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From Beyonce, to Coco Chanel, to Maya Angelou, The Daily Rituals of Famous Women

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Have you ever wondered how some of the most famous and important women in history have lived their daily lives?

In 2019, where the line between life and work is becoming more and more blurred, could we take inspiration from empowering women of the past and present?

For instance, Martha Stewart packs a lot of into the first hours of her day, before getting down to business. Whereas the life of a pop star is a little more non-conventional, for instance Lady Gaga opts to spend her mornings writing music so she can take afternoons to mentally prepare herself for performing in the evening.

From Beyonce, to Coco Chanel, to Maya Angelou, we’ve taken a look at 36 rituals of famous women:

Find the complete report here.

SOURCES

About BodyLogicMD

Founded in 2003, BodyLogicMD physician-owned practices make up the nation’s largest and fastest growing network of highly-trained practitioners specializing in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Integrated with comprehensive wellness strategies, BodyLogicMD’s medically-supervised treatment plans are for men and women suffering from hormonal imbalance and conditions of aging, such as menopause and andropause.

About NeoMam Studios

NeoMam Studios is a creative studio based in the UK on a mission to create digital content that online audiences will want to share.

How to Promote Your Online Business on Quora by Veronika Vaghina of @x_cart

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by Veronika Vaghina

Let me guess: you are an online business owner who is always looking for a new way to promote your online store or a person who is only thinking of starting a shop. Well then, you’re in the right place as today I want you to consider Quora as a part of your content strategy (spoiler: it’s free & effective). Let’s start!

What Is Quora?

Quora is an American Q&A site where everyone can ask anyone any question and get a decent answer.

If you have never heard about this website, you need to check this link out first. There you’ll learn how this website works, where you find your topics, why people adore it so much and how you can benefit from using it.

How to Promote Your Online Business on Quora?

Create a Quora account, fill in the information, add a link to the website you want to promote in bio.

Choose topics that reflect your niche and your target audience’s interests. Subscribe to the topics to see the new questions and answers, follow questions and subscribe to the users already registered on Quora. In other words, join the community.

Think of the information that you could share: your blog posts, tutorials, or just something you’re good at.

Then look for the questions where this information could be used as an informative answer that actually helps people. This is the key point of Quora marketing: it doesn’t matter how desperate you are in your attempts to promote your business. The first thing you should care about is being useful. People will upvote a good answer and, let’s be honest, it helps not to get banned.

Add links to your website and mention your brand in the answers you write. You should be careful here as it’s easy to get banned. So make sure this exact link is in the right place and brings real value. A seamlessly added link does not make you think for even a moment that you just want to promote your business.

Create a content plan. The more often you answer, the more views you get. Try to answer at least once a week.

Add examples & pictures. These answers get more upvotes and also appear in Quora Digests more often. (To find out what Quora Digest is and how to get in there read the article mentioned above).

Repeat the steps, notice what works better for your business. Change your plan on the go if necessary.

I’ve described an affordable way to get more traffic to your website. Of course, there’s an opportunity, too (but I’m not talking about it this time). It’s up to you now — to follow the tips or to wait for another opportunity. Good luck!

 

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Veronika is a Marketing Manager at X-Cart. The company provides X-Cart, an open-source eCommerce platform, along with the full range of services for online business. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and reading.

How to enhance your finances using your feminine gift? by @MoneyCoach_AR

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by Alejandra Rojas

For so long in my life, I’ve watched the money field being dominated by masculine attitudes. I recalled watching coworkers yelling to the other one “I’m killing it” when investing under excitement and buying items to feed their masculinity.

I remember having a conversation with a coworker about the future. You know the “What have you plan for the future?” conversation. He asked me what I’d planned to do in a few years, but almost without space for an answer, he started to lecture me about what to do with my money.

He didn’t bother to ask what I wanted for my life, what made me happy; he was just in a rush to give me indications on what I needed to follow to succeed. He went from investing in the stock market to applying for the X credit card that gave me cash back on trips and restaurants. And of course, he emphasises I had to spend as much as possible on it so I could upgrade my status on it.

The thing is that the situations didn’t resonate with me at all. The idea of extravaganza/ “I can rule the world” because I have money, was definitely not what I wanted to focus.

Instead, I needed to bring the best value possible to my life using the tools I’ve studied for, finances. I thought about money as something that should be meaningful for our soul and not just a superficial item, knowledge or action.

As a woman who appreciates the things for the value they can bring in our lives, I was determined to find how money can mean something more than what people are used to.

