Okay, maybe these topics themselves aren’t brilliant (even though I stand behind my Disney Princess result of Ariel) but using quizzes to drive leads definitely is.

Don’t believe me? Don’t worry, I get it. It takes time to create a new email opt-in, and you don’t want to spend it creating something that won’t perform.

But I mean it when I say quizzes are magical. Why?

Well, my own quiz drove over 2,500 email subscribers in just 9 months.

That’s what we like to call a *crazy* number.

But generating more subscribers isn’t the only benefit.

Just think about it. Not only are you collecting data from your ideal audience members, but you’re making it more interactive and enjoyable than a typical survey.

You’re also adding the extra benefit of giving the quiz taker a specific “personality”, which is determined by a set of characteristics.

Quiz personality is decided based on the specific answers the quiz taker chooses, making them feel understood and known.

Once you’ve assigned your subscriber a unique personality, that’s when the real magic begins: converting them into a client or customer.

But I’m getting ahead of myself (which I do, a lot). Let’s take a step back and go step-by-step into all that is needed to build a successful, lead generating quiz.

01 //  Niche specific topic and title

If I put a quiz on my website on “What Hipster Style Fits You?”, people would be very confused. Why? Because I’m a copywriter for small businesses in the visual industries, not a well-known stylist with crop top swag. My glasses may look hipster (at least that’s what my brother says…), but it doesn’t give me the authority or desire to talk about this subject.

Instead, I want to choose a quiz topic that is more aligned with my copywriting niche. Your own topic will depend on what industry you’re in and who you serve.

Not sure what your quiz topic should be? Here are a few prompts to help you out:

• What are the most common questions you’re asked from people outside your industry? From people inside your industry? From the clients you serve?
• What are the key elements of your process? How do you educate your clients about the importance of each of these steps?
• How would you describe your ideal clients? What traits and quirks make them a great fit for your business? What do they want to learn about?

When you have a list of potential topics, ask a few of your business friends and people who match your ideal client description which topics they’d be most likely to take a quiz for. This is the best way to test out which topic is most relevant before putting in the real work.

Once you’ve chosen your quiz subject, it’s time to craft an attention-grabbing title. The most important rule here (and this one is not meant to be broken) is for it to be clear over clever.

This is one of the biggest hurdles I hear about from clients. They spend hours trying to come up with a clever name when clarity is more important. Clarity = action, which is all we care about in lead generation.

The name of my quiz is “What is Your Brand Voice Style?” I know, super clever, but it works. People who are interested in taking the quiz know exactly what they’ll learn about, especially since it’s consistent with my website copywriting and ghostwriting niche.

02 //  Connection to your email list

What’s the point in creating an awesome quiz if it doesn’t lead to anything? Without connecting your quiz to your email list, it won’t have the power to turn visitors into leads. Since that’s the whole draw of using a quiz to build your email list, you’ll want to do this from day one.

I personally use (and highly recommend!) ConvertKit for my email marketing, but there are other email service providers that quiz building tools like Interact connect with for easy automation. I only had to hook up ConvertKit and Interact once, meaning for the last 6 months it’s been running on its own without any extra work from me.

03 //  Unique quiz personality results

While your quiz answer options need to engaging enough to entice audience members to keep going through your quiz, your big goal is for them to make it to the end. That’s where the lead capture happens.

It takes more than an interesting quiz title and relevant topic to keep people engaged throughout the quiz. Enter in unique quiz personality results. When you start to brainstorm quiz personalities, think about what labels may make sense with your niche.

If you want the quiz to introduce your graphic design services, your personalities may be focused on different kinds of visual aesthetics like “Minimalistic Maven” or “Sophisticated Solopreneur”. With each quiz question, your audience member will get closer to understand what their branding style is like.

I recommend creating 3-5 personality results with 4 being my personal sweet spot. If you create too many potential personalities, you’re creating a lot of extra work for yourself. It could also get confusing for your audience because there are too many options, which deters them from continuing to take the quiz.

04 //  Personalized email sequence for each quiz

The highest performing quizzes are actually a lot less about the quiz and a lot more about the email sequence that follows after. After you create the quiz, your work is only partly done. Now it’s time to focus your attention on crafting an email sequence that introduces who you are, what you offer, and how you can help.

First, let’s make sure we’re on the same page (copywriting pun!) when we talk about email sequences. An email sequence is a fancy term for an automated series of emails that are delivered directly to your email subscriber.

Email sequences usually include a combination of educational emails with soft and hard pitches. Soft pitches introduce your product or service in a relevant way in between educational information while hard pitches feature sales copy that’s solely dedicated to making the sale. ConvertKit has an amazing formula for email sequences that you customize to your own business.

