Palm Harbor Local

How Christina Garcia Built a Six-Figure Laser Business After 15 Years as a Stay-at-Home Mom

• Donnie Hathaway • Episode 208

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What happens when you’ve put everything into raising your kids, tried a handful of business ideas that never quite stick, and still feel a pull to build something of your own?

In this conversation, Donnie sits down with Christina Delgado, founder of Soft Touch Laser Hair Removal and author of Laser Focused from Mom Life to CEO, to talk about how she pivoted at 40, built a six-figure laser hair removal business, and used social media to grow a brand that’s changing lives across Tampa Bay.

Christina shares the real story behind the glossy Instagram feed – the Airbnbs that didn’t last, the self-doubt of calling herself “just a stay-at-home mom,” and the moment she decided to stop overthinking and take fast action on an idea that finally fit her life.

You’ll hear how she thinks about money, marketing, hiring, and “divine timing,” plus why she believes consistency matters more than going viral.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • Christina’s journey from 15-year stay-at-home mom to CEO of a six-figure laser hair removal studio
  • Why previous business attempts (including Airbnbs) were necessary stepping stones
  • How choosing the right service and investing in quality equipment gave her an edge
  • The simple social media habits that keep new clients walking through the door
  • Balancing mom life, business growth, and the emotional side of hiring help
  • The inspiration behind her book Laser Focused from Mom Life to CEO
  • What’s next for Soft Touch Laser Hair Removal and Christina’s speaking and writing

Connect with Christina

Mentioned in this episode

  • Financial coaching with Jacob Wade – book a roadmap call: https://palmharborlocal.com/roadmap

Stay Connected with Palm Harbor Local

  • Website and all episodes: https://palmharborlocal.com

  • Instagram: @palmharborlocal
  • Join the weekly Palm Harbor Connection newsletter - https://palmharborlocal.com/


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SPEAKER_00:

Welcome to Palm Harbor Local, the podcast dedicated to building community and sharing inspiring stories right from the heart of Palm Harbor, Florida. I'm your host, Donnie Hathaway, and today we're joined by Christina Garcia, who is the owner and founder of Soft Touch Laser Hair Removal, and recently wrote her first book called Laser Focused. Now, Palm Harbor Local is all about spotlighting individuals and businesses who are making a difference, overcoming challenges, and fostering connections right here in our hometown. If you're passionate about growing together, getting involved, and celebrating the people who are making Palm Harbor thrive, you're exactly where you need to be. In today's episode, we're going to talk about how Christina has built a six-figure business after raising her family as a stay-at-home mom. And then why now was the time for Christina to write her new book called Laser Focused? And then we're also going to talk about how Christina has used social media to connect and build her brand here locally. Now don't forget to connect with us on Instagram at Palm Harbor Local for behind the scenes highlights and join our weekly newsletter at PalmHarborLocal.com. Now let's dive in and build community together. Well, Christina, welcome back to the podcast.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, I'm excited to chat with you again. And um you just wrote a book, but we'll we'll get into that in a sec. But I was you know preparing for for you know this conversation today and and listening back to our our previous one uh episode that we recorded, and a quote that came to mind was Success is when um preparation meets opportunity, right? Like you guys have done had many different businesses and stuff, and if anybody's interested in that, they can listen to the to the previous episode. But you know, that that quote came to mind and and I wanted to get like your thoughts on it because it seems like everything you guys do, you guys just kind of like go all in at it and and you're always willing to uh kind of take the risk. But m most people probably wouldn't be able to do that.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely. I mean, you never know until you try. I know it's like so cliche to say that, but it's it's true, you know, and and had I not started my business with the laser hair removal, I wouldn't have gotten here, you know, and it did take failing multiple times, you know. And not that we failed because we did other businesses and you know they were fine, but nothing ever really took off the way that the laser hair removal did. So I think having those experiences just made me more prepared for, you know, where I'm at today.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. So I think when we recorded the first one, you were what, a year into laser hero?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, about a year in. So we're um, you know, in April we'll be at the two-year mark.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay, crazy. What have you learned the last year?

