Do you know your website bounce rate?

Do you know what a website bounce rate is? I have had a few questions regarding this topic, the first being “What is it?”.

The bounce rate is one of the most important things you should track on your website. It measures is the percentage of how often visitors “bounce” off of your web page.

Why it is important.

It is defined as a person landing on a page of your site then immediately leaving. They could be closing a browser window, hitting the back button to get a new URL or clicking on a link to go to another site. Meaning they only saw the one page, the page they came in on is the page they left on.

This percentage is something you want to pay attention to. In most cases, a high bounce rate is bad. It indicates that someone did not find what they were looking for and decided to leave your site. A visitor arrived for a reason then, maybe they couldn’t navigate or thought the information is irrelevant, there is no way to know why they left, only that they left. What you do know is they came to the site for one reason or another, possibly a google search, a paid ad or a referral click, they expected to see something when they arrived and it was not there. The higher your bounce rate the more you are not meeting that expectation, which means it is time to correct this.

When you see this happen, you need to take action on the pages with high bounce rates and lower the percentage. A lower bounce rate leads to a more effective website that will have visitors more engaged and will help them find what they are looking for.

When looking at your percentages, keep in mind some pages you would like a higher bounce rate than others. Pages that you would like a higher bounce rate on, are pages that will lead visitors to your Etsy store, to purchase products. Or a lead page that does not require your visitors to keep navigating your site but to collect contact information. Essentially, if the goal is to get visitors to this page for one specific reason only, then you may not have to worry about the bounce rate on that page.

So, when looking at your website analytics, look at bounce rates per page and not overall.

My suggestion is to play the video below, bounce to the music why you check out your website bounce rate!

Bounce Rate

Be sure to follow the Studio’s Facebook Page, leave a comment and let us know! We’d love to hear from you. The page is a free space where you will find business-focused training and support for female entrepreneurs, as well as inspiration and Studio updates!

Start that hustle and turn it into a career!

So, what exactly is a side hustle? I am sure you are seeing the term all over social media and I am willing to bet you know someone who is doing it. A side hustle is a way to make some extra cash that allows you the flexibility to pursue your true passion. I could also be how you are following that passion – a chance to jump into photography, fashion, or whatever it is you care about the most, without quitting your day job. Hense the term side hustle.

More and more women are turning that side hustle into their careers, and it is amazing to witness. Most just start out by doing a little bit to start – when the kids are in bed, in the morning before they go to work, or on weekends. Over a time the little side project starts earning enough money to become a full-time career and so – jumping in is naturally the next step!

If you are looking at getting started with a simple side hustle, here are a few tips to help get you going.

Determine your focus.

First, determine what it is you want to focus on. What skill sets do you have that you are passionate about and can get you started as soon as possible? Photography, writing, event planning, project manager, dog walker, tech support? In short, it is finally time to decide what you want to be when you “grow up”.

The idea is to choose something you have some experience with, this way you can get started right away. However; do not let lack of experience stop you. If you are truly passionate about something, I am willing to bet you are already knowledgeable enough to get started.

Test your market.

Second, test your market. Do some market research, is there a need for what you want to provide? Is there a problem out there that you and only you can solve? Talk to family and co-workers, another way is to get social. By using social media you can get feedback on the product or services you want to provide.

Go for it!

Now you know you have the skills, the audience and the motivation to get going, so GET GOING! It is time to set a goal and start with a plan. Jumping in feet first is always fun, but can be full of regret. Sit down and create a simple business plan, this is important because you do not want to start a business you do not love. So ask yourself these simple questions and create an easy “just for you” business plan – and started.

What is motivating you to start your own business?
What problems will you help others solve with your business?
What impact do you want to make?
What is different about you or your product that will make your business a success?
What is your business and personal mission?

Now you have the idea, the target audience, and the plan so what are you waiting for?

Your side hustle is now within reach and it is time to get started! There has never been a better time than NOW to start your own business. So join us inside the Idea to Income Group Coaching Program!

SPACE IS LIMITED

To ensure client success, the Idea to Income System is limited to 15 people per enrollment, so do not wait.

DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO ENROL!

Idea to Income System. You will be a business owner within 90 days. Start that side hustle

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Start That Side Hustle!

Inspiring Greatness | 6 Must Watch TED Talks for Women.

