Blog
Women Branching Out: Sammi Johnson
I’m very happy to have Sammi Johnson of Sammi Is Social here on the blog today as part of the Women Branching Out interview series.
Sammi rocks social media with a fun, just do it attitude and straight forward advice for both online entrepreneurs and brick-and-mortar businesses.
Her new Kickstart service helps businesses grow their online presences with custom social media content.
Here’s Sammi…
Tell me about Sammi Is Social. Who do you love to help and why?
Sammi is Social is about teaching, inspiring and encouraging. I love to support people and see that little light bulb go off when I teach an entrepreneur something new. I mostly work with women who have an amazing message, and the drive to get it out in the world, but they just aren’t sure what steps to take. I have an uncanny ability to come up with marketing strategies that aren’t always mainstream.
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When did you first start to recognize the impact social media could play in your own business?
Years ago, about six or seven, I used Myspace to blog and post pictures for family and friends. Then I became the social events director for a singles group at my church. Immediately I put up a website but I quickly learned I had to direct my audience to the website pretty frequently or they would forget to check out the upcoming events. I started using a newsletter and yahoo groups to keep everyone involved and to get feedback — and a crazy seed was planted inside me for all things social media!
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I’ve seen you vlog in pink curlers and talk about social media while putting your makeup on and you always seem so at ease. What advice do you have for women just starting out in their online businesses about putting their “real” selves out in the world for everyone to see?
I was not born with that self-conscious gene I see so many women have. I love to be on camera to share my message and I’m always trying to think of ways I can relate to the women I’m trying to reach. Sometimes a crazy marketing stunt can be just what you need to help your message reach more people.
If you really have trouble with being on camera I always tell my clients: Here’s the deal! (I say that a lot!) People in your life see you all the time. This is not a big deal – it’s only new to you! No one else sees that weird zit on your forehead or that your right eye is bigger than your left. If you are really passionate about your business and helping as many people as possible – use video.
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What is the biggest stumbling block you see women having with incorporating social media easily into their businesses?
When it comes to social media I see a lot of women sweating the small stuff. They worry about saying the wrong thing at the wrong time and somehow ‘messing up’ – although there are some general guidelines with social media – it all moves VERY fast and one post or tweet is not going to make or break your biz. Keep learning from other people in your industry (just by checking out their social media) and ASK your clients! They will tell you exactly what they need from you. Maybe they love inspirational quotes or tutorials or contests. Don’t guess – ask!
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What is your favorite social media management tool?
I’m a huge huge fan of Hootsuite! I use it to bulk schedule promotions and my friends promotions – it’s been a huge time saver and stress reliever. I always know I can stay offline for a day or so and I still have messages scheduled to reach my peeps!
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Where do you tell social media newbies to start first? Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest?
I’m a huge Twitter fan but I know it can be super overwhelming and confusing to a lot of people. Most everyone already has a personal Facebook account and generally know what’s going on over there. So start with that! You can even start by telling friends and family about your biz if you don’t want to open a business page. Don’t stress about content or wording or timing – just tell people – hey I am selling sports memorabilia – anyone interested!
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What is your favorite aspect of your running your own business?
I love, love, love being home when my kids are home. I can meet them for lunch at school and drive them to the bus stop when it’s raining. The whole reason I work from home is so that I am home. It’s unbelievable to have the freedom to set my own schedule.
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Who are your business role models and why?
My most recent inspirational business role model is Leonie Dawson. I’ve only just started following her a few months ago but she has helped me so much with encouraging me to build my own business model and not just copying someone else. She also seems to have started working from home for many of the same reasons as me – freedom to raise my kids and be there for them when they need me – not just when I can schedule time off work.
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What did 7 year old Sammi say she wanted to be when she grew up?
