Slay Your Success

Organization beats overwhelm any day.  

At the end of every month, you'll hear at least one person say "I can't believe how fast this month flew by."

We all know that the speed of time doesn't change. What happens is we usually don't get everything done that we planned on. We throw around the dreaded B word.

Before every month, or realistically, by the 10th of each month I map out my monthly goals. Yearly goals, quarterly goals, and monthly goals determine your success level. So obviously if you haven't set your yearly and quarterly goals, the monthly goals won't be so easy.

No worries, you can always start over. You can ALWAYS revamp your goals because this biz life is full of moving parts.

So each month you want to break down your bigger goals [yearly + quarterly]. Without breaking them down into actionable tasks and reminding yourself of the reason these tasks are imperative...you're just going through the motions. Reviewing these goals monthly also helps determine if the strategy you have in place is working.

If every day at 11 am you post on Instagram and your follower count, engagement percentage, and clientele haven't increased. Next month you need to do something different.

Goals 101:
You want to map out your goal. [Be very clear + concise]
The steps/process that you need to do in order to complete the goal.
Why is this goal important to you and your business?
How will you measure that the goal has been completed/achieved?

Every month I review 10 areas in my life, that help me to plan what I need to be working on.

Financial
Health + Fitness
Philanthropic
Family
Social
Biz
Self-Care
Spiritual
Romantic/Love Life
Recreation

1. Financial - #moneygoals I determine how much money I want to make each month and assign a purpose for those funds. I also map out money to save and pinpoint what I'm saving for. Every cent should have a purpose. I even note if there's a big purchase I may need to make personal or business wise, so it won't be a surprise the budget.

2. Health + Fitness - review where you can improve your health + fitness. It could simply be drinking more water and keeping up with doctor appointments.

3. Philanthropic- I truly believe in giving back and helping others. Find a cause that's bigger than you and contribute to it. This doesn't just have to be monetary donations. You can volunteer your time or money, build awareness for causes that are important to you. Positively influencing the world and the inhabitants will always be a great thing to do.

4. Family- create goals for your immediate family. If an overall goal for you is to have good relationships with your family, then monthly a goal can be to communicate weekly with certain members you don't regularly speak to. Family is very important to me. Each month we have a family night and a family meeting. So when planning, these goals/tasks need to be acknowledged. In addition to the tasks that may come up for my children's activities.

5. Social-planning socially or making social goals does not apply to social media. With social media, it makes us think we are being social and engaging with people. But to truly thrive, get out of the house and go enjoy your faves and friends. Make dinner plans and actually keep them. Go to the hot new spot you saw on Yelp. Live a lot and enjoy the life that you are steady creating. So whose birthday is this month? Any social events that you previously RSVP'ed for that you need to be aware of when you are scheduling your project's for the month.

6. Biz- map out the 1-3 goals/projects that you have for your biz each month.

7. Self-care- to create balance in your life, you need to take time out to establish monthly self-care practices. This area is the main area that most women fail at in life...truly caring for ourselves. Develop a plan that you will be able to integrate into your life so you are able to manage the daily stressors. Self-care is replenishing yourself weekly. Create routines that allow you to refresh daily, so a morning and night routine to ensure you get enough rest or quiet time, if that is something you notice that you need.

8. Spiritual- some refer to spiritual as organized religion, others view it as finding the meaning to life, and some define spiritual as a connection to something bigger than ourselves.

9. Romantic/Love life- relationships are hard. Even the good ones with no major "problems" are hard. And as with anything else that's hard, you need to put in work. Monthly you should plan to go on regular dates [without discussion of the babes, finances], plan to learn/do something new together, and discuss your sex life weekly to ensure you keep that fire burning.

10. Recreation- recreation is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for fun. This category can integrate with many of the other categories. Finding an activity that is fun and brings you pleasure can be part of your fitness plan to lose weight, or you may find a Groupon for pole dancing and decide to go with your bestie to fulfill the social need that month. Or you may take up a recreational hobby that satisfies your self-care needs. Have fun...it's not a hard concept to grasp. Just make time for it monthly.

