Hi Reader,

I've just finished reading Predictable Success by Les McKeown. He discusses the seven different stages that businesses go through (learn a bit more about these here), and it rings so true for me. After "early struggle" comes "fun," then "whitewater," then "predictable success" (followed by the stages that kill a business). He says many businesses hit whitewater and then intentionally return to the fun stage. He believes staying in the fun stage is a valid way to run a business.

So, if my recent emails about growth make you feel like you must grow at all costs, not at all! I'm all for finding a size that works for your business and maintaining it there. To stay in the "fun" stage, however, you need to be entrepreneurial, take risks, and be okay with it being a wild ride at times.

"Fun" is a bit misleading, because every stage of business can be hard and rewarding. The levels mentioned in the book describe the balance between risk-taking and processes. The stages before "Predictable Success" have too much risk and not enough process. The stages after are the reverse: too much process and not enough risk. The middle that most people aspire to is a perfect balance of each. The level your business is at doesn't correspond to its size or revenue.

So, as you consider growing your business and how far you want to take it, consider whether you and your team thrive more with creativity or structure or are deficient in one or the other.

We work with many businesses that are enjoying the fun stage and want to keep it going. We also work with businesses that are going through or have made it past a bit of whitewater and want some predictable success. Predictable success is not a stage you reach and then relax in. You must work to maintain it, striking a balance between creativity and risk-taking with solid systems and processes for everything you do.

I met someone at an event recently who asked me what the easy way to set up ecommerce was. I don't believe most entrepreneurs want "easy." If that were the case, they'd just get a job for someone else. Most of what we need to do will require brainpower and hard work before it starts paying off, regardless of the size we want our businesses to reach. My team at Aeolidia is here to make it easier, but ultimately, what you put into anything is what you'll get out of it.

We excel at adding structure and process to your ecommerce! If you feel like you're flying by the seat of your pants with your online shop, get in touch. Predictable success is what we aim for your shop, and it's easy for us to achieve, having completed over 800 projects in 20 years.

Q&A

Here's a reader question about website copywriting, from Taunya, as answered by Arianne, Founder of our team:

Q: What are the most important things to include in your home and about page copy?

A: Every element of your website, including the text, the navigation, the photos, and your products, is considered “content” and is a highly valuable opportunity to capture your dream customers’ attention. Well-crafted website content can create an immediate connection with your visitors, helping you to build relationships, create trust, and make more sales! Let’s explore how to optimize your website content in a way that really speaks to your ideal customer by focusing on two crucial pages: your Homepage and your About page.

Question: Answered

Our team includes experts in branding, design, development, email & SMS/text marketing, search engine optimization, copywriting, conversion optimization, ecommerce strategy, business growth, and more. Have a question for us? Email back, and I'll consult one of our experts and share one weekly response over email.

Interesting Clickables

⚓️ Read past issues of Aeolidia's newsletter here

A podcast interview with Emily Ley about her tariff lawsuit, from Proof to Product
Willpower is a lie. An article that describes how to set yourself up for success so you don't have to power through all the time.
How people are using Gen AI now, including changes since 2024. "Generating ideas" used to be the top thing, and now it's "therapy/companionship," followed by "organizing my life" and "finding purpose." 👀
Want inspiration for your marketing emails? Mailboard is a service that lets you find, save, and analyze the world's best emails.

Recent Aeolidia Launch

Simple Shopify Design, Branding, Klaviyo + SEO for Moona Fabrics.

I’m so thankful for all of your organization, and layout of what the plan of action was. Caitlin was so kind and patient with me while I was trying to stay up on all the tasks. I already have a list of things that I’d like to add to the website or switch up in the future as the company grows. I look forward to working with you and your team again one day. I highly recommend Aeolidia!

- Brooke Amos of Moona Fabrics

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