Melissa J Scott | Web designer

Melissa J Scott

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• Businesses
• Local service
• Business service
• Web designer
• Graphic designer
• Marketing consultant

25.01.2022 I know, some people get frustrated with this turn of phrase, but I so relate to it! Because I literally did lose my voice for about a decade for a multitude of reasons, and the side affects of a deep rooted self limiting belief was that my normal speaking voice became a raspy, husky, scratchy thing that would fail for me constantly. It was tricky to even speak on the phone to clients somedays because it was so fragile. So that ws pretty devasting for an ex singer/soprano who ...was used to be able to really belt out some noise with my vocal chords. And the really sad thing was... it was all psychological. And I know I'm not the only person who has similar stories of this. So today in my video I relate this story back to people in business who are too paralysed with fear of offending somebody or standing out and being criticised, that they silence themselves. And this holds them back in their life and their business. It's the Aussie way isn't, "don't be too big for your boots"! Or we'll tear you to shreds. So you can see I saved a light topic for my last Live video!! Ha ha, I have had a blast making these for you, and I sincerely hope you have enjoyed them. There's literally only hours before my CONNECTION MARKETING - ROCKSTAR BRAND EDITION program closes off until mid 2021. If you are keen to find your voice, strengthen your confidence and work on your inner belief, you might want to consider our pogram. It's completely different to anything else out in the marketplace. You can check it out here: https://www.connectionmarketing.online/join But doors close tonight at 8.00pm. So please don't miss out. Melissa x

25.01.2022 THE DOORS TO THE CONNECTION MARKETING - ROCKSTAR PERSONAL BRAND PROGRAM CLOSE 8PM TONIGHT! Want a reminder on why you should join our unique program? This is the simplest explanation about what CONNECTION MARKETING is all about. Creating sincere human connection, because all business and marketing is, is one human helping another human to solve a need or a problem that they have. It’s that simple. ... This video explains it in better detail if you are interested. The thing about the course is that it closes off tonight at 8pm and won’t reopen until April next year. So if you are interested, you need to move on it sooner than later. I really hope that it’s something that you consider if you really want to make a difference in your life and your business. www.connectionmarketing.online/join

25.01.2022 IT'S LIVE!!! BUT ONLY UNTIL 8PM TONIGHT, and then It's closing the doors until mid next year. The program teaches you how to:... Develop Rockstar personal confidence in yourself and your abilities so you can market with ease and not find the online world so challenging Create a solid Marketing Strategy and 90 Day Action Plan for an online business Get a really deep connection to your why and the purpose behind you brand, so you can communicate that to anyone (this will particularly help if you have had to pivot your industry and you need to reinvent yourself) Create really compelling content, a podcast and engaging video that people want to share (with step by step instructions) Learn how to repurpose all of your content and work with a marketing intern We spend a whole module just on how to have an engaging website that is your online hub and understand organic SEO Work your social platforms so you can grow a loyal audience Learn how to collaborate and grow through strategic alliances How to manage your time better How to get more customers, make more sales, and create more loyalty ONLINE. PLUS how to make a video yourself from the beginning to the edit, and the introduction to personal development. NO EXTRA COST! Are you ready to join our community, connect with yourself and your audience, and create a personal brand that is 100% you?! it's amazing how much easier it is to create content that resonates with your audience when you resonate with it! CHECK IT OUT HERE: www.connectionmarketing.online/join Melissa x

25.01.2022 5 days of free training sessions online at midday, 3 webinars, multiple coaching calls, several long chats with potential clients, daily singing practice and an intense belting singing lesson... my poor old voice this week is feeling a little used! Back in the day, that would have been it for me, I'd be raspy and husky and in desperate need for a rest. Not now! It sounds funny, but many people need to 'find their voice'. Literally. Because it fails them, after years and years... of growing up and hearing "don't speak until you're spoken to", "who do you think you are to speak to me like that?", and "nice girls don't speak out", "don't speak until you're asked"... it kind of messes with your head and makes it hard to flip that as a business owner and speak confidently to a worldwide audience. (because afterall, our subconscious is just a 7 year old kid!) So... I'm dedicating my final FB live this week to speaking about using your voice for your business, to creating your online personal brand and not being afraid of what people say about you!! It should be a beauty, because deep deep down I think everyone is more than a little concerned about this. Melissa x

25.01.2022 Coming together is a beginning, Keeping together is progress, Working together is success. Henry Ford... If you have found yourself in the early stages of the New Year with little or next to nothing when it comes to leads, then working out a STRATEGIC ALLIANCE strategy could be the perfect place to start. Too many businesses feel like they should go it alone to be a true success, and it’s just not true. Most great businesses are built off the back off others and when it’s a win/win situation for both parties, even better! Look around your industry. Who has the same kind of clients as you, but not in direct competition. Eg. An accounting firm can partners with legal firms, business coaches, other professional services. A personal trainer targeting high performers can partner with larger gyms, nutritionists, health professionals and professional services An interior designer can partner with architects, builders, draftspeople and real estate agents. A hairdresser can partner with makeup artists, photographers, videographers, ladies gyms and beauticians These are just the obvious ones, there are so many beautiful examples of collaborations. Stop going it alone. If you want more info, check out our podcast on this topic https://melissajscott.com/21-collaborate-and-grow-your-bus/ Or just get in touch! I collaborate with plenty of my clients that is what business is all about! Melissa x

24.01.2022 Do you tell stories, do you let people know what it is that makes you unique, are you letting them know what your why is? Are you connecting with people and making sure they understand what it is you can do to help solve their problem? It can take up to 20 touch points for your audience to develop the trust and confidence to do business with you. But if you can make sure all your messaging is focused on these things, then you are streaks ahead of everyone else and well on the... way to positioning yourself as an industry leader. Gone are the days where you just throw an ad in the local newspaper or yellow pages and wait for the phone to ring the competition is RIFE, and your audience is completely overwhelmed with all the messages they are receiving. You need to stand out, and you need to be consistent with your messaging. Social media posts across multiple platforms, videos, podcasts, webinars, online trainings, call to actions, speaking gigs, networking events both online and offline, PR and guest articles, blogs, vlogs, ebooks, real books EVERYTHING you do is a potential touch point with your audience. You need to be nailing your message, deeply CONNECTING with your audience, and building TRUST. It can be overwhelming, but if you’re serious about growing your business, it’s essential to make those 20 touchpoints count. When you’re ready, get in touch, we can help you make sense of it all because this is modern day marketing. Making connections that count.

