2 Tools To Strengthen Your Website Traffic and Freshen Up Your Fanbase (LIKE A PRO)

Attract more website traffic organically | Julie Lokun JD

I love analytics. I love website traffic. Ultimately, the more traffic you attract the more relationships you have the opportunity to build. More importantly, I am on a mission to understand the complexities of building a loyal following on my website. I adore the dance with Google, and ask, "How can I make you love me more"?

Here are two of my favorite ways to grow my business organically. They are different, yet the same. SEOs and Pinterest flirt with Google and bring hits to my website organically.

Warning: Take this sage advice with a steady cadence. Entrepreneurs are always striving to build their audience and reach. Overwhelm can be a distinct path to burnout.

Tip #1 : SEOs- ( SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZERS)

The power of SEOs can change your business and website's visibility. I am obsessed with the power of SEOs (SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZERS). SEOs are simply keywords that your audience searches for to find you. Keywords are the key to unlocking the path for thousands or millions of potential clients, customers, or superfans to find your site.

The world of search engine optimization is complex and ever-changing, but you can easily understand the basics, and even a small amount of SEO knowledge can make a big difference. I liken SEOs to chasing water down a mountain. You capture the perfect word in the palm of your hands and then it is gone. POOF!

The game changes. The SEO game is a marathon, not a sprint. It is important you do the research on SEO's and I am a big champion of Keywords Everywhere. Keywords Everywhere is a Chrome extension that allows you to do comprehensive research on SEOs. It allows you to see the analytics of competitive websites and glean from their keyword success.

To understand the magnitude of SEOs-start by asking yourself, what would my potential client/customer be googling? It is important to pepper in your website content with these key phrases to catch the attention of all search engines. This expansive topic is fascinating for me (frustrating for others). If you are interested to learn more about the secrets of SEOs, get my free Ebook on this page:

Get My Free eBook on SEOs

Tip #2: Pinterest- Let Me Introduce You To This Search Engine

(I'm obsessed with the sleeping giant.)

Don’t be fooled by this unassuming powerhouse of a search engine. Yes, I said search engine. Many users are misinformed about Pinterest’s power, and they often label it “social media.” I’m obsessed with this platform since it is Google in disguise. Pinterest attracts users that are in the discovery phase of a search. Users are looking for recipes, clothing, and even inspiration in their lives. And, the amazing part of the user experience is that users are poised to purchase. The algorithms are such that content can be used and reused, unlike social media platforms.

The Pinterest algorithm soaks up current pins. For example, if it is February, pins that smack of love and Valentine’s tend to garner more interest. How do you start on Pinterest? Use your Canva account to create appealing visuals that aren't blatant advertisements. First, think about your desired audience and ask yourself, what would this audience be interested in? My desired audience is interested in personal and professional development, so they are most likely drawn to words of inspiration and personal growth tips. Don’t make your pin specific to a sale or advertisement. Draw in your audience with a visually appealing display of something you represent. For example, a client who happens to own a bakery should post a recipe or a photo of a decadent pastry. This expands visibility. Remember, visibility is the key to establishing your brand.

Why Pinterest Works

When you draw a client in with your vibrant pin, you have the opportunity to expand on this pin in your content. When a user clicks on the pin, it immediately takes them to your website. This provides a one-step process. A photo and simple content attract a user; then, they are swept to your website, where you can elaborate on your life-altering product or service. The simple 1-click step of getting a user to your website will lead to client engagement and a possible sale. (Remember, simple is better. The more a user is required to navigate different platforms, the more likely you will lose their attention.) What's even better? If a Pinterest user pins one of your pins to their board, all of their followers will experience your brand. Pinterest has the capability to expand your visibility exponentially.

My Tip: Budget a little money to invest in Pinterest Ads. You can budget as little as two dollars a day, and your pins will be seen. My website hits doubled in the first week of testing out this marketing strategy.

Sidenote:

*The demographics of Pinterest are 80% women who possess untapped buying potential. I typically curate my pins to be female-centric.

The life of an entrepreneur is one of trial and error. Understand what works for you. Yet, never rest on your laurels. The creativity lies in the explosion of exploration.

You got this!-- Jules

Get Obsessed With Building A Business you LOVE! Check out previous blogs.

Julie Lokun, JD is a mom to 4 boys and is passionate about writing, blogging, serving, and podcasting. Julie is a 4-time author with accolades of being the #1 new release on Amazon. She is just trying to figure it out as she does in life.

