Overwhelmed by Social Media to Confident & Consistent – Elaine & Sarah’s Story

What actually changes for a small business owner when they finally get the clarity, support and direction they’ve been craving on social media?

In this episode, I’m joined by two members of my incredible small business community mentorship 'Get Seen Get Sales' Elaine and Sarah, who share how they've gone from feeling completely overwhelmed by social media to showing up with confidence and consistency in their businesses.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, unsure what to post, second-guessing everything you put online, or like you’re doing it all alone, their stories will feel very familiar.

Here’s what we cover:

• How Sarah went from late-night doomscrolling to confidently showing up on Stories
 • How Elaine shifted from “posting and hoping” to creating content that actually lands
 • Why understanding your ideal client changes everything
 • The role community plays in confidence and consistency
 • What makes Get Seen Get Sales different from other business memberships
 • How collaboration, support and honest conversations can transform your marketing

This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s an honest conversation about the real challenges of marketing a small business today and what becomes possible when you’re no longer trying to figure it out on your own.

If you’ve been curious about Get Seen Get Sales or wondering what it’s really like inside, this episode gives you a genuine peek behind the curtain.

Join us in Get Seen Get Sales for half price making your first month just £20 for access to everything! Use code FRIEND at checkout

Connect with Today’s Guests:
Elaine - Instagram @mindheart_balance
Sarah - Instagram @travel_pa_with_sj

• Small Biz Community: Join Get Seen Get Sales and get the support, strategies & accountability you need to grow your business on social media with confidence. Learn more
• Connect with Amanda on Instagram: @amandahughes.uk
• Growth Addicts Show Notes: Read the blog + grab freebies + guest links
• Free Small Business Downloads: Access all of Amanda’s freebies in one place → Get them here
• Exclusive Discounts: Exclusive discounts on Amanda’s favourite small business tools & services → See discounts

Transcript

SPEAKER_01: 0:00

Hi, hello, welcome. I'm Amanda Hood, your host of Small Business Growth Addicts. I escaped the corporate world after 12 months of a side hustle which turned into my full-time income. Fast forward 10 years and I'm running not my first but my second small business, and this time around it's with a passion to share all that I know, all that I've learned and all that I'm still learning with fellow small business owners. As the title of the show suggests, I am addicted to growing my business and I know you are too. Growth means different things to different people though, and that's why we talk about a whole host of subjects in growth addicts. Whether that's in a solo episode, just me or with one of my many autumn guests. Between us we share advice, tips, and real-life entrepreneurial experience. To grab a pen, a cupper and a biscuit, obviously, and get ready to grow that small business of yours. This is Small Business Growth Addicts. Hello and welcome to another episode of Small Business Growth Addicts. Thank you for being here. I have got such a special episode today. This is like something I've never done before. I'm having a three-way conversation today. Myself and two members of GetSeen Get Sales. Get Seen Get Sales is my incredible small business social media mentorship community. And at its core, we are there to learn how to grow our business, how to get seen and get sales on social media. But it's so much more than that. And it's something that I really often find hard to put into words. So I thought, who better to do it than members of the group themselves? Today I'm joined by Elaine and Sarah, who are gonna just have a really honest, fun chat about what it's like and get seen, get sales, why it's different to other membership groups, other business communities that they've been in, what they get out of it and who it's for. I'll stop talking. Let's get into it. If you know me by now, you'll know that I love social media. It's how I've grown my businesses and now I want to help you do the same. That's why I created Get Seen Get Sales, my mentor group for small business owners who want to get seen online and actually attract followers that convert to customers. Inside you'll get weekly content prompts, live workshops, and support on everything you need to grow confidently on social media. If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just ready to do things differently, I've got you. Head to smallbusinessgrowthadicts.com to join us. Welcome Elaine and Sarah to Growth Addicts. How are you? Good, thank you. This is a new thing having three of us on here, isn't it? We're all going to be like chatting at the same time. It's a new thing for me as well. We're here today to just have a super chilled chat about GetSeen GetSales, which is our online social media mentorship community. And then I call it that, but it's so much more than that. Like there's so much more chat in there. So I've just really been looking forward to having a good chat with you guys who are members who are in there who are using it, and to let other folks peek behind the curtain to see what it's like in there. So, first off, though, if you could just introduce yourself, Elaine, if you want to tell us a bit about yourself first, that'd be awesome.

SPEAKER_00: 3:00

Hi, I'm Elaine. My business is Mind Heart Balance, which I set up. I have a background, I'm a psychotherapist, but I also had a big holistic background, and I really wanted my business to reflect that. So I believe that the services I offer can help release old trauma and help people find their way into healing and living the life that they want in their terms. Part of that is just like about coming together and really offering people a safe space. It's like to help them process things and offer them holistic tools and things like that as well. And it's a big reflection on who I am. It's like I believe in community, I believe in support and others and things like that, which is why working with the land has been great.

SPEAKER_01: 3:42

Yay! Oh, and I'm so glad to have met you. Elaine and I actually met in a previous membership, Emma Anderson's big shout out to Emma and sending Emma lots of love. It was a sort of moon-based business membership, wasn't it? Working on the cycles of the moon. It was so interesting. So we met in there, which was nice. I'm so glad to have met you. And since then, I've actually had a past life regression with Elaine. I'm never sure how to describe it because it was just phenomenal. It was like nothing else I've ever experienced before. So if you're curious at all about whether you might have been here before, check out Elaine. She'll let you know if you've been here before.

SPEAKER_00: 4:18

Oh, thank you. And it was, yeah, I've really enjoyed working with you in that space. And you know, it's like you're so open to it and kind of going through the process. It was really lovely to watch and see how much that meant to you.

