Why There is SO Much Contradictory Instagram Advice

January 29, 2018 by Mackayla Paul 102 Comments

One complaint that I often hear from members of my free Facebook group, Instagram Unfiltered, is how confused they feel about the contradictory Instagram Marketing advice freely available online.

At every twist and turn, there will be another marketing guru telling you that the advice of the other marketing guru is wrong.

And in between? There are business owners that *think* they know why X is happening on Instagram, and they are more than happy to share their predictions in all the Facebook groups.

It is no surprise that many small business owners find Instagram confusing.

And difficult, and annoying.

So, what can you do about it?

One Word Is All You Need to Prosper

January 18, 2018 by Shennice Cleckley 5,024 Comments

One word. That’s all it takes to change your life. One word can open doors that had been closed. Just one word can tear down years of trust. One word can also turn someone’s dreams into reality. One word, just one simple word, is all you need to turn your 2018 into the year in which you achieve all the goals you desire to crush. How can one word be so powerful? Words are far more than what we use to speak and to write. Words are not just the way we communicate with each other, words are how our souls communicate with our destiny.

A new year is an automatic reset. The energy of a new year gives us the motivation to get it right, reset wrongs and set new goals that are intended to make our lives more abundant. Hopefully, you have already prayed and decided what goals you want to achieve for the year. If not, I encourage you to take some time and set them. It took me a while to devise my list. My original list is about 25 items long. Yes, I am a bit of an overachiever. After final review, I finally narrowed the list down into 5 major categories.

Let me share my list with you.

Be a brand ambassador for Colgate in conjunction with my book tour for my new children’s book Have You Seen My Little Tooth
Practice intentional diversity by building stronger personal relationships
Be more respectful of my body and mind
Sell 10,000
Seek and execute more opportunities to connect with community

My list above is my overarching goals list. I have several items underneath each one that you might want to call a strategy. For instance, number 5 has a bullet point underneath for me to join the greeter’s ministry at church. I want to use my gift of encouragement to greet people as they walk in the door. Now that I’ve gotten my goals in place, I need to bring them to life by choosing one word that will help me stay laser-focused on those goals. This word will serve as the theme my year.

My word is MANIFESTATION.

Before I chose manifestation, I toyed with a few others. Prosperity, blessing, open and intentional all topped the list. Yet nothing seemed to fit quite as much as manifestation. I have been working so hard for the last couple of years to prepare and get ready for the times in which I must walk into an opportunity. This year, I will see that hard work manifest into an overflow of prosperity

What is your word? Maybe this is your year of discovery. Or maybe it will be epic. Regardless of what word you choose, make sure it is a word that when it is spoken you will automatically be reminded of your goals list and stay focused. Remember the power of life and death lies within your tongue. Speak life into your word. Watch it live!

The Pros & Cons of Business Partnerships

January 17, 2018 by Nadege Fleurimond 99 Comments

As an entrepreneur with various interests, I often find that partnerships are a great way of bringing ideas and businesses to life in an efficient way. Very few of us possess it all: Financial acumen, marketing prowess, business development skills, sales background, operation experience, etc. With everything one needs to start a business, often time partnerships provide the perfect solution by bringing different talents and skill sets together to create a perfect union. While there are many pros to partnerships, a bad partnership that lacks trust, understanding and shared values, can also result in a business failure and emotional distress.

Here are some pros and cons of partnership business you should consider when deciding on whether to form your business as a partnership or bring on a partner if you are already in business. There are times we also consider a partner for a particular project or event.

Pros

Varied Skill Sets

Having a business partner that has a different skill set that you possess is a great asset to any business. This means less outsourcing and less chance of burn out by one person as you don’t have to manage everything. One person can focus on sales and marketing, while another thrives in the realm of operations.

