One of my favorite books is a book by Katie Couric called The Best Advice I Ever Got: Lessons from Extraordinary Lives.
It was a gift from an ex-boyfriend and admittedly is one of the best presents I ever got. Because it’s filled with real-life advice from people who’ve lived (or are living) extraordinary lives.
People like Steven Spielberg, Maya Angelou, Melinda Gates, Barbara Walters, and so many more…
One of my favorite chapters is titled “Don’t Be Afraid of Being Afraid” (page 27) by Maria Shriver, Award-Winning Journalist, Best-Selling Author, and Former First Lady of California.
This is a chapter I completely agree with.
She goes on to say, “Don’t sell yourself short by being afraid of failure that you don’t dare to make mistakes.”
Just imagine…
If your book, helped to inspire just one person.
…Or two, ten, or hundreds of thousands of people.
Maybe even millions.
Writing a book is an incredibly easy way to impact many and it’s sooo easy to do.
Especially, if you have the right guidance.
I have now written over 12 books (I seriously need to count them) and admittedly I have been afraid to publish some of them.
So if you’re afraid to write a book – believe me – I get it.
But the few I have published, promoted, and sold have helped people in a way that gives me immense joy.
Even (and especially) the eBooks that are sold exclusively on my website.
In fact, one of my best-selling eBooks started out as an email to a friend. That email (which solves a very specific problem) turned into a list-building, profitable sales funnel.
But more than that, It’s gotten people free media publicity to grow their business.
Tomorrow I am hosting a workshop that can help you grow your business.
I am going to teach you how to create a gift that keeps on giving. The gift of your knowledge.
The gift – of a book.
Because I believe that one of the best gifts you can give to someone you love is a book.
And why not that book be one that you write?
To join the 2-hour workshop, your investment is only $47. Plus, you will get the recording but only if you register before it begins.
This recording will ONLY be given to registrants who sign up before it begins.
I have no idea when (if ever) I will host another workshop like this.
So if you’re ready to create a gift that keeps on giving, then hurry up and sign up now – lest you forget before you miss the deadline.
You can get all the details through the link below.
P.P.S. If you’re not already a member on MeetUp you’ll need to join. It’s free to join and there are lots of groups and events (both free and paid) you can attend in your community.
My group is called Writing for Profit.
Which is our goal after all. But my purpose and my mission are to help you explode your business, and make an impact through the Power of Writing.
You are welcome to join us in our mission to change lives.
I’ve just received word that something BIG is about to happen in the world of course creation and you’re now on the inside since I just had a peek “behind the curtain”…
On May 17-21, my friend Iman Aghay is launching the Course Creation Summit that will help authors, speakers or program leaders get the tools and strategies necessary to build your own course roadmap so that you know exactly what to do when it comes to putting it together, launching and making money.
When you see the topics being covered by these 48+ world-class course creation experts, you’ll understand why the Course Creation Summit is going to be an absolute game-changer for those who attend!
You’ll discover exactly how to overcome your toughest challenges, such as believing that…
*Your course may not well you’ll end up looking unprofessional *Your students won’t study your course and want a refund *You won’t be able to find people to promote your course *Your students end up having a bad experience and leave negative reviews everywhere.
And get this… after you attend and apply what you learn, you won’t need to worry about feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or inadequate anymore.
Iman has lined up 48+ world-class experts in course creation for a LIVE 5-day online event like no other.
And the best part is……
It’s FREE for you to attend!
Unlike conferences and hotel seminars that you have to invest time and money to travel to, you can attend this cutting-edge online virtual summit from anywhere in the world. Cool huh?
No booking flights, rental cars, and hotel rooms, no dealing with layovers, lost luggage, and no missed work or time away from home.
Instead, from the comfort of your home or office or wherever you choose to listen in, you’re also going to learn exactly how to…
*Create an automated stream of income to pay your monthly bills
*Learn how to really help others by sharing your knowledge and making money at the same time
*Become known and recognized as an authority in your field
*Be part of a community comprised of world-class experts
*Leave a legacy or impact that you can be proud of…
You’ll need to reserve your digital seat to attend so that we can send out a reminder to you about the event each day. That way you won’t miss any of the talks and all the extras that come with them.
The Course Creation Summit is going to be awesome!
Simply [Click Here] to reserve your seat before life gets in the way and you forget…
Make Today Amazing!
Irene Gabelnick
P.S. I want to help Iman get the word out about the Course Creation Summit and you’re one of the first to know! If you wouldn’t mind sharing the free registration link via email or social media with a few others you think would benefit, they’ll also be able to claim their own free pass…
I’d really appreciate it! (Plus you’ll look like a superhero for being the first to share!)
“We do not need magic to change the world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already. We have the power to imagine better. “~J.K. Rowling
I recently started reading the book The Magic by Rhonda Byrne.
Rhonda Byrne is the creator behind The Secret, a documentary film that swept the world in 2006, changing millions of lives and igniting a global movement. The Magic is one of the books in the trilogy of The Secret and is basically a “how-to” guide on using gratitude to manifest anything you want into your life. It’s basically a 28-day guide to magically manifest anything you want into your life.
