Brandmerry Blog Archives
PART TWO: 6 Marketing Trends For Your Brand in 2019
PART TWO: 6 Marketing Trends For Your Brand in 2019
January 17, 2019
Welcome back lady for Part Two of 6 Marketing Trends For Your Brand in 2019. Today we are diving right into the final three marketing trends we are seeing for brands in 2019. If you missed Part One you can check it out here.
To recap we chatted about the importance of Story, Video and Consistency in marketing your brand online. The focus in 2019 us all about building trust and making that the main focus for your brand in the New Year.
Now, we’re going a step further with an emphasis on that exact community. How can you show up in 2019, market your business and build a mission-driven brand?
Check out the final three marketing trends below.
#4 Giving Back
This one is HUGE!! A movement has been happening over the past couple of years with online businesses and now entrepreneurs adding in a community-giving component. One of my predictions for 2019 is that this is going to only be heightened, as more and more brand collaborations become popular, your audience is going to want to see how you are giving back.
Again, it all comes back to building trust with your audience and they want to see more of what you’re doing with the success of your business and the impact you’re making. With a focus on mission-driven work and businesses, you’ll only be able to engage your audience on a deeper level. We’re continuing our partnership with CJ’s Journey to raise money for childhood-cancer research.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Start finding nonprofits you want to collaborate with and build a relationship with them. Invite your audience in and share why you’ve chosen this particular organization and movement. Aside from donating profits from your business at the end of the year, consider donating a portion of sales of a particular program to the mission as well.
TIP: Don’t be shy about talking about the work and impact you are doing. Remember this is a marketing trend, after all, if you don’t share that you do this kind of work then your audience won’t know.
#5 Community
I’m most excited about this because I’ve seen how powerful creating a community has been for my own profitable brand. The focus in 2019 is all about community and building not only a community of “right-now” buyers but also potential buyers. One of the best things brands can do this year is focusing on the bigger picture and mission of their brand and how they can use that to create a community.
This exact community, through trust, nurturing and consistency, is the community that will engage and buy from you. Building community is not just about the place in which you connect, but HOW you connect, which is why story and vulnerability are important.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Focus on building community through your social media profiles and lead generation. You should always have the next step for your audience on social media (think Instagram, Facebook and Youtube) for people who are interested in being part of your inner circle. Creating Facebook Groups, consistently emailing your list and opening your DM’s are just a few of my favorite ways.
TIP: Community is about YOU showing up, just as much as it is about the size. In fact, I’m going to argue that I’d rather you have an engaged community rather than a BIG community. Focus on showing up for the people you have and building trust there without obsessing over the vanity metrics.
#6 Collaborate
For too long online entrepreneurs have been living in their own little bubble, and I’m 100% guilty of this as anyone else. So often when we get started we are afraid of the “competition,” you know those women online that do what feels like EXACTLY what you do? Well, we’ve entered an exciting time where collaborations are going to move our business forward.
It’s not just about the community you create around your brand, but also the community you create with collaborators. Focusing more on supporting one another in 2019 is where it’s at and once again, you probably see a theme here, it’s all about building trust.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Start looking for friends! Seriously, stop living in your own little bubble and start reaching out to other entrepreneurs and brands you love and look for opportunities to collaborate. If someone you admire is launching a program, think of how you can come in as a guest expert. If someone you admire is amazing at an area of business you don’t feel 100% confident in or isn’t your niche, reach out to see if they will provide a guest training. The possibilities are endless here.
TIP: We’re going a step further at Brandmerry and just simply shouting out women we love. Every Friday I’m sharing women I truly admire on Insta Stories as a way to build deeper relationships and introduce my audience to some really cool women. Think of ways you can create collaborations and community without getting anything in return.
As you can see with Part One and Part Two, there’s a clear underlying theme around building trust online. Your brand is a beautiful way for you to do just that, but it has to be focused on the brand and mission and not just the business.
