How to Proactively Search for a Job as a New Graduate
It’s time to start strategizing.
Photo: Andrew Neel from Pexels
Graduation is coming up quickly, and if you’re about to finish school, it’s time to start strategizing to make some big life decisions. Scary, right? This might be the biggest transition of your life thus far, but it’s ultimately just one small leg of your journey.
Instead of treating your job search as one daunting task, break it up into less intimidating tasks that you can accomplish one at a time. This is how to proactively search for a job as a new graduate.
Brainstorm
First off, start by brainstorming to figure out what you want to do and what you want to look for in a job. Consider a few different scenarios to give yourself a well-rounded and realistic feel for where you may end up in the next few months. There’s no way to tell what could happen, but it’s smart to go through a few possible options and goals to figure out a rough game plan for each. Use your brainstorming session as a time to figure out what you want next, and strategically plan your next career move.
Take a look at your transferable skills, figure out what jobs you’re qualified for, and do some soul searching to figure out what kind of job is really right for you. Whether or not you wanted to have a job lined up after graduation, this is your opportunity to take the time and plan your next career move so that you’re excited about it. Take control of the situation and make your next move worth it so you can start your career on a good note.
Update Your Résumé
Once you’ve brainstormed to get a better sense of what direction you want to take your career and what kind of jobs you want to apply to, make your résumé great and articulate all that you have to offer. You might not want to sit down and update your résumé, (yes, I know it’s not how you want to spend your free time) but it is important to do so.
Gather information about past jobs, internships, class projects, and other information that highlights what you bring to the table. This will help you create the most effective document to meet your needs.
Reach Out to Your Contacts
The ultimate way to get your résumé into the right hands is to use your industry connections. If you have a contact who can direct your résumé to the right person, use it. “Job search is about going beyond the résumé to get noticed. Real relationships with colleagues and friends matter in getting a foot in the door,” says career coach Alyson Garrido.
Reach out to industry contacts to let them know you’re about to graduate and are looking for new opportunities. People are often willing to help, but they cannot do so if they aren’t aware that you’re interested and open to new opportunities.
Consider sending an email like this:
Hope this note finds you well! We met [where/when you met] and I wanted to circle back with you and see how things are going. [Insert a question about how an event went or touch on something you spoke about when you met].
As you may remember, I'll be graduating this coming [month] and am looking for new opportunities in [field]. [Company] is on my short-list of dream companies, and the mission strongly aligns with my personal philosophies, so I wanted to see if there might be any current or future openings I could look into.
I’ve recently updated my résumé and have attached it to this email for your convenience. Please let me know if you have any questions, and feel free to pass it along if you see fit.
Thanks in advance for your help! Please keep me posted on how things are going and if there’s anything I can do to return the favor.
Best,
[Your Name]
Leveraging your network is one of the best ways to find and secure new job opportunities. Doing so enables you to get your résumé in front of the right person and often helps you bypass large applicant pools, especially during the graduation rush.
Focus on the Quality of Applications, Not the Quantity
It can be tempting to just hit “apply” on every position that might seem like a potential fit, but instead of focusing on how many job applications you submit, try to create a couple of really strong applications with résumés that you have customized for each position based on the job description.
Often people employ the “spray and pray” tactic when applying for jobs. This term has become common among recruiters when describing a candidate that applies to tens or hundreds of positions in the hopes that someone will bite. On average, each corporate job opening attracts 250 résumés. This means that your résumé has to be outstanding in order to stand out from the crowd.
When using the spray and pray tactic, résumés usually don’t hold the specified requirements or keywords, causing them to get turned down immediately. When you don’t customize your résumé to each job, it’s clear that you’re using the spray and pray tactic. This isn’t an effective job search strategy, and it also doesn’t bode well for your reputation among hiring managers or recruiters.
Remember That It Takes Time
Ultimately, finding a job that is a good fit for you takes time. There are so many factors that go into finding a job such as company culture, location, salary, scope of work, timing, etc. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed or dejected because your job search isn’t going as well as you hoped, but it’s important to realize that it’s not personal.
Finding a job is hard for everyone! Finding a job that meets your criteria and is a good fit for you and your potential employer is difficult whether you’re searching for your first job out of college or looking to make a lateral move as an executive.
About the Author: A native San Franciscan, Michele Lando is a certified professional résumé writer and founder of writestylesonline.com. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves, both on paper and in person, and works to polish individuals' application package and personal styles. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles presents tips to enhance your résumé, style, and boost your confidence.
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This story was originally published on June 10, 2019, and has since been updated.
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Female Creative or Entrepreneur Looking to Flourish? Apply Here.
Turn your passion project into a successful business.
Photo by Pret A Provost x Grace Atwood, The Stripe
There's nothing better than women supporting women. It’s what drives our mission here at Create & Cultivate, as a women-owned business ourselves. In a year that’s been challenging on so many fronts, women in particular have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s an important time to support and champion women's passions, ideas and small businesses to help them to flourish–and that is exactly what Fleurs de Prairie Rosé has set out to do through its Seeds of Beauty grant program.
Now in its third year, the Seeds of Beauty initiative will continue to fuel creative spirits and uplift women by awarding "Seed Grants" to entrepreneurial female creatives who are making a difference by way of their passions, whether that be through art, design, food, writing and beyond. As part of this year’s program, three seed grants of $10,000 each will be awarded to women who share in the brand’s ethos to create a more beautiful world. Interested applicants can apply online by filling out a submission form and answering a few questions demonstrating how they will use the funds to grow their biz. Submissions are open now through July 23.
Fleurs de Prairie is more than just a delicious wine, it is a true expression of the splendor of Southern France where it is sourced. More importantly, it is a brand that stands for something. With the annual Seeds of Beauty campaign, Fleurs de Prairie aims to elevate the visibility of female entrepreneurs and creatives who are dedicated to creating beauty in their communities – a mission that is important now more than ever. The economic and implications of last year, from loss of income to balancing work and family responsibilities, threaten the progress of entrepreneurial women and business owners alike, especially considering that over the past decade women-led companies have grown five times faster than the national average.
In addition to the support funds, Seeds of Beauty grant recipients will also receive one-on-one mentorship from this year's brand ambassadors who champion beauty in their own digital communities, lifestyle influencer and content creator, Caila Quinn and blogger Grace Atwood. Because research has shown that early mentorship can have a major impact on a small business’s revenue and growth, we tapped Grace Atwood, who pens the blog The Stripe, to share some advice for aspiring entrepreneurs along with some stories of her own personal and professional mentors who helped her flourish. Keep scrolling to read her sage advice.
What three tips would you give to other women who aspire to be entrepreneurs and turn their passion project into a successful business?
Be prepared to work really hard and be patient! It took me five years of running my website, The Stripe and social channels before going full-time. It took up my nights, my weekends... I didn't have a life but I didn't mind as I was passionate about what I was building and I believed in myself. It was worth it in the end but I definitely sacrificed a lot during those "building" years.
As you build, outsource! Think about the things that make you/your brand YOU, and figure out what else you can outsource. This has been a struggle for me. Every word on my site and Instagram will always be written by me, but I outsource graphic design and photography as those particular things are not my strengths.
As you network, think about how you can help the person you're making the ask of. I personally hate the phrase "can I pick your brain," for example. But when someone sends a thoughtful email and I can tell they really care about my business and aren't just making a blind request, that's when I'm more likely to listen.
Mentorship is a critical component of entrepreneurship– but they’re not always easy to find. Who has been the strongest mentor and advocate for you in furthering your personal and professional goals?
I wouldn't say it's one specific mentor, but different friends and contacts have helped me throughout the years. My parents were entrepreneurs (they owned their own restaurant for 40+ years!), so I picked up a lot from them. My friend (and business partner for my podcast) Becca always has great practical business advice. And in the beginning, other influencers would share and amplify my content which is why I make sure to do that too!
Photo by Pret A Provost x Grace Atwood, The Stripe
Seeds of Beauty is designed to fuel creative spirits and uplift women who are making their own communities more beautiful by way of their passions. How would you describe your own connection to Fleurs de Prairie Rosé and the Seeds of Beauty Campaign, and how do you strive to celebrate the beauty within your own life and community?
First of all, Fleurs de Prairie is my favorite rosé. It's the perfect outdoor drinking wine - it's refreshing and crisp and not too sweet. But I love the brand's mission - helping women! And with regard to celebrating beauty within my own life and community, I am a Libra. I need my home to feel beautiful and inspiring. And I love art. One thing I really miss about living in New York (I moved to Charleston in April) is all of the art galleries and museums. I'm still figuring out how to get more involved in the art community here in Charleston - there's a really incredible creative community here!
Are you dedicated to creating beauty in your community? Do you have a passion project that you’d love to see come to life? Click HERE to apply for a “Seed Grant” to help grow your brand! Applications are being accepted now through July 23, 2021. The entry form is easy to complete and takes five minutes.
How to Hire the Right In-House Legal Counsel (and Save Your Startup Money)
Timing matters (and earlier is better).
Photo: ColorJoy Stock
If you’re looking to hire legal counsel for your company, be careful. Just because you’ve found a lawyer who specializes in startups, doesn’t mean they’re the right legal counsel for you or your startup. Here’s how to evaluate whether a lawyer is right for you.
Experience Is Important
In order to reap the benefits of hiring an in-house counsel early, you need to hire the “right” lawyer. Look for someone who has worked in your industry, and if possible, in the particular type of business your startup is involved in, which will make their existing knowledge and experience transfer easily to the company.
