Links from our Group Chat: Emily Ratajkowski, Instagram, Voting and more!
Cue the nonstop ringing, there’s huge news.
Amy Schumer and Emily Ratajkowski among more than 300 people got arrested- no, not in another Judd Apatow film, but in real life. They were protesting Brett Kavanaugh, whose Supreme Court nomination hit the chamber floor and is now officially confirmed.
We all know how this goes. You open your group chat and ask “where should we go for our next GNO?”, and then it turns into some back and forth small talk that makes it hard to nail a decision. If that definitely sounds familiar, then we’re all on the same boat. Google Maps just rolled out a feature where you can compile a list of restaurants with locations, reviews, and a link to everything, making the decision process a lot easier. When you have to unwind from the workweek, Google Maps now totally has your back.
Another spot-on move, Spotify. The music streaming platform we all love to use during our morning commute is making rush hour on the freeway a lot easier with podcasts. It’s in beta right now, but hopefully you can catch the next episode of WorkParty on there soon!
It’s time for another hectic week, which also is time for another Trump meme to get in a quick laugh. The president was caught stepping onto Air Force One with none other than a piece of tissue stuck to his shoe, and nobody told him about it. Nobody. Everyone on Twitter is using their Oscar-worthy scoring capabilities and remixing the video and they do not disappoint.
First BBM PINs, then Snapcodes, now Instagram Nametags. Yes. Instagram nametags are now here so you don’t have to spell out your punny blog name when you meet people IRL. To make one, all you have to do is log into your profile, choose your favorite emoji, or snap a selfie to add a personal touch. Then, when it comes time to add people you meet at our conferences, summits or meet-ups just push and hold in the in-app camera to scan!
Presidential Alert: we’re here to explain what that random notification was. According to a September 13th press release sent out by FEMA, “the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system is used to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children, and other critical situations through alerts on cell phones. The national test will use the same special tone and vibration as with all WEA messages (i.e. Tornado Warning, AMBER Alert). Users cannot opt out of receiving the WEA test.” Luckily for Chrissy Teigen, Trump can’t block her this time.
Google is doing some crazy sh*t, and we’re here for it. Gmail’s new Smart Compose feature is creepy but cool at the same time, just like Black Mirror. As you’re typing your emails, Gmail will finish your sentences based on AI. Google and robots: 1, us: 0.
Have you ever had a conversation in strictly emojis or needed one for your Instagram caption or IG Story and the keyboard didn’t have what you were looking for? Don’t worry, because Apple is releasing a new set with the iOS 12.1 update, which includes a bagel, a cupcake, a party face and so much more!
Nov. 6 is coming up, and getting the deets on voting can be difficult. We’re here to help. Start out by going to vote.org and click on the red button that says “find your polling place” and follow the steps there. On voting day, you’re gonna need your ID or to sign a document to validate your identity. Happy Midterms season! We look forward to seeing you all with your I voted stickers!
By: Ashley Banayan
Ashley Banayan is a senior at the University of Southern California pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism with a minor in Web Technologies and Applications from the Viterbi School of Engineering. Currently, she works as an editorial intern for Create and Cultivate. She has experience in traditional public relations, social media marketing, influencer relations, content creation, and web development. Furthermore, she is the founder of Geocasion, a company designing Snapchat Geofilters for both businesses and personal clients, garnering 4.5 million views. In turn, these experiences led her to focus on the convergence and disruption in media, communication and web technologies.
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The Biggest Mic-Drop Moments from Our Resistance Rises Pop-Up in D.C.
Show up and show out.
Resistance. Defined as the refusal to accept or comply with something; the attempt to prevent something by action or argument. It's easy to sit by and let things happen; it's harder to stand up and fight for what’s right. And that’s something we’ve all been faced with all of our lives and particularly within the last few years. It’s also why we’ve teamed up with Amazon Prime Video and its hit-show The Man in the High Castle, which has resistance embedded in its core storyline and characters. Together, our goal is to bring you compelling, noteworthy, and inspiring conversations that we hope will encourage everyone here to go out and shake shit up.
The first stop during our Resistance Rising pop-up took place in Washington D.C.. Yes, right as some very impactful protests were happening. We flocked to the Line Hotel and the energy in the room was electric - to say the least. Our first-ever D.C. pop-up was made particularly special thanks to our lovely speakers Alex Elle, Katalina Mayorga, Randi Gloss, Brandi Chantalle, and Brittany Packnett who joined us for an impactful discussion on the important issues we’re currently facing and how to become more effective change agents in our communities.
The ladies discussed the true meaning of resistance, how it started, and what it means to each of them. They also touched on how productive discomfort can encourage women to go out and make a change, but still touched on the importance of putting yourself first. The audience also learned on how to use questions as a tool to effectively speak to people who may have difference beliefs or stances on different issues. Overall, the room was electrifying and made our first time in D.C. one for the books. Ahead, some key takeaways from the conversation and more information on how you can get registered to vote and make a difference.
Mic-Drop Moments
“The resistance is showing up for each other.” -Randi Gloss
“People think that the resistance started the day after 2016 election and I’m here to tell you that it did not. There were lots of women, and women of color in particular all across this country who reminded this country of how to protest, what it looked like to protest, what it means to get arrested when it wasn’t planned, what it means to show up to a march when there is no time on a flyer.”-Brittany Packnett
“Changing is not failing.”-Randi Gloss
“Social media is great, but doing the work off the internet is greater.”-Alex Elle
“Just because you’re a progressively white woman, it doesn’t mean you’re woke.”-Katalina Mayorga
”Be mindful of your homegirls that are not checking in on you every week and asking if you’re okay.”-Randi Gloss
“I always think: How can I be present to my community that’s right in front of me, before I lend myself to a fight that is beyond my home?”-Brandi Chantalle
“The changes that I’m making, glory to god you’re going to benefit from them, but they’re for ME”-Brittany Packnett
“Showing up as my whole self, and being on my best behavior, and sharing my truth is the lesson, and whoever receives that can take it and do with what they will.”-Alex Elle
“If you can’t think of questions right away, just ask why.”-Katalina Mayorga
“A lot of people think things are happening to them and that they are not able to be in charge. We need to recognize that we are all change agents and that we have power in the decisions we make.”-Brandi Chantalle
”Self-choosing is HARD. The hard work is what we don’t want to do. A lot of people are looking for the why and not the HOW? And the how is SHOWING UP! Self choosing has to be the goal. You are allowed to choose yourself without guilt, shame or second guessing.”- Alex Elle
”Sauce is forever, juice is temporary.”- Randi Gloss
”I’ve been trying to get myself free so I can go out and do it for other people but I am still learning to advocate for myself.” -Brittany Packnett
”A lot of the time choosing yourself is almost a last resort.” - Randi Gloss
”Before you look into your community, look into yourself. Write in your journal. Self advocacy is filling out what do I need today? It’s vocalizing what you need, when you need it.”- Randi Gloss
”Asking a lot of questions breaks down defenses. That way things start to unravel and then you start to draw conclusions of how illogical that belief is.”- Brittany Packnett
Join the Resistance
We’re encouraging our readers to get out and vote in the November elections, as registration in many cities will be closing soon. To find out the deadline for your state, click here. And yes, you can register to vote online and the process takes an average of two minutes or less to complete. Head to the polls, and most importantly, resist.
While we wait for November, be sure to catch Season 3 of The Man in the High Castle only on Amazon Prime Video starting today and use the hashtag #ResistanceRises to join in on the conversation online!
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Watch Us Work: Join Us in NYC for a Night with Local Small Business Owners!
Big night out for small biz owners!
