I have had many people ask me recently what's the hardest business hurdle to overcome in order to take your business to that six-figure level and beyond? I think this is such an important question. I think it really important to address the fact that when we start talking about a business moving into the six-figure range and beyond that we aren't talking about the importance of making money and we're also not really talking about the money side of the business. That's not the topic that we're addressing.

What we are addressing is that fact that a business, in order to not only survive but thrive in this day and age needs to bring in at least six-figures. And the reason we have to talk about that is because artists, especially, don't understand that that is the case and they don't understand the reason for it. If you're not understanding that right from the get-go then you are most likely not setting your goals correctly or accurately monetarily for your business and that's where the struggle begins. And that's where most businesses will fold or flail for a really long time because they are not able to bring in enough. Artists if this is something you struggle with then this episode is for you.

I'm working with the most brilliant artist in my Profit Canvas course right now. And the biggest question that came up at the beginning of Module 3, which is our last module, where we start to put together all your marketing and really start to bring in sales was, "can I actually sell via email? I don't believe it's true." Well, guess what, I have news for you. You actually can and you can do so in a way that is not only ethical but built with integrity and get your people on the other side super excited about what you have to offer and gets them engaged with you more and it makes them trust you as a business owner on a deeper level.

So, are you ready to hear about how that happens and how you can make that happen yourself? Let me just dive into that right now. I'm so super excited to be talking to you about this today. Because it is the hugest myth for artists to think that you can never sell over email and I understand why. Because a lot of people are weary of emailing at all.

Here's something you should understand, it takes people about 7 points of contact to begin to trust that a business is for real. That a business is serious, that there here to stay. It takes people 7 points of contact on average. Have you questioned the idea of selling through email, then this episode is for you.

I'm really excited to talk about this topic today called Email Service Providers. I've had a number of artists who are taking my course, called The Profit Canvas right now, along with other artists in the Artists in Business community writing to me asking me about really important questions about how to treat and approach and use your email service provider in your business with your art.

So what I thought I would do, this is such an important topic that I want to expand upon but for the moment I just want to touch upon some of the most important points that you need to take into consideration as you begin to use your email service provider. And then afterward I'm going to talk to you about how you can get more information on this in a workshop I've put together for you.

So, first and foremost, is your email service provider is essentially the home for your list. You really want to take it seriously because it's the home for all your past and potential clients. Now if this an issue you are dealing with in your art business then this episode is for you.

So it is the holiday season and in fact, Christmas is right around the corner, just a few weeks away. There are other holidays going on at this time of year, as well, and one of the biggest questions I have received recently is from artists thinking that they need to wait till the new year to make offers because they do not want to inundate people at this time of year. Here's the problem and this is the topic at hand for today's episode The Holiday's are the perfect time to make offers to your most ideal clients.

So, first of all, during the holidays not only are people open and willing to listen more so to offers then they are any other time of year but they actually want offers to come to them that are appealing because they want to buy. They want to buy gifts. They want to buy special things for themselves. They want this time of year to be about giving and about abundance but investing in things that are meaningful to them. You have to keep that in mind because if you don't know who your true ideal client is and you're just sending offers out to the ethers hoping that some might stick then that could be a problem. Now artists, if this is something that you have believed then this episode is for you.

I have a question for every artist, of every discipline listening to this episode today. Do you feel like you are in tech hell? Do you feel like your entire business rests on the notion of you being able to overcome your tech learning curve? That honestly feels like it will likely never happen. I have to tell you if that is the case, first of all, you are definitely not alone. And secondly, I want to tell you a story of what happened to me as I was starting my business. The one that you are witnessing right now, Artists in Business, in the very beginning.

When I first started Artists in Business, I knew that I needed to learn a lot about tech. Now I'll preface by saying that I was in the midst of creating my first 6 figure business was a consulting company where I created online marketing campaigns for business worth between 2 to 5 million dollars. I also worked on the business development side of the businesses, where I would help businesses understand who their most ideal client were and do market research to connect with the right clients to pass on to their sales team so they could make more sales. This was a really fulfilling job for me.

Now when I transitioned from consulting to working on just this company full-time, Artists in Business suddenly I realized, oh no I do not have that team in place for myself. I am going to have to learn how to do this for myself. The first thing that artists need to understand, as I've learned, for myself and in also in working with hundreds of artists at this point is that you actually should be hiring people to help you with the tech side of things unless it is your forte. Unless it's something you love to do and it is a strength of yours. If it is not then you should be hiring out. Now if this is something you struggle in your art business then this episode is for you.

So I wanted to talk with those of you today who really want to start your business but have these massive hurdles that you feel are holding you back from actually taking the first step. And by first step, I mean, the first in a new direction. A direction that the opposite or slightly to the right or to the left of the direction you've been going in but has not been working for you. That hasn't been bringing the sales you need to really get your business off the ground. That really brings in the sales you need to convince yourself and give you the confidence you need to believe that this could actually work.

Now before that actually happens, it doesn't feel possible a lot of times. It feels like you might be the anomaly where your work is never going to sell. Even though you know there are so many other artists who have similar work to you or more importantly not as refined work as you who are making amazing progress in their businesses, thriving along the way. It still might make you feel like yours will never get off the ground. But here is my question how will know unless you try. Artists, if you are struggling with breaking through this barrier, then this episode is for you.

Charl Coetzee is a guitar player who has traveled the world playing with some of the most renowned bands on the planet. After becoming one of the most successful guitar players in the world he knew he wanted to give back. He's now the owner of guitarskills.com, which is an online learning platform, teaching guitarist how to play blues and rock guitar. In addition to publishing guitar products, Charl also heads up a marketing agency serving entrepreneurs in multiple markets.

In our discussion, Charl shares his journey on building a multi-six-figure business online after having such a successful career as a musician and how now is the perfect time for artists to build businesses that are not only profitable but create change in the lives of those you're meant to serve. Artists I can't wait for you to hear this episode.

www.guitarskills.com