And the wildest part of it all? This all happened because of a little app called Instagram.

Truth be told, I was late in joining the Instagram party — I wasn’t even on Facebook at the time. I was more of a ‘could live on a secluded beach and avoid social media forever’ kinda gal. I’m not much of the entrepreneurial stereotype — you know, the tech-savvy, big-city lovin’ fashionista who works from voguish cafes and takes enviable selfies for her meticulous Instagram feed? I admire those women, but they’re definitely not me.

So how did I get 100K followers on Instagram in just 10 months?

That’s a question I get asked all the time. It all started with a casual decision to download Instagram and see what the fuss was all about. As I explored, I was blown away by all the talent online. I took a short course on building a professional account from Foundr Magazine (where my husband works), and from there my account quickly evolved into a purely curation page. Most of my followers didn’t know me per se, but they resonated with the content I was collecting. I showcased work from international artists (with full attribution each time, of course), while sharing short snippets of my own journey along the way. This allowed me to quickly make lots of creative friends online, including a few that are now influential artists with huge followings.

But making friends, while incredible, wasn’t enough. So how did I grow so rapidly?

In a nutshell: self-education, passion, persistence, and hard work. Just like anything else, it takes time and sweat. Thankfully, I’ve learned a few important lessons along the way — lessons anyone can benefit from. If you’re looking to upgrade your Instagram brand, make sure you stick to these steps.

• Consistency is your friend.

Like every other social media platform, Instagram rewards engagement. When I first started, I noticed the accounts that were doing well were posting up to 3 times a day — so I started by making consistency my number one priority. Instagram’s ever-changing algorithm means you may not always get the engagement you want, but one thing you can bank on is that if you show commitment to the platform by posting like a machine, you will see those followers increase organically.

• Look for trends in your niche, and ideally try to forecast its effects, so that you can incorporate them into your content strategy.

Another thing I noticed when I started out was that big accounts focus on ‘viral’ content, like the latest makeup trend, or whatever new hack that might take Instagram MUAs by storm. They hijacked the trends to their advantage. If you can forecast the trends — even better! This takes consistent research, but trust me — it’s worth it. Look at what the trending hashtags are in your niche and beyond; look for trends and patterns. Then, simply align your content with the top trends.

Similarly, I started looking for “unicorn” posts — these were posts that would massively outperform any others in terms of likes and comments. Whenever I saw a unicorn post, I looked for commonalities between them, to see why they were in high-demand. Trends often played a part in this! Some of these trends don’t last, but by jumping onto trends, your posts are more likely to go viral, resulting in increased influence and following.

• Look at what the influencers in your niche are doing, and follow with military precision.

I researched who the top MUAs were at the time, and looked at their content to find out what seemed to be most favoured by the algorithm. I used apps to discover their top posts (‘most commented on’ would usually be the best criteria), and I dove in to find out what they were doing differently. As a result of the patterns I observed and applied to my account, many of my posts went viral — often receiving thousands, hundreds of thousands, and in a few instances — over a million views! This created instant growth for me and the artists I featured on my account, which then resulted in great online friendships, work related collaborations, and more growth and engagement as bigger MUAs engaged with my account.

• Grab a drink and engage.

Think of Instagram like a networking party — an extremely valuable one. Make time every single day to engage, even if it’s only for 10 minutes in the evening.

Many people just focus on getting likes or comments (which aren’t always a reflection of your performance, because they are heavily impacted by an algorithm), and they forget to take the time to add value or contribute to the community. But networking here is exactly like in the offline world: You’ve got to be a giver. The more you give, the more you’ll get in return. Whether it’s potential customers, current followers, influencers in your niche, brands you love, companies you admire, or even your competitors (yes, I said the C word, which brings me to my next point) — make time to authentically engage.

• Collaborate, don’t compete.

You have to think big in the online space. Apply the growth mindset of abundance. Others’ success does not limit you in any way. On the contrary; if you can join forces in some way, you could both do even better! There is plenty to go around. You don’t have to collaborate with everyone, but always find ways to support, encourage and cross-promote, so that the end result is a scenario where everyone wins. It’s so easy to do this via shout-outs, or even reposting content on your feed and linking back to the original profile. You’ll create a positive vibe, build a community, and automatically open yourself up to new audiences and followers, too.

Depending on your line of work, this is one of the best ways to monetize (more on that later).

• Become influential by giving.

First, seek to add value. Educate your market in the areas of your expertise, whether it’s through personal stories, technical knowledge, tutorials, before and after photos, inspirational quotes and captions, or something else. It’s easy to direct your audience to your website or promotions through these posts, too — but remember, you’re only going to get that buy-in if you’ve already added consistent value.

You cannot control the algorithm, your clients, the followers, or the likes or comments you receive — because all these factors are always changing. The one thing that remains the same, that you can control, is how committed you are to adding value. Are you putting out high level content that does your brand and reputation justice, and creates an overall positive impact? Doing this will enable you to ride out the tough seasons online, and eventually create amazing long-term opportunities for yourself. It’s a marathon, not a sprint; it’s about the long-term results.

• Utilise influencer marketing and user-generated content to increase sales.

There is nothing more powerful than someone you trust telling you about a product, service, or tool that they love. Make use of influencer marketing for your business, because at a bare minimum, it’s added exposure and credibility for your brand. If you do it right, it can provide so much more than that — including sales. Get as much user-generated content for your posts as possible. Use your clients and support network, including testimonials, before and after photos, case studies, and the like. Get creative. Utilize the audience you have!

• Monetize with integrity.

