I remember launching my company and the level of bootstrapping I had to do to get going. In the entrepreneurial world, resourcefulness is key. A tight budget can be a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block. Here’s a guide to kick-start your business without stretching your finances too thin, shared with you below and written by Lucy one of our writers for ICY Coaching and Consulting
Use what you already know. If you have a specific skill set or extensive knowledge in a particular field, offer consulting services. This approach requires minimal startup costs and allows you to establish credibility while building the foundation of your future enterprise. Additionally, you can leverage your expertise by writing ebooks or creating online courses to reach a wider audience. Furthermore, consider speaking at industry conferences or hosting webinars to showcase your knowledge and attract potential clients.
Your Best Ally is Your Credit Score
Your credit score isn’t just a number; it’s your business’s ticket to better loan terms. Keep a close eye on your credit score, make payments on time, and reduce debt to build a solid financial foundation for your business. Moreover, regularly reviewing your credit report can help you identify any errors or discrepancies that may be negatively impacting your score. Furthermore, establish good relationships with lenders and financial institutions to access favorable financing options.
Dream Big, Begin with Baby Steps
Every giant leap begins with a small step. Start your business on a smaller scale, focusing on essential elements first. As profits start rolling in, you can gradually scale up and expand your operations. Moreover, consider setting specific goals and milestones to track your progress and maintain motivation. Furthermore, networking with other entrepreneurs and seeking mentorship can provide valuable guidance and support along your entrepreneurial journey.
The Power of Free Online Resources
The internet is an entrepreneur’s treasure trove. From free online courses to cost-effective software tools, plenty of resources can help you streamline your operations, learn new skills, and manage your business more efficiently. Additionally, joining online communities and forums can connect you with like-minded individuals and provide collaboration and knowledge sharing opportunities. Furthermore, staying updated on industry trends through online publications and newsletters can help you stay ahead of the curve.
Your Low-Cost Publicity Powerhouse
Content marketing is a low-cost yet highly effective way to boost your brand visibility and attract potential customers. Sharing valuable content through blogs, videos, or podcasts can position you as an industry expert and build a loyal audience. Moreover, consider guest posting on other relevant websites or collaborating with influencers to expand your reach. Furthermore, engaging with your audience through social media platforms can foster meaningful connections and drive organic growth. You can click here to start learning more about professional content marketing.
Achieve Optimal Results
As an entrepreneur, you should get radical clarity first on your brand purpose, then your focus should be on your core business functions. For tasks outside your area of expertise, consider outsourcing. This strategy can save you time and money, allowing you to focus on what you do best. Additionally, building a reliable network of freelancers or contractors can provide you with talent to tap into when needed. Furthermore, regularly evaluating your business processes and identifying areas for improvement can help you optimize your operations and maximize efficiency.
Starting a business on a tight budget is possible and can be a stepping stone to success. You can build a thriving business without breaking the bank by leveraging your expertise, managing your credit score, taking small steps toward your goals, utilizing free online resources, and embracing content marketing. Additionally, outsourcing tasks and continuously evaluating and optimizing your operations will help you achieve optimal results. So, don’t let a limited budget hold you back – dream big, be resourceful, and embark on your entrepreneurial journey with confidence!
Elevate your brand withICY Coaching and Consulting– ICY Coaching and Consulting specializes in guiding leading Women Entrepreneurs towards purpose-driven success. We transform challenges into milestones, ensuring clarity and confidence for the impact and confident profits they can experience.
Get ready for a summer business breakthrough! Unleash these powerful strategies and leave your competitors in awe
Now’s the Time for Growth: Make It Happen
Growing a business can be a challenging process, but there are several steps you can take to maximize your success. Say hello to your Summer Business Boosters: 7 Proven Strategies to Skyrocket Your Success Amidst the Seasonal Slowdown. Implementing these steps in your business will help you continue to grow. In this article one of our writers Courtney explores some of the most effective strategies for business growth.
Spend your summer wisely as an entrepreneur by focusing on boosting your business growth. Click To Tweet Use this time to dive into strategic planning, refine your marketing strategies, and invest in personal development. Embrace the slower pace of the season to implement improvements, explore new opportunities, and fine-tune your operations. Don’t let the summer heat slow you down; let it fuel your ambition and drive. Elevate your business to new heights by dedicating this summer to growth and success
Forming an LLC
One of the best things you can do for your business is to form an LLC (limited liability company). An LLC offers many benefits, including limited liability, tax advantages, less paperwork, and flexibility. By forming an LLC, you can protect your personal assets from business liabilities and save money on taxes. Additionally, the process of forming an LLC is relatively straightforward, and there are many resources available to help you get started.
Maximizing Data Analytics
Data analytics can provide valuable insights into your business operations, customer preferences, and market trends. By analyzing data from your website, social media, and other sources, you can better understand your target audience and make informed decisions about your business strategy. Consider investing in a data analytics platform or hiring a data analyst to help you make the most of your data.
Attending Networking Events
Networking events are a great way to meet potential customers and partners, learn about industry trends, and establish yourself as a thought leader in your field. Attend local and industry-specific events to build your network and stay up-to-date with the latest developments in your industry. Be sure to bring business cards and be prepared to talk about your business concisely and compellingly.
