Sarra Edwards | bringing balance into motherhood
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5 things to know when starting a network marketing business

11/23/2017

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After my daughter was born 2.5 years ago, I knew that I wouldn't be able to return to my teaching job. I wanted to be a stay-at-home-mom ... but I also wanted to make an income and help support our family. The universe aligned for me and in October of 2015, I became a Beachbody coach. 
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Back then, I knew nothing about network marketing or direct sales; however, I've learned a lot over the last 2 years! So, here are the Top 5 Things To Know When Starting a Network Marketing Business!
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1. SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS THINK YOUR BUSINESS IS A "PYRAMID SCHEME"

What is a pyramid scheme, anyway? Basically, it's an illegal investment scam. Pyramid schemes do not involve the selling of actual products; instead, new recruits make up the base of the pyramid and the cash-flow comes from them, while those near the top of the pyramid earn income. Not awesome.

However, many people associate direct selling companies and network marketers with pyramid schemes and they will ask you about it. Familiarize yourself with the legitimacy of your company and the difference between what you do and a pyramid scheme, so that you can easily address this issue upfront. 


Also, remember, you can't make everyone happy; ignore the rants you see on social media about moms selling stuff on Facebook​ and just keep doing what you love.
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​2. YOU BETTER WORK

Network marketing is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Over the past 2 years, I have seen so many women give up on their business after a couple of months, because they're not yet earning 6 figures. Starting a business takes time, effort, and hustle - and a network marketing business is no different.

Give yourself at least a year of consistent effort and don't just give up after a tough month.
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3. DO NOT COMPARE YOUR CHAPTER 1 TO SOMEONE ELSE'S CHAPTER 12

When you're just getting started, it can be easy to compare yourself to those who have been in the business for years - rank advancements, income, company trips and gifts, the social media presence that others have.

It's important to remind yourself that you are just getting started. Do not get wrapped up in what others are doing and just run your own race. Do not compare your chapter 1 to someone else's chapter 12.
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​4. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT IS EVERYTHING

Your income will be a direct reflection of your level of personal development. In order to be a business owner (and that is what network marketing is all about) you must be willing to learn, to grow, to invest in yourself and in your business. 

So, from the very beginning, commit to reading books (check out my favourite books organized by category here!), listening to podcasts, or learning everything you can from YouTube videos. ​
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​5. NOT EVERYONE WILL SUPPORT YOU (AND THAT'S OK)

You're probably in love with your product and your company. You think your family and friends all need what you're selling and that this opportunity is going to change the life of everyone you know. But, whatever your product is, the people in your lives aren't all going to jump on board immediately (or, maybe, ever).

Don't worry about the people who don't want to join your team or try your product; you'll find your people.
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Want access to my free resource library, with guides, worksheets, and more to help you build your network marketing business? Sign up here!
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Instagram: A Beginners Guide for Business

11/20/2017

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Ok, so I definitely don't claim to be an Instagram Expert; that would be majorly misleading. However, I do want to share what I have learned about one of my favourite social media platforms and some of the strategies I've used to increase my followers by over 30% since I began focus on building my Instagram 3 months ago.

1. Fill out Your profile

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Your profile is your first impression for a potential follower and customer, so you want to maximize that space!  So, how can you make the most out of your Instagram profile?

- Keep your @username simple. Your name reflects your personal brand; for me, I know that I am my brand, so I use my own name. Plus, it's consistent across social media and someone can easily find me on Instagram if they know me from Facebook.
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- Your profile picture should be your face; this helps people learn to know, like, and trust you!

- Write your bio - make it clear, concise, and descriptive... after all, you've only got 150 characters! Tell people who you are, what you do, and what they can expect.

​To utilize line breaks in your bio, write you it first in your notes app; between each line, hit the return key to create a line break. Then, copy and paste onto your Instagram profile.
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- Update your URL link - this is the only place that Instagram lets you place a link, so you want to utilize this space. I use linktree and the free version allows to list unlimited links on your linktree, as well as offers click tracking for each link and a selection of themes to change appearances.

2. Hashtags, Hashtags, Hashtags

Hashtags are everything on Instagram. You're currently allowed to use up to 30 hashtags on a photo ... USE THEM ALL! These are search terms, keywords that will help people find photos in that category.

I recommend categorizing your photos and creating a list of 30 hashtags for each of these categories. You can save these lists in the notes of your phone so that they are easy to copy and paste when you post a picture.

How do you find the right hashtags to use?

- Follow other people in the same field. Whether you're a wedding photographer, a Beachbody coach, or an Etsy shop, your competitors will, most likely, target the same people as you want to. Now, you're not just copying other people; you want to look at what they're doing and learn.

- #Do #Not #Hashtag #Every #Word. This is ugly and people will stop reading. Instead, write your caption and include your list of relevant hashtags at the end of your caption.

