3 truths about running a tarot business

A lot of people are surprised when I tell them I don’t spend all day reading tarot.

“Isn’t that your job?” they wonder.

But that question itself says a lot: Many people are used to thinking about work as a single job – one role or job title that you’re assigned.

When you’re self-employed as a tarot reader, you’re actually doing a lot more work than just reading for clients.

Being self-employed means making time to manage many moving parts along the way. There are administrative tasks, marketing efforts, and a lot of unexpected decisions to make on an ongoing basis.

There are also ups and downs, emotional rollercoasters, and imperfect days.

Here are three truths that you will have to accept if you are running a tarot business (or any other service-based business, for that matter.)

1. People will unsubscribe from your mailing lists and channels.

All of the big advice out there says to build a mailing list (which I recommend, too, BTW), or get on social media and build an audience.

It can be so exciting to see your community grow. You curate kick-ass content, share it consistently, and put a lot of love into your work.

But it can be just as painful to see your list numbers drop sometimes. And it’s very common to take it personally, especially if you see someone who’s been a loyal follower suddenly unsubscribe.

Before you get too down about it, know this: It happens to everyone, and it’s part of the gig. In my observations, the main reason people unsubscribe is because they are cutting down on emails or on the amount of content they consume.

It's rarely personal.

But sometimes, seeing unsubscribes and unfollows can be discouraging. We can start to feel unliked or unwelcome by the very people we’re hoping to connect with.

When I see someone drop off, my hope is that they got what they needed from me.

People grow through working with you. It’s great to have a loyal audience base, but it’s also great to see people evolve through your work.

Of course, it’s also possible that the content you’re creating isn’t in alignment with what everyone is looking for. That’s also okay.

Focus on the people who continue to show up, keep building your presence. There are billions of people in the world. Don’t chase after the ones who are already out the door.

2. You will still have to provide customer service.

When you start your own business, you might go into it thinking, “This is going to be so great. I’ll be my own boss. I won’t have to put up with anything that I don’t want to.”

What do you think actually happens when your business starts to grow? You will attract all kinds of customers, and do you know what customers bring?

A lot of unexpected questions, hiccups, and blind spots.

Which leads to a need for good customer service.

No matter how clear your policies, or how carefully you present your work, curveballs will still be thrown your way. And because you’re the boss, it will be up to you to decide how to handle them.

And you quickly learn that it doesn’t go over well to tell off a paying customer when something goes wrong. (Even if it’s not actually your fault.)

You don’t have to bend your boundaries or policies every time there’s a snafu. But being responsive and timely in addressing a customer’s concern goes a long way.

I always think of how I would feel if I was in the customer’s shoes and had a question or concern about a purchase I’d made.

Would I trust a business owner who had zero customer service skills? Probably not. I’d be much more likely to work with a business owner who I knew I could trust with my hard-earned dollars. And that trust is built through customer service.

3. You will spend a lot of time on marketing. A lot.

Remember when I said earlier that running a business requires you to take on different jobs and roles?

One of your main tasks as a business owner is finding new business.

When you’ve got clients on your schedule, they’re your priority.

When clients aren’t on your schedule, a good portion of your time should be spent working on your business – especially in the marketing department.

Client bases can and do build over time, but if you find your schedule is spotty and you’d like more work, then finding ways to get in front of new people is going to be an item on your to-do list.

Whether that means writing newsletters, making new videos for social media, or booking yourself a booth at the local psychic fair, you’ll want to be taking consistent action to help you get in front of new people.

And finally: Don’t get frustrated if it’s not all coming together at once. Success is usually a culmination of many small efforts made over time. Make time for the various roles and responsibilities your tarot business comes with.

Until next time,

Liz

p.s. Do you want personalized support in figuring out your tarot business? Check out my tarot business mentorship sessions here.