Ignite Your Champions: Recent Episodes
Tracey Warren
Welcome to the ignite your champions podcast. If you don't know me yet, I'm Tracy Warren - community creator, loving truth-teller, author, and fierce warrior for women in business.
I believe that community can change the world. In fact, the power of community was made so obvious to me when I was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 and the squad I had created over time—because it comes naturally to me—showed up in ways I never imagined, both personally and in my business. And that's my hope for you; that you can create the same thing.
Community means building a business with less hustle and more ease and joy. Doesn't that sound wonderful?
This podcast is for those of you who want to discover how to grow a business by creating connection and community yourself. Yes, your marketing efforts can be simple, fun, easy, and effective. And that is what we are here to talk about.
The podcast episodes will be short and the invitation is for you to take one action from each one. Not because I “shoulded” it on you—it is my hope to never do that—but rather because you wanna bring a little ease and joy into how you are growing your business.
You can find more about me on: Facebook: @igniteyourchampions Instagram: @igniteyourchampions LinkedIn: @igniteyourchampions
And you can find my book, Ignite Your Champions, everywhere books are sold.
I'm really excited to speak with our guest in this episode, Julie Fry, owner of Your Expert Guest, a podcast guest booking agency for women business owners, thought leaders, and authors who want to increase their visibility on podcasts. We talked about the significance of authentic, relationship-based networking over transactional interactions, which Julie describes as the shift from self-focused goals to genuinely seeking ways to help others. We also discussed some common mistakes business owners make when networking, and how to avoid them. Find out more about Julie: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourexpertguest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourexpertguest/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/your-expert-guest Download Julie’s Best Guest Interview list for tips on how to prepare for your podcast interviews: https://yourexpertguest.com/checklist
I would love to hear what you are taking away. Come on over to Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and let me know.
If you've been listening for a while, you know that we've been talking about building business by creating curiosity, connection, and community. I also know that there are devils living in your head that might be getting in your way.
And so that's what this interview is about. One of probably many of the lying bitches that live in your head is the one that stops you from showing up in your unique authentic voice and standing in your full presence. So my guest, Erin Duffy from Inspiration Squared, is here to talk about how you can “stop holding yourself back and take the steps to rediscover and own your unique voice because when you show up as yourself, it empowers others to do the same.”
I'm curious to hear your thoughts on our discussion. Come on over to Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and let me know. Find out more about Erin:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inspirationsqrd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirationsqrd/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspirationsqrd/ Sign up to her newsletter: Executive Edge Insights Newsletterhttps://inspirationsqrd.com/subscribe/
In the previous episode, I started sharing ways you can ignite your community, starting with your networking groups. If you missed it, you can follow this link to catch up: https://traffic.libsyn.com/champions/Ep51-IgniteYourNetworkingGroups.mp3
This next installment is about how you can ignite your trade shows and vendor events. In this episode, I share some ideas for not only event organizers, but the vendors as well. The next time you host or participate in a vendor or trade show, I would love to know if you tried any of these things and how it went. Come on over to Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and let me know.
Could this be you? You faithfully attend a networking group– or maybe a couple. I know a lot of groups call themselves a community or a family. Have you ever felt like your group was more about proximity relationships? That when you're in the room, you are part of something, but that doesn't extend throughout your week or month? What if there were simple ways you could maximize that membership and make those relationships even more impactful with a few easy tweaks? That's what this episode is all about…Nine (9) ways you can ignite the networking groups you are already a part of. I'm excited to hear about your experience as you start to put some of them into practice right away. Come on over to Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and let me know.
https://igniteyourchampions.com/podcasts/
Before we get started, allow me to interrupt for just one moment to share something I'm super excited about… Your Engagement Lab(!) is a membership community where you can connect with other business owners, get ideas for your own content, share stories, and learn how to drive engagement and community for what you share on social media. Visit YourEngagementLab.com for more information or to join anytime. ****** I’m so excited to have Karen C.L. Anderson, a master-certified life coach specializing in complex mother-daughter relationships and shame, as our guest in this episode. Part of this series of the podcast is about what keeps women from showing up fully on social media and in real life, which is why I was so glad I could have this conversation with Karen about how shame shows up for women in business. I'm really curious to hear what you think about this episode. Come on over to Facebook or LinkedIn and let me know. Find out more about Karen:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCLAnderson Listen to her podcast: https://www.kclanderson.com/podcast
Before we get started, allow me to interrupt for just one moment to share something I'm super excited about… Your Engagement Lab is a membership community where you can connect with other business owners, get ideas for your own content, share stories, and learn how to drive engagement and community for what you share on social media. Visit YourEngagementLab.com for more information or to join anytime. ********** One of the things I talk about is what gets in the way of people embracing their authenticity and just showing up as their full selves online. And that's why I’m delighted to have a chat with Leslie Zemenek because that's one of the things she talks about. Leslie likes to refer to herself as a life purpose guide and helps her clients see themselves as the best version of themselves.
I’m also very excited because this is the first of our Priscilla Poopypants series that I teased out in the previous episode.Cheers to discovering your path to strength and brilliance! Find out more about Leslie:Website: https://www.lesliezemenek.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifepurposeguide Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslie_zemenek LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-zemenek/
Up until now, our interviews have been centered on people who have built businesses based on community, curiosity, and connection, among other things. In the upcoming episodes, you will hear something a little different and some new voices as well. But first, in this episode, let me introduce you to Priscilla Poopypants, the unhelpful, bossy voice in my head that was an accumulation of the things I was told all my life about who I am or who I could be. Her story will provide insight into what to expect from the conversations to come. Cheers to you as you dive into these conversations and discover your path to strength and brilliance, creating a community that follows you wherever you go.
Let's continue the conversation over on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.