- Study the related hashtags. When you search a hashtag, Instagram shows you Related Hashtags at the top of the feed.

- Use hashtags that are popular but not overused. Check out this example:
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Let's say we search the hashtag #motherhood. Over 7 million posts? Your picture will probably get lost. But what about #motherhoodalive or #motherhoodmoments. With less than 100,000 pictures, you have a better chance of getting noticed!
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3. Make your Instagram Public

Hashtags don't matter if your account is private; if you're trying to grow a business, you need people to see you. Enough said.

4. Utilize Instastories

Before people will buy from you, especially on social media, they must know, like, and trust you and Instastories are another great way to showcase who you are. So, how can you make the most of this feature? Well, make sure that you utilize different sticker options, like polls, location tagging, and hashtags. Also, you want to mix things up; post pictures, videos, and boomerangs.

For a complete look at the Instagram Stories features, check out this tutorial.
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5. Engage with Your Audience

When you're starting out, you probably want to spend 20-30 minutes a day going through hashtags that are relevant to your niche and commenting on people's posts. My strategy is to follow a person's page, like 3 pictures, and comment on 1 post. Now, I'm not posting things like "Cool!" or "I like your content!" - there are robots that can do this for you and it's super obvious and inauthentic and I just don't recommend it.

Instead, write genuine, thoughtful comments. Don't force or fake this - be you, be real, and try to make connections.

The second piece of engagement is responding to people when they comment on your posts. You can thank them, ask a question, or respond in some way to what they said; whatever it is, you are showing them that you care, you notice them, and you appreciate their presence on your page!
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Not sure what your niche is?? Sign up for my free resource library here and get access to my Nail Your Niche worksheet so you can create your Ideal Customer avatar.
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5 Boss Babe Podcasts You should be Listening to

11/10/2017

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When I'm folding laundry, cooking dinner, driving to Kindermusik classes, or flying on a plane - there is a good chance that I am listening to podcasts on my phone. Podcasts have made it easier than ever to access information, education, inspiration, and entertainment.
Check out my 5 favourite boss babe podcasts below - for when you need motivation or to learn a new skill or when you're feeling blah in your business and need a boost. 
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1. Social MEdia to Sales Podcast

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Jen Casey is a business strategy coach who uses her podcast to teach online entrepreneurs the systems and strategies to turn their social media into sales.
I love this podcast because Jen has been in the trenches, built a successful network marketing business on social media, and has since transitioned into sharing the strategies and psychology that will help others find success. It is the perfect combination of practical information and spiritual inspiration.
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2. Rich B****

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Angie Lee is the "hilarious and wicked business bestie you've always wanted." She combines humour, inspiration, and some real talk (think: female Gary Vaynerchuk) to help you transform your business into a money-making machine.
I love this podcast because it can help any boss babe tackle their weird relationship with money, with applicable strategies and the rah-rah pep talks you just need sometimes.


3. The chalene Show

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The Chalene Show is everything. Chalene Johnson has an enormous list of credentials: Beachbody Celebrity Trainer, multi-millionaire mompreneur, online business consultant, founder of the Smart Success Academy and the Marketing Impact Academy, author and journal-creator... I could go on and on (and on!)
I love this podcast because it is a combination of everything a boss babe needs: motivation ideas, leadership advice, social media tips, and insight into confidence, balance, organization, health, fitness, relationships, faith, and happiness.
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4. Style Your Mind Podcast

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Style Your Mind, from Cara Alwill Leyba, is perfectly designed for any woman who wants to "design their thoughts, empower themselves, and build a beautiful life." Cara is a master life coach AND bestselling author (#Goals) and every week, she shares powerful conversations, uplifting interviews, and a huge amounts of inspiration.
I love this podcast because Cara is just so freakin' real. Despite her massive levels of success, she is grounded and she shares things that will speak to every woman at any place in their life.
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5. Real Talk with Rachel Luna

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Real Talk with Rachel Luna is hosted by one of the most inspiring women you could follow on social media. Rachel Luna helps boss babes find clarity and confidence within life and business. This podcast is all about creating that confidence in business, sales strategy, personal development, personal growth, money and time management, productivity, and more.
I love this podcast because Rachel's energy and enthusiasm are contagious and she regularly interviews other powerful women, who share their how-to strategies for creating the business (and life) of your dreams. Some examples include:
  • How to Be a Legendary Speaker ft. Alexia Vernon
  • Creating Content and Courses with Jenna Soard
  • How to Start a Podcast ft. Jessica Kupferman​
So, these are my top 5 boss babe podcasts - I seriously listen to these women all day, every day! What are your favourite podcasts that you would add to this list?
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Balancing life as a Business-Building SAHM

11/6/2017

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Mom guilt. We all feel it at some point because, for most of us, being a mom is a huge part of our identity. Anything that goes wrong (or, let's be honest, anything less than perfect) can feel like a reflection on our capabilities as a mother. We worry about cleaning, about cooking healthy meals, about spending quality time with our children.
Throw in entrepreneurship and the busy-ness of building a business? You will quickly find that the balance between raising your babies and building your bank account isn't as simple as you'd hoped. But, with even just 1 or 2 of these tips, you can ditch the mom guilt, avoid burnout, and find the balance you need to be the badass mompreneur you know you can be.

