Shine Podcast with Shanna Star
Hello, I'm Shanna Star. Yes my actual middle name. I've moved my business 5 states, started life over again this time at the beach as life always takes unexpected turns. I have a heart to teach women the ins and outs of not only small business and growth but also personal self reflection while remaining a badass with a strong but vulnerable heart. This is a small business and self-improvement podcast and those who want to hear other amazing women I've met along the way! Subscribe and join the #shinepodcast
Shine Podcast with Shanna Star
Social Media Mastery Unleashed with Christine Blosdale
Social media expert Christine Blasdale shares her journey from America Online columnist to podcaster and business coach, revealing strategies for authentic branding and content creation. Her 25+ years of experience offers invaluable insights into building expert authority and connecting with audiences through the power of video content and personal storytelling.
• Christine's career began at America Online writing for audiences aged 8-80, teaching her to communicate with diverse demographics
• The trifecta of audience desires: health, wealth (freedom and financial security), and love
• TikTok described as "the wild, wild West" of social media, offering immediate news and creative opportunities
• Video content is essential for social media success across all platforms
• The "win-win-win" strategy ensures audience, business, and creator all benefit
• Overcoming imposter syndrome is crucial for entrepreneurs to share their expertise
• Website tips include adding welcome videos to create personal connection
• Repurpose content across platforms and recycle successful past content
• Focus on being authentic rather than perfect in your content
• Support small businesses and use purchasing power intentionally
Book a complimentary strategy session at expertauthoritycoach.com or take the expert authority quiz at expertauthorityquiz.com to evaluate your expert authority status.
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Keep Shining- Shanna Star
Welcome back to another episode of the Shine Podcast. I'm your host, shana Starr. Today I have a fun and energetic and passionate guest with me today, so excited to announce Christine Blasdale is here with me. She is the host of Out of the Box with Christine Podcast. She also is an expert authority business coach on all things podcasting, branding, marketing and more. She has over 25 years of experience and is recognized expert in motivating and inspiring others. We jump right into the conversation, talking all things social media. So let's get to it. Welcome, christine, to the Shine podcast. I've been so looking forward to this conversation and all that you have to offer, so welcome.
Christine Blosdale:Oh, thank you so much. I have been looking forward to it as well.
Shanna Star:So, without even like taking any time, I just want to jump right in because it's a hot topic, social media and it's been a hot topic for years, not just because of, I'm sure, how often it changes and how it evolves, but how powerful it can be and how often we utilize it. So I'd love to know I know a little bit because I've talked to you, of course, but I'd love to know how you got into this and specializing in branding and social media.
Christine Blosdale:Well, you know, it started a long, long time ago. Let's start with the story. Let's start uh, I, I was. I worked for america online back in the day, probably before you were born. I, america online, used to be the thing. It was. It right that screechy sound, or, you know, you need to dial it up and you'd hear that you've got mail guy and um.
Christine Blosdale:And so when I was working for them and writing, I wrote an entertainment column and I asked my editor who do I need to? Who is my target audience? Right, who exactly am I writing for? And he said, christine, he goes, this is America Online. He says you need to know that your audience is anywhere from eight years old to 80. And I said, well, that's kind of a broad demographic, isn't it, like you know? And he said, no, that's, that's, that's really who it is, and it's somewhat the same with social media. But what I found is that there's a way to communicate and and write or speak in a way where a very large audience will find it appealing, right, and so I started. I was way before Shrek, but if you're familiar with the Shrek movies, right, shrek movies are fun for kids, they love them, but adults love them too, because there's a little thing, there's a couple things dropped in there and if you're, you go, oh, that's naughty, right.
Christine Blosdale:And so that's sort of how I got my training wheels and I wrote for them for a while, did the whole Hollywood thing, went to the you know the press junkets and the premieres and everything like that. And when you have an America Online mic, you know thing on your, on your microphone, a little cube, a lot of the celebrity people would step up and talk to you because, again, that was the thing, that was it, and so for the online world. And so I did that for a bit and then nine, 11 happened and I was like, you know, do people really care about what Angelina Jolie is wearing or who she's dating, or like I? Just I had that epiphany, a moment where I was like this, is this really important in the great scheme of things? And so, uh, I was driving in Los Angeles, stuck in traffic as you do, uh, in on the 405, and so, uh, I was, I was just channel surfing, you know, dialing through the radio, because, of course, 9-11 happened.
Christine Blosdale:Everybody's all glued to the radio, and I heard a radio station in los angeles that was very unique, and they spoke to me in a, in a, in a very, um, a simple way, but but a very clear way and questioning things right, and I thought, wow, this, wow, this is very unique. This is different. It's not a lot of fear, it's let's well, let's analyze what was going on in the Middle East for the last hundred years. Okay, so I was like, well, this is intelligent radio. And I decided to go down to the station myself. I drove there, went in and just said I want to thank everybody. I went with the feeling of gratefulness, right Of gratitude, I want to thank everyone who works here for the work that they do. And the front desk guy said really, you're here not to complain, you're here to you know, apparently, that's, that's a thing. And so I said, no, I want to actually praise you people. So he says, well, yeah, go go ahead, there's no security. Just, yeah, go ahead. So I walked in and I just went, poked my head in and anybody that was not working or that was there. I just said you know, I just want to say thank you. And somebody said somebody said, well, what do you do? And I was like, well, I write for America Online and I wrote through a cartoon character too. I didn't even write as Christine, I wrote as a cartoon character and well, I could get away with a lot when I, when I wrote through her.
