theADSagency's podcast

In today's digital age, there's no reason not to share your family stories with the next generations coming up. We've got Facebook where we can connect with loved ones, even distant relatives we haven't met yet, there's digital family tree sites that let you instantly connect with census records and other existing family trees (as well as your DNA) to learn more about your roots and - finally - we've got QR codes we can put to good use to digitally share the story with all of those who are curious to learn. In this video, I'll tell you why I got interested in my own family's genealogy as of late, plus share about some digital tools you might find helpful - especially one that I think everyone should use on their family gravesites, future obituaries and more: Forevory. You can check out the Forevory memorial page I made for my own granddad easily and quickly here: https://forevorylive.page.link/GTdFzR1R6YwNkiUS6?profileId=148  - complete with photos, video, a guestbook area, his story and more. It even has a place where you can record audio notes about him! It's a great tool to keep in mind for family reunions, funerals or just storytelling with the kids in your family so they can see why they have so much to be proud of. To learn more about Forevory: https://www.forevory.com/

Ask me if I thought I'd be here 5 years ago. Absolutely not. In fact, I thought I'd only be STARTING to think about running a business at age 40. But today I'm celebrating 5 years in and reflecting back on some REAL lessons learned that entrepreneurs - old and new - should take to heart. Of all of them, #3 is probably my favorite but they are ALL true, hard core and golden as they come.

Here are some large Facebook group management tips for you to try out. We've been taking some cues from a big group we're intimately involved in lately and wanted to pass on 7 key tips to managing a large Facebook group to you! Plus, we're sharing ideas for how small Facebook groups can incorporate those same tips. What ideas do you have? Share them in the comments below - we'd love to hear them! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ☕ Love this content? Here's how you can support it: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/missads08 A FEW THINGS ABOUT MY BUSINESS: The ADS Agency (Marketing & Branding)

If you're an entrepreneur, solopreneur or personal brander, you are going to ABSOLUTELY need good photography for use on your website and social media. In this video, you'll learn some quick tips on budget, planning your location, shots and poses, outfits, our recommendations on how often to do photoshoots and more.    ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Love this content? Here's how you can support it: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/missads08 A FEW THINGS ABOUT MY BUSINESS: The ADS Agency (Marketing & Branding)

I'm running into so many entrepreneurs lately who don't seem to have this one critically important thing CLEAR for themselves: their vision. It is easy to get lost in the weeds, the minutiae of the day-to-day grind, focusing on small, tactical things that seem very important and critical in the moment and truthfully have NOTHING to do with our long term vision for ourselves and our businesses. Take a walk with me on this episode and let's consider afresh your vision for yourself. ------------------------------------------------------------------------Love this content? Here's how you can support it: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/missads08 A FEW THINGS ABOUT MY BUSINESS: The ADS Agency (Marketing & Branding)

Looking for the right system to help you manage your social media? So were we. We're a small, boutique marketing and branding firm, handling about 25 social media accounts at a time. We need something that's not only highly functional but affordable as well. In this video, we compare eight of the top (and perhaps little known) social media scheduling platforms by price and number of accounts you can manage with it: Sendible AgoraPulse SproutSocial Buffer HootSuite Loomly CoSchedule SocialPilot

If you're an entrepreneur, we're sure you already know that Google Ads are going to be an important part of your business success. But how do you get started - especially when you're a solopreneur or you're a business who's never done Google Ads before? Today I'm chatting with former Google employee turned Google Ads expert Vondre Smith of Atmosfera (Italian for atmosphere - yes, Vondre speaks fluent Italian - how cool, right?!). In this chat, we talk about our Top 10 Google Ad Tips for Entrepreneurs (you can jump to the time stamps below for the sections you want to hear - but we recommend listening to all of it!): TIP 1: Google My Business TIP 2 [ 5:36​ ]: Why it's worth it TIP 3 [ 7:22​ ]: Getting clarity around your ad goals TIP 4 [ 8:24​ ]: Start a YouTube Channel TIP 5 [ 11:19​ ]: Be strategic about your Google Ads budget TIP 6 [ 13:17​ ]: Be very specific about your audience and goals TIP 7 [ 15:19​ ]: Learning Google Ads on your own TIP 8 [ 17:08​ ]: YouTube Ads TIP 9 [ 18:00​ ]: Google Ads Business Example: Food Truck Business TIP 10 [ 22:00​ ]: Biggest Tip regarding Google Ads (LinkTree versus Landing Pages, Pixels and Remarketing) Follow us: @theadsagency | https://theadsagency.co 