If you want to start monetizing your instagram, start small, and always apply a high standard to your collaborations. Integrity is key — do not promote a brand, product, or service that doesn’t meet the quality your audience would expect, and/or doesn’t match your brand values and personal standards. Be ruthless in those standards; know exactly what and whom you will be willing to promote through your account. You’ll never see me collaborating with a brand who tests on animals, for example, because that breaks my values.

My audience knows that I will only support cruelty-free beauty; if I changed that, not only would I be lowering my standards, I’d be losing my audience! Stay true to your values and remain on-brand. Never compromise your ethics for short-term monetary gain.

Wait a Minute — Just How Exactly Do You MONETIZE?

On Instagram, monetizing starts with collaboration. As my account gained momentum, I started to tag relevant brands, any related companies, influencers, and people in my niche, in order to drive them to my posts. I also changed my profile and bio to reflect that I was open to collaborations, and provided an email address so they could contact me easily. I engaged with the accounts of those ‘dream’ companies, the ones that I really wanted to work with. Soon, I began to collaborate with companies — at first, just in exchange for products. That’s how you start. Start with offering a post and/or story in exchange for product, then — once you’ve got experience and momentum — start to charge per post. The price you charge will depend on your audience and your industry; do some research and make sure you’re charging what you’re worth. Don’t undervalue yourself to keep a client; make sure the work and the time it will take will be worth it for you, too.

The big players with good accounts know that it’s simply about exposure, and the more micro and macro influencers they get on board, especially simultaneously (known as the Thunderclap Strategy), the more they’ll be front of mind and get long-term results.

When you do start working with brands, the best thing you can do is over-deliver. Look at the brand, their audience, their theme, their values, their goals — get a real understanding of what they’re about, and target your collaboration towards helping them achieve the result they want. Sometimes it’s creating awareness for one specific product (is there a key ingredient that will really drive sales? Mention it!), or sometimes there’s a specific type of person who will resonate with the brand (call them out in the caption!). Other times, there will be a current trend you can utilize to make your post ultra-relevant. Get creative; your goal is to authentically and effectively sell for this brand, so make sure you use your experience — personalise it as much as possible with any expert tips and tricks.

Instagram Is Where It’s At

If you’re a business owner or entrepreneur (and particularly if you’re in the beauty niche), Instagram is your most powerful digital marketing weapon! Engagement with brands is up to 10 times higher on Instagram than with Facebook. Most buying decisions are made online these days, rather than through traditional advertising — so you want multiple and varied strategies to target your potential clients, and to monetise through Instagram directly. Make your Instagram work for you, and your business (and revenue) will soon upgrade accordingly.

Neha Hobson runs a boutique consultancy business, providing Instagram account management and coaching services for beauty businesses. She also has a professional beauty blog and collaborates with beauty brands for product reviews, and Influencers/MUAs for interviews and beauty content.

For more information on any of these, contact Neha via www.beautybyneha.com or follow her 140K+ Instagram Account on @neha_makeupartist & @_beautybyneha_. She would love to connect with you!

This article originally appeared in our Fall 2019 MONEY Issue. Download for FREE here!

The post Level Up (And Monetize!) Your Instagram Game appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

For many women entrepreneurs, masterminds have become the answer to getting the guidance and support we all crave along this journey.

The term mastermind seems to be pretty trendy right now, but they’ve been around for hundreds of years. The term simply refers to a group of people who come together with the goal to grow and improve themselves. Benjamin Franklin gathered a group together in 1727 with the goal of improving themselves and helping others along the way. In 1925, Napoleon Hill came up with the word mastermind for his book Think and Grow Rich, where he wrote that groups and partnerships with aligned goals were one of the keys to his success.

Benefits of Joining a Mastermind

If you are ready to go bigger in your business and life, a mastermind could be your vehicle to get you there. Firstly, a mastermind can offer you some serious accountability. Once you say your goals out loud and regularly report back on them, it’s a lot harder to give up. A huge benefit for me as a work-at-home mom has been the connections I’ve made. This work can be lonely, so having a group of colleagues who will always be there for me has felt like magic. The group will not only help you break into new networks and give business advice, they will be there for you as a person.

Joining a mastermind will also give you a chance to share your own wisdom. You will have the opportunity to share your own experiences, and experiment with new ones. My greatest takeaway from joining a mastermind is that the only difference between me and the people getting bigger results is that those people move faster. They have an idea, and they act on it without overthinking every detail. Learning that has forced me to take more risks and move faster in my own business, and that has made a huge difference.

What to Look For

While joining a mastermind could be a game changer for you, make sure you find a group that’s actually a good fit. First, take some time to think about what you would like to get out of the experience. If you know that you want to make six figures this year, then seek out a mastermind with members already making that income. A mastermind full of $30,000 earners will not push you to the next level.

Next, think about how you like to be coached, and connect with a mastermind that fits your needs and style. Look for a strong leader who keeps the group motivated and moving forward. Don’t hesitate to ask the leader or coach what kinds of results the mastermind members are achieving since joining; a great leader will be happy to brag about their group.

How to Start Your Own

If you haven’t found the right fit for you, consider starting your own group. Starting your own mastermind will be energizing for you and your business, as well as gain you some serious credibility. Start seeking out friends and colleagues who are already doing what you’d like to do, who are building what you’d like to build. Connect with them and propose the group as a mutually beneficial exercise.

Once you assemble your group, set some expectations for meetings times and mutual goals. Masterminds are powerful because they stretch us, so don’t play it safe here. Trust your group enough to share your big sparkly dream, and support others who do the same.

Find Support

Whether or not you decide to join a mastermind, make sure that you are seeking support on your entrepreneurial journey. We cannot do this without each other, and we certainly can’t grow and upgrade without guidance and support — so dedicate time each week to connect with your fellow entrepreneurs. You’ll be surprised at what a difference it makes to your quality of life and overall success.