6 Must Watch TED Talks for Women

I love TED Talks and I have been watching them for years. They are inspirational, educational, fun, heart-warming, heart-breaking, motivational, I could go on and on! Being in business is hard, being a woman in business can be even harder. There are so many empowering women who have paved the way for the rest of us. Women who are out there fighting the good fight and making a difference. Below are 6 of my favourite TED Talks by women. In business and in life these women are influencers. Watch them for motivation, inspiration, and just because. I really hope you enjoy them and get as much out of them as I do.

Achenyo Idachaba

“And I’d like to end with a quote by Michael Margolis. He said, “If you want to learn about a culture, listen to the stories. And if you want to change a culture, change the stories.” “

**Warning – the following video contains strong and hateful language. Viewer discretion advised.**

Ashley Judd

“Girls’ and women’s voices, and our allies’ voices are constrained in ways that are personally, economically, professionally and politically damaging. And when we curb abuse, we will expand freedom.”

Dame Stephanie Shirley

“If success were easy, we’d all be millionaires. “

**Warning – the following video contains strong language. Viewer discretion advised.**

Leila Hoteit

“There is this word that everybody is touting as the key to success: resilience.”

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

“We can make a difference, and make a difference, not just for women, but for a global economy that desperately needs their contributions. Together we can make certain that the so-called exceptions begin to rule. When we change the way we see ourselves, others will follow.”

Nancy Frates

“And my family’s favourite video? Bill Gates. Because the night Pete was diagnosed, he told us that he was going to get ALS in front of philanthropists like Bill Gates, and he did it. Goal number one, check. Now on to the treatment and cure.”

Join our accountability group!

Accountability benefits you in several ways as you pursue your dreams. Being held accountable isn’t only for those who are struggling with a particular issue, but for anyone with a goal. Working with an accountability partner or team is a key to success for anyone who wants their business to grow. If this is something you need, please, join us inside the Study Hall!

Become a founding member of the Study Hall community and gain access to exclusive content from the Studio Library, Mentorship, and experts in all areas of small business.

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6 Must Watch TED Talks for Women

How important is social media for your small business?

To some who have a small business, social media is the next big thing, a powerful fad that must be taken advantage of while it is still in the spotlight, and relatively cheap! To others, it is a time suck with no practical advantages and a complicated learning curve.

According to Hubspot, 92% of marketers claimed that social media marketing was important for their business, with 80% of them indicating their efforts increased traffic to their websites. According to Social Media Examiner, 97% of marketers are currently participating in social media; however, 85% of them do not know what social media tools are the best to use. This shows that there is a huge potential for social media marketing to increase your business, but a lack of knowledge on how to accomplish this increase. When used properly Social Media can boost brand recognition, improve brand loyalty and provide more opportunities to engage with your customers. Take a peek at these 5 reasons why it is important to use social media for your small business:

1. Exposure.

You can get more exposure through social media. As a small business owner, you want to become as visible as possible to your target audience. The world of social media has made this easier and has made your audience more accessible.

2. Social listening.

Aside from simply knowing what people think about your brand you are able to actively listen. Their thoughts and concerns will be given through mentions, reviews, and conversation. This gives you an opportunity to actively listen, respond, and address to grow your business in the direction you want.

3. Relationship building.

Now you are actively listening to your target audience you have the opportunity to build relationships. Trust is one of the most important parts of a successful business – Social media will give you the opportunity to build it with your audience.

4. Personal touch.

Social media will allow you to ensure that you are being seen by those who want to see you. Targeting who will see your business is a great way to ensure your marketing dollars are being put to good use.

5. Minimal cost.

Spending a lot of money to promote your brand is not necessary with social media. You can promote your brand yourself while in the comfort of your own office. Every chance you have to make your brand visible is a chance to find another customer. Social media accounts make your company accessible for new customers, familiar and recognizable for existing customers and will help in creating a loyal client base.

Take a peek inside our new accountability group!

Become a founding member of the Study Hall community and gain access to exclusive content from the Studio Library, Mentorship, and experts in all areas of small business.

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The bad news is time flies. The good news, you’re the pilot.

Time Management Tips for Your Work/Life Balance

I once heard that the city I live in has a reputation of everyone lives to work and that the city I love to vacation in has the reputation of everyone working to live. This really stuck with me because all of a sudden I realized it was true.