Watch Us Work! We’re throwing a much-needed night out for the New York City small business community. We’ve teamed up with Mastercard to bring together a rad group of successful female founders for an evening of real-talk about doing it all for your business. The conversation, tips and tricks are sure to be…well, priceless! And so is the event—which is why it’s free to enter with a reservation. Secure your spot by adding your name to the form below. See you there!
The Breakdown:
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 | 6:30pm-9:45pm
6:30 PM | Doors Open…
Grab a drink & some light bites while networking with your fellow Create & Cultivators.
7:00 PM | Fireside Chat…
Create & Cultivate CEO & Founder Jaclyn Johnson and Mastercard North America Small Business Lead Ginger Siegel talk small business
7:15 PM | Panel and Q&A…
Mastering Year One: A conversation on how you survive the ups and downs of a big year as a small business owner.
8:00 PM | Happy Hour…
Meet the speakers and your fellow NYC small business community over drinks and light bites.
The Panel:
Mastering Year One
A conversation on how you survive the ups and downs of a big year as a small business owner.
The Panelists:
The Location:
Union Park
5 East 17th Street, NYC, NY
This event RSVP is now closed. Please note that space is limited for this event. To guarantee entry, we always suggest arriving early!
Poppin' By: The East L.A. Studio of Hija de tu Madre by Patty Delgado
The Hija de tu Madre founder is such a boss.
Every month this year we're profiling a female entrepreneur, popping by their workspace and enjoying a bit of bubbly. "Poppin' By" is a Create & Cultivate profile series in Partnership with Chandon. Here's a cheers to amazing, working women!
When we log onto Instagram, we’re bound to see an influx of different brands and shops that made their mark on the social media platform. Every now and then we come across one that sticks out, and has a message that’s so much more than just an item of clothing. In this case, one social-first brand we haven’t taken our eyes off of is Hija de tu Madre. The colorful Instagram feed has a much bigger story and message, and it’s one of the few Latinx-inspired marketplaces out there for the millennial audience.
Do a quick search of the #VirgencitaJacket hashtag on Instagram and you’ll come across a sea of women sporting the bedazzled version of The Virgin of Guadalupe left and right. As a first-generation Latina, Patty strived to highlight the beautiful culture of the Latinx people through history, symbolism, and vibrant designs that get people talking. You’ll find jackets, jewelry pieces, cell phone cases, and so much more, with a few messages directed towards today’s current politics, Latinx sayings, and downright art.
Patty was kind of enough to allow us to step into her Boyle Heights showroom, as the business has grown from its online presence. We chatted about her story, how she got started, and how Hija de tu Madre is changing the world of Latinx fashion. Cheers!
Can you share the backstory on how Hija Tu Madre came about?
Back in 2016 I made a #VirgencitaJacket for myself, and I instantly fell in love with it. A light bulb went off in my head, I knew that if this jacket meant so much to my personal cultural core, other Latinas might feel the same. Fast forward a few months later, I launched Hija de tu Madre with just $500, 30 Virgencita Jackets and a mission to celebrate Latina identity in fashion.
What inspired the movement of your sequin embroidered jackets?
The Virgencita Jacket started it all, and then we started doing other designs like Frida Kahlo, our Sacred Corazon, LATAM flags, Loteria inspired designs, and kids jackets. Our jackets are loud shiny statements of identity, and are what make our brand really special.
What’s the favorite part of your workspace?
Pink errythang! I like to feel inspired and surrounded by cultural inspiration, and my headquarters does just that.
What has been the most surprising element of entrepreneurship for you?
I’m constantly blown away by how supportive other women have been of my journey, and how many new friends I’ve made because of Hija de tu Madre.
What are some of the biggest rewards you’ve experienced being a Latinx business owner?
The biggest reward has been being able to connect with a wide audience of Latinas who just get me. I love being able to share my vision with my followers and customers every single day, the community that we’ve built so far is the best part of my job.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I find inspiration in my childhood, upbringing, culture, family, and Mexican / Xicana identity.
Is there anyone you wish you would’ve hired earlier on for your business?
I think I’ve been growing my business at the right pace, and hiring the right people at the right time. So, I don’t think I would’ve hired anyone in the earlier stage because it wouldn’t have been the right time.
If you could tell your 20-year-old self anything, what would it be?
Your life is about to pop off real quick, I promise. Also, care more about your credit score.
If there’s one piece of advice you could give all female entrepreneurs what would it be?
Take the risk, and invest in your happiness.
Who are your biggest female influences?
All the women in my family, because they’ve always been hustlers. They’re my biggest supporters.
What do you hope is next for your business?
I’d like to grow our business to include more product categories like home and office goods. In addition to growing our collections, we want to keep creating pieces and content the celebrate Latinas. Making sure our customers feel empowered and seen is our number one priority.
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Classifieds: Dear Media, Stand Up to Cancer, Eloquence & More!
Resume, check. Cover letter, check.
Happy October! Welcome to our first round of classifieds for the month. Still in search of a new gig? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. From roles in the talent and retail worlds to event planning, we’ve got it all. If any of these sound like your dream job, tailor your resume and get to applying.
Good luck!
Alice & Wonder - Chi, IL
Alice’s Table - Multi-city
Eloquence - LA, CA
Dear Media - LA, CA
How Women in Charge Unwind and Get Out of the Office
Sip and disconnect.
We’ve all been there. After a long couple of weeks or months at work, we get the itch to unwind and get some time out of the office. For those work-from-homers, the need to step away from computers and working area is just as real too. As many of us know, being a boss means that you are always ready to go and plugged in, and many entrepreneurs sacrifice perks like vacations and weekends, and even late nights to put in the work needed to run a successful business.
We treated a group of fierce female founders to our first ever Out of Office Retreat, in partnership with Chandon. From fashion and jewelry designer, to winemakers, bloggers, and more, everyone who joined deserved a much-needed break. So, what did we do? We headed to the Domaine Chandon winery in Napa, California, sipped on bubbly, hopped on a hot air balloon, heard from inspiring women, and so much more. Keep on reading for some takeaways from the well-deserved time off.
First up, a balloon ride. The theme of the retreat was overcoming fears and taking flight, so what better activity? If there is one thing that holds so many of us back each day from growing as individuals, achieving high levels of success and becoming the best version of themselves, fear is definitely at the top of the list. High achievers, regardless of occupation, understand that taking risks and massive action is a vital part in getting from where you are to where you want to go. And that goes for in life, and in business.
Many of our guests faced their fear of heights and others simply crossed off this bucket list item. We took a ride across the lovely town of Napa, and got to bond, snap some pics, and of course enjoy more bubbly.
Next, the group toured the Domaine Chandon winery, where Pauline Lhote is a lead winemaker. It’s important to note that she’s one of the few women in charge across the winemaking industry, and has worked her way up the ladder with Chandon for many years.
After a relaxing lunch outside, our getaway attendees sat through an inspiring conversation with Rebecca Minkoff, Baublebar’s Daniella Yacobovsky, and Pauline Lhote. We also invited our Create & Cultivate scholarship winners along for the ride, Afenya Montgomery of the ICANCollective, and Samantha Santana of Samantha Santana designs. Ahead, some key points from the conversation.
#OOORetreat Convo Takeaways
“I think it’s more important to be authentic versus being on all the time.”- Rebecca Minkoff
“Surround yourself by really incredible people and count on them to bring that brand on vision to life.”-Daniella Yacobovsky
“You’re going to fail, you’re going to learn, you’re going to grow.”-Rebecca Minkoff
“Every woman is a superwoman.” -Rebecca Minkoff
“That’s the great thing about my job is that there is no typical day.” -Pauline Lhote
“Whenever I feel afraid, I tap into the part of me that’s most confident.”-Rebecca Minkoff
“You’re going to fail, you’re going to learn, you’re going to grow.”-Rebecca Minkoff
The retreat was special for so many reasons but we’ll admit that our favorite part was that we spent our days discussing issues that matter to us, plus what we can all do about them. We shared resources from website designers to PR and communications, and discussed the parts of a business that really move the needle. While our days were packed with activities, the brainstorming and collaboration was completely reenergizing, and we all left with new goals and new ladies to call our friends.