SPEAKER_01: 4:29

Oh, it did. It was really, really cool. Eye opening, a bit traumatic at times, some of the things that come up as well, but it was it was phenomenal, it really was. And Sarah, what about you?

SPEAKER_02: 4:38

What do you do? Hi guys, so I'm Sarah. I'm a mum. I'm 40 years old, actually, I should say. I'm a mum to Ralphie who's four and Darcy who's one. I have my own online travel business, which I just absolutely adore, which I actually started when I was on maternity leave. And I kept seeing the same thing over and over again, just busy mums and families that were just desperate for a break, but just found it totally overwhelming to do all of the planning, the research, the decisions, all the time it takes, you know, all the Google tabs that we have open and that we'll flip in between. And you know, holidays are supposed to feel exciting. It was starting to feel to a lot of people like another thing to do, another, you know, item on the to-do list to do. So I created my business really to help people in two ways. One, to take that mental load away and do all that for them and take that stress so they can enjoy the well-deserved break. And the second thing, I have a gorgeous little team of moms who love planning holidays themselves. And I show them how to turn that love for travel into an income online themselves, something that's flexible around their home life, they can do at home and the PJs and the pajamas and create something for themselves. So, myself, I've been to over about 40 countries and worked for past 17 years as a project manager. So, blending them two experiences for me of organization and travel is just the dream fit for me to have this online business. I'm just a massive believer that travel is for everyone. Everyone's version of a trip looks different and it should be achievable for any budget, any family style, any whatever you want to do, it should be achievable also.

SPEAKER_01: 6:03

So that's what I do. Lovely to be here. Yeah, and lovely to have you here. I can so hear your passion for that. And I'm so glad to people that you exist because before having kids, I did enjoy planning trips and whatever. It was a whole sit-down experience to look for flights and where we were going to go, and you could go back and forth, but it's just time now. Like I'm so knackered at night. So thank God for you who enjoys doing this. And actually, at the minute, Sara is looking into accommodation in Iceland for just John and I. So we decided to just gift each other a trip in January for a couple of nights. And Sara's currently helping us look for accommodation, and you've sent me over the list. And you know, I've not even had a chance to look at the list that you've sent over yet. Because at first I was like, Yeah, Sarah, let me be a little looking at back, and I was like, Do you know what? Just take it and run with it. Because honestly, I don't know when I'm but I've got the best intentions, but I don't know where I'll get to.

SPEAKER_02: 6:53

You're not alone, there's so many people that have that same because people don't have time anymore. People have time poor these days, so happy to help in any way.

SPEAKER_01: 7:00

But like you say, there are still people out there who enjoyed that before kids, now have kids or now have busy lives with work or whatever they might have going on, but they still manage to find the time for it, and then you can actually help them book holidays and earn cash back on that as well. So best of both worlds for everyone, isn't it? 100%. Fantastic. And I know that Sarah and I came into each other's world, and I remember Sarah, you send me a message saying, I found you. You came up during a Doom scroll. Is that right? And you're interested in joining the group. So there you are, doom scrolling occasionally does lead to good things.

SPEAKER_02: 7:37

I'm sure it was really late at night as well, like 10 at 10 p.m. something. I was probably just like looking through and found you, thank God.

SPEAKER_01: 7:44

Yay, I'm so glad. I'm so glad. So they're nice lead into talking about get seen, get sales, our community, where at its core we're learning about how to grow and get seen, get sales on social media, make it easy, fun, profitable, all the good things. But what made you guys join in the first place?

SPEAKER_00: 8:05

So for myself, I don't really have much marketing experience. I was a recruiter in a former life, so the marketing that I had to do was very structured, but it's almost a case of having to unlearn it because I am like you're used to like here's a script, this is somebody else's message. This is a very kinny key, stylistic thing. Then but when it's like you're working for yourself, I was just really struggling to kind of put it into words what I do in a way that was attractive. I am not a natural in social media, I would have to say. I didn't really even use Instagram before kind of setting up my own business. It's like, or if I did, I'd watch a few cute animal videos and that was kind of it. So it's not been a natural thing for me. So having that kind of arena where I could come in and get a bit of advice and like it's about plugging your own gaps. That's like been one of the things that I found really helpful about the group is it's kind of plugging a big gap in the knowledge for me.

SPEAKER_01: 8:59

Awesome.

SPEAKER_02: 9:00

What about you see now? I can't even remember exact scenario, but I remember it being an evening. It was really late. I was looking through, I was just feeling so overwhelmed with social media and going down that rabbit hole that we all go down, right? And I remember seeing your page, and I don't think it took me long to join. I think it may be a day or two after finding your page, Jamanta. That I was like, right, I'm in, I'm in, I need some kind of structure. Obviously, as being a planner and an organized person, I was kind of getting a little bit lost in my own strategy, if you like, or lack of, should I say. When I found your page, I thought, brilliant. To me, this really combines having a vision and a focus with that kind of community and small town vibe, as I always say, and blending them together is really what kind of what you know drew me in. So I think, yeah, within two days I was signed up.

SPEAKER_01: 9:44

Yes, we're so glad you did. And yeah, like you guys are incredible at what you do, but it's a different story when you have to market yourself and put yourself out there. And in fact, Jane, who's another member who does web design and social media management for clients herself, she said recently that she loves having other eyes on her work because it's a bit like the cobbler's shoes, the cobbler's children with no shoes scenario. Like, so you know what you're doing, you know what you're trying to say, but just having other eyes on it to be like flip that around or try that a bit more specific or whatever. Gosh, it's so valuable, isn't it? Even when you you feel that you know what you're doing, but to have another community set eyes on it can just make all the difference.

