SEO FOR BEGINNERS

SEO Blog

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SEO FOR BEGINNERS

SEO FOR BEGINNERS

SEO is a great tool to generate free, passive traffic. Similar to other tools in our business, it takes time to see results, but if you are consistent and intentional you will notice an increase in traffic and visits to your website and/or blog. There are a few easy steps to learning SEO for beginners.

 

What is SEO?

Search Engine Optimization is a tool you should use to maximize the content you are producing to generate traffic. By creating relevant web content and using the proper elements, you will direct traffic to your site through search engines such as Google. Google is the biggest search engine and is used by millions each day.
 

Users typically type a subject line in the search bar and wait for Google to generate resources that match their request. People rarely look past the first page of results; therefore, our goal is to try to rank on Google’s first display page.  The better you are at SEO, the more traffic and business you will start to receive. SEO for beginners will help your visibility as time progresses.

 

TITLES

Researching relevant keywords for your niche is essential to see the desired results. Identify the keywords that are searched most often in your area of expertise. Use the words in your content, but make sure you are using them authentically and not spamming each post.  Your target client will quickly pick up on your overuse of keywords and may decide to disregard your work. Once you have identified the main keywords for your niche, you’ve finished the hardest part!

 

INTERNAL LINKS

Internal links are highly recommended to help your SEO.  This means you link your blog posts and pages to each other, but only if they are relevant. For example, if I decide to write a post on confidence in business, I may choose to reference the blog post “The Difference between Confidence and Self-Confidence” in that post. To do this I find a word or sentence that refers to confidence and link it to that blog post. Employ this strategy in all your posts. This also helps your bounce rates as people will stick around on your website and find out more about you or your business.

 

IMAGES

Using images to help your SEO is another great tool. Google cannot tell what your images are about, so you need to tell Google by adding alternative text to your images. 

You do this by editing your images on your page or post in the WordPress editor or similar program.  After the image is selected, you will see a designated spot that reads Alternative Text or Alt Text; place your keywords there. 

EXTERNAL LINKING

External linking refers to any web resource outside of your own website that can contribute to SEO. By linking an external resource in your blog or on your site is way to hopefully get backlinks.  Back linking is when another site links back to you.  Sites with higher page rank will give you more relevance in a Google search.

SEO doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Start with a few minor tweaks to your blog posts. Focus on one task at a time. Traffic generation is a process but will pay off if you are consistent.  SEO is a great marketing tool that can be used without breaking the bank. Learning SEO for beginners can be simple and show you how to become intentional with your marketing and understand how to utilize a variety of traffic generation options.

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ACCOMPLISHING GOALS

BUSIENSS COACH

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ACCOMPLISHING GOALS

ACCOMPLISHING GOALS


It is time to start accomplishing your goals. It’s time to begin what you are afraid you won’t finish. You can do it! Create a thought that will lead to the feeling you’re needing to motivate yourself. I promise the action will follow.

 


Two of the most common are: 

  1. Not enough time 
  2. Not enough money. 

Everyone has dreams and ambitions. Accomplishing goals is something we all strive for. We have serious goals we want to accomplish, but maybe we keep putting them off for one reason or another. We come up with excuses to justify our inaction. 


Sound familiar? On the contrary, if our car broke down or you had to get a life-saving treatment your insurance didn’t cover, we find the time and/or money. We make it happen because it is important to us. 

 

So why don’t we take that same action when it comes to our accomplishing our goals?  The reason we don’t take action is because of a thought in our minds. It sounds simple, but the thoughts we have either drive us or stall us. Let’s think about it. When we decide to buy a car, what thoughts drive us? 

 

The thoughts can be, “I need this car to be safe,” or, “this car will be more practical.” Whatever the thoughts, we eventually take action and buy a car. 

 

If you aren’t acting on something important to you, it’s because of your current thoughts. Figure out what those thought are. What feelings do those thoughts cause? The combination of our thoughts and feelings determine our action or inaction, so it is important to identify them.

 

Once you’ve pinpointed your thoughts, it’s time to put in the work to change them. Ask yourself how you want to feel once you’ve taken action. How do you think you’ll feel once you accomplish your goal? Take that feeling and work backwards to identify the thought you need to have to bring about that feeling. Those thoughts will soon transform your mind. As you start to believe those new, more empowering thoughts, you will feel driven to take the action that you want. 