Exploring New Products and Services
Expanding your product or service offerings can help you tap into new markets and increase revenue. Consider conducting market research to identify new opportunities, and test new products or services with a small group of customers before launching on a larger scale. Be sure to also consider the costs and risks associated with introducing new offerings and prioritize those that align with your business goals and values.
Updating Marketing Efforts
Marketing is essential for any growing business, but it can be challenging to identify the most effective channels and strategies. Consider investing in social media advertising, content marketing, and SEO to increase your online presence, and track your results to uncover what’s working and what’s not. Additionally, make sure your branding and messaging are consistent across all platforms to build a strong and recognizable brand identity.
Integrating Process Discovery
Implementing process discovery is key to identifying inefficiencies and bottlenecks in business operations. By analyzing and breaking down individual processes, you can easily identify areas that are holding your business back and hindering its growth. With this knowledge, you can reallocate resources, streamline operations, and ensure that everyone in the organization is working towards the same goals. This, in turn, is a key to success, as it allows your business to boost its efficiency while reducing costs and improving customer satisfaction.
Exploring International Markets
Expanding your business internationally can open up new opportunities for growth and increase your customer base. Conduct thorough research on the target country’s economy, business culture, and legal requirements to ensure you’re prepared for the transition. Consider partnering with local businesses or hiring a consultant to help you navigate cultural differences and establish a strong presence in the new market.
Growing a business requires dedication, hard work, and an openness to new ideas and strategies. By forming an LLC, attending networking events, exploring new products and services, integrating process discovery, and exploring international markets, you can position your business for sustainable growth and success. Remember to stay flexible and adapt to changing market conditions, and never stop learning and growing as a business owner.
For coaching to help you get clarity on your purpose so you can have more impact and earn more confident profits, contact me>>>: Yetunde Shorters today!
If you’ve jumped on the personal branding bandwagon, and you think creating a personal brand that is all about you will make you the next Gary V., you are already down the wrong path. Cuz even Gary V. doesn’t talk about Gary V. Look, I understand. I completely get it. I’ve been there. I wasted time and money. The surprisingly easy way to ruin your personal brand is to think it’s all about you. **SPOILER ALERT*** It’s not.
Every brand coach is out here telling you to just launch your personal brand, create a website, launch a course, give your followers an opt in they can’t resist, so you can get their emails and sell to them
So tell me this: Does everyone you know who has a self- serving personal brand or website, and sales page attract paying clients?
EVERYONE?
But of course not.
But think about it for a second. What does every SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR with a personal brand have?
THEY BUILD BASED ON THEIR PURPOSE, HOW THEY CAN SERVE OTHERS: and here is the kicker: many of them still get to do many of the fun things they enjoy, heck some of them even buy other types of companies that do the other things they love. Talk about Multi-passionate Purposeful Entrepreneur. Yup they exist.
The truth is, they have a focused PURPOSE-CENTERED product or service that they offer to thousands and millions of people.
They have content that is engaging, powerful and customized to their personality yet incredibly valuable to those they SERVE. They all build wealth through this purpose. They all let the world know how they can help it, and then, they took what worked excellently and used it over and over and over again.
Can you think of any successful entrepreneur who has a personal brand who isn’t focused on something PURPOSEFUL?
Can you find me any successful entrepreneur who doesn’t have their message zoned in, with stellar content that converts and engages their ideal paying customer?
Can you find me any successful entrepreneur who hasn’t built wealth from their purpose? Heck If you’re a Mac user, you bought Steve Jobs Product. There is a 50% chance you’re using an iOs Device right now to watch, read or listen to this message. He made wealth from his purpose. Then he figured out what worked (slick design, quality product and a focus on his ideal clients CREATIVES. Yup that’s YOU.) He created this product for you. His message is clear. If you’re using a MAC, You’re a creative.
Here is how you can build your own successful purpose-centered personal brand that attracts paying clients.
First you have to get crystal clarity on what your purpose is. And it’s okay to be a multi-passionate entrepreneur, but a purpose breakthrough session helps you identity what to spend your most valuable time and resources on.
Second creating and developing your outstanding content that makes it easy for you to be loved, respected and paid by your ideal clients.
Third, you’ll need to identify how you want to build wealth through your purpose . Here you get to provide products or services that excite you and excite your ideal paying clients even more
Once you’ve gotten these top 3 core details together, then you’ll want to launch and launch big, with confidence, easily securing media features, blogs, podcasts and radio shows highlighting your story and how your product or service transforms lives.
And finally you take some time to review what worked with your process and perfect that and do just that perfected process all over again to get consistent results.
Remember, if you don’t get crystal clarity on your purpose, you’re going to keep loosing time and money because you’re spread too thin on all your passions. You’re going to keep pumping out content that doesn’t connect or engage with your ideal paying customers, you’re going to be selling the wrong product or service and wonder why you’re not making substantial income from it. You’re going to have a whole noise making launch of what you do that flops with only 0.5% of your ideal paying clients even aware you did a launch. You’re going to keep repeating strategies that don’t work and wonder why they are not working. Chances are you’ve probably experienced one or two of these things, if not all in the past 6-9 months.
