By Amber Buhrman  |  May 24, 2018

A website isn’t the only tool you have to get people interested in your brand, but it is a big part of it. It could be the first time they see your brand, so a clear and concise message is needed to cut through the noise. Even if people are coming to you via word-of-mouth, they will go to your website to learn more about you.

Gone are the days where companies can get away with putting every last detail about their company on each page. Customers only need to know that you have something they want and that they can rely on you to you deliver on whatever that is. Here are five ways to make sure your website visitors are more likely to turn into customers.

Content above the fold.

On many websites, the first thing people will see is a hero image and text above the fold. Above the fold refers to the things you see before having to scroll down the page. Users should know what your brand is and how it will solve a problem in the first few seconds of being on the page.

Tell them what to do.

A clear and direct call to action should be prominently displayed above the fold and in several places throughout the page if applicable. For example, it could appear as a button on the page like this:

To move a user’s eye around the page, it is also a good idea to include these in a “z” pattern down the page. People don’t read every word on a website, but they do scan the page, so if these stand out they are more effective.

Paint a picture with pictures.

More than words can be used to portray an image of success for your brand. Smiling, happy, people that are having a great experience with your brand are far more powerful than a photo of your building. They have meaning because they can help people visualize themselves as part of the lifestyle, the success, or solution you are showing.

Have multiple products or services? Keep it simple.

Some businesses are confused about how to show their diverse list of offerings. Think about the bigger picture and boil it down to a few ways you are helping people better their life. These should only appear further down the page from your overarching message, with more content about each in the interior pages.

Say more with less.

A lot less. Fewer words have more impact because people are simply not reading anymore. More content can be used as customers scroll down the page, but we recommend no more than a few sentences at a time. If your website includes a blog with lots of text, we recommend a landing page featuring the most recent posts with the option to read more. Think of your entire website as an elevator pitch, keeping the copy short, punchy and to the point.

If you get these five things right, you will cut through the noise of all the other content out there, making your message loud and clear.

Want to learn more about websites? Contact us at he***@****gd.com.

By Tyler Royer  |  May 17, 2018

A company’s brand is their fingerprint. Branding is what sets you apart from a crowd and helps cut through the crowded marketspace. Where most people fall short with branding is that they think they’re done once they have a logo. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Branding consists of both tangibles (visual identity, storefront, website) but also includes intangibles (personality and word choices).

What do you think of when someone says Apple, Coca-Cola, or Ford? You think about more than just their logo, right? Do you picture their products, or commercials, or storefronts? Do you have strong feelings towards any of these brands? If the answer is yes, that is the result of good branding.

Branding is much, much, more than how you look, it’s how you make people feel. Branding helps create a dialogue between your company and your customer. Think of the examples I listed earlier, there is always conversation about these brands (Team Apple vs Team Android, Coke vs Pepsi, Ford vs Chevy). Regardless of what side of the argument someone is on, branding is an influential factor. These companies have spent time, money, and strategy into creating positive relationships with their customers to the point where they will defend the brand.

To make someone feel this way about a brand, you don’t stop at a logo or an ad. These companies invest in branding to deliver an entire brand experience for their customers. From the way they look, to the way they talk to their customers, and how they communicate with them. All points of their brand (visual, personality, communication methods, and an understanding of their target audience), is what creates an effective brand experience.

Where to Investment Your Time and Money: 

Visual Brand – Apple for example, as a tech company, has the visual branding and voice to complement their market and consumer base. Their logo, products, and website all have a cohesive, slick, modern touch and feel. Would it make sense for Apple to have a hipster coffee shop logo? No it wouldn’t. This is your first impression with customers, make sure it properly reflects you.

Brand Voice – Brand voice and personality is the content supporting any visuals. If these don’t match, it can cause a brand disconnect. Apple’s website and ad copy has short, empowering copy that works with the identity and personality of the brand. Imagine a company like McDonald’s having a serious tone in their ads. It would feel a little weird wouldn’t it? Invest the time in finding a tone that complements your brand, not undermines it.

