Social Selling Simplified with Lori Ervin

Last June I walked away from my VIP Group, and 6 weeks ago I decided it was time to go back. Both decisions were right for me at the time and I am glad that I made them. This episode will take you through the reasons that I ended up jumping back into my group and what the results have been. This is the final episode of season 6 ...and I want to thank you for listening, thank you for being a part of my community, and thank you for being a part of my journey! XO

What if being YOU was the secret sauce? But also the hardest part of all? Here's the thing - I think we all struggle with authenticity. In a world where we have so many outside influences, where our companies train us to fit inside a box, where we learn strategies on how to be successful and where we are constantly inundated with what success looks like from an outside perspective - it can be a hell of a challenge, to just 'be ourselves.' In this episode of the Podcast, I sat down with my good friend Lauren Gilhula and chatted about how to do this. And also how to know if you are currently operating outside of this. And exactly why, this will actually make your business easier to show up inside ...and actually make it fun. I think you're going to love it! And after you listen to it, I want you to give yourself permission to release the shit that is holding you back. The worries or fears around judgement, all of the 'shoulds' that exist in the back of your brain ...and just ask yourself - "if there were no rules, how would I build my business? How would I show up? What would I share?" And then find a way to go out and do that! Want to connect with Lauren?

Let's chat about how FB Ads (and IG) can build community. Okay, I am going to be honest with you - I had never truly considered FB Ads as an option for Network Marketers ...or as a way to build community, using content you have already created. I had always thought of them as more of a way to 'sell stuff.' So, this time with Meagan Buggey was mind blowing in so many ways for me. And I bet it will be for you too. Here are my biggest take-aways, and then I am going to leave you to listen to the episode for yourself: I will say - Meagan also chatted about the kind of content that makes the most sense for ads, so make sure to listen closely to that part. More about Meagan Buggey: Meagan is as a Meta-certified Digital Marketing Expert, and the CEO of Meagan and Company. As a busy mom and entrepreneur, she understands the struggle of juggling multiple responsibilities. Between running her business and taking care of her family, there's sometimes barely enough time to catch her breath! This is why she has made it her purpose to help other moms and entrepreneurs just like her build their businesses with Facebook and Instagram Ads (without sacrificing precious moments with their family and friends.) She knows that today’s online space is competitive, which is why she creates unique and effective marketing strategies and campaigns for businesses to show up effortlessly and attract an abundance of perfect clients. Her strategies not only cut through the noise but also elevate businesses above their competitors, enabling them to stand out. With her wealth of knowledge and experience, she has a proven track record of success helping many businesses increase brand awareness, reach a larger audience and generate more leads with Facebook and Instagram Ads. Places you can find Meagan: FREEBIE/BOOK A CALL: youradbestie.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/meaganandcompany Website: www.meaganandcompany.com

I dropped my VIP Group this Summer. Yup, the girl who teachers how to run a successful VIP Group, threw caution to the wind these last 2 months and decided to do a little social media experiment that included NOT posting inside her group. Okay, enough with the 3rd person narrative. Honestly, after more than 8 years of building a successful, thriving VIP Group that was the center of my social media strategy - I wanted to see if there was another way. I wanted to see if by dropping one (time consuming) element, if I would free up more time and energy to put more intention into other areas of social media. Curious? I'll tell you all about it in this episode.

Here's the thing - a lot of us aren't actually out there selling, but think that we are so we are wondering where all of the sales are? There is a huge difference between ACTIVE and PASSIVE selling. Let me explain ... Passive Selling is what you are doing for your baseline activity. It's the consistent posting in your VIP Group and in your stories, etc. Active Selling is the sales strategies that you're actually doing, that directly pull in sales. Personal reach outs, VIP Group takeovers, events, etc. And you need both inside your business. One lays the foundation, one brings in the bacon. I will explain fully in this episode.