Now you’re starting to see how beneficial an email sequence can be to your quiz. You might be thinking, I should just use the same email sequence for every quiz result because I’m selling the same product or service, right? Nope. Granted, it’s better to have one email sequence than no email sequence at all, but the real power lies within personalized marketing.

Many people who create quizzes skip this part because they assume it takes too much work to personalize each email sequence. They think personalization means writing every email from scratch, but I’ve discovered a trick that helps me cut down on my writing time while still personalizing my email marketing.

It’s all about creating a theme for each email and then using a fill-in-the-blank template for each personality. Here’s an example I used from a section of my own quiz:

“Thanks so much for taking my brand voice style quiz!

Isn’t it nice to know what your superpower is so you can weave more of your [personality type here] personality into your content?

To review, this is what your quiz results said about you:

[personality quiz result here]

Does it fit you to a T? I thought so!

So now that we know you’re a [personality type here], let’s take it a few steps further.

Throughout the next week, I’m going to pop into your inbox with some action-packed lessons to help you make more of an impact with your [personality type here] superpower through your copywriting and content creation.

[personality type specific prompts here]”

In my quiz, there are 4 different personality results with the most popular being the Educator and Connector. Naturally, the way I address an Educator personality is different than a Connector.

They have different desires, values, and levels of interest in what I offer so offering personalized emails to each type helps them feel known and understood.

From the example above, you also see these personalized email sequences are totally doable. Not only that, but it doesn’t take much time to create for as big of an impact as it makes.

The more personalized you get, the more powerful the email sequence becomes.

Then your quiz can go from an interactive exercise with a fun result to your best lead driver. Who wouldn’t love the sound of that?

The post 4 Key Elements of a Lead-Generating Quiz for Better Email Marketing appeared first on Sindie.

As a refresher, here’s a quick recap of what we covered in the last

• What is a lead magnet? A lead magnet is just fancy digital marketing jargon that can be defined as the offer you’re giving an email subscriber for signing up for your mailing list.
• 5  starting lead magnets and content upgrades for business owners
  • 01 // Email course
  • 02 // Video training
  • 03 // Interactive quiz
  • 04 // Ebook
  • 05 // Email challenge

Let’s continue the list of lead magnets below…

06 // Audio series

Okay, so maybe being video makes you shift in your seat and writing isn’t really your thing. If this sounds like you, creating an audio series could be a great fit. Think of it as a mini podcast you’re creating around a specific theme or subject.

Your audio clips can be as short or long as you’d like. They can be interviews with other business owners or people in your target audience, or solo episodes with you and the microphone. Get creative!

Examples: Before I created the #createlounge podcast (which is currently on a break), I created The Power of We Audio Series which featured 10 interviews on different community building platforms with entrepreneurs I adored like Mariah Coz, Melyssa Griffin, Sarah Morgan, Maya Elious… so many! Of course, the queen of audio series will always be Danielle LaPorte – I really loved Fight for Your Joy.

07 // Printable checklist

If you’re short on time or resources, creating a checklist can be one of the easiest lead magnets to make. This does, however, mean that a lot of content creators have created pretty low-quality checklists.

Because most subscribers have likely traded their email address for a checklist that was less than helpful in the past, add a preview of what’s covered in the checklist so subscribers know what they’re signing up for. This goes for any of the other lead magnets too.

Examples: I love how Caitlin Bacher’s Facebook group checklist is ultra-helpful and unique, as well as Emily Bank’s checklist on how to DIY your brand.

08 // Worksheets or Workbooks

How have we gone this long without talking about worksheets or workbooks? This is another great lead magnet, especially for subscribers who love a good pencil and paper brainstorming session. It’s the best kind of adult homework.

You can also create digital worksheets and workbooks with fillable forms in PDF form! I’m lucky to have a few designer friends in Minneapolis who are going to be showing me exactly how to do this at our next mastermind meeting so I can’t wait to use this feature more. Woo!

Examples: I have a few collections of worksheets from Finding Your Ideal Client to Becoming a Social Media Hero, but I need to give a big shout out to my branding designer, Allison Hall, for creating the most comprehensive Branding Workbook I’ve seen yet.

09 // Community

Of course, this is one of my favorite lead magnets of all! For my entire first year of business, I helped creative bloggers and entrepreneurs build dedicated tribes around their brand.

That combined with my third year of hosting the #createlounge community means I can confidently say that communities are a proven and purposeful way to build your email list.

Examples: Rather than take up more space gushing about how much I love communities (seriously, I could do this all day), you can see this post from the archive which highlights 7 of my favorite Facebook groups.

10 // Printable or digital art

Who does love a good wallpaper or cute print? These are often highly successful lead magnets because subscribers feel like they’re getting something they can hold for free.

Are you a designer? Create a monthly themed phone or desktop background. Are you a calligrapher? Create a hand-lettered print subscribers can download, print, and hang in their home office. Have fun with it!

