Creator Spotlight: Olivia Lopez of Let’s Go Studio
I’m so excited to be kicking off this Creator Spotlight interview series with my friend Olivia Lopez. You may recognize her from her hilarious Creative Market freebie reviews “Let’s Judge Things” each Monday on Instagram @lets.go.studio.
Olivia and I have been in the same Squarespace circles for the past few years and we also partner up for my Branding add-on for web design clients. She’s smart, funny, and knows EVERYTHING about Canva. Seriously. Everything.
Hi Olivia! Tell us a little about yourself.
I'm owner and designer at Let's Go Studio, a boutique brand, web, and Canva studio focusing on small businesses. I LOVE to empower others with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed with their web projects and with their brands.
Is there a product you've created that you're particularly proud of? Can you tell us a little about its main benefit or where this tool can be most helpful?
The Canva Crash Course from Let’s Go Studio is your solution to getting more familiar with Canva. If navigating all of the elements, graphics, photos, and templates feels overwhelming, go step-by-step with me as I de-mystify each piece! Olivia has generously offered $30 off her course with coupon code CHRISTY.
Just a note… I was lucky enough to beta test this course and it’s AMAZING. I learned so much and my workflows in Canva are so much faster now.
How did your business get started?
I got started actually in a job that I didn't fully enjoy. After I got off work at 5:00, I went home and worked on my freelance business at night. When it finally got to the point I could comfortably quit my day job, I did just that! And then my career as a solopreneur started.
How did you come to work with Squarespace?
Squarespace found ME. I needed an easily editable solution when I started, because I knew I wanted nothing to do with code and wanted to work by myself. Squarespace WAS that elegant and beautiful solution.
What is the best piece of advice you've ever been given as a designer/developer?
Take what you need and leave what you don't. YOU have to determine what advice and plans work for you, and which ones don't. Be smart about where you take your next steps and always lead with strategy.
Do you have any words of wisdom for those developers and designers looking to get into the passive income world by creating Squarespace resources, such as templates or plugins?
First, identify a need! I can't tell you how many products I made because I personally liked and wanted them, but then they didn't sell because no one cared or needed them. Always poll your audience, see where the holes are in the market, see what's selling well, and THEN create that new thing!
If you had a piece of advice for developers or designers, or something you wish you'd figured out much sooner than you did, what would it be?
Work / life balance is something you'll juggle your whole life, so learn techniques that suit you early on. I struggled with waking up early and it wasn't until now that I realized I could just sleep late and work a little later, and the world wouldn't explode.
When you aren't hunkered down at the computer, creating amazing Squarespace tools and resources, how do you like to spend your spare time?
I try pretty hard to give my eyes a break from a screen, though I love playing video games so that's hard! I like to read a lot, and I love running. I'm conscious about how I treat my body when I'm not hunched over a screen. I also love pretending I can craft, yoga, and traveling with my husband.
How do you manage burnout?
This has been on my mind a lot lately. As creatives, we're heavily driven to create. I've learned to force myself to stop, even if I still have energy, so a lot of that energy can move onto the next day. Stopping is just as important as starting!
What is your go-to karaoke song?
Oh GOSH I hate karaoke. I'm an introvert and singing loudly and badly in front of a group is my nightmare. If I'm forced to, I usually do a "talkative" song like "I Will Survive" where I don't REALLY have to sing.
Any new and exciting things coming up for you that we should be on the lookout for?
My goal is to make tools that are easily accessible to my clients. I'm working on a Pocket SEO course that has all the basics a beginner might need. I'm also working on a Canva + Brand service that is coming very soon, which will become a new signature service for me!
