I know what it’s like to pick up my phone and prepare to post on Instagram… But have nothing to say. Have you ever been there? I can’t be the only one who has to post in the next hour before my next meeting, so I’ve hardly picked a topic when I start typing, while my mind wanders and my coffee gets cold…. Right?? This used to be my social media routine before I discovered a way to test whether or not my captions would get engagement before I even posted it. Now, writing a great caption takes less time than it takes for me to brew coffee in a french press! Want to know my secret? It’s the quick caption quiz! >>Below are 5 questions to answer before your caption goes live that will save you from the crickets of non-responders.<< The Quick Caption Quiz:
![]() For example, let’s say I want to tell my audience, “I like vanilla lattes!” How does this fair in the quick caption quiz?
Now I’m going to alter this caption to see if we can get it to be a little more engaging: “I like vanilla lattes! What’s your favorite drink?”
Let’s try one more time. How about: “I like vanilla lattes! I’m sharing my favorite recipe for you to check out. Please share in the comments below if you have ideas to make it better!”
In this example, my caption about vanilla lattes went from not passing ANY of the quick caption quiz questions *say that 5 times fast!* to passing 4 out of 5. >>After you’ve gone through the Quick Caption Quiz, it is easy to create a better caption that your ideal client will resonate with!<< If you’d like more social media tips like this one, monthly group coaching, and customizable caption templates for days you just can’t think of anything to say, join Social Curator >>HERE!<< via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 https://ift.tt/2nREq6z
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What Is Your Unique Value Proposition?
9/26/2019
Last Spring, I was interviewed on the Dropping Bombs podcast with The Real Brad Lea and when he asked what I do, I said, “My full-time business is being a creative hustler.” I was thinking about this recently… this idea of defining our “role” and giving ourselves a “title” and wrapping our identity in that. >>Over the last decade, I have gone from one of the top photographers in the world to the CEO of a start-up, and have now turned into a speaker, podcaster, and visionary for a business that is far bigger than myself.<< Do I have a “title” in that? No. Creative hustler is a pretty great way of putting it, actually! ![]() As entrepreneurs, it’s our job to create different iterations of our business that keep us inspired but that also give us the ability to impact lives. When I left the wedding photography industry to pursue a greater passion, I hesitated because my career felt safe… But I left because I knew that if I continued to do the same thing again and again, I would run the risk of it becoming rote. I’ve learned that the best things in life are not found by following a routine. >>If you are blessed to find a passion, help people, and use your gifts along the way like I am, don’t worry about your “title” but rather your value proposition.<< The most valuable thing we can do as business owners is understand our value proposition and position our products/services as the only option for the best solution.
Our value proposition is what makes us different and helps us separate ourselves from the competition, and–mostly–understand the best way to serve our clients. If you’d like to see a sneak peak at my interview with The Real Brad Lea, watch the video below and comment your answer: What do you think makes your business different than the rest? via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 https://ift.tt/2mQbqeR In email marketing today, the average open rate for emails is around 20%. *20%, boo boo! That’s it!* That means if you have 100 people on your list, only 20 people will OPEN it. And that doesn’t even mean that all 20 are READING it! Of course, there was a time when email marketing was HUGE. But now, there are so many more businesses sending emails that it is harder to get yours opened. >>If you want to make your emails stand out, provide value on top of value, and more value, my friend.<< ![]() I send email newsletters to my list once every week that are funny observations, inspirational moments, and vulnerable stories. I’m proud of my open rate because my audience knows that when they open my emails, I’m not going to ask them for anything.