Communication Channels & Target Audience – You can have the best product and ad campaign, but if it isn’t reaching your audience, it’s wasting time and money. Understanding your audience’s preferred methods of communication is vital for your brand. Using Apple again as an example, since they sell consumer electronics, Apple customers consume information electronically, therefore the bulk of their ads are digital. A retirement home however, would be better suited using more traditional methods of communication, like newspaper or radio. Understanding how to communicate with your customers is working smarter, not harder.

Putting It All Together: 

Every item on this list builds and supports on each other. If you neglect one, the others can suffer as well.  If you invest in your brand, consumers can feel included, which in turn creates brand loyalty (which is always a good thing). You don’t have to be a brand giant like Apple or Coke to invest in branding; whether you’re a company of one or one-thousand, good branding is going to result in some positive ROI.

Ready to invest in some kick-ass branding? Drop us a line at he***@****gd.com to see what’s possible!

By Laura Wallace  |  May 11, 2018

Whew! We’re coming off of an amazing ride from a successful Leadercast event! If you haven’t come across the details, Leadercast is a one-day leadership conference held live in Georgia and broadcast live all around the world. We paired up with HCC and brought 103 local leaders together for this extraordinary experience.

We couldn’t have asked for a better day and just when you think you’ve learned all you need to know, and event like this comes around and elevates your thinking and enthusiasm. When listening to the nine diverse speakers, everyone took away their own piece of knowledge. Depending on where you are in your life, an area you’re struggling with or a statement that gives you the energy or courage you needed to make a shift, each message hits home a little differently.

While I could talk about the event all day long, I’d like to share some of my key takeaways in hopes that one, (or all) of them speak to you on some level.

Your ultimate goal can only be threatened by the need for immediate needs.

Andy Stanley, I could listen to this guy all day long. As one of Leadercast’s most requested speakers, I never seem to have enough paper to write down all of his information. This year he talked about prioritizing what you value long-term over what you want now. Too often we make decisions that help us to get something we want now vs. investing or waiting for the long-term goal. How can you reprioritize your wants and needs to shift towards long-term success vs. immediate wins?

When you lose sight, you lose the fight.

Carey Lohrenz, the first female F-14 Tomcat Pilot talked a lot about the need to stay focused and work with the team with a clear mission. Everyone needs to know their place for the big picture to work. Under pressure, how do you handle? When she’s flying 1,500 mph, she doesn’t have time to freak out and give up. Same goes for business. When you lose sight of what you’re working towards, you lose the ability to achieve it. She reminded us to show up with a good attitude because a negative attitude kills our ability to adapt.

You have permission to change.

Kat Cole, COO of FOCUS Brands was no stranger, peeling back the layers and giving us a real-life scenario of taking a risk to better her life. Too often we’re afraid that if we grow or evolve, people will think we’ve changed. Kat says, “You have permission to change.” She encouraged us to define what success means to us and give ourselves and those around us permission to change, too. Having a different thought or opinion today is a sign of growth and is essential to achieve your level of success.

Self-neglect can’t be part of the equation if you want success at work AND at home.

Oh, Michael Hyatt. I think this man spoke to every person in the audience. He assured us that you can indeed be successful at work, make all your ambitions reality, and have a healthy body and home life. When we’re busy or working towards a goal, we often let ourselves go first. It’s the easiest thing to let down because it doesn’t affect anyone but ourselves. But what we don’t take into account is that it eventually does. If we’re not rested, eating well, taking care of our bodies and building in exercise or down time, we can’t operate on our best level. Eventually we get too tired, too weak or just simply lose momentum, and if we can’t take care of ourselves, we certainly can’t take care of others. Bottom line, if you want to achieve success at work and home, you MUST take care of you, first.

Protect your energy.

Dr. Mae Jemison is the first female of color to go into space. This lady is a legit astronaut. This was one of my favorite messages because she encouraged us to protect our energy, regardless of other people’s opinions or comments. If you’re excited, challenge yourself not to let others bring you down. If you’re focused on a goal, protect your time to achieve it. If someone asks you to do something but you know you can’t or don’t want to, say no. It can be challenging to work towards something when people start to doubt you, but that’s often the time you need to protect your energy most and stay focused on your mission.