So you can either be the entrepreneur who continues to think that having a self-serving personal brand or a personal website a cute opt-in and a sales page will help you attract your ideal paying customers who adore your purpose
You can be the entrepreneur who decides to step fully into her purpose, in spite of any fears, someone who wants to get crystal clear on what she has been called to do on this earth, attract and be attractive to the people she has been created specifically to help, people who will pay her anything she asks, without questions. An Entrepreneur who lives purposefully, earns her profits confidently, is authentically herself and builds status as the top expert in her industry.
And if that’s you. Then you know exactly what to do next. Click the link below and sign up for my Purpose Breakthrough Session I look forward to supporting you in Living through Purpose, Attracting paying clients and being celebrated as a profitable leader in your industry.
No matter what business you’re in and what projects you find yourself tackling, a systematized approach will help you:
• Work faster and produce more • Produce higher quality results with fewer mistakes • Easily outsource the tasks you don’t like to do
The Magic of Templates
How many times do you answer email from potential clients? What about responding to customer complaints? Or saying a polite no to those people wanting you to meet up to pick your brain for a coffee chat?
All of these tasks and more become effortless when you create fill-in-the-blank templates that can be repurposed for specific cases/people. Templates can be as simple as a “canned response” in your email client or help desk, or you can use software such as Text Expander (for Mac) or Phrase Express (for Windows). You might even create a template document in Evernote, Mac note or Google Drive to house all your templates for easier access.
While templates will undoubtedly save you time, the real beauty is that once they’re created, you can easily outsource things like email and even sales. Simply instruct your Virtual assistant on the proper use of your templates, and you’ll be free to do other, more important things.
Checklists Prevent Mistakes
I have multiple checklist. One for even writing this blog post, one for going live, one for recording my videos and writing articles. It might seem counter-intuitive, but when you perform the same tasks over and over again, it’s easy to miss a critical step. You might think you did all you needed or that live-stream this week— you might even remember doing it—only to look back and you missed two steps that affected your post promotion.
But when you implement checklists, it’s suddenly much more difficult to miss an important task.
You can easily create checklists for all your common tasks and projects using nothing more than a text document. I do the most so I use Apple Pages and make it look all fancy lol. If you’re managing a team, checklists in your project management system allow you to see exactly what tasks are complete, and which are still outstanding. Think of it as a to do list for each task
Templates and checklists turn smart business owners into productivity Queens, and it’s easy to get started. The next time you answer an email you’ve answered before, save your response. The next time you set up a new product in your shopping cart or create a new opt-in page, take the time to record the steps. These documents will make future projects easier and faster to complete, and best of all, you can hand them off to your assistant to do instead.
So, tell me which tip would you implement to work for you?
On this #internationalwomensday I want to celebrate the power of collaboration. For many years, there has been a prevailing notion that women like to compete, compare and undermine each other. Though some of these traits may exist, there is more #collaborationovercompetion especially among women entrepreneurs! Something magical happens when women support each other. Some of the best brands, campaigns, organizations, and businesses have been birth through the partnership of two separate entities.
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As women, we can help other women shine their light and still shine on our own and there is so much power when we come together for a greater good. This is one of the reasons my PR sis Dorcey of @gazelle_strategist and wrote “Collaboration is the New Black: How to Identify the Right Collaborations, Increase your Brand Power and Get Money”. I have facilitated over 50 partnerships and collaborations with Grammy award winning artists in classical music media and entrepreneurs that have reached over 10million + people over the years, for Dorcey, with15 years of PR & Brand Management experience, brokering some lucrative collaborations, I can tell you emphatically that this book is loaded with substantial and benificial information!. In honor of today, I would like to invite you to join this collaborative experience and tag 3 women you would love to collaborate with. I am also excited to share that our book is now available for pre-order!!!!
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The first 50 people who pre-order the book today will get the CITNB Workbook for free!!!! This workbook will guide you in identifying red flags and increasing your social media influence and power with the RIGHT COLLABORATION. Click here and reserve your copy.
Your POWER LIST should have the full names, phone numbers, emails, websites, social media links etc. of 15-20 of your top influencers/6-7 figure earners in your network. These are people you should have or be cultivating a relationship with. Look into your LinkedIN, take the time to sit and think about people you hang out with. You’re probably connected to powerful and influential people. You need to learn to tap into and foster relationships with your power list. They have skills that you don’t have and you can be of value to them if you are more intentional about the connection you build.
WISH LIST
Your WISH LIST should have the names of at least 5 people that you want to meet, learn from or build connections with in the next year. Write their names down, follow them on social media, and spend the time to engage them on things that are of interest to them. Respond to their feeds. Share thoughtful insights on their post. People remember people who engage their interests. It’s about sincerely engaging them. As you build those online relationships, your wish list can cross over to your power list or even to real true friendships where you both provide value to each other. No one is too big for you to wish to meet. NO ONE. Get on it.