For one specific project I was doing, I needed to do a lot of video, editing, and photography. I realized for this particular undertaking a partnership would make sense because the sheer amount of video and editing that needed to be done would cost a fortune if outsourced. I was able to find a creative that shared my entrepreneurial spirit to invest both financially and creatively to the vision. Also, diversity in talents allows for greater growth faster because each individual can focus their energy on one or two things as opposed to spreading one person thin. I did not have to go learn videography (which I considered), which would have delayed me tremendously. A jack of all trade definitely moves at a slower pace than a master of one.

Broader Perspective

As brilliant as we may be, in business it is always great to have someone to brainstorm ideas with. Even in ventures where I don’t have partners, I am constantly asking and reaching out to colleagues to get another perspective. Especially as entrepreneurs and business owners that cater to others, we need to ensure we do not focus strictly on whats inside our own heads. A partner allows you the viewpoint of another and can allow you to create and plan from a broader perspective

Accountability

As beautiful as entrepreneurship is, one can easily lose sight of what needs to be done. With no one to tell you when to wake up, when something is due, or when to put a deadline on a project, you can fall really behind in your business. If you do not have the sheer self-discipline and will to put those timelines and barometers on yourself, you can easily lose track.

A partner makes it that much easier to stay on track as they serve as an accountability partner. As driven as my circle knows I am, I too get into a lazy mode. But when I know I have someone else waiting for me to deliver, there’s no way I will not come through. So, for those of us with strong work ethics, a partner keeps us from falling too far behind when those lazy moments strike.

Shared Loss

A loss is never a real pro. But losing $10,000 of your own money is way harder than losing $5000. It is in those times that a partner can also make the entrepreneurship journey a little bit easier. A bad launch, a product fail, a costly decision split between two people is way easier than enduring it alone.

Cons

As much as I suggest getting a partner when the situation is right, there are some cons that can come from partnerships. I have experienced a few bad partnerships, but luckily, I have learned and grown. But many of these cons are avoidable if thorough research is done or time is given to get to know your potential partner.

Differing Work Ethics

One of the biggest issues that often arise out of partnerships is the lack of commitment by one of the partners. If you are a “no sleep until its great” type and your partner is a “I’m out by 5” type, this can cause a lot of issues. One partner may be putting in way more hours than another and that can create tension. Especially when it’s time to split profits. This can lead to resentment. As a person who is naturally motivated, it frustrates me to have to constantly run after a partner to get work done.

Whether it’s your idea or theirs, once an idea is accepted, all parties need to work towards bringing that vision to fruition, with all their might. If you wanted to run after someone, you would get yourself an employee. I have seen this type of issue with many friends turned business partner. This is not to say not go into business with friends, but make sure the work ethic is the same.

Friends accept each other with all their flaws. Partners are less tolerant. Flaws that your friendship may be able to overlook, a partnership cannot as they may impact your bottom line.

Not There through Thick and Thin

While it’s great to have someone who is there to build and grow, as you get into the business, there are other individuals that may offer partnerships based on your potential, not their. They are only there because what you have is already working, at least they think. So when they come on board, they are not necessarily there to get their hands dirty, but rather come to collect. These are the people you should consider perhaps as an investor. Maybe if you need money capital, but not as partners.

I once had an individual back out on me for an event that we partnered on. I had several events that year that were all sold out and amazing. When they suggested a partnership on my next one, I said why not. Figured shared risk, and more networks to tap into. As the event got closer and I saw a lack of ticket sales and mentioned it to my partner, all of a sudden they were out. I was devastated. The place was booked, and other expenses were made. But I quickly came to the realization, they didn’t come into it to partner, they came in to invest in what they saw as a sure thing. Soon as it wasn’t, it was no longer worth it.

A partner will never leave you high and dry. A partner has a long-term vision. They don’t come to lose, but when the going gets tough, they start planning and helping you come up with solutions. Not check out.

Same Moral Compass

While you don’t need a partner that is exactly like you, you do need someone that has similar morals and ethics as you do. Remember this person will be representing you and your company. So be sure that they are not out there doing bad business under the umbrella of the business. From basics of how much you pay your employees, vendors, etc. to legal and illegal matters, be sure that you and your partner share the same ways of doing business, or at least have adopted a standard for how the business will be done.

