Hey there, my fabulous listener, welcome to episode 92 of the Small Business Made Simple Podcast.

Thank you for lending me your ears today – I know you have lots of choices, so I sincerely appreciate me being one of them!

If you’re a first time listener, super super welcome, I am so pleased to have you here.  I am your host Jenn Donovan, and it’s my job, via this podcast, social media and everywhere else actually, to make your business life simpler.

Today, at the time of recording this podcast, Wednesday September 30^th (the day before it needs to go out – I seriously need to be better at planning) it’s my birthday! YAY!

I love, like HARD love birthdays!

So, I thought today I might do an episode all about me!

No, just kidding, it would either be a really short ep or a really long ep – neither of which would  be great!

Birthdays are those days we love to hate.  I hate that I’m now officially closer to 50 than 40 – but I love the idea that the day is about me!  I can do and say and be whatever I want – today is Jenn Day!

If you happen to be listening and it’s your birthday too – then happy birthday to you!

My friend Neil who rang this morning said that in a room of 32 people, statistically they’ll  be people with the same birthday as you and considering 1000’s of people listen to this, there’s bound to be someone listen who shares my special day!

But today’s episode isn’t going to be about me or at least all of it!

It’s going to be about video, you getting on video, you getting over the fear of video and being challenged – should you choose to accept it!

I talk about human to human marketing, in fact I talk about it so often, I think people are either sick of it or do it to shut me up!

And showing up is the first “S” in my 3 S’s of Action strategy I teach my clients.

You have to show up.  You have to show up as you.

If you want to grow a successful business in 2020 and beyond and you don’t have the marketing budget of McDonalds or Supercheap then you simply have to show up as you.

It’s one of the most effective ways of standing out of this crowded, noisy marketplace we live in.

Showing up can of course be in the form of photos or videos.

So many business owners I talk to, every day, have a fear of showing up online and often ask me how to get over this fear.

It’s such a fear that in my 30 Day Social Media Challenge (which starts on October 5^th – just in case you’re interested – http://bit.ly/30daychallengewithjenn ) we spend a whole week on marketing via video and showing up.

It 100% takes people out of their comfort zone but we provide a safe space, a community of cheer leaders cheering you on and the help to get you over the line.

Participants afterwards, are having a ball with video – it’s not that they might not be scared anymore, but they are learning its power and as my friend Michelle Brown said the other day “I’m not suborn than I am scared”.

She maybe scared but she’s buggered if that’s going to stop her!

Perhaps you need to feel the same way.

So, here’s the tips on how to start showing up online to build your brand:

1. Take photos of you holding your products – making the product the hero of the photo – but you’re still in it
2. Use Stories – Facebook and Instagram – they only last 24 hours – that’s not long – you’ll sleep for half of that (maybe ?!?!)
3. Use features on your camera like time lapse or slow mo or boomerang to make interesting videos of your day
4. Put the camera in front of you and press record – don’t touch it no matter how many mistakes you make – just keep talking. Get used to talking to the camera.
5. Get a professional photo shoot done – those pros can make people like amazing!
6. Use cool filters like those available through Instagram or one of my favourites is Snow – an app called Snow. It puts my makeup on for me!  Now side note, you don’t have to have make up on to do a video – that’s my choice, you do you.  There’s no right or wrong.
7. Stop comparing yourself to others – it probably took them 10 takes to get that video right and they probably look that sensational because they have great light or a filter over the top! I know people who have their hair done once a week – so they always look amazing in videos!  Stop comparing!

Now if you’re a long time listening of this podcast or follower on socials, you’ve probably heard this story before.

And full disclosure, I hate video – but I do it.  Because I know I have to – I don’t love it – but I do it.  Bit like cooking actually!

A few years back, in fact probably 4 or 5 now, I was at a marketing course and just before lunch they gave us a video challenge.

We had to go live on our social media during lunch. Heart racing … live … seriously ..

I was complaining (clearly a little too much) to my friend Sam over lunch, whining that I had to do it – because I am more stubborn than I am scared, so I knew I would do it – failure of a challenge is not something I’d ever entertain – no matter what – So Sam to shut me up from complaining turned and said “Jenn, you sound and look exactly the same on video as you do to me right now.  Are you worried about talking to me now?  Do you feel stupid talking to me now? No – clearly not – so just do the ruddy video and let’s eat lunch”.

