Tag: storytelling

  • Vulnerability: The Superpower You’re Probably Avoiding

    Vulnerability: The Superpower You’re Probably Avoiding

    Is Vulnerability What Is Missing from Your Signature Style

    Let’s have a little heart-to-heart, shall we? I want to talk about something that might make you cringe a bit: vulnerability.

    You’ve built your brand on expertise, confidence, and that polished, professional vibe. But that vibe isn’t you. Letting your guard down a little won’t ruin your credibility. It might just be the missing piece that takes your brand to the next level.

    What Is Vulnerability, Really?

    Let’s clear something up first. Vulnerability doesn’t mean turning your social media feed into a dramatic soap opera or some kind of reality TV audition. (Nobody’s got time for that, and it won’t help you book more clients.)

    Vulnerability is about owning your experiences—the highs, the “did I just screw that up?” moments, and everything in between. It’s about reminding your audience that behind the polished posts and wins, you’re human. And trust me, that humanity? It’s your secret weapon. Remember this above all else, people want to do business with people!

    Why Your Audience Craves It

    Here’s the deal: Your audience isn’t looking for a flawless guru who seems untouchable. They’re looking for someone who gets it. Someone who has stumbled, gotten back up, and kept going.

    It’s not the fall they care about—it’s the recovery.

    When you let your real self shine through, you give your audience permission to connect with a real person. They’ll feel seen, connected, and understood. That’s where trust is born. Why is trust so important? Because it’s the foundation of communities—and successful businesses.

    How to Bring More Realness to Your Content

    s ditch the robotic expert act (we all know it’s not real anyway). Instead, start weaving personal stories into your content.

    Here are some ideas to get you started:

    • Share how you bombed your first launch (and what you learned).
    • Talk about that one client call where you felt like a total fraud.
    • Admit that the IG algorithm almost broke your spirit last week.

    These moments aren’t weaknesses. They’re opportunities to connect. Relatability breeds trust, and trust? That’s where the magic—and the sales—happen.

    5 Simple Ways to Practice Vulnerability

    Not sure where to start? Here’s a quick guide:

    1. Journal Your Truths:
      Grab a notebook and jot down your wins, losses, and those messy “aha” moments. Getting comfortable with your story is the first step to sharing it with others.
    2. Take People Behind the Scenes:
      Wrestling with a big decision? Share it. Struggling with imposter syndrome? Talk about it. Real-life honesty resonates with people far more than “Look how perfect my life is” ever will.
    3. Find Your Tribe:
      Surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who get it. Sharing war stories—failed launches, surprising wins—can keep you inspired and grounded.
    4. Open Yourself to Feedback:
      Constructive criticism can sting, but it helps you refine your voice and connect more deeply with your ideal clients.
    5. Work with a Coach:
      Seriously, this is a non-negotiable. You don’t know what you don’t know, and a great coach will help you uncover blind spots and level up faster. (And no, this isn’t just a plug for you to hire me—find a coach who clicks with you!)

    Vulnerability: Your Leadership Edge

    Here’s the bottom line: Vulnerability doesn’t make you less of a leader—it makes you more of one. It’s your not-so-secret superpower.

    When you show up as your unfiltered, real self, you inspire trust, connection, and action.

    So, step into the arena. Share your quirks, your lessons, and yes, even your scars. The real, human you is exactly what your audience has been waiting for.

    And trust me, they’ll thank you for it.


    Now it’s your turn—what’s one small way you can show up as your authentic self this week? Drop a comment or send me a message. Let’s keep the conversation going.

  • 5 Things You Can Learn About Signature Style from the Eras Tour

    5 Things You Can Learn About Signature Style from the Eras Tour

    Turns out, Miss Taylor Alison Swift knows a thing or two about having a Signature Style!

    Alright, Swifties—let’s talk about the Eras Tour. 

    First, a little confession: I’m a closet Swiftie. When I scored floor seats for myself and my sister to this concert, we were expecting an epic concert. It is Taylor Swift after all. But honestly? What we got was so much more than just an outstanding performance. It was pure, unbeatable insanity. I walked away totally mind-blown—not just by her talent but by the genius business moves happening at every turn.

    The Eras Tour wasn’t just a concert. It was an experience. Every detail was perfectly crafted, and it hit me: Taylor Swift is a master of something we could all learn from—the power of a signature style. Let’s break it down, shall we?

    First, Some Background on the Tour

    If you somehow missed it (where have you been?!), Taylor announced the Eras Tour in 2022 after dropping Midnights. The concept? It was a celebration of every phase of her career, with each “era” getting its own spotlight. For over 3.5 hours, Taylor performed 40+ songs grouped into distinct acts, each representing one of her albums.

    The level of detail was next-level crazy. Each song had its own outfit, choreography, and staging, and every era was unique and could stand alone as a piece of art. And, of course, Taylor being Taylor, she even revamped the show halfway through the tour to include songs from The Tortured Poets Department. Critics loved it. Fans couldn’t get enough. And Swift streams skyrocketed across the board.

    Upon arriving at the arena in Toronto, I was shocked by the lack of chaos. This HUGE event is bound to have some chaos, but there was nothing but organization and smiles. Even the hour-and-a-half souvenir line was well organized and almost enjoyable. As we walked down to our floor seats, it hit me that this would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and as the clock counted down to Taylor getting on stage, I got goosebumps. It must have been cold in there!

    From start to finish… I was blown the F*CK AWAY!

    Now let’s talk about these lessons—because this is where things get good.

    1. A Signature Style Evolves—And That’s a Good Thing

    What makes Taylor Swift iconic is how she reinvents herself with every album. She’s never stuck in one place, but she’s always Taylor. Whether it’s her country roots, glittery pop anthems, or indie vibes, each era feels like a fresh take on the same person we’ve loved all along.

    Takeaway: You don’t have to stay the same to stay true to yourself. Your “style” can grow and evolve with you. Think about who you are now and how you can reflect that in your work, your life, or even your Instagram posts.

    2. Own Your Story—Every Part of It

    Taylor’s had her fair share of drama over the years (Kanye, Scooter Braun, anyone?), but instead of letting it define her, she’s taken control of the narrative. Whether it’s re-recording her albums or writing songs that spill all the tea, she shows us what it means to own your story and keep it moving. She knows what people are going to say and she beats them to the punchline.

    Takeaway: Don’t let someone else write your story for you. Whatever challenges you’re facing, own them. Use them. They’re part of what makes your journey so uniquely yours.

    3. Over-Deliver Like Your Reputation Depends On It

    When I tell you Taylor went all out during this concert, I’m not kidding. Every song had its own costume, set, and vibe, and she performed each like the grand finale. For over three hours, she gave 110%—and you could feel it in every second.

    Takeaway: Whether it’s your job, your passion project, or how you show up in life, bring your best. People notice. And when you over-deliver, they’ll remember you—and tell everyone about you.

    4. Connection is Everything

    Taylor doesn’t just perform; she connects. Whether it’s through surprise songs, heartfelt lyrics, or chatting with fans on TikTok, she makes everyone feel like they’re part of the experience. And because of her the fans are like one big family that sings together, loves every moment, and yes even exchange friendship bracelets. 

    Takeaway: People want to feel seen, heard, and valued. Whether it’s in your relationships, your work, or even on social media, focus on connection. That’s what keeps people coming back for more.

    Here’s the thing about the Eras Tour—it wasn’t just a celebration of her music; it was a genius business move. By performing songs from all her albums, Taylor boosted streams for her entire catalog, not just her latest releases. She’s not just a musician—she’s a brand, and the Eras Tour was a masterclass in branding done right.

    5. Your Signature Style is Your Superpower

    Takeaway: Your signature style isn’t just how you look or sound—it’s how you make people feel. It’s the vibe you create and the connection you build. Use it to tell your story, show your value, and grow your impact.

    BONUS: When You Care, People Will Pay

    I was going to leave this one out but it is important… Let’s talk ticket prices for a second. Yeah, they weren’t cheap (looking at you, Ticketmaster!), but almost every fan walked away saying, “Worth. Every. Penny.” Why? Because Taylor poured her heart and soul into every single moment of that show. I as a closet Swiftie even got goosebumps a couple times. You could tell she cared, and that made it all worth it.

    Takeaway: People are willing to invest in you if you show them you’re invested in them. It’s not about being the cheapest or flashiest—it’s about being real, caring, and delivering something that feels meaningful.

    So, What Can We Learn from the Eras Tour?