Understand who you are and how it affects others.

Ian Cron was simply funny. He had a laid-back personality infused with humor and relatable moments. He introduced us to the Enneagram, a test to determine which of the nine distinct personality types you possess. By knowing your strengths, weaknesses and tendencies, you can better control your self-awareness and know when to pull back or add more of you. He encouraged us to ask those around us, “What do you know about me, that I need to know about me?” Some deep stuff that makes a lot of sense!

Leadercast is by far my favorite event of the year. It’s key to not only listen to these messages, but decide when and how you’ll fold it into your life. The good news is, if this interests you, you can join us on Friday, October 12^th at HCC for Leadercast Women or next year on May 10^th, 2019 for Leadercast Live. Contact Co******@****gd.com for more details! Until then, keep being a leader worth following.

By Laura Wallace  |  April 12, 2018

Leadercast is my absolute favorite event of the year. This will be our sixth event and I can speak from experience, it’s transformative. In fact, we believe in it so much that we took on the task of being a host site this year. Yowzers, that’s not a small task!

A little background… Leadercast Live is the largest one-day leadership event in the world. Broadcast live from Atlanta to hundreds of locations around the world each year, Leadercast brings together some of the most recognized and respected global leaders to create a leadership experience unlike any other. Leadercast Live focuses on the leadership issues most relevant to today’s leader. It is a pairing of inspiring messages and rich interaction with fellow leaders who are being intentional about raising their standard of leadership, through a creative, energetic and memorable experience. Leadercast exists to serve leaders across all industries and various career experiences so they leave this event better equipped to take on their next challenge.

Because we like to ask lots of questions when we attend events, we’ll share the answers you may be pondering about attending:

Where is it?

Hagerstown Community College has graciously jumped on board with us as our location sponsor. The event will be held in the Student Center, which is a modern and spacious area, fully equipped with a coffee house, snack bar and lounge area for breaks. Not to mention the outdoor patio for a little vitamin C!

How does this all work?

Leadercast is held live in Georgia. But since the entire world can’t fit in one state, they offer live simulcasting. This means that you’ll be seeing and hearing the speakers real time through projectors and screens – two screensto be exact. We create our own “live” experience at our event including breakfast, lunch, breaks, giveaways and a lounge to keep the inspiration going.

What’s the day-of look like?

We’ll kick off our day with registration opening at 8am. From 8am-9am, you’ll have a chance to network with other leaders, grab a bite to eat and fuel up with coffee or tea. The event begins sharply at 9am and will run through 3:30pm. Don’t worry, lunch and breaks are built in. You’ll hear from speakers in 25 min. increments and you’ll receive a notebook from Leadercast with lots of handy tidbits extra space to write down notes and ah-hah moments!

Who’s it for?

Leadership isn’t reserved for those with a ‘C’ in their title. Leadercast Live not only brings together owners, presidents and senior executives, but also middle managers, students, entry-level associates, consultants and more, from a range of industries including healthcare, manufacturing, retail, education, government, technology, hospitality and nonprofits. No matter what role you’re in or what industry you serve, you’ll learn what it takes to be a leader you’d want to follow.

Why should I come?

We realize you have 100 other things you need to be or could be doing on May 4^th. By attending Leadercast, you’re slowing down for one day to invest in yourself, which in turn benefits those around you. You’ll gain clarity, new perspective and maybe even hear something you’ve been needing to hear to help you grow. And it’s fun! Where else do you get to hear from 9 speakers in one day, surrounded by your community peers? And we’ll be hosting Worx style, which means lots of fun and interaction!

So, join us for Leadercast Live! Learn from world-renowned experts about the qualities and characteristics of global leaders who exemplify what it means to lead yourself.

Friday, May 4^th

8am-4:30pm

Hagerstown Community College, Student Center

Where to purchase tickets:

We’ve extended early bird tickets through April 16^th and regular price tickets through April 27^th!

www.leadercastwashco.eventbrite.com

For more information, contact Courtney at 240.347.4833 or Co******@****gd.com

By Sam Jones  |  March 28, 2018

Let’s talk about the big, bad beast known as Instagram. Many clients are curious whether they should even entertain using the app, and if so, how to go about getting started. This social media platform is a giant, housing a whopping 800 MILLION (plus) monthly users as of September 2017 and the numbers are only growing – that’s a sea of connections, businesses and people to interact with. If you haven’t caught the wave yet, it’s not too late to grab a ride.