Example: I have a whole Pinterest board dedicated solely to phone and desktop wallpapers. Yes, I know I’m a writer by trade, but I love all of the pretty designed things. Plenty of these wallpaper creators use their digital art as a lead magnet for their email list.

11 // Calendars and spreadsheets

If you think in a more logical and strategic way, outlining calendars and creating spreadsheets could be a great way to help your audience make sense of their goals, finances, and beyond.

I got over my spreadsheet-phobia when I found I liked compiling social media analytics (who knew?) at my previous PR agency job, and ever since then I haven’t been able to get enough of them. It’s likely that your audience feels the same way.

Are you a coach? Create a strategic calendar that can help subscribers plan their week or month ahead. Are you a financial planner? Create a budgeting spreadsheet that helps subscribers track their expenses. Again, have fun with it!

Examples: My most popular post to this day includes a Social Media Calendar Template which is a simple spreadsheet to help others create a plan for their social media marketing. Another spreadsheet I love is from Iyanna who helps you price out your offerings – so useful!

12 // Resource library

Do you find yourself having a hard time choosing a lead magnet? Well, I’m happy to say you don’t have to! If you want to create multiple resources that I’ve listed here, think about creating a private library for subscribers. It’s best to keep your library password-protected so it feels exclusive. #VIPstatus

Another great thing about creating a resource library is that all of your content can be accessed in one place, meaning your subscribers don’t have to opt-in in different areas of your website to download, watch, or listen to what they want.

The best libraries are those that are frequently updated and well-stocked so while this may take some time to build up, it’s a great opt-in for your general email form.

Examples: I’ve always admired how well-stocked Melyssa Griffin’s resource library is with all kinds of resources on different subjects throughout her years of transition. My friend Melanie of My Billie Designs also has a resource library full of out-of-this-world branding and graphic design resources.

I hope these lead magnet ideas help you build your email list as a creative entrepreneur!

The post 12 Types of Lead Magnets to Attract (and Keep) Email Subscribers: Part Two appeared first on Sindie.

I wrote a post about it last year, but it wasn’t until a few weeks ago when I related it to the bigger picture of what fuels our businesses.

See, many of us get caught in the comparison trap, especially in online business. We see someone else budgeting for Facebook ads and leading webinars successfully so we think we should be doing that. We see someone rocking it on Periscope and blogging every day successfully so we think we should be doing that too.

But before looking at other businesses to see what yours could look like, it’s best to look deep within to uncover the biggest desires of your heart and build your business around that.

This is where your true WHY comes from.

While many business owners are quick to share the inspiration behind their brand (which is SO needed), I don’t see many who regularly share the real “why” behind what they do.

Most of us have our mission statements down pat and our core values defined, but what about those big dreams that fuel us? We’re all working for something unique so it takes us in different directions.

Our businesses should reveal our desires when we build them with intentionality.

Maybe you’re building a custom, premium service-based business that will allow you to take on fewer clients for more income so when you decide to have a family, you have a business that will work with you rather than against you.

Maybe you’re building a passive income driven business that will allow you the freedom and flexibility to invest in that dreamy RV so you can travel around to all the national parks as you set your own working hours.

The more in tune you are with your life’s vision, the more intentional you’ll be with your business decisions. And they’ll feel oh-so-good in the process.

This is why I start every copywriting, brand strategy, and content creation client relationship with a vision strategy call to ensure the focus is first on your dream lifestyle and then how your brand fits into that.

Knowing WHY someone runs the business they do is essential in the hiring process.

It helps to share the real reason why you’re building your business the way you are when trying to connect with your ideal clients and buyers. In an effort to be more open about this and be an example, I want to share a little bit more behind my own “why”.

So let’s dig in…

01 // Bringing my calling of connecting communities through storytelling to life

This calling was revealed to me two years ago when I asked my #createlounge community what they knew me for. I was in the middle of a tizzy with not knowing if I should create PR, social media, or other career content at the time and I remember someone commented with this: “Kayla, we know you for community, for how you weave collaboration into everything you do and into everything that you are.”

My life was forever changed. I immediately examined the milestone moments in my past, even the not-so-pretty parts, and everything pointed to my desire and need to build communities with soul and grace. I now intentionally bring this passion to my clients, my local friendships, my family, and in every relationship in my life.

The main way I do this online is through storytelling. As a young girl with journals scattered across her house and poetry scribbled in the margins of her math notes, I’ve always found true comfort in words. Naturally, this is what brought me to copywriting, but my calling of community really adds the light and love to my client experience.

02 // Giving a percentage of my income to local charities with soul

Faith plays a pivotal role in my life and generosity is a huge part of that. Every cause I donate to has a special place in my heart and is extremely intentional. My heart is convicted to donate local charities like Feed My Starving Children as well as foundations that give guidance and help to trauma victims who battle with things I’ve experienced. Each cause is beyond worthy of a percentage of my income.