Before we get started, allow me to interrupt for just one moment to share something I'm super excited about… Your Engagement Lab(!) is a membership community where you can connect with other business owners, get ideas for your own content, share stories, and learn how to drive engagement and community for what you share on social media. Visit YourEngagementLab.com for more information or to join anytime. ******** If you’ve been in my world for a while, you’ll know I often talk about how community is built on creating connections. And my guest in this episode shows us that sales is no different. Kim Fredrich is an experienced sales professional and former business owner who recently transitioned into the role of VP of Sales at Global Public Speaking, where she continues to emphasize the importance of genuine connections in business. If you’re curious about how to build meaningful connections in the corporate world, you’ll hear some super helpful tips from Kim. Find out more about Kim:Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-fredrich/ Work LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/globalpublicspeaking/
Before we get started, allow me to interrupt for just one moment to share something I'm super excited about… Your Engagement Lab(!) is a membership community where you can connect with other business owners, get ideas for your own content, share stories, and learn how to drive engagement and community for what you share on social media. Visit YourEngagementLab.com for more information or to join anytime. ------------------------------------------------------- I’m so excited to have Maria Ross as a guest in this episode. Maria is an author, speaker, strategist, and empathy advocate who helps leaders and organizations leverage empathy for success. We talked about how empathy is not a weakness but a strong tool that helps build connections, drive innovation, and improve performance at work. We also talked about the relationship between empathy, connection, and curiosity. I can’t wait for you to hear what Maria has to say! Find out more about Maria:Her new book coming out soon: www.TheEmpathyDilemma.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redslice Instagram: @redslicemaria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariajross/ Craft your brand story with Maria: https://bit.ly/4StepBrandStory
In this episode, I’m addressing the question: Is social media hurting your business? This topic seems especially relevant given events that have happened this summer of 2024, and considering the election is coming up in November. Let’s discuss how emotionally charged platforms like Facebook can lead to the spread of misinformation, which can damage your credibility as a business owner. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of verifying the content you share to protect your reputation and the trust you've built with your clients.
I would love to hear what you are taking away from this. Come on over to Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and let me know.
I'm thrilled to chat with Conrad Ruiz, Founder of Well Aware Incorporated, a time management agency. We met months ago at a networking event, and I was immediately impressed by his understanding of connection and community. Conrad shares his insights on buying back people's time through his team of virtual assistants, the philosophy behind time management, and the practical workflow of introduction management. He also dives into the benefits of networking and the importance of feedback in building meaningful relationships. Find out more about Conrad: Business LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/well-aware-inc Website: https://wearewellaware.com Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conradruiz/
I would love to hear what you are taking away from this episode. Come over to Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, and let me know.
I'm super excited to chat with Nikki Rausch, the brains behind The Sales Maven Society in this episode. We talked about how to create curiosity in your business, and how her Sales Maven Society has grown into a supportive community, which has been a huge part of her business success. It was a fun and insightful conversation that I think you'll enjoy! “If you want to build deep, lasting connection through conversation, you have to get better at asking questions.”~ Nikki Rausch Find out more about Nikki:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/your_sales_maven/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yoursalesmaven/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolerausch/ I would love to hear what you are taking away. Come on over to Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and let me know.
What if you looked at all of your marketing as relationship-building? What if we looked at our social media as an experiment? Because it really is. And what if it could all be a little bit more fun and a whole lot easier? Believe me, it can. Jump right into this episode and hear me share three ideas for intentionally connecting and creating community on social media.
I would love to hear what you are taking away. Come on over to Facebook or LinkedIn and let me know.
“I've just always built upon that idea [that] anything I want to do by myself, I can probably do with someone else and it will have a bigger impact on the world.” - Stephanie Bonte-Lebair Singer, entrepreneur, and founder of Empowered Business Networking, Stephanie’s journey is all about mixing her passion for music with her business savvy. I had the great pleasure of chatting with her about cultivating a strong community, how collaboration and connections can boost your visibility and help you grow, and the two key strategies she used (and still uses) to build her network and connect people. Find out more about Stephanie: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredbusinessnetworking Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniebontelebair/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theempoweredvoice/ Claim your free ticket to visit one of her networking events: http://ebnticket.com
If you are enjoying these podcasts so far, can you do me a really quick favor and leave a review on Apple podcasts. (even if you aren’t listening on Apple) These reviews are so helpful for so many reasons and I would be so grateful.
I'm so excited to talk to RaeAnn Hall in this episode. She is a beautiful soul who founded this incredible non-profit networking group, NOW Networking, but it's not your run-of-the-mill networking stuff. It is a professional organization where women help each other succeed in business while also making a difference in the community. RaeAnn discussed how her non-profit is dedicated to providing ongoing support for young women who have faced hardships. They achieve this by offering scholarships, creating a supportive community, and providing long-term mentorship. Find out more about RaeAnn: Facebook: facebook.com/1raeannhall Instagram: @hallraeann LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raeannhall/ Linktr.ee: linktr.ee/raeannhall
Connect with me over on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
Growing your engagement and creating community are the two main goals of this podcast. So in this episode, I’m talking about four things to stop doing right now to grow your engagement and community. You will not only boost your engagement, but you will also have a chance to nurture relationships, foster connections, and spark meaningful conversations. That's what we're here for. Right? As I go through these four things, here’s some food for thought. If you are using these tactics, are they helping you build relationships, or are they possibly hindering them?
Come on over to Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, and let me know.
Welcome back to another episode of the Ignite Your Champions podcast, where we talk about building business by creating connection and community. I’m so excited to be chatting with my first-ever guest on the podcast, Mari Wuellner, about the power of building community and staying true to yourself in business and life. Mari is all about being real on social media, sharing both her highs and lows, and through our conversation, you will see how that transparency is helping her grow a strong community through events like her annual vision board parties, Living on Purpose, and so much more. So jump right in and let’s get started. Mari’s Journal prompts: https://www.livingonpurposeuniversity.com/blog/2019/9/17/journal-prompts Find out more about what Mari gets up to: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mari.anniswuellner Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariwuellner/ The Crew: https://mari-wuellner.mykajabi.com/offers/NXbrTohB/checkout Take the mom guilt survey: bit.ly/momguilt24 Until next time, cheers to creating a community that follows you wherever you go.
