Laura Higgins: Helping Creative Entrepreneurs Thrive in a Noisy World

Running a creative business shouldn’t just be profitable—it should be fun! That’s exactly what Laura Higgins, a coach, speaker, podcaster, and marketing expert, strives to achieve for the hundreds of creatives she supports every year. From social media novice to a seven-figure entrepreneur, Laura’s journey is an inspiring blueprint for those seeking to build businesses that align with their creative goals.

Laura’s story highlights the challenges she faced and the practical strategies she teaches creative service providers to skyrocket their businesses without losing their creative spark.

From Sales Struggles to Creative Success

The road to success wasn’t easy. Back in 2016, Laura found herself working as a coffee saleswoman, walking into cafés with bags of beans and a pitch. Despite her enthusiasm, sales didn’t come naturally to her, and she knew a pivot was necessary. Then she stumbled upon social media.

With Instagram still in its early stages of business popularity, Laura saw an opportunity. Combining her knack for design, writing, and storytelling, she began growing her brother-in-law’s brand online. Within months, she turned that fledgling Instagram account into a bustling hub of customer engagement. It wasn’t long before small business owners reached out to her for social media help, and in 2017, Lala Social Club was born.

Key Lessons and Strategies

Laura Higgins knows all too well the ups and downs of running a business, often likened to a roller coaster ride. To break free from this exhausting cycle, she suggests a few smart moves. First, keep selling even when you’re busy—think of it like creating a waitlist to keep the buzz going. Next, don’t be afraid to raise your prices when demand is high; it’s a great way to boost your bottom line. Also, look ahead and tackle capacity issues by automating tasks and outsourcing where you can. Building a system to consistently generate leads will help keep the work flowing, and stepping into a CEO mindset will allow you to focus on growing your business strategically. By making these changes, you can smooth out the ride, making your business journey more stable and enjoyable.

Responsibility Over Blame

Laura learned that while not every business problem is her fault, it is her responsibility to address it. This mindset shift from blame to responsibility enabled her to focus on solutions, particularly in financial management, where she realised the importance of proper pricing and budgeting.

Budgeting as a Crucial Skill

The shock of an £8,000 tax bill highlighted the need for effective budgeting. Laura now advocates for creating a tax fund, tracking cash flow, and planning for expenses to ensure financial stability and long-term success.

Growth from Setbacks

Laura views setbacks as opportunities for growth. By processing emotions and using them as motivation, she re-evaluated her business strategies, leading to significant improvements and a growth mindset.

Building a Creative Business Through Adaptability

Moving from coffee sales to managing social media accounts was a drastic shift, but Laura didn’t stop there. Instead of settling for good, she aimed for great. Over the next few years, she expanded her skill set and began consulting with brands to create holistic marketing strategies. She tackled challenging questions like how businesses could cut through the digital noise and implemented innovative solutions customised for each client.

Her biggest breakthrough came in 2020. During the pandemic, Laura lost half her clients in a matter of weeks. Instead of giving up, she bet on online education, filming her first digital course, My Marketing Playbook, just before lockdowns began. That one course earned £30,000 during its first launch and laid the foundation for a new chapter in Laura’s business—coaching other creatives to succeed online.

By diversifying her income streams and continuously learning, Laura not only kept her business afloat but transformed it into a thriving, multi-faceted venture.

Content Strategy Tips for Entrepreneurs

Laura doesn’t just offer lessons on resilience—she also provides a roadmap for creating content that resonates with your target audience. Her approach is both practical and inspiring, especially for entrepreneurs trying to grow their personal brands.

Be Authentic

Laura believes that real, honest content connects with audiences far better than polished, formulaic material. Share your stories, quirks, and challenges—it’s these human moments that build trust and relatability.

Know Your Audience

Craft content with your ideal client in mind. Laura’s “Lost Lucy” archetype—a creative entrepreneur seeking both growth and balance—is a great example of how audience clarity fuels effective messaging.

