Kathleen Jennison experienced a traumatic event that left her between two choices: living life by design or living life by default. She chose the former and has never looked back. It led her to make a drastic career change from an accountant to an interior designer. What led to the change? And how did she learn the interior design business in a time when there were no podcasts, Facebook groups, or coaches? She shares 7 critical steps she made—and what new interior designers should do—in this episode of Wingnut Social!  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [4:10] Mini News Sesh: Instagram map search [6:48] Kathleen Jennison’s career story [14:24] The don’ts of changing careers [21:11] Build Lane is changing the custom furniture game [22:38] Hire Wingnut Social for your social media marketing needs [24:22] Switch to accounting software for interior designers [26:09] Find the one guru that resonates with you [27:46] Attend your local markets to network and learn [29:34] Hire a professional photographer to document your work [31:43] Consider opening a storefront for your interior design business [34:33] Outsource anything outside of your zone of genius [36:11] Kathleen’s What Up Wingnut Round!  [38:34] How to connect with Kathleen Jennison [40:43] Blooper Reel! Connect with Kathleen Jennison Kathleen’s website Follow on Twitter Friend on Facebook Follow on Instagram Resources & People Mentioned Rick Steves’ Travel Guide Curio Electro Studio Designer Mydoma Studio Designer Link Kathleen’s transition from accountant to interior designer In 2006, Kathleen came around a hairpin turn to encounter a car that was parked, taking photos. To avoid the car, Kathleen veered towards the side of the road—right over a cliff. She fell 200 feet into a ravine. The last thing she remembered was the airbag deploying and thinking “This is not gonna be good.”  Kathleen was airlifted to UC Davis medical center. She had a traumatic brain injury, lost the vision in her right eye, and had broken many bones. She also struggled with short-term memory loss. Thankfully, it came back—but she had to relearn many things.  Because of the accident, Kathleen lost her peripheral vision. Her ophthalmologist suggested she take an art class to help with her depth perception, so she dove in. The Art Institute had an architectural drafting class, so she decided to try it. After the drafting class, she took the fundamentals of interior design and color theory and enjoyed it. She decided to quit her job and go back to school for interior design. Before she knew it, she had a degree. But there were no jobs available.  So Kathleen started her own interior design business in 2011. Because the design industry doesn’t have standardized processes and procedures, she had to learn how to do everything on her own. She didn't realize she needed experience in marketing, website development, psychology, and more. What did she learn that new interior designers can benefit from? Kathleen’s 7-Step Cheat Sheet for Newbies Hire a web designer that specializes in interior design: Kathleen recommends hiring someone who creates websites for designers. She accidentally hired a web developer who told her she still needed to hire a designer and SEO specialist.  Hire a social media marketer for designers: Kathleen hired someone who created 12 Facebook and Twitter pages (which Kathleen is still trying to delete). If you don’t know what you’re doing, hire an expert who is actually an expert. You don’t have to outsource everything but at least have the expert set things up properly.  Invest in accounting software created for designers: When Kathleen made the switch, it not only streamlined the entire process but helped her scale her business. Find a guru that resonates with you: Don’t jump on every bandwagon or follow every trend. Don’t try doing it all—there’s a lot of noise out there.  Attend your local markets to network and learn: Kathleen had no idea how pricing and design centers worked. Luckily, she found showrooms that put their arms around her, explained everything, and helped her open accounts. When you attend markets, you’ll also be able to network with other designers and vendors. Those connections are priceless. Hire a professional photographer to document your designs: In the beginning, Kathleen had photography students take photos for her (probably not the best choice). Instead, she recommends networking with different businesses to find a photographer. You can design the most beautiful rooms, but if the photographer butchers the shoot, it does nothing for your portfolio. Consider opening a storefront for your interior design business: Kathleen had the opportunity to get a cheap space to put together a small storefront. People could see and feel samples, she could hold consultations there, and it gave her some street-cred. It also gave her better dealer pricing with vendors, which increases your margins. It’s a great way to help you set boundaries between business and personal life. Bonus tip: Outsource anything outside of your zone of genius. Kathleen outsources her social media, blog, and even her accounting to experts. Once you have the revenue to outsource what you don’t excel at, outsource, outsource, outsource.  Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Build Lane Looking for a great custom furniture option? Check out Build https://buildlane.com/   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

How do you communicate with your partner when one or both of you run a business together? How do you avoid reaching the point of burnout? What are the signs of burnout? These are just a few of the burning questions Amber Hawley answers in this episode of Wingnut Social! Amber Hawley is a licensed therapist specializing in couples therapy. She owns a group practice in Silicon Valley. Amber also runs two online businesses—The Couples Fix podcast and The Distracted Entrepreneur podcast. What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [3:16] Mini News Sesh: Grow Your Audience on Pinterest [8:19] Learn more about Amber Hawley [9:33] The struggle of couples who run a business together [13:44] How to prioritize communication in your marriage  [19:00] How to recognize the signs of burnout [23:33] Check out Build Lane for custom furniture!  [25:00] Get on Wingnut Social’s waitlist—you won’t regret it [26:43] Strategies to avoid reaching the point of burnout [40:41] The What Up Wingnut! Round [42:37] How to connect with Amber Hawley [47:45] Blooper Reel! Connect with Amber Hawley Use Amber’s Coping Mechanism Creator The Couples Fix podcast The Distracted Entrepreneur podcast Connect with Amber on LinkedIn Resources & People Mentioned Succulent Wild Woman by Sark Pinterest Trends The Tailwind App (Episode #16) How to prioritize your marriage + your business When Amber works with a couple who are in business together, she starts by helping them nail down boundaries between work and home. She emphasizes that you have to make sure there’s space for both in your relationship. Then you create routines where you can separate the two. You also need to make time to intentionally connect as a couple.  You have to create a dedicated time to talk about your relationship. If you’re in conflict all the time you know it needs to be addressed. The flipside is also true—if there’s no open communication, you need to connect. If you’re having a good day, you don’t want to ruin it by bringing up something you’ve been struggling with. And when you’re already enmeshed in conflict, that isn’t a good time either. That’s why creating a ritual where you come together and talk about your relationship is key. What’s going well? Where are you struggling? If everything is going great, you’ve simply carved out time to have a conversation. But if you’re not talking at all, that dedicated time once a week or monthly is imperative.  Mitigating burnout as a business owner As a business owner, you have a lot of demands on your time and energy. The hustle culture makes it hard to set boundaries (but you need to). What are the signs of burnout? You start to notice that you’re easily irritated and quick to anger. You aren’t enjoying things that you normally do. You feel exhausted no matter how much sleep you get (and other physical symptoms). You struggle with compassion fatigue, especially for those in the helping professions. You may dread going to work or don’t look forward to seeing your clients. You procrastinate on the simplest of tasks.  The first time Amber experienced burnout, she didn’t recognize it because she loves seeing her clients. But everything else in her business overwhelmed her. Simple administrative tasks stole her energy. She thought she was just struggling with her ADHD. But when you put off important things in your business—like billing clients—it becomes a problem.  Strategies to avoid reaching the point of burnout Amber’s favorite strategy is to hire and delegate (sound familiar?). Some things need to be done in your business and you may not be the best person to do them. That fact can be hard to swallow but it’s true. Amber also believes that you need to assess what’s important and see what you can delete off of your list immediately. If you struggle to let go, you can put a pin in it and return to it another time.  Setting boundaries around how much you—and team members—work is key. You can experiment to see what works. Business owners are chronically over-scheduled and need to create more space in your day than you think you need. You must be diligent about not adding more to your plate.  What else does Ambera recommend to avoid burnout? How can entrepreneurial couples strengthen their marriages? Listen to the whole episode to learn more!  Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Build Lane Looking for a great custom furniture option? Check out Build https://buildlane.com/ Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Are you a female founder who’s tired of the hustle mentality? Do you feel like your mental burden is becoming too much to carry? Or maybe you’re a visionary dreamer stuck in the role of CEO? In this episode of Wingnut Social, Casey Gromer shares how you can step away from being the “boss” and still be a passionate and purposeful leader of your business.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [1:49] I just bought a new house! [3:49] Mini News Sesh: How Instagram search works [9:21] Learn all about Casey Gromer [11:29] What you’re doing wrong with vision statements [19:15] Outdated leadership structures don't work for women [24:30] Check out Build Lane for custom furniture! [25:57] Learn more about the Wingnut Social Marketing Agency [32:12] The difference between being a CEO and a visionary leader [37:17] The steps to take to move out of day-to-day operations  [39:48] The What Up Wingnut Round! [42:40] How to learn more about Casey Gromer [47:07] Blooper Reel! Connect with Casey Gromer The SHE Suite Boutique Connect with Casey on LinkedIn Casey’s book: A Fresh Wave of Marketing Casey’s podcast: Female Founders Breaking Boundaries Resources & People Mentioned Start with Why by Simon Sinek Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman Toss out outdated leadership structures that don't work for women When Casey left the corporate world and went out on her own, she realized the advice that women are getting didn’t work. Why? The hustle mentality. As a woman and mom, you’re likely raising kids, taking care of your home, and working full-time. Women need a flexible structure for their work and life. But that often isn’t the case, so women carry a large mental load. Corporate environments put work first and leave everything else to come second. That mentality doesn’t fly for most women—it can’t. Casey emphasizes that “We’ve created a society where if we’re not hustling, we’re not worthy of making the money.” Women hustle just as much as men—but not all 120 hours of hustle are dedicated to the business. Yet women feel they don’t deserve to get paid when all of their time and energy isn’t focused on hustling. That needs to change.  It’s a new concept that you can build a business where you can step away and have other people run it and take ownership. As long as you’re working with a team toward the same vision, it doesn’t matter if you’re the one doing all the things. You’re still the owner of the business.  The difference between being a CEO and a visionary leader Your typical CEO is someone who is a leader, a planner, an executor, well-organized, and knows what’s happening in the business at all times. They get stuff done. That’s where Casey feels her sweet spot is. But a visionary leader is an idea person. They have 100 ideas a day, hate being tied to a desk, don’t like being responsible for people, etc. These are the people that start amazing companies and get burned out.  The CEO doesn’t generate ideas so their business tends to stay stagnant. They don’t get to dream about tomorrow. That’s why you have to partner with visionary-style leaders and allow them to dream. Casey partners with visionaries so they can dream and she can plan and execute.  If you’re a female founder who’s ready to step back from the day-to-day and leave behind the hustle mentality, Casey has some tips for you. Ask yourself these simple questions: What are the major functions that keep your business running?  What’s involved in each function?  What are you good at and what should be delegated?  But even before you do this, Casey implores you to get an assistant that can make sure your ideas have a place to go who works to keep you organized and focused. To hear a full discussion about crafting a vision statement for your company that actually works, listen to the whole episode! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Build Lane Looking for a great custom furniture option? Check out Build Lane: https://buildlane.com/   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Discovery calls. You’ve all had these conversations with prospective clients, right? Identifying whether or not they’re a good fit for your brand and business can be tricky. In this Wingnut Social throwback, Nikki Rausch shares how to ask the right questions—not only to determine if they’re a good fit—but to close a new client. Don’t miss it! 

We thought this topic was SO important to take to heart that we’re going to repeat it—just so you don’t forget it. In this special replay, Genius Coach Anna Tsui shares how you can learn to overcome self-sabotage and finally land in your zone of genius. If you’re a business owner struggling with doubt and unable to follow-through on projects, this one's for you.  

Monique Allen runs a multi-million dollar landscaping design business. She started it with just one employee and now has 22. She makes bank and has zero debt. How did she scale her business? What was the key to her success? Learn more in this episode of Wingnut Social!  Connect with Monique Allen The Garden Continuum Get Monique’s Book! Follow Monique on Instagram Connect on LinkedIn Resources & People Mentioned Let Go to Grow with Doug and Polly White The Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff Overcome Your Limiting Beliefs to Charge What You’re Worth What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [3:11] Mini news sesh: Swipe-ups on Instagram stories [5:40] Learn how Monique Allen got into landscaping design [11:01] Why did Monique decide to scale her business? [21:26] Learn more about what Wingnut Social offers [23:06] Check out Build Lane for custom furniture! [24:36] The service packages Monique offers [28:14] Building a business from one employee to 18 [33:57] One mistake Monique says NOT to make [35:41] Take the time to imagine what’s possible [36:52] The What Up Wingnut Round! [38:54] How to learn more about Monique Allen [41:00] Blooper Reel! Why did Monique decide to scale her business? Monique bought a house, got married, and was about to have a baby. So she wanted a wedge between her personal life and her business. At the time, she had six or seven employees. She wanted to do more of what she excelled at. She decided to gather people around her that had expertise in areas she didn’t. She continued adding hires that lined up to elevate the company. It allowed her to have support and have the impact she desired. She notes that you can look at your skillset as four quadrants: incompetence, competence, excellence, and genius. She emphasizes that you can’t scale your business if you’re working in your competence. You have to be working in your genius (at the very least, something you excel at). Monique learned to let go of what she was competent at to spend time working in her zone of genius. That’s where your business starts to catapult. Monique believes the hardest part is to hand off the design work or the client contact. But she has a team that she completely trusts to complete a project—all because she niched down. When you choose a niche, you’ll begin to attract your perfect employee or design partner. Those people are ambassadors of your design strategy. What is another mindset shift business owners have to make to scale their business? Why did she shift from hourly pricing to packaged services? Listen to hear Monique’s thoughts! Building a business from one employee to 18 Monique hired her first W-2 employee in 1991. In 2000, she had six employees. She’ll have 22 employees in 2021. At one point, Monique had capped her business at $1.5 million. She was bringing the right clients in and she wanted to hit $2 million, but she realized she needed to shore up her organizational chart and have role clarity in place first. She worked on that for several years. Now she’s in a place where she’s working to scale her business to $2.5 million. Monique has a corporate team and a production team. Her production team consists of two production leads with direct reports. As the creative director, she makes sure that the strategy around marketing, sales, and onboarding clients is done well. Her tagline is that she is the gardener of people. Her job is to make sure all the people—both clients and employees—are being supported.  How does scaling her business bring her freedom? What was her dream for herself that she extended to her employees? Listen to learn more! One mistake Monique says NOT to make Monique says that as a business owner, you have to be clear that there isn’t anyone out there who is going to rescue you. She states: “There isn’t a hire, a client, a job, or software, that is going to rescue you.” Monique believed that if she hired the right person, that everything would fall into place. She was repeatedly disappointed until she realized she needed to embody her vision and direct things the way she wanted them to go. She had to release the death grip she had on the idea that someone would rescue her from the hard work of owning the business. Check out this week’s episode on Wingnut Social Premium to hear exclusive content about biophilic design and how to partner with landscapers to strengthen your business. Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Build Lane Looking for a great custom furniture option? Check out Build https://buildlane.com/   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Do you find joy in what you do every day? Or do you struggle to get through each day? Tanya Dalton is a best-selling author, speaker, and nationally recognized productivity expert. In this episode of Wingnut Social, Darla and Tanya talk about some of the concepts in her first book, “The Joy of Missing Out: Live More by Doing Less.” If you’re ready to infuse more joy into your existence, this is the episode for you! What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [0:46] Check out Build Lane custom furniture  [1:28] Learn more about Wingnut Social! [3:03] Check out Wingnut Premium for a 7-day free trial! [4:09] Mini news sesh: TikTok is testing a Stories feature [7:14] Learn more about Tanya Dalton [9:17] Does your business still give you joy? [14:39] When do you call it quits and pivot? [25:30] What “Loving what you do” looks like [27:28] Learn to live each day on purpose  [32:53] How to get your joy back [38:07] How to connect with Tanya Dalton [38:43] The What Up Wingnut Round [42:23] Blooper Reel! Connect with Tanya Dalton Check out Tanya’s website The Intentional Advantage Podcast Tanya’s book: The Joy of Missing Out Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Instagram Tanya’s second book, “On Purpose: The Busy Woman’s Guide to an Extraordinary Life of Meaning and Success” is launching October 12th, 2021. Be sure to check it out! Resources & People Mentioned Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill LuAnn Nigara’s Podcast Does your business still give you joy? Tanya points out that most people go into business because they’re passionate about it. But then you get bogged down by the behind-the-scenes things that are part of running the business. You lose sight of why you started in the first place. So what do you do? How do you find joy when you’re burned out? Tanya says to take a step back and assess, are you happy? Is this where you want to go? Tanya believes you can inject joy into your business by adding systems and structures that lighten your load. You have the power to choose how your life—and your business—is run. Many business owners wear a lot of hats—and feel like they have to. You worry that something won’t get done to your standards. It ties into the idea of perfectionism. But guess what? There’s more than one way to do things. You have to relinquish control and delegate. You will get burned by team members and bad hires. You can use those times as learning lessons. It’s part of the journey of entrepreneurship. “That’s part of finding our way to what it is we really want. It’s when we stop doing what everybody else is doing.” You can define success on your own terms. You can define how your business is run. When you take that power and use it, the difference it can make in your life is incredible.  When do you call it quits and pivot? Tanya points out that moving on and pivoting is part of the evolution for many people. You start something because you think it’s what you want. Tanya’s first business was successful. Her husband quit his job to come work alongside her. The business paid her bills and fed her family. It was checking all of the boxes. But five years into it, she didn’t love the work. She spent a lot of sleepless nights staring at the ceiling, questioning, “Why am I doing this?” If you’re not happy, what’s the point? That meant taking a step back and assessing her life. She closed her business and took the things she was passionate about and created Inkwell Press Productivity Co. She scaled her business to seven figures in 18 months because she was so passionate about it.  What holds people back? They feel stuck because they’ve put so much time and effort into something that they’ve built. But Tanya emphasizes that you’re never stuck. You can always shift, change, and grow in the direction that you want to grow in. For Tanya, it meant starting over. It was a redefinition of success. So how do you make a change? Do you take a blind leap of faith? Or engage in purposeful planning? Listen to hear what Tanya would do. How to live each day on purpose  People get bogged down by the idea of purpose. But Tanya believes that having a purpose is simply living bigger than today. It’s seeing who you want to be in the future and working toward that. It’s rising up to be the best version of you. You have to understand where you want to go and then work backward to map it out. What is possible in 3–5 years? What’s practical to get done in a year? You break it down into what you can prioritize in 3–6 months. Then you take your goals, your daily actions, and tie them to that destination you want to get to. When you do fewer things tied to your vision you find that you’re happier. Five small steps toward your purpose bring you closer to where you want to go.  To learn more about Tanya’s processes, methods, and her “MTO Method for Setting Goals” head on over to Wingnut Social Premium! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Desi Creswell Ready to stop being overwhelmed? Check out Desi Creswell’s new “Out of Overwhelm” coaching group Desi Creswell’s Daily Planner Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Build Lane Looking for a great custom furniture option? Check out Build https://buildlane.com/   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Do you struggle to reach goals? No matter how many vision boards you create or how you shift your mindset, you’re always falling short? Maybe you’re doing things all wrong. In this episode of Wingnut Social, Adele Spraggon shares how to recognize brain patterns and what you can do to deconstruct and rewire them. Her process can transform your brain and help you achieve what you never thought possible! Adele Spraggon is an award-winning author, thought-leader, international speaker, and trainer. She was awarded the 2020 Women of Inspiration Award and was recognized as a top behavioral expert in 2021. Her book, “Shift: 4 Steps to Personal Empowerment,” has won three awards and is sweeping the globe, transforming how people are setting and achieving their goals.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [3:28] Mini news sesh: How the Instagram Reels algorithm works [8:40] Learn more about brain pattern expert Adele Spraggon [14:46] What a brain pattern is and how it impacts you [21:18] Does the brain develop patterns based on past experiences?  [25:24] Check out Build Lane at https://buildlane.com/ [26:54] The steps to take to change your brain patterns [33:12] Why shifting to “positive thinking” isn’t the answer [38:56] We continue the conversation on Wingnut Premium! [39:13] It’s time for the What up Wingnut round [40:19] Rerouting neural pathways with psychedelics [44:00] Blooper Reel! Connect with Adele Spraggon Check out Adele’s website Get a FREE autographed copy of Adele’s book (just pay shipping)  Adele’s book: Shift: 4 Steps to Personal Empowerment Resources & People Mentioned The Master and His Emissary by Iain McGilchrist What made Adele quit her first three businesses?  After 15 years in the personal development industry, Adele realized that traditional mindset methods didn’t work. She did all of the right things, yet started and quit three different businesses. So she decided to learn more about the human brain. Adele went back to school and got a master’s degree in humanities. When she learned how the brain works, she realized where the disconnect was.  We think that what our brain “sees” is perfectly aligned with the external situation. But your brain creates its reality from the external situation.She had to learn how to re-pattern the part of her brain that led her to quit repeatedly. She developed a new set of operating instructions. Everything changed. In Adele’s case, she discovered that her brain pattern was people-pleasing. So anytime she thought she upset someone, she ran in the opposite direction. But how do you recognize your brain pattern? Start by learning what a brain pattern is.  What is a brain pattern? A brain pattern is a combination of three factors: a physical sensation, an emotion, and a thought. When these three things come together, they result in a particular action, behavior, or belief. The brain is like an iceberg. Above the water is everything you do, think, or say is above the water. Under the water is the brain pattern that gives rise to your actions. When Adele started a business, her initial brain pattern was one of excitement. But her brain perceived the world as being displeased with her idea. That triggered another pattern, one of discomfort, anxiousness, and panic. Her action was to quit. Her brain was warring over two different patterns. They were neural pathways in her brain that she needed to identify.  Does your brain develop patterns based on past experiences?  Adele notes that human beings are not born with instincts like many animals are. From the moment a baby enters the world, they must piece together brain patterns to take action. Every situation causes a reaction in the brain which causes it to create a neural pathway (i.e. a brain pattern). Once that pathway is created, your brain prefers to use that channel. Until you recognize and remove that brain pattern, your brain will default to it. But the beautiful thing is that brains are plastic, they’re malleable. Adele notes that in the last 20–25 years, there has been an explosion of research in the field of neuroscience. We used to think that the brain was hardwired when we reached adulthood. The truth is that you can quickly re-pattern the brain because it is designed to keep rewiring itself—you just need to know how to work it.  The steps to take to change your brain patterns How do you give your brain new operating instructions? Adele advises that if something is preventing you from moving forward, you need to ask “What am I feeling? Where am I feeling that? What is my one thought?” In Adele’s case, she felt anxiety in her stomach. Her thought was “I have to quit.” That is a pattern. Her next step is to own it as a pattern. She just had to acknowledge, “I created a pattern in my brain that is now feeling and doing this.” Then you must deconstruct the pattern and replace it with something else. But you can only create the new pattern once you remove the old one. So what does the process look like? Why is positive thinking more harmful than helpful? Listen to the whole episode to learn more about rewiring your brain’s patterns. And to learn more about recreating your brain patterns by listening to your right brain, check out the extended interview at Wingnut Premium!  Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Build Lane Looking for a great custom furniture option? Check out Build Lane https://buildlane.com/   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

