Ditch Social Media? How To Break Free From The Brainwashing With Real Social Media Help

In today’s business climate, the idea of “media coverage” is inextricably linked to social media marketing. While social media marketing is a fruitful avenue for many brands, I liken it to the lowest-hanging fruit on the brand-building tree. Everyone is doing it because it is what everyone is doing.

I do not hate social media platforms. In fact, I love the democratization of these platforms, as they offer every Tom, Dick, and Sarah an opportunity to share their message with the universe. Yes, invest in your social media, because it is a necessary cog in your online presence. Social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook draw a high domain authority and help you become searchable in the almighty universe of Google. When clients ask me about social media, I advise them to focus on one platform and do it well. I have witnessed the rabbit hole of wishing on a star that a post will go viral.

It goes something like this:

post, post, post, post, cross your fingers, post and post, then post again.

I suggest doing a quick analysis of your favorite social media platform and decipher if the energy you are putting into these platforms is offering you the ROI you require for maximizing growth.

Are you selling your services?

Are you selling your book?

Are you getting more listens on your podcast?

If so, you have figured out the secret to social media marketing. ⬇️

Consistency, focus, and engagement are key.

To make a sale or acquire a new client is born out of knowing, liking, and trusting you. Think about the last thing you purchased. What were the elements that took you from curious to client?

I suggest that you knew the product or person, or that you were referred to this purchase by someone you knew, liked, and trusted. Cold selling is a tough approach that yields low results. I have a client who would post their services on social media with unabashed bravado. She made beautiful posts telling everyone about her offer.

“I am a coach, and I can change the way you do your business”. She bombarded my feed about what she did, instead of who she was. This approach felt sterile and almost offputting. I knew she could do the job, but she did not connect with me on a human level. If I am not connected with her, I will not give her thousands of dollars to change my life. Period.

Where to start:

Understand your story. Understand that your story is the stuff that binds you with the universe. Your story, whether it is big and bold or simple and understated, has the power to connect with your audience. In the beginning, I had a really hard time articulating my story. I told myself that I was boring, yet I had the tenacity of a bull. I worked hard, and that was that. The truth is, my story goes deeper than I could imagine.

I had to first, understand my WHY. Why am I offering media services? Why am I more valuable than anyone else in the industry?

This was my answer:

I was born a loudmouth. The nurses at the hospital, the day I was born reported to my mom that I was the loudest baby in the nursery. It goes further. I was often told as a young girl I was too much, too complex, too emotional, and too verbal. In fifth grade, I held court in the corner of the room, as I was told I was a chatterbox. My peers retreated and thought of my spirited commentaries as weird. It became a lonely place as a young girl to become isolated. My defense mechanism was to become “normal”. I strived to fit in, to be liked, and to be like everyone else. I did all the things I was supposed to, go to college, and law school, get married, have babies, and buy the house with the white picket fence.

The result? I was miserable.

• I got divorced.

• I grew to hate the idea of being a lawyer.

• I moved out of my house with a white picket fence.

• And I worked in a corporate conglomerate that offered me little autonomy.

Doing everything like everyone else was a vacuum of my creativity.

UNTIL- I became bold enough to tap into my true spirit and use my voice to change the world. I built a business in one year that yielded six figures and a deep satisfaction within my soul. Kind of ironic, that for so long I was told to shut up. And now, I have two podcasts, four books, 2 blogs, write for various magazines, and am ASKED to speak daily.

This is my story. It is unique to me, yet it is not. I am sure that there a hundreds of thousands of people who connect with my story.

By sharing my story I am giving you a piece of who I am. I am connecting with those who wish to get their message out and use their voice to build their brand and business. I do this with the unabashed enthusiasm that was once relegated to the corner of my 5th-grade class.

By sharing your story, you will connect with a potential audience. When you understand the pain that exists for your future clients you can speak to them with deep understanding.

BACK TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUR OTHER OPTIONS:Here is Your REAL Social Media Help

I urge you to move past the pastures of social media platforms. Moving the ball forward includes being diverse in your online presence. I recognized this the day I became a writer for Entrepreneur Magazine. Writing for a trusted and established authority, like Entrepreneur Magazine, positions you as a thought leader in your industry. Check out opportunities to write in publications like Brainz Magazine, News Break, Mind Valley, or other outlets like this.

If you do not have the bandwidth to write articles for these types of outlets, make a concerted effort to engage with journalists. Many journalists are dying to have an opinion like yours. They need experts to quote in their articles. Do your research on journalists who write articles in your industry and reach out to them.

Here are my tried and true tips:

Sign up for HARO: Help A Reporter Out - Build an online profile on this website and pitch potential journalists on why you are an expert in your field. Journalists looking for your expertise will find you here on this site.

Research on Muck Rack: Muck Rack is the clearing house for all journalists and the articles they publish. Do a search on your industry and/or expertise and see what journalists are writing on your topic. Then reach out. Throw them out a compliment on their latest article or send them a note on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Research your favorite topics on Facebook: Facebook is a great resource for communities who love what you do. Find these groups and become an active member.

