Ignore The How

Creating ideas is easy; implementing them is hard.

Have you ever come up with an idea you’re excited about but never implemented? You’re not alone. So what happens? Your * genius * idea pops into your head. Your mind starts racing through the steps to make it a reality and suddenly you stop in your tracks.

“How can I make this happen?”

Immediately your brain goes into strategy mood and you start to come up with all the reasons why it' won’t work. The most common reason these ideas never see the light of day is because the creator (that’s you) gets stuck on how they will make it happen. Too many obstacles. Too many unknowns. The fear of failing stops a dream before it even begins.

Will all your ideas be ones that should be put into action? No. But your quick decision to kill off an idea due to obstacles is working against you. You may not have the money or connections you * think * you need to make it a reality. But who said there was only one way to make it happen? Be scrappy and think outside the box. Your limited resources, in the end, could be that sets you up for success in the future.

6 Strategies To Get More Instagram Likes

Looking to increase your Instagram likes? Put these 6 strategies into place and start to watch the numbers rise.

1/ Write a caption that attracts your target audience. Ask yourself, if my ideal client read this, would they be interested in it? Would they return to read more of my posts?

2/ Tell a story. It doesn’t need to be long, but including experience or tidbit about yourself can make your audience have an emotional connection with you. Attaching a story to what you are trying to convey makes it more memorable.

3/ Use clear, good quality photos. Add some personality and don’t try to make it perfect. The perfectly curated photos are overrated.

4/ Use the right hashtags. Your hashtags should be a mix of what your target audience is looking at and who

5/ Add your location. Posts with a geo-tag have a 50% higher engagement rate. This is especially helpful if you offer in-person services.

6/ Include a call to action. Ask your audience to take action — share the post, click the link, tag a friend. You’d be surprised how much of your audience will do so if you just ask.

3 Ways To Be Persuasive

No matter what business you are in, being persuasive is a valuable skill to have. Here are three ways to convince others to buy into your products and services.

1/ Speak to your audience’s values. Look at it from their point of view. How is what you are trying to say going to align with their values and beliefs? By bringing in a common (although at times minor) thread, it makes a positive impression.

2/ Use a personal story. Storytelling is effective and draws them in with an emotional tie. Frame your selling point around a personal story to make it memorable.

3/ Practice self-awareness. Listen to your gut. Is your audience more of the data-driven type? Or are they more likely to connect with the emotional-type language? Be able to read your audience and adjust your pitch/argument to follow suit.

How To Get Verified On Instagram

Verified - that little blue check mark next to an Instagram name that gives it instant credibility.

Let’s start with the basics:

How do you know if an account is verified?

It has a little blue check mark next to the username.

What are the benefits of being verified?

It creates instant credibility. If you are widely well known, it proves you are the authentic user and not a fake account.

How do I get verified on Instagram?

1/ Go to your profile

2/ Click on MENU (aka the 3 lines in the upper right hand corner of your profile)

3/ Select SETTINGS

4/ Select ACCOUNT

5/ Click REQUEST VERIFICATION

6/ Fill out the request information

7/ Click SUBMIT

That’s it! Instagram will get back to you and let you know if you have been verified or not.

The Simplest Way To Get Free Brand Exposure

Want to know a secret? A secret that costs ZERO dollars and is one of the most effective ways to grow your brand exposure? DIRECT MESSAGING.

I’m sure you’re sitting there thinking, “No way can that be true. It’s too simple.”. Is it? You bet. So why don’t people do it? Because it takes up something more valuable than money ——- TIME. Here’s the truth: sending out hundred of message a day isn’t exactly exciting. That’s why people don’t stick with it.

So why is direct messaging so effective? Think about when you get messages. You read them. By sending out messages to people who are your target audience, you are getting in front of people who are most likely to be interested — and buy— your product/service.

There is one thing you need to keep in mind in order to make this successful— consistency. Schedule it into your days just as you would other tasks and meetings. If you stick with it, you will be amazed of the return you get from it.