After a career in environmental science Erica Reiner decided to marry her two loves—environmental science and design—and became an eco-friendly designer. Erica’s passion is to help people transform their space, health, and the planet. She does full-service and eDesign for both residential and commercial clients. She also has her own podcast called “Green by Design.” Listen to this episode of Wingnut Social to hear about her journey to niche until it hurts. What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [1:16] Don’t forget to check out Wingnut Social! [4:45] Mini News Sesh: Instagram’s newest feature [7:24] All about eco-friendly designer Erica Reiner [13:20] Wat eco-friendly design means to Erica [17:09] Erica’s strategies for marketing [20:50] Check out Build Lane for custom furniture! [23:02] Don’t be afraid to niche until it hurts [28:48] Did COVID ramp up the desire for eco-friendly design? [30:48] How can the design industry become greener? [34:10] The What Up Wingnut! Round [39:34] Blooper Reel!  Connect with Erica Reiner Eco Method Interiors Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Instagram The Green by Design podcast You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero Getting Things Done by David Allen Resources & People Mentioned Wingnut Social Premium Mastermind: 1pm August 25th Episode #122 with Mike Peterson and Michelle Castagna Visionary Design Marketing What eco-friendly design means to Erica Erica notes that eco-friendly is an umbrella term that can include human health and a deep look at chemical exposures and toxicity. It can also include the impact you’re having on the earth itself. It’s why Erica incorporates eco-friendly design into her entire method. She weaves in eco-friendly things that make sense in every project. Her goal was to make sustainability and eco-friendly design as accessible as possible.  Each client Erica works with is kept informed of what she’s doing with a customized “green guide” for their project. While she is careful to spend money on what’s important to the client, they are all aware that she incorporates eco-friendly sourcing. She works with vendors who strive to create sustainable pieces.  So is Erica’s design style considered Vegan? Listen to hear why Erica believes she can’t fall into that category. HINT: it’s about sustainability... Don’t be afraid to niche until it hurts Erica designs so many different types of aesthetics but it’s always classified within eco-friendly design. After Erica shifted to full-time design in 2018, she felt like she failed miserably. But when she stopped offering eco-friendly design as a separate service and incorporated it into her entire process, everything changed. The efforts she made with SEO started to pay off.  Darla never recommends that you do something you don’t love. If you’re passionate about different aesthetics, do it. Erica still has the thread of eco-friendly design woven in. Erica believes that if you’re afraid to niche, you’re embracing a scarcity mindset. If you niche into something you’re passionate about it will be enough to sustain you.  Erica also chose a niche because she desires to teach other home pros and designers about the importance of eco-friendly design. She launched a podcast that shares tips and tricks, how-tos, what to be aware of—anything green. It’s another piece of the marketing puzzle to become an authority in the eco-friendly industry. Erica emphasizes that environmental problems and human health problems are one and the same. There is so much improvement to come in the movement toward greener and cleaner. Want to learn Erica’s client satisfaction process to not only end a project with happy clients but also get referrals? Head on over to Wingnut Premium! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Build Lane Looking for a great custom furniture option? Check out Build https://buildlane.com/   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

How can you incorporate case studies for your interior design business on your website? Why should you? Case studies are a testimonial with black-and-white hard numbers of what a business has accomplished for a client. In this episode of the Wingnut Social podcast, Darla is going to talk about two of her case studies—and why they’re so important.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [0:56] Real-life case studies from current clients [2:40] Mini news sesh: Instagram security tips [9:00] Case Study #1: Plush Couture Interiors [13:27] Case Study #2: MOOD | Design + Build [14:46] Learn about designing custom furniture with Build Lane! [22:10] Join Wingnut Premium to learn more about creating a strategy [24:59] The wackiest Wingnut blooper reel! Resources & People Mentioned Case Study: Plush Couture Interiors Plus Couture Interiors Case Study: MOOD | Design + Build MOOD | Design + Build Case Study #1: Plush Couture Interiors When Teresa Gonzalez contacted Wingnut Social, she was relocating from LA to Portland, Oregon. Her business needed to establish a presence in a completely new demographic. She needed to adapt her brand voice to attract clients in Portland. So Wingnut Social created a strategy that focused on branding using consistency in voice, messaging, and imagery. They also made sure she was known for luxury design and as a lifestyle influencer.  How did Wingnut make it happen? By interspersing Teresa’s feed with both luxury and inspirational content, while including images of Teresa. They also made sure to write posts in Teresa’s voice so it reflected her approachable personality. They wrote posts to engage her audience and start conversations. Followers would also learn about what Plush Couture could do for them. They also researched hashtags to use based on analytics and customized them to each post to reach more Instagram users who weren’t yet followers.  What were the results? In the first 2–3 months her account saw an increase of over 12,000% in impressions, over 7,800% increase in engagements (likes, comments, shares, saves), and a 900% increase in followers over two months. Her closest competitor only saw an increase in followers of 15.2% during the same time. Even better? Some of her posts have gone viral.  When you’re starting a successful Instagram campaign, you want to make sure that brand awareness is the main thing you’re working on. What can you do to engage your followers? Listen to hear Darla share some tips! Case Study #2: MOOD | Design + Build Candy Scott came to Wingnut Social for help building brand awareness for her design firm. She wanted to be known, heard, and seen in the industry and build brand awareness, beginning locally in Chicago. Differentiation from competitors is key to positioning. Where do you fall? What do you offer to an ideal client? Candy differentiates herself because of her expertise in project management for large design-build jobs.  To attract clients on Instagram, Wingnut created a strategic content mix of interior design and interior architecture—to emphasize the build part of her business—as well as lifestyle photos of her team. They used highly engaging questions in captions to provoke replies and comments. It may seem basic but people often neglect drawing readers into conversations.  Candy’s second goal was to show up in Google searches for build design firms in Chicago. So Wingnut optimized her website to appear in the top-10 of search results, increasing brand visibility online. They used keyword research to optimize her website for local Chicago-based searches. They continued to build heavily optimized blog posts so they’d appear in Google searches. Even better? Blurbs, testimonials, quotes, etc. from blog posts can be used on social media. What were the results? MOOD Design + Build’s impressions on Instagram increased 20,400%. Their engagement increased 48,300% and their followers more than doubled. Wingnut Social increased their search position on Google by an average of 27 spots leading to an increase in organic search traffic of 27%—in the first three months. If you post case studies for your clients on your website—and potentially on your social media, depending on your strategy—it can boost interest in your services. Learn all about it in this episode of Wingnut Social!  Join Wingnut Premium to learn more about creating a strategy from scratch. But if you want help with marketing, let us know! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Desi Creswell Ready to stop being overwhelmed? Check out Desi Creswell’s new “Out of Overwhelm” coaching group Desi Creswell’s Daily Planner Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Build Lane Looking for a great custom furniture option? Check out Build Lane Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

If you are a regular listener, you’ve likely heard the phrase “Charge what you’re worth.” But how do you know what you’re worth? How much work does it take to get to a point where you can charge what you want? Is it all it’s cracked up to be? In this episode of Wingnut Social, Executive Coach Sarah Schneider breaks down how to figure out what “Charging what you’re worth” actually means. Don’t miss it!  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [0:49] Learn more about episode sponsor: Build Lane [1:21] Wingnut Social is the real deal [3:18] Mini news sesh: New Instagram sticker feature [6:21] Learn all about Sarah Schneider [10:38] Why designers struggle with charging what they’re worth [15:56] How to work through the psychological struggle [24:02] How do you determine what you’re worth [32:47] The What Up Wingnut! Round [34:41] How to connect with Sarah Schneider [35:37] Learn more about the Wingnut Premium program [38:20] Check out this week’s blooper reel! Connect with Sarah Schneider Sarah’s Website Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Instagram Resources & People Mentioned The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown How to overcome the psychological struggle to charge what you’re worth Sarah knows that designers struggle with comparison and self-criticism. They think they need more experience or that people won’t pay their rates. She emphasizes that you have to take an honest look at your background, skillset, and the results that you provide people. Make it about what you deliver and the impact you have. If you’re a high-end designer you’ll charge differently than someone who declutters and organizes spaces. You also have to take into account what you need to make based on your overhead.  People get lost in, “Who am I to charge that?” From a psychological and self-worth standpoint, how do you overcome this limiting belief? Sarah believes that you’re never as new at something as you think you are. A designer has likely used their skillsets in other areas of their life, right? Now you’re simply executing it differently. Sarah challenges people to always take a beginner’s viewpoint and look at things with fresh eyes. But “new” at something doesn’t mean inexperienced. Don’t take your knowledge for granted.  Focus on what you bring to the table Self-doubt is a dream and performance crusher. It's the beginning of the end of your goals. It’s so easy to discount what you know because—let’s be honest—it comes naturally. Sarah coaches people to take inventory of what they bring to the table. If you’re your own worst critic, this can be easier to do with someone who knows you well (someone who champions you or a client that loves you).  What have you done since you were a kid?  What was your formal or informal education?  What roles have you had throughout your life and career?  What type of advice do people ask you for? Brainstorm this with someone and write it down—even if you think it’s an obvious or trivial skill. When you’re in a place of self-criticism, you can look back at the list and see what you bring to the table. It’s easier to be kind to yourself when you have collected evidence in your favor. How do you determine what you’re worth Sarah works with a lot of entrepreneurs. People are often coached to charge a certain amount if they want to appear credible. Sarah recommends that you find a middle ground somewhere between what you’re comfortable with and what the “experts” say you should be charging. It needs to be an integration of a number that stretches you that you’re willing to say out loud—without throwing up.  When Darla started charging what she was worth (to make a profit, stay in business, and give clients the service she’s renowned for), clients started knocking down the door. Darla has a waiting list and she’s never been busier. Darla has found in some cases that doubling your hourly rate can make people pick up the phone. Why does that happen? Listen to the whole episode to hear Sarah share her thoughts. To hear more from Sarah about the breaking away from the comparison game, head on over to Wingnut Premium for an exclusive episode!  Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Desi Creswell Ready to stop being overwhelmed? Check out Desi Creswell’s new “Out of Overwhelm” coaching group Desi Creswell’s Daily Planner Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Build Lane Looking for a great custom furniture option? Check out Build https://buildlane.com/   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

How do you really know where your leads are coming from? How do you know if a campaign you’re running is successful? In this episode of WingnutSocial, the founder of Measurement Marketing—Chris Mercer—shares a genius way to track your leads and manage your campaigns with UTMs (Urchin Tracking Modules). Even better, it can save you a whole lotta moolah. Don’t miss it! What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [1:47] For more info on this subject head over to Wingnut Premium! [2:13] Mini News Sesh: Instagram changing its model [6:12] Learn more about Chris Mercer’s expertise [9:55] What in the world is a UTM? [12:42] How to set up a design campaign with UTMs [18:25] How to understand the UTM terminology [23:07] Learn more about our sponsor Build Lane [25:35] Email marketing using UTMs [34:24] Learn to be good enough to get going  [35:32] The What Up Wingnut Round! [38:32] Where to learn more about Measurement Marketing [43:39] Blooper Reel! Connect with Chris Mercer https://measurementmarketing.io/ Measurement Market FREE Toolbox Kit (Be sure to look at the UTM in the link on the webpage!) Connect on LinkedIn Resources & People Mentioned Adam Mosseri’s Announcement on Instagram Influence by Robert Cialdini (The updated edition) ActiveCampaign What in the world is a UTM? An Urchin Tracking Module (Thank God someone shortened it to UTM) is a parameter. When you go into your email and go to click on a link, look at the link. It will often end with something like “UTM_Source=” AKA a parameter. They identify themselves with platforms like Google analytics. So if you click on a link in an email, the UTM will tell Google Analytics that you came to someone’s site from an email. It will tell them the email you clicked on and even the subject line. Social media is a place you can get really busy and it’s great to know if your activity leads to results. That’s why a UTM is important.  You might go into Google analytics and see something like Facebook.com/referral or Pitnerest.com/referral. You know those platforms caused that person to come to your site. With UTMs you can take it a step further and know exactly where the referral came from (such as a paid ad or pin that they clicked on). You get better at identifying where your traffic is coming from.  How to set up a campaign with UTMs Chris points out that when you share a photo or story you usually have a call to action where someone can click on a link to learn more. When you create that CTA, you can add the UTM parameters. The goal is to identify the who, what, and the why. Who is sending you traffic? What type is being sent? What was the purpose of the traffic? If Chris just enters his homepage, Google will tell him they came from Instagram to the site but it doesn’t tell him much else. But he could add the parameters “UTM_Source=Instagram” to identify the source of the traffic (i.e. the “brand name” of the traffic source). He could use “UTM_Medium=Social” to know it’s stuff that he’s sharing for social engagement (i.e. the type of traffic). A parameter of “UTM_Campaign=Academy” can tell him the purpose of the traffic (to join his training academy). A UTM allows you to identify where to spend your time, including the platform and type of posts. You can really hone in and employ the most effective marketing for your business. Using UTMs should NOT be optional for you.  Listen to the whole episode to hear Chris explain why you should use UTMs for emails—and how to do it! And to learn how to use UTMs for different mediums, head on over to Wingnut Premium for an extended interview.  Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Desi Creswell Ready to stop being overwhelmed? Check out Desi Creswell’s new “Out of Overwhelm” coaching group Desi Creswell’s Daily Planner Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Build Lane Looking for a great custom furniture option? Check out Build https://buildlane.com/   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