Christine Blosdale:So, going back to the Shrek, you know idea, and so I started, they said you come in and you know you could volunteer and you can be part of the radio station, and I thought, well, that'd cool, and so I just started working there, volunteering, writing, writing copy, and then started moving into a bit of producing. And then it was that thing where the star, you know, host, is broke a leg or couldn't come in and they're like hey, kid, you got to go on the microphone today and I was like what I said no, no, no. You got to go on the microphone today and I was like what I said no, no, no, I like to be behind the scenes. I'm a writer, I'm not, I'm not, I'm really not talent. And they go no, no, no, you have to because it's coming up, it's, and it was afternoon drive time show and so it was very listened to this. You need to go on because there's nobody to do it. And so I said, ok, so I sat in this little dark studio and with the mic in my face, and then the on air light went on.
Christine Blosdale:And as soon as that went on, it was like something happened, like I just I just started talking and connecting with people that there's no feedback loop, there's not, like, you know, they're sitting in their car and they could push a button and say that was good, that was funny, that was, you know, they're sitting in their car and they could push a button and say that was good, that was funny, that was, you know, interesting. It was just like I was just talking, okay, well, and I think I opened it up the first day. I think I opened it up to listener phone calls because I didn't have guests lined up or anything of taking from the content from writing into speaking and how we can connect with each other through our intention. Because, see, with radio, like with podcasting, uh it, you don't see the person, you only hear them and you only feel them and, man, that's a powerful medium. And so I just fell in love with the art of the interview, the art of bringing people what they wanted and honing in on what they wanted.
Christine Blosdale:And I'll tell you, shana, there's three things, like if you're in any business, if you want to be successful, if you focus in on one of these three things. If you can do all three, then you're. You know that's the trifecta, but the things that people are most wanting in life are health, wealth and love. That covers it. And wealth I don't mean wealth like money in the bank. I mean wealth in being able to have time to be with your loved ones, to go on holiday, knowing that you do have some money in the bank and you're not stressed out when it's the, you know the first of the month is coming around.
Christine Blosdale:Those type of things, that wealth, right, that abundance mindset and actual physical abundance. So those three things I learned over 20 years being at the radio station and dialing it in on what people wanted and then brought them those things that they wanted through different medium, through different things that we had to do. And so, after 20 years of that I just said, you know, now, with podcasting, which was about nine or 10 years ago, I thought that was brilliant because instead of with radio, you do a great interview and it's, it's out there and it's done and nobody can, you don't hear it again.
Christine Blosdale:But with podcasting you're able to do that. And so I started going into podcasting and my coaching. I started doing that while I was still working at the radio station Cause I love to teach and so I would teach other. I would teach business owners, I would teach coaches, authors, how to communicate their message in the best way, so that they are actually really telling the world what it is that they do. And that would be through interviews, getting interviewed and getting booked on shows. Through interviews, getting interviewed and, you know, getting booked on shows.
Christine Blosdale:But also through the, the, the crazy lens of social media, which back then was really mostly Facebook and Instagram. And now we've got my favorite platform, which is Tik TOK. It's the wild, wild West, and you know, we've had a bumpy ride. It's been banned, you know, and then we came back, and then now we've got like a night that now it might be banned again, and so I'm a real crusader for tiktok. Not so, you know, if there's some silly stuff on there and there's some weird stuff, but there's also some really important not only news and real things that are happening on the ground that people report on. But also it's this explosion of creativity and it's the creator economy that, thank goodness, the creator economy has happened because, let's face it, after COVID, people lost jobs, they were underemployed, they had to pivot. Let's face it, after COVID, people lost jobs, they were underemployed, they had to pivot, and it's a way for really creative, smart, wisdom-filled folk to get their message across. And when I have a client, it doesn't matter if they're 20-something or if they're 80.
Christine Blosdale:I have an 82-year-old client and I'm like you're going on TikTok lady right, because she's got stories to tell and it's where her tribe is. The algorithm in TikTok is such that your tribe as long as you consistently put out content, they're going to find you and they're going to follow you. But they'll support you in what you're doing and so that's that's sort of my. That's a long answer to your question, but that I wanted to give you sort doing and so that's that's sort of my. That's a long answer to your question, but that I wanted to give you sort of that arc so that you knew sort of where I came from and then where I am now and I love it. I of course we post still on Facebook and Instagram, but I like to focus in on that TikTok thing.
Shanna Star:Yes, you said a few things I was jotting down here. First, tiktok wild, wonderful, but something that I really enjoy about it is it's so fast. So if there's actual news and there's actual world happenings, it's there instantly and we can see it immediately.
Christine Blosdale:It's there before we even knew it existed.
Shanna Star:Yeah, so my husband listens to news radio and they're great, they're wonderful. He comes home with the news and we kind of banter back and forth and sometimes I'll purposely just go on TikTok to see if I have the same information or the same news. And it's always right there and that has been fascinating to me so a perfect example is um, I I woke, was it yesterday?
