Monetization: Facebook Groups, Subscription Programs and Branded Products

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Over the past few years, Facebook has changed how we interact, promote our businesses and in some cases learn. I’ve been discussing monetization over the past few weeks.  Monetization is developing products and/or services that can be sold for a profit to your audience. You should monetize your platform as soon as the opportunity strikes or create your own opportunity.

I suggested some ways that I have monetized my Brand. When I first started blogging, I was blogging and writing my book. I published my book, began selling copies and Amazon still sends me royalties.  6 months later, I designed my first t-shirt.  That also lead to opportunities to create t-shirt concepts and designs for other brands. I did all of that from this blog. I guess I always treated my blogging as a business and not just a hobby.

Facebook groups is my latest leap towards monetization. I’ve told you about Design Launch and Order in a previous post.  Design Launch and Order is a monthly subscription program for personal brands that want to turn their message into a product with a speciality in t-shirts. I teach the same process that I went through when I started, starting from an idea to a tangible product. Currently, I have to send those who wish to enroll to my landing page outside of Facebook. However, in the coming months, personal brands wishing to enroll will be able to do so within Facebook.

Maintaining a Facebook group can be exhausting. I’ve come across so many abandoned Facebook groups with large amounts of group members.  The larger they become, the more it takes to maintain them and it can become a full-time job.  Can you imagine doing it for free?  My group started off monetized and has generated income since I started.  And like the others I’ve come across, the larger it gets the more time consuming it becomes. I’m also coming up with new ideas and strategies to incorporate and implement regularly.

I also launched Profit Launcher in the fall of last year.  Profit Launcher teaches personal brands how to create a program to teach their expertise.  Though Profit Launcher is a one-time payment program not a subscription program like Design Launch and Order, I use a Facebook group to manage my group members. I am knee deep in Facebook groups.  However, I’ve learned a lot in the process and met a ton of people. It’s been rewarding.

You might not be interested in creating a full out program but you may be interested in adding some branded products to your brand and offering them if you have a group.  It creates community believe it or not.  I just recently added hoodies, coffee mugs, tote bags and iPhone cases to my brand. Definitely excited about the expansion as well as the sells the new products have been generating.  It’s definitely a lot of work but it’s worth it; think about the people you can teach and assist along the way.

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Leave your questions in the comments! It’s time to monetize!

 

 

 

Monetization: How to Find Your Niche

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If you’re struggling to come up with The right niche to monetize (or ideas for your content) here are a few tips for you.

1. Take note of every question, comment, ah-ha moment, struggle, etc. your audience has. What questions is you audience asking for more information about, whether it be in the comment section of your blog, live videos, through emails or your DMs on your other social media platforms. Start a basic Google doc to track this data and refer to it when you need to create new content or digital products.

2. Go to Amazon and read the reviews for books related to your niche. What did people love about the book?  What are they still struggling with after reading it? How can you expand on the topic and bring more clarity? Address those topics in your content.

3. Ask your audience direct open-ended questions via email, your Facebook group, surveys, instagram, etc.  I mean social media is all about engagement. When you learn more about them personally, what they struggle with or areas that they are stuck at you can shape your content to address their specific needs. Being able to add more substance to the conversation will also position you as the expert in your niche.

You don’t have to guess your way through monetizing your niche or creating the content to support it.  Present it the way that your audience can understand it and utilize it to grow.  Implement a strategy to make the process profitable, more effective and efficient.

What’s your niche? Have you found a way to monetize it?

Grab my B.R.A.N.D., Attract and Land Bundle now for only $17. Learn the 5 components of building a brand, how to attract your ideal customers, create a sales funnel, learn the importance of landing pages and a BONUS – How to start a t-shirt line or just add t-shirts to you brand. Grab it here

Monetization: ebooks, webinars and Coaching

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I never thought I would say it but everyone needs a coach. I remember when the whole “coaching” thing became a big deal. I would listen in on free calls just to await the pitch of this amazing offer that was going to transform my business. The funny thing is most of the free content they were offering I already knew so I was totally skeptical.

