August Growth Strategies: AI, Social, & Marketing Moves

Engage, Plan, and Thrive: Tips, Nuggets, and Real-Life Examples

Hey there,

It's Nicole here, and I've got some thoughts on strategic growth that might just make your day dreaming this summer come true!

August is our launching pad for Q4 success, and I'm not about to let you coast through it. Let's talk brass tacks on leveraging AI, social media, and marketing to give your business the edge it needs.

Nicole's Top 5 AI Tools

1. Vocable.AI

Vocable.AI is a fantastic tool that helps you streamline your content creation process. It's perfect for solo entrepreneurs and small teams because it brings everything you need—like researching, planning, creating, and optimizing content—into one place. Whether you need blog posts, emails, sales scripts, or social media content, Vocable.AI tailors everything to match your brand's unique style.

Personal Tip from Nicole: I love Vocable because it reads your website and asks for your personal preferences, so you don't have to spend time training it! When I used Vocable to create a "Campaign" for this newsletter, it quickly generated lots of headlines, topics, and briefs for me (think of these as outlines for what your blog post, social media post, or newsletter will cover, including keywords).

ProTip: The more details you provide when setting up your campaigns and filling out the "brief," the better the results you'll get. You’ll be much happier with the outcome! And always edit. 

2. Gamma.App

Gamma.App is an amazing tool for creating beautiful and engaging presentations quickly. Starting in July, all of my new presentations have been made with Gamma. Why? I give a minimum of five presentations a month, and I want them to look good, be user-friendly, concise, and to the point. I used to spend so much time on this it's ridiculous. Now I can get what I want in record time.

Personal Tip from Nicole: Guess what? I was just accepted into their Partner Program (I had to fill out a detailed application)! So, if you want to use Gamma, please use my brand-new affiliate link: Gamma Affiliate Link.

ProTip: Gamma not only saves you time but also ensures your presentations are professional and engaging without the hassle. You can upload your personal branding. 

3. ChatGPT

ChatGPT by OpenAI is a conversational AI tool that excels in generating human-like text based on the input it receives. It is highly versatile, capable of assisting with drafting emails, generating content ideas, answering customer queries, and more. This tool helps businesses automate communication and enhance customer engagement by providing quick and accurate responses, saving time and resources while maintaining a personal touch.

Personal Tip from Nicole: I like to use ChatGPT to help crystalize what I am working on and for basics. For example, for this newsletter, I had ChatGPT give the basic description of each platform. Then I wrote out my use cases, what I like, and opinions and tips. ChatGPT then puts it together and formats it.

ProTip: Train your ChatGPT! Be sure that you have at least filled out the basic "Customize Your ChatGPT". To go even deeper, you can create custom GPT's. Be polite and keep asking for more pesonalization.

4. Canva.com

Canva is a widely-used design platform that provides a suite of tools for creating stunning graphics, presentations, social media posts, and more. With its user-friendly interface and extensive library of templates and design elements, Canva enables anyone, regardless of design experience, to produce professional-quality visuals. Its AI-driven features, like background remover and design suggestions, enhance creativity and efficiency, making it a favorite among entrepreneurs and marketers.

Personal Tip from Nicole: I have used Canva over the years to create social media images, posters, flyers, ads, QR codes, and more. It is easy to collaborate with others on it. Now, Canva has fully embraced AI technology, so you can use it in so many ways now. I didn't use it for this newsletter, but I used it most recently for preparing the logo for my new business, MyYogaApp, seamlessly working with my partner in Europe. Then I created some flyers I needed to launch the One Million Healthy Happy Humans Initiative. Those of you that have been with me for a while have seen some of the AI-generated images I have created using Canva.

ProTip: The AI for images is getting quite good. The last time I used the video creation feature, it was really cool creating my cat video! It was only a couple of seconds long, though, so it needs some updates to get better with video. So play around with this one and see where it gets you without expecting perfection just yet. But hey, if you want short cat videos it works! 

5. Midjourney.com (Image Generation)

Midjourney is my go-to when I’m really serious about image creation. While I do use other AI image generators for convenience or when looking for a specific style, Midjourney stands out for its quality and versatility. I have a variety of ways that I prompt it depending on what I need. Sometimes, I start with a very simple prompt just to see what direction it might take and then expand on my thoughts. I primarily use Midjourney images for my websites and this newsletter.

Personal Tip from Nicole: To get something super specific, you will end up creating a fair number of images (be sure to learn how to iterate quickly). Many of them are very nice and some are amazing. However, they won't all necessarily capture that one exact image you are looking for. What I do is save all of the images I like but didn't use for the project at hand. Then for other projects, I often can simply search and find one ready-made!

ProTip: Learning to iterate quickly and efficiently with Midjourney can save you a lot of time and help you get exactly what you need for your projects.