As Napoleon Hill said, “No mind is complete by itself. It needs contact and association with other minds to grow and expand.”

Make contact, and keep expanding.

This article originally appeared in our Fall 2019 MONEY Issue. Download for FREE here!

The post How Joining A Mastermind Can Jump Start Your Career appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

I’ve had the honor to serve over 100 women within the last 8 months, and I’ve seen this happen first hand. More importantly, I’ve seen the specific mistakes women are making that are getting in the way of this goal — rookie business mistakes that keep you from scaling to the level your hard work deserves. Don’t get caught in this trap; avoid these mistakes and improve your impact, money, and freedom TODAY!

Mistake #1: You Think that a Website/Logo/Photoshoot should be your FIRST priority.

Branding can be fun, and certainly works our creative (sometimes vain) muscles, but that’s not your first priority. Discovering the problem that you can solve for your client, and understanding the competitors in the market, is the most essential first step for a business foundation. Don’t focus on anything else until you’ve got this figured out. 

Take the time to test your brilliance with a few clients — ensure you’re aligned with their mission and direction, and learn about how you make their lives better. When you’re SUPER clear on that, then it’s time to build your brand and get all your ducks in a row to shine as a high-end expert. This will save you money and time; branding is a very important aspect to a business, but it is NOT the first step!

Mistake #2: You’re Not Establishing a Deep Connection with your Soul Client.

Don’t assume you know your clients; instead, consistently create market research strategies in your business model. Make sure you truly, deeply know your clients — know them like you know significant other or child.

• What do he/she lay awake thinking about at night?
• Why is the problem you’re solving so urgent to them?
• What will happen if they don’t get this problem solved?
• What are the key words that trigger your soul client?

Mistake #3: You think you can “DIY” EVERYTHING in your Business.

There are many hats involved in running a successful Empire, and new entrepreneurs often try to do it all. Problem is — you can’t do it all! If you try, you’re lowering your own value, because you’re taking away from time focused on your most powerful skill set. When you’re focused on your own zone of genius, you can do less information downloading and MORE implementation — and that’s a key step towards monetizing your brilliance. Outsource as much as possible. If finances are constrained, seek interns who can earn student credit while learning from your business practices!

Mistake #4: You Fail to Follow-up.

You leave so much money on the table when you fail to follow up. Following up doesn’t just close sales, it enhances client satisfaction and creates powerful opportunities for referrals. Create a system to check in with your clients while in the middle of a project, and then again at the end. Ask them for feedback; ask them to post reviews. Be bold with your follow up! The more people raving about your brand, the more sustainable your empire will be.

Mistake #5: You Overlook Your Small Tribe of Followers. 

When you’re first starting out, you may not have a huge list of followers — and then it’s easy to neglect them, to let those relationships fall through the cracks. But your first followers are the GREATEST ASSETS to your movement and mission. It’s your job to address these 5, 10, or 100 people as if you were speaking to ten of thousands! Ask questions to get a better understanding on HOW to attract MORE of those same types of people; they are your true soul client! 

It takes time to build a primed and ready-to-buy audience, and you’ve got to build those relationships. It’s easy to feel frustrated when things don’t happen right away, but always remember: it takes 6 months to build a Rolls-Royce, and 13 hours to build a Toyota.

Mistake #6: You Think Posting an Offer One Time is Sufficient. 

We never want to come across as salesly or spammy in social media, but sometimes this fear keeps us from communicating clearly to our followers. In the social media world, you’ve got to repeat yourself consistently; your prospective clients typically need to see your offer 3-5 times before they hit that button — even if it’s a free offer! If you just bashfully post once in the morning, you’re doing your followers (and yourself) a disservice. Be adamant about your message, as if you had a cure to a deadly disease — because, for your soul client, that’s what your solution feels like: the perfect cure.

Mistake #7: You Assume Networking is a Waste of Time.

RELATIONSHIP MARKETING IS KEY! A person only invests in your services when they know, like, and trust you. I recommend you randomly connect with 3-5 NEW people each week via Social media or live events. Make these connections real; actually look to make friends and build relationships, not just cold-pitch strangers. You can build an authentic relationship by asking questions to learn more about their needs; people love talking about themselves! And you never know where the conversation might lead — or the connections it may bring.

Mistake #8: You Drop Your Prices to Attract More Clients.

When your services are not selling the way you’d hoped, before you drop your price, examine your motives. Never drop prices out of desperation; guaranteed you’ll regret that! Instead, do your research and understand both your industry price range, AND your clients’ disposable income levels. Pricing doesn’t matter when people see something they need and value. The price you set on your programs or services communicates the confidence you have in your skills! This reflects the belief that you CAN solve your clients’ problem, and ensures you don’t end up giving away your incredibly valuable work.

Mistake #9: You Randomly Post in Multiple Facebook Groups.

A lot of people use the ‘group posting’ method to gain visibility, but consumers are starting to see through it. Posting randomly in other organizer’s Facebook groups has become a huge turn-off to viewers. 

Instead, create your own platform to become an Authoritative Figure in your Industry! Become a Content Creator via Blogging, Video, Podcast, or Social Media; host a Masterclass/Webinar/Event; share your clients’ positive results! Just don’t force information to a place where viewers didn’t sign up to see that.

Mistake #10: You Have not Mastered the Art & Science of Selling.