Download our Clubhouse Moderating Quick Guide here: http://bit.ly/clubhousemoderating​ Moderating rooms on Clubhouse requires some new skills for a lot of people. It's a bit like moderating panels on stage in real life at say a conference, but there are many other nuances that are quite different being that it's an audio-only app you're using. Jump to these time stamps below to learn more about the nuances of moderating rooms on Clubhouse so you can run your own rooms like a pro! See you on Clubhouse! - Andrea @MissADS08 1:27​ – No. 1 - The Goal of Moderating on Clubhouse (Dinner Party Analogy) 4:41​ – No. 2 - Educating Your Audience (plus sign, raising your hand, muting your mic, time limits, etc.) 4:56​ – Watch Video 1 on the Basics of Clubhouse: https://youtu.be/3ay5A7_wc8Q​ 7:07​ No. 3 - Back Channels / Backstage Area for Rooms 8:25​  No. 4 - Prep Your Tips & Speaker Prompt Questions 10:11​  No. 5 - PTR | PTR Order (speaker queue / speaker lineup) 13:07​ No. 6 - The Mechanics (bringing people up on stage, taking people back down to the audience, muting people, etc.) 15:46​ No. 7 - My thoughts on "Follow all the moderators" (and what to say instead) 18:45​ No. 8 - Acknowledging people's comments (don't just say "next!") 21:03​ No. 9 - The Art of Interrupting on Clubhouse 25:59​ No. 10 - Closing the Room (including turning off hand-raising) 28:18​ BONUS: Reset the room ABOUT A.D.S. Andrea D. Smith, The ADS Agency Marketing & Branding Tips for Entrepreneurs & Career Professionals Website: https://theadsagency.co/​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theADSagency​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theADSagency​ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/theADSagency​ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theadsagency

So you've heard about Clubhouse and want to know how to get started. Here's everything you need! Plus - download this handy Clubhouse Quick Guide so you can get started on the right foot and make the most of your Clubhouse journey: http://bit.ly/clubhousequickguide

Love this content? Here's how you can support it: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/missads08 

I run across a lot of people who are trying to figure out how to create a media kit / press kit / speaker kit. Start here. I'll walk you through the elements you should consider plus provide some inspirational examples for you to check out. You're bound to find the right mix for your own kit! DOWNLOAD YOUR MEDIA KIT HERE: http://bit.ly/adsmediakitchecklist CHECK OUT LEADPAGES: https://bit.ly/leadpagesads 

Fresh off the holidays, we know you might not have your January social media content all together just yet. (No worries, we're not judging!). Of course, use your evergreen business content to post in between these fun holidays and observances below (if you're stuck on what that is, skip to the video at the bottom to hear about our content buckets idea). Here are a couple of filler post ideas to get those creative juices flowing. Save our Instagram post with all these January post ideas written down for you: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJow6nBB5Vf/

Recently I was asked how I make my great professional connections. I hadn't considered that until this question was posed, but now that it has been, I could think of seven unconventional secrets to making these great connections. Number 7, I think, will surprise you the most!  

We learned a lot from planning our first virtual mini-conference. Learn from our best tips by watching our latest video and downloading our Virtual Mini-Conference Checklist: Download The Virtual Mini-Conference Checklist here to accompany this podcast: https://bit.ly/virtualminiconference  

Ketevan Larsen and I met because of Social Media Marketing World this year - #SMMW20 - and we've been following each other online ever since! She's been running her own digital marketing firm - Ketevan Corporation - for 6 years now after running the social media for the City of Vancouver. In this chat, she and I cover the following three topics for businesses and personal brands who want to get the most out of TikTok: TIKTOK FOR BUSINESS MARKETING: Minute 13:06 - How to find meaningful followers Minute 21:17 - Video ideas for your brand Minute 26:06 - Content plan for TikTok HOW TO REACH KETEVAN LARSEN: TikTok: @ketevan.larsen Website: ketevanlarsen.com Essential Links: composite.bio/ketevan Instagram: @ketevansocial

So we're all quarantined at home - what do you do when a birthday or other cause for celebration comes up? What if you just want to have lunch with your friend or do happy hour like you used to but you've gotta figure out how to do it virtually? Use Zoom! It's easy for you and easy for your guests to use too. Here's our best tips on how to throw a virtual party using the Zoom platform - (either for FREE or you can upgrade to the $15/mo option to go longer than 40 minutes).

Working from home for the first time might sound like a dream come true, but truth be told, it can be extremely difficult. Here are 9 things we think you need to know plus an important bonus 10th tip at the end about working from home to make sure you combat two of the worst enemies in this space: depression and distraction. Add your tips below in the comments!

If you're a small business just trying to lay a solid (and powerful) foundation for your marketing program for the first time, you need to take a look at your competitors. Here's a simple, quick (and efficient) way to get a good lay of the land for your competitive landscape. Included in this Podcast: Task 1: Pick 3-5 competitors Task 2: Google what your customers would google Task 3: Review their websites Task 4: Review their social media pages Task 5: Think about how customers will google your services (check again for any other notable competitors you might've missed)

When you break up with your business partner or let go of your marketing manager / ad agency, what next? First things first: PROTECT YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA. Here's what you need to know BEFORE you start letting people go in your organization.