24.01.2022 Back on the tools today in my favourite program, Photoshop, tricking up a photo to look like a drawing in preparation for our first music video. If you missed my last post, James and I are releasing an orchestral alt Rock album in early 2021, and if youre really keen to follow along, come over to Collab Rats for updates. Our first single Alibi is coming out towards the end of October. Lots of things to plan and execute before then, including a photo shoot, video shoot and some serious marketing and social media strategizing. Love being our own client and practicing what we preach! X

22.01.2022 SHAME What a wasted emotion to run your life by... but it’s one that is playing out so much in western culture, and keeping business owners playing SMALL - for fear of criticism or perceived ‘failure’. (And chances are you don’t even realize the impact it has on your life because it feels so bad we usually push it away and keep ‘busy’ to avoid feeling it.) It sounds dramatic when you call it out, but it’s the underlying reason why so many business owners don’t embrace their m...arketing opportunities with more enthusiasm. Somebody might have said something negative about you in the past like posting too much, being too vocal, or shock horror, daring to be successful/over achieving/too good at what you do. Some flippant comment can trigger you to stop expanding because at the heart of who we are, we simply just want to fit in. (And if there’s something that Aussies love to do, it’s tear somebody down that’s being ‘too much’. So if we do actually take that leap of faith and we fall short of our goals, we then fall into a shame ‘I failed’ spiral and do all that we can so we never feel that vulnerable or exposed again.) Brené Brown, a world-famous researcher describes shame as an intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging. Shame stops us from trying new things, from growth, from being vulnerable or personal in our relationships and therefore our marketing. Shame hinders connection because we don’t let people in close, for fear of them seeing our perceived faults. Shame comes from a deep belief of not being good enough and is based in fear. How is it showing up for you in your world as a business leader? If you have some fears around showing up in your business and greatness, we can help you through this. What a waste to not let your amazing light shine over the world. Melissa X

21.01.2022 HOW RELEVANT IS YOUR BUSINESS AND MARKETING MESSAGE RIGHT NOW IN THE ECONOMY UPTURN? Are you preparing yourself and your customers for the new business environment as restrictions start to be lifted? Or are you still stuck in the old conversation of being isolated and washing your hands!! Being able to pivot in a heartbeat and to respond to your customer immediately as restrictions are lifting to some degree and people are anxious to get back to life as normal, (whatever tha...t should look like) keeps you relevant and top of mind. This is one of the greatest OPPORTUNITIES ever for your business to grow and flourish. A lot of your competition are still in shock and floundering with how to respond. Some have closed their doors, some are hoping everything goes back to normal. But hopefully you realise that it wont. If you think that all of your customers want to go back to doing things face to face then think again. Online shopping has exploded, the way we seek entertainment has changed. People talk nonstop about enjoying the slower pace to life and spending less. Online meetings are infinitely more productive without all the travel in between. Getting our information online at all hours of the day and night to suit our personal needs has become very desirable. Learning how to live with less luxury items has become normal. Saving cash and having less credit card debt and smaller mortgages might become more mainstream. Nobody wants to feel this vulnerable financially again. People have also loved spending more time at home with family. Your staff might demand to work more flexible hours from home now they realise they can work more productively and minimise the time travelling You can see how it's impossible to go back to pre-covid days. So. Our offer to you is to have a CONVERSATION about your business opportunities moving forward, and how you communicate this message. The way youve always done things vs how you could be doing it now. How to reinvent and innovate, and most of all stand out from everybody else. Connection marketing is still based on the same formula that we have always worked to: DESIRE + CONNECTION + TRUST + CREDIBILITY + VALUE = CUSTOMER But what that looks like right now has changed because your audience has changed emotionally. So lets have a talk and see if we can get your business on a great future path to really capitalise from this unique period of time. Message me, email me at [email protected], or call my mobile 0408 602 181. You stand to lose about 20 minutes of your time and gain an infinite amount of opportunities moving forward.

20.01.2022 How many times have you engaged with a brand on social media and then bought something from that business... and the experience just didn't match up to the brand promise?! It's called CUSTOMER SERIVCE, and it's a massive part of the buyer and brand experience. Your brand is not just your logo. It's not just your website. It's not what you TELL people.... It's how you make them FEEL. And the way you and your team approach your CUSTOMER SERVICE is a big part of that overall brand experience. Check out our recent podcast episode with the lovely Michelle Pascoe to learn a whole lot more about how to do your customer service right and get your team on board with the delivery of that service. Michelle is a businesswoman, entrepreneur, speaker, author, coach, trainer, podcaster and a nanna. You can tune in here: https://melissajscott.com/13-love-your-customers-and-repea/

20.01.2022 WHAT BEST DESCRIBES THE WAY YOU MARKET YOUR BUSINESS? a) I need to get clients quick/or sell something, so I better get on social media and start flogging my message! b) I am more of a watcher on social media. Im a meet for a coffee and chat kind of business owner! c) I love to connect with my audience, I understand the value of creating really important information that they can use and find value in, but I also just love to chat with them too!... I see way too many business owners hit the social media train asking for sales when they have something to sell, and then revert back to near silence when it doesnt work, proclaiming digital marketing just doesnt work. They forget the most important thing about all marketing you need to treat your audience like a valued friend who you share great information with consistently and regularly. Its an ongoing friendly conversation. If you treat your audience like you would a friend, you might notice that you get a lot more traction and success with it! You want to sell something a particular product or program in a couple of months? Start talking to your audience and engaging with them NOW! Mondays are my content creation days. In the morning I speak to my VIP group in our private FB group and then I might make a podcast, do some video, write up some posts, a blog, or prepare my next campaign. Having a set day (and a solid plan!) that you consistently stick to makes all the difference. Need help getting into a better marketing routine? Happy to chat if its been a tough time for you and you realise you need to put in if you want to salvage 2020! x

20.01.2022 Resharing this little gem from a year ago when I was coming live from they Sydney Concention Centre for a clients trade show! Wow, havent times changed! I know that trade shows and expos can be many businesses greatest ways to cut through their industry and find new leads and create new opportunities. Considering its going to be many more months (maybe years?) before we can attend trade shows and largescale events... have you factored this into your marketing strategy? My ...client Hotel Strategy Co. have done an excellent pivot and creating lots of valuable online content through blogs, helpful downloadable information, video, webinar, email marketing and their newly updated website... its so important to remain relevant and to be seen, and thats exactly what theyre doing, its just all online now! Have you pivoted yet? Now is the perfect time to be more present online and create that amazing connection you used to do in person. Tune in to the video, its nice and short and really explains the difference between connection marketing and interruption marketing. You need to create both of these emotions in the online space now. Interuot to find new potential clients and connect to stay top of mind with your audience who grows to like and trust you every day through your constant contact. Happy to chat with you if youre struggling right now with how to get in front of new and old faces. It really will make all the difference over the coming months. Melissa x