    Whether you’re a coach, or a creator, or someone just trying to stand out in this crazy world, the lessons from the Eras Tour are clear:

    • Evolve but stay true to yourself. Your story—and style—should grow with you.
    • Own your narrative. Don’t let anyone else define you.
    • Over-deliver. Whatever you do, give it everything you’ve got.
    • Build connection. People remember how you make them feel.
    • Leverage your style. Use it to tell your story and grow your impact.
    • Care deeply. It shows—and it makes all the difference.

    If Taylor’s taught us anything, it’s that creating a signature style isn’t just about looking cool—it’s about building something unforgettable. So whether your “era” is still in its first act or you’re gearing up for a whole new one, remember this: Your style is your power. Lean into it, and you’ll create something truly magical.

    Now, Swifties—what’s your favorite lesson from the Eras Tour? Let’s chat in the comments!

  • 9 Ways to Get Out of Your Social Media Rut

    9 Ways to Get Out of Your Social Media Rut

    Revised June 2024

    Stuck in a Social Media Rut?

    You might be in a social media rut if any of these sound familiar:

    • Your content feels uninspired.
    • Your posts lack engagement and feel flat.
    • Every post feels like a chore.
    • You feel disconnected from what you’re posting.

    Don’t worry; we’re here to help! Revitalize your spirit and social media presence with these 9 Ways to Get Out of Your Social Media Rut. These tips will help you reframe, refocus, and re-energize your posts without wasting time and effort.

    Save yourself the hassle and try these 9 Ways first!

    9 Ways to Get Out of Your Social Media Rut: 3 Inspirational Strategies

     

    Plan a Day of Inspiration

    The top recommendation for getting out of your social media rut is to plan a day of inspiration for yourself. Forget about social media and the stress it’s causing. Don’t post anything! Dedicate this day to activities that make you happy. Engage in things you love, whether related to your business or not.

    The idea is to spend a day genuinely focused on what you enjoy without considering social media. This break will help you re-center your energy and efforts on what truly matters. Content creation should come from the heart and reflect your passion for your business. Focusing on what you love will reignite your creativity, and meaningful content will naturally surface.

    A Day of Inspiration for Jonathan at Success on .Social

    A day of inspiration for Jonathan at Success on .Social can take many forms. I plan a day behind my camera when I’m stuck in a content creation rut. On this day, my focus is solely on what my camera sees, not on what I want it to capture. The key difference between a content creation day (where I control what the camera sees) and an inspiration day (where the camera leads) is this shift in perspective.

    I don’t plan where I’ll go; I simply walk and see where I end up. With no schedule or specific purpose, I let the camera guide me. This spontaneous walking clears my head. I’m not thinking about creating social media posts or how I will use a photo to tell my story—I’m just taking pictures.

    Get Unstuck by Looking at Leaders and Brands That Inspire You

    Do you follow leaders, influencers, or brands because their content inspires you? Have you ever followed a brand hoping to create content as strong as theirs? Looking at the content of others that inspire you is a great way to reignite your creativity. Sometimes, all it takes is one great post to pull you out of your rut.

    When using others’ content as inspiration, ask yourself:

    • How would this post work with my brand?
    • What creative elements would I use to make this my own?
    • How could I adapt this focus for my brand?

    By asking these questions, you can analyze the content’s objectives that inspire you and create something uniquely your own.

    Get Out of Your Social Media Rut by Getting Inspired by Your Competition

    What is your competition posting? Do they have a new product, concept, or campaign? Sometimes, a little friendly rivalry can spark inspiration. There’s no harm in observing what your competitors are doing and using it as a source of inspiration. However, it’s crucial not to compare yourself directly to your competition or copy their content. Instead, view their efforts as a springboard for your creativity. Your goal is to be inspired to create unique and engaging content for your brand.

    Get Out of Your Social Media Rut: 4 Content-Based Strategies

    Did the 3 inspirational strategies not catapult you out of your social media rut? Sometimes, it’s not just inspiration that’s missing; sometimes, you need to mix up your content and engagement strategies. If you think this might be the case, try these four strategies to help get you back on track.

    Invest in the Relationships You Have

    You have a relationship with every follower. Invest in those relationships by engaging directly. Respond to all comments, acknowledge likes, and answer your followers’ questions. Basic engagement strategies encourage your followers to keep interacting with your posts.

    Every time an audience member asks a question, it’s an opportunity. How can you resolve their problem in a post or a series of posts? The more questions you can answer, the more content you can create. More importantly, you become a valuable resource for them. Investing in relationships is not just a strategy to get you out of your social media rut; it’s also a great way to build a loyal following.

    Reframe Your Role

    This strategy is closely related to investing in the relationships you have with your customers. Position yourself as a resource and an expert in your niche. Reframing your role on social media can dramatically impact what you can post. Let’s compare the content from Jonathan Howard, Everyday Guy with 2 Puggles, and Jonathan Howard, Owner of Success on .Social.

    Jonathan Howard, Everyday Dog Owner

    • Posts about my dogs
    • Content about my house
    • Talking about my photos
    • Discussing what I ate
    • Day-to-day activities
    • Talking about my family
    • Where I am going

    Jonathan Howard, Owner of Success on .Social

    • All the things the dog owner can post about
    • Content creation
    • Social media strategies
    • Storytelling and Building Your Story Bank
    • Developing Your Signature Style
    • Basic business strategies
    • Small business success tips

    By reframing your role, you can expand your content possibilities and establish yourself as a trusted expert in your field.

     

    Get Unstuck by Reposting or Repurposing Existing Content

    This type of content creation became popular with the rise of short-form videos. Experts often suggest finding your top-performing piece and recreating it as a reel. Previously, many of us relied on photo + caption style posts. Over the years, we’ve touched on many topics but often don’t revisit them because we think, “I’ve already done that!” However, this mindset can hold you back. If the content is still relevant, you can repost it or change the format and repurpose it.

    One key to being recognized as a leader in your niche is consistently repeating your message.

    Transforming photo posts into video posts forces you to rethink how to deliver the content effectively in a new format. By doing this, you create a new and relevant post. Each format—whether a live video, a recorded video, a short-form video, or a YouTube tutorial—requires a different approach. This strategy can lead to a wealth of content simply by reframing what you’ve already created.

    Have Your Blog Help You Out of the Rut

    I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: Your blog is a powerful social media tool! It’s one of my favorite strategies to expand your reach on social media because it maximizes each piece of content. Your blog is also a great source of material to post on social media. Pair your words, a quote, or an action item with a relevant picture, and voilà—you have a piece of content to post.

    What’s even better is that you can include a call-to-action (CTA) that links back to your blog. A CTA that directs readers to your blog adds authority to your post and drives traffic to your platform.

    Get Out of Your Rut with These Two “Lone Wolf” Strategies

    Let Users Create Content for You

    Social proof is a powerful social media strategy that enlists your product or service users to tell your story without brand bias. User-generated content (UGC) is a form of social proof created by your followers. While encouraging UGC by reposting it in your feed or stories is beneficial, it’s not the most effective content creation strategy alone, as it relies on your audience to create content.

    UGC helps you understand how your followers use your product or service daily. Once you know this, you can build content encouraging others to share similarly. It also allows you to create content that serves the needs of those using your products.

    Challenge Yourself with a Challenge

    Social media challenges are plentiful, but finding the right one can push you out of your comfort zone and revitalize your content creation. Join a challenge that is within reach but still challenging enough to keep you engaged. Avoid too easy or difficult challenges, as you’re more likely to quit. Look for challenges that require daily content creation and have a structure with built-in accountability.

    Unexpected Benefits

    Every challenge I’ve participated in has led to unexpected discoveries and a renewed focus on content creation. Challenges are designed to teach you something new, prompting you to review your current practices and see how the new lessons fit into your business.

    Eve Voyevoda — Business & Brand Creator — Visibility Gym

    “I wasn’t in a rut, but I wanted to stretch myself. I knew I needed to explore different ways to include video in my content strategy. I’ve always been afraid of video, and when the opportunity to participate in this challenge arose, I was looking for every reason not to do it. So, I signed up before I could talk myself out of it and couldn’t have been happier. Not only did I improve my video presentations, but I also ended the experience with a ton of fresh content ideas. While this was one of the best challenges I’ve ever participated in, the lessons and content inspiration are benefits that come with every challenge if you make the most of the opportunity.”

     

    Free Yourself from the Rut & Create Engaging Content with Ease!

    Utilize these 9 strategies to get out of your social media rut, whether you use them together or pinpoint your problem and use just one. Each strategy helps you get out of your head, stop comparing yourself to others, and create content that feels authentic to you and your brand. Remember, you are doing your best at any moment, but there is always room for growth and learning.

    Even if you aren’t currently in a social media rut, these strategies can be used proactively to keep challenging yourself. Create better content that engages your customers and fosters deeper, more meaningful relationships with your followers.