Here’s a crash course on the essentials needed to create an authentic presence on Instagram.

1. Craft the perfect bio.

Think of your bio as your business card. This info should be short, sweet and paint an overall image of what it is that you do and how to continue to interact with you. There’s three main parts to crafting a successful bio:

·     The Headline (or text in bold): Instagram will fill in your business name by default, but you can edit it to be more searchable. For example, if your account is called “JaneDoe Designs” your headline might say “LA-Based Designer and Hand-lettering Specialist,” this is more niche and opens up search options, such as location.

·     The Body (or the goods): This is the chunk of text that should bring in elements from your own brand. What is it you do? This may be your mission statement, motto, tagline, or overall vision of the company. It should be short but have touches of personality.

·     The Call-To-Action (or the next step): Keep your audience exploring with clear call-to-actions. You can do this through a hashtag you want people to use, (see examples below) or direct them to your website, and even link to a new blog or service that they should check out.

2. Create a cohesive feed.

Instagram is a visual platform, so it should come as no surprise that your posts or “feed” must be striking to capture your audience. One of the easiest ways to keep people scrolling and coming back later is by creating an experience that is easy on the eyes. In the world of IG, there’s two things to keep in mind when creating your feed– consistent content and quality aesthetics. If you’re a travel blogger, your feed might show crazy landscapes or lots of photos with your passport and luggage. If you own a swanky restaurant, your photos should capture the dining experience with colorful dishes and scenes from Saturday’s nightlife. Check out these three accounts that are the definition of cohesive feeds:

·     saltinourhair: This example comes from a travel couple, Hannah and Nick. They are travel bloggers and photographers, so naturally their feed consists of beautiful, swoon-worthy landscapes, portraits in ancient temples and everywhere else to make us all jealous. Not only is their content consistent, but their soft, warm editing style makes scrolling through this feed a dream.

·     andpizza: This is the official account of a rising pizza brand. That’s right! Food doesn’t have to be boring, and it shouldn’t be. This pizza place focuses on the culture that they’ve built with their following. Their photos include the people that make up their vibrant communities, pizza of course, and a predominantly B&W theme to correspond with their branding.

·     thesill: #PlantsMakePeopleHappy is the hashtag used by this plant-based online retailer. The Sill doesn’t take themselves too seriously, as demonstrated through their bright white theme, with pops of green and quirky graphics sprinkled here and there.

*Photo Tip: Download free apps like VSCO and Planoly to edit your photos and plan out your perfect feed.

3. Use the right hashtags.

Hashtags allow you to engage and connect with the right types of people. The hashtags you use should follow your marketing goals, fishing for other like-minded companies or social influencers that you want to be seen by. Avoid unauthentic and spammy tags like “follow4follow” and “like4like,” and replace those with relevant and competitive ones. There are two ways you can start using hashtags now:

·     Popular Search: The popular hashtags are the ones that come up naturally when looking for a particular word or service. When you are writing a post and hit the # symbol, as you start to type, Instagram will generate the most used hashtags (see examples below). Also, look to your Instagram community and see what other Instagrammers are using to capture people’s attention and add those to your list! You want to have a few tags per posts, but don’t write a book with just hashtags. Write anywhere between 2 and 10 to start.

·     Branded Hashtags: These are hashtags that may not be in the search bar yet, because you have yet to create them! Whatever this tag is, it should align with your brand, service or followers. For example, the Home Décor shop Westelm encourages users to share their home styles using #mywestelm, so they can share their follower’s photos on the Westelm account.