20.01.2022 It's a varied and fun life when you're in the creative industry! Last night we were fighting the crazy winds in front of the video camera in the city for a music video shoot (see Collab Rats if you want more info on that) and today I'm back behind the camera checking out a local spot for a client's video and photoshoot early next week. What we all have in common is the absolute need to get ourselves in front of our audience. And video is the best way to do it. Whether you're... a musician, a performer or a business owner, how will people develop an interest in what you do unless you can find compelling reasons to get in front of them, entertain them and enlighten them with what you are an expert at? Being a business owner is really no different to being a rockstar. Next week we're shooting for a professional services business, because he recognises that most people in his industry just blend into one. And if you don't market yourself like a rockstar in your industry and stand out, you're just another faceless person in a crowded market. Want to talk about how video and developing a strong personal brand can help your business to stand out for what you're already very good at?

20.01.2022 Proud mama-bears! Our youngest but tallest cubs are graduating from Year 12 so we thought wed re-enact the same brekkie together when they started kindy together! It was touch and go there at times for many years with these two. The school system as it stands isnt for everyone and I have many opinions on how our current model stifles independence, true leadership and individuality but Ill share for another day! Today is about celebrating a whole new chapter for them and us business mums who have at times held our businesses back because being present for our kids is so important. But... theyre about to fly off into the world so its only fitting I do the same! Looking forward to what the future holds for everybody. X

18.01.2022 Here is a Monday thought for you!! What message are you putting out to your audience? People will know in a heartbeat whether you are right for them or wrong for them. You might be excellent at your job or service you provide, but do you know what makes you unique, why you do what you do? Are you getting your message across or are you getting lost in all the clutter that is social media? What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want ...to make Jane Goodall People in these times are very emotional, we have been through trauma and emotional upheaval. People are looking for providers/ suppliers/ people to do business with that they feel an emotional connection too. Not just somebody who does a good job. Because you know why? The assumption is that you will already do a good job, so what else will you provide? What makes you so different to everybody else that your audience know that you are the only person that can provide them with what they want or need? And quite often, it’s as simple as how easily they relate to you and how well they feel that they know you. And knowing what you stand for and communicating that in your marketing is one of the best ways to truly connect to your audience and build trust. If you would like to chat some more with me about this, get in touch Melissa x #connectionmarketing #businesswithpurpose #marketingstrategy

18.01.2022 GOT SOME STORIES TO TELL AND JUST NOT SURE HOW? A conscious business means that youre really aware of who you, what you do, and who you help. You CARE about the end user and how they benefit from your services or product. You are doing GREAT THINGS in your industry and even turning things around for the better.... People LOVE working with your company. Its not about the money, that just seems to flow to you because you know your worth and your value, and youre good at what you do. We are working with many businesses who do really good stuff in the world and its a joy to help share their message to the world. Marketing doesnt challenge them because they have a hundred happy client stories to share. Is this you? Maybe you just need a hand with how to get those stories out to the right people, and create content that is sharable and on the right platforms. We can help you create the strategy and the action plan you need, and even train your marketing assistant to execute it. But, you need the direction, the accountability and the plan. And this is where we shine. DM me to get in touch if this sounds like you. We can work with you one-to-one or through our online course, whatever your budget and your time frame allows. The time is right now for you to let everybody know about the GOOD that your business is doing. You can help even more people if they just know about you! Melissa x

17.01.2022 WHATS ONE OF THE GREATEST WAYS TO COMBAT FEAR IN BUSINESS? KNOWLEDGE! We are hosting a webinar this Friday at midday. It goes for 90 minutes and its choc-a-bloc full of business and marketing content that will seriously change and improve your business immediately. There is no denying it, we are in a Recession and the only way to come out the other side stronger and healthier is when you have a GREAT strategy that is robust and you have the knowledge to manage your cash pos...ition so you can take advantage of many of the great opportunities that are coming your way. NOW is the time to market and invest in your growth. Why choose a survival mindset when there are opportunities to be had?! Even if customers arent buying right now, they are definitely looking to the future for the way they invest their hard earned money and you want to be top of mind when they make that decision. You want to know how to manage your CASH FLOW and GROWTH. You want to know how to create TRUST online. You want to know how to CONNECT through your personal brand. And you want to know how to remain RELEVANT and see opportunities. Many of your competitors will be frozen solid over the next few months if things get tighter like its predicted. Jane Challinor from Real Business is going to educate you about how to manage your cash position, the 5 stages of growth and how to run a lean ship while still investing in future growth. And I will teach you about how to build connection and trust online through creating relevant content and to actually stand out, not blend in. There are wonderful opportunities to be had right now. But are you ready to even recognise them? Jane and I have been in business for many decades and have seen recessions, GFCs and lived through all kinds of crisis. We want to share this knowledge with you. To register, go to www.pathtoprofit.com.au. Midday, Friday 10 July 2020. And if you cant make it, make sure you still register so you can get a copy of the education webinar emailed to you. Take control of your future, and be a much healthier and robust business standing on the other side of this.

16.01.2022 How can you truly expect your business to perform better if you don’t look back over the past year and have a good, honest look at how you have performed, the things that worked well, and the things that didn’t? Sometimes in order to keep moving forward, not only must you take one step at a time, but you must be willing to look back occasionally and evaluate your past, no matter how painful it is. Looking back lets you know whether or not you are headed in the right directio...n. G.K. Adams Most people agree that last year was tough. But it was also a huge opportunity for GROWTH, CONSOLIDATING and getting really CLEAR on who you are in your business and how you serve your audience. 2021 has the potential to be the best year ever for your business if you are willing to keep moving and evolving in a changing market. Historically, these are the times that great businesses are formed in a period of a change. Will this be you? If you need some help finding the right direction for your business, get in touch for a free discovery call with us. Melissa x #connectionmarketing #businesswithpurpose

15.01.2022 Its always fun being our own client (although surprisingly hard too because there are so many options and full creative license!) After a decade of shooting music video, James Lopes gets to turn his creative genius to our new music project Collab Rats. Check out our behind the scenes photos from a pretty spectacular day shooting, and if youre interested in new music with an orchestral rock feel, make sure you like the page! X