  • Social Media Strategy: 9 Photos & Videos to Keep Your Content Fresh

    Social Media Strategy: 9 Photos & Videos to Keep Your Content Fresh

    Updated June 2024

    Social Media Strategy: 9 Photos to Keep Your Content Fresh

    Creating fresh and current content for your social media posts can seem daunting. Or is it? In this blog, we’ll provide you with ideas for 9 photos and 9 videos that you can easily capture each week to keep your content vibrant. These will streamline your content creation process and ensure all your social media profiles remain engaging and on point.

    Yes, 9 photos and videos a week, and the best part is they feature you going about your daily life. While these won’t replace the need for professional shoots, they will complement them with high-quality content, helping you build your own custom stock photo and video library. For more details on maximizing a photoshoot, check out this blog post! As you know, I am a huge advocate for using your own photos on social media; it’s the best way to differentiate yourself from the get-go.

    It’s Almost Time to Reveal the 9 Photos, But First…

    First, take a moment to consider the type of content you typically post on social media.

    What kind of content generally resonates with your audience?
    Are you regularly posting on specific topics or categories?
    What do you have planned for the next three to five weeks?

    Keep these questions in mind as you review the nine photos you can take daily. You can tweak, stretch, or expand on one or all of them to fit your specific needs. Remember, I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. I’m giving you these nine images and videos as guidelines based on my social media expertise and what has the potential to engage. Feel free to adapt them to your needs!

    9 Photos and Videos to Keep Your Content Fresh

    Drumroll Please

    1. Daily Routine
    2. Morning Coffee
    3. Full Body Shot/Big Movement Video
    4. Detail Shot
    5. At the Office
    6. With a client or customer
    7. Work close up
    8. Behind the scenes
    9. Life Outside of Work Shot

    The Daily Routine

    I made this the first of the 9 Photos and Videos to Keep Your Content Fresh because it’s the easiest to capture. Simply take a photo or video of something you do every day.

    Why this?

    Because it’s something you do daily, there’s a high chance you’ll talk about it on social media or it will impact your content in some way. Having a relevant visual ready to use when discussing this routine saves you from scrambling for a post idea. Plus, you won’t need to rely on overused stock photos to showcase a unique aspect of yourself or your business.

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    Think about what you enjoy posting and what your audience engages with. Is it your fitness routine? Haircare? Outfits? Are they asking you specific questions? Use this insight to guide which daily routines you should document. Need a starting point? Pizza, pets, and babies always perform well on social media.

    The Morning Coffee Shot

    I know what you’re thinking: “Really, coffee? You want me to take a photo of my coffee first thing in the morning?” And maybe even worse, “You expect me to take a video of it?” Yes, even if it’s before you’ve had your first sip! Capture that perfect coffee cup shot or a video of your coffee-making ritual.

    Why This?

    Food, babies, and dogs are universal favorites; everyone eats, dogs are man’s best friend, and babies are cute! Similarly, coffee is a nearly universal connector on social media—something almost everyone can relate to.

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    Not a coffee drinker? No problem! What’s your drink of choice in the morning? What jumpstarts your day? Whether it’s tea, a donut, a protein smoothie, or even a pair of stylish shoes, whatever gets you moving and motivated in the morning works. The key idea behind the coffee posts is to share what energizes you, so feel free to substitute with your own morning motivator.

    The Full Body Shot & The Big Motion Video

    Next on your list of daily photos to keep your content fresh is the full body shot. This means capturing a photo of yourself from head to toe, doing something—anything. As long as your attire is brand-appropriate, you can’t go wrong. For the video, aim for a big movement, such as walking.

    Why This?

    A full body shot is versatile and can be used in both your stories and feed on social media. People do business with other people, not faceless companies. To get people to do business with you, you need to build trust and let them feel like they know you. These photos and videos help create that connection and build trust more effectively.

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    Don’t worry about looking like a model. You don’t have to be a model—just be yourself. Avoid overthinking, over-staging, or over-editing. This photo isn’t about creating a perfect, imaginary life. It’s about featuring your authentic self, the real face of your brand.

    The Detail Shot

    The detail shot or video is essential for defining your signature style. For example, my Converse sneakers have been a staple in my brand. This was intentional, as I often feature content of my shoes in stories and on my feed. My footwear subtly communicates that my brand is fun, bright, disruptive, and not your typical business. Similarly, my sequin hat reflects the fun and sparkly nature of my brand.

    Why This?

    Detail shots and videos can be used for various purposes on social media. I used my shoes to convey an abstract aspect of my signature style. For a simpler, more straightforward example, a watch could be used in a post about deadlines, setting SMART goals, or your dislike of waiting.

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    Be creative with this one. It can be details of what you’re wearing, elements of your office, or a part of your everyday life. This approach is also useful for future content about specific aspects of your business. For example, if a housing form is due by a certain date, take a photo of the top of that form on a desk, or a video of someone filling out the form and use it in your post. It’s much more engaging than a generic stock photo.

    In The Office/Work Shot and Video

    Another great way to keep your content fresh is with office shots. These are photos or videos of you at work, doing what you do best. While a day at the office might seem mundane to you, your loyal followers are interested in seeing more about your daily routine. Mix it up by capturing different parts of your office or various aspects of your job. Focus on the more interesting tasks you perform and document them through photos or short videos.

    Why This?

    You’re on social media to showcase the work you do and attract your ideal clients. It’s natural to show your audience what you do, how you do it, why you do it, and where you do it. Consider what your ideal client would want to see from someone in your role, and create content that will engage them.

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    Review your previous content to identify what performed well on social media. If you’re a web developer, for instance, you could include photos of you working at your computer, videos of you collaborating with a web designer, or attending a training session on a new programming language. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and get creative with your shots.

    With a Client

    I know you might be hesitant about this next photo or video idea, so let me say this: the client does not need to be identifiable. The focus should be on you. Be creative and find a way to show yourself interacting with a client or customer. It could be as simple as you behind a desk with the back of your clients’ heads facing the camera, or a close-up video of you demonstrating something to the client, with only your hands visible.

    Why This?

    You can’t build trust on social media and demonstrate your expertise without showcasing your work. Featuring client interactions is crucial. Highlight your first touchpoints or ways you build trust with clients. Even if you use stand-ins instead of real clients (totally our secret), it’s so important to depict these interactions.

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    Professional development sessions, speaking opportunities, media events, and more are perfect for capturing photos and videos of you working with clients or potential clients. Make sure someone is available to capture these moments, whether it’s your hubby, friend, or a professional photographer. Take advantage of these opportunities to showcase your client interactions.

    The Work Closeup

    This is what I am doing right now, as I revise this blog post I am recording myself (two birds, one stone) So the idea here is to capture some content up close of you doing something in your business. This is great for stock photography and also to use as B-roll for short-form video. Think about things like, you writing out your plans on an eisel, or your fingers typing on the computer, or writing in a jourmal. Those all work.

    Why This?

    Because when you talk about your work, it is great to have photos that you can post that show you working. Be sure to capture  a variety of photos and videos so you have a library to choose from, although It doesn’t matter that you are writing down the steps to take in your business over the next nine months, but you use the photo in a post about how writing allows your thoughts to flow. In most cases they can’t see the text. You will find that these are the most flexible and useful photos to take as many of them as you can!

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    Think about the things that you tend to post about and what an excellent generic visual could be that highlights either what you are talking about in the post, or the feeling you want people to get from the post, etc. We are working on creating a library of flexible and usable stock photos and videos for your business.

    Behind the Scenes

    What are some of the things that you do for your business behind the scenes, or what things would people not ever be able to guess about your business? Photos and videos of different behind the scenes aspects or videos of prepping for an event, photoshoot, or other special occasions are always phenomenal for engagement. Be sure to grab content of this. 

    Why This?

    This is essential because everybody likes a peek behind the curtain. Behind the scenes is always engaging because people want to see the real life person behind what they see that they assume is scripted and perfected.

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    All of the images you take should feel real; they shouldn’t be too polished. They should not depict a beautifully perfect life. Make sure to leave your behind the scenes content believable. If it’s too perfect, it shows up as inauthentic, and you could lose credibility.

    Life Outside of Work Shot

    I completely respect a person’s choice not to include aspects such as children in their brand. That is your choice. What I do advocate for is that every business shows off a little bit of life outside of work. If it is you going home and reading a book, walking a dog, cooking, or going to the gym. Those are all great, and you should take photos or videos of you doing them.

    Why This?

    It makes you human, a real person outside of the walls of the business that does cool things and has actual struggles, goals, and dreams. Don’t wipe all the things that make you human from your business; it will erase any possibility of you being able to engage your ideal audience out with it.