 

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COMPARING SOCIAL MEDIA SCHEDULING APPS

Comparing Social Media Apps

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COMPARING
SCHEDULING APPS

COMPARING SCHEDULING APPS

One of the keys to a successful business is time management. Time is our most valuable asset, so the more time we can save, the more time we have to move our businesses forward.  When you see an opportunity to automate—take it!  Social media can be such a time suck, so in order to maximize your time, consider using a scheduling/planner app. There are several out there and I’ve done some research to help you compare and see which one might be best for you. Most apps have a free option. However, in order to add certain features, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid version. 

 

LATER

One thing that sets this app apart is its integration with Linkin.bio, Linkin.bio allows you to link your Instagram posts to the right products or pages. It also offers analytics, shoppable likes, and more.

 

Features:

 

  • Manage multiple accounts per platform (paid plans only)
  • Drag and Drop tool to arrange the look of your Instagram feed
  • Easily find and repost content from other users and automatically credit the original poster
  • Find the best time to post
  • Track engagement, followers, and clicks
  • Make it easy for followers to make purchases with a Shoppable feed
  • Add multiple links to posts
  • Use on desktop or mobile
  • Hashtag suggestions (paid plans only)
  • Schedule videos and multi-image posts (paid plans only)
  • Post to Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

PLANOLY

One of the best features of this app is the ability to schedule and plan stories. 

Features:

  • Drag and Drop tool to arrange the look of your Instagram feed
  • Discover, curate, and repost user-generated content from your community
  • Schedule Content and draft captions to post directly to Instagram
  • Track analytics to better understand your audience
  • Manage and reply to your comments in one place
  • Schedule your content and watch it appear on your grid
  • Draft multiple grids before planning
  • Stories – Plan, arrange and draft captions for your stories.
  • Comment Inbox
  • GIF’s
  • Option to add team members

PLANN (www.plannthat)

One of the features that differs with Plann is it offers the ability to edit, upload, and schedule Instagram stories.

 

Features:

 

  • Drag and drop tool to create the perfect Instagram feed
  • Ability to mass upload hundreds of photos at once
  • Organize, edit, and schedule Instagram stories
  • Analytics to help you understand what is working
  • Photo editing and image overlay tools 
  • Instagram strategy tool to help you set and plan long-term goals 
  • Ability to store hashtag groups so you can schedule posts faster
  • Easily find and share user-generated content about your brand
  • Competitor analytics—see what’s working for your competitors

TAILWIND

Tailwind is mostly known as an automated scheduling and analytics app for Pinterest, but they recently expanded their feature set to include Instagram scheduling. One thing Tailwind’s Instagram scheduler has over other competing apps is their unique Smart Schedule functionality. Tailwind automatically recommends the optimal times to post, uniquely tailored to your Instagram account. This means posts are scheduled to go live when your audience is the most engaged and most likely to interact with your content.

Features: 

  • Drag-and-drop calendar lets you plan your posts, stories and videos 
  • Automatic sync across desktop and mobile so sharing your media to Instagram is always just a few taps away
  • Smart hashtag recommendations suggest the best Instagram hashtags to use, with intuitive color coding to help you maximize your engagement
  • Save hashtags into reusable lists that you can easily access on desktop and mobile with a single click
  • Regram from Instagram in a few clicks with their Browser Extension for Chrome, Firefox or Safari
  • Post at the best times with smart calendar recommendations made specifically for your Instagram account
  • Automatically refine your schedule over time to ensure more people actually see your content in their feeds
  • Stay organized and on track by setting a daily post frequency, and then queueing up your content days or weeks in advance
  • Bulk upload on desktop makes sharing from your photo libraries a snap, whether you’re importing directly from a DSLR camera or using your favorite photo editor
  • 9 grid preview allows you to visually plan your content
  • Manage multiple Instagram accounts with one login in a single dashboard

HOOTE SUITE

Probably one of the most compelling reasons to use Hootsuite is the fact that it allows you to manage so many different social networks. Hootsuite currenty allows you to manage:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook Pages
  • LinkedIn Profiles & Pages
  • Instagram
  • WordPress blogs
  • Vimeo, Tumblr, Evernote, Flickr, Mailchimp, Slideshare, Storify (via 3rd party apps)

Features:

  • Manage accounts from over 35 popular social networks—including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more—in one dashboard
  • Curate online content and schedule social media posts across platforms
  • Monitor topics online and respond quickly
  • Get in-depth analytics on your social media accounts
  • Use built-in social media contests and campaigns to grow your audience
  • Manage your team with assignment and approval workflows
  • iOS and Android apps available

All of these apps have amazing features and will help with managing your social media. I use Tailwind because I use Pinterest as well as Instagram in my business. All the apps get great review and would benefit your business. Take the time to do your own research and find what app will benefit you the most in your business.

