The Savvy Experience Recap

Program artwork by Pink Puddle Studio

Think back to your childhood. Do you remember the feeling of pure, bubbling excitement in anticipation of the last day of school or a trip to Disney World? That was exactly how I felt about going to The Savvy Experience last week in Scottsdale, Ariz. Not only was I taking a trip to a beautiful location, I was ready to learn and network with some amazing creatives.

The Saguaro, Scottsdale

Although I had met very few attendees in real life before the event, I felt like I was meeting up with amazing girlfriends I hadn’t seen in a long time. The relationships you can make online can be just as real and beneficial as friends you see every day. Meeting people in person only strengthens your bond.

Heather, her amazing team and the Savvy ambassadors (pictured below) made everyone feel right at home the second we arrived. No detail was forgotten, as you can see from the beautiful stage to dinner each evening. Heather wanted to make our time together more valuable than just another conference. I am so grateful I was able to attend the first Savvy Experience and even if you weren’t able to attend, I’m sharing my key takeaways from my time in Scottsdale.

Photo by Rennai of ten22 Studio | Savvy Ambassadors, Left to right: Nevica Vazquez, DeNeitra Burnett, Ginny Krauss, Heather Crabtree, Reina Pomeroy and Danielle Miller

Community is everything when you run an online business.

It was amazing to be a part of a group of 65 successful female creatives that were ready to make connections and learn from each other. There was always a shoulder to cry on, someone to laugh with and someone to offer a new prospective on life. I feel connected to each amazing lady who attended, regardless of whether or not we connect at the conference because we shared the same experience. I know I could reach out to any of them for life or business advice. That is why being part of a community is so important.

It’s ok if you can’t make it to a conference, having a tribe you can bounce questions or ideas off of is key. Take time to have virtual coffee date with fellow creatives. Learn about what they do and how you can help support them. This type of activity will grow your online community.

Photo by Lauren of Lunabear Studios | Welcome Fiesta!Photo by Lauren of Lunabear Studios | Drink Stirrers from Johnston Style

Value your clients.

I’m pretty certain every speaker mentioned client experience at least once in their presentation, but Monique Melton did an amazing job of breaking down the client experience. Let your clients or customers know you value them from the moment they arrive on your website and keep the good vibes going post-purchase. Always keep the lines of communication open and ask your client what you can do to make your service better for them. Let them know you value their feedback. You don’t have to send clients expensive gifts to impress them. Instead, send a handwritten note to let them know how much they mean to you. Even the smallest touches sweeten the client experience and keep them coming back to you.

Photo by Lauren of Lunabear Studios | Stage styled by Gathered HomeCustom Savvy box from Packlane | Placemat from Michelle Edgemont

State the obvious.

Just because something is obvious to you, it doesn’t mean it is obvious to your clients or customers. Don’t leave them guessing what you want them to do or takeaway from your work. Don’t assume your audience knows all the tips and tricks that you do. You are an expert in your field and that is why people come to you. Share the knowledge that you have with your audience, no matter how obvious it seems, it will come back to benefit you in big ways. Abagail and Emylee of Think Creative Collective put it best with their motto,”Tweak and repeat.”

Photo by Rennai of ten22 Studio | The Savvy MarketplacePhoto by Lauren of Lunabear Studios | Left to right: Jessica Rasdall, Meghan Maydel, Me, Monique Melton, Heidi Yarger    

Let others help you.

Whether you are just starting out or have been in business for a while, in order to move forward, you must let others help you along the way. For example, when you are just starting out, if writing your website copy is keeping you from launching, hire a copy writer. As your business grows, if you don’t have time to think about social media strategy, hire a strategist (like me!) to help you formulate a plan that will work for you. There’s nothing wrong with hiring other small business owners to help you fill in the gaps and move your business forward. It will leave you with more time to focus on what you truly love to do in your business.

After the conference, someone asked how many Savvies they were planning on hiring and everyone chimed in they were planning to hire someone they met to move their business forward. I walked aways from the conference with some prospective clients and a few people I am planning on hiring myself.

Photo by Lauren of Lunabear Studios | Treat table styled by The TomKat StudioPhoto by Rennai of ten22 Studio | Beautiful details from the final dinner

A huge thanks to Heather, her team, the Savvy ambassadors and everyone else who made The Savvy Experience so amazing. I am so lucky to be part of such an amazing group of talented female creatives. If you have the opportunity to attend a creative business conference in the future, I highly recommend it!