Makers Mean Business® with Damon Oates and Parker Stelly of DecoExchange®

We're back with Episode 33... and an explanation of where we've been.

Have you ever felt inauthentic in your business? That's how Damon felt about his podcast presence. So, for season 2, he's back with a new fervor for authenticity. And, in this first episode, he is giving you his 5 best tips for authenticity in YOUR business!

1. Love what you do - passion trumps skills every time

2. Hire authentic people - surround yourself with a team as passionate about your community and value as you are

3. Acknowledge your weaknesses - list them out and be honest about the fact that YOU don't have to do EVERYTHING in your business yourself

4. Talk to everyone - your entire business matters at all levels, so you need to be in touch with every person who works in your business

5. Make customer connections - show up where your customers are, talk to them, hear their concerns, and build your own reputation

Most importantly: Be Yourself. Stop trying to be a cookie cutter business. The key to being successful is to just be yourself.

If you liked this episode, we want to hear from you. Text Damon directly at 504-553-3451.

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Are you following Damon & Parker on social media, too?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decoexchange

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decoexchange/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJAN_9Npn3LIbe2klovUbUA

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Decoexchange/_shop/

Get Business Coaching from Damon: https://damonsbusinesscoaching.safechkout.net/

Shop DecoExchange: https://www.decoexchange.com/

Parker's Scaling Your Business with Assistants e-book: https://www.decoexchange.com/products/scaling-your-business-with-assistants-by-parker-stelly

Don't forget that you can text Damon directly at 504-553-3451

Today's interview is with Joy from Alphalicious Designs. She's a maker with a completely digital business... which means NO SHIPPING! She designs embroidery and cut files and sells them as digital downloads on both Etsy and Shopify, and even though her designs are small items for less than $5 apiece, she still maintains a 6-figure online business!

Tune in to hear about the resources she used to get started, how she overcame no natural drawing ability to become a 6-figure designer, and her tips for other online business-owners.

You can check out Joy's website here: https://alphaliciousdesigns.com/

Her Etsy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AlphaliciousApplique?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=606763247

Her Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/alphaliciousdesigns/

And join her Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/alphaliciousdesignsclub/

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Are you following Damon & Parker on social media, too?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decoexchange

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decoexchange/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJAN_9Npn3LIbe2klovUbUA

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Decoexchange/_shop/

Get Business Coaching from Damon: https://damonsbusinesscoaching.safechkout.net/

Shop DecoExchange: https://www.decoexchange.com/

Parker's Scaling Your Business with Assistants e-book: https://www.decoexchange.com/products/scaling-your-business-with-assistants-by-parker-stelly

On this week's episode, Parker and Roberto Candelaria are talking all about maximizing relationships in order to network and grow your business!

Everyone needs relationships to succeed in business - whether that's building a network for sponsors, affiliates, or building your own community... it's essential to build authentic relationships with the people around you.

There are tons of people around you, and you are building relationships with them - either intentionally or unintentionally - all the time. So it is critical to consider what you want to be known as - or known for. Who do you want to be?

Roberto believes you need to be asking yourself a few other important questions, as well. What do you bring to the table? And what do you hope to get from the table? It's not just about making sales, it's about finding more people you can serve, and also about making connections with people who can serve you.

You can learn more about Roberto on his website: https://robertocandelaria.com/

He also has a Facebook group called Community Growth & Profits! Join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/propelyourprofits

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Are you following Damon & Parker on social media, too?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decoexchange

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decoexchange/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJAN_9Npn3LIbe2klovUbUA

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Decoexchange/_shop/

Get Business Coaching from Damon: https://damonsbusinesscoaching.safechkout.net/

Shop DecoExchange: https://www.decoexchange.com/

Parker's Scaling Your Business with Assistants e-book: https://www.decoexchange.com/products/scaling-your-business-with-assistants-by-parker-stelly

This episode is all about MLM! What is MLM, you might be asking? It stands for Multi-Level Marketing... and Marissa Sayers has both a successful creative Etsy shop in addition to her own MLM business!

In this episode, Marissa and Parker break down several myths about MLM, the major mistakes some MLM entrepreneurs make, and what to look for in an MLM.

An MLM is a business! Not a hobby. It's a great opportunity for Makers because you already have an audience and are used to selling physical products online. When entrepreneurs treat MLMs like hobbies instead of businesses, they tend to rely on their friends and family and personal networks, instead of building their own online community with their ideal customers!

Plus, Marissa recommends entrepreneurs consider MLMs because it's another opportunity to diversify your income! The more revenue streams, the better.

When considering an MLM, some things to think about and explore include:

1) Who you might want to sign up under and what they can offer you in terms of support and coaching

2) What outside coaching and training influences you can pursue to support your MLM business

3) Finding a company that aligns with who you are and how you like to spend your time

4) Consider how you will get paid as part of a particular organization and make sure you understand all the ins and outs of any contracts

Marissa is a passionate entrepreneur with multiple businesses, a mom and wife, and is planner and stationery obsessed! She loves to help people figure out how to monetize their gifts and make their dreams come true.

You can learn more about Marissa and her various business endeavors here: http://www.marissamaesayers.com/

You can follow her on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/MarissaMaeSayers

Follow her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/marissamaesayers/?hl=en & here: https://www.instagram.com/sayersandco/?hl=en

And check out her Etsy shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/sayersandco/

Today's episode features the Emily D. Baker, former Deputy District Attorney now helping clients navigate the wild world of online business! She loves to talk about trademarks, terms of use, and other important legal issues for online business owners.

We are covering two major topics today:

1) Can you make stuff inspired by other brands (like Disney, Louis Vuitton, Coach, sports teams, universities, etc)? (The answer is no.) What happens if you do? What kind of action can they take? Will they sue you and take all your money? Will they have your website taken down? (The answer is: they can!)

2) What do I do if someone is stealing my designs? What kind of action can I take?

You can follow Emily all over the internet:

Her podcast, Get Legit Law & Shit: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-legit-law-sh-t/id1486229281

Her website: https://emilydbaker.com/

Her legal shop (for legal documents, terms of use, etc, to protect your business): https://getlegitshop.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theemilydbaker/

Facebook (she goes live on Fridays, don't miss it!): https://www.facebook.com/TheEmilyDBaker/

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Are you following Damon & Parker on social media, too?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decoexchange

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decoexchange/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJAN_9Npn3LIbe2klovUbUA

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Decoexchange/_shop/

Get Business Coaching from Damon: https://damonsbusinesscoaching.safechkout.net/

Shop DecoExchange: https://www.decoexchange.com/

Parker's Scaling Your Business with Assistants e-book: https://www.decoexchange.com/products/scaling-your-business-with-assistants-by-parker-stelly