That coffee conversation for me was crucial to understanding that, of course, we do have different perceptions and understanding about the ways to live and manage our lives. But, as women, we have a fantastic strength inside us that enables us to live a more meaningful money journey, and we need to use it.

So, ever since that coffee talk, I started to work on finances with that female feeling based on a purpose. I was asking myself what role money should play in my life. And I came across with five things that enhanced my feminine gift to bring meaning to my life.

1. Setting up goals with my soul.

If I wanted to change something within my environment, I had to start by changing myself. I was not any longer willing to pursue a vague and vanish success goal for anyone else but me.

I had to close my self and be the most selfish that I’ve been for years to think about what made me and just me happy. What was the success I wanted to seek and how that would contribute to be the person I wanted to be.

I was not any longer looking to satisfy someone else ideal life; I was decided to look inside my head the dreams and ideas that encourage my soul to make them happen.

2. Being grateful for what I have.

Starting my day by saying three things I’m grateful for, connects me with myself.
Part of being more intentional and bringing purpose to my life was to recognise everything that I’ve achieved so far. Without starting my days without being grateful, I just continued with the practice of asking for more without appreciating what I already had.

Not recognizing what I had made me lose sight of the moment, and the whole essence of what I was working for was wasted. I was determined to use my feminine sense to recognize the essential things I had in my life.

3. Setting up boundaries to talk about the money.

I get it! I work on finances, I need to see money most of my time, but there is something else more significant than the money I had to focus.

While discovering that something, I took my home as my safe place to reconnect with myself and find the purpose I was looking for.

I set boundaries within my home and myself to have money points free zones. Areas at home that should be just to connect with myself and with the dreams I had.

I was determined to take power out from money and drive happiness and joy to my life beyond everything.

4. Focus on transmitting my happy thoughts.

It is not really a thing that we often do, but it is that feminine side of positivism and acting from a place of happiness what got me to start sharing all my happy thoughts. Because I do believe we are what we talk. By speaking, we can transmit what we think, and what we believe is what define us.

I focused on transmitting happy thoughts instead of going on circles over problems or money matters. If I couldn’t change the past, then I had to make sure I learned my lesson to avoid the same mistake twice. But crying o braking my mindset over it wouldn’t change anything.

People say women are quick learners, and once we’ve learned the lesson, we are ready to move forward in any aspect of our lives, so I figured money should not be any different.

5. Expressing my point of view.

Later on, I understood I had contributed to keeping the masculine understanding of money on my environment.

Well yes!! if every time people were talking about it, and I just limited myself to listen without expressing my point of view, I was just letting that masculine point of view flowed all over the place.

Honestly, nobody will notice your different ideas if you don’t speak up. I was determined to stop that! Besides, if a woman is determined to be heard, she can sure do it.

So I took a step forward on the conversations and started finding my voice about money issues within my self, my family and the public.

But you know what I found? More people, many women and men, resonated with my ideas every time more. It was just incredible how people felt a lot more comfortable talking about their dreams, their happiness rather than the numbers on their bank account.

 

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Alejandra Rojas is a financial coach who helps millennial women unlock their wealth potential through mindset and money management techniques. Access Alejandra’s Free Finance Roadmap and get started achieving your dreams.

3 Easy Steps to an Expert-Based Business

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by Cheryl Garrison

So you want to start a business but you’re not sure what type of business to start and how to get it started. You’re not alone. I get tons of inquiries from women, especially those over 50, who are ready to assert their independence and become their own boss but can’t seem to find the business they want to start. They dabble in and out of network marketing or direct sales and find that they don’t truly have a passion to build a team or host parties! The idea of having a business becomes more and more frustrating and they are at the point of giving up on this long-held dream. Does this sound like you?

Good news. More and more women are finding that the business they’ve been wanting to start is literally inside of them. It’s their talent, knowledge and passion – the thing they love to do and can do with ease. It’s called starting an expert-based business.

According to market trends, over 33% of businesses started are businesses that evolve from prior experience. This includes businesses like freelancing, independent contracting, consulting and virtual assistance. Many of these businesses are started at home and are more likely to succeed. Personally, I ran a successful consultant business from home for over 15 years. It was based on my work experience and passion as a corporate and technical writer. I was able to raise my three children (now adults) and earn a significant high five-figure income annually.

How did I do it and how can you take your expertise and passion and turn it into a viable and successful home-based business? Below I share three steps you can take to get your expert-based business started and get you on the road to success from home.

