Easy creative tips

Think in the color of 2023"Head of Table"

Nov 19, 2023

The Thinking In Color 2023 conference was officially closed! We're glad and grateful that you took the time to hear our speakers of remarkable women as well as BIPOC creatives and movers in the field. We're hoping, by the end of the event, you felt encouraged by the experiences of our panelists and learned ways to develop a strong online community, broaden the scope of your services and grow the reach of your business, along with other aspects.

Although many topics were addressed in the forum we've tried to bring the top moments that caught the attention of. Learn more about the key points we learned from each of the speakers.

Skip ahead:

     Creating Cozy & Collaborative Virtual Communities    

Cicely Blain is an anti-racism specialist and the founder of Bakau Consulting. Bakau Consulting

Description of the event Remote working was a reality prior to COVID-19. However, the outbreak has pushed companies to move into a digital environment. In turn, companies that would like to have a strong relation with their customers decided to set up virtual communities in which like-minded people can exchange information and help to each other. It can, however, it be quite difficult to establish an online community as intimate like one you can find physically.

In this talk, Cicely Blain shares their journey to build their virtual community, called Living Room. They explained how they have created a an inviting and warm atmosphere within an online space, creating safe and open communities using the internet to cater to the needs of people.

Primary Takeaways

HTML0Make sure you know the people you want to target and what they're looking for.

Before establishing Living Room, Cicely had determine the target audience that they were trying to create the digital space to. Because their work is rooted in anti-racism and anti-oppression Cicely knew that this audience was predominantly those such as DEI professionals, consultants and HR professionals that perform similar jobs.

Following, Cicely had to figure out what people really desired.

 "I considered"What is this people seeking, especially at a time in which so many aspects change and are being referred to in different ways?

     The majority of people are looking for community, a sense of solidarity, and connection regardless of feeling in a lonely place. [They're also] looking for sources and are eager to gain knowledge."

Your message should be pertinent to the individuals you are trying to reach.

The best way to convince members to join your virtual community is by providing them with something that they will be able to connect with. For Cicely this resonant thing was their living room. They wanted for a way to replicate the exact warm and cozy feeling the living room of their house offered them.

     "I thought, 'What do I want people to experience when they walk into this space What do I want people to feel?' I thought, "hey, I would like for them to feel exactly the way they might as they enter the physical space. The space should feel cozy, healthy and welcoming. I wanted them to feel comfortable, relaxed, supported, connected, and respected."

Cicely shares this attitude with the community through:

  • The beginning of every virtual conference is a ten minute reflection. It is a straightforward question via screen to participants take part in a reflection within themselves.
  • A soft, R&B-inspired playlist designed to help people relax and ease into the phone call.
  • Engaging in conversations like they're enjoying themselves in the company of their friends. While they're not recording video for their online course, Cicely might be doing her make-up, or brewing cups of tea in her kitchen.

Offer a range of methods for users to obtain the info they require

While people who belong to a virtual community will be people with similar interests, they may have their own requirements as well as strengths and weaknesses. For a business, you'll need figure out various ways that you will meet the needs from your community members despite the different perspectives.

In the Living Room, Cicely met the needs of their members with:

  • Engaging in various ways (e.g. live chat, discussion forums and online classes that are comprehensive and so on. );
  • The concept of common values and guidelines for the community;
  • Lets people show themselves as real;
  • Removing unnecessary strains like time limitations as well as agendas for meetings
  • Consider accessibility requirements (e.g. disabilities and neurodivergence) such as neurodivergence, disabilities, etc.

Funds in the Funnel: how to maximize sales using a funnel that is focused on the customer.

Ellie Diop, Content and Coaching Coach to Fund the Academy at Ellievated Academy

Description of session: To make your business profitable, there must be customers who will buy your product or engage with your offerings. Many companies make the error of creating content that they believe the ideal customer would prefer and not focusing on what their customers really want. In this talk, Ellie explains how you can grow your business and maximize sales by creating an effective funnel that attracts customers who are ideal and reacts to their desires and needs.

