School of Creative Business - Creative Entrepreneurship

Hosting Your Creative Business Site

Hosting Your Creative Business Site

Now that you’ve purchased your domain name, you need to get a hosting account. Your website host is where the files that make up your website live. You can buy your hosting from your domain registrar (Domain.com) but I don’t recommend having all your creative business eggs in one basket.

Instead, I use and recommend Hostgator. They allow you to host as many individual sites as you like, and are very reasonably priced.

To get started, go to www.Hostgator.com and choose the Baby plan. On the next page, enter the domain name you purchased the other day, and click “continue.” Follow the steps to checkout, and once you’re finished you should receive an email with instructions from Hostgator. It will include your IP address, login information, and your nameservers.

Nameservers are what tells the Internet where to find your domain, so when visitors click a link to your site or type the address into their browser, they always get to the right place. To set your nameservers, head back over to GoDaddy and log in, then click “My Account.” Next, click the name of your domain. On the next screen, click “nameservers/set nameservers.” In the pop-up box, choose “I have specific nameservers for my domains,” and enter the nameservers Hostgator gave you in the boxes. Click “okay.”

It will take a few hours for your nameservers to “propagate” – which means make their way across all the Internet. You’ll know when this has happened because you’ll be able to log into your cPanel account using your domain, like this: http://yourdomainname.com/cpanel rather than the IP address Hostgator sent you.

In the next post, we’ll take a look at your hosting account’s control panel, set up your email address, and install your website.

Talk with you soon, Alease

P.S. Are you looking for additional Free Resources for your Creative Business? Then download the School of Creative Business' 101 Free Resources to Grow Your Creative Business. Download your copy Here!

We are all Stars!

I love create entrepreneurs that are doing and have done their THANG!  Today's post celebrates the wonderful life of Whitney Houston. I consider it a true honor to have witness such creative energy in my life time.  My hopes has always been to celebrate the greatness in all creative entrepreneurs and I continue to hope that the School of Creative Business (SOCB) will always inspire you to be the star in your own creative life.

Over the past few months, SOCB has celebrated many astounding superstar quality creative entrepreneurs- among them Mo Stegall, An’Angelia Thompson, Herb Dickinson, and Byran K. Osburn. We all know that as much as these incredible entrepreneurs have accomplished, there will always be more goals to accomplish- another chance to shine. The key thing to remember is that we are the designers, producers, and writers of our own lives.

Whitney Houston produced a creative empire that shine beyond her own vision of herself. Please understand, we have the power to shape our stories and garner our own accolades. So today, do yourself and another creative entrepreneur a favor and treat yourselves like the superstars you really are.  I know this is easier said than done, but the responsibilities of creating a business can be tough and our " little voices of doubt" gets the best of us sometimes.

But guess what- a superstar creative entrepreneur surrounds his or herself with a supportive team. They seek information that strengthens their purpose and encourages their growth. They conquer their fears and goes for it all!

Superstar creative entrepreneurs continue to work on their weakness, whatever they maybe. They understand there will be rejections and setbacks, but they keep on trying. Superstar creative entrepreneurs know that they deserve some attention, but they don't need to be in the spotlight all the time. They know to measure success by their own yardstick, and that not everyone is successful as they seem.

Superstar creative entrepreneurs know they must rest and take "me" time to recharge their spirits before sharing themselves and their talents with the world. Whitney Houston didn't take the "me" time she needed to recharge, only now does she rest. This is a  very sad event for me - but I can be at peace knowing that she has left a creative empire that will out last any bright star. 

How are you being the star in your creative business? I'd like to hear the steps you're taking to create your own satisfying ending. Share your story below in the comment section or on the SOCB facebook page.

Talk with you soon, Alease

Buying a Domain Name for Creative Business

It's so exciting to start an online business -especially if it's a business that is driven by your passion. But I also know it can be kind of scary when you’re just starting out, so over the next few days I'm going to follow a step-by-step action plan that will help you get your business online quicker (and easier) than you imagined was possible.

Ready?

Let’s start with your business address.

In the case of a creative online business, your address is your domain name. That’s what people type into their web browser to find your site. I always recommend Domain.com for domain names because their service is exceptional and their pricing is competitive.

To get started, go to http://www.domain.com/, and in the search box in the middle of the page, type the domain name you’d like to buy. Hit “enter” and Domain will tell you if the name you want is available or not, and it will also suggest some alternatives you might be interested in. You may have to try a few different names before you find one that’s available.

Some things to keep in mind when choosing a domain:

•Stick to .com domains only – and never purchase the .org or .net (or anything else) when someone already owns the same .com. You’ll only lose traffic to the original .com domain.
•Avoid clever spellings (or deliberate misspellings), numbers, and dashes in your domain name – all that makes your URL hard to share with others.
•Keep your domain as short as possible – no one wants to type a really long address all the time.

