Creating Courage with Melanie Dyann Howe

When you're marketing online, you need valuable content...and let's face it, you need a lot. I always suggest that you create a bank of content ideas which in a nutshell is a big ole list of ideas. 

You can use a notebook or an app to capture your ideas so you can save them for later. This is helpful when you're planning your content throughout the year or when you get stuck coming up with ideas. 

So, where do you get ideas for your social media content? I have a few strategies that will help you not only come up with content ideas, but perhaps new product or service ideas as well. 

 I break it all down in the episode, but here are the various ways you can listen and gain insights for content ideas. 

1. The questions people ask on your posts and in your content
2. Look at the conversations and questions inside other Facebook Groups (search key words, and watch threads)
3. Inside of your day to day operation
4. Use Surveys and Polls and pay attention to results
5. Pay attention to Insights (podcast example, video insights)
6. Interview people, especially those that are fit your target audience

BONUS: You'll also find my list of 50 live video ideas another great way to brainstorm new content ideas. You can grab the free PDF here. https://www.melaniedyann.com/fifty

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Heather Sager, joins me on the podcast to help you understand why we all need to embrace stages and speaking in our businesses.

I know some of you don’t identify yourself as a “speaker” and you certainly don’t see yourself on a stage. But let me make a bold statement...we are all speakers, and we are all speaking on stages in both business and life.

Before I lose you, it’s important to note that today’s “stage” isn’t just a physical stage you walk onto in front of hundreds or thousands of people. Today’s stages range from podcasts to live videos to Instagram stories to webinars to talking behind the counter of your brick and mortar business.

The bottom line, if you’re in business you need a stage.

After listening to this episode with Heather Sager you’ll:

• Get a better understanding of how to embrace the speaker already inside of you.
• How to find your stage outside of the physical stages in the auditorium.
• How to use stages to grow your audience.
• How to clarify and refine your message. 

Links Mentioned in this episode:
Heather’s most downloaded episode:  “How to articulate your thoughts so others can understand them”

Check out this amazing free resource from Heather as well: 5 steps to speaking on stages https://www.heathersager.com/5steps

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A thriving coffee business with two locations. When the pandemic hit, Zeteo Coffee owner Jon Mitchell knew he needed to make some shifts in his business and his content. Temporarily closing one location and laying off his entire staff meant Jon had to step out of the office and get behind the counter, and the camera.

In this episode, I talk to Jon and how he started using live video to stay connected to his loyal customers. The results are amazing and inspiring for anyone running a business. This episode provides a real-life example of the power that live video can bring to your business engagement.

Doors close to the Facebook Live Bootcamp on May 8th at 5pm Eastern.
Learn more at: https://www.melaniedyann.com/livebootcamp

Links Mentioned in This Episode:
https://www.zeteocoffee.com/
https://www.facebook.com/melaniedyann
https://www.facebook.com/groups/DIYMarketingWithMelanie/

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You have a personal brand. Regardless of whether your business is a "Your Name Dot Com" kind of business (for example someone like me). I have been talking "personal branding" since 2014 and I'm always amazed at how many people don't think they have a personal brand. 

We all have personal brands. In this episode, I share why I am so passionate about helping people understand more tangibly what makes up their personal brand. In a nutshell, it all comes down to living your life authentically in order to have the right relationships (both personal and professional). I know a lot of people struggle with "defining" their personal brand. So, I break it all down into the four dimensions that make up our personal brands. 

• Our Roles
• Our Style
• Our Values
• Our Standards

This episode is really "off the cuff" and I did it without any notes. I just hit record and talked from my heart. So often I hear people say they don't like social media for the fear of being judged.

Good news and bad news....you're being judged regardless of whether you're putting yourself out there or not. So, why not get clear on your personal brand and let it shine? Creating content is a lot easier when we are being our true authentic selves. I promise. Listen and let me know what you think.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:
Why You Need People in Your Content Strategy
DIY Marketing With Melanie Facebook Community

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I believe just about everyone should be using Facebook Live or some sort of live video. You can now go live on just about all of the popular social media platforms and we're starting to see more people embrace this incredibly engaging way to create content.

I'm still an advocate that even if you just go live with your phone, you'll get bigger results. BUT, I would like to encourage you to take it a few steps further and enhance your live videos with a few tactics.

I want you to know, these are not super tricky, do not require ninja skills or super fancy expensive equipment. These are some simple (VERY DO-ABLE) things you can do that go a long way to increasing your organic reach, and engagement for your live videos (which is the ultimate goal).

I talk about each of these enhancements in detail on the show, but you can also see them in action on this special page I created about StreamYard which is the tool I recommend for these enhancements. Check it out at https://www.melaniedyann.com/streamyard

Links Mentioned in this Episode:
Episode 7 How to Embrace Facebook Live for Increased Engagement
Episode 4 What the Heck is the Social Media Algorithm
Fifty Facebook Live Ideas
StreamYard Resource Page

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In this special episode, I talk with fellow entrepreneur, Krystal Proffitt about podcasting in 2020. Not only is Krystal one of my business buddies who is on my Voxer speed dial, but she’s also a fellow podcaster who happens to LOVE helping people start, launch, and market their own podcast. 