15.01.2022 I've been running marketing webinars for different industry associations during the past couple of months during lockdown, as a way to give back but to also grow my own reach. Tonight at 7.00pm I'm presenting online to the Australian Institute of Horticulture Inc. If you missed this webinar when I ran it recently, you can jump on into this webinar tonight as it's relevant to ALL businesses who recognise that this is a time for REINVENTION, CONNECTION and to AMPLIFY that messa...ge. Right now is a period of great opportunity if you choose to reframe it that way, and see potential rather than only challenges. Sound like a good alternative to Netflix?! See you there! REGISTER HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us//tZwpf-mvrD8jHNx_AYlsLQYz5rRAgJVNj

14.01.2022 HOW TO ENSURE YOU HAVE A GREAT PERSONAL BRAND PHOTOGRAPHIC SHOOT: I'm not gonna lie, this 'reccie' with co-collaborator Melinda Hird was heaps of fun and we may have gotten a little over-excited during the briefing of creating a rockstar personal brand for my agency and online courses! We are shooting next week so I thought I'd share with you my tips for a successful shoot as we lead up to it... Find an amazing location. One that really resonates with you and your br...Continue reading

14.01.2022 Usually I give heaps of advice and ideas on long weekends to business owners how to get ahead, work on your strategy, develop your content, make video etc... Well that would be hypocritical seeing I’ve spent most of this weekend just having fun with my family and special friends. Sometimes getting the best headstart on an amazing year ahead is to remember that you still need to schedule fun and deep pleasure to fulfill every aspect of your personality. So if you’ve dedicated... this long weekend to filling up your personal fun bucket and soaking up the delicious sun and weather... enjoy!! I’m lucky enough to have a great bro-in-law and his lovely partner share their sailing boat with my boys, gf’s and I today. Living in Sydney is just amazing for world class waterways, and Port Hacking, Boat Harbour are Gunyah Beach are jewels. What an amazing day, this is how you refuel your engine to keep turning up and producing for your clients. Thanks Kim & Richard, what a day!! X See more

14.01.2022 First cab off the rank is my in-depth conversation with Phil Lee, a veteran SALES expert. Just like personal branding and marketing, people freeze up when it comes to putting themselves out there in the sales space. They treat it like some weird song and dance you do with a customer and forget that it's just a personal conversation between two human beings, trying to figure out if it makes good sense to do business together. Sometimes people say yes, and sometimes they say no.... You can certainly stack the odds in your favour by establishing your authority, building trust and developing rapport through consistent brand messaging, but sometimes no matter what you do, people just aren't ready to work with you, and that's totally cool! Nobody's ego needs to be bruised and you certainly don't need to damage your self esteem. As humans we are motivated by one of two things, the avoidance of pain and seeking pleasure. The strongest psychological motivator for human beings is the avoidance of pain. Some businesses are worried that they might not survive for example. The unspoken thing is that this is talking about being able to develop the connection and the trust, so you can lead people in this conversation of what their personal compelling reason is for making a change and doing something. You need trust and connection to get to their truth and help them solve that problem and overcome that fear. Phil Lee If you are interested in learning more about keeping your self esteem intact during the sales process, and how to do it in a more authentic and enjoyable headspace that doesn't mess up your heartspace, I strongly recommend you tune in! Sales should honestly be fun. Enjoy! x

14.01.2022 Another fantastic guest on my CONNECTED Podcast. And this one is worth tuning into if you have any kind of money mindset or growth blocks. What does a money mindset block look like? You have trouble asking for what you're worth. You have cashflow issues but plenty of work on!... You don't invoice straight away (guilty of that one!) You get uncomfortable talking about money. You just don't feel like you're where you thought you might be in life financially, even though you're talented, have great skills and a 'successful' business. I think more people than not can relate to this topic! So tune into a great conversation with Michael de Haan. I have known this guy for years and he is truly a lovely human who sincerely wants to see all of just live our best lives. Enjoy! https://melissajscott.com/wealth-money-blocks/

14.01.2022 Location scouting is one of the many fun benefits to running an agency. Were always on the lookout for amazing new locations for ourselves and our clients. The next time you need to update your photos or video, think twice before heading off for the usual beach photos or boardroom shots. Take the time, really think about your brand, your audience, and what message you want to convey. If you really want to stand out and be memorable, it all begins with the images and footage you put out. They speak for you and when screen time is so precious, can paint a vivid picture of what your business and you are all about. If you need help with your next photoshoot or video shoot, you know what to do...

13.01.2022 Good morning! Marketing is all about confidence and consistency, and creating true connection. The business owners that have self belief and are truly connected to the WHY of their business, are the ones that keep turning up regularly and see really positive results from their consistent delivery of really good and helpful content. People are not what they used to be. We've just been through a pretty life-altering time and it's not over yet for many who live in Victoria and ...various places around the world. The real threat of a second wave in the rest of Australia is possible too. People are not feeling as chilled and relaxed as they used to be. They want real personal connection with who they do business with. They want good customer service. They want to be nurtured, they want be respected. They want to feel heard, considered and provided the right kind of solution that really does help their concerns and issues. Right now your audience is far more emotional and strained then they ever have been. So the business owner who has a strategy around how to really connect with their audience and reach them consistently and with tonnes of good information that does help them... will be here for the long haul. This is your last chance to come along to our webinar PATH TO PROFIT - TURNING CRISIS INTO OPPORTUNITY at midday today if you haven't already signed up. If you're watching this after the fact, then just send me a DM and I can send you the link to the recording. REGISTER HERE: https://divinecreative.com.au/pathtoprofit See you there x

13.01.2022 CAN WE HELP GET YOUR BUSINESS KICK-STARTED AGAIN? This is the big, tired smile of a business woman who has just finished a great webinar with loads of helpful content and very happy business owners tuning in today! Business to me is very much about giving and helping with the knowledge that you have so we are all in this for the long haul together... particularly when times are tricky. One thing I am guilty of in a webinar is to cram too much information into the session, be...cause it's just so important that business owners are marketing their products and services in a way that is reflecting their current emotional state and mindset of their audience. I am very passionate about this! And the greatest thing holding business owners back from doing this isn't technology or the desire to help, it's quite often that they are... Too self-conscious to market around yourself (or your team), thus impacting the true growth you could be experiencing Concerned about budget Fear of failing (knowledge is power but who do you trust when there are so many 'experts'?) Fear of criticism/knockers when you do put yourself 'out there' Not sure who your audience is or how to get in front of them Have a belief that you have tried everything (I can guarantee that you havent!) Wish it was like the good old days where you put an ad in the yellow pages and you just got clients easily! Dont have time to do everything not sure how to get the right help to develop content consistently Not sure of the online opportunities for your business If any of these resonate with you, maybe you should get in touch and have a chat with me? For the next couple of weeks I'm running free information sessions with business owners to help you figure out how and why you should get your business more active online, and how to best market so you really make a connection. Some businesses are doing really well, but others aren't. Maybe your customers have vanished, maybe the upturn is a little slower than you'd like. Whatever the situation, GET IN TOUCH and we can have a chat about YOUR situation, and how you get your business actively marketing to these new conditions. Melissa x