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    Social Media is supposed to be social. The things you do outside of work are just as important as those you do at work. 

    Those Are The 9 Photos and Videos to Keep Your Content Fresh

    Using these nine photos as a guide will help you eliminate some of the stress caused by social media. We promise you will feel less overwhelmed, have stronger posts and be able to level up on social media much more quickly.

  • Brand Alignment: New Year, (Re)New Brand

    Brand Alignment: New Year, (Re)New Brand

    Brand Alignment: Conducting Brand Reviews to Ensure Brand Health

    It is a commonplace for a brand to overlook the importance of alignment. Companies view a brand as something that is completed once and requires little or no maintenance. This tendency to overlook brand alignment is why we developed the New Year (Re)New Brand webinar. The webinar serves as a reminder of the importance of conducting a yearly review of your brand.

    Completing a yearly brand review ensures that any adjustments and realignment necessary for your brand occurs. The practice of completing a regular brand review also creates awareness of shifts in the marketplace, your business, or your employees. It also allows your businesses to adjust to small changes before any significant issues arise. When a brand is no longer appropriately aligned, the impact can be dramatic.

    The Impact of A Poorly Aligned Brand

    What happens when your brand is no longer aligned with your story and values? One of the significant impacts of a brand being out of alignment is the loss of trust from your customers. This loss of confidence is most visible when customers no longer believe the claims that a brand is making. Additionally, customers don’t think the company is making good on its claims. Another significant impact of poor brand alignment is the perception that the brand is out of touch with the current marketplace or possibly even reality. These are generally symptoms of brands that are dramatically misaligned. The practice of conducting a yearly brand review will prevent poor brand alignment from ever occurring.

    Yearly Brand Alignment Review

    Conducting an annual brand review is an essential part of maintaining a healthy brand. This will ensure that youer brand remains appropriately aligned with your unique brand story and values. At JRH Graphics, we recommend utilizing the 9 Components of Brand Workbook as the starting point for your annual Brand Review. During this review, you should look at the changes you have made in the past year. Additionally, account for shifts in the market and eliminate any invalid differentiators.

    A thorough brand review helps you feel confident that you are entering the new year on the right foot. Go into 2020 as a brand and business that is fully aligned and ready to make a difference.

  • Level Up Your Social Media in 2020 with These 9 Tips

    Level Up Your Social Media in 2020 with These 9 Tips

    Are You Ready to LevelUp

    Level Up Your Social Media in 2020 with these 9 Tips!

    The Role of Planning

    As I have said before, content is king, consistency is queen, and when you take control of these two things with a little bit of planning, you will be amazed at the things you will have time to do. All 9 of these strategies and tips help build a solid foundation for all of your social media platforms. You will be able to expand upon as you master each tactic. We are all on this journey together, some have leveled up already, others are working on solidifying the foundation. But we are all learning, and I hope these tips help you build a robust yet flexible presence on social media that allows you to be responsive to trends while expanding your reach and growing your business. So, let us jump in!

    Set Goals and Define Your KPIs

    Want to Level Up Your Social Media in 2020, then you must define what Leveling Up looks like for you. What are the Key Performance Indicators used to measure if you are reaching that goal? Make sure that you assign the proper metrics to your goals and understand what a positive outcome would look like for this goal. Need help understanding social media metrics before you set these goals? My go-to tool is the SproutSocial.com blog, when I am looking for information on metrics. I have this blog post bookmarked for reference.

    Without these goals and our ability to measure them utilizing the metrics, we have no way of defining success or failure. Without goals, how do we know what we are hoping to accomplish? Set goals for your social media and clearly define success. Share these goals with your team, so everyone is on the same page and working towards the same thing. Review the metrics regularly and share your findings with your team. Encourage feedback.

    Have A Plan

    Having a plan for your content is one of the best ways to save time, focus on engagement, and Level Up your social media profiles. If you are not planning your content chances are you are spending too much time reinventing the social media wheel.

    Set Your Goals

    Set a goal for yourself. How much content are you planning now? Increase that by 20% over the next 2 months. In four months aim to increase your current percentage by 50%. Work your way up to having approximately 75% of your content/posts planned across your platforms with approximately 25% free per platform to flex current events, and other spur of the moment content in as needed. This makes sure your content always feels fresh and current.

    Create the Plan

    Review and Utilize the 9 Essential Posts framework from JRH Graphics to ensure that you are providing your followers with varied content that speaks to them. This tool also helps you not exceed 20% of posts being promotional material. I utilize it during every step of my content calendar planning process. Along with the 9 Essential Posts, we use the Macro, Meso, Micro planning process for creating a content calendar like the one we discussed in this post.

    Overview of The Planning Steps

    First, we look at the big picture, including all holidays, promotions that will anniversary, and significant themes that will repeat from last year. We usually complete the macro step either quarterly or do it at the start of the year and revisit each month to be sure we are not missing anything. After the macro level, we move onto the meso step, which is where we review the monthly themes, the events we are planning, any major product launches, etc. This step is where we lay down the ideas for the posts, types of posts we wish to include in campaigns, and make high-level plans for creative needed. The final step is the micro-step, which is a task completed every week. During micro-planning, you lay in the content for your posts and set them to go in your scheduling tool.

    The Benefits

    Thisw process allows you to have a plan for your year, month and weeks and provides you with a structure within which to post. While you may not have the specifics of every post pre-entered you know what you will be posting which relieves the, “OMG what do I post today stress.” This process along with my Breaking Down the Blog strategy which I will discuss in the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle section also allows me to have blog posts scheduled out almost a year in advance.

    Level Up Your Social Media by Engaging

    Did I hear you complain about not having an engaged audience? Whose fault is that? Oh, so you responded to the “thumbs up” you got on your photo of your breakfast this morning? That thumbs-up was engagement for that member of your audience. If you did not respond, you know what you are saying? You just told that member of your audience that YOU DON’T CARE. And if you don’t care, then why would they continue to engage. The worst part, you are saying that publically and everyone can see it. That is not going to help you Level Up your social media this year.

    In Order to Level Up in 2020

    In order to Level Up Your Social Media you need to engage the people that are already engaging you in the way that you want them to be involved. Need words as comments, then when you get a thumbs up, respond with, “Thank you, I am so glad you liked this post” or “Thanks for liking this post, what was it that spoke to you?” And when you engage with your followers like this, you are publically saying, “THANKS FOR ENGAGING, I LOVE YOU GUYS!” The act of engaging with your audience makes your audience more likely to participate in the future. So at a minimum, acknowledge the likes, respond to comments, and always respond to DMs.

    Bonus Pro Move

    Depending on the situation, because you don’t want to be creepy, engage with them on their profiles. If they have a business page, comment there. All engagement is beneficial, and showing a follower that you are willing to take the time to engage them in their playground shows how great you are. As they comment back, watch what they do.

    Do they ask a question? Are they commenting back in more than four words? Watch what they do and engage again in that way. By the way, why is it four words? Because four words are what it takes for Instagram to recognize the comment as content-rich.

    Level Up Your Social Media by Being Human

    Being human shouldn’t be hard. After all, you are a human, so it should be easy to portray yourself as a human on your social media. That is your first mistake. Instead of describing yourself as something, you must be who you are, not anyone else. When Lea Berry and I discussed authenticity earlier in 2019, authenticity was starting to get overused as a buzzword. As this year has progressed, the tolerance for inauthentic brands has almost wholly disappeared. Authenticity will continue as a trend in 2020. The only way to capture an audience is by showing the ups and downs, the real emotions, the struggles, and the fantastic and unexpected successes. Gone are the days of nameless CEOs, and brands without a story and social consciousness.

    Your Winning Story

    At JRH Graphics, we believe stories are the most powerful tool in any companies marketing toolkit. Your winning story is authentic; it has an emotional hook, can capture an audience and convince them to go along on this ride with you. We believe that stories are part of what makes us human, and that is why a simple story can inspire action and produce change. Stories are what make JRH Graphics different. Let us help you tell your winning story!

    Content Creation Can Be Hard

    We certainly know that content creation can be hard. The number one question we get at JRH Graphics is, “How can I create better content in less time?” While hacks and shortcuts are certainly available, you still need to put in the work with social media. There is no magic bullet. But what are you doing right now? Is it related to your business? Could it be “B roll” content, aka something you put in stories?

    Document Don’t Create

    Gary V. is famous because of this. He is always documenting what he is doing and putting that out as content because it is. Not only that, but everybody loves a peek behind the curtain. They want to see how things happen, what life is like, and what struggles a business faces. These posts are not the pretty perfect Instagram feed content that everyone knows is inauthentic now.