Check out all of the photos from the #OOORetreat weekend in our full album here.
How do you make sure to take time away from the office to unwind? Let us know in the comments below!
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These Women Speed-Pitched Their Businesses and Won $5K Grants from McDonald's
Last month, we gathered in CHI-town for our Create & Cultivate conference. Apart from hearing inspiring panel discussions, networking with fellow boss ladies, and getting career advice from new mentors, our guests had the ability to pitch their entrepreneurial business ventures to McDonald’s. The McDonald’s mini conference room activation at C&C Chicago was a huge hit amongst our guests, especially the ones who had a pitch ready to take their business to the next level. But why did they pitch their big idea to McDonald’s?
With 90% of McDonald’s restaurants being owned and operated by franchisees, McDonald's runs on entrepreneurial spirit and understands what it takes to build a business. McDonald's brought this spirit to C&C Chicago offering conference guests a $5,000 grant to the business with the strongest pitch providing a clear vision on how these funds would help them achieve the next phase for their dream.
Well, there was a major plot twist at the event when McDonald’s ended up choosing two grant winners—Curve Shop, a seasonal plus-size pop-up consignment sale, and We Are Boss Moms, a platform for working moms to thrive—both amazing business ideas with a strong vision for the future of their companies. We caught up with the winners to learn the ins and outs of what went into their McDonald’s pitch and learned some key advice that any entrepreneurial business woman can use. Ahead, the founders of both businesses tell all.
Curve Shop
Tell us a little about your business…
Curve Shop is a seasonal plus-size pop-up consignment sale that was created out of a need to provide a larger range of sizes at an IRL shopping experience. So many of our plus friends struggled to find their size in stores and usually would end up having to buy multiple sizes online before they’d find something that fit perfectly. What’s left are items they can’t return, a cluttered closet and the shopping process starts all over again as soon as a new outfit is needed. We wanted to put all this hard work to good use, by creating a place where women could shop in a body positive space, where everything is a size 12 and up and items are curated to be flattering because another plus-size stylish babe took the time to find and love each item.
Each of our sales usually has over 50 consigners who tag and price their own items, get to shop the sale before it’s open to the public and make a percentage of every item they sell. We also always partner with a local non-profit and to date have donated over 1,500 pounds of clothing to help women in need. It’s a huge win-win for everyone! We’ve received feedback that many women not only find a whole new wardrobe at 85% less than what they would buy retail, they also make new friends and feel better about their bodies after they leave our sale. One of our favorite comments was from a shopper who said she had never had seen so many items that actually fit her size 16 body in one place before!
What went in to your pitch to McDonald's?
We talked about our vision for Curve Shop ahead of time and decided who would be doing the majority of the talking and who would be answering follow up questions. We made sure to have clear answers on how a sale operates, data we have gathered about our target audience, research on our competitors and personal stories on why we thought a body-positive shopping event is so needed.
What do you plan to do with your $5K grant from McDonald's?
Currently, Curve Shop is only popping up in Madison, WI but we have been wanting to expand for a while. With the grant from McDonald’s we’ll be able to grow to Chicago and Milwaukee in 2019 and then hopefully both the east and west coasts soon after that!
What are the challenges you face as a small business owner?
The biggest challenge we’ve faced owning a small business is that we’re doing something new that we haven’t seen done before. There isn’t a mentor in our field to help us navigate growth and business decisions. So far, running Curve Shop has required a lot of trial and error, learning as we go and pivoting when necessary.
What did you learn from pitching your business in this timed experience?
It’s important to deeply care about and know your business inside and out. It’s stressful to pitch in a time crunch, especially when tricky questions can be asked about your business on the fly. If you’re passionate about what you’re doing, it’s so much easier to reply honestly and without stumbling for an answer because you can speak from the heart. In a scenario like the McDonald’s speed pitch that we did, we only had 3 minutes to speak and then 4 minutes for questions. We found it worked best to stick with the “big picture” to get the judges to see our vision. We knew if we came with too many statistics or facts to share we wouldn’t have enough time to say everything and would have left feeling defeated. Instead we did our best to paint a picture of what the Curve Shop experience is and let the judges ask about the specifics. We kept calm and focused on something other than the time ticking away by making eye contact, reading our audience and making a genuine connection.
Where can women go to support your business?
We are on Instagram and Facebook at curveshopconsignment and our website is www.curveshopconsignment.com. We are looking for awesome plus babes to partner with so please reach out if you are interested in a Curve Shop popping up in your city!
We Are Boss Mom
Tell us a little about your non-for-profit…
Modern mothers - who work at home, stay at home, own their own businesses, work in corporate America, etc. - aren’t equipped with resources, support, direction and community after becoming a mom, leading to not knowing or pursuing their purpose, increased guilt and pressure to “do it all.” Moreover, many corporations aren’t offering environments, flexible schedules, benefits or resources to support working moms and thus, women are leaving the workforce. This is a clear problem. Thankfully, some companies have made progress but not fast enough and not significant enough.
This matters because the more women that are supported, specific to their needs and their familiar needs, we see a positive growth to the global economy.
According to Forbes:
28% of the decline was attributed to lack of family-friendly workplace policies
Half of the earnings gap women experience can be made up for with parental leave and childcare policies
In the United States childcare accounts for the single largest household expense in many regions, which leads to decline in workforce participation
The United States is the only developed country without a universal paid parental leave policy
There are thousands of data points pointing to the positive impact every aspect of the world has when women work. When they work well. Not for a paycheck, but for a purpose. We believe that if we can create an ecosystem of tangible programs - on and offline - that directly support mothers, we can make a dent in furthering the global economy. We can keep women in the workplace. We can keep families together. We can redefine what it means to be a working mom, offering purpose that becomes the foundation of furthering growth where it matters most.
WE ARE BOSS MOM (WABM) is a 501c3 non-for-profit platform for working moms to thrive. We are a creative incubator for mothers who work, entrepreneurs, work -at-home-moms, business owners and corporate employees all coming together for a common purpose—workforce development for mothers.
Our focus is to create an open and inspirational place to gather, experiment, and foster connections from a wide-range of disciplines. We share a common desire to drive innovation and support working families by providing opportunities for both organizations to thrive and mothers to contribute to the overall vision of how we rewrite the modern workplace. We’re a movement for a new generation of mothers who are redefining the meaning of work-life balance, parenting and purpose.
WABM’s main objective is to support and actively help 5,000 working moms by 2020 to achieve their potential by defining and living out their purpose. #purposedevelopment
What went in to your pitch to McDonald's?
As an entrepreneur I strive everyday to promote We Are Boss Mom with conviction and excitement towards everyone I meet because it’s my passion. For the past year, I have made it a point to connect with three new people a week with the goal of building genuine connections and learning from individuals who I might not just “run into” within my daily routine. After countless blind conversations and lots of weekly conversations you become good at reading people and clearly identifying your objective and goals in a short amount of time. You really only have about 2 minutes to make an impression.
Even though I knew I had 7 minutes to “pitch”, I made sure that I did not speak more than about half my allotted time to give an opportunity for their questions and feedback. It’s key to always make sure you have time to learn about the person/org you’re “pitching” to and see how you can intertwine their objectives into your own.
Oh, and one more thing. Make sure you’re passionate about your cause! People may not remember everything you say, but they will remember your passion.