13.01.2022 It’s feedback like this from a student of my Connnection Marketing course that lights me up. I had no idea how important it is to look really deeply into my why and how and what I want for my business but now I know it is absolutely essential for today’s business owner. My head is absolutely swimming with ideas and thoughts, and instead of my usual state of what the heck am I doing!, I am now more thinking I can do this!. Thank you so much Melissa for leading me through... this and giving me the kick up the butt when I needed it! The sky is the limit. Kellie, business owner and Connection Marketing Rockstar Brand Edition online course student Want to start lighting up more lives in your business?! You know how to get in touch. x

13.01.2022 Back into shooting video today with James for our great client Warren Saunders Insurance Brokers and practising sensible social distancing. It's great to be working with a client who recognises that business doesn't stop, especially your marketing. More than ever your audience wants to hear from you, to feel connected to what you're up to and be part of your success. They are ready to hear about anything other than a virus! So open up the positive and inspirational conversati...ons and do what you do best, serve and help your customers! Let them know you are open and ready for business, however different that may look now. After the initial shock of having the rug pulled out from under us these past couple of months, most businesses have found a new normal and are coming back for the economic upswing. We are all ready for it and your audience is especially ready for it. If you want to start sending out a clear message to your audience whether it's video, through your social media channels, email marketing or selling more online, we are happy to chat to you about your personalised marketing strategy and getting things moving again. It's time to get on with it!

13.01.2022 We have a topic and a half for you this Mother's Day! I am intensely interested in all things to do with how we connect as humans, so it only makes sense that I would tackle the topic of sexual connection and relationships eventually in the CONNECTED podcast! And I couldn't think of anybody better for this topic than Love Life by Jacqueline Hellyer. Jacqueline is a sex therapist and educator, a relationship coach, speaker, author and blogger. An accredited psychosexual thera...pist, a certified coach with a Master's of Science in sexual health. In this interview you will discover: How to awaken your sexuality and discover what you truly need How to raise our kids with sex education, not just reproduction education The realities of how porn is for entertainment not education How to shake any shame you have around sex and discover theres more to it than just the physical side How sex can make us better people and build more rewarding connections This expert advice will enable you to take control of your life, get in touch with your body and soul, and allow you to connect with those who matter most to you. As Jacqueline describes, Humans are essentially bonding creatures, that's how we function. We have right from the start. We are in small groups, we connect with people. It is so fundamental to our health and well being, emotional, physical, and mental that we have good quality connections with significant people in our lives. That is the essence of being human. We're not solo animals, we need other people. Enjoy! https://melissajscott.com/11-healthy-sexual-energy-quality/

13.01.2022 Who do you choose to be today? Every day we get to start again, set our intentions, take action and do what we need to do to get the results we CHOOSE VS WANT. Such a big distinction and game changer when you realize that nothing in our life changes until we make a firm choice to change. When you consciously choose something, you have to take action to ensure it happens. Conversely when you want something youre stuck in the land of wishful thinking and hope.... Want to be good at making video? Want to market your business consistently? Want better clients who pay on time and value you? Want a rockstar personal brand that differentiates your from all your competitors? CHOOSE it, commit to yourself and take conscious action steps towards it and see what a difference it makes! If you want help making your dreams and goals a reality with a considered and tangible marketing strategy/plan... you know what to do! X

12.01.2022 THE FUNNY SIDE TO MAKING CONTENT I’m in a beautiful location, the sun is finally shining, so I thought I’d find a gorgeous location and shoot a new video for my channel and podcast episode. CHECKLIST: Got the video camera... Written a rough guideline It’s great original content Remembered the mic Did my hair! Flattering time of day to shoot Beautiful location What could possibly go wrong?... How freaking noisy is cascading running water over rocks!!! Impossible to shoot this within 25 meters of the river it’s so noisy!! Ha ha, so important that you create content for your business, and that a major component of that is video... but think carefully about your location before you hike 1 hour to get there!!!! At least the scenery was blissful xo

12.01.2022 THE 3 THINGS YOU MUST ABSOLUTELY NAIL TO GET A STRATEGIC ALLIANCE Have you thought about doing a strategic alliance or collaboration this year? A well planned and thought-out strategic alliance can grow your business literally overnight! There is a heck of a lot more to it then just going to a business luncheon and handing out some business cards. Here are the 3 points you want to have nailed down before you contact your ideal collaborator... 1 Get clear on your core offering; you must target the deep pain points of your ideal audience and narrow down how you can be the one to help them. You need to come up with a high value offer for your new audience, that is also a win win offer for your potential collaboration partner. 2 Work out you exact A list target audience; who they are, where do they hang out, what are their interests, what are their demographics. 3 Jot down all the people you can think of that already have this audience with similar pain points, or who you think will be sympathetic and relate to your ideal audience pain points Think outside the square here, look at other industries, other interests and hobbies. Try to come up with a unique idea. Make sure what you have to offer them is a Win Win situation of high value, not another SALES PITCH! If you can do this, then you are already leaps and bounds ahead of your competitors, the future is looking very exciting for you! If you would like some help mapping out your strategic alliance strategy, get in touch x Melissa

12.01.2022 NEED SOME TIPS ON HOW TO GET STARTED ON A MARKETING STRATEGY? Before you even get to the strategy, here are the burning questions you need to have answered. FIRST: Look back at the year that was - what worked for you, what was a flop, what showed potential and where did you make the make the good wins?... SECOND: Have a good hard look at yourself right now; what is your business vision, what are you passionate about? Who are you, what do you stand for? What are your core values? What is my WHY? How do I inspire? THIRD: Look to the future; what are you goals, what is your business legacy, who is your ideal target audience that you want to attract and what are their pain points? FOURTH: And finally what do you need to do more of, who do you need to get in front of, and when and how are you going to achieve it? So yes write down your goals. Set your action plan to a calendar with clear dates to action by. And keep it somewhere you can see so you TAKE ACTION, EVERY DAY! Yes, I know, some of these questions can be very confronting and uncomfortable, but trust me, putting in the hard work now and really being honest and open and getting these answers clear in your head is going to be one of the best things you could do for your business this year. Got some questions about how to make this happen for your business? We can help you, you know what to do get in touch and we can schedule in a quick discovery call and make it happen. Taking action is where it’s at! Melissa x