We’ve talked about how designers can leverage Pinterest with their social media marketing strategy. But is there another way to use Pinterest, both internally and externally? Chandler Oldham certainly believes so. In this episode of Wingnut Social, she shares the unique way her firm—DXA Studio—uses Pinterest. Don’t miss it! What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [0:43] Check out Desi Creswell’s coaching group! [1:05] Head on over to Build Lane for customer furniture  [2:49] Mini News Sesh: Live audio groups on Facebook [6:30] Learn more about Chandler Oldham [11:16] How COVID changed the landscape [13:26] How Chandler is using Pinterest with clients [19:07] How Pinterest helps with the creative process [26:04] How to combine Pinterest and other resources for inspiration  [29:40] Pinterest applies to hospitality and commercial design as well [32:00] How Chandler sources products and vendors on Pinterest  [38:36] The What Up Wingnut Round [41:12] How to connect with Chandler Oldham [46:12] Blooper Reel! Connect with Chandler Oldham Connect on LinkedIn Save her pins on Pinterest Follow on Twitter Resources & People Mentioned DXA Studio Pinterest Save Button Episode #218 with Kate Ahl Watership Down by Richard Adams DXA Ten Years Pinterest for collaboration As a way to collaborate on ideas, Chandler’s team likes to create a Pinterest board for projects so people can save things in it. It’s also great when you have clients who want to be more hands-on, which developers seem to be moving toward. During COVID, it was also one of the easiest ways to communicate and not waste time going in the wrong direction. Chandler points out that their use of Pinterest is heavy-handed during the concept period when they’re doing most of the designing. But Chandler loves to use it throughout the entire process. You can send a detailed image to a client or a contractor and it conveys so much more than trying to explain with words. Plus, it saves you from having to make a sketch.  The only downside of Pinterest is that you can go down the rabbit hole trying to find something. Their algorithm tends to send you the same images repeatedly and you have to know how to get to what you’re searching for.  Tips and tricks to best utilize Pinterest When you find a furniture maker or designer that you like, Chandler emphasizes that you should spend time on their websites. Use the Pinterest plugin so that you can save images from their site. That way, you’re constantly saving things to Pinterest for yourself. It gives you a new place to get images and it changes what the algorithm gives you versus solely searching inside Pinterest. She makes sure the original owners of the image get the credit for the image. Lastly, Chandler recommends that you create as many boards as you can for yourself and save, save, save photos. You’ll be upset if you didn't save an image and try to recall it later, only to realize you can’t find it. How Pinterest helps with the creative process Chandler uses Pinterest all the time because she’s always thinking one project ahead. She wants to always inspire herself and stay on top of the next best thing. Pinterest helps her firm stay on top of what’s trending and what’s happening in the marketplace. As a designer, Chandler loves any site that allows her to peruse images. Pinterest also makes the world smaller. Since the world couldn’t travel, every resource was posting new things on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, etc. Social media allows the whole world to open up to you and you can see things from a different perspective. How does Chandler use Pinterest to source vendors and tradesmen? Listen to learn more! Want even more great content? Head on over to Wingnut Premium! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Desi Creswell Ready to stop being overwhelmed? Check out Desi Creswell’s new “Out of Overwhelm” coaching group Desi Creswell’s Daily Planner Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Build Lane Looking for a great custom furniture option? Check out Build https://buildlane.com/ Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Why do interior designers and home stagers need professional relationships with realtors? How can this relationship further your business and put dollars in your pocket? How do you build those relationships in the first place? Darla and Eric Reeves set out to answer these questions in this episode of Wingnut Social! What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [0:49] Get your custom furniture through Build Lane! [1:21] Desi Creswell’s new “Out of Overwhelm” group [3:16] Mini news sesh: Rumored Facebook news [5:46] Check out Wingnut Social Premium! [7:40] Learn more about Eric Reeves [11:00] How real estate + interior design mesh [13:45] Why interior designers should network with realtors [23:05] How Eric built his reputation in his community [25:58] How home stagers can sell their value to realtors [28:00] Eric’s thoughts about digital staging [33:16] The “What Up Wingnut” Round! [35:43] Darla’s take: Networking tips + tricks [38:32] Blooper Reel! Connect with Eric Reeves RYS Interior Consulting Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Instagram Resources & People Mentioned Book: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom WS Episode #135 with Sandra Funk: Interior Design Consultation How real estate + interior design mesh Eric is one of the few that can stage a home, sell it, and remodel it. Because of his degree in interior design, he can help buyers visualize the potential of the space when he’s showing it. He can help people see how to make a home of their own. He can also advise buyers of resale value and help them determine changes to make that stay within the budget of the neighborhood. When Eric started his business, it was geared toward home staging because there was nothing in his area. As a realtor, seeing how homes were presented, he knew his market needed the service. Why interior designers should network with realtors Eric points out that realtors are a great resource to home buyers and sellers. New home buyers might need an electrician, plumber, contractor, etc. Most of the homes in Eric’s area are resales—not new construction—so remodeling is always a consideration. Most people who own a home at some point will need to sell or buy. The homeowner will likely ask you for interior design recommendations. That’s why a symbiotic relationship between designers and realtors is imperative.  What benefit does the realtor get? When you’re a great resource for your clients, it keeps you top of mind. When they go to buy or sell, you’re the person that comes to mind. Eric’s market is a lot of second homes and vacation homes. They tend to be empty or furnished with pieces that are outdated and old. They often need a designer’s touch to help them move. How home stagers can sell their value to realtors Eric recommends that home stagers and interior designers need to build a good relationship with realtors—and know your numbers. You need to be familiar with the inventory on the market. You need to understand if the market is hot or barely moving. It’s all about perceived value. 95% of people start their home searches online. So you need to communicate to your client the value of a well-staged home.  You also need a professional online presence (website and social media). You need a packet of information that’s exceptional that you can provide outlining the services you offer. You also need to be able to communicate the value of your work (and how it can lead to more money for the homeowner and realtor). Eric believes there’s a place for both normal and digital staging. If someone needs a quick turnaround at a low price point, digital staging may be the way to go. But Eric points out if he’s showing a home with staged photos online but walks into an empty house, it’s a letdown. People don’t have the vision to see what could be. But if you can learn to do both, do it. You don’t want to be the Blockbuster of the interior design industry.  Listen to the whole episode for some networking tips + tricks from Darla! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Desi Creswell Ready to stop being overwhelmed? Check out Desi Creswell’s new “Out of Overwhelm” coaching group Desi Creswell’s Daily Planner Desi has a six-month customized coaching experience Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Build Lane Looking for a great custom furniture option? Check out Build https://buildlane.com/   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Rachel Gill has been in business for a little over a year. At the beginning of 2021, she decided to create a client-facing Facebook group for homeowners or renters to bring as a client outreach tactic. She went to a local Mom’s Facebook group and shared what she was thinking about doing and asked if anyone would be interested. She got a huge response. The group started at around 400 and is up to almost 700. How does sharing value in this group lead to new clients? Is she giving too much away? Listen to this episode of Wingnut Social to learn more!  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [2:42] Mini News Sesh: Monetizing Instagram [6:10] Rachel’s expertise in Facebook groups [8:01] How a Facebook group serves clients [12:53] The types of clients Rachel gets [20:11] How other designers feel about Rachel’s tactics [23:30] What does Rachel do for a call to action? [25:38] Where do you get started? [30:00] The What up Wingnut round! [31:20] How to connect with Rachel Gill [34:31] Go check out Wingnut Premium! [35:58] Wingnut Social blooper reel! Connect with Rachel Gill Facebook Group: Homeschool | Design + Renovation with Rachel Gill: https://www.facebook.com/groups/218450516351263/ Follow Rachel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelgilldesign/ Rachel’s Design Website: https://www.rachelgilldesign.co/ Resources & People Mentioned Use code “WINGNUT250” for a $250 discount at https://buildlane.com/! Wingnut Social episode #120 with Natasa Jones: https://wingnutsocial.com/podcast/facebook-community-groups-an-innovative-way-to-market-your-interior-design-business-with-natasa-jones-episode-120/ Profit First by Mike Michalowicz: https://www.amazon.com/Profit-First-Transform-Cash-Eating-Money-Making-ebook/dp/B01HCGYTH4 Colleen Primm: https://www.colleenprimmdesign.com/ Studio McGee: https://studio-mcgee.com/ How a Facebook group serves clients Rachel emphasizes that the know, like, and trust factor is really important for your business and your brand. Rachel’s goal was to become an expert in her area for home design and renovation. So she geared her Facebook group toward answering questions, educating, and becoming that go-to expert. Sure, the majority of the people in her group are likely DIYers but a large handful has hired her for design projects. People will go to the person sharing free—valuable—advice.  But what kind of clients can Rachel source from a Facebook group? She notes that she gets anything from a one-off consult to a full first-floor renovation—all from the group. People will see her on Facebook, like her style and posts, and reach out to have her come look at their projects.  Rachel’s theory is that even if you “give away” pieces or colors from a room you’ve designed, people do not have the same creative mind as you. It will never turn out the same way as your final design.  How to start your own client-facing Facebook group Rachel 100% recommends that you engage in your local groups first. If you dive into a group where you’ve had no interaction and ask them to join another group, it won’t go well. But if you engage others and ask them to help you build something just for them—and they feel they’re helping direct the topics and getting questions answered—you'll have immediate buy-in. To do this, Rachel asked how members would like the information presented (blog post, photos, videos, etc.) and the majority wanted blog posts. Rachel reached out to mom’s groups for the county she lives in, the neighboring county, and the largest town near her. Why mom groups? Because it’s where people go to get advice. They ask for contractor, painter, and home improvement recommendations all the time. She saw that people were asking and knew her Facebook group would appeal to them. But how does she get clients from a group?  Rachel will randomly intersperse a design process type of post, share working through a project, etc. She’ll then add a call to action like “If you’d like to design the bathroom of your dreams, connect with me to set up a FREE discovery call.” She’ll often get a DM a day or two later. 85–90% of her clients have come from this group.  Looking for the deets on specific content that Rachel shares that gets her the most traction? Head on over to Wingnut Premium! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Desi Creswell Ready to stop being overwhelmed? Check out Desi Creswell’s new “Out of Overwhelm” coaching group Desi Creswell’s Daily Planner Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor: Build Lane Looking for a great custom furniture option? Check out Build https://buildlane.com/ Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Are you struggling to market yourself? Does the copywriting on your website leave something to be desired? Are you ready for a career change but struggling with self-doubt? In this episode of Wingnut Social, you’ll get a special two-part episode with Gregory Anne Cox—both coach and copywriter—covering how to be more marketable and how to overcome self-doubt. Don’t miss it! What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [0:45] check out Desi Creswell's “Out of Overwhelm” program [2:30] Learn more about Gregory Anne Cox [4:40] How to crush your inner doubt [9:40] Crappy copywriting: How to Be More Marketable [16:25] Turning crappy copy around (no names named) [24:13] Gregory’s last bit of copywriting wisdom [25:11] The What Up Wingnut! Round [28:42] Check out Wingnut Premium [30:19] Blooper reel! Connect with Gregory Anne Cox Rebellious Wellness Over 50 podcast: https://rebelliouswellnessover50.com/rwo50-podcast/ Gregory’s copywriting business: https://bemoremarketable.com/ Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gregoryanne/ Resources & People Mentioned “It's Not Too Late, You Actually Just Started” video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_8jSIRlZ_g The Overstory by Richard Powers: https://www.amazon.com/Overstory-Novel-Richard-Powers/dp/039335668X How to crush your inner doubt—at any age Gregory believes that you get to decide to be relevant or not. There’s a lot of space in culture for new conversations—like how to start a business at any age. Where you place your focus is the path that you’ll take. Gregory chooses to help her listeners find their inner rebel to stand up for whatever they want to at whatever age. What if you’re struggling with inner doubt? Gregory suggests you go back to a time in your life where you’ve felt that way before. You’ve made it to today, haven’t you?  Gregory always wanted to go back to school and complete her degree in Psychology. She had been a chef for 30 years and suddenly she couldn’t cook anymore. She couldn’t go back to school, so she found life coaching. It allowed her to use the same type of skills to help people transform their mindset. She loves the mantra, “Where your attention goes your energy flows.” Look at what you might want to do. How will it make you feel if you don’t do that? Or at least try it? You only have so much mental energy every day. What do you want to put that energy toward?  Crappy Copywriting: How to Be More Marketable What do you do for your clients? Is that portrayed in your copywriting? Gregory notes that copywriting is less about your capability as a writer and more about finding out what your client wants and what you do for them. Then you put words on paper that express that and helps you stand out. You have to differentiate yourself and speak to your ideal client.  Gregory sees the “I” problem a lot. People’s copy reads like it’s all about them: “Welcome to my website. I am a coach, I welcome you to my website.” You only have so much real estate on a website—don’t waste it. You want to drop people into their problem as soon as you can. Don’t fill up the page with features, descriptions, benefits, etc. But you need to speak to the prehistoric reptilian brain in someone’s head.  Secondly, she recommends you use fewer, more powerful words. Tell a story. You need to bring yourself into the picture—and not try and please everyone. The people that are your people want to see your quirkiness because they have it in them. Darla didn’t find success with her interior design firm until she fully embraced who she was. How does Gregory turn crappy copy around? Why does Gregory ask clients about their favorite jelly bean? How does she make a boring process fun? Listen to the whole episode to learn more! Looking for premium content including extra takeaways and bonus information? Check out Wingnut Premium for four extra podcast episodes a month, access to a private Facebook group, and access to me 24/7. Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor Ready to stop being overwhelmed? Check out Desi Creswell’s new “Out of Overwhelm” coaching group Desi Creswell’s Daily Planner   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

cCommerce or C-Com is short for conversational commerce. It’s about building conversations with people and engaging in a conversational way of selling. It can be using SMS messenger, voicemail drops, personalized images, and more. Paul Ace and his team use it to create an 80% human-like experience and a 20% human experience. What does that mean? How can it help you and your business? Find out in this episode of Wingnut Social! Paul Ace is popularizing the concept of C Com through the science of conversion, conversation, and automation. He founded Amplify C-Com which helps businesses grow past seven figures. Amplify combines human psychology and automation to create more profits in their customers profits.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [0:44] Check out Desi Creswell’s new coaching group! [2:45] Mini news sesh: Instagram stops penalizing for sharing [5:38] What the hell is cCommerce? [16:41] The concept of pre-framing [27:20] How conversational is the process? [36:00] The fortune is in the follow-up [38:34] The What Up Wingnut! Round [42:15] Where to learn more about Paul Ace! [45:49] Go check out Wingnut Premium NOW! [47:55] The Wingnut Blooper Reel! Connect with Paul Ace The Amplify to 7 Figures Podcast: https://amplifyto7figures.com/home Amplify C-Com: https://lp.amplifyccom.com/ Connect on LinkedIn Resources & People Mentioned Desi Creswell’s new coaching group: https://www.desicreswell.com/coaching Wingnut episode on Bonjoro: https://wingnutsocial.com/podcast/turn-your-prospects-into-super-fans-with-bonjoro-episode-071/ Bonjoro: https://www.bonjoro.com/ BombBomb: https://bombbomb.com/ Loom: https://www.loom.com/ The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod The Road Less Stupid by Keith Cunningham The concept of conversational commerce Paul prefers that “leads” aren’t called leads—they’re just people. Every person that opts into something on your site has got something in their life that they’re not happy with. It might be “Hey, I want this interior designer for this particular reason.” Or they may be asking for a service you don’t provide, like painting. Paul has a genius process you can use to refer clients that aren’t a good fit—using both automation and a referral network. Listen to learn more! Psychological strategies to win people over Pre-framing is an underutilized tool. Paul emphasizes that if you’re not using it, you’re leaving money on the table. He shares an example: “If you could have something that would get more people to buy, buy more often, and refer more people to buy from you, would you want to know what it is?” That’s pre-framing. If you use questions like this, you’re softening the prospect, getting them to say yes, and making micro-commitments. It becomes so natural to do in your language pattern.  In the book “Never Split the Difference,” Chris Voss shared a common question he used in most—if not all—of his negotiations: “Would it be unreasonable to consider…?” Paul uses a similar question: “Would you be against…?” For example, he could ask Darla “Would you be against having more people on the show?” Darla would likely say, “No, we wouldn’t be against having more people on the show!” It removes defensiveness. In the book “Influence” by Robert Cialdini, there’s a study about making copies. Someone asks if he can skip the line to make a copy. Of course, people said no. So he asked, “Can I skip the line because I need to make some copies?” People would say yes! Paul notes that it’s the dumbest reason—because everyone needed to make copies—but they still complied simply because he said: “because.” How conversational is the process? If you’re selling something that’s $7 and sell 1,000 a day, you’re not recording a personal video message to every person. It’s not scalable. But if someone buys a $7 product and then buys your $500 upsell and books a consultation with you one-on-one, you record a personal message for them. Paul emphasizes that you should look at the buyer journey and the pipeline and break down each step. You have to split it into scalable/not scalable.  Paul has a client that sells a challenge. If they abandon the cart, they get a text message from the “owner” asking if something was wrong or what they could do to help. It got a 20% response rate. 80% of the work is in the first message that you send. You could then give your team a framework of how to guide them through the sales process and it’s handed over to you at a specific point.  Paul walks through an example specific to Wingnut Social and how to speak with a potential client. He also shares why the “fortune is in the follow-up.” Give it a listen to learn more! To get more exclusive content only for subscribers? Go check out Wingnut Premium NOW! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor Ready to stop being overwhelmed? Check out Desi Creswell’s new “Out of Overwhelm” coaching group Desi Creswell’s Daily Planner   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Business owners know what to do to get where they need to go. But every time they find success, they start thinking in circles and second-guessing themselves. Self-sabotage begins to kick in. Anna Tsui has noticed this with everyone she’s worked with. For Darla, self-sabotage translates into procrastination and self-doubt. So why do we people self-sabotage? What can you do to mitigate that voice in your head? In this episode of Wingnut Social, Anna talks about how to overcome self-sabotage and find your zone of genius.  Anna Tsui is a genius coach, international speaker, writer, and serial entrepreneur, and founder of the Intuitive Business School. She is also the best-selling author of “Shadow Magic: Turn Your Fear into Fuel and Create a Prosperous Coaching Business.” What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [2:24] Mini News: Instagram like counts [4:30] Learn more about Anna Tsui [9:07] The interplay between your shadows and self-sabotage [14:18] Pinpoint your soul’s goals [16:43] The difference between self-sabotage and self-harm [25:43] The most common shadow Anna sees in women [27:31] How to overcome the shadows [30:54] The zone of genius (get more at Wingnut Premium!) [33:05] The “What Up Wingnut!” round [34:12] How to connect with Anna [37:28] Wingnut Blooper Reel! Connect with Anna Tsui Download half of Anna’s book for FREE: https://www.annatsui.com/book Anna’s Website: https://www.annatsui.com/ The Intuitive Business School: https://www.annatsui.com/intuitive-business-school  Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annatsui/ Resources & People Mentioned Book: How to Improve Your Marriage without Talking About It: https://www.amazon.com/Improve-Marriage-Without-Talking-About/dp/0767923189 The interplay between your shadows and self-sabotage It all starts with your inner critic, or as Anna likes to call it, your shadows. Anna believes you inherit shadows from your family, culture, lineage, place of birth, religion, and more. The unconscious beliefs can come from your parents, religion, community, etc. Shadows also come from unconscious inner woundings where you don’t feel like you deserve something. These are the parts of you that are insecure and you don’t feel fully confident or loved. People are afraid of being visible and being seen for who they really are. Many people think if they are themselves, they’ll be judged. All of this comes from an unconscious part of you that’s just scared. Anna believes you have to recognize that there is a magnetic message that only you can offer to the world. Your ideal clients want to experience the essence of who you are. It takes bravery. But when you want to show up in a certain way and something is holding you back, that’s part of your shadow. It’s part of your ego that keeps you in a safe container. It’s a great place to survive—but you won’t thrive or grow.  When is the universe telling you there’s a new direction to go? Do you want that lifestyle that you envy so much in other people? Will you be working all the time? Is it something you really want, or is it your ego taking over?  Anna believes you should focus on your soul goals. What goals allow you to feel the way you want to feel? Anna points out that sometimes you really don’t know until you do it. You have to take the first steps to try it out. If you want to rebrand and try a different persona, do it. If it works for you, great! If it doesn’t, then you know. Don’t let your shadows hold you back.  Anna points out that when Darla is talking about Wingnut Social (versus her interior design business), her energy is completely different. The energy of what you love feels so different. Money and success can come in the way of doing what you love. But fear, guilt, and doubt say “You can’t do that.” “When you feel into the fears and when it stops you, that’s when you know.” How to overcome your shadows People don’t realize how much fear is running their business. If you’re surrounding yourself with “I can’t do this because…” then it’s time to take a breath and realize your fear is running the show.  Sometimes if you take a few small steps, you’ll start feeling charged because what you’re doing gives you energy. If you show up with confidence, people perceive you differently. It’s really important to have a coach that can reassure you and lend you their energy when you’re tapped dry. Anna also recommends that you carve out and own that you are important and your self-care is important as a factor that helps your business thrive. Anna also loves the concept of connecting with your inner saboteur. If you ask “What’s going on?” you’ll find you’ll get a response. It’s all about building awareness. You have to build a relationship with these parts of yourself. The deeper the relationship, the more you can get into the juiciness of the human experience. Anna has developed a process to help people connect to their zone of genius (and connect to their genius flow). Want to learn more? Check out the premium episodes of Wingnut Social! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor Desi Creswell’s Daily Planner Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