What do I mean by this? Focusing on the mission and message of your brand is different than the programs and services/products you offer. When you build a brand over just a business, you get to the heart of your audience and therefore build a deeper connection.
Did you love these tips? Head over to Instagram and let me know if you loved this post and which of these tips you’re most interested in integrating.
Find me on Instagram at @brandmerrycoaching.
PART ONE: 6 Marketing Trends For Your Brand in 2019
PART ONE: 6 Marketing Trends For Your Brand in 2019
January 10, 2019
I’m sorry where the heck did 2018 go?! Seriously, can’t believe we are already strong into 2019 with so many exciting things in store for the year ahead. I’m a big nerd and love staying on top of marketing trends and research and thought, what better way to kick of 2019 than with some marketing/ entrepreneur predictions.
I’ve been in business for almost three years now (2.5 of which where I was actually making money) and I’ve got to say I’m so excited for what’s on the horizon in 2019. We’re seeing a massive shift in terms of transparency, relationships and possibilities and it’s one of the coolest times to be an online entrepreneur, educator and course creator.
So to kick off blog #1 of 2019, I’m sharing Part One of 6 Marketing Trends For Your Brand in 2019 with three non-negotiables for brands this year.
#1 StORY
Well, we all know this one is hands down my favorite! Story has always been there, engrained at the core of so many successful brands, but now in 2019, it’s more important than ever. Audiences are looking for deeper audience connection and nothing does that better than personal story. Story builds trust and as Zig Ziglar said, “If people like you they’ll listen and if they trust you they’ll do business with you!”
We’re seeing this increase mostly on platforms like Instagram, where audiences are looking for more storytelling type posts in real time than too much pre-scheduled and generic content.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Start right now in getting clear on what parts of your story will engage your audience. Hint: You’ve really got to know your audience so it doesn’t feel like you’re just writing in your diary. Get clear on what parts of your story resonate most with your audience and start sharing them piece by piece and repeat. You can never share a story too many times, seriously, you should always be on a mission to attract new people and if someone hears it more than once it just drives the message home.
TIP: Include at least one sentence of story in each post, but do your best to work in 2 pieces of a long-form story every single week. An example is while this blog post isn’t focused heavily on story I do mention a few lines in the beginning, then I can use that to expand further on social media to connect with my audience and drive them to this post.
#2 Video
My absolute favorite way to share my message with my audience, hey that’s you, is through video. If you’re not already using video for your business NOW IS THE TIME! Seriously, brands not using video for their business are going to quickly get surpassed by those that are. The shift that we are seeing in 2019 is that it’s not as much about live video, although still super helpful to have in your marketing plan, but more about evergreen options like Youtube, pre-recorded video on Facebook and IGTV.
Audiences are looking for content they can consume on their own time and stuff that doesn’t require an hour to watch!
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Start working video into your content creation strategy with at least one video a month, more if you can. Some of my favorite ways to do it are through Insta Stories, especially if you are just starting out, as a way to invite your audience in and work your way up to a longer video. Utilize Instagram Highlights to keep you important messages there for your audience to rewatch after they expire.
TIP: Shorter videos are performing better, hint why Insta Stories are being watched by over 400 million people and growing. If recording content for Youtube and IGTV videos under 15 minutes tend to perform better.
#3 Consistency
If your goal in 2019 is to create a profitable brand then consistency needs to be your word! Remember that trust quote from above? Well, consistency is needed to stay at the front of mind for your audience and nothing breaks trust like freaking disappearing on your audience.
We’re seeing an increase in themes of the week and consistency in posting so your audience knows when your content will be live. We’ve always released blogs on Thursdays and podcast episodes on Tuesday, but we are taking it a step further in 2019 with Youtube videos, specific days of the week for Facebook content and even themed Insta Stories so my audience knows when to watch (hint it’s Monday and Thursday ;))
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Content calendars are a must in business, but there is no one size fits all approach for everyone. Some of my favorite ways to plan content are through Trello, Google Spreadsheets, and a physical planner. What you want to look for here is a clear schedule of when you will be posting your content (remember consistent days is important) and what you’ll be sharing so you can plan.