In closing, the main role of a partner is to serve as a complement to the areas you may lack. A good partner makes your business better or more complete by providing skills or resources that you do not possess without the partner.

Let me know in the comments section if you have had any great or not so great partnerships. Do you know more pros and cons of partnership business? Any lessons?

4 Four Ways to Avoid Competing on Price

January 3, 2018 by Nadege Fleurimond 6,368 Comments

“I love your services and your products but the price is way too much.”

I’m sure as small businesses, service providers and entrepreneurs, we’ve heard this line a thousand times. And, it usually makes my blood boil. However, when the client adds “for me” to the end of that statement, I have no problem with it. I actually understand. I am in no ones pockets, so I can understand someone stating a price is out of their budget, but to tell someone their price is too much is rude and unacceptable.

Especially when you are the one reaching out to the service provider. My advice stands and remains, never compete for business based on price. My mantra remains, I never claimed to be the cheapest. But I am worth it.

Pricing is something that creates a lot of anxiety for business owners. It’s because we are trying to be fair to our customers, ourselves and our industry. Various factors are considered in how we charge our services and products (we will have a separate discussion about this). Once you have set your price and are comfortable with it my advice to you is not to use your price as a way to get customers to come to you or return. If you are being hired because you are the cheapest, you are doing yourself and your clients a disservice.

It is extremely difficult to be the cheapest in any market and provide the level of customer service and quality service or product that you want your brand to be known for. Lower profit margins means you are able to invest less into your business and your business grows at a slower pace, if at all.

Tips To Avoid Price Competition In Business

This important busines lesson shares my tips on how to eliminate price as the barometer by which clients hire you or buy your products. Try these tips to avoid price competition in business:

1. Build Your Reputation

Build your reputation by consistently and efficiently providing quality level work! At the end of the day, we all want shoes that look good and lasts long. We want graphic designers that responds to our calls and provides quick turn around. And we want caterers that show up on time and wows our guests with great food. Do the right things over and over and it will get around.

Last year I catered an event for a young lady who received my number from a colleague. She received my quote and called me back. “this is too much” she exclaimed. I explained I could not lower the price because I know what it takes for me to do what I do. I don’t cut corners. My staff will arrive 2-3 hours prior to your event to set up, they will be courteous to your guests, there will be enough food.

She said she couldnt afford me. Two days later she called me back. She said wow, everyone I ask about you had nothing but amazing things to say. She said, “this is such an important day for me I can’t risk things not going right.” Even though I have a cheaper alternative, your reputation precedes you. I will go with you”. Price alone is not the reason consumers choose you. It’s who you stand for and what you are known to have done, continuously.

2. Differentiate Yourself & Add Value

I know I can go on craigslist and get a website for just $100. But will I? Most likely not. The difference between the graphic designer that I’m hooked and the craigslister are numerous. She pays attention to me and has an understanding beyond Just coding and html. She understands branding, and helps me create not just the images, but also understands Marketing and human psychology and helps me in crafting my brand.

How can you differentiate yourself in your business? What skill sets do you have beyond your actual product or service that will be a plus? Yes I can get a cup of coffee at the corner Coffee shop, but there’s no jazz music playing in the background like they have at Starbucks. They don’t even write my name on the cup!

3. Be DOPE

The foundation to charging what you want and not be worried about what others in your industry is charging boils down to creating amazing work. Your products and service has to be good. No one can deny great work. Even if they can’t afford it, they will try to because it’s that GOOD. Many people buy things they can’t afford. Because the product is that good. Be that good! Be dope!

4. Create a Community

What does your brand represent? Create a movement around what you do. People like to belong. Mercedes, Louis Vuitton, and Apple. They all are what they are because of the community they have built around their brand. Their Brand stands for something and people want to be part of that. How can you create a community around your work? What do you stand for? Quality, Refinement, Women empowerment, Class? Find it and share it! I can buy a gym tshirt for $5. But I consistently buy from suppliers that sell shirts for $25-$45.