1. Abandon the 9-5

It's time to ditch the idea of a typical workday and start thinking "nap-to-nap." You don't need to sit down for 8 hours to get your work done; I mean, isn't that the beauty of being your own boss?! Your business can be built before your kids wake up, during nap times, and after everyone is asleep. Of course, there are certain appointments or activities that must be accomplished during the day, but don't feel like you need to accomplish everything in the traditional 9-5 structure. 

2. Schedule, Schedule, Schedule

I've said it before and I'll say it again: What gets scheduled, gets done. And I'm not just talking about your business, I'm talking about your entire life.
​That means, when you're planning out your daily or weekly tasks and goals, include non-work related items like when you're going to workout, when you're going to take a bubble bath, and when you're going to have family time. For me, that means scheduling weekly games nights and mid-day time to play with my daughter. Even if we have no structured plans, having that scheduled time reminds me of my priorities and helps me step away from my business to play my most important role: being her mom.

3. Meal plan and Prep

Nope, meal plans and meal prep are not just for weight loss! They're also great  to help save the busy mompreneur's sanity. Having a plan and being prepared will save you time, save money, and save yourself the 5pm madness of "Shoot, what's for dinner?!" Here are some tips to get started (you'll find TONS of great sample plans and even more recipes on Pinterest!)
  1. Figure out what works best for your family. How often do you want to plan your meals and go grocery shopping? Twice a week? Every week? Every two weeks? You can also plan for two weeks and go shopping twice a week; really, it's whatever works best for you and your business. 
  2. Write down your family's favourite meals - every one you can think of! You can always add more later. By creating a master list, you'll make it easier to rotate through all the things you love (instead of having meatloaf every single week because it's all you can think of!)
  3. Now, organize your list by sections, either by type of meat or kind of meal (soup, casserole, vegetarian, crock pot meals, etc.). Again, you're just simplifying things so you can rotate your meals but still have variety.
  4. Get a calendar and decide how many meals you need to plan for and how many people are eating those meals. Do you want to plan specific snacks for each day or do you want to have a list of things you can grab? 
  5. Think about the week ahead. Do you have activities for all 3 kids on Wednesday evening? You probably don't want to plan on making a brand new casserole recipe with 30 individual steps that day!! Is there snow in the forecast? You probably don't want to barbeque. Don't complicate things, my friend.
  6. Start filling in your menu. I start with dinner because that's the meal I share with my family and requires the most thought. Some people start with planning breakfasts because it's the easiest. Figure out what works for you! When figuring out your lunches, consider the leftovers you might have!
  7. Add one new recipe every week or two, if you like trying new things. You can try out the 17,000 things you've got pinned on Pinterest AND find some new favourites! 
  8. As you make your meal plan, create your grocery list at the same time!
  9. Plan for eating out. Seriously. Schedule it. 
  10. If you've got a crazy week ahead, consider prepping freezeable meals. Pinterest has tons of resources, but here's a board to get you started.

4. Find (or Create) A village

It takes a village to raise a child. So don't try and do this parenting thing all on your own. Communicate with your partner about how they can help you -- after all, you are juggling two full-time jobs. Figure out how to parent and how to share the household duties so that you're on the same page. Also, make sure you tell him how grateful you are for all his help!! (Hey, remember that scheduling thing? Schedule a date night!!)
Let's say your spouse is less than supportive, works out of town, or maybe isn't in the picture. What's a girl to do?
Honey, it's time to create a village for yourself. Go on Facebook for groups of moms in your city and look for a mama to swap childcare or stressful stories with. Hire a cleaning lady to come once a month or every 2 weeks to help around the house. Find a church, a mom group, or a book club help you survive. This article lists, in more detail, 7 ways to find and create your own village as a mom.

5. Take care of YOU

Your kids need a happy mom, not a perfect one. And the only person who can truly give them the happy mom they need? It's you. Remember, there will never be enough time in the day to get everything done. It's pretty much impossible. Your inbox will be full forever, so just accept it. You house will be a little messy and that's ok. 
You have to take care of yourself in order to take care of your family and your business. So, schedule your workout, take that bubble bath, and find time for a drink with your girlfriends. Trust me. You'll be a better mama and mompreneur for it.

Now, Ditch the guilt and get out there, mama! 

Looking for your village, a community of women who embrace self-care, choose to grow, and just want to make life better every single day? Come join our free group on Facebook here!

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