03 // Saving up to build a small home to welcome my local community into

My desire to build a small modern industrial home with mid-century furnishings is at an all-time high. I want it to be a place to welcome #createlounge friends into, both local and from all corners of the globe. A place to invite fellow entrepreneurs over for productive work sessions, mastermind meetings, and unplugged retreats. A place that looks and feels so much like me.

Although these motivations are great on their own, my biggest reason is to collaborate with my dad on a life-changing project. My dad is an excellent residential drafter/architect, interior designer, and all around visionary when it comes to building homes with soul. As a kid, I remember seeing my dad in his element when he was planning and fixing up houses. I know it’s where his joy comes from so to merge our visions together would mean more than words can describe. I get teary-eyed every time I think about it.

We’ve already drawn out some of the plans and even have a shared private Pinterest board where we share inspiration when it strikes. It’s already helped my dad and I grow even closer and given us something to look forward to as we both find ourselves in times of transition. To fund this dream with my business is the ultimate dream.

I’ve struggled with this desire for a while now, wondering if it’s too self-indulgent to be driven by wanting to build a custom home for myself, but then I look at the why. The way it would bring my community together. The way it would help me create a lasting keepsake of my dad, a project I can see his fingerprints all over. It then becomes very heart-centered for me.

The post Dreams That Fuel My Business (aka My Why) appeared first on Sindie.

As a young girl with her journal clutched tight to her chest, writing has always been my first (and most long-lasting) love.

When I introduce myself as a copywriter at networking events, people either (a) say “wait, what’s that?” (b) nod along with eyes glazed over or (c) think I work in copyright law.

After I tell them about what I do and how I help creative entrepreneurs and small businesses primarily in the visual industries, they often say, “Oh my gosh, can I hire you to write all my things?!” #FavoriteReactionEver

The quick answer, yes! Let’s first dig into exactly what us copywriters do, the same explanation I give to new friends I meet at networking events.

Let’s first break down what it actually means to be a copywriter first.

A copywriter is someone who writes custom content primarily for marketing or advertising purposes. They commonly collaborate with other business owners and brands to create any of the following materials:

• website copywriting (Home Page, About Page, Services Page, oh my!)
• blog posts
• business newsletters
• email sequences and email courses
• product descriptions
• social media post copy (hello well-crafted tweets!)
• …and more!

They can also be found copywriting for a vast array of printed marketing materials like brochures, pamphlets, campaign advertisements, client packets, and beyond but today we’ll be talking specifically about online copywriting.

4 BIG reasons why you need digital copywriting

Copywriting is the “meat” of your message

Visuals are for pretty. Copywriting is for action. While visuals are often your first impression, copywriting is your lasting impression. In order to dig in and tell the true story behind your brand (aka what every client or consumer wants to know before buying from you), you need words to seal the deal.

Visuals all on their own are not always clear. Can you imagine if, on my services page, all I did was put a photo of me writing on a sheet of paper and expect visitors to understand exactly what I was selling?

Alright, that may be an extreme example, but you see my point in why words are important. A good blend of eye-appealing visuals with informative but enjoyable-to-read copy results in effective online marketing.

Copywriting connects you with your ideal clients and buyers

Your website exists for one reason only: to better connect you with your ideal clients and buyers to increase conversions. While there are many ways to accomplish that goal, every one will include some form of copywriting.

Here are just a few of the ways copywriting helps you connect with your ideal clients:

• You can share personal anecdotes to emotionally connect you with your target audience.
• It helps them feel seen and understood when you offer what they struggle with.
• It explains your mission, core values, and the full “why” behind your brand.
• You share what’s unique about your business and process to separate you from other competitors.

Copywriting boosts your traffic and email list (when its SEO-optimized)

I can’t tell you how many photographer and designer websites I’ve gone to where their entire homepage consists of one simple rotating photo gallery of their work. While the gallery is big, bold, and beyond beautiful, there’s no copy for search engine bots to crawl, analyze, and swoon over.

With all of the open real estate of a homepage, it’s important to put just as much thought into your copywriting as you do your visual imagery. Not only is it a great place to showcase your work but also to highlight your blog, email list, and other helpful freebies.

Now, I’m not saying to ditch the photo galleries altogether, but I am saying you need SEO-optimized and audience-specific words to tell website visitors at a glance who you are, what you do, and who you help.

Copywriting helps visitors know what’s the next step

Let’s use the previous example again of a homepage that only features a single photo gallery. With no copywriting, there’s no intuitive next step for your audience. This is commonly known as your call-to-action (CTA).