Most of my emails are along the lines of, “You can do this, boo boo. Here’s how.” >>People don’t want QVC in their inbox. They want to feel good about what they’re doing in their life!<< Observe your own email habits. Do you open emails in YOUR inbox that have a subject line like, “Sale ends today!” or do you prefer ones that lead with value, such as “3 reasons why your emails aren’t getting opened”? If you incorporate your services in an inspirational email, funny story, or how-to guide, THAT is how you will increase you email open rate… NOT by constantly selling to them all the time. I *know* you have value to give to the world, Buttercup. I can’t wait to read your emails that serve the world with all of the knowledge you bring to the table. Check out the video below of an Q+A I did at GirlBoss Rally this year where I answer how many hashtags is too many, if you should separate your personal and business Instagram accounts and more! via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 https://ift.tt/2mAn0uC My Top 3 Instagram Story Tips
9/20/2019
You know when you want to make a bold statement but you’re not sure how people will respond to it? Well, I’ve got my big earrings on today so I’m just going to come out and say it: >>In 2019, the best way to connect with your audience in a real, authentic way and turn your followers into customers is by using Instagram stories.<< I don’t say a statement like that lightly, Buttercup… I have been using and testing stories for years! In case you are new around here, I am the owner and founder of Social Curator which is a monthly membership site for business owners that gives them the tools to build their brand on social media, including lifestyle photos, customizable caption templates, a monthly action plan, and a community to hold them accountable. On top of that, on September of 2019, we gave something NEW to our members to empower them to show up on IG stories every day: 15 done-for-you Instagram story templates, prompts, and scripts. *I know that’s a LOT of value for an extremely affordable membership… It’s the big earrings okay???* Friend, I KNOW Instagram stories work for both me and Social Curator members. Below are my top 3 tips for you to start conversations on social! 1. Speak to your dream customer.Does your dream customer want to see photos with text on top or you talking to the camera? Friend, know who you’re talking to and study your audience to see what they respond to on your Instagram stories. ![]() 2. Resist the urge to make it complicated.A lot of times we feel that our Instagram stories have to be perfect and polished but that is not what people are looking for online! I don’t need you to be Socrates or Plato in your Instagram stories boo boo… Just start the conversation. 3. Give your followers a way to engage.Instagram is a social platform, which means if you want more viewers on your stories, your current audience needs to tell the algorithm that they like them. Utilize the built-in engagement tools Instagram offers to make it easier for your followers to engage! Y’all, it is TIME to start using Instagram stories to jumpstart your business, but also have a plan to save time and drive engagement. If you’d like 15 done-for-you Instagram story templates, prompts, and scripts and monthly business coaching with me, join Social Curator >>HERE!<< via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 https://ift.tt/2OfcxQL Does this sound familiar?
>>No one leaves a comment.
>>No one leaves a comment.
>>No one responds. That engagement void… Isn’t it as fun as a root canal?! Here’s how you move from the Engagement VOID to Engagement VICTORY: start conversations. And, *boom* I just dropped the mic. Okay, so you’re rolling your eyes, but trust me…this is evvvverything. In fact, for years I couldn’t get people to talk back to me on Instagram, but that changed once I strategically sent direct messages to build trust, engagement, and turn people into customers. It was the strangest thing… After chatting via DM, people started leaving comments on my posts, too! The video below shows a REAL TIME(!), CANDID(!), and AUTHENTIC(!) look into how I send my Direct Messages for engagement…and my awkward response when people responded to my message while I was filming this video. Boo, if you get nothing else from the post, hear this: >>Avoid sending DMs that are simply a sales pitch, but rather a personalized note.<< Whether you have 1 follower or 10,000 followers, the goal is to make 1:1 connections with your audience so that they know, like, and trust you enough to invest in your business! If you’d like my cheat sheet for Instagram Direct Message Templates (so you know what to say to start engaging conversations), download it for free >>HERE!<< ![]() via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 https://ift.tt/3071kcm 2019 Flash Fire Instagram QA
9/18/2019