Now, I’m not sure if I actually believe in Magic per se. But I do believe in consistency and the power of believing in yourself and I think J.K. Rowling says it well.
So maybe she’s born with it or maybe it’s magic…
Either way, I’m all about gratitude and positive thinking – so why not give it a shot.
We ALL desire something we don’t already have.
There are two reasons I decided to go ALL IN on this. A couple of weeks ago my friend Cherie Marquez (aka The Dog Mystic) asked me to form a Facebook group with her. And inside the group, she wants to do the 28 days of Magic together.
This way we’ll hold each other accountable and lift as we climb.
This is why we’re inviting you to join us.
The other reason is that I did my research as any good copywriter would do.
I read the reviews and here’s what I found: The book has a 5 out of 5-star rating on Amazon with 87% of readers giving it 5 stars and that’s with 12,490 reviews.
One verified purchaser, a person by the name of E. Blossom said, “ABSOLUTELY LIFE CHANGING. Went from roughly $70 in my bank account to traveling and making over $78K in 3 months.”
And we can all use a little extra cash. I also truly believe in the power of community.
When we band together the magic happens…
So here’s the deal: each day, one of us (either Cherie or I) will be going Live inside our Facebook group and sharing how to use gratitude to manifest anything you want in your life.
This could be with your health, relationships, money, career. your business, abundance, love, passions, material things, or anything your heart desires. Even finally writing that book you’ve thinking about. We’re starting this Wednesday, May 5 (which happens to be my Mom’s birthday, and what a fitting memorial tribute to the wonderful woman she was). This way, the 28th day will be June 1st which is Cherie’s birthday. That one we planned. 🙂
Which I thought makes a perfect birthday gift for my friend. We named the group Find Your True Bliss.
Because to me, that’s what life is about. Finding joy and happiness in all that we do. To join us inside our brand new Facebook group and find your true bliss use the link below.
P.S. If you need some one-on-one help with anything pertaining to writing your book or getting clarity on your path (or your business) hit reply to schedule a private coaching session with me.
I’ve opened up just a few spots this week for the first 3 people who respond. I don’t do this very often but I’m offering an enormous discount so grab it now before it’s too late.
We’ll schedule a live 60-minute Zoom call for only $97. These spots fill up quickly… So hit reply now to save your spot before they fill up!
This article was originally published on November 5, 2020.
Get READY to drive Massive high-quality traffic to your blog (or website) that gets your audience saying YES to your offers.
**Make sure you share this article and save it for later**
One of the fastest ways to drive high-quality traffic and increase your website’s SEO is by getting media interviews. The media is significantly more effective than paid ads and social media because it’s more credible and trust-worthy.
And it makes you look like a Big Shot in your industry.
One of the enormous benefits of getting media interviews is that Google rewards you (and your website) when you have backlinks from reputable sources. Like media outlets, well-known blogs, and podcasts. The more backlinks you have to your website, the higher Google ranks you in their search engine when prospective buyers are searching for your freebies and offers.
This can drive massive organic traffic to your website, build your email list, and make you better, richer, faster with your blog and business!
Here’s what usually happens when you land an interview on a podcast or radio show.
Your interview and website links get posted on the podcast host’s website. Then they promote you on all their social media channels and to their email list. And, if you use this strategy, you can link even more traffic back to your website.
For example, when you get booked on a podcast, make sure you have a relevant article and lead magnet ready. This way their listeners WANT to go to your website.
Email *Secrets* to Quickly Grow Your Email List
Getting media interviews is a great way to grow your email list. Once you capture your visitors’ emails you can turn them into paying customers.
*For more email and list building *secrets* and a Beginner’s Guide to making money with emails download your FREE guide here.*
This makes you look like a hero to the show host. Because you are providing interesting and engaging content for their audience.
Which is a win/win for everyone.
Your podcast interviews then become evergreen. This means that your interviews can drive traffic to your website for years to come.
You know how when you get hooked on a series on Netflix? Or when you get hooked on a new podcast, you end up binge-listening to the entire series.
It’s the same thing for your potential customers!
That’s how you can quickly grow your business – by driving high-quality traffic to your blog or website.
Learn more about how You can get booked on radio shows and podcasts here: Podcast Power
This blog post was originally written on September 14, 2018. I updated it on December 27, 2020 (the year of Covid) because I thought someone might need this right now.
Today I am sharing with you how I have made literally over $10,000 over the past few years. Simply by selling stuff I already owned.
Selling used items (that you already own) is unquestionably the fastest way to get cash when you need it fast! In this article, I will teach you 4 ways to sell used items to make quick cash, how to safely sell them, while helping people.
This is also a heartwarming tale about a 13 year old girl who got her birthday wish. Read on to see how I was able to help an unemployed mom give her daughter the perfect birthday present. I helped bring joy to a single mother and her daughter while making a quick $200 cash.
How to Make Quick Cash and Help Someone in Need
It all started with a pair of silver shoes. Buying kids’ shoes can get expensive. Especially when you have no clue when the next growth spurt will be. One year my youngest daughter picked out a perfect pair of sparkly silver shoes to wear on her birthday. She only wore them once or twice (and only for a couple of hours) before they were too small. They were a women’s size 5 and I honestly didn’t know if anyone would buy them.