 Principal takeaways

Every aspect of the content has a role to play

The process of creating a funnel that's targeted at your clients could be described as making an emotional connection with your customers. The best way to achieve it is by making information relevant, useful and useful to them. A funnel that is focused on the customer has five phases:

  • Awareness
  • Discovery
  • Inquiry
  • Conversion
  • Retention + Relationship

Concerning the significance of writing content, Ellie states, "Every written piece you produce makes up a significant part of your sales team. What you have published within the last 3 months is performing the task of helping people move through this path... Being consistent in your appearance every day and using a the same tone makes it that is predictable for customers to understand and help to navigate the process."

Make your brand clear

If you're not sure the audience your goods or services target, there's no way someone will be able to buy from you or partner together. Before you create the funnel, make clear the purpose and mission of your company beginning with your most ideal client. It is possible to ask your self:

  • Who do I serve?
  • What can I do to help them to with their problem?
  • What do I need to know?

These are the guiding principles of all your business decisions. Ellie offers a simple method to assist the"YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE" your goals with the help of your product or service.

In her own experience of expanding her business, Ellie states, "For me, it is 'I assist women create successful companies through teaching strategy and financing techniques '... In the past I kept the information on a paper at my office's corner every time I attempted to make videos, I recalled the person I was speaking to. "

Create your social media followers

Social media is among the most successful digital channels for creating brand recognition and also generating leads for your company. It's so successful that the majority of people will browse through your business's Instagram profile (or the other social media profiles) prior to navigating to your site.

Thus, you must spend money (and maybe even money) into the social media posts you publish to increase its visibility. The most effective way to achieve this is to:

  • Engaging, informative, and shareable content (especially video)
  • Pay-per-click ads are running
  • Working with influencers that have an identical target audience to you

Use lead magnets to grow your email database

While you're writing the content you're creating, the goal is to get the maximum amount of people not on social media onto your mailing list. When people subscribe to your list of subscribers you're providing an opportunity to establish a direct connection with them. This is better than if they stumble across your content and videos when browsing through Instagram or X (formerly Twitter). Lead magnets can be used in a way that are beneficial.

In a perfect scenario, when using lead magnets, you're offering the product's worth gratis in exchange for people's details of contact (usually their email and name). address). But you can solicit other information too. As an example, in the start of her business, Ellie offered free 1-on-1 training for clients in order to collect reviews. They were used to gain her first group of clients that paid.

     "You've got to think about the question "What's the way I could offer free and high-quality products that inspire people? Make that your primary incentive. In my company, I've just implemented a fresh strategy where instead of pushing customers directly into the product, we ask the user to sign up for a free deal, which is the free masterclass. After that, we sell the backend. The results have been great."

The process of keeping customers who are already loyal is much less difficult than finding new ones

Each new lead you acquire You go through the process of moving them along the sales funnel. It is much more difficult than persuading an existing client to buy from you again. Thus, you should focus on retention of customers in the same way or greater than customer acquisition.

In order to keep your customers loyal Follow these ways you can follow:

  • Provide high-end customer service
  • Utilize surveys from customers to gather feedback
  • Get testimonials from happy customers (offer incentives, if you can)
  • Create a second product that fills in market gaps

The second offer was created by Ellie, Ellie shares, "I created my first business credit course with only $15. In the following months, I received feedback on what [my customersrequire in the future. This led me to create Business Credit, which is Business Credit revamped. In the following years, I come up with a Business Credit masterclass, and afterward, the entire package. It turned out that most of the people who purchased the first bundle then bought the following one to make up the voids. The third one was then purchased due to the fact that they were growing in their abilities, and they were interested in learning more."