AI Wrap-Up: Stay Curious, Stay Ahead

In this edition of the Empowered Business Growth Digest, we've explored some of my favorite AI tools that can truly make a difference in your business. We've already covered many of these platforms in the Make AI Work for You series. I love helping people choose the right platforms and assist them with their own unique use cases. If you have any questions or need personalized advice, don’t hesitate to reach out. Remember, the journey to integrating AI and achieving heart-based business success is much more enjoyable with a supportive community. Let's grow together!

For those in the Make AI Work for You program, our next meeting is on Thursday, August 15th at 10:00 am PST (1:00 pm EST, 6:00 pm London time). We will be covering how to choose the right AI tool(s) for you, depending on where you are in your business and your personal needs. I look forward to seeing you there!

Social Media Connections

Staying up to date with the latest social media trends and features can be overwhelming. With platforms constantly evolving, it’s nearly impossible to try everything and know everything. That’s where I come in. I curate what is most relevant and advise accordingly to meet your individual needs. By focusing on what truly matters for your business, you can make the most out of social media without feeling overwhelmed.

Trending Topics and New Features:

• Instagram Reels Updates: You may feel like a pro with Reels and don’t want to learn one more thing about them, or you might not be sure what they are and want to avoid them. Here is my advice: think short videos, 30-90 seconds long, your way, your style, and just use basic best marketing practices! Yes, we can get detailed and fancy, but the main lesson is to use short videos.

• LinkedIn Profile Optimization: First impressions matter. According to LinkedIn and many other experts, having a top-notch profile is key. From your images to your title and everything else you get to add to your profile, optimizing it will be a great use of your time. Is it time you updated your profile?

• Facebook AI Integration: Mark Zuckerberg is all in with AI. So get used to seeing more and more AI features and uses. The good news is that as AI becomes more sophisticated, it gets easier to use. Start experimenting. And don’t drop a YouTube (FB’s competitor) link for a video unless you like the sound of crickets. Instead, create those short-form 30-90 second videos!

Personal Tip from Nicole: Lately, I’ve been asked by many people how to get started or reboot their social media presence. My tip is simple: get started! Set aside dedicated time for social media, but be mindful of not overdoing it. Use a timer to keep your sessions focused and efficient.

ProTip: If you want to go deeper with your social media marketing and think it's a fit for you, my good friend Mari Smith (top social media thought leader and the 'Queen of Facebook') just launched a brand new program, and I'd love to invite you to join me! Mari even gave me this special partner link for you to learn all about the program and options for signing up to join me. Click here to learn more.

Social Media Wrap-Up: Engage and Thrive

Navigating the world of social media can be challenging, but staying updated on the latest trends and best practices can make a significant difference in your business success. Remember, you don’t have to do it all alone. By focusing on what matters most and utilizing the right tools and strategies, you can effectively manage your social media presence. If you ever feel overwhelmed, know that I’m here to help guide you through the process. Let's continue to grow and succeed together!

For those in the Make Social Media Work for You program, our next meeting is on Thursday, August 8th at 10:00 am PST (1:00 pm EST, 6:00 pm London time). We will be covering how to start a social media business account from scratch or re-energize an existing one and quickly get momentum. I look forward to seeing you there!

Marketing Insights

Amid all the excitement about AI for marketing, what's often overlooked is the foundation needed to make AI truly effective. Before diving into AI tools, you need two critical components: a solid business plan and a comprehensive marketing plan. These plans act as your roadmap, guiding your strategy and actions.

Next, conduct an assessment to understand where you currently stand. This will help you determine the best path to achieve your goals. While AI can assist with some of this planning, be cautious. Without a clear strategy, you risk ending up with generic, ineffective plans that don’t cater to your specific needs.

Several years back, I knew what and how to post on social media but lacked consistency. So, I hired someone to help me post something every day. I spent a lot of time and money training this person on how I wanted things to look and other strategies for engagement. At the end of a year, I looked back. I got what I wanted—on-brand posts every day. But as I looked deeper, I actually had fewer sales and less business results than before! Posting on-brand using the latest social media hacks wasn’t enough. I needed a personalized plan and strategy!

Pro Tip from Nicole

Ensure your business and marketing plans are tailored to your unique goals and circumstances. Your business plan does not have to be fancy. It needs to be realistic for you, your circumstances, today. Don’t rely solely on AI for these crucial steps. Instead, use AI as a tool to enhance your well-thought-out strategy. Real feed back from real people is always a good idea. 

Marketing Wrap-Up: Plan Smart, Grow Fast

Building a strong marketing strategy requires more than just the latest AI tools and social media tactics. It's essential to have a solid foundation with a clear business and marketing plan, along with a personalized strategy that fits your specific needs. Take the time to assess where you are and where you want to go, and use AI to support your unique plan.

For those in the Make Marketing Work for You program, our next meeting is on Friday, August 16th at 7:30 am PST (10:30 am EST, 3:30 pm London time). We will be covering how to create your "Jump-Start Your Business 90-Day Marketing Plan." I look forward to seeing you there!

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