The chances of a visitor clicking out of your website then increase because they don’t know where to click next and usually aren’t invested enough to find the answer on their own so they instead find the exit button. Always have their user journey in mind when building your website.

Convinced your business needs a copywriter like yesterday?

let’s work together and bring your brand story to life through website copywriting and content creation!

The post What is a Copywriter and Why Does My Business Need One? appeared first on Sindie.

Spending time in the morning worrying about what I’m going to wear is just not how I want to spend my mornings. I remember looking at my closet with a blank stare when I worked a full-time agency job before taking the leap, wanting to put more casual in the business casual dress code.

Just because I’m a work-at-home business owner doesn’t mean I can jump on client video calls with a frumpy hoodie on.

I mean, *technically* I could wear PJ pants since they’re out of the camera shot (which I’ll be honest, I’ve done in the past!), but I’m much more productive when I look and feel put-together.

Here are my 3 best, practical tips on cozy couture for bosses, aka what to wear when it’s freezing outside, you work from home, and you still want to look comfy chic.

01 // Dress like your brand

When choosing my outfit for my new brand photoshoot last month, I knew I wanted my outfit to match my brand’s design aesthetic.

Mixing that with my deep autumn coloring (deep reds, greens, and browns look best with my skin tone/hair/eyes), I knew olive green would be a perfect choice. I added the hat for some extra flair which fits my personality and casual style perfectly while still looking put-together.

02 // Pick one piece for comfort and another for style

No one expects a stay-at-home business owner to wear 4-inch heels and a cute LBD every day. It’s already hard to wake up and resist wearing yoga pants during the winter. #CozyAllDayEveryDay

Luckily, you can still be comfortable and make a great first impression. Here are a few comfortable and stylish combos that you can work into any wardrobe:

• a chunky knit sweater with a fitted pair of black jeans
• a tailored pair of slacks with a slouchy blouse
• a pencil skirt with a casual leather jacket

03 // Wear a statement piece of jewelry

It’s incredible what a simple accessory can do to dress up your outfit.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve worn a simple black t-shirt but added turquoise chandelier earrings, a gold statement necklace, or a cool watch and still was complimented by clients. Yes, even on Skype calls!

This way, you can still wear a casual outfit to fit your workday at home or for running last minute errands. Who wants to change halfway throughout the day? Not this boss!

My favorite accessory as of late has been my JORD Wood Watch. It not only looks beautiful, but it’s also a unique timepiece that keeps me on schedule and looking great whether I’m behind my laptop at home, a coffeeshop, or a local client meeting.

I chose the Zebrawood & Champagne women’s watch since I love the mix of dark and light wood with a simple watch face. My friends at JORD are also hosting a watch giveaway with the chance to receive $100 off one of their unique, handcrafted watches so sign up here so you can save on your own boss watch. *heart-eye emoji*

(The giveaway has now closed – thank you!)

The post 3 Tips for Dressing Your Best, Even When You Work at Home appeared first on Sindie.

While December is traditionally a month dedicated to intense business planning for the upcoming year, and I did my fair share of that too (hello shiny, new business plan!), we often forget to take a look back at all of the things we’ve accomplished and the lessons we learned along the way.

Today, I challenge you to get quiet with yourself and fully reflect on this year, to pull out the highlights from this blur of a year to help bring you into 2017 with light and love. Here are a few questions to help you kick-start your review:

What gave you the greatest perspective shifts in 2016?

There’s nothing I love digging more into than how many new perspectives I’ve encountered in a year and how my thought process has changed. In business and in life, we’re constantly learning from one another and within ourselves. Sometimes we enter one year with a certain mentality that’s completely altered by the time we move into the next. This is something beautiful to be celebrated and surely not forgotten.

What were you most thankful to have enough of in 2016?

We live in a culture of “More” which often takes our minds away from what is good in our everyday life. In order to prosperous, we must be satisfied with what we have today. This can stretch beyond physical possessions into lessons, expertise, and other traits and skills we acquire over time.

My definition of “Enough” shifted this year in the best way. I used to think the term was inherently negative with the way others talked about it, like only having enough to get by or being stuck in the cycle of “just enough”, but I now see the word as the place of ultimate gratitude. It’s being okay with who you are, where you are, and with what you have. I think this mentality then leads to being more grateful for anything “More” that comes your way.

What did you want more of in 2016?

Try to go deeper with your answers than simply physical things like “a new office desk” or specific dollar amounts of income. Instead, focus on the true reasoning behind those wants, like the new office desk creates a dedicated space for your craft that you never had growing up or the sustainable income that will finally allow you to feel comfortable taking that cross-country trip you’ve been planning in your head since college.

I’ve seen the word “manifest” pop up a lot in the online business circles when we talk about wanting more of something. Maybe that word jives with you, or maybe you need to find another word that helps you get intentional with this process like “attract”, “desire”, or something else entirely. Find what works for you!

