Do I need a personal brand if I am a product-based business?

Do I need a personal brand if I am a product-based business?

Feb 27, 2020 | blog, Branding

“Hey, Katee, do I need a personal brand if I am a product-based business?”

I was asked this a few weeks ago and never got the chance to share this message with you.

If you are a product-based business owner and want to be known as yourself verses that girl who sells essential oils, baby clothes, towels etc., you need a personal brand.

Let’s start with the basics. What is a personal brand?

Your personal brand is what people share about you when someone asks about you on the streets, or online, or at an event etc.
It’s the version of yourself that you are most proud of and the one that you want to be remembered for when you are no longer here.

To do this, start by thinking about these things.

  • What makes you, you, when you are away from your business?
  • What is the story you want others to share about you?
  • What are your core values?
  • What message do you want to leave behind when you are no longer here?

 

By developing a personal brand alongside your business, you are allowing yourself the space to break into other areas when the time comes!

I, for one, don’t always want to be known as a social media manager. I have dreams of one day running a social enterprise hotel and hosting conferences and events around the world for change-makers, but that time will come.

Social Greatness Marketing Strategist Katee BlizzardAs of right now, (Dec. 2019) I am working exclusively with purpose-driven brands to help them with the marketing strategy, project management, and overall branding for their business.

By focusing on purpose-driven brands, it allows me to continue building on my personal brand values which will help me maintain my overall audience for my future endeavors.

Having the opportunity to pivot is one of the great things about running your own business and when you are focused on who YOU want to be known for, it makes your journey a whole lot easier.

Personally, I want to be known as Katee Blizzard, the girl who helps people make a greater impact. Not only in business, but in all areas of life.

 

What about you?

Who do you want to be known as?

What do you stand for?

Leave a comment below and share it with the community.

Dubsado Review: See if it is right for you!

Dubsado Review: See if it is right for you!

Feb 26, 2020 | blog, Lead Generating

Are you a service-based business owner currently juggling a ton of crazy programs to convert leads to clients, sign contracts, send invoices, schedule meetings, etc???

If so, today’s review is for you!

 

To start, why is a Client Management System, like Dubsado, important?

Well, according to Forbes, “CRM helps businesses build a relationship with their customers that, in turn, creates loyalty and customer retention.”

While this is true, the importance expands far beyond.

 

Meet Kelly.

Kelly is a stay at home mom who is currently growing her photography business.

After a year in business, her leads have become more and more frequent,  to the point where she started missing emails in her inbox! (Oh No!!!!)

She knew that something had to change and signed up for a FREE strategy session with me to go over some ways to continue growing her business without the overwhelming feeling that one has when she is wearing ALL OF THE HATS!

On our call, I had mentioned the client management system that I personally use in my business, Dubsado.

 

Dubsado is a Client Management System (AKA CRM), which helps minimize the hassle of following up leads by putting them in a workflow designed to help maximize impact and keep consistent contact as they journey through an on-boarding process.

After chatting away on our strategy session, I had a pretty good idea of the workflow that needed to be put in place to minimize the workload while keeping consistent contact with her leads.

 

Her Dubsado workflow went something like this: 

As you can see, with Dubsado you can take a lead who comes in through your website through a process, called the Lead Workflow, where the goal is to get them signed up for a strategy session.

All she has to do now is show up for the strategy sessions and share why she would be the best fit for a personal branding photographer. After that call, if they decide to work together, all she has to do is manually send through the proposal (which has the contract and invoice attached) and the rest is automated!

How great is that??

Do you think you could benefit from Dubsado?

If so, you’ve gotta take advantage of their latest offer! 

 

Dubsado has kept my business running like clockwork for the last 3 years and to me, it is a MUST HAVE for any service-based business owner’s toolkit! 

Honestly, I feel like it’d be quicker to tell you what Dubsado doesn’t do because the list would be shorter!

In case you like lists, here is a basic list of what is currently offered.

  • Lead capture forms
  • Workflows
  • Proposals
  • Email integration
  • To-do lists
  • Contracts
  • Questionnaires
  • Invoicing
  • Scheduling / Calendar
  • Payment Schedules
  • Email templates
  • Bookkeeping
  • and More!!

Personally, I use Dubsado as my client hub and it allows me to keep communication, invoices, contracts, proposals, planning and scheduling all in one space. I use it to set up workflows to automatically email my clients and remind them when it’s time to schedule meetings, sign contracts, pay invoices, send in homework, and more.

 

I am telling you, if you are a service-based business, you’ll love Dubsado!

PLUS: It’s free for the first 3 leads!!!

Click Here to Learn More!
A Message about FEAR inspired by Marie Forleo

A Message about FEAR inspired by Marie Forleo

Feb 13, 2020 | blog, Personal Developement

A message about Fear by Marie Forleo

 

To be honest, over the past year and a bit, I have been struggling with fear.