SPEAKER_02: 10:24

Sometimes it's just that reassurance, isn't it? That you're kind of on the right path or you're doing the right thing, or you know that, like you say, that fresh set of eyes.

SPEAKER_01: 10:31

Yeah, absolutely. And so, what was it like when you first joined in that sort of first few days inside?

SPEAKER_02: 10:36

What was it like? For me, I mean it was just instantly welcoming. Everybody was so friendly, there was no judgment, there was no silly questions. I'm sure I asked probably a few silly questions. And realizing that everyone's at different stages on their journey, but everybody was so helpful and everyone had little tips and tricks to offer. It's just a vibe. It's hard to put into words unless you're in it, right? But you kind of have to just have that vibe. And I think there's so many groups out there, you have to find the one that fits your values. But for me, it was just instantly welcoming and it felt like a little kind of like a family or little friendship group that you kind of didn't know you needed, right? That's how it felt for me. So yeah, I love it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 11:13

What about you, Elaine? There's a real cheerleader vibe in the group. There has been posts in the group that I just feel like I am having a panic, and people ran out of will rally round. And it's just kind of good sometimes not to feel like you're on your own. One of the first things I really kind of looked at, and although it took me a probably took me about a month or two to actually get around to really going into the debts was that ideal customer thing. And I was like, right, I'd heard other people talking about it, but it was the first time I actually kind of felt like I was starting to understand fully what people meant by this. Because a lot of marketing kind of assumes that you've already done a level of awareness and things like that. So kind of finding those guides was like really helpful, and then just like sort of seeing that people were helping each other, wins were being celebrated, and frustrations shared. Not just like let's dump all like event everything, but just a kind of it's been tough. I just need to say it's tough so I can get this out of my system and move on.

SPEAKER_01: 12:08

Wait, absolutely. There's such an incredible mix of people in there, all walking a similar path, business-wise, but different walks of life. So it's just so much experience, isn't there? It's great. I love as well how we share not just all the highs, but the lows and the in-betweens as well. Like, you know, that I don't, I just don't know what I'm doing days or the days where my gosh, this poster went crazy and I'm flooded with messages. This is awesome. Like, you know, the highs and the lows and everything in between.

SPEAKER_02: 12:33

And one of my favorites was the honesty of people sharing that their small win of the week was just getting through the week. I love that. And it just makes you feel so seen and it's relatable, right, isn't it? And it allows you that space to then be kind of a little bit more open and vulnerable as well. So yeah, I loved that.

SPEAKER_00: 12:48

I really like that. It feels very authentic. There's a lot of spaces online where it does feel like you're under pressure to perform. I saw one of your posts quite recently, Amanda, and it was talking about I'm not getting 20k at once, and that's fine. And that actually really resonates for me because I'm not doing this business to get rich. I don't want to be portraying myself as like somebody that's kind of got all the answers because I am figuring it out all too, and it's really important to me to show up in an authentic way. Because, you know, if I was trying to like look like everything was perfect, I'd just be failing pretty fast anyway. It's something that I could, but to actually have that space where it is just like about keeping it real, and it's not anyone who's kind of the picture perfect crowd. It's like the fact that it is real and that we are supporting each other, and you know, people are posting just about challenges that they have. Again, it makes you feel a little better that you're just not a seamlessly flowing and that your business hasn't immediately taken off, for example.

SPEAKER_01: 13:48

Well, definitely. And I think what I learned from working with so many business owners, we're all just winging it in our own way. We really are. And I think being in the group is sort of like think of the bowling lane, and we're all trying to get the ball to the end, and the group's like the bumpers at the sides, just trying to keep you in in the middle, keep you, keep you right. But ultimately, we're just all trying to get there, you know. Oh, but yeah, that post like, and that just made that in a complete whim. That post, like if this is disappointing for you, then probably best to unfollow because there's no beach house, there's no 20k months, like I'm not a guru, and I'm always really open about the fact you you just mentioned that as well, Eileen. You're still learning. And I don't believe in fully qualified. How could you possibly be? You're learning every single day, and I'm really passionate about sharing what I know to be true, what I've learned, and what I'm still learning. Because every day there's something new.

SPEAKER_00: 14:43

Absolutely. People change, trends change on social media. You know, what people want changes. It's like, you know, Sarah, it's like, you know, as long as you stay and travel, you'll probably find that destinations that were popular two years ago are probably never heard of now.

SPEAKER_02: 14:56

And and also, as well, I think, you know, especially in the travel industry, it all looks different to different people. People glamorize it in these two weeks, all-inclusive, luxury holidays in the Maldives. You know, not everybody can afford that. Not everybody wants that, believe it or not. You know, kind of news flash to some people. And you see it plastered all over social media. Some people just want to go down the road and have an overnight spa break and get away from the kids.

unknown: 15:17

Okay.

SPEAKER_02: 15:18

That's somebody's holiday, right? And that literally, you know, that is me, to be fair. That is me. Yeah. You know, it looks different to so many people. And it's similar to what you said, Amanda, about just keeping it real. Like, what are you there to do and help people? I think this community really helps you keep it real. I see it all the time now on social media, especially in my industry, that people overglamorize or they sell a dream. And it's just not true. It's not real life. It's very important to turn off authentically and like relate to people who are living a life as a busy mom, like I am, you know, in my 40s. And yeah, I think this group's just great for that.