The right lawyer should bring real-world considerations into any legal analysis and be able to assess and articulate risks without making a startup feel that all roads to achieving its business goals are blocked. If a particular course of conduct is deemed to be too risky to pursue, an in-house lawyer should be able to suggest safer alternatives to consider, balancing legal requirements with the needs (and vision) of the business.
Consider Culture Fit
Fit within your company culture is also important. Your in-house legal team should be adept at forming relationships with the other key members of your leadership team, so that they, too, see the lawyers as a helpful source of guidance and strategic input, rather than simply naysayers.
Timing Matters (and Earlier Is Better)
It is much easier for in-house counsel to be viewed by your management team as a “partner” and not a “blocker” when that person is brought into the conversation early and is part of discussions about the vision and path of the company. Bringing a lawyer on board when there are already fires to put out makes it harder hard to view them as the strategic partner they can be.
By bringing on the right in-house counsel early in your startup’s life, you can build a legal department that is not simply a “cost,” but a true strategic partner of the business. This paradigm shift can end up saving you money, angst, and reputational damage, and will ultimately lead you and your company to be more successful.
“By bringing on the right in-house counsel early in your startup’s life, you can build a legal department that is not simply a “cost,” but a true strategic partner of the business.”
—Amy Rowland, Founder of Varia Search
About the Author: Amy Rowland is the founder of Varia Search, a boutique legal recruiting firm that uses a bespoke approach to fill legal department roles. Prior to starting Varia Search, Amy was a recruiter at another legal search firm where she focused on recruiting for in-house legal positions. She has also held in-house roles at two international companies and a large New York City law firm.
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“If I'm Going to Be Promoting Health and Well-Being, Why Would I Not Talk About My Own Personal Journey?”
Ashley Tisdale on opening up about her experience with anxiety and depression, launching Frenshe, and more.
Photo: Courtesy of Ashley Tisdale
Listen to the full episode here.
Ashley Tisdale has starred in wildly popular shows and TV movies, playing every character from an enterprising teen as Maddie Fitzpatrick in “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” to a scene-stealing antagonist as Sharpay Evans in “High School Musical.”
But now, she’s stepping into a new role as a health and wellness industry trailblazer.
As the founder of the health, wellness, and beauty site, Frenshe, she’s disrupting a saturated content market by rejecting unattainable beauty standards, confronting mental health stigmas, and opening up about her own self-love journey.
On this week’s episode of WorkParty, host Jaclyn Johson chats with Ashley Tisdale about launching Frenshe, her experience with anxiety and depression, and more.
Subscribe to WorkParty and never miss an episode.
On cultivating a genuine community online…
“You can't create an authentic audience unless you are authentic yourself.”
On opening up about her experience with anxiety and depression…
“If I'm going to be promoting health and well-being, why would I not talk about my own personal journey?”
On navigating missteps and mistakes…
“Yes, sometimes you fail, but it's how you get back up.”
“It's horrible and you feel such a failure, but you don't know where that moment is going to lead you to.”
On loving yourself and combating body-shaming…
“When you can love yourself is when you can love another.”
“If we can start to really love ourselves and our bodies, maybe we won’t be so judgmental over other’s bodies.”
On launching during COVID…
“It was kind of the weirdest timing launching in this moment, but in a moment where we're isolated and we want so badly to connect, I just felt like it was the perfect time.”
On defining success…
“I think of success as being everything as a whole, your family life, your personal life, what you do. It's not about numbers and judging yourself based on what works and doesn't work.”
On switching to a non-toxic lifestyle…
“The only way to change to non-toxic is to know it's a lifestyle, not a diet, and so it's never good to just jump all the way in.”
On her best advice for new entrepreneurs…
“Think of yourself as a start-up until you're not.”
Meet the Film and TV Producer Whose Work Supports Folx From Marginalized Communities
Plus, her tips for staying productive.
Photo: Courtesy of Olivia Charmaine Morris
Welcome to our monthly editorial series A Day in the Life where we ask successful women we admire to share the daily minutiae of their professional lives, from the rituals that set them up for success to their evening wind-down routines. This month, we caught up with Olivia Charmaine Morris, the founder and CEO of Black Monarch Entertainment, to talk about how she’s championing artists from marginalized communities, what inspires her to wake up at 5:00 am every morning, and her favorite forms of self-care.
You’re passionate about fostering lasting inclusion in Hollywood, and in 2020, you left Kerry Washington's Simpson Street to start your own venture to work toward that goal. Tell us about Black Monarch Entertainment and what inspired you to launch a production company that centers, celebrates, and supports “otherness.”
I’ve worked in Hollywood for years as a development executive specializing in original scripted programming. Whether working at big companies or smaller startups, I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, so it’s quite natural that I would eventually pour that energy into my own creative endeavors.
Black Monarch Entertainment, at its core, is an inclusive artist collective. For me, it’s always been about representation. As someone who is a queer, Black woman, I’m a champion for artists that sit at intersections of “otherness.” I’m honored to be able to build a safe space for content creation that drives social impact.
You’re also the host of the weekly IGTV series “The Tea” in which you have powerful conversations about everything from wellness to current events with people like Angelica Ross, Janelle Monáe, and Karyn Parsons. What compelled you to start this series and what do you hope people take away from it?
While we were all stuck inside our homes and fatigued by the onslaught of the negative news cycle, I was inspired to find a consistent way to check in with my friends and other folx I admire. The ritual of putting the kettle on, steeping your favorite brew, and patiently sipping tea works perfectly in tandem with intimate conversations, and Instagram Live is the perfect platform to maintain that intimacy while also being able to interact with the viewing audience. I hope that the Communi-Tea enjoys learning insider information about the entertainment industry while indulging in the important act of self-care that naturally comes from pausing over a cup of tea.
Now, let’s talk about your workday routine! First, are you a night owl or a morning person? When do you do your most important work and why?
I’m traditionally a morning person that does my best work in the early afternoon. I tend to start my day slowly while picking up steam after my morning tea kicks in.
What time does your alarm go off, and what’s the first thing you do upon waking?
My first alarm goes off at 5:00 am, and my second alarm goes off at 6:15 am. Because I work with artists in different countries, the first thing I do is quickly glance over my emails so I have a clear sense of what my morning will look like.
What does your morning, pre-work routine look like?
I either go for a long walk around my neighborhood or meet at the gym with my personal trainer.
Mark Twain said, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” What’s the first thing you do when you get to your desk?
The first thing I do when I get to my workstation is review my notes from the day before to ensure there is nothing outstanding.
What are you working on this week?
I’m currently working on producing my first independent feature film, called “Dreyana Grooms.” This week, my team has secured a global sales agent, a celebrity executive producer, and the last bit of equity financing we’ll need to be able to start principal photography in July!
What’s been the most rewarding part of running your business? The most challenging?
The most rewarding part of my job is supporting people of color and what I like to call “colorful people,” anyone from a marginalized community with a story to tell. I personally love stories that sit at the intersection of art and activism. Our artists, crews, and stories are inclusive, and we have an exciting slate of film and television projects on our slate.
The most challenging part is finding continuity in the midst of a chaotic year. I discovered that I needed to prioritize self-care in order to stay healthy and maintain the daily motivation to press on.
Do you ever reach inbox zero? How do you handle the constant influx of inquiries and communication?
I technically never reach inbox zero because I always have a never-ending pile of scripts to read that stack up on a daily basis. To handle the influx of communication, I often delegate incoming inquiries and assignments to my incredible team.
What is your go-to work lunch?
My go-to work lunch is a green smoothie.
What advice do you have for balancing the minutiae of day-to-day tasks with big-picture planning?
I typically prioritize tackling bigger picture projects before handling day-to-day tasks. I also have the support of my lovely coordinator, Apryll.
What are some work habits that help you stay healthy, productive, and on track to reach your goals?
I spent most of my early days connecting directly with my network and letting everyone know about my latest endeavor through word-of-mouth. So much of the entertainment industry is predicated on who you know, and I spend a lot of time fostering new relationships in this virtual environment. I’m also very self-aware and know that balance is the key to life. As much as I value my hard-earned role in the entertainment industry, I appreciate self-care just as much or more. These days, I think naps, long walks, and drinking tea are my favorite forms of self-care.
Any favorite apps you use regularly?
What are you reading, watching, or listening to right now to help you wind down at the end of the day?
I’m always watching a new show. I just finished the first season of Peacock’s “Noughts + Crosses” and loved it. My current favorite scripted podcast is called “Bronzeville”—it's so good! But most often, I’m reading a pilot or feature film script!
When do you go to bed? What’s your “optimal” number of sleep hours?
I go to bed by 11 pm to get 7-8 hours of sleep.
What’s the most rewarding part of your day?
The most rewarding part of my day is when I go for walks. I appreciate the moments of disconnecting from my devices, grounding myself, and getting recharged.
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The Recent Graduate's Guide to Crafting a Perfect Résumé
Congrats! You’re getting a job.
Photo: Create & Cultivate
Writing a résumé is hard and it’s not something that is often taught in school, so it’s okay to feel overwhelmed about how to write your first résumé and where to start. When you’re figuring out how to write your first résumé, it is important to figure out what you want to gain from the document. What are you going to use it for? Will you be applying to higher education programs, internships, or jobs? Your résumé will differ substantially depending on what you will be using it for, so it’s crucial to figure this out before getting started. If you’re a recent graduate on the job hunt, keep reading for some foolproof résumé tips.
Start with the Basics
When you’re figuring out what information to include on a résumé, start with the basics. You should always create a header with your contact information including your phone number, email address, and location. Just include your city and state; no need to write down your exact address.
If you do have a personal website, include that as well, but do not include the link to your LinkedIn profile. If you’re using LinkedIn correctly, you will be easily searchable, so there’s no need to add the direct link on your résumé.