Now that you know the ten goals to focus on for each month, you should be able to slay every part of your life. Living holistically and focusing on yourself, social circle and business are the only ways to truly SLAY SUCCESS.

Because I believe you are dope as hell. I created a workbook SLAY your SUCCESS to help you map out these goals.


 

The concept is simple but can lead to exponential growth when put to use month after month.

Success is in the details.
The 30-page workbook is only $10. It is interactive and you're able to fill in the PDF's from your computer and print or just print and fill them out by hand.

Stay Amazing,

How to beat the Instagram Curve

You're scrolling Ig and then you see this: 

Or even worse, you start seeing posts from 5 days ago, all on the same scroll. Your clients and potential consumers are seeing the same things. Even worse, they might not be seeing you at all.

Instagram makes big changes almost quarterly. And I'm not talking pseudo-Snapchat filters or swipe to the left for even more selfies of your fave ig baddie.

Seriously, some of these ig baddies are baaaaaad! #Girlcrush

Just like Facebook, Instagram has an algorithm that makes absolutely no sense to the common eye. 

Algorithm: a formula that determines how posts will be seen and filtered on timelines. 
Facebook’s algorithm is the most complicated. 

After a big update, your engagement will decrease and your likes will be nonexistent in comparison to before the update. 

Ride the wave baby. 

I've managed several Facebook pages and Instagram pages and these tips have worked time after time. 

On average, people miss 70% of content on their Instagram feed. You don't want to fall within that percentage.

Here’s what you can do: 

1. Post multiple times a week. It doesn’t have to be three to six times a day, in order to get optimal results. 

Quality content beats quantity day after day. Post content that your followers will adore + feel like it’s talking just to them. The algorithm was created to filter through the boring and irrelevant content, so the amazing high-quality content could shine and be shown the masses. Take the time to be creative. Everyone can share the same meme + throw their branding on it. 

2. Create captions that makes the reader want to engage with you.
Write mini blog posts (microblog) as your captions. 
Give a call to action: “double tap if you feel me” “tag your biz bestie”

3. Login in daily and commit to commenting on 10 accounts that you don’t typical interact with. Genuine comments...there are enough bots out here leaving comments under posts that are totally unrelated. 

If you already have an actively engaged audience, look at those that recently followed you or liked your latest image and interact with these peeps. If your audience isn’t interactive yet, and you don’t know who to start talking to...go to your competitor and look who is talking to them. Interact with these individuals. You know they aren’t shy and they may be interested in your content as well. No spammy-ness, just true interaction. 

4. Pods. 

Pods are groups of people that commit to raising engagement on each others Instagram posts. There are rules to these “secret societies.” For example: ‘Comments must be at least three words long, cannot just be emojis, and must happen very quickly after the post goes up on their profile.’ 

Instagram measures how quickly users engage with your content to determine if they should continue showing it to others. 

There are formal pods with a total of 15 people, typically bloggers who are matched by a pod company (there’s a niche for everyone). You don’t have to seek anything like this, create your own version of a pod with a few of your biz besties on Ig. It doesn’t have to be immediately commenting as soon as they post. Because I really hope you are working and not playing on Instagram all day or responding to every notification on your phone. But showing love and increasing their ranks. 

5. Use hashtags. I know hashtags can be lame, but I’m telling you the right hashtags can take your brand places. Take time to research 30 hashtags [that’s the maximum # of hashtags allowed on a post by the creator]. Copying + pasting and influencers hashtags won’t do you any good. Your audiences aren’t the same. 

I keep my hashtags stored in ‘Notebook’ app on my phone and just simply copy and paste as the first comment on the post. I alternate hashtags depending on what the post is about. 

