5 Easy Steps to Be More Confident on Video

5 Easy Steps to Be More Confident on Video

May 30, 2019

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Video is necessary IF you are building an online brand and business. Nope, not an option don't even try to convince me otherwise.  

There are so many options now with Facebook Live, Youtube, IGTV, Instagram Live and Insta Stories just to name a few. Basically video is non negotiable when it comes to an online business.

The #1 question I get from my audience around video is How to Build Confidence.

So, today I’m sharing five easy steps to be more confident on video. I’ve used these techniques and have now shared them with my clients to support them in gaining confidence, feeling natural and totally rocking it on video (both live and pre-recorded).

But, before we dive into the steps I have a quick question to bring some reality to the whole video thing. Is every single person that is showing up on video confident from the start?

Absolutely NOT, sure some people are, but even myself with years on stage, having been on the news and television before, I still freaked out during my first live video.

Give yourself some grace and know from the get go it's going to suck at the beginning. Seriously, your first time isn't going to be smooth, so just know that going in and be confident in the fact that you will improve with time.

So aside from just going for it, what can you do. Here's a simple do this then that strategy to get you started.

1. SCHEDULE IT

This is going to be the easiest part for you, but it’s going to aid in the whole ripping off a bandaid and with step two coming up next. When you make the commitment and put it on the calendar it's a hell of a lot harder to skip it. I actually use this strategy anytime I’m doing something out of my comfort zone; I put it in writing and make the commitment to myself that it’s going to happen.

2. PRACTICE

Now that you've got it scheduled it's time to carve out at least 3 days to practice before hitting that live or record button. This will help work out any kinks or uncertainty and make you feel more confident with the content. You won't always have to do this, remember consistency is key, but in the beginning it's a great tool.

Another great tool is to practice on Instagram Stories - there short, don’t take a lot of time, and your less likely to overthink a 15 second video as opposed to a 5-minute video. Insta Stories are a great was to get you more comfortable with the camera.

3. MAP IT OUT

As you practice you're going to find your groove. Pay attention to what you enjoy talking about, where you get a little lost and which areas you want to emphasis (a pitch or call to action perhaps). Now map those out in a notebook or document so you have a clear outline for your video.

Bonus Tip: If recording a video record 1-2 sentences, stop, look at notes and start again. If going live be super transparent with your audience and just tell them that you have notes to help you out and might be looking at them from time to time.

4. TAP INTO YOUR AUTHENTICITY

Be inspired by those around you and bring out your special characteristics with confidence. So often we try to hide our quirks, but those can make your videos even better. Write down 5 quirks you are proud of that you want to bring out in your videos to play up your authenticity. For instance, I love to talk with my hands so I make sure I have the room to talk naturally and I'm not holding the camera (p.s. You’re going to notice this every time I make a video now)!

5. EXUDE CONFIDENCE

There are things that make you feel better no matter the situation. Is it a specific outfit, making sure you've got some lipstick on, being in a particular setting? If you feel confident going into it, as your most bold badass self you'll deliver better content.

I know how easy it can be to think that everything needs to be perfect, especially when it comes to video. If you identify yourself as a perfectionist watch this video here.

But please know that you'll only improve by doing. I hope these 5 tips were SUPER helpful. If you’re feeling confident and ready to do this thing, then you probably need some help organizing your content ideas.

Download my free content calendar and planner if you want If help organizing your content, social media strategy and when you'll post videos.

Please share your biggest takeaways from this blog post and how you’re going to implement this information in your own business!

P.S. Are we connected on Instagram? No? Well lady what’s happening here we’ve got to fix that. Come hang out with me on my favorite social media platform. Follow for inspiration and send me a DM to know we’re connected.

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How to Find Time to Build Your Business as a Mom

How to Find Time to Build Your Business as a Mom

May 23, 2019

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Where are my mompreneurs at?

It is so true that being an entrepreneur is hard freaking work, but you add kids to the mix and that’s a whole new level.

And it’s something so many entrepreneurs don’t understand. That’s why I love supporting women in building, launching and scaling their brands because I get it!

I built my business from zero to 6-figures a the same time I was raising my son - in fact my business is as old as my son because nothing says “It’s time to start a business” like just giving birth.

So when I tell you I get that it’s hard to find the time to bring your dream business to life I want you to know that I understand it is hard, but it’s not impossible.

