Should you use "We" or "I" for Your Home-Based Business? Turtle Wins The Race Podcast

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Should you use "We" or "I" for Your Home-Based Business? Turtle Wins The Race Podcast

Рет қаралды 2,511

10 ай бұрын

Should you use "we" or "i" to refer to yourself if you have a home-based business? This is a question that has a few twists, and you have to decide for yourself based on your own situation. I go over some things to consider in this podcast.
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Пікірлер: 50

@leannfrobom847 10 ай бұрын

My team is Me, Myself, and I. WE are usually on the same page.

@fibergoddess1 9 ай бұрын

😂

@cjdragonsplanet3509 10 ай бұрын

As I was listening to your video, I had to chuckle. I create dragons and I always say the dragons and I in all of my descriptions.

@jennyjumpjump 10 ай бұрын

When I was younger working retail, I'd use "we" all the time because it diffuses blame when the customer is angry. "We will figure this out" like I'd get the whole team working on this problem

@gallerytwentyeight 10 ай бұрын

As a brick and mortar business, open to the public, that was the ground floor of my HOUSE.....I tended to use "we" almost always. I guess I included the dog as part of the "we", but you never know who you are talking to on the phone so....I felt it was prudent.

@nerdmommy7114 10 ай бұрын

Great talk! I use ‘I’ because I wanted to be honest. Most of my customers, when I was using ‘we’, think that there is a huge team behind the business and were curious why processing took so long. (My product is personalized and handmade.) So I started using ‘I’, started introducing myself, and showing that I do everything by hand and I’m the only artist, I stopped getting demands from customers. They know they are getting something uniquely made by hand. And the ideal customers will be patient enough to wait for it. I think it’s not a matter of language when it comes to perception. It has an effect, but not a lot. Price is a great factor when it comes to perception. And also how the photos are taken, how the website is designed, how professional the tone and language is (whether we use I or we). How professional the customer service is. Those are what determines customer’s perception. I think I’ve never been called out for being inconsistently using I or we on my posts, I think this is just a small matter that customers won’t even notice. Though once you choose one pronoun on the website, make sure that you use that all throughout the whole website. Consistency is professional. Hope this makes sense. [Edit: funny I read this and I used ALL pronouns. you, I, we. LOL. editing me is furious. 😂]

@cyndicatbudgets 10 ай бұрын

I use "we" in my little Etsy business. I sell items to the budgeting community and my "logo" is "We make saving Fun!"

@diane3458 10 ай бұрын

I. I am an artisan craftsperson and I want to be known for the quality of the items that I create by hand. I once imitated the copy-writing style of one of my competitors who writes in the third person, and that was just weird. As in, "this beautiful... was handcrafted by artisan Diane ..." I couldn't go that far. 😃

@sarahcook9269 10 ай бұрын

I call it the "royal We". My husband helps with packing, and I do hope to add a very small team at some point so I feel comfortable using "we"

@KaraUnderwood 10 ай бұрын

I have always used "We." It never occurred to me not to. I totally agree with what you are saying.

@Emily-dg6rc 10 ай бұрын

It's definitely more special when the cake is completely created, baked, decorated and delivered by one person it just shows the bride how invested you are in making sure everything goes perfectly for their special day

@bethhutchinson105 10 ай бұрын

I worked in management for many years, so 'we' just flows naturally when I'm referring to my business. If someone asks me a specific question like redesigning, etc then it is more 'I' that I use as to what I can and cannot do. (my husband does choose colors for me at times, as he has a better eye for that than I do lol)

@falcieridesigns 10 ай бұрын

I have generally referred to myself as 'we'. I suppose people think of 'I' as being 'oh you're not really a business' rather than 'we' which sounds a bit bigger and a bit more important. I occasionally refer to micro business and I shouldn't, but small or handmade business also gets used a lot. I agree with everything you say. There's this perceived lack of trust in a small business and that ecommerce umbrella platforms have got the customers back if things go wrong.

@Willow-Glen 10 ай бұрын

I struggled with this and went back and forth between the two. I finally decided I wanted my work to be know from the artist, so I switched it all over to "I".

@gracemakeslace 5 ай бұрын

Interesting! So it boils down to the type of business and what the customer expects. Where I'm at now, I'm doing everything by myself, and I'm definitely marketing myself as an artist. But there might be a time where the 3d printed things, while designed by me, might have to be printed and cleaned up by others. So in that case I'll have to exercise disclosure, but at that point I feel like I could make it a big celebration on social media, after getting the new person settled in and seeing if they're specifically a good fit.