Growing both B2C and B2B Businesses with Multiple Revenue Streams

Jessica Chen, Global Chief Executive Officer and Communication Expert of Soulcast Media

Description of the session The session will focus on the fact that businesses, generally will have three primary revenue and sales elements including their products and services and the content they produce to describe those products/services along with their platforms on which they distribute the content. In this presentation, Jessica discusses the power of LinkedIn to aid businesses in making connections with customers (B2C) as well as other companies (B2B) How to make your content appealing to both groups of customers and ways to increase your services and offerings for both types of audiences.

 LinkedIn is a powerful platform to share content and increasing your reach

Many professionals and entrepreneurs are on LinkedIn However, they're not looking at LinkedIn a platform on which it is possible to expand the reach of your profile and share details. Instead, they view it as a place to improve resumes, discover new opportunities, and connect with friends and acquaintances.

In reality, LinkedIn is a social media platform, similar to Instagram or X (formerly Twitter), and must be treated like the other social media platforms. The only difference is in the type of content you publish.

Regarding the popularity of LinkedIn, Jessica says, "The advantages of using this platform is that it allows you to communicate with a particular people who are currently in the process of their own personal development and looking to expand their knowledge. "

Jessica is also eager to share her journey from speaking about her experiences being a reporter in the year 2018 and then becoming certified Top Voice and a LinkedIn instructor within five years. Her reason for this is being consistent on LinkedIn and connecting to a broad range of people that can benefit by her services to assist users improve their communication techniques.

Make your content be suitable for both B2C as the B2B

Most entrepreneurs believe that they can only gain visibility by directing their content to consumers on a specific basis. This isn't the case.

The advantage of LinkedIn is the ability it has to allow users to modify their messages to reach out to B2C and B2B customers. The content of the page doesn't need to change, but altering your language used to describe your company can increase the exposure of your company as well as draw consumers from individual businesses.

"I discovered that in order to speak to a B2C audience I use phrases like "you"  You've ever thought about this? ...?'""you"?" "You" asks Jessica. "My style of speaking is very clear. Therefore, anyone who reads my content feels like it's personal.

     "[With B2B marketing Instead of using the words 'you' or "your", I'm framing my talk with phrases like 'the team' or 'the company'. It's more positive and less personal."

Set yourself up as an thought-leader for B2B customers.

Unlike individual customers who only desire a top-quality product, B2B customers want for top-quality products. To attract the attention of B2B customers, it is essential to present yourself as a professional or thought leader in your industry regardless of whether or not your product is primarily targeted toward B2C clients.

If, for instance, you're an artist, you could create and market an online photography workshop in order to reach your B2C customers. But to get B2B leads, you could publish thought-leadership content about making a living in the field of arts, or making a living being an artist. If you provide one-on-one workshops that teach people how to improve their productivity, you can attract B2B customers by sharing content regarding improving the efficiency of your company.

Thus, you'll have the option of selling B2C products like online courses, one-on-one classes or organizing speaking events and workshops.

Making Your Personal Brand through Video

XayLi Barclay an expert, as well as a Visual Content Coach for the ability to start Shoot Expand

Session Description as an owner of a business isn't it easy to not be noticed, especially when you're selling in a crowded industry or. You can combat the feeling by establishing your personal brand with video content whether it's small TikTok videos, Instagram Reels or even longer YouTube video. In this talk, XayLi explains how you could use videos to market your online course to increase sales and establish your name to the buyers who make purchases from you.

It doesn't take much data to get started.

If you're creating the first video of your career or your very first livestream you don't have to wait for your video to be flawless. It's fine to begin with the footage you have. At first people are more likely to overlook your poor video quality and your poor editing capabilities because they're aware that over time, you'll get better at it.

XayLi herself started with her laptop, an easy white background, as well as a lightbulb which is a run-of-the-mill.

"This is the place which I began my journey and was even approached to be an expert," she says. "I did not wait until I had set up my newsroom and began teaching people. I used what I had because I was aware that the information I wanted to convey wasn't based on how gorgeous your set-up could be.