Christine Blosdale:the day before yesterday, I just went into tiktok and I got every single video where the manufacturers in in china, yes, because they're like. They're like, okay, you want to slap a, you want to slap a tear, we're gonna spill the tea on all your luxury brands. Yeah, and I was like, oh, and they're, they're like, you see this birkin bag there? I mean they're, they're totally smelling, they're, they're the, the curtain, you know, like in the wizard of oz, they pull the curtain back. They go this 38 000 bag that they charge you cost 1400, with the finest leathers, the finest zippers, the finest, and they just ship them from china to france or italy. Right, these and their luxury bags. So it could be product, could be whatever, right, and they're just and they're just fill of the team. They go, instead of paying them 38 000, you can pay us 1400 and we'll deliver it with free shipping.
Shanna Star:Yeah, I just was like I had no idea about it. And I again, yes, opened my tiktok and it was like the first 10 videos and I was like I had no idea about it. And I again, yes, opened my TikTok and it was like the first 10 videos and I was like oh my goodness how did this even find me, you know?
Shanna Star:so it's incredible, truly incredible. Uh, the something else you said was talking about wealth and what that looks like, and I immediately wrote that down too, because it's why so many of us are starting businesses or have our personal brands or trying to grow. That is because we want that freedom. Of course, we all want a little bit more money and paying bills and not be worried about money all the time, but it's really that freedom within between. So I love that you said that too.
Christine Blosdale:So, yeah, it's, it's, it's important. You have to think about what's important in your life. There's a lot of people to say that a lot of like heart attacks and things happen on monday morning, and that's, I think, because a lot of people, they you know and listen. If you've got, you know, bills and mortgage and all of that, that responsibility can weigh very heavy on you, and so you can. I understand that for many years too, I, I was still. I was still at that radio station, even though it was getting difficult for me because I had a huge commute and oh, it was just, it was getting stressful. And so I understand that.
Christine Blosdale:What I say to people too that are in that situation and yet they have a passion or they are just their heart's not in it anymore, I say stick with the job as long as you can while you're building your business If it's a coaching business or whatever it is, if it's a service provider type thing, don't just jump from that into the wild right, because it's going to take some time. It's going to take some time to build up, to create that website and to create the stuff that you need to, to build that expert authority. And that's what I do is I work with people and I basically help them build that expert authority so that when people do go to their website or do want to find out more information about them, they can see they can go wow, this person really knows what they're doing, so I can trust them to give them my money or to spend time with them, to invest my time. I can trust them and you need to develop that. It's something that people really just need to take time to figure out.
Shanna Star:That expert authority, in whatever field they are. Yeah, there's two things that popped up again for me is the first that it takes time. So with my photography business that's my full-time business. But it didn't start out that way. I've moved five different States and so I always say it took me about three years to build, so in that time I'd have a full-time job. And then, when that was too much, I found like a different part-time job, you know, and just slowly etched away until I could rely on that.
Shanna Star:But, it took years and that's okay. It's still always a passion. And then the trust part. I think social media has really helped that, as long as you're communicating and showing up daily, because by the time somebody finds me or you or whoever they're looking for they can look through. They start to build that trust by what you're posting and then by the time they message me to ask further questions, they're already ready to book. It feels like the booking rates is much higher than because they've already built that trust.
Christine Blosdale:Because they feel that they know you and also, you know you're very clever with your branding as well, and that's something that I try to really with clients. I say also you know you, you're very clever with your branding as well, and that's something that I try to really with with clients. I say you know you're a brand, you know you're, it's you, you know it's not so much. And if they have a product, of course, if they have a product, then it's definitely that's the focus. But I say, even as a coach, you know you're a brand and you need to develop that brand. And so I say it is important to niche down.
Christine Blosdale:You know, I was somebody who suffered from that. It's like people go well, what do you do? I go oh, what do I not do? I do everything, I do everything for everybody. Well, if you say that, and that's your business model, you're not going to get a lot of people. And that's your business model, you're not going to get a lot of people because it's too wishy-washy, it's too all over the place. You need to be really specific. So when people say now, like, well, you know, what do you do, I say I'm an expert, authority business coach. I help overwhelmed entrepreneurs. That's mostly women. I help overwhelmed entrepreneurs get the message out about their brand and their business. That's it.
Shanna Star:That's what I say. Will you talk a little bit about, because I know you have one approach, it's called the win-win-win approach. Is that right? Yes, and will you talk a little bit about that and does that kind of segue into how to maybe build that expertise and know what your expertise is in that struggling area?
Christine Blosdale:Yeah, so I I think that the days of, you know, extreme, uh, ruthless capitalism is finding the way like the dodo bird, right, we see it every day, we see it in politics, we see it in the economy, and it's like greed is not good. Okay, let's just you know, if we're, when we're children, we learn these things, we're told these things. You know, share your, you know, share your toys with your friend, don't be greedy. But then there's something that happens to human beings and we, we can, and I've seen this firsthand with some clients of mine who've been royally ripped off, right, I mean spending $10,000, $15,000 for a book deal, told that you know we'll make you a best-selling author and then you'll be able to get, you know, clients will come knocking at your door, knocking at your door. Well, one of the things that I do with my clients, depending on the person, because it's completely dependent on the person. But I will encourage them to write a book right, or books, several books if possible. But we do a bestseller campaign and that bestselling author badge, so to speak, really does help your expert authority. So I'll work with them on that.