3 Tips To Build Your Media Presence like a Maverick

Guess what movie I just saw?

Hint: Maverick (Top Gun) with

Tom Cruise.

I walked into the theater with full-on buttered popcorn and no expectations. The exhilarating story of a cutting-edge fighter pilot took me on a ride where I felt that I was the co-pilot. Maverik was a leader in terms of getting in the cock pit and doing what he demanded of his team. Maverick led his crew with integrity and took calculated risks. His roguish precision was a nail-biting tribute to his training and authority. Maverick embodied his purpose, passion, and love for living on the edge.

How does Maverick's flair for pushing the envelope translate to our ambition to be successful as professionals? Simply put, we need to push our limits and also stay grounded in our personal morals and mission. With a broad stroke for gravitas, I will suggest that we are all bombarded with shiny object syndrome. We chase what is new and the blind promise of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

When we chase shiny objects we are distracted from our core mission and goals.

Definition of Shiny Object Syndrome:

Shiny object syndrome, also called "SOS" is a pop-cultural, psychological concept where people focus on a shiny, new object, in other words, whatever is most current, trendy, or the latest concept, regardless of how valuable or helpful it may ultimately be. While at the moment it seems to be something worth focusing one's attention upon, it is ultimately a distraction, either a personal distraction or something that is done intentionally to distract others.

Social Media and Chasing Shiny Objects

We are told that we need followers on social media to be relevant. We are told that we need have our perfect images splashed on YouTube and TikTok. Yet the return on investment is minimal. When we take a look at buyer behaviors it is clear that intimacy is what buyers, listeners, and readers crave. Typically a buyer, client, or audience needs to have an intimate attachment to our messaging. The polished, slick and often filtered snapshots on social media are not connectable messages.

Humans, as a collective want to protect themselves from judgment, pain, and disillusionment. We want to be liked. We strive to be adored. I hypothesize that the constructs of social media and the pursuit of instant gratification are a great distractor in building influence and real relationships.

The human experience is one of protection. When we are frightened we tell ourselves to self-protect. We do everything we can to armor ourselves up and protect ourselves from negative experiences.

This is where Brene Brown jumps in.

Brene Brown (if you have been hiding under a rock), is an American research professor, lecturer, author, and podcast host. Brown is known in particular for her research on shame, vulnerability, and leadership. A long-time researcher and academic, Brown became famous following a widely viewed TEDx talk in 2010. Since then she has written six number-one New York Times bestselling books, hosts two podcasts, and has filmed a lecture for Netflix as well as a series about her latest book, Atlas Of The Heart on HBO Max.

Take it over Brene:

When we’re afraid, even our neurobiology screams ARMOR UP. Everything screams, “Self protect!” As Brown says, if we want to be consciously daring, we need to say no armor. We have to double down on being both transparent and vulnerable. If you’re feeling beat up right now, you’re in good company. The easy thing is to self-protect, but if you want to keep moving toward your mission, you’ve got to refuel.

The hybrid of Maverick and Brene:

How can we, as professionals up our game with emotional integrity? Quite simply it is to take calculated risks and be authentic. Ask yourself- are feeling burnout from doing everything and nothing is happening? If the answer is yes, read on. Personal and professional satisfaction starts with self-awareness.

Building your personal or professional brand begins on a journey of discovery.

The Maverick-Inspired tips to holistic growth:

Tip #1: The Mission

First and foremost, my favorite tool is writing a mission statement. There is profound power in seeing the foundation of your vision and values scrawled on paper. A mission statement cannot simply be written and read.

Your mission statement needs to be lived.

A mission statement needs to articulate why you exist, what you stand for and the goals you strive for. On paper, your mission statement is powerful. However, inaction nullifies your mission. A mission statement is only powerful when you take inspired action.

I am obsessed with the power of a mission statement. It can be a confusing exercise in putting pen to paper-so I often recommend Franklin Covey's Mission Statement Builder. This mission statement builder is easy to follow and prompts you with questions to curate a statement that reflects where you are and where you want to go.

Tip #2: Take Inspired Action

Once you have taken a moment to articulate a purpose-driven mission the journey begins. When you soak in the profound reflection of your earthly existence, you are called to action. Take inspired action. Nothing happens when you are complacent in your life. A real-life maverick takes inspired action in alignment with their purpose. A maverick is unorthodox and edgy. A maverick lives life on the edge.

Be a maverick.