    Welcome to the life of an entrepreneur, you can’t be afraid to show the real you. Behind the scenes content is key, document what you are doing. It is one of the best, no short cut, short cuts I can give you. And it will help you level up your social media in 2020!

    Use Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Concept to Level Up Your Social Media

    Reduce the time you spend creating content by reusing content like blog posts and recycling content and redistributing it in another format.

    Reuse

    Your long format videos, blog posts, and webinars can all be broken down into smaller tips and points and distributed on their own with a link tyong them back to the larger piece. I discuss best practices for this process at length in this post. In many cases I am able to get over 10 viable social media posts from a blog allowing me to schedule educational content out for many many weeks. You have already done the hard work creating these pieces of content, make sure you get the most out of them.

    Recycle

    It is true you can’t magically create a movie from a blog post but you can utilize the research and points you made in that blog post to deliver a video. Look at how you could expand on a point you made or take a deeper dive on a concept. Recently, I turned a 9 post story into a series of 9 Live Videos that discuss different strategies for Leveling Up Your Social Media in 2020. These 9 story posts and videos are the basis of a blog post that dives a bit deeper into these tips. Finally, this blog post will be turned into a webinar that shows people how to utilize the tools and strategies discussed and provides them with practical solutions to common problems.

    Level Up Your Social Media by Creating More Content Your Followers Want

    Utilize the 9 Essential posts to create varied content and then build on the successes of your top-performing ones by utilizing the Rule of 3 for Social Media. The Rule of 3 for social media allows you to apply a more scientific way to measure why a post is successful, as seen on the worksheet to the left. You change one aspect of the content at a time, leaving the other two points and see how it performs. I explain it in the video below.

    Understanding Your Metrics

    To make sense of what your existing content is telling you about your audience, you need to be able to understand your metrics. Most social media platforms have metrics built-in, and they are handy to start. As your campaigns and presence on social media expands, you will probably want to invest in a third-party app to measure your social media success. Also, if you need help understanding your metrics, I recommend utilizing the SproutSocial Blog as your go-to research tool. I have regularly referred to the blog post, All The Social Media Metrics That Matter

    Level Up with More Video Content in 2020

    If you want to Level Up your social media in 2020, you will need to create more video content. From Live Videos to more extended form videos, you must create videos for social in 2020. Not only are videos the most engaging form of content, but most of the platforms are prioritizing videos as well. Video is going to need to be a part of your plan for social media for the long haul.

    Instead of Making Excuses, Make Videos

    I have made all the excuses. I created lots of stories as to why my brand was different and didn’t need to include video content right up until this year. It wasn’t until I started losing followers at a terrifyingly fast pace that I accepted that I needed to add more video content in my campaigns. Even then, I avoided Live videos because I was sure nobody wanted to see me go live. Well, I will admit it here. I was wrong. (It’s okay nobody will read this far anyway). I was wrong about not needing to include video. I was wrong about not needing to go Live. In the past two months, I have moved further into creating videos, and for the first time in 10 months, I have had almost three weeks of having gained not LOST followers on all platforms. The key is to show up on your social media where people are and in the way that they are consuming content. Take it from me, stop making excuses, and start making videos.

    Level Up Your Social Media in 2020 by NOT Selling on Social

    Businesses fail when they view social media as a selling platform. Community is the basis of social media, and those of us on there selling are in enemy territory. So instead of marketing on social media, level up by providing value to your followers. Build up your reputation as an educator. People need to be able to like, know, and trust you before they make a purchase. Add value to your audience by answering questions they may have, and by providing content that is value-rich and solves real problems, your ideal client is facing. Establish yourself as an expert on social media, and position yourself as the first person to go to if a member of your audience has a question. Eight of every ten posts should provide value to your audience and not sell, especially as you begin establishing yourself and your company. Your CTA in these educational, value-adding posts should ask what else you can provide to help them. You will become the resource your audience can trust, and with trust eventually comes sales.

    It is Time to Level Up Your Social Media

    Win big in 2020 by applying these strategies on your social media platforms. Each strategy helps you build a solid foundation to build upon. 2020 is going to be the most social year yet, so get the most out of your social media and build your following. You got this!

  • Tips for Launching A Podcast in 2020

    Tips for Launching A Podcast in 2020

    Ready to Launch Your Podcast in 2020?

    Are you not convinced video is the only way to engage followers on social media? Are you seeking alternative ways to increase engagement and position yourself as a resource for your audience? It sounds like you might be looking to launch a podcast in 2020! Podcasting is a great way to create content and build an audience, and we are providing you tips for starting your podcast right here in this post! Why? Because podcasting allows you to make personal connections and become an authority within your niche.

    Additionally, podcasts are easy for your audience to digest on their own time with no screen necessary. If you have been a content creator, remember most of that content is easy to convert into podcast episodes. So, are you ready to launch?

    Podcasting Here I Come!

    So, you think podcasting is the way for you to go? We figured we should give you some tips and tools. So we did some research and compiled what we found into this blog post below. And after that, we looked at this blog post and found it to be useful but a bit boring. So we reached out to the hilarious Catherine Feeney, who just launched her podcast, and of course, her corresponding blog the Fashun Chronicles and asked if she would want to discuss her podcasting journey with us. When she agreed, we knew this blog post would be much more entertaining.

    Tips for Launching A Podcast

    As we share our tips for launching a podcast, we will go over some of the research we found on the topic. Additionally, we will add our comments and additional suggestions for launching a podcast throughout the post. There are 5 primary stages to launching your own podcast.

    • Planning the Concept- defining the objective, determining the audience, why the audience should listen and naming the podcast
    • Planning the Structure and Episodes- what is the format, how many episodes, are you creating in seasons, how long is an episode, etc
    • Recording & Editing Your Podcast- script or no script, necessary equipment, software needs, music resources
    • Publishing Your Podcast- Episode 1 Season 1 is in the bag!

    We will walk you through each of these steps and hopefully help you understand what you should be doing during each one, and before you know it, you will be starring in a Number 1 Rated Podcast with gobs of listeners!

    Tips for Launching Your Podcast: Concept

    As you prepare to start your podcast for 2020, you need to begin planning the specifics of the podcast you will be producing. While others may not agree, I view this as the most critical step, as you are building a solid foundation for your future work. I also equate this step to the process of building your brand. During this crucial timeframe, you will be defining your “why” for your podcast. In this step, you will decide on your main podcast topic set the goals of your podcast, determine who your audience is, and examine why your audience would listen to your podcast.

    In many cases, you are utilizing your podcast as an extension of your business. Many will be using it as a way to provide an existing business audience with value via the podcast. If this is the case, you may have an audience and objective in mind that supports the niche of your business. Be sure that your business niche translates to your podcast. In some cases, it may be necessary to narrow your niche down further for your podcast to attract the right listeners or expand up to have enough content to discuss on your podcast.

    Defining to Target

    Defining what you want to accomplish with your podcast, determining your podcast audience, and knowing how to connect with your target audience as important parts of the planning stage. Develop a listener persona to highlight the characteristics of a person that would listen to your podcast. Think about how you would engage this listener persona as you build out the concept for your podcast. Make sure that you are giving them a compelling reason to listen to your podcast. What value are they hoping to recieve? Are you delivering them the value they are hoping for?

    What’s In A Name?

    I was thinking of naming my podcast, “My Podcast!,” Then realized that didn’t provide any information about what I would be talking about. It also didn’t tell the audience why they should listen. It also failed to highlight the niche that I had chosen to discuss on my podcast. So, I scrapped that name, and I am looking at some of the basics for naming a podcast.

    • People need to be able to find your content! If you opt for a creative name consider including a subtitle with an accurate description of the material and value you provide
    • Don’t be too descriptive, if I called my podcast The Social Media, Branding, Brand Story and Storytelling for Small Businesses Podcast I would spend half of my podcast trying to get the entire title out of my mouth. Strike a balance between creative and descriptive.
    •  Those who know podcasting also recommend not naming your podcast after yourself, which ruined my dream of being known as Just Jonathan from the Jonathan Show. You know, like Ellen, Oprah, Cher, Prince, Madonna. They have a built-in audience and name recognition, and I do not!

    Tips from Catherine: Content & Positioning

    Before Launching Fashun Chronicles

    Before launching her Fashun Chronicles podcast, Catherine Feeney says she put pen to paper to make sure that her topic was one she could discuss at length. In her blogging journey, she had dabbled in other areas but always returned to fashion. Fashion is one of the passions that she can talk about for “literally days.” She also spent some time thinking about what purpose she would be serving. Since she enjoys helping others and hopes it does not come off as bossy, she began to develop the Hotline concept for the podcast. She would be able to help others with real FAShun emergencies! Memories of listening to the Delilah radio show may have subconsciously inspired this hotline concept. (Long-time listener, First-time caller)!

