100 Trending Hashtags for your biz!

May 28, 2019May 28, 2019by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

The hashtag game can be tricky. One of the biggest things I hear from women trying to get into the influencer world is how do I gain followers? How do I know what’s a trending hashtag or how many to use? Where do I place them on my content post?

Well ladies today were diving in and answering them all!

Let’s start at the first question.

How do I gain followers? The quickest way is engage, engage, engage. This means when you post a picture to the gram you plan the most ideal time to post. I use PLANN which is an app that tells me my most engaging times with my followers. For me its between 7-9 p.m. PST when mamas are whining down after the littles are in bed. The next thing is taking the time after you post to sit and respond to each comment that comes through. What this does? It pushes your post to the algorithm God’s saying people are digging this, show it to people. Next is a call to action. A call to action is a question which gets your audience related, invested, pumped up and involved. No one wants to just hear about how your day was, they want a question, content that enriches them in some sort of way. Make sure to stay true to your niche when it comes to this.

How do I find a trending hashtag? When you’re typing in hashtags, up in the left hand corner will pop up with the most popular tags which are trending. Scroll down a bit and pick ones that you won’t get drowned in and make your post more relevant. IG allows you up to thirty hashtags per post. I like to put mine in the first comment of my comment section so that my actual words are read and not cluttered on the original post.

Lifestyle Hashtags

#workfromanywhere #livingthelifelove #ootd #fashionista #tredsetter #designyourlife #setyourownhours #friyay #saturyay #sundayfunday #socialselfie #TBT #TGIF #goodlife #roadlesstraveled #momsonthego #sahm #momlifeisthebestlife #freedom #livethelittlethings #musthave #mybeautifulmess #documentyourdays #momstyle #workonthego

Inspirational Hashtags

#stayinspired #instagood #mondaymotivation #atiitudeofgratitude #neverstop #dreambig #aspiretoinspire #fuelthesoul #motivationalquotes #pursueyourpassion #keepgoing #stateofpositivity #endlesspossibilities #slaytheday #joyfuljourney #gratefulday #itsthelittlethings #cherishedmoments #makeithappen #igotthis #quoteoftheday #goodvibrations #shootforthestars #timetoshine #bestfeelingever

Humorous Hashtags

#lol #laughteristhebestmedicine #humor #funny #bellylaugh #momhumor #funnymoments #meme #sillypic #laughingatmyself #comedy #funnyphoto #justmomlife #instafunny #haha #gigglesgalore #funnyvideo #hilarious #sarcasm #donttellmom #jokes #epic #allforfun #funnymoments

Business Hashtags

#socialmediamarketer #MLM #directsales #networkmarketing #socialmediaexpert #podcast #leadership #success #mompreneur #smallbusiness #biztips #blogger #bloggerlifestyle #mombiz #workfromhomelife #onlinebusiness #empowerwomen #buildyourtribe #businessowner #hustlehard #naptimewarrior #beyourownboss #goaldigger #bosslady #momboss #socialmediamom #solopreneur #womensupportingwomen #empowersocial

No Excuses!

Entrepreneur Tips

How to start a blog.

April 26, 2019by Weddingsbycourtney1 Comment

STARTING YOUR BLOG

Deciding your niche. This will be a fundamental step because we cannot pick an appropriate name for your website without first deciding what you will be writing about. The biggest hold back I see for writers is that they feel a niche can trap them in a box and by doing this step they will not reach everyone. YOUR NOT TRAPPED! I am going to let you in on a little secret. You absolutely do not want to reach “everyone”.

You want to narrow it down to a select group of people you are targeting. For me, its women 27-45 who are moms and aspiring entrepreneurs. There are so many people out there and so many ads circulating on social media that there is just not a true chance of being found if you do not get specific with this step.

Let’s do some stats shall we? There are 2 billion users on Facebook, 1 billion on Instagram, 400 million on Twitter, 300 million on snapchat and 150 million on Pinterest. HOLY MOLY LADIES! That’s a lot of people. What if you had 200-500 people who purchased your products, read your articles, commented and interacted with you? Or you can try and reach 1 million that you will never get past a nice to meet you DM if you’re lucky. This lifestyle and career is all about connection. At any time, you can branch out on different topics, but you must first write about certain things to maintain a target audience and grow your following.

Will you write about parenting, makeup, your dog, traveling, business, or recipes?

Figure out where your passion is in creating content. You most likely will not make millions overnight and so passion will be what drives your writing.