What do you plan to do with your $5K grant from McDonald's?
We focus on #purposedevelopment for mothers; leveraging resources from our B2B partners to provide accessibility, education and resources for scaling mother-owned businesses. Boss Mom Mercado focuses on moms who run their own business (side hustles) and we wanted to create a hands-on experience tacking multiple aspects of scaling or growing their online business. The goal is to give local mother-owned businesses the opportunity to experience a brick and mortar location while inspiring the community and encouraging the Shop Small movement supported by progressive retail outlets such as Simon Malls. The top mother-owned retailer that makes the best number of sales combined with bringing the most fans wins a POP UP SHOP location within a Simon Mall.
We just successfully launched the first Boss Mom Mercado in Miami and we are looking to expand this competition nationally. The professional development component of the Boss Mom Mercado is the mandatory Boss Mom Bootcamp that the competing vendors must go through to compete. In this Bootcamp they learn merchandising, retail leasing and marketing techniques; but we wanted to take it a step further and provide hands-on practice with tools and methods available to solve problems using data science. By teaching these mompreneurs the benefits of computer science and data analytics we are providing equal opportunity to learn an important skill which is the largest and fastest growing field and job listing in the U.S. This field, which will reach 2.7 million, is also among the highest paid professionals, with salaries averaging over 113% more than average salaries for all job postings.
To ensure full support among the mothers on this journey, we will provide on-site childcare and tutors to assist during boot camp hours—so that moms can feel supported and assisted during the course. We are excited to announce the expansion for Boss Mom Mercado/ Bootcamp in select cities starting in 2019 thanks to the McDonalds grant.
What did you learn from pitching your business in this timed experience?
I learned to never underestimate yourself, and always show up early! I had a noon time slot for the pitch and when I walked by early to ask a question they had an opening immediately at 10am, so I jumped on the opportunity to get the pitch completed in the morning. I really think it was one of my advantages, I felt fresh and still had energy. I think if I would have waited till my allotted time “during lunch” I might not have had the right amount of energy and spontaneity.
Where can women go to support your business?
So, we made something cool. We made a We Are Boss Mom kinda bag. This limited edition handbag is on pre-order and 100% of proceeds will be going towards taking Boss Mom Mercado nationwide and empowering our Mompreneur community of small business owners. it was never meant to be just a clear bag.
For $45 100% proceeds go to bringing opportunities for working mothers. At WABM we want to make sure that all mothers have a voice and benefit from the programs, data research and relationships we develop. We aim to empower and ignite your Boss Mom spirit. You are a Boss Mom. But together, WE ARE BOSS MOM.
Contact Info:
Website: wearebossmom.com
Email: hello@wearebossmom.com
Instagram: @wearebossmom
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The Science Behind Intention-Setting, Plus 6 Ways How it Can Elevate Your Business Goals
We’re all in this together.
As an entrepreneur, it is essential to set goals to achieve the results you desire. However, women often put so much pressure on themselves for achieving a certain milestone or metric in the form of a goal that goals can sometimes be counterproductive. Let me explain.
Goals can inadvertently make us feel like a failure. We either hit the $10k month or we didn't. Traditional goal-setting often plays into the black/white mentality that is so pervasive in our society. These types of goals don't leave a lot of room for all the beautiful colors in between where we may not have hit the exact goal we wanted but we succeeded in other ways. For example, maybe you didn't hit your goal of $10k this month but you set up 20 meetings with prospects that could lead to $30k next month. Getting down on yourself for not hitting your original goal of $10k could rob you of celebrating the 20 prospect meetings you worked hard to achieve that may even result in more revenue in the long run.
Intentions, on the other hand, are less shame-based and offer more opportunity to feel a sense of accomplishment. Or as I like to say, they leave more room for magic. Those little surprises that help us generate income or increase our influence in ways we didn't expect. For example, you might have the goal "book 5 clients this month" when in reality what you desire is to make money in a way that feels energizing and aligned. Maybe booking 5 clients will feel energizing and aligned but maybe there's a speaking opportunity for the same amount of money that would feel even more energizing and aligned. You don't want to be so focused on booking your 5 clients that you 1) book clients who aren't aligned and suck the life out of you or 2) miss that amazing speaking opportunity. It's a practice of detaching from the outcome and believing in the infinite possibilities that are available to us at any given time.
Intentions not only offer a more compassionate way to set goals but there have been studies that look at psi (a general way to describe types of communication or information transfer that defy common understanding of time and space), which suggest that conscious intention (e.g. thoughts and feelings) influences unconscious activity. In fact, our eyes receive and process 10 million bits of information per second but we only consciously engage with 16 of them. This means we are only aware of a fraction of the information that is at our fingertips. Part of our work is to learn how to expand our awareness through practices like meditation. The other part is to simply believe there is more than meets the eye.
Here are 6 ways to use intention-setting to elevate your business goals:
1. Create a vision board for your business - vision boards are all the rage these days and there's a reason why. Have you ever considered creating a vision board specifically for your business? It can be a fun way to uncover what you desire your business to look and feel like and where you want to focus your attention. Especially if you find yourself too much in your head, spending time to reconnect with your bigger mission through imagery can be incredibly rewarding. Let your imagination run wild.
2. Schedule a monthly intention-setting party - it can be fun to get together with your fellow lady bosses once a month and share your intentions with each other. You can ask each other questions like: Where do you desire to focus your energy? What was your biggest learning from the previous month? What do you hope to celebrate at the end of this month?
3. Outline your ideal day as CEO - as an entrepreneur, it is important to be clear on what your ideal day as CEO would look and feel like. Otherwise, we can get side-tracked from our bigger vision of life and business by spending our days responding to low-priority emails, scheduling meetings over meal times, and slipping back into old workaholic routines. Setting your own schedule is one of the greatest perks of being an entrepreneur so take time to make this happen. Ask yourself: How many hours do I want to work every day? What would my dream mornings look like? How often do I want to work out each week? When am I most productive? How important is it to practice daily self-care?
4. Choose a word of the week - intention-setting doesn't have to be overwhelming. It can be as simple as choosing a word of the week like "confidence", "focus", "trust", "joy", "visibility", or "play." This is a great way to stay committed to an intention without having to do anything too elaborate. Try writing your word in your journal, putting it on a sticky note on your computer, or creating a calendar reminder so you see it daily.
5. Claim your superpower - in the midst of trying to achieve goals, it is easy to focus on where you are falling short and forget how amazing you are. Take some time to remind yourself what you are truly gifted at. What is your superpower? Is it navigating difficult conversations? Is it getting people to view something differently? Is it your strong intuition? Is it your coding skills? In the fast pace of entrepreneur life, don't forget to celebrate all the ways that you are shining.
6. Visualize yourself in 5 years - taking a step back to imagine where you would like to be in 5 years can be a powerful exercise. This isn't about knowing all the answers but tapping into the essence of your big dreams. We can get so caught up in the day-to-day activities of running a business that we lose sight of where we want to go. Take a moment to close your eyes and picture yourself 5 years from this moment. Where are you? What are you doing? What is the impact you are making? Who is around you? How do you feel? What wisdom does your future self want your younger self to know?
To all of my fellow hustlers out there, don't let your business goals be a cause of stress or shame. Weave some intention-setting into your business strategy because it's not only a fun way to stay focused but science is telling us there is real power putting words to positive changes we wish to make in our life.
By: Elizabeth Su
Elizabeth Su is a life coach and mindfulness expert who mentors high-achieving women around the world to unlock their potential, lean into joy, and live life to the fullest. I am currently pursuing my Masters in Clinical Psychology (concentration in Spirituality Mind Body) and an advanced certificate in Sexuality, Women, and Gender from Columbia University. I have been featured in numerous media outlets including OZY, Fatherly, Bustle, PopSugar, Elite Daily, and Thought Catalog for my work around marriage mindfulness, female empowerment, and navigating your own path to happiness.