TRIBE LIST
Your TRIBE LIST is one of the most powerful lists you will ever have. Your tribe list should have 20 -10,000+ people who love, like, engage are interested or are fans of yours. They are champions for your cause that you should engage with frequently, to build your “tribe culture”. They see you as a leader in whatever it is you’re great at. They have the same values or close as you do. They may not be related to you by blood, but they are related by virtues, ideals and a sense of culture. Your tribesmen and women will be the ones to buy your book, come see you talk at a live event or toot your horn to the world even if you never asked. They are the ultimate village.
noun: tribe;
1. any aggregate of people united by ties of descent from a common ancestor, community of customs and traditions, adherence to the same leaders, etc.
These top lists require you take the time and sit to prepare them. Spend those 60 minutes to brainstorm on them. Have an excel sheet for the Power List and Wish list and you can use a mail service (awber, malchimp etc.) for the tribe list.
Your Purpose Coach and Cheerleader
SIGN UP FOR MY FREE PURPOSE INSIDER! NEWSLETTER
It’s free. Sign up today and get some free helpful resources to build profits, including my report on the 7 Easy Steps To A Purposeful, Fun and Profitable Brand.
I am the creator of ICY ACADEMY an online program with a network of Inspired GO-GETTERS who are ready to step FULLY into their purpose doing what they love, while helping others in a way that creates financial freedom for them and their families. With my Signature Program: Meaningful Branding Sequence, I help individuals and businesses create a Purposeful and Powerful Brand that is Profitable. And we have a whole lot of fun on our way there.
If you knew why you were on this earth, would you do what you are supposed to do?
Ask yourself, What is my why?
That is one question I wish I had the answer to before I began this entrepreneurial journey. We are so busy doing the WHAT, that nobody tells us understanding the WHY can make all the difference in the world. For a long time in building my experience in Public Relations, Branding and Marketing. I was always about the doing, doing the work, doing the shoots, doing the media events, doing, doing, doing.
It wasn’t until 2010 that I began to understand my WHY. My why was Love. I love meeting people with unique skills and talents and helping to tell others about them. I love making sure they look so good, (brand packaging) so that when people connect to them, their product or service tells a story in a way that is fun, engaging and relate-able. I love the power of food to bring people together. Hey, we all have to eat.
I am in the business of doing what I love and helping others do the same, in a way that is easy, fun and inspiring. As a Serial Entrepreneur and owner of ICY Public RelationsICY STUDIO and AFROPOLITAN CHEF , I understand now that I work to cheer others on to live fully in their purpose, because seeing others thrive at what they do best that represent their highest self is inspiring all on its own. And now, I teach inspired entrepreneurs how to create and build a life around their purpose with my teaching program, ICY ACADEMY.
I use my experience in Image building (from modeling) Branding, Public Relations and Marketing to help them create a purposeful and profitable brand.
The truth is when it comes to personal branding, there is overwhelming information about this subject.
With over 15 years of experience and over 100 businesses and personal brands I have worked with over the years, I have the clear steps to create a purposeful, powerful, result driven personal brand that will make you profits.
I hope to inspire you, to tap into WHO YOU ALREADY ARE at your core and provide you with the tools you need to create a purposeful, powerful and profitable image/brand.
I look forward to this journey for you and about you.
Your Purpose Coach and Cheerleader
SIGN UP FOR MY FREE PURPOSE INSIDER! NEWSLETTER
It’s free. Sign up today and get some free helpful resources to build profits, including my report on the 7 Easy Steps To A Purposeful, Fun and Profitable Brand.
I am the creator of ICY ACADEMY an online program with a network of Inspired GO-GETTERS who are ready to step FULLY into their purpose doing what they love, while helping others in a way that creates financial freedom for them and their families. With my Signature Program: Meaningful Branding Sequence, I help individuals and businesses create a Purposeful and Powerful Brand that is Profitable. And we have a whole lot of fun on our way there.
3 POWER MOVESTO HELP YOU BUY A HALF BILLION NAIRA HOME LIKE LINDA IKEJI.
From Surulere to Banana Island. You can either feel envy or join in on the excitement. Linda Ikeji purchased her dream home for half a Billion Naira. If you haven’t heard the news, you’re so late for it. It’s an inspiring story of International Blogger Linda Ikeji. We choose to join in on the excitement and inspiration. Over the years, Linda Ikeji has done 3 key things that have positioned her for success.
And if you’re ready for it, let’s look at the steps she used, you can get in on the action too.
1. Authenticity: No one is telling you that your authentic self is what people will tune in to. Authenticity is that special something that only YOU have. Love her or not, Linda Ikeji has remained true to her image. She loves to gist and be engaged in social happenings, current affairs and international news. She found a way to do it so that millions can join her in gisting daily. Those who enjoy the gist get in on it action and she built a community of millions based on what feels true to her. Curating social news so that we can all go to her for our need for gist.
The truth is, everyone has it, but we are too busy trying to be packaged like everyone else, or
packaging the “idea” we have of us that we forget the gem that is already in us. Start trying to be you and less like others. Linda Ikeji makes no apologies for who she is. You are an original, being a copy or like anyone else is a dis-service to what you have to offer the world. How do you tap into your authenticity? Be true to your gut, your style, your thoughts, and your truth, even the medium to share your “thing”. Doing it because it is the norm is very different from doing it because it works and it feels like you.