Christine Blosdale:But the win-win-win strategy is basically so that everybody wins. So when I was, let's say, working at the radio station and I would have a guest on who had a beautiful, amazing product or offer. Then I would work it so that we would first of all find out about their story, learn about them, start to like them before we did any selling. Okay, so this would be like during a fun drive, let's say, and I would talk about their expertise, where they came from, how long they've been doing it and all of their thoughts and work that has gone into this product or service that they're offering. Still no sale. I would wait until the last, maybe 15, 20 minutes to really start pushing that item or that thank you gift or that service.
Christine Blosdale:And what I find is that when you build up that confidence and that trust, the audience feels confident to partake and to get rid of their dollars in exchange for that service or that gift, right, or that product. And so with that, the audience was winning because they were also getting a high value product or service item. Let's say, okay, high value, but they got it for a very low cost. The radio station benefited because they got money so that they could keep the lights on and pay the staff. So the audience won because they got a great deal, the staff. So the audience won because they got a great deal. The radio station won because they're getting money that they need and I won because I felt really good about providing those things to those different entities Right. So it was they won, they won and I won, and when you do that, the energy is really great and it's almost it's something that has a ripple effect.
Christine Blosdale:Okay, the audience builds trust when you right.
Christine Blosdale:So your potential customers or clients build. They have trust in you because they've seen this. And then you get those, like we say with every business owner. Get the testimonials and reviews, like we say with every business owner. Get the testimonials and reviews. Get those people that have benefited, who who have booked time with you or booked your service and they are blown away by what you provided them and tell people about those. Get those testimonials and reviews out there. So then it's this circular everybody wins, this greedy thing where it's like I'm going to do as little as possible and get as much money as possible from somebody that will um, you can only do that a few times before your reputation is ruined and it's really difficult to get that back, to gain that back. So I that's how I approach things with all my business and co-ventures. If I do a joint venture with somebody, let's do something that we all win, so we can put our superpowers together, create something great for the audience, but also have something beneficial for us as well.
Shanna Star:Yeah. So then, on the opposite spectrum of that, what are maybe some mistakes you see people making when they're building that personal brand online or building that business and trying to connect?
Christine Blosdale:Uh, the first thing that you want is you want a website that's very reflective of you and showcases your uh, the low hanging fruit, in other words, the things that you're really brilliant at and that you've accomplished. It's great to have that, those things, on there. So, if you are a bestselling book author, you want to have that on there. You want to have your testimonials. But what I find is that, um, a lot of times people will slap up a website and they'll have somebody you know create it for them. They have no control over their website because they're like, it's too technical, I don't know how to do it. Ok, that's, that's understandable. But if you've got a website and it's just tons of copy, lots of writing, a picture here and there, a picture of you from 20 years ago, whatever, okay, that's, that's not exciting to me. So I'll tell people, when you go to a website, what would be great is above the fold, meaning before anybody has to scroll down on their phone or on the computer. Um, above the fold, just simply create a welcome video, like a welcome to my world video. Right, hi, I'm blah, blah, blah. This is what I do. Take a look around, ask me a question, those type of things, and what happens is that when people go to that website, they immediately get to see you and see your eyes and watch you speak, and that's a great way to get people to feel comfortable possibly working with you, but they get to know you, as opposed to a bunch of text, right, I don't get. I don't feel warm and cuddly when I'm just reading copy words, words are great, but you know, and it's great for SEO, but also, you know, having a video or something like that would be great. So really boring websites that when they first came to me they said I said, so what is it that you do? And they'll tell you things that they've done, but it doesn't. They don't tell you what it is that they do for people. Do you understand? So, like I'll say, so what is it that you do? And I have, I'll have somebody say, oh well, I'm an, I'm the author of blah blah blah book. Okay, so right there, I'll stop them. Right there. I say, wait, is that what you do? If I ask a mechanic what they do, they could say, well, I'm certified in. They could say, well, I'm certified in carburetor repair, I've also got a certificate. And da, da, da, da, no, no, no. What do you? What do you do? I fix, I repair cars, right, right.
Christine Blosdale:And so this, this, this particular person that I'm thinking of, she's actually someone who wants to guide people in more of the spirituality realm and wellness, right? So I'm like, well, you're more along the lines of a transformational coach, like somebody that you can take people who are not feeling good in their body or feeling stuck right, and you can help them. So that's what you do. I take people who are struggling or who are searching for a spiritual connection to feel better in their body, in their mind, and to get the obstacles out of the way so that they can have the life that they've always dreamed of. Now, that sounds a lot better than I'm the author of XYZ book.
Shanna Star:Right, yeah, it's very. It distinguishes what you do versus how can I help you and what how you serve and what exactly?
Christine Blosdale:Yes, yeah, and and you always have to ask yourself if you're struggling with there of what is it that I do that people can and will and are paying me to do? No one is paying that person to write a book.
Shanna Star:Right.
Christine Blosdale:Right, nobody's paying me to write a book. I've got five bestsellers, so do I, but do I put that on my website? Hell yeah of course yeah, if they.