6. Post during peek times. Stop posting at 8am-9am with EVERYBODY and their mama. Look at Insights in Ig + actually review your stats for the peek times for your audience. 

7. Use Ig Stories. Post on ig stories at least twice a day, no more than five times, unless you’re actually telling a story. Get on snapchat if you’re randomly posting more than five times. Post in the morning and at night, so you pop up at the beginning of Ig Stories. No one is going to go through their entire story, so if you post in the am + pm, you’re vetting that you’ll be right at the beginning for everyone to see you. Here is where you can post behind the scenes, little bits of motivation, and fun things that you want to share with your crew. 

Create themes and fun things, so your audience is looking forward to your story and keeps coming to your profile checking for an update. [When people are constantly searching/checking for you this boosts your ranking.] 

8. Go Live. Sooo this is definitely one of those “do as I say, not as I do” moments. I have yet to go live on my biz account. Post an image [either in stories or on your feed] and let your peeps know what time you’ll be going live or ask them what they want you to talk about. Full Disclosure: I usually have on gym clothes and look homeless M-F. So going live, just doesn’t fit into my schedule. I did commit that on the days I get cute for my masterclasses, I would follow my own lead and go live. Especially now that they can be saved. 

I have a client that goes lives every weekday at the same time, and the engagement is phenomenal. It becomes an event and soo fun. Another client that goes live every Monday at the same time, and again...remarkable results. 

9. Have an Instagram Contest. First, ensure that you read the rules. Contests are huuuuuge engagement drivers. The prize doesn’t have to be a brand new Macbook or a VIP trip to your summer retreat, it could be a free copy of your book, your product, or a gift card.  I usually have mixed feelings about contests, because once the contest is over, the engagement and new followers disappear. So this leaves you with the task of keeping them. 

10. Pay to play. You knew it was coming. Hit that boost button and boost your post to your own audience. $2 can do you wonders when Instagram [Facebook too] isn't sharing your content to the masses. 

Social media is a way to bring people in closer. Give them sprinkles of your personality. Let go of status quo and boring tactics that you see everyone using. Algorithms and updates will come and go, but your creativity is with you forever. Make use of it and keep your peeps engaged. 

10 tips to beat Instagram and increase engagement. | Biz Bestie 

Stay Amazing,

Social Media Like a Boss

Are you ready to boss up & social media like a BOSS?!?  

Anytime you say "like a BOSS" it just sounds so much more official.

These tips my friend will up-level your social media marketing game.

First thing first. There are so many social media platforms out here. So be clear on your three. 

Anything over three will be counterproductive.

Social media can be a MAJOR time suck. Even for the most disciplined lady. Willpower is a strength. Pick three platforms that work best for you. Factor in your personality, attention span, and overall enjoyment. Look, don't be on a social media platform just because you see everyone else on there. Likes, follows,and hearts don't pay for Chipotle, hydrafacials, or even Facebook ads.

Simple social media best practice: 

Follow others and engage genuinely. If the celebs can follow back and comment, so can you. Lurkers are lame! 

Facebook

Facebook is for friends and people we don't really remember from high school and maybe elementary school if their profile pic is cute. Yes, the algorithms change, but the thing that remains: Facebook is for friends. Position your content as helpful [educational/informative], funny & encouraging [inspirational]. And it doesn't hurt if you package all that up beautifully.

Facebook is also for ads. Forget those that complain about paying to play, because ads can grow your business and Paypal substantially. I have a biz bestie who has a $12 per month Facebook ad budget and doing big things with a little spare change. Research has shown time after time, that majority of Facebook users are online consumers. So many people opt-in to majority of their online profiles using Facebook, which provides even more information about their buying habits and lifestyle...things that you would never know on your own. In addition to marketing companies selling your information to Facebook for marketing experts to enjoy. Pinterest and Twitter ads can't compare to Facebook ads. 