Because I want to be part of a community of “strong women bosses in the boardroom and the gym” or #FitAfroGirls. What words describe your brand and how can you rally your supporters around that ideology? Create a movement. Whole Foods aka Whole paycheck, has built a community around people who want to eat well and take care of their well being. It may cost you $120 for 7 items, but there’s a sense of self care that’s associated with shopping at Whole Foods. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that community?

Great products/Service, value and community building are all great ways to ensure you get people through the door. Be known as the person who consistently comes through. The listener. The fixer. Build your reputation around the Key factors that matter to your ideal customer and price will be the least of the reasons to come to you.

The Evolving Brand of Taylor Swift

December 29, 2017 by Haylee Powers 79 Comments

Anything can be branded. Toilet paper is branded. Charities and politicians are branded. Hell, even Florida branded sunshine! Sometimes when we think of brands, we think of Target, Nike, Starbucks, and Apple. The truth is, everything and everyone can be branded- even pop stars.

Branding has power over the way we perceive people, stars, and celebrities. It allows us to take a little girl originally from Pennsylvania and create a Nashville country star. Branding (or rebranding) then allows this Nashville country star to be strategically placed into the pop scene and then again into the dark, electro-pop scene with her latest album. Any ideas of who I am talking about?!

Yep! None other than Taylor Swift.

Taylor began as a good girl, a country-loving pop star with baby pink lip gloss in her first 2006 album. The old Taylor sang of love, broken hearts and all about boys she imagined a future with. Taylor in 2006, was likable, easy to dismiss and vanilla. Her brand design was soft, feminine, girly and innocent. Her music video for Tim McGraw featured a southern landscape, a pink and purple sunset with a young love interest. It wasn’t until she put out the album Red in 2012 when she began to write music that fit the bright, catchy pop scene that we are all too familiar with today. During this phase, Taylor experimented more with the red lipstick and a new found attitude and dropped the country star front.

This year, Taylor Swift recently went through a rebrand, deleting all of her Instagram photos and starting over with the dark, cryptic imagery of slithering snakes before releasing her newest album Reputation. Some say this pop star turned dark over a revenge against people like Katy Perry and Kanye West. I don’t have the time to spend Googling these relationships. I do, however, have the time to analyze the new Taylor Swift brand.

The new brand is angry, smart and out of blood. In the music video for Reputation, Taylor climbs out of the ground as a zombie, staring at the camera as if to say “Do not f$¢k with me.” She wears darker lipsticks, bondage-inspired costumes, and a whole lot more black. You can see her sitting on a motorcycle with studded leather clothing with a threatening look in her eyes. It’s a little freaky to see the girl next door transform into a malicious vixen, but do we buy it? Well, that doesn’t matter because this is the new Taylor. She can be whoever she wants to be, and she tells us exactly who that is (right now) with her new brand.

Is her brand accepted by her followers? By her fans- most likely yes. They’ve grown up and evolved along with her, so for the most part, it’s assumable that she hasn’t lost any followers (with the exception of those who are fearful of the “new Taylor” and what that seems to represent). The other question is- does it matter? Her rebrand has us all talking- whether we love her or hate her. From a branding and marketing stance, that’s brilliant.

Taylor Swift’s Brand New Look

Whether you like the new Taylor Swift brand or not, her team has worked hard to create a solid brand strategy for the singer. Her brand has shifted and evolved dramatically over the last 11 years as she has grown as a female artist and worked to stay culturally relevant. Her strategy is on par with Madonna as an ever-changing surprise package. Taylor Swift started out as a squeaky clean good girl and now she’s badass and brooding. I think we can all take a lesson from Taylor, if you never take a strong stance with your brand you will lose the interest of your followers. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what’s next…

Why I Bulk-Schedule My Instagram Content

December 27, 2017 by Mackayla Paul 88 Comments

Do you feel like you are time-poor when it comes to managing your Instagram Content?