Step 1: Be clear on the type of business you wish to start – Many people are knowledgeable about something. In fact, most of us have multiple talents and passions and it is sometimes hard to narrow them down and know your true expertise. Do a quick expertise inventory. Simply get a sheet of paper, draw a line down the middle and on one side write all the experience that you have. It can be from current or past corporate jobs, hobbies, volunteering, and education – just brainstorm all of your experience. On the opposite side, write all the things you are passionate about, the things you LOVE to do. You might be very knowledgeable about accounting but truly love teaching. This might lead you to creating an online class on how to keep accurate accounting records in a small business. This exercise has led many people to start lasting businesses.

Step 2: Position yourself as the expert – As I said earlier, most of us are experts at something. But, until someone knows our expertise, our unique and special gifts remain unknown. How do you get people to know that you are knowledgeable in a certain area? You tell them. You tell them online, offline, every chance you get. Some of the most notable ways people are establishing themselves as authorities or experts in their field include:

  • Writing a Book – Writing a book about your field of expertise is instant credibility. Luckily, in today’s digital world, it has gotten easier to get your book on the market through self-publishing, vanity press and ebooks. Decide on the book you want to write and then get busy writing it. ‘
  • Hosting an online podcast/FB LIVE – Establish your expertise by hosting weekly or monthly podcasts/FB LIVEs where you can share “how-to” tips. This is merely a way to keep your message in front of your audience and allow them to see you in the position as expert.
  • Obtaining speaking engagements – Get on the stage as much as possible to establish your credibility. Your local chamber of commerce has opportunities as well as women groups and conferences in your community.

Step 3: Share your Story – The final step is to create a platform for sharing your knowledge with a pre-defined audience. How will you deliver the message? You might decide to create an online course, do live webinars, or conduct one-on-one coaching.

How will you reach them? You might decide to create a social media strategy for Facebook and Instagram. Your offline strategy could be attending networking events.

The three steps referenced here are a quick overview of ways to get your expert-based business started. Remember, starting any business requires clarity, planning and a no-excuse attitude. Follow these steps and you will be well on your way to being your own boss. To your Success!

 

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Cheryl Garrison is a business coach, speaker, author and champion for women over 50. Her desire is to help women re-invent themselves through business ownership. She encourages women over 50 to take their decades of skills and expertise and turn the into a thriving business. For more than 30 years, Cheryl has been an entrepreneur and has earned well over a million dollars from her various ventures. As a business owner, she was awarded numerous Business Excellence awards.

She has been a featured speaker at several women’s conferences and networking events. She is the author of two books: Re-Invent Yourself and From Expert to Entrepreneur. Most recently, Cheryl published her first magazine for women over 50, 50Something Lifestyle Magazine.

As a coach, Cheryl works one-on-one with her clients in addition to group training and masterminds.’

Cheryl created 50Something LIfestyle to help women deal with the “now what”.  Just because we are 50Something, it doesn’t mean that we are ready to be done. We are strong, vibrant women ready to create the lifestyle of our dreams?

Feeling Hopeless? First Steps to Fix Our Complex Problems by @lieshapetrovich

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Feeling Hopeless? First Steps to Fix Our Complex Problems

by Liesha Petrovich | Featured Contributor

Stress. Frustration. Hopelessness.

Anyone who’s ever run a business can relate to these feelings. Along with the occasional euphoria of landing a lucrative contract, hitting our sales goals, or reaching a 1000 followers, running a business is a constant rollercoaster of emotions.

Photo courtesy of Canva

When it comes to our most complex problems, we can get stuck at the first step. We think: What in the world do I do now? Although we shouldn’t minimize our serious problems, every solution starts with taking the first step.

Here are a few ideas that may help us figure out what that may be:

Problem: We Need Money

No one wants to talk about this. Money is such a touchy and sometimes embarrassing question. Who wants to admit they have bad credit or enormous debt? Who wants to admit they sometimes have to eat Ramen instead of going to trendy cafes with their friends?

Photo courtesy of Canva

But we actually have a few options when we need an injection of cash into our business. Our first step is checking our credit score to see what our options may be. Credit Sesame explains that:

“This scoring range starts at 300 as the poorest score and goes up to 850 as the highest range possible, or excellent credit. Specifically, bad credit ranges from 300 to 629, fair credit ranges from 630 to 689, good credit ranges from 690 to 719, and finally, excellent credit which ranges from 720 and to 850.”