Recently I was a speaker at the Girlboss Rally, we recorded a flash fire IG Q+A. *Yâall know I love me some Instagram marketing talk!* Dig into this fire session where I pour out everything I know on the newest IG updates and what you can do to get your account seen! What do you think about Instagram removing likes?I am so excited Instagram is removing likes. I think it will create a better experience overall because people will feel unintimidated to show up every day without being worried about how their posts are performing. Donât forget: although your followers canât, you can still see your likes! Keep an eye on those metrics to see what your audience is engaging with because it is a clear indication of what they want to see more of. If you could rename the word âinfluencer,â what would you choose?I would rename the word âinfluencerâ on Instagram to: âthought leader content creator.â Where do you think IGTV is headed?IGTV is headed in the clear direction of YouTube. I donât know if yâall have seen, IGTV videos can now be embedded in your website and blog posts! This combined with SEO-friendly copy is a great way to leverage scalable, searchable content to have your video be seen in perpetuity over time. If the algorithm was a notable person, who would it be?Instagram would be nothing short of Beyonce, letâs be real! ![]() What is the biggest mistake you see businesses making on Instagram?The biggest mistake businesses mistake on Instagram is their inability to show up every.single.day. Oftentimes we tell ourselves a story that everything has to be perfect, look perfect, and read perfectly in order to post but that couldnât be further from the truth. The things that people are most excited to see online are real life stories, authenticity, and personal connections. *So get out of your head and onto the âgram ASAP!* What is the secret to your success on Instagram?The secret to my Instagram success is: have a plan, show up consistently, and make 1:1 connections. Never undervalue the ONE person because that was the foundation of Instagram, and it will *always* be the best way to grow an engaged, dedicated tribe. So friend, there you have it: my quick and dirty opinions on Instagram marketing. For more Q+Aâs like this one where YOUR question may be answered live, be sure to connect with me on Facebook for my weekly Ask Me Anything live sessions!
via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 https://ift.tt/2QjpnjG Instagram stories are an amazing way to drive engagement, but sometimes it can feel overwhelming to start, especially when we think:
Here are two simple ways to make stories easy and, more importantly, how to use them with an engagement PLAN… *Because I know you don’t have time to add MORE to your business without a strategy, boo!*
Friend, if you speak to your dream customer with what they want to know and drive engagement with the built-in tools, you are on the fast track for success. But how do you know if your audience is engaging? You know if your stories are engaging based on the ACTIONS of your audience. If they are talking back to you via DM’s, comments, voting on polls, answering quiz questions, etc. they are engaged with you!. I spent months testing my theories and engagement strategy because when I saw these new features rolled out, my objective was to learn how to use them for my business so I can then share with you my results. >>I ONLY speak about strategies I have used MYSELF.<< I’ve discovered that followers want to engage with content that makes them feel like you *care* about THEM. My question for you is: What content are you putting out that is providing a map for your followers to engage with you? This September 2019 issue of Social Curator is all about how to drive engagement using Instagram stories and it contains 15 done-for-you IG templates, prompts, and scripts. I am very confident in saying my Instagram story strategy that I have tested myself works. In fact, in 24 hours Kayla Joy got 25 new followers, 2 shares, and 3 sales using these templates! If you need help with your Instagram story strategy, I’d love to see you on the inside of Social Curator so you can turn your followers into customers. You have nothing to lose, and oh so much to gain, boss. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 https://ift.tt/30ji775 When I dropped out of law school all those years ago, I tailspun into feeling lost, worried, and overwhelmingly sad. I lived most of my life in fear.
>>When I look back, I felt all these emotions because I didn’t give myself permission to dream.<< I focused on what could go wrong, instead of all the reasons it could work. Humming along to my *fave* pop mix on Spotify (a lil bit of Drake, Taylor Swift, and Lauryn Hill), I’m reflecting on all of the dreams I pushed aside out of FEAR… *I put all of my business dreams folded perfectly like origami swans in a shoebox behind my old N’SYNC stickered, 5-disc boombox and my dusty yearbooks.* I bet you have a similar kind of shoebox in your home (…or your mind), filled with the BIG goals you set for your business & life over the last few years… The *same* goals you may have nudged under your Moroccan rug after second-guessing yourself… I call it “The Shoebox of Business Dreams Past”… ![]() Similar to REM-style dreams, as soon as you scoot your flannel-onesie’d booty out of bed → your resolutions vanish into thin air… BUT, NOT THIS YEAR, MY FRIEND. What would it look like if you chose to say YES?