If you’re great at making people laugh, organizing, analyzing, writing or talking, photographer etc., that special gift is your moneymaker, plus there are people waiting for you to step into it so they can pay you for it. The bonus is doing the work to make your authenticity valuable. And you can only do that when you master YOU. Practice, take time invest and do your part to be the master of your authenticity. Be your best self often and un-apologetically. When you get comfortable with you, it encourages others to do the same. You may not be the next Linda Ikeji, but you could be the one everyone wants to be like. Blogging is not for everyone. Find your thing, and then bank on it.
[NOTE: Want to Know The #1 New Way You Can Be The Next Virtual Superstar? click here]
2. Purposeful: No matter how much drama goes on online about any of the stories Linda Ikeji shares on her blog, it is clear that she understands the value of her information to the world. So it’s one thing to be authentic, it’s another thing to know why your authenticity is important to you, your family and the world.
To be “purposeful means: [pur-puh s]
1. the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
2. an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.
3. determination; resoluteness.
She uses that platform to do many of the things that are important to her. She inspires a lot of young women, pisses off a lot of celebrities and shares news also about their successes. We find intrigue, excitement or sometimes disappointment in some of the stories Linda Ikeji shares. No matter how outrageous the stories, she is intentional about the stories she shares. Linda spends hours doing the thing millions tune in for.
Your time is your most valuable asset. It is non-refundable, you can’t pay for more of it and you can’t get an iota of it back. You can however maximize it and be intentional about how you use it.
According to Forbes, Oprah has 10 self-made sources of income. Probably more by now. She spent years daily, doing the thing that is her purpose that she loves and helping people, building profits and daily she became a master at it, at HER.
She is a billionaire and she, just like you and Linda Ikeji have the same time in a day- 24 hours.
Committing to purpose means stepping fully into your Why. “why is this important for the world, to you” then spending your time doing the important stuff. The good news is, in-spite of the
challenges that you will face (designed to help you become a master at YOU), it will be more fun because you are doing the thing you love, helping people and building profits. Linda Ikeji gets to do what she loves, help people with her various non-profit endeavors and making millions. It’s a win, win.
[NOTE: Ready to learn the 7 Easy Steps to Creating a Purposeful and Profitable Brand Image? click here]
3. Profitable: Linda banked on her community. She built a community of readers that spends with the advertisers on her site. She made a business out of her passion. There are 7.3 billion+ people on this earth. If even 0.001% (that is 73,000) of them are the people you are meant to help and you charge them ??100 a month for what you’re great at, that they need, that they will gladly pay for, you will make ??7,300,000 a month and ??87,000,000 (that is 87 million) a year.
Here is the truth “the whole world is not your market”. Linda knows this. Not everyone reads her blog. Yes, you may have a product (in this case social information) that everyone could enjoy, but accepting and understanding that only the people that value your product or service will pay for it. Why not market to those people.
Linda Ikeji knows this and she’s doing it. So is Bella Naija and Ono Bello. This is what we brand professionals call NICHEmarketing.
Close your eyes: imagine your ideal fan, customer or client. What does he or she look like? What do they do for a living, where do they spend time online, what kind of books, shows, audio books do they read? etc. Whomever you pictured, that is the person you need to market to, to help you build profit. Start today.
If you’re’ ready to do this, you have to be committed and put in the work. Expecting results in a year though ambitious is unrealistic. It took Linda 9 years and she’s still building. You need to build your community aka tribe, first, build a valuable product/service and be consistent with it, then bank on your “tribe” to pay for what you are offering.
So, you officially got the details on the 3 power moves that Linda Ikeji made to get to where she is now. Start now, why wait for tomorrow. Be present in your authenticity, live on purpose, be intentional with your time and the people that you need to help and support will pay you.
Have fun being you, Linda Ikeji sure does. Congratulations Linda.
photo by: Kelechi Amadi-Obi
Your Purpose Coach and Cheerleader
SIGN UP FOR MY FREE PURPOSE INSIDER! NEWSLETTER
It’s free. Sign up today and get some free helpful resources to build profits, including my report on the 7 Easy Steps To A Purposeful, Fun and Profitable Brand.
I AM the creator of ICY ACADEMY an online program with a network of Inspired GO-GETTERS who are ready to step FULLY into their purpose doing what they love, while helping others in a way that creates financial freedom for them and their families. With my Signature Program: Meaningful Branding Sequence, I help individuals and businesses create a Purposeful and Powerful brand that is profitable. And we have a whole lot of fun on our way there.
#1 Way To Become The Next Oprah, Wendy or Mo Abudu
If this caught your attention, then you must have practiced being the next Oprah, Wendy or Mo Abudu with your own TV show. There is a new app in town that is making people celebrities almost instantly. If you’ve heard of it and haven’t activated it, I hope this gets you excited about it. And if you haven’t heard of it, this is your chance to get on the ground level of what is the new wave of social media. Yes, another new APP to add to our long list of social media connections. THIS ONE IS WORTH IT.