I listed the shoes along with other items on Letgo and OfferUp. Two apps designed specifically for buying and selling used items. I have made several thousand dollars over the last couple of years selling things I didn’t need anymore.
Four Ways to Sell Used Items
The places I have had the most success selling used items are OfferUp, Letgo, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace. If you decide to sell on Facebook you can join and list your items in multiple selling groups. You should find many groups like Virtual Garage Sale, Biggest Yard Sale, or Kids Closet. Facebook will allow you to post your items in up to 20 Marketplace groups. Make sure to add your listings to groups that are specifically for the items you are selling. Like furniture or stuff for kids.
At the time I had several items listed including a $400 Apple iPad Mini. It was like new with a fancy Zagg Bluetooth Keyboard case. It was almost like a little mini touchscreen laptop. I had gotten it as a holiday present and barely used it.
Typically, when selling a used item, you will get anywhere from 30% to 50% of the original purchase price. Depending on the condition of your item.
The iPad was like new so I listed it for $200. It didn’t have a single scratch and worked perfectly. I included the keyboard case (retail value $130) for free. I probably could have gotten more if I listed it higher (or sold them separately) but I wanted to sell it quickly – and it did!
I was asking $15 for the shoes since they were also like new. They even had the price sticker still on the bottom of the shoes.
A woman contacted me through OfferUp and wanted to buy the shoes. Then she inquired about the iPad. I told her about the iPad. How it was a gift and that it was like new. She said her daughter was counting her change to collect enough money to buy the iPad. She had just gotten birthday money from friends and family and really wanted it.
I patiently waited for her response. She got back to me later that day saying that she only had $200 total. Since she really needed the shoes (for her graduation) she didn’t have enough for both.
Seriously? Like I’m going to turn away a 13 year old girl on her birthday, over $15. I told her she could have both for $200. They were elated.
How to Safely Sell Used Items
At the time, I was new to selling used items and admittedly was a little overly cautious. So I met the mom in a drugstore parking lot in the middle of the day when it was still light out.
Since Banks and drugstores both have security cameras they make for a good meeting place for selling and buying used items. But even if you meet after dark, the parking lots are usually well lit. But I still recommend meeting while the store is still open.
When we met, she told me that it was exactly what her daughter wanted for her birthday. All of her friends had iPads. But she couldn’t afford to buy her one since she had been out of work.
The day after we made the exchange, the mom sent me another message via the app. She said her daughter absolutely loved the iPad.
And the shoes? They fit perfectly!
As for me? I made a quick $200. But the best part was the great feeling I had making a mom and her daughter happy. Talk about a win/win.
Since writing this, I have made thousands of dollars by selling used items, blogging, through affiliate sales, freelance writing, side hustles, writing books, and creating and selling online courses (among other things).
Learn how you can make money from the comfort of home… Download a FREE guide to start now by using the link below.
“Behind the cloud, the Sun is still shining.” ~Abraham Lincoln
A while back, I was talking to a friend about writer’s block. Well, not so much writer’s block but the feeling of being pulled in too many directions at once, making it hard to focus sometimes.
As it turns out there is a term for this and it’s called monkey mind. The definition according to Wikipedia is this:
Monkey mind or mind monkey, from Chinese xinyuan and Sino-Japanese shin’en 心猿 [lit. “heart-/mind–monkey“], is a Buddhist term meaning “unsettled; restless; capricious; whimsical; fanciful; inconstant; confused; indecisive; uncontrollable.” (Source: Wikipedia)
It seems to me that there might be lots of folks feeling this way lately.
Especially, with the global pandemic, riots, and all the craziness going on (like Trump declaring Covid-19 the China virus). It still cracks me up every time I think about it. I was watching him live on National Television when he said it.
Anyway, laughter is the best medicine. Even for monkey mind.
So now that you know what monkey mind is, how do you cure it?
Firstly, I would like to say that I am cursed with the entrepreneur gene. If you’re anything like me, then you too come up with new ideas every day and sometimes all day long.
I literally pull over in my car sometimes just to jot down ideas before I forget! This, of course, can distract you from your mission, cause you to lose focus, and sometimes even stop you dead in your tracks.
Sometimes even leaving you feeling stuck.
Sometimes I feel like an octopus using up all my arms (or legs) while trying to spin 12 plates. While I only have 8!
That to me is the best description of “monkey mind” and what it actually feels like.
So what do you do when you begin to feel this way? Well, there are lots of things you can do, one is to take a deep breathe and shift your focus. Think about what you should do first. Decide what is the most important thing you need to do right now, to propel yourself forward so you don’t feel stuck or overwhelmed.
To propel you and your business forward.
Or what I like to say, “Move the needle.”
How to Move the Needle Forward to Success.
Whether it’s to scale your business, start a business, stay afloat, or simply to feel happier. Then below are some solid things you can do to relieve the monkey mind, alleviate stress, and get more focused and productive.
*Go for a walk or get some fresh air even if it’s just opening a window and taking some deep breaths.
*Exercise and get your heart pumping. Do anything to get yourself moving. Do an exercise video, jump on the treadmill or turn on some music and dance around.
