Category: Content Marketing

Categories
Content Marketing Divine Feminine Intuition Mindset Storytelling

What happens when you let inspiration lead instead of metrics

Have you pressed pause on your hustle recently, to really ask why you are doing things in your biz the way you are? Is it for the best intentions for yourself and your audience? Is it because you’ve been taught things need to be done in a certain way? Is it out of fear that you must play by certain rules in order to be heard?

I have a love hate thing with social media. It is an amazing platform to connect with people from all over the world and share important stories. But it is also greedy and hungry for all of my attention. I used to be afraid that if I didn’t play by the rules and have a plan, that my voice would just get lost in the cracks. But the longer I forced authentic content into a plan, it began to lose its authenticity, and instead of being a tool to help me connect with others it felt like a burden. Something I had to do to be a good entrepreneur.

So I set the intention that I would only reach out via email and the social media platforms I chose, when I felt inspired to do so. Not because Tuesdays were a good day for open rates. Not because my metrics told me to post at 1pm. Not because I was in competition with an algorithm that was not human. But because I let inspiration lead and I would follow and trust.

And know what happened to all those metrics after having weeks where I said nothing at all? Nothing. Nothing changed. I still got the same average views that I always had.

But know what was the most important change? Connection. When I was patient and trusted and let inspiration lead my content, instead of forcing inspiration to come to me, I was able to effortlessly connect with the people who needed to hear what I had to say the most.

In a world filled with blueprints, and strategy and plans, don’t loose sight of yourself in your business. Your uniqueness, your light, your voice – your entrepreneurial spirit.

Categories
Branding Content Marketing Intuition

Crafting an impactful business offer

Have you ever been overwhelmed at the endless possibilities for what you could offer in your business or directions you could take? Maybe you find yourself veering off in all directions, or stuck in the paralysis of indecision. Maybe you have been pushing to launch a course that you have been desiring for so long, but you keep being invited to speaking engagements. Or perhaps your business is based on 1-on-1 client work but it seems your clients are all asking you about a group event.

I think all entrepreneurs by trade are multi passionate. There are so many things that inspire us to create, and speaking especially from my own experience, it is hard to decide where to invest your energy in a particular moment in time.

As you work on the offers you want to put out into the world, consider these questions: What do you want? What do others want? Is the timing right in your life, in others or in the world? I find that the sweet spot for the most impactful business offers are when I am able to combine all three- an offer that is in service to both myself and others, and lands at the right time.

Does something feel off about your offer? Maybe you have done your market research and the offer fuels your purpose but when you finally put it out into the world you hear crickets? Or it is something you feel so passionately about but it isn’t in service to others, or perhaps more in service to your ego?


Try looking at it like this:

⁘ In service to others + In service to yourself ⁘
This offer hits the sweet spot of what both you and others need, but the timing if off. The timing could be related to the current energy in the world, or personally for yourself or others. Maybe you keep getting messages that others wish they could make it but they have another commitment at this time. Don’t give up or be disappointed! Listen to your intuition and try putting this offer out at a later date.

⁘ In service to yourself + Timing ⁘
This offer fuels your needs and the timing is right, but the offer is not in service of the needs of others. Engage in conversations with your ideal clients and learn what they need, then go back and examine your offer. Are you coming from a place from wanting to help others, or only fulfilling your needs?

⁘ In service to others + Timing ⁘
Others are coming to you for your expertise and they need it now, but is it fulfilling for you? Are you giving to others but not yourself? Are you getting paid what you are worth? Sit down and really think about what you need that you are not getting, and how you could bring harmony to all three areas.

