Brandmerry Blog Archives
Top 7 Books Every Female Entrepreneur Should Read
Top 7 Books Every Female Entrepreneur Should Read
BY MICHELLE KNIGHT
In honor of #NationalBookLoversDay I'm sharing my top seven books that are must-reads for female entrepreneurs.
I've got to be honest, I was never much of a reader unless you count the occasional hopeless-romantic Nicholas Sparks book I read on vacation. However, all of that changed when I became an entrepreneur. I became obsessed with learning as much as I could around mindset, running a business and moving through my biggest block - perfectionism.
When I say these books completely changed my life, it's an understatement. Through these books I've been able to:
↠ Revamp my mindset around money and my ability to make it.
↠ Own my own story and start to move through my blocks around perfectionism.
↠ Embrace my vulnerability and use it as a strength when running my business.
Please note this blog contains affiliate links to these products, so if you choose to buy, I will receive a small compensation. I only refer products I absolutely love!
My Top Book Recommendations For Female Entrepreneurs
1. you are a badass at making money
I highly suggest you listen to the audio of this book because Jen Sincero is seriously hilarious with her delivery. This was one of the first books I was introduced to and would listen on my 9 to 5 commute.
This book gave me the a** kicking I was looking for to start making significant changes in my life. Jen has such a witty way of holding a mirror up to your current life and situation and gives you the tools and shifts to start feeling, thinking and acting differently.
2. daring greatly
What can I say about Brene Brown - I mean I seriously love this woman. She's changed my life with the resources and insight she provides through her work. For my entire life, I've struggled with perfectionism, but it wasn't until I started diving into her books that I realized how this had been holding me back for years.
This is only one of Brene's books you will find in this list, but Daring Greatly supported me in truly embracing my vulnerability and empowered me to start sharing my story with the world.
3. Get Rich, Lucky Bitch
I remember flying through this book in January 2017. I was going through an unexpected money situation in my business (i.e., taxes were due and I didn't know what I was doing just yet) and needed some mental support and clarity around moving through my fear of not having enough $$$.
Right off the bat, Denise Duffield-Thomas mentioned she was a Virgo, I was hooked. I loved her approach to manifesting and the actionable steps she taught. I implemented all of them right away and continue to do the work from this book monthly. In fact, anytime I'm feeling a money block I re-read this book (which has been more times than I can count ;))
4. You Are a Badass At Making Money
Another one of my favorites around making money is from Jen Sincero; I told you I love this ladies style. What I absolutely loved about Jen's book was how she addressed the stories around money; the ones we've learned from our parents, friends and society in general.
This was one of the first times I really started to question the idea of money and my ability to make it in my business. If you're struggling with old thought patterns around money, this is a must read.
5. The universe has your back
The description of this book says it all, "Transform Fear to Faith" and this book does just that. Talk about an emotional book to really address the way fear was running my life. As someone who lived most of her life constantly afraid of what could happen, this book was a gift.
My favorite part of this book are the actionable steps and questions Gabby Bernstein gives you so you can actually do the work. This definitely isn't a book you'll want to just fly through; seriously do the work and you will be truly changed.
6. How Rich People Think
I'm not going to lie when skimming this book, in the beginning, I was reluctant to read it. However, when I finally got over my need to be thoroughly entertained, I dove in and was blown away by the work of Steve Siebold.
It gives you an insider look at how rich people truly think and shows the thoughts, habits and philosophies of the wealthy. It's another top book that introduced me to the idea that making money has more to do with mindset then I initially thought.
7. The Gifts of Imperfection
I have to close out this list with another one of my favorite's from Brene Brown, seriously check out ALL her books! In this book, Brene introduces the idea of Wholehearted living and addresses the shame, authenticity and worthiness that comes from struggling with perfectionism.
If you are a recovering or current perfectionist and you read one book, let it be this one. Through Brene's work I was able to start fully stepping into my worthiness and authenticity and as a result my business and the trust I was building within my community expanded.