*Mediate. Admittedly, I’m not the biggest fan of meditation but others swear by it and I do test it on occasion. Below is the link to my favorite morning meditation. WARNING: It also has a combination of humor and profanity. So if this erks you in any way then skip it.
*Pick 3 things you need to do today and then commit to just 10 minutes (or more, but at least) of working on each thing.
*Eat something healthy – sometimes you lose focus because you are hungry (or hangry). First, drink a glass of water (you could also just be thirsty) and then have a healthy snack or a meal.
*Use the Pomodoro technique to accomplish more in less time. It’s a method where you focus on only ONE task for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. This way you stay focused and get stuff done. Then in that 5 minutes, you check email, get a snack, or whatever. But during that 25 minutes (you can set a timer) you don’t do anything but focus on one task.
*And the most important thing to remember is that anything you might be struggling with or feeling right now is that this too shall pass. Everything is temporary including life itself and that the sun is always still shining brightly behind the clouds.
If you want to build your own Freedom lifestyle business, there are 3 things you need to get started, your own website, an email list, and traffic to your lead magnet. Everything you need to know on how to start as quickly as today is inside the Freedom Lifestyle Membership.
You can join today for only $7!
All you need to do is sign up by creating your own username (email address) and password.
Once you sign up, you will gain immediate access to all the videos. That teaches you how to Build Your Own Money-Making website in 60 minutes or less, how to build your own email list of happy customers, and a whole bunch more…
But first download a FREE guide to get started today.
The Importance of Early Detection in Breast Cancer
The first time I found a lump on one of my breasts, I was in my early twenties. Actually, I didn’t find the lump, my doctor did. It was during a routine annual exam. It was a little scary going for my first mammogram at such a young age.
Fortunately, everything turned out fine for me.
It turns out I have dense tissue in my breasts. This means I develop lumps fairly frequently. They’re usually nothing to be concerned about. But the only way to know for certain is to have a mammogram.
A mammogram is a breast exam used to screen you for breast cancer. They squeeze your breast between two cold, hard, flat surfaces. Then they take x-rays of your breasts at various angles. It’s sometimes painful but mostly uncomfortable.
How to Prepare for a Mammogram
There isn’t very much preparation for a mammogram. It is recommended that you avoid chocolate, coffee, or caffeine before the test. The caffeine can make your breasts more tender making it more uncomfortable during the exam. You should begin to avoid them about a week before your exam.
Hopefully, where you for your exam will be as cool as mine. They have coffee readily available and giant jars of Hershey kisses in the waiting rooms. To make up for all the chocolate you gave up
On the day of the exam, do not put on deodorant, lotion, perfume, or anything else on your breasts or under your arms. If you do, you should thoroughly wash it off before the exam. It could alter your test results or prevent the x-rays from being clear.
After checking in for your exam you will be asked to undress from the top up and put on a gown. You should wear a skirt or pants so you can at least have your bottoms on when they remove the gown during the exam.
The worst part of a mammogram is trying to hold still while they take the x-ray. If you move while they are taking the x-ray, it could come out blurry. Making it difficult for the doctor to make an accurate assessment.
Then you have to do it again. Which is a little more painful now that your breasts are already tender. After years of experience, I’ve mastered the art of holding my breath while they are taking the x-rays.
When Should You Have a Mammogram?
Your doctor will recommend a mammogram if there is something unusual or suspicious about your breasts. Like a lump, tenderness, pain, unusual changes or discharge from your nipples; or any other unusual changes to your breasts.
If you’re old (like me) it is recommended that you have a mammogram once a year. Typically if you are over the age of 40 or if there is a history of cancer in your family. Speak to your doctor if anything seems unusual about your breasts or to find out when you should have your first mammogram.
If you have any of the above mentioned symptoms, schedule an appointment with your doctor immediately. Early detection could mean the difference between life or death.
After they take the x-rays you will be sent to a waiting room. They recommend that you keep the gown on in case the doctor recommends more testing. Then you sit in a room with other women all a little nervous while waiting for their test results.
The doctor will call you into a room where you go over the x-rays together.
If everything looks good they send you on your way. You can breathe easy now knowing you’re okay.
If something looks suspicious, then further testing is recommended. They typically start with more x-ray taken from multiple angles and more advanced technology like 3D images.
If something warrants concern, the next step is to have a biopsy. Where they extract samples from the breast tissue to run more tests.
After your mammogram, you will most likely be offered a choice whether to stay and wait for your results or to leave. If you decide to stay you will wait to see the doctor and go over the results together. If you decide to leave they will call you with the results.
Keep in mind, if you are called back it is no longer considered prevention. Your health insurance may charge you differently for your follow up visit. I learned this the hard way by having to pay out of pocket. Apparently, had I stayed the entire appointment would have been covered under prevention saving me money.
I usually wait since I want to know the results as quickly as possible. One year when I was there for a routine visit, it was kind of busy and I didn’t feel like waiting. Since I was there for a routine visit and not because of any unusual changes I wasn’t too concerned.
As Murphy’s Law would have it, things looked suspicious.
I was surprised when I received a call to come back for more testing.
This time when I arrived at the facility, they sent me to the other side. This side is where the women go who failed the initial breast screening. I call it the scary side. It was not fun sitting in the waiting.