Categories
Branding Content Marketing Love & Fear Mindset

When fear gets in the way of feeling fulfilled in your business

As someone who spent a good decade of her life paralyzed by fear, it is very easy to resent it. One of the biggest things I have learned from this time in my life, is that fear isn’t the enemy and I am not broken because it is in my life. To me, being brave means leaning into fear to hear what it has to say despite wanting to run away. It is keeping fear in front of you and embracing it, instead of letting it lurk in the shadows playing you as a puppet from behind.⠀
⠀
Fear is messy and complicated, and our personal fears easily get thrown into the mix when we are talking about entrepreneurship and how you show up in your business. It is really hard to let the authentic, real you show up when fear is calling the shots. ⠀
⠀
These are some fears around business that creep up for me:⠀
⁘ Fear of not being good enough/ smart enough/ worthy enough to share my voice⠀
⁘ Fear of being judged by those who feel my way of doing business is ‘fluffy’ ⠀
⁘ Fear of feeling safe when I am vulnerable in a vast online space⠀
⁘ Fear of being thought of as lazy if I am not constantly doing and producing⠀
⁘ Fear of loss of control by trusting my intuition to guide me⠀
⠀
I’m sure I could go on, because like every other human I have my own set of fears that challenge me to grow. I feel it is important to have this conversation, because on the outside don’t we all have a pretty polished business, but how many of us are feeling these fears gnaw away at us? How many of us are hindering our own potential for fulfillment, because we choose to shove these fears into a dark corner instead of talking about them?⠀
⠀
So ask yourself, what is getting in the way of feeling fulfilled in your business? What would happen if you examined your fears with curiosity, instead of running away?⠀
⠀
If you are reading these words, I want you to know that you are brave. Sitting with the feelings that make us uncomfortable is brave. And the world needs more of your flavour of bravery.

Categories
Content Marketing Storytelling

How to cast the strongest character in your business stories

You are sitting down at your laptop with a hot coffee in hand, and ready to get some content for your business planned out. You have heard that storytelling is a powerful tool so you decide to give it a try, but don’t know where to start!⠀
⠀
Before you start writing your story, you need to cast your main character- the hero. You might be thinking that as a solopreneur, the story automatically defaults to you. Not always! Since the story will be told from the main character’s point of view, it is important that you choose the person that will connect the strongest with your audience.⠀
⠀
Take a look at your story and the cast of characters present, and ask yourself:

  1. Who has the most at stake?
  2. Who has the greatest obstacle to overcome?
  3. Who is the most relatable to your audience?

The character with the most at stake will be the most motivated. The character with the greatest obstacle will have the most learning to do in order to overcome their obstacle (and everyone loves to support the underdog!). The character that is the most relatable will give your audience a reason to care.⠀

Categories
Content Marketing Mindset

Is your fear mindset preventing you from showing up authentically in your content?

Mindset is more important than you might think. It trumps strategy and blueprints, because if you are standing in your own way it doesn’t matter how many freebies you download, or webinars you watch, or classes you sign up for. Fear effects how you show up in your business, which effects the content you create, which effects how your audience connects with you, which effects the trust they have to invest in you. It is a domino effect.⠀

⠀
The first step is being aware that a fear mindset it is even there. We need to be able to identify what the fear is that is blocking us before we can work on dissolving it.

⠀
⠀
Try starting out by asking yourself these questions:

Are you worried about being seen as an imposter? Of not knowing enough to be seen as an expert?⠀
⠀
Do you think your ideas are not good enough? That someone is already doing it?⠀
⠀
Are you stuck feeling like you need to appeal to everyone?⠀
⠀
Do you fear being judged? Scared of being vulnerable? Of revealing your thoughts and being rejected?⠀
⠀
Are you scared of failing? Of not being able to trust your intuition?⠀
⠀

Fear is biologically coded into us to keep us safe from perceived threats. But what your brain doesn’t know is the difference between walking out into a busy road or being seen as an imposter in your business. It identifies the threat, and brings in fear to keep you nice and safe.⠀
⠀
So as you work on identifying your fear mindsets and as new ones pop up, be kind to yourself. Those fears were only there because your brain believed it was keeping you safe. Next time you notice a fear pop up, ask yourself: is this truly keeping me safe or is it preventing me from growing?⠀

Categories
Content Marketing

6 Ways to Discover your Authentic Written Voice for Entrepreneurs

So you want to create engaging content then you have to find your voice and shout it loud and proud. Helpful words of wisdom, but how on earth do you actually start taking action?