Christine Blosdale:You know, if somebody asks me a question, you know, do I throw up the book and go yeah, that number one best-selling book, the social media branding survival guide, yeah, I'll give that. I'll give you a copy. That just helps cement your expert authorityness, having a best-selling book. But that's not what you do, unless you're an author, unless, that's, you're a full-time author and you write ghosts. You know, you, you, you ghost write for people, right? Or you sit there all day and you just write books and you make a lot of money out of it. Then you're an author.
Shanna Star:Yes, I love that.
Christine Blosdale:But I'm not retiring on my royalties from my books, sorry yes.
Shanna Star:So kind of back to like the social media part of it. I know that you're loving TikTok, that's your favorite right now, but what would you see and I know this might change tomorrow or the next day what content right now, if people are listening, is like what can I be focusing on today? Like what feels important, because some people feel like it's just daunting to do everything. Some people love it, but what are some pieces of content? Long short stories, carousels being face-to-face Like what stories? Carousels being face-to-face. Like what do you find is doing really well right now?
Christine Blosdale:Well, and that's my favorite person is the person who's overwhelmed by everything they have to do.
Christine Blosdale:If you think about it, if you're running a business, a coach, whatever, I'm saying coaching business because there's so many coaches, right, so you have to be an expert in accounting, you have to be a webmaster, you have to be a copywriter, you have to be a videographer. Now you know, on top of whatever it is, that you're coaching, right, you got to be that. You have to be technically. Now they're throwing in AI, oh my God. So it's overwhelming or can be overwhelming, yeah. So what I say is, depending on the person and their business, some platforms your platform might be LinkedIn the more corporate there's a vibe and a feel on LinkedIn, just like there is on TikTok, right? So what I say is the most important thing right now is video, okay, and that is creating content, creating videos.
Christine Blosdale:There's so many tools that you can use, literally our smartphones, cell phones. They're like a camera crew in your hand, right? So you can um, you can film, you can set up a tripod if you want to, and you can, you can film. That way, you can actually also film on zoom, you can record on record. You can use software editing um programs that are free. There's all these tools that are that are there for you, but you can do something as simple as just like in your car, in a parking lot, get on your phone and record a video and you can take that video and throw it up on all the platforms tiktok, instagram, facebook and do them as real. So if you're posting on facebook, if you're just posting in your own little world of your aunts and uncles and facebook, they're not, nobody's gonna see that, right, you'll get. You'll get a couple. Oh sweetie, that was so cute. Thanks, you're so funny I have my cousin.
Christine Blosdale:My cousin is like I love her, I love her. My cousin is she's like my support, you know, I'll put a video up. And she's like you're so funny, ah, you're so I love you, my beautiful cousin. I love you too, but I'm I'm also trying to reach people that pay me. So if you're posting video on Facebook, make it a reel, okay, and do the appropriate hashtags that are relating to that content.
Christine Blosdale:But you can take that same video that you recorded in your car. You can post it on Facebook reels, instagram, you can even throw it up on Facebook Reels and it'll share on your Instagram, so you don't have to repost it. Post it on LinkedIn, post it on YouTube Shorts, because YouTube, after TikTok's crazy fame, youtube said oh, we're going to get into the short video game, so they're pushing that content out. And of course I don't know like I say TikTok, so there's like that content out. And of course I know, like I say TikTok, so there's like five different platforms. You can immediately put that one video on. Make sure you have captions on it and if you're, if you're like I don't know how to do captions that you can do with the video or like I what?
Shanna Star:I'll do is.
Christine Blosdale:I'll. I'll use CapCut. You can use CapCut for free. I pay for the pro version because I use it so much but you can use CapCut and make those little edits and make it fun. One tip if you're going to be doing the video, I would say stay away from using music at this point, because some platforms they'll flag you that that's copyright music and um. So just be wary of that. I like to do a lot of stuff that doesn't have that that music per se.
Christine Blosdale:But make sure that you're also coming across as your personality, right? If you're a really fun, bubbly person, don't be too serious all the time. Show that bubbly personality, right? I'm silly, I'm. My whole thing when I'm working with people is I want to keep things simple, easy and fun. So my videos tend to be more fun and silly, right. So make sure that your character videos tend to be more fun and silly, right. So make sure that your character, your personality, comes out. But video is the most important thing. Um, pay attention to your hashtags. The algorithm is always changing, so you're never going to, you're never going to nail down and go. I have the absolute algorithm because once you do, the next day it's going to change yes right.
Christine Blosdale:So I always say be uh, judicious with your, with your hashtags. Only a few and only um the ones that are that are key with what you're saying. So if I'm talking about my book social media and branding survival guide, I would put in my hashtags hashtag social social media, hashtag branding. I would also put hashtag digital marketing, because that's something that's part of what's in the book as well. So that's the main thing and really huge to get the word out on who you are. Take every opportunity, every speaking opportunity you you can get on podcasts as a guest, create your own podcast, which is brilliant because it shows people your personality and it's great marketing. It's brilliant marketing. Plus, the seo is is fantastic. On it gives your name, your website. All that stuff is always on on podcast episodes. So really, it's getting out there.