I always said I wanted to be a school teacher. I would make my sister play “school” all the time. She was super smart by the time I was finished with her but I think I was pretty bossy which she didn’t like. I also remember laying in my bed at night fantasizing that there was a secret door in my closet that led to an underground office where I ran a company. Seriously? What kid wants to sit in an office? I think from a really early age I knew I would run my own business – it just took me a few decades to have the guts.
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Is there anything else you’ve like us to know about kickstarting social media for our businesses?
The best thing I’m finding out by working with so many women entrepreneurs – is that they just need a plan. I’ve been writing 30 days of content for the past month or so, and the relief and excitement about receiving pre-written Facebook posts is unbelievable! Once they see it all, the whole marketing thing seems a lot less cumbersome, and maybe a little bit FUN! Although I would be more than happy to help you with taking that first step, it really is something you can do on your own by creating a spreadsheet and just filling it in with links to your blog posts, quotes from your own writing or someone you find inspirational, links to your products, and questions to your audience. You can do this, start creating your biz buzz now!
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Sammi Johnson is in love with mind maps, launching, and strategizing social media coups. She lives in Middle America with her three kids but travels all the time. When she’s not working to help entrepreneurs grow their biz, you can find her with a plate of Mexican food or at the soccer fields screaming her head off! Right now she is creating custom social media content so head on over to Kickstart! You can find her at Sammi Is Social, on Twitter, and Facebook.
Women Branching Out: Alethea Cheng Fitzpatrick
I’m very happy to have Alethea Cheng Fitzpatrick of nestingNYC and Photosanity here on the blog today to start up another session of the Women Branching Out interview series. Alethea is a family photographer and photography coach. She’s offering a free workshop Quickstart your Photosanity on September 18th, 2012, at 9 p.m. Eastern. You can sign-up for a replay of the workshop, if you’re reading this after that date! Her fall workshop begins on September 25, 2012.
Here’s Alethea…
Tell me about nestingNYC and Photosanity. Who do you love to serve and why?
I’m a family photographer and photography coach for parents and I’m on a mission to help parents more fully experience the precious fleeting moments of their children’s lives through photography. nestingNYC is my family photography business. I also teach an online photography workshop for parents and offer customized one-on-one photography coaching for parents through Photosanity.
I like to say that I help parents who want amazing photos of their kids – taken for them or by them!
I love working with parents of young kids and their families to create beautiful portrait artwork that captures everything they love about their lives and what they want to remember about this time. As a mom myself, I know that the cliche is true – the time really does pass by quickly, and without photography, it’s so easy for the special, every day moments to fade into a blur and be lost for ever.
But more than that, I love to show parents how seeing like a photographer (which anyone can learn to do by the way) can heighten their emotions and memories, keep them in the moment and bring them closer to their kids. Photography does this for me daily and I get such joy and delight from it, I want every parent to experience this!
Photo by workshop participant Susan Malat.
When did you first pick up a camera?
Back in the day, cameras were not as ubiquitous as they are today, but my father was an avid amateur photographer so I’m pretty sure it was at a fairly young age. Certainly my sister and I would “help” out in the darkroom we had in one of the bathrooms of the house. I first got my own camera when I was around 14 years old.
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When did photography turn from hobby to business for you?
Although I went to art school (for architecture – I’m a former architect and interior designer) and took photography classes in college, it absolutely did not occur me to pursue it professionally until I had my first son, Liam, who is now 3.5 yrs old. Although I shot with an SLR many years ago, I actually didn’t get a DSLR until just before he was born… and I fell in love with photography all over again. And when my maternity leave was over, I decided to pursue it professionally rather than return to my career as an architect. I wanted to have my own business and the flexibility it would give me to spend some time at home with my son, and I also wanted a career where being a mom would be an advantage rather than a conflict.
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In your workshops you help parents capture precious moments in their children’s lives. What’s a precious moment you recently captured of your kids?