Like the voice you use to verbally communicate, your written voice is unique to you, and your audience can sense if it is authentically your own or trying to mimic others.

Let’s get going on the quest to find your written voice with these actionable tips:

1. Start talking.

Record a conversation with someone you love talking to (with their permission of course). What is your general tone of voice like during the conversation? Are there certain words or phrases that you repeat? How does your voice convey emotion?


2. Get writing.

Put some pen to paper and just start writing what comes to mind. It could be an experience, a topic you are passionate about or something you would like to teach. Is your language to the point or expressive? Do you tell stories? Do you write about emotions? Do any words repeat?


3. Do some digging.

Take a peak at your text messages and emails. When you are writing to someone in your most relaxed and vulnerable state, how do you sound? Are you short and to the point? Do you elaborate? What is your general tone?


4. Think about books.

Are there characters in your favourite books that you relate to? Why? Do you speak like them, act like them, express yourself in a similar way?


5. Find the commonalities.

What are some reoccurring observations you have made? This a great starting place to find the ways that your written voice is unique to you, and a reference to look back on to double check that your content embodies the qualities you have outlines.


6. When in doubt, ask for a review.

Ask someone close to you if they can review your content and tell you if it sounds like the authentic you they know, or like you are trying to emulate a certain persona unintentionally.

 

Now, let your authentic voice shine!

 
 
Categories
Content Marketing Love & Fear Mindset Storytelling

How showing up imperfectly connects you to your audience

Can we talk about showing up imperfectly?
⠀
As a recovering perfectionist, this has been a hard one for me to come to terms with. ⠀
⠀
I started my career as a graphic designer, at a time when brands (and people) were perfectly polished. But as time went on, audiences wanted more- they were tired of the air brushed models, the sleek layouts, the perfection. People started to crave something that was real and relatable to themselves, instead of an imagined reality that was not attainable.⠀
⠀
Over time I have had to let go of the artificial shine, and dig into what an audience really desired- authentic connection. And yes, how you choose your visuals, how you write your content and aligning all of these components is still essential for a powerful brand. But instead of an artificial sheen, these pieces are now chosen to paint a picture of our reality.⠀
⠀
I know what you are thinking, these are all great ideals, but how do I apply it to my personal brand? It’s simple- your audience wants to know the real you, not a polished version that they can’t relate to.⠀
⠀
Think about the heroes and heroines in the stories that capture us. Are we magnetized to someone who has the perfect body, the perfect childhood, the perfect day in their perfect life? Or are we drawn towards the underdog, the one who faces obstacles, the one who has the most to lose?⠀
⠀
When you feel those fears popping into your mind of showing up imperfectly and being judged, just remember- who will your audience connect with more, an artificially polished version of you or the imperfect version that is real?

Categories
Branding Content Marketing Storytelling

Why visual storytelling matters in your business

Storytelling is not only for written words. The images, colours and fonts that you choose to put up on your grid all tell a story about your personal brand. Just think- before your audience even reads your caption, they see your visuals.⠀
⠀
Take a moment and look at the images you use in your business marketing, and ask yourself:⠀
⠀
⁘ Are your visuals consistent or scattered?⠀
⁘ Do your visuals have YOU in them? Do they capture your personality?⠀
⁘ Do your visuals share the same colours and tones?⠀
⁘ Do your font choices flow with the style of photos you are posting (modern, romantic, energetic, calm…)?
⁘ WHO is your target audience? Are your visuals likely to attract or repel them?
⁘ Are your visuals consistent across ALL of your online platforms (social media, email, website…)?