11.01.2022 FINDING IT HARD TO GET INTO THE FLOW OF A BRAND NEW BUSINESS YEAR? Why don’t you try reading some inspirational stories catching up on some of those great podcasts you have been meaning to listen too, ... watching those videos, reading those blog posts. Check out what is new and what is coming this year and how you can utilise that in your business. Check out your favourite social media accounts and get inspired, dream big and go for it! Ready to tackle your goals and work out a kick butt marketing strategy for 2021? Get in touch, x Melissa Here are some great marketing podcasts below to get you started https://melissajscott.com/21-collaborate-and-grow-your-bus/ https://melissajscott.com/20-find-you-authentic-voice/ https://melissajscott.com/19-nervous-making-video/

11.01.2022 8 TIPS TO SHOW GOOD OLD FASHIONED SERVICE AND CARE Want to know the secret to keeping your clients and getting them to refer you when times are tough? Its not the latest social media tips or a special 10 step sales funnel strategy its actually showing them that you care and HELPING them for nothing in return! Times are really strange, and buyer behaviours are strange, and having to wear a facemask in public is stranger again! so in trying times people arent going to act...Continue reading

11.01.2022 I get it, it’s hard, I know it is hard and as a business owner you are super busy and time poor and so much is already competing for your attention.... But the same is true for your ideal client. There is so much noise on social media, how do you cut through and get your message across to the people that are perfect for you?... It comes down to 3 things, knowing your WHY, what makes you UNIQUE, and what PAIN your customer is in. If you can really drill down and master these points and tell people this in every piece of marketing you do, the right customers will sit up and start to take notice. Really, we all just want someone who makes us think, Yes, they get me, they understand me! If this really resonates with you and you’re sick of wasting your time on marketing that is going nowhere, get in touch, I’d love to help. Modern day marketing means building a true connection and this takes strategy and an action plan to make it work well for you. And we can help you with both. x Melissa

10.01.2022 My clients are awesome... but this guy is next level when it comes to GROWTH, TAKING ACTION and SELF BELIEF. 2 years ago, Steve had 1 national award winning family restaurant, a catering company Catering HQ, 45 staff and a growing consultancy business. Today (even through the obvious challenges facing the hospitality industry) his business has grown to: 330 staff 7 venues (and expanding!)... 21 dining concepts 26 event spaces a thriving consultancy arm and 9 nominations in the next national awards for family restaurant dining! That's some serious growth huh!!! (Maybe if you're a maths whiz you can do the percentages for me and post below!) 2 years ago we overhauled EVERYTHING for him, from his website to his photography to video to his social media strategy. INCLUDING growing his business through his PERSONAL BRAND. He started actively adopting connection marketing combined with his amazing track record and reputation, and the opportunities came flooding in because he dared to show up and talk about what makes him so different to everybody else. Marketing through CONNECTION and sharing human stories works. Backing yourself and collaborating works. Looking after your mental, physical and emotional health is ESSENTIAL. I just admire this guy so much and we’re doing a podcast episode in the next couple of weeks so he can share the journey of how he’s achieved so much growth. Today is his 25th anniversary of starting his first café. What a journey! Congratulations Steve, you’re amazing, so proud to be part of this with you. Melissa x

10.01.2022 HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF HIRING AN INTERN OR A MARKETING ASSISTANT? January is the perfect time to sit down and work out your business marketing goals and targets for the year ahead. You need a clear message and a clear strategy for moving forward. Now is also a great time to consider outsourcing some of your marketing tasks. You might have the strategy already to go, but is it the best use of your time to be the one implementing it?... Hiring a marketing assistant or intern can be one of the best things you can do for yourself and your business. There are so many things they can do for you such as Scheduling posts Taking your video blog or newsletter and turning it into an article for your website Breaking you video up into bite sized chunks of information and repurposing it for social media. Researching trends and statistics, Updating your website The list is endless! Here is a pic of my wonderful marketing assistant who also just happens to be my little Sister, Kellie. In the past couple of months I have helped 3 of my clients find great marketing assistants to help them implement their content strategy. It’s nowhere near as hard as you think, and I’m there to help train them and get them going. Get in touch if you want to learn more about how to do that! x Melissa

09.01.2022 ITS THE BUSINESS THAT TURNS UP CONSISTENTLY AND BRAVELY, AND DEMONSTRATES TRUE VALUE THAT SURVIVES TOUGH TIMES Too dramatic? I dont think so. Marketing isnt rocket science. You have a target audience that you can sell your products or services to, and that audience has a problem that they want or need solved. The problem for both of you, is that they dont know who to trust because youre not the only person who offers a solution.... Now you might be the best, and you might show up on social media from time to time, or send out the odd email, and then you TELL your audience youre awesome but do they BELIEVE it? Because its actually the business owner who SHOWS up consistently in various different platforms, and shares the EVIDENCE of why youre the best, by being transparent, helpful, and giving their audience some answers they can use right away, that will win their trust. Who do you think that audience is more likely to believe and buy from?! The accountant/lawyer/financial advisor/professional that sends out a newsletter quarterly sharing the same old tired articles that they and every other accountant subscribes to? Or the business leader that shares really moving and motivating information weekly/daily through multiple channels that is original and really connects on a personal level! Like I said, marketing isnt rocket science. But you do need a plan. And that is exactly what we help business owners do, we work with you either one to one on a marketing strategy and action plan you and your team can administer, or through our online course https://www.connectionmarketing.online which teaches you how to do this yourself. Either way, its a far better option than doing the same old same as everybody else in your industry and competing on price. For many, times arent so easy anymore, you really need to do more than think about having a solid marketing action plan. You actually need one moving forward. Send me a private message if youre keen to learn more about how we can help you to create really good content, and create a great strategy that is easy to implement and stay relevant in your audiences eyes. Melissa x

