Artella - the waltz of words and art - is a web site/support network for writers, artists, and creative spirits. It has a mind boggling amount of creative ways to build your business, including a place to set up shop and sell your artistic wares. Mind boggling in a good way though, as in, "I feel as if I've finally found a place where people get me."

I met Marney Makridakis, founder of Artella, along with Terry, Ann and Melissa, in a writer's teleclass in 2001.  All of these Women of Wisdom have been invaluable friends and are doing incredible things to make this world a more enjoyable place to live.  Marney's dream just happens to reside on the World Wide Web, just like mine!

Once these two things are done, it's time to carve out time to attend to the myriad of details that go into constructing a web site. One of the most important things to know (IMHO) is that it's up to You to make sure every word and every image conveys what you want to share with your visitors. This, I must confess my friend, threw me into instant overwhelm when I first started out. But not for very long because I soon found the perfect web designer, Marjorie Milliken.

I am oh-so grateful I found Marjorie because she took care of the technical bones of the site which left me with the task of concentrating on writing all of the content.

These days, after many, many hours of trial, error, online and onsite classes, I handle everything myself. Still, it's good to know she's there when I get myself into something I don't know how to get out of yet.

I now offer my web design services and/or web content coaching for reiki practitioners and other interesting people who want to be a part of the design process. If you are interested in support in bringing your vision to the web, let's talk.

Here are web sites I've designed from start to finish. Click on the image to open a new window to the site.

Next comes the marketing part. Actually the marketing part never ends. Which really gives you the opportunity to exercise your creative muscles because marketing simply consists of helping other people get to know you - the Real You I mean.

Letting your Inner Self shine reduces the likelihood of attracting customers who are not a match to what you have to offer and helps you to maintain your enthusiasm about your business over the long term.

Marketing is a lot like dropping pebbles in a pond. The people you meet in your daily travels may not need your services right this moment, but a authentic connection with another person ripples out only to return when circumstances change or by referral. Try on different ways to help people get to know you until you find a few that inspire you to adopt them into your routine.

One way that I enjoy marketing is via my newsletter Seeds of Inspiration. Since spam is everywhere, most personal email programs make it hard to send information to hundreds of people. Even if those people want to hear from you. This situation spawned visionaries to create services that allow you to do this.

Cooler Email is how I distribute my newsletter and eCourses. It's easy to use, makes my missives look like a million bucks, and the staff is always ready and willing to handle any questions I have along the way. 

"The only commodity he cared to earn was leisure; leisure not to be idle, though the world night say so, but to be busy in his own way."
- Basil Willey (describing Thoreau in the introduction to Walden.)

"I'm not going to limit myself just because people won't accept the fact that I can do something else."
- Dolly Parton

"American business is not a monster, but an expression of [the] God-given impulse to create, and the savior and guardian of our happiness."
- Warren G. Harding

Click here to print out more quotes about Growing a Business.

Cultivate Life Cards

I designed these cards to support your germinating business ideas. Click here to print them out. Cut out each one and if you want to get a bit fancy, go ahead and laminate them.

Here are a couple of suggested uses.

• Pick one word every week to play with and notice what comes up.
• Pick one that you really like and and prominently display or carry it as a reminder of a change that you would like to practice.

Any way you choose will be right. My intention is to add a bit of fun to the process.

Tips & Tools

• Dear Diane
• Where does the time go?
• What does success look like?
• Experiencing synchronicity
• Mini Manifesting Workshop
• Books I love

Transplants

Click here and find other small business owners I personally recommend.

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Quotes, cards,
tips & tools!

Learn More about Diane,

the Queen of Plan Be

Principles of Plan Be

Read past issues of my Seeds of Inspiration newsletter & subscribe to my Blog.

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