P.S. If you’re a female entrepreneur, I’ve got a free gift just for you! I’m sharing how to Build a Better Brand in this free class. Sign up here.
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Meet Michelle
Hey there, I'm Michelle Knight and I an online branding and marketing consultant for female entrepreneurs.
I believe in the power of storytelling and using that superpower to brand and market yourself online...oh and to set yourself free.
I'm obsessed with living a life of freedom, so much so, that my family and I now travel full-time while running my business from the road.
This blog serves as a home base for all things branding, marketing, content creation and more.
How To Use Masculine and Feminine Energy in Your Branding
How To Use Masculine and Feminine Energy in Your Branding
When I started this entrepreneur journey I didn't even know what masculine and feminine energy was, and maybe you're in that same boat. So today I'm sharing how you can use it not only in your business but your brand as well.
What is masculine and feminine energy?
Masculine energy is rooted in action taking, goal setting. They're big doers, competitive, direct and problem solvers. A lot of entrepreneurs lead with their masculine energy.
Feminine energy is rooted in intuition, community, feelings, collaboration and creativity. What is really important when understanding masculine and feminine energy is you need both of these things to create a strong business. So you have to first identify where you are, what you lead with and what you need more of.
I lead with my masculine side in both business and life. There became a point in my business where I recognized that, so I found a mentor that would help me tap into my feminine side. And it's really changed my business completely.
Which do you feel like you lead more with?
How Masculine and Feminine Energy Plays a Role in Running Your Own Business
We lead with one over the other, but the other one is still there. So what we need to do is bring the other one out more.
If you're more masculine, how can you add more flow and creativity to your business. Something that I started to do to bring out my feminine energy was dancing and yoga to bring out that flow. Also, mindset work brings out that feminine energy as well. Allow your feelings to come through and surrender or detach yourself from the how. Also, vulnerability and playfulness are so, so important in feminine energy which is something that played a role in my personal life once I had my son.
If you are more feminine, then you need to be really clear on your goals, time block, scheduling so you can balance that creativity with action taking. Where can you add in more structure and strategy?
How it plays a role in your branding and content creation to attract your audience
I don't see people talk about this too much, but it comes up all the time. And if you can think about your audience, what they need and what pulls them in, it's really really powerful in branding. The person on the other end has these energies too, they are human, they have layers as well. So if you ever feel like your brand it attracting two different people, it's actually the two different energies which is good.
If you can see which energy your audience leads with, tap into that and add in the energy they desire in your branding, you'll attract those people. Talk to people not only where they're at, but where they want to be. Create that experience and content that speaks to all pieces of your ideal client.
Head over to my Facebook Page and be sure to like and comment on the video while you are over there to help more people see this information ↠ https://www.facebook.com/brandmerrycoaching/videos/1772342736135388/
And as always please share and comment on this blog post, I love connecting with you!
Why I Created a Membership Site
Why I Created a Membership Site
July 26, 2018
Membership style services have my heart. I'm a big fan of Netflix, which has taken over the subscription service game, I mean where would I be without Stranger Things? Or HBO Now, I mean come on Game of Thrones?!
I've even fully embraced the subscription style when it comes to family dinner. I've become a big fan of Sun Basket a weekly meal delivery service that gives me the motivation I need to step away from the computer and into the kitchen.
**If you want to try Sun Basket for yourself here's a special link to grab $40 off your first order.
But, I digress.
The point is I'm obsessed with the subscription model and so is everyone else, so it only seemed fitting I embrace the same model in my business.
To be honest it's always been a mission of mine to help as many women as possible. Sure I absolutely LOVE my private clients and ladies in my high-level group program Roadmap to Freedom, but there was still a large group of my community needing support and I was missing the mark.
When my private community Authentic Brand Builders was born I wanted it to be a safe space for women to come and share their story and ask questions, but over the past year, I've wanted more. I've wanted to support women in customizing their business to their personality and life. I wanted to back up my core belief that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to running a business and in order to do that I need to step into the role of mentor and coach.