This information gives us exactly where we are on the scale and what our options may be. With good credit, we can go directly to the bank and/or a credit card company. There are special programs for women entrepreneurs but they may take longer to apply. If we have bad credit, we can talk to our local credit unions and see what options they have.

NEXT STEP: When we’re faced with immediate financial issues, always seek professional help. I’ve found credit union loan officers to be the best source of information. They don’t work on commission and provide fair counseling when we’re desperate to find money solutions.

Problem: We Are Overwhelmed

Being busy is a good thing. Being overwhelmed isn’t.

My personal definition of being overwhelmed, after many years of experience, is the state of not being able to handle the immediate issues in our lives. It’s being frazzled, frustrated and clueless all at the same time. We don’t know where to start first because there are so many problems dropping all at once.

Photo by Nikko Macaspac on Unsplash

Crawling out of this dark place starts with a few basic facts. First, we have the power to change our situation. Second, there are answers out there. In It’s Time To Deal With Your Stress Before It Kills Your Business, I shared the following:

“Starting and running a business can be a terrifying thing. Yet, we don’t have to do it alone. Successful business owners build a network of support and are willing to ask others for help. It’s a simple solution to a complex problem. Don’t suffer in silence – reach out and ask for help.”

We’re all unique individuals with different problems. But the first step towards reducing our stress and feelings of being overwhelmed starts with the same basic action:

Ask for help.

Whether it’s outsourcing, delegating, or finding the courage to start saying no, changing our mindset from “I can handle everything” to “I need help” isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength.

Next Step: Get organized. There are plenty of planning systems and lifestyle options. I personally love Bullet Journals and minimalism. Find a system that fits our life and keeping the chaos at bay becomes easier.

Note for those in a dark place: There’s no shame in seeking professional help if we’re depressed and overwhelmed. Make the call if needed.

Problem: We Need More Customers

Switching gears to a much lighter, although incredibly important topic. Running a business is a constant journey of ups and downs. The highs make us euphoric and the lows keep us up at night.

When we need more clients or customers immediately it’s probably because our cash flow has dried up and we’re in real trouble. The first step is to make the phone ring as fast as we can. Anna Dixon shares the following ideas in 23 Creative Sales Promotion Ideas to Drive More Business

  • Give away free samples
  • Give discounts to a specific group
  • Creating timely ads to increase urgency

We can choose a few that best suit our business and marketing budget. Try one, track the results, and change course if it’s not working. A quick influx of cash may be enough to get us through a few dry months.

Next Step: The only way to keep customers flowing in is to fix our broken sales pipeline. I personally love marketing automation tools that do amazing things to turn prospects into customers. They may seem overwhelming at first, but they are worth the investment.

The First Step Is Always the Hardest

We live in a world of Instagram success stories. Where we sometimes believe that everyone else is thriving while we’re struggling to keep our head above water. It’s isolating and makes us feel like failures because we can’t seem to do what seems easy for everyone else.

We all face problems and it’s insane not to admit that. It’s also paralyzing for many who feel hopeless and have no clue where to start. Just remember the first step is always the hardest.

And the next step is always easier.

Influencer Marketing for Solopreneurs by @DONNAAMOS

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by Donna Amos | Featured Contributor 

Word of mouth marketing is still a powerful method for a single reason: it works. Consumers trust the word of other authentic consumers about what they have bought and used or services they have enjoyed. Influencer marketing is based on this fact. And because the average online user suffers through approximately 3,000 brand messages each day, people don’t trust brands. They know brands are out to sell them something.

Influencers are not just celebrities, whom people are trusting less and less. They can be anyone who has earned a certain authority in some area. They are open to trying new things relating to their area of expertise, they share an honest appraisal, and they are motivated to serve the public. Because of this, they have earned the right to be heard and believed.

Why Influencer Marketing?

I remember my father driving into town and doing business on a handshake with people he knew. Because they had an established relationship, he knew he could trust them. He also told me of the businesses in town that could not be trusted, and why. I grew up learning an important lesson: only do business with people you can trust.

Trust is still an important factor in marketing and sales, even more now in the realm of digital marketing. I cannot see and shake hands with the person I’m doing business with; I have to take the word of what is printed on his or her website. So, I really don’t know who I’m doing business with; I and most people don’t like that.

But grasp this important statistic: 70% of millennial consumers are influenced to purchase by recommendations of their peers. Enter Influencer Marketing. An influencer is a person who has worked to gain the trust of a large audience. They are viewed by their followers as a trusted peer, and they have tremendous persuasive power. Their word can be trusted.