    Where You Fit In

    Catherine first decided to leap into podcasting after her friends mentioned it this past year over drinks at New York Fashion Week. Her blog didn’t quite seem to fit her anymore. Maybe talking about fashion, and not writing about it in her blog would feel better. Despite the unknowns of podcasting, she felt re-energized when she thought about a podcast full of fashion. So over drinks at NYFW, a podcast was born. Incidentally, she also wanted the podcast to have a casual feel, much like if she were talking to friends over drinks in a bar at NYFW! We certainly think she hit the nail on the head when it comes to authenticity!

    Catherine also noted that not everyone relates to everything, so while there are a lot of fashion bloggers and podcasters out there, she can bring her unique personality to the game. She likes to focus on storytelling (a woman after my own heart) and wants to remain true to herself throughout this journey. Getting people to jump on the journey with her if they wish to is vital to her. Catherine also wants followers to see all the parts of the adventure from start to finish.

    “Always be true to yourself on your journey and do what feels right to you.”

    Tips for Launching Your Podcast: Content

    You have laid the groundwork for your podcast. You have a solid foundation, so it is time to start working on actually planning the content of your podcast. As well as begin looking at the structure that you would like to utilize for your podcast. A lot of podcasters tend to focus on the length of the podcast. Many experts say the right length is 28 minutes but no longer than an hour. However, I support what the team at The Podcast Host said, “only two things should impact the length of your podcast,

    1. Your content
    2. Your audience

    If you have 50 minutes of valuable, relevant content, why chop it down to 20? Or likewise, if you’ve said everything you have to say in 10 minutes, why pad it out to 30? In extreme cases, say you do an interview, and it’s a fantastic conversation from start to finish but runs for 2 hours. You can always chop it in half and create two episodes.

    More Than Just Timing

    There is much more than just the length involved in the content of your podcast planning portion of your podcast launch. You also need to decide on the format of the podcast. Will you have a cohost? Are you doing the show by yourself? The format of the show will play a significant role in what the final product will look like, and each form has its benefits and challenges. In the solo show, you have complete control, you build authority quicker, but it is also harder to feel comfortable as many people will feel like they are talking to themselves. In a show with a co-host, it is generally easier to get started, and if you have great chemistry, it could be fantastic. But what happens when you hit it big, or your co-host stops showing up. Is there more benefit in going it alone for you, or is the co-host key.

    Multiple Variations

    When it comes to the format of the content, there are many different variations of the themes. However, I am partial to dividing a podcast into segments. The segments would allow you to create mini podcasts within the larger podcast that address specific aspects within the themes that you have decided to cover as part of your podcast. Here is an example of how this could work.

    • Episode 1: Teaser, Opening of Podcast, Welcome, Content Teaser, Break, Theme 1 Discussion, Break, Theme 1 Discussion Continued, Break, Theme 2 Interview, Closing, Call to Action, and Outro
    • Then for E2: Teaser, Opening of Podcast, Welcome, Content Teaser, Break, Theme 2 Discussion, Break, Theme 2 Discussion Continued, Break, Theme 3 Q&A, Closing, Call to Action, and Outro
    • Finally, E3: Teaser, Opening of Podcast, Welcome, Content Teaser, Break, Theme 3 Interview, Break, Theme 3 Interview Continued, Break, Theme 1 Discussion, Closing, Call to Action, and Outro

    This segment format allows you to touch on each of your three significant themes two times in the first three episodes. You also created one short mini-podcast and one longer (2 segments) mini-podcast that you can use elsewhere in your content creation strategy. Using this format and approach for your podcast is similar to the Breaking Down Your Blog Content Creation hack we discussed in this blog post!

    Episodes and Seasons

    As you review the themes and structure of your podcast, you may also want to consider your episode release schedule. Will you be releasing a new podcast every month, every week, two per week? How many episodes make up your season of podcasts? Will the overarching theme change with each season?

    Planning for this will allow you to have a better idea of how many segments you will need. Plan for how many guests you may need to set up interviews to fill those slots. Plus, it is a great way to estimate the amount of content you will need to create. Before you finalize the schedule and promise your listeners something, review your schedule, and ensures it is doable. Remember, it is better to under-promise and over-deliver than over-promise and under-deliver.

    On The Air: The Launch Part of Launching Your Podcast!

    You have completed the planning. The part you have been waiting for is finally here. It is time to record your first podcast for thousands of listeners. Or just your mom, but she is one fan that matters! But wait, what is it that you need to record the podcast? So lets first review the equipment required and then discuss the logistics of the actual recording, including some tips for connecting to your audience.

    Your Equipment Needs and Wants

    I am not an expert on this topic, so I am relying on what the professionals at thepodcasthost.com and others are saying. However, all you must have to start your podcast is a computer that has a mic and can get on the internet. The rest is a bonus. To improve the overall sound of your podcast, the folks at thepodcasthost.com recommend purchasing a simple podcasting mic like the Samson Q2U mic. I linked to the podcaster kit, which includes a stand and wind guard for $44.00/tax. If you are going to be conducting interviews on your podcast, you may want to look into purchasing a couple of lav mics for those you are interviewing. The folks at thepodcasthost.com recommend the Rode Smartlav+ lav microphone, which sells at Amazon for $55.00. Keep it simple, and keep in inexpensive when you start.

    More Stuff

    If you are looking for more information on recording equipment, I am attaching a few excellent guides from thepodcasthost.com.

    Recording and Editing Software Needs

    If you are going to launch your podcast in 2020, you are going to need to have some software to help you record and edit your podcast. Two of the most popular podcast recording and editing tools are Audacity and Adobe Audition. Audacity is free software, and Audition is part of Adobe Creative Cloud, so it is a paid service. Both allow you to create a template for your podcasts. These templates make it easy to create slots for things like the introduction, slots for advertisement, the closing, etc. along with the music and all the settings that go with it saved for all of your podcasting episodes. There is also the ability to edit the audio track, music, and all the components of the podcast so that they have clean, crisp sound. Sound editing etc. is a very technical function that I am not even going to try to explain. If you want to know how to edit audio and what settings will work, you can check out resources on thepodcasthost.com or podcastinsights.com or even check out this tutorial on Adobe for your essential podcast editing tips.

    The Actual Show

    You have a plan. You have a mic. The recording and editing software is ready to be fired up. You have a guest for the inaugural interview. So, you sit down, power up the microphone, and immediately after the intro, you draw a blank. You are frozen for more than a few seconds because you have no idea what to say! Don’t worry. This is part of the process. The amount of scripting for a podcast varies for each person. However, every source I have seen recommends that each host scripts some content and creates some notes for them to utilize during their podcast.

    Scripting keeps you on track and minimize the editing and cutting up of the content by creating a bullet point based script that highlights key points and topics.  Do not write out an entire script as that will not translate to a good podcast. A good podcast is more conversational. Utilize your segmented show concept along with your template for your podcast to provide the direction needed for the script.

    Connecting with Your Audience

    It is essential to know who you are talking to, as we said before, in defining your target section. You need to set your audience. Because without knowing your audience, you will not be able to connect to your audience. When you are recording your podcast, you are talking directly to your audience.

    You should know who they are, where they are listening to you, what they are doing, what they are wearing, and what lipstick they have on! Seriously, who is your avatar? Many people find it easier to envision that one person and give them a name. Using the specific characteristics, you can talk directly to them as if they are real people because they are real people.Tips

    From Catherine: The Technical Stuff

    The Content

    Catherine believes that focusing on putting out high-quality content is the most important goal. She isn’t focusing on the numbers. Instead, her focus is on putting out content and engaging her real followers with her podcast. She would rather have four real followers than 400 fake ones. Focus on your brand and engaging your followers. She doesn’t want to waste time on the fake stuff. “I want to focus on the things I love, like the fashion, and the stories behind an outfit,: she say passionatly. Catherine clearly loves her content and her podcast. She feels like her podcast plays to her strengths better than her blog did. Additionally, she is noticing her Instagram posts and stories are also getting better engagement now that she has the podcast.

    She does not script her content for Fashun Chronicles because she wants it to be more casual. However, Catherine does utilize bullet points to keep herself on track. She usually writes down her show notes the day before or the morning of recording her podcast and utilizes them as an outline for the show. The host openly admits to going off on tangents ar times, but she uses the notes and the bullet points to reign herself back in.

    As a final note regarding content she reminds people that they should enjoy doing their podcast. If it feels like work then maybe they should find another outlet.

    How Long?

