jenn donovan

No sales team – no problem. How to increase your sales without a sales team

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When you own a small business, you may not have resources available to hire a dedicated sales person, but you still need to make sales, right? When sales are your goal but not necessarily your specialty, you need to make sure every lead, every prospect counts. That one missed sale could really affect your bottom line when you are just starting out. So how do you kick your sales effort into overdrive without a robust sales process and team? Check out these great tips to give your sales effort the boost it needs.

Email, email, email. If you didn’t read my previous blog on the importance and value of email marketing – go back and read it here. Email marketing is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to reach your prospects and clients. And yes, you should be emailing your current clients too – they still need nurturing to get them to continue to buy your services/products and buy additional services/product. Just because they bought once or twice, doesn’t mean they will continue to buy. Make sure you list is targeted as well. Don’t blindly email everyone whose email you have – unless they sign up for a specific newsletter. Make sure the people on your list are people who could actually buy your offering.

Be mobile-friendly. From your website to your emails to your social media profiles – everything should look great and be easy to navigate on mobile devices. Why? Because pretty much everyone nowadays owns a smartphone or tablet and they are using them to open emails, check social media, and visit websites. If they can’t quickly and easily access you on a mobile device, you may be losing a lot of sales.

Make the pathway to a sale easy. Can your customers easily place an order with you? Even if they can’t order direct from your website if it’s a service-based business, do you make your process easy? Are they able to get ahold of you or someone who can take the sale? Is there a lot of mundane paperwork they need to complete? Streamline your sales process to make it as easy as possible for your client to work with you.

Networking and referrals. What’s better than free marketing? Your network of peers sending prospects your way via referrals. When you network and build up a tribe of people who know you, know what you do, and genuinely like you – they are happy to refer business your way, especially when you reciprocate. The saying it’s not what you know but who you know still holds value.

Amazing customer service. Customers really learn a lot about your business from the customer service you provide. Providing timely responses to calls and emails, answering questions they may have about the product, and giving them value during the decision-making process could be the deciding factor in whether they purchase from you or not. Don’t go AWOL after the sale either – customer service is just as important as making the sale – you don’t want people spreading negative feedback that you could have easily controlled.

Still have questions on how you can take your sales to the next level – give us a call. We can help with everything from how to approach your prospects to defining your sale’s pitch and message.

No sales team – no problem. How to increase your sales without a sales team Read More »

It’s 2018 – why aren’t you using email marketing!

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I’m sure we’ve written several blogs, emails, social media posts, and talked about the importance of email marketing, but it’s 2018 and there are still people who aren’t taking advantage of the amazingness of it so, it’s time to share some remarkable statistics with you.

  • The return on investment is MASSIVE! There are many reasons to use email marketing but if you are honest with yourself, the end goal is to make money. And for every $1 spent on email marketing, you get an $83 return on your investment. That is huge!
  • It’s bigger than social media. Yes, Facebook ads are big right now, but email marketing is the most direct way to reach and interact with your clients and prospects. People are twice as likely to sign up for your email list as they are to interact with you on Facebook.
  • People prefer to communicate via email. Let’s be honest, very few people like to pick up the phone and call people these days – and even fewer like answering – especially with all the spam robocalls these days. 72% of consumers prefer email as their source of communication – they can learn about your business and make informed buying decisions.
  • Your customers WANT emails from you. Surprised? Well, 61% actually enjoy receiving promo emails and 38% want more frequent emails!
  • Consumers who purchased products via email spent 138% more than those that didn’t receive email offers.
  • The conversion rate for men and women on a desktop is about equal, but women are more likely to purchase on a tablet and men on a smartphone.
  • Wonder why Red Barn predominantly sends plain text emails for our weekly newsletters? Because although people SAY they prefer HTML emails, the open rates are higher for plain text.
  • Don’t have a segmented email list – you might want to create them. Segmented lists have a 14% higher open rate and 100% higher click thru rate. WOW!

    • It doesn’t matter the size of your business, but when it comes to email marketing, you can’t afford NOT to invest in it. From a limited budget to a hefty one, you can still accomplish great things using email as a business tool. With so many awesome platforms out there, it’s easy to find one that can meet your needs and your budget. Not sure where to get started – give us a call. We love talking about email marketing!