Hey there, listeners. I haven't been here on the podcast in a bit…for all sorts of reasons. But I am so excited to be back. And I'm ready to do things imperfectly. In preparing to get into the swing of things, I made a few exciting changes which I will be telling you about in this episode. Honestly, I don’t know why I didn’t do this earlier! So, come jump right in and let’s get re-acquainted.
Sometimes I share my thoughts, tips, and things I've noticed on my socials. Come and find me on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
I am so glad you are back to hear about ten things that you could be doing to increase your engagement.
This is part 2, so if you didn't listen to 1 through 5, I would invite you to go back and do that by following this link: https://traffic.libsyn.com/champions/Ep35-TopEngagementTips.mp3
Don’t worry if you just want to jump in from here, though because these will stand alone by themselves.
And as we always do, I would love to hear from you. Which of these are you going to try? I can't wait to hear how it goes.
If you are enjoying these podcasts, can you do me a really quick favor and leave a review on Apple podcasts? (even if you aren’t listening on Apple) These reviews are so helpful for so many reasons and I would be so grateful.
It's been a minute, but on this show, I talk about building your business by creating connection and community online and off. I firmly believe that by consistently doing so, you'll experience more ease and happiness in your marketing endeavors.
And who doesn't want more of that?
Anyway, I’m talking about the top things you can be doing right now to increase your engagement. And in this episode, I start with 5. It's very rare that I run into someone that does not want to increase their engagement, so I’m sure many of you will be itching to listen.
What is one action you’re gonna take with the five tips I share? Come on over to Facebook or Instagram and let me know.
It's been a weird few weeks trying to heal my voice, which has meant that I haven't been as consistent, but here I am still helping you build your business by creating connection and community online and off.
I often talk about creating curiosity, and in this episode, I just wanted to clear the air about what creating curiosity is and what it isn’t. If you’ve been misled into using tactics like dangling a carrot or holding on to information about ‘this great thing’ you want to share so you can draw people in, I would like to share with you what I think real, community-building curiosity looks like.
Wondering what is one action you could take? Let's talk about stories and testimonials. If you want a place to test your stories, I would invite you to join My Champions Community on Facebook by following this link.
And if I could ask you for a favor, something else that creates curiosity is when other people besides myself talk about my podcast by writing a review. So if you could go to Apple podcasts or wherever you listen and write a review, I would be so grateful.
In this episode, I’m sharing a little more about myself and why I do what I do. You see, I started my first social media company about 13 years ago.
Like many other new businesses, before I knew it, I started hustling. I was going to all the networking events, scheduling lots of coffee meetings with folks, doing my business and never following up – I wasn’t making the time to.
To someone looking in from the outside, I looked pretty successful. And yet I felt like I was working 16 hours a day but had no tangible results to show for it.
Find out how it all started, how I turned things around, and 5 pieces of advice I have for you from my experience.
I would love to hear what you are taking away from this episode. Come over to my Facebook or Instagram and let me know.
*PS: For those who have been here a while, you might remember that I said I was having surgery on my vocal cords and that my voice would be back. It isn’t, exactly. It's a whole nother story.***
I’m back answering more of your questions. I answered 3 of them in the previous episode, and I have 5 more in this one.
- Where do I even begin? If I can only do one post where and what. ( I love this because so many people I know have this question.)
- What is building community?
- What do you say to those who fear they won't do it right, so they never do it?
- What about those who change their mind and business a lot, so they don't want to start until they're 100% locked in?
- What's the difference between being an influencer and having followers?
If you have a question you would like me to answer on this podcast, you can send me a direct message on Instagram or send me a message onFacebook, and I would love to tackle them as well.
And if you are enjoying these podcasts, please go write a review onApple podcasts or wherever you listen.
Related resources:
Listen to my podcast episode on “Done is Better Than Perfect”: https://traffic.libsyn.com/champions/Ep29-DoneIsBetterThanPerfect.mp3
I asked on social media what questions people had that I could cover in my podcast, and I got some really great responses. So I thought I would answer some of them in an episode or two because you too might have some of the same questions. In this episode I respond to the following questions;
- “Do cutesy TikTok posts work? I find them extremely annoying and unprofessional, yet people keep doing them.”
- What are the best tips for live streaming to get results such as clicks or filling out a form?
- How to get your mindset in the right place to stay engaged in social media when you’re personally feeling so turned off by it and don't want to add to the noise. (How do you stay motivated?)
**Can you do me a really quick favor and leave a review on Apple podcasts. (even if you aren’t listening on Apple) These reviews are so helpful for so many reasons and I would be so grateful.
Are you sabotaging your social media success? Buckle up! This going to be a fun one. _______ Before we start, can you do me a quick favor and share this podcast with a friend? Sharing is caring._______ I see you running (or trying to run) a successful business, but could you accidentally be doing some things on social media that are actually sabotaging your efforts? I hope it's not the case, but I know you might be wondering how you can be sure you’re not.
In this episode, I shared the top 6 things I see that could be getting in the way of you reaching the right folks with your activities.
So of the six things I share (once you’ve listened to the episode), is there maybe one that you might shift in how you move forward?
What is one action item you can take? I would love to hear what you are taking away. Come on over to Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and let me know.
**If you are enjoying the show, please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcasts. (even if you aren’t listening on Apple) These reviews are so helpful for so many reasons and I would be so grateful.
If you’ve been listening to this podcast for the last month, you may have noticed – I mean, how could you not – that something is going on with my voice.
I do have an answer – it’s a paralyzed vocal chord and unfortunately, it’s going to be like this for a while.
It would totally be the perfect reason to take a break from recording the podcast, but I’m not going to do that.
