Hiiii, welcome! I used to be the president of the “I’ll be happy once X happens” club!!

In this article, we’re going to cover how to stop putting off your happiness until you cross the next finish line, so you can start living (& enjoying) your life now instead of later. 

Sound like a plan?

Being achievement-oriented has gotten a bad rap in the personal development world over the last couple of years.

As we start critically examining the patriarchy and how it’s shaped our everyday lives, working, doing, and hustling are demonized.

Our culture tends to look at things through an all-or-nothing lens. So while there’s been a more significant focus on slowness, mindful living, and being (instead of doing), it’s also made people think that hustling or achieving is no bueno.

That’s not exactly true.

The point isn’t that you should give up your dreams, never set a goal again, and commit to being a couch potato, because GOD FORBID you work hard on something.

It’s about untangling achievements with your identity and sense of self. Because for a lot of us, achievement became less about what we do and more about who we are.

What you accomplish isn’t meant to define you. 

What it IS supposed to do, is give you healthy goals to strive for because you like them, it’s an enjoyable way to spend your time, and achieving them is an added bonus.

If you feel exhausted by your goals and what it takes to achieve them, it’s time to examine your relationship with achievement.

Things to consider:

1. Why do you want what you want?

I’ll give you a hint — the only reason we do or don’t do anything comes back to emotions.

For example, if you want to hit 10k followers on Instagram, have 100k in your bank account, or quit your full-time job, your desire has little to do with achieving those things, and everything to do with how you think achieving those things will make you feel.

So the better question is, how do you want to feel? 

Another consideration: what do you feel currently that you no longer want to feel?

If you crave safety and security by having 100k in your savings account, you most likely feel the opposite way now — maybe looking at your finances makes you feel unsafe, unsupported, or ungrounded.

An enlightening starting place is to identify how you feel, what you hope the next box checked will help you feel instead, and what you think prevents you from feeling that way now.

Another thing to get honest about: do you want this for you? Or because you want to manipulate how others see you?

Many people have a subconscious belief that achievement is what gains respect, love, admiration, and belonging (and that we aren’t good enough as-is).

We become invested in having what we want so that others will perceive us in a certain way.

Our egos love that, because it thinks we’re creating a buffer around rejection and disappointment — in reality, it’s not true.

Think about your goals and the things you want to achieve. Let’s say you are guaranteed to get what you want, but there’s a catch – you’d never be able to tell anyone about it. Not a soul. Ever.

Would you still want it? Would it still be important to you if it was all grind and no glory?

2. Circumstances won’t change how you feel

Is it easier to be happy when you have the house of your dreams, a doting and loving partner, money in the bank, and a snatched body?

Do those circumstances naturally produce better feelings than living in a cramped apartment with a roommate you hate because they never put their dishes away, going on your 7th failed hinge date this month, an empty bank account, and unwanted chin hairs? 

Maybe.

But what’s also true is that your brain has consistent beliefs about the world.

If your subconscious belief is “the next [goal I hit] will FINALLY make me feel [the emotion I want],” you will carry that with you everywhere. 

If you change your circumstances without changing your beliefs, your feelings won’t change either.

They might temporarily, but when the high of getting what you want wears off, it’s back to “well.. what’s next?”

It’s why people who thought getting rich and famous was the key to everything get what they want and still feel lonely.

It’s why women can lose 40 pounds and have their dream body, but still don’t feel good enough.

The only way to have the feelings you want later is to create them now (I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I don’t make the rules!).

What’s ONE thing you can do today to create your desired feeling? If you want to feel safe with money, what’s an action you can start and complete today to make that happen?

Is it transferring $5 to savings? Is it opening a high-yield savings account? Is it keeping $100 in cash in your wallet?

Maybe it’s not about money, and you want to feel safe by snuggling up on the couch with your favorite blanket and watching your favorite show for the 100th time.

The feeling of safety is the same no matter how you trigger it, so whatever makes you feel safe, do it! 

And at the risk of you wanting to slap me through the screen, my best advice is…

3. Fall in love with the process

I KNOW it’s cliche, but it’s a cliche for a reason. 

(Warning: tough love reality check incoming)

If you keep happiness locked away in the next box you check, you will spend 95% of your time hating where you are and 5% riding the high of whatever achievement you hit.

And that’s how you’ll spend your life until one day you wake up and realize you spent all of your life waiting to live instead of actually living.

Yikes, right?

I spent 25 of my years living that way. I’m so thankful I’ve changed my perspective, but I also kick myself for letting my ego call the shots for that long.

Today is all we have. So get out there and do something with your time that makes you feel alive.

You don’t have to stop dreaming, and you don’t have to stop achieving. But stop making that all you do.

Make the process as fun as the goal, so that when you finish, it’s just the cherry on top. Because you know that you lived, learned, and had a ton of fun along the way. Because that’s what it’s all about, anyway!

That doesn’t mean the journey is always easy — toxic positivity is never the goal.

It only means you stay present and commit to making the process as good (and hopefully better!) than the outcome.

I serve women entrepreneurs, coaches, course creators, consultants, and women-owned agencies across various industries in the online space by creating the swoon-worthy, efficient business systems and processes of their dreams.

Long story short, with the help of my internal team and their team of contractors and employees, I manage their internal and external operations so that they can get back to doing what they love in their zone of genius.

I absolutely live my best life when I’m working behind the scenes in my clients’ business operations, systems, and funnels.

My mission is to help my clients optimize and restore their business operations foundation without wasting time and money.

My approach to completing projects is centered around lean fundamentals and the overall goal to keep things streamlined from A to Z while cutting out wasted steps so that everything that is happening, is adding value to the process.

My clients typically come to me looking for help streamlining their business operations or to help clean up, fix, audit, and automate the processes that once served them but now after they have scaled their business, no longer serve them.

