Why You Shouldn't Rely on Social Media Alone to Grow Your Brand, and What To Do Instead.

If suddenly tomorrow social media disappeared, would your business be able to survive the downfall? Social media platforms are ESSENTIAL for businesses, paving the way towards brand exposure and providing us with an outlet to connect to our target audience. 

I can’t even BEGIN to express the endless benefits in which social media has helped me.

With that being said, Instagram shut down twice last month and people were FREAKING OUT. There was content that needed to be written, products that needed to be sold, and influence that needed to be made. How could they do this to us?

Meanwhile, some businesses were resting assured, confidently knowing that their business isn’t solely based on how many followers they have or how many likes they receive. They knew their business would go about as it normally does. How so? They built a brand, not a business. They connected with their audience on many different levels and in many different ways. Social media may be one of them, but it’s not the only one.

Now I know what you are thinking. You want the scoop. You want to know HOW they are so connected with their audience, and if they aren’t depending on social media, how are they ACTIVELY REACHING AND GROWING their audience? Here are just a few successful methods brands are using to strategically connect with their target audience:

1. Email Marketing

Email marketing allows you to connect with your audience personally, by filling them in on EVERYTHING that is going on in your business. People signed up for your list because they want to hear from you, and are interested in what you have to say. 

Do you have a HUGE sale coming up? Do you have a new product you want to PROMOTE? A new blog post you are EXCITED to share? It takes an average of 7 outreaches before your potential customers are convinced to buy a product or service. Email marketing allows you to do all that and more. 

Join my Email List Here and Receive a FREE Content Planner!

2. Pinterest

Pinterest is constantly mistaken as just another social media platform. The TRUTH is Pinterest is not considered to be a social media platform, but a SEARCH ENGINE. Pinterest allows you to create evergreen content and with the snap click of a button, potential customers are directed to your website. 

With over 2 BILLION searches per month, the opportunities to reach your target audience are endless. Of course, there are some techniques and methods businesses use to GET SEEN, you can find out more on how to successfully use Pinterest to grow YOUR AUDIENCE HERE

3. Professional Community Connections 

I am SUCH a huge fan of having a professional community. Professional communities offer an unlimited amount of resources at your disposal and allow you the opportunity to get your brand out there to the public. My STRONGEST recommendations come from my professional community and with the power of the internet, you can build an online community from the comfort of your own home.

Brands are using professional communities to connect, gather information, form partnerships, showcase their business, network with people within their niche, and increase visibility. 

What are some ways besides social media that you have used to grow your brand? What methods have WORKED WELL for you? Share in the comments below! And don’t forget to check out my RESOURCES, where you can find some of my favorite and highly recommended brands!

Connect with Female Entrepreneurs Using these Top Online Facebook Communities

Online communities are changing the way we communicate, allowing us to grow and build relationships both personally and professionally. You can now find a Facebook group for just about ANY TOPIC that peaks your interest and ideas.

As a female entrepreneur, you may be wondering what online communities are out there to CONNECT with others, get answers to questions about starting and operating your own business, how to form VALUABLE relationships within your niche, and how to get your BRAND noticed.

Luckily, I’ve found some OUTSTANDING Facebook Communities that have helped me TREMENDOUSLY from providing the answers I needed, to even scoring a few job offers! I’m SO excited to share them with you, check out these Top Online Facebook Communities below!

1. Goal Diggers Insider Podcast

   I can’t say ENOUGH about Jenna Kutcher. Owner of the Top 100 GOAL DIGGER PODCAST, she has helped thousands of fierce female entrepreneurs by providing INSIGHTFUL CONTENT on various topics, anywhere from branding to influence.

   The Goal Digger Insider community is where over 52,000 inspirational female entrepreneurs gather to share resources, questions, job opts, and more. I turn to this community to collect information and advice.

   You can find more about the Goal Digger Insider community here and DON’T MISS OUT on listening to her fabulous podcast episodes!

   https://www.facebook.com/groups/goaldiggerpodcast/

2. Digital Nomad Girls Community

   The Digital Nomad Girls Community consists of over 50,000 location independent girls around the world. It is a SAFE HAVEN to connect with like-minded women and to share tools, resources, location tips, and MUCH MORE.

   The founder Jennifer Lachs, turned to Facebook because she craved a community based on connection and support, and people who understood her lifestyle. Soon there after, it turned into a TRIBE and one of the LARGEST online communities that exists today.

   I am constantly checking this group for VALUABLE information in regards to many different questions I have as a LOCATION INDEPENDENT FREELANCER myself.