Leverage Tools and Processes

Use systems like ClickUp to organise your content schedule and AI tools like ChatGPT for brainstorming. Structure ensures consistency, and innovation keeps your content fresh.

Prioritise Engagement Over Metrics

Instead of obsessing over likes and shares, focus on how your content makes people feel. Posts that connect emotionally often perform best.

Coaching Creative Entrepreneurs to Get Unstuck

Laura believes starting and running a creative business shouldn’t feel overwhelming. Something she emphasises to her clients is the shift from “working IN the business” to “working ON the business”.

She understands that for many—a common scenario involves trading their time and creativity for revenue, trapped in a cycle that stifles growth. The game-changer? A customised plan that helps creatives scale sustainably.

This philosophy led to the launch of The Next Level Club (TNLC) in 2022, a group coaching programme designed to empower creative entrepreneurs. TNLC focuses on teaching strategies to attract more clients, increase revenue, and regain personal freedom—all without compromising on creativity.

5 Key Takeaways from Laura Higgins’ Journey

1. Lean into What You Do Best

Laura realised early on that selling coffee wasn’t her strength, but storytelling on social media was. Don’t waste time chasing paths that don’t align with your skills—focus on what truly excites you.

2. Pivot When Necessary

The pandemic could have been an ending, but for Laura, it was the start of her education and coaching empire. When challenges arise, see them as opportunities to innovate.

3. Invest in Personal Branding

Laura’s brand thrives because it reflects her. From podcast episodes layered with charm and authenticity to her social media, her personality is at the core. Creative entrepreneurs should strive to connect with their audience on the same level.

4. Balance Creativity with Strategy

There’s no denying Laura’s creative strengths, but her disciplined focus on strategic scaling—through courses, coaching, and systems—set her apart.

5. Protect Your Energy

Laura likens creativity to a renewable resource, but it requires adequate time, space, and energy to flourish. A creative entrepreneur running on empty can’t sustain high-quality output, no matter how good their intentions.

Boosting Sales Confidence

Laura Higgins emphasises the importance of mastering sales confidence, mindset, and strategic planning for business growth. She shares practical advice on overcoming fear of rejection, building confidence through repetition, and adopting a solution-focused mindset. Laura advocates using tools like Riverside for high-quality podcasting and suggests the “alter ego” technique, inspired by Beyoncé’s Sasha Fierce, to boost sales confidence. Encouraging entrepreneurs to view selling as a transferable process of confidence, she combines actionable tactics with mindset shifts, empowering others to scale their businesses while staying aligned with their creative vision.

Why Creative Entrepreneurs Need a Plan to Scale

Scaling a creative business without a plan can leave entrepreneurs overwhelmed and exhausted. That’s why it’s crucial to adopt practical strategies like those instilled in The Next Level Club. With expert guidance, aspiring entrepreneurs can develop crucial habits to attract clients, manage profits strategically, and, most importantly, maintain their creative freedom.

Unlock Your Creative Potential and Build a Thriving Business

Laura Higgins’ journey showcases the power of creativity, strategy, and resilience in building a thriving business. From struggling with coffee sales to becoming a seven-figure entrepreneur, Laura’s success is proof that, with the right mindset and approach, ambitious goals are within reach. Combining smart business strategies with her creative skills, she’s demonstrated how entrepreneurs can achieve both profitability and passion without compromise.

By taking ownership of challenges and staying adaptable, Laura has scaled her own business while empowering countless others to do the same. Her practical roadmap includes strategies like building consistent leads, pricing with confidence, and shifting focus from daily tasks to long-term growth. For Laura, authenticity is key—creating a business that reflects not just what you do, but who you truly are.

The lesson? Creativity is your superpower, but it must be paired with a clear plan and the courage to evolve. If you’re a creative entrepreneur looking to break through, Laura’s story serves as a powerful reminder that success is achievable with purpose and persistence.