To the point where I stopped showing up online as much as when I started my business out of “fear” of what my family and friends think of me.

I also “feared” failure. (Don’t we all?)⠀ 

It had gotten to the point where every month or so I would get a great idea for my business, plan it out, do the content schedule, create the graphics, schedule the launch, and then… NOTHING. ⠀

 

😨😨😨Total digital stage fright.😨😨😨⠀

 

I would spend weeks planning it out and getting super excited about the opportunity to help my community and then, I would let “fear” take over and tell me the usual things.⠀

“Katee, who do you think you are to do this?”⠀

“Katee, you don’t know what you are doing.”⠀

“Katee, who is going to buy that?”⠀ 

The list goes on and on…⠀

As my girl Marie Forleo puts it: “Fear is your soul’s GPS.”

“With the exception of those moments where fear is keeping you alive,… (Definitely listen to those moments!) “one sign is if you can’t get a certain idea out of your heart or mind. No matter how hard you try it keeps popping back… Anytime you imagine moving forward toward that idea, you may feel afraid…

But what if we misinterpreted the signal? 

What if fear’s message wasn’t “Danger” but “DO IT!””⠀

This chapter of “Everything is Figureoutable” by Marie Forleo really hit home for me and made me get back on track with an ongoing idea that I had been putting off, out of fear, for the last 2 years.⠀
It’s time to put fear aside and share what I have been working on that I KNOW will help people to gain confidence in their marketing so that they can make a greater impact on the world.

 

If you are ready to break through your own fears of running an impact-driven business, this one is for you!

CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT!

Starting a Business: 10 Things I’ve Learned Along the Journey

Starting a Business: 10 Things I’ve Learned Along the Journey

Jun 3, 2019 | blog

Over the past few years, I have learned my fair share of lessons when it comes to starting a business.

As a business owner, we all have our share of battles that lead to learning opportunities. From failed launches to overbooking myself with clients, I have had many opportunities to learn which allows me to share with you my best practices!

Today, I want to share with you my top 10 lessons that I’ve learned along the way.

1. YOU ARE THE BOSS SO THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO DECIDE TO WAKE UP AND GET TO WORK ON YOUR OWN EVERY DAY.⠀
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2. WHAT YOU SAY GOES! ⠀
SO STICK TO YOUR WORD AND ALWAYS FOLLOW THROUGH.⠀
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3. NOT EVERY DECISION YOU MAKE WILL BE THE “RIGHT” ONE.⠀
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4. MISTAKES HAPPEN SO LEARN FROM THEM AND KEEP GOING!⠀
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5. QUALITY OVER QUANTITY, ALWAYS!⠀
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6. FIND A BIZ-BESTIE BECAUSE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY DON’T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH WHILE STARTING A BUSINESS.⠀
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7. GIVE YOURSELF A SCHEDULE FOR NON-WORKING HOURS, YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WILL THANK YOU!⠀
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8. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO CHANGE YOUR MIND. TRUE FANS WILL FOLLOW YOU!⠀
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9. CELEBRATE EVERY SUCCESS ALONG THE WAY!⠀
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10. KNOW THAT WHAT YOU ARE DOING CAN AND WILL MAKE A GREAT IMPACT. ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOUR GREATER VISION!⠀

Remember, that nothing great comes easy. Put in the work and do it in a way that lights you up!⠀

What has been the #1 lesson you’ve learned so far since starting your business?

3 Steps to Grow Your Instagram Following

3 Steps to Grow Your Instagram Following

May 2, 2019 | blog, Social Media

Does it seem like for every new follower on Instagram you have 10 people unfollowing?

I wish I could tell you it’s not you, it’s me, but in reality, with Instagram’s current algorithm, it takes a lot to be seen nowadays. BUT… There are ways to make it happen! And you CAN find people who would love to hear about your business and its mission. Today, I want to share with you 3 SIMPLE TIPs that will help you be seen more on Instagram.

Step 1: Use Keywords in the Name Field.

Instead of repeating your Business’s name, which is most likely already your username (@orgname), choose some keywords to describe what you offer, where you are based, and who you help. This is one of the only “Searchable” sections of your profile so by utilizing keywords such as “Sydney Hair Stylist” or “Byron Bay Wedding Coordinator”, you will have an edge amongst the competition. Because when people search for hashtags with those keywords, GUESS WHO POPS UP?!?!