There are millions of reasons why you could talk yourself out of pursuing your big, scary dream, BUT YOU WON’T. You won’t let another year pass without taking life by the horns and saying, “I’m ready… and I’m not backing down… get ready because I’m gonna do this and you better be prepared for my awesomeness.” So, say it with be, buttercup: This is my year. Say it so many times that it becomes your mantra of truth. Ahem, the Truth. If I could go back to my 23-year-old self and give her life-changing advice, I’d say, “Please believe that what you think is impossible today, can be possible for you tomorrow.” Friend, comment below: what advice would you give yourself 10 years ago? via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 https://ift.tt/2O2sxWi Seth Godin defines a brand as “A set of expectations, memories, stories, and relationships that accounts for one consumer to choose one product or service over another.”
No. He said you can’t buy a brand! A brand is not defined by a business, but by the consumer’s perception of the business. So my question to you then becomes: What are you doing online to create experiences for your customers? >>I once heard that your brand can be described by what someone says about your business when you walk out of the room.<< Today, we’re going to talk about how I built my brand on a budget. 1. Create content.What does one do when they want to start a business with no education, no connections, no money? I started a blog in 2006. It started as a way to document my successes, failures, and mistakes, but soon became a way to connect with random people all over the world sitting in their cubicles. >>I learned the art of engagement when I stopped caring about MY life and started asking people about THEIRS.<< ![]() 2. Create personal connections.The girl who couldn’t get a single comment or client in 2007 grew, over the next 13 years, a brand that amassed hundreds of thousands of followers by making one-on-one connections. >>That’s the secret, friend: connecting with people ONE by ONE.<< 3. Educate your audience.Let’s fast-forward to the pinnacle of my career, when I was getting paid top dollar to photograph all over the world in 2014. >>I was ON Instagram but not USING Instagram to build a brand… Until I created educational content for my audience.<< I asked my followers what questions they had for me, and shared EVERYthing I knew. This content built trust and baby boo, trust builds a brand. Buttercup, you may not be the smartest, the prettiest, the richest, or the most connected. I know I wasn’t. But you CAN build a brand by creating experiences, sharing content, and educating your audience and creating personal connections. Would you like a my Branding Bundle, which includes Your Dream Customer Profile, The Fastest Way to Find Dream Clients Guide, and a Copywriting Workbook to Attract Dream Customers? Download the Branding Bundle HERE and learn how to develop a brand without having a dime to your name.! via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 https://ift.tt/31lSB2q Nina Robinson’s phototherapy program harnesses photography’s innate ability to bring about healing and inspiration both for her and her elderly students. As a documentary photographer, Minneapolis-based Nina Robinson draws inspiration from both the people she has interviewed and fellow photographers whose works explore transformation, family, social issues, and solution-focused journalism. But as an educator, she didn’t realize how the Phototherapy program she helped develop would also cultivate a passion for teaching senior citizens. Editor’s Note: Visual Momentum refers to the flow of storytelling and its effect on the viewer’s thinking process. This series highlights creators who are successfully using their tools and minds to create an impact on the world through imagery with the intent of inciting action. With the support of Fujifilm, we share their stories. Be sure to also check out the video interview on This Week in Photo ![]() It all started as a two-year program she nurtured and developed independently with the Bronx Lebanon Hospital Department of Family Medicine in 2015. From a beginner’s photography class for senior citizens at the William Hodson Senior Center in the Bronx, Nina’s work organically evolved into a phototherapy course after she decided its structure and impact needed reevaluation. This change came about after several exercises and projects that revealed it was leaning toward a more profoundly personal route. “As the instructor, my goal was to get my students, the elderly population, motivated, engaged and talking about the topics that mattered to them to keep their minds stimulated,” explains Nina to the Phoblographer in an interview. “It was about understanding the human connection and creating a comfortable environment for the seniors to speak openly and honestly, instead of internalizing issues.” Photographers are no strangers to using the medium to evoke emotions, incite ideas, and tell personal stories. “The depth of some of the discussions about shared photos often evoked concealed emotions and thoughts about self-discovery, experience and social views as a whole for many of the students as well as for me,” noted Nina. She also understood that this program had the potential to add another dimension. Built on the perspectives of senior citizens, it could be a thought-provoking avenue to surface their unique stories waiting to be told. ![]() Unpacking Memories with or Without the Lens