4. Add your location with GeoTags.

When you upload a photo, Instagram will give you the “Add Location” option, very similar to Facebook’s “Check-in,” where your location will be added to your post. Tagging your location makes you searchable when people search the same place, giving you more exposure in the community. It is important that you include your location, because users are utilizing location-based searches almost like Yelp – searching for specialty stores, food joints, bars and music venues. They see other people’s photos to get a glimpse of the atmosphere and will oftentimes explore for themselves if the location is being well-trafficked. Always tag your own business location in your post. It’s free advertising for you, results in higher engagement and makes you more relevant in searches.

5. Engage with your viewers.

Last but not least, be sure that you are interacting with your viewers and other Instagrammers to build credibility and an authentic following. When people comment on your posts, be sure to comment back at them, answering questions or thanking them for dropping a line. No matter how beautiful your feed is, if there’s no voice behind it, people will eventually unfollow and connect with a brand or business that speaks to them. Post polls on your Instagram Stories, or create posts that prompt questions to your audience in the description. For example, if you run a sushi shop, you can post a photo of your new roll saying “We’re happy to introduce our new Dancing Dragon roll! What’s your favorite specialty roll of ours?”

Like other people’s posts too and follow businesses that are similar to yours, those you can potentially partner with, and social influencers with a lot of pull. If you are selling cosmetics, you may want to follow Kylie Jenner, Rihanna or Tarte Cosmetics. If you are an artist, connect with art curators, popular painters or even your local galleries. You can even send these folks a direct message if you want to start a conversation one-on-one. Lastly, be sure to stick to a schedule, if possible. Set a goal for yourself of once or twice a week, to keep content fresh and your viewers expecting.

There you have it– five essentials to keep in mind when kicking off your Instagram.

Once you’ve got the swing of things, there’s plenty more tips and tricks to learn as Instagram’s algorithm is constantly evolving. Stay in-the-know, because Instagram is not only a fun tool, but the optimal social media tool for growing your business or personal brand using your own authentic voice.

By Laura Wallace  |  March 8, 2018

Whether you’re adding your first employee or your 50^th, adding the right person in the right role is paramount to your culture and growing business. Ever heard the saying “one bad egg can throw the whole cart?” This is so true in the workplace. While you can teach skills, particularly ones that are specific to your industry or workplace, you cannot teach personality. You can’t change someone who someone is, so even if their resume is the greatest thing since sliced bread, if they don’t feel like a natural fit for your culture, wait for someone who is.

I’m a stickler when it comes to hiring. I manage a small but full of life team. Our culture at Worx is unique and personality and receptiveness outweighs the ability to design. Design is our core and we’re always looking at portfolios and how people present themselves. But if they’re the best designer on the planet but have a crappy attitude, no thank you. I’d prefer to bring in someone who has core skills, room to grow and feels like they’ve always been here.

We have a hiring process that has taken years to get down to a science. I’m happy to share this so you can get to your next Mr. or Mrs. Right faster – getting you and your team the help that’s needed. Take this as a guide. What worx (ha, see what I did there?) for us may not work for you and that’s 100% ok. Here are a few things to prep before starting the hiring process:

1. What is the role? – First and foremost, you must identify what role you need to fulfill, what duties they will serve and how that impacts the team they’ll be working with. Look at pressure areas. What does your team need help with? What can be delegated? What is a struggle to get done that someone could make their primary focus?
2. Who is part of the hiring process? – Who in your organization will be involved in hiring? We have several sets of interviews. It starts with me receiving and choosing which candidates I’d like to bring in. Amber and I then perform the second interviews and then the entire team interviews the final candidates. We get the entire team involved because our culture depends on it.
3. What is the job description? – Writing a job description that sounds like your company is paramount. Think about the brand tone you use in marketing. Write a description that feels like your normal way of doing business. If you’re fun and relaxed, write that way. If you’re quirky, write that way. If this is a serious role, write in an elevated manor. This gives the candidate a first look at what it’ll be like to work with your company.
4. Are you setting expectations? – In the job description it’s also helpful to talk about expectations. What do you need them to do? Are there deal breakers you can spell out? Are there characteristics of personalities or strengths you’re looking for (we use Gallups Strengthsfinder to identify core strengths needed)? What are your company’s core values, mission and purpose? Is there room to grow, do you invest in ongoing leadership training, etc.
5. Where are you advertising the role? – Think about the role you want to fill and where those people are searching for jobs. Social media, print media and online job sites like Indeed are all places to consider. Don’t be afraid to post on multiple platforms to reach a broader audience.

