Welcome to the Scaling Success Stories series!
If you’re new to this series, I ask online entrepreneurs questions regarding growing and scaling their business.
This is the series description:
You can get your fill of online business tips by reading the other interviews on the Scaling Success Stories page.
Interview with Anna McNaught from AnnaMcNaught.com (The Liked Photo)
It was my pleasure interviewing Anna McNaught of AnnaMcNaught.com (formerly The Liked Photo), a popular blog and officially verified Instagram account that helps you build a business, a brand, and a life you love through the application of image, innovation, knowledge, and imagination.
Anna has built a 6-figure business, primarily through Instagram, and now she teaches you how to do the same.
Check out what Anna had to say to my questions!
Fun fact: Anna went to high school with one of my college best friends. Small world, isn’t it!
1. Why did you start an online business and how does your passion still drive your business’ growth today?
A little over two years ago, I was working a corporate job as a graphic designer and realized I was lacking a sense of personal creativity that had so easily flowed throughout my life.
I decided to start creating again for ME and combining my love of photography and graphic design in Photoshop.
After quickly gaining recognition on Instagram for these pieces I was creating, I began receiving hundreds of messages asking if I could help others do the same. I realized there was a major need for Instagram coaching.
Entrepreneurs, artists, and businesses were lacking the knowledge of using Instagram for business and not just selfies or personal photos.
Today, my passion for my art and my passion for teaching, drive the business. When my clients and students get results in their own artwork, see their Instagram accounts growing, and begin making a sustainable income, it makes it all worth it.
2. At what point did you realize that your business was “taking off” and that you could really make money from it?
I began making money initially from my Instagram account.
I had brands reaching out to me for partnerships and collaborations.
That’s when I first noticed that the time that goes into each piece of artwork was paying off.
It wasn’t until I hosted a few workshops around LA and launched the pre-sale of my online course that I saw the business side of things taking off.
3. At what point did you realize you were living the life you wanted to?
Once I quit my job and realized I didn’t have to be on someone else’s schedule!
But, also when I started traveling last year and saw that I was still able to make money while on the go.
I didn’t have to wake up early and hit the ground running if I didn’t want to, I could take days off, run my business how I wanted to, and do the things I love!
4. One of the biggest fears of outsourcing is trusting the people you hire to run your business the way you would. How did you overcome this and where did you find the right freelancers and employees to help you grow your business?
I outsource here and there as I need things done — such as contractors for design/photography work, etc. I plan on hiring someone to help with Instagram clients within the next few months and maybe someone to clean up my Pinterest.
Changing my business from The Liked Photo to now living under my name means that I am the face of business and people expect to talk to me when they hire me.
It’s never really been a goal of mine to hire people and grow using that method. I think the only person I would hire is an assistant and contractors as needed.
5. A common myth is that as you grow and scale your business, you have to sell your soul to make money, especially when you venture into paid advertising. How do you debunk this myth in your business?
I don’t buy into any of this anymore.
I heard this all the time from the entrepreneur gurus that I was obsessed with in the beginning. They would say, in order to make it, you have to do this, that, and the other thing and if you don’t, you will fail.
At first, this scared me.
But then I realized that it’s all about your mindset, goal orientation, how you handle stress, and who you choose to help you along the way.
Personally, I’m terrified of the tech of paid advertising but I’ve found some amazing people to help out and I’ve never felt like I’ve had to sell my soul like I was told to do in the beginning.
I actually feel like as my business has grown in these past few months, so has my soul. I know “myself” now more than I ever have before.
6. Why do you think most people fail to grow their businesses and what advice would you offer them to keep pushing, despite all the setbacks?
I think we all go through some major ups and downs in business.
Heck, I feel like I have an existential crisis at least once a day!
But the best thing to do is to keep your sight set on a major life goal or even your own “why statement.”
Whether that is to be a full-time traveler (mine), become a millionaire by 30 (also one of mine), grow to a Fortune 500 company, launch a TV show, etc. etc. etc., sometimes, we need a reminder of why we started this in the first place or why we want to continue when the going gets tough.
It’s easy to throw in the towel and give up to go back to a comfortable 9-5, but it takes a true guts-driven entrepreneur to push through the bad days and growing pains and know that their dreams are bigger than themselves.
7. How important has niching down been (no matter how hard it hurts) to your business’ growth and profitability?
Very important and it’s something I think I should still do.
In the beginning, I started by teaching the general public how to grow their Instagram accounts and take better photos. Now, I’m just focusing on entrepreneurs and creators for Instagram growth.
(You can still learn photography and photoshop from me but that’s semi-separate)
8. What do you attribute your success to and how do you explain it? Do you think the same strategies will help you reach your next monetization goals? Why or why not?