In my experience, women especially have a problem with this step. We’re taught not to ‘step on people’s toes,’ and most of us feel sleazy, gimmicky, or overly assertive when attempting to sell products/programs/services. But selling isn’t sleazy, and you shouldn’t hold back — not when you have a solution your ideal client NEEDS! If you’re not selling, you’re preventing them from discovering something that could make their lives infinitely better: You. Your soul client will have no problem hearing a sales pitch — because they desperately want what you’re offering! You must embrace the fact that you are selling, and know it’s apart of daily life. Selling is the livelihood of your business. Awesome Salespeople are not born, they’re made — it’s a skill set that can be learned by anyone with enough practice. If you don’t learn how to master the art of Selling, then your business is at serious risk.

Reaching that illustrious income level of $10k per month might seem distant, but it’s closer than you’ve ever realized. You absolutely have the power to get your business to that level — you have the tools and solutions that your soul client needs; you’ve just got to make that connection. Avoid these common mistakes, and trust me — you’re well on your way.

Erica Stepteau is an author, speaker, and growth & sales strategist who empowers ambitious entrepreneurs to master the art & science of selling so that they catapult their IMPACT, MONEY, and FREEDOM. She is the CEO/Founder Tenacious Queen Academy, LL, on a mission to empower 1 million entrepreneurs to charge what they’re worth. Join her Facebook Community or her Queen Inner Circle — learn more at www.ericastepteau.com.

This article originally appeared in our Fall 2019 digital magazine — download the full issue here!

The post 10 Mistakes Keeping You From CONSISTENT $10k Months appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

“I have never been this fulfilled,” says Sugianto, founder of Dream Chatter.

The former television reporter turned business owner describes Dream Chatter as a hand up, not a hand out. The project provides employment for female artisans living on the small Indonesian island of Sumba. Using a loom made out of sticks and pieces of wood, the women weave unique fabric designs. It takes about a week to complete the fabric, which is then sent to small businesses to be turned into various products, like handbags and clothing.

“Everyone has a different design, different technique, different mindset of what they want their fabric to look like,” she says.

Sugianto, who lives in Northern California, is working with 20 female Indonesian artists from Sumba as she prepares for Dream Chatter’s official launch at the end of this month. Normally, the women have to purchase the material to make the fabric, then travel to markets to sell their products. With Dream Chatter, Sugianto makes the process easier and more affordable. “I’m paying them better [and] giving them supplies, so they don’t have to pay for the threads,” she explains.

Sugianto’s motivation is to help end poverty in her home country. She spent her childhood in Indonesia before moving to the United States, and her first visit to Sumba was last summer. That’s when she saw not only the beauty of the island, but also the lack of basic necessities. She tells me: “They really don’t have anything. The kids have to come home and drop out of school because they need to fetch water or farm. It’s survival mode.”

Dream Chatter’s website says the women are “guaranteed a fair trade [and] guaranteed an income—something they cannot get on their own.” Sugianto pays the female artisans 50 percent upfront; once their designs are completed, she pays the remainder. She also pays the small businesses she works with.

“I believe that handouts can create some dependency,” she says. “I want to give [the women] the tools so they can empower their children.”

This employment gives these women a livelihood — and the power to feed their children. In a video posted on Dream Chatter’s website, one of the women explains the money she makes through the project is “for everyday living so I can buy rice for the children and I can buy soap for the children.”

The final products made in Indonesia will be sold through the website. Sugianto plans to use the profits from the sold products to reinvest in the business and ultimately hire more women. Five percent of the profits also go back to nonprofits focused on children’s education.

As the launch quickly approaches, Sugianto admits she’s “anxious and nervous,” but believes in her project — and for good reason. They’ve already sold out of their prototypes! Still, “it’s not necessarily about the money at all,” she tells HER Magazine. “Could [Dream Chatter] be a seed to their children’s future? It’s their livelihood that weighs on my shoulders.”

Sugianto often makes her business calls in the middle of the night due to the time difference. For her, this is not only a passion project, but an adventure in starting a new business. “I’ve got all this stuff. I have a lot of things running through my head. What’s the most important thing to do this week?” she asks aloud, always looking forward and processing how she can make Dream Chatter successful.

Despite sleepless nights (Dream Chatter gets its name from the fact that she talks in her sleep), Sugianto is in this for the long haul. Her family, friends, and fiancé have provided her with the emotional and financial support to make this project happen, and knowing she’s helping provide jobs for other women means everything to her.

“Someone else needs me,” she says. “I’m not going to make a huge impact right away, but if it helps one family, it’s totally worth it.”

The post How One Woman Is Building Dreams With Jobs In Indonesia appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

As I finally sat down on my computer to put this together, the phrase ‘better late than never’ bombarded my thoughts. It is true that getting things done is better than not doing them at all —  the important stuff, anyway. So many of us put off our dreams, goals, desires —  whatever you call them.

What we do is create really GREAT excuses as to why this or that won’t work.

I had that moment a few months ago. I now have a 15-week-old daughter, and if you’ve been following my journey to motherhood and this publication, you’ll know it wasn’t an easy road. Two rounds of IVF, a fibroid surgery, and a frozen embryo transfer later, we gave birth to Jasmine. I thought, like everything else in my life, at the age of 37 —  this would be a breeze. I was in control. Baby J would acquiesce to my schedule and lifestyle.

But I was in for a big surprise. And that’s putting it lightly. In fact, the first few months, I felt a heaviness in my chest —  can I juggle work, a business and a baby?

Maybe it’s time I put some of my lofty goals for the magazine on the backburner. This was a serious thought I considered over and over again. I’m not a quitter, but in the midst of figuring out breastfeeding (that’s another topic) and newborn life —  the lack of sleep slapped me into submission.

This just isn’t realistic Nineveh.

It’s time to be a mother now.

In my head, I justified it over and over again. Maybe we’ll scale back, keep things where they’re at …just keep the engine running, ever so slowly.