Here, in my hometown, everyone is always working. Work seems to be all anyone wants to talk about or do, then they do not understand why they are stressed, burning out, and want to call it quits. Work is a necessity, yes – I understand but we should all work to live and not live to work and in order to do that we will need to determine the balance between work and life.

What is balance, really?

Balance, seems to be the trend today, doesn’t it? That everything is all about balance. Well, there is truth to that – balance is the key to everything. However; this doesn’t mean that balance is about equal parts. Having a 50/50 balance between work and home life is not going to happen, and I truly hope it never does happen to you! To me, that means you are spending too much time on your work and not enough time living.

To be able to maintain the balance, you first need to decide on what you want – then schedule around that. You will need to know how to better maintain time than maintaining a balance. There are so many factors on finding that work-life/home-life balance but today, I am just going to talk about time.

Time Management

Time management is something that most entrepreneurs struggle with. Getting pulled into the world of distractions that are: social media, email inbox, and “multi-tasking”. (I put that in quotes because I think multi-tasking it is more of a mythical unicorn than a skill but that is a topic for another day…) When you have good time management skills you will find that there is a lot more freedom in your workday and a lot of pressure to get things done starts to subside. Why? Because you have more time, well, not really. It is the same amount of time, only with time management skills it is better spent.

Look at it this way, time is truth. The truth of time is that there are only 24 hours in a day and 60 minutes in each hour. This we cannot change, yet we are caught saying “There are not enough hours in a day.” That isn’t true, there actually are enough hours in a day – there are 24 of them! Once you accept the things you cannot change, your world becomes a whole lot better and it is that much easier to better utilize the time you do have available.

To do this, start with using only one calendar. I am willing to bet there is a good chance you have more than one or none at all. Be it a traditional planner, a wall calendar or an online calendar – one is all you need. I am guilty of previously having 4! I had Google calendar, my paper planner, the pretty one on my wall and finally my Outlook calendar. What a mess. I would put my shooting schedule in one, family schedule in another – goals in yet another, and finally the fourth was supposed to tie it all together. Ha, I can laugh now… Anyway, now I have one that I use, and one on my wall that I don’t use but it is pretty to look at…. Okay, that is the ONE acceptance of the rule. Pretty to look at, but not written on, calendars are acceptable to have as a second calendar.
(They are more art, right?)

Under plan your time.

Now, when using your calendar, try to under plan your time. What I mean by this is try to leave 5 – 10 minutes for every hour where there is nothing to be done. As a photographer, I always plan sessions and events in 1 hour and 15-minute blocks. Yet, I would ensure that each would only take an hour. With the Virtual Studio, for example, a 45-minute coaching session is always scheduled for 1 hour in my calendar. For both my photography and coaching schedule, that extra 15 minutes gives me time to recollect my thoughts, travel, and for any unexpected surprises. Doing this also allows for tasks to be done at a more relaxed pace and has proven to be a lot less stressful.

A few other things you want to keep in mind to better manage your time are to set deadlines, delegate, stay motivated, and stop multitasking! (There is that magical unicorn again!)

The Virtual Studio’s will be launching a Work/Life Balance System that will go further-in-depth into time management! So stick around, that way you won’t’ miss the launch!

How are you going to better utilize the time you have each day?

What one calendar are you going to use moving forward? Let me know in the comments, I love hearing what systems they have in place!

Affirmations for business success!

Affirmations For Business Success

I am a huge fan of affirmations and use them as part of my daily morning routine – not only do they help make major shifts in your mindset they also serve as prompts and daily reminders on what you are truly capable of.

They help ensure you have an amazing and successful day, every day. Personally, every morning before I get out of bed, I read 3 affirmations. Each affirmation is said 5 times then followed by:

“This or something better now manifests for me in perfect timing!”

Ideally, your affirmations should be the first thing you think of when you wake up and the last before you go to sleep. Here are a few of my favourites!

Affirmations For Business Success
Affirmations For Business Success

Be sure to follow the Studio’s Facebook Page, leave a comment and let us know your favourite! I’d love to hear from you. The page is a free space where you will find business-focused training and support for female entrepreneurs, as well as inspiration and Studio updates!