Twitter

Twitter is the place to share timeless content over and over. Remember show and tell? Twitter is the adult version of show and tell, only your teacher isn't making your class pay attention to you. When the quiet girl who never spoke up brought in the new baby alive, you paid attention. Unless she was your friend, you would pay attention to her anyway. Twitter is all about connections and sharing.

Find dope people and create lists so you can keep up with them and share their content. Just don't be spammy and stalkerish.

That will get you noticed, just not in the she’s super awesome let me tell all my biz besties about her kind of way.  

BEING spammy will get you....BLOCKED!

The best part of twitter is Kanye's rants. Everyone loves a good Kanye West twitter rant to take away the stress of the day. In between the randomness, he leaves a business gem, for us to reflect on.    

Instagram

Instagram. I love Instagram. Beautiful pictures, inspiring views and quotes. The trick to Instagram for business is to share your behind the scenes, personal shenanigans, breakfast lunch and dinner. I kid, but have you seen the lady that eats grapes every day and nothing else?

Pique your audience’s interest and make a true emotional connection. If you’re only posting that you sent a newsletter...no one cares. Don't post the same things you post one your other platforms here and vice versa. Switch it up!

I actually wrote this post, months ago and my new favorite is snapchat. I’m using it in the same fashion as I would Instagram. Behind the scenes, personal shenanigans and random biz tips on the go. More shenanigans than anything else. 

Periscope. Pinterest. Meerkat.Google +. YouTube. LinkedIn. Am I missing a platform?

Content sharing tips: 

TA McMann recommends the 5-3-2 rule

• Five posts should be content from others that’s relevant to your audience.
• Three posts should be your own content, again relevant to your peeps, but isn’t a direct pitch.
• Two should be non work related...things to humanize your brand. Hello funny viral videos on Facebook [increases reach too - I share them twice a week]

What’s the 411? Mary J tried to tell you…

The 4-1-1 on twitter is sharing 4 relevant pieces of content [not your own], and retweeting others for every 1 piece of self- promoting content.

Curating and finding content to share:

Content curation is when you share someone else’s content [note share & not steal]  that you receive value from. You are doing the hard work for your peeps. You are saving them time from having to find the information.

Curate like a boss:

Share your takeaway for an added gem.

Share a quote from the article.

Give credit where it’s due, tag the business the first time you share.

Save time curating:

Sign up for Pocket and get the Pocket Chrome Extension : on a website and see something you want to share with your peeps that you aren’t ready to schedule yet, save it to pocket. Get fancy and link your Evernote to Pocket, so the article will be sitting in Evernote waiting for you. Or you can you use the Evernote Web Clipper. 

Ready to share: 

Use Buffer or  Buffer Chrome Extension to either share the article immediately or schedule it out.

If you are signed up for Edgar [amazing tool to manage your social media with a FULL library of stored content] you can use the Edgar Extension.

Wordpress users can use Coschedule.

Stop searching multiple websites on the trending topics: Check out Buzzsumo they have a variety of topics covered from 24 hours up to 2 hours.

Or you could go old school and use Feedly [an RSS reader where you can have your favorite blogs go] and save it to pocket or evernote for later access.

Instagram Tools

Check your Instagram Stats with Iconosquare it will help you with the times that your followers are most engaged [to help guide you when to post], your most liked and engaged posts, and your most engaged followers. 

When you know the perfect times to post to your peeps, use latergramme to schedule the post. It will PUSH to your phone and then you will push the post through. Instagram wants to keep the platform mobile so most tools won’t post it through for you. Be clear of those that do, your account can be flagged to be deleted.

Instagram + Twitter Tools

Crowdfire manages your relationships on Twitter and Instagram - see who is following you and who unfollowed. Another Instagram and Twitter goodie is Hashtagify to determine which hashtags are popular and relevant.

IFTTT has a recipe to post your Instagram picture to twitter as a native picture [so no link & the actual picture populates].

Pinterest Tools

BoardBooster was created for bloggers to schedule their pins at optimal times.
Tailwind is another pin scheduler.