I know that sounds totally nuts, so give me 5 minutes of your time, and I will explain why in this episode of the podcast. And i’m sure you can guess where I’m going with this from the title of the episode; done is better than perfect. So, what is one action item you can take? I would love to hear what you are taking away.
If you are enjoying this show, can you do me a really quick favor and leave a review on Apple podcasts. (even if you aren’t listening on Apple) And also share it with one person you think might benefit from hearing it.
In this episode, I’m talking about the connection between Social Media and Google and why it matters. Just to be clear, this is not about what you should or shouldn't do, even though that might come out a bit in what I share. People say so many times when discussing their business and social media that they feel like it doesn't matter or more accurately, they’re not sure if it really does matter. You may have heard before that what happens on social media stays on Google forever. While I'm not sure how accurate that is, I can tell you that social media can play a greater role in your business and search than you might think. So go on and listen to find out what helps, what doesn't, and what might work for your audience. And it goes without saying, that all this will require testing for you to see what actually works for your audience. Don’t forget to come back and let me know; What is one action item you can take? I would love to hear what you are taking away. Come on over to Facebook or Instagram and let me know. **Listen to my episode on Lowest common denominator Marketing: https://traffic.libsyn.com/champions/Ep27-LowestCommonDenominatorMarketing.mp3
You might have noticed that in the podcast introduction, I often talk about how I see so many of you working way too hard. That’s what today’s episode is about; something I lovingly call “Lowest Common Denominator” marketing and how it's not always the best strategy for building connections and community online. Wondering what it is? It’s a tactic used to reach as many people as possible with temporary tactics that don't yield sustained success. You will notice it in just about everything you see on tv. You might even be unknowingly using these tactics. This type of marketing is not necessary for most small businesses because you don’t need thousands of buyers. In this episode, I share about what Lowest Common Denominator Marketing might look like on everyday social media and 5 things you can do to approach your marketing differently to raise the bar. Once you’ve listened, I would love to hear what you are taking away. Come on over to Facebook, or Instagram and let me know.
Before we dig in, I wanna share afree resource with you. The Champions Community. This a community on Facebook where I share daily prompts and regular trainings to help you with your marketing efforts – and you might find a new friend or two in the process. Just search “Champions Community on Facebook” or follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/championscommunity I sure hope to see you there.*** I heard someone say the other day that Facebook was “on the decline” – so I wanted to talk a little about that on the podcast and give it the Tracey Twist. Let’s dig into some statistics about Facebook—Is it actually declining?—and how we can use those to inform our strategy for this platform specifically. I'm not one to share statistics (usually), but in this case, they seem appropriate. So tune in for some interesting numbers from a report by Sprout Social, and my take on how you make the most of them for your business. Don’t forget to tell me…What is one action you will take from what you hear in this episode? What is something you might shift or adjust about the way you use Facebook for your business? I would love to hear what you are taking away. Please come on over to Facebook or Instagram and let me know. Also, did you know I have a book that shares the same name as this podcast? It's called Ignite Your Champions: Build Your Business by Creating Connection and Community. If you're enjoying the podcast, I would love for you to go find the book wherever you buy books. And if you wanna have a book club, I would love to show up for your book club, 'cause that just sounds like fun to me.
--I get it. It's so much easier to scroll and ‘Like.’ But, ‘Like’ never started a conversation, or continued one - or had any impact on building community.
Marketing is about creating that two-way communication that helps build relationships. Commenting is a baby step to building community. Does it take a little more effort? Sure.
Is it worth it? Absolutely!--I shared the post above the other day on social media, and in this episode, I will be taking a bit of time to break it down. Now, this whole idea about taking time to comment and actually engage is something that I share on and off on a regular basis. I also get the most interesting comments and sometimes pushback from posts like this.
Which is why I thought it would make a perfect topic to talk about here on the podcast.
So, get comfy and dig in. And then let me know what one action item you will be taking from what you hear. Come on over to Facebook or Instagram and let me know.
Check out my free resource, the Champions Community on Facebook for daily prompts and regular trainings to help you with your marketing efforts – and you might find a new friend or two in the process. Just search “Champions Community on Facebook” or follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/championscommunity
I sure hope to see you there.
Is your social media working for you? How do you even know - especially when you’re posting in all the places? The best place to start is by checking to see if your social media isn’t working because there are a lot better cues for being able to measure that. I gave 3 very obvious ones in this episode. So then, how do you know if it is working? This one is not nearly as succinct, but there are different ways you can link the growth you notice in different areas of your content strategy to inform you. Go on and listen to find out everything. You will also find it helpful to listen to my episode on why what you measure matters in EP 05: Getting ResultsSo, what is one action item you can take from this episode? If you would love to get a question answered on the podcast and I could give you some social media love as a result, please reach out to me. Connect with me on LinkedIn and send me a message there. I would love to hear from you.
If you have been in business for any length of time, you have heard, likely ad nauseam, how important stories are for your business. And I agree 100%. You only have to spend a few minutes searching for resources on Story and you’ll find thousands and thousands of resources for formulas, story brands, story worthy…the list goes on. But that can be pretty overwhelming, and you know I’m all about ease and joy. So in this episode, I decided to break it all down into some really simple ways that you can capture and share your stories with four really specific things that you might want to try today. And after you’ve listened, I would like to know… What is one specific way you want to commit to sharing story on your page? Come on over to Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and let me know what you think. PS:
- Listen to my episode on “Content you can Automate”
- And how to “Record, Reuse, Repurpose, Relax”
If you are looking for a little more DIY-type help to maximize your engagement and grow your community, I invite you to check out my book, Ignite Your Champions which you can find at this link.