Now fastforward, I’ve not only worked with a coach but I’ve become one. Well I don’t call myself a coach, just like I’ve never called myself a blogger, I’m more of a Brand Strategist. I help personal brands transform their message and knowledge into products and services.

I worth with my clients using ebooks/ecourses, webinars and strategy sessions (no coaching sessions remember I’m not a coach 😝). I’m sure as a blogger or content creator, whatever title you prefer, you given out tons of free content with whatever niche you’re in. Whether you were teaching something specific, like a “how to” or providing resources you can repurpose you free content into a digital product. If your free content has gotten people unstuck, just imagine what your audience will pay for a paid product that helps them even more.  Revisit some of your content, add some new tips that you may have learned, make sure that it’s relevant with the changes taking place today within your niche and set a price. Not only is this another way to monetize your brand but also create passive income and who doesn’t want a source of passive income.

Since people learn in different ways, you can then offer the same information in a different format, a webinar. Some do these as prerecorded videos but I recommend live. Since you will be doing this live and available for Q & A, you can charge a little more than you would for the ecourse/ebook. And get this, you can even charge a little more for the replay for those that are not able to attend. Now that’s a second source of passive income.

Then you have your 1:1 coaching/strategy sessions where you work directly with a client for a set price to achieve a certain outcome. In my case, I’m preparing to release my Done For You services where I work directly with a brand to capture the essence of their message, transform it into products, create the concepts and designs, write the content for the website and also guide the development of the site. Now here is where the premium prices come in at. I’m going to be knee deep in their stuff so passive income prices won’t fly but they will walk away with a money generating brand providing products and services to their very own clients.

Does this sound like something you’re looking to do? What content are you ready to monetize?

If you’re looking to add products to your brand, join me in Design Launch and Order. Only $27 per month to get you started.

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I Show My Scars Coffee Mug

I couldn’t resist. It seems like with all the changes that have been taking place in my life coffee has remained a constant.

I’ve been working overtime it seems like to get my brand back to where it was before my spiral into what seemed to be a black whole. The internet and social media changes rapidly. Let’s just say I got left behind. But not too far behind that I can’t catch back up and there are still some awesome supporters that have become friends that support my brand. Not to mention I’ve gained a few supporters along the journey back.

But back to that coffee and the mug I decided to create to put it in. One aspect of my routine that has helped to start my day has been a cup of coffee. Since I’ve been in Arizon, I had been substituting my coffee for Rockstars and let’s just say the sugar crash is the worst. So I decided to create something that would motivate me that much more to stick to the routine even if some days I have tea instead of coffee.

So what do you think about the newest addition to the My Scars family?

Visit the store and see what’s new!

www.rnbranddesign.bigcartel.com

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Showing Our Scars Movement

 

 

I Show My Scars So That Others Know They Can Heal

This year will make 8 years that I began signing my book with my quote and 7 years since it was transformed it into a t-shirt.  I began showing my scars because it was easier to live a life of transparency than live in silence and shame.  The more I shared my truth the more I was connected to others that were breaking their silence.  We were embracing our scars and gaining strength to come out from the shadows of our pain.

January is recognized as Human Trafficking Awareness month.  I must say that this month though we are only 10 days in has been very triggering in more ways than one. Last weekend, I watched the Surviving R. Kelly series on Lifetime.  The Docuseries was put together well in my opinion and made it easy to understand how someone could be lured and manipulated in such ways.  However, it still seems as though most of society is still very uniformed about emotional and sexual abuse.

The lack of awareness led to quite a bit of victim shaming.  However, I also believe that some of the victim shaming may also be in part due to those that have not dealt with their own trauma.  It is one thing to not understand but it is another to form an opinion about something you don’t understand.  In those situations where understanding is lacking, I wish more people would seek the information and ask questions first. At the end of the day, no one willingly subjects themselves to any form of abuse.  It is the gradual process of being abused, that renders someone as helpless and in some cases hopeless.