Follow Your Passion

Defining Your Brand Identity

Starting your own business and becoming your own boss isn’t a pipe dream, it isn’t exactly a fluffy daydream either. It is stressful and demands a lot of your time and focus. That being said, once you get into your groove, it is fulfilling and a wonderful experience. So, let’s have some fun creating your brand identity! Defining Your Brand Identity

“A brand is the way a business is personified in the minds of consumers.”
Melissa Bolton

Once you have a business plan, a mission, and a vision for your company and you are ready to jump in, you will have to start thinking about your company brand. Aside from what service or products you offer your brand is going to play a very large role in your success. Ms. Bolton is right, your brand is a visual representation of you to your customers, which is why it is imperative to put together a good strategy.

You should have a solid strategy in place and implement it so you will have an edge on the competition. Your brand will be derived from who you are because you are the only thing that no other business has. Therefore, you want to make sure your brand is a strong and genuine representation of you. So, when building your brand there are a few things to keep in mind.

Be authentic.

It is hard to try and be someone or something you are not. It is a lot easier to be yourself than to try and be someone else, not to mention how much easier it will be to keep it consistent. So, just be you. Because you are a real person and your brand is a reflection of who you are; build your brand on things that you believe in. Your values, your beliefs, what you stand for, and who you strive to be. Your business should have the same values, beliefs, and passion. As you grow as a person, your brand will grow and be more successful.

You probably already have an online presence, to stay connected with friends, family, and to express yourself. So, why not put your business out there? Create social media accounts, pages, and profiles for your company. Have these link back to your website, and vice-versa. A website isn’t 100% required to be successful in business, however in today’s day and age, it is a good investment because you don’t know how long each social media platform will stay on top.

Know your ideal client.

If you follow any of my work, you will know how important I feel knowing who your customer is. Now, asked yourself “Who is your ultimate client?” You have done the research on who you are going to market to, now implement this into your brand strategy. How will your brand appeal to them? What do they want? What do they care about? If your target audience is the DIY Mom, you do not want to go out and build a brand that uses girls in bikinis on cars for any part of your strategy.

Chose a name that delivers your message.

When deciding on a company name be sure it is in line with your business message. There is no secret formula for choosing the perfect name for your business. To make matters worse, once you have decided on a name that you are100% happy with, you will still second guess yourself. So when you start planning the company name, it should be simple, to the point, and easy to remember.

Be sure to avoid annoying, random words with no meaning, double meanings, awkward puns and spelling no one would consider. If Siri can’t spell it, your audience probably can’t either.

Use professional design for your brand identity.

If you are just starting a business or looking at tweaking one that is already up and running, I can understand being on a budget. However; using a professional-looking logo and design is imperative when creating your business brand. If you are able, hire a brand strategist, such as AW Design Co., to create the perfect logo and brand style that fits the vision of your business. If that is not an option, look into purchasing a pre-designed brand and logo packages from a designer or community website like www.creativemarket.com.

Just keep in mind when you are purchasing a pre-designed package, there may be others that have that exact brand design and logo. So do not just buy the first one you like, keep digging! It is a budget-minded option, but it may not be the absolute best. You do not want to look like a box store brand, so be sure you make the right decisions for your business and your brand moving forward.

Be sure to choose a defined colour palette.

Having a defined colour scheme for your brand is just as important as your name. No matter what stage you are at in your business, your brand colours will create consistency and easy brand recognition. To do this, make sure you minimize your colours for maximum impact. Your goal is to have your chosen colours be associated with your business. For this, I suggest narrowing your colour choices down to two main colours with only 1 accent colour.

When you choose three different colours, not shades but colours, try using the 60-30-10 rule. By this I mean use your main colour 60% of the time, your secondary30%, and the accent only 10%. Following this rule will provide a simple way to create a professional colour scheme for your brand.

Do not fall into the 'me too' mentality.

When starting a business it is common, and smart, to check out the competition. You want to know what the leaders in your industry are doing to be successful but you do not want to be just like them. As I mentioned before, you are the one thing no other business has. Use that to your advantage. What makes you different from your competitors, and how can you use that in your branding? Focus on being unique so you will stand out amongst the crowd.

Try not to forget that branding is a lot more than creating a logo and colour scheme. It is a representation of your business and it is how you intend your business to be perceived by others. Having a strong and professional brand will make your business memorable and will help build trust with your audience. So, when you are creating your business’s brand identity remember to be authentic, know your audience and choose your name wisely. Try to work with a professional design, define your colours with purpose and follow your own path.