Have you ever had a call with someone or you're at a networking event and somebody says, how can I help you in your business right now, and you say, “Uh…duh?” Well, now you're gonna have an answer to that question. What about all the people I hear sharing their frustration with social media and decreased reach in general, thinking that the only way people will see their content is through paid ads? Can you relate? I have a solution you might wanna try before throwing in the towel or before you opt to pay for any promotion. When you work toward creating a community in your social media space and in life, what that generally means is you end up with a built-in group of people who already appreciate you and your business. You can activate these people to your advantage, especially when they're offering to help. Come and find out what this approach would look like in action and five reasons why it works so well. Your action item this week: What is one piece of content you would like to get more people to see? Ask five of your champions to comment on the post and share it. In fact, if you're listening to this podcast, ask me to share it. I am happy to do that.
I cannot wait to hear your results!
If you are looking for a little more DIY-type help to maximize your engagement and grow your community, I invite you to check out my book, Ignite Your Champions which you can find at this link.
In this episode, I give you some practical steps to make your time the most effective and efficient by engaging on social media for 30 minutes a day. Now, I know some of you are already thinking that's impossible. I promise you it is not impossible. You absolutely can. It does take a little bit of effort, and some serious intentionality, but you can do it. I believe in you.
- Post some content on your business profile, whatever business profile you have decided to use.
- Check in with your champions and advocates. Comment on their posts, or share something about them that will be of service to them.
- If you are part of a networking group, check in on their content.
- Reply to any comments on your content.
- Log out of Facebook!
Listen to the whole episode to hear how I expound on each of the 5 steps above
I’m also very curious to know what stuck out the most for you in this episode. And what one action will you take as a result of listening to it? Get in touch and let me know.
If you are looking for a little more DIY-type help to maximize your engagement and grow your community, I invite you to check out my book, Ignite Your Champions which you can find at this link.
I mention in my podcast intro that I'm not going to ‘should’ on you, but I know that a lot of other people — experts and social media gurus— have ‘should’ on you in all sorts of ways. And so I wanna talk about that in this episode. A question that comes up all the time, whether I'm speaking to people at an event or I'm networking with folks one-on-one is, “Can't I just use my personal page for my business? This social media guru told me I could post everything about my business on my personal page.” And of course, in this case, I'm talking about Facebook. When anybody ever asks me this, I have to take a deep breath before I respond because my first thought is “Yikes!” I have seen and heard a lot of ‘shoulds’ from so-called experts, gurus, and influencers over the years. But do you have to do things the way these gurus say? Even when they don’t feel right for you, or are actually against the platform policies and requirements? Sometimes people think it should be hard, and one of my favorite questions to ask is, “What if it were easy?” I would love to hear what you take away from this episode. Come on over to Facebook or Instagram and let me know. If you are looking for a little more DIY-type help to maximize your engagement and grow your community, I invite you to check out my book, Ignite Your Champions which you can find at this link.
Before we jump in, I want to thank user Conica13 for the Great Review. They said, “Thanks for suggesting one action item at a time. You are inspiring.” Well, thank you so much. I love hearing that. (Maybe you too could hear your name on an upcoming episode if you leave m a review.) Now, onto 10 simple things you can easily ask for in a social media post. I believe, more often than not, many of you likely aren't asking enough on your social media, whether it's Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram –whatever fits your fancy. You might be sharing great value and building your expertise, but you're not doing enough asking. So, tune in to hear some of my ideas for simple things you could ask for once in a while. And once you’ve listened, let me know which one of them is really interesting to you. I would love to hear what you are taking away. Come on over to Facebook or Instagram and let me know.
If you are looking for a little more DIY-type help to maximize your engagement and grow your community, I invite you to check out my book, Ignite Your Champions which you can find at this link.
I want to talk about ROI, the dreaded ‘Return on Investment’ discussion. More importantly, what is the ROI of social media? And listen, if the only thing you're considering is ROI, you might be missing the wider picture. I remember having a conversation with someone years ago –she was in promotional products at the time– and she held up a logoed clicker pen and proclaimed, “I can absolutely prove the ROI of a pen.” I looked at her and thought, "That is absolute crap!" ROI and social media are not magic. It's not like I'll post something on Facebook for a client and instantly the sky will open and clients will start to fall from the sky. Social media doesn't operate that way. ROI doesn't truly operate that way, either. Tune in and let me explain how Social media ROI works. And when you’re done, I would like to hear from YOU. What is one action item you can take? What is one kind of content you are committed to sharing every week?
Come on over to Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and let me know.
If you are looking for a little more DIY-type help to maximize your engagement and grow your community, I invite you to check out my book, Ignite Your Champions which you can find at this link.
I know when I talk about bringing ease and joy into your marketing, some of you might be rolling your eyes or scoffing to yourselves. My guess is many of you think marketing is a chore or just something on your to-do list. My mission is to show you, prod you, convince you that it really can be much easier than you might be making it in your head. I know I’m not the only overthinker around here. So let me walk you through how to:
- Record - capture the ideas you share when you talk about yourself
- Repurpose - use content from, say, a blog, podcast or workshop in multiple ways
- Reuse certain topics, tips and ideas in your business that remain the same over time
- Relax - Take a breath. Post something.
There you have it. Record, Repurpose, Reuse, Relax What is one action item you can take from what you heard today? Is there one of those R’s you can focus on to bring more ease to your marketing? I can't wait to hear from you.
And if you are enjoying these podcasts so far, can you do me a really quick favor and leave a review on Apple podcasts. (even if you aren’t listening on Apple) These reviews are so helpful for so many reasons and I would be so grateful.