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These MBA Programs Prove It’s Never Too Late to Start Fresh
Grad student 101.
As we all get further in our careers, many of us have the same thought: Should we go back to school? To be back in school sounds like a dream come true, but unfortunately it’s not one that becomes a reality for all of us.
Whether it’s for career advancement purposes, or switching career paths, getting a second degree can be beneficial for more reasons than one.
This has become clearer as the gender gap continues to narrow between men and women with advanced degrees. Women with advanced degrees are skyrocketing and will soon surpass men. We are graduating in higher numbers and we're the majority of the workforce, so of course, we should see the same patterns in secondary degrees. Among adults 25 years old or older in the US, approximately 10.2 million women have advanced degrees compared to 10.6 million men. The gap is narrowing since more and more women have thankfully found the resources to continue their education.
Let's look at some of the baddest ladies in the game. The #SELFMADE women that are running fortune 500 companies and more!
Youtube’s CEO Susan Wojcicki earned her MBA from UCLA
Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg and Mary Erdoes, the most powerful woman in finance and CEO of J.P. Morgan Asset Management, both have MBAs from Harvard
Melinda Gates, Co-Chair at The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has an MBA from Duke.
These are just a few of the boss women who have continued their education and kill it in the workforce.
Listen, in the past, there were a lot of hurdles that stood in the way of earning an advanced degree but it's really becoming more flexible and easier for women and men of all backgrounds to make earning an MBA work around their schedules.
Three different MBA programs at Strayer University can help you break out of a career rut, grow a business, or learn to lead. Check them out:
The Strayer University MBA
This program is designed for us working adults. It can be completed entirely online, meaning that those who don’t have time to go into a classroom can still get the experience. Also, Strayer takes into account previous education and work experience, which can mean a shorter timeframe for getting it done. Plus, there’s a variety of different programs for different interests, so if you’re looking to switch gears and explore new areas, you can. These include Accounting, IT programs, and Health Services Administration just to name a few.
The Digital Entrepreneurship MBA
In today’s content-driven and virtual world, it feels like we need to be online all the time. No matter your industry, yes finance and education included, it’s time to get your mind digitally-friendly and with the times. Strayer’s Digital Entrepreneurship MBA combines media insights with business skills that can help get students ahead of the curve.
Through live-streaming, optimized courses for mobile devices and tablets, and lessons from execs from companies like Amazon, getting your mind in the game is so much easier.
You can explore courses in digital business operations, technology, business social media, business law, and a lot more.
The Jack Welch Management Institute MBA
Ranked as a Top 25 Online MBA Program by Princeton Review, the Jack Welch Management Institute redefines the MBA experience with an entirely online yet interactive curriculum for students.
Powerful lectures, insightful reading, video messages and experiential exercises are delivered by top executives like Jack Welch, Warren Buffett and C-suite leaders from Starbucks, McDonald’s, Netflix and more.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Strayer University.
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We Asked Entrepreneurs Their Best West Coast Vacation Reccomendations to Unplug
We took a pit stop from our WorkParty tour to continue enjoying San Francisco. WorkParty and Alaska Airlines threw a dinner party for some of our favorite Bay Area entrepreneurs at The Progress in SF. The Hawaii-themed soiree was everyone’s Instagram dream, and gave guests the perfect island vibes for unwinding and enjoying a night out in the city. As we all know, entrepreneurs are some of the hardest working people in the game, and there’s not always room to unwind and unplug. So, we had to ask the ladies in attendance what their favorite West Coast spot is to get out of the office and unplug.
“If you come to California, you have to go to Big Sur. You get the best of everything, including the ocean, mountains, hikes, rustic feels.”
“You need to go to Seattle in September or October. The light becomes golden and beautiful, and it’s the most beautiful time, it’s not too cold, and it doesn’t rain.”
“You can’t go to LA, without going to Venice Beach. You’ve got to hit up the boardwalk, and not only for sightseeing.”
“Ojai is so charming and beautiful.”
“If you need relaxation, you need to go to Palm Springs.”
“LA all day!”
“Go glamping in Mendocino. There’s no signal out there so you’re forced to unplug.”
Alaska Air was also kind enough to provide guests with roundtrip travel vouchers for anywhere they’d like to go. As if they already didn't get to feel like they were on vacation for one night, they’re now able to enjoy the real deal.
Have you already snagged a copy of WorkParty the book? If not, what are you waiting for? Purchase the book here.
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7 Podcasts to Tune Into on International Podcast Day
Your daily commute is about to get a lot more interesting with these podcasts.
We hope your AirPods are charged and ready to go because these podcasts are so good that you won’t want to put them on pause. Filled with words of wisdom and life experiences, these shows and hosts will get you through your morning and evening commute, entertain you during your lunch break, and leave you sitting in your car even when you park your car at home because you will want to finish every episode.
Safe For Work
(N)SFW is here to remind you that things in the office can get hectic at times but Liz Dolan and Rico Gagliano are here to keep you sane during times like these. From resume and cover letter writing, to getting back into work after having a baby, Liz and Rico tackle everything hoping you will feel more fulfilled from your work life.
Switch, Pivot, Or Quit with Ahyiana Angel
Former sports entertainment publicist Ahiyana Angel made the switch to a traditionally published author will route your career trajectory from where it is to where you want to be. She is what she calls a “chief encourager” and is there to share her tips as well as interview professional women who offer their life experiences to guide you along the way.
Starving Artist with Honor Eastly
Have you heard art and money in the same sentence? Probably only when a Picasso was just sold for millions at an auction. This podcast from down under hosted by Honor Eastly talks to local artists about how they handle their finances only to find out that the term “starving artist” is just a myth.
Millennial Money
Talking about your personal finances can be awkward AF, so Certified Financial Planner and host Shannah Compton Game gives her two cents (pun intended) that is totally relatable and easy to understand. With her husband and co-host Jeff Game, this podcast features experts and anecdotes from people in literally every field you can imagine, expanding your mind and your wallet at the same time.
Being Boss: Mindset, Habits, Tactics and Lifestyle for Creative Entrepreneurs
Calling all entrepreneurs, freelancers, and side-hustlers! Whether you want to quit your day job, or are starting your own Etsy store Being Boss is dedicated to you. “Business Besties”, hosts, and authors Emily Thompson and Kathleen Shannon discuss the mindset, habits, strategies, tactics and so much more that help you do what you love while making money.
Side Hustle Pro: Women Entrepreneurs
Side Hustle Pro puts the spotlight on WOC who’ve scaled their businesses from side hustles to profitable stand-alone businesses. Hosted weekly by Nicalia Matthews Okome, learn strategies to start small and get grow-ing no matter who or where you are and features interviews with leading ladies and exciting entrepreneurs.
How it is.
From Reese Witherspoon and her team at Hello Sunshine, this podcast hosted by Diane Guerrero shares the common experiences we have lived through and learned from as women in the workforce. Topics discussed in their second season (coming soon!) include the concept of values, the desire to work, the time to work, the time to play and more. It is an all encompassing series featuring guests including Maria Menounos, Gabrielle Union, and Lena Waithe, just to name a few.
Don’t forget to also subscribe to our very own WorkParty podcast if you haven’t already!
By: Ashley Banayan
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Links from Our Group Chat: Kavanaugh, National Coffee Day, & More!
Get your thumbs ready, this week’s group chat is about to go off!