I attribute most of my success to my support system!
There’s no way I could have done this without the support of my husband, family, and friends.
Every day, my husband reminds me about what a badass female entrepreneur I am and that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.
It’s his encouragement and shoulder to cry on when things get tough that help me to push towards my next big goal. I also attribute my success to Leah Gervais’ mastermind!
Joining a mastermind with a group of inspiring ladies was the best thing I could have done for myself and my business. I definitely believe that this support system will get me to the next place in my business and my life.
9. To scale, you really need to have a systemized business. What steps have you taken to build those systems and how do you optimize them?
This is something that I’m still working on and building.
Right now my goal is to get more funnels in place that will run on autopilot while I travel. That will allow me more time to focus on improving my artwork and taking it to the next level to really knock the socks off of my fans!
10. If you could speak face-to-face with yourself when you first started your business, what pearls of wisdom would you impart?
I would tell myself to not be so hard on myself!
It’s a blessing and a curse because it pushes me to work harder and to not be lazy, but some days, I would really beat myself up mentally.
It’s all a journey and a learning experience and there’s no rush to the finish line.
Part of what makes this so exciting is the steps that it takes to make it all happen! The world is a whole lot easier when you’re on your own side.
About Anna McNaught
An innovative graphic designer, award-winning photographer, celebrated digital surrealist, and recognized pioneer in the emerging discipline of strategic Instagram marketing, Anna McNaught brings her profound creative artistry and razor-sharp eye for detail to every project she undertakes.
Anna’s design work is clean, creative and compelling and her marketing approach simple, yet effectively results-directed. Her recent online workshops and courses in Instagram marketing, management, and consultation have resulted in full bookings and unprecedented income growth and engagement increases for client base…and her own following of over 100,000 Instagram devotees continues to build each week. Anna strives to help her students and clients build an online business that fuels their passions.
Interested in Learning From Anna?
Anna has the perfect programs to help you grow your Instagram account!
FREE 5-Day Instagram Course
Before you try to grow your Instagram account (or worse, buy followers!), check out her FREE 5-Day Instagram course.
When I took it, I learned a lot and that helped me position myself properly in front of people that I wanted to. Sometimes, it’s the slight changes that have massive results.
Sign up for the FREE 5-Day Instagram course now!
#NoFilter — The Unfiltered Instagram Course
In my opinion, this is the best Instagram course out there, taught by one of the best and brightest in the business.
If you think…
How can Instagram possibly help me in my business?
Well, you might be living under the online business rock, but Instagram is a great way to get brand sponsorships. And, sponsorships can be the first dollars that you earn online.
The real benefit to Instagram happens when you reach 10,000 followers.
That’s when you get the swipe up feature. That’s how you get traffic to your site from Instagram.
But, it can be done with hard work and the right strategy. Anna’s course helps you get there.
Here’s what the breakdown of the course module by module looks like:
- Laying a Strong Foundation
- Let Your Images Speak for You — A Lesson in Branding a 3 x 9 Grid
- The Nitty Gritty of Hashtagging, Tagging, and Captions
- Saving Time & Engaging Where it Matters the Most
- Making Money & Marketing Yourself on Instagram
- Using Stories to Build and Sell
You’ll also get a few bonuses that are advertised on the sales page.
If you’ve wanted to grow your Instagram, Anna McNaught has AMAZING results. The best part is that she recently received the official blue verification badge, so even Instagram endorses her for being awesome.
Purchase Anna’s #NoFilter — The Unfiltered Instagram Course today!
Photoshop Creations: Underwater Lighthouse Course
If you’ve ever wanted to learn Photoshop and create sexy images just like the ones Anna McNaught has on her profile, then you NEED to get this course.
No exceptions (or filters…see what I did there?).
This course has me excited because you literally get to see her exact creation process. How she goes from multiple separate images to one cohesive image.
Photoshop is daunting. Without any help, you could spend hours and not learn anything.
But, this course is a step-by-step process for how to go from the separate images to the completed product. And, unlike a blog, where the final product could be very different from the test site, you have something tangible to compare your results to.
This allows you to refine your skills time and time again.
After taking this course, you can level up your Instagram presence.
Purchase Photoshop Creations: Underwater Lighthouse Course today!
Conclusion
Thanks for participating in my series, Anna!
As you can tell, it’s NOT EASY growing and scaling an online business, but there are some things you can do to aid you in the process.
Inspired by Anna McNaught?
Now, it’s your turn!
I assembled the Scaling Blueprint to show you how to…
- Outsource Effectively
- Systemize Your Business
- Shatter Your Revenue Goals
After working with six-figure and seven-figure clients, I know the difference between how they function.
Let me help you start scaling successfully.
Cheers to future success!
