The Robora

In this episode, I ask Yvadney Davis - fashion stylist, painter, the woman behind #mumsthatslay and founder of Musingo Bingo - how she's used Instagram, and blogging, to grow an online profile. We talk about creativity, doing lots of different jobs - alongside motherhood - and she tells us about her productivity planner. Also, Yvadney shares the secret to getting the visuals down on Instagram and building a brand on a hashtag. So much good stuff in here. Enjoy!

Follow Yvadney for her styling work
Check out Mums that Slay
Sign up for Musingo Bingo
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And if you want to learn more about online business from The Robora...
Follow us on Instagram: @therobora
Sign up for our emails (The Robora Recommends)
Join the Facebook group to meet other female founders and freelancers
Check out our online programme, teaching you how to launch a course
Have a read of our Q&As, and online business tips on the blog

To work through feelings of overwhelm, firstly we need to recognise what it is causing us to feel overwhelmed. Being overworked? Under-supported? Ummm… a pandemic? Whatever it is, once the root of the overwhelm is clear, we can look at gently navigating the trigger, and then creating a plan for moving forward. This involves breaking everything down into manageable tasks. And weaving lovely little things into our days. I can help you with that…

Show(biz) Notes -

Join The Robora Facebook group to network with female founders and freelancers

Sign up to our mailing list for the BEST business tips

Join our mega online programme: How to launch a successful online course

Whether you'd like to schedule in more rest time next year, write a novel or earn £100,000 - you need to plan this. In this episode, I share the three-step productivity process I've designed that will help you to work out what you want, what's stopping you from making it happen and how to plan for success. Success, of course, means different things for all of us - for me, there's an element of work-life balance in there, as well as realising my dreams. And I share news of a recent REJECTION too, as it's relevant to this episode.

Show(biz) Notes:

How to be more productive (my new online course)

For those asking themselves: how do I get my business featured in a magazine? I'm here to help. As a journalist for national press and women's magazines, as well as an editor (of my own digital platform), I know about pitching for press from both sides - I've pitched, and I've been pitched to. So I explain why press releases are no longer the done thing, and what you should be doing instead. With a guest appearance from my three-year-old son, and a little treat if you listen to the end.

Show(biz) notes:

Here's the 'DIY PR' course I mention: DIY PR: Secure press coverage and grow your profile. 

When it comes to making online course sales, timing is so important. And right now, we’re in the middle of a rapid launch, as we’ve opened doors to our Online Business Programme for two days only. So while we’re ‘in it’, I wanted to share exactly how we do it. Because in realtime, I can better explain both the marketing and the mindset. In this episode I’ll cover a three-week launch - which is our usual approach - but also the two-day launch. Because both can work well for different reasons. Let’s go.

Show(biz) Notes

The Online Business Programme (for those ready to take their skills online, with our support)

If you've been blogging for ages and are yet to make a penny. Or you've launched a digital platform and still can't work out how to monetise it. Or you'd love to start a podcast, but you're not sure it's worth it - this episode will talk you through what content is, and how to make MONEY from it. Because I've churned out thousands of blog posts without making a penny. But then I discovered ways to get brands to pay me for sponsored posts. And now I have a six-figure online business that is based on online content.

Show(biz) notes:

The Early Hour - my original 'online content' platform.
The Robora - our online course platform.
The Online Business Programme - our banging (latest) creation.

Women do more of the caring. More of the planning. More of the (boring) domestic duties. And sometimes, it gets too much. That’s what happened to me, so I decided share my three-step plan for getting back-on-track. The first step is acknowledgement and taking responsibility: what are you finding hard? Why? Do you owe anyone an apology? The second is around self-care: right now, what you can do to feel better. And the third is PRACTICAL. I’m talking: downloading an app to help you manage the load.

Showbiz Notes:

Brene Brown’s podcast interview with Harriet Lerner. ‘I’m Sorry: How To Apologize & Why It Matters’ 

Some people tell me I charge too much. Other people tell me I don’t charge enough. So I’ve stopped listening, and worked out my own method for pricing up my products (online courses) and services (one-to-one time). For anyone else wondering how to set their prices and fees, this episode will give you both practical advice and confidence-boosting tips. Because as women, we massively undervalue ourselves in the workplace and it’s time that changed.

Books and a blog post mentioned in the episode:

- Otegha’s Uwagba’s We Need to Talk About Money

- Real Life Money by Clare Seal

- Money: A User’s Guide by Laura Whately. 

- Keri Jarvis’ blog on the price of coaching. 

Running a business isn’t just about your product or service. It’s also about getting those things out to the right people. AKA: marketing. And sometimes you’ll do a brilliant job, and other times you won’t. But whether or not the sales are flowing, there will always be people who find your tone or delivery grating. And who want to tell you. So here’s how I’d recommend dealing with those comments - including my reaction to two recent ‘real life’ complaints I’ve received. Thank you, complainers, for supplying me with the content for this episode.

In this episode, Annie interviews Tamu Thomas, founder of Live Three Sixty wellness brand and JOY expert, on wellbeing in the workplace. They discuss taking time for yourself while running a business - even if you only have a few minutes a day to spare - listening to your body, and respecting your essential needs. Also: working at 80% rather than 100% to avoid burnout, scheduling a staged return to work after time out - and how Beyonce, basically, has all the answers.

Tamu supports women approaching their 40s via her award-winning podcast Three Sixty Conversations, and she runs an excellent membership group. Follow Tamu on Instagram: @livethreesixty, visit her website: livethreesixty.com.