Is influencer marketing really a thing? Can this method of marketing really work? Absolutely. Imforza reports that “86% of the most-watched videos on YouTube about beauty were made by influencers, compared to a mere 14% from brands.” This is just in a single industry. Where brands focus on promoting why you need their stuff, even if you don’t, a trusted influencer will allegedly tell you the truth about a product or service and leave the decision-making up to you.

The Best Influencers for Solopreneurs

Now as a solopreneur, it is not likely that you can convince a celebrity influencer or popular author to review and recommend your business; nor could you probably afford their fees. Solopreneurs can still benefit from influencer marketing. But we must choose a level of influencer that will reach our target audience and fit our marketing budget.

For example, you may benefit from a local influencer if your business is primarily targeting a local audience. This could even be a popular TV personality, radio personality, or some such person whom the public trusts. Sometimes, the influencer may have a local TV or radio program of their own where your business could be featured if you meet their standards and criteria.

Some authority figures are on a level where they could reach your target audience, but not be so influential as to demand a national audience and a corresponding astronomical fee. Some authors fit this bill, as would hometown sports heroes or favorite sons. These will also usually have a strong social media following, which is an added benefit if your audience is not limited to a certain locale.

Micro-influencers have a social media following around 10,000, which is large enough to have influence, but small enough to be within a solopreneur’s reach. You can do some research on Instagram and/or YouTube for influencers in your particular niche and quickly locate some on this level.

How to Select and Engage the Right Influencer for Your Solopreneur Business

As you research micro-influencers or local influencers, try to determine if they have supported solopreneurs in the past. Some may have a proclivity for solopreneur businesses and this can help you make a connection. Also, some may be against solopreneurs, and so knowing this and steering clear of them will save you time.

Ask yourself some questions when choosing the right influencer to approach:

  • Are their followers the right audience for my business?
  • Is there high engagement between the influencer and their followers?
  • Does the influencer have enough followers to be worth my efforts (minimum 5,000 and maximum 10,000)?
  • What are some other businesses they have endorsed? Do I approve or disapprove?
  • Do I find them honorable, trustworthy, and yet informative and entertaining?
  • Can I trust them to give an honest appraisal and represent my business well?

Here are some suggested actions to engage with influencers:

  1. Start by interacting on social media so they can get to know about you. If they are not responsive to comments on their posts, find another influencer who engages better with his or her audience.
  2. Be genuine with your engagement. Follow them on social media channels, like their posts, and offer intelligent comments. Share their posts, videos, and other content. Look for common ground in their content that you can talk about in your responses.
  3. Give before you take. Share a popular piece of their content on your own media channels or in an article. Drop them a personal email to let them know and express appreciation for the information in their material. Share genuine appreciation for their work and influence. Good influencers that you want to work with will have worked hard to earn their reputation, and they will appreciate you recognizing that fact.
  4. After establishing a relationship of mutual respect in this manner, formally approach them and ask about their influencer relationships and how you might apply. Be sure to express respect for their opinion and efforts.

Solopreneurs can profit from a relationship with the right influencer, or influencers. Just be sure to take the appropriate amount of time establishing a relationship of mutual respect before making an offer or request. A minimum of six months of researching and cultivating an influencer should give you an idea if the time is right.

Are you a solopreneur who already benefits from influencer marketing? How did you get started? How did you choose the right influencer for your business? Share your counsel and suggestions in the comments below!

 

Local SEO: Master the Art of how to Rank a Website Locally by @shane_barker

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If you have a local business, then one of your top priorities should be to secure top rankings in search engine results. It’s crucial that you design a robust local SEO strategy; otherwise, you may lose out on highly qualified leads.

Additionally, SEO helps you drive high-quality traffic to your website and increase the conversions of your local business. This may sound easy, but it’s not.

So, here are some vital dos and don’ts of local SEO:

The Dos of Local SEO

Ask for Positive Online Reviews From Your Customers

Never hesitate to ask your loyal customers to write a positive online review for your business. A study from BrightLocal revealed that positive reviews encourage 68% of customers to visit a local business.

Therefore, don’t overlook the impact of positive review on your local business. Make sure to always ask your customers to give you positive online feedback and high ratings.

91% of consumers from 18-34 years of age believe online reviews as much as they trust personal recommendations.

So, the more positive online reviews you have, the easier it gets to win the trust of your target audience. It also helps you drive high quality and quantity leads to your business.

But, how do you ensure that your customers give you positive online reviews?