When you've got aggressive goals for yourself or your business, here's one thing to be quite careful of: desperation and fear. Don't make business decisions out of desperation or fear. Here's how to avoid that.  

I chose Miracle as my One Word for 2020 largely because of this book: Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. It's because I truly wanted to make Miracle Mornings a habit in 2020. I had a taste of this in the summer of 2019 when I did Miracle Mornings as a 30-day challenge (something the book encourages you to do) and I thought it was fantastic then. This podcast covers the how and why of Miracle Mornings and how it just might make your own 2020 a bit miraculous! Get the book: https://amzn.to/2sL7srp

Ninety-two percent of us will make resolutions this year and not keep them. We'll give up on them by February and settle back in to business as usual. This is why we ADORE the One Word for the Year practice. Pick One Word. It works as a singular focus for your entire year. Not that you still can't have goals and other foci, etc., but there's something magical about choosing one word for the year to focus you and create change in a specific area. Check out this video to learn about our One Word for the year and how we're turning it into a habit. Let us know what your One Word idea is below!  

Whether you're a very small business or an established, large corporation, here are two simple pointers on customer service we think are important for everyone to remember. First is a quote to tack up on your wall that we absolutely LOVE. It's from the Chief Talent Officer for Netflix, Patty McCord. "Over the years, we learned that if we asked people to rely on logic and common sense instead of on formal policies, most of the time we would get better results, and at a lower cost." So in this video, you'll hear us expound upon Patty's quote for organizations. Second is a simple customer service acronym that we think is a nice, easy go-to that most people can remember. LAST: Listen, Apologize, Solve and Thank. We'll walk you through some simple thoughts on this acronym as well. What about you? What customer service stories do you have and do you think you could apply this quote and acronym to what you do in the future? Let us know in the comments below and thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel and click the little bell after you hit subscribe so you get notifications about when our videos come out. Also, check out our other helpful links below. Cheers and here's to a great year of business for you!

I kept a grateful journal for an entire year. What did I learn? SO much that I want to share with my fellow entrepreneurs!! All of this was inspired by Brene Brown who states that gratefulness is inextricably related to joy. I decided to take a year to test that. It did NOT disappoint!!  

Many of you have heard of S.M.A.R.T. Goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound), but what about D.U.M.B. goals - specifically for business? What are they and how do they relate to SMART Goals? PS - D.U.M.B. stands for Dream-Driven, Uplifting, Method-friendly and Behavior-Triggered. Let us know what you think about SMART vs DUMB goals and which (if any) will you be trying for 2020?  

FREE CHECKLIST: Download the ADS Storytime Checklist here - https://theadsagency.lpages.co/storytimechecklist/

Got some brand changes to make? Some upgrades, updates, refreshes? Maybe it's to your website, or (as is the case with my current pilot course students) your Instagram branding. When you have changes to make to your imagery, messaging, etc. - you are in effect changing your brand. One student asked: how can you have confidence in your new branding - especially when you're DIY'ing it? Check out my 4 part answer here.  

We all know being in business is not for the faint at heart. Each and every year presents its own new challenges to overcome, hurdles to face, roadblocks to figure out and celebrations along the way. We're pausing for a celebration and reflection moment since it's our 3 Year Anniversary of being in business. Here are my Top 10 lessons learned this year - my lesson in GRATEFULNESS being Number One. What about you? Are you in business? I'd love to know some of your top nuggets! MY TOP 10: Gratefulness is essential. Be selective about your extracurricular activities - keep them to the powerful few. Don't be afraid to try new things: Hello Fall Challenge, Instagram Online Pilot Course. The work is there if you want it. Niching down takes time and that's OK. Targeting a new audience takes time and that's OK too. Focus on your best use. Potential partners: you have to know, like and trust each other first. New levels requires new mentorship. Minimalism is life-changing. [ Scotland, Entrepreneurship ] Treat yo self.  

While there are many things you probably shouldn't do on Instagram, these are the two that bother us the most: (A) feeling like you have to put your logo on EVERYthing and (B) something I call Telephone Pole Syndrome. Check out this video to learn more about what those are and how to avoid both.