Liam and my second son Jack (9 months) are at this really fun stage where they can actually kind of play together now, with a lot of supervision and yelling at Liam to be “GENTLE!!!” Actually, I realized that when Liam is a little rough, really all he’s trying to do is get Jack to laugh, which he absolutely loves to do. The other day at the park, I captured this moment where he succeeded – Jack is laughing and looking up at Liam, and Liam is responding, and I just love how this photo captures the very best of their relationship right now. Parents often struggle with sibling photos I think because they are hoping to capture their kids with their arms around each other, smiling and looking at the camera – and if that doesn’t actually ever happen in real life, you’re only going to frustrate everyone trying to make it happen for a photo! So I encourage parents to look for natural interactions and emotions to capture, not only because it’s more likely to happen, but because those photos will be more meaningful.
How has the experience of photographing your own children influenced how you teach your photography workshops?
My experience of photographing my own children is a MAJOR influence in how I teach my photography workshops – I draw heavily from my experience as a mom. It’s one of the things that my workshop participants really like and what makes the strategies I teach accessible and achievable for moms. Most workshops are taught from the perspective of a professional photographer, which is not what my participants are looking for as beginners. Of course, I draw from my experience as a professional photographer as well, particularly for the technical aspects and it’s also given me experience working with kids of all ages, personalities, skin tones etc. But I downplay that aspect because Photosanity is NOT about becoming a professional photographer, or being trained as one. It really is about photographing your own kids.
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In a recent blog post on Photosanity.com you gave some really great tips on “How to turn your iPhone photos from “blah” to “wow”! What’s one tip you can share that parents reading this interview can use right now to start taking better photos of their kids?
As I mentioned above, I think a lot of parents think that they need to get their kids to smile and look at the camera for photos, which generates a frustrating experience for everyone. Your kids don’t want to stop what they’re doing to pose, and you can’t get a good photo. Instead, think about what you most want to remember about this time that your kids naturally do every day and capture that. Shoot first and foremost from your emotions and the technical stuff can follow.
Photo by workshop participant Karine Baczynski.
You’ve worked as an architect and interior designer, how are those experiences reflected in your approach to photography?
I use my background as an architect and interior designer to show parents how they can best display their photos in their home – most parents have no idea where to even begin figuring out the location, size, type of frame, and which images to use. Having photos in your home that show your family naturally interacting at their best can bring such daily joy and pride, not to mention a confidence boost for parents and kids alike.
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What’s your favorite aspect of running your own business?
I love being able to create a business that reflects how I most love to help people.
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Who are your biggest supporters in life and biz and what does their support allow you to do?
First and foremost my husband is my biggest supporter in life and biz! His support has allowed me to create the life I want – running my own business and also spending time at home with my kids. The rest of my family, especially my parents, plus my entire network of friends from various parts of my life have also been big supporters, especially all my mom friends and my growing group of entrepreneur friends. Running your own business and being a mom can be lonely if you don’t reach out and find those connections and support.
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What did 7-year old Alethea say she wanted to be when she grew up?
The funny things is, I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up – I was too interested in too many things! It’s why I ended up studying architecture, which is a really broad and open subject. Becoming a mom was what really enabled me to focus.
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Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Actually, I’m offering a FREE live online workshop – Quickstart your Photosanity on September 18th at 9pm EDT and anyone is welcome to join. I’ll be giving away tips and strategies on taking better photos AND more fully experiencing your children’s lives through photography. If you can’t make the live call, there will be a recording available afterwards, but you do have to sign up to get access.
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Alethea Cheng Fitzpatrick is a family photographer and photography coach for parents. She is on a mission to help parents more fully experience the precious fleeting moments of their children’s lives through photography. She is also an entrepreneur, mom of two adorable if rambunctious boys, Liam (aged 3.5 yrs) and Jack (aged 9 months) and a former architect and interior designer. Born in the UK, she went to Pratt Institute, where she studied architecture, and now resides in NYC.. She is founder and owner of nestingNYC, which specializes in baby photography as interior design, and Photosanity, where she offers online workshops and private coaching. You can find her on Facebook at http://facebook.com/nestingNYC and http://facebook.com/photosanity, on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nestingNYC, YouTube http://youtube.com/photosanity, and Pinterest http://pinterest.com/aletheafitz.