I can remember feeling like no one would ever understand what I was going through.  It was then that I felt like suicide was easier than leaving and even attempted suicide.  It took years to get to a place to be able to share my story.  I refuse to allow anything or anyone silence me.  Oprah said it best, “Find a way to tell your story.  It will help heal you and others.” Are you ready to show your scars?

“I show my scars so that others know they can heal.”

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Resolutions…Blah Expectations…Blah Blah

Happy New Year! I know I’m late but hey at least I’m still in the month of January right.  Just in time for my birthday by the way, January 11th. The big 40 to be exact.  Omg 40.  I always envisioned where I would be at this point in my life but that picture has not manifested itself just yet.  However, I am still excited about what lies ahead.

I didn’t make a resolution and as a matter of fact, I haven’t done so in years. I did set some goals, created a plan and I’m excited to execute. However, I did come up with my word/phrase for the year…Never Settle.  I think I spent the last 39 years of life settling and I just don’t have anymore settling bones in my body.  Okay maybe not 39 years but definitely the past 17.

I am no longer settling for what I can get but instead what I deserve! I am returning to those things that have always made me happy.  I’m moving forward without expectations believing that what I focus on will grow in it’s own time and way. But I’m still going to work my butt off.

2018 showed me what I am capable of and 2019 is going to prove it!

What goals have you set for 2019?  How do you plan on achieving them?

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What Do You Do When You Hit a Wall

I hit a wall in my business, now what?  The past week in business has been a bit foggy. I took some time over the 3 day weekend to get some much needed rest and it feels like my mind is still in rest mode.  I’ve been 100% during my strategy sessions and I only had to reschedule one due to the time difference but it totally wasn’t my fault. I’ve been able to see the impact of the work that I’ve been doing with my clients through their output and energy; writing and sharing their content. But me…I don’t know.

I had so many ideas during my 3 day weekend but now not so much. Actually, I take that back, I’ve had ideas but just not able to release them and I’m pretty sure because I need to do so in a particular order. I almost remember when my creative flow came to a halt. I had gone to the store on Saturday and an idea for my next book hit me like a ton of brinks. I knew another book was coming but not right now.  But it’s been on my mind, We’re Not Homeless, We Just Don’t Have a Home. As soon as the idea for the title came to me, it was instantly followed by tears. I’ve only shared this truth with a few and I been feeling like the way that the title came to me was the release I needed. However, when I shared it with a friend the response made me retreat. But it’s my truth and at the end of the day I’m still working through it.

This is a big part of my story right now and the fact that I’m finally doing what I’ve dreamed about for years speaks volume; working on my business is what has kept me hopeful and focused. I literally hit my rock bottom in order to discover all the amazingness (I made that up) that I possess. The only thing I was left with were journals full of business ideas and research; the ideas that I have spent the past two months marketing and working now with 30 clients. So yes it was time in spite of my circumstances to jump into my passion and the universe confirmed it. But I also think it’s time to completely walk in my truth and show what we are truly capable of accomplishing when we follow our heart and let go of fear.

So what do you do when you hit a wall in your business? Fortunately for me, my background is in marketing and branding so at times I find another angle. But I created a list of 5 things you can do, whether in business, blogging or life in general.

5 Things You Can Do When You Hit a Wall

1. Find another angle, focus or perspective – sometimes you just need to think about something different. While I had been allowing my business to keep my mind off my circumstances, my circumstances ended up being the source of inspiration I needed.

2. Read something that relates to your business or the wall you hit – I started reading You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero and I’m already feeling like a badass.  Oh and it also served as a reminder not to care what people think about you.

3. Write or brainstorm – I created content surrounding the wall. I’ve also realized that my transparency is the most freeing gift that I can give to myself.

4. I don’t quit. I refuse to retreat. Not very many people that can say they made over $1400 and climbing online in 6 weeks after coming off a two year hiatus. That let’s me know there’s more out there and my goal of 5k is still within reach.