So now that you know what a Twitter chat is, what it's good for and how to find them (from Video 1), I'm now going to tell you about how to DO a Twitter Chat. What are the rules at play? What etiquette must you know? What are the expectations involved with a chat? I wouldn't advise you just waltz into a Twitter chat without knowing these simple things first. With Twitter chats, the rules of engagement do matter. Here's what you need to know. Next week, come back and join us for the final video of this series where we'll discuss how to create your OWN Twitter chat! That's gonna be fun. See you there! VIDEO 1: What is a Twitter Chat and How Does it Help My Business? https://youtu.be/LsGc9D3ilLo VIDEO 2: How to do a Twitter Chat: Rules, Etiquette, Expectations VIDEO 3: How to Create Your Own Twitter Chat TWITTER CHATS I PARTICIPATE IN: #BizapaloozaChat: Mondays, 2pm EST + Thursdays, 8pm EST #USABizParty: Tuesdays, 1pm EST #SocialBizChat: Tuesdays, 7pm EST #TwitterSmarter: Thursdays, 1pm EST #LeadLoudly: Thursdays, 7pm EST #PeriGirlsChat: Saturdays, 12pm EST  

This is Part 1 of a 3 Part Series on Twitter Chats. In this video, we go over three things: 1. What is a Twitter Chat? 2. Why you should do one (what are the benefits of a Twitter Chat?) 3. How to find them In Video 2 we go over How to Join a Twitter Chat. Video 3 is about How to Create a Twitter Chat for Your Business!   TWITTER CHATS I PARTICIPATE IN: #BizapaloozaChat: Mondays, 2pm EST + Thursdays, 8pm EST #USABizParty: Tuesdays, 1pm EST #SocialBizChat: Tuesdays, 7pm EST #TwitterSmarter: Thursdays, 1pm EST #LeadLoudly: Thursdays, 7pm EST #PeriGirlsChat: Saturdays, 12pm EST   RESOURCES: Huffington Post's 10 Twitter Chats for Entrepreneurs 25 Best Twitter Chats for Marketers

Ever wonder how people who do online challenges create them in the first place (AND make money)? This is it. Jamal Miller's challenges have earned him over half a million dollars, plus garnered him $50K in monthly recurring revenue [ MRR ]. He recently shared his best tips for creating and delivering a successful online challenge at #TSPLIVE2019 [ Traffic, Sales and Profit Conference in Atlanta, GA ] and we're sharing them with you. Take a look and let us know what you think! Will you be starting an online challenge of your own?

Is it wise to take business to the beach? Is it even advisable? Normally we would say no, but there are exceptions to every rule! Check out how one business, @CharleighRocks, took smart advantage of their beach time.  

These are the reasons why your title doesn't matter. First: nobody cares. And why? Because a lengthy, hefty title means nothing without action and true leadership behind it. Real leaders lead by example - not by running their mouths or attempting to throw their weight around. Here are 5 reasons why we feel titles don't matter. (Plus some instances where it does mean something). What about you - what do you think? 5 REASONS TITLES DON'T MATTER 1. Competence over Confidence 2. Hard Work from the Top Inspires 3. Too Much Hierarchy can Kill Innovation 4. The Right to Make Decisions Must be Earned 5. Real Leaders Solve the Hard Problems

This is a continuation of our #TSPLIVE2019 topic coverage. In this video, we cover the story of Tommie Powers (a.k.a. Tommie Traffic) and Organifi - a company that literally went from making $5,000 a month to $5,000 a DAY with the supreme help of YouTube ads. Check it out and let us know what you think!

TSPLIVE - the official conference for the organization Traffic Sales & Profit - is "a millionaire-making team" according to organizer and founder Lamar Tyler. In its fourth year since inception, TSP brought the star power with Janice Bryant Howroyd (first black female owner of a billion dollar business) serving as the main keynote of the event, Kim Coles (comedian and actress) and 90s group Arrested Development performing. What I enjoyed most about this event, in addition to that, was the camraderie with other fellow entrepreneurs - many of whom were in the same space as me: marketing and branding. In this video, I cover the following: #TSPLIVE2019 SPEAKERS TO KNOW: - Janice Bryant Howroyd of The ActOne Group - Charreah Jackson of BossBride.com - Charis Jones of Sassy Jones Boutique - Jamal Miller of Miller Media Group - Lamar Tyler of Traffic, Sales and Profit / Tyler New Media - Stephanie Rollins of Black and Married with Kids - Kim Coles (known for playing Sinclair on "Living Single") -Tommie Powers of TommieTraffic.com #TSPLIVE2019 ATTENDEE INTERVIEWS: - Veteran Interview with Gina from Texas - Newbie Interview with Tara from South Carolina - Hostess with the Mostess Interview with Coach P #TSPLIVE2019 TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS: 1. Two overarching themes in the conference 2. Do your actions equal your expectations about your business? 3. You have to have a connection to your perfect customer 4. The conversation is different when you're sitting with winners 5. You're not stuck, you're just committed to a pattern that no longer serves you. 6. Data-driven decisions will make you unstoppable 7. Do what is necessary to have supreme confidence in your business 8. Consider who you were put on this earth to serve. 9. "I have everything I need to be everything I need to be." - JBH 10. "I live in gratitude. Begin and finish in gratitude." - JBH