TIP: I like to plan my content on paper first and then move it to a digital planner to share with my team. I’m also trying something new this year where I have a specific journal for content ideas, since they're always coming to me, and I can go back and pull from that when needed.
See what I mean an exciting year ahead! Next week I’m sharing Part Two and the final three Marketing Trends For Your Brand in 2019 and trust me you don’t want to miss it. This is what I’m most excited about with the year ahead and can’t wait for you to start doing them too.
Head over to Instagram and let me know if you loved this post and which of the top three you’re most interested in integrating.
Find me on Instagram at @brandmerrycoaching.
List building 101: What you need to start building a community
List building 101: What you need to start building a community
11/29/18
List building is the #1 thing I see entrepreneurs missing out on. So today, I want to share with you exactly what you need to start building your lists and some of the mistakes I see entrepreneurs make when it comes to list building.
I’ve found that it doesn't really matter what stage you’re in, list building is key. I teach it in my membership site, my signature program Roadmap to Freedom and even my high-level mastermind.
If you are relying on a social media platform to build your community, you could be in trouble. You don’t own your social media platforms, but you do own your list.
Even if you’re product based, or you mostly do in person, you still need a list. It doesn’t matter what type of business you have, you need to have a list. What I’m talking about today is an evergreen webinar strategy. A strategy that keeps growing your list even when you’re not actively promoting.
What is Needed to Start Building Your List
1. You have to know your audience
You can’t create anything if you do not know your audience but it’s extra important when it comes to list building because you are tying to attract people that will ultimately buy from you.
2. A free offer
You need to create a free offer that will pull in your ideal audience. You need to have some sort of gift to get people on your list. They’re not going to sign up for no reason at all. This could be an e-book, a video series, a discount code, a checklist, etc.
3. A landing page
This is the place where they opt-in for your free offer. This is where you get the actual email address for your list. There are so many options for landing pages right now. I use Leadpages in my own business, but another option is built-in landing pages on your email marketing platform or custom landing pages on your own website. There are paid and free options, which mean there’s no excuse!
Related post: 4 Must-Haves for a High-Converting Landing Page
4. Email platform
You need an email marketing platform to actually send emails to your list. My favorite is ConvertKit. A free option is MailChimp, which again, there’s no excuse for not doing this!
5. Automation
This is the sequence, funnel or email series that will go out to your new leads. A really simple funnel to start with is:
The Welcome Email - Introduce your business and give them the free gift they opted in to
24 hours later - Introduce yourself
Share your super power - give them value, share tips about what you know
This funnel is warming up your leads, starting the relationship with them.
6. Promotion
Talk about your freebie all the time! Put the link everywhere you can. You don’t have to put ad money behind it, and I actually encourage you to test it organically for at least 2 weeks before even considering ads. I recommend promoting your freebie at least 3 times per week. Actively put it out into the world. You absolutely do not need ads, but you can if you want after you’ve tested your offer.
The #1 mistake entrepreneurs make is assuming that everyone is just going to give them their email address. We need to treat the promotions of our free offers the same as the promotions for our paid offers.
Head over to my Facebook Page and be sure to like and comment on the video while you are over there to help more people see this information ↠ https://www.facebook.com/brandmerrycoaching/videos/268720923993543/
And as always please share and comment on this blog post, I love connecting with you!
How You Can Sign 3 Clients in the Next 30 Days
How You Can Sign 3 Clients in the Next 30 Days
11/22/17
The doors to Roadmap to Freedom are open, and the biggest objection I receive is that women tell me it’s not the right time because they can’t find clients.
So today, I want to help you move your business forward so you can sign 3 clients in the next 30 days. Before we dive in, I want you to know that you’re not alone; it’s scary to invest, I’ve been there and so many of my clients have been there too.
To support you in feeling amazing about your next investment (because investments are necessary in your business) you need to stop downplaying your business.
