When I saw the invitation to sign up for the Creative Hive Colony, I was immediately excited by the potential but wondered if it would be worth the cost. I decided that I could at least give it a shot. If I got in and didn’t receive value at least commensurate with the subscription cost, I could always leave. I applied and was thrilled when I received my notification of acceptance. I really hoped that the group would live up to the potential I envisioned.

One month in, I am thrilled with my experience and the benefits I have received. The following changes are direct outcomes of being part of the Colony.

• nailed down my ideal customer – Mei and other members gave me feedback and ideas; I now have a specific person in mind when creating products, writing content, and branding my business
• learned how to effectively use Instagram for business – Mei’s clear instructions and direct feedback for writing your profile, choosing hashtags, and interacting on IG have put me on the right track for steadily growing my customer base on IG; I’ve gone from 177 to 220 followers in about 3 weeks, gaining an average of 2 new followers per day
• made my first sale through IG – only after I began using Mei’s IG method did I make a sale through IG; the customer commented to let me know she’d bought the earrings I’d shared that day
• improved product photography – another member kindly shared with me some problem areas I didn’t even know my photos had; not only did she alert me to the problems, but she also walked me through how to fix them; my product photo quality has improved dramatically, presenting a polished and professional appearance to the world

I’ve formed connections with other members – we’re becoming a family; we give and receive advice, help, support, and encouragement; we celebrate each other’s successes and share our knowledge and experiences freely.

I benefited in many other ways, too, but I’ve already written a book. Suffice it to say that I no longer doubt whether the Colony is worth the monthly cost. I’m in it for the long haul and highly recommend it to you.

– Revka Stearns, Berries and Cream Designs