SPEAKER_02:

The last year, I mean, I think things are uh going really well. I feel like I'm really at a place where I can take off even more, but I I'm having trouble finding the right people to help me. You know, I've had different marketing teams and different um advertising teams, and like they kind of stick around for a couple months and then ultimately we go our separate ways. And like I'm I'm only one person, you know, and I'm new to this business. You know, and and I would I would really like to find more of a team so that I can grow even more. You think that's probably the hardest part of a business is like finding the right people to absolutely, yes, definitely having the right team in place because like I said, I I'm I'm just one person and um you know, finding people that you can trust.

SPEAKER_00:

I get that. What have you um I've noticed like social media-wise, like you put a lot of energy and and effort into into that. What for you has like really helped like your your business grow? Because I think a lot of people have ideas or they have something that they're they're passionate about and they want to do, but to really turn it into a business that lasts two years or or or longer, you know, I think you really have to understand like how to market, how to get it out to people, and and obviously then building a team is like that that next level of that. But what are what are you doing to um to kind of keep people coming into the doors?

SPEAKER_02:

So I think definitely the social media helped me in the beginning. You know, I'm very consistent on posting. I don't shut up about my business. And I feel I feel very fortunate because laser hair removal is something that everybody actually wants. Yeah, you know, and I feel like the beauty industry is just booming right now. And I I just I'm very fortunate to have a product that actually works and that everybody wants. Men, women, all ages, all ethnicities can benefit from shaving less. So that's a really neat place to be in because not everybody gets lashes or nails or you know, hair. Yes, everybody needs a haircut every now and then. But I feel like just laser was a really easy sell. And the device that I invested in is amazing, which was really important for me to have like top quality equipment. And then I think just like I genuinely like meeting people and talking with them. And like I know what I felt like when I had hair issues. You know, as a woman, it's very, it's it's life-altering. I know it's I had a client today that she was like, This has changed my life. And so many people have told me that. And I know it's like, oh, it's just hair, it's just shaving. But as a woman, it really does take a toll on you to constantly have to shave. So I feel like I'm helping people in that regard.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, how how so? Like, like confidence, like they just feel better.

SPEAKER_02:

Just your confidence and like the time, you know, we're busy moms, we're working, we're, you know, trying to take care of everybody else. It's like, when do you have 45 minutes to sit in the shower and shave your like your entire body? Yeah, you know? So I think it's I think it's really helpful that I'm providing a service that is making people feel better.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, that's that's wonderful. So let's talk about the book. Why write a book?

SPEAKER_02:

So everything comes back to the laser business. So obviously, you know, writing a book would hopefully bring me more clients, you know, just getting my story out there. And I think, you know, I offer an in-person service. So I wanted to take my story and take my business, you know, to the to the broader um, you know, masses. And I can do that with digital products, my book, you know, maybe not so much with content, but with speaking engagements. You know, that's something that I can do over Zoom or in person, but um I don't have to have clients in Oldsmar for that. So that's really what the purpose of the book was.

SPEAKER_00:

And then and the title of the book, Laser Focused from Mom Life to CEO.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes. So, you know, I think I shared with you previously, and it's in it's in my book, and I talk about it a lot online. You know, I was a stay-at-home mom for 15 years. And although I did have other businesses, nothing really stuck the way I wanted it to. And, you know, it took a toll on me mentally to just be behind the scenes and to just not really have anything going for myself. And I shared this story in my TEDx talk um last week and I got a chuckle. So about a month before I started Soft Touch Laser, I didn't even know that I was gonna purchase a device. Um, I was out with some friends and somebody asked me, they were like, So what do you do? And I lied and I was like, Oh, I'm a realtor.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Because I just I was like, oh, I'm a mom. You know, I was I I I was at a point where I was kind of embarrassed to say to say I'm a stay-at-home mom. Even though it's a privilege, and even though I'm very lucky and I've you know enjoyed the 15 years I spent home with my kids, like it like it just takes a toll on you.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, and you've always wanted to do more or something.

SPEAKER_02:

I always wanted to like do speaking and write a book and like have a business where I'm interacting with people. So yeah, it's definitely something that I always wanted to do.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, so a book is something you you like.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I always I always thought about writing a book. I obviously didn't really know what you know I wanted to write about. I I wanted it it's a little bit of a biography, so I do talk a lot about like my life and uh how I grew up and what got me into laser.