We got together and talked about why we feel just about anyone can create new opportunities for their business with a podcast, and 2020 is the year to do it. 

A few things we cover in this episode. 

• It’s actually easier to get started than most people think
• Podcasting doesn’t require perfection with high-end studio equipment or sound
• A few ways that audio content is different than other forms of content such as video and blogs
• Krystal covers a few of the basic needs and requirements to get started including tech and software
• How long it takes us to produce and market each episode
• Podcasting gets easier and easier the more you do it
• Podcasting provides opportunities for people including guest appearances, speaking engagements, featured articles
• The types of businesses that should create a podcast 
• If you want to make fart noises on podcasts, go for it

Our goal with this conversation is to help anyone on the fence about starting a podcast to get off the fence and GO. Our other goal is to help raise the awareness of how valuable podcasting can be for just about any business, so even if you’re weren’t considering it before, we hope you will now.

“This rocket ship ain't slowin down” - Krystal Proffit

A Little More About Krystal: 

Krystal Proffitt is the host of The Proffitt Podcast - where entrepreneurs learn how to start, launch, and market their podcasts.  She also teaches the basics of content creation, editing, formatting, and other skills through her digital courses and YouTube channel dedicated to podcasting. She lives just outside of Houston, TX with her husband, 3 sons, and their snorting Boston Terrier, Wall-E.

Krystal recently opened her membership community for people looking to take their podcast from idea to creation in a shorter amount of time. To learn more, go to ThePoddyPeople.com.

You can stay in touch and follow Krystal here: 

• Social: @KrystalProffittTX
• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/krystalproffitt
• Podcast Bootcamp:  https://krystalproffitt.com/podcastbootcamp
• “The Proffitt Podcast":  https://krystalproffitt.com/podcast

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With more and more people working virtually these days, I wanted to share a few tips that I've picked up over the years. Working from home can sound fun at first, but this isn't a snow day. 

When working from home, there are a lot of things that can limit productivity. Environmental things, and mental things. So here are a few ways you can ensure you maintain (or even increase) productivity while working virtually. 

1. Get up on time or close to the same time each day.
2. Get clean and get dressed each day (don't stay in your PJ's).
3. Keep moving throughout the day.
4. Create a semi-permanent work-space.
5. Keep in touch with a community (peers, colleagues, friends).
6. Use video whenever possible to stay connected.
7. Get a system in place for workflow and managing tasks.

Whether you're a business owner, or you work for a company, working from home requires some structure and discipline. I hope you find these quick tips helpful and maximizers to your productivity.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:
Trello
Asana

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Word of mouth marketing is not dead. It just looks different today than it did before all of this online marketing hootenanny came into play.

So what does word of mouth marketing look like today? It looks like it used to, but it also includes online reviews, check-ins on Facebook, people tagging you and your business, people sharing their experience with you in their own social content and stories (just to name a few). 

So, how can you foster this type of activity from your communities and customers?

• Show up and be helpful in your communities, especially Facebook Groups
• Create a customer experience worth talking about
• Be memorable in how you delight your customers
• Take the time to recognize people advocating for your business
• Provide exceptional customer support

These are just a handful of the ways you can be remarketable and foster more word of mouth referrals. I encourage you to think about your own customer experiences that delighted you. What can you take from that experience and apply in your own business?

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Krystal Proffitt - https://krystalproffitt.com
Bobby Klinck - https://www.bobbyklinck.com
Episode 5 - The Real Reason We're On Social Media For Business
Episode 26 - Adding a Personal Touch to Your Communications

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The business world can be a busy place. Social media news feeds get crowded, and sometimes it can feel impossible to actually create personal connections with your audience.

I have a few ways you can add a personal touch to various ways you communicate. This includes responding to direct messages on social media, emails, and even text messages.

In this episode, I share how you can use audio, video, and handwritten notes to stand out and make your people feel extra special. This makes you more memorable but also enriches the connections you're making.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:
Dubb Video App - Get 10% off.
Episode 10 - Create an Encouragement Bank
DIY Marketing With Melanie Facebook Community

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By now you're probably hearing the buzz around marketing guru land. The buzz is about LinkedIn and how it's been a sleeping giant that has woken up.

You've probably heard how it's like Facebook before the algorithm made it merely impossible for anyone to see your content organically.

Well, my friend, the buzz is real. I've been using LinkedIn for years and in 2019 I really noticed some major shifts in who was showing up in the platform. It's not just a B2B place for people to find jobs anymore.

Today, I'm going to share why these LinkedIn myths need busted. So I'm busting them!

Myth #1: Your LinkedIn profile is just an online version of your resume.

Myth #2: LinkedIn is for finding a new job, or recruiting new employees.

Myth #3: LinkedIn isn't for "my" business because I'm not B2B.

Myth #4: I can't be my true self on LinkedIn because it's too stuffy and corporate.

Myth #5: It's just a bunch of people trying to sell.

Myth #6: I can't be interesting on LinkedIn because the platform is just so boring.

Listen and learn why each of these LinkedIn myths is BUSTED!

Links Mentioned in this Episode:
My LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-dyann-howe-99696315/
LinkedIn Workshop: https://www.melaniedyann.com/linkedin

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