    It’s 2018 – why aren’t you using email marketing! Read More »

    “ME” Time – You Need It!

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    It’s SOOO easy to get caught up in the demands of everyday life – working extra hours to meet a deadline, rushing to get the kids off to school and activities, keeping up with household chores, and if there’s any time or energy left, a social life. But the madness must stop! Taking time for yourself is SUPER important to not only your health, but also your mental wellbeing.  Ever notice you get sick at the worst time – when you are uber busy? If you don’t have your health, you can’t run a strong business or do your best work.

    Let’s start with a simple task. Look at your calendar right now. How many of those appointments, meetings, etc. are dictated by others – coworkers, bosses, or family members? Could it be that every time you add a new task or meeting into your schedule, you’re sacrificing your productivity by handing control of your day over to other people? Of course, compromise is essential when it comes to structuring your day, BUT you can’t sacrifice your “me” time.

    Did you know “me” time helps you do the following:

    • Reboot your brain
    • Help you unwind
    • Self-discovery
    • Deep thinking
    • Improves concentration
    • Helps with problem-solving
    • Makes you more productive
    • Helps with relationships

    Here’s some important tips to keep you, your health, and your “me” time in check!

    1. Be Realistic. Set goals and work to achieve them. Don’t set goals that are unrealistic and unattainable, it’ unhealthy and stressful. Set larger goals as stages so you show progress.
    2. Figure Out Your Schedule. What are you doing that you don’t need to do? What can you outsource? What can you cut back on? You can’t create more “me” time without understanding how to get it and what you are doing on the daily to eat up your free time. What are non-negotiables – sleep, gym time, kid pick up, etc. Block those into your schedule now so others can’t take up that time.
    3. Try Meditation or Just Being. These can help manage stress and improve your mental health. Morning, night, or during a stressful time are all great times to take a break and center yourself.
    4. Implement and Keep Healthy Habits. This means eating good food, limiting your coffee or soda intake, and even making sure you take the time to eat and drink water when you are busy. Avoid reaching for a candy bar at 2 pm as a pick me up and eat some fruit and nuts instead! Also, get into an exercise routine. Walks in the morning or at night, going to the gym, or even doing a workout video at home – whatever you like doing, do it. Keeping your body in shape will do wonders for your mental health too!
    5. Take Breaks. Seems counterproductive if you are busy but trust me, it works. It can keep you focused, help you retain info, and prevent frustration. And you should NOT feel guilty for taking a break – you deserve it! Take that lunch break, get up, move around, leave the office – for a few minutes, just unplug from what you are doing.
    6. Get a Hobby. Doing the same thing over and over is boring – even if your work varies from day to day, you’re probably still repeating the same schedule. Find something creative to do as a hobby to break out of the rut. Painting, knitting, drawing, reading, even listening to music can help recharge and refresh your brain. Make a list of things you want to do or try and pick 1 or 2 and do them. You might love it, you might hate it, but you won’t know unless you try.
    7. Work/Life Balance. This one is a hard one. When you clock out for the day, leave your work behind. Stop checking emails at 8 pm when it’s bedtime for the kids, or time when you should be hanging out with a spouse. Being a workaholic and constantly connected is detrimental to your mental health.
    8. Make a Change. If you are on the verge of a burnout, and you don’t like how you feel, make a change. It doesn’t even have to be a big change, but if certain aspects of your workday are draining you, see how you can improve on it. Remember, you aren’t stuck in your job forever. Find a new one, start your own business, you have options! You need to be happy with what you do for 40+ hours a week.

    No matter what you do for a living, don’t neglect your mental health in favor of a job or a career. You and your mental health are more important than any job. The more time you make for yourself and what you want to do, the happier you will be.

    “ME” Time – You Need It! Read More »

    You are more successful than you think

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    In a world where information is constantly being thrust into your face, it’s hard not to feel like you aren’t as good or successful as your friends, family, co-workers, or even celebrities. It doesn’t matter what you are trying to achieve, someone out there is already doing it, and it looks like they are doing it better. Want to lose 10 lbs.? Your friend Jane who just lost 20 lbs. is posting her wins on Instagram, cute gym clothes included. Want to start your own business? Your former coworker Bob just shared his new consulting website on LinkedIn. Don’t even get me started on the success of celebrities. You are a failure, everyone is doing things that you are trying to do and doing them before you and better than you!