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HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT NURTURE SEQUENCE

How To Create A Nurture Sequence

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HOW TO CREATE THE
PERFECT NURTURE SEQUENCE

HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT NURTURE SEQUENCE

One of the most important things you can do for your business is create and grow a newsletter list.  Your newsletter list is the only thing that you own.  Every other marketing network is owned and controlled by someone else.  Newsletters have been proven to be the best way to sell your services or products. If you don’t have one, that’s okay. Start today!  There are several CRM (Customer Relations Managers) out there to choose from. I use Flodesk, but there are many equally great providers.

In order for your ideal client to give you their email, you need to offer something of value. This can come in the form of a free guide, webinar, value video, checklist, coupon code, etc. It has to be something they really want or need. Put some thought into what your ideal client would consider valuable.

Once you figure out what you’d like to offer and your potential client gives you their email, it is time to nurture your relationship with a series of emails otherwise known as a nurture sequence.

A nurture sequence is an automated series of emails that someone receives after they opt in to your email list. The objective is to build trust and confidence in you.  This is your opportunity to show your potential clients your desire to willingness to serve them. 

Your email nurture sequence should be at least 2-3 emails long, at the very least. The length can vary depending on what message you are trying to convey. Make sure each newsletter creates value. Don’t worry if people unsubscribe! You don’t want to waste your time on people who aren’t interested in what you have to offer. Those who unsubscribe are not your ideal clients. 

 

WELCOME EMAIL

Your welcome email is the email subscribers receive instantly after signing up. This is typically the most opened email. This is the email that contains the freebie and value item they signed up for.  Your welcome email is your opportunity for a first impression. This is the time to draw them in and make them want to learn more from you and what you have to offer. This is an opportunity to introduce yourself and position yourself as an expert in your field.  Make sure that every email you send contains a Call To Action.  Let me repeat: Every email needs a Call To Action. 

For example, you ask them to follow you on Instagram or Facebook, read a blog post, subscribe to your podcast, reply, forward to a friend, etc. 

 

FOLLOW-UP EMAIL

After you have written your welcome email, think about what you want to put in the follow-up emails.  This is the time to get your audience to know, trust, and love you! You can send them follow-up emails about your freebie, links to your most popular blog posts, video content, coupon codes, or even another freebie.

 

Everyone is trying to simplify these days, you need to ensure your emails create value or your readers are more likely to unsubscribe. Remember to show your personality and treat your readers like they are your friends.  Get into the all-I-want-to-do-is-help-my-clients mindset and let your emails reflect that. 

 

OFFER E-MAIL

Ultimately, we want our subscribers to convert into customers, but be conscious about the right time to sell. Don’t try to sell them in every email. Your subscribers might be put off if you try to sell in your first, second, or third email. Make sure you have nurtured your relationships well before you ask.

Learn their language. Ask questions and really try to understand their needs. Ask questions like: “What are you struggling with at this moment?” Or, “If you could hire out one thing in your business or life right now what would it be?” These questions are great market research for how to improve your business. 

When you feel like you have built trust and nurtured your relationship, then you will be ready to make your offer. Your offer might be a consultation, a coaching package, a service or an offer to purchase a product. What ever the offer may be make sure you are clean and concise with how they receive the offer. Use the button option or an obvious link.

 

AUTOMATE & TEST

When you have finished your nurture sequence, you’ll want to automate it. Most email marketing systems will have detailed instructions how to set this up. The most time-consuming part will be to write the newsletters. The set up should be pretty straight forward. After the setup is complete, you will need to do a test run. Ask a couple different people to test it for you—possibly someone who is your ideal client and someone who has a knack for grammar.  Make sure every link, download, and redirect is working properly.  Once that is finished—BAM!—you are ready to go! 