09.01.2022 MAKE THE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF If Covid has taught me anything, it is to slow down, take stock of all the things that really do matter, and to make the time to do the things that fill you up. Being creative is incredibly important to me and writing is a rekindled passion. Meditating, learning how to breathe from the diaphragm (I cant tell you how calming that is!), being completely present in the moment and journaling have all factored really heavily in my daily rout...ine. And while interstate or overseas travel is off the agenda, its so important to find pleasure in the little things. Like a walk in nature, hanging out with your kids or partner, or just putting your bare feet in the sand (or dirt!) on a sunny winters day. It really is about the simple things. We are so damn lucky to be alive right now in this time, we should never forget it. Find ways to be completely happy IN yourself, not outside of yourself and you will no longer focus on what you cant do right now. This period of time is a gift of reinvention for so many. It might not feel like a gift right now, but sit still, get to know yourself through journaling and looking within, and see what comes up! Our western life is all about doing, it sounds corny but true contentment is found in being. Every morning I try to free write for 20-30 minutes. It is life changing when you just let the words flow and you get to reconnect with yourself and what truly matters. Take the new found time, slow down and have an awesome weekend. Melissa x

09.01.2022 Did you miss my webinar last month on how to BUILD TRUST ONLINE WITH A ROCKSTAR PERSONAL BRAND and create epic content that turns viewers into clients? We are hosting our really popular webinar again tonight at 7pm for a building industry association, so if you're a business that is feeling the change in the current business environment and realise that you need to be actively marketing online and around your personal brand... then I invite you to register and tune in tonight.... Its going to be a long time before you can get yourself to a networking event, on a stage or back in front of an audience at a live seminar, conference or expo. So, you need to get your act together online because life is not going to return to normal any time soon. Thriving is all about how to do business NOW. Blogging and vlogging, webinars, video, live social video, creating online courses, free PR such as articles and guest appearances on tv and radio, podcasting, email marketing, messenger marketing. It doesnt have to be overwhelming, you just choose a few platforms and do them really well. The way to keep your loyal audience engaged is with your quality content that helps them with their day to day issues and concerns. I know there are a tonne of webinars online right now. But if you know me, you know I'm all about content and helping, so if you want to invest an hour of your time in some education that you can action straight away, I'll see you online at 7pm tonight! (And if you can't make it, register anyway and I'll send you the replay.) Melissa x TO REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us//tZwodeugpzgvH9IqvNrNSSG4FS-DdS8bU

08.01.2022 CONNECTION MARKETING TAKES CONFIDENCE AND SELF BELIEF Marketing your business around your personal brand is a real confidence game. It can feel so vulnerable when people ‘don’t choose you’. And this is a pivotal moment when business owners might give up or go quiet. But what is really happening when a potential client doesn’t choose your products or your services? Is it rejection, or is it more a timing or perception issue?... When somebody doesn’t ‘choose you’ there can be so many reasons. Maybe they’re not ready, they’re not confident in their own abilities to do what they need to do to make the investment worthwhile. Maybe your success or approach triggers them and they need to catch up to your brilliance! Maybe they don’t quite understand your message. It’s not that they don’t value your worth, they just might not see how you fit into their world just yet. There are so many reasons and you don’t want to let your irrational (but very common) fear of judgment and rejection stop you from turning up and being your best. So keep on shining. Refine your message if it needs it. Get super clear on your audience and talk directly to them. Stay consistent and give generously so people can see that you are the right choice for them. Marketing is all about consistently showing up for your audience and letting them see your worth. And when they’re ready, they will jump at your offers. Stay the course. Giving up is the only surefire way to guarantee that it won’t work out in the end. I’m taking some time out this week to reflect, build, connect and refine my own marketing strategy. It’s a never ending process and it’s pretty wonderful when you’re on a path to fulfilling your purpose. I’m happy to share this process with you if you’re keen to be your best self and share that with your audience. Just send me a message and we can get started. Melissa x

08.01.2022 WELCOMING IN A VERY EXCITING NEW FINANCIAL YEAR I just took 3 weeks off posting on my business page 3 whole weeks! Im not even sure why, and it wasnt planned. It evolved organically, and I think it was pretty much a reaction to all the noise out in the airwaves right now. Its usually jam-packed with Do this! and Buy this! and I just felt like I didnt want to add to that after such a wild rollercoaster ride through the start of 2020. I was grateful to take the break ...and tune back in with myself and whats really important. I always want to ensure that the content I put out there is helpful, and is making a real difference to those who choose to connect with my message. So I took my little break and concentrated on doing lots of wonderful work for clients, journaled and meditated like a MOFO and really got in tune with how I want to show up in the world post lockdown. And most importantly... dug deep on how I can really, really help the people that are serious about marketing and growing their businesses! So Im back and reinvigorated, very aligned with my message and what Im about, and to commemorate this have booked in a personal branding photoshoot this Friday to match my invigorated mood! I always say you should update your photos every 12 months because if you are actively marketing your business around your personal brand, people have seen all your images and will appreciate the freshen up. Especially when the name of the game is to stay RELEVANT in these altered times. (And if youre still peddling an identical marketing message right now to what you were saying pre-COVID, may I suggest you might want to rethink that.) And kicking off the new financial year with a new photoshoot, a big marketing drive around my online courses, a super series of education webinars, creating more online courses, websites and memberships sites for clients, and inviting more business owners into the fold for personal 1:1 marketing strategy sessions and coaching is just the ticket! The next 6 months are going to be very telling for everybody. Not every business is going to be left standing by Christmas. Conscious marketing that is relevant is going to be ESSENTIAL. So first up let me show you behind the scenes of my upcoming shoot! This morning I had a great meeting with Lish Lansdown to map it all out. If you want to see more of this, check out my personal FB stories (Melissa J Scott) and enjoy watching how it all unfolds from planning through to the shoot. Enjoy! x

07.01.2022 DON'T SAY THE R WORD! I read a great post from a client today who is in the Insolvency world, so he knows a thing or two about recessions and how business owners will respond - either proactively, or to freeze... "It is the responsibility of the business owner to consider amending their line of thinking. Consider altering course of what you would normally do if what you are doing isn't growing or improving your business.... Most people naturally want to behave like they norma...lly behave which is understandable but we are in challenging times and this recession isn't ending tomorrow." Adam Lysle, O'Brien Palmer Advisory Now, your business could be doing fine in which case, that's awesome! But, when the government funding runs out and things go back to the new normal, how is your business really looking? Business is already feeling very different, your customer's needs have changed and their buying habits altered; and it's my prediction that you need to be really across your marketing messaging to ensure that: people still know you are people know what you do people know what you stand for people know what makes you different and people understand how you can help them when they are ready to buy, and they're you the only choice. Proactive marketing and adjusting your business strategy for today's challenges will really help to secure your business long into the future. It's all about staying agile, creating trust online and remaining relevant. This Friday we are hosting a webinar on exactly this topic, called Path to Profit | Turning Crisis into Opportunity. I will be cohosting it with another leading business advisor, Jane Challinor who is amazing at turning businesses around, and I would love for you to join us. Here is how to register: https://pathtoprofit.com.au