Sure, I could offer another course, but that's only going to support them with one simple thing and leave them hanging, I wanted something more meaningful and impactful that would support them at every level of their business.
Enter my membership community - Free To Be U.
Free To Be U is my mission to support as many women pursue what seriously lights them up and create a business that allows them to be fully free. It's so much more than just a membership site, it's a chance for women to get the support needed to have time, financial and location freedom.
It's the constant reminder that you're free to be anyone, anywhere, anytime, with a community of women desiring the same thing.
I truly believe that in my soul, but unfortunately I've watched so many women put their business on the back burner or throw in the towel because it gets to be too overwhelming. Free To Be U is the answer to the overwhelm with a simple and straightforward strategy that is super approachable.
When I started my business I wanted this very thing, but I couldn't find it.
Sure there have always been membership sites for entrepreneurs, but I wanted something that was focused on community first (it's lonely out there) and gave me more in-depth explanations on what I should focus on and when. I wasn't just looking for a workbook, that could pass as a freebie.
In the beginning, I spent months searching for answers online rather than implementing because I didn't have this level of consistent support and I know so many women can relate.
I've spent the last 2 years researching and designing this concept to bring the most high-touch and on-demand community to life.
It is my goal to support women in moving the needle forward in their business, that's why Free To Be U provides monthly mini-courses, an active FB community, monthly live Q&A, quarterly workshops and gives members the opportunity to vote on the following month's content (I'm most excited about this).
It's been a dedicated work of love to get to this place and I'm so excited we are finally here. Just 2 years after launching my coaching business to the world I'm ready for this next step and to support as many women as possible in Free To Be U.
P.S. Enrollment is currently open, but closing soon. If you're ready for this level of support without the price tag and to save yourself the headache that comes from guessing in your biz, then join us as a Founding Member for just $47 ↠
3 Reasons You're Not Signing Clients into Your Program
3 Reasons You're Not Signing Clients into Your Program
This is for anyone who has that 1:1 type of program. It doesn't matter what you do as long as the end goal is the 1:1 type of package.
For a brief look at what was really going on with me and my journey, be sure to watch the video below to see more on that!
1. Your Mindset is Off
When I first started, I had the mindset where I didn't believe in what I was offering, that people wouldn't see the value in what I was offering and I didn't see how it would transform lives. So there was a major shift that needed to happen, and I'm going to share a core mindset shift that neesd to happen in order to start signing clients.
There is one core mindset shift that has to happen in order for you to reach your goals and income goals and that is that you have to start mentoring from a place of worthiness. You have to feel worthy internally, so that you can show up as an expert when you are mentoring. Knowing that you are showing up delivering massive amounts of value and feeling worthy enough to sell what you have to offer.
I have a really cool mantra for you to start incorporating into your life. Allow yourself to feel this mantra.
"I am worthy of sharing my message with the world and worthy of compensation of my time, my energy and my knowledge."
2. You're Letting Fear Run the Show
Your fear is always going to be there, so instead of constantly trying to fight it, use it to your advantage. This is something I had to learn and paid a lot of money to learn from my mentors.
Why Fear is Necessary For Your Business
It brings insecurities to the surface
When used correctly, fear can drive motivation.
It's usually a sign that your biggest growth is on the way
So ask yourself "what is this fear trying to tell me?" Flip the switch and let this fear inspire you to take action. Use it as your motivator. You're going to feel uncomfortable. Everything you do that is going to result in massive growth is going to feel uncomfortable.
3. You're Unclear on Pricing
So I'm going to give you a strategic way to love your pricing. So you need to figure out a price that feels good to you. I like to tell my clients to figure out a price that's a little low, figure out one that's too high and then pick somewhere in the middle. That's a good place to start. Once you have that, follow these steps:
Decide on the price that feels good
List out everything that your 1:1 program includes (time, energy, resources, value)
Think of the outcome for your client
Now look back at the price and ask "how does that feel" Does it feel good? Does it feel too low? Too high? And adjust accordingly.
