How Charmaine Chan Earns $10k/Month From Smart Phone Accessories

Some people have a dream and stop at nothing to achieve it. Charmaine Chan is one of these people (and maybe you are, too!).

Charmaine created a successful e-commerce store on her first try. She started selling silicone phone accessories on her site called IceSword. The sustainable and minimalist design has proven to be a giant hit with consumers, and Charmaine goes the extra mile when it comes to customer service. Want to find out exactly how she built this profitable business from scratch?

In this interview, you'll learn all about:

• How she got the idea to create IceSword
• What she hoped to achieve and offer with her brand
• How much money she's making per month
• How she stands out from the competition
• Her top marketing strategy
• Charmaine's thoughts about SEO
• How she views link building
• Her email list
• How she does keyword research and creates content
• The resources that have inspired her
• The tools she uses every day as an entrepreneur
• Her biggest challenges to date
• The accomplishment she's most proud of
• Her greatest mistake
• Her advice for other entrepreneurs

Meet Charmaine Chan

I'm a creator. I've always been a creator. It's in my DNA.

When I was younger, I would make little dolls out of whatever materials I could find and then dress them up in the clothes I made for them. As I got older, my passion shifted to tech, but I never lost my love of making things.

How Charmaine Chan Created IceSword

Eventually, I realized I wanted to create something more than just a beautiful object. I wanted to create an experience, something that people could connect with and enjoy. That's when the idea for IceSword was born.

I've been working in the tech industry for over 10 years, and I've always been interested in online marketing and e-commerce.

A few years ago, I decided to start my own business - IceSword. I wanted to create a brand that would help people with products they use daily—something that was easy to use and didn't require any technical knowledge.

It's been a long road, but I'm proud of our achievements with IceSword. We've helped thousands of people find their favorite phone accessories, and we're just getting started.

When I started IceSword in 2015, I dreamed of creating a brand known for excellent quality and customer service. I wanted to provide a great experience for my customers from the moment they interacted with us to the moment they received their product.

And I'm happy to say that we've been able to grow our business in a way that's consistent with our values. We've never sacrificed quality in favor of speed or profit, and we've always made our customers our top priority.

It hasn't been easy, but it's been worth it. I'm proud of our team and the products we've created. And I know we have many more great things in store for our customers.

How Much Money IceSword Is Making

When I started out, I was just making a few hundred bucks per month from IceSword. But as time passed and I started to invest more money into marketing and ads, my revenue increased.

These days, I’m making 9 to 10k per month (find out how you can make $10k a month here). I'm making a few thousand dollars per month from IceSword. And that number will only continue to grow as more and more people learn about my brand. Unlike other brands, we pay a lot of attention to the environment and are committed to offsetting our carbon footprint to help the planet. 

So far, my eCommerce ventures have been pretty successful and I'm confident they'll continue to grow in the years to come.

Her Top Marketing Strategy

When it comes to marketing my business, I'm all about consistency. Every day, I'm working on something to help me reach my target audience. Whether it's creating new content, reaching out to new contacts, or promoting my business online, I'm always trying to find new ways to grow my business.

Of course, there are times when things don't go as planned. But that's okay—I learn from my mistakes and move on. The key is never to give up and keep trying new things. It's the only way to find what works best for you and your business.

I'm always looking for new and innovative ways to market my business. I know that if I can find a unique strategy, it'll help me stand out from the competition.

I've tried many different things over the years, and some have worked better than others. But there's one strategy that I keep coming back to: content marketing.

I think creating content that people actually want to read is crucial. It's not enough to churn out blog posts for the sake of it—they need to provide value for my readers. And when I do that, I see a real difference in how potential customers perceive my business.

On IceSword, we focus on the content that gives value to readers, such as our “How-to” blog, showing customers how to maintain their phone case for a longer period of time in perfect condition, etc.  We do care about them!

The Importance of SEO for Charmaine Chan

SEO is a huge part of my marketing strategy. I've seen how it can help my business grow, and I'm always experimenting with new techniques to stay ahead of the curve.

My overall SEO strategy is to create high-quality content that's relevant to my target audience. I make sure that my website is optimized for search engines and that I'm doing everything possible to build links and increase my website's authority.

I know that SEO can be a lot of work, but the payoff is definitely worth it. By investing in SEO, I can reach more people who are interested in what I have to offer, which is a huge win for my business.

Link Building

When it comes to marketing my business, I know that link building is key. It's one of the most effective ways to drive traffic to my site and grow my audience. But just like anything else, there's a right and a wrong way to do it.

I've tried a lot of different link building strategies over the years, and some have worked better than others. But the one thing I've found that always works is creating high-quality content people want to share. If I can get people talking about my site and sharing my content, I know I'm on the right track.

So that's what I'm focusing on right now: creating content that people will love and sharing it with as many people as possible. I know it won't be easy, but I'm up for the challenge.

Her Email List

I'm a big believer in growing my email list.