Sam made me cry that day. 

That was harsh Sam, harsh.

But a massive reality check too!

Human to human marketing, as I say now, is exactly that.  If you watch my video, follow me on social media, listen to this podcast or whatever and then you meet me in real life – it’s going to be me.  I will sound the same (maybe a little more sweary), look the same, I’m going to be me!

And that’s the end goal for my business and that should be the end goal for yours (or one of them!)

So, whenever I don’t feel like showing up – I don’t and that’s ok.  But when I have to or want to, I know that my harshest critic will be me and the others who judge me in a negative way, well that aren’t my people – so buy felicia to them.

I’m not going to spend time convincing you, you need to do more video or show up as you on your socials – do it once and you’ll be forever grateful.

I promise you it will be one of the most engaging posts you do.

So, here’s my challenge, should you accept it:

This video is going to be about you!

1. Pick up your phone and press record.
2. Tell your audience about YOU. Your name, your business name, and what you’re doing and why you’re doing a video like this.

For example, “Hi, my names, Jenn and my business is Social Media and Marketing Australia.  I’m doing a video challenge.  Some crazy lady on podcast told me I had to introduce myself, so here I am – introducing myself.  In my business I help small business owners earn what they’re worth, by boosting their profile and profits, so they can make a bigger difference in the world, without the business overwhelm.  A quirky fact about me that nobody really knows is that I owned a Kitchenware shop for 7 years and still can’t cook! Thanks to this challenge, I am will showing up more on video – if you don’t like video – join me in trying!”

OR

1. Head to your social media account – doesn’t matter which one – actually it does – Facebook or Instagram
2. Go to your insights and look at your most popular posts.
3. Choose one – not the funny one of the dog or cat or mother in law doing something hilarious – a business post that was popular
4. Brilliant – that’s your video topic for this challenge.
5. If you want, make some notes, perhaps put some points on a sticky note and stick it in your view.
6. Get your phone, press record and start talking. Don’t stop – no matter how many mistakes you make – just keep going.
7. Once you’ve stopped making mistakes or feel like its time, press stop, press delete, press record and GO!
8. Post to social media.

If you’re super keen on getting more out of your social media – then think about joining my 30 day challenge which starts super soon – 5^th October.  Here’s the link again: http://bit.ly/30daychallengewithjenn

Please pinkie promise me you will do one of the video challenges above or at the very least, start talking to your phone with the record button on, just getting used to showing up.

It’s scary – but it’s not really.  The world will keep turning, your people will still love you, probably more than ever, and those to criticise are either jealous or bad people.

Ok, that’s it.  I’m off to enjoy a birthday lunch followed by a birthday dinner!

Enjoy your week.  Remember to tag me @smallbusinessmadesimple on Instagram or @socialmediaandmarketingaustralia on Facebook on your videos!

I’d love to see them – I’ll cheer you on!

If you want a safe space to chat business or share your video, head to the Like Minded Business Owners group on Facebook and I will welcome you there!  Just go to Facebook and search Like Minded Business owners or head the show notes for this episode for the link www.socialmediaandmarketing.com.au/92

That’s it for episode 92.

Got questions?  Head into Like Minded Facebook group and ask away – or send me a DM on Instagram or an email jenn@jenndonovan.com.au

I’ll be back next Thursday with another great episode to help you simplify your business in 2020. 

If you’re enjoying this podcast, which if you have listened to here – you hopefully are, don’t forget to subscribe, share this episode with another superstar business owner who’s doing the daily grind and would appreciate someone making their business simpler, and leave a rating or review to show how much you are loving this free weekly content.

A shout out to the gorgeous Laura Duncan who has @thedesignroomau on Instagram (who incidentally designed my amazing email signature) who left me this review on Apple Podcasts:

“Jenn, I love your podcast and your warm heart!  It’s so refreshing to hear, and you explain marketing in a simple way that I can understand and implement into my business.  Can’t wait to hear them every week!”

Thanks Laura – thanks for taking the time to leave that review – big, massive virtual hugs!

See you next week on the podcast for episode 93.  But in the meantime, let’s hang out on social and get social on social – you’ll find me on Instagram, Facebook and my fav LinkedIn.

But whatever you do,

……..remember small business peeps, as my opening song says, there’s no point in dreaming small!