Online Resource Roundup: February
Check out this awesome list of online classes, programs, and resources offered by entrepreneurial women to help you live your best life. If you have an online offering available in February that supports women entrepreneurs in living their best lives please share in the comments.
Spotlight
This month we are shining the spotlight on Andrea Lewicki of The Lewicki Agency for her exploration of curiosity as a form of self-care.
Real-Time Curiosity Sessions
With: Andrea Lewicki
Price: $27
30 minute session with Andrea. Practical application of your curiosity as a catalyst for change. Immediately useful and a whole new way to experience curiosity.
http://thelewickiagency.com/real-time-curiosity/
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And now, on to the full list…have fun, grow, learn, explore, live!
~~~February~~~
Personal Development
Myself 2012 – A “You Versus Your Baggage” Resolution Campaign
With: Akilah S. Richards
Price: $100
Defend yourself against your baggage with this direct approach to lifestyle design! Join “the debates” and let me show you just how ready you are TODAY to define, design, and live your fullest life.
www.execumama.com/vote
Starts: Feb. 6, 2012
Reclaim Your Time
With: Jill Farmer and Sarah Wagner Yost
Price: Free
Not enough time to get it all done? Join coaches Sarah Wagner Yost and Jill Farmer for a FREE teleclass on February 9. Reclaim Your Time, baby. Learn to Recapture Lost Hours and Heal Your Relationship With Your Clock.
http://sarahwagneryost.com/reclaim-your-time-learn-to-recapture-lost-hours-and-heal-your-relationship-with-your-clock/
Event Date: Feb. 9, 2012
Soul & Creativity
Your Souls University
With: Hillary Rubin
At a turning point in your life? It’s your time time to rise and take big steps towards your big dreams. It is my goal to help you become realized women who sheds her fear to become undeniable in life. Take a peek into the 3 day fur-hee YSU pre-experience and be poised for greatness in your life, relationships and business.
http://www.yoursoulsu.com
Starts: Feb. 1, 2012
Unleash Your Wild Creative Daimon
With: Kathleen Profit
Price: $499 or 3 pymnts of $187
A 12 week Embodied Arts webinar program with a private membership site to post expressive art and writing work in. Training in the embodied arts: authentic movement, expressive painting, authentic writing, and the art of witnessing, to unleash the deepest levels of your authentic self!
http://kathleenprophet.com/unleash-your-wild-creative-genius-embody-your-legend-program/
Sales Close: Feb. 11, 2012
Take Flight Play Camp
With: Alara Castell
Price: $79
Take Flight Play Camp is my offering of tapping into your inner child to open your life to energetically receiving more, as you deserve it, focusing on helping you build a solid practice of play to support you in your life and business. Six weeks of fun, online, at your own pace plus space to share your experience in community.
http://www.alaracastell.com/take-flight-play-camp/
Sales Close: Feb. 27, 2012
Wellness & Health
Winter Recovery Sessions
With: Jennifer Cooper
Price: Pay what you want 🙂
During this season of renewal, we’ll take a virtual journey together, to recover, to heal, to get ready to re-emerge as our best selves.