Whatever you do, do not put all your eggs in one basket. As I mentioned at the beginning of this article to stay focused, do not rely on one medium to build your brand. Unbrainwash yourself, do your research, and build a powerful brand that generates a true community of followers. These people will become your ride or die. These people will then transform into ambassadors of your brand.

You have the power to use your voice in a unique way. You, and only you, have the power to change the world.

You Got This--Jules

Let me know what you think below. Share your story below ⬇️

Post-Script: If you are looking to uplevel your story and build an unforgettable brand, whether you are a writer, an entrepreneur, a business, a podcaster, or a creative–join me LIVE at Cre8tvie Con in 2024. This is where your story will be unleashed. Pinky Swear.

The Most Important Thing To Do As An Entrepreneur

(After you dry your tears- check out my LIVE activation event cre8tive Con.)⬇️

I sit here in the deep south in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, which is flanked by the slow-moving currents of the Black Warrior River, wondering how did I end up here?

How does a suburbanite from Chicago end up in the suffocating heat of Alabama in August?

The answer is simple: she is dropping her baby boy off at college.

Sam, my second child, said yes to Roll Tide Nation, and the rest is history. With unabashed enthusiasm for the campus life and education that the University of Alabama provides Sam never deviated from his decision. He left Mom, with a tiny tear in her heart, wondering if --"IS THIS IT"?

Why am I writing about my kid going to college when I typically try to provide you with actionable strategies to uplevel your entrepreneurial life as a creative?

I am sharing this punch-to-the-gut because it is the stuff that makes us real. These stories are the ones that capture the attention of readers and also connect us to the bigger picture in life. Gary Vaynerchuk pontificates that our stories are the most important things we have as entrepreneurs.

Storytelling is the thread that weaves communities together. If you are a parent, you know everything halts when moving your child to college. You understand why I am wearing sunglasses right now (to hide the tears). And moms and dads, you understand the sharp pain when you say goodbye to baby child. You connect with me, because of my pain, and you champion me when I triumph.

Without a deep-seated appreciation for your story, you become a 2-dimensional character in life and in your brand. Your audience craves the grittiness of your failures and the ultimate ascension to your success. Your story is all that matters.

No matter what your expertise and industry, you need to tap into your story and weave it into your brand.

This is how you are going to start right now,

Answer these three questions:

What is the hardest challenge you have faced in your life?

What are you most proud of?

Why does this matter to your audience?

Begin by recognizing the substantial stories that have led you to where you are now and strategically align these stories to connect with your audience. Curate content that matters. Don't simply copy and paste the latest and greatest words of others, dig deep into the underbelly of who you are and share YOUR words with those who will connect with your message.

SIDEBAR: This is where Chat GPT profoundly fails. Chat GPT cannot capture the true essence of your experience as a human. I am disheartened by the dehumanizing effect AI is having on the entrepreneurial community.

The importance of creating content that reflects your story creates trust. According to Hubspot, 60% of consumers feel more comfortable when the content on your website and social media posts are customized.

Here are my top ways to share your story in a powerful way:

1. Blogging: Curate your story in blog form on your website. Blogging is a superpower for SEOs and then repurposing portions of your blog on Medium.com (it is like Instagram for bloggers). Medium has a strong domain authority and helps you rank higher in Google Searches.

2. Use your story to support your brand and business on social audio. Using social audio apps like Clubhouse is a great way to create an intimate space with your potential clients and customers.

3. Create visual snippets of your story to share everywhere. Use YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels and TikTok. This allows access to your audience to gain trust and give them the sense that you are 3-dimensional.

Back to my story.

My little guy is gone.

He has launched.

Momma is sitting here thinking about the day I gave birth, the proudest moments we shared together, and the times I wanted to pull my hair out.

It is hard.

Remember the most important thing in life (personal and professional) are the relationships we build and the stories we share.

Goodbye Sam, I love you.

You got this--MOM

ten years later......

Psssstttt, I want to invite you to something HUGE! It is the inaugural activation event for entrepreneurs, authors, podcasters, and creatives who are looking to SHARE THEIR STORY with a wider audience. CHECK OUT cre8tive Con !

Taking Speaker applications now!

How To Make An Online Business Successful From Day One

A Beginners Guide or a Refresher For Entrepreneurs

Have you been tossing around the idea of adding a stream of income to your financial portfolio or even better yet, starting a business of your own? The good news is that you have the world at your fingertips and can tap into a new audience that spans the globe. I know firsthand because I have been doing it for years. Yes, I consider myself the OG (original gangster) of business development. I have a passion for building online service-based companies that look different than any other business on the planet. Entrepreneurship excites me. The ups and downs, expansions, and contractions are the facets of a roller coaster that supersedes my wildest dreams.

Invention and reinvention are the stuff that makes entrepreneurship exhilarating.