But what fun is life if all we’re doing is just ‘keeping the lights on?’ No fun at all, if you ask me.

Then, something funny happened. Around week eight into motherhood, I turned a corner — and like a lightning rod, I was ready to get going. Not only did we NOT scale back, we expanded the team at HER Magazine and kicked our goals into high gear.

BIG changes are in store for the publication, and we here at HER Magazine couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come. When I felt like I couldn’t go on, I turned to the most inspirational women I could find — the women we feature here.

This issue features Mel Robbins, the most sought-out speaker in the world. Mel is someone I’ve had the pleasure of seeing LIVE three times, and it wasn’t until an intimate luncheon she was speaking at that I exercised her 5 Second Rule!

I got up the nerve to ask her, in front of the crowd, if she would agree to be on our cover. And by the way, this moment was three years in the making. I’ve wanted Mel to grace our cover for YEARS.

Thanks to my friend sitting at our table who recorded the entire spiel (thank you Shantel!) when we pitched her publicist — they said YES. I couldn’t be more thrilled to bring you Mel, who I’m sure will inspire you in our feature article — plus, she’s got some exciting news about what’s on the horizon.

Remember this quote: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

Better Late than Never. Or better yet, exercise the 5 Second Rule. I know that, as women, we feel like we to have to juggle it all —  but that’s what makes us so incredibly unique. When you feel like giving up, because we all do — take a break. Take a deep breathe, put things on hold if you have to …but don’t ever stop, because your goals are worth living.

I hope you enjoy this issue, and realize that the only reason Mel is on the cover is because I implemented her 5 Second Rule. In fact, our lives are made up of a series of decisions, every 5 seconds.

XOX

– Nineveh

The post Letter From The Founder: Better Late Than Never! appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

Instagram stories are Instagram’s version of disappearing content, meant for real-time sharing. More importantly? They are burning up engagement stats all over the place. Just like on Snapchat, users can share pictures and videos that will disappear after 24 hours. Unlike the friendly ghost, however, Instastories are growing like crazy.

Instagram released the story feature in August 2016, and in less than six months had 150 million daily story users. It took Snapchat six years to reach that number! While that might not be quite a fair comparison, the reality is Instagram Stories were taking over from the start: the number of active Snapchat users decreased 40 percent after Instagram released the story feature. 

Instagram Stories is where it’s at, and if you’re business isn’t already involved, you’re behind the times. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to master the medium, we’ve got your back. Ready to get in on that engagement? Here are five ways to make the most of your 15 seconds of fame.

1. Be Consistent

Because your stories will disappear after 24 hours, it is crucial to keep engaging: you’ve got to post every day. Trust us; it’s going to be worth your time. Instagram users are highly engaged in stories, and over one-third of the most viewed stories come from businesses! That could be you! This works because Instagram stories don’t feel like ads. Consumers love watching the behind-the-scenes process, so give the people what they want and share away. Not sure what to post? The top-performing stories include how-to’s, behind-the-scenes, listicles, announcements, and takeovers.

2. Make Connections

Another Instagram advantage over Snapchat is that it allows you to tag other users in your content. If you decide to show your morning coffee, try linking to @starbucks. The company will be alerted that you tagged them, and it could open the door for future collaborations.

This also means that your own consumers could tag you, so always include a call-to-action about sharing your product, and reach out to everyone who features you in their stories. This could take just moments of your day, but it will leave a lasting impression on your users that will be worth more than any ad campaign.

3. Embrace Imperfection

The appeal of Instagram stories is that they are unpolished. Readers and consumers want to know the real you behind the business, so don’t be afraid to experiment and show a little bit of everything. About 70 percent of Instagram stories are watched with the sound on, so take people on a journey throughout your day and explain what you’re doing.

You could even ask your audience for feedback on what you’re creating. One in five Instagram stories receives a direct message, so be transparent with what you’re working on or struggling with, and ask for feedback!

4. Stay in Your Lane

Getting excited about these engagement numbers? Me, too — but let’s take a beat and make sure we’re sharing the right content. A study conducted by Facebook found that the highest rated Instagram stories always shared relevant content to their brand and audience. You’re telling your brand’s story through pictures and videos, so make sure it makes sense in this slideshow format.

For example, a health coach might share pictures of their salad at lunch, or their morning workout. That fits with their brand, and will be interesting for their audience. If they only show pics of their family and cats, on the other hand, that won’t sustain the engagement they’re after.  Lead with value, and your engagement will naturally climb.

5. Try Some Ads

If you have an Instagram business account, running story ads could be a helpful experiment for your business. Instagram has over 300 million daily users, and one-third of those users reported that the ads they see in Instagram stories positively impacted how they viewed a brand. Let that sink in. Every single day there are 100 million people who would actually enjoy seeing an ad from you! Keep your 15-second ads fast-paced, fun, and casual. You can always tweak as you go — so start engaging today.

Have Fun!

Like with any social media channel, Instagram Stories are just another way for you to experiment, and to have some fun connecting with your customers. If you’re having fun, that usually means you’re being authentic — and authenticity trumps just about anything when it comes to connecting to your uses. So don’t take yourself too seriously; jump in and get started. Your followers are waiting for you!

The post Why Your Business Needs Instagram Stories — and How To Get On Board appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

Don’t feel bad. Having trained over 3,000 managers and executives in the art of negotiating, I’ve seen some of the toughest and most experienced commercial negotiators fold under pressure when the topic turns to their own employment. 

It’s not easy — you’re personally invested in the outcome, and you’re joined at the hip to the other side – your boss – once the deal is agreed.  