SPEAKER_00:

That's cool. What what was the process like for writing a book? I mean, uh you know, we were talking a little bit before, it's a lot easier than what it used to be.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I think you know, a lot of people don't realize just how easy it is. And I know I I already just did it, so I can say that, but in the beginning, you know, I was like, what am I gonna say? I might how do I have the attention span or the time to just sit and type it all up? So that's when I realized I could just dictate it. So what I did was I I dictated it into an email and I would email it to myself, and then I had a running Word document and I would just copy paste, you know, and I kind of had it like fleshed out in terms of like chapters on, you know, the timeline from you know where I was born, my family, my parents, and how I got to where I'm at today. Um, and then I did ultimately send it to an editor and he cleaned it up a little bit and then just uploaded it to Amazon KDP and they print it on demand.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, that's pretty cool. So, like the um like building the outlights you kind of had like a template of like, all right, here's what I want, here's all the things that I that I want to talk about.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I mean, we we all know our story. You know, it was basically like from when I was born to, you know, high school, then I got married, then I had children, and then we lived all over the country. So, you know, I just went I went in chronological order until you know I started the business, and then I go into a little bit about you know starting the business and everything that we've done so far.

SPEAKER_00:

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SPEAKER_02:

Definitely more inspirational. So I talk a lot about divine timing because I feel like I lived in so many places. I tried so many things and like they just weren't meant to be for me. And it's because I wasn't ready. I personally wasn't ready and my kids were young. You know, I was able to start the business and do everything that I'm doing because my daughter's driving. You know, the other two are old enough to stay home alone for a few hours. I couldn't do that five years ago. Yeah, you know, and so it's kind of a blessing that things failed for me because how would I have managed them? You know, I'm sure you figure out a way, but that's not even what I wanted. I don't even like being away from my kids like that. You know, even now that they're older, when I have things to do, they're my son will be like, where are you going now? You know, like it does affect them to be away from them. So I'm glad that they're older now and I can do what I need to do.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. So like managing those like quote unquote failures, even though they're not failures, but like the other businesses that didn't work out, right? Like you at the time, like you're putting everything you have into that, and you're like, this is going to work, or you know, you're expecting it to work. How how did you um handle that, right? And and when some when you close the doors on on one business, like like what was your process for kind of like, okay, that one didn't work, I'm moving past that.

SPEAKER_02:

I mean, it doesn't feel great, you know. And then especially if you talk about it and people know, like at one point I had five Airbnb units, and then people are like, Oh, how is your how are your Airbnbs? And I'm like, Oh, they're gone. You know, it's just I I guess you just have to brush it off and just, you know, and and the beginning when they were doing well, people would ask me, like, oh wow, that's amazing. You're doing Airbnbs. And then when it started not going so well, I did have to just come clean. And you know, it doesn't feel great, you know, but it just it didn't work out anymore.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. I think it's that's you know, like just owning up to it, talking about it, um, discussing it and and realizing that it's just part of it's just part of life.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. What have you learned in those failures that have that have uh allowed you to succeed in in this business?

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I think definitely you have to manage the income. You know, it's like it looks great on paper when you're like, oh wow, I'm making this much. Well, you have to really identify like what are you doing with that money? For one, with the laser business, I'm basically reinvesting everything back into the business. So it's it it's profitable and it's and it's you know great to see, but that money is not for me. You know, I want to just reinvest into my business. We're really heavy into the meta ads, which when I saw the total, how much I've spent with them, I'm like, wow. But you know, I I that's what's been helpful in getting my name out there, you know. So just everything being reinvested back into the business. That's I've learned that, you know, instead of just like splurging on myself.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Being like the CEO of your business, is it is it difficult for you to um, because you said it's only you, right? Like manage the entire thing, like marketing, you know, networking, you know, the actual um uh service itself. Um, do you find is that challenging for you to do all that?

SPEAKER_02:

It is. It is challenging, but it's very rewarding because it's what I always wanted and it keeps me busy, you know, and I feel like I like that momentum of constantly like being busy. I know that eventually I have to step away from being the technician and just focusing on the business, but I've already built a clientele that like wants me to be there, which a lot of people are understanding. And I'm like, hey, so-and-so is covering for me today. I'm out of town, or I'm doing a speaking engagement. And people are understanding about that. So I think ultimately the goal would be to step away completely from being the technician and then seeing what how I can grow the business after that.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Do you enjoy like the technician's eye better or or like the CEO life?