After the icebreakers that are typical of every class, Nina asked her students to bring in family photographs. Those who didn’t have photographs brought in family heirlooms or items of personal significance. Building a discussion about these photos and items forged the bond of the class and helped them identify on a personal level. The phototherapy program eventually became the perfect avenue for her elderly students to confront and explore various personal themes — the most common being memory, family, politics, and race. Some of them had cameras — from digital point and shoots to SLR digital cameras, and even a Polaroid Land Camera — to unpack all these issues and channel them into compelling, straightforward photographs. Others were content to attend the classes just for the discussions about photography, or engage in the discussions about the photos brought in to the sessions. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Two of these students made an impression on Nina — her interactions prompted the realization that she would build emotional, inspirational bonds with them. Their photos provided a glimpse into their daily life and even the seemingly trivial things they missed from an earlier point in life. Despite all its benefits, phototherapy also came with its own set of challenges both for Nina and the participants. She found it mainly revolved around processing many of the responses to the images she was showing during the sessions. These would also often spiral off into discussions about their personal experiences, beliefs, emotions, and memories — topics that she noted had been suppressed for many years but resurfaced with the combination of pain and liberation. Creative avenues and expressive art activities like photography have always been encouraged for the elderly to enrich their lives and bring about a myriad of benefits to senior health. Among these, according to Barbara Bagan, PhD, ATR-BC in Geriatric Monthly, include reducing depression and anxiety, assisting in socialization, fostering a stronger sense of identity, and offering sensory cognition. These advantages play a notably prominent role in the program Nina developed.
![]() ![]() ![]() Students from Nina Robinson’s Photothearpy class at William Hodson Senior Center practice street photography using Polaroid cameras. ![]() ![]() Phototherapy Goes Both WaysIt’s no surprise that photography can be a very powerful tool for healing and drawing inspiration, and the Phototherapy program showed how it often goes both ways. For the senior students, a single image could trigger a discussion and tap into emotions they’ve never felt, or haven’t in a long time. Sharing their personal stories helps build their confidence and individuality, encouraged by a safe space built on respect and empowerment. Nina stressed that among the important lessons for her as an educator is to understand that teachers are also students, and each session is a collaborative effort. This perspective shifted her photographic process from simply telling a story about communities to involving communities in the conversation. Nina continues to teach visual and social workshops like the Phototherapy program across the US. While that particular program concluded with her move to Arkansas, it served as her inspiration for the multi-generational photo workshop and youth photo boot camp she facilitated in the state. “I am happy to know that organizations like the Bronx Documentary Center was inspired by my work and developed a photography class supporting the elderly population in the Bronx.” she stated. “My hope is to partner with hospitals and clinics to provide these photo/social workshops to communities across the US who wouldn’t normally have access to a program like this.” ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The Creative Process for the Documentary PhotographerA Fujifilm user for the last five years, Nina’s go-to camera is the Fujifilm X-Pro2 for its compact size and electronic shutter mode. “It fits perfectly in my hands and reminds me of my very first camera, the Minolta X 700. What I love most about my X-Pro2 is the electronic shutter mode, which has helped me tremendously as I capture stills on film sets, intimate moments with families, and at the William Hodson Senior Center where I used to teach. I used XF 16-55 mm f2.8 and the XF 35mm f1.4 lenses to capture the portraits of my students and other senior citizens that considered the senior center a second home.” It’s interesting to note the impact of the Phototherapy program on Nina herself, both as the facilitator of the classes and a documentary photographer faced with the opportunity to draw inspiration from her students’ stories. However, her primary goal as an educator takes precedence, and it’s where she mostly devoted her creative energies. When she did manage to take photos around the senior center, she was able to channel what she learned from her students in terms of visual storytelling. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() A portrait of Thelma, a PhotoTherapy student at the William Hodson Senior Center and one of her photographs. ![]() A portrait of Sarah, a PhotoTherapy student at the William Hodson Senior Center and one of her photographs. ![]() A portrait of Mr. Brown, a PhotoTherapy student at the William Hodson Senior Center and one of his photographs. ![]() A portrait of Berry, a PhotoTherapy student at the William Hodson Senior Center and one of his photographs.