But fear not! Here are a few tips to help you negotiate like a boss at your next performance review… 

1) Stop Negotiating With Yourself 

“One woman says she can; another says she cannot. They are both right.” 

Okay, I’ve tweaked this famous quote from Confucius, but it’s still true — we must calm that inner voice that tells us we can’t. 

Most people tend to focus their planning time worrying about their weaknesses, not focused on their sources of strength. 

Negotiating leverage comes from understanding the needs, wants, priorities and fears of the other side. If you really take the time to work out what your boss wants to achieve this year, her goals and vision, and her “pain points,” you’ll be in a much better position to negotiate.  

Can you help her avoid the loss of key staff? Help hit her financial goals? Mentor others on the team? Support that new marketing initiative? If she values it, and you can help, that’s real leverage. 

On the flip side, what negative things could you help her avoid? What’s the consequence for your boss if you left? What would it cost to replace you and train someone else up from scratch? 

It’s much cheaper to keep a good employee than to find one. Remember – negotiating is about them, not just you. 

2) Be Specific

Let’s face it: “I want a raise” is vague. 

Have a clear set of objectives and know your priorities – but don’t just focus on money.  What other issues are important? An extra week of vacation, the ability to work from home, or access to that critical but expensive training class, might all be more valuable to you in the long term than a raise. 

For each major issue, write down a specific goal — and be realistic (a company car might make sense, a Ferrari probably doesn’t). 

If you’re stuck on how far to push, consider the “red face test.” Ask yourself what’s the most rewarding thing you could ask for without blushing. If you can deliver it confidently, and support it with logic, then it’s probably about right. 

3) Split the Meeting in Half 

Plan the negotiation with your boss in two halves: 

• a “Discovery” phase, where you find out your boss’ goals and priorities, and set her expectations (broadly) on the things that are important for you.
• a “Proposal” phase where you take that information and make a specific proposal that addresses both sides’ needs. 

Playing darts with a blindfold might be fun, but it’s not a great negotiating strategy!  Take the time for that Discovery phase. 

4) Adopt the SPICE GIRLS Strategy 

Baby Spice had it right all along: “Ahh, tell me what you want, what you really, really want!” 

Be brave, be optimistic, and act to make that first proposal. By anchoring the negotiation with the first credible proposal, rather than letting them start things off, you’re much more likely to end up with what you want. 

Prepare your boss for the proposal.  For example, as you wrap up your discovery meeting, say something like: 

“Thanks for helping me understand your goals for revenue growth and staff retention. I’d like to come back to you tomorrow with a considered proposal that will help us meet these goals, and move my career towards that Director role I discussed. How does that sound?” 

5) Don’t Be Afraid of Dr. NO

Make your proposal, seek a response, and then? Listen. 

If your boss says no, be curious — not defensive. Ask which bits she likes, which bits she doesn’t, and why. Then be ready to reshape the deal to address any genuine problems. It helps if you’ve prepared a “Wish List” of nice-to-haves in advance, so you can trade any concessions rather than giving them away. 

A Final Thought… 

In all my years of running businesses, the staff I valued most were the ones who were prepared to negotiate with me. I wanted to retain those people; they were confident, and they cared about my goals. That meant they were probably doing a better job of negotiating with our clients and suppliers than those who just politely accepted an offer letter that came out of a machine. 

Be brave, be optimistic, and negotiate. 

The post Negotiate Your Way To A Serious Raise: 5 Tips From A Pro appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

This article salutes some of the first, best, groundbreaking, utterly badass, world-changing women of STEM from the past two hundred years.

Ada Lovelace: Prophetess of Modern Computing

1815-1852

When Charles Babbage designed the Analytical Engine, few people understood it. That’s where Ada Lovelace came in, basically schooling every scientist of her time on the potential of modern computing.

She recognized Babbage’s machine could be more than just a calculation engine. A visionary, she believed its functionality could be applied to words, pictures, and music. In other words, she foretold modern computing.

If that weren’t enough, she also wrote the first computer program to go with it, using looping and conditional branching techniques still in use today.

Marie Curie. Because science.

1867-1934

No discussion of groundbreaking women of STEM would be complete without mentioning two-time Nobel prize winner Marie Curie.

Curie (along with her husband Pierre Curie) discovered two elements: polonium and radium. Her work forms the basis for x-ray technology and cancer treatments which have saved countless lives.

Not content to just be the first lady of science, she also began a prize-winning science dynasty: her daughter Irene Joliot-Curie won the Nobel prize in 1935. And Marie’s granddaughter, Hélène Langevin-Joliot, is a nuclear physicist who still consults for the French government today.

Lillian Moller Gilbreth, Industrial Engineering Pioneer

1878-1972

Perhaps you grew up watching or reading Cheaper by the Dozen, the story of twelve kids growing up with efficiency-expert-parents — but you might not have realized the real-life scientist behind the story was Lillian Moller Gilbreth.

Gilbreth has been called a “genius in the art of living.” An engineer and doctor in psychology, and considered to be the first industrial/organizational psychologist, she took her knowledge of the scientific process and combined it with her husband’s passion for efficiency. Together, they revolutionized industrial engineering. Her daughter later wrote a book on how they applied that knowledge to their family life, which was made into the film you know and love today.

Gilbreth was the first to meld psychology, the scientific method, and industrial design — giving rise to entirely new disciplines. This science is at the forefront of making our work and play better, and we have her to thank for that.

Grace Hopper, Because Necessity is the Mother of Modern Computing Language

1906-1992

Many people don’t realize it was women who were at the forefront of early programming. One of these women was Dr. Grace Murray Hopper.