Now that you’ve laid the groundwork, it’s time to collect the interest. Set a deadline for when you’ll accept applications so that you can keep momentum and set internal expectations for when help is near.

Perform your first interviews

• create a checklist of what you’re looking for
• what are your no-budge qualifications?
• what are you willing to bend on?
• what’s a deal breaker?
• who best fits the job requirements?

Once you’ve chosen your top candidates, schedule time for them to come in for a first interview. Make sure to build in enough time for each person and so you have a little downtime between them including a lunch break. Be prepared by having a list of questions that pertain to your company and the role. Bonus points if people use terms or phrases from the job description or from your website. That tells me they’ve done their homework.

Narrow down your candidates

• From your first round of interviews, narrow it down to your top 2-4 candidates
• Send the Gallops Strengthsfinder test
• Compare your required skills to the test results
• Send follow-up skills tests
• Introduce top candidates to existing team they’ll be working with

In the second interview process, we send the Strengthsfinder test. This gives us an insight on what their core skills are and then we compare it to the desired roll strengths. For instance, if you need someone who is a heavy executor but their skills come back as a stronger strategic thinker, they may not be the best fit. Once we’ve narrowed down the right people, whether it’s one or three, we bring those people back in for a second interview. Here, I talk less and let the team chime in. They’ll be working with this person more frequently than I will and ensuring there is natural chemistry and openness is invaluable.

Get out of the office

• Have an informal final interview
• Here you’re looking at personality matches
• Get to know them outside of work talk

For our final interview round, we like to have an untraditional interview. We get everyone out of the “work zone” and into “human zone.” The entire team goes bowling, putt-putt golfing or some other physical activity that isn’t sitting and just talking. People are naturally intimidated by the interview process so this allows everyone to relax and talk freely. We don’t usually ask work-related questions here. We’re talking about life, hobbies, favorite foods and whatever other shenanigans we can think of.

By this point you should have a solid idea who your ideal candidate is. This may seem like a long process but hiring the wrong fit takes longer and costs more not only to your bottom line but with your existing team. One of my mentors once told me, “Hire slow, fire fast.” By investing the time up front in a new hire, you’re more likely to find the right fit versus the fastest fit. These people tend to stay longer and become invested in your company and their new role. It also sets the tone with your existing team that you’re not willing to bring someone in for the sake of getting it done but truly invest in your company’s culture and growth.

By Laura Wallace  |  February 9, 2018

One of my favorite motivational coaches is Valorie Burton. I own just about every one of her books and watch her weekly motivational videos. This past week really caught my attention because she was talking about toleration. This went hand in hand with something else I was reading about getting fed up. So here we are, talking about it.

We tend to tolerate things for much longer than we should, anticipating that they’re either not that big of a deal or one day we’ll “get around to it.” We tolerate things like the pile of papers on our desk, the email inbox that has 100’s of unread junk messages, the pile of clothes on the floor, the sink that needs fixed, the tough conversation we need to have or the task on our list that we just really don’t want to do but know it needs done. It becomes easier to write them off and say we’ll “do them tomorrow” but inevitably what happens is, each tomorrow becomes tomorrow.

Before we know it, we have a handful or dozens of little things on our subconscious mind that annoy us. They may not seem like they take that much energy, but everything that you’re not dealing with is taking energy away from the things that matter. It’s challenging to start a new project when 10 old ones are sitting on your desk, unattended to. It’s hard to put all your energy into starting a new venture when you’re surrounded by clutter. And the one I struggle with, the challenge of getting a good night’s sleep when all of this shit is running through your head, day after day because you simply have learned to tolerate them.

This is my favorite part. We get fed up and flip a switch that goes from “I’ll get to it” to “It’s getting done. Now.” Let me see a show of hands in the social media thread for all those who have looked at or thought about something so long that you got pissed off and cleaned house. All of a sudden you have the time and energy to deal with those things and sometimes within minutes, they’re done. That paper stack didn’t take hours like you thought, it actually took twenty minutes. The overflowing inbox took fifteen minutes to search, find and clear. That phone call you’ve been dragging your feet on helped to clarify everything you’ve needed to know for weeks. It’s like a dedicated, determined powerhouse took over your body and decided to knock all those tiny tolerated tasks off your list.

