Recently I've learned just how crucial it is for an entrepreneur to be creative.
But first, let me back up and explain how I've arrived at this conclusion.
When I was first starting out in business, you know what the first thing I did was? I bought tons of educational materials on entrepreneurship -- everything from book, classes, online courses, etc.
I filled my head with all the best things that entrepreneurs were saying. And eventually, all the "best" advice started to sound the same.
For instance, people treated Facebook ads as if it was their savior. Now, this might ruffle some feathers, but let me take a moment and say:
A Facebook ads is NOT the answer to all your business problems!
Too many people think that Facebook ads can solve traffic problems, can bring in more money, and that Facebook ads will hit the mark every time.
While Facebook ads are great, you have a poor strategy if all you're doing for marketing is pouring your money into Facebook ads.
And yet, all the top online entrepreneurs suggest that Facebook ads are amazing. So as a result, many entrepreneurs and creatives who are just starting out in business are leaning too heavily on Facebook Ads, and are getting no results.
You need to realize something: what might work for one entrepreneur might not work for you.
Online business is not one-size-fits-all.
And the more you believe that, the more you set yourself up for failure and disappointment.
Now, I'm not saying that you can't learn from any entrepreneur or creative rocking it in the online business world. Far from it! There is a lot of advice floating around out there that is golden.
But at the end of the day, you need to take that advice and measure how it fits with your personality, your brand, and your business model.
What I mean is, your business and your passion is unique. Stop treating it like it's just like everyone else's.
To be successful in the world of online business, you don't need to conform to what everyone suggests. Instead, you need creativity.
You need creativity to find what will work for you and your business.
And guess what? What makes entrepreneurs stand out and be successful online is not how well they conformed to mainstream advice; it is how well they innovate, how well they forge their own path and create their own success story.
Your creative passion and business isn't like everyone else's. You can truly stand out if you just dare to foster your creativity and choose to do something that hasn't been done before.
Now, again I'll say, this doesn't mean you ignore the advice of other entrepreneurs.
Creativity in business is refined by the aged advice of others' success.
Typically, if you follow the grooves of one's success, you can discover how to venture off
Typically, if you follow the grooves of one's success, you can discover how to venture off path and create something you would be proud of.
I say all this because I want you to be successful in building your business online. And as an online business/creative coach, I don't want to give you the same advice that everyone is giving. I acknowledge that your business is unique. I acknowledge that you need a different formula for success -- one that caters to your values and personality.
That's why in my upcoming webinar called "4 Ways to Build Your Online Audience When You're Just Starting Out and Hate Sleazy Marketing", I give FOUR strategies for your online audience. I want you to choose the one that best resonates with your creative passion.
If you are looking for a way to build your online audience and start your creative career online on the best foot possible, then I highly suggest you sign up for the webinar.
Inside the webinar, you'll learn key strategies for attracting your quality, loyal audience so that you can turn your passion into a full-time business.
Click here to sign up for the webinar.
The webinar takes place on Thursday, June 9th at 4 p.m. EST, so I hope to see you there.
But in the meantime, stop believing that your business and creative passion is just like every other business.
Your passion is unique, and the more you listen to its creative leanings, the better chance you'll have at being successful online.
This article was originally published on EssentialHustle.com.