In this period of time, they have rapidly grown their business and their team and aren’t in the position to pause what they have going on now to troubleshoot and repair what is happening behind the scenes. The cost of halting their operations to fix it is much greater and that’s where I step in.

I got started in the online space in September of 2020 and began my entrepreneurial journey as a virtual assistant.

Over the course of the last near 3 years, I’ve expanded my business and transitioned into and out of various roles: from a virtual assistant to an online business manager, a launch manager, a funnel specialist, an operations manager, and now a COO and integrator (or an operations and integration specialist).

While it may seem like hopping around from one role to the next, it was actually a quick but smooth period of growth from mastering one focus to wanting to learn and develop skills in other areas that complimented each other.

From my first day until now, I’ve truly leaned into allowing the flow guide me in finding where I’m truly aligned, and I’m happy to say that I feel more aligned in what I do each day. 

After finishing college with a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in business administration in 2019, the moment I found this world and the possibilities that came with it, I knew that I was in the right place.

Now, 4 years later I’ve grown from being a solo part-time entrepreneur (while still full-time in the corporate world) to running a business full-time at home, bringing my husband on the team full-time, and recently hiring our first contractor to start expanding the business in more ways. It’s been a rollercoaster of success and failures but the most rewarding journey.

The beauty of the entrepreneurial world is that you’re allowed to make those shifts, operate a life-first business, and redefine success for yourself. The moment I let go of the corporate world and the stress that came with it was the first time I felt space and ease and found it possible to actually enjoy what I do for a living. We only live once, so why not do it while chasing what you love in a way that feels good to you? 

My days look completely different every single day, week, month and so on, but I try to follow the same approach to prepare myself for what can happen so that I can keep myself in a flow state in order to resolve issues and provide the transformation that my clients come to me for.

A Day In The Life Of A COO and Online Business Owner

Morning Focus & Routine

Depending on the day, I typically hit the ground running between 4:30AM and 6AM CST. In order to prepare me energetically for the day and get me in the right mindset, I make sure I have time to fully wake up, get ready, drink water, and pour myself a cup of coffee. 

What I’ve found out is that the first hour or two of my day truly determines how that day goes. If I wake up and immediately jump on my computer and induce a sense of rush and stress, then I’m going to be stuck in that pattern all day and usually end up working into the late night. (I’ve learned this over the years through trial and error.)

So, the way that I set myself up for a busy day with multiple clients and communication with team members is allowing myself time in the morning to ease into waking up, take my time getting ready, get some fuel and water into my system, and ease into my day. Approaching the day in that relaxed state ramps up my productivity level and I’m usually able to end the day early in the afternoon, depending on what projects we have going on.

In order to achieve that, sometimes that means waking up earlier than I want to but it’s the ultimate reward of having my work days be centered around productive energy especially when I’m working on projects and tasks that require more intensive focus and troubleshooting. In my case, it’s not usually a problem to wake up early for that extra time since I go to bed around 9PM. (Insert your old grandma jokes here!)

Day Planning & Prioritization

The second most important piece in determining my productivity is the first 30 minutes to one hour of my work day. Each day I take time to focus on what is going to be priority for the day by looking at my call schedule first and then determining what time I have left to accomplish tasks. That time outside of calls is what gauges my capacity and what I can truly get done during the day. 

Typically Mondays are a heavy call day and I only have a few hours in the afternoon for productivity so in knowing that I make sure to prioritize the heavier lifting of work throughout the rest of the week. Otherwise, I make sure that after assessing time capacity, I’m focusing on what is a priority for each client.

I usually outline 3-5 priority focuses or tasks for each of my clients and make my way down the list based on turnaround priority across the board. This helps me stay balanced and working on each client while accomplishing what is to be completed that day or week. 

I’ve found that by approaching my workload this way, I’m able to keep that balance longer versus only working on one client for an extended period of time. If I’m chipping away at the higher priority, the ease of flow increases over the week’s time.

I not only approach each day this way, but I do this once at the beginning of the week as an overview planning session and then I “re-do” it each morning to account for any changes that have happened.

Workflow, Client Calls, & Communication

From there, I’m able to get in the zone, stay heads down and focus on the things that need to get done externally for my clients and internally for my own business. In the mix of “doing-the-things”, I’m usually communicating back and forth with my clients and team over Slack.

While this can cause interruptions during the day, I consider that time productive because I’m in the moment with my clients and team. The most important thing you could do as an online business owner is prioritize communication while keeping your work hour boundaries of course.

The more I’m in constant and necessary communication with my clients and team, the more trust, comfort, and cohesiveness are formed. Creating this environment with clients and team members not only benefits your relationship with them but it keeps you in a forward motion and rhythm of focusing on what is important NOW versus what is just on the list for the week.

While the actual “things” I do during the day are usually never the same, the way I show up is and that is what is my individual priority. Maintaining a flow that keeps me showing up and performing for clients, my team, and myself. 

Daily Recap & Reprioritization

After a long work day, I revisit my task and priority list that I made at the beginning of the day and do a quick de-brief session that usually only takes a few minutes. I look for areas I accomplished, areas I made progress in, and areas that I didn’t get to touch. This will help me in the planning phase during the next day because I’ll know what is most priority so that I can keep things moving.

What Matters & Why You Should Focus On Your Flow

Being an entrepreneur who manages multiple clients and teams across the world, and different industries and zones of genius, the one thing that keeps me going and thriving in what I do, is my flow state.

Focusing on my flow and my energy every day is what has allowed me to grow, shift, triple my yearly income, expand my team, develop new skills and so much more. If you allow yourself to prioritize how things feel first, then you’ll know where you need to apply your skills second. 