In those days, programming required heavy math skills, something many businessmen didn’t possess. Hopper envisioned a user-friendly computer language which would make it possible for businessmen to program. FLOW-MATIC was born.

FLOW-MATIC is not just a great name for a rap album—it was the first English-like data processing language. Her work gave rise to COBOL, a computer programming language designed for use in commerce, which is still in use today.

Hedy Lamarr, Technology Ninja

1914-2000

If you’re reading this article on your Bluetooth-enabled tablet over WiFi, you can thank Hedy Lamarr.

Many people know her as a sultry 1930s film star, but she was also an inventor. Self-taught, she was the sort of nerd who would rather stay home inventing than attend a Hollywood party — even though she most certainly had invites to all of those Hollywood parties.

At the beginning of World War II, she came up with the idea of using frequency-hopping to keep Axis powers from intercepting communications. This technology matured into the Bluetooth and WiFi we use to this day! Her ideas have improved everything from television, to printers, to those in-home virtual assistants we’re finally getting. All because of the glamorous Hedy Lamarr.

Erna Hoover, Revolutionary Software Designer

1926-

You may not know her name, but Erna Hoover revolutionized the communications industry — while she was on maternity leave.

After earning her Ph.D at Yale, Mrs. Hoover took a job at Bell Labs. A few short years later, while in the hospital recuperating from the birth of her second daughter, she had an epiphany.

You see, up until then, phone systems were hardwired and frequently became overloaded. Hoover envisioned a way to use software to manage it — basically revolutionizing modern communications.

Hoover received one of the first software patents ever for her design, and the principles of her invention are still in use today.

Roma Agrawal: Tomorrow’s Engineer, Today.

1983-

Roma Agrawal is only at the beginning of what is becoming an illustrious career in Structural Engineering. Only 35 years of age, Agrawal has already worked on major projects like London’s Shard.

Born in Ithaca and raised in Mumbai, Agrawal came to London to complete her degree. Since then, she’s built a towering list of achievements, including Young Structural Engineer of the Year.

Though women comprise only 8% of engineers in the UK, Agrawal is working to change that. With a long career still ahead of her, she’s one to watch in the coming years.

The Next 200 Years

The world is better because of the work of these women — women who’ve challenged stereotypes and entered fields previously dominated by men. They came with their own fresh insight, bringing new understanding into existing fields. Whether it’s by combining disciplines, or by making unparalleled contributions, they’ve given rise to the tools and technologies indispensable in today’s world.

Rock on, women of STEM.

The post These Women Built Your Wifi: A Salute To The Historical Women In STEM appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

In other words, Robbins is definitely our kind of woman.

One thread throughout all of Robbins’ work? Authenticity. She is herself, through and through, no matter what she’s doing. In fact, a fellow law professional gave her some advice to that end when she first got into media. We’re talking about none other than the Judge Judy. “Don’t ever change who you are,” the T.V. judge told her. “If somebody asks you to do something that makes you uncomfortable, always say ‘no,’ no matter what the consequences are.”

Robbins doesn’t shy away from being herself — and that includes some very strong opinions. Although politics is a topic that many coaches and business owners are told to avoid, Robbins is not just a coach and business owner — she’s a CNN commentator. She has to share her opinions, even if it’s not what her target audience wants to hear. “With my work with CNN, I don’t hold anything back in my articles and commentary,” says Robbins. “I’m proud of my pieces for CNN and strive to keep them smart, science-backed, and thoughtful – not just political rants. For that reason, I truly believe that someone on any side of the political spectrum could read one of my articles and find something to agree with. I try to find a common theme across all people.”

That being said, she is careful not to cross-pollinate with her business brand. “For my media and speaking business, I don’t aim to make it political. I actually don’t post links to my CNN articles on any of my personal or business social media accounts, my newsletter, or in my courses. If people want to find the CNN articles, that’s awesome. But I don’t specifically push them out to my audience.” A strategy that’s doubtless difficult to master, but Robbins does so with grace to spare.

Check out Mel in our Summer Issue HERE!

Clearly, there’s a method to balancing so many different pursuits. As entrepreneurs, we all can fall prey to burnout syndrome, so we were eager to hear not only how Robbins stays so successful, but how she stays so sane. Of course, she has a team who supports her; delegating tasks is a hallmark of any effective leader. “Everyone that I’ve hired has incredible skills that fill in my gaps,” she says. “It’s important to know your strengths and focus on them, and when you’re ready to hire, hire people who are good at the things that are your weaknesses.”

But what about the daily demands? How do you maintain a schedule with some semblance of normalcy when any number of wildly influential, international projects demand your attention? Well, as it turns out, while Robbins’ ‘average’ day is anything but, there are a few habits she never neglects.

“First, I always wake up and pop right out of bed,” she explains. “I never hit the snooze button. I also never sleep near my phone or check my phone after waking up. Next, while getting ready, I think about my major priorities for the day ahead. What do I want to accomplish that will move the ball forward in meaningful ways?

“After this, I take 30 minutes to plan my day. This means choosing my top priorities and then starting to make progress on at least one of them. Not until after this do I check my phone or email. Sometimes this means waking up really early, especially when I’ve got a morning tech check!

“My other daily habits? I always plan my quitting time, which is when I will stop working. This forces me to put a deadline on my work and spend quality time with my family.” The mother of three children, Robbins makes sure to build that time into her schedule so she can be present with her family in the midst of building an expansive career. But she doesn’t have patience for anyone who suggests that those two things might be mutually exclusive:

“I often get asked questions by women struggling with the guilt they feel when they start needing time away from family to pursue their own dreams. Consider this perspective: the two most important things we can do for kids is to love them inside and out, and to teach our kids how to be confident, courageous, and compassionate enough to pursue their own dreams. We want that for our children, don’t we? And the best way to teach these things: BE THESE THINGS. As a woman, pursue your dreams. Be courageous. Don’t feel guilty about it. Feel proud of your pursuits. You are an example to girls everywhere of what a woman in action looks like — I believe it is the most powerful gift you can give to your children and to yourself.”