Kavanaugh headlines are currently ablaze. On Thursday, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s detailed Senate testimony of her memories of Brett Kavanaugh’s attempted assault gave us goosebumps and tears. Many women found it relatable, heart-wreaching, and were sharing their own stories and support for Ford across social media. For the record, President Trump agreed to open a ‘limited’ FBI investigation into accusations against Kavanaugh. We’ll be watching.
Besides being the hometown of Travis Scott and Beyoncé, H-Town is now home to the first Black-owned hostel in the U.S.. Deidre Mathis founded Wanderstay, the hostel of our dreams with a bright aesthetic and co-working spaces in Houston with hopes to expand to more cities across the country.
Have you thought about moving to the City of Angels for your dream job? Tyeal (yes, like the color), our marketing coordinator here at C&C did. From couch surfing to interning with only $500 in her pocket, she blossomed into the woman that has brought so much color, life, and brightness into our office. Check out her full story on Forbes.
Ever heard the saying cracking open a cold one with the girls to watch a football game? Probably not. Andrea Kremer and Hannah Storm are “touching down” as the first all-woman broadcast for the NFL’s Thursday Night Football program streaming on Amazon Prime for the next 10 games. There’s something to add to your Thursday night watchlist aside from Shonda’s TGIT lineup.
But first, National Coffee Day (Sept. 29). Unfortunately, Instagram-worthy $10 lattes aren’t on the list for snagging a cup of cold brew on the house this weekend. However, some places that are trying to help you save up for the new iPhone Xs Max include Bulletproof Coffee, Intelligentsia, La Colombe, Peet’s Coffee, Sprinkles, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Verve.
ACLU-screwed up Facebook. A class-action lawsuit from the ACLU is pending against the social media giant for running hiring ads targeted only towards males. Thanks for making the job hunt even harder and more unfair than it already was, Facebook.
By: Ashley Banayan
Ashley Banayan is a senior at the University of Southern California pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism with a minor in Web Technologies and Applications from the Viterbi School of Engineering. Currently, she works as an editorial intern for Create and Cultivate. She has experience in traditional public relations, social media marketing, influencer relations, content creation, and web development. Furthermore, she is the founder of Geocasion, a company designing Snapchat Geofilters for both businesses and personal clients, garnering 4.5 million views. In turn, these experiences led her to focus on the convergence and disruption in media, communication and web technologies.
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5 Ways to Use Twitter for Your Brand in 2018
File this under: Twitter’s not dead.
Somewhere along the lines, the term Social Media became synonymous with Instagram. And sure, as Facebook’s protégé with a whopping 25 million Business Profiles and counting, it was love at first like for business owners and marketers alike.
But social media is so much more than just Instagram- and, believe it or not, your customer base lives and behaves differently on each platform that they use. As a social media marketer, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard phrases like ‘Isn’t Twitter Dead?’, and ‘Do people still go on Twitter?’- to which, my answers are always More alive than ever! and Yep- only the savviest of business owners.
In 2018, many business and brand owners are hesitant to add Twitter to their digital marketing strategies, usually citing uncertainty and inexperience with the platform. If you’re not utilizing Twitter for your brand in 2018, you should RUN (don’t walk) into the wings of the adorable blue bird—its capabilities are truly unparalleled, and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
Here are 5 ways to use Twitter for your Brand in 2018.
Use it like a search engine.
Unlike Instagram, where search capabilities are limited by hashtag, Twitter’s search bar is comparable to that of Google or Bing — and a goldmine when it comes to cultivating new leads for your business. Use it like an advanced search engine by searching for the exact problem that your business offers a solution for. For example, if you own a Lash Studio, you might type in phrases like Eyelash extensions. You can then filter results by Latest to order the results reverse chronologically, or use Search filters and Published Near Me on the left hand side to yield tweets from your neighborhood.
Ready to up the ante? Use quotation marks around full sentences, keywords, and key phrases to find leads. Your search for Eyelash extensions tweets might become "thinking of getting eyelash extensions".
From there, send a personalized reply — and get the conversation going.
Reputation Management
Gone are the days that displeased customers pick up the phone to give unfiltered feedback. It’s certainly no secret that Twitter has been moved as the unspoken home for customer service complaints, but dealing with it is a narrative of itself. The biggest PR mistake that a brand can make on Twitter is sitting in their notifications (or waiting on tags) to be notified of an upset customer. If you’re not conducting a daily search for your business name on Twitter, you could be missing timely customer service issues that have yet to be addressed. Many upset customers opt not to tag the brand in negative tweets, so it’s up to you to venture out of your notifications and take care of your customers. If you happen to stumble upon a tweet with a negative tone, respond to negative feedback promptly and publicly, without suggesting that the conversation be taken to DM’s. Other customers will see your commitment to rectifying the issue and appreciate your transparency.
Use Twitter Lists Like a Pro
Sure, you may have heard of (or even dabbled in) creating Twitter lists- but are you using them to their full potential? Many businesses use Twitter lists to organize existing customers in one place, or build customer loyalty by adding them to a list called, say, Lash Out Studio’s Clients of the Year.
Twitter lists are a great way to network professionally, especially in the realm of event planning. If you regularly attend trade shows, conferences, or events for your business or brand, it’s a good idea to create a public list of influencers, buyers, media personnel, and other users who plan on attending. Creating an event-related list will not only allow you to corral event-related news in one place, but view content shared by members of a particular list to stay in the know.
Another great way to utilize Twitter lists is to flatter influencers and notable voices in your space. If an expert in your field is added to a Public list titled Best Beauty Bloggers in San Diego, you can bet you’ll grasp their attention.
Tweet Unique Content
Sure, it’s easy (and tempting) to automate your social media channels to cross-post your content from another platform, but it’s not what your audience wants to see. Not only does another platform’s content not properly convert to a tweet (Umm hello, URL-in-the-place-of-my-perfect-Instagram-photo.com), but the Twitter customer doesn’t consume content the way that the aesthetically inclined Instagram customer does. Instead of relying on your perfect coffee shop shot to auto-post to your profile, take advantage of Twitter’s conversation starters, like running a poll for your customer base or tweeting out a question for your audience. And if you can, try to adhere to the 80/20 rule: 80% of your content should be engaging with other users, while only 20% should be salesy content that’s catered to your brand.
Run Ads
Raise your hand if you’ve ever been disappointed by the results of a Facebook ad, only to throw in more ad dollars to expand your reach. News Flash: CTR’s (Click-thru rates) on Twitter are actually higher than Facebook’s, despite being short of Facebook of about 918 Million active users. (Not joking.) According to AdWeek, engagement rates on Twitter ads in 2018 are averaging between 1 and 3%, while Facebook’s CTR sits at about 0.119%. (Low followers? You can even run engagement ads that specifically garner Twitter followers for your brand!) Plus, running an ad on Twitter looks almost identical to Facebook’s interface, so navigating it is a piece of cake.
By: Jamie Halper
Jamie Halper is a Digital Content Creator, Social Media Manager, and Influencer Publicist for today's leading Beauty, Pet, and Wellness Brands.
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C&C Classifieds: Sweetgreen, Stella McCartney, Amika & More!
Get those apps ready!
It’s that time of the week again! No, not Wednesday, we’re talking about a new round of C&C Classifieds. This week’s lineup includes roles at Sweetgreen, Stella McCartney, and so many more awesome places.
If you’re still looking for your dream job or want to explore a new industry, then you’ve come to the right place. Update those resumes, proofread those cover letters, and get to applying.
Good luck!
Sweetgreen - LA, CA
Stella McCartney - NY, NY
Amika - NY, NY
Soul Pancake - LA, CA
Space Isn’t the Only Thing Your Growing Business Needs. The Secret to Success: Community.
Allow this checklist to show you the way.