Shift your mindset from what your role is or what tasks to do, to how you show up best. If you’re focusing on just getting things done, things won’t feel rewarding or like you’re making an impact. Focus on how you operate best and you’ll start operating even better. While keeping that mindset, it’s important to also let yourself be guided into new areas and lean into the uncomfortable. Of course, there isn’t a “physical” movement to actually feel but once you start opening up your days to what actually matters and where things feel right, you’ll start allowing that to flow back into your world.

The problem is that you are using goal-setting techniques that aren’t effective for you and then blame yourself when they fail.

It’s like trying to cut wood with a rusty, dull axe and then blaming your skills when it doesn’t work. In this blog post, I will teach you why your metaphorical goal-setting axe isn’t working, and I’ll share my all-time favorite (albeit a little unconventional) goal-setting technique!

Here are the reasons what you’re doing is missing the mark:

Reason #1: Arbitrary timelines

People often unconsciously use goals as a means to control and predict outcomes. Translation: you’re using goals as a way to cope with the uncertainty of life and to pressure certain things to happen within arbitrary timelines.

If you’re striving to lose 20 pounds in six months, does it really matter if it takes eight? Or 12? Or is the timeline a way to manage feeling uncomfortable when you look in the mirror?

Do you really need to be a millionaire by thirty-five, or is it a way for you to feel safe with money because you don’t right now? 

When goals are set this way, they become more of an escape plan than a helpful guidepost.

What would it look like if you completely let go of a timeline? I know, goals without timelines might seem taboo.

Traditional goal-setting advice recommends using SMART goals, which are specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-bound. There’s nothing wrong with that approach and some people love them, but if you’re reading this article, I’m guessing that method hasn’t worked for you.

Getting too specific, too measurable, and too time-oriented can create rigidity. This causes you to feel suffocated by your goal instead of inspired by it, leading to disappointment if you don’t meet it perfectly.

Reason #2: Types of goals you’re setting

You can set two types of goals: process goals and outcome goals. A process goal is deciding to go to the gym three days per week. An outcome goal is setting a specific number of pounds you want to lose or an amount of weight you want to squat.

A money-related process goal is to put money in your savings account every time you get paid. An outcome goal would be to have an extra $5,000 in your bank account by the end of the year.

Theoretically, if you hit your process goal, you will likely achieve your outcome goal. So if you focus on outcome goals but neglect process goals, you fixate on what you want rather than what it takes to get there.

Reason #3: Assuming what is necessary

Let’s say you want to quit your job and go full-time in your online business. You might have a list of things or actions you need to take to make that dream a reality. Let’s say you need to create a website, post regularly on social media, advertise, get more clients, save a certain amount of money, etc.

How many things on that list will move the needle forward? What is genuinely necessary vs. what you think is necessary based on your perceptions or what others tell you?

If you enjoy the process, you are 83.6% more likely to reach your goals if you enjoy what you’re doing (yes, I made that statistic up). But think about it – do you want to hit a goal by muscling through things you wish you didn’t have to do or by doing what you enjoy? What do you think is going to be easier to stick with and will be more likely to produce the results you want? 

If you brain dump a list of what you think is necessary to achieve your goals, look down, and think, “YEAH, NO, I don’t feel like doing that,” get creative! What else could you do to achieve your goal that doesn’t include those things? Ask yourself what would be FUN!

There’s more than one way to get to 9. You can add 8+1, subtract 11-2, and multiply 3*3; few of many options. Where are you telling yourself the only way to get to 9 is 6+3? Find your flavor of how you want to get there.

Note: If no ideas you come up with sound fun, re-assess the goal. For example, if you want to run a marathon but every physical conditioning exercise you think of sounds awful, running a marathon might not be the best goal for you. If you are going to hate every moment of the process for a few brief moments of accomplishment, what’s the point?

My favorite (unconventional) goal-setting technique

As someone who often set goals I didn’t achieve, I knew I had to devise a better way. This approach releases timelines, creates opportunities for fun and flexibility, and focuses on outcomes through processes.

Step 1. Decide what area(s) of your life you want to set goals in.

Many of my clients’ goals boil down to improving relationships, finances, health, careers, or overall happiness. If you struggle with consistency and maintaining your habits, I’d recommend starting with just one goal and then working from there.

What area of your life would you most like to improve? What feels the most important to address first?

Step 2. Choose your goal

This approach differs from SMART goals because your goal can be vague. In fact, it should be! Let’s take health, for example. Your goal could be “improve health.” It could be “improve body image,” or “get stronger,” or “clear up my skin.” Whatever feels good for you!

Step 3. Formulate your goals into a question

Whatever you have identified in step 2, plug it into the question, “what’s something fun I could do today to support _________?”

• What’s something fun I could do today to support my health?
• What’s something fun I could do today to support my body image?
• What’s something fun I could do today to support my strength?
• What’s something fun I could do today to support my skin?

Whatever your question is, answer it! Brain dump everything you could do that would feel fun and would support your goal. If it feels fun but doesn’t support the goal, it’s out. If it supports the goal but doesn’t feel fun, it’s definitely out. Now, you have a list to work from.

Ask yourself this question daily, choose something off your list, and do it. It could be fun to do the same thing every day (or if you’re like me) you might get bored quickly and switch it up often. It doesn’t matter! As long as you’re supporting your goal and having fun.

That’s it :) Rinse and repeat!

Another option: ditch goals altogether

If this method doesn’t pique your interest or the information in this post didn’t spur any new ideas, consider taking a break from setting goals, period. *Gasp.* While goals help guide you in your pursuits, they are not the only way to be successful.