You can’t help but people watch while you’re there. Wondering who has cancer. It makes me happy to see women come out of the doctor’s office with expressions of relief and joy. I too felt relief on that day. It turned out to be nothing.
My sister Natalie wasn’t so lucky. She died of breast cancer. She had been struggling with her weight and was taking high blood pressure medication.
She was only 46 years old when she died. She found the lump between her regular checkups and annual mammograms. Only 7 months after having a routine mammogram. She wasn’t scheduled for another one for 5 months.
It turned out to be the most aggressive form of breast cancer. After careful consideration, she decided to have the most aggressive treatment. Her doctor scheduled a double mastectomy and both her breasts were removed only 2 weeks after she was diagnosed with cancer.
Six weeks later, she went back to have her stitches removed. Another cancerous lump had already formed on one of her scars. She went back to surgery to have the lump removed. Then she went through chemotherapy, radiation, and chemotherapy again. Despite the early detection, cancer spread rapidly into stage 4. Once in her lymph nodes, cancer spread everywhere including her lungs. She died exactly one year after having her breasts removed.
My sister Natalie didn’t win her battle with cancer but many do.
Her overall health wasn’t very good, to begin with. She was overweight, was taking high blood pressure medication (which completely killed her sex drive), and she smoked.
Your health and choices can significantly impact your treatment. Including your chance of survival and risk of contracting other deadly diseases and breast cancer.
There are many cancer survivors who are alive today because of early detection.
As well as their overall health and choices.
It’s scary to think about but extremely important. Early detection and immediate treatment is the best way to battle this deadly disease.
Check your own breasts every month. Only you know what your breasts feel like. What is normal for you and what is not. If you have any unusual symptoms or any of the above mentioned symptoms, it is critical that you call your doctor to have your breasts examined.
As quickly as possible.
On a side note, my sister was an organ donor. Because cancer had spread throughout her entire body, only her corneas could be donated. I learned shortly after her death that two people can now see because of her. An eighty year old woman in WNY and a 44 year old man in Tennessee.
Knowing her death at least allowed two people to use their eyes helped make the healing process and loss of her death a little bit easier.
Being overweight increases your risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. Discover how you can lose weight fast and keep it off for life.
There’s never been a better time to start your own blog. Now it’s time to choose your niche.
So you’ve decided to start your own freedom lifestyle blog and now you need to decide what your money-making website is going to be about.
Firstly, congratulations on taking action!
I’m super excited to help you on your journey to building your own business.
So you’ve been hearing about bloggers making a killing online by starting a blog. Working remotely from anywhere in the world – with only a laptop and an internet connection.
If this seems too good to be true…
I am here to tell you – it is possible! If you are serious about building an online business it will take time, effort, determination and most of all – you have to be willing to learn.
But if you do all the right things, you can build your own dream business. An online business can bring you a steady stream of income for life.
Since starting my own blog I have taken many twists and turns. I’ve had minor setbacks and big wins! But everything in life is a learning experience & sometimes your path takes you in directions you didn’t expect.
That’s called life. 🙂
That’s why it’s so important for you to choose the *right* niche now and why I wrote this article.
So you will make the best decision!
Choosing Your Niche should be fun! One of the most important things about starting a blog is choosing your niche. The more you can narrow down your niche, the more you can distinguish yourself from other blogs. You will be spending a lot of time on your blog. Continuously adding valuable content and learning how to make money blogging.
You want your blog to be interesting and enjoyable for your followers. So they keep coming back, reading your blog, and most importantly buying from you.
Choosing a Profitable Niche
There’s a common misconception about blogging, that if there are too many blogs in a certain niche it’s “oversaturated. Don’t worry about that.
It means there is a demand for it. It will, however, be more difficult to distinguish yourself from the crowd unless you come up with your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). It’s best to narrow your niche down as much as possible. Using your voice and your own personality will help you build your own loyal following.
A loyal tribe that relates to you. Making it way easier to grow and begin monetizing your blog.
When selecting your niche, choose a subject that you are knowledgeable about. Or have a deep interest in learning. You will be spending a lot of time learning and writing about your topic.
So Make Blogging Fun!
Your niche can be a hobby like gardening or sewing. Or it can involve your profession, like real estate or accounting. If you’re struggling to decide on a niche, try thinking of something you wouldn’t mind learning for a full year. You’ll be doing research to create great content. Make sure it’s something you want to learn.
Try this…
Imagine that you were given an opportunity. You have been chosen to live on a desert island. For one year, you must devote your life to learning about ONE thing. Money isn’t an object.
This is about what you are truly interested in learning. What topic would you choose?
Choosing a Unique Niche
If you choose a unique or uncommon niche, it will be easier for you to set yourself apart as the go-to expert in your field. As long as there is an audience or a demand for your products and/or services you will immediately set yourself up for success!
The first thing you should do is find the right audience, then study your market, and target them directly. I teach you all about this inside a FREE newsletter. You can download it below…
The most important thing is to enjoy what you are blogging about. Choosing a niche you are passionate about will help you create better content for your audience. You are also more likely to monetize your blog faster if you’re super excited about it.