SPEAKER_02:

I like both, you know. I really do. I like talking with people, you know. I like it's like soothing to do the treatment on people, and then I I just love when they get the results and they're so happy with it, you know.

SPEAKER_00:

That's cool. I mean, I think every business at the at the its core is is like a relationship business. So like there's you know, that's what I learned in in real estate when when I was probably like two years into the business, but um I think that's what I really fell in love with and why I wanted to stick with like the residential side is just meeting different people, having conversations, like you know, hearing their story, um, their background, and you know, um that was just a uh in in my mind at that time was just unexpected that I would enjoy that. But it's it's something I think it's a at the core of of every business is really like building relationships with your with your customers.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely. And it's like, you know, my service can be intimate. You know, we're doing the Brazilian, or you know, I'm I'm in their face, you know, lasering them. And like you'd be surprised. Like people want to talk and people share some pretty, you know, intimate details about their lives. And like sometimes they're happy, sometimes they're sad. But you know, it is very personal. It's a it's a very personal experience with the clients, and I do enjoy that.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Did you expect that getting into it?

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I had done this before, and so I knew that I had to be personable and like chit-chat and like it's I and I'm a client at the end of the day. I, you know, I think my hair girl knows more about me than my best friend, you know, because that's just something that women do, you know, we get in that chair and we just start talking. So I did expect it, but I didn't realize like how just how personal some of the details would get.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, it's interesting. So what's um what's next for for um your business?

SPEAKER_02:

That is the question that I'm looking for myself. You know, I feel like I constantly keep pushing myself to, you know, hit new goals and then I hit them, and then I'm like, okay, now what? You know, and then I I don't want to also like outdo myself in that sense. Like I have to be grateful and content with where I'm at. And um, I think I just need to ride the wave for now and just see what happens.

SPEAKER_00:

Is that difficult to do to kind of just like sit back and be like, okay, I'm gonna be a little more patient and and let the business grow naturally instead of like Yes, definitely.

SPEAKER_02:

And you know, also you can't just always be chasing. I feel like I just I've I have a beautiful website, you know, I have now I have the book, I have, you know, a ton of Google reviews. I've worked very hard um for all of that. And I feel like I just need to attract now. And and and they'll come because people, you know, a girl came yesterday and she and I was like, Oh, how did you find me? Because her name wasn't familiar. And she was like, Oh, I Googled. And she was she's like, I read your reviews, you have great reviews, you know. So now I I need to just sit back and just people know that I exist and they know that it's out there. So hopefully, you know, it'll just grow like that.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, so you've laid the foundation and now just kind of like attracting people to the business. Yeah. With your book and and speaking, like, do you enjoy uh do you enjoy speaking?

SPEAKER_02:

Is that kind of what the goal of the book is like I want to do more more speaking engagement to drive more traffic to the business or yeah, I think you know, anything that I can do to the to drive the business, I think the soft touch laser at its core will always be about laser. Like that's what I've always wanted it to be about. These are just extra little things, um, you know, just to help promote it. But um yeah, I think the speaking is helpful because, like I said, you know, I have an in-person service. So if I can speak and I can sell books, that's something that I can do outside of the Tampa area. So in in ways in terms of expanding without necessarily buying another device, this this is helpful in that in that regard.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Do you ever think about opening um like multiple locations?

SPEAKER_02:

I have thought about it. You know, obviously there's a risk involved um in doing that. And I also don't want to like oversaturate the market, but I think there's definitely room for growth and having multiple locations, even if it's not in the Tampa area.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Is there an opportunity to I guess expand on on services like beyond laser hair, or is that like pretty typical for like that type of business? Like you just um like that's your focus, that's your expertise.

SPEAKER_02:

I mean, I think there's definitely potential to grow into a into a full-blown med spa, but I personally I'm not really interested in that. You know, I've thought about a couple other services to offer, but I think I like focusing just on hair removal. And there are different business models. I've I I know a girl that has um three locations in Boston and she only does hair removal with the same device that I have. Yeah, so I feel like you know, there is a way to just focus on hair removal.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, I feel like I've seen that with um like health uh spas or something like that, where you know they're focused on like they get the cold plunging and and yeah, that's that's definitely popular.