5. Think about someone or something that inspires or motivates you – hopefully this post does just that.

So there are some of my solutions, what’s some or one of yours?

 

 

Monetization: Create a Personal Brand and Monetize Yourself

So you’ve been blogging for a little while now and being consistent. Look at you but the money from the ads on your site aren’t bringing in the money that you see all the larger blogs making.  As a matter of fact, you haven’t even received a payment because you haven’t reached the payout threshold.  How do I know? Because trust me, I’ve been there and so has your favorite blogger but we found another way to create income from what we love doing.

Here is where you want to pull out your journal or notebook and take notes.  We became our own marketer and advertiser for our Personal Brands.  We turned the skills that we praise ourselves for having on our resumes coupled with our beliefs and the message that we want to deliver to the world and established our Personal Brands, our unique way of saying and doing what we do best. We found a way to use our experience and voice to stand out, much like you would in order to get hired at that dream job, while getting paid to do so.

Rhachelle Nicol’ is my Personal Brand which has grown into RN Brand & Design. My mission: Is to inspire others to heal and grow while allowing their dreams to take root.  So I help you deal with the inner issues so that they don’t keep you from fully realizing your dreams. For a while my focus was on the healing, I wrote the quote “I show my scars so that others know they can heal” on each copy of my book and went on to have a t-shirt designed.  My book and my t-shirt were the first two products that I added to my Personal Brand in order to monetize.

After RN Brand & Design was established (yes I obtained a business license and sellers permit) I then began offering my branding and marketing skills as a service to a select few.  I didn’t promote or market at all, it was just word of mouth based on what I had done with my own Personal Brand. From 2016, after having my daughter, to May if this year I took a break to focus on my family. So I’m just making my way back.

Over the past 6 weeks, I’ve launched two programs under my Personal Brand and I want to show you the income possibilities. On July 17th, I went live on Facebook and introduced my Design Launch and Order program for $27. Design Launch and Order is for Personal Brands, Ministries and Non Profits that want to use products and/or services to spread their message while also creating an additional income stream. A week later I scaled it to $47 and it’s currently $67. It will be going up to $97 on 9/1. My clients have ongoing access to me indefinitely while they create their products and services.

A week ago, I did a soft launch for Brand Story Journals. Yes I’ve been busy but the reward has been worth it.  In the past 6 weeks I have generated $1346.58 and I’m going to break it down for you.

Design Launch and Order –  $1181

Additional writing services from Design Launch and Order – $85

Brand Story Journals – $75

Sunday Mourning (yes I still receive royalties from my book) – 5.48

I have yet to spend any money on advertising,which I plan to do, just posting on Facebook and Instagram.  The possibilities are endless when you take control and build your own Personal Brand. I working on a strategy to generate 5k in September. When I do, you all will be the first that I share it with, so stay tuned.

If you want to work with me to build your own Personal Brand remember you have until 8/31 to sign up for Design Launch and Order and only pay $67. If you’re looking for a DIY option, order you Brand Story Journal and for a limited time receive a free strategy session with me.

”Author Rhachelle Nicol’ wanted to thank you so much for your support and inspiration! Am so happy to be your client you are my new “pair of eyes” thank you!” – Noelle B.

”Thank you to Author Rhachelle Nicol’ for helping me to focus in on an idea and inspiring me to get it done. You stay in that inbox gurl, your follow thru is dangerous. To God be the Glory.” – Rita H.

”Brand Story Journal is helping me and I haven’t even received it yet” – Aja J.

Find Brand Story Journals on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/brandstoryjournals

 

It’s Almost Launch Time

I don’t care how many times I’ve done this, it still get the best of my nerves. I think about all the sleepless nights, time and effort put into creating for the big day, Launch Day.  So how do you prepare?