Christine Blosdale:Don't hide, and the biggest obstacle from most of my clients that they have to go through and we go through it is this imposter syndrome stuff. Right, the comparison model, the scarcity model and imposter syndrome. Those are the three. Well, the three well, they're kind of all in her you know group together, but those are the things that really stop a lot of amazingly talented, gifted entrepreneurs. It stops them in their tracks and we need to get rid of that, because you're keeping your all your goodies and your your beautiful talents. You're keeping it from the world and we need we need you right now.
Shanna Star:Yeah, something back to the content you were talking about is how people forget how much content we actually have on our phones how many little videos, how many little and it all, depending on what you do, of course can lead back to or show parts of you. You're at the beach, great Show that people want to feel like oh, I love the beach, I hate the beach, she's not for me, she is for me, and it's just also reusing some of that. If you're doing long form content like podcasting, uh, you can take a little clip and share that, and I think we over analyze every part where we always need new content and we can recycle, just like you said, and use different parts on different platforms, depending on you know.
Christine Blosdale:I'm the queen of repurposing.
Shanna Star:Yes, yeah.
Christine Blosdale:And I'll tell people. I'll say, cause? They'll go oh, you know, I just don't know what to do. And they've. I have my one of my new clients, 82.
Christine Blosdale:I said you're sitting on a throne of of money, of content, of things that you could do. There's so many books that you could write and and I'm like I said, and she goes, well, I don't know, I don't know. I said, listen, I'm not a writer, I have five best-selling books. I'm not a writer, I'm a talker. So I take, I take. I don't like to write.
Christine Blosdale:I take my webinars that I and you should be doing webinars and workshops. If you're a coach, I do. I take my webinars, my workshops, my seminars. I take my masterminds that I do with my group, with my small group. I take all those gems that I'm saying and I turn them from a video into a beautiful blog, right, make it so it's readable, enjoyable, and then I just transfer that into chapters in a book, or you could create modules in a course. However, whatever you want to create, creation is all around you. It's just knowing that you have those things right, you're sitting on content, you just don't know it. So if you've ever spoken and it's been recorded. You've got chapters for your book.
Shanna Star:I agree. And then back to the websites thing too. I was thinking about that in kind of in lining of where to be posting, because so so many people, when they're starting at least, don't even know, like, well, should I be focusing on Instagram If you only have time for a couple, you know? And going back to the website, I'm looking at my website analytics constantly and I see, well, where are those most, most of the clicks coming from and where could I focus my time? And then where is the return on investments? And those as well, because I think 80% of social media clicks come from Pinterest, which is great, but my lead magnet really is from Instagram, and so it's the website is important because it helps. You see, like, okay, tiktok maybe isn't as important to my followers right now. Let me hone in on the one that is and then continue to work on the other ones as well. So back to that website it is important.
Christine Blosdale:It is, and and you'll find where, where you're getting those leads from and where you're you're you're hitting that Mark. You can concentrate a bit more, so maybe throw some ad dollars in there, right.
Shanna Star:Right.
Christine Blosdale:But I still say, you never know. And with once you have the content created, let's say a video, it's so easy to post it on all the different platforms. Right, it's so, so easy. But um it that everybody is different. Like with you, because you're very, the stuff that you do is very visual. I could see why Pinterest would be. I mean, that's a no brainer.
Shanna Star:Right, right. Yeah, that definitely helps. But even though I do photography, back to video too, like I've started implementing videos in every shoot, even if it's not something that's part of the package or whatever that looks like. Having just little clips not only is great for my customers and clients, it helps new customers and clients connect to. So I totally agree Video is so important right now.
Christine Blosdale:Well, and a lot of times people want to learn how you, you know what, how you do what you do. So sometimes it's the behind the scenes stuff. It's one thing for me to actually have a video where I'm, I'm on camera and I'm looking in and I'm telling people, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But if you just take, if you take your phone, okay, which has a camera on it, and you just take it and you go from a different angle and you start shooting, then it's like that third wall, right, it's like, oh, they're peeking in, christine's talking to somebody on the computer. Oh, she's, okay, it's, it's uh, it's showing people how you do things. And you'd be surprised. I've got a friend who's a painter and she's like well, how can I make videos about my paintings? And I'm like, well, you can show the finished product. That's great. But I said I'd be interested to see what your process is like. What do you look like when you're painting?
Christine Blosdale:and I I said just just start filming. She's like well, that's a very long, that wouldn't that. I said no, you just start filming and then you speed up the heat. Yeah, exactly, I don't want to sit there for five hours, but I said then you can speed it up and just have parts of that. I said that's very interesting for people.
Shanna Star:Yeah.
Christine Blosdale:You know the work that goes on behind it. So with what you do, you can easily also go on, go on like a tiktok and say you know, if you have a photography business, here are some tips that I can give you that have worked for me right, and that would be something that that would be great for that particular audience yeah, the behind the scenes is interesting.
Shanna Star:I just started telling any like close girlfriends of mine that have businesses and I see them do any behind the scenes I make sure to be like those are really powerful, cause I really like them. Like a girl that I know owns it's a moat company. They're super cute like golf carts but amplified, and she just has started to show like what it looks like for her to load it on a trailer and she's like it sounds boring but it gets the most feedback. You know it's just how she does what she does. It's very cool to see, there's a.