Additional soul-centered questions for your year in review:

• What were your most valuable lessons in 2016?
• What worked this year that took you by surprise?
• What didn’t work this year that took you by surprise?
• List the 5 most influential people in your life from 2016. Write the biggest lesson you gained from each person. (This one is a GAME CHANGER!)
• List 10 adjectives to describe 2016. (No self-censorship! The first to come to mind.)
• What were your strongest values of 2016? Are they the same going into 2017?
• What did Abundance look like in 2016? What will it look like in 2017?

The post 10 Questions to Spark Your Year in Business Review appeared first on Sindie.

Working from home is an absolute dream.

You can set your own hours, work from bed underneath a warm blanket, and wear your pajamas past noon!

While I love working from home as a full-time business owner, it’s not as easy in the winter, especially here in Minnesota. When you work and live at home, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. No one wants to feel like they are re-living groundhog’s day or hibernating for the whole winter.

I’m partnering with Thermos® to share my best tips for getting through the winter as a work-from-home professional and more about my favorite way to through the winter: lots and lots of hot chocolate. I’m kind of known for it around these parts. Exhibit A.

Take a midday computer break

Sometimes you need to walk away from your computer for a little mental break. I recommend taking a short 15-30 min reading break, a 10 min solo journaling session, or even setting aside time to listen to a new podcast or music album you’ve been dying to hear.

Go to the library or a coffeeshop for a change of scenery

Ever have one of those mornings where you sit down at your desk and feel SO uninspired? I’ve been there with writer’s block to the max. Usually, when that happens, I try to work in a different setting. The library is my favorite because (1) it’s free, (2) I can bring my own hot chocolate, (3) did I mention it’s free?

The great thing about keeping my hot chocolate in my Thermos® bottle is that it stays warm with its Temperature Retention, even during those 4-hour afternoon work sessions when I’m cranking out client work. No need to reheat it in the microwave because ain’t nobody got time for that.

Go for a walk around the neighborhood

I try to walk my pup Brandy every day even during the winter. It’s nice to get out of the house, stretch out, and get a little exercise in before getting back to work. Bringing hot chocolate along for the walk makes the day even sweeter. Be sure to bundle up with a scarf, mittens, and a hat! You don’t want to mess with Minnesota winters.

I get so many questions from blogging and business friends about what kind of hot chocolate I make since I must be some kind of cocoa connoisseur (is that a thing?!), but I like to make things easy.  Here’s a quick recipe for peppermint cocoa this holiday season that I think you’ll la-la-love!

Hug-in-a-Cup Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups of dairy-free unsweetened almond milk
• 3 tablespoons of cocoa
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1 peppermint candy cane (for taste and festive pizazz!)

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients at once in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Stir occasionally until all the cocoa lumps are gone and you’ve got pure hot chocolate (don’t let it boil!)
3. Pour it into your Thermos and add a candy cane to it.
4. Include a dash of peppermint brandy if it’s THAT kind of work day (*wink*), but only if you’re 21 and working at home, friends!

Try hot chocolate in a Thermos® for yourself!

Thermos is giving readers (like you!) the chance to enter to win Genuine Thermos® Brand products through a promotion that is hosted on Facebook. There will be a total of 10 randomly selected winners for the promotion so let’s make one of them you!!

Enter the giveaway so we can pick out a Thermos for you… not an ordinary Thermos for you. (Please tell me I’m not the only one who knows this Steve Martin song from The Jerk!)

Stay warm and productive, my friends!

(Giveaway is now closed – thanks for entering!)

The post 3 Ways to Kick the Winter Blues as a Work-From-Home Professional appeared first on Sindie.

Through hosting weekly Twitter chats, creating podcast episodes, and teaming up for 100+ collaborations, I’ve seen the true power of community firsthand. I want to share some of the things I’ve learned while building this thriving online tribe of creatives.

To be a good community leader, you must be a good community member

I wouldn’t be the community leader I am today if I didn’t start out as a member of other communities. Through being a participant in various Twitter chats, Facebook groups, Slack channels, and beyond, I was able to connect with like-minded people while discovering what I liked and areas of opportunity. These opportunities led me to explore how I might create a space that includes what’s missing from some of the other communities.

In order to be great at what you do, you have to study it. If you’re a writer, you read voraciously. If you’re a designer, you flip through magazines and photographs for inspiration. The same is true for leading communities.

You may utilize different platforms but they all feed into one true community

I may interact with some community members on Instagram while others hang out on Twitter,  but the heart of each platform is the same because my core message and values stay the same. It doesn’t matter if I’m replying to a newsletter or sharing a resource in a Facebook group; I want each conversation to speak to my brand and help my audience experience the same community on all channels.

