Still Wondering How to Partner With Major Brands?
Read this.
photo credit: The TomKat Studio
Are you wondering how to partner with today’s major brands? Want to know how to catch their eye?
Well, if you were at Create & Cultivate ATL you might remember the delicious Mediterranean-inspired dishes from lunch served up by Zoës Kitchen. Beyond filling our stomachs, they’re also filling our brains with useful info. We got the chance to pick the brains of the social media and marketing team behind the restaurant lifestyle brand.
They are sharing how they want to work with influencers and how influencers should approach them.
WHAT THEY’RE LOOKING FOR IN AN INFLUENCER
If you’re already a Zoës enthusiast, that’s great! They love seeing your passion for their brand. If you eat at the restaurant, let them know. If there is a dish you love, share it! The more often they see you interact with them online, the more confident they become in your authentic interest in the brand.
They’ll have ideas of their own, but are always interested in your take on how to deliver their message to your audience. You likely have a following that differs from theirs and you know how to best engage them. Share how you would engage your specific audience with a tailored pitch.
Getting your grid right is the first step to growing your audience. Elevated photography and feed aesthetic are key elements in selecting an influencer to represent your brand. Bonus points if you can offer photography that is so good that they would repurpose it in the future (crediting you, of course).
Don’t limit yourself to a certain category for collaboration. Brands like Zoës appreciate different types of influencers to break through the clutter. For example, if you’re a fashion blogger, sharing a food-related post will stand out from the rest of your feed and will captivate followers in a new way. Using food bloggers (or same-category influencers) has benefits of its own, but brands are always seeking refreshing and unexpected ways to be seen and share content.
"Don’t limit yourself to a certain category for collaboration."
Tweet this.
photo credit: The TomKat Studio
NEXT STEP: HOW TO GET THEIR ATTENTION
If you’re using a product or visiting a restaurant like Zoës, tag them in a photo or use their brand hashtag. That’s the first step to getting on a brand’s radar. The person monitoring their social media will be paying close attention to who is engaging with the brand.
If that doesn’t get a brand’s attention, the onus is on you to reach out via web or social. You can shoot them a DM or send a detailed, but succinct message of why and how you want to work with them.
Include examples of relevant brand partnerships. Numbers and analytics are a great way to show the brand the kind of impact you can make.
Remember, it’s all about the feeling. People don’t only come to Zoës Kitchen because the food tastes great. More often, the team says they hear that customers enjoy ZK because of how it makes them feel. They identify with the Mediterranean way of life – leading a balanced, active lifestyle, connecting with others, and fueling their body with food they can feel great about from the inside out. These are all points that you can work into your outreach to the brand.
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Why It's Great That Not Everyone Will Love Your Work
Fear not the unfollow.
The more connected that our world becomes, the more influencers there are, the more social media posts and best practice philosophies that there are, and the more comparison there is. We're bombarded with other people’s messages and a nagging feeling that we're not enough; that we could be doing so much more.
There’s better technology, cameras, styling props, improved platforms, more readers to capture, more email addresses, more Instagram followers to acquire and so on....Everyone else (apparently) is doing so much better and so much more than we are. They have more followers, bigger numbers, better websites and collaborations.
This perception and overwhelm often translates to inadequacy. We feel bad about what it is we’re doing.
It isn’t enough. Except, it is.
Focusing on 'what everyone else is doing' is less than helpful. You need to protect yourself and find the balance between being in a bubble and being inspired by those killing it around you.
BUBBLE VS. INSPIRATION
Put the comparison game aside. Focus for a sec on the cold-hard truth that your numbers aren't as big and your profile isn't as out there as someone else's? First of all, this will always be the case (unless you're Kim K).
Second, the reality is that not everyone will love you and your work. This is the truth for all of us and no matter how awesome you are or your work is, there's someone who it won't speak to. Whether from a brand perspective or your prospective audience.
Do you know why?
Because your message isn’t what they’re seeking and that is perfectly OK. In fact dare I say it's fabulous?! It means that as you're doing your thing, following your heart and speaking your true voice. Genuine and authentic followers, subscribers and even customers will follow.
Again, no matter how rockin’ your work and profile is, not everyone is buying what you’re selling and this is absolutely OK. An online course I studied this year highlighted a very important point when it came to sales pages. It discussed the concept of clearly stating within your copy who your product or service is NOT for, hence advising prospective customers that maybe they aren't prospective customers after all. That this concept was as crucial as telling them how fabulous whatever your selling was too.
There’s a two-fold strategy to this exercise; first off you've more than likely circumnavigated away from the future painful and unsatisfied customers of your business and second, you’ve represented up-front and unabashedly who you are what you’re all about to those who want to hear it.
Following my studies I decided to take these lessons a step further and extend it to all of my work and communication; to really own my space and what I’m doing. I wasn't in competition with anyone else and it wasn't for purposes of profit or profile. I chose to fine tune my voice, allow it to be heard even more clearly and not hold back with anything; whether that be a product, recipe or social media post; in case I put someone off.
"I chose to fine tune my voice, allow it to be heard even more clearly and not hold back with anything."
Tweet this.
GUESS WHAT?
I have put people off. Silently and without issue. I’ve also gained more subscribers, followers, profile and engagement; with these there come further excitement and possibility. You could argue it’s the whole quantity over quality debate. Although there was an initial drop off, and perhaps overall my numbers will be smaller from "owning my space" and therefore being more of a niche, but those who’ve elected to hear from me on various platforms actually want to hear from me.
I treat that as sacred and I know they feel that from me too. I’m able to deliver better quality to them because I’m not spreading myself thin trying to please and appeal to the entire world’s population. If you need further proof of this, check out how many blogs there are devoted to the humble succulent (and yes I love them too!)
We're all different and our tastes reflect as much. Learning to accept this point is the best thing that you can add to your blog. Do your thing and do it with all that you have. People pick up on and respond to that and besides it feels awesome!
So the next time that someone unfollows you or unsubscribes from your list fear not (within reason), wish them well on their quest and welcome with open arms those who have remained instead.
Nadia is a 29 year-old Sydney-sider, devoted to providing inspiration and tools to empower women in living a life of wellness; to be the best that they can! As an author, speaker and recipe developer she is a big dreamer and living proof that we can each do and be what we choose. Departing the corporate world in 2013 to follow her heart, Nadia has found it and attempts to seize the day, everyday. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram and on her website.