Here are some tips which will help you get positive online reviews from your customers:

You need to provide high-quality services or products to your customers. This will automatically motivate them to give positive online feedback. They may even turn into brand advocates for your local business and recommend it to their family and friends.

Also, it motivates your customers, even more, when you ask for a review in person once they have made a purchase or availled your services. If you cannot ask in person, then make sure to send them an email or a text message, requesting that they leave a positive online review.

Additionally, always make sure to reply to reviews from your customers. Local businesses often ignore the significance of responding to customers.

Always thank your customers for the positive review and invite them to visit again. And if you get a negative review, you need to respond to your customers and say sorry to them. Reply to them professionally and politely saying you will look into the matter as soon as possible.

The Don’ts of Local SEO

Never Add a Wrong Category in GMB

According to Moz, Google My Business (GMB) is the third most important factor which affects local search engine rankings. GMB also highly affects whether or not your local business can attract customers.

Often, marketers underestimate the importance and impact of GMB categories on their local businesses.

Google frequently adds and removes categories. During the first half of 2018, Google decided to remove 36 categories and add 34 new categories. So, it’s crucial that you keep an eye on these changes and add the most relevant category for your business. When you add the most relevant category, it can help you secure top rankings in search results.

In addition to this, Google also changes the name of their categories frequently. So, you need to be really careful and don’t misunderstand the new name for an existing category as a new category.

The primary category of your local business in GMB is a significant factor affecting your local search engine rankings. Hence, be extra careful when selecting the primary category for your local business.

Do you want to master the art of local SEO and secure top ranks on the search engine? If so, then check out this infographic by Shane Barker for more information.

Mastering The Art Of Local SEO To Rank Your Local Business

Image Courtesy: shanebarker.com

 

What We Can Learn from These Innovative Women by @DrRKayGreen

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by Dr. R. Kay Green | Featured Contributor

Women in business have a lot to learn from each other. That is why companies like Inc. Magazine compile lists like the Female Founders 100. This list celebrates the female entrepreneurs that have made strides in their respective industries.

And while a lot of what they have learned is specific to their industry, there is always a universal lesson that we can take away. Here are just five:

Lesson 1: Always be expanding.

Polina Veksler, Universal Standard

Veksler started strong with Universal Standard, setting up shop with a friend in 2015 to create one-of-a-kind fashion for plus-sized bodies. But she did not stop there. In fact, she has been able to grow Universal Standard at a rate of 200 percent, all while growing her family and herself.

Her story is one that all business owners can take a lesson from. Your business can always be bigger, and you can always take the “next step” to grow, both professionally and personally. A growth mindset will always be more beneficial than a fixed mindset.

Lesson 2: There is never a perfect time.

Nichole Mustard, Credit Karma

Anyone who wants to start a business but is waiting for the right time should take note of Nichole Mustard’s journey. In the early days of Credit Karma, she spent more than a third of the year on the road. This was despite having a child already. And she did not slow down in her desire to have a family, either—she went on to have three more children.

“We didn’t want to slow down the family and we didn’t want to slow down with the work,” she recalls. “There’s never a perfect time, right?”

As you begin to grow your business, there will be a million reasons to quit. And you should not neglect what is important to you, whether that be your family, your relationship, or something else. But if you work hard, you can have it all. Make sure that you are not using obligations as an excuse to avoid chasing your dreams.

Lesson 3: Do not be afraid to say no.

Brené Brown, Brené Brown Education and Research Group

Sometimes, the lessons that we can take from someone are the lessons that they are still trying to learn.

This is the case in what we can learn from Brené Brown, who is focusing her attention on saying no and being more selective with her time. “When I first started, I didn’t say no to anything, because I wanted to prove I could do it,” she says. Now she is ready to “say no to a lot of things, and get really clear on who I want to be.”

Lesson 4: Stand out.

Jessica O. Matthews, Uncharted Power

From the time she was 22 and founding her own business, Matthews has been dedicated to making a splash. Whether it is her advanced energy-producing technology or her impressive achievements — raising $7 million in financing, for example — she has never been afraid to push the boundary of what it means to be in business, particularly as a black woman business founder.

Women in business can learn a lot from Matthews. So often, we are afraid of taking a risk, or failing, or looking foolish. But if we dare to stand out, we will be remembered.

Lesson 5: Take the first step.

Katonya Breaux, Unsun Cosmetics

Anyone can have an idea. But it takes a real visionary to put it into action. Katonya Breaux is one of those visionaries. Her idea came when she realized that most of the safer sunscreens she came across only came in one color: white. As a black woman, Breaux thought this was not ideal. Most people would have simply left the thought at that, but Breaux took it a step further.

