Kim Yuhl is on a mission to help you define happiness. She believes that if your goal is to be happy, you'll never be happy. She teaches you how to live in the moment and focus on the journey, not the destination.
Kim has built a gorgeous WordPress site to support her coaching business. Read on to learn more about Kim's philosophy, how she built her site and how she promotes her coaching business. Oh, and check out her quote art page – I'm thinking Pinterest for days!!
When did you start your business and why?
I started my current business about 1 1/2 years ago. My husband lost his job and ended up finding his dream job … in Thailand. That means I had to close my boutique, pack up my kids and move half-way around the world.
After being asked by several small business to help them with their social media, I sort of fell into the world. But I didn't love it. I was good at it but it wasn't what I was meant to do. Then tragedy struck and my brother was murdered. That gave me a whole new perspective on life.
I realized mindset was the biggest culprit to failing businesses and failing life. As I worked through the grief of losing my brother it became clear to me that I had life lessons to share. Now instead of working with people on the how, I help them with the why. Answering the why makes the how much more clear.
What do you feel makes your audience/readers special?
I think it is because we are living the same path. I have experienced, felt and learned the same lessons that my audience has felt or is feeling. We have a mutual respect for each other's process and our individual journeys knowing there is a common thread tying us together.
Why did you decide to build your WordPress site yourself?
I had been blogging for a few years, so I knew enough to get me started. I figured when I started making money I could hire a designer or get help. When the time came though, I knew what I wanted and it just seemed easier to sort of figure it out myself. It wasn't always as easy as I initially thought but the answers are out there if you are persistent enough.
What was the most difficult thing about creating your WordPress site?
The most difficult thing is customizing a theme. I found I liked one thing from one theme and something else from another but not one had everything I wanted. I had a vision and trying to make that a reality was hard. I am not even sure I have been 100% successful but I do love my site.
What was the easiest thing about it?
I found the initial setup to be the easiest. WordPress makes it pretty easy to get started. I started on a self-hosted blog, so I didn't have to deal with moving it or anything like that.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about starting their own business?
First and foremost, know your why and stay true to that. Know you can't please everyone and be okay with that. I think that was the hardest lesson to learn.
With regards to WordPress start out on a self-hosted site, it gives your business credibility and it saves you some trouble down the line.
If you could go back in time and do something differently, what would you do and why?
I would put more emphasis on growing my list early on. I think about all the wasted time and potential leads and it makes me cringe.
How long did it take you to launch your site?
A few hours to launch. I did have it planned out with some initial blog posts and images ready to go. It has taken much more time to get it to the point where I am making money from it. It continues to evolve every day and now I just enjoy the process.
How do you promote your site?
I use social media (Facebook and Twitter mainly), I blog, I guest post, I comment on other posts, I speak, I hold webinars. Coming soon, I am getting ready to start a podcast and my first book is about ready to launch.
Do you have an email list, and if so, what is the most effective way you have grown your email list?
Strategic guest posting has by far been the most successful tactic in growing my list. I make it a point to post on well-known sites with a huge readership that mirrors my audience.
Do you earn money from your site, and if so, how? Affiliate marketing, ads, products, etc.?
I do earn money. I offer e-mail and online courses and I am getting ready to launch my first book. I am in the process of establishing collaborations for offering products that fit into the happiness niche like specially blended teas, quote card decks and other others to help inspire.
Who are your favorite bloggers or podcasts?
I follow Tiny Buddha, Seth Godin, Karen Salmansohn, Mind Body Green and Life Hacker pretty religiously. Favorite podcasts that is a bit harder because I am all over the place. I really like some of the podcasts from NPR like This American Life and TED Radio Hour.
I totally agree with Kim that a self-hosted WordPress site giving you more credibility and saving you trouble down the line. It's worth putting in the time and effort to learn it up front – you'll save yourself a lot of headaches as your business outgrows drag and drop DIY services.
Check out Kim at www.kimyuhl.com and see how she can help you design a happier life. She's also got some great freebies like “7 Habits for a Happier Life” and a series on forming lasting habits.
Be sure to follow Kim on Instagram http://instagram.com/kimyuhl.