   Find out all about Digital Nomad Girls here:

   https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalNomadGirls/

3. Freelancing Females

   Freelancing Females is a global Facebook community with over 29,000 members, designed for women who wish to re-define the 9-5. They have several local chapters spread across the globe, and bring together women to ask questions and share opportunities.

   I am ALWAYS peeking around this group to discover different topics, and I love how they have a system set up where you can hashtag what your post is about, for example, #opportunity or #meetup. This system is SO easy when it comes to navigating through the feed.

   You can JOIN and FIND OUT more about Freelancing Females here:

   https://www.facebook.com/groups/freelancingfems/

4. She Hit Refresh

   She Hit Refresh is a NEWBIE on the Facebook Community scene, and is quickly growing to become an ULTIMATE resource for brave women over 30, who want to break free from routine and start traveling the world. This group is not only exclusively dedicated to female entrepreneurs, but women in general who have made the leap or want to change their life.

   They share valuable content and resources those who are looking for SOMETHING MORE in life, whether that is found through travel, working remotely, location independence, and offer the reassurance that you can RE-CREATE your destiny at ANY AGE.

   Founded by two women, Cepee and Annette share how they have “Hit Refresh,” and created a community of over 4,000 members whom desire to do the same.

   Join this GROWING community here:

   https://www.facebook.com/shehitrefresh

5. Women Helping Women Entrepreneurs

   This 220,000 member online Facebook Group is BUZZING with activity and engagement. Dedicated to providing a space where female entrepreneurs can help each other with the tools they need to succeed, you can find daily posts of women sharing their stories, job offers, and building relationships.

   Post your goals, pics, and WEEKLY WINS to connect with like-minded ladies here:

   https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenbizowners/

   Do you want to get started as a female entrepreneur but have no IDEA where to begin? It all starts with a website or landing page, and Blue Host offers a BUDGET FRIENDLY website hosting platform at only $3.95 per month! Head on over to my RESOURCES PAGE to get more information or click the link below!

How to Successfully Drive Traffic to Your Site Using Pinterest

Pinterest is a platform EXPLODING with ideas, tutorials, DIY, products, and more. Are you utilizing Pinterest to the fullest for your business or brand? Studies show that 67% of pinners say that they´ve discovered a new brand or product from business content on Pinterest.

Pinterest could be used in various ways, for example, a blogger who wants to drive traffic to their website, (Just getting started with your website or landing page? Try this budget friendly option, Blue Host for only $3.95 per month!) to a brand who wants to gain massive exposure, or a business who wants to launch their products.  So how exactly are these brands and bloggers maximizing their results on Pinterest and acquiring the TRAFFIC they desire?

Here are some easy steps to take today to effectively grow your Pinterest account in less than 30 days and DRIVE MASSIVE TRAFFIC to your website: 

1. Create a Business Account 

Pinterest happens to make this process super simple, and you have the option to easily convert by clicking “Upgrade to Business Account” under your drop-down menu. If you plan on using Pinterest for your business or to sell your products, this is a step you simply CAN’T SKIP. 

Having a Pinterest Business Account is ESSENTIAL for promotion and analytics! Not only that, but having a Pinterest Business Account makes your website visible to the millions of people using the platform! 

2. Create Captivating Pins

Pinterest is all about visuals, and creating EYE-CATCHING pins is important for getting people to click on your content. With a Pinterest Business Account, you are able to create Rich Pins, which are proven to get the most clicks on the site.

Words also play a HUGE part in connecting to our emotions and using captivating headlines to draw in your audience is essential. Make sure you are not only creating a visual but writing a message on the Pin that directly leads your audience to your content. 

 I like to use Canva to create my Pins, as it is a simple platform to use to test out your creativity!

3. Use Tailwind to Automate the Process 

Tailwind has been a LIFESAVER for me and seriously saves a savvy business owner so much time. Tailwind is a platform where you can automatically schedule pins for weeks or months to come. You can easily add these pins to your different boards and add or delete pins along the way. Tailwind takes the process of manually pinning out of our hands, and at least for me, the less work the better! 

Get started with Tailwind FOR FREE HERE !

4. SEO and Keyword Research

SEO and Keyword Research is ESSENTIAL for getting your pins noticed. The BIGGEST ASSUMPTION people have is that Pinterest is a social media site, but in reality, Pinterest is a used as a search engine with over 2 BILLION searches each month.

You can MAXIMIZE your audience reach just by using strategic basic SEO strategies in your pin description and title.

Are you ready to get started on Pinterest? I have a special FREE GIFT for you! Download my Content and Social Media Planner to organize your business tasks and start pinning away! Click on the button below to receive your FREE GIFT!