If you have many interests and ideas like I do, begin by writing down the possibilities. Think longevity and happy blogging. Will your blog help solve a problem, entertain, or teach something of value?
If you choose something you know well, it will be considerably easier to get started. If you have several great ideas, start with one idea. Then once your blog is generating consistent income, you can always build another one.
Because remember – the average millionaire has at least 7 streams of income. Click the link below to start a new income stream and Download a FREE guide that will teach you how.
Yesterday was the kick-off for our book launch and by evening we were already ranked as a best-selling book in 3 countries!
It is absolutely amazing feeling, to say I am an International Bestselling Author!
But that’s not the best part…
Last night, our book took the lead to #2 passing Jeff Bezos in new releases. So how did we do it?
It’s all about collaboration.
There are 29 of us promoting our book “The Power of Why: Why 28 women created an online course and why you should too.”
But we NEED your help to get to #1! It’s on SALE today and only this week.
And the faster you buy it, the better our chances.
The book is on Kindle (there’s no paperback) and is only $1.03. You saw that right – it’s only one dollar!
But the content is priceless.
Here’s what one person told me after reading my chapter:
“Well done Irene Gabelnick for following your dreams! I’ve heard so many stories where people were discouraged from singing for many years because of one negative comment given by a teacher/someone. For you, it was writing. But you overcame that fear. Good job!” ~Benny Ng
Discover how to grow your business using Pinterest to drive new buying customers to your website fast.
Updated on November 9, 2020. This post may contain affiliate links. Which means I earn a small commission if you purchase through the links. You can read the full disclosure to learn more.
Pinterest is still one of the fastest-growing social media platforms.
Even in 2020! Read how you can easily use Pinterest to drive traffic to your website, build your email list, and grow your business.
Unlike other social media platforms, Pinterest is a search engine. Where people go to buy things, find useful information, and where business owners go to take action!
*Just a quick side note. I don’t usually write long blog posts. But I felt it was really important to share this with you. It took me a long time to figure out how to use Pinterest successfully. Now that I have found a winning formula I wanted to share it with you. To save you time and start using Pinterest the right way – fast. So you can drive consistent traffic with Pinterest to make money blogging and grow your business.
You can Pin it now in case you get interrupted. Then come right back to learn actionable steps that you can use right now to start getting traffic to your website. Don’t forget to download your FREE guide to make your Pinterest pins go viral.
The following information below can help you quickly grow your business using Pinterest.
Keep reading to see who is on Pinterest, what Pinterest is all about, and how you can grow your business using Pinterest.
Who’s on Pinterest?
According to Pinterest Business, there are over 442 million monthly active users worldwide. Pinterest is growing and has become a valuable business platform for bloggers and business owners.
Also, business owners and bloggers are on Pinterest all the time. So if your business targets other business owners (or happy shoppers with money to spend) it’s a great place to be.
Here are some compelling statistics according to Pinterest for Business:
81% of Pinterest users are women.
The median age of Pinterest users is 40.
Half of Pinterest users earn $50K or greater per year, with 10 percent of Pinteresting households making greater than $125K.
90% of weekly Pinners make purchase decisions on Pinterest
How Pinterest Works…
Pinterest is a form of social media that uses images to grab your attention and drive traffic to information, products, and services. The images are shared and saved to boards to keep and use for later.
As a business, you can have direct links to your website, a sales page or an email sign up form. Hosted either by your website or your email provider.
Pinterest is primarily a search engine. Not so much used for social engagement, but to find useful things to make your life easier.
Here’s an example of exactly how it works. I’m going to use recipes as an example. If you want a specific recipe for dinner, you search for it. You find recipes you want to try, then you save them to your recipe board for later. When you want to make that recipe you go to your Pinterest account and look up the recipe you’ve saved.
You can now make it for dinner or look up the ingredients while you’re at the grocery store. Making it super helpful!
You can also delete the recipe from your board if you decide you didn’t like it. Then you can inform all your friends how awful the recipe was. Like this vegan buffalo wing cauliflower recipe, my daughter and I tried.
People love recommendations and honest feedback. Making your testimonials even stronger. Helping you close more sales!
That is basically how Pinterest works. Now let’s see how you can put Pinterest to work for you and your business.
How to Use Pinterest to Grow Your Business.
Now that we’ve established who’s on Pinterest and how it can help you grow your business, let’s talk about how you can use it to drive sales. Pinterest is a great way to drive traffic to your website. Let’s face it, without traffic you can’t build your email list or increase sales.
I use Pinterest primarily two ways to help my business. You can do the same to grow your business. I create business boards to share valuable content, resources, and information. I save and share pins I create, that link back to my website. Plus, I share Pins that link back to useful content created and shared by other Pinterest users, such as bloggers and other businesses.
I only share and save pins I think will help and interest my viewers. Or information I personally want to read or use. I often check to make sure the links are working and read the articles when I have time. To make sure they come from credible sources and offer value to my readers. You don’t want your Pins to have broken links or poor content.
You can use Pinterest to find valuable tips and tricks to help you build your business. Valuable resources that help you grow your Pinterest account, drive traffic to your website and tons of other business resources. Including how to use social media, website building, traffic, blogging, list building and making money online.