What is the easiest way to brand your design business? How do you stand out from the crowd enough to land clients? Mike Peterson has spent most of his career in the world of publishing with magazines like Country Living, House Beautiful, and Luxe. He loves all things marketing, branding, and interior design. He has the unique experience to help interior designers set themselves up for success with the right branding for who they are. Listen to this episode of Wingnut Social for his strategies! What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [1:43] Wingnut Premium members only! [4:21] Mini News Sesh: Instagram Lives [6:13] Introducing Mike Peterson [9:42] What is a brand?  [13:22] How to differentiate yourself [18:08] Your name or a brand name? [26:02] Is there value in magazine marketing?  [29:49] How to showcase your brand the right way [32:03] The What Up Wingnut! Round [36:37] Blooper Reel! Connect with Mike Peterson LinkedIn Visionary Design Marketing Mike(at)VisionaryDM.com Resources & People Mentioned Wingnut Social Episode #122 BOOK: Beauty, Neuroscience, and Architecture You are your brand—not just a commodity We are surrounded by brands. They’re prevalent in our lives. Starbucks. Armani. Grey Goose. BMW. Fuji. Mike emphasizes that “If the world can find a way to brand water, think about what we can do with all of the talent listening to this podcast right now.” What is it like to not have a brand in a world of brands?  A lot of people overthink their brand. A brand is not what you do, it is a relationship. Who is your best friend? Why is that person your best friend? You’re likely using subjective and emotional words based on relatability. The most important people are important because of emotional relationships. That is the foundation of brand marketing. Identify the value and the personality characteristics of who you are—not what you do. Mike believes that “A lot of designers design. But every designer has a unique personality of their own. You will attract people of like mind as a result.”  How can Mike and his team help you differentiate yourself in the marketplace? Listen to hear their genius process for narrowing down your brand! How to differentiate yourself Mike shares that you can’t be afraid to ask for help. Business management and marketing aren’t taught in design schools. Mike has a three-phase process with his clients. They talk with a designer about their brand and their personality. But they go out and talk to 12–15 of the designer’s clients (whether by Zoom or in-person). One of the questions they ask is, “How do you feel as a result of what the designer did for you?” That question provides gold nuggets to understand what the designer has done. They get responses like: “I felt heard” “She fought for us.” “I’m at peace.” Your marketplace and audience become the foundation for your marketing process. The website begins to write itself. Don’t just depend on what you think your brand is. Reach out and ask your client or get a third party involved. Does the service you provide take a backseat? Is there value in magazine marketing? Listen as Mike shares how to showcase your brand the right way. Want to learn about geotargeting? Listen to the extended interview by signing up for Wingnut Premium! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com Wingnut Premium On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor Desi Creswell’s Daily Planner Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Pinterest is a great way to connect with your clients. How? Because most of them find their inspiration on Pinterest. Secondly, it’s a great way to showcase how you design and level up the design for future clients. Best of all, it helps people become aware of you. So how do you leverage Pinterest to work for your design business? Kate Ahl—the owner of Simple Pin Media—shares her best strategies in this episode of Wingnut Social! What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [2:31] Wingnut Premium members only! [4:16] Mini New Sesh: Pinterest Livestream Events [6:54] How Kate Became an expert on Pinterest [10:35] The importance of Pinterest for creators [12:45] The difference between Instagram and Pinterest [14:33] The pros and cons of Pinterest [20:43] The verified merchant program [25:21] What’s changing with story pins?  [27:18] Pinterest: the intellectual property dilemma [30:35] Kate’s thoughts on Tailwind (and other apps) [32:06] The What Up Wingnut! Round [37:22] Blooper Reel! Connect with Kate Ahl The Simple Pin podcast Simple Pin Media Follow on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Pin on Pinterest Resources & People Mentioned Tailwind Google Analytics Apply to the Verified Merchant Program Pinterest Content Claiming Application DMCA Protection The E Myth by Michael Gerber  The difference between Instagram and Pinterest According to Kate, the largest difference is that you go to Instagram to get caught up on the lives of people you follow. You have to follow them to see them in your feed. You’re looking to wander and get lost in people’s stories. People also rarely move off the platform.  But the intent on Pinterest is “How can you serve me?” or “I need a solution to my problem.” Someone is looking for inspiration and they don’t care about you. They’re not interested in a brand. They’re only interested in the goal. There’s no attachment to a brand name—just the design. Pinterest is all about search and discovery. Keep listening to hear Kate share some of the pros and cons of Pinterest. The Verified Merchant Program Pinterest is reintroducing the concept of shoppable pins with their “Verified Merchant Program.” They’ll show that it’s a shoppable pin but will link to your website for the actual sale. The challenge is that the user's habit isn’t to buy right away. But Pinterest is putting a lot of effort into shop integrations, videos, and story pins. They’re trying to find diversified ways to get people to the shopping point quickly.  Unfortunately, Kate points out that the Verified Merchant Program is still clunky, glitchy, and picky about who is approved. If people don’t want to go that route, Kate recommends using images and keywords that will lead to places you know they’ll sign up for a consultation. For now, Kate believes the shop tab is useful for people who sell things that are $100 or less. For higher-end products, Kate recommends leading people to a form that has a question that asks how they heard about you.  What is Kate’s overall opinion of the Verified Merchant Program? Listen to hear her unfiltered response! What’s changing with story pins?  Story pins allow creators to showcase something they offer or the steps it takes to complete a project. They just changed the name to “Idea Pins'' because people were getting story pins confused with Instagram Stories. These pins stick around forever—no 24-hour shelf life—and people can save them to their boards. However, there is no link. But it does encourage people to follow your profile where they can then click to your website. Kate has actually seen an increase in home page traffic when people use idea pins. It’s a great way to showcase a new design and even increase your follower account. How does Pinterest handle intellectual property dilemmas? What are Kate’s thoughts on Tailwind (and other apps)? Listen for the whole conversation! Want even more great content? Head on over to Wingnut Premium for the extended interview with Kate Ahl! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor Desi Creswell’s Daily Planner   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Darla is smack in the middle of a move to Maryland (U-Haul and all), so this week we are replaying a popular episode with Jeff Harry! Get ready to infuse some play in your day—and be better for it.   Jeff Harry defines play as “Any joyful act where you are fully present in the moment. It has no purpose or result.” You are fully in love with what is actually happening. Your play moments are the best moments of your life when you feel most alive. You are in flow.  What is the work where you forget about time? How much of that work do you do on a given day? Jeff shares that identifying the work that you LOVE to do and increasing it by even just 1–2% has a ripple effect. Play can make you more productive, creative, and successful in the long run. It gives you momentum. How do you do that? Learn how in this episode of Wingnut Social! Jeff Harry shows individuals and companies how to tap into their true selves to feel their happiest and most fulfilled—all through the medium of play. He has worked with Microsoft, Google, Southwest Airlines, the NFL, Adobe, Facebook, and Amazon, helping them learn how to infuse more play into their day. What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [3:36] Instagram has launched keyword search [6:19] All about Jeff Harry [8:29] Play can help you reach your zone of genius [10:20] Do you have to rewire your brain?  [13:09] Why don’t adults play enough?  [17:17] How to integrate play into business [21:31] What do you do with your employees? [25:38] Determine your team’s appreciation language [33:10] Does play factor into growing your business? [35:51] How to infuse more play in your day [50:06] The What Up Wingnut! Round [53:33] How to connect with Jeff Harry [56:33] Delegate outside of your zone of genius [1:00:56] Blooper Reel! Connect with Jeff Harry Jeff’s Website: Rediscover Your Play Follow on Twitter Watch on YouTube Jeff’s TikTok Resources & People Mentioned LuAnn Nigara BOOK: The Power Talk Friday Experts Vol. 2 The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace Hubspot article on Employee Feedback BOOK: The Artist’s way BOOK: The Big Leap BOOK: Tuesdays with Morrie Overcome the “shoulds” to get to you Why is play such a lost art? Jeff points out that by the time you reach the age of 18, you will have heard the word “no'' 148,000 times. On top of that, every adult in your life piles “shoulds” on you. Then you go to school where you’re told to raise your hand, ask for permission, etc. You hit your teens and you’re bombarded with social media. You get more information in a day than people in the 1950s got in one year. It tells you you’re not enough, you need to buy this, etc. All the answers are external. Anytime you try to do anything that is “you”, you are considered mischievous or weird. You’re considered “too much” or “extra.” It’s such a rebellious act to simply be yourself. Ask yourself: What do I love to do? What makes me come alive? What makes me feel good about myself? Do something because you want to or because it brings you joy. It doesn’t have to have productive value, a sense, or a purpose. But you’re having fun. It puts you in a positive mindset and you’re priming your brain to look at every opportunity as play. How do you integrate play into business? How do you encompass a play-oriented mindset in the workplace? How do you determine your team’s appreciation language? Jeff Harry takes a deep-dive into these topics—don’t miss it! How to infuse more play in your day Jeff walks through some exercises in this episode that HAVE to be shared. Where do you start? He notes that you cannot play until you’ve calmed yourself down. If you’re angry or in an anxiety-ridden state, you can’t play.  You have to soothe yourself and calm yourself down first. Side note: make sure it’s a healthy form of calming yourself down. Jeff soothes himself by taking showers. Other people go on a walk or run or free-write.  Get bored. Your best ideas come when you’re bored. Shut off social media and stop binge-watching Netflix. When you consume, you can’t create. It makes you feel like there’s nothing left in the world to create.  It’s easier to create when you aren’t listening to everyone else. Practice listening to yourself. Start listening for that whisper, your inner curiosity. It will suggest something both exciting and really scary. Create a video. Start a side business. Start a podcast. Email someone. You have to strengthen the ability to live in your own intuition. Three exercises to kickstart creativity Another exercise? Get 3 people that know you really well and ask them these questions: What value do I bring to your life? We often don’t know what we do for people. Why are we friends? Why did you hire me? When have you seen me most alive? When have you seen me most engaged, most playful, most creative, most present? Most happy? When you get 3–5 people to give you that information back and you look at it, you get so many answers and gems of wisdom.  You can also get your friends together and do what Jeff calls a “Tipsy Storm” over Zoom. You get tipsy on alcohol, chocolate, ice cream, whatever it is, and brainstorm together. Write down ideas. Go to bed, wake up, and return to that list. Circle the one that resonates the most with you and see where it takes you. Bonus exercise: What did you do as a kid that brought you joy? How can that be tied to the work you love to do now? Take those “play” values from your childhood and find the work that you love to do most that encompass those values.  Jeff’s final challenge: Allow your emotions to fully envelop you. When you fully feel it, you can let it go. When you allow emotion in, you live a more fulfilling life. Let your grief and sadness out. People haven’t mourned 2020. Write down everything you wanted to accomplish in 2020 that you didn’t get to, mourn them, fold it up, fold it into an airplane, and let it go. What do you want to do with the last 23 days of 2020? What impact do I want to have? Are you ready to stop “shoulding” on yourself so much? Are you ready to show up? Listen to the whole episode for more of Jeff’s amazing insight into positive psychology.  Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Do you know how to do something so well that people are asking you to coach them? Have you thought about starting a coaching business? How do you convert your expertise to real dollars in your pocket? The truth is that people don’t talk about how to become a consultant. Being a consultant can give you a great lifestyle, a great profit margin, and allows you to work part-time hours. You also get to make a huge difference with the people you’re serving and help them make transformations at a high level. Laura Meyer—a fractional chief marketing officer exclusively for seven-figure female experts—shares how she does it in this episode of Wingnut Social! What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [4:30] Mini news sesh: Facebook + Spotify [6:10] Who is Laura Meyer? [12:21] How to transition to consulting [18:05] How to determine your pricing [23:20] How to scale one-on-one services [27:42] What is the value of what you’re selling?  [30:45] Get yourself in the right room [31:16] The What Up Wingnut! Round [35:52] Wingnut Blooper Reel! Connect with Laura Meyer Joybrand Creative The Scale with Joy Podcast Friend on Instagram Connect on LinkedIn The Advance Expert Network Resources & People Mentioned The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks How to transition to consulting Laura didn’t know what she would do when she left the photography business—she just knew she needed to shut the door. She believed if she created space for the new thing it would come to her. She says that “Great things grow in the margins.” You need space to meditate, think, and journal.  She texted a group of CEOs that she was friends with and told them she was shutting her business down because the industry was changing. They all started apologizing to her—but immediately followed their apologies by asking for help with marketing. They needed someone to come in at a strategic level to help them. It was the answer she was looking for. What would you do for free? What are you passionate about that pours out of you? Laura recommends that you list out everything that you’ve done well. Out of that list, what can become your unfair advantage? Your proprietary process? Your signature offer? Start to offer that thing one-on-one.  Laura started with one-on-one clients and slowly increased her prices. Everyone wants large groups, but Laura emphasizes “One-on-one is where the transformation happens. It’s where you get better at your craft. It’s where you sharpen your saw. It’s where you see patterns. It’s where you develop your signature processes.” There’s nothing like it.  How to determine pricing for your business How do you know what to price? How do you place value on your services? Laura believes this is the #1 mistake that people make. Laura recommends that you NEVER charge for your time. Instead, always always charge for the result. She notes that “The clearer you are about the outcome your services provide, the more of a chance that you can trade outcomes for income.”  Laura finds that many consultants aren’t outcome-focused. Laura makes pretty graphics, writes captions, and gets more engagement and followers on social media. The goal is to grow the business. Some social media managers make your feed look pretty. Others make your feed look pretty and grow your business—and they’re double the price. It all comes down to the outcome. If your social media is just a business card, it’s worth a lot less to the person investing in it.  How to scale one-on-one services If you’re trading time for money, you’re up a creek. But many people worry that you can’t scale a one-on-one consulting model. Laura disagrees with that notion, and shares three ways you can scale a one-on-one business:  You can scale through agency services, where you keep the one-on-one interaction (just train more people to do that instead of you).  Another option is to license your system (i.e. Storybrand or Profit First) and scale your intellectual property.  Laura only shows up where she’s needed. Her process is well-defined and she is needed for very little.  If you have five one-on-one clients and you charge $2,000 a month for your services, you want to get to only having five 45-minute appointments weekly and outsource everything else. You speak, teach, write, and deliver. It gives you an amazing part-time consulting business. It was a lifesaver for Laura. So how do you determine the value of what you’re selling? What is your service worth? How can you differentiate yourself in a way that creates extra value? Laura delivers a TON of value in this episode—make sure you listen to the very end! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor Desi Creswell’s Daily Planner   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

How do you hire the right people so you don’t find yourself letting someone go six months down the road? Do you hire for your weakness or hire someone that fits in with the culture? So much goes into hiring the right person. So in this episode of Wingnut Social, Colleen Baader joins Darla to share how she hires for her design firm. Colleen Baader has been an interior designer for 27 years primarily focusing on commercial design. Seven years ago she started Vertical Interior Design focused on corporate, healthcare, and hospitality design. She even designed and built her own home in 2018.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [1:56] Mini News Sesh: How to filter comments [4:00] All about Colleen Baader [6:50] The 1st thing to know before hiring [11:24] How to hire to complement your skills  [14:11] Hire for skills—not design background [19:28] The compensation conversation [21:43] Do you hire a contractor or employee? [23:38] Don’t be afraid to hire up [26:37] Offer your team development opportunities [28:26] The What Up Wingnut! Round [29:45] How to connect with Colleen Baader [34:10] The wacky blooper reel! Connect with Colleen Baader Vertical Interior Design Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Instagram Resources & People Mentioned The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership The Culture Index What you NEED to know before hiring Colleen tries to look at the strengths of her team—and where she’s seeing weaknesses. Then she tries to target those weaknesses in the hiring process. They give out a survey called “The Culture Index” to help determine an applicant's natural tendencies and personality. Are they detailed? Visionary? Organized?  If she’s looking for someone detailed, she knows her creative people will be worn down and exhausted by those tasks. But if they’re being 100% creative for their 8 hours at work, they leave on a high. Colleen strives to hire the right people for the right role so they don’t leave burned out. You want to hire someone for a role that they’ll be successful and find joy in.  You'll have opportunities for more jobs if you allow your team to be diverse. People with different skills not only complement each other, they learn from each other. She always strives to foster collaboration—never competition. You should be rooting for each other to close deals.  Once you find a few individuals who fit, have them come in and work with the team for half a day. They can see what it’s like to work with them. The people you work with and the environment you’re in can often be what keeps you at your job. Don’t be afraid to hire up Darla wanted to get to the point where she wasn’t doing all of the design work. If you’re hiring and want to delegate, you want to make sure the hires are capable of taking on that role. Conversely, Colleen emphasizes that you can’t be afraid to hire people that are smarter than you or are more talented than you. You have to learn to set your ego aside. Colleen worked with someone who said, “Let’s hire the smartest people and get out of their way.” Colleen loves it. She admits that her CAD skills and elevations aren’t great, so she uses her skills where they’re used best and offloads her weaknesses to someone else. What about the compensation conversation? How do you hire to scale? Should you hire contractors or employees? Listen to the whole episode for Colleen’s take! Quick Tip: How to filter comments on Instagram Go to the hash marks in the upper right corner and choose “settings.” Check “privacy” and click on “comments.” You can choose “filters” and choose “hide offensive comments.” You can choose the words that are trigger words (ahem, “bitcoin”) and filter out any comments that include those words. Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor Desi Creswell’s Daily Planner   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