Christine Blosdale:There's a young Australian lady who has a clothing line. It's mostly it's like pajamas, right, and I've seen her stuff before and I've seen, like the photos, that she's done a beautiful photography of the actual pajamas and she's talking about the business of it, like starting up the business and her, her frustrations and and shipping and oh my goodness, and she had to get some samples of, you know, with the fabric and all the which I think is very interesting. But you know, what sold me and I actually bought a set for my wife is she did a video. She posted a video of the bloopers when she had a model model shoot. So she was wearing pajamas and she had a model.
Christine Blosdale:They went to bali or something to shoot it and she's just showing the bloopers, right of them, you know, trying to be all sexy, coming through the, you know the drapes and it's like, ah, you know, and it was so fun and funny and cute and I thought you know what I love that she's like. Here in Australia they call it taking the piss, which means making fun of yourself or being silly and saying, yeah, you know, we goofed up. Whatever I said, I loved it so much I said I went to your website and bought, you know, a whole set and and uh, because I wanted to also reward that creativity and that's one of her that's becoming one of her most popular videos. I love that is the, the whoops, you know they are fun.
Shanna Star:I love we want.
Christine Blosdale:People want authenticity and relatability. The days of the kardashian dynasty, you know, unattainable, unattainable bodies, unattainable wealth, that is not flying anymore. It is crumbling as quick I mean, it is crumbling as quick as hollywood is. And so right now, people are starving for authentic, real people that they can relate to. So that's what I'm saying with, with my clients. I'm saying be human, be perfectly imperfect, be human, don't be. That's where that imposter syndrome comes into and that, oh, I can't do videos because I'm too old, I'm too fat, I'm too this, I'm too that. Stop it. Stop it, just start creating and and then see, just see what happens.
Shanna Star:Right yeah, and even years in now and I'm sure you feel the same way it's's still always an experiment. It's like I'm going to throw this out here, see how it does. It's not like, oh shoot, I only got one, like who cares? Then you know, maybe that doesn't work, you'll try something different. It's always. It's kind of fun to play a game with it and see what works. You're never going to find the ultimate piece of content that will consistently work.
Christine Blosdale:But it work. Um, but it's fun to realize. Sometimes it's not you, right, it's not you, sometimes it's the algorithm. Tiktok has a little tiktok every now and then gets a little little tiki, tiki, tiki with me and I'll post. I got something, I got a strike the other day. I got something taken down and I'm looking at it and I'm like this is nothing there's. I was trying to find out what community guideline I had broken and I was like, and I've talked to a couple friends and they said the same thing.
Christine Blosdale:So then what happens is that the videos that you put out right after that video that was you know that you got a bad grade on or whatever, from TikTok land or Facebook, doesn't matter then the next few videos they they barely, they sent it out to like one, two people out there and some other you know planet, and so you kind of like, oh my gosh, I thought that video was really good, I thought it would, don't worry about it, just come back to it, you can repost it. That's the other thing. If you've got a great video that you did a year ago and it's still relevant, right, you're not talking about a time specific thing. If it's a great video that you did a year ago or two years ago, repost it. Yes, put fresh new. You know copy on it and and hashtags, but you'd be surprised that they still have a life. They still have a life.
Shanna Star:Yeah, is there anything that maybe as a misconception, or something that maybe the opposite, that you're loving about social media that we haven't touched on, that you want to be sharing, or something that just kind of pops up for you?
Christine Blosdale:Oh, you know, there's not too much. It can be a real time sucker. That's the only thing. Yes, you know, and I tell people, like, just be careful what you watch, right? Because the algorithm is such that if you are scrolling, scrolling, scrolling, and you stop and you watch a video for any amount of time, it tells the algorithm that, oh, she likes kittens playing in the rain. So all of a sudden, all your stuff on your feed are going to be kittens playing in the rain.
Christine Blosdale:So if you want to see, I I encourage you to go to those social media platforms that not your. I don't like competitors, but the the, the word I would choose is people that are in your same field, right, that are similar to you and you know like their stuff, comment on their, their things. It helps everybody's algorithm, it helps everybody. But doing those comments, um, if you are gonna, if you do want your page to start growing, if you uh like somebody's video, it doesn't matter what platform. If you like someone's video, don't just like it and leave like it and then comment on it.
Christine Blosdale:And if you can comment, uh, seven or eight words, that helps them. That will help you. It doesn't really does help you as well. So don't just do a smiling emoji right or a fire flame, you know, just like, actually say a full sentence and you'd be, you'd be surprised at the. You know the response that you'll get. You'll also get responses and, um, it's, use it wisely. Use the your time there wisely and just where you land and where you watch videos, just you know, be aware, be aware of where you're spending your time. I agree, unless you really like kittens playing in the rain, you know.
Shanna Star:I watched too many cop videos of people getting pulled over and now I was like keep going, stop. And is there anything? This doesn't have to be any deeper if you don't want it to be, but is there anything that maybe has been on your heart, that you've been wanting to share, anything that keeps coming up for you that, yeah, you just want to share with everyone listening as well?
Christine Blosdale:And this goes? I think this goes back to that authenticity and relatability. Right now, I feel that a lot of people are struggling. They're struggling financially, emotionally.