What are you knowledgeable about? Where is your life experience? Start here. It only takes a starting point.

(Remember what we talked about earlier, you can always branch out later.)

Picking your website and business name. Spend no more than an hour on this step. You can get lost in perfection and then we are right back on that hamster wheel. Here are some example ways to start your brain storming.

Combining two words:

Curlers and Cupcakes

Beauty and Baking

Band-Aids and Books

Write down what your niche is and look at the key words from that niche to get ideas for a name. Will you be writing about Parenting? What is the tone? Are you funny, serious, a world changer, crafty, or cute? Try to combine your personality in with the name because this is what your audience will view first.

You can also list description words to get a head start on the perfect “Blog Title” for me they looked a little something like this:

Lifestyle
Mommy hood
DIY
Handcrafted Business
Mompreneur
Sweet and Inspirational
Motivating for Moms
Real and Transparent
Life hacks

From this list I started to pull words and see if I loved anything. “The Sweetest Little Life” covered exactly what my target audience was and my niche which I would primarily be writing about.

Now here’s the trickiest part of this step. We must make sure the name you fall in love with is not taken already. Google can be a great way to see if 1. Its copyrighted and 2. It’s a famous baker out in London and you will never be found because they are all over the first 10 pages of google. After checking Google look up your name on all social media platforms and make sure that its available to use as your name. We don’t want to start out your blog swimming against the current. There are plenty of ways to get creative, make a few adjustments, and own your name like nobody else!

Purchasing Your Domain. You do not have to be tech savvy for this step. Trust me ladies, I am the most technology challenged woman you will ever meet for my age group. The minute I see coding is required or too many options I panic. For purchasing your Domain, I always advise to just keep it simple.

Pick your platform you will be blogging on:

Squarespace, Blogger, WordPress, Wix, Go Daddy, or Blue Host. There are plenty of platforms to choose from, but these are my favorites. WordPress.org is my jam. It gives me freedom to use ads if I choose, its user friendly, and I can do everything all on one website. This is huge. Bouncing back and forth between three websites during your set up process can feel a little daunting. I purchased the Thesweetestlittlelife right on WordPress and then just renew yearly as I build my blog.

What are we waiting for? Let’s do this – Get your computer out, pick a site that tickles your fancy and get that domain.

To recap, the sites most popular and user friendly are:

WordPress.com – Free

WordPress.org – more for long term and business (Will cost a little) but worth investing in.

Blogger.com – Free and great for beginners

Squarespace.com – Excellent for starting out

Wix.com – Very user friendly and Free

Setting up your Site. This should take no more than two hours. It’s an ongoing project that you will pour little bits of your heart and soul into as we go along over time. For now, let’s get it up, looking clean and legible, and live.

Once you have your domain you can pick through hundreds of templates and find what your style is. Take about 30 minutes to customize and create your pages. (About me, blog, contact)

If you are feeling extra motivated, you can start playing around with widgets and linking your social media pages to your site. You want to own this. Make everything you have created online link together in one spot.

(This creates more chances for you to be found.)

If you get jammed up at any time most of the sites I recommended have an online chat for help where an expert can walk you through any step of setting up and adding different items to your website.

Writing your first blog. EEEEEEEKKKKKK! Are you excited? Get excited? I am jumping for joy with you! Were less than five hours in and ready to start writing! Say what???? Picking a topic can be tricky the first go around, we want to make sure that we pick a topic that is trending and searchable by your audience. (Buzzsumo.com is a great resource for finding a topic already proven to be popular with your target audience) We are talking fail proof planning here!

The next step is a headline that crushes it! Did you know that research shows, readers will scan articles and in two seconds decide if they want to read your material or someone else’s. TWO SECONDS – This means we must make it count. Your audience needs to read the headline and say YES, I NEED TO READ THIS. What is the first thing they see on your blog post? The Headline.

We must nail this step ladies. A few tips when deciding how to create this is answering questions in five words or less. You want to deliver exactly what your blog is about in that headline. You do not want to leave people wondering if it’s about diaper rash or discounts. Think adjectives, feelings, and purpose. All these words can be included in the headline. Major magazines such as Vogue, Seventeen, and People all use a similar technique to create an amazing headline that has you begging for more. If you’re like me you scan the entire magazine while waiting in the grocery store line.

Here are some simple techniques to truly have an impeccable header.

How to + Benefit

How to save $200 on making your own ship lap bed.

How to + Benefit + Timeframe

How spending $40 on pinewood made me $1200 in a 3-month period.