@greengateimages 10 ай бұрын

I've always used "I" because I hate the feeling of misrepresentation or manipulation, small as it is. As you said, it really depends on the business/clientele. I do graphic design, and I think people are used to hiring a solo person for freelance (even though I'm not doing freelance anymore). I want people to know that I'm the one doing everything so that they can appreciate they are talking directly to the designer, and also so they realize, I don't know....the value?...of my customer service. I'm the one answering all of the questions while I design, so hopefully they perceive that as more competent and professional, in a sense. It helps them know I do this full-time and am available to them. I totally get the hesitation to order food products from someone who cooks/bakes from home, though. It's the whole cleanliness thing where you can't see their kitchen, but if you imagine they are using a commercial kitchen, then it automatically seems up to a different standard of cleanliness. No kids/pets, etc. Your customer probably assumed that if you rented an office, you also rented a kitchen.

@KaraBuntin 10 ай бұрын

That's possible, but if she saw some commercial kitchens she would know that they're a lit filthier than most home kitchens! The health inspector would come to my house to inspect it, take one look around, and then chat for half an hour telling me stories about the horrible commercial spaces he had just gone to. It's 100% perception that "commercial" is better. On the other hand, I wouldn't buy anything from someone who cooks from home under cottage food laws because they have no inspections or oversight, so you DO get dog hair in the food!

@greengateimages 10 ай бұрын

@@KaraBuntin 😆Gross! Yes, dog hair is exactly what I was thinking about. I agree that it's perception, but I have to cling to that myself. If I think too much about what might go on in various kitchens around the world, I'll spend my life too disturbed to ever enjoy anything.

@pustapustka 9 ай бұрын

"I", because it's me after all. Moreover, I myself react badly to "we" business, which turns out to be one person. A bit like someone had complexes. And I think that comes with age, maturity and having been in business for some time. At the beginning, we want everyone to know and admire us. That thay want us. Our brand and company. Over time, we still want it, but the customer's loyalty and appreciation of us as a person - a creator, someone with a face, ideas and skillful hands - become equally important. It's not only our brand that counts anymore, but us as "I".

@melaniemackenzie185 10 ай бұрын

I made the decision to use "I" as well as using a relatively familiar tone in my customer communications because I think my specific audience is coming to Etsy (where I am) for the personal connection. To me that's part of the point of buying handmade. When someone admires their purchase they have a tiny bit of a story that goes with the item. And now you're talking about "connection" in the video haha!

@deannaswanson7296 10 ай бұрын

I started my business using "we," but it felt very phony and fake because people knew it was a one-person thing. So I now use I. Maybe in the future I will consider using "we." Interesting topic.

@darlenelorimer8518 10 ай бұрын

I've always wondered about this! Thank you.

@tiphainer7143 10 ай бұрын

Same here. Very appreciated video.😊

@michellemoeckel4770 10 ай бұрын

I use I instead of we. I feel like a liar if I used we. It’s just me doing all the work.

@tracyarizmendi4291 10 ай бұрын

I use "I" most of the time, because using "we or our" felt disingenuous. However, I completely agree with what you're saying about how people have this mistaken idea that if there are multiple people running a business somehow the business is more trustworthy, or better. How many times do you hear people complaining about the multiple layers of red tape they have to wade through when contacting customer service at some big company?

@tabshagen2963 9 ай бұрын

I have actually been wondering about this too. I'd prefer I...but I'm listening to you now!

@obxshelly 9 ай бұрын

You are spot-on! I was using the "we" but now I use "I" because it is just me. I just treat it as transparency- since that is an appearance too, lol. Thanks for another great topic!!

@Emily-dg6rc 10 ай бұрын

Lol I always try and deliberate this in my head lol

@HomeRapidRepair 10 ай бұрын

I’ve used both earlier in my career. I don’t think the customer cared.?.? 🛠️

@karenforkamela 10 ай бұрын

When I hear ‘we’ when I know it’s a one person business, it turns me away as I don’t trust it.