Christine Blosdale:We have things that are happening in the world that we it's happening at a very fast rate and we don't know how to respond, and I think, instead of feeling very much alone, I really I think people need to reach out to each other, and we can do that through social media as well. You know, use the platform for good, not just for your own you know marketing but to actually connect with others and to say you know what I'm feeling, you, I feel the same way, or I'm here as somebody that you can count on to support you. Let's, you know we've got this. You know, right now, humanity, I think, is at a turning point where we need to also stand up for what's right, and we can. We know what's right in our hearts, right, we know what's right, as, again, we were taught as little children. You know, share your toys. You don't need to, you don't need to beat Tommy over the head with a bottle.
Christine Blosdale:you know, actually there's, there's just so much that's happening right now and I think, if we are able to connect with one another, it will, it will, it will change things on a grander scale. But we, we have to be aware of that, that people are suffering right now and there's there's a lot of stress going on. So that's my bit of sobering, you know, but it's it's true. I think we need to connect with each other and support each other.
Shanna Star:It took a little time because we all get stuck in our own bubble of who's reaching out to me and what am I doing for my business, and I can't remember who it was. Now it was a couple of years ago. I was chatting with a woman and she said that she intentionally takes time to write to I can't remember what it was two or three people every Friday, and so even the people in our lives that maybe you knew in high school or maybe you haven't connected within years. And so just doing those little touch points once a week, like you said, just to reach out and connect and have them know you're thinking of them. It doesn't have to be a huge gesture, but just that they're not alone and that they're important or you're loving what they're doing or whatever that looks like. So I love that you said that it's important.
Christine Blosdale:And, and when it comes to you know support, support small businesses, support you know um, think about where you're putting your money. That is a huge thing. Vote with your money. So if you don't like what some of these very large multinational corporations are doing or you think it's you know know, not proper, then put your money, you know, towards someone who is doing a great job or doing a wonderful service and keep it local. I really, first, I believe in that. I like to keep things local in my community and then, after that, outside world, because we're an international place. I like to support businesses like that young lady who has that little pajama business right Now. Could I get pajamas from that other pajama maker? That's the big you know name and they charge a gazillion dollars. Yeah, but I wanted to support somebody that's. I really appreciate the content that she creates and she's, you know, a startup.
Shanna Star:So think about that, I agree. So how can we find you and work with you? And I know you have a few things that they can kind of click on and get to you and get to know you as well.
Christine Blosdale:So if they just want to find out more about the work that I've done and take a look at my website, which they can, you know and take a look at my website, which they can, you know, not rip off, but you can.
Shanna Star:You can mimic the stuff that I have on my website.
Christine Blosdale:Yes, they can go to expert authority coachcom.
Christine Blosdale:That's expert authority coachcom and if they want that, they can actually book right there A complimentary strategy session with me. We sit down, it's on zoom, it's recorded and it's absolutely free, and you just tell me this is what I'm doing. Uh, I, I, I feel I feel good about what I'm doing, but I, I, I want to have you know, I want to get more clients or I want to get more media exposure. Then we'll sit there and do that, because anything to do with media I can help you with. So that is available at expert authority coachcom and also um.
Christine Blosdale:If you want to rate your expert authority-ness right, you can do that through a quiz that I created. It's called um, expert authority quizcom, expert authority quizcom and it just takes a couple of minutes and their questions that you actually should be asking yourself, okay, and at the end you get a rating. Don't worry, nobody fails. You can't, you can't flunk this quiz, but it just basically tells you sort of where you're at and gives you some ideas and tips on how you can get even more expert authority. Mess, if that makes, if that's even a word it's a fun, fun little quiz.
Shanna Star:Just with chatting with you, I was like, yep, it's absolutely worth like having that conversation with you. You're so lovely and warm, so they absolutely, and who doesn't love? A quiz, so I'm going to go do that as well. So is there anything else that you want to leave them with today? You gave us so much and and who doesn't love a quiz? So I'm going to go do that as well. Okay, good Is there anything else that you want to leave?
Christine Blosdale:them with today. You gave us so much wisdom and a lot of your heart today too, but I just never want to leave. If there's about that, you're worried, that you know who's going to listen to me, who's going to want to work with me, please stop that. Focus on the people that you'll serve and not what you look like or how old you are. Ok, again, I have a client who's 82 years old and she's just getting out there now. She is because she's taking care of the kids and the grandkids. She's done all that. She like you know what.
Christine Blosdale:Now it's for me and I want to share my wisdom and you have something unique. Doesn't matter what it is. If you're passionate about something, share it with the world and just do it. It's like that, nike you know horrible motto from nike just do it, take action, because all the dream you can dream and dream and dream, but those people that you could be serving, those people that you could be helping, they're still. They're there and you need to take action and step forward so that you can actually work with those folks and and make the world a better place. You know, don't be shy, stop it.
Shanna Star:Wish y'all could see every hand motion.
Christine Blosdale:You're so wonderful. I love it.
Shanna Star:I agree. I always said like better done is better than perfect. And yes, you know it's going to help connect and if you mess up, it's not really a mess up. People are going to love that part of you too, just like you purchase something because of quote mistakes.
Christine Blosdale:So yes, yes, yes. Well, thank you so much. You're wonderful. Thank you Thank you so much. I really enjoyed our conversation.
Shanna Star:Me too. I hope we can do it again in the future. You're lovely so yes, yes.
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