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HOW TO PLAN A MONTH OF INSTAGRAM CONTENT IN AN HOUR

HOW TO PLAN A MONTH OF INSTAGRAM CONTENT IN AN HOUR

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HOW TO PLAN A MONTH
OF INSTAGRAM
CONTENT IN AN HOUR

HOW TO PLAN A MONTH OF INSTAGRAM CONTENT IN AN HOUR

 

One of the biggest struggles for coaches and entrepreneurs is the balance between social media and all the other responsibilities in your business.  It can feel like social media controls us, not the other way around.  However, with social media being one the most accessible ways to find new clients it is necessity for your marketing strategy. There a numerous benefits to using social media for business. 

 

 

Do you find yourself scrambling trying to find something to post? Do you write and rewrite your captions trying to think up something original and clever to caption your image? If this sounds familiar, don’t worry—you’re not alone. 

Social media can be an amazing tool for entrepreneurs. Being consistent is essential to optimize its benefits. However, most of us have a love/hate relationships with Instagram, the algorithm, and the unpredictability. When it comes to Instagram we face several obstacles. We need to learn to identify these obstacles, form a strategy, and execute. One of the biggest obstacles many are faced with when it comes to social media is consistency. By implementing some time management and planning skills, you can alleviate a lot of unwanted stress when it comes to Instagram. 

It’s time to get organized!

 

CATEGORIES

Think of 5-10 categories that represent you and your brand. Think of your Ideal Client Avatar (ICA). Your goal is to connect with your audience and try to serve them. What are some categories in your life that are going to help you connect with your audience? Try to come up with things you are passionate about that your audience would be as well.  Often our ICA is similar to ourselves. If that is the case, what are things you would be interested in if you were on someone else feed? Here are some of my categories:

Business Tips

About Me

Family

Travel

Food

Your categories can change and that is okay, but try to list five to get you started.

 

FREQUENCY

Determine how many times a month you want to post. Remember: the more you post the better. If you can post twice a day you are a ROCKSTAR, but if you can only post 3 times a week that is okay too. For the best results try to post a minimum of 5 times a week. After you have decided on a realistic number, multiply that number by 4. I want to post 5 times a week (5×4=20). I need to come up with 20 posts a month.  Then I divide 20 by the number of categories I have (20/5=4).  Four is the number or times I need to post from each category. I need to come up with 4 images and captions for each category. When you do it that way it doesn’t seem so overwhelming. 

 

IMAGES

Once you have determined your categories, start being intentional about gathering images. If one of your categories is food, try to take a picture of your burger next time you are on a date. If one of your categories is books, take a day and walk around Barnes and Noble taking pictures of some books you are interested in reading or have already read. Designate a folder on your phone or on your computer and start gathering images that fit within each of your categories. 

Imagery is very powerful.  Take the time to learn how to take good pictures. You don’t need an expensive camera to take great shots. There are many resources out there that can teach you how to take good images. Instagram is a visual platform; ensure that your images are visually appealing.

Stock photography is also an option. There are several sites out there—both free and paid—that have great stock images that you can use as well. 

 

It is important to have great professional pictures of yourself to solidify your brand. Invest in a professional branding photo shoot. Showing up on your social media is how you build relationships with your audience. You want them to feel connected to you and showing your face is the best way to do that.

 

CAPTIONS

Make a list of your categories. Below each category, jot down as many relevant ideas as you can think of. Remember you always want to connect and/or bring value to your audience so think of how your caption will do that.  For example, if I want to post about books I would post about a book that might interest my audience. People love dogs so I might post about my dog to connect with the dog-lovers in my audience. Once you’re finished, you will have an entire list of caption ideas.


EXTRAS

Look at your calendar and see if there are any holidays, National Days, promotions, or giveaways you want to post. Add these to your caption and shot list. 

 

SCHEDULE

Now is time to schedule your month. First, place all your extras on your calendar. Next, you will want to fill in the blanks in order of your categories. Keep repeating the categories until your calendar is filled. 

 

EXECUTE

There are several planning apps you can use to preplan your Instagram. You can also use Instagram and save your posts as drafts. At this point, you should have your images and caption ideas ready to go. Now it is time to write out your captions and post. Designate 1-2 hours at the beginning of the month and batch all your posts or break it up into once a week (this is what I do). 