Are you guilty of sitting there on the couch after a long day of work and hubby or wifey wants to watch a movie with you, but you whisper…

“Just five minutes babe, I need to post on Instagram”.

As I write this I swear I can hear groans from millions of husbands and wives around the world who hear this sentence almost daily.

No More New Year’s Resolutions

December 21, 2017 by Shennice Cleckley 94 Comments

The new year is coming! It’s time for new beginnings. Starting the New Year is when we get a chance to forget about the past, especially a past that may have been full of regrets, failures, and delays. New Year is also a time for celebration. It’s when we get another chance to get it right.

In the western world, we also have a tradition of writing down New Year’s resolutions. Something quite frankly I’ve chosen not to do for the past couple of years. I tell you more about that later. This tradition involves making a list of items we want to change. Unfortunately, while we make these list with great intentions of improvement, only about 8 percent of people actually keep it. Let that soak in. That mean 92% of us fail at keeping a commitment to ourselves.

Now that’s when we write the commitment in the form of a resolution. Now conversely, people who have a written goal are about 50% more likely to succeed. So.. Why do we keep it this tradition if studies show that we will break them by January 15th? We don’t even keep them long enough to make a habit. A habit usually sets in on day 21. Again, why do we keep making resolutions year after year?

Why choose goal over New Year resolutions?

I think we need to make choose goals instead of resolutions. Here are my reasons.

We all want to improve. We all want to better ourselves. A goal helps us be better. It’s that simple.
Goals are measurable. We can track how we are doing which will us stay on track.
It’s a tradition. Well duh. I am not trying to stop the tradition just remix it a little.
Understanding the power of words. A goal is a result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end. A resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something. In essence, a resolution is an act in which we solve the problem but the goal is the end result of the achievement.
The numbers don’t lie. If we start using the term New Year’s Goals. We have at least a 50% chance of making it happen

I rest my case. From now on, I will only set goals that I plan on achieving. I’ll even go a step further by sharing them with my friend circle. What is the accountability I hear? Let’s get started ladies. Go ahead and write down those New Years goals. It’s going to be a great year. I can feel it in my bones!

Womeneur Founder Sets Sail on The SpreadLove™ Wealth-Building Conference at Sea October 2018

December 16, 2017 by Sharon Beason wc@womeneur.com 67 Comments

Reprinted from the SpreadLove™ press release.

SpreadLove™ announces its 2018 Wealth-Building Conference at Sea, setting sail on October 13, 2018, with a panel of successful female leaders across multiple industries. The mission of this new platform is to support and advance women’s interests through the promotion of financial literacy, self-love, and healthy business and personal relationships. This 8-day event will educate and inform participants about various revenue streams including those derived from entrepreneurship and investing. It will teach them the strategies on branding, attracting your target market, integrating social media, and starting a new business from the ground up.

Our conference participants will engage with influential leaders for 8 days and 7 nights in a variety of business and social settings…[and] learn new business practices and strategies, learn how to invest, and form new habits that can lead to personal success.”

“A change in mindset is a prerequisite to a change in circumstances,” said Esther JeanBart, Founder, and CEO of SpreadLove™. Our conference participants will engage with influential leaders for 8 days and 7 nights in a variety of business and social settings. I am passionate about entrepreneurship and financial freedom. These concepts are my driving force and excite me to present this opportunity for women to make new connections, learn new business practices and strategies, learn how to invest, and form new habits that can lead to personal success.”

The 2018 Wealth-Building Conference At Sea will be held aboard the luxurious Royal Caribbean International ship Harmony of the Seas from October 13, 2018, to October 20, 2018, departing from Ft. Lauderdale and stopping at Labadee, Haiti; Falmouth, Jamaica; and Cozumel, Mexico. The conference will feature guest speakers, workshops, vendors, and parties with guest DJs. Philanthropy is an important component to SpreadLove’s ongoing efforts. There will be charity-related activities in Haiti at the cruise (more details to come). The keynote speaker will be announced at a future date.