Ever heard of the Hope Global Forums? If not, this is the perfect time to learn about it. Do NOT miss this next year! Here's three fun and quick convos with participants - 2 of whom are first-timers (just like me) and one whose been to EVERY one since they started nearly a decade ago. Amazing!! Plus, we included star-power snippets from some of the celebrities who graced the stage at the event with Hope Global Forums founder John Hope Bryant. [ Plus, we throw in some bonus admirable points on branding and experience about the event - for you event planners out there ]. Check out our lineup of interviews and snippets below: 4:16 Jay Hicks, Global Asset Development - first-timer at HGF 8:08 Laura Sims, Operation Hope - first-timer at HGF 13:35 Tony Ressler, Atlanta Hawks Owner 14:36 Judy J. Chapa, Chapa Consulting - experienced HGF attendee interviews ME about ADS! 27:03 Jack Dorsey, CEO & Co-Founder of both Square & Twitter 33:01 My takeaways on Jack Dorsey's daily 5 miles

Have you ever used the SBDC (Small Business Development Center) with UGA before? I just started for the first time last week. They take you in as a client – you fill out some basic info (a simple one-pager) to start. My particular advisor / resource partner (not sure what to call him yet) wanted the short run-down of my life story – where I grew up, where I went to school, what my career background was, how I got into business. We also discussed my pain points, business goals, the things I need the most help with, etc. From there, we set a meeting to cover marketing for MY business (funny, since that's what I do, but there's always more to learn) with their marketing expert on staff which will be in June. In the meantime, they sent me home with the following materials based on our conversation: – A Business Development Questionnaire – A Business Plan Workbook – An “Employee vs. Contractor” doc – A Hiring Checklist – How to Write a Job Description …all materials for me to review prior to our next meeting in June. The SBDC is a tax-payer's resource, so it's at no cost to you (“because you've already paid for it” they say). They have 17 offices across the state of Georgia and their sole purpose is to help small businesses grow. They even have free resources for market research (which I'm particularly interested in for ADS). I'm excited to see how they can help guide me to the next level in my business. What about you? Would you be open to trying SBDC? If so, let me know. I'd be happy to connect you with my contact there. https://www.georgiasbdc.org/ 

Want to know how to organize a mini-conference? We just did one. PS - if you want to get our Mini-Conference Checklist, let us know at theadsagency.co/contact  

Ever find yourself stuck in a place and you're not 100% certain how to get out of it? Or in the middle of a creative project and finding yourself completely devoid of inspiration and that spark that makes it all so fun? A getaway might just be in order for you. Here's how a random getaway helped me with my own rough spots with revamping ADS (my business) as well as in writing my book - #TheScotlandBook (latest side project). What about you? What do you do when you get stuck?  

First, we wanted to know if all this hype was worth it. People would stand in line for seven hours or more at a time - just for the chance to #getsluttified. What does that even mean? Well, if you're in ATL, and are ever on Instagram, you know exactly what it means. Pinky Cole's Slutty Vegan food truck turned restaurant business is all the rage in the ATL foodie scene and has become a new darling favorite of celebrities in a very short span of time. How did she do it? Here's our analysis...  

Want to know how to run a social media contest that gets phenomenal ORGANIC results? We just ran one recently for the NSPIRE Awards Show and got over 23,000 impressions plus 50X the engagement we normally get. Absolutely phenomenal! Check out all the ingredients for your own social media contest recipe.

If you're a non-profit organization - or a volunteer for one - and have been dreaming about (or dreading) putting on that major awards event all these years, now's the time to break out of that cycle of inaction and DO IT! This is the video and checklist we wish we had when we (NOMAtlanta - a non-profit our founder volunteers for) started up our own first juried awards event last year. Check out these invaluable details here! Cheers to a great Awards Event Journey for you and your organization! Download the Awards Event Checklist: bit.ly/awardschecklist  

Ever since IGTV came out, Instagram's been struggling to give it some traction. However, they recently pulled an absolutely brilliant move you should be taking advantage of right now: IGTV Promos. Now, when you upload a video to IGTV, it shows up like a regular post on your Instagram feed. I would recommend leaving it there for a few days and watch how your views compare now to how they did when IGTV first came out. Mine are 13x higher! Brilliant. If you gave up on IGTV, try it again. We think you'll be pleasantly surprised! A FEW THINGS ABOUT MY BUSINESS: The ADS Agency (Marketing & Branding)

Last week Facebook and Instagram both came crashing down for something like fourteen hours straight. Painful if you're in marketing and you're responsible for the social media management and content management for an organization. However, what's the saving grace when a platform goes down? Email lists. Check out these 9 ways to do better at growing your email lists today (especially if you're starting from scratch). What ideas do you have for growing your email lists? We'd love to hear them!   A FEW THINGS ABOUT MY BUSINESS: The ADS Agency (Marketing & Branding)

You're not alone. Many small business owners are in the same boat you're in: looking at a fresh new year WITHOUT a marketing plan in place. Not to worry, we've got your back! Here's some of the most basic things you need to have in place, plus some mistakes many entrepreneurs make to avoid. Check it out! Plus, as promised, here are the links to the deeper series on this that will get your marketing in shape in no time! You're welcome. :) Hit us up with any questions you might have and cheers to an excellent 2019 for you!