    If you compare yourself to certain people it\’s easy to feel like you\’re unsuccessful, moving too slow, a failure. That\’s the problem with comparisons. No matter how successful you may be, there will always be someone who is more successful. There will always be someone better, or smarter, or wealthier, or who appears happier. But don’t get discouraged, you are more successful than you think!

    • You have a few close friends. Even with the popularity of social media and the hundreds or thousands of connections you make online, if you have more than two or three close friends, be glad, because the positive effect of relationships on your life span is double what you get from exercising. Who knew! Having a few close people in your life to be social with, talk about your goals, and who know the real you are more than most people have. Not only does this get harder to manage with age, but the more successful you get, the harder it is to weed out the real from the fake.
    • You look at mistakes and failures as a learning tool. Yup, there is something to be learned every time something doesn’t turn out as expected, and if you realize that and grow from it, that’s success! There will always be trials, challenges, and obstacles–but perseverance always wins in the end.
    • You have a purpose. This doesn’t mean you have to find the cure for cancer (although that would be amazing) but you’ve found something that inspires you. It feeds your soul, motivates you, fuels your passion, and you are excited to get up every day and work on it. That’s real success – doing something you love, regardless of how much money you make or what other people think. You\’re living life your way–and that\’s the best sign of success there is.
    • You give – not take. There are so many people out there with the “what’s in it for me attitude.” But real success is finding a way to help those around you. It can be offering your opinion or suggestion on a problem area for a business connection or even helping an employee or coworker with completing a project. You don’t seek the spotlight and enjoy when others around you succeed.

    There are many ways to be successful – it’s not just about how fast you accomplish something or how much money you make. There’s a lot to be said for just being happy with your life, having a purpose, and having good people to share it with. In a world with so many smoke and mirrors, and Instagram filters, you never really know the truth behind other people’s “successes.” Trying to compare your life to others will leave you miserable and feeling like a failure.

    You are more successful than you think Read More »

    The Marketing Strategy – Yes, You Do Really Need One

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    We get asked ALL THE TIME by prospective clients if they REALLY need a Marketing Strategy. After all, they only want to grow and promote Product/Service A so what do they need a comprehensive strategy for. Having a strategic plan for the next 12 months is just smart business and it doesn’t matter if you are a solopreneur or a Fortune 500 company – you need one.

    Spontaneity has its pluses – last minute road trip to the beach, AWESOME – throwing spaghetti at the wall to figure out your marketing strategy for the next year – not so awesome. A marketing strategy takes time, research, and planning to be effective. It takes creative visions, thinking outside the box at times, understanding your ideal client(s) and validating all that good stuff with in data and research.

    The strategy also sets the objectives and timeline – putting those goals on paper and being accountable. However, a marketing strategy is fluid and can change as new opportunities present themselves or new challenges come into play. A Strategy is NOT meant to sit on the shelf until it’s past its expiration date. Tasks need to be assigned, executed, and measured!

    This one is a big one, so pay attention! A marketing strategy also defines who your target audience is going to be. If you don’t know who that is – WE HAVE A PROBLEM! You can’t market to everyone – it’s just not possible. Targeting your audience is the only way that your marketing strategy is going to make any sort of impact. You can’t market Skinny Jeans on Snap Chat to 65-year-old men and expect to see results, right? If your goals aren’t aligned with your target audience, then you can’t expect to move that revenue needle.

    You don’t build a house without a budget, set of plans, timelines, etc. So, why would you build a business and its success without a solid plan? It just doesn’t make sense! There are a lot of moving parts and the strategy keeps you organized, on track, and knowing what to do next. When you organize your strategy, you’re ensuring that you won’t miss important opportunities to convert leads.

    It’s not just the marketing person\’s job to make the strategy work. That’s right – it’s all hands on deck. If you want success, everyone must believe in the plan and work towards those goals. Sales, writers, designers, client facing staff – everyone needs to be on the same page and working that strategy.

    A strategy also keeps your budget in check. Ever do a home remodel without a set budget – probably not. Same goes for the strategy. You estimate your costs and try to stick as close to them as possible to eliminate any surprises. This also goes for allocating resources too. You can make sure staff aren’t overworked while others are underworked.