    Catherine and the experts agree the length doesn’t matter. You will find your audience that has a need or want for your podcast at whatever length as long as you are serving up some fun and exciting content. She believes there is an audience for podcasts from 10 minutes to an hour. She found that her sweet spot is around the 20-25 minute range as a solo podcaster talking about fashion in the day to day sense. With two podcasts a week, and it is what feels comfortable, so she suggests figuring out what feels right to you.

    For the Tech for Your Podcast, Google Has Your Back

    The host of Fashun Chronicles openly admits she doesn’t know how to reboot her phone, so the technical aspects of Podcasting were where she focused most of her research. Catherine was amazed at how many resources were available online, and she admits to still utilizing Google to figure out how to do certain things.

    She eventually found some articles that resonated with her and helped her find her way, from what mic hse needed to what hosting platform was best for her (she finds Libsyn very easy to use but difficult to pronounce)! She even learned to use Audacity by herself online, and if she has issues with it now, she asks the Google machine, and it helps her through the process.

    Tips for Launching Your Podcast: Cover Art

    Up to this point I have pretty much told you to not spend an extra dime. After all, you could spend a fortune getting someone to produce, edit and promote your podcast for you. Another small fortune paying for the rights to the best music. Plus calculate your hourly rate multiplied by the number of hours you work on the podcast. Yup, this sh!t can get expensive! You don’t even have an audience yet, so be saavy on what you spend money on! However, i do recommend investing in your cover art. Get a great photographer or designer (depending on the look you are going for) and invest here. The perfect cover art will reveal a little bit about the host, explain what the podcast is about, and intrigue people enough to get them to want to listen.

    Additionally, the cover art will be with you for at least a season, so it needs to inform, entice, and convert for multiple episodes and it has to do this in places like iTunes where you are competing with images from top artists, podcasters and more. So spend a little money here and make it work for you. Utilize the images you create in promotions, on social media, in your press releases, to book guests, wherever you can.

    Editing Your Podcast

    No matter how perfect you are scripting, how amazing your guests are, and how much you nailed it, you will still have some editing to do. Editing is a technical aspect of the podcast. I would not be the right resource to advise you on how to edit a podcast. I can say that both the software solutions I mentrioned for recording also allow you do do the type of editing that you will need to put your podcast together. If you need more assistance with this, I recommend looking into tutorials on how to use the software you chose on youtube.com or via some of the podcasting resources available. The other option is to pay to have somebody edit your podcast for you, but as a beginner, unless this is a well-established business, I would not recommend that route.

    Music for Your Podcast

    You can’t just select any song to use 15 seconds of as your intro music, as much as you want to that is going to be expensive, as you would need to pay the artist! There are sites available where you can buy licenses to utilize certain music and others that have vast libraries of music that you can utilize once you pay your monthly membership. There are a few things you should look for regarding music.

    • you are looking for music with creative common licenses
    • I recommend using well know and established resources
    • be aware of the type of license you purchase.

    Publishing Your Podcast and Putting it Out There

    You have just about done it, you have almost launched your podcast. Now, you need to put it out there for people to discover, listen to, and fall in love with! Yes, even if it is just your mom to start! So, let’s get that podcast out to the people! First, you will need a podcast or a media host. Then you will either add your podcasts to your website (or create a website) and then finally submit your podcast to directories.

    Podcast or Media Host

    You have dozens of podcast hosts to choose from, which is incredible and daunting at the same time! Luckily, there are tons of lists out there about some of the best podcast hosting sites. Recently, Jon Street of Resonaterecordings.com listed the top five podcast hosting sites with lots of useful details on each. You can check out that article here! The top 5 he reviewed thoroughly are:

    In my research and discussions with people, both Buzzsprout and Libsyn have come up as the leaders. Buzzsproat for the features and ease of use. Libsyn because of longevity and ease of use for the newcomers. Libsyn also makes it easy to submit to directories. Review and choose the one that fits your needs and budget, and as you grow, if you need to change, you will be able to do that as well.

    A Home for the Newly Launched Podcast

    Once you have a media host that will host your audio podcast files, you will also set up a website to display and deliver your podcasts. You get a page with most hosting services that you can utilize for this purpose. Many people also create an independently hosted page or add the podcast to their existing site. If you choose to add it to your current website, there are podcast tools that you can add to make it easy for listeners to grab your podcast!

    Submitting Your Podcast to Directories

    The directories are how you get discovered, build up your subscribers, and continue to deliver killer content! The number one and most crucial directory ATM is Apple Podcasts. If you only get yourself listed in one directory, this is it. Over 60% of podcast downloads come via iTunes. To get your podcast listed, you need to sign on to iTunesconnect.apple.com using your Apple ID and then click the new feed option to add your podcast. As our guest Catherine Feeney pointed out, Libsyn helped make this part of the job easy.

    Some other significant directories:

    • Stitcher
    • Google Podcasts
    • Spotify
    • TuneIn
    • Blubrry
    • PodBean
    • Radio Public

    Next Steps

    Take a deep breath, pat yourself on the back, and revel in the fact that you have a podcast. The next step is promotion. But we aren’t going to go into that here, if you want to learn about specific ways to promote your podcast outside of the general promotional tactics I provide for social media, check out some of the resources on thepodcasthost.com and podcastinsights.com. And Congrats on Launching, we hope that our tips for launching a podcast were useful! And don’t forget to let us know what podcast so we can subscribe!

    A Special Shout Out

    We want to give a special shout out to Catherine Feeney of the Fashun Chronicles who added some great insight, fun energy and at least a few laughs to this blog post. Her insight on blogging, podcasts and social media was greatly appreciated as she added a great deal of value adn a frame of reference to this post. I wish I could have shared more of the hour conversation I had with this hilarious lady, but we just had so much to cover! And you should always leave them asking for more!

    And if you want to hear more from Catherine, hop on over to her podcast and get to know more about this fashionable and funny lady!! Click the banner below to listen on iTunes!

    All photos by Arielle Lewis Studios, Washington DC

  • Business Transparency: Real Conversations Series

    Business Transparency: Real Conversations Series

    Are You Ready to Dive Into Transparency Head First

    Jonathan Howard of JRH Graphics and Melanie Richards of Increase Your Visibility Discuss Business Transparency

    • Jonathan Howard
    • JRH Graphics
    • www.jrhgraphics.com
    • jhoward@jrhgraphics.com
    • facebook.com/jrhgraphics
    • instagram.com/jonathanrhoward

    Business Transparency

    In its purest sense, business transparency means apparent, unencumbered honesty. A transparent company is a company that is honest in its business practices. However, there is more to it than that. Open companies do not hold anything back from their employees, customers, and investors. No hidden agendas and the narrative is unified.  Transparency requires all information required for collaboration, cooperation, and collective decision making is available. Transparency is essential to the success of any business in the correct marketplace and a major building block needed for trust to be established. Simple right? You all know what that definition means and how you can apply it to your business. That’s okay we aren’t sure about some of it either. It’s not surprising that many believe that transparency is nothing but an overused buzzword.

    A Real Conversation

    Business transparency is precisely the type of topic we love to cover on the “Real Conversations Series.” It’s a hot button subject and many people have strong opinions on topics like this. Hot button topics provide for exciting conversations. Jonathan of JRH Graphics and Melanie Richards of Increase Your Visibility sit down to have a real discussion about transparency. Nothing to sell, no agreed-upon discussion points, no script, and no roadmap. Just a real conversation that touches on a wide variety of subjects ranging from the role of vulnerability in transparency to the role respect plays in business. For new entrepreneurs we explore the importance of just showing up as well as allowing your true self to guide your way. And for established entreprenuers we look at what it means to be an expert adn the key steps needed to establish your expertise on social media.

    This lively conversation was important and very fun to have with Melanie. We hope that it helps entrepreneurs understand a bit more about difficult topics such as transparency and how they may impact your business.

    What Are Your Takeaways?

    Jonathan and Mel provide you with their takeaways at the end of this video, but we want to know what you have as takeaway. What did you learn? What stuck with you? Has this video changed the way that you look at transparency as a whole. We would love to hear your comments in the comment section of the blog below or on social media! If you have questions that you want answered, please reach out and ask us.

    Also, please share what would have made this video better or what expectations you had for the video that were not met. Our goal is to continue to provide you withthe best information available, with a practical spin.

    Please note, this is the 2nd in the Real Conversations Series, if you would like to see the first one look for Authenticity Beyond The Buzzword!