And then your first thought is. Why didn’t I do this sooner?? The sigh of relief and the feeling of accomplishment is one of the most satisfying feelings in the world. When you can look at all the things that have been bothering you for days, weeks, heck sometimes even years and know that it’s done. Over. Finished. Now that my friends, is a great day.

What are you tolerating right now? What is eating away at your energy, slowly, each and every day. What is one thing you could knock off your list to help you regain control? I promise, once you have at least one of them off your never-ending to-do list, you’ll be that much more energized to do the things that matter most.

By Laura Wallace  |  January 25, 2018

I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that you probably have a list of thoughts, ideas or to-dos on your never-ending list and while you have great intentions on doing them, they keep folding over to the next piece of paper. Sound familiar? Yeah, me too.

At Worx, our 2018 theme is “What if?” A lot of the magic and excitement of an idea gets lost in figuring out how to do it. How long will it take? How will I afford it? When will I have time to do this? Who should I talk to about it? We beat ourselves up in the effort to make things perfect and in the long-run, typically end up doing nothing. We want to know the details and the outcome before we’ve even committed to putting energy behind an idea. Instead of using that energy to just do the damn thing, we use it to think it to death. What if we just did it? What if we just took one step towards it?

I recently experienced this, so this is coming from a very raw and fresh place. About seven years ago a business colleague of mine causally said I had an “aura” about me… a “Laura-Aura.” I’m a big fan of hanging on to things that resonate with me, so I can understand how they may or may not fit into my life. So, I’ve hung onto it. About two years ago I couldn’t stop thinking about this “Laura-Aura” and started to put some thought and energy behind it. Then I got wrapped up in the details and it became another folder on my desktop. Last year people started to refer to me as Laura-Aura and I couldn’t help but think, if this thing keeps popping up, there must be something to it. Last week I voiced out loud that I would begin the process of branding myself and opened an Instagram account. Done. (@thatlauraaura just in case you wanna play along)

I don’t have any posts up. I don’t have any content written. Hell, I haven’t even branded it yet. But, it’s done. Now I can invest my energy on my next baby step vs. pondering the walls of Instagram waiting to decide if I was going to do it or not. Who knows where it may or may not go, but it’s worth exploring to find out.

You have awesome ideas and it takes a handful of them to find the right one. How do you know which one is right? You don’t. But you’ll never find out if you don’t give yourself the space to pursue them. What has been playing in your head like a record? What have you gotten really excited about and put motion behind only to get to the door and became too afraid to open it? What have you been mulling over and over – details, expectations, timing, people’s perception… this is your wake-up call, friends. You’ll never know if you don’t just do SOMETHING. Take one step. Open an account. Pick the name. Choose the color. Buy the URL. Whatever first step you take is telling the universe that you’re ready. Who knows what beautiful success is on the other side. You are worth it to find out.

By Laura Wallace  |  January 02, 2018

I love the energy that comes with the new year. Everyone gets hyper-focused and has a renewed outlook on something that is important to them. Old ideas that got pushed to the side come to the forefront. Personal goals and aspirations are a priority again. Visions are open and ideas are flowing. It truly is an exciting time for reset and refocus because it’s not only exciting, it’s also contagious.

When you scroll through your Facebook or Instagram feed over the next week or so, you’ll see a lot of people dedicating their time and energy to something that has meaning to them. Chances are this is something they’ve been thinking about for a long time and have wanted to put energy into but for whatever reason, haven’t. You’re probably doing the same. Not enough time, feeling overwhelmed, worried that someone might judge you, a crappy cup of coffee or having a hundred outfits but none of them fit right… there’s a thousand reasons every day to lose sight of that thing that gets you excited. But what if this feeling could carry on past the first six weeks of the year?