Hello everyone say a big HEY to the new free app PERISCOPE! “Where people explore the world through your eyes”, LIVE!
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS PERISCOPE?
Periscope is a free app that allows you to stream and interact live with your mobile phone or tablet from anywhere is the world, with anyone in the world. Imagine how you watch certain stations religiously; think about your own periscope being a station “Live With Tolu”. I can log in every Tuesday at 1pm and know that you will be on, sharing whatever “your thing is” at that time. If you have great content, you can have viewers who will come regularly for your “program.”
HOW CAN I USE IT?
You can be intentional and strategic about how you use it. Develop your own show idea, Talk show, comedy, daily gist, sight seeing around town, restaurant review, business tips, life of a fashion blogger, relationship advice or as I have, Life of a Serial Entrepreneur. Find me @Yetunde on periscope. I share my experiences, lessons, ups and downs of running my business with the world. All periscopes are only available for 24 hours and you build engagement by accumulating heartthrobs and followers (people simply double tap their screens to give you hearts. It’s the equivalent of likes). With Periscope you can also choose to allow only your followers watch your live feed. It can also be open to the world. It’s your choice.
CAN IT REALLY MAKE ME A STAR?
Yes, in less than 5 months, there are incredible people that have used and are using periscope to build their brand and a name for themselves. If you have a niche with great content and an engaging personality, people tune in to watch your show and people get to spread the word about you. More people know you and engage your content; more people push your star power. Here are 5 people I recommend you follow on periscope.
Alex Pettitt – Award Winning Broadcaster/Periscope Coach
Ebong Eka – Life and Business Coach/Strategist
Danielle Ford – Marketing/Social Media Expert
Krista Jennings – Productivity/ Time Management Coach
Yetunde – Lifestyle Entrepreneur/PR and Branding Strategist
HOW CAN I MAKE MONEY WITH IT?
You can make money by first building your follower base, providing great and compelling content, then taking those numbers and that great content to advertisers to pay you for your power of influence. Product placement is also a great way to get paid. So e.g. if you wear a t-shirt or use a lipstick by a specific company on one of your scopes, they can pay you for that exposure to your followers and many more ways.
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT PERISCOPE?
I joined Periscope when it launched in March, but stayed dormant until recently and I have only just begun to activate its power. There is one person I have followed on Periscope from day one and his name is Alex Pettitt. With over 97K followers in less than 5 months, he is #No1 and most loved for sharing periscope top tips. Find him on youtube <<click here to see all his videos on how to tap into the power of Periscope.
Periscope is one of the few live feed apps that has activated more people since it launched on March 26th. It is also tied to your twitter account. The goal with any online venture should be consistency, engagement and providingvalue and people will come.
If you do it right, this new APP can help you increase your star power, build profits as you grow your content/audience and build a life as a “Periscoper”. HAPPY SCOPING!
Your Purpose Coach and Cheerleader
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I AM the creator of ICY ACADEMY an online program with a network of Inspired GO-GETTERS who are ready to step FULLY into their purpose doing what they love, while helping others in a way that creates financial freedom for them and their families. With my Signature Program: Meaningful Branding Sequence, I help individuals and businesses create a Purposeful and Powerful brand that is profitable. And we have a whole lot of fun on our way there.
Okay sexy entrepreneurs; let’s get real personal. It’s sex so I know I have your attention lol. ok, ok, let’s focus here. Branding is all about engagement, repetition of what works, gets results and a connection to your target audience, so is sex. It requires participation and gets more exciting the more exploratory you are. Seriously, your personal brand is just the same. There are so many ways personal branding is like sex, these are the top 3 ways.
1. INTIMACY
Whether you have one partner or multiple, the fact is sex requires intimacy. You are your most vulnerable during sex. Just the same, your branding requires you share intimacy of your message with your one client, or the world. Whatever your brand value offers are, being intimate about what you have to share is necessary for how your customers will relate to you. With brand intimacy, you package and share value that you hope will please or impress your audience/customers so they keep coming back to your company.
2. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
As with sex the more you practice, the better you should get. Having sex multiple times can help you learn and get better at it. With your personal brand, you have to keep repeating strategies; practices and lessons that make you better at showing your brand value. If certain things don’t work, you learn from them and try other things. This is how you learn and grow a brand that evolves over time. Keep learning more about your value offer as a brand and how it really helps others, so you can be great at it.
3. ORGASM = RESULTS
Results are what sex boils down to. Yes, the experience is great, the journey to orgasm is exciting, but when you actually get to an orgasm, it feels like everything falls in place. Your brand, when aligned with your intention and your value offer to the audience/target market it’s like a perfect moment. If your brand can provide a positively engaging and memorable experience with great results for your target audience, then you have done your part.
Branding as common as it may seem these days, just like sex is an intimate experience that should be taken seriously. You should be intentional about what message you are sending out about your brand, who your ideal target audience is and how you can build a lasting relationship that is beneficial to you and your target audience.
Your Purpose Coach and Cheerleader
SIGN UP FOR MY FREE PURPOSE INSIDER! NEWSLETTER
It’s free. Sign up today and get some free helpful resources to build profits, including my report on the 7 Easy Steps To A Purposeful, Fun and Profitable Brand.