Today, I have a full built-in studio in my residence, but it's my first time to HTML0 just a few years in the past. "

More resources will be at your disposal as you progress

If you start to see an increase in the visibility of your videos and start earning money, it's time to begin building your collection and improve your equipment for video. As an example, you could invest in a more expensive camera or webcam, a tripod stand (worth around $500-$1,000) as well as a green screen as well as eCamm Live. You can also get a teleprompter software along with an Adobe Premiere subscription for editing.

A discussion on the most recent equipment and set-up upgrades XayLi states, "[At this stage] it is possible to have several camera angles and the list goes on. Now is the time to invest in these products since you're making money. Many of us believe that it's important to appear good prior to the cash comes in. No. You must get your product on the market then after which the cash is going to start flowing in."

Once you have earned enough money, you can begin outsourcing the recording of your video edits distribution and recording to contractors, or even an internal team.

Concentrate on only one thing at a given time

It's the common belief that you must take every step necessary to expand your business. You must post on every channel, get on every trend, and speak about a range of topics. However, this isn't always accurate. It's much better to focus on a specific item at a time when you develop your branding. This will reduce from burning out, but it also let the viewers know the kind of content they can count on from you whenever you publish videos.

Based on XayLi Barclay's "Rule of 5 Ones" These are the five elements to consider in establishing your digital strategy

  • A single product or service
  • One possible market
  • One lead converter tool
  • A major traffic source
  • A key goal for businesses

Memberships -Memberships - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Teri Ijeoma, the creator of Trade & Travel

Description of the class In the right way, memberships are a great opportunity for businesses to establish closer relationships with clients as well as generate extra revenue. Teri Ijeoma created an online platform for membership to help support Trade & Travel and she currently has over 35,000 students taking her courses as well as more than 185,000 email users. In this lecture, Teri shares the benefits of creating a membership program and discusses how companies are able to set up and manage their members the most effective way.

Know when to transition from a group that is free to one that has a fee

If you're not the world's most popular business, then you'll need to begin your membership plan by providing free membership. Teri launched her membership plan by establishing a Facebook group that was free. If you decide to grow your group, you'll need be aware of the time to move from a free community into an paid membership model.

These are the signs you should be aware of before going on a journey:

  • The organization you work with is growing in size, but members only pay an annual fee for your service and not for any additional benefits that your organization offers, e.g. year-long customer support, etc.
  • The members of the group begin groups that are independent, and also sub-groups. This makes it harder to manage the group's administration.
  • You're hiring group moderators or coaches to provide consulting services for members of your group, however there is no other revenue that is generated from the members of your group.

Your member program the service of a company that is an element in it's own

A lot of companies that offer online courses also create subscription-based programs for their online courses. Although a membership program can prove to be a great way to make your course more appealing, it is important to consider it a full course and not as an additional feature.

In an interview with her regarding their Trade & Travel membership, Teri admits "In early on, I thought that it was an extension of my education. This isn't the case. the membership functions that is completely its own. It requires its own team with a promotions calendar and a marketing plan... it's best to think about it as an item in itself."

Be aware when you're pricing

If you are transitioning from a no-cost group to a membership model, think about your goal for income and set your price on the basis of your goals. It's easy to establish your cost smaller to entice more customers. If you're certain that the program is of value, then don't think twice about setting a higher cost to purchase the program.

In the above example, if your goal is to make the equivalent of $10,000 monthly, it is better to convince 500 people to make a payment of $200 per month instead than 1,000 customers to pay $100 per month. The higher your rates are, the less potential customers are likely to sign up for it. But this also means that you'll be able to reach your targets for income quicker, and find it easier to handle your business.

The Head of the Discussion Panel the Table

Diandra Marizet (Host) Co-founder and Executive Director of Intersectional Environmentalist

The description of this panel discussion includes speakers Cicely, Ellie, Jessica Cicely and Jessica XayLi presenting their thoughts on the significance of representation and inclusion in the entrepreneurial space, the issues women as well as BIPOC entrepreneurs face when they strive to be successful as creators, and how to value their products ethically within a capitalist system.