“I learned something by happenstance that affected my beauty and, I learned, that also affected my health,” says Breaux. “So I said, why not me?” So she created the cosmetics line that now caters to people of all skin tones.

“Why not me” is a powerful thought for anyone in business. Every day, business ventures die without ever being verbalized, simply because the person with the initial thought is not bold enough to act on it. If you want to succeed in business, especially as a woman, Breaux’s boldness is something you should strive to emulate.

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Dr. R. Kay Green – Marketing Expert from RKG Marketing Solutions Inc. from Atlanta, GA.

Dr. KayDr. R. Kay Green is the CEO/President of RKG Marketing Solutions Inc. With over 190,000+ Twitter followers, 35,000+ Facebook Likes, and the Top 1% LinkedIn profile designation, Dr. Kay, a self-motivated trailblazer, is the Quintessential “New-Age” Professional Woman, and PhD Marketing Pro. She earned a Doctorate of Business Administration in Marketing, and has completed PhD coursework in Leadership and Organization Change. She also holds a Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Management, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, and an Associate of Arts in Marketing Management.

She is affiliated with several prestigious universities and has instructed over 350 courses online. A popular speaker on Marketing and Business topics, Dr. Green is currently featured on Huffington Post, Black Enterprise, Black News, The Network Journal, Business Review USA, Digital Journal, College View, Business New Hampshire Magazine, Bay State Banner, Reader’s Circle, North Dallas Gazette, Harlem News, Top News Today, One News Page, NE Informer, Women in Business PR News, Consumer News Today, Women PR News, San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, Chicago Daily Herald, The Miami Herald, and Book News Articles.

Twitter – Facebook – LinkedIn

4 Easy Ways To Grow Your Mailing List by @victoriahock

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by Victoria Hockaday | Featured Contributor 

You keep hearing that there’s money in the mailing list and you see that email marketing isn’t going anywhere. 

But you still can’t seem to wrap your head around email.

What the HECK do you say to people without sounding spammy?

How do you go about getting people onto your mailing list without sounding obnoxious?

I’ve been there and I’ve had ZERO people on my mailing list.

Eventually, things changed. 

I was getting on average 7 email subscribers a day just from creating organic content.

And I felt like I was onto something…

I was able to send love letters to my tribe every week, get to know my audience with surveys and sell digital products in my sleep.

That was when I saw the power of having a mailing list. It’s not just another thing you need to do in your business. It’s an opportunity to engage and serve the exact type of people you want to attract in your business.

That’s why today I want to share with you my tried and tested tips and tricks for list building so that you have the confidence to get started on your journey or the inspiration to keep moving forward. 

Are you ready to dive in? Let’s go!

Know Your Ideal Client Avatar To Grow Your Mailing List

Let’s be honest: getting someone to give you their email address is no easy thing. People hold their email addresses tight to their chests because they don’t want another email in their inbox. 

If you’re refocusing on your mailing list, you might want to revisit who you’re trying to attract. If people aren’t signing up to your mailing list it’s probably because you’re not creating content that is specific, relevant and interesting to your audience. 

One of the biggest reasons why people struggle to create momentum with their mailing list is because they don’t know their dream customer avatar. I want you to take a fresh look at your ideal client avatar and get crystal clear on who they are. What are their biggest pain points? What do they struggle with? What do they want to learn more about? Because here’s the thing: by speaking to everyone you’re speaking to no one.

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Cultivate a Pop Up Strategy

One way I’ve grown my audience this year is by presenting pop-ups in front of my audience. Ok… I know what you’re thinking! Pop-ups can be annoying and irritating when you’re checking out an article. But bear with me on this one… Pop-ups can be an incredibly effective way to capture your audience and invite them to learn more from you. So, I promise it’s worth it!

I started with testing out pop-ups to promote my generic opt-in freebie and it worked like a treat for growing my audience. This was a small tweak I made to my website and it made the biggest difference to my list-building efforts. I want you to test out pop-ups for yourself and use it to promote your main freebie. 

Here’s how to start: Sign up to a pop-up provider, such as Optinmonster or Thrive Leads and design a lightbox pop up on your site. Then, sit back and watch the party grow!

Create an Irresistible Opt-In Freebie

One of the most common ways to grow your mailing list is with an opt-in freebie. If you’re a newbie to email marketing, an opt-in freebie is a free piece of content that you gift your audience in exchange for their name and email address. 