Elizabeth Gilbert spoke in Charleston recently at the #C4WNEW Conference (Center for Women) and ROCKED the house! She was side-splitting hilarious, delightfully practical and quite profound all at once. So enjoyed this and we hope you enjoy these tips too! Last week we promised you we would bring you these Top 10 Tips for Writers from the Author of Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert. Here they are!! Our favorite?? Number 7! The lovely thing is that many of these tips also apply to creatives in general (as well as entrepreneurs). Hope you enjoy these! Which one is YOUR favorite tip? OUR 2018 ADS CHRISTMAS WISH LIST: https://theadsagency.co/2018/11/26/top-10-shopsmall-gifts-of-2018-the-ads-christmas-wish-list/ RECEIVE YOUR "AUTHENTIC MARKETING MAGIC" EBOOK https://theadsagency.lpages.co/ads-authentic-marketing-magic-ebook/ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL https://tinyurl.com/adsyoutubesubscribe SIGNUP FOR ADS EMAILS https://tinyurl.com/ADSemailsubscribe GET YOUR MARKETING PLAN TOGETHER FOR 2019: Part 1: Getting Your Marketing Plan Together for 2019 (Business Goals) https://youtu.be/JF8iDNracu4 Part 2: Your Marketing Plan for 2019 Remembering WHO you are, WHO you serve plus doing a competitor refresh. https://youtu.be/Opyr_wAB50w Part 3: Your Marketing Plan for 2019 Incorporating the 7P's of Marketing in your plan https://youtu.be/nzaBFndf2BQ Part 4: Your Marketing Plan for 2019 How MUCH to spend, WHERE to spend it and HOW to track it. https://youtu.be/vteLr9BcD3o ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIDEOS TO CHECK OUT: How to Find the Target Audience for My Small Business https://youtu.be/ied32QVFy4U How to Create a POWERFUL Business Name: https://youtu.be/7i3z4Zjaokg How REAL Businesses Can Get 200+ YouTube Subscribers (in 5 Months) https://youtu.be/xUg-gBhpVck Download our ADS YouTube Checklist https://theadsagency.lpages.co/ads-youtube-checklist/ ADS PLAYLISTS TO CHECK OUT: Marketing 101 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8QXQNWiY-M&list=PLc4rRgg2QMCGak4zU_CJtVsIPlRpUFv4u ADS Chats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruWSqCSBGrg&list=PLc4rRgg2QMCGxur4jZYvzZZo42vY5E_7O Career Tips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFRVVKfq56M&list=PLc4rRgg2QMCFkcHhIDBc1mDVAWDRxIQDM CHECK OUT OUR ADS PODCAST ON ITUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/theadsagencys-podcast/id1366370725?mt=2 ABOUT A.D.S. Andrea D. Smith, The ADS Agency Marketing & Branding Tips for Entrepreneurs & Career Professionals Website: https://theadsagency.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theADSagency Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theADSagency Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/theADSagency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ads-agency/ MUSIC CREDIT "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Wanna know what to get your favorite people this year but out of ideas (as per the usual?!)? We've got you covered. Check out our top 10 favorites here - FULL of our #ShopSmall loves - that will not disappoint! Check back here for updates to the list all the way up through Christmas Day 2018. Cheers! PS - what's your fav thing on this list? What should we add to the list? If your favorite item didn't make it on this video, let us know. We just might add it in before Christmas! *Note: There are some non-#ShopSmall gifts mixed in here. All good - we're just sharing our favorite loves. Just look for the #ShopSmall hashtag in the descriptions below to know which ones are #ShopSmall gifts. See the full list at https://theadsagency.co/2018/11/26/top-10-shopsmall-gifts-of-2018-the-ads-christmas-wish-list/ GIFT NO. 1 [Skip to 1:19 ]: The Speakeasy Host Gift by A Gentleman's Trove. Includes everything to make the perfect gentleman's cocktail. (We love the stirrer and bowtie which also come included!). ATL-based. @gentlemanstrove | #ShopSmall: $49.95 http://gentlemanstrove.com/speakeasy-host/ GIFT NO. 2 [Skip to 4:08]: Zip My Dress - pink ribbon. Perfect for shopping, travel and business trips! Certified women-owned business located in Seattle. Featured on Zulily. @zipmydress | #ShopSmall: $18.95 https://preview.tinyurl.com/yb7lyy7b GIFT NO. 3 [Skip to 5:17]: An affordable stocking stuffer! Kate Spade New York Scallop Gold-Tone and White Mother-of-Pearl Hinge Bangle Activity Tracker. Retail Value: $126.32. eBay: $39.99 [Google-around for the best price for you!] https://preview.tinyurl.com/y8px9qg7 GIFT NO. 4 [Skip to 6:31]: Charleigh Rocks Melanie Earrings - handmade in Thailand. Intricately designed with beautiful beads and leather backing. Perfect holiday cocktail set! (PS - this is my sister's business!! Super love her stuff. Also, check out her clutches!). @charleighrocks | #ShopSmall: Was $34.99, Now $19.99 https://www.charleighrocks.com/product-page/patrice-1 GIFT NO. 5 [Skip to 7:21]: Original, hand-painted alcohol ink tile set in an Alderwood Box with a black stain. Comes with 32 inspirational quotes. Use as a jewelry box! Good friend of mine - ADORE her! Woman-Owned. @thirdactoriginals | ATL-based. | #ShopSmall: Now $55.00 https://preview.tinyurl.com/y8so6zpe GIFT NO. 6 [Skip to 8:56]: West Emory designs real products for real customers. We ADORE their navy blue feather topped pen! Glass cube base with gold pivot top. Perfect for the art of letter-writing. @westemory. Minneapolis-based. Target: $12.99 https://preview.tinyurl.com/ybn9pon8 GIFT NO. 7 [Skip to 10:05]: This is our book list - which includes some #ShopSmall authors as well (denoted below). Will add in links to the non-#ShopSmall books soon. Tell to Win by Peter Guber: Connect, Persuade and Triumph with the Hidden Power of Story. Amazon: $16.10 Hunch by Bernadette Jiwa: Turn Your Everyday Insights into the Next Big Thing. Available through The Itinerate Literate, Charleston. #ShopSmall: $23.00 http://www.itinerantliteratebooks.com/ Maeve in America: Essays by a Girl from Somewhere Else. Available through The Itinerate Literate, Charleston. #ShopSmall: $16.00 http://www.itinerantliteratebooks.com/ Behind the Facade by Alicia Butler Pierre. A must-read for any business that seeks to expand for the first time, full of operation savoire-faire to make sure your business has every chance to thrive. Atlanta-based, a good friend of mine! #ShopSmall: Hardcover: $45.00. Digital: $11.00 https://behindthefacadebook.com/ Strategically Suited by Lee Heyward. Your secret edge to grow sales and get new clients. Level-up your look to level-up your business! Paperback: $12.95. Kindle: $7.99. Met her in Charleston!! #ShopSmall https://www.leeheyward.com/ The More You Hustle, The Luckier You Get by James Oliver, Jr. Take it from a guy who's been on The Today Show not one, not two, but THREE times! Every parent can be a parentpreneur. #ShopSmall: $19.99 https://www.themoreyouhustle.com Rise & Grind by Daymond John. HSN: $10.45. The Healing Self by Deepak Chopra M.D. - $12.99 The Memo by John Hope Bryant - Five Rules for Your Economic Liberation. A must-read for anyone seeking to gain true financial freedom! #ShopSmall $11.99 Brown Girl, Brown Girl, What Do You See? - by Kisha Mitchell. Written for all little girls, but especially our little girlrs of color. Watch your little girl beam with confidence, pride and joy reading this! @bethelightinc. Hardcover: $16.99 https://www.bethelightinc.com/books GIFT NO. 8 [Skip to 16:00]: Bella Vino handblown crystal champagne flutes. $18.99 https://amzn.to/2Pfrj75 GIFT NO. 9 [Skip to 17:18]: Carole Long Pendant Necklace in Brown Mother of Pearl by Kendra Scott. Earrings: Alex Drop in Brown Pearl. GIFT NO. 10 [Skip to 19:49]: Charleigh Rocks hand-sewn sequin clutch (charleighrocks.com) $30, Ghana clutch by Dupsies.com $25. #ShopSmall