An original version of this article appeared on Blog Society.
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Why Artist Jess Rotter Says You Should Take Time to Be Bored
Only boring people are #blessed.
From Jess Rotter's "I'm Bored."
Boredom is a thing of the past. With smartphones and streaming video, the world at our fingertips (!!!), how could it not be? Isn’t that what we wanted? Wasn’t it our mothers who told us, “only boring people are bored.”
But artist Jess Rotter is bored. And the LA-based creative responsible for those rad Lenny Letter illustrations and official merch for musicians like The Grateful Dead and Cat Stevens, is proud of it, proposing a new way to think about boredom.
It’s what her new book of illustrations, “I’m Bored,” is all about.
Raised in NY and deeply influenced by her dad's vinyl covers and the world of 1970s rock-n-roll, Rotter says she moved to LA when the rat race of the city wasn’t working for her anymore. “There were a lot of ups and downs,” she says of the city that raised her. “I came out here [to LA] and sorted it out, but then I thought, ‘I’m bored.’” She turned that feeling into art.
“The book,” she notes, “as cute and funny as it can be, can be super heavy. The characters are alter egos. The dog is all about a desire to feel cool and relevant. The ostrich is broken-hearted and depressed.” A wizard on an old-school telephone asks, "Mom, am I relevant?" to the voice on the other end. They wonder, "Now what?" They tell us, "I'm trying."
Image: Jess Rotter
The sentiments shared by the characters typify a kind of life fatigue we all feel at points-- the exact kind of fatigue we try to escape by keeping up with the cult of busy. If we're bored, then what we're left with are our thoughts. *Shudders*
They each also represent a desire from Rotter for people to get back to the “story” of moments. She believes that when things are over-documented stories lose part of their luster. She shares a tale from a friend who told her about being a small child trying on his grandfather's lederhosen. "It was this insane memory," she says of his retelling, "and has always stayed a fond memory because he never had an actual photo of the event."
In that undocumented moment, “the story becomes more exciting. That’s the soul, that’s the beauty," she says. "But now we’re afraid to forget or we’re afraid to deal with the moment.”
"We're afraid to forget or we're afraid to deal with the moment."
Tweet this.
“Maybe we don’t need to go back and look at everything. Maybe let’s try being in the moment because we’re documenting every day of our lives.”
For Rotter, dealing with and being in the moment means dealing with the subsequent boredom. A feeling that no longer makes us comfortable, but does make room for creativity, rare moments we wouldn't otherwise notice, and for us to hit the space key in our brain.
In this day and age it’s a sacred sentiment, where everyone, including Rotter, hops on their cell phone in the grocery store line or the elevator ride. “You’re giving your brain a little thumb-suck,” she says of the social media stream. The constant coverage is driving the bus. The Tweeting, the hashtagging, the stories layered on top of each other. There are not moments of boredom because we don't allow them.
To get into the bored zone, Rotter says we, “have to train ourselves to go backwards."
Image: Jess Rotter
The election comes up. How could it not? During the 2016 Presidential race the media never allowed for information to sit. There was always a story, never a dull moment, and we were all active participants.
"Life bounces between good and evil constantly," she shares. "Now the ball has been thrown in a different direction. The world is about the change in a major way. This electron was such a swamp, he [Trump] brings it out of people. He knows what buttons to push. It’s like the purple slime from Ghostbusters.” She sees some positive, hoping that now, more than ever, “that this wakes people up to express themselves.” That communities “open up and make art."
"So many people are at their lowest levels," she says. "This is their anti-establishment takeover. And art is one of the things that is going to get us through this shit.”
"There are not moments of boredom because we don't allow them."
Tweet this.
“Everybody’s eyes are opened," she explains. "People are awakened in a weird way. They’re depressed and awake. They’re feeling things and maybe people will turn off the phones.”
Maybe they'll bored. Maybe we'll relearn how to sit with our thoughts. Maybe boredom will change the world. Jess Rotter, for one, wouldn't mind.
In the meantime, pre-order "I'm Bored," now.
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Why It’s Important to Have Women in Your Life Who Succeed
"Tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are."
Source: Darling Magazine
Looking back over my teens and twenties, I realized that many of my close friends happened to be strong, successful women. I don’t know if I was drawn to them because of how inspiring they were or if our paths just collided that way, but one thing I know is that their influence in my life has helped shape me into who I am.
Aren’t you always fascinated by what makes people the way they are? What is it that successful women do differently that sets them apart? I think the best way to find this out is to surround yourself with them; people who are just being amazing at life, and who will encourage you to be amazing at it, too! There’s a lot to be said for humbling yourself and gleaning from someone who’s living out their dreams already; their wisdom is invaluable.
Learning how to celebrate other women’s successes is a beautiful quality and something that will benefit everyone involved, but it’s not always easy. Sometimes, instead of feeling inspired we can feel insecure, or even jealous. We’ve all been there, and it’s an easy trap to fall into. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t beat yourself up. It’s what you choose to do with those feelings that really matters. Try countering your negative thoughts by acting in the opposite way; this is powerful and can help you to form new habits.
Having women in our lives who are going after something big, who are believing in who they are, and who are using their strengths encourages us to do the same. By embracing their achievements we can let their stories become models for our own successes.
Here’s why I think we need successful women in our lives:
They inspire us.
Often successful women are full of innovative ideas. They think creatively and don’t let themselves be limited by what others say can or can’t be done. They’re good for exchanging ideas with, and can give us valuable tips that could have taken us years to learn. Usually, these women are doing something they’re passionate about and naturally want to share their inspiring stories with us. They take risks and expect us to, as well.
We become like them.
Who we surround ourselves with is a good indicator of who we will become. Women who are good at what they do often got there by surrounding themselves with others who were already achieving. These type of women will most likely push us to be our best and to accomplish more than we might on our own. Whether our dream is to become a CEO of a large company, a nurse, or a mother, we will be a benefit by being around women who are living it out already.
"Who we surround ourselves with is a good indicator of who we will become."
Tweet this.
They understand us.
Every successful woman started somewhere and has probably been where we are at some point in their journey. They might just know the next step we need to take. High achievers have usually learned a lot about the work-life balance and may be able to offer advice and wisdom that we can apply to our own lives. They often understand the struggle and challenges involved in getting where we want to be and can offer guidance.