Here are a few poignant questions and the answers to this discussion:

     A lot of women entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups are now financially stable for the first time. What are the new issues, challenges, and opportunities do their futures hold for them?

Ellie Diop: Just like there's poverty trauma There's also wealth trauma too. If you're among the family members who owns the 6- to seven-figure enterprise, there's an example for you to follow. It's hard to make people comfortable discussing money, particularly for those or are of color, and who earn higher than most people do throughout their lives.

For instance, when I earned my first million dollars, I was scared to move out of the home my mom lived in. I was not ready to make a commitment to a home because I wasn't sure what I would take in the event it went away. Also, I was hesitant to tell my relatives since I was afraid they'd be influenced by my decision.

One thing I'd like to have more of is collaborative organizations like these which can get rid of this stigma and state "Hey is something going on? If you're struggling to make more money or spending the money do not be scared to talk about it". The stigma that is perpetuated is one of the reasons why many individuals make a lot of money only to then go back to where they were.

     In the workplace, frequently it's easy to be pushed to conform codes, stay quiet or put certain aspects of ourselves off. There are times when we do not believe that we are a part of the idea of professionalism. What have those experiences taught your about how to interact with your local community? How can you integrate that into the work you do as DEI professional? DEI professional?

Cicely Blain Cicely Blain: In the culture we grew up in the media, when we watch certain types of people on TV, media as well as social media, and when online creators are given traction, while other creators are ostracized from the shadows, it is easy to imagine that you need to conform to a certain way of being and speaking.

In the event that you're in a place in which you're recognized as who you are by the people around you and others in the position of authority (even when they may not possess the same experiences as you) this is a wonderful experience. However, despite the fact that representation is increasing and chances are becoming more accessible, there's still two standards to how individuals can present themselves. We are not unusual to believe that there are two standards (even in the event that they cannot be the case) and they keep us from achieving our goals.

As an example, on TikTok the majority of users do not appear well-dressed and polished all the time. Although that's great, I feel like that opportunity is only available to select people as the expectation is higher for others, and in how they look.

What does it mean when you realize your current career path doesn't match with what your potential could be, and what your ideal dream might be and then you take the choice to move into full-time business?

Jessica Chen: All of us will reach a point when we realize that the dream that we set out to achieve was accomplished, and that we're willing to explore something else. For me, I had an amazing career which I enjoyed, however after 10 years of working, I felt like there was more available. I've always been one who creates my own paths. It was then that I thought about the ways I can pass on the knowledge I've accumulated.

My first job was a journalist, which could say is the only "proper" profession where you're not able to speak your mind, you don't possess your own voice and are simply telling other people's stories. It was a jarring change to start creating my own voice, and to show my personality. This was definitely a process of growing curve.

     What is the best way to market your services or products so that you can attract customers who are in the same boat, eager to gain knowledge from you and appreciate the worth of the product or service you provide?

XayLi Barclay The majority the time we offer low prices, but we take away the investorswith a huge amount of money, which can be a problem for the investor. You might think there's a significant quantity of clients when you keep your prices very low. However, chances are you're getting overwhelmed investors who don't have the time to take a final decision.

I enlisted a coach for my business to estimate the amount I'd be earning as well as for determining my prices in relation to the volume. There are many creators that create courses starting at just $7. They then make 6 figures off that course but don't possess the scale. If you're a creator with a limited budget is important to think of the objectives you set as a company so that you are able to price your course appropriately.

If I can offer five online courses at $1,000 each course and earn five thousand dollars instead of selling 500 courses at the cost of $10 per course. Consider it this way. That's the process I had to experience.

Watch the sessions of Think in Color 2023 available for on-demand

There you go -- the key insights of the event that lasted three hours intended to aid new and experienced entrepreneurs work in the creation economy. We encourage you to look deeper into the subjects that piqued your interest.

This post was posted on here