    At the end of the day, a marketing strategy will help you capitalize on your great ideas, stick to a budget, keep everyone accountable, and improve your ROI. Now let’s address the elephant in the room. A lot of people have no clue how much a strategy costs. It’s ok – be honest if you didn’t either.

    Depending on your company size, the nature of your business, and what you are looking to accomplish in the next few years, you can expect to invest between $5,000 and $40,000. Now, those high-end ones usually include a business plan complete with a competitive analysis and a product gap analysis. If you are looking for just the basics like messaging, channels to market, ideal clients, and campaigns and initiatives to support your goals, that’s closer to the $5k price, and even lower for some smaller businesses.

    Don’t look at the cost as an expense though. Because a good marketing strategy can earn you a significant return on investment. You never want to throw spaghetti at the wall and hope it sticks, you might as well just flush that money down the toilet.

    Have questions about how a marketing strategy works, or want help putting one together – give us a call!

    The Marketing Strategy – Yes, You Do Really Need One Read More »

    168 Hours – Are you making the most of them?

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    We all have the same number of hours in a week, so how is it that some people manage to be so productive, like Gary V, while others can barely manage to check a few items off the to do list. Are we so obsessed with trying to save time and complaining that there is never enough time, that we aren’t focusing on how we are spending our time? Think about that for a second. When you are doing something you don’t like, let’s say running on a treadmill or preparing a report for work that you know no one even reads, how fast does time go by? It crawls. 5 minutes feels like 5 hours. BUT when you are doing something you love, accomplishing things that mean something to you, 5 hours starts to feel like 5 minutes! So, if you like hiking, why are you on the treadmill day after day. If you don’t like your job and its requirements, why are you spending 40 hours a week being miserable?

    Laura Vanderkam, who studies Time Management, thinks that time isn’t the issue. \”We don\’t build the lives we want by saving time,\” Vanderkam said in her TedWomen talk in 2016. \”We build the lives we want, and then time saves itself.\”

    Some of the most famous business people today never complain that there aren’t enough hours in a day or week, and they probably accomplish more in a week than most of use accomplish in a month. So, what’s their secret? Is it simply because they love what they do, or do they have some magical ninja fairies in their pockets helping them get shit done? Here are a few strategies Vanderkam uses to manage her own time.

    Track your time

    I once had a boss who had my entire department track our time for over a month. This required filling out a spreadsheet with what we did every minute of every day. How many orders I processed, and how much time I thought those took, phone calls, responding to emails, etc., etc. It got to the point where I was adding in funny stuff to see if he noticed. He didn’t. HOWEVER, you should track your time for one week. It doesn’t have to track every minute but write down things in 30 min. increments. It might feel tedious to start and one more thing you have to do, but you might be surprised at what you discover and where you are actually spending your time. You might find that you spend several hours a week reading articles on Facebook or LinkedIn, yet you’ve been complaining that you haven’t had any time to read some new books.

    Take breaks

    Your brain cannot function for hours on end on the same task without taking a break. A break some rejuvenate and refresh you. You might find that you THINK you are taking breaks, but scrolling through social media, personal emails, or texting are NOT breaks for your brain – or your body. These breaks aren’t really breaks at all. Doing all those things are fine, and you should plan those in to your day, but you also need to get up, move around, and reboot your brain. Step away from the electronics!

    Less is more

    When it comes to making a to do list, less is more. Having a short, manageable list is MUCH easier to navigate than pages and pages that cover your whole list of monthly items. A long list = failure. You want to feel accomplished at the end of the day and check off several if not all the items on the list will keep you motivated. This list should be for both work and home – they are equally important.

    Your time is your own. How you choose to spend it is up to you. Your boss, spouse, or even kids don’t make that choice for you – you do. You can’t make more time. You can’t put it in an account for a rainy day. Those 24 hours a day, 168 hours a week will get spent regardless. Make every minute count and be on your terms.

    168 Hours – Are you making the most of them? Read More »

    You’ve started your Facebook group – Now what?

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    You’ve set up your Facebook Business Page, and you are ready to create your Facebook Group – but: What should I call it? How do you get members? What do you post about? Should the group be public, closed, or secret? How do you prevent trolls? Should I set rules or questions to join the group? All great questions, and things you need to consider before you get your Group off the ground.