SPEAKER_01: 15:50

Good. And also the fact that a lot of small business owners are still working on an employee job as well. That's surely quite common, you know, that to be working a part-time or full-time employed job alongside building their business up to, you know, see where it goes. Maybe it'll become a full-time gift. I still have a full-time job.

SPEAKER_00: 16:05

I work part-time and my job can be quite demanding as well. So you're looking at trying to juggle everything around about and you know, again, and that kind of comes back to how much time capacity do you devote into different areas of your business? Because you've then got to trade off the service you provide against the amount of time that you're spending promoting marketing yourself.

SPEAKER_01: 16:26

Absolutely. And you mentioned ideal client there as well. I love talking about ideal client. If I was getting a t-shirt made for business, it would be, do you know who your ideal client is? Before you asked, Do you know who your idle client is? We're just tuned just now in this day and age to be looking for the magic pill, the quick fix. But I I I could give you a ton of trending reels to go and jump on just now, and they'll see you through the next 24 hours. But then what happens? I want to work with businesses who want to build it for the long game, and that starts with knowing exactly what you offer and who it's for. But so many miss that work, and yeah, you're missing out. So I'm glad that that was helpful.

SPEAKER_02: 17:03

I will totally admit that I will probably be with that person, Amanda, until joining your group, because with travel, everybody does it. So sometimes it was kind of like, whoa, how do you really kind of speak to your ideal client or how do you really focus that point down? So I think it was only when I joined, you know, the program that I thought, wow, okay, I need to sit and think with this because when you're putting your posts out on social media, you can't quite appeal to everything. And that's okay. That's okay not to appeal to everyone. You have to find what your value is and what you want to give to people and just have confidence in that. So I think by joining, that's really helped me shape that because I was just targeting anybody who loves to travel, I want to help you. I just want to help anybody who loves to travel. Actually, that overwhelms me because there's so many options out there that it's just really hard to keep on top of it all. So I think by narrowing it down and understanding what my ideal client is, it's really helped me kind of focus.

SPEAKER_01: 17:54

Honestly, doing that work, it gets to get easier after that. It's a tricky task at the time. But when you break through that, it gets to be so much easier, so much cleaner.

SPEAKER_00: 18:04

In terms of the ideal client, I've now got a better understanding of who they are, but I sometimes struggle to find the right word to target them. Like, I'll have a post and a few times I'll just ping it on to Amanda and just say, right, I feel like I'm just missing something. And sometimes it's maybe just a different sort of a sentence or two, kind of in that first slide to hook somebody in. So it's not that Amanda's rewriting my full post for me, but she's just sort of helping me get across the points that I'm making and kind of just make it really stand out to the person who needs to see it. Being quite a holistic hippie type, I do believe that the kind of people who are meant to see me will see it. But again, everything I can do to help connect with them and sort of say, right, here's how I can support you, it makes a difference. Because again, it's like that person is hopefully going to come to me, work with me, and then you know, start making improvements that's going to benefit their life. But if I can't get the message out there, then how can I help my clients do that? Very true.

SPEAKER_01: 19:05

And you both touched on there before about finding your people, and it it sounds as if you've maybe been in groups before or business sort of type groups before or whatever. So, what do you think didn't work for you elsewhere that's clicking now?

SPEAKER_02: 19:17

I've been part of a couple of different groups, but what I find for me is one, they were too big, two, they were too salesy, and three, they were almost like too in your face. Does that make sense? I don't know how to put on the air, but you know, a lot of noise, a lot of kind of almost no personalization, no keeping it tailored and personalized. And uh what I liked about this group is it's it's almost like the quiet confidence, I always say. It's that kind of like understated confidence, authenticity, realness, all of that kind of stuff that aligns with my values personally. So I think it's fine for me, it's about finding something that who am I, what are my values, and what aligns to that, rather than just going with the next big shiny thing that's got 10 million thousand people in it, that everyone's pushing you to post 10 million times a day. On it's just not real, it's just not achievable because a lot of people. So for me, that's the difference for me. It's keeping it humble within our capability.

SPEAKER_00: 20:07

Yeah, actually, that's pretty similar to what I was going to say is that the groups I've been in before were just a bit too big. And again, it does feel a bit like sometimes you're expected to kind of conform to one thing where and that doesn't necessarily translate across different audiences and different industries. Whereas having that smaller group, and Amanda, I know that you take time to get to know everyone in that group. I notice, like, for example, in the kind of weekly content guides, you will drop in something that's tailored to every one of your members to make sure that there's a post for them that is relevant to their business every week or two. You don't get that in a large group. You have got the ability being smaller to support somebody to bring out who they are rather than forcing them to kind of conform the bigger trends.

SPEAKER_01: 20:52

That makes a lot of sense. And I do purposely keep it small. You know, we've got room for new members, absolutely. But if it gets bigger, how will I manage that? How will I manage to give that sort of community feel? Because I probably would need help, moderating it, and I don't want that. So that's something for me in a business level to just always keep an eye on. But I do purposely like having it small because, like you say, I want to know everyone. It's a community for me as well. You know, I love you guys, it's amazing. We're like a big family, it's brilliant. That's just a business thing for me, is just always keeping an eye on those numbers and how that feels and how we want to go next and asking for feedback from you guys as well. If I'm due to do that again shortly, usually do that every couple of months or so and like act on that. That's the best thing you can do, I think, in a community is just ask the people in it how you finding this, what are you enjoying? What are you not enjoying? If you could change something, what would it be? And just act on it like it's for you guys, and it's just an absolute privilege to be able to support you guys in this journey. It really is. Like, I'm dead emotional talking about it. You know, when you you get to do work, you feel like you've just arrived, like this is what I was meant to be doing. This is amazing. How lucky are we? How lucky were we as well that you've you chose this path because you're helping so many people. And saying that then talking about more practical stuff, then what has Get Seen Get Sales actually helped you with like tangibly so far? Like have you had, you know, something specific or something you've done faster or like a win or something that's came out tangibly from the group so far? Anything you can put your finger on?