Step 2: Use ALL 30 Hashtags

Yes! DO THIS! I am telling you, so many people worry that they clutter their posts but there are ways around it! By not using all 30, you are losing out on searchability potential. Think of hashtags as the SEO of Instagram. You want to make sure that you are using hashtags that are relevant to your target market. Stay away from hashtags that are overly popular like #coffee with nearly 80 Million posts. Yours will get lost super fast, unfortunately. Look for ones with 20K to 100K if possible. One way is to make your hashtags less cluttered is to post them in your first comment. I have done tons of research on this and so far there is no evidence to say it has a negative effect on your account.

Step 3: ENGAGE for more ENGAGEMENT

You’ve got to give in order to get with Instagram. Go through hashtags relevant to your target market. Try to think about these questions: What other businesses might they support? What sorts of restaurants do they go to? Where are they based? The answers will help you focus in on exactly where your IDEAL FOLLOWERS who are hiding on Instagram. It is much easier for you to go find them and comment on their photo than it is for them to find you if they have never heard of you before. For example: If you’re targeting runners for your organization’s next 5k, search #GoldCoastRunner and various other forms of that. Then, go out and engage with them! Be sure to leave authentic (NON-SPAMMY) comments on their photos. They will check you out!

So, in a nutshell for those who scrolled straight to the bottom:

  1. Add Keywords to your Name Field to increase searchability.
  2. Use 30 Hashtags specific to your target follower
  3. ENGAGE authentically with people you wish would buy your product/services!

P.S. If you have a business or tech question on your mind that you’d like me to answer? Leave a comment below! Most likely, someone else has that question too!

Back by popular demand, we are offering our signature Social Greatness Audits which leave you with a Personalized Action Plan that will let you make a greater impact online. 

INCLUDES:

  • Your personalized online presence audit recorded and sent to you within 1 Business Week after payment.
  • An in-depth audit that will include all of your social profiles as well as your website.
  • A 3-5 page action plan with personalized steps for you to take to make a greater impression online.

Learn more at https://socialgreatness.co/sg-audit/

5 Steps to Create the Perfect Instagram Bio

5 Steps to Create the Perfect Instagram Bio

Apr 11, 2019 | blog, Social Media

Crafting an Instagram bio can be quite aqonizing. This is your one shot to grab someone, engage them, and get them to click that coveted “Follow” button.

What do you say? What do people actually care about seeing in this little box that’s supposed to convey so much?

A great bio should showcase the personality and uniqueness of the business while prompting the consumer to take an action. Here are the components of a great bio section:

1 | A clear photo – whether this is of you or your logo, this should accurately convey the business

Instagram is all about imagery. While the image in that little bubble in the bio section seems small, it can convey a lot. When looking at the profile, if the image appears blurry or grainy, then that will reflect poorly on your brand. Whereas, if you place a strategically selected image or even just a clean shot of your logo, it will speak to viewers.

 

2 | Name as a subhead – utilizing the name space to showcase your tagline or 2 to 3 main keywords will help your account show up in more searches

By utilizing the namespace to insert keywords around your business’ purpose and products, your page will be able to appear in more searches. It’s good to use words here that captivate and don’t come off as just keyword stuffing – shoving certain words in as much as possible to appear more. Make this choice wisely and based in purpose and strategy.

 

3 | Two main messages – your bio should communicate your business’ purpose or meaning and how a call to action

It’s best to craft this in a notes app on your phone and then copy and paste it so that you can break up the lines well visually. There should be two pieces of information – Your purpose and a CTA. Are you offering a freebie? Do you want them to email you for something? Maybe check out your new blog post? Have your CTA clear and easy to follow through on, which brings me to my next point:

 

4 | A link – providing a link with a Call to Action

This is a must! The most frustrating thing Instagramtagram sometimes is that they only allow you ONE link. There’s this really great app, LinkTree, that allows you to create buttons for other links. Utilizing a platform like this lets you provide more options for your audience. Do you have a few main products your pushing? How about a freebie AND a service you want people to check out? Want your contact page always linked? LinkTree provides these options and makes it so easy. On top of that, you can see how many times the button was clicked!

 

5 | Contact – your viewer needs to easily know how to contact you when they come into contact with your page

When an account is moved over from personal to business, new buttons appear and a location can even be added. By easily adding a form of contact, a potential client or partnership is able to quickly and easily reach out to you to inquire about anything they may be interested in. Also, by adding a location, it can help with search results. This is mostly beneficial if your business is associated with a particular location or you have a brick and mortar store. This is less applicable if you have a service-based business that is mostly done online.

Bonus: Story highlights – this is more of a bonus, but once you’ve moved into curating beautiful stories, it’s great to add those highlights

Nowadays it seems everyone is all about the stories, especially when you have really strong ones! Instagram offers a feature to add highlights to the bio section in little circles. If you post around certain themes this can be really great. For example, if you have some great shots of product, that can be one highlight circle.

Are you ready to step up your Instagram Bio game?