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been sharing the concept behind Brand Story Journals. I’ve been receiving some very good feedback that has also helped with the final revisions. It’s also been great to get everyone involved in the process.  I’ve been focused on the solutions that I believe the journal will bring formcreayive entrepreneurs.  It’s been quite interesting learning how we all go through similar processes when we are hit with ideas.  If I hadn’t created the journal, I would probably be using the side of my refrigerator as a notepad like one of my reviewers stated she did. I thought that was hilarious but I could definitely relate to the sense of urgency when an idea strikes and there is no pen or paper in reach.

About two weeks ago, I started doing morning brainstorming sessions on my Facebook live. I give my viewers and opportunity to leave an idea in the comments and break it down into steps that they can take and start implementing the same day.  I am also able to speak about Brand Story Journals during that time and encourage them to like the page and or purchase during the soft launch.  All purchases right now receive a free strategy session with me and they witness what am able to do right on the spot.

Helping Creative Entrepreneurs build their brand one story at a time.

A week ago I shared images of some of the pages, which allowed my audience to see the lay out and even some of the content inside Brand Story Journals. It’s definitely not a journal of blank pages. I also shared in order to show the colors. My goal was for the journal to give off creative energy and vibes to encourage the creative process and not block it.  So many creatives are used to just grabbing a piece of paper but after further research they all pretty much have a system of transferring their ideas into a more organized and structured format.

Today, I shared 3 of the potential covers for Brand Story Journal and I asked for help deciding on which to go with.  As of now, #1 is leading the way and #3 is really close. Would mind helping out with the decision? Just leave a comment with the number 1, 2 or 3 and if you have any other constructive criticism feel free to share it.

Lastly, I kick off feature Friday and I will be highlighting brands on the site every Friday. I will be asking them some of the questions in the journal and sharing it on my website.  If you’re interest, all you have to do is sign up for my free Mid Year Brand Review worksheet and the questions to be featured will be sent out to you.

What other pre-launch activities do you think I should still incorporate before the official launch? Leave a comment

Find Brand Story Journals on Facebook and don’t forget to click like.

 

 

I Did It Again

I’ve been taking the “no fear” and “nothing has to be perfect” approach very serious lately. Going through my old journals, I realized that fear and the perfectionist in me were the only two things keeping me from turning my ideas into reality.  So last night, I did it again. I launched a new product that I believe compliments the service I launched about a month ago perfectly. And it feels so good.

Brand Story Journals

No it didn’t take me a night to create the concept or design everything but it took one night to commit to launching. I started working on Brand Story Journals back in May I believe. It took me until June to get really serious about it. In July, I almost said forget it because the first copy of it didn’t match what I had visualized. When I realized the idea wasn’t going to go away, I decided I would design it myself. You read that correctly.  I began creating each page of the journal myself, selecting colors, fonts and images.  I did this all while also providing marketing and branding strategies to my Design Launch and Order members (that number is at about 20 now).  And that’s when it hit me. It has become easier for me to do what I love because I’m finally confident and in alignment with my purpose.

Quite naturally one would think that the confidence came from consistently doing the work.  However, the confidence was always there but I was surrounded by others that didn’t believe in me or my goals. So instead of ditching my goals again and hiding, I got new friends. You have to be mindful of the people in your circle when you are establishing goals for yourself.  You friends should never cause you to settle or make you think that settling is even an option. They should push you to be better, to want more and to go after your wildest dreams. I on the other hand, had people in my circle that were cool as long as I wasn’t doing better than them but still willing to push them to do and be more.

Sadly, it doesn’t work like that. I now realize why I was always drained and lacked motivation because while I was filling up their cup mine was running dry.  You can’t pour from an empty cup. So now that I’ve found ways to keep my cup filled, I don’t mind pouring into those that celebrate me and not drain me.

I hope I continually take the same leap that I took today, over and over again. If you need some inspiration or motivation to get started, join me on the Brand Story Journals Facebook page.

If you’re looking for a DIY method to bring your ideas in fruition then order your very own Brand Story Journal and schedule your strategy session with me today!

Helping Creative Entrepreneurs build their brand one story at a time