When we think of someone who doesn’t have goals, it’s usually with a negative connotation – *cue the image of someone unemployed, ripping bongs, and eating Oreos on the couch all day.* But the belief that you need goals to be successful is just that – a belief. Which means you can choose a new belief. Goal setting is a tool that should be used to help you, but it’s not a code of conduct to live by. If it doesn’t feel helpful for you in this season, drop it all together (without guilt!).

Instead, focus on living. Breathing. Being. Spend time on things that you enjoy and make you happy. When you follow that energy, achieving your goals becomes a natural byproduct instead of something you are pushing and forcing.

–

Happy goal setting!

In this article, we’ll explore specific blogging tips for each Enneagram type, empowering you to create compelling and effective content that resonates with your target audience. Whether you’re a perfectionist, helper, achiever, individualist, investigator, loyalist, enthusiast, challenger, or peacemaker, there’s a blogging tip just for you.

Type 1 – The Perfectionist: Done Over Perfect and Give Us Structure

If you are a perfectionist, you might struggle with publishing blog posts that are not perfect. However, it’s important to remember that perfectionism can hinder progress. Try to focus on creating high-quality content that resonates with your audience, but don’t get too caught up in the details.

You value accuracy and thoroughness. When blogging for your business, focus on providing actionable advice and well-structured content. Break down complex topics into clear steps, and include practical tips and guidelines.

Use headings, bullet points, and subheadings to organize your content, ensuring it is easy to navigate and digest. This approach appeals to your desire for order and delivers valuable information to your readers.

Type 2 – The Helper: Engage with Your Audience and Encourage Convos

As a helper, you enjoy supporting others and providing value. Use your natural empathy and understanding to create blog posts that address your audience’s pain points and needs. Share your knowledge and expertise to help others grow and succeed.

You thrive on building connections and assisting others. Use your blog as a platform to engage with your audience. Encourage comments, questions, and feedback, and make an effort to respond promptly.

Incorporate storytelling and personal anecdotes to create a warm and relatable tone. By fostering a sense of community through your blog, you strengthen relationships with your readers and cultivate a loyal following.

Type 3 – The Achiever: Showcase Success Stories and Expertise

As an achiever, you are driven to succeed and make an impact. Use your ambition to create blog posts that showcase your expertise and highlight your accomplishments. Share your success stories and tips for achieving goals to inspire and motivate your readers.

You are driven by accomplishments and recognition. Showcase tangible results in your blog posts. Share testimonials, case studies, or client success stories to demonstrate the impact of your products or services. Incorporate visuals, such as before-and-after images or infographics, to reinforce the effectiveness of your offerings.

This approach appeals to your desire for achievement and attracts potential customers who value proven outcomes.

Type 4 – The Individualist: Infuse Your Blog with Authenticity and Creativity

As an individualist, you have a unique perspective and creative flair. Use your creativity to create blog posts that stand out and capture your audience’s attention. Share your personal experiences and insights to connect with your readers on a deeper level.

You possess a unique perspective and a desire for self-expression. Infuse your blog with authenticity and creativity by sharing personal insights and experiences.

Use storytelling to convey emotions and captivate your audience. Experiment with different writing styles, incorporate visual elements, and embrace your artistic nature. By bringing your authentic self to your blog, you attract readers who appreciate your individuality and resonate with your brand’s authenticity.

Type 5 – The Investigator: Deep Dive into Topics and Provide In-Depth Analysis

As the investigator type, you enjoy researching and analyzing information. Use your analytical skills to create blog posts that provide valuable insights and data-driven solutions. Share your research and findings to establish yourself as an authority in your field.

You have a thirst for knowledge and intellectual exploration. Leverage your expertise and analytical skills by offering in-depth analysis and deep dives into your blog topics. Conduct thorough research, provide comprehensive explanations, and include references to credible sources.

Share your insights, theories, and discoveries to establish yourself as a trusted authority in your industry. This approach appeals to your desire for understanding and attracts intellectually curious readers.

Type 6 – The Loyalist: Address Concerns and Provide Solutions

As a loyalist, you value trust and reliability. Use your commitment to create blog posts that provide practical advice and actionable steps. Share your proven strategies and tips for success to build trust with your readers.

You possess a strong sense of loyalty and a focus on security. Use your blog to address common concerns and provide reassurance to your audience.

Write informative and reassuring content that helps alleviate fears or doubts. Offer practical solutions, tips, or step-by-step guides that address potential challenges. By providing valuable information and building trust, you establish yourself as a reliable resource in your field.

Type 7 – The Enthusiast: Add Positivity and Inspiration into Your Blog

As an enthusiast, you enjoy exploring new ideas and experiences. Use your curiosity to create blog posts that are engaging and informative. Share your enthusiasm and passion for your topic to inspire your readers to take action.

You are naturally optimistic and enthusiastic. Infuse your blog with positivity, inspiration, and a sense of adventure. Share success stories, motivational quotes, or uplifting content that sparks curiosity and excitement. Incorporate visuals, such as vibrant images or videos, to enhance engagement.

By offering an optimistic and inspiring perspective, you capture the attention of readers who seek fresh ideas and a sense of possibility.

Type 8 – The Challenger: Share Your Hot Takes and Thought Leadership

As a challenger, you are confident and assertive. Use your strength and conviction to create blog posts that challenge the status quo and provide thought-provoking insights. Share your bold ideas and opinions to inspire your readers to think differently.

You embody strength and assertiveness. Use your blog as a platform to share bold opinions and establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry. Write thought-provoking content that challenges the status quo, offers innovative perspectives, or discusses industry trends. Back your arguments with evidence and invite healthy debates.

This approach appeals to your desire for authority and attracts readers who value bold and authoritative voices.