List Your Skills
Putting your skills at the top of the document immediately increases the effectiveness of your résumé. Recruiters look at each résumé for an average of six seconds each. That means you have six seconds to show that you are qualified and what you can bring to the table. When you put your skills matrix up at the top, this shows the reader exactly what you have to offer and highlights that you are qualified for the position right off the bat.
The quicker you grab someone’s attention and persuade them that you’re the right candidate for the position, the more likely you’ll be to get past the initial influx of applicants.
Gather Your Employment Information
When you’re starting to write your first résumé, you might not have traditional employment information. If you do have traditional work experience, gather your dates of employment, (month and year) job description, projects you worked on, and any additional information you can include like how many people you worked with.
As a new graduate, no one expects you to have a lot of work experience; however, potential employers do want to see any volunteer work, side projects, and/or internships you’ve had. If you need to beef up your résumé, even more, include information about relevant school projects you worked on. This will help highlight your ability to work on a given project under constraints and will help highlight your relevant industry knowledge.
If you’re listing class projects on your résumé, use the school name in place of the company name, and include something along the lines of “[Class Title] Project Manager,” “Student Project Manager,” or “[Class Title] Student” in place of a job title.
Gather Specific Metrics and Achievements for Each Role
The key to a great résumé is highlighting exactly what you’ve achieved and what you can bring to a new position. This is not the place to include a general job description that can be used for anyone with that job title.
Try to answer these questions for each role you put on your résumé:
What did you do in this role?
How many people did you work with or manage?
What kind of projects did you work on?
What were the results of those projects?
This will help ensure that your résumé immediately reflects your achievements and what you can bring to the table. Anyone can say that they’re great at their job, but very few people can actually show it. When you’re noting your achievements, think about how you can quantify what you’ve done.
Gather Your Education Information
Unless it is your highest level of education or you are in your first year of college, do not include information about your high school diploma. Similarly, there is no need to include GPA unless you’re currently in school and have a very high GPA (3.8 or above).
When it comes to listing education, start with the highest level of education at the top and list backward from there.
For example:
Ph.D. information
Master’s information
Bachelor’s information
High School information
*Include certifications and specialized training
When you’re learning how to write your first résumé as a new graduate, certifications and specialized training make a huge difference. Even if you don’t have specific certifications but you’ve had internal training, taken an online course, or even just an online tutorial, include that in your résumé.
For example, you can take some online tutorials and training sessions on QuickBooks or Adobe Photoshop via YouTube and list that as specialized training. As long as the training gives you an advantage and further educates you on a subject, you can list it on your résumé.
If you’re struggling with how to write your first résumé, relax. You’re not alone! Writing a résumé is hard, and it’s often something that people are forced to learn on their own. Just take it one step at a time, gather the required information, and go from there!
When in doubt, you can always hire a professional to help!
About the Author: A native San Franciscan, Michele Lando is a certified professional résumé writer and founder of writestylesonline.com. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves, both on paper and in person, and works to polish individuals' application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles presents tips to enhance your résumé, style, and boost your confidence.
Love this story? Pin the below graphic to your Pinterest board.
This story was originally published on July 27, 2018, and has since been updated.
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How to Write a Post-Interview Follow-Up Email That Will Get a Quick Response
Craft an email any recipient will take the time to read AND respond to.
Photo: Anna Shvets for Pexels
Whether it’s with a sense of excitement or dread, sending out the occasional follow-up email is an aspect of adulting most of us simply can’t avoid. And what we’re looking to get out of these messages most of the time is—at the very least—a response.
It seems straightforward, right? But the art of sending a follow-up that actually inspires the recipient to take the time to read AND respond? Now that can be tricky.
Let’s ensure your next follow-up is a success. Keep reading for everything you need to know to craft a follow-up email that warrants a response.
Want more tips to land the job of your dreams? Download our The Job-Hunting Bundle and discover résumé templates that will get you hired, smart questions to ask so you can ace your next interview, and a foolproof cover letter template that will get every the attention of every recruiter.
When to Send a Follow-Up Email
When you send a follow-up email will be unique to your individual situation. However, there are a couple of general guidelines to consider when sending your message so that it remains relevant and has the best chance of being opened.
HubSpot recommends the following timeframes for sending follow-up emails:
Within 24 hours: Sending a “thank you” after a meeting, sale, interview, event, or occasion that justifies an immediate sentiment of gratitude or those follow-up messages that contain time-sensitive info or requests.
Within 48 hours: After submitting important info (for instance, follow-up emails for job applications or other formal document submissions) or, if your follow-up still contains fairly urgent info or requests (those that can’t wait 1-2 weeks).
Within 1-2 weeks: Messages following up on a meeting request or those that go unresponded and require a confirmation from the recipient (maybe a job offer or an email requesting feedback).
Every 3 months: Emails sent as a way to catch up with a past connection or those requesting updates (can be for both business and personal life).
How to Write a Follow-Up Email
1. Identify Your Primary Objective
Before putting your fingers to the keyboard, the first step of writing a follow-up email is to determine the objective of your message.
What’s the end goal you’re looking to achieve from sending this email?
Take a second to ask yourself, are you trying to…
Obtain more info?
Schedule a call or meeting?
Remind someone to do something?
Close a sale?
Say thank you?
Or, something else?
Regardless of what your goal ends up being, this step is necessary to allow you to craft a strong follow-up and include a specific call-to-action (CTA).
2. Provide Context
Discounts and deals, order confirmations, bill payment reminders, and those random messages from Grandma checking in—we are constantly bombarded with emails.
And if your inbox is anything like mine, it’s not hard to find one of many of those messages that make you stop and think—“wait, who is this sender??”
If you’re nodding along, you probably already know that step #2 to writing a follow-up email is critical: provide context around who you are and how they know you. This is especially important if it’s been a while since your most recent interaction or if you don’t have a very close relationship with this person.
Don’t leave any room for confusion that will deter your recipient from responding. Provide context early on in your email by emphasizing your initial conversations or interactions to jog their memory.
Here are a few solid openers you can test out in your follow-up emails:
I wanted to follow up on the message I sent on [date or day if it’s still the same week] about [subject of the first email].
I just wanted to follow up to get your thoughts on [subject of the first email]. Have you had a chance to check out my last email?
Just checking in to see if you’ve had a chance to read my email from [date or day if it’s still the same week].
Just following up to see if you have any questions about my email from [date or day if it’s still the same week] about [subject of the first email].
Quick Tip: Include the subject line of your initial email in your opener to make it easy for your recipient to go back and locate that first message.
3. Make the Purpose Clear
After providing context to refresh your recipient’s memory, move straight into making the purpose of this communication clear.
This portion of the email should be direct and straightforward. Remind the recipient of what you mentioned wanting/needing from the last email or letting them know if that want/need has since changed.
Quick Tip: If this is a follow-up email aiming to make a sale, keep the focus on the recipient here and reframe any statements using “I” to address the benefit or relevancy to them. You might be tempted to throw in an “I think” or “I believe” statement here, but I promise, it’ll be much more effective to keep the reader believing this is all about them.
Here’s an example:
Rather than including: “I think my/our [product or service] could really help you accomplish [benefit]. I would love to hop on a quick call to chat about [opportunity].”
Try something like: “Your [aspect of their business or life] would really benefit from [purpose of product or service]. Would you like to hop on a quick call to chat about this opportunity?”
Want to land the job?
Add our The Job-Hunting Bundle to your cart and get the rest of this article (which includes an email template for your reply), plus résumé and cover letter templates, along with questions to ask in your next job interview. Or get unlimited access to our entire library of downloads and videos when you join Insiders.
This story was originally published on April 20, 2020, and has since been updated.
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"You're Going to Want to Quit 100 Times"—Julianne Hough Gets Real About Being an Entrepreneur
This week, on WorkParty.
Photo: Courtesy of Julianne Hough
LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE.
Julianne Hough is the epitome of a multi-hyphenate.
She's an actress, dancer, singer-songwriter, and producer. Not to mention, a serial entrepreneur who's taking on the health and wellness space—and generating multiple revenue streams in the process.
Last year, she launched her innovative fitness platform KINRGY (with a little help from Oprah, no big deal!). And she recently started a wine brand with her BFF-turned-business-partner Nina Dobrev.
All this to say, Julianne has experience when it comes to pursuing her passions, managing her money and businesses, and inspiring others to chase their dreams along the way.
This week on the WorkParty podcast, host Jaclyn Johnson dives into the incredible career of this successful multi-hyphenate and her multiple revenue streams.
Subscribe to WorkParty and never miss an episode.
On having a vision and being flexible…
“Have a vision and go for it, but be flexible and malleable because you never know what's going to happen—and that's where the magic happens.”
On breaking through in a competitive industry…
“The more other people innovate, the more you innovate. I don't look at it as competition, I look at it as colleagues and peers that are creating.”
On being a multihyphenate…
“Know your strengths and know your weaknesses. Know what you're good at and like live in that place. Don't try to do everything.”
“Wherever your focus goes, energy flows.”
On starting a business…
“There's a lot of sacrifice that's involved and the reward is there when you realize that you're impacting people's lives.”
"You're going to want to quit 100 times, maybe 101. It's inevitable because you'll sometimes feel like, 'Is this all worth it?' I'm exhausted. But then you get these kernels of inspiration and it keeps you going."
“You don't even have to sell your company, but have an exit strategy.”
On the #1 piece of advice she’d give her younger self…
“Make sure that you're happy and that it's not taking and stripping you have your happiness, but that it's fueling and adding to it.”
