Branding

How To Create Your Own Worksheets In Adobe InDesign (And Make Pro Freebies + Digital Products)

  |   Blogging Tips, Branding, Business Tips   |   38 Comments

Tutorial: how to create your own worksheets in Adobe InDesign. (Also great for making your own blog printables, planners, digital products, etc.) Includes a free InDesign worksheet file download.

Today I'm shaking in my cowgirl boots because I get to introduce you to one of my best biz pals. (Okay, just kidding, this Montana girl doesn't wear cowgirl boots -- but I am legit excited.)

Say hello to Adobe InDesign.



You can do a lot with the app -- like make e-books, pamphlets, mini-mags, brochures, posters, planners, and other printables -- but today I want to show you how you can use it to easily make your own pro, custom worksheets.

(That you then might want to give away as your email opt-in gift, include within blog posts, or sell for [real!] money.)

To go with this tutorial I've also included a free InDesign file download at the end of this post so that you can play around with a pre-made worksheet; be sure to pick that up before you go.

Oh, and if you don't have InDesign yet? Check it out here (btw, not an affiliate link) -- it's $19.99/mo on its own or $49.99/mo if you want Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom, and all the other Adobe apps included.

You can also get a 30-day free trial if you want to play around with it first. Plus: it works on PC and Mac -- which always makes me happy.

Let's get started, shall we? We shall, my friends, we shall!

Here's how to create your own worksheets in Adobe InDesign:
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How Do I Get Noticed On Twitter?

  |   Branding, Business Tips, Classy Marketing, Olyvia TV, Social Media Marketing   |   18 Comments

How to set up Twitter to get your blog + business noticed and get followers.

Here we are again, friends. It's video numero two in our sleaze-free series helping you get your business -- or blog -- noticed online!

This week I have a brief training for you on growing your following and engagement on Twitter.

Now, before I show it to you, I have an admission to make.

I used to get really stressed out about Twitter when I first made a personal account.

I had NO idea what I was doing, and to be honest it felt downright creepy to be posting things when I had, like, 4 followers.

Looking back, though, I realize I made wayyy too much fuss over it. I was Googling "top secret" strategies that could help me stand out when the reality was that all I had to do was use Twitter in the way it was intended:

To talk to people + share some new thoughts/content.

It doesn't have to be any harder than that, and that's the truth.

But, like with all social media sites, within that framework there are some guidelines. And there are definitely better ways to present yourself on Twitter than others. ;)

The video today should help you with the most essential FYIs.

In it I talk about:

#1 - The importance of a balanced, compelling profile description

#2 - Why your tweets need to have variety

#3 - What mistakes many people are making with hashtags

BONUS: I also may or may not gush over Russell Crowe and confess my affection for Leonardo DiCaprio. (Just sayin'.)

Now that you're sure to watch (hahaha), go ahead:
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How Do I Get Noticed On Facebook?

  |   Branding, Business Tips, Classy Marketing, Olyvia TV, Social Media Marketing   |   38 Comments

How to get noticed on Facebook: how to set up it up (the right way) and take your Page from amateur to pro.

You want your business to stand out and get noticed on Facebook.

You're wondering what it takes to get more followers, more likes, and more comments -- without feeling or looking like a sleazeball.

Any of that sound familiar? Yep, same here.

I've launched and managed quite a few Facebook Pages over the years and let me tell you: it was A LOT easier to get attention back then.

You really didn't have to do anything special because there was a lot less competition. And you didn't have to fight Facebook's algorithms to show up in your fans' newsfeeds!

But now? It's different. There are like a 1,252,173,450 Pages (or something like that) vying for people's "likes."

; You're lucky if you can get even 10% of your followers see your posts.

(I wish that was a joke.)

To grab people's interest so that they'll follow you -- not to mention think you're cool enough to give you likes and the highly coveted comment -- takes a killer combo of smarts + beauty + charm.

But it's not impossible. There are a lot of Pages both big and small that are getting it right, and you can, too.

Last week I gave you a "meaty" blog post (thanks, Kirsten!) all about how to begin getting people to perk up and take notice of you online.

I want you to start there, and then watch today's video that covers four more solid strategies to take your Facebook Page from "ho hum" to "whoa, she's got it together!"

In it I talk about:

#1 - The importance of images and consistent visual branding

#2 - Why completing your About description is key

#3 - What sort of content you should be sharing to stand out from the crowd of businesses all wanting to make a buck

#4 - How to use Facebook Insights to increase your visibility and engagement

Watch it now:
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27 Ways To Earn People’s Trust And Look Credible Online

  |   Branding, Business Tips, PR, Reputation, Social Media Marketing   |   33 Comments

27 ways to earn people's trust and look credible online as a business owner or blogger + a free worksheet!

It seems that everywhere I go online there are women business owners, entrepreneurs, and business-minded bloggers that are asking the same three questions about their web presence:

"How do I become an influencer?"

"How do I get people to buy from or hire me?"

and

"How do I look like an expert and not an amateur?"

There are a million and one ways to answer these questions, but what they all boil down to is this: to succeed online you must first earn people's trust.

Without trust you will never be viewed as a legitimate business or a credible authority in your field. You need that impression of legitimacy in order to attract clients and customers, look professional, and earn a reputation as a respectable thought-leader.

But how can you earn trust merely by using the web? If you're anything like me, you're crazy busy and forget half of what you need to do right after you read it. You need something that's not a major undertaking and can be done relatively fast, so let's start with the small changes that make a sizable impact.

Here are 27 (fairly) effortless things you can do right now to earn more credibility online. Pick at least one and get the ball rolling after you read this post!
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