 

By planning ahead you will free up your time and relieve stress. It also will help you to stay consistent. Don’t let your social media overwhelm you and take over your days. Get organized and plan. I promise it will pay off.

 

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MINDSETS OF SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS

Mindsets of Successful Entrepreneurs

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MINDSETS OF SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS

MINDSETS OF SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS

I was recently asked about my journey as an entrepreneur. It really had me reflecting on how far I have come and the time it took me to get there. Looking back at my success really had me appreciating all the failure. It wasn’t until much later in my journey did I learn how mindset played a huge part of my success. It really got me thinking about the mindsets of successful entrepreneurs. 

“Tell me about your big dream.” This is one of the first questions I ask my clients. Over time, I’ve noticed a pattern. The answers many give are general, safe, and predictable. So predictable, in fact, that I often know what they will say before they say it: “I want to be successful,” my clients tell me. But when I ask them to define what success means to them, I am surprised at the mediocre aim of their goals.  “I just want to make a little extra money or  I would be happy with a few more clients. “ I challenge my clients, inquiring why their goal is not to make a million dollars or to become the CEO?  I push them to be honest with themselves.  Their reasoning surfaces: “I don’t have the education, I don’t need money to be happy, I don’t have the time.”  

We are all capable of “The Big Dream.” The only thing that holds us back is our own thoughts.  That is IT! It sounds too simple, but the truth is that our thoughts control our results. Rarely do people focus enough on this aspect of success.  That is why the first thing I teach my clients is to identify, recognize, and manage their thoughts.  You can have every business tool available and all the education in the world, but if you don’t learn to control your mind you will not have the ability to progress with fortitude. If you are looking to become the best version of yourself, you will need to learn to implement the proper tools. 

Confidence in Yourself. 

Confidence is having the ability to trust yourself. You say you will do something and you do it.  You have surety that you can do hard things. If you start something, you finish it, no matter the outcome.  This builds character, determination, and self-respect. You become known for these attributes. Successful people understand this concept and implement it into all aspects of their lives. 

 

Comparison Equals Motivation

Jealousy and envy is innate. These thoughts are present regardless. It is when you let these feelings hinder your progress that they hold you back.  Learn to recognize jealous thoughts and change them into thoughts that motivate and serve you. Dwelling on negative emotions because of what others have can be detrimental to your own growth. Find people who motivate and inspire you.  You have a choice in who you are surrounded by and the thoughts you choose to think. 

 

Avoid the Past

We all have experienced failures and disappointments in our past, but that is where they live—in the past. Take those experiences and use them as a tutor. Don’t let your past define you. But let it refine you into something better. When you blame your past for your current situation, you become a prisoner to things that are out of your control.

 

Embrace Failure

Failure shows you are doing something new and different.  Willingness to be uncomfortable and try new things is when growth appears.  It is the fear of failure that holds us back from taking action.  When we embrace failure, we become open to taking risks and in turn gain more opportunity, more growth, and more knowledge.  Successful people make committing to fail a mindset they seize.

 

Time Management

Learning to control your mind helps you to manage your time.  Successful people often value time over money.  Time becomes the most valuable commodity in their workflow.  Being intentional with your time and your thoughts about time helps you accomplish your big goals.  Be determined to manage every minute as if it were an investment in your success. Be respectful of your time and others. Plan your days and honor your plan. 

 

Unattainable Goals

Goal setting is the most compassionate thing we can do for ourselves. By doing this we strive to be the best and achieve the best.  Learn to include what you once thought of as “unattainable goals” in your list.  When we start to change our thoughts to work towards the big goals, we begin to evolve. We surpass goals we didn’t realize were even possible.  If we focus on a goal we want to achieve, then we become focused on ways to accomplish the goals. Opportunities will begin to present themselves and we become better versions of ourselves regardless the outcome. 

As you implement these mindsets into your business, you will see growth and progression.  Create new habits and thoughts and be consistent. Change takes time, but the payoff is huge. How will you implement these principals into your life?