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How 11 Honoré Design Director Danielle Williams-Eke Is Making the Fashion Industry Size-Inclusive
"My hope is that inclusivity and diversity become the standard."
Photo: Courtesy of Danielle Williams-Eke
Early on, I never really thought of designing plus-size clothing. Truthfully, nine years into my career with a bachelor’s and master’s in fashion, I still felt that my future was to design straight-size clothing. I always wanted to design high-end contemporary womenswear. Traditional education teaches about the “fashion greats” including Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Cristóbal Balenciaga, and more. I fell in love with them and fashion. I recently looked back through my 2009 graduation portfolio and it struck me that all the assignments included tall, slim figures, perfectly following the "nine head rule" with six-foot-tall, size-two women. Not a curve in sight. This wasn't by choice; this was how I was required to design to make the grade. The curriculum was void of any trace of plus-size fashion. One could only take this to mean that plus-size women weren't welcome in the fashion industry.
Since I am a plus-sized woman, essentially, I wasn't welcome in the fashion industry. Imagine loving and working in an industry that refused to acknowledge you. This forced many plus-size women, like me, to seek out the brands that recognized our existence. It was like a scavenger hunt. When I occasionally discovered a new brand that got it, there was a great feeling of being seen and served. I remember that feeling back in 2004 when I found Torrid for the first time while shopping for my sweet 16 outfit. While a few other plus-size lines popped up in the well-known chains, I didn't see this recognition in luxury fashion. Plus-size women weren't on runways. Designer and contemporary brands didn't produce their clothing above a size 12 or 14.
“Since I am a plus-sized woman, essentially, I wasn’t welcome in the fashion industry. ”
Then, in 2018, I discovered 11 Honoré and I knew this was something different. The brand offers plus-size high-end fashion, which was something I never thought was possible. It was around this time that I also attended The Curvy Con for the first time during New York Fashion Week. This was also the Fashion Week that Kellie Brown launched #FatAtFashionWeek. In her words, "We are here, we work in this industry, we get it, we are leaders and consumers." I felt that! I felt the shift in the atmosphere at NYFW that year. The runway was getting more inclusive. It was building on the great year before when I had the opportunity to sit in on the Christian Siriano show watching Precious Lee, Marquitta Pring, and Candice Huffine slay the runway one after the other. Things were happening!
Fast forward to November 2019. After a year of stalking the 11 Honoré career site, a colleague reached out to me. The company was ready to start their in-house brand and they wanted me to design it! The collection I never imagined would exist was the collection I would have the opportunity to create. I was playing a part in a brand that was moving the industry forward. I was in the company of legacy brands like Carolina Herrera, DVF, and Dior, who were finally moving toward inclusivity but also a part of this new wave of designers, like Henning and Baacal, whose brands were founded on inclusivity. The scavenger hunt was getting easier for this African American designer from humble beginnings.
“The fashion industry has to acknowledge the blatant prejudice that exists towards those who don’t fit the ideal beauty standards related to size and body shapes of all women.”
While there is more work to be done to normalize varying body types and shapes as well as amplifying the voices of Black people and people of color, we are moving in the right direction. I'm honored to be a part of the ride. My hope is that inclusivity and diversity become the standard.
For me, this starts with fashion education. In the same way that America has to take a good look at how we teach and talk about the history of racism in America, the fashion industry has to acknowledge the blatant prejudice that exists towards those who don't fit the ideal beauty standards related to size and body shapes of all women, particularly those of different races and ethnicities. Only after we acknowledge those faults can the industry move forward and truly reflect its consumers.
About the Author: Danielle Williams-Eke is the design director of luxury size-inclusive e-tailer 11 Honoré’s private label line, The 11 Honoré Collection. As design director, Williams-Eke spearheads the design team and production of the private label, a collection that blends modern minimalism with power dressing. The designer is quickly making a name for herself in the fashion industry as a balanced voice and leader in size inclusivity. Prior to her role at 11 Honoré, the Los Angeles-based designer oversaw the design team at Torrid. For the last decade, Williams-Eke has specialized in designing extended sizes and pioneering patterns, fits, and silhouettes for the plus-size consumer. Understanding the power of clothing is instrumental to the designer, who is influenced by classic Americana style that eludes a hint of sex appeal. “I design for a lifestyle. Women are multifaceted and when I create a collection, I keep that in mind. I’m designing clothes for moments in the 11 Honoré woman’s life.”
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5 Job Hunting Tips to Score Your Dream Career
It’s not just about your résumé.
Photo: Create & Cultivate
Would you believe more than half of the people who are currently employed are considering a new job?
It feels like we’re always striving for something bigger and better to fulfill our professional and personal goals. But, before you dive into the tedious world of job hunting, be sure to take the necessary steps to ensure you’re as prepared as can be for what your future might hold. This doesn’t just mean updating your résumé; think a lot harder and deeper about how you’re portraying yourself to potential employers.
Here are a few key steps you can take before you embark on the job hunt adventure. No need to thank us when you land your dream job.
Broaden your job search.
While looking for a new job, take the time to really focus on how you want to progress with your professional career. Search for keywords that are broader than you’re used to searching. Sometimes jobs are listed under a variety of topics that you might not be thinking about. For example, if you work in marketing, try searching social media terms, and brand marketing terms to expand your search to reach more companies with even more open positions.
If you’re looking for writing jobs, try searching for magazines and other publications in the area and scouring their websites for open positions that might not show up on job search websites (Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Indeed, etc). You might end up finding something that fits exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Curate a cover letter (every time).
Some applications don’t require a cover letter, but most do. Although it feels easier to just skip the cover letter, never skip it. This is your chance to show the employer who you are and what you’re capable of in your professional field. A cover letter is the best way to talk yourself up, cater to the employer, and show off all of your valid experience.
Take the time to look up various cover letter templates to help you find a format that works for you and your career. It’s also important to read through the position you’re applying for and pick out keywords that are used repeatedly to describe the candidate the company is looking for. Input those specific keywords into your cover letter and back them up with your relevant experience.
This is the perfect way to stand out among the rest of the cover letters employers will be reading. Not only will this make you look good, but it will help boost your confidence for any tough interview questions that come your way in the future.
Follow up with an employee.
Don’t you hate being ghosted by companies? Have you ever gone a month or more without hearing back about a job? Trust me, it’s normal. Think about how many people have applied for the job and how much time it is going to take HR to sift through all of the candidates. After about a week or so, I’ve found it beneficial to search for an email address of someone who works in the department you’re looking to be a part of or someone on the HR team.
Make your email short and sweet. Simply state your name, the position you are interested in, and your desire to learn how the hiring process is going so far.
Here is an example to follow:
Dear (Employee Name),
My name is (Name) and I recently applied for the (Job Title) position. I’m very interested in this role and would love to hear how the hiring process is coming along. Let me know!
I look forward to hearing from you,
(Name)
Perfect your résumé.
This one is self-explanatory but still so important to the job hunt. Without a clean, updated, and crisp résumé, hiring managers won’t be inclined to reach out to you. The first step is to match your résumé to you and your profession. Make it artistic and colorful if you’re in the arts, make it innovative and dynamic if you’re interested in the business field, and so on. Always keep your résumé updated and always save your résumé as a PDF.
That way employers can quickly check out your résumé without the hassle of downloads, slow internet, etc. Don’t forget to input any keywords that are relevant to the position you’re applying for. Did you know more than half of candidates are eliminated from the online job search by applicant tracking systems? This is due to a lack of relevancy between your résumé and the job description.
Canva is a great tool to use to reformat your résumé. The website provides you with a variety of templates to choose from, allowing you to utilize all the space on the page, and provides fonts, colors, and pictures to fit properly onto your résumé. Take your time while creating it, have friends and coworkers look it over for basic editing and readability purposes.
Secure recommendation letters.
Before you start providing various forms of information to a possible future employer, make sure you’ve solidified a couple of recommendation letters. Reach out to previous supervisors and mentors and update them on your career endeavors and what types of jobs you’re applying for. Don’t forget to grab a current email and phone number for each person, so the employer can contact them if need be.
Not all applications ask for recommendation letters, but I’ve found them helpful throughout the interview process. If you’re on a second or third interview, it might be beneficial to pass your letters along to whoever you’ve been conversing with to give yourself a little boost in the hiring process. Any material that highlights your professional work in a positive light can only help you along in the job hunt.
Implement some of these tips right away and get started on finding your dream job. If you’re creative and looking to dive into the marketing/advertising world, check out some job listings here.
About the Author: Abbey Adams currently works at an enterprise SEO marketing company while also maintaining her music blog blondieandthebeat.com) of six years. Throughout her time as a freelance writer for a women’s magazine, she’s learned to share every story and always try to empower as many women as possible. You can usually find her typing in bed binging “Sex and the City” (for the 10th time) or at the gym sweating out her anxiety on the stairclimber.
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This story was originally published on September 19, 2019, and has since been updated.
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When Should Your Startup Hire a Full-Time Lawyer?
Psst… it may be sooner than you think.
Photo: ColorJoy Stock
Because an in-house legal department is commonly viewed as a “cost center” and not a “revenue generator,” startups are often advised that the answer to the question of “when should we hire an in-house counsel” is best answered by running a straightforward cost-benefit analysis. When that exercise demonstrates that the legal fees paid to outside counsel are greater than the cost of adding a lawyer to a company’s payroll, then it is time to bring on a lawyer to work in-house.
While this approach is appealing in its simplicity, it fails to account for a big portion of the value that an in-house lawyer (and ultimately, a legal team) can bring to a young company, the value that may be difficult to quantify. The right in-house counsel can be a strategic partner and a huge asset to a growing business. Here’s how to tell when you should bring on a full-time lawyer.