They motivate us.
In order to move forward, we need to have motivation. Women who are successful are often action-oriented, which can give us just the kickstart we need. They are natural problem solvers and can offer practical solutions to our challenges or situations.
They see what we will be.
Women who are succeeding generally have high expectations of themselves and others; when people expect a lot from us, we tend to live up to it. Having women in our lives who see the best in us can be a huge factor in our success. These type of women can often see talents and skills that we might not be able to see in ourselves and can help to draw them out.
From my experience, there is a richness to opening ourselves up in vulnerability to those who we are inspired by. Their confidence and passion is contagious, so let’s start an outbreak of women who believe in their own greatness.
"Confidence and passion is contagious, so let’s start an outbreak of women who believe in their own greatness."
Tweet this.
Who would you consider to be a woman like that in your life?
This piece originally appeared on Darling Magazine.
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Links We Love: Million Women Gonna March but Kanye Didn't Vote & There are Now Muffins for Your Stress
Muffin over mind? Count us in.
Is it here yet? The weekend? Almost kids. This week has been a doozy and if you've gotten a little snoozy on keeping up with the media chatter, we gotcha. One link we love at a time.
We don't know how we feel about this. But we do know we don't love that Kanye didn't vote.
Why the women's march in Washington is about more than Trump.
Queen for life. Banks is the female empowerment artist you need to be listening to.
Do you have the post-election blues? Apparently, muffins are better than Valium. We'll take a dozen.
You get an IUD! And you get an IUD! Look under your chair, IUDs for EVERYONE! Because reproductive rights are kool.
Don't just talk about it. Be about it.
Here are the non-profits that you can support now to make a statement to America's new administration.
Silicon Valley might be notorious for its lack of female employees, but Apple and Google ranked in the top places for women to work at, as voted by women.
Journalism did not triumph during this election. Fake news did.
When did people let their bias make them become so gullible?
It's Friday. Excuse us while we obsess over tiny cooking.
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The One Way You Still Aren’t Using Amazon
And it's guaranteed to bring money back into your pocket.
Photo by Kelley Raye, collection by Rachel Zoe
Chances are, you use Amazon for just about everything. From ordering tech and books to getting last minute deliveries on Prime. You stream movies and order dog food in a pinch. But Amazon is also a fashion treasure trove, and they are delivering up the goods this holiday season. You may not yet know that you can also buy your holiday party wardrobe and NYE outfit from your favorite brands on Amazon! Including all accessories.
Better yet, if you’re a fashion blogger, you probably did not know that you can earn advertising fees for linking to Amazon Fashion products through their affiliate marketing program, Amazon Associates.
Amazon Associates helps influencers get a share of the revenue. As Amazon has grown its fashion footprint to become one of the largest online apparel retailers, its Associates program is also adding new opportunities to help fashion influencers monetize their blog, including special financial incentives and premium content for qualified influencers. This is great news for you if you have a fashion blog and especially if your readers are Prime members!
At Create & Cultivate Atlanta many influencers who stopped by the Amazon Fashion booth were excited by the program, especially after being able to browse their great brands at the booth. Many signed up to learn more on the spot, spirited by the possibility of leveraging Amazon in a supplementary way.
With millions of products to choose from and thousands of fashion brands beloved by bloggers—from Rachel Zoe to Vince to BB Dakota—there are a thousand ways to monetize your outfit blog posts.
Photo by Kelley Raye
It’s an earnings opportunity that offers special incentives for qualified fashion influencers, who get access to premium content like curated newsletters and Amazon experiences, such as working with Style Code Live, Amazon’s daily, 30-minute live show where style enthusiasts can connect, chat, shop, and get the inside scoop on the latest fashion and beauty trends.
One of our favorite perks about Amazon Associates is that you still get paid even if a user buys a product different from the one you linked to on Amazon. The way the affiliate program is structured actually ensures that you get paid for “halo” items bought within a 24-hour period of arriving on Amazon via your affiliate link (with a few exceptions for certain items). And you know how easy it is to buy multiple products on Amazon when you’re Prime!
To make the most out of this program, get started today! Holiday gifting season is one of the biggest online shopping times of the year and it's already here. Which means you might make a little extra to shop for friends and family this year.
To create an Amazon Associates account, create your Store ID here. To apply to be a fashion influencer with Amazon Associates, email fashion-associates@amazon.com with 1) Subject: Amazon Fashion Associates Application, 2) Your blog URL, 3) Your Instagram Handle and followers, 4) Your Store ID (see above).
Amazon Fashion was a sponsor at Create & Cultivate Atlanta.
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Need a Break Babe? We Got You Covered with a Creative Getaway
Creative getaway in wine country? SIGN. US. UP.
Source: Cheetah is the New Black
It's nearing the end of 2016, which brings feelings of both elation (!!!) and exhaustion (zzz). You worked hard, you played hard, and now, you deserve the chance to recharge your creative brain.
And since we're #strongertogether we teamed up with the ladies of Brit + Co, Shine Text, Levo League, and our favorite inspiring redhead Maxie McCoy to bring you a $2000 Creative Getaway to shoo away any feelings of burnout.
ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL RECEIVE:
ROUNDTRIP AIRFARE
2-NIGHT HOTEL STAY in OJAI, CA
VIP PRIZE PACKAGE OF GIFTS VALUED AT OVER $900
2 BRIT + CO ONLINE CLASSES
On this trip you will reset in the beautiful wine country of Ojai, CA. The prize package is stocked full of goodies to help you live that good life. And the classes ready and waiting to help you slay 2017.
So what are you waiting for? CLICK HERE to enter our Creative Giveaway with Maxie, Levo League, Shine Text and Brit + Co + keep reading to learn more about our partners!
Maxie McCoy
See this Instagram photo by @maxiemccoy * 156 likes
If you've come to our conferences, then you are definitely familiar with our good friend Maxie. She is a boss extraordinaire, and is one of the most inspiring women you'll ever meet. Follow her site for the best work/life advice and success strategies to make you the best entrepreneur that you can be!
Brit + Co
See this Instagram photo by @britandco * 449 likes
For all the things DIY, lifestyle, beauty, home, and even classes to help build up your skill set as a boss, Brit + Co. has it all for you on their site. Brit + Co. is ready to offer you all the advice and tips to live your best life.