    Before you launch your Facebook Group – you should determine what the primary goal of your group is. Yes, the ultimate goal is to increase sales for your business, but people won’t join your group if they think it’s just a continuous sales pitch. Many businesses create Facebook Groups as a place to share some free advice and tips and tricks. It’s a place where you can be seen as an expert so that eventually the group becomes a feeder for your sales pipeline. SO, choose a name that conveys what your group is about. No one will join a group that is the name of your business. Name it something that relates to the topic or theme of what you want your group to be. You can incorporate the company name if it makes sense, but it doesn’t have to be included. Once you determine what you want the look and feel to be, pick a cover photo, create your description, etc.[/cs_text][cs_text]You also want to determine if your group will be public and anyone can join, they need to request to join, or it’s by invite only. Public groups are great for certain things, but if you only want your ideal clients or target audience in the group – I’d suggest a private group where you must manually accept requestors. There are a few instances where secret groups make sense – but those are usually part of a paid membership offering.

    Many private Facebook Groups require members to answer a few questions before they can join. This is a great way to learn more about your members. Some sample questions may be: How did you hear about this Group? Have you viewed our free training or downloaded our Free XXX workbook? This helps you weed our spammers or trolls as well. They typically won’t take the time to fill out questions. BUT it allows you to get some insight into how much your audience knows about you, if they’ve viewed any of your lead magnets (free downloads or trainings) or any other info you want to gather.
    [/cs_text][cs_text]It’s important to set the stage from the launch on the Group expectations. Create a pinned post at the top of the page so that the first thing new members see are the rules and expectations of the group. A few good housekeeping rules to post are 1. Keep things courteous – be respectful to others in the group. 2. No spam or plugging your business. (You will get trolls who try to join every group and post about what they are selling.) 3. This is your group too, please engage, ask questions, etc. 4. Give value – post things relevant to the group and its members. 5. Be open and share your own personal experiences, struggles, suggestions, etc. If you come across a troll or all around rude person, it’s ok to delete them.

    Gaining a following in your Group can take time. Don’t get discouraged and give up. It’s important to get the word out about your group. Some easy ways are inviting people you are already connected to who might find interest it in. You can also send out an email to your list of contacts to see if they have any interest in joining. Why not add a link in your email signature or on your website as well? If people don’t know about your group – they can’t join!

    Lastly, and probably most importantly, is posting engaging content. Get the engagement started with some posts of your own related to the Group topic. Don’t post salesy stuff about your own business. Share some of your own wins or loses, ask questions around areas that you may have personally struggled with. Share some 3rd party articles you found interesting or infographics. Once you get the ball rolling, others should follow.

    As your group grows you may want to enlist others that you know to help moderate the page by making them an admin. It’s important that someone is always watching the group, letting in the right people, and encouraging participation.

    You’ve started your Facebook group – Now what? Read More »

    It’s time to lose the Dead Weight!

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    You’ve heard of a detox before – whether it’s a diet, cutting yourself off from bad habits, or a break from technology and the black hole of the digital world – but have you considered doing a detox to rid your life from negative vibes and the people who cause them?

    You’ve probably become so accustomed to some people’s behavior that you might not notice that their negativity is rubbing off on you or that they really aren’t cheerleading for you to be successful. Positive things come to those who have a positive mindset. You can practice gratitude, do affirmations, and positive thinking all day, but if you are consistently in a negative environment, you are just setting yourself up for failure.

    You might not even realize who the toxic people are in your life without taking some time to really think about it. Have you shared a dream or goal with someone and their response was “you’re too old to change paths or try something new”, or “you don’t know enough about XYZ to be successful”? Those people are the dead weight, the toxic dream killers that are preventing you from believing in yourself and your goals. Their negativity will eventually seep into your veins – trust me.

    There are all kinds of negative people out there, some are jealous of what you are doing or trying to accomplish, some just hate change or don’t have the same opinion as you do, and others are just downright miserable and want everyone to be miserable too. Some of those toxic, dead weight people might even try to make you feel uncomfortable, guilty, or even ashamed about the positive changes you are trying to do in your life. Regardless of the reason, it’s time for a detox to get rid of the dead weight. Keep in mind there are levels of toxicity and some people you can’t really cut out of your life for good (coworkers and family), but you can create some distance. Someone who is an Eeyore (Winnie the Pooh’s depressed donkey friend) probably isn’t very toxic, but they just bring your mojo down. I’d suggest distance vs. the ax.