If you have always had the dream of being your own boss, today is the day you can make it happen. The advantage of entrepreneurship boils down to one thing: you have the power to make all the decisions and drive your idea toward an abundance in both riches and overall life satisfaction. I can attest to the amazing journey I have experienced as a multi-preneur. Start small, with low risk, and slowly ebb your way to Steve Jobs status. It sounds like a lot, and it is. The glue that holds us entrepreneurs together is purposeful persistence. Understand your purpose and be persistent.

Start Here:

1. Mastering the Art of Online Business Creation

1.1 Unveiling Profitable Niches: Unlock Your Online Business Potential

To kickstart your online business journey, it's crucial to identify profitable niches that align with your passions and market demand. Our step-by-step approach to market research, coupled with the use of powerful keyword research tools, will help you uncover untapped niches and position your business for success.

1.2 Crafting Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP): Stand Out in the Online Crowd

In the vast online marketplace, having a compelling Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is vital to differentiate your business from competitors. Our guide will walk you through the process of developing a USP that showcases the value you offer to customers. With a well-defined USP, you'll capture the attention of your target audience and establish a strong brand presence.

By optimizing the titles and content with relevant keywords, incorporating them strategically throughout the blog post, and ensuring comprehensive coverage of the topics, you can increase the likelihood of ranking higher in search engine results. Remember to focus on providing valuable information and a user-friendly experience, as search engines prioritize quality content that meets the users' needs.

2. Building a Solid Foundation for Your Online Business

2.1 Crafting a Well-Structured Business Plan: Your Roadmap to Success

A well-crafted business plan is the foundation of any successful online venture. Our step-by-step guide will help you outline your goals, strategies, and financial projections. From defining your target market to developing a comprehensive marketing and sales strategy, we'll provide the insights and templates you need to create a winning business plan that sets you up for long-term success.

2.2 Establishing Your Online Presence: The Gateway to Success

To thrive in the digital landscape, you need to establish a strong online presence. We'll guide you through the process of choosing a domain name that aligns with your brand and optimizing it for search engines. You'll learn how to design a professional website that captivates your audience and incorporates essential elements like responsive design, intuitive navigation, and compelling content.

2.3 Unleashing the Power of SEO: Drive Organic Traffic to Your Business

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plays a crucial role in increasing your online visibility. Our guide will help you implement effective SEO strategies, including keyword optimization, meta-tag optimization, and content structuring. By optimizing your website and content, you'll improve your chances of ranking higher in search engine results, driving targeted organic traffic to your online business.

2.4 Harnessing the Potential of Social Media: Engage and Expand Your Audience

Social media platforms offer immense opportunities to connect with your target audience, build brand awareness, and drive traffic to your website. We'll share expert tips on leveraging popular social media platforms effectively, creating engaging content, and utilizing social media advertising to expand your online presence and attract potential customers to your business.

2.5 Implementing Effective Marketing Strategies: Convert Visitors into Customers

A successful online business requires a well-executed marketing plan. Our guide will equip you with proven strategies to reach and convert your target audience. From email marketing and content marketing to paid advertising and influencer partnerships, you'll learn how to implement a diverse range of marketing tactics to maximize your online business's growth potential.

Remember, search engine optimization involves a combination of on-page optimization techniques, high-quality content, and user-friendly website design. By incorporating the relevant keywords naturally and providing valuable information throughout the blog post, you can improve its search engine rankings and attract more organic traffic.

3: Launching and Scaling Your Online Business

3.1 Effective Sales Strategies: Convert Leads into Paying Customers

Converting leads into paying customers is essential for the success of your online business. We'll guide you through the process of optimizing your sales funnel, creating persuasive product pages, and implementing effective call-to-action strategies. By understanding your target audience and tailoring your approach to their needs, you'll increase your conversion rates and generate sustainable revenue.

3.2 Analyzing Data for Continuous Improvement: Harnessing the Power of Analytics

Data analysis is the key to unlocking insights that can drive your online business forward. We'll show you how to monitor and interpret website traffic, user behavior, and conversion rates using analytics tools. By leveraging this valuable information, you can make informed decisions, optimize your marketing efforts, and identify areas for improvement, leading to continuous growth and success.

3.3 Nurturing Customer Relationships: Building Loyalty and Repeat Business

Strong customer relationships are the backbone of any successful online business. We'll provide you with strategies for effective customer relationship management (CRM). From personalizing communication to providing exceptional customer support, you'll learn how to nurture relationships, build loyalty, and encourage repeat business. Satisfied customers can become your brand advocates and help drive your business's growth.

3.4 Expanding Your Online Reach: Scaling for Success

As your online business grows, it's essential to scale your operations effectively. We'll guide you through the process of automating tasks, outsourcing non-core activities, and expanding your team strategically. By optimizing your resources and streamlining your operations, you can accommodate increased demand, maintain high-quality standards, and propel your online business to new heights.

Now that you have the basic outline for launching a business, I want to hear your ideas. What business do you want to launch? Tell me below or email me at julie@themediacasters.com.

You Got This!--Jules