Levo League
See this Instagram photo by @levoleague * 765 likes
Maybe you're not much of a morning person but still want to start your day off on the right foot? Shine Text can help give you that extra boost of confidence to slay your day. Sign up for their texts to get their daily affirmations sent right to your phone!
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Must be a U.S. resident and be age 18 or over to enter. Submitting your email address also means you’ll be subscribing to the Create & Cultivate newsletter (if you haven’t already) and the Levo League, Maxie, Brit + Co and Shine newsletters. Entries will be accepted online starting at 12AM PST on 11/17/16 and ending at 12AM PST on 12/6/16. Full official rules HERE.
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The 4 Ways To Use Snapchat For Your Brand
We promise that teenagers aren't the ONLY ones who use it.
Snapchat has been reserved for the millennial audience, and for a long time, it has made many businesses who's demo falls out of the 18-24-year-old range very skeptical about approaching one of the most popular social media channels known to man.
However, instead of shying away from Snapchat because you don't know where to start, or because you don't have a large following on there, you should be proactive in creating out-of-the-box content that not only will get your brand more followers but also get those followers to engage with you more.
If you don't know where to start or are looking to step up your Snapchat game, below are the three ways you can start using the platform to your advantage.
BEHIND THE SCENES ACCESS
If you create content for your blog or website, and your followers wait to see everything when you put your posts live, chances are they are interested in seeing what a day in the life is when you're creating content, especially if you are an influencer. Snapchat is made to give your audience a more candid and personable view of you and your brand, so when creating content, feel free to bring them along with you when at photo shoots, fun meetings, or events. Make sure to cross promote on your socials to let your followers know that they can have a behind-the-scenes view on your Snapchat as well. Not only will you see that your following will grow, but becoming much more personable brand will also grow followers' brand loyalty towards you.
GIVE FOLLOWERS ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE DEALS
Now that you have your followers on Instagram, reward them! If you are selling product or tickets for a special event, drop special discounts that can last as long as the Snapchat is live (24 hours). These can be exclusive to only your Snapchat followers, so always make sure to cross-promote from your other channels and drive them to follow you for access to those deals.
DROP SURPRISE GEOFILTERS
Snapchat now encourages you to create on-demand geofilters for any occasion, be it a birthday party, a concert, or any other special event. However, as a brand, you don't have to be limited to event geofilters. If you know the top cities and areas that you are most popular (be it a workplace, college campus, or shopping centers, etc.), feel free to drop geofilters that your audience can use as an option. They already use tons of filters to make their own content more dynamic, so why not give them a filter that is much more dedicated to them that they can use?
CREATE INTERACTIVE GEOFILTERS
Another element that you can add to surprise filters is making them interactive. Make sure to design your filters in a way that can engage people to use them, by adding a fill-in-the-blank element to it, or also creating graphics in the filter that the audience can interact with when creating a Snapchat.
Another great way to generate more engagement from your interactive geofilters is by holding scavenger hunts that will encourage your followers to travel to destinations close just to find those filters. They can win a prize by using the filter and screenshotting it to ensure that traveled to the location to win a prize. Not only is it fun, but it's a great way to tie in an IRL element to a digital activation.
How have you used Snapchat for your brand? Do you like these ideas, or do you think that your brand will start moving towards the popular app? If you like these or have any other ideas, please let us know below!
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C&C Classifieds Nº16: Richer Poorer, Snapchat, Small Girls PR, and more!
The next step in your career is right here.
A new week is here, and you just started on your job hunt. Or you're still keeping your options open to make sure that the next step in your career is the right one. Whatever it is, we're always on the lookout for your next career move.
This week, we've got listings from Richer Poorer, our great friends at Small Girls PR, Snapchat, MOO, Birchbox, and many more. To get full access to this week's classifieds, enter your info below!
If you have signed up for access to the C&C Classifieds before, click here.
The 6 Small Business Grants You Need To Apply To Now
Time to take the "small" out of your business.
Source: Darling Magazine
As entrepreneurs, we have a lot of ideas that we want to get started on right away. We live with an ambition of wanting to do it all, but reality can hit when we realize that we really need the funds to start fueling our vision. Of course, nothing is achieved without investing in it first, and that starts with time and money. If at first you might feel discouraged that getting funding for your business isn’t feasible for lack of capital, or you just don’t know where to start, the best place to start is by applying to grants.
We’ve already talked to you about how to write a killer proposal for a grant - now it’s time to put those skills to work. Below we’ve gathered some of the grants you can start applying to now to bring your vision to life.
The Eileen Fisher Women-Owned Business Grant Program
We know Eileen Fisher for the amazing label that she started with only $350 and a vision. Aside from creating a line with signature pieces the are created for creatures of comfort, Eileen’s has shared her passion for creating a thriving business with other female entrepreneurs with her Women-Owned Business Grant Program.
The program awards five grants annually to businesses that are 100 percent female-owned and share the founding principles of social consciousness, sustainability and innovation, plus are ready to move into the next phase of development.
FedEx Think Bigger Grant - Small Business Grant
FedEx wants you to hear your elevator pitch, and they want you to think outside of the shipping box. With their Think Bigger Small Business Grant, they annually award 10 winners, along with one grand prize winner who $25,000. Just give them a short profile about your business, and record your elevator pitch to them, and enter! (2017 grant to be announced soon.)
InnovateHER Think Bigger Grant - U.S. Small Business Grant
This is one of the many grants created by the U.S. Small Business Administration, however, in 2015 they introduced The InnovateHER Challenge which recognized female entrepreneurs that are creating business that are critical to the booming economy, regardless of what field they’re in. This grant provides an opportunity for female entrepreneurs throughout the U.S. to showcase products and services that have an immeasurable impact on the lives of women and families (30%), have the potential for commercialization (40%), and fill a need in the marketplace (30%). Six winners are awarded, and the first place winner is awarded $15,000 for their small business.
The Amber Grant Foundation
For nearly 20 years, The Amber Grant Foundation has been awarding women who are looking to fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams. Every month, they award Qualifying Grants $500 as selected by their WomensNet judges, and one of their 12 monthly qualification winners are awarded $1,000 at the end of each year. Also, voting for grants are open to the public, so you can encourage people in your network and shareholders to vote for you to help you win their monthly grants!