Type 9 – The Peacemaker: Encourage Harmony and Collaboration through Your Blog

As a peacemaker, you value harmony and balance. Use your diplomacy to create blog posts that provide a balanced perspective and promote understanding. Share your insights and tips for resolving conflicts to help your readers find common ground.

You value peace and unity. Use your blog to promote harmony and collaboration within your industry or niche. Write content that fosters understanding, highlights diverse perspectives, and encourages dialogue.

Seek opportunities to collaborate with other bloggers or experts, and feature their insights or guest posts on your blog. By fostering a sense of inclusivity and cooperation, you create a welcoming space for readers and position yourself as a unifying force.

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Blogging is a powerful tool for business growth, and tailoring your approach based on your Enneagram type can enhance your effectiveness and connection with your audience. Whether you’re providing actionable content, engaging with readers, showcasing success stories, infusing authenticity and creativity, or addressing concerns, embrace the unique strengths and motivations of your type.

Remember to adapt these tips to suit your specific business goals and target audience, and watch your blog become a game-changer in your holistic marketing strategy.

Pinterest has over 450 million users every month, making it the perfect place for you to showcase your expertise, display your work, and give your best tips to your ideal audience.

If you’re already leveraging platforms like TikTok or Instagram and seeing success as a content creator, it can only strengthen your media kit to add Pinterest as another platform.

Let’s dive into 6 ways you can make some more money from Pinterest marketing.

1. Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is a popular way for bloggers and content creators to earn money.

As an affiliate, you promote products on your blog or social media platforms and earn a commission on each sale made through your unique affiliate link.

Pinterest is a great platform for affiliate marketing because it’s highly visual and allows you to create boards based on different product categories. You can also tag these affiliate links in Idea Pins, which can increase your chances of making sales.

To get started with affiliate marketing on Pinterest, find an affiliate program that aligns with your niche. Look for products that you believe in and would be excited to promote. Then create boards and pins that showcase these products and link to your affiliate link.

Pinterest has certain affiliate networks that are currently approved.

2. Sponsored content

Sponsored content is another way to make money on Pinterest. You partner with a brand and create pins that promote their products or services.

When creating sponsored content, it’s important to disclose the partnership. You’re able to do that inside Idea Pins.

To find sponsored content opportunities, reach out to brands that align with your niche. You can also join influencer networks that connect content creators with brands looking for sponsored content.

You’ll need to create a media kit to showcase your Pinterest stats and demographics to show the brand how you’ll promote their product, along with your past work.

3. Promoted pins

Promoted pins are sponsored ads that appear in a user’s feed, search results, or related pins. They can help you reach a wider audience and increase your chances of making sales or driving traffic to your website.

To use promoted pins, you’ll need to designate a budget. You can set a daily or lifetime budget for your campaign and choose targeting options such as demographics, interests, and keywords.

When creating promoted pins, make sure they’re visually appealing and relevant to your target audience. You can use A/B testing to determine which pins are the most effective.

According to Pinterest, their ads have a 2.3x more efficient cost than other social platforms and retail brands have seen 2x higher ROI, so it’s worth considering!

4. Offer products

If you have expertise in a particular niche, you can create and sell digital products such as e-books, courses, and printables on your website or through a third-party platform like Etsy or Shopify.

Pinterest is a great platform for promoting your digital products. Create pins that showcase your products and link to your website or online store where customers can purchase them.

When creating digital products, make sure they’re high-quality and provide value to your target audience. You can tag your products directly in the pins – whether it’s a standard or idea pin to increase your click-through rate.

5. Use Pinterest to drive traffic to your website

Creating visually appealing pins that link to your website or blog can help drive traffic to your website. This, in turn, can increase your ad revenue or the chances of getting hired for content creation projects.

When creating pins, make sure they’re visually appealing and relevant to your target audience. You can also use Pinterest’s analytics to determine which pins are the most effective and make adjustments to your strategy accordingly.

Creating a funnel can help you leverage the leads you get coming in from Pinterest to convert them into sales!

6. Join the Pinterest Creator fund

While Pinterest has shut down the Creator rewards program at the end of 2022 where it was paying users to create Idea Pins, they do seemingly still have the option for you to apply for the Creator fund.

From the Pinterest website: “This new initiative is focused on the growth and success of underrepresented creators: people of color, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. The Fund’s goal is to foster creator talent through financial and educational support while aiming to make Pinterest an increasingly inclusive and diverse platform.” Applications are currently closed.

Up next: Learn how to create a cohesive, on-brand Pinterest presence.

With so many podcasts vying for listeners’ attention, it can be challenging to promote your show and attract new listeners.

One of my favorite platforms to reach a broader audience and grow my listener for Life Goals In Progress and Playground To Purpose is Pinterest.

In this post, we’ll explore six ways you can use Pinterest to get more podcast listeners.

1. Create shareworthy blog posts for each episode

Creating a blog post for each episode, also known as “show notes,” is a great way to provide additional context and information about your podcast.

However, instead of just recapping the episode, you can make your blog posts share-worthy by including additional information, tips, or insights that weren’t included in the episode. Or, at least structure them in a way that makes more sense in blog form: Outlined with subheadings.

Audio doesn’t perfectly translate to blogging, so repurpose the content in a way that works for the blog medium.

You can include quotes, images, links you mentioned in the episode, or other visuals that will make your blog post more engaging and interesting. This way, you can use your blog posts to attract new listeners and give your existing listeners something to share with their friends and followers.

2. Embed your podcast into your blog post

Once you’ve created a share-worthy blog post, it’s time to embed your podcast episode into the post itself with links on where they can listen.

This will make it easy for your readers to listen to the episode and encourage them to subscribe to your show. By embedding your podcast into your blog post, you can also help boost your show’s ranking on search engines like Google, which can help attract new listeners.

3. Create multiple pin graphics with call to actions

Time for some Canva pro magic!

