Specific: the first step is to clearly define the what, why and how of your goal...

We know marketing. We do it all day, every day. Here are our top five marketing tips for small businesses:

1) Write down a single sentence that clearly describes who you are and what you do. Learn this sentence. When asked, use this sentence to help others understand exactly what you're about. You must be able to clearly communicate what you are about before potential customers will choose to buy your product or use your service...

The other day in a weak moment sparked by the frustration of my reliance on failed technology mixed with sleep deprivation and the pressure of an unrealistic "to do" list burdening  my conscious and unconscious mind... I said to my partner... "Maybe I should just get a real job!"

A weak moment indeed!  Don't get me wrong - I love being a Mumprenueur! It's  definitely a challenge but luckily I'm creative... I love a challenge. 
 

Hi, I’m Rob Fleming from Kin Kin Beads. Lilli has asked me to write a few words about what inspires me in my work. This could be a “stream of consciousness” style effort so here we go. 

Until around 10 years ago I worked as a town planner for a local Council and had worked for the State government for several years prior. All those meetings with Councillors, public servants, developers and the public would leave me pretty wound up at the end of the day and I felt the need to drink a few cleansing ales to calm down.   

My partner at the time had just completed a week long beadmaking class with one of Australia’s best beadmakers. So one afternoon I jokingly said “Give me a go at that it looks like fun.” Little did I know how much fun it is. 

It was windy. It was cold. It rained. It was amazing.

And that pretty much sums up this week's photoshoot for The Handmade Exchange. Our amazing photographer, Carly Head of Carlylooyah Creative Design, did a fantastic job and our beautiful models were so patient!

Scroll down to have a squiz at some of the gorgeous summery shots... and don't forget to comment with your favourite look from the day!

I’m Vanessa from Mermaids Dreaming by Vanessa Witschi on Facebook and I love polymer clay! A strange thing to love, I know… but I do! And I have made a successful business making and selling handmade one-of-a-kind polymer clay mermaid and fairy figurines, primarily through Facebook. 

I opened up my Facebook business page 18 months ago and am coming on to 3000 likers, without the use of like ladders (actually, I think I did it once!) or buying likes or using pages that are made for increasing your likes. 
 
It’s hard to build up a business in handmade one-of-a-kind creations, but I have - and you can too! I did it through hard work and some simple ideas and practices that I adopted right from the start. I hope these ideas can help you and your handmade business too! 

We asked Angie from Araya to tell us a little bit more about her exciting new business, Araya... Here's what we found out:

Angie Beale is a qualified, experienced beauty and massage therapist who has worked in the Beauty Industry for the past 10 years. Having worked in 5 Star day spas in Melbourne and Queensland during this time, she has seen the industry grow dramatically.

Angie’s new online business, located on the Sunshine Coast, Australia, provides a wide range of skincare products, beauty essentials, pamper packs - any of which would serve as the perfect gift.