“This was hands down one of the most rewarding experiences in my photo career I’ve ever had (without picking up my camera). Truly miss my students. I don’t think they know how much they’ve changed my life and what I learned from them. How I view visual storytelling now has a lot to do with what we collectively shared in class.” Watch Nina’s Podcast Interview on TWiPAbout Nina Robinson![]() Nina’s documentary photography covers stories in the American South, Midwest, and the East Coast. She describes her work as a mixture of her past experiences, with the goal of bridging documentary, personal elements, and fine art. Her visual storytelling style, she said, has been present since she first picked up the camera. It was developing the confidence to pursue what she thought was interesting instead of being told what was acceptable that she had to learn over time. As a creative, she allows her own artful approach to come out naturally. “I think of the quote by Edward Alby: ‘If you intellectualize and examine the creative process too carefully it will evaporate and vanish.’ My gifts are embedded within me and don’t want to dull or disconnect from my work by thinking too hard about adding them to my work.” Nina’s current focus falls strongly on underrepresented communities to break the visual prejudices of race, class, age, and gender. The strength of documentary photography, for her, lies in both having a good eye and an understanding and respect for the people in front of the lens. Her photos have appeared in American Photo, TIME Lightbox, Lens Culture, New York Times Lens Blog, and Wall Street Journal. Apart from exhibits, she was one of the three photographers awarded with the Getty Instagram Grant in 2017, and a recipient of a reporting grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. As a visual storyteller, she seeks to reveal the beauty of truth and honesty at its core. For her personal projects, she ensures that each one feels personal and uniquely her by reshaping how she communicates visually, and to whom. ” In this industry, we talk a lot about influencing change with our images, but what does that even mean? By asking that question I became more interested in the non-traditional photographer, the communities I photograph and how individuals see themselves in modern-day photography.” Editor’s Note: This is a sponsored blog post from Fujifilm About FUJIFILM North America Corporation (Fujifilm)FUJIFILM North America Corporation (Fujifilm) is empowering photographers and filmmakers everywhere to build their legacies through sharing their stories. Grounded in its 85-year history of manufacturing photographic and cinema film, pioneering technologies in lenses and coatings, and driving innovation in developing mirrorless digital camera technologies, Fujifilm continues to be at the center of every storyteller’s creative vision. Pushing boundaries in digital photography and filmmaking innovations, Fujifilm’s X Series and GFX family of mirrorless digital cameras and FUJINON lenses yield exceptional image quality for creators of all levels. Offering image clarity, advanced color reproduction technologies and a wide range of film simulations, Fujifilm’s family of mirrorless digital cameras delivers on fulfilling their intrinsic mission of capturing and preserving moments for generations to come. With a Fujifilm digital camera at your fingertips, you can seize the moment, share your story and build your legacy. Learn more on our website. Like us on follow us on subscribe on and join the conversation on Facebook, like us on Instagram, subscribe on YouTube and join the conversation on Twitter. This article first appeared and was provided by our friends at The Phoblographer. The post This Photographer Helps Others Find Therapy with the Art of Photography appeared first on Resource. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 https://ift.tt/2Q2ZEfn |
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