Save Yourself Headaches and Money, and Hire In-House Counsel Early On
Once the legal structure of a company (LLC, Corporation, Partnership, etc.) has been set up and the basic legal requirements for doing business have been met, many startup founders think of lawyers only as “clean-up crews:” people reluctantly hired from time to time when there’s a problem.
In fact, until confronted by a lawsuit or government investigation, many founders tend to view lawyers as obstacles to progress—people who are always telling you what you can’t do—and to want to avoid them for that reason. But lawyers can also provide useful perspectives to a founder strategizing how the company can achieve its goals while avoiding expensive pitfalls.
A good lawyer has been trained to anticipate issues that might arise and will put in place the safeguards that can help a company avoid those problems. Like the old adage, “a stitch in time saves nine,” this way of working obviously helps a company avoid extremely costly mistakes.
Learn From the Mistakes of Others, and Consult Legal Counsel Proactively
Protecting your business early on can save you 10x, 20x, or even 30x in legal fees if you have to hire legal counsel to clean up a mess. In Season four of HBO’s series “Silicon Valley,” an entire episode (“Terms of Service”) was constructed around a character’s failure to comply with the FTC’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (“COPPA”), estimating that that mistake—made without even realizing that a lawyer should have been consulted—left the company, Pied Piper, potentially liable for $21 billion in fines.
A quick consultation with a lawyer could have saved a lot of angst, even if it would have ruined the episode. As far-fetched as this scenario might be, it is unquestionably true that a lawyer can save a company money by minimizing its exposure to regulatory fines, along with lessening the likelihood of costly lawsuits and making sure the company’s intellectual property, reputation, and other valuable company assets are well protected—all of which add enormously to a company’s success.
Unfortunately, since these benefits represent savings that are difficult to quantify, they are not so easy to plug into a cost-benefit analysis, but that doesn’t make them any less important than the sum of all those law firm invoices.
“Can’t I Just Use Outside Counsel Instead of Hiring a Lawyer In-House?”
While outside counsel can certainly provide legal services, without context, a founder may miss the right opportunity to reach out for help (since you don’t know what you don’t know!). Even if you do think legal counsel would be helpful, the prospect of facing expensive legal fees may deter your from making the call until a concrete issue presents itself.
Giving an in-house lawyer a seat at the table early in a company’s development can mean fewer unpleasant surprises down the road. It can have other benefits as well, such as devising a strategy for utilizing outside law firms and judging when the most cost-effective choice is to consult outside legal experts, for example, to advise with respect to a specialized area of the law such as patent and other intellectual property matters, First Amendment issues, SEC regulations and the like.
When it is determined that outside counsel needs to be consulted, the in-house counsel team can manage that relationship, including negotiating legal fee rates and reviewing bills. If done right, this can also save a company money. Not only that, it will free up the team member who is currently managing outside counsel, which again can lead to cost savings or even revenue growth if that team member’s responsibility is normally to generate revenue for the company.
“While outside counsel can certainly provide legal services, without context, a founder may miss the right opportunity to reach out for help (since you don’t know what you don’t know!).”
—Amy Rowland, Founder of Varia Search
About the Author: Amy Rowland is the founder of Varia Search, a boutique legal recruiting firm that uses a bespoke approach to fill legal department roles. Prior to starting Varia Search, Amy was a recruiter at another legal search firm where she focused on recruiting for in-house legal positions. She has also held in-house roles at two international companies and a large New York City law firm.
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How the Founder of Loeffler Randall Opened Her First Retail Store During the Pandemic
It was 16 years in the making.
Photo: Courtesy of Loeffler Randall
In January of 2020, my husband and business partner, Brian, and I realized a dream we’d had for nearly 16 years: we signed a lease on our very first retail store for our brand, Loeffler Randall. We chose Soho because that neighborhood has been home to our office for over a decade. It’s also where we had our first date; at Raoul’s Restaurant, complete with a visit to the tarot card reader upstairs.
Brian and I started our company in 2004 in our garden apartment in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Long before we had children, we hoisted long whiteboards along the walls of our apartment where we plotted and planned the company we would create. I felt so much pressure to have my designs work, for this to be a success, that I couldn’t sleep at night. Bob, our life coach, asked us a question, “Even if you fail, do you think it might still be worth it? That you will learn something? That you will have created something that you are proud of? Isn’t there freedom in that? In knowing that even if you fail, it will be a success.”
We channeled this same wisdom when we, up against many unforeseen challenges and delays, decided to stay the course and open our first Loeffler Randall retail store in NYC in February 2021. Here’s how.
1. Accept What You Cannot Control
In the middle of March 2020, the reality of COVID hit. Soon the full brunt of the pandemic’s impact smacked into our business. Our store, nearly completed, stood empty, its walls half smoothed with plaster and with shelves laying bare.
March and April were cold and damp. I tried to take my three kids on long, windy walks on the beach in Long Island each day to get some energy out. Brian stayed home, enduring the bankruptcies of four of our important wholesale accounts. At home, I threw myself into sewing masks for front-line workers, with the message “Thank you, hero” embroidered inside. Without discussing it, Brian and I divided and conquered. I taught myself how to bake bread and busied myself feeding the kids, working on creative projects, and designing new, pandemic appropriate products like slippers.
2. Commit Yourself Completely
Even after all these years, with all our company’s triumphs and steady growth, signing our first retail lease felt just as scary as first starting our line. Many of our friends and advisors told us to get out of our retail lease at all costs. Another suggested that someday, after a vaccine was developed, the city and our business might return to a new version of normal. Would we start then to plan the future? Or would we plan for it now? We choose to proceed. To commit to completion and see our vision through.
When we pressed pause on the store construction in March of 2020, we were 75% complete. Many months later, when we were able to resume, we dove right back in, selecting light fixtures, having reusable totes made from the fabric scraps from our development process. We were ready to open our doors in February, one of New York’s coldest and snowiest months. Was anyone shopping? It didn’t matter, we committed to this project, to that date, and we did all in our power to make it the best and most successful we possibly could.
Unable to host a typical store opening party, we made cardboard tubes with masks, sanitizer, and photos of the new shop to send out. Instead of press previews, I held Zoom meetings with reporters, showing them the wall of pleated styles on my laptop. It worked, with the support of our friends and community, in the media, social media, and beyond, people were excited. The word was out, and customers did in fact start walking through the door.
Photo: Courtesy of Loeffler Randall
3. Focus on the Positive
After a year of bad news, our store opening was the beacon of hope and positivity my team and I needed. A reporter asked us over Zoom how we would know the store had been a success. And the answer came to me that for me, no matter what happened, it already was a success, because it exceeded my expectations for a physical representation of the brand. It felt warm and welcoming, just the way I wanted it to feel. And it continues to inspire me and my team creatively.
In designing the space back in early 2020, my team and I collaborated with my friend Poonam Khanna, the interior designer and architect who designed our office. Zoe, on my team, pulled together the things we love and are inspired by: the tiles and earthy textures from our recent trip to Marrakech, pleated fabrics referencing our collection. Poonam set down slabs of terrazzo, hunks of pale oak wood, textured plaster, and rich pink velvet onto the floor of my showroom to see how it all worked together. We stood back and smiled—this was our brand coming to life in 360 degrees. To have us finally open our doors, and invite our community into the first Loeffler Randall retail space a full 14 months after signing the lease, 12 of which were consumed by the pandemic, was a proud, full-circle moment. The beginning of something new, something hopeful.
The NYC I know and love began to emerge again like the bright bulbs on the flowering trees on our block. And shoppers crowd down Prince Street and into our shop, especially on bright, sunny days.
4. Know It’s All About the People
This weekend, Lucy, from our sales and merchandising team got married at the Boat House in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The bridesmaids all wore Loeffler Randall pleated bow heels. As the sun set behind the chuppah overlooking the lake, I smiled seeing my beloved co-workers: Jessica who has helped build our company for over 10 years, Lissa who started as an intern so many years ago, and Miranda, our retail store manager, dashing into the ceremony just in time from a full shift at our store. We had just had our highest-grossing day at our boutique.
Even though the pandemic still rages, there is hope in the vaccine and hope for a small business like ours, more happy occasions on the horizon, and many more weddings to celebrate in Loeffler Randall heels.
About the Author: Jessie Randall created Loeffler Randall in 2004 out of her garden apartment in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn with her husband, Brian. Fifteen years and three children later, they are still doing what they love, making distinctive products in small, considered batches with attention to every detail. Since 2004, they have expanded from shoes, adding handbags, ready-to-wear & accessories to their collection. Creativity is at the heart of what they do, they are always thinking about new designs they can offer to their customers from their signature point of view.
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5 Travel Founders Who Are Giving Us Serious OOO FOMO on Instagram
Put that PTO to good use.
Photo: Spencer Davis from Pexels
Welcome to 5 for 5, where we spotlight 5 women in 5 minutes or less.
We don’t know about you, but we’re currently daydreaming about signing out of Slack, setting our OOO emails, and getting far, far away from our WFH desk situations. Ahead are five travel founders who are seriously fueling our OOO FOMO and inspiring us to submit a PTO request, stat.
1. Katalina Mayorga
As the co-founder of El Camino Travel, an off-the-beaten-path travel company, and Casa Violeta, a private villa located in Granada, Nicaragua, it’s no surprise that Katalina Mayorga’s feed is filled with beautiful beaches, colorful streets, and unreal sunsets.
2. Marta Tucci
Travel photographer, writer, and co-founder of Naya Traveler, a travel company specializing in tailor-made journeys to destinations spanning Spain, Morocco, Argentina, and more, Marta Tucci documents her travels to everywhere from Bahia to Bali and Kashmir.