    These are the people who are most likely toxic:

    Those who try to control you. These people usually aren’t in control of their lives, so they will try to control or manipulate others.

    The people who ignore your boundaries. If you ask someone to stop behaving a certain way to you or around you, and they continue, then they are toxic and thrive on violating your boundaries.

    The takers. A relationship is about give and take. If they only stick around when there is something in it for them, then you need to move on. If they aren’t going to be there when you need them, but constantly have their hand out, the relationship is dead.

    The people who are always “right.” If they can’t admit that they are wrong or messed up, even when they know they did, it’s time to move on.

    The liars. A little white lie or an exaggeration every now and then is to be expected. But you can’t trust people who blatantly and repeatedly lie. The victims. It doesn’t matter the situation, they are always claiming that they have been oppressed, put down, and marginalized in ways they clearly are not.

    The finger pointers. Along with being always right and the victim, are the people who never take responsibility. When they take the role of victim and never admit they are wrong, they refuse to accept that they are responsible for their choices and the outcome of their life.

    So now that we’ve identified those who are killing your positive vibes, how do you get rid of them? Burning bridges is never a good idea, so some tact will need to be involved. Depending on your relationship with the person and how involved they are in your life, here are some ways to start cutting ties:

    1. Write down why you feel the person is toxic and negatively affecting your life – these notes are for yourself, you may need them later.
    2. Talk to them. Keep it simple and explain how you feel. Remain calm and don’t offer deep explanations.
    3. If you must see them at work or at family functions, distance vs. separation will be the key here. Try to reduce the number of interactions you have with them. Make polite conversation but don’t share information about your personal life beyond being courteous.
    4. Unfollow them or block them on social media. Out of sight, out of mind. If they don’t see your updates on social media, then they won’t be able to say anything negative about what you are doing.
    5. If they try to make amends, remember step number 1 and go back and review your notes. At this point, only you can decide if it’s worth a second chance.

    That’s my PSA. Yes, it’s much easier said than done, but once you start trimming off that dead weight, you’ll start to see how much more positivity is in your life and it might just inspire you to do some great things!

    It’s time to lose the Dead Weight! Read More »

    Should you start a Facebook Group?

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    If you are on Facebook, the odds are that you are probably part of a Facebook Group. Facebook isn’t just about connecting with friends and family anymore (or people you went to high school with and haven’t seen in 20 years, lol), it’s a way to stay more connected with everything that matters in your life. Facebook Group and Facebook Pages make it possible to follow businesses you like, public figures and even common interests and hobbies. So why should you have a Facebook Group if you already have a Facebook Page for your business and a personal page – well, simply because it gives you more ways to interact.

    Before you start a Facebook Group, it’s important to know the difference between a Group and a Page. Similar to a personal profile, a Facebook Page enables you to create a profile for your business. BUT, pages are visible to everyone on Facebook. Everyone on Facebook can connect to a Page by Liking it and new posts will show up in the News Feed. Facebook Groups on the other hand are a place for people to come together around a common cause, issue, activity, or interest. They allow the members to discuss issues, post photos or video, and share relevant content. You can also choose the privacy of the group: public (anyone can join), closed (requires admin approval to enter), and secret (can join by invitation only). Like Pages, new posts in the group will show up in the News Feed of it’s members.

    So, the real question is, if I already have a Facebook Page, why do I need a Facebook Group? With all the changes to the Facebook algorithms, to really make a Page work, you need high engagement from your followers, so your posts keep showing in their New Feed. It sounds simple, but it’s tricky, so most businesses are forced to run paid ads that target their ideal client audience. Also, most consumers look at a Business Page on Facebook as an advertisement for the company – they are only seeing information that the company wants them to see. More and more companies are turning to Facebook Groups instead of abandoning Facebook as a whole.

    Using Groups, you can create a community that isn’t based solely around your business, but a topic within your business that others will also find interesting. Say you own your own car repair business, but you love working on Corvette’s from the 1990’s – so you create a Facebook Group for 1990’s Corvette owners. With over a billion users already using Groups – it’s a win-win to keep potential clients engaged with you.