 

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COLLABORATING WITH BRANDS

Collaborating With Brands

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COLLABORATING WITH BRANDS

COLLABORATING WITH BRANDS

Collaborating with brands in your industry is a great way to get your name out there.  It is important to constantly show support to vendors and other small businesses within your industry. Creating supportive relationships is key. Supporting others without expecting anything back will create loyal and genuine relationships. You will find when you sincerely want others to succeed, they will feel the same way about you. 

Always be looking for networking opportunities. Find out what those with similar audiences are working on and how you can support them. Remember, your ultimate goal is to serve your target audience. Once you have created a relationship, suggest collaborating on something together. The collaboration could be a podcast interview, guest blog post, coupon code, FB Live interview, Instagram takeover, or giveaway. You could also offer your services for free in exchange for a shout out. Everyone benefits in a good collaboration. Both parties are able to grow, increase their audience, better their business, & more. 

If you want to put together a giveaway, make sure you and your fellow collaborators have a similar target audience.

Example Giveaway: 

Theme – Prom

Target Audience – High School Girls

Venders – Photographer, Gown Boutique, Make Up Artist, Hair Stylist, Tanning Salon 

Details – Put together a package that includes a service or product from each vendor. In order to enter they have to follow each of the vendors, leave a comment and tag three of their friends. 

Example Giveaway:

Theme – Self Care

Target Audience – Mothers

Venders – Life Coach, Boutique, Massage Parlor, Hair Salon, Restaurant 

Details – Combine gift certificates from all the vendors and create a day of pampering for a mother. In order to enter they have to follow each of the vendors, leave a comment, sign up for your newsletter and tag three of their friends.

THE WHO

Finding people to collaborate with can be tricky. Try using someone you already have a relationship with. Without an initial connection, it might be challenging to know if the collaboration would be a good fit. Start off with a smaller collaboration to see if you work well together. You want to ensure you are both dependable and committed so it will benefit both parties. 

You don’t have to work with big influencers right away.  Remember, the goal is to attract the right kind of clients and quality is more essential than quantity. Just because someone has a lot of followers doesn’t necessarily mean they have high engagement. You may think you can reach more people, but what if those people aren’t in your target audience? Then it’s not as beneficial to you or the influencer. Pitching to micro-influencers to collaborate can be more effective. When you are looking for a collaborator, look beyond the numbers. 

o.

THE VALUE

Of course, your ultimate goal is to bring you more business, but your secondary goals is to create value for your collaborators. In order to get someone’s attention, it’s best to lead with how the collaboration could bring them value, rather than what you’re getting out of it. You want to make sure that there’s enough value for you, but there should be at least equal value for the person you are reaching out to. 

 

THE ASK

It is important to have a plan before you pitch a collaboration. You don’t have to explain every detail, but prepare a few ideas. Remember to lead with the benefits that relate to them. 

 

THE EXPECTATIONS

Communicate your expectations as soon as possible. This can be done by creating list of tasks that need to be completed from start to finish. Be specific on who will be doing what and when. Set deadlines for each task based on final target date. Setting expectations upfront is the best way to guarantee success with your collaboration. 

Collaborating is an excellent way to grow your social media. Remember you want to make sure you are attracting the right kind of followers and that it benefits everyone involved. When you work with other entrepreneurs, make sure you give them more value and exceed their expectations; they’ll be more likely to want to work with you again. Building solid relationships with those who share your target audience is a great way to help your business grow.

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ANATOMY OF AN INSTAGRAM POST

Anatomy of An Instagram Post

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ANATOMY OF AN INSTAGRAM POST

ANATOMY OF AN INSTAGRAM POST

What makes a good Instagram post? The answer might be subjective, but ultimately our goal is to encourage engagement, build trust, and create relationships that covert to business. You can do this by putting a little thought and effort into your posts.  When you understand the anatomy of an Instagram post you will start to improve engagement and gain more followers.

IMAGERY

Instagram is a visual platform. It is essential to use good-quality images that are both appealing and inviting. Technology is amazing and you can take crisp, vibrant images with most iPhones and tablets. When images don’t turn out, the problem is  often user error. The most important elements in a good image are lighting and focus. Using the rule of thirds is also effective. Photos with faces in them gain 38% more likes that those without them. Images that feature smiling or friendly subjects tend to rate better as well. 

 

 

Whether your style is dark and moody or bright and colorful, the most important factor is to ensure that what you post is relevant to your audience. Once you decide what look represents your branding, try to keep everything cohesive to reflect that. 