SPEAKER_00: 22:22

I guess for myself, there's been a few things. So I've certainly grown my audience a lot since starting to work with you, Amanda. I hadn't really been getting very far. I had asked somebody who'd known a bit about interface that said, because I was posting all what you'd class as nurture posts, I'd basically been friend zoned and that people are thinking, well, it's like kind of back to, oh, you know, you're giving me the content I need for free, so why should I pay you? And again, it's like you know, a lot of stuff I post, it's like a kind of surface-level tip, but you know, you want the ability to kind of go deeper with people. So I was short-changing myself and them. But in terms of the get see and get sales, there's been a lot of really good advice in there. It's about kind of understanding the different streams to kind of use and the different places to kind of target. So the different functions between like say a reel and a post and how we're using those. I work out of a sort of community center group and using that community page to kind of nurture my audience and really like kind of build services and kind of connect in with them has actually driven most of the sales that I've had. So it's been a natural starting point because a lot of the people in there are your ideal clients, but just being able to kind of improve how I'm speaking to them and offer something to them that's kind of a bit more tailored than just my average post has really helped. And that was something that Amanda had helped me with and sort of understanding the function of how a Facebook group could work as opposed to posting to your general audience.

SPEAKER_02: 23:44

Yeah, so my journey is interesting because the first thing I think I needed, and which Amanda gave me, which was great, I think I actually was like waiting for it was the Instagram audit option. Yeah, because I thought my Instagram was good. But then you know, you know, when you get a second pair of eyes on it and you get given tweaks and you it opens up your mind into what you could be doing differently. For me in the travel industry, I've got so many travel experiences and expertise to get across. That one of the things I think I've found I've neglected maybe a little bit that this group's really helped me with is people want to know me. People want to know who I am, people want to know what my life is. I'm constantly with my kids, you know. People want to know more about me rather than just me constantly talking about, hey, go here because I've been here for a weekend or go here. And these are the top five tips, which is great. But it's about for me practically weaving in, you know, more about me and my day-to-day and and what that looks like. I think this group has really given me the confidence to do that because I would never have jumped on my talking stories and started talking to camera or you know, and I do a lot, I do that every day now, and I actually enjoy it. I do, I don't know if anybody else does when they're listening to me, but I enjoy it too.

SPEAKER_01: 24:50

And you know, like I know that you had a bit of a slip-up at school yesterday and you forgot to put in Wellies for a walk or whatever. But that seems so trivial to you, but that helps me get to know you better, you know, and you're more relatable.

SPEAKER_02: 25:02

It's complete real life. So I've started definitely sharing that more. So I think that Instagram audit about being a little bit clearer on my offerings and then the content strategy of the different types of posts and how to do that has been really helpful for me. And then also just the confidence and guidance of showing up as yourself, you know, and letting people into that part of your world. So yeah, they're things for me that I've definitely taken and I've not been joined long. I can see a massive difference from when I joined to now. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 25:27

Great. I can see a difference in your confidence as well. My gosh, in both of you. Yeah, and you're Aline, your messaging is getting so strong in your carousels and your texts and whatever. I can really now hear what it is you're trying to say, yeah, what the sort of transformation is, and Sarah, but you're just showing up and just chatting with your cup of coffee and saying, like, just a nightmare morning, and then you know, your next story might be however, right? I'm now looking at these holiday plans, this is what I'm looking at. It's like, wow, this is great. A lot of people just love the peak behind the curtain, they really do. I think, especially now, we've got AI. I know that it's got its benefits, it absolutely has, but I think now more than anything, people are looking for that real human connection. AI can help us with lots of things, but honestly, with your messaging, just try and keep that you because you do know what you're trying to see. That's actually what December's workshop's going to be about, like SEO and a sort of template for a good caption, but without telling you what to say, just a way to help you get your own words in a sort of nice format.

SPEAKER_00: 26:24

It's been interesting you mentioned AI. It's like very early on. I had been planning on doing starting a business and it went to a couple of things, and one of them was like a sort of I was a marketing day, and I kind of almost like it was like, Oh well, I've got some content, I might as well launch now. So flung myself in at the deep end with not much of a plan basically. But it's like so many people in that thing were like, Oh, I use AI to write my posts and things like that, and again, part of it's because of work that I do. I just remember thinking, no, it's like I can't use AI in a couple of posts, like if there's maybe a trend, but I've always sort of said this is about AI. Occasionally I'll run my grammar through AI if like something's kind of not quite gilling. But like you say, it's about being authentic, the kind of work that we do because it's like service provision. It is about being real and genuine with people, and that's gotta come from us.

SPEAKER_02: 27:19

You can tell a million miles why I think personally when I see somebody's written something AI on the caption, there's so many tells. I get so protective over that. I personally would feel mortified if someone thought I'd written an AI caption. I just feel like it has to come from the heart, in my view. A lot of us overcomplicate what we want to say, but if we just strip it down and think, actually, I'm my own ideal client, what would I want to hear? It's like a letter to myself sometimes or the caption I'm talking to myself. Amazing for reflection, right? You know? And I think, okay, well, if I'm my ideal client and I would want to hear that, then why would other people not do that? And I think it's actually easier to think that way than put something through AI. And don't get me wrong, there's times when I've got a blank piece of paper, I've got an AI, but to give me the ideas, but then I will take them ideas and write something that's personal to me with that. Yeah, yeah, you you can tell a mile off, I think, from people's posts who's using AI on the caption.