Local Women’s Business Centers
While there are many federal and nationwide grants that you can apply to, you can also tap into the local grants that are much more niche. The U.S. Small Business Administration has many local grants that are listed in their database based on your city and state that you can apply to now.
Economic Development Agencies
Every state and many local governments have economic development agencies dedicated to assisting new and established businesses to start, grow and succeed. Services provided by these agencies typically include start-up advice, training and resources, financial assistance with loans, grants and tax-exempt bonds, business location and site selection assistance, employee recruitment and training assistance and a lot more to ensure that your small business thrives. You can search your city or state to see what agencies are offered in your area.
Honorable Mention: Womensphere Venture Incubator
If you are a starting a business in STEM are want to find a grant that strictly tied to your cause, then the Womensphere Venture Incubator is created for you. Although this is not a grant, this is one of the many resources for your business that you can invest your time and money in that will ultimately let your business grow.
This Is How You Celebrate a Raise Without Offending Anyone
Sharing is caring-- usually.
Celebrating a raise is not like celebrating your birthday—you can’t invite everyone to the party. But after months—years, even—of hard work, how do you give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back without making others feel less than stellar about their own work? Promotions at work are public knowledge, and most co-workers will be happy for your deserved success. However, raises, bonuses, and the like, are often not shared for understandable reasons.
Here’s how to celebrate your well-deserved success without bumming out the person typing away next to you at work.
USE DISCRETION
There are people in your life who will always be happy for you, but total transparency when it comes to talking money with co-workers is tricky. It’s also still considered taboo in most workplaces. There are parity arguments to be made for salary transparency, but things can get awkward pretty fast when co-workers find out you’re making more than them. Even if it is deserved, you don’t want to become the pariah of the coffee pot talk.
"Things can get awkward pretty fast when co-workers find out you’re making more than them."
Tweet this.
If there is someone in your office with whom you engage in reciprocal sharing, meaning you share you salaries with each other, then by all means share! Research has shown that transparency among female co-workers helps in salary negotiation.
However, you don’t want your salary to become the point of reference for raise meetings. (Nor should anyone use, "Well, I know that Jenny makes X,” as an argument for a pay increase.) Though perfectly legal, it may cause your boss to think you’re unprofessional and could affect future raises. There are subtle differences that contribute to pay variances, unseen by co-workers but acknowledged by bosses.
If you decide to share, it’s like Pandora’s box: That information is out there and alive. There’s no telling who will find out or what damage it might do, and, ultimately, your boss is the one who has to deal with the aftermath.
DON'T SHARE ON SOCIAL
Sharing is caring—most of the time. If you and your closest head out to dinner and drinks to toast your successes, consider resisting the urge to share on social. Most of your co-workers, and likely your boss, follow you. While you should be able to revel in your raise, remember there are polite ways to do so.
If you do want to share, consider a post that toasts to all the successful women in your life. Post a specific honor or milestone you reached at work that’s not tied to a dollar sign. You should be proud of your hard work, but keep in mind whose eyes are on your social.
TREAT YOURSELF
But only once (okay, twice). You deserve to have a little fiscal fun, but you don’t want to celebrate your raise by upgrading your life. In fact, financial advisors agree that it is a mistake to upgrade as your salary increases. The best way to celebrate your raise is by banking on your future.
That means saving up for bigger life purchases. The average pay raise in both 2014 and 2015 was 3%, and 2016 is following suit. You may not be able to purchase a home by 30, but you definitely won’t be looking into mortgage options if your rent increases every time you are rewarded at work. Be smart. Be save-savvy. Get that bag you’re eyeing, and then plan on contributing more to your 401(k).
The original version of this article appeared on My Domaine.
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Links We Love: The Election Is Finally Over
How women still made a change in politics this week, and more.
It's Friday. Take a seat and take a breather. This week has been whirlwind, but the election is finally over, we have a new President-elect, and we still have a lot of work left to do.
But first, read up. Can't create change without being in the know of what's going on now.
Here's an open letter to Secretary Clinton.
Instagram Stories 2.0 is here.
Sexism is echoing in all places, especially this week. Here's how to fight it at work.
"Trying to be a man is a waste of a woman." Damn right.
Here is one of the things women are rushing to do before Trump takes office.
Do you hate hearing these things at work as well?
We're not ready to say bye to Michelle Obama. Michelle 2020, please.
Facebook, how are some of us dead if we're still writing this?
You know how you're inspired by bloggers to travel around the world and take amazing photos? This takes it to another level, and it's downright scary.
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Do We Still Need Female-Only Spaces?
Yes, yes we do.
The Wing, the women-only space that opened in NYC this past October from co-founders Audrey Gelman and Lauren Kassan, had some women asking, do we still need female-only spaces?
Of the space's intention Gelman told Forbes, “The space is food by women, wine by women, designed by women, our lawyer is a woman. Basically, every inch of the space is the product of the minds of self-identifying women. You feel that."
Similarly, The WW Club (The Working Women's Club) founded by Phoebe Lovatt, is a space for working women worldwide. They host global events and have a strong online community, hosting group chat mentor sessions with boss women like Viceland's Executive Creative Director, Amel Monsur. And yet, in an very forthright Instagram post yesterday, Lovatt wrote, "I'll be 100% honest. Just last Saturday, I was speaking with friends about the future of The WW Club...about whether a gendered 'space' could still be considered a relevant need in the west in 2016 (and beyond), given the rapid strides that women seemed to be making in all spheres."
There was a pause in the text. "How naive," she wrote. Lovatt went on to say, "I just didn't realise how much of it [work] was still left to be done."
Lovatt is, of course, referring to the upset heard 'round the world on Tuesday night. #Election2016. What was presumed by all media and pollsters would be a night celebrating the breaking of ceilings and the ushering in of the country's first female President, became for many, a breaking of hearts.
As a female founder, Jaclyn Johnson, founder of Create & Cultivate, which has a predominantly female demographic (though men do attend and occasionally speak on panel), has many times experienced the pendulum swing of the gender issue. Moments where it feels like everything is going to work out great and others that call for stiff drink, a recharge siesta, and a game plan. For many, this moment in history feels like the latter and has women championing the need of female identifying-only spaces as spaces for positive collective action.
"I’ve seen the clouds parting," says Jaclyn, "with more women at the helm of large budgets and leading prominent companies. Which is why it’s important for more women to excel in the financial aspects of running a business, especially funding, investing and raising money so we can help balance the gender inequality."