Today on the blog I’m sharing my top tips for making it happen.

1. GO ALL IN

I know what a touchy subject to start, but the truth is if you’re half in and half out of creating this business it’s not going to work.

You’ll always find a reason WHY you can’t work on your business, it’s too easy to get distracted, do you’ve got to make the commitment right here, right now.

The cool thing is I’m not asking you to choose, because you don’t have to. You can be both an amazing mother and entrepreneur, it’s not an “or” situation, it’s an “and” situation.

There are women out there doing this every single day, there is no reason why you can’t too.

2. BATCH YOUR TIME

I talk about batch scheduling in my blog all about content creation here, but if you plan to build a business with a kid and you’re not doing this it’s going to be so hard.

It’s time to pull in the forces girl, your partner, your friends, family, babysitter, call your best friend from high school who also has kids and swap services if you have to, but get yourself at least 3 hours a week uninterrupted.

Trust me you’ll get more done in those 3 hours than you will in 10 with a little one at your feet and productivity is key if you want to grow your business.

3. CREATE TIME

Yes it’s possible! You have a choice on where you spend your time. So where’s your time going right now?

• Are you binging on some Netflix?

• Do you drive a bunch, but not using that time efficiently?

• Are you a social scroller?

I see you - no judgement.

But, the reality is you’ve got 24 hours in a day, how are you using it?

There’s a super easy way to figure this out and something I have all my clients do and it’s a time evaluation. Take 3 days to track your time and see exactly where it’s going. Then prioritize (business and family) and leave the rest behind, at least for now anyways.

Oh and speaking of wasting time in the car. I use to commute 2 hours to work and I’d listen to podcasts for inspiration on the way to work and voice record my social media posts and emails for the week on the way home.

IF you want it you’ll do it.

4. TRELLO

I feel like I talk about Trello as least once a week, because I love it so much. Recently I did wrote a blog on productivity and focus where I shared how I use Trello in my life and business.

You can’t organize all the things you need to do blindly and why should you there are free tools at your freaking fingertips. One of them is Trello!

I use Trello to organize my weekly schedule and give myself the flexibility to move things around as needed. It’s great for measuring my productivity, allowing me to see what needs to be done every morning and gives me the flexibility to reschedule if needed. My main goal - get it done by the end of the week!

Look, if I didn’t believe you could do it I wouldn’t write this blog or make this video, so please remember that you are worthy of having a successful business and a thriving family.

If you want to learn more about my journey + the complete Roadmap I followed to build a business that sustains my family, gives me the freedom to be with my son AND create a business I freaking love? You can watch this Netflix-style masterclass here.

Please share your biggest takeaways from this blog post and how you’re going to implement this information in your own business!

P.S. Are we connected on Instagram? No? Well lady what’s happening here we’ve got to fix that. Come hang out with me on my favorite social media platform. Follow for inspiration and send me a DM to know we’re connected.

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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.

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Starting Your Business

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Starting Your Business

May 16, 2019

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I made a lot of mistakes, I mean I think it’s part of the game, but my goal - to help you avoid some of the worst.

In fact, today on the blog I’m sharing 3 mistakes that I’ve made so you can hopefully avoid them (or at the very least stop doing them now) in your own business.

I’ve been in business 3 years so one mistake a year right? WRONG! And if we’re being honest most of them happened the first 8 months of business.

So without further ado, let’s dive in.

1. BUILDING MY FIRST WEBSITE

It’s like the entrepreneur plague! You want to be official so you spend so much time building a website no one is going to find. Seriously, no one will know it exists and no one will just stumble on it in the beginning.

Unless you are trained in SEO and implementing on your new website the odds of people finding you via search is super slim.
Entrepreneurs spend all their time and money in the beginning building a business when they should be spending it on social media to build a community - which is FREE btw!

If I were starting over I’d spend 8 months building a following on social media (just one), talk to people, discover my voice and then build my website!

2. NOT NICHING DOWN

Major facepalm on this one. No joke I use to call myself a Freedom Coach - what does that even mean? I was trying to be too much in the beginning and struggled to effectively attract and communicate with anyone.

When I finally got specific in focusing on branding and even more specifically around storytelling everything became more clear.