 

 

If you have a sequence of images that describes a story, use the carousel (multiple photos) option. Users have discovered that carousel posts are outperforming single photos. The algorithm seems to be presenting these posts to followers more than once using different images.

 

CAPTIONS

You want to use captions that encourage your followers to engage with you. Your followers will “like” an image, but it’s your caption that will get them to comment. The more comments you can get, the higher your posts will be boosted in the algorithm.

 

HEADLINE AND HOOKS

The first 10-15 words draws people in and encourages them to keep reading. Typically, after about word 15 your post will be cut off and ellipses (…) will appear. This is where you want to create your hook. You want to get your followers interested enough to continue reading. Use a phrase that is related to your topic, but peaks an interest. Example: “The one thing I wish I would have done different in my business..” or “You are never going to guess what I got in the mail today.”  See!  Aren’t you curious to know?  Once you grab your audience’s attention, then you can introduce your topic. 

 

TOPICS

Get your point across as simple and concise as possible while still keeping it interesting. If you are an emoji junkie (and it reflects your brand) add emojis to your caption. Try to break your topic up into smaller sections by hitting enter and using the period as a bullet point to create space, like this:

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People also love lists. Break up your posts using a list format. 


GEOTAGS

The geotag is the section above the image that displays your location. When you use the geotag you will reach a wider audience. Try different tags for your area to see what works. Followers use this feature when they are looking for specific services in certain locations. It’s not always necessary if you are an online business, but it could still be beneficial for networking opportunities your area.  

 

TAGS

Make it a point to tag other businesses, vendors and any other influencers. It is important to build a network of people who support each other. When you tag other accounts they tend to repost and/or engage. 

Anatomy of an Instagram Post

 

CALL TO ACTION

Finish up EVERY post with a call to action. It is important to give your followers a definitive next step.  Ask a question referencing your post and encouraging your followers to engage. Questions will generally work best here. People love to talk about themselves and this is great way to connect with your audience and build a relationship. People love to be helpful.  Ask a question that needs the experience or advice from your followers.  For example: “I am planning a trip to San Diego. Where is a good place to eat with kids?” 

Another call to action could be to double tap the image, tag a friend or another account, click on the link in your profile, repost, comment with an emoji or DM you. Whatever you decide to do, always end with a call to action!

Anatomy of an Instagram Post

Your main goal is to build trust and establish a community within your platform. Establishing your brand, engaging, and providing good content will level up your business and drive traffic when you get ready to sell. 

You must be social on social media for it to work effectively in your business. Remember: you get out of it what you put into it! 

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HOW TO USE INSTAGRAM STORIES IN YOUR BUSINESS

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HOW TO USE INSTAGRAM
STORIES IN YOUR BUSINESS

HOW TO USE INSTAGRAM STORIES IN YOUR BUSINESS

In order to continue growing your Instagram community and influence, consider incorporating stories.  Instagram stories—images and short video content displayed above the regular feed that play like a slideshow and last 24 hours—are a great way to connect authentically with your audience. These unscripted videos help your audience relate and connect. Stories help you turn followers in to fans. While our feed might be curated with beautiful imagery, our stories have more freedom to be candid and messy. 

Here are 10 strategies that you can use to grow your business using social media:

 

SHOW UP EVERY DAY

We all know that the key to building a brand is consistency. You want be become as visible as possible. Whether that means your face on the camera, sharing someone else’s post, creating a poll, or asking a question—whatever it is, make yourself noticeable! You want to create a community and you want them to trust and depend on you. This how you will attract clients.  Be CONSISTENT!

Short and Sweet

I don’t know about you, but I have the attention span of a toddler. I lose interest pretty dang quick. If you have something important to share, try to keep it between 3-4 stories. Be concise and get right to the point. People tend to start dropping off when the stories get too lengthy. If you have something important that will take more time, use Instagram Reels.

 

USE TEXT

Sometimes people watch stories with the sound turned off. You don’t want risk them missing out on your content. Keep them engaged by adding text—brief descriptions/summaries of what you are talking about in each slide. 

 

BEHIND THE SCENES

People are naturally curious. Give your audience a behind-the-scenes look at what a day in your life looks like. Include tips and tools that you use in your workflow. Talk about the strategies you use to improve your brand so you can serve them better. Answer questions that people might have asked via email or DM. Show them some of your processes and current projects.