What's most sacred to you in your life? Your time? Your family? Your relationships? Your sanity? Holidays are a good reminder of that. But let's face it: (A) Work doesn't stop just because the holidays roll around (especially for us entrepreneurs) and (B) although the holidays are supposed to be fun and merry, it can also present some tough situations for a lot of people and families in general. These tips are great for workaholics who often let work creep into their family time at the holidays, for people who have to deal with awkward and uncomfortable family conversations (potentially around that holiday dinner table) and also for those of us who just have a hard time saying no in general (to clients / bosses if you're working, or even to family, etc.) when we really should. Eat, Pray, Love Author Elizabeth Gilbert recently spoke at the Center for Women's #C4WNEW Conference (Women's Conference) in Charleston. We thought she was ABSOLUTELY amazing!! And since it's just before the holidays, we wanted to share these as some pre-holiday tips for you - just to help you get your mind right before tearing yourself away from work and seeing family (although they're great for you to know regardless of the time of year anyway!). These tips are about protecting what's most important to you - what's most sacred. They're designed with women in mind (since this was a keynote at a women's conference), but they are quite applicable to men as well. Cheers and let me know your thoughts on these tips! We included the time-stamps below so you can jump to whatever tip interests you most. Of course, we love ALL of the tips! Absolutely excellent! What tips do you have to help get the most out of your holidays? 10 AMAZING Pre-Holiday Mindset Tips I got from listening to Elizabeth Gilbert - Author of Eat, Pray, Love: 1. 2:35 - The most powerful words a woman can say: I. Don't. Care. Remember, it is not your job to say yes to everything. It IS your job to know what to say YES to so you can have the power to say no to the things that aren't that important to you. 2. 3:51 - Know the Power of Boundaries....so you can protect the things you DO care about (like your time, your relationships, etc.). 3. 4:39 - The Key to Making ANYthing Sacred (like yourself, family, etc.) - draw a circle around it. Things are sacred because we say so. 4. 6:25 - You get to control who gets to walk around in your mind (fabulous Gandhi quote). Don't let negative talk from others enter your mental space. 5. 7:28 - The story of the Kali Durga Goddess (of the Hindu faith) brings some good lessons on how to protect your boundaries. 6. 10:26 - This is what mysticism (Elizabeth believes every religion has some form of a mystic) can teach us about tough situations: the most relaxed person in the room has ALL the power. 7. 15:20 - In difficult situations, it's important to know how to download the magic. How to find your peace and connect to the infinite (whether that be God for you, the universe, etc.). 8. 18:33 - The Story of Job (Biblical Reference from the Christian faith) reminds us that we have never commanded a sunrise. As much as we'd like to think that the Earth doesn't spin unless we crank it, it doesn't. Knowing a bigger power is above it all can actually provide great strength, power and peace in ANY situation. 9. 23:03 - Don't use that rope to hang yourself. Instead, use it to draw a circle around yourself - to declare and keep yourself sacred. And know that everything is always gonna be alright. That's the peace you have when you can connect with the infinite. 10. 23:04 - Knowing how to "download that magic" can give you the power to walk into ANY situation, any room in the world, with all the power you need. DOWNLOAD THE MAGIC: RECEIVE YOUR "AUTHENTIC MARKETING MAGIC" EBOOK https://theadsagency.lpages.co/ads-authentic-marketing-magic-ebook/ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL https://tinyurl.com/adsyoutubesubscribe SIGNUP FOR ADS EMAILS https://tinyurl.com/ADSemailsubscribe CHECK OUT OUR ADS PODCAST ON ITUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/theadsagencys-podcast/id1366370725?mt=2 ABOUT A.D.S. Andrea D. Smith, The ADS Agency Marketing & Branding Tips for Entrepreneurs & Career Professionals Website: https://theadsagency.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theADSagency Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theADSagency Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/theADSagency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ads-agency/ MUSIC CREDIT: "Nouvelle Noel" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Title: Sleigh Bells Ringing License: Attribution 3.0 Recorded by Mike Koenig