3. Cheraé Robinson
Cheraé Robinson, the founder of Tastemaker Africa, a platform that connect travelers with a range of unique tours and experiences created and hosted by artists, creators, and makers, shares swoon-worthy snaps from Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Cape Verde, and more.
4. Achiraya Thamparipattra
The co-founder of Hivesters, an award-winning travel social enterprise created to preserve and help Thai culture flourish, Achiraya Thamparipattra often posts photos from her adventures in Phuket, Ayutthaya, Phang Nga, and more destinations throughout Thailand.
5. Phaka Dludla Hlazo
As the founder of Zulu Nomad, Phaka Dludla Hlazo is providing curated experiences in East and Southern Africa. Her IG feed is an enviable travel bucket list, featuring photos from UNESCO World Heritage site Maloti-Drakensberg Park in South Africa, Stone Town of Zanzibar, and more.
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How to Land Your Dream Business Collaboration (and Double Your Revenue)
It’s a win-win.
Photo: ColorJoy Stock
The word collaboration is being thrown around like gifts in Oprah’s Christmas special. From brand-to-influencer collaborations to employee collaboration and collaborative playlists, there are so many contexts in which collaboration is used. However, when it comes to growing a community and a business, collaboration marketing is the strategy you need to know about.
If you’ve ever spotted the likes of Uber x Spotify, Allbirds x Shake Shack, or Rimowa x Supreme, you’ll know how brand collaborations have the power to spark interest and, in some cases, cause a social media frenzy. So, how do you find your own dream collaborator?
Much like networking, collaboration marketing can be likened to dating in more ways than one. You could say that a dream brand collaboration is like a “friends with benefits” for your business, and you’d be right. Collaborating with a complementary brand has benefits, for example, you can use them to:
Double your organic reach
Build buzz and engagement
Attract media attention
Boost a new or existing revenue stream
Grow your community across social media, event audiences, and email lists
Grow your network
In fact, Collabosaurus ran a research study that found collaborations to be up to 25x less expensive than digital advertising. Want to get on the collaboration marketing bandwagon? Here’s what you need to know.
1. Know your value.
Collaboration marketing is all about win/win value exchange, and you likely have a lot more to offer in a collaboration than you think. You don’t have to have an immense social media following, significant cash flow, or the ability to just give away “free things” in order to collaborate. Collaboration is about leveraging what your business already has to benefit another business and vice versa.
Perhaps you have a cool office or event space, content creation skills, excess product, an engaged social media community, or an email list—collaboration is possible for all brands, big or small, it’s about getting creative with value. Start conversations with what you can offer in a collaboration, then ensure that you’re communicating your marketing objectives.
2. Find the right partner and tie your collaboration to a marketing objective.
How do you find your dream collaborator? Start with complementary industry spaces. Look for companies that share values, objectives and have a similar brand aesthetic and target market to your business (so that any cross-promotion is super valuable).
Platforms like Collabosaurus are incredible for finding amazing brand collaborators for all sorts of campaigns in social media, products, or events. They also have a nifty idea and strategy generator that generates creative collaboration ideas for your business.
When it comes to finding a creative idea and executing your collaboration, don’t forget that it’s a marketing activity. Just like any marketing strategy, make sure you have a goal in mind, an objective that you can track against (such as growing your email list, getting content created, or increasing event shares on Instagram).
3. Leverage, leverage, leverage!
You could have secured the coolest collaboration in the world, but if no one knows about it, what’s the point? It’s crucial to have a promotional plan in place, for both yourself and your collaborator, that reflects a mutually beneficial sharing of marketing responsibilities. Identify all of the promotional channels and opportunities available to both yourself and your collaborator. Then, set a schedule so that everyone is on the same page when it comes to who is promoting what and when.
Want to keep things #legit? Consider signing a joint marketing agreement, or MOU document to keep things in writing, and using platforms like Bit.ly or Sked Social to track the impact of your collaboration against your original marketing goal.
4. Use collaborations in your broader marketing strategy.
Don’t be afraid to incorporate collaborations into your strategy frequently. Mix up your collaborators, as well as the types of collaborations (social media, product, event, etc.) you explore to keep your exposure opportunities fresh, and engaging.
The benefits of brand-to-brand collaborations are endless, and if you’re interested in giving it a try for your own business, check out Collabosaurus, a match-making platform for brands to collaborate for win-win marketing collaborations that help businesses grow. It’s free to start, takes less than five minutes, and from over 6000+ collaborators to choose from, including Porsche, ASOS, Olay, and RedBull, your dream brand could be waiting for you.
“You don’t have to have an immense social media following, significant cash flow, or the ability to just give away ‘free things’ in order to collaborate.”
—Jess Ruhfus, Founder of Collabosaurus
About the Author: Jess Ruhfus is the founder of Collabosaurus, a marketing platform that match-makes brands for clever collaborations and partnerships. With a background in fashion publicity and marketing education, Ruhfus was frustrated sourcing cool brand partnerships in events, products, and social media. So, she launched Collabosaurus in 2015, which has now attracted over 6000+ brands including Porsche, ASOS, Olay, Topshop and one of the largest global retailers in the U.S. Jess has also spoken for Apple, Vogue, and The College of Event Management, splitting her time between Sydney, New York, and Los Angeles as Collabosaurus continues to grow.
This story was originally published on August 5, 2019, and has since been updated.
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Short on Time? Micro Self-Care Is the Antidote to Burnout
Because Zoom fatigue is real.
Unprecedented was a defining characteristic of last year–and with it came unprecedented high rates of burnout. Employees and entrepreneurs are feeling the pressure of an ‘always on’ work culture more than ever with the shift from in-person meetings to virtual ones. Many people are feeling the effects of “Zoom Fatigue,” but women are still affected more. In the first large-scale study examining the full extent of Zoom fatigue, Stanford researchers found that women report feeling more exhausted than men following video calls – and the “self-view” display may be to blame. In a world that doesn’t ever switch off, burnout is very real, and the new science of ‘micro self-care’ might be the solution to prevent it.
Micro self-care emphasizes the benefits of engaging in small habits in our daily lives to have a positive influence on our well-being. While traditional forms of self-care usually require substantial commitments of time, effort and often financial resources, micro self-care practices are small activities that can be done in a few minutes (or less) and are flexible enough to be woven into the workday (or other scheduled activities). Even larger acts of self-care can transform into micro practices by distilling existing rituals you already love into their most powerful essences. For example, you might not be able to get to a yoga class today, but you can benefit from a single pose or stretch in between meetings. You might not be able to call in for a full day at the spa, but you can experience the same TLC for your skin with a microdermabrasion facial at home.
In light of Mental Health Awareness month, the team here at Create & Cultivate is prioritizing acts of micro self-care. That’s why we’re partnering with Dr. Brandt Skincare to transform their cult-favorite exfoliator into a weekly micro self-care ritual that supports the Dr. Brandt Foundation. We are advocates of using business as a force for good, and love seeing entrepreneurs and brands of all sizes do their part to raise awareness for important causes.
The Dr. Brandt Foundation is dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of diverse and underserved communities and to bring awareness to mental health issues. With every Dr. Brandt microdermabrasion age defying exfoliator purchase, $1 will be donated to the Dr. Brandt Foundation to support mental health programs.
Three C&C team members–with different skin types, tones, and concerns–put Dr. Brandt’s microdermabrasion age defying exfoliator to the test in a micro self-care moment of their own. Here’s what they had to say.
Carly, Senior Director, Marketing
Skin Type: Sensitive
Skincare Concerns: Pores, Fine Links, Wrinkles
I currently use Dr. Brandt’s pore refiner primer, and this is my first venture into skincare from the brand. Stress and anxiety definitely take a toll on my skin, so I was excited to add this exfoliator into my morning routine. The texture in the formula is so fine that I know it won’t irritate my sensitive skin. Because I only use it once or twice a week, it feel like a special self-care ritual that only takes a few moments. I can definitely see this product becoming a staple in my morning skincare routine.
Valerie, Senior Director, Partnerships & Sales
Skin Type: Combo, Sensitive/Acne Prone
Skincare Concerns: Fine lines, uneven skin tone, some acne scars
I have tried microdermabrasion during a facial in the past, and was eager to try products by Dr. Brandt as it’s a well-known, high-end skincare brand. More importantly, it also supports Mental Health Awareness. Love supporting brands that actually DO good for the world.
I used this product at night–after a long work day (and all in front of a computer screen due to WFH living) my skin was looking dull and tired. First impressions - great packaging. The product itself felt very light and easy to apply. My skin was tingling (in a good way) which I always like in these types of products because I feel like it’s actually working! The tingling turned to cool–and left my skin feeling SO soft by the time I washed it off just 2 minutes later–so clean and refreshed. In the morning, the texture of my skin felt so nice and I noticed the few acne scars were not AS red. I can’t wait to see results long term after adding this regularly to my routine. I was definitely impressed even just after one use - and loved feeling the fancy spa effects right at home!
Genesis, Talent Coordinator
Skin Type: Combo, Dry/Oily T-zone
Skincare Concerns: Dark spots, texture, fine lines and wrinkles
I love getting facials and depending on the type, I almost always incorporates microdermabrasion. I have used the “Needles No More, No More Baggage”’ under eye cream by Dr. Brandt in the past and was very pleased with the results, so I was excited to try this exfoliator as part of my micro self-care beauty routine. The packaging is simple and timeless, which enhances the product even more. As for the product, I love how lightweight the formula is and how smooth it was to apply – not like other harsh exfoliators– and my skin definitely felt softer after the first application. I will absolutely be adding this into my morning routine, maybe 2-3 times a week.