How to + Benefit + Positive Motivation

How to crush blogging without being a writer.

Asking or Answering a question

Why most Mompreneurs quit before they even get started.

Taking lifestyle photos like a professional on an I phone – Are you in the know?

Listing what you’re all about

10 staycations for summer with kids.

If you want what someone has. Do exactly what they do.

Creating Quality over Quantity. No one wants their inbox flooded with blogs your first week. The minute your site is set up, it’s easy to get over excited and want to write a new blog post every day and every night. This is where strategic planning is perfect. If you are in the mood to write and feeling inspired, write until your hearts content. However, save these awesome sauce posts in your drafts or as a scheduled post so your content is consistent and not overwhelming with a spam feel.

Timing is everything. There are ideal times and days you’re more likely to get more likes, comments, and readers on your website. You want to utilize these time slots. For example: I post my blogs on Thursdays and Sundays between 6 – 8 p.m. because over time my stats on WordPress have shown me that’s this is when I have the most engagement on my site. Starting out it’s crucial to have the right set up so you are ready for success. CoSchedule Editorial Calendar is an absolute necessity on WordPress. This allows you to schedule every blog post and social message. It also enables you to collaborate with your content market and make project management simple.

What day is best for traffic? Monday around 9 – 11 a.m.

What day is best for comments? Saturday around 9 a.m.

Best Publishing Day for your blog? Mondays and Thursdays at 7 a.m.

You will get more engagement if you post in the mornings vs. at night when people are winding down and just scrolling to mind numb before bedtime.

These times and days will vary with who your target audience is, what social platforms you are utilizing and overall strategy of what your individual goals are.

As a guideline watch Google Analytics to see where your standing in the online world with your audience.

Be Consistent. Once you find your groove make it consistent. If you choose to post Monday and Thursday, make it exciting for your audience to want to read those two days a week. Talk about what you will be writing about on social media, ask your fans what they want to hear about, start relating to your target audience on a creative and personal level. You have the world right at your fingertips. Most importantly know that establishing your blog and your personal brand takes time. Therefore, patience and passion are so important. You need to create this labor of love before you see profit. If you’re doing this just for the money, you will probably get frustrated and fail.

Let’s Rewind a Minute back to the basics. A niche you love will make you succeed.

Collaborating. An efficient way to start building your brand is to collaborate with other established brands that you admire and have a similar interest as your own. Be careful not to get to eager on this step though. You don’t want to waste your time promoting socks when your target audience is moms. Find something that works for your brand. Remember this is about reaching out, building, marketing, and branding. We want to network to get our name out there. For example: If you are a travel blogger, reach out to high end luggage companies, hotels, travel agencies and offer to promote their brand in exchange for product. You will not only gain some of their followers, but you will be able to enhance their company with free advertising in a “trade” style. Influence Marketing has never been at a higher point, it is amazing the amount of work out there if you just know where to start, and how to approach companies and brands which you admire.

The Power of Video. Video is everything. This can create instant connection with your audience. You do not need fancy cameras and a professional editor to make this happen effectively. When I first started blogging I tried to get an editor and a film crew just for these small snippets. It was time consuming and a waste of money. My audience wanted to connect with me and see my real day to day struggles and life accomplishments. Not some synopsis that was all scripted out. We can just go watch Bravo for that. Build a compelling story about your life that will attract your target audience and keep them coming back for more. Let people in to get to know the real you, get vulnerable, put yourself out there.

Be brave mama.

How to pitch for collab’s?

April 22, 2019April 20, 2019by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

The modern walking billboard is what? DING DING DING….

Social media, influencers, makers, were talking real people saying real things. Hands down the best kind of advertisement to date. It’s amazing to me we didn’t do this sooner.

Gone are the days of magazines, billboards, and yellow pages. (All though, yes they are still used for advertisement. The majority of companies are hopping on the collaborating train in some way and on some level.) They may still be around but let me share some fun stats with you. (I love researching numbers it’s truly fascinating to me and brings a tad more value.)

70% of millennial consumers are influenced by the recommendations of their peers in purchasing decisions.
30% of people are more likely to buy a product from a non-celebrity blogger.
Facebook is the most influenced social channel. 19% of consumer purchases come directly from facebook.
You tube is the second most influential platform bringing in 18% of purchases.
While shopping at a store over 60% of consumers were influenced by a social media post or blog review.
40% of millennials said their social media muses understood them better than most of their friends.
According to NY times telecommuting has risen 79% in the past 5 years.