 

SPREAD THE LOVE

Share other people’s posts. Support other small businesses or creatives whose work you admire. Write a caption on the repost & tag them. Supporting other people is a great way to build a brand rich in community. If you see something you like—a quote, service, or product—share it!

 

HASHTAGS AND GEOTAGS

Use geotags and hashtags in your stories. This will broaden your reach and increase your chance of being found when someone is searching a specific hashtag. You want to utilize anything that can help you gain exposure.

 

POLL AND QUESTIONS

Using polls and questions is a great way to engage with your audience. It’s also an excellent way to do some market research. Ask your clients what they would like to see or what they need. Instagram lets you see who engaged. Follow up with followers who participated and see how you can serve them or if they want to work together.

 

POSTS AND REPOSTS

Add your posts to your stories. Followers are more likely to see your stories than your posts. Adding snapshots of your recent posts increases your chance of engagement on those posts. You can also re-post when you are featured or tagged on another person’s account

 

HIGHLIGHT BUBBLES

Save your stories to your highlight bubbles. This is a great way to feature the different categories of your brand. Using highlight bubbles gives you the ability to save all your favorite videos beyond the 24-hours story expiration.

 

LINK STICKERS

This is a tool is a game changer.  The conversion rate on the link sticker is excellent. It offers a simple way for clients to respond to your call of action. The link sticker allows you to link to your website, email list, register to an event, click and affiliate link and more. 

 

Remember, the key is consistency. You don’t have to use all the tools every day, but strive for consistency and I promise you will start to see results. 

 

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SET UP A PROFESSIONAL EMAIL FOR FREE WITH GMAIL

HOW TO CREATE A PROFESSIONAL EMAIL

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Brittni Schroeder Coaching

SET UP A PROFESSIONAL
EMAIL FOR FREE WITH GMAIL

SET UP A PROFESSIONAL EMAIL FOR FREE WITH GMAIL

When starting a business, one of the very first things we need to do set up a professional email with gmail for free. Most web hosts provide a free email when you purchase a domain. We quickly realize that their email system is not as user-friendly as what we have grown accustomed to and the last thing we want to do is spend time attempting to figure out a new system.

Setting up a professional email with Gmail on your own custom domain takes only a few minutes and will save you so much time and energy. Gmail has so many great tools and features such as: Filters, Canned Responses, Multiple-Account setup, and more.

I use Bluehost to host my domain, but the process is similar process with other domain sites. Here is how to set up your professional account:

 

 

First, log in to your domain site and then search for either an email icon or email link. Click on “email to start the process. (If you are a MAC user you can use Command F to activity a search bar. Type email and it will highlight the email option)

 

 

 

 Click on “CREATE”.

HOW TO SET UP A PROFESSIONAL EMAIL WITH GMAIL FOR FREE

 

 

 Enter custom email and a password. Finish by hitting the “CREATE” button.

HOW TO SET UP A PROFESSIONAL EMAIL WITH GMAIL FOR FREE

 

 

 After you have created an email on your domain site, log in to your gmail account. Click on the settings icon.

HOW TO SET UP A PROFESSIONAL EMAIL WITH GMAIL FOR FREE

 

 

Access accounts and import. Then click on “add a mail account.”

HOW TO SET UP A PROFESSIONAL EMAIL WITH GMAIL FOR FREE

 

 

 A pop up will appear. Enter the name that you want to show up when someone received your email, then enter the new email.

CREATE A PROFESSIONAL EMAIL WITH GMIAL

 

  

Select “Import emails from my other account (POP3).

HOW TO SET UP A PROFESSIONAL EMAIL WITH GMAIL FOR FREE

 

 Create a username and enter your password finish by selecting “add account”.

HOW TO SET UP A PROFESSIONAL EMAIL WITH GMAIL FOR FREE

 

 

You will then be prompted to confirm the email by clinking on the link your email or entering a confirmation code to verify.

 

 

Wa-La! You just created a professional email. The next time you getting ready to send an email you will be able to select a drop down menu and choose which email you want to use to send your next email.

HOW TO SET UP A PROFESSIONAL EMAIL WITH GMAIL FOR FREE

 

Now you have created an email that looks professional.

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