Every founder knows the growing pains that come with starting a business. Seeing your big business idea start to take off is certainly rewarding, and pat-on-the-back worthy, but then you have the question of where to take it next. How do you take things to the next level? Sometimes the next step is to move your business to a space where you have the room to expand, the ability to connect with others in your field, and the convenience of being able to work from almost anywhere.
But where should you take your company? If you’ve talked with other small business owners you’ve likely noticed that a lot of them are moving their operations into a co-working space.
Co-working spaces don’t just give you a physical place to run your business. They also provide a sense of community that you won’t get working from home or the neighborhood coffee shop. The pioneer in this movement is a company you’ve likely heard of before: WeWork. Scroll down for a special desk giveaway with WeWork + enter for a chance to win a complimentary desk at a space near you!
C&C worked closely with the WeWork team when we held our Chicago conference. We needed a lounge space for our VIP guests, and WeWork was the perfect spot. We also hosted our attendee happy hour at WeWork Kinzie. Once we saw a WeWork space for ourselves, we understood why so many businesses are taking the co-working route.
How do you know if it’s time to make this move? We’re giving you the full rundown.
You’re Running Out of Space—Literally
Maybe you started your business from your home. Some of the biggest corporations, including Google and Amazon, started in someone’s garage, and look at them now. If you’ve reached a point where you’re no longer flying solo, it may be time to scope out your nearest WeWork location. There are different plans to choose from that can better fit the needs of you and your employees. They’re also a lot more affordable than building out your own space. You can check out pricing and membership options here.
You Love Collaboration
Moving into a co-working space means you’ll have access to hundreds of go-getters like you from across various industries. You can find potential business partners, form a brand partnership, or meet some great friends all in one space. WeWork thrives on providing its members with an open office environment that’s built for collaboration, teamwork, and lifelong relationships. A few other networking and collaboration opportunities that WeWork offers include office hours with investors and industry leaders, lunch-and-learn events where members share their knowledge and expertise, group meditations, and peer reviews.
Working Remotely Isn’t Your Jam
While working from home has been called the “millennial dream,” it’s not for everyone. Even if you’re on your own, WeWork provides the perfect space for a one-woman business. Rent a desk and it’s easy to get your business up and running. Yes, really. You’re also free to take meetings here once you’re building out a client roster or pitching yourself and your business to potential customers. It’s a great space to meet like-minded entrepreneurs and creatives.
Convenience
With over 268,000 members and 287 locations in 77 cities worldwide, there’s bound to be a WeWork location that is accessible to you. In C&C’s base of Los Angeles, there are 19 WeWork buildings alone. Check out the location listings to see if there’s a WeWork location near you.
Looking for a co-working space? Well, you’re in luck! We’re partnering with our business BFFs over at WeWork to giveaway two complimentary hot desks at WeWorks around the country! Enter your info below to enter for a change to win:
2 Hot Desks at a WeWork in your local WeWork: Guaranteed workspace in a common area at one location. Just bring your laptop, pick an open seat, and get to work.
Included in your Hot Desk Membership, you'll also gain access to the WeWork Member Network is a digital platform available on iOS, Android, and web that enables you to connect with other members and interact with your space.
Check out the terms & conditions here.
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. WINNERS WILL BE CONTACTED VIA THE CONTACT INFORMATION PROVIDED!
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Are You Making These Common Website Mistakes?
The do’s and don’ts for making your website stand out while being user-friendly at the same time.
You’ve built a business from the ground up, whether it’s a side-hustle, or a deep-dive straight into entrepreneurship, it’s a challenge.
Congratulations are in order.
Not only do you have to figure out your business name, offerings, pricing, shipping, bookkeeping, and taxes, you also have to market your business.
When your website is just one of a million things you’re managing, it can be easy to let it slide, or slap it up in a hurry and then move back to your overflowing inbox of tasks.
But your website is a front door for potential clients just learning about your business. So believe me, it pays to invest in making it a good one.
I write and review small business websites for a living...so I see a lot of them. And let me say first, many of them are beautifully designed, and a lot are already optimized for user experience. A good portion also has meaningful, heartfelt copy.
But if you're not sure if your website copy is entirely up to par, then hopefully this article will be helpful. Before we jump into some mistakes and problems I see frequently, I want to first invite you to congratulate yourself for getting this far.
Building a website is time-consuming. Even with the templates and all-in-one hosting services available today, it's still a significant time investment. So if you've got a domain with your name and contact info on it, that's an accomplishment to celebrate.
Great copy is a work in progress - especially in the early stages of your business journey. You may still be refining your product or service offerings. You're probably gaining new insights into your ideal client base, and getting new ideas for your own brand positioning.
So there's no shame in having multiple revisions and edits. And hopefully, you'll be able to identify if one of these three mistakes needs to be fixed and corrected to make your site even better.
Not Having an Easy Way to Get in Touch
Don’t leave your readers searching for a way to work for you. Every single page on your site should have an invitation for your reader to take the next step.
If you're a service-based business in the creative space, you likely need your website visitors to contact you for more information or a consult call. So make it super easy to do so.
Have a "Contact" button in the upper-right hand corner of your header - that's where more people expect to see it when they're looking, so don't confuse them.
Consider having it in the bottom footer of your site too. And then make sure you have an actual email address easily accessible—not just a contact form. It might not seem like a big difference, but some prospects are put off by contact forms. They might not yet know their wedding date for example, but know you're their dream wedding planner.
This applies to product-based businesses too, no matter how perfect and seamless your checkout system is, and no matter how complete your product descriptions, people will think of questions. Questions they'll need an answer if they're going to proceed to buy, so make it easy—have a way for prospective customers to get those pesky questions answered so they can enter their credit card digits with confidence.
Not Providing a Clear Explanation of What’s for Sale
There's a trend in the wedding industry to use ultra-minimal cover pages as your entire site.
I'm all for having an aesthetically pleasing landing page. But sometimes when I land on a designer's site, I'm not sure if they're available for weddings, or if they only do editorial shoots.
And when brides are rapid-fire googling "best wedding photographers in my city" it's easy for them to pass you by and go to the next site where there's more transparent information.
So don't leave your visitors guessing. Have a clearly labeled "Services" or "Shop" button on your top navigation and lay out exactly what you sell, and to whom.
Talking too much about ourselves
Okay, this is a tricky one, and I don't want to step on any toes here. But I see it over and over again. About pages—and whole websites—become absorbed into the founder's personal backstory, their passions, hobbies, and even quirky facts.
Personal connection is essential in business. None of those elements are bad. In fact, they all have a place on your site.
But, they all need to be secondary to your client who gets to take center stage - even on your site. Check out this post for some helpful tips on having the right mindset before writing your about page, or really any page, on your site.
These are all super common mistakes, but they’re also easy to fix. So nothing is holding you back–go out there and make your website awesome.
By: Anna Bradshaw
Anna Bradshaw is a copywriter specializing in helping creative entrepreneurs promote their businesses with confidence. In her free time, you'll find her curled up with a book, or strolling the beach, ice cream cone in hand. Anna lives in Orange County, CA with her husband of almost a year.
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Classifieds: ClassPass, Amazon, Spotify & More!
From client services to all things web.
We’re back a brand new list of C&C Classifieds. This week’s roundup includes big-time names, including Amazon and Spotify, along wth gigs in programming and client services.
There’s something in here for every type of gal, whether you’re a social media guru or are killing it in the marketing game.
Take a look, jot down some notes, and apply!
ClassPass - NY, NY
Salt & Straw - Portland, OR
Amazon - NY, NY
Spotify - LA, CA
AdWeek - NY, NY
Retail Me Not - Austin, TX
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How to Dress Like a Boss at Work This Fall
Business in the front and back.