If you've not heard the story of bamboo, you really need to hear this one - ESPECIALLY if you're an entrepreneur trying to authentically win in business.

Last week we asked the question: WHY do we sabotage our own business dreams? Today we're coming back to you with a special weekend-edition response to that - giving you 5 of our best ways we've found to NOT sabotage our dreams. Below is the quote we were speaking of from Marianne Williamson that helps us so much in this regard. Also, we'll include the link to the original video below for your convenience. Cheers and let us know how you combat this in your own world! “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ....keep shining. Be authentic. 5 TIPS COVERED IN THIS VIDEO: 1. Be sagacious about criticism 2. Keep a Success Journal (or Kudos Folder) - record your wins! Remind yourself of what you're good at. 3. Outsource & Learn (ways to deal with your own shortcomings / weaknesses). Acting like we know it all / enough will sabotage us, stagnate our growth. 4. Try a Kanban Board for combating the attractiveness and allure of perceived fires + eliminate excuses. Time-tracking and budget-checks are also a good thing to do (where we spend our time and money says a lot about our actual priorities in life). First Things First! Recommended books*: First Things First https://amzn.to/2z4wbqB The 4-Hour Work Week https://amzn.to/2PLH4Hp The ONE Thing https://amzn.to/2FiIrZX 5. Remember we were MADE to shine. Our playing small does not serve the world. Whenever you need to be reminded of this, re-read the quote above and internalize that for yourself. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.