    Here’s the top 5 reasons why your business needs a Facebook Group:

    1. You can engage with your followers. This is where you will get all the likes and comments vs your Facebook Page. If you are asking questions, providing good content, and encouraging others to contribute – this is where the magic will happen.
    2. You can teach and build trust. This is your group and you are the leader. After all, you started the group because you know about the topic and can explain, motivate, inspire, and teach the content that you love. This is where you can be seen as an expert and influence people’s lives. You aren’t pushing your business but are sharing your knowledge and encouraging people to share their questions, problems, and successes.
    3. Stay top of mind. With a Facebook Profile or Page, there is no guarantee that your content will be seen unless people go directly to your Profile or Page. With a group, anything that is posted in the group will 100% be seen in the members News Feed. So, the more you post, the more you are seen by potential clients.
    4. Get feedback. Within your group, you can create polls, ask for feedback, and determine what type of content is more relevant to your members and ideal clients. Your group can be a testing ground – if you get positive feedback – move forward. If you missed the mark, then you know you need to move on to the next idea.
    5. Announce special offers. If you’ve tried to announce a special offer on your Business Page, you’ve probably been met with very little engagement. Unless you put some advertising dollars behind it, the odds are most of your followers aren’t even seeing it. BUT when you post in your Group – 100% of your members will see your offer.

    Building an online community is an important step for any growing business. It can help you get in touch with your key demographic, gather insights, promote your business, increase consumer loyalty and more. If you want to start building a community, look no further than the world’s most popular social network: Facebook. If you want to start your own Facebook Group from your Business Page: CLICK HERE.

    Want to check our Red Barn\’s Facebook Group – Entrepreneur Masters? Click Here to Join!

    Should you start a Facebook Group? Read More »

    Feeling Overwhelmed? You don’t have to!

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    Does just thinking about your calendar or to do list give you anxiety? Do you have so much on your plate that you honestly don’t know were to start, or just put off starting anything? Yup – that is the feeling of being OVERWHELMED – but you don’t have to be. Being overwhelmed is actually a choice that you make subconsciously. Hear me out for a sec, because I know that might sound a little crazy. If you can train yourself to follow these rules below, you can eliminate that soul sucking feeling of being overwhelmed and start every day ready to kick some butt.

    1. Stop saying yes. I get it, there are certain situations with clients or bosses or family where you have to say Yes but stop saying Yes to the things that you really don’t want to do. Focus on doing just the things you really want to do.
    2. Get control of your morning. Having a morning routine can help you get your day started on the right foot. It eliminates the hectic, frazzled running around that just throws your whole day off and leaves you feeling like you have no control over anything.
    3. Block your time. Scheduling time for reading, working out, or just taking time for yourself is important. When you let other people control how busy your schedule is, you let them control how overwhelmed you can feel.
    4. Take time to access your day, week, month, and year. Reflect on what you’ve done. Did you accomplish what you wanted to, did you get joy from what you did? If you are just plugging through the day to day tasks but not enjoying them or feeling like you accomplished anything – then you really need to reassess why you are doing these things.
    5. Don’t just focus on the present. If you are always focusing on being in the moment and just crossing the next thing off your to do list, you may be neglecting your long-term goals and dreams. This goes back to #4 and accessing what you are really doing and accomplishing – is it getting you anywhere?
    6. Is it a priority? I’m totally guilty of this. Yes, there are things that must get done, but do they need to get done right now? Set your priorities and work your to do list in that order. If #7 doesn’t get done today, that’s OK, it’s not #1 and a high priority item.
    7. Set boundaries. Be realistic about what you can accomplish and don’t overload yourself. This really goes back to #1 and #3. If you don’t respect your time and what you really want to and are capable of working on, then no one else will respect your time.

    Let’s be realistic. This probably isn’t something that you are going to implement in the next 5 minutes. It’s something that you must train yourself to be conscious of and put into place over time. The easiest way to get started – #1. Both in your personal life and your professional life. Saying No to the things that you really don’t want to do and don’t have to do should free up your schedule so that you can truly focus on the things you need to do and want to do.

    Yes, unexpected things will come up, but if you are in control of your schedule and managing what you take on, you’ll be better prepared to handle emergencies and shuffle your schedule accordingly. Good luck! And if you have additional tips, I’d love to hear them.

    Feeling Overwhelmed? You don’t have to! Read More »