If you already have a brand in place, step back and look at it. Ensure it is a genuine representation of you and your business values.

If you are just creating your brand and are in the planning phase, get planning! Peek at leaders in your industry and head over to Pinterest for inspiration!

Be sure to follow the Studio’s Facebook Page, leave a comment and tell me all about your personal brand! I’d love to hear from you. The page is a free space where you will find business-focused training and support for female entrepreneurs, as well as inspiration and Studio updates!

This is a Premium Article, more like this are available only inside the Entrepreneur Essential library! If you are not a member, don’t fret! You still can be AND it is totally FREE!

Sign up below, if that isn’t your thing, I still want to help you the best way I can! So be sure to check out other available resources I have that will help you grow your business!

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ing Your Brand Identity

Defining Your Brand Identity

Inspiring Greatness: How bad do you want it?

Eric Thomas (aka ET The Hip Hop Preacher) shares The Secrets to Success in an energetic and passionate speech to students at Michigan State University.

Take ten minutes to watch this video, or just hit play, close your eyes and listen because it is so inspiring and motivational. And when says “When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful.” Take a deep breath and realize just how bad you want to be successful.

Find more inspiration on the blog go here and be sure to check out Eric Thomas at etinspires.com.

How bad do you want it?

Inspiring Greatness: Be unstoppable every day.

From the very moment we wake up in the morning we determine what kind of day we are going to have. Personally, I would like to be unstoppable every day. But, like Steve Rizzo says in the following video, it is hard not to wake up to that blazing alarm and not have an immediate rush of disappointment.

Here are a few tips on how to wake up happier and be unstoppable.

First, change your morning alarm to something softer and more pleasant. Personally, I have my alarm set to birds chirping – and it gradually gets louder and louder. I also make it a point to not hit snooze, once I am up – I am up.

Second, as Steve says in the video, have gratitude. Be thankful for something, anything, notice it and appreciate it, even for just a moment. The sun is shining, you can smell the coffee from the kitchen, your kitty is purring in her sleep… Anything, just take that moment and feel grateful.

Finally, and this was not something I really wanted to do when I first started but make your bed right away. As soon as your feet touch the ground, turn around and make that bed! Start your day out with a sense of accomplishment! You had a task and it is completed before you even took your first step.

Now, that is how to start your day. You have woken up gently, are feeling grateful and have already finished your first task, today you are unstoppable!

The Study Hall Group Can Help You Be Unstoppable!

Become a founding member of the Study Hall community and gain access to exclusive content from the Studio Library, Mentorship, and experts in all areas of small business.

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Inspiring Greatness: Women who are changing the world.

Women who are changing the world
There is no better way to start my Inspiring Greatness: Women who are changing the world series, then with the new trailer for Firsts, TIME’s new video series on 46 groundbreaking women.

For the past year I have been planning and preparing for the launch of The Virtual Studio, and the Path to Success programs, and to be honest, a good number of the women in this series have been true inspirations for me on my this journey.

I don’t think women need to do anything other than what they are doing right now, and that’s moving forward.

Aretha Franklin

The launching of this project could not have come at a more perfect time in my life. I do hope that these women, and many many more, can inspire and motivate you on your journey.

Take a moment and be inspired, by something as simple as the trailer for the project! I hope to post more on this project as I continue to watch the videos.

Head to the Time Magainze website to learn more about the project!
TIME Firsts: Women Who Are Changing The World

Why it is important.

Determine your focus.

Test your market.

Go for it!

SPACE IS LIMITED

DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO ENROL!

Start That Side Hustle!

Achenyo Idachaba

Ashley Judd

Dame Stephanie Shirley

Leila Hoteit

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Nancy Frates

6 Must Watch TED Talks for Women

1. Exposure.

2. Social listening.

3. Relationship building.

4. Personal touch.

5. Minimal cost.

What is balance, really?

Time Management

Under plan your time.

How are you going to better utilize the time you have each day?

“This or something better now manifests for me in perfect timing!”

Affirmations For Business Success Affirmations For Business Success

Defining Your Brand Identity

How bad do you want it?

Here are a few tips on how to wake up happier and be unstoppable.

Affirmations For Business Success
Affirmations For Business Success