I get asked this all the time - "can I do 2 companies at one time?" And the answer is two-fold. Yes, and no. I mean, the truth is - you can do anything that you want. It's your life, it's your businesses. But there's a lot to consider when you're thinking about signing up for another company and it's important to look at this decision from all angles? Questions to ask yourself: I will explain all of this in this episode, and help you make the decision for yourself. Or! If you already have 2 businesses, hopefully give you some useful tips for how to be successful with both of them and not constantly feel like you have a million balls in the air. Sound good? Enjoy! XO

For an online business, your social media strategy is one of the most important elements to sharing and selling your products. You want it to be manageable, effective and connected to the brand that you're building. And you also want it to be seen. In this episode - we are going to talk about all of the things that make up your social media strategy, and getting out front and center. And I'm going to tell you all about my little social experiment this Summer. Question! Where are you showing up? Are you getting the results that you want? Is there a way to push yourself a little outside of your comfort zone? xo

You will never outperform your own beliefs in yourself. Here's what I need you to know - You are likely the only thing standing in the way of the goals you have set for yourself. What you believe yourself to be capable of. What you believe you will stick to. What you believe is possible for you. So if you want to shift the outcome, not only do you need to adopt new habits - but you need to kick the self sabotaging behaviours and beliefs that are keeping you stuck. Todays episode is a bit of a detour from our branding chats, but this has been coming up in my world a bunch - so I wanted to take a quick pause and have a really honest conversation. When you're done listening to the episode - I want you to ask yourself what you're currently working on. And then layout the habits that you will need to make that goal a reality. And then start building those habits NOW. Don't wait for Monday, or the Fall, or even the next full moon ...do it now. You've got this, xo

What if I told you that you could choose who your customers were going to be? And what if I told you that ultimately the brand that you build, and the content that you share - will be what will lead to the audience that you build? It's a little bit about who your products will appeal to, but more than that - it's about who you desire to serve through the brand you are building and the products that you are selling. And you're going to be the one who sets the stage for this, and calls the right audience it is. And the more you know about them - the better! Ask yourself - The clearer you can get on all of the above, the easier it is going to be to show up and serve that audience. Create content that you know they will eat up, and speak directly to them through what you post. This episode will help you get started, xo

If you could be known for anything ...what would you be known for? This is one of the questions that you should be asking yourself as you build out your brand. Because the truth is - Your brand represents you, your beliefs and the mark you want to leave on the world. This episode is all about taking the Content Pillars that you created, and digging deeper to create Brand Statements. These are more than just topics, they're beliefs. What you want to be known for, and what you want to build your brand around. Dig in, and have fun! xo

When building out a brand - the place where the majority of my clients and my team members get stumped is what to post! How to integrate the behind the scenes of your life, with content for your brand. And the truth is - this is going to look a little different for every single business owner, and brand. And you will need to find your own groove. But what I teach is Personality Pillars and Content Pillars, as the basis for your content. And in this episode I dissect what each one is, and how to create content for it. Can't wait to see what you come up with, xo

There are likely a zillion ways to build a brand - but I am going to lay out 2 of them for you in this episode. The first will have your products as a part of the brand, and the second will focus more on something else that you are an expert in, or passionate about. The key here to remember is - your products and your business, are likely the least interesting thing about you. You have so many things that are unique about you, so many experiences that you could share and so much knowledge on different topics. Start from that place, and build a platform that you're proud of. That is different from every other account/personality out there. That sets you apart and draws people into your world. But mostly - that you love, and have fun with. xo

I think when we hear the word 'BRAND' we don't necessarily think of our own personal businesses, and unless you've been in my world for awhile - you definitely don't think of it as a requirement for running a Network Marketing business. But my friends ...I am here to tell you that building a personal brand, is going to flip your business on its side and increase its potential exponentially. A brand is what is going to set you apart. A brand is going to be what makes people FEEL something. And a brand is what is going to create loyalty with your customer base. Listen in on this episode, and then a series following this one - as we explore what building a brand can do for your business, and how to get started. xo

It's never easy when your decisions are made for you, is it? The truth is - I didn't see it coming. And the other truth is - I wouldn't change a thing when all is said and done. This episode will be the final chapter, in getting you up to speed on where I am at, before digging into the true behind the scenes of building a 6 and 7 figure business. This is the chapter on how it all went down, when my company decided to move away from the mlm format and go direct to customer. In turn, eliminating everything that it had taken me 8 years to build. Want to read about it on the blog? CLICK HERE.