Starting February 1, 2012, we’ll take 14 days to recover toward love.
http://jennifer-cooper.healthcoach.integrativenutrition.com/events/2012/02/winter-recovery-sessions
Starts: Feb. 1, 2012
Fresh Start Cleanse
With: Judy Griffin
Price: $20.12
This is a week of vibrant nourishment to get women back on track, open a window to Healthier Living, and your ticket to feeling fit and fabulous. http://nourishingsolutions4life.com/2012-fresh-start-cleanse-for-only-2012
Starts: Feb. 2, 2012
Busy Women Mealtime Makeover
With: Betsy Moore
Price: early bird special of $95 by January 26th, $125 after that
This program is perfect for you if you are a busy woman and you want to get a decent meal on the table! We’ll cook together. You in your kitchen. Me in mine. 12 new recipes for real, whole, fabulous food. You are better than processed food. 4 weeks. Join me.
http://bmoorehealthy.com/2011/07/29/busy-women-mealtime-makeover/
Sales Closes: Feb. 5, 2012
Foundations for Unshakable Joy™
With: Stephenie Zamora
Price: $97
The EXACT Foundational Process That Took Me From a Stressed and Depressed Mess, to Happy, Fulfilled and Living a Life Built Around My Passions and Purpose
http://www.myawesomelifemastery.com/
Starts: Feb. 7, 2012
Weekly Healing Energy Retreat
With: Barbara Coon
Price: early bird pricing good through Feb. 1: full payment $200 or 3 payments of $77
In 12 healing sessions by phone you will understand your own internal energetic world and develop new relationships with your inner parts that support or block healing. Weekly each Tuesday at 7pm PST is time to connect with the healer within. You will trust your body’s capacity to heal anything while emerging with more awareness, connection, and peace.
http://barbaracoon.com/mentoring-2/
Begins: Feb. 11, 2012
Cleanse with Style™ – New Year, Amazing You
With: Holli Thompson
Price: $297, with coupon $197
This powerful 4 week program has everything you’ll need on your journey to health: live, recorded Q&A calls, an e-cook book, quizzes to pinpoint your needs, shopping lists, email assistance and butt-kickin’ action guides to get you on your way faster.
www.cleansewithstyle.com
Starts: Feb. 15, 2012
~~~March~~~
Personal Development
Master Your Life Women’s Group
With: Dr Laura Ciel
Price: $450, payment options and additional private sessions available, also
Master Your Life! Be Part of the 10% Who Actually Achieve Their New Year’s Resolutions! If you are a woman who has made some ambitious resolutions or set high goals for yourself this year and you are committed to seeing them achieved, this is for you. This is also for you if you did NOT make such goals and you WANT to.
http://1oneworldleadership.com/events/new_years_resolutions/
Begins: March 6, 2012
~~~Ongoing~~~
Business Growth
Corporate Sponsorship Success E-course
With: Michelle Christie
Price: $495
This 4-week workshop will cover the steps necessary to secure sponsorship, as well as useful tips when faced with some typical challenges along the way.
http://www.macswomenonline.com/corporate_sponsorship_ecourse.html
How to Get Your First 1000 Subscribers
With: Jenny Shih
Price: $67
You’ve heard that “having a list” is one of the best ways to grow your online business, but you’re not sure how to find all those people and get them to subscribe. In this class you will learn exactly how to get your first 1000 subscribers with down-to-earth, practical, specific how-to instruction… superhero style.
http://jennyshih.com/grow-your-list/
Personal Development
Vibrant Life Master Class
With: Maddy Vertenten
Price: $197
The Vibrant Life Master Class is a self-paced course for women delving into the questions, practices and action-steps that culminate in the creation of a Healthy + Beautiful life. Modules include: Heeding the Call to Greater Depth & Meaning; Vibrant Health; Owning the Feminine Art of Creation; Money Savvy, Meaningful Service, and Changing the World; plus two 30-minute private coaching sessions with Maddy.
http://vibrantone.com/vibrant-life-master-class/
30-Day Fast-Action Coaching Program
With: Shay de Silva
Price: $697
A one-on-one 30-day program to get you totally clear on where you want to be and how to get there. We’ll work together to create a detailed action plan and I’ll keep you accountable every step of the way!
http://solutiongarden.com/action-planning/
Please share anyone who would benefit from this information.
If you’d like to be included in the next roundup, please fill out this form for consideration. Thanks!