SPEAKER_02:

And you know, I I love all that wellness stuff and I think it's great, but you know, the market does get a little oversaturated, just like with the Airbnbs, you know. Airbnb was great in the early, you know, early 2020, even 2018, and then just too many people got into it, you know? So you become your own competition kind of, and it's just impossible to really like make a profit. So I want to focus on the hair removal for now for sure.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, I like that. And it just it simplifies it, right? Just keep it simple.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, keep it simple. And then and then you also, you know, you're an expert in your field in just hair removal. So that's I kind of like that route for now.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Do you guys still have the Airbnbs or you sold all of them?

SPEAKER_02:

No, we got rid of all of them. Yeah, was that tough? Um, I was ready. I was like ready to move on. Yeah, it just you know, it got to a point where like cleaners weren't showing up. And then I'm like in another state, and I'm like, I asked you for this one thing. Yeah, you know, I had a lady that was like, I'm on the way, and still didn't show up.

SPEAKER_00:

Really? Yeah. Yeah, that's tough. Yeah, I I think it definitely in Pinellas County we've we become oversaturated, and I think a lot of them people are starting to realize that and and sell them. I mean, that's why we sold ours, right? It just became too much, and that same same idea. It's just um it's hard to manage it and find the right people.

SPEAKER_02:

Right.

SPEAKER_00:

They're they're gonna be consistent with it.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_00:

So the book, where can people get the book?

SPEAKER_02:

So the book is available. I have a few copies at my store, but I it's it's on Amazon. So it's print to order, you just place your order, and I actually I think um most people get it within two days. Like if you have Prime, it's pretty quick.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, that's amazing that that that's you know, that's even possible now.

SPEAKER_02:

I know, and I don't know anything about book publishing other than this route. You know, I I did a little bit of research, but you know, it just everything else seemed very costly and you know, just very complicated. And this honestly was, I'm not sure quite how much I spent, maybe a few hundred bucks, you know, between the editor and the design work, but you know, it was very affordable and just very quick. You know, I think I think where people get lost in life is you know, thinking about something and actually taking action. And that's actually something that I talk about in the book is everything with Soft Touch Laser happened so naturally and organically because of how quick everything happened. You know, had I sat on the idea, you know, and not started for another six months, like who knows what would have happened, you know. I think you have to really like strike when when you're ready and when you have the idea.

SPEAKER_00:

I feel like that's something that you and Alex are both really great at. Like, is that um like being able to take action quickly on ideas? And I don't think a lot of people are great at that or they're they're hesitant, maybe because it's like a lack of confidence, confidence, or whatever it is. But um, is that something that you've you've um just been aware of, or just something you're all I've always naturally I think we've kind of always been that way.

SPEAKER_02:

I know, I know I'm like hyper and I'm like can do things fast. I've always been that way. Um, it doesn't always work in my favor. I mean, I I've I've had girls come and interview and I'm like, you're hired. And I get excited and I want to help them. And then like two weeks later, they're like, this isn't for me, or I live too far, or you know, I don't have the clientele, you know, because I have tried to like add other texts and like try to grow and just have people come and grow their own business their own book of business, but it doesn't work that way. Yeah. So yeah, it's not always a good thing to be to be quick like that, you know?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. What have you learned like hiring people, like what um finding the right people? You know?

SPEAKER_02:

It's so hard because at the end of the day, it's my business and no one is going to care as much as me. I've been very lucky that, you know, I had a few techs that stayed, you know, more than six months. And, you know, being that they're young, I think that's awesome, you know. And I have a 17-year-old and I know how they, I know how they act, you know. So my last tech, she was 20, and then we she just turned 21. So we like celebrated her 21st birthday. And, you know, that's that's very young, but she was always responsible. She, you know, she she was what I expected out of an employee. You know, so I'm grateful that I've had, you know, some really, some really good techs. And then like I said, you know, I've had some girls that thought this was an opportunity for them, and then they it didn't work out, you know.

SPEAKER_00:

Are you providing them with with um like business or they have to like get their own?