Once you’ve found a domain you like, click “add to cart” and then “continue to registration.” Then just follow the prompts to set up an account (you’ll need this when you set up your hosting account in the next email) and pay for your domain. You can generally ignore all the added features Domain.com will offer along the way, though you might consider paying for several years at a time, just so you don’t have to worry about renewing your domain every year.

That’s it! Choose your payment option, and you’re now the proud owner of your very own domain. Congratulations!

But that’s just the beginning. Stick around for the post, and we’ll learn how (and where) to get the best deal on hosting, and how to connect your shiny new domain to an actual website.

Talk with you later,

Alease

 

Creative Entrepreneur Interview with Mo Stegall

Interview with Creative Entrepreneur - Mo Stegall

Mo Stegall is a visionary, pioneer and journeyman, he transcends any medium he touches. From media personality and producer to philanthropist, empowerment speaker and author, his creativity, wit and engaging persona have earned him recognition as an emerging community leader.

 

 He is a native of Atlanta, Georgia.  Mr. Stegall has enjoyed a successful career as a radio and television personality, which afforded him opportunities to work with the BET Hip-Hop Awards the CMA Awards, and countless recognizable entertainers and community leaders. But his deepest passion and desire is personal growth and development and to empower others to achieve greatness. And with a warm and captivating presence, he has integrated his television/radio career with his desire to serve.

 

 His clients call him "The Treasure Hunter™" because of his ability to empower people to discover their inner jewels and gems. He is a global humanitarian who less than ten years ago was homeless, endured the loss of his mother to AIDS, and experienced several life setbacks but has championed his journey and dedicated his life to serving others.

 

The Interview
 

What inspired you to become a creative entrepreneur?

My journey to becoming a creative entrepreneur was somewhat pushed upon me…lol .

I often dreamed about owning my own brand and company but wasn’t sure how to do so…I was working as a media director for a large church as well as dappling in a few ventures of my own on the side, one of my ventures began to take form and grow wings and my employer gave me an ultimatum to either nurture what they considered to be my infant child or delve full fledge with no aspirations of doing my own thing into their company and after careful thought and consideration along with prayer.

 

 I decided this was the outlet I needed to pursue my business…less than a few months after I was awarded a huge contract by UNCF & Wachovia to travel the world doing what I loved…empowering People!

What would you say contributes to your success?

A healthy blend of research and relationship building is what contributes to my success. I believe understanding your brand and connecting with those who share the same mission will always create a win/win relationship that yields amazing results.

 

 

Share one business goal:

One of my business goals is for my foundation “I Can BE Foundation Inc.” to build community help centers across the nation to assist undeserved communities through enrichment programs, the arts, employment, medical assistance and empowerment programs that will allow them to understand their value, overcome adverse situations and achieve goals.

 

 

 

What is a typical working day like for you?

My work days vary depending on what’s on the calendar. Aside from being the founder and president of the I Can Be Foundation a 501c3 organization, I am also a bestselling author, empowerment speaker, media personality, brand ambassador and voice actor.

 

My days can sometimes be spent in airports and on planes traveling to various cities, meeting with my agent and manager about upcoming ventures, auditioning for commercials and films, on the phone conferencing with potential sponsors or brands, writing, or simply doing absolutely nothing.

 

What has been your biggest struggle as a creative entrepreneur?

The biggest struggle has been at times riding the roller coaster of motivation…opportunities can go from plentiful to scarce and as an entrepreneur you must possess a mental toughness to push past the do over’s and continue running towards the prize at the finish line.

What has been your biggest accomplishment with your business?

Becoming a national brand known for serving the needs of others has been my biggest accomplishment to date. I grew up in the housing projects of southwest Atlanta with mere dreams and today being able to see years of building yield what others see as a remarkable and empowering brand is a humbling accomplishment.

 

What piece of advice would you offer to someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?

I often tell people you were DESIGNED To WIN so losing is simply not an option for you. Go after what you want or you will spend your entire life settling for what you can get. God created you an original so there is no need for you to become a carbon copy. You must pursue your purpose with a passion regretting nothing and giving everything to accomplish what you were predestined to become.

"Horses are so focused on the finish line that they have no desire to stare at the starting gate. Today declare you will no longer focus on what didn't happen yesterday or what could happen tomorrow yet be more incline to explore what can and will happen today"--Mo Stegall

What resources would you recommend to help other creative people stay organized?

Google and YouTube have become my best friends…I can always find anything I need to educate myself further, enhance my brand and develop new concepts from those viable resources. I simply type in what I’m looking for or what I need and someone else has thought of a way to make life easier for me.

What are you currently working on?

Currently writing my next book, working with various entities, corporations and organizations preparing to launch the “I Can Be Empowerment Tour” and continuing to educate, encourage and empower people through public speaking.

 

 

Get Your Copy of Mo Stegall's bestselling book Against All Odds I Can BE: 10 Steps To Revolutionize Your Destiny - Voted Kindle's #1 Hot New Release by Amazon Available NOW Click Here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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