I AM the creator of ICY ACADEMY an online program with a network of Inspired GO-GETTERS who are ready to step FULLY into their purpose doing what they love, while helping others in a way that creates financial freedom for them and their families. With my Signature Program: Meaningful Branding Sequence, I help individuals and businesses create a Purposeful and Powerful Brand that is Profitable. And we have a whole lot of fun on our way there.
It’s official we have stepped into the era of total SELF PROMOTION. Here is however how YOU can stand out this year. These 7 easy steps help you identify what really matters for a purpose driven and profitable brand. One of the secrets to a successful brand is being very clear on what YOU have to offer to OTHERS that adds value to their lives.
You are more likely to be top of mind when people know your brand makes them feel better about themselves. Not about you, but about themselves. Your audience is the HERO of the story. Have that in mind as you step more into this year. Your personal brand should be meaningful. Your AUTHENTICITY is what will make you stand out, and bank on that for a profitable year ahead.
1. IDENTIFY YOUR PURPOSE & AUDIENCE
This is probably the one word that eludes a lot of people. PURPOSE. What in the world is it I am here to do? It’s usually pretty simple. Purpose is almost always about others. There are many ways to identify your purpose. I find that it usually comes from one of these 4 experiences: Promise: you have an experience and then decide and promise yourself to change things for people, Passion: passion is irrational. All you know is that if you don’t do it, life would cease to exist as a happy place for you and those you love. Pain: Something difficult happens that transforms your life and now you want to help transform the life of others. Opportunity: You see/bump into a need in the world and you find yourself wanting to make life better for others. Once you have zoned in on what it is that is your purpose, you should identify who would value it: Age, hobbies, habits, where they spend their time, how to reach them etc
2. TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT
Image goes a long way in making a first impression. There is usually always more to a book than it’s cover. However, you are more likely to open a book with an attractive cover. And if the story matches or exceeds the cover design, BRAVO! Invest in a professional shoot. I promise you it is worth the investment. A good shoot with a good photographer will be able to capture the real you that translates through images and taps into the purpose you have identified. Your image includes all visual collateral that will be a part of your brand image for the next 365 days.
3. CREATE YOUR IMAGE REPRESENTATIVE A.K.A. LOGO
Nike did it best. Their representative is the all too famous swoosh. Your logo is your representative in the brand world. If you pay $20 for a logo, you’ll get a $20 worthy logo. Invest in a customized design that speaks to the value you offer and the audience you are targeting. Your return on the investment is worth that extra hundreds to pay. Invest in your own purpose.
4. DEVELOP YOUR CORE MESSAGING
Content, Content, Content. Be clear and direct about the value you offer. Understand what emotional triggers your value taps into, develop your biography, website content, advertising copy and do away with jargon words. Be clear, concise and engaging.
5. MARKET AND PUBLICIZE THE VALUE YOU OFFER
Most people don’t realize they are almost always marketing. When you’re convincing your friends to go out with you, or telling them how awesome that new hair company or hair stylist is, that is well under marketing and Public Relations. So relax you already have years of practice doing this. Now you have to do it consciously. Decide on what platform you want to publicize your purposeful brand. TV, Social Media, Radio, Podcast, Live Events etc. I suggest you pick your top 2 and build relationships then pitch to the world media why your value is of benefit to them.
6. SOCIALIZE AND MEET THE WORLD WHERE THEY ARE
Now more than any other time in our history, you literally have access to the world. That power that social media has offered must be viewed as an opportunity. An opportunity for you to change and reach the lives of so many people with how you and what you offer, can make their lives better. I know social media can be overwhelming. Relax, pick your top 2 or 3 platforms and be a master at it. Build friendships across the world and capitalize on the power of social media to share your purpose
7. MONETIZE YOUR VALUE
It’s a sweet spot when the thing that you identify as your purpose now serves to help create financial freedom for you and your family and build profits. This is where you have to make a commitment to your purpose and put in the work required to build your purposeful brand. Learn new ways to generate revenue with a personal brand. Understand your finances, operate from a place of abundance and always remember your why. WHY DO YOU HELP OTHERS? Once you understand and accept the value that you offer. Your audience that sees the value you offer would pay your asking price.
All in all, your brand will evolve overtime, and even your purpose might evolve as you grow. The trick is to stay hungry for knowledge, keep learning and keep connecting to how you can be of benefit to others.
I wish you a purposeful and profitable year ahead.
Your Purpose Coach and Cheerleader
SIGN UP FOR MY FREE PURPOSE INSIDER! NEWSLETTER
It’s free. Sign up today and get some free helpful resources to build profits, including my report on the 7 Easy Steps To A Purposeful, Fun and Profitable Brand.
I am the creator of ICY ACADEMY an online program with a network of Inspired GO-GETTERS who are ready to step FULLY into their purpose doing what they love, while helping others in a way that creates financial freedom for them and their families. With my Signature Program: Meaningful Branding Sequence, I help individuals and businesses create a Purposeful and Powerful Brand that is Profitable. And we have a whole lot of fun on our way there.