I know that sounds like a basic thing, but it's really not. I've seen so many businesses put all their effort into getting new customers without considering building their email lists. And then they're shocked when their sales start to drop.

But when you have a solid email list, you have a direct line of communication with your customers. You can tell them about new products, special deals, and more. Plus, you can track how well your campaigns are doing, which is really helpful for optimizing your efforts.

Building my email list is always my number one marketing strategy. It's something I focus on every day, and it's the key to my success.

Unfortunately, I haven’t been working on my email list since day 1 though. At the very beginning, I was too green, and I'd just send out a couple of emails. I absolutely underestimated how important it is to a business. 

Charmaine Chan’s Content Creation Process

When it comes to content creation, I believe in being strategic and purposeful. I start by developing an editorial calendar and then mapping out topics that will resonate with my audience. Once I have a plan in place, I start creating informative and entertaining content.

I also promote my content on social media and always try to think outside the box when marketing my business. For example, I've been known to do things like give away products or run contests—whatever it takes to get my message out and reach more people.

Keyword Research

Keyword research is one of the most important steps in any SEO strategy. It's how you figure out what people are searching for and then target those keywords in your content on your site.

There are many ways to do keyword research, and what works best for you depends on your business and your target audience. I like to start by brainstorming a list of keywords related to my product or service. Then I'll use a tool like Google Keyword Planner (or Semrush) to get data on the search volume and competition for those keywords.

Once I have a list of targeted keywords, I'll incorporate them into my content and site architecture and track the results over time to see if they're helping to improve my rankings.

Achieving Her Current Revenue Level

It's been a long journey, and it's definitely not been easy. I remember the days when I was just starting out and making next to nothing. It probably took me about three years to achieve my current revenue level.

But I was determined, and I kept working hard. I was constantly learning new things and networking with other entrepreneurs. And eventually, my efforts started to pay off. These days, my business is doing really well, and I'm grateful for all the support I've received along the way.

Resources Charmaine Chan Recommends

When it comes to marketing, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. What works for one business might not work for another, but that doesn't mean you can't learn from others and borrow their tactics.

That's why I'd recommend checking out some of the resources below. These are all great sources of information for anyone looking to build a successful business.

• The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses
• The Power of Intentional Conversation: How to Create Meaningful Connections with Your Customers and Grow Your Business
• Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion

Her Top 3 Tools

As an entrepreneur, I rely on a few key tools to help me grow my business.

First and foremost is my laptop. With it, I can stay connected to my team and customers no matter where I am. I also use it to track my finances, marketing efforts, and to-do list.

Another essential tool is my phone. I use it to stay in touch with my team and clients and to find new leads and opportunities. It's also invaluable for market research and for tracking the competition. 

Last but not least, I rely on my network of contacts. Whether it's fellow entrepreneurs, business mentors, or suppliers, having a strong network of professionals I can turn to for advice and support has been crucial to my success.

Charmaine Chan’s Biggest Challenge

As my business has continued to grow, I've faced new challenges I would never have imagined. My biggest challenge has been scaling up my operations to meet the increased demand.

I also had to start focusing on creating systems and processes that would help me streamline my operations. This was another challenge, but it was definitely worth it.

Her Greatest Accomplishment

When it comes to my business, I'd say my number one accomplishment is building a great team. I know I couldn't do it alone, and I'm really proud of the team I've put together.

There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question because what works for one business might not work for another. But at the end of the day, you need to find what works best for you and stick with it.

What She Wishes She Knew When She Started

When I first started out, I was so excited to get my business off the ground. But looking back, there are a few things I wish I had known then that I know now.

For one, I wish I had known just how important it is to have a clear vision and mission for your brand. Without that, it's so easy to get lost in the day-to-day tasks and lose sight of what you're trying to achieve.

And finally, I wish I had known the importance of creating valuable content. Content is one of the most powerful tools you have in your arsenal, and if it's not good, people will notice. So take the time to create interesting, engaging, and most importantly, helpful content.

Her Greatest Mistake

I'd say the biggest mistake I've made on my entrepreneurial journey is not planning for the future enough. I was so focused on the here and now that I didn't set aside time for things like research and development or about where I wanted the business to be in 5 or 10 years.

This lack of foresight has definitely come back to bite me in the butt, but it's something I'm working on rectifying now. I've started planning further ahead and ensuring that I have a solid plan to keep IceSword moving in the right direction.

It's been a learning process, but it's one that's been invaluable in helping me grow my business.

Charmaine Chan’s Advice for Other Entrepreneurs

When I started IceSword, I was just a lady with a dream. I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew I wanted to create something that would make a difference in the world.

I think the most important thing is to have a clear vision and to be relentless in your pursuit of it. Don't let anyone or anything stand in your way. And don't be afraid to ask for help. There are a lot of people out there who are more than happy to offer guidance and support.

Above all, be patient and stay the course. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it in the end.

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