From May 21st - June 2nd, enjoy 40% off sitewide with coupon code MEMO40.
Don't Live Paycheck to Paycheck—This Is How to Save Money in Your 20s
Is retirement still a thing?
Photo: ColorJoy Stock
A lot of people in their 20s are dealing with large amounts of student loans and credit card debt and living paycheck to paycheck, dreaming of days when they can begin to use their money to reach their financial goals. While it's easy to that think financial planning at this stage in your life is pointless, the truth is there are some basic strategies you can implement, regardless of how much debt you have or how much income you’re earning.
Learning these strategies will help set up the financial foundation you need to move through this challenging time in your life and set the stage for a strong financial future. Read on for eight simple steps to get out of that paycheck-to-paycheck cycle and start saving money ASAP.
1. Create a budget.
Even as a young adult who may not be making that much money yet, budgeting is critical because it allows you to see how much money is coming in and going out every month (it’s all about tracking your spending!). Although most 20-year-olds understand they should budget, the reality is most just don’t do it.
Get a budgeting system as early in place as possible and review how you are spending your money so you can make adjustments, if necessary, to ensure you are living within your means and able to save for your financial goals. There are apps that can help you now too such as YNAB.
The basic budget formula for after-tax income is:
50% for fixed expenses, such as housing (28% or less for housing expenses), basic food, insurance premiums, etc.
20% for financial goals. This would include extra debt payments, your cash cushion, retirement, etc.
30% for variable expenses, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, etc.
2. Set up weekly money dates.
Set up weekly money dates to review your budget and manage and plan out your finances. During your money date, you should pay your bills (although most should be set up as auto-pay), update and review your budget and take care of any other financial concerns. By calling this allocated time with your money a “date,” you can begin to bring a fun, exciting element into your financial life to help you stay committed for the long haul.
3. Open up a savings account and set up automatic contributions.
Most people don’t save because they make it way too difficult for themselves. Instead, review your budget and aim to start saving toward your financial goals by following the “pay yourself first” strategy. Under this method, you set up your savings to be automated every month and you save before you spend money on variable expenses.
The goal is to save 20% of your net income but don’t let that amount scare you. Even if you can only start with $10 a month, that’s better than nothing. Every year, review and see if you can increase your savings amount.
4. Build up a cash cushion.
The goal of a cash cushion is to have three to nine months of your fixed expenses in a savings account to pay for life’s unexpected incidents. Life always throws curveballs—your car breaks down, your computer crashes or you receive an unexpected medical bill—and having money in the bank to cover those expenses will help you maintain your financial peace of mind.
If your fixed expenses are $3,000 per month, you should aim to build a cash cushion of anywhere between $9,000-$18,000, depending on your comfort level, job security, etc. That sounds like a lot, I know. But remember, just start with what you can to build your cash cushion over a few years. Again, even if it’s $10 a week, that’s still one step in the right direction.
5. Keep an eye on your credit score.
Our credit score affects nearly everything in our financial lives. It affects the interest rate on the car loan we apply for, the mortgage loan, the credit cards—and even employers and landlords can reference your credit score when reviewing your application.
By monitoring your credit score, you can see where you stand and what you can do to improve it if necessary. Use websites like creditkarma.com to view your credit score (not your actual FICO) regularly for free and then pay to see your actual credit score at least annually using annualcreditreport.com.
6. Create a debt reduction plan.
The first step is to make a list of all your debts. Get clear about how much you owe, the interest rate of each debt, and the minimum payment due. Then review your budget to determine how much you can realistically add toward extra debt payments and start with the debt with the highest interest rate while paying the minimums on the rest.
This will allow you to save the most in interest payments. Once the debt with the highest interest rate is paid off, move on to the second-highest, and so on.
7. Start saving for long-term goals.
If you have the ability to start investing in your retirement accounts after you’ve allocated some monthly funds toward building your cash cushion and paying off your debts, then set up an automatic contribution into your retirement account. By starting early, you can allow compounding interest to work in your favor on your investment accounts.
If you are new to investing, make sure you do your homework and read investment books so you are clear about what to expect when investing in your future.
8. Focus on building your earning potential.
Income is one of the biggest factors in wealth creation over time. After all, if you don’t make money—or don’t make enough money—it is very difficult to save for your financial future. So if you can’t save as much as you would like to due to your income level, focus on ways to increase your earning potential for the long run. There are a lot of free courses you can take online, and even watching YouTube videos to sharpen your skills is something anyone can do. Also, there are so many ways you can earn extra money on the side. Ramit Sethi teaches this to his community at I Will Teach You To Be Rich.
Think outside the box, and continue to focus on increasing your earning potential every year.
About the Author: Brittney Castro is the founder and CEO of Financially Wise Women, a Los Angeles-based financial planning firm for women. She specializes in working with busy, established professional and entrepreneurial women who are passionate about life and want to finally understand money—how to manage it, save it, invest it, and protect it—in a fun and simple way. Follow Brittney @brittneycastro.
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This story was originally published on June 15, 2017, and has since been updated.
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3 Ways We Can Stop Professionally Ghosting Each Other
Let’s talk about it.
Photo: ColorJoy Stock
Several years ago, I was interviewing for a role at one of the top beauty companies in the world. I went through rounds of interviews and met key members of the cross-functional and senior leadership teams on multiple occasions at their offices.
In my very last conversation, the head of HR called me on a Friday to say, “The team loved you. We would like to put together an offer for you. Can you please remind me of your current compensation package and specifically your stock grant component?”
I was thrilled. I immediately provided the details. She thanked me for my time. She said she would call me first thing Monday morning with the offer details.
She didn’t call me first thing Monday morning. She didn’t call me later that afternoon, or later that week, or the Monday after that. She never called me again.
I followed up a few times. Maybe she’s just busy. Maybe something happened to her (Oh god, I hope she’s ok!). Maybe she lost my contact information. And then I realized I had invested my time and effort into a process that would never receive any closure: I was a victim of ghosting. I had been ghosted. She would never reach out to me again.
Since then, I have been ghosted more times than I can remember in my career. And the hard truth is, I have also ghosted people. I, too, have been the ghoster.
What is ghosting? Ghosting is to completely stop responding over text, email, or phone (insert your preferred mode of communication here) after having been responsive and in touch with someone over a distinct period of time for a specific business objective.
The business objectives during which the ghosting occurs can be a wide variety, including being in the process of prospecting a new client, interviewing for a job, raising funds for a non-profit event, a promised introduction to another industry contact, or seeking investors for a new venture.
Please note: Ghosting does not include cold emailing, cold calling, or cold LinkedIn messaging. If the person doesn’t know you, they don’t actually owe you a response. It’s not considered ghosting. Unless you call me Rita instead of Mita, I try to respond when someone reaches out to me even if I don’t know them.
So why have I ghosted people?
Because I was uncomfortable with the request, because I didn’t have time, because I could no longer deliver on what I had promised. Because I had said yes when I should have said no. Because I am working, teaching, and parenting (all during a pandemic). Because I was scared to respond with the truth and I didn’t want to hurt them.
If we acknowledge what’s holding us back from engaging and push through to respond, we show up as the leaders we want to be, acting with kindness and empathy. Here are three ways we can stop ghosting once and for all.
1. Be Timely
To avoid potential ghosting, I try to respond to people within 72 hours (during a pandemic, it might be closer to a week) when they reach back out with a quick one-liner: Thanks for checking in. It’s a busy time. Please reach back out in two weeks.
The ghosting can begin when you simply don’t have an answer for that person yet. You might not know what your response should be. You might have a response and realize it should be a phone call or a longer email.
If I don’t respond because I don’t have a response yet, and too much time passes, I am slipping into ghosting territory.
2. Be Honest and Transparent
No one wants to deliver bad news. And what’s worse than bad news is no closure, obsessively refreshing your inbox and checking your phone incessantly. We are living in limbo during this pandemic; there’s no need to add any more uncertainty or stress on each other.
When I think back to the offer I never received on that Monday morning, how would I have handled it as the head of HR? A simple email would have sufficed: “We have decided to move ahead with another candidate. We wish you the best of luck in your career endeavors.”
Any additional insight would have been appreciated given the amount of time I spent interviewing (i.e. not aligning on salary expectations or looking for someone with more technical experience). I would have been upset, but the ghosting was far worse. I was left with an incredibly negative impression of the company that I didn’t hesitate to share with others in my network.
Unfortunately, budgets were cut and we can’t proceed with the proposal.
Unfortunately, we have a hiring freeze now and the role is no longer open.
Unfortunately, we don’t believe this is the right fit for us and we won’t be proceeding with the partnership.
We all are owed the respect of closure. We would want it for ourselves. And we have the power to give closure to others.
3. Be Clear on What You Can and Can’t Commit To
Recently, I was asked by two individuals if I could mentor them. While I wanted to say yes, I knew I couldn’t give them the time they deserved. If I did say yes to avoid saying no, I would eventually not have time to mentor them and ultimately ghost them.
And while I hesitated to respond to their requests with the truth, I knew if I ghosted them I would risk damaging these relationships. So I told them I was humbled they thought of me and with a new job and raising young kids in this pandemic, I just couldn’t commit right now. Each individual responded saying they understood and looked forward to keeping in touch.
Please don’t say yes when you mean to say no. Please be clear on what you can and cannot commit to. And if you committed to something and can no longer deliver on what you agreed to, just speak up. Let individuals know your circumstances have changed. While they may be disappointed, they will appreciate your honesty and respect you for being accountable and for not disappearing on them, never to be heard from again.
“If we acknowledge what’s holding us back from engaging and push through to respond, we show up as the leaders we want to be, acting with kindness and empathy.”