So what does this all mean? It means it’s your time to shine sister. If you are reading this or the title caught your eye, my guess is you are already in the position to start doing collaborations. Sometimes when first starting out it can be a scary big world though. Also the countless amount of information out there can be straight up overwhelming. With out further a due lets dive in this and get to pitching!!!!!!

What is a collaboration? The action of working with someone to produce or create something.

So as the pitcher you are the creator. The job is in your hands to find a way to deliver what ever assignment you are given and do it authentically to your brand while still complimenting the company. Sounds simple enough right? (Insert giant no buzzer here.)

It can be intimidating.

Being totally transparent here….When I first started out I had no idea what I was doing. I look back at my first few jobs or first few emails and think “What in Gods name was I thinking? Why did companies come back?” You guys I even did a collaboration with a vagina cream company because I didn’t want to turn any thing down in fear of not getting the jobs I wanted.

First and for most…If it doesn’t fit with your brand you are building. Do not do it. It is okay to say no. So I thought I would put together a list of what I wish someone would have told me when I was getting started. (Remember I like to be open with my fall on the face moments so maybe one person reads and possibly not repeat.)

Make sure the collaboration is in alignment with your brand. Are you a mom? Are you a nutritionist? Are you a style blogger? What ever that is you are chasing make sure you are chasing companies that also fall under that umbrella.
When first starting out keep it short and simple. I would shoot a message to the IG of the company and say something complimenting. For example “Hi there, I am currently working on a blog for _____ and I think your company would be a fabulous fit for the ideas I have in mind. Is there an email I could send my media kit and ideas over too?” Keep in mind most major companies (Especially those with that little blue check) get thousands of DMs a day and do not have time physically to sit and read a three page DM keep it sweet and save the details for your email once you receive an address. If they never write back? Don’t sweat it girl. Thank you next.
Once you receive an email address send an email promptly from your business email address. Make sure everything is on point before you send an email…Meaning your website, signature, contact information, etc. A general email example would go something like this…Hello Dave, I am writing about a possible collaboration I have in mind. Currently I am working on _________ I just love how your company_______and I think its the perfect fit and we could really compliment each other. My media kit is attached so you can see my stats, the blog I would publish this article on is http://www.youcandoit.com I can deliver this within 2 weeks and plan on highlighting a, b, c, d with a story highlight and IG post as well. Can’t wait to hear back from you soon.
Know your worth. Be confident. You carry value. You’r a rock star. Believe in Yourself.
Be authentic and organic in your pitch. Research the company first, make sure its a good fit. Be sure you can deliver on your end with what you are promising.
It’s okay to be rejected. Do not let it stop you or hold you back. I pitch to probably 5 companies a week and am constantly staying on top of different ideas and brain storming days to allow myself that creativity to offer to others.
Once you work with a brand, maintain that relationship. It is so important to check in from time to time even if its just to say hey there! I have made some fabulous friends this way as well.

I know this is such a load of information but I hope it helps in gaining the confidence in knowing you are capable of anything you put your mind too. Never be afraid to chase your dreams.

Entrepreneur Tips

How to Crush your Content Planning

April 11, 2019April 11, 2019by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

We all know the struggle of planning out content on our IG. It can be stressful, overwhelming, and everyone has an opinion on how you should do it.

Instead of a play by play of what you “should do” I thought I would share what simply has WORKED for me in creating great content without the chaos of times, ideas, and struggling to get pictures.

Let’s dive in.

Using PLANN has been a complete game changer for me. (No I am not sponsored in any way by this company) They just have taken the complication out of content planning for me. Running three IG accounts it can be tricky to stay on top of things. What PLANN does is allow me to view my grid, ensure my colors and brand flow together in an organized way, and set reminders of times to post based on previous success for my IG not a generalized google time. Everyone’s engagement time will be different based on your target audience.
Plan a picture day and make it fun. If you are already an influencer or blogger you know what assignments you need to shoot for. If your just getting started out browse Pinterest and get inspired with your content. Take your seven photos for the week all in one day. If your a mama than make it fun and interactive with your littles. My daughter loves all the outfit changes and silly shots we get along the way. This sounds like a lot, but you can easily conquer seven perfect photos for content in less than an hour. (Thats even with the 80 shots you have to take to get everyone simultaneously looking at the camera.)
Set a day for your week or month in content planning. Sundays are my day of choice and I do a week in advance because a month is just not realistic with everything in my lifestyle. Stick to it and have a plan of action. The first post can be a bit tricky but then you get in a writing groove and everything just flows. Then stick to your times you choose and post. The rest of the week is all handled, you do not even have to be on social media unless responding to emails, but yet you are present and in front of the algorithm.