If I were starting over I’d take time to REALLY think of what gap and market I wanted to fill in the online space. And I’d keep going deeper and deeper until I could clearly communicate what I do! This right here can be the difference between your first client and the struggle bus.

Want help with this? Grab my free niche guide here.

3. BRANDING DONE WRONG

In the beginning, I was so lost. I did it ass backward and dove right into researching other brands in my industry and deciding on the aesthetics. Do you know what happened?

I spent 8 months building and then scrapped it all! It in no way reflected my message or story and therefore freaking sucked.

If I were starting over I’d define my niche, learn more about my audience (social media), tap into my story, define my messaging AND THEN choose my visuals.

I did this btw - months later and as a result, I’ve not had to redo my brand in 3 years, just elevate it as I grow as a person! Now I teach other entrepreneurs how to do the same.

Want to learn more about my journey and sign up for my Netflix-style masterclass where I’m sharing a complete Roadmap of the steps I took? You can watch this video on your time here.

Please share your biggest takeaways from this blog post and how you’re going to implement this information in your own business!

P.S. Are we connected on Instagram? No? Well lady what’s happening here we’ve got to fix that. Come hang out with me on my favorite social media platform. Follow for inspiration and send me a DM to know we’re connected.

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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 Create Better Brand Messaging

How to Create Better Brand Messaging

May 9, 2019

PREFER TO WATCH, INSTEAD OF READ? I’VE GOT YOU BOO. SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH A QUICK 4 minute video!

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Brand messaging is one of the most crucial parts of a profitable brand and business. If you want to make money you need to clearly communicate with your audience.

In today’s blog, I’m sharing How to Create Better Brand Messaging and the 3 C’s you can’t live without.

Brand Messaging is one of the most important things you will do for your business. If you’re messaging is falling flat every single strategy, marketing tactic or advertising dollar you throw at it won’t help.

Today on the blog I’m sharing How to Create Better Brand Messaging and more specifically the 3 C’s you can’t live without if you want to create messaging that not only magnetizes, but also converts.

1. CONSISTENCY

This is one of the most important things that you have to have with your Messaging. If your messaging is not consistent you're going to break trust with your audience.

This means that you need to have a unified message for your brand - I call this core brand messaging and it's one of the things that I teach in my program Roadmap to Freedom but I'm gonna give you a little sneak peek.

Core brand messages are 10 to 15 messages that stand true for your brand as a whole not every single program, not just the things that you offer, but for your entire brand.

When you can create a unified blend of messages for your brand that allows you to have consistent messaging on every platform, including your website, your about me, your freebies, your Instagram profile, etc… it’s going to create consistency with your audience and it's going to build trust.

2. CONNECTION

What you are saying has to connect with your audience so one of the things that you need to know and one of the crucial parts of messaging is understanding who you're speaking to. Sometimes we create messages because we're like “Man that sounds good” and we forget about our audience.

• What does your audience need to hear?  

• What do you know about your audience that can make your messaging even better?

You always have to focus on the connection  - is the connection there with your audience?

To identify this you need to know what they're struggling with, what they desire and what's standing in their way.

This will allow you to create messaging that hits all of those touch points and will create a deeper connection with your audience.

3. CLARITY

You need to clearly state the benefit for your audience. Again ideal client work is one of the most important things that you can do for your brand as it affects every single thing that you create but it plays such a big role in your messaging and marketing.

When you're creating these messages, yes you're sharing what it is you do, yes you're sharing your story, but if you can't clearly state the benefit of those things in a way that has your audience going “Yes I need that, I want that, sign me up!” then you're going to miss the mark.

It’s so important that you have clarity around what your message or what your product or service ultimately provides.

Making sure your audience can see how that benefits them is essential for strong messaging.

You can be putting a ton of content out there on social media, you can be putting a lot of money towards advertising, but if your messaging isn't strong it's not going to work in your favor.

Messaging is one of the coolest parts about branding and one of the things I absolutely love about teaching.

If you want to hear more about messaging, which is actually only one part of my process then be sure to sign up for my free masterclass at brandmerry.com/brandmasterclass.

Please share your biggest takeaways from this blog post and how you’re going to implement this information in your own business!

P.S. Are we connected on Instagram? No? Well lady what’s happening here we’ve got to fix that. Come hang out with me on my favorite social media platform. Follow for inspiration and send me a DM to know we’re connected.