But, to create a good opt-in freebie you need to know what your audience wants and needs from you. It’s no good giving them something for the sake of it. You need to create something that is going to make them say “OMG, I can’t believe you’re giving me this for free!”. 

So, I want you to take a look at your freebie and ask yourself whether it’s clear, specific and relevant to your dream customer. You want to make sure that your opt-in freebie gives your dream customer one small win that gets them closer to buying from you in the future.

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Facebook Ads

Let’s be real: unless you already have a lot of traffic on your website, organic reach for list building is very slow. 

Don’t get me wrong, I still think content creation is a great foundation for list building. The only problem is that it can take around 6-9 months to grow your mailing list past 300-500 subscribers. 

If you want to increase your mileage with list-building, you need to be adopting rapid list building strategies. These are things like giveaways and Facebook ads, which will grow your mailing list at a much faster rate. I’m talking about growing your mailing list by the hundreds or even thousands at a time!

And that’s it! I hope this gives you some mojo to refocus on your mailing list.

Make space for Beautiful things to happen! by Sue Perez of @Beautyphonics

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by Sue Perez | Featured Contributor

 

September is the month of going back to school and it reminds us that soon, yet again the hawk of winter will be swooping back in. I always cherish my memories of renewal this time of year. I also take stock and make changes where needed. It’s late summer and some warm days are left but it’s time to open the closets and start shaking out the sweaters and jackets for the cooler temperatures to come. This year my husband and I did a bit of re-organizing and he purchased a new makeup vanity for me with matching white chair and mini table (which I use to store my hair tools). It’s really lovely and he upgraded the closet with a PAX wardrobe from Ikea for me too! Yes Yes, I know. He’s a keeper. But seriously, there is something harmonious that happens when you can find all your possessions nicely hung up or laid out in pull out drawers. You feel brand new! This month is all about renewal and letting go of the old. It’s time to refresh yourself and wrap yourself in all that is new.

 

Tranquility and Harmony = Balance

My entire apartment follows the principles of Feng Shui. It’s the pseudoscience that originated in China and uses natural energy forces in the environment to bring harmony within the home. Well placed colors, plants, flowers, chimes, mirrors, water fountains, fish bowls and photographs can enhance the various corners of your Bagua or the energy map of your space. It shows you which areas of your home are connected to specific areas of your life. For example the Southeast corner energizes Fame and Luck and in my bedroom that’s where I keep my Emmy Award, right on top of my vanity. The gorgeous roses my husband bought me don’t hurt either.

 

 

 

 

Create an Oasis for yourself

Think about it. Besides work, being at home is your favorite place. It’s where you binge watch your favorite shows and keep all your cool stuff. Make time to review your closets and donate clothing and shoes you know you are not going to use anymore. Pick up some new workout clothes. Update your fragrance and hair shampoo. In the bathroom, replace the shower liner and curtain, enhance the lighting, add new floor carpets and delicious smelling hand washing soap. Just buying new towels and linens can add a new design element.  Stock your kitchen with warming foods you can make quickly like butternut squash soup, fresh baked breads and your favorite pancake mix. And buy a new bathrobe. I practically live in mine.

 

Beauty Rituals

I recently gave a talk at The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences NY-NATAS. All of the women had beauty questions and skincare concerns. I did two makeup demos and sold copies of my book. It was a fabulous night. But when I mentioned that I believe in performing beauty rituals every day on my skin you could hear a pin drop. This link takes you to the video tutorial where a model demonstrates daily self care Beautyphonics beauty rituals the best. It’s the step by step after cleanse massage technique that I use in my practice as an Aesthetician, and on myself to keep my skin looking youthful.

 

 

 

 

Meditate and Radiate

Okay, maybe your not going to Namaste sashay away, but your thoughts are powerful things. Your attitude will attract the right people to you so give away grins! Reflect on yourself filling your cup and make that your central energy. Finding balance and what’s right for you means dialing in self-care, routine and balance. Once you create that structure trust that things are happening behind the scenes in your favor. Does that seem weird to you? Give it a shot, it can be magical!

 

Go back to basics

Goal setting and getting caught up or started on a project is always a good idea. Fear is based on the assumption of failure. If you start to get suspicious you may want to protect yourself, but the illusion doesn’t need to be bought into. You can make a choice. Sit down and outline what you want. Dream a little. Sit in nature and absorb the beauty around you. Expand your beautiful heart and mind. Everything in life that is good and brings us success is based on a heart centered energy so let that energy surround you! Your beauty is unlimited! Let me know how it goes.