Robbins recently released a daily journal, full of journaling strategies and beautifully hand crafted by artisans in New York. “This is something that I’m really pumped about,” Robbins says of the project. “It’s the exact same journaling method that I’ve been using for years to keep myself productive – and I’ve created a daily journal that outlines the exact process that I use.”

With a talk show soon to be released on Audible and another book coming out later this year, it certainly doesn’t look like she’ll be slowing down anytime soon — but she will be shifting her focus.

“Speaking so much also involves a ton of traveling, and I want to be home more,” Robbins explains of her upcoming career shift. “So, I’m now pivoting into a new part of my career: being the CEO of a media company. I love speaking, but what I love most is connecting with people and sharing inspiring messages. Through my media platforms, we’re now creating courses, content, and more that are reaching and helping even more people.”

Reaching and helping people could arguably be Robbins’ tagline, as everything she does seems to come from that place of generosity. When asked what her favorite part of her varied career is, Robbins’ points to one of those courses she created, The Power of You. “It’s this incredible supportive online community,” she explains of the course. “Interacting with all of the students and seeing their transformations has been such a great experience. We just finished our second session of the course and it’s inspiring me and the turn that I want to take with my business to include more coaching.”

As a woman who knows what she wants, and has a proven track record of helping other people know what they want, no interview with Robbins would be complete without this question: For those who want to grow their career, what advice can you share?

“Stop focusing on WHAT you do, and pay more attention to HOW you do it,” she says. “And how you leave people around you feeling.”

The post Mel Robbins Does It All — And Tells Us How appeared first on HER Magazine ™.

Why Your About Page Matters

The About Me page is a marketing document. It’s purpose should be to attract people who are searching for you. They want to pay you money in exchange for a service or product. Your competition is fierce. You can’t afford to lose their interest if they’ve made their way to your site. Grab them and sell them on you and your business with this page.

How To Rock It

Begin with purpose

Before you write your content, answer these questions:

1. What’s the most exciting offer you have for customers?
2. What’s your purpose? What do you stand for?
3. Why are you the best person to offer these products or services?
4. What do you promise your customers?

Understand your audience

Know who they are and write for them. Whether you’re promoting yourself as a freelancer or your business, you can only build your brand well if you understand who you’re talking to. Start by understanding basic demographics. Do you cater to a specific age? Gender? Socioeconomic status? Now, dig deeper and pull out meaning for why the above persona wants to work with you. What quality are they attracted to in your business? How does it make them feel or look?

Make it about your customer

The easiest mistake to make writing your About Me page is to make it a list of your accomplishments. “Work with me because I’ve done this…” Don’t do that. Instead, turn it around and make it about your customer. What do your customers gain from working with you? Why should they buy your product or service instead of a competitors? Then, don’t simply list it, but explain it. Is your service “faster”? How? What does faster mean for the customer? Be specific. Try to imagine yourself as your customer, reading your site, and picture what questions come up. Answer those.

Share your story

We connect with stories. They grab our attention. Tie in strong visuals to your story. Use pictures of you and/or the real people in the company. Keep it relevant, though. If the number of pets you own isn’t pertinent to the business, leave it out.

Tell them what you want them to do

Give them a call to action. Give them clear instructions with what you want them to do. Tell them to check out your portfolio, contact you for a free consultation, order the latest product on sale, and so on.

Make it easy to connect

Provide your preferred ways to connect, whether through email, phone, or social channels.

Keep it brief

Last, remember to keep it brief unless you’re incredibly talented at keeping their attention!

Have you ever been to one of those sites that threw copy after copy at you, putting certain phrases in bold, and reiterating how life-changing their product is? I went to one of those the other day to sign up for a fitness challenge. I wanted something to give me a little spark as I prepared for the onslaught of newbies at the gym in January. However, getting through all of the junk text was such a turn off. DON’T DO THAT!

If you search “attention span” online, you’ll find a number of links referencing a Microsoft study that determined our ability to focus had dropped from 12 seconds in 2000 to eight seconds in 2017. Clever copywriters compared that to the average attention span of a goldfish, which is nine seconds. The article headlines were great, comparing our social media obsessed world to tiny, scaled vertebrates swimming around in glass bowls.

But, when you dig a little deeper, there’s an excellent story by the BBC that busts this myth. What it comes down to, really, is whether you CARE to spend your attention on the site in front of you.

Referring back to the fitness challenge I wanted to sign up for, did I care about all of the stories of the others who tried out that program? Did I care about whether I had “bigger and more important things to do with [my] life than worry about the size of [my] thighs”?

Guess what? I totally didn’t.

Guess what else? I had to scroll through 21 paragraphs of that before I found the “next steps” section. Did I read any of it? No! Not until I started writing this article and went back to see what kind of stuff they filled those paragraphs with.

And then, get this! Do you know what the next steps were? I’m not even kidding here, people. Step 1: watch your inbox for “an email introducing the day’s activities.” Step 2: Have somewhere to write it down. It was 31 paragraphs total in order to tell me: “The challenge starts within the week and get yourself ready by having a place to write things down.”

If you create an entertaining About Me page, with clever graphics and relevant information, people will read through the end, whether it’s four paragraphs or 31.

This article originally appeared in our SPRING 2018 Issue — read it for free here!

The post Hitting it out of the park with your website About Me page appeared first on HER Magazine ™.