"It’s important for more women to excel in the financial aspects of running a business."
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It's why spaces like The Wing, The WW Club, Create & Cultivate, and countless others remain vital. They give female founders and entrepreneurs the space to flourish, to dole out advice to those just starting out, and to network with new like-minded contacts.
"While the women-in-business movement is strong," Jaclyn says, "a 'girls’ club' has also formed, and the responsibility is now on female CEOs and others in powerful positions to give opportunities to deserving female entrepreneurs."
"But this girls’ club won’t usher in the gender inequalities that I've faced in the past," she notes. "Instead, it will be an opportunity to mentor young women looking for guidance and empower women-owned businesses."
It's not about keeping the boys about. It's about lifting other women up with both emotional and intellectual support.
So, will the girls’ club be the new boys’ club?
It’s on us to make it happen.
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C&C Classifieds Nº15: Greetabl, Mailchimp, StyleHaul, and more!
Keep on, keeping on.
How are you doing? Are you holding up? Breatheeeee.
It's the day after the election, and while a lot of us are processing the results of last night, the world is still moving and if we were looking to make the next step in our careers, we should not put that on pause. Keep on, keeping on and take charge!
To help you take charge, we've got a fresh batch of classifieds from Greetabl, StyleHaul, Mailchimp, Urban Outfitters, Refinery29 and so many more to help you on your job hunt this week. You've got this!
If you have signed up for access to the C&C Classifieds before, click here.
Considering Going Freelance? Here's What You Should Know
One is (sometimes) the loneliest number.
photo credit: unsplash.com
FREELANCING IS KIND OF LIKE BEING YOUR OWN BOSS. But it's not rainbows and butterflies. You need to hustle and you're constantly at the whim of clients.
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE MAKING THE SWITCH TO A FREELANCE LIFESTYLE.
If you’re thinking of ditching the 9-5 and working independently you’re not alone. According to a survey by Freelancers Union and Upwork, one in three Americans are now freelancing, and 50% say they wouldn’t trade their freelance career for a more traditional job even if it paid more.
Of course, it’s not all that surprising considering that freelancing allows workers to choose when and where they want to work and build their career around their lifestyle.
The independence freelancing provides means it’s often an ideal choice for women who are juggling the demands of a career and motherhood, and research shows that the majority of full-time freelancers (53%) are now women.
Flexible doesn’t necessarily equal easy, though, and going freelance also means taking on a lot of additional responsibility. So whether you’re a writer, photographer or web designer, here’s what you need to know before taking the plunge.
1. YOU MUST CREATE A STRONG PERSONAL BRAND
Having a strong personal brand is important for any professional, but even more so when you’re a freelancer and are essentially marketing yourself.
If you’d like to start freelancing full-time, spend some time thinking about your marketable skills and qualifications as well as what sets you apart from the competition. Once you know what sort of image you want to project, you can start building your personal brand using social media, blogs or your own personal website.
2. NETWORKING IS ESSENTIAL
As a freelancer, the wider your network, the easier it will be to find jobs. One study that looked at how freelancers get gigs found that 81% of freelancers refer work to fellow freelancers and 37% trade or barter services.
Fortunately, 65% of freelancers also say technology has made it easier to find jobs. Before you leave your current job behind, start building up your network by joining relevant groups and online forums, connecting with like-minded professionals through sites like LinkedIn and Twitter, and attending conferences and industry events.
3. YOU’LL BE ABLE TO SET YOUR OWN RATES
As a freelancer you’ll have the freedom to set your own rates, but you’ll also be responsible for handling everything from your taxes and insurance to your pension plan, so when deciding how much to charge, you should consider both your budget and your time.
Of course when you’re just starting out it can be difficult to accurately estimate how long a project will take to complete, so time-tracking tools like Harvest can be useful for figuring out how long each task actually takes you and how much you should be charging.
4. SPREAD YOUR RISK AND HAVE AN EMERGENCY FUND
The Freelancer Union report shows that 87% of freelancers earn their income from more than one source in a given month. Why? As a freelancer you never want to put all your eggs in one basket, because if your main source of income dries up unexpectedly, you’ll be in a very difficult position.
With that said, having more than one client also means sending out multiple invoices and chasing more than one person for money at the end of each month, so it’s important to have an emergency fund to cover any unexpected expenses and stay afloat when clients don’t pay on time.
5. YOU SHOULD HAVE A DEDICATED WORKSPACE
Although freelancing means you can work anywhere from your local coffee shop to the living room sofa, it’s still important to have a dedicated workspace where you know you won’t be distracted by kids, visitors, non-work-related phone calls or household tasks. Having your own office will also help you separate your work responsibilities from your personal life.
This could mean designating a room in your home for work, renovating a garage or even looking for a coworking space in your area, which is an increasingly popular option for freelancers.
6. SETTING BOUNDARIES IS IMPORTANT
When you’re freelancing it can be harder to draw a line between work hours and leisure time, but answering emails at all hours of the day or taking on extra work without being adequately compensated can quickly lead to burnout.
Set some boundaries with your clients early on by letting them know when you will be available to discuss projects and then sticking to those hours. Also, before starting on a new project, make sure both you and the client are clear on what will be included so you can charge for any unforeseen extras and avoid working for free.
7. FREELANCING CAN SOMETIMES BE LONELY
Although freelancing does give you enormous independence, it can sometimes be a bit lonely too. If you’re working from home, you’ll probably end up spending the better part of your days alone, and meeting up with colleagues for a quick drink after work will require more planning than it once did.
With this in mind, you should consider whether working in a less social environment would suit you. Of course, there are plenty of ways to socialize outside of work, from volunteering to taking up new hobbies to scheduling lunch dates, but you will need to make more of an effort to stay social and connected once you start working for yourself full-time.
* * *
Are you a full-time freelancer? What tricks do you use to stay organized, motivated and connected? Let us know in the comments.
An original version of this article appeared on Career Contessa.
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These Companies Have Achieved Gender Equality at Board Level
Get on board, or get left behind.
photo credit: Tommy Ton
The UN describes parity as between 40% and 60% of each gender in the workforce. And some companies, like Tupperware are leading the charge with 59% female workers.