Let me start by saying thank you to BJ Kaysen for her 5-Star review on Apple. She says: --Authentic!! Tracey Warren’s podcast breaks down the steps to connecting with your sphere of influence into doable bites that are easy, not overwhelming, and are so helpful! Her enthusiasm is infectious! And the bloopers make my day! Tracey is authentic and so enjoyable to listen to! Listen, and it will help your business and brighten your day!-- Thanks again, BJ. That means a lot to me. Maybe if you leave a review, you will hear YOUR name on an upcoming episode! Ok. Now to the episode. For the next few episodes —and probably honestly forever— I wanna highlight some simple ways to bring more ease and joy into your sharing on social. Starting with ideas for the kind of content you can automate. Tune in to hear about 4 types of content that you can automate and how best to do it. And when you’re done, come on over to Facebook or LinkedIn and let me know… What is one action item you can take? What is one kind of content you are committed to sharing every week? I look forward to hearing from YOU! If you are looking for a little more DIY-type help to maximize your engagement and grow your community, I invite you to check out my book, Ignite Your Champions which you can find at this link.
We’re wrapping up a three-part series about “What If”. If you missed the previous episodes in the series, catch up on What If Part 1, “What If you looked at all of your marketing as community and relationship building?” in episode 13 here. And What If Part 2, “What If you looked at all of your marketing as an experiment?” in episode 14. In this episode, we’re looking at my favorite one…What If it was easy? What If it was easy? For most people that I ask this question, the resounding answer usually is, “If it was easy, I would do it!” And that's really the key to having success when you're doing any marketing—actually doing it. There’s so much that gets in the way of that, which is why I want to talk about what our marketing could be like if it was easy.
I’m going to share 4 tips that you could implement to make your marketing both easy and joyful, while also lifting up others in the process. Go on and listen to the episode for more. This episode also comes with my Champion's Bingo board, a fun tool to help you find creative ideas for how to connect and support those people in your life and business who support you back. Download it here.
I would love to know what you’re going to commit to doing to make things easier for yourself. Please come visit me on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram, and share what your takeaway was from this episode.
*Listen out for the bloopers at the end!
This one’s got some bloopers. Listen all the way to the end! I wanna give a special shout out to my listeners in Canada. It fires me up that you are listening from the great white North. Those of you who live there know how joking I am about that, but I know the people in the States tend to think that you live in the frozen tundra, and I know that that's not the case.***** We’re talking about “What If” Part 2: What if you looked at all of your marketing as an experiment? Here’s why I love this idea, and I can never say it enough…There is no one size fits all marketing plan. What works for me might not work for you, and probably won’t work for your friend who has a different kind of business. And what works today on one platform might not work tomorrow. Social Media algorithms change so often, that it’s impossible to have a marketing plan that’s set in stone. So, if you look at your marketing as an experiment, then it makes it easier to digest the potential results, or lack of results, you might be getting. So, how do you experiment while being strategic? Test — Measure — Adjust — Test again Tune in and and I will show what this might look like for you. I would love to hear how thinking about your marketing as an experiment is making a difference for you. Please connect with me on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and let me know.* If you are enjoying these podcasts so far, can you do me a really quick favor and leave a review on Apple podcasts. (even if you aren’t listening on Apple) These reviews are so helpful for so many reasons and I would be so grateful.**
Before we jump into the episode, I wanna give a special thank you and shout out to a listener. Her name is BJ Cason, a real estate agent in Arizona. She listens to all the episodes and has been regularly engaging on social media, and I appreciate it so much! In the next 3 episodes, we're gonna be talking about “what if”. I believe in the power of possibility, and that's what “what if” is all about. For this first episode: What if you looked at all of your marketing as relationship and community building, how would that change things for you? Why community? 1. I believe community makes everything easier. I mean, I really believe community has the power to change the world.2. When you have community, it changes the conversation and message from speaking at, to speaking with. The energy of just that change can make a humongous difference.3. When you have community, it allows you to ask for help and support.4. We’re all in the people business. Whether we’re Business to Business (B2B) or Business to Consumer (B2C), I say that it’s all about P2P. What if it was all about “a conversation with”? How different would that feel? I invite you to ask yourself the question. What would your marketing look like? How would your marketing messages on social media and beyond change if you were focused on building relationships and creating community? You know the drill. Let me know the answer to those questions, and what one action you’re going to be taking. Share with me on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. If you are enjoying these podcasts so far, can you do me a really quick favor and leave a review on Apple podcasts. (even if you aren’t listening on Apple) These reviews are so helpful for so many reasons and I would be so grateful.
One of the conversations I've been having with a lot of people lately is about social media and the fact that they don't keep raising the bar when it comes to the activities you need to complete to get gold stars from the algorithm, but what really happens is that each platform just keeps moving the freaking bar!
It used to be, on Instagram, that you would post pictures and captions and maybe your followers could swipe and get more information. But now in order to have success on Instagram, you have to do videos and reels and stories, and…I'm over it!
The problem with this ever-moving bar is that in order to achieve the things that make the algorithm work, you have to spend more time on the platform. And you know what that means? That's data that they use to sell - a very sobering reminder that you are the commodity.
I talk a lot about hopping off the hustle hamster wheel because here’s the lie we've been sold—in order to be successful on social media, you have to do everything. You have to be everywhere. You need to dance and point. You need to do reels and be on Twitter and clubhouse, etc. It's all a load of bull!
Tune in to the episode, and let me show you how you can stop playing the algorithm game and instead do social media your way.
And if you have a takeaway from my short little rant in this episode, I would love to hear it. You can come connect with me on Facebook. That's honestly my favorite place to play; it’s where my people are.
If you are enjoying these podcasts so far, can you do me a really quick favor and leave a review on Apple podcasts. (even if you aren’t listening on Apple) These reviews are so helpful for so many reasons and I would be so grateful.
I want to start off with another 5-Star review from StaceSeattle:
“Great podcast!
I love listening to this podcast in the car. The episodes are thoughtful but wonderfully short and sweet while also giving me a lot to think about. I like that you don’t have to listen to all to be “caught up” - just jump in where you’d like. I’m lucky to know this podcaster IRL and she knows her stuff - such an amazing community builder and champion for small business owners. Love getting to hear your voice and tips, Tracey!”
Thank you so much, Stace. That means the world to me.
In this episode, I’m talking about why I say NO to Black Friday.
