How to Vision & Goal Setting

There are some things that are just instrumental in taking yourself and your business to the next level. I want share with you how I went from from booking 6 weddings to 50 weddings in just 3 years in my makeup artistry business!

Writing you Vision, which I like to call your Ultimate Vision, is a snapshot in time of your life 10 years from now.

What are you doing?

Who are you with?

What do you see?

Use your 5 senses to write down as much detail as you can. Once you have completed your Ultimate Vision, work backwards to set clear goals, I call this Reverse Engineering Your Life.

You will have 3 section of Goals:
Personal
Career
Health

Within each section you'll have 1, 3, and 5 year Goals. It doesn't have to be hard and fast goals either, it can be a feeling like in Danielle Laporte's "The Fire Starter Sessions" where she uses your Core Desired Feelings to define your goals. If you haven't read this book, I strongly recommend it.

At the end of 2012, when I first learned about Vision & Goal Setting, I thought about my long-term vision and I wrote down my goals for the first time ever. I got really clear on what I wanted and let myself dream bigger than I've ever let myself before. I was booked for just 6 weddings that year, our youngest at the time was getting ready to go to school full-time and I knew if I was going to really build my business, it was now or never.

My List of Goals in 2012 (some were 5 - 10 year goals):

• Create a makeup line

• Book 30 weddings

• Open a makeup studio

• Hire a team of artists

• Increase my income

By 2015 I had nailed ALL of them, booking 50 weddings that year and increasing my income that far surpassed what I was making working full-time in retail. I was amazed, I couldn't believe how fast everything had manifested. I knew then just how powerful it was to get clear on what you want and just go for it. 

If you do this exercise I would love to hear from you!

xo,

Kim

How to Stand Out in a Crowded Market

1.  Think outside the box-

Do what others aren't or aren't will to do! One of the most asked questions I get is, "How did you get so many jobs working with television?" I've worked with Fox News, CNN, and NBC and it happened really organically. Ten years ago when I was at the beginning of my business I sent out postcards to all the coordinators and venue coordinators in my area hoping to build my wedding business. That postcard fell into the right hands of the person who does the hiring for our local teleport and that's how it works. Look at how you can be different from what others are doing.

2.  Get your website seen-

Your website must be more than just pretty, it has to have amazing SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Find a web designer that specializes in not just building pretty sites but that will also get you seen on search engines. If your website is past page 4 you are a lot less likely to be seen by someone looking for products/services that you offer.

3.  Be an expert at something-

Figure out how you're different and how you can develop your niche from that. I am know for my soft and pretty makeup looks which makes me perfect for bridal and a few years ago I learned how to do airbrushing so I am now know for that, which is great for bridal makeup because it's flawless and longer lasting.

4.  You are the face of your business-

Don't be afraid to step out and be the face, not always putting your products/services out there first. People want to connect with your business but they need to know who you are and what your story is.

5.  Make connections- 

Referrals are one of the best ways to build your business. When I was sending out post cards 10 years ago I was targeting coordinators in my area. How did I find them? I looked in the local weddings magazines, now with search engines it would be easy to target the first 3 pages of people or businesses in your area that most relate to what you do. Find out who they are and build a relationship.

Bonus: Use social media to tell your story, people want to see you and hear your story so they can build that know, like, and trust factor!

xo,

Kim 

How to Use Video in Your Business

You've heard that video is where it's at and you know video will add value to your clients/customers, so why aren't you doing it?

Some of the reasons I've heard from women is:

"I hate the way I sound"

"I hate the way I look"

"I feel ridiculous"

Let me share with you a stat I found online...

"Online videos will account for 80% of all consumer traffic by 2020"(Cisco)

Facebook is prioritizing video, especially live video, above everything else. This means that if you want you business page to be seen, you need to be posting video. So that means you'll have to get over it and do it even though you feel ridiculous!

Here are my Top 10 Tips to Filming a Better Video (and Getting People to See It!)

1. Lighting: Get yourself some good lighting, it will make you look and feel great in your video. I suggest getting a ring light, I bought mine online at Stellar Lighting Systems.

2. Sound: Make sure you keep outside noises to a minimum and get a microphone so that you know your audience can hear you clearly, just watch it if you have long hair!

3.  Background: Try to find a wall or corner that isn't cluttered to use as your backdrop. If your audience is focused on looking at everything around you, they aren't focused on you!

4.  Appearance: I know as a woman you are hard on yourself but don't be, you do not need a hair and makeup team to feel confident on video. Some strategic makeup applications to maximize your features and minimize any (perceived) flaws is all you need! Most of the time if I'm filming at my home I'm in my yoga pants and just throw on a top because that's all you're going to see anyway.

5.  Take Notes: I have some serious A.D.D. sometimes so having at least some notes with bullet points helps to keep me on track.

6.  Share it Social Media: Share it on your social before you go live to get more eyes and share it after on all your social with a call to action.

7.  Catchy Description: Use a description that will catch people's attention, let them know what it is you will be talking about, and use emojis to be more visible.

8.  Introduction: You have about 8 to 10 seconds at the start of a video for people watching to know that they are interested in sticking around to watch or not. Save the formal intro for a minute of two and focus on the beginning on catching the attention of your audience.

9.  Be Inspiring, Informative, and/or Funny: No one wants to watch a boring video so unless you are trying to attract super low-key peeps you have to pump it up a little. Be excited and be passionate so that those watching get excited with you!

10.  Give a Call to Action: After you wrap up your top give your audience a call to action to like, follow, and share to help build your audience.

I hope this helps! If you found value in this please share it and leave a comment, I would love to hear from you.

xo,

Kim