With today’s office environments featuring a wide range of dress codes from suited up to business casual, selecting an outfit for work each morning can be downright stressful! You want to ensure you look professional but you also want to be able to add your own personal style to your work look—it doesn’t have to be as difficult as it sounds.
JCPenney offers an array of stylish career wear, with on-trend fashions for women of every shape and size, and for jobs of every kind. And if you find yourself heading out to a lot of evening events when the workday is over, JCPenney has you covered with day-to-night pieces to take the stress of switching outfits away.
JCPenney recently joined Create & Cultivate at our Chicago conference, where the retailer showcased trend-forward looks to our attendees from its collection of private brands including Liz Claiborne, Worthington, a.n.a. and Boutique+.
To bring this fashion inspiration to all our readers, we’ve teamed up with the JCPenney once again – this time to share five key looks to take with you to the office this fall. From bold colors, fashion jackets, wide leg pants and even menswear as well as athleisure inspired looks, these trends will work however—and wherever—you work:
Bold Color
Ditch the traditional pantsuit and add a vibrant hue to your closet. Pair a bold power pantsuit with a classic pair of black pumps and strut with confidence as you head to your desk.
The Fashion Jacket
For a casual, yet polished look, pair a patterned blazer with your favorite jeans and add kitten heels into the mix to complete the look.
Menswear
If you’re the type to experiment with your looks, try mixing and matching patterns, texture and color. Menswear-inspired textiles take on a whole new look when mixed with feminine details like a floral or animal-print blouse.
Don’t forget to complete your boss work look with a visit to Sephora inside JCPenney and the Salon by InStyle.
For more stylish work staples, head over to JCPenney.com and shop your favorites. What’s your go-to office look for fall? Let us know in the comments below!
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6 Books You Should Read This Month
Gather your book club!
Fall is right around the corner. Grab your cozy sweater, pumpkin spiced latte, and these great reads to get you through the season. Not only with the changing leaves comes new book releases, but it is also a time for us to make changes for ourselves to live better and more fulfilled lives. In turn, these books can give the ‘spice’ we need to inspire us to chase after our dreams. We hope you fall in love with these books full of advice and anecdotes as much as we have!
Money Diaries, Lindsey Stanberry
Featuring advice from a team of female financial advisers, the Refinery29 series-turned-book gives readers an inside look into personal finances, from spending to saving and everything in between. Learn how to save the most, while affording a comfortable everyday life at the same time. With the money challenges and easy steps to follow, take control of your finances today.
Under Fire, April Ryan
Ryan provides readers with an inside look into adjustment reporters on the frontlines made with the chaos and confusion of today’s political climate. From policy debates, to asking hard-hitting questions, we see her transition from being the one who writes the stories to the one who is written about.
She Would Be King, Wayetu Moore
In her debut novel, Moore takes readers through the journeys of three characters during Liberia’s formation. The use of history and magical realism showcases her vibrant storytelling of the African Diaspora, while highlighting ties to the United States. In addition to the three pivotal roles of Gbessa, June Dey, and Norman Aragon, the spirit of wind also adds an air of wisdom when speaking of Gbessa: “If she was not a woman, then she would be king.”
Transcription, Kate Atkinson
Atkinson explores the world of espionage during the WWII era through the lens of 18-year-old Juliet Armstrong. A decade after the war ended, Armstrong works for BBC as a radio producer, only to be confronted by her past. Through moments of wit, power, empathy, and betrayal, the bestselling author tells this story in best way she possibly can; victoriously.
Small Fry, Lisa Brennan-Jobs
With the recent Apple Special Event happening just days ago, founder Steve Jobs’ and artist Chrisann Brennan’s daughter, Lisa, depicts her life living on a farm while Silicon Valley was constantly changing, and the minimal role her father played in her life. Later on in life, her father began paying closer attention to her and showing her the luxuries life has to offer, which felt great, but at times he was cold and critical. This is a wise and funny story of childhood and the magic of growing up in the first family of technology during the seventies and eighties in California.
The Best Damn Answers to Life’s Hardest Questions, Tess Koman
This collection of flowcharts, pros and cons lists and rants is the book we needed to get us through our tough decisions. The advice is invaluable, but also relatable AF which makes this the perfect gift for the indecisive person in your group chats. We know who you are.
By: Ashley Banayan
Ashley is a senior at the University of Southern California pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism with a minor in Web Technologies and Applications from the Viterbi School of Engineering. Currently, she works as an editorial intern for Create and Cultivate. She has experience in traditional public relations, social media marketing, influencer relations, content creation, and web development. Furthermore, she is the founder of Geocasion, a company designing Snapchat Geofilters for both businesses and personal clients, garnering 4.5 million views. In turn, these experiences led her to focus on the convergence and disruption in media, communication and web technologies.
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How to Use Your Weekend Plans to Elevate Your Brand
Cheers!
Ahhh…the weekend. We’re trying to stay productive while enjoying our jam-packed social schedules, running errands, and more. It’s not easy to balance it all but, of course, you make it happen. But what if it could be easier? What if you could enjoy some dinner and drinks while making strides for the future of your company?
It’s possible, and you can get started today. Ahead, learn how you can leverage your weekend plans to help boost your brand.
Elevate Your Personal Brand
The quality of your network strengthens (or weakens) your personal brand. In turn, your personal brand impacts the brand of your business. So get out there. Meet new people and make new friends. Meet them without expectations and realize the benefits turn up in the long run. This isn’t the time for the hard sell and don’t try to close any deals.
Excellent summertime networking spots include professionally elevated social and co-working spaces, conferences and even Facebook groups dedicated to exciting events. For membership spots, I like Soho House, NeueHouse, WeWork, and The Wing. For conferences and events, check out Summit, and Create & Cultivate, of course. These are the kinds of places where it’s okay to talk business while having fun. Research for your best fit, and get ready to discover new like-minded people.
Relax and have fun. Sometimes you’ll find it’s best to keep the business talk to a minimum, but always at least share what you do and find out what industry others’ are in. And chances are you may even know some of the same people since you’re hanging out at the same place. This could serve to further strengthen these new connections while lending everyone greater credibility and trust.
Strengthen Your Network for Future Opportunities
Your network can lead you to significant opportunities in the future like partnerships and branded collaborations. Special deals like these can boost your sales and the visibility of your brand.
For instance, let’s say a particular company is in high demand for collaborations. You and the CEO are friends or share the same friends. This immediately gets you on the shortlist for who will most likely get the deal. That’s not all. The collaboration will be easier to plan and execute and could even cost significantly less than it would if you didn’t have a personal connection.
Introduce the Possibility of Potential Reduced Costs
The quality of your network can save you a great deal of money. If your network includes critical influencers, photographers, writers, and other industry talents, you can walk away with special pricing for photography, influencer campaigns, copywriting, PR, web development and more.
Finally, while I’ve mentioned a million benefits for you, don’t forget about everyone else. Relationships are always a two-way street, and as I said, your plan is to make friends. Friends help one another out!
Always be mindful of opportunities that show up on your radar that could interest others in your network. Think about how you can help the people you know. Could this buyer benefit from meeting this emerging handbag designer? Could this photographer benefit from meeting this magazine editor? Also be willing to share your expert know-how through the form of friendly solicited advice.
The concept of networking can be cold and very transactional. We prefer to think of it as making new friends- because that’s really what it should be like at the end of the day. So make a new friend (or two) with mutual interests, and help one another out.
We’ll let you get back to dinner now…
By: Syama Meagher, Chief Retail Strategist at Scaling Retail
Scaling Retail has launched brands around the world, through a combination of expert advice and creative marketing strategy. We believe in the power of hard work to grow and build your businesses. Discover Scaling Retail at www.ScalingRetail.com.
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