Making room at the table is good for everyone

I’m a big believer in dropping the “cool kids table” mentality. We had enough of that in high school, right? It’s important to make room for everyone to have a seat at the table. There’s nothing more fulfilling than creating a space where everyone is welcomed, seen, heard, and above all, valued.

When we share our creative work, we’re all showing up in a big way. That’s something to be celebrated! Opening a seat at the table for your neighbor is what builds a community rather than a clique.

You have to be willing to experiment and try new things

If you told me a year ago that #createlounge would expand into a podcast, I would have looked at you terrified. Yet here I am a year later doing just that. If there’s a new medium your community is dying to connect with you on, by all means, try it out. What have you got to lose?

There will come a time when you’ll see ‘I’ transform into ‘we’

This is something I realized about four months into hosting my #createlounge Twitter chat. The more the chat became a collective of regular creative attendees, the more I started to use the word ‘we’ because I wasn’t just speaking for myself anymore. I was speaking on behalf of the collective. This mental shift was a big game changer for me in the early days of growing #createlounge.

The best kind of growth is slow and intentional

One-on-one, personal connections are the strongest relationships you can have when building your brand but they take time. This is where the real growth happens but some lack the patience to see their community flourish alongside their business.

Sometimes it can seem like you’re running the same race as your neighbor but at a much slower pace. Try not to compare your “start” to someone else’s middle.

What I mean is that everything is relative. I’ve had business owners look at me and say, “Wow, she was able to leap from her job the first month she launched her business!” but that’s only a small part of the story. What they don’t see are the years I spent blogging and building my community base while juggling college, jobs, and internships and started daily writing practices way before that. Overnight successes are a myth.

The post 6 Things I Learned from Building a Thriving Online Tribe appeared first on Sindie.

In this post, you’ll find unique ways to spice up a Facebook group from some of my favorite Facebook group organizers.

My hope is that these ideas will spark some of your own in your brainstorming process.

Video Challenges in The Roar Tribe

Holly Meyer, the host of The Roar Tribe, and I worked together earlier this year to solidify a community strategy for her Facebook group in the early stages of its growth. When brainstorming, Holly talked about hosting a video challenge that would help her step out of her comfort zone by trying a new medium while encouraging other women in the group to do the same.

From day one of the Roar Challenge, group participation was extremely high. Everyone in the group wanted to share their story and finally had a safe, private space to do so. I even shared my story about how I was bullied in high school and how that’s affected how I use social media for good today which felt SO therapeutic. If you’re looking for a way to encourage intimacy and belonging, video challenges are worth considering.

With these video challenges and our coaching work together, her Facebook group has almost tripled in size in just three months. She’s also gained branding and web design clients from the group after hosting her video challenge. I’m so proud of how she is helping women find their roar and unleash their passion with courage and strength.

Click to join Holly’s The Roar Tribe!

Icebreaker Questions in The Badass Solopreneur Society

If there’s one person who reminds you to just have fun while building your online business, it’s definitely Dre, the host of The Badass Solopreneur Society. I love her no-BS attitude and how she will never dull her edge for anyone. Members of her group become quick evangelists because everyone keeps it real.

It’s common to see Facebook groups have daily to weekly prompts. What’s unique about her Facebook group is that she posts regular get-to-know-you questions that act as fun prompts for members to answer.

Questions range from would-you-rathers, this-or-thats, and open-ended questions. Dre also makes sure to answer each question herself which really helps to get the conversation going and helps you get to know her more as a member.

Click to join Dre’s Badass Solopreneur Society!

Member Reposts in Capture Your Audience

Claire, the host of Capture Your Audience, and I have been working together for about nine months now (woo!) and it’s been so fun watching her Facebook group grow from 0 to almost 500 members now while her Instagram following went from 900 to 20k while working together… wowza!

One of the ways she engages with her Facebook group members is by allowing them to submit photos they’ve taken for a fun weekly contest. If a member’s submission is chosen, Claire reposts it on her Instagram account, which again has over 20k followers and is climbing higher each day! This is such a great way to give back to your members while also helping you fill in your content calendar. So smart!

Click to join Claire’s Capture Your Audience!

Instagram Prompts in The Gram Gang

I’ve been following along with Stephanie, the host of The Gram Gang, for a while and the way she has blended her Facebook group with her daily Instagram prompt community is incredible. In her Facebook group, she shares the upcoming month’s daily prompts so members can get a head start on creating content for Instagram.

The prompts almost act as an ongoing Instagram challenge. It’s great for bloggers and business owners who sometimes forget to plan content for a specific day or don’t know what to post that day. We’ve all been there! The hashtag #thegramgang also gives you a chance to connect with other people on Instagram.

Click to join Stephanie’s Gram Gang!