But the role of women in senior leadership positions (defined as the top 6% of a company) is not nearly as high. In fact recent reports released by Catalyst have shown that despite a call for equality in top-tier positions, men held 80.1 percent of S&P 500 board seats, while women only held 19.9 percent. "Although some US companies are prioritizing board diversity, building it into the fabric of their key talent decision-making, they still have a long way to go before women's representation on their boards and throughout their executive ranks is near parity with men," the report said.
The way things are going, some predict it may be 80 plus years before we achieve equality at all levels of the workplace. But these companies aren't waiting around. They have made the push for equality now.
1. GENERAL MOTORS
GM made news when they hired Mary Barra as their first female CEO in 2014. Barra started 36 years ago as a co-op student at GM and became chief executive in January 2014. But they didn't stop there.
They have also been slowly and quietly working toward board parity. The automaker made quiet, though significant waves in June of this year when the shareholders elected Jane Mendillo, the chief executive officer of the company that manages Harvard University’s endowment, to its board of directors. Notably, they did not release any press release about the achievement, letting it stand on its own. The 12-member board is now evenly between men and women.
GM isn’t the first company to have an equally split board, but it's one of the biggest names to do so.
2. TUPPERWARE BRANDS
There's a reason Tupperware has landed on Forbes' most admired companies list eight years in a row. Chairman & CEO, Rick Goings, has been dedicated to promoting gender equality in business since joining the brand almost 20 years ago and has been urging other companies to do the same.
"Say it ain't so: it may be 80+ years before we achieve equality at all levels of the workplace."
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In 2015 the company signed on as one of the first companies participating in HeForShe, the UN Women’s program in support of gender parity. Tupperware made a three-year, $500,000 commitment to the program.
In January of this year Tupperware added Meg Crofton to the company’s board of directors, joining 12 other board members, including Goings. Five out the 12 seats are currently held by women.
3. MICHAEL KORS HOLDINGS LTD.
There may be more lauded male designers than women, but this is still fashion you can feel good about. The parent company of Michael Kors has 50% parity on its board of directors. Of the eight seats four are occupied by women.
4. SELECT COMFORT
Leave it to a sleep solutions company to help up rest a little easier that board parity can be a reality. Achieved in March of this year, Select Comfort added two new female board members.
Barbara R. Matas and Vicki A. OMeara now serve the board, effective as of April 25th, making for an even 50/50 split between male and female members.
5. VOYA FINANCIAL
Four out of 10 seats on Voya's board are occupied by women. According to the Wall Street Journal, "Voya Financial informally took this approach after the provider of retirement, life insurance and investment services went public in spring 2013 with a nine-man board. CEO Rodney O. Martin Jr. and another director soon interviewed male and female prospects."
Of the five open board seats, women took four of the. Mr. Martin told WSJ that he hopes the split will be 50/50 soon. "Our board should look a lot like our customer base,” he explained. “More women than men control family financial decisions.’’
6. GOLD STANDARD
Two S&P 500 companies, student loan company Navient and utility company American Water Works Company, have more women than men on their boards. Navient added five female directors in 2014 and now has six women on its 11-member board.
HONORABLE MENTION: BEST BUY
Men might be known to gather around the TV for game days *congrats Cubs* but women fill up the majority of leadership positions at Best Buy. The Richfield-based company, and nation's largest electronics retailer reached a turning point April, 2016 when Trish Walker was hired to become president of services (which, includes the Geek Squad). Walker's hiring made for 6 out of 10 executives who report to Hubert Joly.
Best Buy's board is not far behind. It is a focus and priority for the company, which added two new female board members this year. Currently four of the 11 seats are held by women.
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Links We Love: Are You Prepared for Election Night?
Sign us up right now for Election Meditation.
You've either been hard at work this week, or you're overcome with anxiety leading up to Election Night on Tuesday. We're there with you, 100%.
To catch you up on some of the highlights from this week, along with some election news, we've rounded them all up for you on this week's Links We Love.
Why are C.E.O's getting fired now more than ever?
Did you hate Classpass' price hike last year? Then you're gonna hate this.
Snapchat is looking to take over the media world.
Say hello to Nura Afia, CoverGirl's first beauty ambassador to wear a hijab.
Not sure what you need to get ready for Tuesday? Here's the 411.
If you don't like Hillary, but you empathize with her, this one's for you.
Election Meditation? SIGN US UP.
If you're in these states, you're going to define this election.
As if we didn't have enough to deal with, we're being terrorized by turkeys. THIS IS REAL.
How to Recreate the Look of Create & Cultivate at Home
Transform any room in your house.
Create & Cultivate and High Fashion Home are aesthetically a great fit. And we can never get enough of the vignettes created at our conferences. If we could transport them into our own living rooms, we would. (And you can.)
We checked in with HFH co-founder Dolley Frearson about the company's presence at C&C, best sellers, and how to transform any room in your house.
What about High Fashion Home speaks to the C&C girl?
I think HFH speaks to the C&C girl because we offer them the freedom to choose from a large section of high-style and high-design products that caters to her intelligence, creativity, and individuality. The C&C girl knows how to create her own look; she just needs the right selection/mix of products ranging from timeless and modern to bohemian and eclectic. She loves being fashion-forward and different, but the space must be practical and functional as well.
Who is the ‘High Fashion Home' woman?
She is a confident, worldly woman who loves high-design home décor that suits her modern, eclectic lifestyle. Home décor is important to her because her home/space is her sanctuary that brings her joy and allows her to create memories with family and friends. She loves inspiration and to get lost in her discoveries. Decorating is a journey to her. She is also a savvy shopper who will not compromise on quality and enjoys a seamless, transparent and authentic customer service experience.
"The C&C girl knows how to create her own look."
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We create little vignettes on site at C&C that end up being the most photographed, but what is the best way to update a room? What pieces can we add to create updated “vignettes” at home?
I would say artwork, rug, pillows, and accessories...or any combo of these.
What are your favorite items on the HFH site?
Current faves: Camino Swivel Chairs, Celfie Vases, Revelation II Artwork, Gigi Mongolian Fur Chair, Gold, Wildwood Candleholder, Brass, Chloe Fossil Clam Lava Coffee Table, and Solo Dining Chairs.
What are some of the best sellers?
