Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Anne Nicholson Weber, Founder and President of BirthGuide, located in Chicago, IL, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

BirthGuide is a website that helps expectant families build their circle of support in the childbearing year. We provide in-depth information about types of care and the local providers who support conception, pregnancy, childbirth, new parenthood, and recovery from trauma or loss, helping families find care that is right for them.

Tell us about yourself

I see too many new mothers and their families who feel dissatisfied or even traumatized by their experiences around conception, pregnancy, and new parenthood. The nurturing and care they receive in this vulnerable, transformative period of life can set them on a course for positive, confident, authentic parenting - or the opposite. I myself had very happy experiences with childbirth and new motherhood, but too many of my friends did not. BirthGuide is my effort to ensure that more families find providers who offer evidence-based care and support the values and preferences of the families they serve.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Building a local site (Chicago-specific) that now attracts over 7,000 visitors a month -- without any SEO tricks, just solid content.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Motivating myself to be productive when there's no one standing over me to create accountability. I don't have much interaction with my website visitors, so sometimes it's hard to know whether I'm actually having an impact -- and that is what motivates me.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Just do it. Don't overthink everything (which is what I tend to do). Most mistakes can be fixed; you can reset your course. Better that than paralysis.
  2. Use the Full Focus planner - so helpful for keeping your eye on the most effective ways to spend your time.
  3. Don't get sucked in by other people's definition of success, and don't look over your shoulder at what others are doing. Learn by watching, of course, but set your own course and know what you care about.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Depending on your business, you may not need to be on social media. If your business is a website, as mine is, social media is likely only to drive about 10-15% of your traffic, but it can suck huge amounts of time. Ask yourself if you are really seeing an ROI for that time.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://birthguidechicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BirthGuideUS
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annenicholsonweberbirthguide/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.