SPEAKER_02:

So the the idea is for them to have their own, you know, clients. But if uh you know, I try to let them do some of my clients as well. But like I said, also like people that met me do only want me. Yeah. So, you know, but I do, I'm only one person. So, you know, I do have like Mondays and Wednesdays off, you know, and I have like somebody else come in on those days.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, I feel like that's that's the um I like as the business is growing, that's something I've I've struggled with as well. But like, you know, when do you add people? When do you add an assistant and and that sort of stuff? That's always um a challenge, I think, in my mind, of of figuring that out exactly. Maybe it's just, you know, there's never a right time.

SPEAKER_02:

It's just I mean, it's all trial and error, you know. I I've I've worked with with people and you know, they've had some great ideas and we've tried them and then they fail, you know. So, and there's nothing wrong with trying, you know, but it's like I think it's very easy for people to point out, you know, what you're doing wrong or what you could be doing, but they're not actually doing it. You know, it's like the it's like the age-old um those who can't do teach. You know, and it's like you can tell me how to grow a business, but I actually grew one.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

So, you know, it's like it's hard to find that balance. And I'm open to suggestions, you know, but at the end of the day, it's like it is my business, it's my baby. Like I'm the one that has to care more than anyone else.

SPEAKER_00:

Even if there's another, you know, soft touch laser hair, another, you know, another business just like yours, like the way they grow could be completely different than the way that you grow your business, right?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, absolutely. You know, I I didn't plan on doing this whole content thing, like that kind of just fell on my lap and I took it and ran with it. But like there are ple there are plenty of companies that have no social media presence presence and do great. You know, and then so when people do ask me for advice and I'm like, the first thing I say, I'm like, oh well, grow your socials. And I'm like, well, that worked for me. It's not necessary for everyone, you know.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Have you enjoyed um being more active on social media?

SPEAKER_02:

I do. I've enjoyed it. You know, I think it does get to a point where you start associating, you know, yourself with views and likes. Yeah. And it's like, I I just post daily because it's the right thing to do, and I walk away. I don't look at the views, I don't look at the likes. I just post for consistency. You know, but yeah, I I think I'm over trying to like go viral and all that stuff. Like some videos do really well, and there's doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason as to why. Right. You know? So I just post it, it's out there, and whatever happens, happens.

SPEAKER_00:

How do you go about like creating content? Is that something that's that's challenging for you, or are you just constantly thinking of like if I'm working, I'm creating content and then I'll think of a post later. Like what's your process?

SPEAKER_02:

Basically, so what I do is like in between clients, like I'll have I'll I'll just look through reels and find trending sounds and I'll just record them and save them. Okay. You know, another thing that I do is I use like the teleprompter app and I kind of just like when I want to do more like factual posts, you know, so that I'm like just speaking like properly about the laser or about my book, you know, I'll do the teleprompter and record like that and just I just try to have like a lot of things saved so that it's not something I'm doing every day.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, yeah, you know? Yeah, I like that. Have you have you tried any of the um like on Instagram? But is that where you're most active?

SPEAKER_02:

Mostly on Instagram, yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Have you tried um trial reels?

SPEAKER_02:

So I had the feature and now it's gone.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh no.

SPEAKER_02:

So I think Instagram uh rolls out certain features for certain creators and then they turn it off if it's not working, you know. So I did play with it a little bit, but now it's not there anymore.

SPEAKER_00:

Interesting. Yeah, I've been doing that and just posting like I'll create, you know, the same reel and and you know, I'll change the audio or change like the the captions or something on there just to see, you know, and does it does it do do different numbers come up for different posts?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. Yeah, that's interesting.

SPEAKER_00:

And then once you, you know, obviously then once you're a trial reel, then you can share it to your feed if you want, or you just leave it on in the trial stage and it just sits there, right?