SPEAKER_01: 28:09

I can anyway, but yeah. I know, bless there's a few things, isn't there? Like, let's be honest is a something that keeps popping up, isn't it? I always think in hand and there's M-dashes. Like I've never seen one before until ChatGPT entered the chat. Now they're everywhere. I know, I know. Yeah, it's it's got its place. But yeah, I think if we're really trying to stand out and get our messaging out there, your words are probably what's going to stand you out. Yeah, absolutely. And get seen get sales, there is a lot going on, right? And just before we joined Discall, I was in the group again, tried to like slimline it and move things around because I'm just so conscious. I've got so much I want to tell you, but I don't want to overwhelm anyone and I don't want it to be a mess. I want it to be easy for people to find things. So there's a lot going on in there. We've got weekly social media guides that'll just cover, and that's on all platforms Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. etc. We've got our community hours, we've got our content pack and whatever, but what would you say? Is there any sort of feature that you really use every week that you really look forward to and it's really helpful? Quick pause from our conversation because I'm wondering how you'd feel if I told you I could give you a free£50 today. Yep, if you've been thinking about moving your business bank account or perhaps you don't have a business bank account yet, I can highly recommend Monzo. And if you open an account with them via the link in today's show notes, you get a free£50. Monzo are free to bank with. I bank with them personally. It's so easy to use, and also they won best business banking provider in the UK in 2024. So if you don't have a business bank account yet, or you're looking to change from where you are just now to free business banking and£50 in your account, head over to sprawbusinessgrowthadicts.com for the link and enjoy.

SPEAKER_02: 29:50

I have two here. One is definitely the community hour. I have it in my diary, and I grab a cup of tea or a coffee, and I sit down and I read it, and it makes me smile, and I just think, you know what? Ideas, the wins, the energy, just the vibe from people, the momentum. I just think it's my little ritual now of that little 10 minutes and have a little breed through. The second one as well is the Friday office party. And I love that as well. It's just not even about me and putting my stuff in. I just love hearing other people's stories and other people's wins and what they've been doing for the week because it's that reminder, isn't it, that you're all in it together and you're not alone. So they're the two kind of little things that I love. And obviously the content hawks because they're amazing.

SPEAKER_01: 30:27

Yeah, and that's what I'm doing as well. Yeah. I've got a cuff in and just saying, right, what we chatting about today. And for anyone listening, our community hour, like you can drop in and in out and out of the group anytime you like, but our community hour is a sort of dedicated hour of the week where we all try to be online. It's not always possible. Majority can, and we drop in and out, and it extends beyond the hour as well, doesn't it? Which is fine. But yeah, it's fun and it's just a case of just ask for anything, ask for feedback, share what you've been up to, just anything at all.

SPEAKER_02: 30:53

Let's just get together and have a chat. And I love that you don't need to say anything in it. You can just read other people's or comment on other people's. So if you're having a day when you're like, there's nothing I want to contribute, you know, there's no pressure. You can still join it and read, you know, read everyone else's and like everyone else's and see what they're doing. You don't have to know, like, okay, you have to put something in a community hour. You have to, yeah, you know, there's none of that, which I think is really important that you can just show up and do what feels like it to you in that time. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 31:21

Yeah. I think that's a really important sort of value for the group in general, is take what you need, sleep what you don't, dip in and out, and know you're all busy. That was part of the reason actually we scrapped live workshops as well, and now the pre-recorded master classes, and that was something I put to the group as well and asked because it's so hard to show up for live things, isn't it? It's so hard to get everyone together at the same time. It's like try to arrange a night out, isn't it? Like it's impossible.

SPEAKER_00: 31:43

Yeah, because I mean certainly I think that it's like, you know, we guys being mums, I tend to do the nine to five, and then so it's like evening and weekends like when I'm mostly available. So it tends to be opposite. Occasionally it's like, well, you know, if it's like I know that you're quite good and like try to move it around for different dates, and if it uh days and there's one that I'm available, it's like you know, I really enjoy kind of jumping in, but it's like I like the fact there's no pressure. Like I was on a course last week, so I barely looked in the group at all. But it's there for when we need it, which is the important thing.

SPEAKER_01: 32:16

Absolutely good. And what about sort of my favourite features for you anyway? And what sort of things do you like? I have to say the content pack is like kind of that's the one that's like as soon as I see that drop on.

SPEAKER_00: 32:26

I was like, I love kind of going and having a wee looks around, just kind of sort of thinking, right, okay, is this something that I can work with? Not every hook's for you. Like sometimes you kind of think I'm really struggling how to make that one work for you. But the ones that it's like, but there's other ones where I'm like, oh, I've got a genius idea for that. It was just about, you know, again, you take what you want, and it's like Amanda's sitting there going, You Thursday, you didn't use that content hook that I gave you. And of course that you went off script.

SPEAKER_02: 32:53

This week's hooks are amazing as well. When I read them, I was like, Oh, you know, when you have some weeks when they just click in your brain, you're like, Oh, I know exactly what I'm doing for XYZ. And then you have some weeks that you're like, Oh, I'm not sure about that one. I have to have a think, you know what I mean? You have to have a little more think of how I could weave that in. But I feel like the ones that have just dropped that are really good. Rather so I'm like excited to get going on that.