@taffniebogart4232 9 ай бұрын

There are many ways to get around i or we. Usually I or we comes at the beginning of a sentence. It’s nice to say things like … Thanks for letting me know you are happy with your purchase. yes it is a great piece. Etc In the past writing press releases and artist statements was part of my life putting the I first sounded pompous. It takes longer to find a better sound but it is worth the effort, feels more friendly, genuine🍒

@jenmarquin 9 ай бұрын

Thank you, I've often wondered this, because I've used both. My family supports me so much in this I feel like "we" is just natural in some cases. I'll probably always wonder, because like you said it depends on the situation and there's a lot of psychology involved 😅 I don't want to be misleading. I've asked my husband about using we, because it really is my thing. He said since he does the post office runs and watches our child while I pack orders, he feels like it's part of his life too 🤷‍♀️

@mrssmith1845 10 ай бұрын

'I' works for me as a handcrafted jeweller who does a lot if custom work, i also work under my own name, I feel I would be lying if i used the term 'we', also i feel I have no need for it and I dont ever intend to be a 'we' business. Great informative videos and no nonsence approach, love it! ❤

@jimmywilmore5044 10 ай бұрын

I use “I” because it’s just me.

@pamelastansbury1407 9 ай бұрын

Or sometimes you're working so hard that you feel more like a we than an i..lol

@tinaindina7032 10 ай бұрын

What do sellers do on Etsy if they use “we” for example in the “about section story” and in their “members” there’s only an “I”. That would be weird to me as a buyer. Are they really doing their work themselves or are there others involved not disclosed?

@nataliastoev3784 6 ай бұрын

Finally opened a shopify and working hard to get traffic! Any videos with tips ? Other than send promos with your etsy orders ? ❤️

@KaraBuntin 6 ай бұрын

Basically, send traffic by doing all the normal social media things, there's nothing different about it.

@TessieDobey 10 ай бұрын

I use now use "I" Can you do a video or have you done a video on How to hire honest employees? I had one employee and she stole one of my cosmetic recipes, started her business and it failed.

@KaraBuntin 10 ай бұрын

If I knew the answer to that I would be rich. Unfortunately, you're taking your chances when you hire anyone. I know people who have had relatives steal their entire product lines.

@awlthatwoodcrafts8911 10 ай бұрын

As far as my Etsy shop goes, it's "I". I don't want to give any false impressions or expectations and I'm ok if someone wants to walk away because they don't trust me because it's just me. It's their choice and I understand. When I'm in a store and I ask if they have a particular item and the salesperson says "I have that" or "I don't have that", I'm instantly turned off. I have no idea if that's a training thing or not, but when I'm in a chain store and the employee says "I" instead of "we", I'm done. Maybe this is a topic for another discussion, but do you tell customers, or potential customers, that your business is not your full-time job? I totally understand how you can drive people away even more than saying "I" instead of "we", but I just want to be honest with people. I believe it can attract people and gain their trust because once you've made that admission, they see you as more approachable and human. Sales is a BS game. Each side is trying to get the most out of the deal and many will do whatever it takes. Maybe I'm naive, but I'd rather have an honest relationship with my customers from the git-go.

@NeaJewelry 9 ай бұрын

I’m glad i waited until the end of the video before writing my novel of a response, i saved myself a lot of time 😂 Because i totally use the *i* as a selling point on my website’s “about me” section! Basically, the gist of it is “i do everything, so you can be 100% assured that the product are well made each time, the descriptions are accurate, that the photos are accurate, that the answers to your questions will be accurate, that the packaging will be safe, and that basically, *i* WILL know what you’re talking about if you write and ask something. That said, my previous business, i used the “we”. even tho it was only me (graphic design), i did do the bridge between tons of other services and had plenty of contacts to work with for whatever the client needed (printers, photographers, stylists, animators, website programmer, marketing experts, even freelance models!) the “we” was very much deliberate then, and appropriate/accurate i think!

@abhayvaviya9247 9 ай бұрын

Hey Kara, can I open another or many other etsy shops with same listings but content translated in different languages?? I sell posters for classroom decoration..

@KaraBuntin 9 ай бұрын

You can, but Etsy translates things automatically based on the language that the shopper's account is in. There's no reason to put listings in different languages, you can just list the thing and say (in English) "XYZ in Spanish" and Etsy will translate that. If the photo shows something printed in Spanish then people will know that's the Spanish version of whatever it is.

@abhayvaviya9247 9 ай бұрын

@@KaraBuntin I mean the content written in posters that I sell not description, title, etc.

@KaraBuntin 9 ай бұрын

@@abhayvaviya9247 Right, but you can put the different posters in the same shop, there's no reason to have them in different shops.

@abhayvaviya9247 9 ай бұрын

@@KaraBuntin I was thinking another shop would bring me extra revenue since I sell downloadables and there is no variant option for digitals. Also I think same listing with slightly altered images would still clutter the shop a bit

@KaraBuntin 9 ай бұрын

@@abhayvaviya9247 One shop is a lot easier to manage than two, though.