For a more in depth version with bonus tips, watch the video below!
Head over to my Facebook Page and be sure to like and comment on the video while you are over there to help more people see this information ↠ https://www.facebook.com/brandmerrycoaching/videos/1750294045006924/
And as always please share and comment on this blog post, I love connecting with you!
How to Use IGTV to Increase Brand Awareness
How to Use IGTV to Increase Brand Awareness
IGTV is a new addition to Instagram. It's another way to show up on that platform, get super visible and increase brand awareness and it's all about video. Not only are we going to talk about how you can use IGTV to increase brand awareness, but also how you can use it if live video really scare you.
What is IGTV and How to Start Using It
Essentially it is a longer, pre-recorded video platform on Instagram where you can share content and do more of a Youtube style video. This gives us a beautiful opportunity to get clear on our messaging. Smaller brands only have the ability to share 10 minutes of content per video, which will help us be really clear and concise in our messaging and the content we are sharing.
The other thing I love is the cross promotion within the platform which we will talk about a little later in the post as well, but Instagram is giving you the ability to link straight to your IGTV videos in stories. You can share as an in-feed post, etc.
The next thing I want to talk about is hashtags. Hashtags are searchibility on Instagram and now we can use these in our IGTV videos. There's so much flexibility in one platform which I'm absolutely loving. If you know your audience is on Instagram, you can now focus on this one platform to start building massive brand awareness.
Afraid of Video? IGTV is your answer
We know how important video is - it's where we, and every platform are going because it really takes your brand to a new level. It's all about taking your business and brand to the next level because when you do video, your ideal client will start to feel like they know you. So video is so, so important for increasing brand awareness and building a successful business.
I know from talking to a lot of you that live video can be scary. You want to be using it, but it scares you and this is where IGTV comes in. IGTV kind of takes away the scariness of live video, but has the same feel of live video. This gives you the opportunity to practice, record yourself and still ask for engagement. It's an introduction to video that is really going to be so powerful for those of you who are just starting out in video. Not only are you increasing your brand awareness, but you're getting yourself comfortable with the camera. You also have the ability to share this on various platform, and what I love about IGTV, you can grab the URL and send people from your email to your IGTV. You can even cross-promote on other platforms as well like Facebook.
If live video scares you:
Get comfortable with camera
Play with asking for engagement
Sharing on various platforms
How to use it in your biz for brand awareness
1. Focus on building one community - Instagram
The idea of being on all of these platforms can be super scary, so I always recommend to start with one and focus on it, get really good, and then add another. What I love about Instagram is it gives you so many touch points, so I think it's a great platform to start with.
2. More personal and less polished than other video
IGTV gives you the opportunity to be more personal and less polished than Youtube or even live video. It's about showing up as who you are with an already established platform.
3. Now have 3 points of contact on IG (posts, stories and IGTV)
This gives you the ability to show up for your audience in different ways on just one platform. It's so important for you at this stage in online entrepreneurship to have these multiple touch points.
4. Sharing options (cross promotion - within stories, via email, accessible in feed)
I can now use the swipe up feature to my new IGTV episodes. I really think easy access is so important and Instagram allows you to make your videos super accessible. You can also pull the URL from your video and share it in an email or on Facebook. Extend the life of your content!
5. CONSISTENCY!
Be consistent with your postings. What time, what day and what type of content? Think of a TV show. This helps build trust and accountability within your community.
You can watch the whole video for a more in-depth version of this and several bonus tips below!
Head over to my Facebook Page and be sure to like and comment on the video while you are over there to help more people see this information ↠ https://www.facebook.com/brandmerrycoaching/videos/1729525050417157/
And as always please share and comment on this blog post, I love connecting with you!
Michelle Knight is a Branding and Business coach for female entrepreneurs who are struggling to gain visibility and traction to take their business to the next level. She works with her clients to dive deep into their story so they can create a brand and message that positions them as an expert and allows them to create their desired income to free up time in their schedule for what matters most. Learn more >>