SPEAKER_01: 33:12

I think it's a really good time for content creation just now because it's storytelling, and this is the thing, it changes all the time. And it you guys will be the first to know when it changes because I'd let you know if if tomorrow reels are not going out to non-followers, you'll be the first to know and we'll switch things up, you know. But just now, the hooks are just like a gateway to your story, it's just what's working and really capturing attention because it is a busy place. So, like we were saying earlier, our words are what's going to make us stand out. It's a great time for content creation to just tell your story, and also it doesn't have to be a curated movie, video, or anything, you know. Casual images are working well, b-roll of just you at your desk, taking a sip of your coffee, whatever's working well. It's a good time this week in particular, right? And I think Black Friday tomorrow for anyone listening. We're recording this on the is it Thursday, 27th of November, yeah. So it's it's busy out there, it's busy out there with offers. But again, that's how dropped into the group this morning. Like, I'm finding focusing on carousels just now, which I've primarily shown to existing followers on the likes of Instagram, for example, might be at a good shift for this week to sort of cut down the noise of the reels and the offers and things because of Black Friday, you know. It's all an experiment, isn't it? But I'll do the studying for you to give us the best chance of making like an informed experiment and it's an informed decision.

SPEAKER_02: 34:25

One of the hugs from last week, Amanda, obviously I used on last Monday, I think it was, for a reel. No, that was one of my best performing reels. I don't go on Instagram to get a load of viral or loads of numbers, but it just organically just grew and grow and grow. And for days afterwards, people were still messaging me and contacting me and following me. And I was like, wow. So it just shows that if you kind of, you know, the research that you're putting in is real, it works. And again, back to the kind of personal brand, it was very much more about something about me, you know, and that motherhood and how I kind of navigate that. So it's there's so much value, so much value there from the content.

SPEAKER_00: 34:59

I think my highest performing reel was on the back of Amanda had posted about the John Lewis advert trending, and so I was like, right, okay, I've got an idea about it because the John Lewis advert is obviously kind of about connection, and a lot of what the works that I do is about kind of building connection with yourself so you can have a better connection with others. But Amanda just really helped me kind of like sort of put that into words in the reel, and so I was able to kind of get it. I think that you had said it was trending first thing in the morning. I think I was able to kind of get the my kind of response what was in about maybe that afternoon, like three, four hours later, I think that's probably had about four times more views than any other reel that I've done.

SPEAKER_01: 35:36

That one was perfect for you because it was a real emotional feel behind it, wasn't it? Yes. There's reels and whatnot trending every day. You'll see them yourself pop up. I could drop them in every single day, but there's some I know are not going to last long, they're not gonna go anywhere. And like I say, we're here building for the long game. I don't want to overwhelm you guys every day, like jump on this, jump on this. Can you imagine it be exhausting? But if there's the odd meaty one, I think, okay, I think that might be a good one. That could probably go somewhere or drop that one in and there it works, so that's good. That's really good to hear. And for anyone listening, the content pack is something that drops every Thursday morning. It's quite comprehensive, however. You know, a lot of the similar messages are just repeated about you know, bear in mind your basics before you post, about planning and your ideal client and whatnot. But then there's a prompter hook for every single day of the week. Um, one is a your choice day, so whatever, take a day off, try something new, let us know how you got on, anything at all. So there's a free day, and then there's a hooker prompt for every day. But it's very much take what you need, like Elaine said there. Not everyone is going to resonate with you, or you won't you won't fancy every single one, and that's fine. But this is just what's working right now to give you a gateway and a good chance to get seen and get sales, which is ultimately what we're there for. So, with that in mind, who do you think then you'd recommend get seen get sales to?

SPEAKER_02: 36:50

Who is it for? I think it's for anybody running an online business. Well, actually, anybody who wants a community that's supportive, wants to feel valued, heard, and kind of contribute to that kind of environment, it's for them. I don't think it's for people who are looking for the mass numbers, chasing virals, chasing numbers. Uh I mean, yeah, they can join, that's great. But I think to me, the value is really that smaller community vibes.

SPEAKER_01: 37:14

Because there's other groups out there where it's all about trending audio and viral reels and whatever, and it's focused on that. Yeah, absolutely. But yeah, like we've just spoken about there, it's a bit more than that, it's a bit more for the long game, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00: 37:26

I think it's really for those kind of businesses that are about the kind of heart and soul that they're putting into it and the services that they want to offer that reflect that piece. For example, we've got people in the group like the bakery in Ayrshire, it's like which seems to be a real passion for Anne. Yeah. That's a part house baked. Yes. Honestly, if I was in Ayrshire, I think I'd be like, Yeah, it's dangerous.

SPEAKER_01: 37:49

She's not far from me, and I've had a few treat boxes together. They're so good, it's dangerous.

SPEAKER_00: 37:54

But you know, you can see that it's like things like that are a real passion project for people, and you know, that they are caring about connecting with people, and it's not just about the numbers. One of the other members of the group, Dana, who does snow moon therapies, she runs a networking group as well. She's like wants to like give such a good service for her, it's about the personalization of things like that. So I can really see how your group kind of supports those passion projects. It's like those ones that are really kind of because people care about providing a good service, and it's not like they'd rather it's about people that are kind of have those and kind of small businesses that are looking, I guess, for a bit of a certain lifestyle that's about are you a kind of community-led and supportive one? People who genuinely just want to help people, right?