  • Sleigh Your Social Media This Holiday Webinar

    Sleigh Your Social Media This Holiday Webinar

    Sleigh Your Social Media This Holiday Webinar

    The 9 Essential Posts is the framework we use at JRH Graphics to ensure that each of our clients in creating and posting content to their followers that is varied and has the potential to engage. The framework is free to download here, so grab your worksheet today! During the holiday season, social media can be a burden. Customers take priority. And somebody needs to work on adding at least 5 hours to every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Here at JRH Graphics, we feel your pain! That is why we created this Webinar that uses some tips from our Content Calendar Strategies and The 9 Essential Posts and gives you lots of great ideas, prompts, and jumping-off points so you can sleigh your social media during this holiday.

    Sleigh Your Social Media This Holiday Video and Slide Deck

    We know that you are excited to sleigh your social media this holiday! We won’t get in the way any longer. Below you will find the video recording from the webinar as well as the slide deck. The links are live in the slide deck. Click on any of them, and they will bring you to the source of the content! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

    Not So Fast Mister

    It hasn’t been 56 minutes yet. The webinar was 56 minutes long! No time to watch now? Go over to YouTube and tag the video to “Watch Later!”

    You don’t think I can provide value? Okay, I certainly am a bit hurt by you saying that to me. However, you are entitled to your opinions!

    Okay, you didn’t mean it that way! Great because I think things like the Holiday Gift Guides and the “Thank You” Campaign are strong ideas. Even the reminders on types of things to post to keep your community up to date on what’s happening in your area are pretty valuable things. Not to mention, the Letters to Santa behind-the-scenes concept will highlight how cool your business is and engage a new audience. Oh, and the Virtual Scavenger Hunt based on the highly successful Instagram Loops could be a real winner for you. The Virtual Scavenger Hunt is my favorite. Links and suggestions for a bunch of “Edutaining” holiday posts and DIY content that is sure to engage this holiday is even included!

    That’s Better

    I am glad you went back and watched the webinar and reviewed the slide deck. You are ready to go! I hope the webinar inspired you and provided you with some great ideas on ways you can sleigh your social media this holiday. If you use any of these ideas, I would love to see them at work, so please tag @jrhgraphics on Facebook or @jrh_graphics on Instagram and Twitter! Happy Holidays!

  • Tell Your Winning Story with JRH Graphics

    Tell Your Winning Story with JRH Graphics

    Telling Your Winning Story

    At JRH Graphics, we help businesses tell their winning stories. It is the focus of what we do because we believe that your story is your most powerful tool. Your story can engage an audience and build customers for life. All the services we offer at JRH Graphics focus on this goal. Our business consulting services include services to define your niche, develop your brand, and craft your story. These services are laying the groundwork for your business.

    Reaching Your Audience on Social Media

    Once you have laid the groundwork for your company, it is time for us to tell your story. Using the brand and the key differentiators we have defined, we start to tell your story to your desired audience. Our vehicle for doing this is social media because the audience is active, engaged, and looking for businesses to follow.

    Supporting Your Story with Custom Content

    We pair our social media services with our content creation services, so what we are posting to your social media is unique. For us to effectively tell your story on social media, we need content that is specific to your brand. Generic content and stock photos do not highlight your unique differentiators. They also do not add value to the audience. The custom content that is created by JRH Graphics will highlight your unique business and its goals. Millions of pieces of content are added to social media every day; you won’t stand out on social media with generic content that adds no value to your audience.

    What makes JRH Graphics different? Multiple services all aimed at helping you reach your goal of telling your winning story to your audience.

    Flexible Options to Meet The Needs of Our Clients

    Every business is as different as the owner. For our services to work with a variety of companies, we offer flexible options to our clients. We allow each client to change the type or level of service needed on a month to month basis. Flexibility enables our clients to increase or decrease coverage based on needs. As well as allowing them to scale their services as they build the business. We focus on the needs of each client by only providing them services they want.

    To highlight how we can utilize the services offered by JRH Graphics to help businesses tell their story, we will look at Urban Jungle DC.

    The Story of Urban Jungle DC A Premier Botanique

    Urban Jungle developing the storyI had known Cody Alexander, owner of Urban Jungle DC for a few years before I began working with him. When I met him, he was a nurse, but his real love was plants, particularly orchids. Shortly after that, he and his partner began running a small garden center out of the first floor of their home in Washington, DC.  Over time they stared to experience some of the growing pains common in small businesses. They had too many clients to handle daily. But not enough clients or exposure to make a more substantial investment in the business. We had spoken about this by chance, approximately two days before I left my full-time job. I provided him with some tips based on my experience as a retail manager. I also offered him some details on social media marketing, as that was my current love.

    My Story with the Jungle Junkies Begins

    I joined the team of Urban Jungle DC as the “PR Guy” officially in January. Our first major test would be the upcoming Valentine’s Day Holiday. We had a lot of work to do in a limited amount of time. Luckily, I was able to have the Urban Jungle intern work on the specifics of the Valentine’s Day promotion. Meanwhile, I tackled other branding and story-related things. Those first few weeks, I spent a lot of time talking with Cody. I was asking a lot of questions about his brand, his philosophy on life, where he fit in as a business in the DC area, and more. I was gathering the information I needed to define his brand and differentiators. Additionally, I was observing the daily operations of the business.

    Business Consulting Services at Urban Jungle

    At Urban Jungle, the formula for success had a few components. First, they had the best exotic and easy to care for plants in the area. Secondly, we added some creative storytelling and themes to the mix adding in some quirkiness and interest. Thirdly, we focused on education and plant care. Finally, we made sure to feature the passion and love for plants that ower, Cody Alexander showcased in all that he did.

    Having the best available product does not automatically equal a win for a business. Our other key differentiators needed to be just as visible, if not more evident than the plants. Urban Jungle provided each customer with in-depth care for all of their plants, even if they did not buy them at Urban Jungle. Walk-in Clinic hours to help customers diagnose sick plants were also available. Quirky and unique containers for many of their plants was a fun aspect of the brand. We made sure that when customers came into the store, they saw lots of unique options.

    Cody Alexander as A Key Differentiator

    Cody was a Key Brand differentiatorA business without a heart, without a, why, without energy, and without passion will always fail. Cody was all of these things for this business and more. Cody was the key brand differentiator for this business. It was the one thing nobody else had. As a brand differentiator, Cody was the face of Urban Jungle. The success or failure of the company was tied to his success.

    When You Are Your Brand, Literally

    For this to be possible, we also needed to create procedures, standards and simplify other operational issues. Streamlining procedures would allow Cody to could continue positively contribute to the community, collaborate with other business leaders, and teach classes. Once these details were hammered out, we were able to start building on our successes. We were able to expand our offerings and our audience. While Cody focused on being the brand, I focused on promoting the brand.

    Social Media Management and Content Creation at Urban Jungle DC

    At Urban Jungle DC, my role as PR Guy. I managed all the social media accounts and created all the content for each profile. These two services were linked together for Urban Jungle but are not always depending on the business. Working with Cody, we developed a plan for the social media content to feature the educational aspects of the business, as well as a bit of quirkiness and fun. “Plants with Personality” became an important theme. It allowed us to tell the Urban Jungle story through the eyes of the plants. Other central aspects of the social media marketing included a focus on collaboration, building on successes, and finding unique ways to tell our story.

    Plants with Personality

    From movie start orchids running from papparazi to scorned succulents who hated supporting the orchids. All of the plants were part of the story at Urban Jungle, which was an amazingly successful storytelling tool. The audience would become connected to these characters. Some of the characters like the Wandering Cactus would make repeat appearances. Often people would come in looking to adopt a plant that was featured, calling them by the characters’ name in the social media post.

    Building A Community of Jungle Junkies

    From our first Valentine’s Day promotion, we focused on building a community around the Urban Jungle brand. A community of Jungle Junkies that loved plants. A community that became a part of the story. From influencers that became friends to customers that would come by daily, we made sure to feature as many of them as possible and build on a campaigns success. Once a Jungle Junkie always a Jungle Junkie!

    The Results

    The results we saw at Urban Jungle DC were incredible; through our efforts, he increased his followers on Instagram from 1,000 to 18,000. Sales doubled year over year. He expanded the footprint of his business and was featured in locations like Shop Made in DC, Steadfast Supply, and Think Local DC Markets. Urban Jungle was named the best place in DC to buy plants by the DCist. The shop was also featured in publications like the Washington City Paper and The Washingtonian. Urban Jungle DC was the new kid on the new kid on the block, but they quickly became a top brand and the Premier Botanique in the area.

    Flexibility to Tell Your Winning Story

    Flexibility and custom options allow our clients to select the services necessary to tell their winning stories. We focus on what our clients need at any particular moment and can build a package that will help them succeed. This different approach is what allows us to be successful with a variety of clients, no matter the strengths or needs.