After a seminar that changed his life, Roy Redd started a small CPR business that he grew to six-figures over the next year. So he wrote his first book, “The Success Magnet.” During the launch of that book, he got a DM from Casey Trujeque, who asked if his methods worked for athletes. So Casey flew him out to Portland Oregon to work with an athlete. He was able to turn that athlete around with his methods. How? How did changing his self-talk change his game? Learn more in this episode of Wingnut Social! What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [3:01] Mini news sesh: TikTok [5:23] All about Roy Redd [11:00] What self-talk is present? [14:47] How to recognize your bounds [19:37] What to say to yourself instead [21:35] Use self-talk to become better [24:00] Roy’s strategy to stop negative self-talk [29:01] The What Up Wingnut Round! Connect with Roy Redd Roy’s Website Follow on Instagram Connect on LinkedIn Resources & People Mentioned The Book of Est How to turn things around Roy asks, “What are you saying to yourself about yourself? In a year from now, what has to happen in your career and your life for you to be happy with your progress?” That is what he calls an instant clarity question. Why? Because with clarity comes certainty. Uncertainty is what causes us to have anxiety or negative self-talk. Roy realized this athlete had a “functional bound.” You’re bound by social ideas, trauma, or what you’ve been told you can and cannot do. He was getting nervous at the end of his games. So they did an experiment and realized that he had a traumatic experience at six at the end of a game when his Dad put his hands on him.  Now every time he’s in that situation, his brain goes into fight or flight mode. His self-talk was “I’m not confident because I feel this way.” So they reframed and reclaimed the situation. He learned to anchor to the present. They pulled this unconscious memory into his conscious mind where he can control it. You can do that too. How to recognize your bounds We have millions of past experiences. Roy notes that you can’t expect someone to pull and delete all of them. But you can get to a space where you can get comfortable being uncomfortable. You will end up in a space where you will deal with negative self-talk, either conscious, unconscious, or subconscious. We attach “I” to experiences and it becomes embodied in your identity. Being hungry is an experience you have, but when people are hungry they say “I am hungry.” When they’re upset, they say “I am depressed.” But you are not those things, they are states that you’re in. But by saying “I am” you are locking yourself into those states. Instead of saying, “I am depressed” you can say that “I am experiencing depression.” Depression isn’t physical, measurable, or tangible—but it is something that you can experience. It’s a sensation. You’re locking emotions into your body. You feel depressed, but you’re having a sensation in your chest. It’s an anchor for an experience that you have to move away from.  How to use self-talk to become better When Roy dove into neuroscience and the mind, he learned that it all boils down to self-talk. It’s not what happens to you in life that matters—it’s how you interpret it. Once you can identify the self-talk you’re having, you want to stop it or slow it down. How?  Root yourself in the moment with things you love and things that get you in a flow state. What are you curious about? Passionate about? Is it connected to your purpose? Those three things lead you into a flow state when you’re in a zone. You lose all sense of time or self-awareness and you’re just in the moment. That’s when you take performance to the next level. Once you’re there, you can master and dial in on the things you’re trying to become better at.  Want to learn how to stop your negative self-talk in its tracks? Listen to the whole episode for Roy’s strategy! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Lauren Brown launched her design business at age 65—right before the Coronavirus reared its ugly head. In this episode of Wingnut Social, Lauren shares what she had to do to pivot, the marketing that she’s found success with, and what you should and shouldn’t do. Ready to learn from her years of experience? Don’t miss it! What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [2:32] Upcoming content on Wingnut Premium! [4:41] Mini news sesh: Clubhouse on Android? [7:56] All about Lauren Brown [10:08] Launching and immediately pivoting [12:14] The wins and the losses [15:23] Gaining traction with marketing [23:53] The services that Lauren offers [30:25] Why Lauren decided it was time to hire [40:42] The What Up Wingnut! Round [44:18] How to learn more about Lauren Brown [46:59] Check out the blooper reel! Connect with Lauren Brown Lauren’s Website Follow on Instagram Connect on Facebook Resources & People Mentioned Wingnut Social Episode #131 Scarlet Thread Consulting Curio Electro Claire Jefford Interior Design Business Strategies Facebook Group Denise Calhoun Pardue A Well-Designed Business: The Power Talk Friday Experts Vol. 2 The wins, the losses, and the lessons learned Lauren was approached to publish an article in a magazine. Then she did some ads in the magazine. Before she knew it, it had snowballed to ad after ad in multiple magazines. She went to her CPA and realized she spent a lot of money she shouldn’t have—but she just didn’t know.  She advertised on social media the organic way and was featured in some local publications. She decided to go with an old-fashioned billboard—which paid off in a big way. Contractors called, builders called, and clients called. It was targeting the local market and staying top-of-mind.  Lauren was intimidated by social media but didn’t reach out to Darla or anyone else. She also tried building a DIY website. She quickly learned that if you aren’t an expert in any of these areas, you should hire an expert. A better website leads to more people on your page and a lower bounce rate. A bad website can become an easy “no” for a potential client. If your website doesn’t look good, how can your design be good? Designer by your side Lauren will do a consultation with potential clients to determine what they’re looking for. She offers a “designer by your side” package for those doing projects on their own but want a little professional advice. She offers a “concept-to-completion” service for someone building a home. She also offers a “furniture mart concierge” package where she takes a client to Furniture Mart and helps them choose the right pieces for their home.  They’ve all been successful services, but she gets the most revenue from her concept-to-completion service for new home builds. She works directly with two different builders who pay her a percentage to work with their clients. Lauren has learned she wants to concentrate on doing full-service projects—or she’ll run herself ragged. When did Lauren decide it was time to hire? What position did she hire for? And why did she decide to keep a showroom despite the pandemic? Listen to the whole episode to learn more! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor Desi Creswell’s Daily Planner   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

According to Nikki Rausch, the objective of a discovery call is to identify whether or not you’re talking to a potential client. How do you determine that? How can you ask the right questions and move them to the next step in the process? How do you close a discovery call with a new client? Nikki shares her strategy in this episode of the Wingnut Social podcast! What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [0:50] Why we’ve had a short break [4:38] Wingnut Social Premium! [6:45] Mini News Sesh [8:52] All about Nikki Rausch [13:37] Closing on discovery calls [16:24] The process for cold leads [18:51] The right questions to ask [32:30] How to STOP providing free advice [34:25] Buying signals to look for [37:35] Always move the project forward [38:36] What up Wingnut! Round [41:00] Learn more about Nikki Connect with Nikki Rausch The Sales Maven Website The Sales Maven Podcast The Selling Staircase by Nikki Rausch Nikki’s free ebook just for Wingnut Social Listeners! Resources & People Mentioned Become a Premium Wingnut! Episode 97 with Nikki Rausch Episode 172 with Desi Creswell BOOK: Wonderworks by Angus Fletcher  Step #1: Pre-frame the conversation What should you say to develop a rapport and get the filter running? Nikki emphasizes that the very first thing you want to do on your discovery call is pre-frame the conversation. It not only creates safety, but it establishes the flow of the call. The client may feel nervous or intimidated about talking to you. Pre-framing the conversation allows you to calm their nerves—and yours.  So what does that look like? You thank them for chatting with you, share the objective of the meeting, lay out how long you’re scheduled to chat, and ask if that still works for them. Then you say “To make this meeting meaningful and productive for you, I’d like to start with a couple of quick questions. Is that alright?” It allows you to take the lead and weed people out quickly. How do you structure it differently if it’s a cold call? Listen to learn more! Step #2: Only ask questions you NEED the answer to  Ask questions that you only need the answers to earn their business and to determine if they’re a good client fit. Many designers try to ask all the questions in the discovery call, instead of waiting until after signing the contract. This is a no-no. Tailor the discovery call to 7–10 questions whenever possible. So what types of questions should you ask? What’s important to you about your redesign? You need to determine what’s important to them and see if you can solve their pain point.  What is your budget or potential investment? You don’t want to talk to someone who has $500. This is the hardest thing to pull out of clients. They’re afraid to tell you because they think you’ll use their entire budget. Secondly, they just have no idea what the costs are. Who—besides yourself—is involved in the decision-making process? You don’t want to have a full conversation just to find out you have to repeat it with a significant other. What do you already know about [insert your firm name here]? It helps identify if they have inaccurate information about your business. Secondly, it allows them to be the expert in the moment. It creates a balance of power.  Ask questions to reinforce anything they can be right about. Why? Most people like to be right. They’ll be more open to hearing what you have to say if you can say “You’re right…” Any remaining questions you have can be specific to their particular project. How do you STOP providing free advice on a discovery call? Listen for Nikki’s tips! Step #3: Look for buying signals A buying signal is a verbal or nonverbal cue that people use to indicate interest. It often comes in the form of a question, like, “If someone were to hire you, where do you source the product?” It’s a huge buying signal. Another example? When someone brings up a negative experience. If they share that story with you, they’re looking for reassurance that you won’t do the same thing. What else do you look for? What should you do at the end of a discovery call when the client is a good fit? Listen to the whole episode with Nikki Rausch to find out! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor Desi Creswell’s Daily Planner Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Are physical product libraries dying out? Are they even necessary? Are digital product libraries becoming the way of the future? Rex Rogosch—Darla Powell Interiors’ very own Creative Director—shares where he thinks the space is moving. If you need some tips and tricks to start building your own digital product library, don’t miss this episode of Wingnut Social!  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [2:00] How to maximize video on Facebook [9:50] Rex Rogosch is back on the podcast! [11:48] Building a product library digitally [15:15] Is it more important for some designers? [17:04] How do you get inspired? [18:33] Your projects are your library [19:47] Trade shows + markets [27:10] How to organize your library [32:22] The What Up Wingnut Round! [35:39] Blooper Reel! Connect with Rex Rogosch Darla Powell Interiors Connect on LinkedIn Resources & People Mentioned Wingnut Social Episode 190 with Rex Rogosch Material Bank Mydoma Physical product libraries are dying out When Rex worked commercially or in large firms, they had hundreds of square feet dedicated to product libraries. They were always working to keep the space up-to-date, clean, and organized. Rex would use the library for inspiration and direction or to make last-minute sample switches. But most of his work was already online ordering new samples.  How do you work as a designer? How do you find inspiration? You have to find your own comfort zone. Are you comfortable moving into a digital platform? Or do you have to feel and touch everything? Rex grew up sourcing digitally and he’s comfortable with digital catalogs. If you want or need a physical library, make it more about your favorite things and what inspires you. Personalize it with your go-to items and then use digital sample libraries and material banks. Hold on to the samples until the project is done and then offload them.  Now, instead of relying on a product library, Rex gets inspiration from talking to the clients and seeing their inspiration photos. Do they have blue in every picture? Limestone in every photo? He takes those notes and builds upon them. Someone else may have images or photos you’ve never seen or interacted with.  How to organize a digital—or physical—library Rex notes that your digital library lives in each project that you have saved. He doesn’t necessarily recommend archiving photos because you’ll end up with another library. If Rex ever has to refer to a product, he can go pull it from a project. With a quick google search, finding stuff digitally is pretty quick.  If you still want a physical library, it needs to stay organized. How large is the library? Can you have specific sections for tile, glass, fabrics, etc? Then you subset it from there. For example, Rex organizes fabric first by vendor. Then he organizes by color. Why? Because a color scheme is one of the first things designers know after a consultation.  Sometimes designers get complacent with the vendors that they work with. Suddenly all of your designs look the same. Organizing by color instead of vendor is one way to vary who you work with. Expert Tip: If you have a good rep, they will come update your library and clear out outdated products. They don’t want to do it, but they will to get back in front of their customers.  For more of the conversation around digital libraries, listen to the whole episode! It’s packed with useful strategies and tips.  Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

What is intuition? Is it the same thing as a gut feeling? Is intuition the same for everyone? After making a series of bad decisions that led to the death of a friend, Sunil Godse spent thousands of hours researching how to help people stop making poor decisions by sharpening their intuition. Intuitionology was born.  In this episode of Wingnut Social, Sunil talks about how to define intuition, the science of intuition, the four intuitive hurdles, and the four types of intuition. Whew. The episode is jam-packed with fascinating science and intuition-based information. Don’t miss it! What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [1:30] FREE visibility training [3:08] The dos and don’ts of Instagram [8:53] The science of intuition  [9:23] All about Intuitionology  [16:34] How accurate is a gut feeling? [21:47] The four intuitive hurdles [28:26] How to differentiate fear [33:27] The four different types of intuition [39:41] Intuition is a two-way street [45:27] The What Up Wingnut! Round [51:41] Blooper Reel! Connect with Sunil Godse Sunil’s TEDx Talk Intuitionology Seven Day Challenge Follow on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Resources & People Mentioned FREE visibility training on March 3rd at 1 pm Est. with Amanda Berlin Amanda Berlin’s Wingnut Social Episode #190 The Brain-Gut Connection BOOK: Power vs. Force Intuition is defined by individuals How do you view intuition? When Sunil was 5, he wanted video games, which his Dad said were expensive. A voice in his head told him to go door-to-door to raise money. Other times, he had “things” in his mind telling him what not to do. What are these “somethings?” How do you define it? For some people, it’s a voice from God, spiritual manifestation, etc. But that didn’t resonate with Sunil. He refers to these “somethings” he felt as “signals.”  Sunil started interviewing people about intuition. He went to a neurologist and talked to him about the science of the gut and neurons. More and more research shows that intuition happens before we’re even conscious of it. Intuition hits you at the amygdala—the fight or flight portion of the brain.  All the amygdala knows is fear. There is no language in that part of the brain. If there’s no language, how can you give the experience a definition? Because you can understand what it feels like. Because of this, you get to construct your own language and definition of intuition.  How accurate is a gut feeling? Sunil interviewed over 1,000 people and found that there are positive and negative signals associated with intuition. Those signals are unique to each person. Positive signals are there to help you decide a decision because the decision is the right one. For Sunil, it feels like dots connecting or being in flow. Others refer to it as a gentle pull. One person referred to it as an omen. What are your positive signals? Negative signals warn you that a decision you’re about to make is a bad one. For Sunil, a gut feeling is a negative signal. Negative signals can be subtle in nature. Everyone has gotten an instant “something is wrong feeling.” It can be so subtle that we tend to ignore it. But those signals get louder until they can’t be ignored. In some cases, people get headaches and one person heard the words “get out.” That gut feeling may be signal #3 for Sunil. If it’s signal #3, that means he missed two signals—two opportunities to make the right decision. We need to take the time to figure out what our signals are. Or the consequences can cost you. What are the four intuitive hurdles? How does this impact your decision-making? Keep listening to learn more! The impact of listening to your intuition In his research, Sunil found that infants as young as 2 months old have intuitive capabilities. Intuition takes experiences and puts them in your subconscious. It’s like a library. When you make a decision, your intuition goes into that personalized library and sorts through past decisions. You may think it’s a split-second decision, but your brain tells you that you’ve been there before.  Sunil knows a man with cerebral palsy who finally got a chance to sink his toes into the sand on a beach. It was a lifelong dream of his. His friends wheeled him up to the sand and he fell flat on his face. He had two choices: he could succumb to fear and sit back in his wheelchair and leave. OR, he could trust his intuition, face the fear, and step into the water.  So he walked in the water until the water got to his neck. Then he turned around. When he looked back, he saw how far he had come. That’s what happens when you listen to your intuitive signals. You take steps to battle the fear. If it’s a positive signal, take it. You develop confidence and shed fear. Anything you do is driven by intuition. If you start trusting your intuition, life will be great every single day. What are the four different types of intuition? How do you know if a gut-feeling is negative intuition or you simply staying in your comfort zone? We’ve barely scratched the surface on this post. Listen to the whole episode to learn more about the power of intuition! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

How do you become a thought leader? Is there any benefit to your bottom line? In this episode of the Wingnut Social podcast, Carol Cox shares how you can become a thought leader in your space. She covers the definition of a thought leader, the power of sharing personal experiences, and how to speak your brand with her VOICE method. Don’t miss it! Carol Cox is the founder of Speaking Your Brand®, a coaching and training company that helps high-performing, purpose-driven women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and thought leadership platform, so they can grow their businesses, make a bigger impact, and become influencers in their fields. What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [1:05] LuAnn Live + Book [2:05] Wingnut hourly consulting [2:48] Mini news sesh: Pinterest Story Pins [8:59] Who is Carol Cox? [10:49] Carol’s definition of a thought leader [15:52] The power of sharing personal experiences [21:40] What “Speaking Your Brand®” means [24:19] Carol’s “VOICE” method [27:13] The container for your thought leadership [30:28] How to start writing your message [35:30] What Up Wingnut! Round [38:16] How to connect with Carol Cox [43:28] Blooper Reel! Connect with Carol Cox Get Carol’s thought leadership workbook at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/darla/ Speaking Your Brand® Podcast FREE Live Virtual Summit on April 1st, 2021 Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Twitter Friend on Instagram Resources & People Mentioned A Well-Designed Business: The Power Talk Friday Experts Vol. 2 A Well-Designed Business Podcast BOOK: Me and White Supremacy BOOK: Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear BOOK: The Signature of All Things: A Novel Carol’s definition of a thought leader What is a thought leader? According to Carol, a thought leader is someone who talks about things in their niche or circle of influence that aren’t often discussed. Maybe this person has a unique take on it. They’re direct + bold and put out original content.  They’re presenting that content in a “thought leadership container.” They’re creating something that their audience can participate in. A thought leader must be passionate. What do you get on a soapbox about? Sharing that message can help other people and ultimately help them understand themselves better. You become a mirror or reflection so they learn more about themselves through your journey. When Brene Brown’s TEDx talk took off years ago, she talked about her research around shame and vulnerability. Her talk became so popular because she put herself into it. She applied her research to herself and shared her story.  Sue Monk Kidd (a novelist) said, “The deeper we go into our own personal experience, the more it becomes a universal experience.” The more you share the details of your story—not generically—the more the audience puts themselves in your shoes.  Speaking Your Brand® Carol takes a broad view of the term “speaking.” It can mean traditional public speaking, podcast interviews, panel discussions, and even sales conversations. Speaking Your Brand® means, “How are you communicating to your audience what you do, why you do it, how it helps, and who it helps?” Think about the audience on the other side. What is their goal? What is it that they want? How can you have a dialogue with them so that they understand that you are a great fit for them based on your process, your expertise, and your values? How do you do that? With Carol’s VOICE method.  V: Your viewpoint that’s unique. What is it that you get on a soapbox about that otters aren’t talking about or doing? O: Open, bold, and direct communication. Don’t sugarcoat the information that you provide.  I: What is your individual story that you universalize?  C: What is the container for your message?  E: Be emotive, real, and vulnerable in your content and your delivery.  How do you figure out what your container for thought leadership is? How do you get your audience involved in what you’re doing? Listen to hear Carol’s thoughts! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Things are crazy in the Wingnut world, so this episode is a throwback to a popular episode: Betsy Helmuth’s Guide to 10x Your Influence. If you missed it the first time—don't miss it this time! Betsy Helmuth joins Darla in this episode to share exactly how she broadened her reach and got local and national exposure—and how you can too. Check it out!