You can also use Pinterest for fun and shopping.
There is some controversy about having boards that aren’t related to your business. I personally think as long as your boards help or interest your followers that it’s okay to have them. Your viewers are actual people. They might share similar interests and want to know about travel, recipes and cleaning hacks too. Don’t you?
My suggestion is to test it to see what works best for you.
To see whether you want to keep your Pinterest account strictly a business platform or make it fun and interesting. Since my main Pinterest account was originally my personal account, I didn’t want to lose the pins I’d saved. Plus, my main Pinterest account right now is my name which is my main business website.
Most of what I know, I’ve learned from testing and implementing different strategies. I’m always continuing to test and learn what’s working.
This way I can teach you how to continuously use Pinterest as a driving force to grow a profitable business using Pinterest.
Once I discovered a winning formula that drives consistent traffic to my website I decided to create the Viral Pin Strategy.
The Viral Pin Strategy is an online video course. It teaches you how to drive traffic to your website quickly and consistently.
What I have found works best (for Pinterest and every social media platform) is testing and using consistency. You need to find what works best for your business. What works with your schedule and what things you can implement into your business strategy that you will follow through with.
Which is why I LOVE Pinterest so much.
Once you learn how it all works, you can automate most of it to put Pinterest to work for You!
Using consistency to grow your business is key to your success.
You need to stay consistent and not give up if you want to put Pinterest to work for you. To drive consistent traffic and grow your business.
Now let’s go over a few actionable steps you can start right now to successfully grow your business with Pinterest. The things I am about to share with you have and continue to work for me and can definitely work for you too.
The steps below are how I was able to increase my monthly views and drive traffic to my website. These are proven methods, you can start doing immediately, to grow your Pinterest views, get more Pinterest followers and drive traffic to your website.
How I Grew my Monthly Pinterest Views from 4k to 46k within only one week.
After implementing only a few of things, I quickly grew my Pinterest monthly views from 4k to 46k. This happened within about a week. As I continued to implement new strategies and *test* I grew my monthly views to over 240k within only a few months.
You can quickly grow your Pinterest views, increase followers and use Pinterest to drive traffic and sales. By implementing only a few of the strategies I am about to share with you.
This ONE THING alone can help you Grow Your Business.
There is *one thing* I have found that is the key to growing any business. Using any form of social media, including Pinterest, any blog, podcast or even a YouTube Channel. To build trust with your audience and drive traffic to your website.
Here’s the thing. There are lots of ways to grow your blog and business. Whichever one you choose, you must be consistent. It is easy to panic when something isn’t working quickly. Blogging is not a get rich quick scheme and all businesses take time to build and grow.
This one thing that can increase your traffic is consistency.
The thing I find that unquestionably works the best is using consistency with anything regarding to traffic, email list building and sales.
Every once in a while I get a little lax and I see a drop. Once I start pinning consistently and trying new strategies it quickly goes back up.
My blog traffic begins to increase, my email list grows and sales go up. Tailwind is a tool that can help you automate your pinning schedule to increase traffic, conversions and sales.
In addition to pinning consistently, I did a few more things that can help you grow your Pinterest views, followers and your cash flow. The first was to convert my personal Pinterest account into a Business Pinterest account.
It is very easy to switch your personal account to a business account. Simply go into the settings of your personal Pinterest account and you will see how easy it is to convert your account. I won’t go into details since Pinterest gives you super easy to follow instructions.
If you already have a business account then you are already well on your way to success! Maybe I was a little slow on the take. 🙂
Once I began using consistency I began to analyze my analytics and *test* my pins. That’s when everything changed!
Increase your monthly views and grow your followers on Pinterest by doing just a few simple and actionable things.
Another thing I discovered is that Pinterest likes fresh content, fresh pins and longer blog posts. Once they see people pinning and saving posts from your website, Pinterest will begin to push your pins out even further.
This way you reach more of your target audience and buying customers and make your pins go viral!
If you haven’t already you can save this article now, this way you can read it again later. Save it by clicking on any of the Pinterest pins. Then you can pin it to all of your relevant boards. To help your followers grow their business with Pinterest too.
Next, we will cover how and why claiming (or verifying) your website will help you grow your business on Pinterest.
How to Claim Your Website on Pinterest.
After turning your Pinterest account into a business account (or creating a business account) you can claim your website with Pinterest. This will allow you to now have access to your analytics. This is really important because it helps you track which pins are getting the most re-pins and shares.
It also allows your Pinterest profile picture to appear next to your pins.
Claiming your website is important because it helps your audience and followers identify you. To recognize you and begin to trust you as a reputable source of information.
If you haven’t claimed your website yet I strongly suggest that you do it today. Below I share the link where you can easily claim your website.
It shouldn’t take you too long to do. If you want to do it now and read this later, Pin this article to one of your boards and come back to it. Otherwise, keep reading and then do everything after you are done reading this.
Another thing you can do, if you want to read a long blog post, but you don’t have time to read the whole thing in one sitting, is this:
First, save the pin to one of your boards, then go back to the article and open it in chrome on your computer or phone. Then you can bookmark the page. This way you can find it more quickly later.