A maverick: An unorthodox or independent-minded person

Be vulnerable, yet do not overshare. Audiences crave the hero story. Audiences crave someone they connect with who took a leap of faith. Audiences adore the hero story and kicking fear in the face.

• What is your hero story?

• What can you do differently?

• How can you take calculated risks to share your story and brand?

I am obsessed with sharing my story on podcasts. My story weaves tales of low self-esteem, people-pleasing, perfectionism, divorce, trials in parenting, and the search to leave my legacy on earth. These are the stories that connect me with my audience.

Tip #3: Pitch Yourself

Get out there. Pitch yourself on different mediums. Write a blog. Write a book. Get creative with the story you need to tell. I know blogging is something I am passionate about. I understand the power of SEOs. (I love KEYWORDS EVERYWHERE for SEO boosts).

Court Google with reckless abandon. Once you understand the mission that you are firmly rooted in-start creating. Send out press releases (I love EIN Presswire). Pitch yourself to podcasts. After all, guesting on a podcast is essentially free marketing.

Pitch yourself to media outlets. Your story needs to be heard. Building relationships through the vehicle of media expedites your overall mission. Get your voice heard the right way. Take calculated risks that disseminate your message. Be unabashedly you and build authentic relationships through your story.

Just like Maverick.

#maverik #topgun #brenebrown #daringtolead #googleyourself #calculatedrisks #franklincovey #missionstatement #keywordseverywhere #garryehall #usnavy

You got this- Jules

P.S. I just had the opportunity to interview the original Maverick, helicopter pilot, and really nice human and family man, Rear Admiral Garry E. Hall. Garry served as the national security advisor to the president and has a podcast called Admiral's Almanac. Garry embodies the gusto of Maverick and stays rooted in his mission.

Watch it here!

And do not forget to share your voice. Share your stories on podcasts!

Find out here how to guest on podcasts! (I am a little obsessed)

For more information about creating a powerful brand check out some of my other articles!

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To Work or Not To Work: The Age-Old Question as Moms

This is an age-old conundrum. Should you stay at home or should you pursue a career? Momhood is hard. Let's put all our cards on the table. Being a parent is the hardest thing we will ever do. There is no definitive manual when we are gifted these new, shiny humans and how hard the road ahead will be.

To be frank, many of us need to work. We have mouths to feed. We have bills to pay. Unemployment is not an option. I honor those mommas who are fighting for a better life for their babies. Yet, I often wonder, who is happier? Is the working mother happier because she is fulfilled outside of the home? Or is the stay-at-home momma happier because she has the ability to be with her babies every single moment?

“Just as there is no warning for childbirth, there is no preparation for the sight of a first child. There should be a song for women to sing at this moment or a prayer to recite. But perhaps there is none because there are no words strong enough to name the moment.” — Anita Diamant

I often tell the tale that pre-momhood I would think to myself that I will be the coolest mom in the universe. This narrative came to a screeching halt when I was reminded that I am mean, unfair, or brutal in my course corrections. Each teenager that wafts into my life (meaning my boys) reminds me daily that I have screwed something up as a parent. Bottom line, whatever choice we make as a parent will eventually be challenged by someone, somewhere.

My gentle entry into being a working mom was facilitated by the need to be around adults and foster my creativity. During this 20-year span of motherhood, I graduated from law school, graduated with a master's certification in life coaching, worked at an international Aupair agency and launched two businesses. I immersed myself in a career trajectory on the notion that my children come first. I always worked from home and I always had help.

According to the American Psychological Association: Mothers with jobs tend to be healthier and happier than moms who stay at home during their children’s infancy and pre-school years, according to a new study published by the American Psychological Association.

Researchers analyzed the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development data, beginning in 1991 with interviews of 1,364 mothers shortly after their child’s birth and including subsequent interviews and observations spanning more than 10 years. The findings were published in the December issue of APA’s Journal of Family Psychology®.

“In all cases with significant differences in maternal well-being, such as the conflict between work and family or parenting, the comparison favored part-time work over full-time or not working,” said lead author Cheryl Buehler, Ph.D., professor of human development and family studies, at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. “However, in many cases, the well-being of moms working part-time was no different from moms working full time.”

Mom guilt is a real thing. We are tested by our own perception of what we should be doing and what we are doing wrong. We are tested with every choice we make and are put under a microscope that analyzes every choice. The most important thing is to have a deep awareness of your needs and your family's needs. It is important that when you make the decision to work or be a stay-at-home mom, you are very firm in your stance. If you are grounded in your purpose, naysayers have no power.