Think about where you’re investing your energy this week. What has sparked for you? What do you find yourself thinking about more often than usual? What gives you that little burst of energy followed by butterflies? What is rolling around in your head that’s making you ridiculously excited? That’s the very thing that I want you to invest your energy in because if it’s making you feel good, there’s a reason. When you’re on the right path, your intuition will lead you. Opportunities will start to pop up, the right people will come into your life and you’ll start to feel accomplished.

Great ideas also come with resistance. This is the true test of dedication. Daily routines get in the way, you said yes to something that you knew you should have said no to, you get sick, the dog craps on the carpet for the third time this week… All of these things are testing you to see how dedicated you are. Ask yourself, “Have I stopped giving this idea energy because it’s no longer important to me, or have I stopped giving it energy because of my surrounding circumstances?” Brain. Ninja. This question will get you moving again, whichever direction that needs to be.

It’s ok to let go of an idea that no longer serves you in order to make room for one that does. Every idea is worth a trial period. Put an action behind it to see what sticks. One time I had a grand idea to scrapbook. Those books are so beautiful and there are so many creative options so I bought all the supplies, made one page and decided to never do it again. It overwhelmed me and left me more stressed than when I started. I’ll leave them to the experts (our Courtney is amazing at them!) One time I had an idea to have multiple Christmas trees with different themes. Now my husband is building extra shelves in our basement to store all seven of them. The point is, not every idea has to stay, but they’re worth trying to see what makes you tick.

This energy that we’re all feeling right now is contagious and the awesome thing is, it’s not isolated to January. Let those ideas come out. Share them with people. Put action behind them. When you get that ah-hah moment in March or July or in the middle of the night or when you’re driving down the road, give it space to grow by doing something with it. It’s crossing your path for a reason and that could be because it’s leading you to something bigger or because it’s the very idea that is your next big thing.

By Laura Wallace  |  December 07, 2017

You get to know people, who they are, what their personality is like and what role they play in your life. You become familiar with them, understand them and don’t think twice to pick up the phone to call when you want to get together for beers on a Tuesday night. These are familiar faces that are either staples in your life or you pick up right where you left off the last time you saw them.

Your business is just as a person. Customers rely on your product or service for a need and build trust in your quality and predictability. Your brand plays a valuable role in the lives of those you interact with. Thinking of your brand as a human can help to narrow down the details of who you are and how your company makes a difference. It can take a large subject and narrow it down to small details that add up to a big impact.

Ask yourself these questions; if my business were a person:

What would it look like?
Conservative, expressive, creative, professional, sleek, casual, sophisticated, chic, vintage – these are all different ways that people dress on a regular basis. If your business were a person, what would their style be? This is the base for your visual branding.

How would it speak?
Think of all the people you know and how they communicate. If your business spoke, how would it sound? Casual with puns, sarcastic, elevated, animated, polished? Think of how you want your business to sound to the public and use this as your writing style for your website, ads, social media and other forms of advertising.

What kind of personality would it have?
People behave in all sorts of ways. How would your business act as a person? Is it detailed oriented, making sure all the little things are taken care? Is it courteous when it answers the phone? Does it say hello to people in public? Does it go out of its way to make people happy? How your business makes people feel is a large part of your overall brand experience.

Your business is also like a character in someone’s story. Think of the customer as the hero and your business as the guide to get them there. You’re solving a need or a problem to make someone’s life better. You become a reliable friend that they turn to when they’re in need.

So what about a rebrand? Does that seem like a shock to the public when all of a sudden you look like a different person? Just like your own personal style, you evolve over the years. You don’t wake up one day a completely different person, you slowly stop wearing JNCO jeans and start wearing fitted jeans for work. You change your natural hair color to something different but you’re not changing your personality. A rebrand or a brand evolution is a subtle way to let people know your business is evolving and growing stronger.

You’re not wearing the same clothes you wore in middle school and your business shouldn’t be either. You’ve grown, matured and become an older, wiser version of yourself. And even though trends come back around, it doesn’t mean that you have to jump back on the bandwagon. Stay true to who your business is, even if it appears different than everyone around you. It’s the unique traits of your company that make it a trusted, reliable place to do business.