Stop downplaying the services you offer.
The second you dive fully into what you do and take your business seriously it will take off.
Now, let’s get into these tips.
1. What you're currently doing that isn't working:
Inconsistent promotion
Your very inconsistent with what you’re offering and how you’re sharing that offer with your audience. If you want to sell, you have to be consistent with your promotion. Your audience needs to hear it 7x on average to take action.
Not clear on offer
It’s not that you don’t know what you offer, but you’re not clear on why your offer supports your ideal client - why they need that offer right now. I want you to know your offer so well that you could sell it to your mom or someone who’s definitely not your ideal client.
Don't fully know your audience
When it comes to selling, you have to know your ideal client like they are your best friend of 25 years. You have to know what they’re struggling with, present your offer in a way that fixes that struggle and gives them the desire to buy.
No urgency
If someone thinks they can sign up later, why would they sign up right now? There has to be that urgency. This can look like special pricing, special bonuses, cart closing, etc.
2. It's not working because…
Your audience thinks they can just take action later.
Your audience isn't hearing about your offer enough. I want you to put your offer our there at least 7 times. Research shows people need at least 7 touchpoint before they join.
Your audience can't see the benefit. Everything you create needs to be benefit driven.
3. What you need to do:
Become clear on your offer and how it supports your audience AND you need to write down the RESULTS they will receive if they follow what you’re offering them.
Create a plan to consistently promote your offer. How are you going to show up and consistently promote that offer? How many times per week? Where are you going to show up? How are you going to present your offer? You need to be talking about your offer at least 3 times a week. At least.
Add urgency to your offer. You’ve got 30 days to sign 3 clients. That means your offer ends in 30 days period :)
4. 3 Actionable Tips
1) Offer an assessment for your business
Assessments work because your audience is coming to you, and you get to show them what it’s like to work with you.
2) Use video to promote and encourage DM's
Live vide is an excellent way to connect with your audience and talk about your offer, give guidance and encourage people to message you.
3) Create a free offer direct to your paid offer
This is for the action takers. By this stage, you should know your paid offer so well, so now you can create a free offer that leads them to the paid offer.
You have all these big desires for your life and right now it feels like you are being pulled to something more than your current story; your current situation. This is just the beginning for you. We go over all this and way more in so much more depth in my program Roadmap to Freedom.
Just like you I had a desire to...
• Leave the 9 to 5 life for good (goodbye to a life of shoulds)
• Travel the world and not have to ask for permission to make it happen
• Work from a laptop, wherever and whenever I damn well pleased (yes, vacation, but more importantly next to my son while he plays)
• Exceed my 9 to 5 income without having to sacrifice the life I had created + live a life greater than I had ever imagined before
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY I WANTED TO DO IT ALL WITHOUT HAVING TO SACRIFICE THE VERY REASON I STARTED MY BUSINESS IN THE FIRST PLACE...my desire for freedom.
Roadmap to Freedom
Roadmap to Freedom is a 6-month group coaching program for the new female entrepreneur who is ready to launch an online business that allows her to make money on her own terms.
I HAVE TO ASK...
↠ What would it feel like to have all those missing pieces laid out for you?
↠ To be able to pick and choose the ones that work best for you, your life and your business?
↠ To have the support to ask questions & brainstorm having someone who has been exactly where you are now helping you dig deeper than you could ever do on your own?
↠ How would it feel to create a life that allowed you to work with location independence; to travel, to take off when needed and not ask permission?
↠ How would it feel to have the time to do the things you truly enjoy; to go to yoga, to spend time with your child to go on dates with your husband?
↠ How would it feel to have financial freedom to be able to pay off debt, to be able to live a life that doesn’t revolve around paycheck to paycheck?
All of this is possible for you, and I’ve got the roadmap to support you in making it into a reality.