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5 Things to Know About Your First Year as an Entrepreneur

5 Things to Know About Your First Year
as an Entrepreneur

BY MICHELLE KNIGHT

Look, I’m going to go against the grain here and say starting a business and becoming an entrepreneur takes work.

Insert Rihana singing “work work work work work”

The reality is this is not for the faint of heart, which is ironic because what you need to make this thing work is a whole lot of heart.

In addition to having the belief, mindset and deep desire to make this thing work there are 5 things you need to know in your first year as an entrepreneur.

The first year of my business it took months, I’m talking 8 months for me to truly figure out what I was doing.

I took action, continuous action and was busy working on building this dream, but I had little to show for it.

So, I consider myself a freaking expert in helping women who struggle to get going because I’ve lived through it.

After 8 months of pushing uphill things started to shift for me and within three months I was making enough monthly income to replace my 9 to 5 and in a year I had made 6-figures cash in my business.

Do I think I could have hit those goals faster if I’d had known these things? YES

But, then I wouldn’t be able to share this with you today #lessons.

So here we go - 5 Things to Know About Your First Year as an Entrepreneur (what I wish I’d known).

1. YOUR WEBSITE

How do I say this in a way that doesn’t come across as a total butthead - no one is searching for your website.

Oh, I know you want it to be the case, but in the beginning, people don’t know you, yet so many entrepreneurs spend so much time on building their website right out of the gate when they should be focused on building brand awareness.

Your website is needed and will be one of the most valuable tools in your business, but spending months and months and sometimes thousands of dollars to build your website is a waste at the beginning.

Take the time to identify your niche, who you want to attract and your brand messages BEFORE building your website and be sure to have a marketing plan to actually drum up enough interest that has people visiting your website.

2. YOUR BRAND

Another one that takes so much time and so much money - yep, it’s branding.

I love branding, it is my jam, but so many entrepreneurs do it wrong the first year. They jump right into finding their colors, fonts and designing their logo BEFORE understanding their brand foundations. Yep, you guessed it - your niche, your audience and your brand messages.

PLUS, they overlook the power of emotional branding (more on that here) which at its core is WHY people buy. So rather than diving right into the visual branding what we should be focused on is what branding truly is - the deeper connection to your audience.

One of the best things you can do is create content for your audience to build brand awareness (yes, this is part of branding) and watch as your visuals fall into place.

3. POWER OF STORY

You’ve got one thing when you start and that’s your story! It’s also the one thing you have that will help you stand out from the crowd and competition.

You need to spend time uncovering your story and setting a strong foundation for story in your business.

Your audience is 22x more likely to remember story, which means it goes beyond just your brand story and also includes authentically tying story into every piece of content and marketing material you make.

4. SOCIAL MEDIA I CONFUSING

Yep, that’s right social media is a lot of information. It can be one of the coolest tools you use in the online space OR it can literally drive you crazy.

In the beginning, you want to be everywhere because that’s what you’re told right? Well, not really the best move when you’re just starting out.

Instead, I suggest you focus on one social media platform to start and get really good at that. In order to do this think of two things. #1 Where do you like to hang out and #2 Where is your audience spending time.

Boom - start there and stop overwhelming yourself trying to be everywhere!

5. MESSAGING IS MAGIC

If there is one thing I’ve learned as an entrepreneur and especially my first year in business is that messaging can make or break your success.

This goes back decades and is the foundation of successful advertising. You need to be crystal clear, do everything in your power to not confuse your audience and clearly communicate how it benefits your audience.

If there is one thing you set up at the start of your business it should be your brand messaging. What do you provide and how does it benefit your audience?

That’s the secret - making sure you’re clearly sharing how it benefits your audience.

If you’re always focused on this, it’s freaking magic.

I hope you take these five essential pieces and put them into action.

They can completely change the course of your business and your ability to reach profitability faster.

If you need support along the way, that’s where I come in.

My program Roadmap to Freedom is opening soon and it’s better than ever. This live 90-day program is for the new and aspiring female entrepreneur ready to simplify the process of building an online business that allows her to make money on her terms and create a life of abundant experiences and impact.

You can learn more at brandmerry.com/freedom.

P.S. Are we connected on Instagram? No? Well lady what’s happening here we’ve got to fix that. Come hang out with me on my favorite social media platform. Follow for inspiration and send me a DM to know we’re connected.

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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.