Pinterest is a visual platform, so it’s essential to create eye-catching pin graphics that will encourage users to click through and listen to your podcast.

You can create multiple pin graphics for each episode, each with a different design, but with a consistent call to action to listen to the episode.

This will help you reach a broader audience and give you the option to test different versions of your promo graphics to see what captures the most attention.

4. Design an aesthetic roundup graphic of podcasts

Another way to promote your podcast on Pinterest is to create a roundup graphic of podcasts for your demographic.

You can include your podcast in the roundup, along with other podcasts that your listeners may be interested in. This will help encourage your listeners to share your content and reach new audiences. Make sure the graphic is visually appealing and aligns with your brand’s aesthetics.

For example, if your podcast is about social media marketing, you could do something like 10 Best Podcasts For Small Business Owners. Share the love! You could also tag the users included to encourage them to share!

5. Adjust the pin title to try out different versions

When publishing and scheduling pins, it’s important to test different titles and descriptions to see what resonates with your audience.

You can create multiple versions of the same pin graphic, each with a different title or description. This will help with finding the right keywords to reach your ideal audience. Try more than one thing to get your pin traction. You never know which version could go viral.

6. Create Idea Pins with snippets from the episode

Idea Pins are a new feature on Pinterest that allows users to create a series of images or videos that showcase an idea that someone can take action on.

You can use Idea Pins to share snippets from your podcast episodes, such as quotes or soundbites, in a visually appealing way. This will help you reach a broader audience and give your followers a taste of what your podcast is all about.

I love ones that are vlog-style with the inspiring sound clip from the episode.

Promoting your podcast on Pinterest can be an effective way to reach a broader audience and grow your listener base.

By creating share-worthy blog posts, embedding your podcast into your blog, creating multiple pin graphics, designing an aesthetic roundup graphic, adjusting pin titles, and creating Idea Pins, you increase your chances of getting your podcast to grow organically!

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Blog posts are still a very relevant way to engage an audience.

Short-form content is definitely the IT girl of the moment, but don’t skip out on its bestie, long-form content because it’s useful for different reasons. Long-form content is still relevant because it allows for an in-depth exploration of a topic and provides valuable information for readers. It can also help establish expertise and authority in a particular niche, leading to higher search engine rankings and increased traffic to your website.

And not to mention, it’s important to create content for a platform you actually own, like your website. You don’t own your Instagram account. Not the be the Debbie Downer here or scare you, but your feed could get hacked or disappear (or get banned!), so it’s important to not only diversify where you’re posting (by starting to post on additional platforms like Pinterest) but also to post on platforms you own, like your website.

So, let’s leverage that existing content you’ve already created, and get it over on your website!

Here are some tips for creatively using your Instagram feed to build out blog posts.

1. Sort through your Instagram posts and look for common themes.

One of the easiest ways to find inspiration for a blog post is to look at your Instagram feed and find common themes. For instance, you may find that you have shared multiple posts on the same topic, such as healthy eating or travel destinations. You can then take these common themes and combine them to create a robust blog post.

For example, if you’ve shared multiple pictures and captions about your travels to Japan, you can combine these existing posts to create a robust travel guide for Japan. You can write about the top places to visit, local cuisine, and what you can skip.

I also did this quick exercise for a client who had a content pillar of hormone health and she had multiple Instagram posts on her feed about each phase of your menstrual cycle – how to eat, workout, and live your life according to them. I went through and found all of the similar posts and broke them down into multiple blog outlines.

2. Use your captions as blog post intros

Your Instagram captions can be a great starting point for a blog post. They can provide a brief introduction to the topic you want to explore further in your blog post. Take a look at your captions and see if there are any that could be expanded into a full blog post. You can even use the same or similar wording to create consistency between your Instagram and blog content.

For example, if you shared a post about how to stay motivated to exercise, you can use the same caption as the intro to a blog post on the topic. You can then expand on the tips you shared in the caption and provide more detailed explanations.

When trying to figure out how to expand, think about:

• Personal examples
• How it can specifically be implemented: step-by-step details
• What would be helpful to expand on? Don’t just add words to add words

3. Break down carousel posts with multiple points into a blog

Carousel posts on Instagram allow you to share multiple pictures or videos in one post, and you can use them to your advantage when creating blog content. If you’ve shared a carousel post that covers multiple points on a topic, you can break down each point into a separate blog post.

For instance, if you shared a carousel post on IG about the 5 different ways to style a little black dress, you can break down each styling tip in a blog post with a similar title. You can then embed your carousel into the post to make it more dynamic.

4. Look at analytics for your top posts. Is there a topic that is the most popular? Expand on it.

Looking at your Instagram analytics can provide valuable insights into what type of content your audience enjoys the most. Take a look at your top posts and see if there is a common theme or topic that your audience engages with the most.

You can use this information to create more content on that topic – or simply use your posts as an outline and expand on them in a way that works for a blog.

For example, if you’re a beauty blogger and your most popular posts are about sunscreen, you can create more blog posts on the topic. You can write about the best sunscreen products for different skin types, tips for achieving healthy and glowing skin with sunscreen, and common sunscreen mistakes to avoid. Use the content that is already working and go deeper.

Your Instagram feed can be a great source of inspiration and material for your blog posts. By sorting through your posts, using your captions, breaking down carousel posts, and analyzing your top posts to leverage what’s working, you can build out your blog content and engage your followers on multiple platforms. So don’t be afraid to leverage the power of Instagram to grow your blog and engage your audience.

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And I’m not just talking about scrolling and creating your vision board, because I feel like we all love Pinterest personally. But, I’m talking, sharing your content on Pinterest.

Pinterest is a super visual platform that offers an excellent opportunity for your creative business to showcase their brand aesthetic.

