insights drawn from her extensive experience helping makers thrive. She shares eight essential tips to prepare for Black Friday and enhance holiday sales, emphasizing early marketing strategies and the innovative 'ladder sales event.' Mei also discusses ways to improve online shopping experiences and vital inventory management practices, ensuring you're ready to meet customer demands during the bustling holiday season. Tune in for practical advice to boost your sales!