I get it...you can't help yourself. It's primo shopping season and you want your customers—and maybe some new ones—to buy from YOU!
The challenge is this:
If you own or run a small retail store (or direct sales empire) you will never be able to compete with the big boys who are spending thousands and thousands of dollars on marketing, sales and advertising.
And one more thing…it's forgettable!
Now, I am not for one second suggesting that you just throw in the towel and forget the rest of 4th quarter. I would NEVER say that.
But, consider this instead – how can you be unforgettable?
- Thank your customers in a way they won't forget.One of the amazing things about social media is your ability to discover likes and dislikes of your customers and prospects. If you learn that your best customer has a favorite coffee shop (that doesn't have a mermaid for a logo) go to THAT shop to buy them a gift card.
- Be creative.Don't just offer a discount, or freebies...add value. Make it fun and bring in YOUR personality. Kelly Statema is a Younique superstar. She is packaging her products in cute stockings. No, the customer doesn't pay for that - but they do REMEMBER it. And, that is priceless.
- Reach out - JUST BECAUSE!It is very easy during this holiday season to feel like a walking wallet. Sales people who just want to sell, sell, sell tend to make us feel that way. Try something totally different. Call, text, send an email - just to say hello, or wish them well, or anything EXCEPT for selling them something.
If you are reading this article and you've already been using "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday" in your messaging, that's ok. This time. My friend Debbie Whitlock says, "when you know better, you do better." and I want to see you ALL do better.
Get out of the box. Who put that stupid box here anyway?
“You can be remarkable...even unforgettable. But, you can't do that when you are just part of the noise.” ~ Tracey WarrenWhat is one action item you can take?
I would love to hear what you are taking away. Come on over to Facebook or Instagram and let me know.
*If you are enjoying these podcasts so far, can you do me a really quick favor and leave a review on Apple podcasts. (even if you aren’t listening on Apple) These reviews are so helpful for so many reasons and I would be so grateful.*
Before we jump in, I want to thank Cassie for her Apple Podcast Review. She says:
“Practical and easy to implement: Tracey gives practical advice to grow your business in a sustainable way, much appreciated!!”Right back at you, Cassie! And thank you to everyone who’s listening.
So, back to episode 10, Sell with Stories.
This idea actually came to me in a dream. In this dream, someone ran up to me and said, “I need $50,000. How much can you give me?”
And I said, “Whoa, whoa. First, you need to tell me a story. Second, you need to make me care.”
That’s what this episode is all about.
- Tell me a story. It doesn't have to be long or drawn out. It can be simple and still have impact. Yes, even on social media.
- Make me care. And I don’t really think you can make someone care, but you can make them WANT TO care
Click the “play” button for more. I shared some examples of how you can do both these things, and some examples of the types of stories I’ve seen work really well.
As usual, I would like to know…What is one action item you can take?Maybe you can brainstorm some stories you can share, or spend a few moments capturing testimonials. Or maybe you need to ask some of your past clients FOR those testimonials or recommendations.
I would love to hear what you are taking away. Come on over to Facebook or Instagram and let me know.
*If you are enjoying these podcasts so far, can you do me a really quick favor and leave a review on Apple podcasts. (even if you aren’t listening on Apple) These reviews are so helpful for so many reasons and I would be so grateful.*
Before we get started, I wanted to share another 5-Star review from my friend Sadie:
"Big wisdom into bite-size strategy: Love this podcast. Tracy is breaking it down into really accessible ways to show up in my business. I couldn't feel more comfortable marketing on otherwise big, scary things as it relates to growth, engagement, and putting myself out there. Her energy, optimism and realness is fantastic. Thank you!"Thank you so much, Sadie! It really warms my heart.
Right, let’s get into the episode.
You have your list, so now what?In the previous episode, we talked about building your community and the first step in that is identifying who your champions are or are going to be. If you haven’t yet listened to that episode, *be sure to go do that first here, or none of this will make much sense.***Do you enjoy doing research? Because that’s what this next step is all about…this is where you do some information gathering.
Your list of champions or potential champions might have 10 people on it, or maybe 50 people on it, but I promise you it will be way easier to have a plan and strategy for keeping in touch with that list than to try to commit to keeping in touch with all of your contacts.
Honestly, that sounds exhausting.
However, building relationships doesn't happen by accident. So now that you’ve identified your list of champions, let’s gather some information. Gather your note-taking tools and let’s dive into the episode.
You will notice that I shared a few ideas in the episode, so I won’t ask you what one action item you can take. Instead, I would love to hear a takeaway.Come on over to Facebook or Instagram and let me know.If you are enjoying these podcasts so far, can you do me a really quick favor and leave a review on your podcast player of choice? These reviews are so helpful for so many reasons and I would be so grateful.
Community is a theme you are going to see throughout these podcasts in the coming months.
Why? Because I don’t think any of us is meant to go on this journey of life or business on our own. Bringing others in is part of the ease and joy I’m always talking about.
Collaboration wins over competition every time.When you have a community – and take the time to nurture and build that community – that’s you Igniting YOUR Champions – and the benefits of doing this over time are immeasurable.
I believe Community can change the world. I hope over time, you might start to believe the same.
Allow me to start you off on that journey by showing you the way I see Champions and Advocates.
So get comfy, tune in and let’s get started.
And when you’re done, I would love to hear from you. What is one action item you are going to take based on what you heard today? My hope is you will start your list and dream a little about what having Champions on Team YOU can do for your business.
Come on over to Facebook or Instagram and share, please. I look forward to hearing from you.
PS: If you are enjoying these podcasts so far, can you do me a really quick favor and leave a review on your podcast player of choice. These reviews are so helpful for so many reasons and I would be so grateful.
Let’s talk about setting realistic goals for social media and beyond.When I talk to potential clients, I always ask what their goals are.
Some of what I hear is; I want 1000 people on my email list, I want 5000 followers on whatever platform, I want 1000 subscribers on my youtube, I want to go “viral.”