From the colors, fonts, and imagery used in your pins to the overall vibe of your profile, your brand aesthetic plays a crucial role in attracting and engaging your target audience on Pinterest. Here are some tips for crafting a cohesive brand aesthetic on Pinterest:

1. Define your brand identity

The first step in creating a cohesive brand aesthetic on Pinterest is to define your brand identity. What is your brand all about? What values do you stand for, and what makes you unique?

When I kick off with a Pinterest client, I’m thinking about their main pillars and their target demo. What makes them unique? What’s their specific voice and vibe? And how can we create boards and a cohesive vibe that represents that?

2. Use your color palette

Your color palette is one of the most critical elements of your brand aesthetic. Choose colors that align with your brand identity and use them consistently throughout your pins and profile. You can use tools like Adobe Color to create a color palette or Pinterest itself to create color schemes.

3. Use consistent fonts but add some flair

Fonts also play a significant role in your brand aesthetic. If you have branding, use it! Don’t stray from your branding. You want your pins to be recognizable, so when someone is scrolling and already knows you, they immediately know it’s your content.

If you don’t already have professional branding, you can find some good font combinations on… you guessed it, Pinterest.

Choose two or three fonts that complement each other and use them consistently throughout your pins and profile. This will help create a cohesive and recognizable brand identity.

To add emphasis and create scroll-stopping images, add emphasis on your pins. Emphasizing or bolding important words can capture attention quicker.

4. Curate images that align with your brand

The images you use on Pinterest should align with your brand identity and color palette. Curate images that are visually appealing and align with your brand’s message. Using a mixture of original and curated images will help keep your profile fresh and engaging.

Need to use stock photos? Here are some good ones:

• Unsplash
• Pexels
• Adobe Spark
• Pixabay
• Dreams Time
• Death To Stock
• Styled Stock Society

5. Use pin templates

Creating a consistent style for your pins is essential to your brand aesthetic on Pinterest. This includes using the same font, color palette, and imagery in each pin. Consistent styling will help your pins stand out and make your brand more recognizable to your audience.

Use templates from:

• Canva
• Creative Market
• Envato Elements
• Etsy

Alternatively, if you have it in the budget, you could hire a designer or use your current designer to create templates for you to work with.

6. Create board cover images

Organizing your boards by category and using branded cover images will help create a cohesive profile aesthetic. Use your brand colors and fonts in your board covers to tie them into your overall brand aesthetic.

I don’t always create board covers for clients I’m working with, but if it works for your branding and helps you make everything feel more on-brand, I recommend doing that.

Basically, just create a simple template alternating your brand colors with the title of your board in the image.

7. Keep things clear over clever

While it’s tempting to make your board titles look aesthetic, avoid it.

Board titles and descriptions are important for helping users discover your content on Pinterest.

Use clear and descriptive titles and descriptions that reflect your brand values and messaging, and use keywords that are relevant.

8. Be consistent in tone and messaging

Consistency in tone and messaging is key to creating a cohesive brand aesthetic on Pinterest. Use a consistent brand voice in your graphics and board descriptions, and make sure your messaging is aligned with your brand values and positioning.

While people aren’t reading your pin descriptions much (except on Idea Pins), you still want your tone of voice to feel on-brand.

Crafting a cohesive brand aesthetic on Pinterest requires a combination of defining your brand identity, choosing a color palette, using consistent fonts and imagery, and organizing your profile.

By creating a consistent style for your pins and profile, you’ll attract and engage your target audience, build brand recognition, and drive traffic to your website. Take the time to define your brand’s aesthetic and create a Pinterest strategy that aligns with your brand identity.

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That’s not just something you see on a bumper sticker and ignore. It’s time for you to believe it. The reality is, there aren’t many people in your life who are going to advocate for you. Sure, you have friends, family members, and colleagues who will compliment and encourage you. But, it’s up to you to step up and advocate for your greatness and your worth. 

We live in a world where there’s a stigma against being your own advocate. People worry about being overly confident or coming across as cocky. There’s a difference between standing up for your worth and showing off or being condescending. So, what can you do to stand on the right side of that line? How can you be your own advocate and truly get what you deserve? 

Let’s cover a few tips to help you understand how and why advocating for yourself is so important. When you feel more confident in standing up for what you really deserve, your life can change quickly, kicking off a new positive direction that can help you live every day to the fullest. 

What does self-advocacy look like? 

If you’ve never stood up for yourself and what you deserve, you might not fully know what self-advocacy looks like. Unfortunately, that’s why it often gets negatively stereotyped. Self-advocacy isn’t a display of pride or over-confidence. It’s simply the ability to speak up on your behalf — especially when no one else will. 

Self-advocacy looks different for everyone, which is why it’s so important to learn how to speak up for yourself in a straightforward way. Some of the biggest benefits of self-advocacy include a greater sense of accomplishment, better self-esteem, and even a deeper sense of belonging. You’ll learn more about who you are, what you value, and how those values play a role in your life. 

To get started, ask yourself what those values are. What really matters most to you, and why? What are your needs, strengths, and weaknesses? While there’s more to self-advocacy than these questions, being able to answer them will give you a starting point and can serve as a launching pad for learning how to effectively speak up for yourself.  

With that in mind, let’s cover a few strategies you can use to advocate for yourself in different areas of life. You might be surprised by the changes that occur when you choose to take a positive stand. 

Speaking up for yourself in every area of life

You might find it easy to stand up for yourself around people you trust and love. Family members and close friends are more likely to listen to your needs and wants, and they’ll be more willing to respect your boundaries if you lay them out clearly. But, if you’re only speaking up about your needs with those closest to you, you aren’t reaching your full potential.