Why should you never say “no” to a small project? How can you walk away without leaving money on the table? In this episode of Wingnut Social, Sean Castrina shares how he lands the clients and projects he wants—which means saying a lot of “yes.” If you’re ready to level-up your business, don’t miss this episode.  Sean Castrina is a serial entrepreneur, having started more than 20 companies over the last 20 years, and still seeks to launch a new venture annually. He is the author of 8 Unbreakable Rules for Business Startup Success, The Greatest Entrepreneur in the World, and the World’s Greatest Business Plan. He hosts one of the most popular business podcasts on the planet—The 10 Minute Entrepreneur.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [1:57] A Well-Designed Business Vol. 2 [3:24] Shoppable posts on Instagram [10:48] All about Sean Castrina [12:55] Don’t leave money on the table [14:12] How to upsell your design services [19:05] Vetting high-end interior design clients [22:12] Why you should never turn down a yes [28:47] The relationship with the designer [31:40] Employ the right advertising [35:25] Should you list pricing online?  [37:02] Sean’s genius marketing strategies [41:24] What Up Wingnut! Round [43:19] Learn more about Sean Castrina [48:38] Blooper Reel! Connect with Sean Castrina Get a FREE book from Sean: The 8 Unbreakable Rules For Business Startup Success The 10-Minute Entrepreneur Podcast Advantage Home Contracting Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Instagram Resources & People Mentioned A Well-Designed Business: The Power Talk Friday Experts Vol. 2 LuAnn Live Facebook Guidelines for Merchants BOOK: Rich Dad Poor Dad BOOK: Think and Grow Rich BOOK: The Speed of Trust Upsell your design services with these simple steps 80% of the work is out of the way once you meet with a client. The cost to acquire a customer is the heavy lifting. Why wouldn’t they want to give you more business? It’s more convenient for them to use you in the process. It’s not to their advantage to have five different contractors in this process. Wouldn’t they rather have him control the project and be responsible for it?  Sean emphasizes that “Customers want convenience, deadlines, and adhering to a budget more than any other thing.” They perceive that it will be simpler to hire multiple people or that they’ll save money. But speed and the right outcome will override money any time. Sean establishes a budget they can bet their life on. He will guard their money like oxygen.  He’s giving them the convenience of having only one person to be accountable to. Once you bring other people in, it becomes a nightmare. So Sean uses his own subcontractors/employees. What if the client insists on using their own contractors? How does Sean vett his clients? Listen to hear what Sean thinks you should do. Never turn down a “yes” Sean implores you: Never turn down a “Yes” of a target customer. The customer is saying “We want to see how this goes.” He knows he will exceed their expectations so he’ll gain all the money later anyway. What do you gain by leaving? You’ll lose a customer indefinitely. If they only want a small project completed and you’re still getting your hourly rate? Just say yes.  There is no job too small if you have your target customer. You are trying to collect the most people that like and need what you offer. Sean loves having small jobs in-between large jobs. It’s a great way to introduce your business to a target customer and develop a relationship that can lead to more work down the road.  Why you need to employ the right advertising Sean knows that their advertising lets people know that they’re not cheap from the get-go. That’s the point. They run regional super-bowl ads and radio ads. They have brand new vans. They have a huge corner office. You can define your credibility from the beginning with the right advertising.  His target customer needs to understand that every purchase won’t be the least expensive thing. If they’re going to buy everything from Wayfair, they don’t need Sean. The image you put out in your advertising can project pricing. You can frame your ads to make yourself look the next tier that you are.  What are some more of Sean’s genius marketing strategies? How does he continuously deliver value for his clients? Listen for more of Sean’s expert business advice. Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

How many of you swipe and delete emails without giving them a second glance—but expect your mailing list to read yours? How do you write email sequences that don’t get immediately trashed? The founder of Successful Freelance Mom—and email sequence genius—Abbi Perets shares her secret sauce in this episode of Wingnut Social (HINT: It’s NOT about a killer subject line).  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [2:20] Invite-Only: Clubhouse [12:51] All about Abbi Perets [14:52] Two rules Abbi lives by [17:45] How do you create value? [21:33] Make it about the reader [27:04] A discussion on frequency [29:44] Send an email sequence with a purpose [35:10] The platform(s) Abbi recommends  [37:01] What up Wingnut! Round [38:46] How to connect with Abbi [42:05] Blooper Reel! Connect with Abbi Perets Successful Freelance Mom Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Instagram Resources & People Mentioned Check out LuAnn Live! Clubhouse app ConvertKit ActiveCampaign Dr. Squatch BOOK: The Unfortunate Importance of Beauty Abbi’s two rules for email campaigns Before Abbi even thinks about open rates, she focuses on two key things: Don’t lie—ever. Don’t say something is only for sale for two days if it’s always on sale. Don’t say a webinar expires if it doesn’t. Don’t send emails saying “We broke the internet.” everyone sees through it. Embrace the golden rule. Treat people the way they want to be treated. Don’t send an email you wouldn’t want to receive. If you don’t want to look your kids in the eye and say “I sell snake oil for a living”—don’t.  What makes people open an email?  What do you look at first when you get an email? You don’t look at the subject line, you look at who the email is from. The subject line isn’t as important as your name. Abbi emphasizes that you want people to associate your name with value. So how do you create value? The first email someone gets from you is usually because of a lead magnet. You’re sending them the thing that they asked for. So start your email by giving them what they asked for! Then, set the stage for what’s coming. Let them know what the sequence will include—and what’s in it for them. How are you going to make their lives better? Videos aren’t the answer. Worksheets aren’t the answer. People want outcomes. Focus on the benefits, not the features. Always think: would I want to read this? Another expert tip? Take the word “I” out and replace it with “you.” Instead of saying “I had the worst week. I lost two clients and I had the flu,” say “Did you ever have a week where you lost two clients and had the flu?” Now, suddenly, the reader is in the center of the story. How else can you make it about the reader? How frequently should you send emails? Listen to learn more! Create email campaigns with a purpose When the internet was new—and people were still excited to get email—you signed up for newsletters, right? People don’t want that anymore. They want content that has a purpose. How do you do that? According to Abbi, you should start with the end in mind. Where are you taking someone at the end of a sequence? It doesn’t have to be about selling. Maybe you want to push them into a free Facebook group.  What does Abbi do with subscribers who are new and may not be “ready” to dive into her weekly subscription? She sends them into her “hidden” or “big love” sequences. What are those? How does it change her email campaign game? Find out by listening to this episode of the Wingnut Social podcast! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Are you familiar with the concept of time blocking? Will it make you more productive and efficient with your time? Or are you set in your ways and happy with your current routine? Wendy Woloschuk knows that blocking her time makes her more efficient. In this episode, she shares her tips and tricks for optimal time-blocking success. After all, time is money—how much are you wasting? Wendy Woloshchuk is the owner of Details Interiors. In addition to running a busy design firm, Wendy is a frequent speaker on Market panels and tele-summits and is now teaching other designers through online courses. She is one-third of the Design for Today Collaborative, a group committed to educating Interior Designers and Home Stagers. What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [3:04] Mini News Sesh: The Instagram Algorithm [9:45] Who is Wendy Woloschuk? [11:54] What is time blocking? [16:43] How to handle time-sensitive communication [19:55] How to track your time-blocks [22:00] Self-discipline will lead to habit [24:00] How Wendy handles sourcing for clients [27:42] Should you schedule a break each hour? [28:45] The Design for Today Collaborative [31:07] What Up Wingnut! Round [35:24] Blooper Reel! Connect with Wendy Woloshchuk Details Interiors Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Instagram Resources & People Mentioned Unleash the Power Within Design for Today Collaborative Wingnut Social Episode 36 Book: Unleash the Power Within mydoma Wendy Woloschuk’s version of time blocking Time blocking is a way of intentionally planning out every minute of your day. It forces you to manage your time efficiently and helps you focus on what you’re doing. If you are multi-tasking, you are focusing on a million different things and not doing any of them at 100%, right? The premise of time blocking is that when you give one task 100% of your attention, you’re more effective.  At Wendy’s firm, they break down each specific day into a time-block. She starts every day with a cup of coffee, time on Facebook and Instagram, exercising, showering, and getting to the office. On Mondays, her assistant blocks time for social media, their blog, and the newsletter. She has another block for emails. They block in lunch and move on to client work. They check email and social media one more time at the end of the day. How do you know where to start? Wendy shares these simple steps: Start with a list of your regular weekly tasks Plug in the most important tasks first Fill other tasks in around those What’s the key to optimal success? Listen to find out! How Wendy handles sourcing for clients If you’re taking 3 hours to find something that should take you half an hour, then you’re losing money. So Wendy gives herself a set amount of time—half an hour—to find a certain product. Why? If you can’t find it in half an hour, your brain needs to move on and you come back to it.  Sourcing takes time and practice. It requires knowing your vendors. Giving yourself half an hour helps you get it done more quickly. Once you’ve found something that will work perfectly, don’t keep looking. You can always go back and adjust if necessary.  She always works on one client at a time. While she’s sourcing for one person—if she sees something that’s a good fit for someone else—she makes a note and moves on.  Self-discipline becomes habit When you have a schedule set and you’ve ben time blocking for a couple of weeks, Wendy notes that it will become a habit. It’s saved her many hours a day. When you get lost in a rabbit-hole, it’s hard to get refocused. But time blocking gives you something to reference to help you get back on track. She notes that it does get easier—and is 100% worth the effort. Hear the rest of her time blocking tips by listening to the whole episode! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Should you add eDesign to your portfolio—if you haven’t already? 2020 was a hot year to embrace eDesign. If you haven’t already jumped on the bandwagon, Richard Tarity shares WHY you need to in this special bonus episode of the Wingnut Social podcast. He also shares how Foyr is changing eDesign with its groundbreaking capabilities. Richard Tarity has been a technology thought leader for over two decades. He is a self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur and the President of North America for Foyr—the world’s fastest-growing online cloud-based design software.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [2:17] Who is Richard Tarity? [3:46] Richard’s background with Foyr [6:07] New and experienced designers are on board [741] Are you leaving money on the table? [9:37] What is a “down and dirty” render? [11:20] Does Foyr have a learning curve? [16:00] WHY you should offer eDesign [23:55] The product catalogs that Foyr uses [25:41] What makes Foyr better than any other platform [29:40] Foyr’s gift to Wingnut listeners! [34:42] Blooper Reel! Connect with Richard Tarity Connect on LinkedIn Foyr Neo Foyr Talk Series Fory on Instagram Resources & People Mentioned Use Promo code DARLA35 for 35% off your quarterly or annual FoyrNeo Subscription! Wingnut Social Episode #150 Are you leaving money on the table? Designers are still not necessarily offering eDesign as a standalone service. Should that change? Richard has noticed that “The designers that have aggressively pursued getting themselves into a position to offer eDesign are taking advantage of a much wider audience.” You don’t have to stay niched in your community or region. eDesign gives you reach. You will need to market differently. You have to watch how you’re presenting your brand and your style because it becomes about attracting the right personas to you. It’s opened up a new revenue stream for some interior designers. If you’re not taking advantage of it, you might just be leaving money on the table. How does Foyr work? How is it different from other rendering programs? Does it come with a learning curve? Does this work for high-end interior designers? Listen to learn more about it! Why should you offer eDesign? Richard emphasizes that with eDesign, you aren’t limited by geography. You aren’t tied down and can work with anyone, anywhere. What does that mean? More potential revenue. When you design with a signature style, you want to attract people in your spectrum wherever they are. Before the pandemic, many high-end designers would have to travel somewhere OR the consumer would only find someone local to them. Now, you can do work around the world without physically being there. You can still engage at a higher level. eDesign is a collaboration tool that allows you to change things on the fly. Richard also points out that“As we go forward, you have to think more about what the consumer is going through and less about how we want to function doing the actual activities.” How do they want to consume design? It’s not all or nothing. You can offer eDesign and in-person design. You can still provide a high-end luxury service. Why not embrace a hybrid method? Foyr Neo in action Richard redid his basement last year and did the design himself in the Neo software. The company that he hired to complete the basement did designs in SketchUp. After he finished up Neo, he asked them to look at the software and test it out. They still use Foyr Neo today. Not only that, but they’ve signed 11 basements because of it.  The software has been a game-changer for them. They show people what their spaces could look like, they collaborate, and then they share their pricing. All of the other contractors in their region still use a paper board. The value add—by integrating their software—has paid off exponentially.  What product catalogs does Foyr use? What makes them different from any other platform? Listen to the whole episode to learn more! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Wingnut Social Podcast Sponsor  Foyr Neo Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

How do you make your first hire? What processes should you have in place to avoid making mistakes? Should you simplify the process and use a recruiting agency? Jessica Harling shares her expertise in hiring in this episode of Wingnut Social! If you’re running a small business ready for growth, do not miss this practical and oh so important episode. Jessica Harling is a 4th-generation window treatment specialist and founder of Behind the Design. She is a leading expert in employee engagement for design organizations. She specializes in recruitment, training, and process development that drives results.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [1:09] Mini News Sesh with Shana Heinricy [13:29] What makes Jessica an expert in hiring [15:19] What you want versus what you need [18:12] Where to start with hiring [20:13] Should you put an ad on Indeed? [23:03] Should you use personality assessments in hiring? [31:15] Having the conversation about money [32:45] The legalese: non-competes [35:33] The advantages of using a recruiter  [42:06] The importance of following a process [43:03] What Up Wingnut! Round [44:44] How to connect with Jessica [49:31] Blooper Reel! Connect with Jessica Harling Go Behind the Design Connect on LinkedIn Resources & People Mentioned BOOK: Traction by Gino Whitman How to Fascinate Personality Test The Predictive Index Indeed ZipRecruiter Where do you even start with hiring? What are you good at? Where are your weaknesses? What thing doesn’t bring you joy? Jessica recommends hiring people that fill your weaknesses. If you’re awesome at the books, don’t delegate the books. For most interior designers, they need admin support. Look at your day-to-day. Of all the tasks, which can be delegated? Jessica recommends utilizing your network to look for candidates. You have clients, contractors, and vendors that you can leverage to help you find what you’re looking for. Let your network know that you’re actively looking to hire. Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and LinkedIn are great resources to use.  Jessica suggests implementing some sort of hoop to jump through to weed out those who aren’t serious, such as requiring them to submit a cover letter with the application. If you get 1,000 applications but only 100 have a cover letter, it immediately helps you narrow the search.  Should you use personality assessments in hiring? Jessica believes that it is critical for you to use personality assessments. You want to learn about someone’s characteristics and whether or not they’re capable of doing the role. If you’re hiring an admin who’s going to be making 20 calls a day and they aren’t good on the phone, they won’t be a good match. Jessica likes using the Predictive Index and How to Fascinate, but there are numerous other personality tests that you can try.  Want to weed out more candidates? You can have them do homework along the way as part of the process. You can even ask someone to bring a portfolio or a resume with them. It’s a test that they follow instructions. If you aren't sure they’re cut out for it, bring them in and have them shadow you for the day. It’s like a ride-along. Jessica wouldn’t recommend doing more than 3–5 steps in your recruiting process. You should know by that point if someone is a good fit.  The advantages of using a recruiter  Recruiters could be on the phone with 20–30 people a day to find the one person that you want. Because of that, recruiters know more about candidate responses and how to cut through them. Jessica knows when someone will be wishy-washy. But what would Jessica need to know about your business to find the best match? Jessica will dig into the brand and how they operate. Is the owner present every day? What is the culture of the company? What are the benefits, compensation, and schedule? From there, she aligns the company with the best prospect. She won’t give the company a candidate that could be a great salesperson but won’t work in the company culture.  How else does Jessica’s business fill a missing gap in recruiting? What legalese do you need to know to protect your small business? Listen to the whole episode to take advantage of Jessica’s expertise! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Do you charge for a design consultation? Or do you offer it free-of-cost? Does a free consultation go against everything you believe in? This widely-debated highly-controversial topic is THE topic of conversation of late, which is why Darla chose to replay this amazing episode with Sandra Funk.  Sandra has been in business for 20+ years. In those 20 years, Sandra has NEVER charged for design consultations. Darla and Natalie stopped charging for consultations as a beta-test—and decided to stick with it. Listen to this episode of Wingnut Social to find out why! What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [1:41] Sandra’s FREE design consultations [7:00] The consultation is for vetting clients [9:45] The wise way to choose a project [11:42] Why Sandra offers online design [13:16] Tips for designers who are just starting out [17:27] What Sandra’s design consultation looks like [20:30] How does Sandra account for loss of consultation income? [23:00] The Interior Design Standard program [26:08] How easy is the program for a new design student? [29:59] What up Wingnut! round [31:23] How to connect with Sandra Funk Connect with Sandra Funk House of Funk Sandra on Instagram The Interior Design Standard Resources & People Mentioned Make Every Man Want You by Marie Forleo Sandra Funk’s Trade Resources Tips for designers who are just starting out Sandra’s typical project takes between 8–18 months to complete. She includes full drawings and a timeline of the scope and scale of the job in the consultation. But if she is already giving design suggestions at that first meeting, it’s telling the client she already has the whole design in her head. Offering ideas in 90-minutes diminishes the entire project. Sandra prefers to carefully craft a design that will unfold over the course of the project. She will come up with something incredible for them—and it won’t be designed in just one hour in their home.  But how do you decide what to charge if you’re just starting out? In her Interior Design Standard program, Sandra offers a wealth manifestation spreadsheet (AKA a budget). It starts by helping you identify your overhead like rent, staff, and utilities. Then you offset it with what you want to make for the year. It allows you to see where your sales need to be to make your business succeed. You can play around with your margins, but this is a great starting point. Sandra’s overhead dictates that she has to take on projects in homes over $1 million with projects at least $100,000 in scope. She emphasizes that everyone else will be different depending on your region, price point, overhead, etc. It is important to only say yes to the clients that fit your ideal client avatar. They need to be a fit for you. Sandra notes that “It’s not about ‘Can they afford it’, it’s about what makes sense.” How does Sandra account for loss of consultation income? Listen to hear her solution!  The Interior Design Standard program Sandra brought her finance degree and 20 years of experience to the table when she created this program. She sought to set the standard for the interior design industry. It lays out a great business model to be profitable and efficient. It also includes systems, scripts, and everything she uses to run her business. It’s one of the most comprehensive programs Darla has ever seen. It’s perfect for baby designers as well as seasoned experts.  The program is intended to be the backbone of your business. It can be everything you need to run an interior design business but it is scaled to you. There’s not a single thing you need to do in the process that doesn’t have a task assigned to it. Learn more about free design consultations and Sandra’s Interior Design Standard by listening to the whole episode!  Disclaimer: Darla has switched to a FREE design consultation at Darla Powell Interiors. Miami is a different beast and free consultations led to more bookings. The bottom line? Do what works for you and your business! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

How do you use influencers to grow your business? How do you tap into your local influencer market? How do you nail down your value proposition to decide what influencer is THE best fit for your business?  Darla has talked about how to become an influencer in your space. Now, it’s time to flip the script and learn how to partner with someone to build your brand awareness. Eric Dahan joins Darla in this episode of Wingnut Social to share his expertise in the space. Check it out! Eric Dahan is a serial entrepreneur who is the CEO and co-founder of Open Influence. He’s an authority in the influencer marketing space. Dahan has established Open Influence as the premier influencer marketing company.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [0:55] The end of the year is near! [3:23] Darla’s New Years Resolution  [5:07] The mini news sesh [with Shana Heinricy] [15:34] Is Influencer still a dirty word? [20:34] But first—you MUST know your audience [24:04] How to find an influencer that aligns with your brand [29:47] How do you determine the value of influence?  [38:25] What up Wingnut! Round [41:55] How to connect with Eric Connect with Eric Dahan Open Influence Open Influence on Instagram Eric on Twitter Eric on LinkedIn Resources & People Mentioned Get an SEO Audit! LuAnn Live The Power Talk Friday Experts Vol. 2 Episode 172: How to Cultivate a Healthy Mindset BOOK: The World is Flat Step #1: Know your brand + know your audience How are you trying to communicate your brand? You need to consider where your audience is and understand them implicitly. So where do you start? Ask the question: What’s my value proposition to my audience? You work backward from there. It’s simple advice, but people tend to glaze right through it. Choosing an influencer to work with needs to be a strategic decision. This exercise forces you to refine what you know about your business and articulate it.  Eric points out that you need to lean toward influencers that have an audience in your market. You need the message, the messenger, and the audience to align for an effective result from a campaign. He notes that “Finding the right influencer that talks to the right audience isn’t enough. You need to then craft the message and the call-to-action that will resonate with them.” You also need to understand the customer journey of your audience. Are they on Pinterest looking for inspiration? Are there certain accounts they follow from a lifestyle standpoint? You want to find an influencer with a similar audience that talks about topics that are interesting and relevant to your audience. Eric and Darla talk through some examples and ideas—so listen for inspiration! How do you determine the value of influence? Everyone wants to barter or trade with influences and no one wants to pull out their wallet. Maybe the first or second post for your business could be a favor if you have an established relationship. But the truth is, influencers need to get paid—they can’t pay their bills with free stuff.  How do you determine the value of their influence? In terms of dollar amounts, Eric shares that there are so many variables, including: Follower size Impression rates Audience breakdown Past performance Vertical/category Content format You could be looking at $500 to $1,500 for one to several posts. Layer in the relationship aspect with a payment. Make sure the content being produced is as good as it can be.  You also have to consider, what is the education curve of your product? If it’s an impulse buy—like a toothbrush—you get the value proposition instantly. But if you’re selling interior design services, people don’t just scroll through and add it to their cart. It takes a lot of consideration—maybe even 3–6 months’ worth. You’ll never convert with one story or video. In that case, you may want to look for an ambassadorship and ongoing relationship with an influencer. Doing so keeps you top of mind for your audience. It always comes back to: What does the customer journey look like? And how do you adjust your strategy to fit into that journey?  Hear the full conversation on tapping into your local influencer market in this episode of Wingnut Social! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