I spent over 8 years with Stella & Dot. I went from someone who had zero interest in building a business, to someone who replaced her full time teaching income to become a full-time entrepreneur. And there was a lot of life that happened in the middle of that, but I thought I would pull out some of the biggest lessons that I learned over the course of those 8 years: I will always be grateful for my time with Stella & Dot. It took me through 3 babies in diapers, to a life changing car accident that stripped me of my career. It taught me how incredible this industry can be, took me on multiple all expenses paid vacations and really opened my eyes to what our family life looks like when I work from home. But here's the thing - Not everything is meant to be forever. There will be times when life shifts and we need to learn how to pivot with it. To take what we need from one chapter, with us into the next. And in the next chapter, I will share exactly how I did that, when Stella & Dot decided to close out their Network Marketing business model, and go direct to consumer. But for now - sit back and relax, and I'll go deep on each of these lessons inside this episode. ps. want to read more about this on my blog? You can do that HERE.

I cannot wait to take you behind the scenes this year, as I literally build a business from the ground up. It wasn't in my plans - starting from scratch. It wasn't even on my peripheral - getting in on something at the ground level. But I have to be honest - I am freaking excited, and I cannot wait to use this experience, to be able to dive deep with everyone both on my Podcast and on my blog to both teach and coach, in real time. But first, I need to take you back to the beginning. To lay the groundwork, and pull the lessons from my first endeavour (that lasted over 8 years.) So, sit back and relax. In this episode I am going to walk you through how I stumbled into building a business. And how that business damn near changed my life. Want to chat more? Come hang out on Instagram - @msloriervin Or inside the Level Up Community, for Women in Network Marketing - where I drop business tips every single morning at 10AM.

As we close out one year, and get ready for the next - I thought it would be fun to end Season 4 (how is it even possible that there are already 4 seasons?!) of the Podcast, with what 2022 has taught me. Here's an overview: Sometimes change can be good.Sometimes when a door slams in your face, it's only because you are supposed to look for a window.Always follow your energy.Sometimes you need to do a lot of things, so that you can decide what you truly want to do.Know your priorities, keep them at the forefront.You truly never know what is around the corner. Life can change in an instant.The people and the experiences in your life are the most important. Make sure you never lose sight of that.Content & community are the foundation of your business.It takes time to build the systems, but it is always worth it.Be intentional with who you invite into your energy/world. I go deep on each of these inside this episode. Cheers to an incredible year my friends, thank you so much for being in my world. xo

This week on the Podcast, I had the opportunity to sit down with Helen Thacker - a successful multi 6-figure business builder, who also runs a coaching business for Network Marketers. Sounds familiar, right?! The similarities won’t end there. We dig deep on why branding is so important for your business, how to show up on social media and why to get started with email marketing. This is definitely going to be an episode that leaves your head spinning and your pen writing furiously. Here’s what I want you to remember - You are not your company. In order to stand out in the market, what you want to do is build a brand around YOU. What you love, what you stand for and what makes you unique. And then share content that adds value in the areas above. Tune into the episode and we’ll share more on how and why to do this. ❤️ Want to learn more from Helen? You can find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helenthacker/ Or download a super handy checklist for nurturing your audience at: https://www.helenthacker.com/your-must-have-checklist-to-nurture-an-audience-of-superfans

So, here’s the thing - It’s not about WHO you are in the moments when you’re winning, but it’s about WHO you are and how you move forward in the moments when you lose. I ended last month with the hopes of a pretty big promo in my company …and if I’m being honest, most of the goals (even the audacious ones) that I have gone for - I have achieved. And because I didn’t understand something correctly, and was given incorrect info - I didn’t reach this one. So the next day …all of the feelings set in. And I had to ask myself …what comes next? What do I do now? And all of my answers are in this podcast episode. Enjoy! xo

It is so much easier to take care of the customers you have, than it is to acquire new ones. And sometimes I think we forget this. We get on the hamster wheel of doing parties and vendor events and reach outs …always thinking - new, new, new. When there is already a lot of low dangling fruit inside of the customer base that is already established. So! This episode is going to dig into some of my ideas around taking amazing care of your current customer base, in an effort to pull in those repeat orders. Let me know what you think, and if you have anything to add!