Another reason this is so helpful is that it connects you to someone who is creating great content. To help you grow your business. Hopefully, you will find my articles useful and keep coming back. I’m not a fly by night blogger and won’t be going anywhere.
I am here to help you succeed which you will. As long as you don’t quit!
Before we move on, as promised, here is the direct link to the Pinterest help center where you can claim your website: Pinterest Help Center.
There are still a few important things I want to share with you, so let’s keep moving.
You should carefully assess your Pinterest profile. The about you section isn’t really “about you”. No one really cares what kind of dog you have or what you do in your spare time. They want to know how you can help them and why they should follow you and your boards.
Be clear about your “message,” what you do and how your business will help your followers. I have made this mistake and it can kill or halt your business. I would rather you learn from my mistakes than struggle through trying to figure things out by yourself.
Here’s an example of how to be clear with your message: A graphic designer might say something like “Stunning Graphic Designs to help you build brand awareness and grow your business.” A cat sitter might say something like, “I treat your pets like they are my own. Affordable pet sitting to give you peace of mind while you’re away.”
Use descriptive words to show your audience how you can help them.
If you are not doing this already begin to pin regularly and be consistent. You don’t need to be on Pinterest all day long. In fact, you shouldn’t be. Use a scheduler like Tailwind. Especially if you know you have a busy day or week ahead. Do it ahead of time so you are constantly pinning.
I use Tailwind routinely but I also pin manually and think it’s important to do both. Pinterest likes when you are on Pinterest. Plus there is a ton of great information on Pinterest that can help you grow your business.
If you haven’t signed up for Tailwind yet, you can use my Referral link to get a $15 credit when opening a new account. Once you sign up we Both get a $15 credit.
When pinning other people’s pins, you want to make sure that the links are working and that the articles have good information. I have pinned blog posts and then began reading them to find the content wasn’t very good or I didn’t agree with the information. Whenever this happens I go back and delete the pin. Which is super easy.
How to delete pins on Pinterest.
You can either delete them on your computer by clicking the “edit” button. Then scroll to the bottom of the information and hit “delete.” You do the same thing on your mobile app. Once you are in the edit section scroll all the way down to the bottom. I can only see the “delete” button if I scroll down. Then hit delete.
I also delete all of my pins that are not converting well or going viral. Then you can create new pins that can drive more traffic. Don’t get discouraged. Remember you are not failing. It’s simply a failed “test.” Keep going until you find what’s working and then repeat.
Continue to check your boards to make sure you have helpful resources that serve your audience. Keeping your boards clean and filled with great content (relevant to your niche) will keep people coming back.
Having pins with bad links or misinformation can quickly lead to losing trust, credibility, and followers.
Clean up your boards and keep doing it at least once a week or monthly.
At one point my Pinterest boards were a complete mess. When I first started on Pinterest I didn’t know what I was doing. So I spent quite a bit of time on this. Now every few weeks I go back and delete pins and make sure the saved pins on my boards are relevant, helpful and have working links.
If you don’t have time to go through them all, you can make some of your boards secret.
Then go back to them later, when you have more time. To make your boards secret go to edit the board then click on the secret button. A little lock will appear on your board to show you that no one else can see it.
Quick Tip to Save Time while Cleaning Up Your Pinterest Boards.
You can quickly go through larger boards (with a lot of pins) by creating a new board. Try making the title a little more descriptive. Save any pertinent pins from the old board to the new board. Then delete the old board. Doing this will save you a ton of time. It was quick and easy and felt refreshing.
Kind of like spring cleaning or cleaning out your closet.
If you haven’t done so already, add descriptions and hashtags to each board. Use descriptions on your Pinterest boards that maximize SEO keywords. Pinterest is a search engine. You want your boards and pins to show up in searches related to your boards and content
When choosing the titles for your boards, think about how the board benefits the reader. Don’t just say simple things like “cool graphics.” Instead, say something like “Graphics will inspire you to create great blog posts that will have your clients begging to work with you.”
For each board make sure that the first pin or “cover” picture is one of your own pins.
To change the cover image of your board, click on the board then hit the edit icon. Go to where it says cover. Click next to it where it says “change.” Then you can scroll through the pictures by hitting the arrow to the right of the picture. Once you find the pin (image) you want to keep as your cover, click the save button in the lower right hand corner.
Drive Traffic to Your Website to Grow Your Business.
As a blogger or business owner, the whole purpose of using Pinterest and creating a Pinterest Business account is to increase sales. By driving traffic to your website and directing the right people to your offers.
Pinterest is a great way to drive the right traffic to your website. Your pins link directly to your blog posts, sales pages and products. Making it a fast and effective way to make sales.
By leading them exactly where you want them to go. To the “Buy Now” button. Or even better, by getting them to join your Email List so you can gain new customers for life.
Once I discovered a winning formula that has grown my email list and helped me grow my business I decided to share it with you. That’s why I created the Viral Pinterest Pin Strategy Video Series that shows you *exactly* how you can create Pinterest Pins that go Viral.
You can start now by downloading your FREE eBook. Where you will learn 10 vital steps that can help you grow your business fast.
Enter your email below to download your FREE guide. “10 Things that Can Make Your Pinterest Pins Go Viral“
Irene Gabelnick