2020 has been a difficult year for much of the world. Darla has faced her own share of personal difficulties throughout the year. But she always falls back on this bible verse: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” – Matthew 6:26 Whenever Darla feels like she can’t get through the struggle or overcome the hurdles she’s facing, she thinks of that verse. She just lets God take control. But Darla wanted to leave listeners with a challenge: “What personal and professional challenges have come your way, and how are you handling them? How are you showing up? What are your goals for 2021? Are you just listening to them and nodding your head? Or are you actually taking action? Are you going outside of your comfort zone to grow into your potential? And now at the end of the year here, it's time to decide, do we accept that challenge going into 2021? Or do we stay comfortable?” Only YOU can answer that. But Darla hopes that in some small part that this podcast has given you some value, entertainment, and tips to help you achieve your goals personally and professionally.  “I do know that I am so grateful for you. And let me tell you—we got this—you and me together.” Tune in to this episode of the Wingnut Social podcast for a heartwarming message from Darla—and a lot of belly laughs as you get to listen to a year full of bloopers.  Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Jeff Harry defines play as “Any joyful act where you are fully present in the moment. It has no purpose or result.” You are fully in love with what is actually happening. Your play moments are the best moments of your life when you feel most alive. You are in flow.  What is the work where you forget about time? How much of that work do you do on a given day? Jeff shares that identifying the work that you LOVE to do and increasing it by even just 1–2% has a ripple effect. Play can make you more productive, creative, and successful in the long run. It gives you momentum. How do you do that? Learn how in this episode of Wingnut Social! Jeff Harry shows individuals and companies how to tap into their true selves to feel their happiest and most fulfilled—all through the medium of play. He has worked with Microsoft, Google, Southwest Airlines, the NFL, Adobe, Facebook, and Amazon, helping them learn how to infuse more play into their day. What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [3:36] Instagram has launched keyword search [6:19] All about Jeff Harry [8:29] Play can help you reach your zone of genius [10:20] Do you have to rewire your brain?  [13:09] Why don’t adults play enough?  [17:17] How to integrate play into business [21:31] What do you do with your employees? [25:38] Determine your team’s appreciation language [33:10] Does play factor into growing your business? [35:51] How to infuse more play in your day [50:06] The What Up Wingnut! Round [53:33] How to connect with Jeff Harry [56:33] Delegate outside of your zone of genius [1:00:56] Blooper Reel! Connect with Jeff Harry Jeff’s Website: Rediscover Your Play Follow on Twitter Watch on YouTube Jeff’s TikTok Resources & People Mentioned LuAnn Nigara BOOK: The Power Talk Friday Experts Vol. 2 The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace Hubspot article on Employee Feedback BOOK: The Artist’s way BOOK: The Big Leap BOOK: Tuesdays with Morrie Overcome the “shoulds” to get to you Why is play such a lost art? Jeff points out that by the time you reach the age of 18, you will have heard the word “no'' 148,000 times. On top of that, every adult in your life piles “shoulds” on you. Then you go to school where you’re told to raise your hand, ask for permission, etc. You hit your teens and you’re bombarded with social media. You get more information in a day than people in the 1950s got in one year. It tells you you’re not enough, you need to buy this, etc. All the answers are external. Anytime you try to do anything that is “you”, you are considered mischievous or weird. You’re considered “too much” or “extra.” It’s such a rebellious act to simply be yourself. Ask yourself: What do I love to do? What makes me come alive? What makes me feel good about myself? Do something because you want to or because it brings you joy. It doesn’t have to have productive value, a sense, or a purpose. But you’re having fun. It puts you in a positive mindset and you’re priming your brain to look at every opportunity as play. How do you integrate play into business? How do you encompass a play-oriented mindset in the workplace? How do you determine your team’s appreciation language? Jeff Harry takes a deep-dive into these topics—don’t miss it! How to infuse more play in your day Jeff walks through some exercises in this episode that HAVE to be shared. Where do you start? He notes that you cannot play until you’ve calmed yourself down. If you’re angry or in an anxiety-ridden state, you can’t play.  You have to soothe yourself and calm yourself down first. Side note: make sure it’s a healthy form of calming yourself down. Jeff soothes himself by taking showers. Other people go on a walk or run or free-write.  Get bored. Your best ideas come when you’re bored. Shut off social media and stop binge-watching Netflix. When you consume, you can’t create. It makes you feel like there’s nothing left in the world to create.  It’s easier to create when you aren’t listening to everyone else. Practice listening to yourself. Start listening for that whisper, your inner curiosity. It will suggest something both exciting and really scary. Create a video. Start a side business. Start a podcast. Email someone. You have to strengthen the ability to live in your own intuition. Three exercises to kickstart creativity Another exercise? Get 3 people that know you really well and ask them these questions: What value do I bring to your life? We often don’t know what we do for people. Why are we friends? Why did you hire me? When have you seen me most alive? When have you seen me most engaged, most playful, most creative, most present? Most happy? When you get 3–5 people to give you that information back and you look at it, you get so many answers and gems of wisdom.  You can also get your friends together and do what Jeff calls a “Tipsy Storm” over Zoom. You get tipsy on alcohol, chocolate, ice cream, whatever it is, and brainstorm together. Write down ideas. Go to bed, wake up, and return to that list. Circle the one that resonates the most with you and see where it takes you. Bonus exercise: What did you do as a kid that brought you joy? How can that be tied to the work you love to do now? Take those “play” values from your childhood and find the work that you love to do most that encompass those values.  Jeff’s final challenge: Allow your emotions to fully envelop you. When you fully feel it, you can let it go. When you allow emotion in, you live a more fulfilling life. Let your grief and sadness out. People haven’t mourned 2020. Write down everything you wanted to accomplish in 2020 that you didn’t get to, mourn them, fold it up, fold it into an airplane, and let it go. What do you want to do with the last 23 days of 2020? What impact do I want to have? Are you ready to stop “shoulding” on yourself so much? Are you ready to show up? Listen to the whole episode for more of Jeff’s amazing insight into positive psychology.  Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

How do you broaden your influence? How do you get exposure with local and national media? Where do you start? Betsy Helmuth joins this episode of the Wingnut Social podcast to share exactly how she broadened her reach—and how you can too. If you’re ready to 10x your influence, this is the episode for you.  Betsy is the owner of Affordable Interior Design and a nationally celebrated interior designer. She can transform modest spaces into beautiful environments—on a budget. She’s appeared on The Today Show, HGTV, DIY Network, CBS, NBC and in dozens of magazines and newspapers. She heads up AID academy and wrote the book Affordable Interior Design. She also hosts an interior decorating podcast.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [2:53] All about Betsy Helmuth [4:06] Instagram Guides are here! [7:48] How to be a fresh slice o’ pie [14:10] Press and media give you credibility [15:49] Printed papers are still viable promotion [19:22] What are the ingredients of the pie?  [23:12] Betsy’s books impact on her business [29:46] Betsy’s advice to the camera-shy [33:39] The What Up Wingnut! Round [36:17] How to connect with Betsy Helmuth [40:00] Blooper Reel! Connect with Betsy Helmuth Affordable Interior Design Affordable Interior Design Podcast The AID academy Betsy’s website Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Instagram Resources & People Mentioned Episode 194: How to Rewire your Mindset Episode 153: Instagram Guides Episode 191: Can Writing a Book Catapult Your Career? BOOK: The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz 60 Days In Be a fresh slice o’ pie Betsy has been on TV—almost from day one. She loves all things TV. It’s the language she speaks. If you want to get on tv, it helps to be in a place where there’s a ton of media. But if you’re in smaller towns, the bonus is that there’s less competition. News and media outlets constantly need content. They’re looking for stories. But most people approach them the wrong way. Betsy emphasizes that you need to come to them with “A fresh slice of lemon pie.” When you bite into it, it needs to be refreshing and delicious yet creamy and decadent. You need to give the media something timely and fresh and you can’t make them do the work. You can easily get to anyone’s mailbox through a Google search. Show up in that mailbox with a baked pie. How do you do that?  What are the ingredients of the pie?  Here are a few tips to craft a pitch that your local media will want to gobble up:  Become familiar with the outlet. They want to know you understand them. Speak to them the way they speak to others. What’s their vibe? What words do they use? Speak their language.  Do they love transformations? Doing craft projects on air? Pitch them something they haven't done before. Give them something fresh.  Who are you? What resonates with your brand? What are you an authority on?  Betsy cautions that you have to be prepared to spend hours on this and never get a response. Be prepared to pitch repeatedly. Be prepared to get the door slammed in your face many times. But when you finally hit it, it gives you legitimacy in your client’s eyes for years to come. How do you reach out? What do you say? Listen for all of Betsy’s tips! Did Betsy’s book 10x her influence? Betsy cannot stress this enough: Don’t write a book hoping to make money. If you do make money, you are one of the rare few. She sees her book as the shiny version of a business card. It helps people get to know you. It lends credibility to your expertise in the space. Think of it as a key that can open some doors. It can introduce you in a new way. But now that self-publishing is so popular, writing a book isn’t so special anymore.  She points out that there are so many other ways to be relevant—like hosting a podcast. You can start a podcast covering your core ten principles and you still get visibility. According to Betsy, you should “Choose what comes organically to you. I love to write and I love to present. Those things are things that fill me up whether or not I make money, whether or not they get me anywhere.”  Give something fresh that’s you. Do you have anything new or innovative to share in the space? She states that life is too freaking short. Don’t do what other people say legitimizes you. Do what feels valuable to you and the people you want to reach. Are you still achieving what you want to achieve? Don’t run anyone else’s race. Betsy notes “The time and energy that it takes to make something good is not worth it if it’s not authentic.” Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Do you share other people’s content on social media? Are you familiar with social media copyright guidelines? Do you know how to protect your own work if the situation arises? Jamie Lieberman shares her expertise on the legality of all things social media in this episode of Wingnut Social. To learn more about the basics of copyright law, handling inspiration posts, getting bland collaborations, and protecting your content—listen now! Jamie Lieberman is the owner and founder of Hashtag Legal and has been a practicing attorney for more than 15 years. She’s currently on the Board of Directors for The Influencer Marketing Association. Jamie is well-versed in the legal hangups that haunt creative-based businesses. She’s also a co-author—along with Darla—in the upcoming book A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume II.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [1:43] Choosing Images for Instagram [3:40] All about Jamie Lieberman [5:25] Legality and influencer marketing [7:54] Jamie’s chapter in LuAnn’s book [10:27] Understand the basics of copyright law [11:47] How to handle “inspiration” posts [15:18] Brand collaborations + licensing [20:13] What’s more important: followers or engagement?  [22:55] The DMCA Takedown Notice [26:50] Facebook: claiming copyright ownership [28:39] The future of social media [31:52] What up Wingnut! Round [33:46] How to connect with Jamie Lieberman [38:28] Blooper Reel! Connect with Jamie Lieberman Hashtag Legal The (un)business school™ Follow on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Instagram Resources & People Mentioned DMCA Takedown The Influencer Marketing Association BOOK: The War of Art BOOK: My Own Words The basics of copyright law Jamie emphasizes that you have to think about the goal of your social media. What is it doing for your business? Is it your whole business as an influencer? Or simply a marketing tool? You then have to think about: What content am I creating? Who is creating it?  Who owns it? If you’re creating it yourself, then you own it. If someone else is creating it for you, you have to make sure you still own it. You must only use other people’s content with permission. It’s intellectual property that is copyrighted. You need a general understanding of copyright rules.  The dos and don’ts of inspiration posts How should you handle inspiration posts? Jamie’s “lawyer” answer is that you cannot share anyone’s content that you do not have permission to share. Attribution is NOT the same as permission. If you want to use someone else’s content—ask them if you can share it. Sharing on an Instagram story is fine because it’s sharing their content. But a lot of people copy and paste someone else's work and put it in an original post—which is NOT okay. You have to be careful about how you’re using someone else’s content.  Photographers have become very sensitive about this. Their images get shared and used without their permission over and over again—and many aren’t standing for it anymore. Jamie had a client with over a million followers on their Facebook page. He posted a photo—with attribution—that led to a protracted fight. He just said it was a beautiful photo and wasn’t trying to monetize it, but the bottom line is that he didn’t have permission.  DMCA Takedown Notice If you are the owner of the image, you have the right to require someone to remove it—even if you haven’t registered a copyright. By nature, when you create an original work, it’s yours. So how do you handle it? Collaborative negotiation. Unless there’s a contentious background, reach out without a lawyer. You can simply send an email and request they take down your image. If that doesn’t work, you can file a DMCA Takedown Notice. All of the social media networks can do it. If you own copyright protected material and someone is using it without permission, you can file the notice. It’s the same with a website host. It gets it done. But what if your end goal is monetary compensation? Jamie points out that it’s more difficult to get monetary damages without a copyright registration. If you have it, you may be eligible for damages. You can send the demand yourself or have your lawyer help you. But at the end of the day, you have to question what your end goal is. Jamie emphasizes that “Your intellectual property is only as strong as you’re willing to protect it.” If someone is infringing on that, Jamie recommends asking them to take it down.  How do you claim ownership of your own work on Facebook? How do you cultivate long-term collaborations with brands? Where is the future of social media headed? Jamie answers all of these questions and more in this episode. Don’t miss it! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Have you found the perfect blend of traditional marketing and digital marketing in your business? How do you know what to leverage—and when? In this episode of the Wingnut Social podcast, Steven Glaze shares how his business blends the two styles of marketing to create a highly successful marketing process. Steven is an expert in the home exterior remodeling industry. He started working at his father’s roofing company at the age of 16 and was managing crews by 18. Today he is the VP of Sales at Smart Exteriors LLC, an award-winning design company in Kansas City. He’s also the author of The Home Owner's Buying Guide to Exterior Siding in Kansas City. Don’t miss his innovative marketing ideas—give it a listen! What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [1:27] Snap Connect [3:42] Who is Steven Glaze? [4:35] Steven Glaze’s background in marketing [8:13] Facebook marketing: you can’t beat it [8:56] Direct mail marketing vs. digital marketing [10:23] Community outreach as a marketing tool [13:33] Leveraging organic SEO [16:33] How the pandemic impacted their marketing [18:46] What their marketing budget looks like [21:55] Why you NEED to ask your clients for reviews [27:52] Write a book [28:58] What up Wingnut! Round [33:14] All about Houzz [36:00] Blooper Reel! Connect with Steven Glaze Smart Exteriors Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Twitter Steve’s eBook Resources & People Mentioned Episode #37: Get Your Foot in the Door Episode #144: Digital Marketing Budget Episode #191: Writing a Book Kansas City Web Designer Snap Connect Houzz Thumbtack HomeAdvisor Google My Business Grade.us Nothing Bundt Cakes BOOK: Rich Dad, Poor Dad Community outreach as a marketing tool Steven has been highly successful with seasonal direct mail marketing. But another innovative idea that he’s found to be successful is community outreach. His company will go into a neighborhood where they’ve recently done a siding or roofing project (because they can often see that everyone in the neighborhood needs work done as well). So they come into the community and bring in a food truck and a bounce house for the kids. They’ll promote the event through that particular neighborhood’s Facebook page. They provide it as a meet and greet to get to know the neighborhood. It’s a great way to connect with people, create networking relationships, and bring in new business.  Steven shares that a local organization hosts a fundraiser where they get 5 houses to host an event where you move from house to house and eat food and drink wine. It’s the hottest ticket in town. They bring in designers to stage each house. So people are drinking wine and walking through these beautifully staged homes. It’s a great opportunity for designers to show off their skills and bring in new business.  How does Steven leverage organic SEO as part of his marketing strategy? How did the pandemic impact their business? What does their marketing budget look like? Listen to learn more! Why you NEED to ask your clients for reviews Is your review game strong? Steven emphasizes that reviews of your business are incredibly helpful as a marketing tool. Steven didn't request them for customers in the beginning. But they’ve gained close to 50 reviews over the last two years. It’s changed their margins, closing percentages—it’s changed everything. If customers are willing to leave you a review, you want to request they do it on Google (at the bare minimum). You need Google my Business in order to do that. The easiest thing you can do is send your customer a link to fill out. Steven likes to use Grade.US to make the process easier.  How do you incentivize customers to complete reviews for you? One thing that Steven loves to do is reach out between Thanksgiving and Christmas. He’ll ask them to fill out a review and he’ll send them a $25 gift card to use for Christmas shopping if they do. It’s worth the investment. Another tactic he uses? When he drops off a final invoice he mails brownies or cookies—or a Nothing Bundt Cake. The ROI of reviews is worth the cost.  What other traditional and digital marketing options does Steven leverage for his business? How can designers implement them? Listen to the whole episode to find out!  Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs) Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