The lineup of inspiring guest speakers and workshop facilitators includes:

Ana Quincoces – Founder of Skinny Latina™, Attorney, Author, Chef, Media Personality
Lucinda Cross Otti – Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama, Best-Selling Author, Founder of Activate Worldwide, Inc., Business Coach and Strategist.
Sharon Beason – Holistic Business Strategist & Founder of Womeneur
Stacy-Ann Rose – Producer, Actress, Co-Star of HBO®’s Ballers, and the upcoming Jlm, Break the Stage
Tamiko White – Fashion & Style Expert, Brand Builder, Media Personality
Wana Miri – Founder of Women on Topp

This event will be a great opportunity for you to:

Build relationships
Connect with key influencers
Generate business leads
Stay up-to-date with trends
Benefit from new ideas and different perspectives
Showcase your products and services
Create brand awareness
Socialize, relax, and have fun!
Develop business and investment strategies

Don’t miss out on early-bird pricing… for the entire month of December, you can reserve your room with ONLY a $50 minimum deposit per person!

To learn more and register, visit SpreadLove.com.

About SpreadLove™

Women face a multitude of obstacles and struggles daily, from challenges at work and home to body image and relationship issues. SpreadLove features a sounding board for women to discuss and share their solutions. It makes them learn from the experiences the other women. Women deserve a home base for all things WOMEN! SpreadLove is a place to share narratives that are very common and aren’t discussed yet!

Join the discussion on “Women in Business and Lifestyle.” To learn more about SpreadLove, go to http://www.spreadlovetm.com. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

About the Founder, Esther JeanBart
A native New Yorker who resides in Tampa, Florida, Esther JeanBart has been a restaurateur and an entrepreneur in sales, marketing, and real estate for 15 years. She is a successful businesswoman with a vibrant spirit. She launched SpreadLove™ in 2017 to increase meaningful communication between women worldwide. Esther connects with diverse women across the country and the world. She talks with the women who make unheralded contributions to their families, businesses, communities, and grow SpreadLove for all things women.

Just Do It, Girl!

December 15, 2017 by Jenna Nia 109 Comments

As I sat at my laptop contemplating the first topic I should write about as a Womeneur contributor, the first thing that came to mind was: Just Do It!

When I think about sharing entrepreneurial advice, my initial thoughts revolve around how I conceived and executed the launch of IMME COLLECTION. I think about the fact that I’ve wanted to be a fashion designer since I was a pre-teen but while taking the traditional route from college to corporate America, I lost sight of my passion. And, how I let the allure of a stable, six-figure job keep me in my comfort zone for way too long until I finally decided to accept the risks that came with investing my time, money, and emotions into the pursuit of my true passion. It is my true inspiration for starting a new business.

I think of all those years in “leadership” positions thinking I was the boss when I was really just a glorified worker. And all these thoughts lead me to the conclusion that the best piece of advice I can give to anyone who is afraid to take the entrepreneurial leap is to JUST DO IT!

I’m not saying you should quit your day job on a whim. What I’m saying is that you shouldn’t waste years, months, or even weeks asking yourself if it’s worth it or if you can do it. These are two questions that you should already know the answer to. If you’re passionate about it, then it’s worth it. If you’re willing to put in the work, then you can do it. So the only real question is HOW are you going to do it. If you’re already working a full-time job then you’ll just have to optimize your time when you’re not at work. Yes, that means you’ll have a lot of late nights and early mornings!

Overcoming The Challenge of Developing a Business Plan

Developing your business plan won’t be an easy or a quick task. But, sometimes you just have to take that first step to get your entrepreneurial juices flowing. Go ahead, and get your business license, register your website domain, open your business bank account, and order your business cards. These tasks sound mundane, but I promise you that each step you take towards making your business official will give you an exciting sense of accomplishment. With the completion of these simple but essential steps, you’ll feel more and more motivated to finish what you started and put in the work to launch your business. Take the time to write down your ideas, make a to-do-list, and create a timeline for your goals. The time is now. Find your inspiration for starting a new business, and just do it, Girl!