SPEAKER_01: 38:41

Absolutely. I love that, absolutely. And just as we start to sort of wind down, I think we've covered modes there, it's it's been quite emotional for me, honestly, because it is just such a privilege. Like I need to give myself a shake, go get some fresh air or something. Yeah, it's just such a privilege, and working with the business owners that are in there and that are going to come in there as well. It's just there's just a bunch of good eggs, you know, just good people. We're just all there on the same sort of mission and just being honest and riding the waves and sharing the highs and lows and everything in between. And I'm just doing my best to just keep us in the lane. I'll just be the bumpers. So just before we start to wrap up, where uh can we find you guys if we want to work with you more? Where is your main sort of social media platform? For Instagram for me and Facebook for me. Yeah, okay. And I'll put the the links to that in the show notes today. So if you do want to find out more about Elaine Aseda's work or the sort of posts that they create, because they're obviously on GetSeen Get Sales, go and have a peek, drop them a message. I'm sure they'd be happy to say hi. And I would love to wrap up. I'm putting you on the spot a little bit here. If you can finish this. So if you say you join GetSeen Get Salesforce, it's almost like completing a hook. So you joined for something, but you're staying because of. Yeah, join for the Instagram follows, you stay for the community.

unknown: 39:54

Yay!

SPEAKER_02: 39:55

I was gonna say you join for the content hooks and stay for the community.

SPEAKER_01: 39:59

Yay! Excellent. That's spot on, spot on. Love it. Is there anything else you think we've not covered that you'd really love for anyone listening to know?

SPEAKER_02: 40:08

You know, for anybody's watching or on the fence, because you know, I know that a lot of people watch from the sidelines for so long. Um my habit as as well with my business is just jump in. Just jump in. I mean, you don't need to be 100% to join something like this. I I I honestly just want to say I wish I'd joined something like Amanda's community earlier. So please just jump in. We're all waiting for you. We want you to come join us. New bestie, right? So just jump in because yeah, don't wait.

SPEAKER_01: 40:35

The virtual tea and biscuits await you.

SPEAKER_00: 40:39

And one thing I do want to add is that there's also a collaboration thread and support in the group. So, you know, for example, I've arranged with somebody else that like we're going to kind of do a mutual service exchange like for reviews, because it's always kind of good to just kind of have a bit of feedback about the service. I know that there's been collaboration projects that have been born out of the group. It's something that I'm exploring in the future myself. It's like with a couple of the group members. So again, it's like you know, something that starts an idea for basically marketing support. It's kind of taking growing arms and legs and kind of sort of saying, right, how can we come together and support each other and kind of work in a way that benefits as well? Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01: 41:20

And you will find it hard to define it for that reason, which is good because, as I say, it's its core, we're there to learn how to get see and get sales on social media, but it is so much more than that. And that's maybe something business-wise, I need to develop and ask for you guys' help on that. How to actually describe the group because yeah, we've got a weekly promo and collaboration thread, and gosh, there's a huge event happening in January with like four or five members, like a rise and reset day, yoga and bacon and afternoon teas, and sound bath and hypnosis and all sorts of things happening in January. And I know two members are exchanging services at the minute as well. Like, and you mentioned you've been speaking to people. Yeah, I mean, oh gosh, yeah. And there's been sales made in there as well in the pro. I know a couple of us bought from Holly the other day because she's does skincare and whatnot, and she had some Christmas sets. Yeah, that's awesome. It's full of like a coffee meeting in in Scotland. Oh, I know that would be so nice, honestly. As I said in my post the other day, I don't have like a beach house mansion that like we can have a masterclass at, but you can pop rounds or stick a pizza on or the kettle on like anytime.

SPEAKER_00: 42:26

Just keep Susan away. She keeps threatening to make me do cold water therapy.

SPEAKER_01: 42:31

Oh god, I've tried it many times. The peer pressure, honestly, to do these things in like your 40s or whatever is incredible, honestly. But a dip in the seed, drink protein, all that jazz. Just say no, Elaine. Just say no.

SPEAKER_00: 42:44

It's one of the things that I fancy the idea of it, and then I think of the reality, and I'm like, uh, I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_01: 42:51

Yeah, yeah. And it's a bit like spicy food, you know, when you try it and you say, Oh, I don't like that, and they're like, Come on, come on. They're like, No, I don't like it. I don't like it. Like, I got I love Scotland, it's such a beautiful place, you know. Oh, it is. I'm very lucky to live here, and Elaine's Scottish as well. Yeah, of course, you'll need to come up and see us, Sarah.

SPEAKER_02: 43:10

That's in Edinburgh. I lived in Edinburgh for seven years, believe it or not. Fun fact. Fun fact about me, yeah. I lived there before I went traveling the world.

SPEAKER_01: 43:19

Yeah. Oh, fun.

unknown: 43:21

Fun.

SPEAKER_01: 43:21

Oh, Edinburgh's gorgeous, isn't it? It's just so full of history. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 43:25

The only place I've not done in Scotland is the Highlands. I'm desperate to go and do a little tour. I want to get a camper van and just literally do a tour of the Highlands with the kids, I think.

SPEAKER_01: 43:33

So my list, yeah. Yeah. Oh, you'll love that. It's a beautiful place. It really is. And so swing by if you do do that. I will. Thank you so much. That was honestly such an awesome chat. Thank you so much for coming on today and enjoy the rest of your day. Thank you so much for joining us today for another episode of Small Business Growth Addicts. I hope today's episode has given you inspiration and tangible tips that you can use to grow your small business in a way that feels right for you. If you love today's episode, please head over to smallbusinessgrowthadicts.com and check out today's show notes where you can find details of our wonderful guests, sponsors, discounts, freebies, and so much more. Please also don't forget to leave a review today. Reviews are invaluable to us to help us get the show out there. Every single one is read and very much appreciated. Until next time.