small business playbook

A thoughtful collection of tips on how to grow as a business owner, making your website a showstopper, and using what you have to make your business successful.

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Turning the Page: Updating Your Squarespace Site for Your Brand's Next Chapter

Your plan? Get your amazing service or curated products out there. Build community on Instagram, connect authentically, let word-of-mouth work its magic. And the website? Platforms like Squarespace seem like a gift – accessible, relatively intuitive. So you decide, "I can do this."

And you dive in. You spend hours learning the platform, choosing images, arranging layouts. You DIY that website, and you DIY it hard. Late nights, countless tutorials, maybe a few triumphant moments followed by frustrating setbacks. You finally get it launched. It’s… okay. Maybe even pretty good in places! But deep down, you know it’s not quite it.

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An Argument for Gentle Ambition

Choosing a slower pace wasn't an overnight decision; it feels more like a gradual leaning-in, a conscious turning away from the relentless "hustle culture" that often feels celebrated elsewhere. For me, slow living isn't about lack of ambition; it's about creating space. Space to truly notice the way the Koʻolau mountains catch the morning light, to find inspiration not just in grand travels but in the texture of sea-worn shells or the artistry of a local ceramicist. It’s space to be present with my family, to breathe, and importantly, space to allow my own perspective to evolve – the grace to change my mind as I learn and grow.

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The Calm Choice: Squarespace Commerce for Curated Collections

While selling online is practically a requirement for every modern business, if your passion lies in curating something truly special – be it rare vintage items, handcrafted treasures, or your original artwork – the high-speed world of typical e-commerce might not feel like the ideal space. Are you pondering on how to best share your collection with the world online? There's a calmer, more elegant way...

The conversation around e-commerce platforms can often feel bustling, full of talk about scaling rapidly, complex features, and powerful engines. You hear about Shopify, rightfully recognized as a giant in the space, and might wonder if that's the only path forward for anyone serious about selling online.

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Why Your Website is a Non-Negotiable in 2025 (Even with Social Media)

Picture this: you stumble upon a brand on Instagram that sparks your interest. Their feed is gorgeous, their captions are witty, and you're hooked. But then... you click on their link in bio, and it takes you to a janky website that looks like it was built in the early 2000s. Ouch.

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Beyond Social Media: Why Your Website is Your Most Powerful Asset in 2025

The digital landscape is constantly shifting, and as entrepreneurs, we need to be adaptable and ready to pivot when necessary. With recent discussions around the potential ban (or re-ban) of TikTok, it's more crucial than ever to diversify your online presence and ensure you have a solid foundation beyond social media.

While platforms like TikTok can be fantastic for reaching new audiences and building a community, they're ultimately rented spaces. You don't own your followers or your content, and algorithms can change in an instant, impacting your reach and visibility.

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Ikigai in 2025: Finding Your Purpose (and Building a Business You Love)

It's a new year, a fresh start, a chance to set intentions and dream big. But as you're mapping out your goals for 2025, have you considered your Ikigai?

Ikigai, the Japanese concept of "a reason for being," goes beyond just setting goals. It's about finding that sweet spot where your passion, mission, vocation, and profession intersect. It's about building a business (and a life) that feels truly aligned with your purpose.

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Consumerism vs. Community: Supporting Small Businesses Mindfully

The holiday season is a time for giving, but it's also a time for reflection. As we're bombarded with messages to buy, buy, buy, it's important to take a step back and consider our consumption habits. Do we really need all of the stuff that we're being told to buy? And what impact is our consumption having on our communities and the planet?

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Give Your Website a Fresh Start This Holiday Season

The holiday season is a crucial time for businesses to showcase their products and services. A well-designed and optimized website can help you attract more customers and increase sales during this busy time.

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A Thoughtful Guide: Nurturing Your Business and Yourself This Holiday Season

The holidays are fast approaching, and with them comes a whirlwind of emotions. Excitement for connecting with loved ones often mingles with the stress of managing client projects, holiday marketing, and self-care.

This year, let's approach the season from a place of thoughtfulness and intention. This guide offers a practical approach to navigating the busy period while still showing up authentically for your clients, your business, and yourself.

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All Eyes on YOU - Leveraging Squarespace SEO: A Beginner's Guide

Spokane Businesses, did you know: Squarespace is a fantastic platform for building beautiful websites, but did you know it also has built-in SEO features to help you rank higher in search engine results? SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the process of improving your website's visibility and ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs).

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