—Mita Mallick, Head of Inclusion, Equity, and Impact at Carta
About the Author: Mita Mallick is a corporate change-maker with a track record of transforming businesses and cultures. She is the head of inclusion, equity, and impact at Carta. Mallick is a columnist for Entrepreneur, and her writing has been published in outlets including Harvard Business Review, The New York Post, and Business Insider.
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Here's Why You Should Never Ask a Busy Person to Lunch (and What to Do Instead)
The secret to getting ahead.
Photo: ColorJoy Stock
Networking is every successful person’s middle name—but meeting with a busy person is a challenge. Although we can’t give you the secret handshake that will land you a meeting with Sheryl Sandberg (there’s a secret handshake, right?) we can dole out successful networking tips and tricks that will get you in the door with someone high-ranking who has the potential to advance your career.
Just because networking can feel impossible, doesn’t mean it is. Meeting your career heroes isn’t unheard of and landing that crucial meeting can be done, but you’ll have to get creative. Your career crush didn’t make it where they are by taking every lunch meeting they were cold emailed about. So, here are some ways you can stand out and get your foot in the door.
Try Getting in Touch With Their Assistant First
There are some who claim that a cold call or cold email shows bold initiative. And sometimes, when the work powers that be are acting in your favor, a cold email will launch your career in a way you can’t imagine. There are always outliers.
Case in point: Jaclyn Johnson, CEO and founder of Create & Cultivate, cold emailed Garance Doré, and she responded and then spoke at C&C Chicago. You never know what will happen until you put yourself out in the universe. But if after a cold email and a follow-up you’re still not getting anything, you should try a new road before either, a) giving up, or b) hounding someone to the point where they will never meet with you.
When you are just getting started, don’t assume that you are the exception. Assume you are the rule. (That’s not to say you shouldn’t be confident. There is a difference.) Most busy people will not appreciate you clogging up their inbox. It’s not uncommon for a CEO to receive 1000+ emails a day, and wading through those can feel like torture.
Think of the assistant as Saint Peter at The Gates. You’re not getting in unless you make good with Pete. Many CEOs and executives will have their assistants linked to their inboxes. Meeting with them could be a great inroad. Offer to take them to coffee or lunch. Ask for 15 minutes of their time before you try and meet with their boss. Assistants are overworked, overtired, and often under-appreciated. Get on their good side and it just might land you on their employer’s schedule.
Skip the Standard Cold Call and Email Vernacular
There is a story in Silicon Valley about Tristan Walker, who recently raised $24 million for personal care products for POC. Before branching out on his own as CEO of Walker and Company, he worked for Foursquare—a job he got from cold emailing the founders eight times. Two years after landing the position, Walker posted the correspondence that landed him a meeting on his blog. You can read it here. There were many, including IA Ventures’ Ben Siscovick who said, “If you are outside StartupLand looking to get in, read this then read it again—this is how it’s done.”
However, despite his success, Walker’s original email is exactly what we would warn against. There is passion in his voice, yes, but he notes nothing concrete that he would bring to the Foursquare team. It worked for Walker, but in most cases, this will not work. Don’t tell a company how awesome they are. Don’t tell someone you’re “hungry.” In a few short sentences, you should be able to explain exactly what you can bring to the table. Be as specific as possible.
For example, if you want to meet with the CEO of a marketing company, convey in two sentences how you’ve helped another company grow, or an idea you had for a client that performed on social well. When applicable, give stats.
If You’re Asking Them for the Meeting, You Go to Them
This is really simple. Don’t ask someone to coffee and then suggest a place to meet. Bring them coffee. Show up where they are and make it easy.
By Failing to Prepare, You Are Preparing to Fail
Come with questions. If person X is giving you 15 minutes of their time, you should be prepared to make use of every. single. second.
I recently had someone tell me, “I have three.” As in minutes. You better believe that I wrote down what I needed and made those three minutes count. If you waste three minutes of someone’s time, you can be sure that they won’t give you ten in the future.
You don’t need to print out your resume. Honestly, it’s a little dated and most people are more interested in getting a read on you, not reading what you print on paper.
While You’re There…
If you shake their hand and walk out of the office thanking them for their time, you’ve biffed it. LEAVE WITH NEXT STEPS. Let’s repeat that. LEAVE WITH NEXT STEPS. Ask for something concrete that you can do that, a) keeps you in contact, and b) is actionable for you. You’re not taking a meeting to schmooze, you’re taking a meeting to move the needle on your career. So move it.
Once You’ve Left…
Don't ghost. Follow up. Send a thank-you email, at the very least. Pro tip: Send a thank you with cupcakes for the office. Or send something that says, I paid attention to what you said, and I’m working to take the next steps.
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This post was published on February 16, 2019, and has since been updated.
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5 Things To Do Before You Start Investing
Yield your best benefit.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels
Investing can be intimidating. But if you’re looking to build your wealth, buy a house or set up a retirement fund, investing is not only one of the best money moves that you can make –– it’s a must. For most people, understanding the basics and choosing the right investment strategy is enough to get started. But the most important question to ask when it comes to planning your financial future is whether investing is right for you, given your current financial situation.
So, to have a candid conversation about making strides toward the financial future you want for yourself, we tapped Lauren Anastasio, CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) at SoFi, during our recent Money Moves Digital Summit to share some tips on building wealth through investing, including what you need to know before you start, and how to really know if investing is right for you.
She identified five financial goals to accomplish in chronological order, before you begin investing in order to build the best possible financial foundation. ICYMI, we’re sharing them below, along with Lauren’s tips to yield your best benefit.
Establish a Safety Net
The first thing you want to do before you consider investing, is establish a safety net. Think about this as a cash savings equivalent to approximately one month's worth of your essential expenses. If you don't have at least enough cash to cover all of your living expenses for one month, then saving is your very first priority––that's the thing you should be doing, before anything else.
Seek Employer Match
Step number two is to obtain any employer match you might be eligible for. If you're not strictly self employed or you do have access to an employer sponsored plan, you will want to make sure that you're maximizing any match that you might be eligible for––you never want to leave free money on the table!
Protect Your Income
Third, protect your income. This means pursuing an appropriate amount of disability or life insurance, depending on your circumstances.
Attack Bad Debt
Next, you want to eliminate any bad debt, It’s important to make the distinction between between good debt and bad debt. Bad debt includes things like credit cards or personal loans, essentially anything charging 7% interest or higher. You will want to eliminate these in their entirety before moving on to investing. The reason is, there's an opportunity cost if you're investing and you can expect realistic average annualized returns of seven or 8% –but if your credit card is charging you 20% that's compounding daily, your money is going to be far more valuable going towards paying off that high interest rate debt than it will be going into the market. This is one step you absolutely do not want to skip.
Build an Emergency Fund
Step five includes establishing a fully funded emergency fund. This is when you take that safety net and build it up to a balance that's closer to between three to six months worth of your essential expenses. This is vitally important, because if you do have an emergency that comes up, including some type of loss of income, you don't want to have to take money out of the market and possibly trigger a taxable event or have to dip into that money when the market is down. You will want to make sure you always have cash on hand.
Once you’ve accomplished steps one through five, you’re likely ready to start investing! To learn more about investing and how to align your approach to your goals, visit SoFi.com/Invest.
ABOUT SOFI:
SoFi is a different kind of finance company whose goal is to help people get their money right. Whether you're looking to save, spend, earn, borrow or invest, SoFi is a one-stop shop for your finances, designed to work better together. Our products are built around our members—so that they have the tools they need to take control of their financial futures. Learn more by visiting SoFi.com.
DISCLAIMERS:
Advisory services are offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC an SEC-Registered Investment Adviser.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design), and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.
How to Build a Subscribe-Worthy Podcast With Olivia Perez, Host of Friend of a Friend
Listen up.
Photo: Courtesy of Olivia Perez
Podcasts are the hottest content medium of the moment. In 2021, people have already spent 15 billion hours listening to podcasts—and their popularity doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. By 2024, it’s estimated there will be 100 million podcast listeners in the United States.
With over 20% of people listening to podcasts on a weekly basis, podcasts pose a huge opportunity for content creators to reach a massive, highly engaged audience. Not to mention, a sizable revenue opportunity: In 2019, podcast advertising revenue reached over $708 million.
So, how do you build a podcast that attracts loyal listeners? How do you turn those 45-minute conversations into revenue streams? And how do you decide when to follow the metrics and when to follow your gut when curating guests and episode topics?
Thankfully, we had Olivia Perez—the host of the podcast “Friend of a Friend,” a weekly talk show where she interviews the next generation of luminaries like Maggie Rogers, Bella Hadid, and Symone Sanders—on the latest episode of WorkParty to help answer these questions.
Subscribe to WorkParty and never miss an episode.
On building a supportive team…
“You can’t do it all yourself.”
“Building a team, investing in people, and outsourcing things I’m not good at, have been the most important thing that have helped me continue to grow.”
On not getting distracted by the competition…
“If I impact one person, I’m thrilled about that and I’m excited about that.”
“My mantra has always been, ‘Keep your blinders on.’”
“If you stay true to your authentic self, your brand, and your mission, that’s what’s going to propel you forward.”
On navigating interviews that don’t go as planned…
“Part of being an interviewer is being quick on your feet and not being precious about anything.”
On turning a podcast into a revenue stream…
“It took me about a year and a half to get a steady flow of advertisers in.”
On playing the long game…
“Podcasting is a long game. You’re not going to wake up one morning and have millions of downloads.”
“If you’re persistent and you’re ambitious about it and you’re ready to ride it out, it will reward you.”
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