So the great thing about being in the business of “doing what you love”, you actually get to do the things you love. I have a cookbook launching on Saturday, November 2nd. It will be available online for digital download HERE on Amazon ( already a bestseller in its category and it’s not even out yet) whoowhooo! I am so excited. The hard-copy will be available by December 15th. You can pre-order your hard copy HERE
This has truly been a humbling, colorful and exciting experience. It took me 4 years to create, brand and develop this passion. I am looking forward to sharing the process with you all.
below is the Press release my Executive Manager sent out for the cookbook. Feel free to share with friends and family.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Finally, a cookbook about fresh African-fusion meals. The Afropolitan Chef, Yetunde Taiwo set to launch a Trendy Afro-fusion Cookbook this Holiday season.
South Florida based Entrepreneur Yetunde Taiwo launches African-Inspired Cookbook “Love with Food: African-fusion meals made easy”.
MIAMI, FLORIDA (November 2014): – The Afropolitan Chef, Yetunde Taiwo is set to awaken the culinary world with the spices, flavors and distinctive aromas of Africa, with unprecedented execution and an expressively refreshing culinary experience. After 4 years in development, Yetunde Taiwo is launching an African Inspired cookbook- “Love with Food: African-fusion meals made easy”. She has gathered more than 50 recipes that bring people together. People from different cultures, religions, nations and neighborhoods have become friends and family at her dinner table. With these recipes, they connect on a personal level, opening their hearts and love to each other to enjoy Afro-fusion meals together. The spunky and talented model turned successful entrepreneur, who is in the business of doing what you love, Yetunde Taiwo, was born in Chicago but raised in Lagos, Nigeria and now reside in Miami, Florida.
Bisila Bokoko, Founder and CEO BBES, Global Brand Ambassador wrote the foreword for the cookbook. “This book will be very instrumental in changing the perceptions of Africa and also attract tourism to our continent”, said Bokoko. “…To cook, you must understand love. Afropolitan Chef, Yetunde has understood this right”.
An avid traveler, Taiwo is influenced by dishes from various parts of the world including Thailand, Europe, West Africa and North America. Now a resident of South Florida, she has found inspiration and solace in the abundance of culture and the ever-burgeoning foodie scene that Miami has to offer. Noting that West African cuisine has influenced many of the foods across the Caribbean and Latin America, the Afropolitan Chef believes that now more than ever, the world is ready for gourmet African cuisine and she’s ready to share her colorful palette. Stamping her style on the plates of internationally mobile, young food lovers, including the group known as “Afropolitans”. Taiwo is sure to resonate with the new generation of fusion food lovers and citizens of the world, alike.
“For many people, African food seems challenging and I am very excited to tell the world it can be so easy, delicious and a great way to bring people together for the love of food. Plus the nutritional value is spectacular.”– Yetunde Taiwo, The Afropolitan Chef
The Cookbook
The Afropolitan Chef cookbook “Love with Food: African-fusion meals made easy” will be available by November 22nd 2014 on Amazon in digital format. The hard copy will be available in December just before the holidays. Meals inspired by Africa, but infused with ingredients, techniques and flavors from around the world. Taiwo intricately balances flavors of Africa and Latin America in meals like Jollof Rice, made with pureed peppers, some curry, thyme, spices, rice and baked chicken. Though the cookbook is at this time exclusively offered for pre-order on Amazon before the release date, it is already currently top 100 in its category. Afropolitan Chef shares quick, simple, colorful, flavorful recipes. Foodies will learn how to save time cooking African meals directly from Africa’s trend setting, culinary ambassador. Africa has been aptly described as “A world in one continent.” Equally so, an African meal can be described as “A world on one plate.” Yetunde Taiwo as The Afropolitan Chef will stimulate foodies around the world to eat conscientiously with love. Her passion for food has made her a long time supporter of The World Food Programme and No Kid Hungry organizations. She has committed to giving 10 percent of her proceeds from the cookbook for the rest of her life to both organizations in support of their work in eradicating world hunger.
Her goal is to continue to tap into the power of food to bring us all together.
For photos, recipes and more information about The Afropolitan Chef, please call Kimberly Mensah at- 347.574.2589 | E: kimberly@icypr.com | http://www.afropolitanchef.com
It’s free. Sign up today and get some free helpful resources to build profits, including my report on the 7 Easy Steps To A Purposeful, Fun and Profitable Brand.
I am the creator of ICY ACADEMY an online program with a network of Inspired GO-GETTERS who are ready to step FULLY into their purpose doing what they love, while helping others in a way that creates financial freedom for them and their families. With my Signature Program: Meaningful Branding Sequence, I help individuals and businesses create a Purposeful and Powerful Brand that is Profitable. And we have a whole lot of fun on our way there.
Hey you. Welcome to my Virtual home here on YetundeShorters.com where I get to support your awesomeness with tools, tips, resources to thrive out here in these world streets. Plus, I get to share with you my life as a Lifestyle Entrepreneur, TwinMom and Wife. A snap shot of the good and challenging. I am on a journey to realize my highest self while sharing the experiences, in hopes that someone else can learn from them, without having to go through it. I look forward to connecting live or online.