SPEAKER_02:

Do you look for a certain number when it's a trial? Do you say, okay, I'll post it when it hits, you know, 20,000 or 2,000 or whatever?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, that's a good question. I like my goal is to try to get like 10,000 views on on each video, right? And that just doesn't happen. Right. So if it if I see something that that you know um takes off pretty quickly, then um then I'll usually post it to the to the feed or whatever. So if I get you know a thousand, two thousand views in in the first couple of days, then then I'll probably post it.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. I think it's interesting because it's like uh have you seen videos where it's like they show you a room full of 500 people and it's like that's a lot of people. So when you get a video and it's like it only gets 500 views, yeah, yeah. Like you should even be happy with that, you know, and it's and I and I try to take that into perspective, you know, and then and then it it is almost like chasing a number because I have had videos that, you know, hundreds of thousands, and then when you only see 500, you're like, oh, this sucks. But I mean it's better than nothing, you know, it's still 500 eyeballs that saw your video, and people's attention spans are like this big, you know. I think even half the views are just like swiping and just like barely looking at it. So it's interesting with the book. I've sold 20 copies exactly. So it launched on no on September 1st, and today's the 14th, and I've sold I think 20 copies on the dot, maybe 21. I have to double check. But you know, in my head, I'm like, well, it's not enough, but I'm even happy that I wrote the book and that 20 people bought it, you know? Yeah, so just being grateful.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, and how much you put into that book, like in and the people that bought it, like they're gonna read your entire story.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, that's a funny thing. Also, uh, that's what I was gonna say. I'm like, people can barely watch a video on Instagram. Like, are they actually gonna read a whole book? So I hope they do.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, yeah. And then they get to know you on a on a much different level than just watching a video or something like that.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. So it's funny, my aunts read it, um, my mother-in-law read it. Yeah, like front to back. Like they finished it, they read it, you know. But um, I don't know anybody else that has actually finished it. I my husband read it. He did, yeah. Before I published it, he he read the whole thing.

SPEAKER_00:

So okay. And but no one's reached out to you and and uh that you that you know.

SPEAKER_02:

I like good close friends and family uh I know that have purchased it, but like uh random people that I don't know have not purchased it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Are you um how are you promoting the book? You know, uh what are you doing to to get kind of get it out there?

SPEAKER_02:

So I'm doing the I'm doing reels, you know. I just do reels and stories. Um I have it on Facebook. Actually, I posted it yesterday on Facebook Marketplace and a couple like mom groups that I'm a part of. Um so we'll see what comes from that. But um, yeah, any ideas? I'm open to options.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, I think that's the key. Like you just have to be um like going back to the social media thing and and I've like reposted reels, you know, maybe they they do really well one time and then I'll repost them, you know, a month or two later, and then it reaches a different different audience and they don't do as well. But like you are with with your you know Instagram account, like just being consistent, right? And even like posting the book, you know, um in those different Facebook groups and stuff like every single month or whatever it is, you know, 'cause one time you might catch the right person and and you know they share it with five other friends and Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_02:

You know, I I think there's so many courses and you know strategies and this and that. And I I don't think anybody really knows, you know, what what makes videos take off or what, you know, what's really the magic, you know. I think I think consistency is more important than anything, you know.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. And it's gonna be different for everybody, just like we we talked about before. It's different, you know, for each business and and how it grows and stuff.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. So but it's it's been it's been a nice ride, you know, even going back to some of the memories of my childhood and like all the places that we've lived, and like even, you know, different stories that I try to tell uh like about my kids or my family. I think it's it's been a nice trip down memory lane.

SPEAKER_00:

Did your kids read the book?

SPEAKER_02:

No, actually, no, they haven't. That's I'm gonna get on them about that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Have you um are you and Alex competitive on like how many how many copies of each other's books?

SPEAKER_02:

So uh getting ready for the TEDx talk, the VIP ticket holders received a copy of the book. Okay. So we had to order a certain number of books. So I ordered the author copies, which are at Amazon's cost, which is like nothing. It's like three bucks. Um, but Alex didn't order his author copies in time, so he ordered the retail version. So when I checked the report, he had sold like 30 books, and I was like, How did you get 30 sales? And then he was like, idiot, I bought them myself. Yeah. And so we laughed about that. So I guess yes, the answer is yes. We are kind of competitive with each other.

SPEAKER_00:

Nice. Okay, I like it. Well, um, Christina, thanks for being here again. Thanks for coming back. Thank you for having me. Thank you for thanking for your your book, and and um, hopefully it's very successful for you.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you so much for tuning in to another episode of Palm Harbor Local. You know, we are incredibly grateful for our sponsors who make this show possible. So please be sure to support them whenever possible. And let's keep building community together. Until next time, stay connected, stay involved, and keep making Palm Harbor an amazing place to call home.

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