My follow up question, normally, is always WHY. The responses I get are usually quite interesting, but, it often is about someone shoulding on them sometime - you should be on every platform, you should have 1000 subscribers on youtube.
Or worse, maybe they were told they HAVE TO do these things to be successful. It’s a number game afterall.
Today, I’m calling B.S. on that crap!
I want to help you look at this from a different lens - ahealthier and more realistic one.
So, let’s jump right in and work on making some realistic goals that can be achieved with more ease and joy.
If you are enjoying these podcasts so far, can you do me a really quick favor and leave a review on your podcast player of choice. These reviews are so helpful for so many reasons and I would be so grateful.
**Listen all the way to the end and you might hear a blooper or two.
Are you getting the engagement you’d like on social media?
Picture this…
You take some time – maybe even too much time (shoutout to the overthinkers listening right now) to craft a thoughtful post about your life, or sharing some news about your business. You put it out into the Metaverse in eager expectation and then sit back and wait for the responses to your brilliance.
And, then…nothing.
What on earth could have gone wrong?
Let me help you explore some of the different factors that play into whether people engage with your posts or not. Some of them are complex and completely out of our control. And some are pretty simple and can be easily remedied.
Whatever they may be, there’s something you CAN do to better engage with your audience, if you put the work in to create consistent and compelling content that is geared towards nurturing relationships and building community.
So, let’s go.
Remember to come over to my Facebook or Instagram @ingiteyourchampions and let me know;
What is one action item you can take?
I’ve shared a few ideas and would love to hear a takeaway. What might you shift in the content you share or how you engage in the coming weeks? Come on over to Facebook or Instagram and let me know.
PS: If you are enjoying these podcasts so far, can you do me a really quick favor and leave a review on your podcast player of choice? These reviews are so helpful for so many reasons and I would be so grateful.
Are you getting the “results” you would like from your social media efforts?
And yes, I DID mean to put those quotation marks on the word “results”.(In case you were wondering!)
There are some results that matter, and others that may not be nearly as important. And look, if you're listening to this podcast so you can figure out how to go viral, you're listening to the wrong one.
Anyway, in this episode, I share with you some of the results that really matter, because it’s these results that will keep you going and staying consistent even when the “numbers” seem to tell a not-so-encouraging story.
Numbers are not all bad, though as you’ll hear me share in this episode. Some numbers give you information on how to channel your content creation and community building.
So, pull out your note-taking device, and let's get started.
PS: So what is 1 action item you can take this week? Take a moment to consider what one result you will pay more attention to in the next week or month and I would love to hear from you. What did you decide?
Please come and visit my Facebook page @igniteyourchampions to share.
Does social media even matter anymore?
I mentioned this to a friend the other day and she asked, “are there people who don’t think it matters?”
The answer is complicated. It’s yes, and no.
In this episode, I will provide you with some tips and insights on how YOU can take the power in making it matter.
I want to help you be more intentional about how you use social media, rather than getting stuck in the “shoulds” that leave you feeling overextended, stuck in perfectionism, taking up WAY too much time, and not driving any results that actually have value for bringing more clients and money into your businesses.
So grab your pen and paper, and let's dive in. It will only take 7 minutes of your time today.
AND when you’re done listening, come over to my Facebook @igniteyourchampions and let me know;
What is one action item you can take? What might you shift or change based on what you’ve heard in this episode?
I’d love to hear from you.
What if you looked at all of your marketing as an experiment?
After all, there is really no such thing as a perfect anything. There's no perfect post on social media. No perfect email that's going to get thousands of people flocking to your door. Same thing for a blog post. It just doesn't exist.
I don't tell you this to discourage you, but rather to encourage you to try new things. So, Stick with me here.
I will say this, though; making your messaging and stories consistent and simple can create a win, win, win.
It makes it very easy for people to say, “if you need to hire someone for [blank], this is the exact person you need to know.” I want to help you achieve this by doing an exercise with what I call Content Buckets. That's what this episode is all about.
So go ahead and click “Play”, with your pen and paper in hand, and I will walk you through the exercise, step by step.
Please follow us on Apple, Spotify, or whatever your preferred podcast platform is and leave us a review. Your feedback will be very valuable in helping others find us.
Are you willing and ready to come with me on a journey into building your community and what that can mean for your life and business?
Let’s start by gathering some data before we begin because, in order to know if we're making progress, it's going to be helpful to know where we are right now. I like to call this “taking your temperature”.
And I would really invite you to do this without self-judgment, self-loathing, or self-flagellation!
Once we know where we're starting, we can measure our success and then make adjustments along the way.
Now, are you ready? Grab a pen and paper, and tune in!
Please follow us on Apple, Spotify, or whatever your preferred podcast platform is and leave us a review. Your feedback will be very valuable in helping others find us.
Welcome to the ignite your champions podcast. If you don't know me yet, I'm Tracy Warren - community creator, loving truth-teller, author, and fierce warrior for women in business.
I believe that community can change the world. In fact, the power of community was made so obvious to me when I was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 and the squad I had created over time—because it comes naturally to me—showed up in ways I never imagined, both personally and in my business. And that's my hope for you; that you can create the same thing.
Community means building a business with less hustle and more ease and joy. Doesn't that sound wonderful?
This podcast is for those of you who want to discover how to grow a business by creating connection and community yourself. Yes, your marketing efforts can be simple, fun, easy, and effective. And that is what we are here to talk about.
The podcast episodes will be short and the invitation is for you to take one action from each one. Not because I “shoulded” it on you—it is my hope to never do that—but rather because you wanna bring a little ease and joy into how you are growing your business.
You can find more about me on:
Facebook: @igniteyourchampions
Instagram: @igniteyourchampions
LinkedIn: @igniteyourchampions
And you can find my book, Ignite Your Champions, everywhere books are sold.