One of the biggest challenges you’re likely to face is advocating for yourself in the workplace. However, it’s also one of the most important places to stand up for your needs and wants. Workplace stress is extremely high, and some of it has to do with employees not feeling seen, heard, or valued.  You might even feel burnt out at work because of a demanding schedule, unrealistic expectations, and a lack of appreciation. Discussing burnout, or other mental or physical health conditions with your employer might initially be scary, but it’s likely the only way you’ll see positive change in your workplace environment. Some of the best ways to speak up about your health at work include: 

• Educating yourself on your rights;
• Reviewing your company policy;
• Gathering evidence;
• Keeping your goals in mind;
• Outlining your main points;
• Providing solutions.

If it’s not necessarily your health you’re concerned about, but where your career is headed, the same rules apply. Create specific goals and put together a “career map.” Then, focus on your strengths and skills, as well as what energizes and inspires you. When you’re armed with knowledge and motivation, it’s much easier to speak up with confidence. 

Of course, work isn’t the only place where it’s important to self-advocate. It’s important to speak up for your needs and wants everywhere, especially in places where you might feel like you’ve been taken advantage of before.

Why is advocating for yourself important? 

We’ve barely scratched the surface when it comes to different situations that benefit from self-advocacy. But, the core principles don’t change. Take the time to learn who you truly are, and don’t be afraid to let your values come forward in everything you do, even when that requires speaking up for what you deserve. 

Advocating for yourself not only helps others understand what you’re going through and what you need, but it can completely change the way you see yourself and your life, too. Self-advocacy helps with: 

• Self-worth;
• Conflict resolution;
• Resilience;
• Distress tolerance.

The more you advocate for yourself, the easier it will be to discover your real identity. Even as an adult, it’s never too late to learn more about who you are and what inspires you. It’s especially important to advocate for yourself if you’ve spent most of your life staying quiet and not expressing your needs. Maybe you had a difficult childhood where those needs weren’t met. Maybe you’ve experienced a bad relationship where you were shamed whenever you spoke up about needs, wants, or feelings. 

Don’t let the past dictate your future. You deserve greatness. It isn’t just a saying — it’s a fact. By advocating for yourself in every area of life, you can achieve that greatness and finally experience relationships and situations where your needs are prioritized and met.

What is a screen time goal?

I’m defining a “screen time” goal as a goal that you set around reducing your time spent on your computer or phone. I’m not defining this as time on your computer or phone for work, but more for when you’re using it for mindless scrolling or when you’re on it more than you’d like. Creating phone and technology boundaries can help you to make the time you’re on screens more intentional.

Why should you set a screen time goal?

Having a concrete goal around something can help you to make what you desire to happen a reality. When you have a set plan, it’s so much easier to achieve your desired outcome. If screen time is causing you to be distracted at work or in your life and it’s keeping you from spending your time doing what you love, it might be a good time to set some productive goals around limiting your screen time!

10 Screen Time Goals To Set

1. Take One Day A Week Off Socials

Or maybe start with your most-used social app, like TikTok or Instagram. Call it “Screen Free Saturday” or “Sacred Sunday.”

2. Improve your screen time each week

Do you have it set up on your phone to give you screen time alerts?

Make a goal to continue to decrease your screen time each week. It doesn’t have to be by a lot, but imagine how much more focused you would be at the end of the year if you decreased your screen time every single week.

3. Challenge yourself to only 3 hours of phone time per day

Or whatever feels like a good amount for you to feel your best.

I know that for me, social media is part of my job, so doing much less than three isn’t realistic. Find the magic number that feels healthy to you, and make it a goal to stick to that every day! You could even make a habit tracker to keep you accountable.

4. Put away your phone for social events

Make it a goal that for social situations, you keep your phone in your purse or tucked away somewhere. You can snap a pic or two and then put it away for the rest of the time. It’s never enjoyable to be around a group of people who are all just on their phones the whole time!

If you throw a party, you could even have a little basket for everyone to put their phones, so that everyone is social and distraction-free for the night!

5. Exchange your screen time for something better

Feel like you have no time to learn a new skill you’ve been wanting to try, like learning an instrument or a language? Or maybe you’ve been trying to read more.

Trade out the time you usually tend to scroll for that new activity! It’s always a little uncomfortable when you trade an old habit for a new one. It helps to remind yourself about how being on your phone too much makes you feel – and opt for a different approach that will be better for your mental health. Take note on how you feel after you exchange your screen time for something else!

6. Go without your phone for the last hour before bed

You can smash out two goals in one with this one, because if you lessen your screen time before bed, you’re likely to get a more restful night of sleep. Set your phone in the charger, make sure your morning alarm is on, and don’t look back!

I always recommend reading before bed, especially fiction books. It always leaves me feeling sleepy, without the blue light from your screen that hinders your sleep.

See this list of 21 evening wind-down routine ideas that don’t include screen time!

7. Keep your bedroom as a phone-free zone

In fact, I love to have my bedroom screen-free altogether. I broke this rule for a while, but I noticed that I’m better off keeping my bedroom free from the television and phone. I have better sleep because my brain associates my bedroom with sleep!

8. Go off the grid

Make a goal to go on a camping trip or some kind of phone-free adventure where you’ll forget to check in or maybe don’t even have cell service, so you can just enjoy your time with your people, distraction-free.

We could all use vacations where we really decompress and feel like we’re MIA from the world.

9. Go on a social media hiatus

Can’t go completely off the grid? Do a social media break instead. One of our contributors talked about their experience with a month-long social media hiatus here.

10. Watch one episode a night, instead of multiple

If you want to start watching less television, start reducing the hours you watch instead of eliminating it altogether. I love watching TV and don’t want to give it up, but I also love having goals around exchanging that time with doing more activities that I want to prioritize, like reading.