Camino Chair, Adagio Buffet, Gigi Mongolian Chair, Allura Bench, light gray, Teak Block Coffee Table, Alexa Desk, Gold, Twilight Glow Artwork, Amelia Bed, Duet Natural, William Sofa, Vance Emerald, Ian Sofa, Duet Natural, and Miller Sectional, Crevere Cream
And what makes the store both online and the Houston brick and mortar unique?
What makes our online store and brick and mortar unique is our carefully curated selection of furniture and home décor accessories and how we create room ideas to inspire our customers. Our store is 125,000 square feet and four stories and for those who have shopped in our Houston store, they will tell you that is like a home décor mecca. It would take hours to walk through the store which is a good thing and a bad thing. But the best part is our layout and merchandise mix. We really love to mix it up and it's our goal and mantra to inspire our customers. It's wonderful when you hear first-time or long-time customers say that our place is so inspirational and their favorite place to go and wander. It's so flattering because we know how important their time is and the fact that they want to spend it in our "home"...that just makes me feel so proud of our work and our team.
We are also very proud of our wonderful manufacturing partners and eco-initiatives. We take the time to seek out products made from salvaged or sustainably harvested wood, plant-based materials, recycled fibers, and USA-made upholstery. About 95% of our upholstery products (sofas, sectionals, beds, chairs, etc.) are bench-made in the North Carolina. We are also committed to our partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation; For every piece of furniture sold at our store and online, we plant a tree -- so far, that's over 120,700 trees planted!
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C&C Classifieds Nº14: New Opportunities For November
Say hello to your new gig.
November is here, and as a new month is here, you might be feeling the winds of change in your career as well.
Kick off the month with a fresh batch of job listings for you to apply from our good friends at Mr. Kate, HomeAway, Target, Saatchi & Saatchi, JustFab, Brit + Co, Digital Brand Architects, Daniel Wellington, Crate & Barrel, and many more!
To get full access to our classified listings, just enter your name and email below. Good luck!
If you have signed up for access to the C&C Classifieds before, click here.
Good Girls Revolt: How 4 Powerful Career Women Asked for Raises
In honor of boss women everywhere.
Have you sunk into watching "Good Girls Revolt?"
On Friday, Amazon released their newest binge-worthy show based on Lynn Povich’s 2012 book The Good Girls Revolt, about a gender-discrimination lawsuit filed by her and her peers at Newsweek in 1970. The series follows a group of young female researchers at "News of the Week," who ask for equal treatment. (Sound familiar? It should.) GGR operates in the past and present, addressing the on-going struggle of female employees and their inability to out-earn male colleagues-- or simply earn an equal wage.
In the pilot, Nora Ephron (played by Grace Gummer) questions why she and other female researchers are scrambling over research assignments that will be handed off to the men. "All that's left to do is make yourself indispensable," says peer Patti Robinson (played by Genevieve Angelson) when Ephron first joins the team.
So in honor of good girls revolting and equal pay, here are 4 boss women who have asked for more money, more flexibility, and more respect.
LILLY LEDBETTER
“I went over and interviewed with Goodyear in 1978, and I worked for Goodyear tire company for 19 years before I found out that the males were making 40 percent more than I was making for working the same job. Someone left me a little torn sheet of paper and tipped me off anonymously, listing my base pay and their base pay. The first thing that popped into my mind when I saw it was how much I had lost on overtime. I thought about my retirement and my 401(k) and my social security, because what you earn is what determines your retirement. I was just humiliated and embarrassed, to say the least, that a major corporation could do me that way. The company I worked for told me when I [was] hired there: ‘If you discuss your pay, you will not have a job here.’ So no one ever discussed their pay. I never knew. I had no idea how much someone else was making … After I got that tip, I filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the wheels went into motion with the company.” — Self, January 2016
MICHELLE OBAMA
“I took my last job [before my husband entered the White House] because of my boss’s reaction to my family situation. I didn’t have a babysitter, so I took Sasha right in there with me in her crib and her rocker. I was still nursing, so I was wearing my nursing shirt. I told my boss, ‘This is what I have: two small kids. My husband is running for the U.S. Senate. I will not work part time. I need flexibility. I need a good salary. I need to be able to afford babysitting. And if you can do all that, and you’re willing to be flexible with me because I will get the job done, I can work hard on a flexible schedule.’ I was very clear. And he said yes to everything.” —Parade, June 2014
SHERYL SANDBERG
“When I was negotiating with Facebook’s founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg for my compensation, he made me an offer that I thought was fair. We had been having dinner several nights a week for more than a month and a half, discussing Facebook’s mission and his vision for the future. I was ready to accept the job. No, I was dying to accept the job. My husband, Dave, kept telling me to negotiate, but I was afraid of doing anything that might botch the deal. I could play hardball, but then maybe Mark would not want to work with me. Was it worth it when I knew that ultimately I was going to accept the offer? I concluded it was not. But right before I was about to say yes, my exasperated brother-in-law, Marc Bodnick, blurted out, ‘Damn it, Sheryl! Why are you going to make less than any man would make to do the same job?’
"Was it worth it when I knew that ultimately I was going to accept the offer?"
Tweet this.
My brother-in-law didn’t know the details of my deal. His point was simply that no man at my level would consider taking the first offer. This was motivating. I went back to Mark and said that I couldn’t accept, but I prefaced it by telling him, ‘Of course you realize that you’re hiring me to run your deal teams, so you want me to be a good negotiator. This is the only time you and I will ever be on opposite sides of the table.’ Then I negotiated hard, followed by a nervous night wondering if I had blown it. But Mark called me the next day. He resolved the gap by improving my offer, extending the terms of my contract from four to five years and allowing me to buy into the company as well. His creative solution not only closed the deal, but also set us up for a longer-term alignment of interests.” — Lean In, March 2013
GLORIA STEINEM
“The most ironic that comes to mind is that Time magazine asked me to write an essay about the early women’s movement. It was a long time ago — it was maybe in the ’70s. First of all, they asked me to do it because they didn’t have a woman on staff. Secondly, I did it under deadline because it never occurred to me that they would pay me less than they did men writing the same essay. Time had a page in each issue in which there was a personal essay. When my agent got the check, he told me that I was getting paid less than men who wrote the same essay. So, I wrote the editor of Time and complained and he sent me a Gucci purse. I took the purse back to Gucci because I needed the money and tried to get cash for it and I couldn’t.” —Fusion, December 2015
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