The Coronavirus pandemic brought to light many things that were lacking in the hospitality industry that will need to change. Rex believes you’ll begin to see different rules and regulations—and hospitality designers will need to know these things. What are the easiest materials to keep clean? How will social distancing change design? What temporary changes will become permanent? In this episode of Wingnut Social, Darla, Natalie, and Rex take a deep-dive into the future of hospitality design.  Rex Rogosch is an award-winning interior designer and the creative director at Darla Powell Interiors. Rex has over 20 years of experience in hospitality, including the architectural side of hospitality. He’s worked with commercial, restaurants, casinos, and hotels and is known for his eye for detail and completing design projects in an exquisite fashion.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [0:54] Rotten potatoes + the Mandalorian  [2:27] Badges on TikTok [5:41] All about Rex Rogosch [9:27] Rex’s experience in hospitality design [10:27] Why go into hospitality design? [11:38] How the hospitality industry is changing [13:07] Will hospitality move smaller? [17:21] How to keep your design timeless [21:25] Technology in the hospitality industry [23:50] The impact of virtual events on the industry [26:16] The psychology of the host + user [30:20] What up Wingnut! Round [38:23] Blooper Reel! Connect with Rex Rogosch R Squared Design Connect on Facebook Connect on LinkedIn Resources & People Mentioned AutoCAD How the hospitality design industry is changing Rex emphasizes that designers in the hospitality industry have to be at the forefront of change. Regulations are changing at the state and local levels. So designers need to stay up-to-date on local requirements and think creatively. They must engage with their clients and brainstorm unique ideas.  Designers often rely on the architect to know these things, but Rex points out that you can‘t rely on someone else's knowledge. You need to know. Some clients will want to adhere to the bare minimum requirements and throw up a plastic sheet. Others will want to build plexiglass dividers. Rex emphasizes that you will see a multitude of extremes until things even out.  Rex is a huge proponent of technology. He thinks it will play a huge role—and not just in the sense of doing things virtually on your computer. He thinks a step toward microband and antimicrobial materials will become more prominent in hospitality design. You’ll see fabrics that are bleach-resistant.  Most people don’t know that porcelain tiles exist that have coatings on them so when water touches them it releases ozone into the air. Why? It blocks out the chlorine smell at pools. He believes these types of products will become more widely available in the market. That tech will show up on a more global scale at a better price.  The psychology of the host + user With hospitality design in general, you have to look at how people interact. Part of your job is to visualize how you want to move people through a space in your design. You have to look at how your design choices will impact people. Humans like to feel cozy and secure. How do you make them feel that when the closest person is 10 feet away?  Rex points out that you should look at a building like it’s its own city. Look at the psychology of the host and the user: What is it that you want them to experience? Look at new ways of giving them experiences that are enjoyable—but safe. What about creating rooftop gardens? It’s good for the environment, it’s outdoors, and allows you to socially distance. What do you want your buildings to convey in a respectful and insightful way? Designers can help hotels and other venues reinvent their spaces.  When the ADA first came out, people didn’t know what they were doing. Now it’s common knowledge and practice. This is our next ADA. Rex shares ‘I look at requirements that are happening now and am like, “Why weren’t we doing this in the beginning? Why weren’t we doing these things that seem like common sense?”’ Why did mass hysteria point out what we should’ve been doing in the first place?  For the full discussion on the future of hospitality design in this post-COVID world, listen to the whole episode! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

What is mindset? Mindset is different from attitude, personality, and positive thinking. In Jarrod Haning’s world, mindset is a strategy. Mindset is a specific way of thinking that generates a specific result. If you can access different levels of your brain on-demand, it shifts levels of resourcefulness and innovation when it comes to solving problems. You think at a higher level and come up with more effective solutions.  So how can you leverage your mindset to access different parts of your brain? How do you change the results you’re seeing in your every-day life? Jarrod is a performance coach that specializes in a Nobel-nominated process that allows you to access different parts of your brain on-demand.  Jarrod is an award-winning speaker who’s been featured on ABC Nightline, spoken on stages all across the country, and has clients around the world. He’s also delivered 4 TEDx talks related to Mindset Performance. To get a glimpse into his process, listen to this episode of the Wingnut Social podcast! What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [1:02] A tribute to MacDuff [4:12] TikTok Teams Up With Shopify [6:40] All about Jarrod Haning [8:31] Why Jarrod’s an expert about Mindset [12:04] Why Jarrod hates “work smarter—not harder” [25:20] Mind Pushups: an exercise to rewire your mind [35:00] How is it different than looking outside of the box [35:53] Why to-do lists are the enemy.  [41:09] The What up Wingnut! Round [44:38] How to connect with Jarrod [51:51] Blooper Reel! Connect with Jarrod Haning The Mindset Performance Website The Mindset Performance Podcast Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Twitter Resources & People Mentioned The War of Art by Steven Pressfield Why Jarrod hates “work smarter—not harder” Jarrod believes “work smarter—not harder” is deceptively dangerous and misleading advice. It’s like praising your kids for being smart or getting good grades. That is kneecapping your own children. Why? Being smart is something that you have no control over. It’s why kids who are praised for being smart grow up to be quitters. Why? Because the first time they try something that doesn’t come naturally, they give up. It’s why you should say, “I’m proud of you, I can tell you worked really hard.” Because you can always work harder at something.  There are almost always 3 reasons that you’re stuck in the situation you are (that work smarter not harder is NOT the answer to): You don’t have enough time. You don’t have enough money. You don’t have the support you need.  You’re doing everything you know to do. Working harder wouldn’t make a difference or it would have by now. It’s likely that everything you’re doing is logical, rational, well thought out, etc. So working smarter won’t make a difference—or it would have by now. A breakthrough in your situation will not make sense to you. Because you’ve done everything that does make sense. You have to get out of your head.  If something isn’t working, Jarrod notes that your gut reaction is to do more of it faster. But if you’re driving and get lost, driving faster doesn’t get you back on track. You have to stop and look at a map. Rather than run faster in a corn maze to get to the end faster, stand on a ladder, and look at the maze. In a split second, you have an “aha moment” and everything clicks. You need to change your altitude of perspective.  In the work that Jarrod does, they map out your thinking patterns. Once they do that, it will get you out of your head and unto the paper. You can see your blind spots. A blind spot makes sense on the surface, but the fact that it makes sense is why you keep running into obstacles. Jarrod walks through his powerful mind pushups method that can rewire the way you think. To walk through the exercise with him, listen to the whole episode.  Why to-do lists are the enemy Why does Jarrod hate to-do lists? He believes that checking things off of your to-do list actually lowers your income. A to-do list builds on the belief that getting things done is what matters. It’s the belief that more action leads to more results and more success. But coal miners work hard and all they get in the end is emphysema!  Working hard causes the brain to look for more work to do. It’s why you can make a to-do list in the morning and by afternoon it’s just as long. The brain gets a hit of dopamine and takes pleasure in getting things done—when your brain is wired that way.  Here’s why Jarrod believes it doesn’t work: doing something doesn’t address the reason it needs to be done to start with. Returning emails today doesn’t prevent you from returning emails tomorrow. The dopamine hit you get from crossing something off your list is the distraction that keeps you stuck. On the surface it makes sense. The problem is that it doesn’t move the ball forward in a meaningful way.  What should you do instead? Jarrod emphasizes “Instead of looking for more things to do, cause more things to be done. Consequently, when you are working you’re working on things that scale and produce free time as a byproduct.” It’s a totally different way of thinking. He shares a simple yet practical way to demonstrate his point in this episode. To learn more about Jarrod’s mind-boggling strategies, listen to the whole episode!  Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Everyone wants to show up as the best version of themselves, in life and in business. Sometimes it’s easier said than done. Andrea Freeman believes that everyone is on a journey to expand and learn more about themselves. She likes to say “Let your personal evolution fuel your business revolution.” She emphasizes that your business can only be as successful as you are. So how do you shift your mindset and realign with your purpose? How does doing that help you scale your business? Listen to this episode of Wingnut Social to learn more! Andrea Freeman is a business coach who created the HOST Method. She’s on a mission to help service-based business owners realign with their purpose, create greater financial freedom, fulfillment, and make a difference in the world. She’s worked with clients to integrate mindset techniques, refine their business models, and scale quickly. Andrea’s clients experience more clarity in their purpose, they see their revenue stream increase and they achieve much more sustainable success. What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [0:54] Knaus Berry Farm Shoutout [3:08] Facebook’s guide to successful ad campaigns [4:35] Andrea Freeman’s background [5:55] Andrea has been a life-long entrepreneur [7:06] What it’s like working with A-list celebrities [9:35] The difference between a negative and positive mindset [11:29] “Who should I be” versus “what should I do” [15:34] Strategies to deal with an in-the-moment crisis [19:48] What is the HOST method? [22:34] Meditation + mindset [26:45] The What Up Wingnut! Round [28:22] How to connect with Andrea Freeman [32:33] Blooper Reel!  Connect with Andrea Freeman Andrea’s Consulting Business FREE 5-Minute Journal  Follow Andrea on Instagram Resources & People Mentioned BOOK: You are a Badass at Making Money Facebook’s Guide to Ad Tactics Knaus Berry Farm Mydoma Studio Transcendental Meditation  Headspace Calm “Who should I be” versus “what should I do” Andrea feels that in life there is a lot of emphasis on doing. Traditional business advice is all about doing. Instead of focusing on doing Andrea says your foundation should be built on who you’re being. Are you being magnetic? Are you being engaging? Are you a joy to be around? She believes you should be the kind of person you want to do business with. One of the first questions she asks her clients is: “What’s your ‘why’ and how are you honoring it?” She often finds that people either have no idea what their why is OR they know what it is but aren't honoring it. Honoring it is just getting to the core of why things are important to you—and bringing it into your business.  People can see through you if you’re putting on a veneer of how you think you should be. Andrea felt she was leaving herself out of her business. When she pivoted and only offered services that aligned with her purpose, her business began to thrive. Authenticity took her business to another level.  Shift your mindset with meditation and affirmation  Do you have moments when you need to shift your perspective? Andrea points out that you need to implement in the moment crisis strategies. After all, we can’t all go sit on a mountaintop and meditate when stuff happens in life. Andrea notes that you can take 5 minutes and use a simple affirmation to help you deal with what you're going through: “Everything always works out for me.” “I am divinely guided and protected.”  “Peace begins with me.”  You also want to remember that some business isn’t meant for you. She notes that entrepreneurs get sucked into feeling they have to win every piece of business. But Andrea firmly believes there is a reason some things don’t work out: “Getting the business is divine. Not getting the business is divine.” There’s something else that Andrea recommends implementing to change the trajectory of your every day—listen to find out what it is.  What is Andrea’s HOST method? The HOST Method plays on Andrea’s background. It’s the concept of being able to be a host in your own life or a guest at someone else’s party. When you’re a guest you don’t get a say on the food or the music. When you’re the host, you have a say in everything. It’s also an acronym: H = Honor your why O = Own who you are S = Shift your perspective T = Take inspired action When you find clarity on your why and own it fully, you’ll naturally start to take notice when limiting beliefs and self-doubt begin to creep in. That’s when you use techniques to shift your perspective (prayer, meditation, affirmations, visualizations, moving your body, spending time in nature, etc.). Do whatever you need to shift back into being who you are. Take inspired action from that place of clarity.  Andrea notes that above all you should know that you deserve all the success in the world. There is a reason that you have a desire to do something. Give yourself the permission to go for it and shine your light.  Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

How important is good photography for interior design marketing? How important is it for the travel and tourism industry? How do you craft the perfect image that portrays what you see? In this episode of the Wingnut Social podcast, professional photographer Ralph Velasco joins Natalie and Darla to share his expertise. Ralph is a professional travel photographer who’s led over 100 international tours over the last 12 years. He is the founder and CEO of PhotoEnrichment Adventures and Alla Campagna. Ralph crafts tours that not only immerse you in another culture, but teaches you how to capture what you see in stunning images.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [2:04] The latest and greatest in social media marketing [4:00] The importance of good imagery in marketing [6:53] Ralph’s background in photography [7:59] The importance of professional photography [11:14] What works and what really doesn’t [14:25] How to develop an eye for photography [17:15] The impact of social media [22:17] How Ralph navigated safe travel during COVID-19  [23:56] Top mistakes people make with photography [27:47] The What up Wingnut! Round! [30:39] How to connect with Ralph Velasco [37:28] Blooper Reel! Connect with Ralph Velasco PhotoEnrichment Adventures Alla Campagna Ralph’s blog: Continental Drifter Ralph on Instagram Ralph on Facebook Ralph on Twitter Ralphy’s YouTube Channel Ralph’s book: 101 Tips for Developing Your Photographic Eye and More Resources & People Mentioned BOOK: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson Travel + Interior design photography: images sell Images sell your home. Images sell the experience. People want to know what they will see and experience and great photography is the best way to convey that. Ralph scouts his trips at least a year in advance. He captures photographs, takes video, meets people, stays in the hotels, and eats at the restaurants. Then he picks and chooses the best for his tour groups. Ralph emphasizes that “A travel photographer has to be a jack of all genres, master of some.” Photographers specialize in architecture, people, food, and much more. But a travel photographer has to be good at everything. Photographers are story-tellers. They have to tell the story of a place, a region, or a country.  Perhaps you’re telling the story of the interior of a home. To do that, Ralph notes that you want to start with big wide establishing shots. Then take the medium shots that show a portion of the room. Then you dive into the detail shots. The way to differentiate your photography is always in the details. Everyone gets the “postcard” shot. But the people that capture the details in the photos differentiate themselves from everyone else. How do you develop an eye for photography? How do you learn to drill down deeper into the scene and capture the soul of it? Listen to hear Ralph’s advice.  Two tips that will transform your photography Ralph jokes that “If you don’t like getting up early, be a writer.” But it’s actually true. Photography is all about taking advantage of the best possible light. In the morning, the sun is low in the sky and you experience golden hour with long soft shadows. Think about how the light impacts your subject and get proper exposure.  When you’re photographing something or someone, Ralph advises looking beyond them. How does the background or the foreground impact the photograph? Is there something that will ruin the composition of the photo? Ralph will move around to see how the scene is changing in relation to his subject. He is in control of the scene. He recommends that you place your subject against a clear background whenever possible.  People would get 10x better photographs if they cultivated an awareness of the light and the background.  Listen to the whole episode for more of Ralph’s tips + tricks. He also shares how his business has transformed and how social media is his #1 marketing stream.  Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Have you always wanted to write a book? Have you also wondered if it’s worth the investment? LuAnn Nigara has written two amazing books and is about to launch her third book, A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2 (which Darla wrote a chapter in). In this episode of the Wingnut Social podcast, LuAnn talks about the process of writing and self-publishing a book—and whether or not it’s worth the ROI.  LuAnn is the co-owner of Window Works in New Jersey and created an award-winning podcast for interior designers, A Well-Designed Business. She is a sought-after keynote speaker with over 30+ years of experience in the industry. LuAnn gave Darla the education, strength, and courage to start her design business. If you’ve had dreams of becoming an author, this is a can’t-miss episode.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [2:48] The GOAT: LuAnn Nigara [5:55] LuAnn’s book coming out Nov. 12th [7:51] Why LuAnn decided to write her first book [11:10] The impact of the 1st book on LuAnn’s business [13:49] The process of writing a book [19:39] How to self-publish your own books [22:06] The Power Talk Friday Book  [24:20] What to budget for writing a book [26:30] How LuAnn is marketing her book [28:10] Don’t set unreasonable expectations [31:47] What up Wingnut! Round [32:27] How to connect with LuAnn Nigara [33:51] Know what your end-game is [37:35] Blooper Reel! Connect with LuAnn Nigara LuAnn’s Website A Well-Designed Business podcast Get on the email list for LuAnn Live! The Power Talk Friday Experts (Book #1) The Making of A Well-Designed Business Resources & People Mentioned Book Launchers How writing a book impacted LuAnn’s business According to LuAnn, “Writing your own book definitely is a game-changer. There’s no question.” LuAnn believes—4.5 years in—that the book has opened doors for her. Every single speaking engagement she’s had (50+) she has never had to pitch herself. LuAnn’s niche and credibility is business and she comes into the world as a business expert. The book solidified that credibility. It opened a door that she didn’t have to knock on. LuAnn is a story-teller at heart. No matter the medium she is using, she emphasizes that she is going to tell a story. That’s the core of how she communicates information. She tells you what she wants you to know and drives the point home with a story. She’s a big-picture thinker. She wants the reader to know how marketing mattered for her business, what she did, and what her results were.  Her book is the journey of an entrepreneur. When she wrote the book, she worked backward. She didn’t want to sit there and break down statistics and numbers associated with building a business. She made a list of two pages worth of funny and poignant stories and the hard lessons she’s learned. Then she said, “Can I put a business lesson around that story?” Listen to learn about her whole writing process—including self-publishing a book.  Why you NEED to set realistic expectations Writing a book is becoming a way to establish yourself as a thought leader in whatever space you’re in. But you can’t expect the book itself to be a money-maker. LuAnn wrote a book for the interior design industry. She has no illusion that this book will have a far and wide reach. She’s gone into it with open-eyes.  You have to be open to the ROI being speaking engagements and other opportunities. If you’re thinking the ROI is the book, it’s an unrealistic expectation. Everything together creates the opportunity. But LuAnn points out that you want to know how you’ll convert the book into making money.  How does she market her books? How do you build out a comprehensive plan for what your book will do for you? Listen to the whole episode to learn more! Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

“There is something valuable about who you are and what you do. It warrants being told. It warrants being unearthed and it deserves to be out there...Your story may be the key that unlocks someone else's prison.” — Amanda Berlin Do you know how to differentiate yourself in the design niche? How do you stand out from the crowd? According to Amanda Berlin, you have to connect with your clients. She believes that connection begins with telling your story. In this episode of Wingnut Social, Amanda shares tips, tricks, and tools to implement to differentiate yourself and tell your unique story. Amanda is a visibility and business consultant for entrepreneurs. She is also the host of the Empowered Publicity Podcast, which arms soul-powered business owners with the ideas and skillsets they need to become recognizable and trusted experts.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social [1:19] All about Amanda Berlin [2:56] LuAnn Nigara’s upcoming book [4:16] How important is it to differentiate your brand?  [8:25] How to share your story authentically [10:43] WHY can’t you craft a compelling narrative? [13:47] How to connect with your audience [17:52] What if you’re afraid to be visible? [20:30] Finding tactics to bring in dollars [29:00] What up Wingnut! Round [35:02] Blooper Reel! Connect with Amanda Berlin The Empowered Publicity Podcast Amanda’s Website Follow on Instagram Connect on Facebook Resources & People Mentioned BOOK: Know My Name Being unique means telling your story Amanda believes that one of the easiest ways to distinguish yourself is to lean into your story. You’re the only person who has done what you have done and had the experiences you’ve had that led you to where you are today. Your story will resonate with the right clients if you use it appropriately.  No one will see the world the way you do. Your upbringing, relationships, experiences, etc. inspire your life and how you view the world. They are relevant to the people who will be the best fit to work with you. When you’re developing your brand story, you don’t share things you haven’t processed yet. You want the energy of your story to be clean, inspiring, and connective. This is a carefully curated version of your story that doesn’t white-wash everything but DOES present a version of your story that’s relevant.  WHY can’t you craft a compelling narrative? Why are you hitting roadblocks? Listen to hear Amanda’s thoughts!  Amanda’s three circles of visibility Amanda teaches a strategy that uses three circles of visibility. But before you focus on the three circles, you need to determine what your goals are. It’s challenging to put yourself out there if you don’t know what result you’re going for. So you need to nail down what you want to get out of this. It drives your tactics. So what are Amanda’s three circles? The innermost circle represents collaborations and alliances: your strategic partners who will refer clients or become clients themselves. They generate word of mouth for your business. When people feel connected to you, they invest in working with you. The middle circle is speaking and events: conferences, virtual presentations, speaking to associations, etc. You are creating your own stage.  The outermost circle is media: The traditional media relations such as getting featured in a magazine, interviewed on tv, or speaking on a podcast.  As you move away from the innermost circle the connection to the audience becomes looser. But which circle you choose to leverage depends on your individual goals. Amanda also points out that you must find visibility tactics that resonate with you—but also embrace things that challenge you.  What if you’re afraid to be visible? Which tactics can bring in more clients? When do you hire a publicist or a coach? How are relationships so important to growing your business? Amanda shares her thoughts on ALL of these questions and so much more. Don’t miss this episode!  Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social www.WingnutSocial.com On Facebook On Twitter: @WingnutSocial On Instagram: @WingnutSocial Darla’s Interior Design Website Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group! 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)   Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com