Guest Host Takeovers in Badass Bosspreneurs

I only recently heard about this Badass Bosspreneurs Facebook group, run by Meghan, but I’ve been incredibly impressed not only with the genuine interaction but also with how unique the group prompts are.

I originally heard about this group from Holly, who I mentioned above, because she said she would be hosting a 4-day challenge of branding as a sort of guest host takeover Meghan calls “Resident Badass”. How brilliant is that?! Not only does it help you grow your Facebook group engagement, but it also allows your members to share their expertise while everyone learns something new from one another. Let’s call that a win-win-WIN!

Click to join Meghan’s Badass Bosspreneurs!

Member Spotlights in The Rising Tide Society

The Rising Tide Society has completely blown up this year, especially with its monthly meetups called Tuesdays Together which are held in local cities all across the US. Kristen, the host of the Minneapolis Tuesdays Together group, creates a monthly Member Spotlight, which I believe is a regular practice for all of the Tuesday Together local chapters.

In the Member Spotlight, the local host picks one creative business owner to highlight, telling other members who they are, what they do, and why their work is uber important. It’s a great way for members to meet one another between the monthly meetups and learn more about what everyone does for a living.

Click to join The Rising Tide Society!

Facebook Live streams in The Swarm Society

Christina, the host of The Swarm Society, and I worked together earlier this summer to create a paid mentorship group that shared her heart for teaching and supporting other women in the digital space. She’s done an incredible job regularly interacting and giving advice to her members, especially through Facebook Live videos.

I’ve seen quite a few business owners and bloggers do Facebook Live streams but no one does them quite like Christina! She has so much energy and is quick to share anything she knows about any topic. She also gives shout-outs to other members in the group for their “wins” of the week and answers questions directly in each live stream.

After working together on The Swarm Society, Christina has not only been able to satisfy her purpose in life, which is encouraging young women in the digital space but also creates a solid, sustainable stream of income. Talk about dreamy!

Click to join Christina’s Swarm Society!

The post 7 Ways to Raise Engagement in Your Facebook Group with Tips from Experts appeared first on Sindie.

I recently shared my full career story and as a natural follow up, I wanted to highlight and commemorate the biggest things I’ve learned in this past season.

Your business cannot be your identity

Can I get an amen? This has been my milestone moment because work has always been my top priority. I enjoy working on personal and professional projects, but I’m no stranger to letting my work define me which isn’t healthy. When work is your highest priority, it can become your only topic of conversation and make you feel one-dimensional.

Work is important but it can’t be king. Your work is enriched by leaning into your family and friends, no-pressure passion projects, self-care, and other experiences that bring you joy. This can help us release the expectations we put on ourselves and be more productive (no, really!)

It’s important to know when to say ‘no’

This is a lesson I’m still learning. The more your business develops, the more opportunities come your way. While every opportunity can feel like it could be your “next big thing”, it rarely happens this way. I have people-pleasing tendencies so saying no can be especially hard for me.

To ease myself into a no, I like to treat some as maybe’s. An example of this is when I mindfully set a boundary like only making myself available for business interviews on a certain day or in a certain block of time so if the proposed feature doesn’t fit in with my creative process, then it can’t become a priority over what I’ve already planned.

If you dedicate the time, you can learn just about any skill

While I run a business, I am not quick to say I’m “business-minded.” I’m great with the creative and marketing side of the business as well as the strategy and implementation, but anything financial or legal makes me either roll my eyes or want to run for the hills.

Over the past quarter, I’m happy to say I’ve gotten better with creating business systems for onboarding clients and keeping track of my profits and expenses. Although I doubt this sector of business will ever be my area of expertise, it’s nice to know that with time and dedication, I can learn to do it on my own with minimal hair-pulling. That’s what being a boss is all about.

Be careful about who you welcome into your support system

I’m very passionate about welcoming every creative I come across to become a part of my community. While I open my arms as wide as possible with community building, I’ve learned to treat my personal support system a bit differently.

Your support system should consist of, you guessed it, the most supportive people in your life. They should know your love languages and be quick to give you encouragement. If you don’t intentionally build your support system, toxic relationships could seep in.

Toxic relationships are a breeding ground for doubt, comparison, competition, shame, and fear. These kinds of relationships have no business being at the center of your life, much less in your intimate support system. Be conscious of the opinions you take the heart and those you should cast aside.

It’s okay to do business your own way

I talked about this extensively in this blog post but in short, you must protect yourself from what others do and expect of you and instead remind yourself of what motivates you to perform and succeed. The pulse of your work is different than your neighbor’s work. There are no “shoulds” in business. Business owners have come too far and taken too many leaps of faith to follow someone else’s formula. If you’re struggling with understanding what your unique motivations are, I have a journal prompt to help.

The post 5 Things I Learned in My First Quarter as a Full-Time Entrepreneur appeared first on Sindie.