If you are feeling that pull for more, for something different, I encourage you to learn more about the program or join here: https://www.brandmerry.com/freedom
Head over to my Facebook Page and be sure to like and comment on the video while you are over there to help more people see this information ↠ https://www.facebook.com/brandmerrycoaching/videos/964729903735847/
And as always please share and comment on this blog post, I love connecting with you!
5 Pieces of Tech You Need as an Online Entrepreneur
5 Pieces of Tech You Need as an Online Entrepreneur
11/08/18
There are so many different sources of information floating around online regarding what it takes to actually start a business. Now, I’m a lucky one and so are my clients because they have created service-based businesses, meaning aside from the business registration and a couple programs there isn’t a large investment to get the business up and running.
But what do you do after you decide on a business name, buy the domain and register your business? That’s the mystery, isn’t it?
And rather than making a long list of all the things you DON’T need I wanted to make you an even shorter list of what you do because after building my own business from scratch and helping so many women do the same, I know that all the bells and whistles aren’t needed.
Today I’m sharing five pieces of tech you need to share your business with the world and start making sales.
*Please note affiliate links are included in this post because I love sharing products I have tested and love.
1. Email Marketing System
One of the most important pieces in running an online business is the power of your own list. Every single entrepreneur should be focused on growing their own list and community and nothing makes that easier than an email marketing system that automates your new subscriber onboarding and makes it easy to stay in contact with your community.
My personal favorite platform is Convertkit (try a free trial) and many of my beginner entrepreneurs use Mailchimp because of their amazing free features.
2. Landing Page Software
Now, note I didn’t say website or website platform - that’s because you don’t need one from the start of your business to share your services and make money.
The reality is building a website takes time and at the start of your business time is serious money. All you need to get started is a simple landing page, sharing your name, email, brand mission. If you have a free offer and opt-in ready to go or a sales page it can be used for that as well.
There are landing page specific platforms like Leadpages, but you can also build a simple Cover Page in Squarespace or a platform like Kajabi (try free for 30 days) which can later become the home of your beautifully crafted and branded webpage.
3. Contracts and Legal Documents
Ok, it’s time to get serious for a minute. I see too many entrepreneurs waiting to get their legal ducks in a row and the reality is they are putting themselves at serious risk.
If you plan on selling a course, signing 1:1 clients, selling packages and more you need a contract in place. I also recommend a Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions and Disclaimer. My friend and attorney Christy Westerfeld, who is the guest legal expert for my group program Roadmap to Freedom, has amazing bundles and templates available on her site. Learn more at https://christywesterfeld.com.
4. Social Media Scheduler
Your ability to consistently show up for your audience, yes even in the very beginning, is going to help you increase your visibility, ultimately leading you to build a strong community and sign clients.
Entrepreneurs make the mistake at the beginning of just posting when they remember rather than utilizing one of the many tools available to help you streamline your social media content. My personal favorite is SmarterQueue (free 30-day trial) which allows you to post on multiple platforms and within groups, as well recycle your evergreen content for repeat posting.
Additional free options I recommend to my clients include Buffer and Later. The key is finding a platform that lets you do all of your posts at once, making it more time efficient for you and increasing the likelihood you will keep putting your story, brand and services out into the world.
5. Invoicing and Client Portal
Look, if you want to make sales in your business you’ve got to have a way to collect payment am I right? A CRM system that allows you to house your client information, send contracts, invoices (including repeat payments) and more is essential if you want to scale your business and I don’t know, sign a freaking client.
I’m a huge fan of Dubsado, which is always improving and adding new features for its users. It’s a one-stop shop CRM for all the backend you don’t want to do, but you kind of need to.
And that’s it my friends. In terms of tech, this will get you started right away with gaining visibility and signing clients - hello profitability.
However, there are still some business foundations that need to happen to ensure that:
• Your voice is actually heard.
• That the content you create gets engagement.
• That the marketing strategies you test out give you results
• AND SO MUCH MORE
Learn more about building a solid foundation at brandmerry.com/freedom.
And as always please share and comment on this blog post, I love connecting with you!