Now the fun part….FREE PRINTABLES.

It can be so frustrating getting in your groove when you first begin batch scheduling and content planning so here are a few free printables to get the creative juices flowing and you ready to soar.

Happy Planning Friends!

Five Tips to a Productive Week

September 9, 2018September 6, 2018by WeddingsbycourtneyLeave a Comment

We all love Sundays right? It has to be my favorite day of the week by far.

For my family it’s a day to spend together baking, adventuring, exploring, or finishing projects. The freedom of this day leads to endless possibilities. Sometimes we cuddle up watching movies and some days we re arrange the entire house, either way, we are doing it as a family.

The most common question I get asked is “how do you do it all?” (Which is funny because as entrepreneurs we are so hard on ourselves.) I often think goodness I am so behind, I should have done this, I need to do that. Some times you just need a little grace and peace. This is where proper planning for your business is so crucial.

Boss babes need days off too!! Don’t get me wrong, rest is so important!

For me personally, I use Sunday evenings to plan my week ahead and I’m sharing all the secret tricks I use to navigate through and tackle it all with very little stress.

I am still not convinced “balance” of mommyhood and entrepreneurship is a real thing, but I think I have gotten pretty darn close to the secret recipe it takes to make it all go round with very few hiccups. Ready Mama Bears? Lets get to it…

Plan your social media ahead of time. Yes this is totally doable. I use PLANN – an app that allows me to pre post for the week everything I want to talk about and deliver to my audience. The app also allows me to review my color schemes and appearance of all my content before my actual IG and Facebook post go live. Make sure you are delivering quality content that you would be wanting if you were a reader. Nine times out of ten your target audience is someone just like yourself (This means they most likely have the same interests, goals, and want to spend their time reading something valuable.)

Get a planner and write it down. I am all about hand to paper. I just feel connected and it helps me remember vs. typing it in my phone and forgetting about it til an alarm goes off. Call me old school but I am convinced pen to paper is the best way. I write down all of my kids practices, games, and schooling events first. Then I orchestrate around their schedules my work. When will I blog each week? What are my topics for the week? When will I complete my Etsy orders? How much time do I need this week to connect and reach out to companies for work collaborations? Respond to emails? Make appointments? What ever it is that is lingering on your plate – write it down.

Make a weekly goal list. Mine this week went a little something like this –

Finish painting kitchen and updating cabinets to all white.
Create content for IG for the week.
Schedule September’s Home look photo shoot for blog.
Reach out to 10 new people about my book.
Touch base with 5 companies about possible collabs for projects.
Start building nerf obstacles for Liam’s birthday party.
Finish up volunteer project for Liam’s Library.
Learn something new on Pinterest Marketing – ( Okay totally squirreling over here….eeeeek I love learning new things and am totally including all of you as I learn to navigate traffic through pinterest this month!)
Finish all Etsy Orders.

Now that I have my goal sheet I have big things I can cross off and feel super accomplished through out the week as I put a check next to each one of those bad boys. I chizzle out time to multi task the best I can while my husband works. (I have the kids do crafts when I do Etsy, I’ll have them play out side while I do stuff in the garage.) It is SUPER IMPORTANT to have just time with your children and shut it all down, but running a business from home you also need to get creative with how to be present and in the moment while also tackling milestones on your business and not falling behind.

Finish your laundry. There is just something with mammas and laundry. DAMNIT. I am telling you what girlfriend, if you get the laundry done and put away during a great show Sunday night when the kids are in bed, the week goes smoother. You start out fresh and clean with no lingering giant “chores” at home deterring you from your work and mom goals. (I also try to squeeze in a quick clean up of the house to just start Monday off right.) It’s like Monday has a magic new beginning of whats in store for our stories. I love it!

Get some zzzz’s. Nothing has healing powers like water and sleep. For children, for adults, for animals, for any living thing. A good nights rest and h20 can fix pretty much anything. Make sure to get a solid eight hours and wake up feeling refreshed and energized. Grab your favorite book and get those eyes feeling heavy.

Take an hour and just plan, each week it gets easier and you will know how to navigate your time better and better.

Heres to a Productive Second Week of September –

Who has their fall decor out?

Thats on my agenda as well!!!