07.01.2022 What do two creatives do when theyve been holed up in isolation for two months?! As soon as we got the go ahead we found ourselves two of the best guides with local knowledge and headed west of the Blue Mountains to scout for some epic shoot destinations for a project weve been working on! Just loved being back in nature and seeing the usual green bush setting vastly different after the bushfires raged through only months earlier. It revealed so many hidden spots wed never... seen before due to the lack of tree and bush cover. Can anyone guess where we are?! Getting our fill of creativity and inspiration is a must when you work in marketing and branding every day. Youve got to find time to do the things you love, and it was pretty easy to social distance out here!! Hope you had an epic weekend too and enjoy the photos. It was so amazing James is cutting together an impromptu video preview and lots of amazing footage for our upcoming project. X

06.01.2022 I can't tell you how important it is to create compelling content for your personal brand and your business. When it comes to marketing, what business owners really have to get their head around is that MOST CUSTOMERS ARENT READY TO BUY NOW! A life cycle of a potential client could be 1 week, 1 year or even longer. I have had clients watch me for YEARS before they make the move across. And that is why connection marketing works. You keep turning up consistently, you keep off...ering amazing advice and content, and you build that relationship until there really is no other choice BUT to work with or buy from you! So instead of lamenting over how marketing doesnt work unless youve got tonnes of money, try CONNECTING with your audience, SHARE with them your value, and do it CONSISTENTLY. Marketing isnt a fast game, its just like sport. The person who puts in the effort every day, day after day with passion, spirit and commitment ultimately wins. CONNECTION MARKETING is all about bridging the gap. If you have a true connection with your customers and they value what you do for them, it doesnt matter who copies you or tries to undercut you, the majority of happy customers will not leave you because your ESSENCE (which is your personal brand) cannot be copied. And you establish that connection with your valuable content. Want to chat more about building a content strategy and plan for you? See more

06.01.2022 The way you LOOK + the way you SPEAK + WHAT you speak about + and how you make people FEEL = your PERSONAL BRAND. And that can be far more powerful and cut-through than any piece of marketing we can create for you just based on your company brand. This morning we had so much fun updating my personal branding photos with a great photoshoot with the very talented Lish Lansdown and my stand-in assistant Ky Gawinek. The way we do business and build our image is so transparent, so... you might as well be managing the way people perceive you. I try to update my images every 12 months, and it was such a great way to celebrate the lifting of lockdown restrictions. So what are the benefits of a powerful personal brand? 1. People can relate to you a lot easier and know if you are for them which = more clients, better relationships with suppliers, and definitely more credibility in your field of expertise. 2. You establish that you are a leader in your field just by being more present, more attainable and feeling more available. People grow to trust you more; all key ingredients when choosing who to work with or buy from. 3. A customer will respond and relate 8x more to a personal message from a business owner rather than from the company branding. Think about that for a little while if you aren't convinced that updating your photos, creating a personalised intro video and having your own dedicated website, social media pages, podcast, and blog/vlog aren't going to help you grow your business far quicker than any other marketing method we can create for you. Want to chat about creating a personal brand package for you? I'm giving half hour FREE consults on how to create a personal brand if you want to book in a time to have a chat.

05.01.2022 Hands up if you find business to business platforms a real struggle!! Maybe you find it a little dull (me!), not as friendly as other platforms and just a real struggle to create impact and converting your audience into actual customers. The scattergun approach doesn't work. It's not about connecting with every man, woman (and their dog!), and it's not about joining these groups and getting everyone to like each other's posts. Yes, you look like you've got a lot of activity...... but at the end of the day is it converting into real clients and business revenue? I don't know about you, but I prefer customers over likes. Enter Lucy Bingle - LinkedIn Marketing, my latest guest on the Connected Podcast. She chats with me about how to build connection through your personal brand on the platform, and shares a fantastic strategy on how to grow an authentic audience that engages with you and builds trust. And ultimately... becomes a client. Interested?! Check out our latest episode on the CONNECTED PODCAST https://melissajscott.com/12-connect-and-grow-on-linkedin-/

05.01.2022 MONDAY MARKETING BLAST - HOW TO MONETISE YOUR WEBSITE Welcome into the week with a fresh new marketing strategy to help your business grow and diversify your income streams. Today we are talking about how to actually make money from your website. It doesnt just have to be a promotional brochure for your business. It can be a living, breathing, organic sales-making machine that makes you money from all around the world, literally while you sleep! I share with you some strat...egies around: Affiliate marketing where you are on-selling another business products for a markup and therefore earning a percentage off the top. Sell your own digital products What are you an absolute expert at? You can develop a e-book (rather than a costly published version), instructional videos, or your own online course. The online course industry is absolutely BOOMING and there is so much opportunity to create an online product around your expertise particularly if you have a face to face service only. Sell products relating to your business. This seems like a no-brainer, but retail businesses that have a bricks and mortar shop should DEFINITELY have an online shop, and yet so many dont because they think its too hard! Now that COVID has turned the way we do business on its head, so many businesses are behind the eight ball and getting in front of an online audience is more important than ever. Create a membership site, where you have a VIP group that you constantly deliver an online service to for a small monthly fee. So if any of these strategies appeal to you, lets have a chat about how they can relate to your business. If this shut down period has done anything, it has been to increase our awareness of how we need to have a business that is nimble, adaptable, online, and with multiple streams of income. Lets talk. Melissa x

04.01.2022 I had the best long weekend... eating brekkie at my favourite local cafes, hanging out with the boys, walking my dog, and putting some serious energy into a personal creative project with James AND a complete digital detox. For 3 solid days! Sometimes you just need to refuel the tank with downtime so you can come back firing, and this week is going to be spectacularly big! We have new clients coming on, 4 online course websites on the boil, new logo work, newsletters, brochur...es and a new client working specifically on his personal brand in an intense session tomorrow. I'm so happy to see people backing themselves and their businesses after a really life-changing couple of months. If this period has taught us anything in marketing it's the importance of being online and having a real HUMAN relationship with your potential clients. You get true connection from being personally and actively engaged with your audience, and bringing in your key team members to do the same. Vlogging, blogging, email marketing, live videos, webinars, fresh photos and a punchy personal video that delivers a consistent and interesting story, relevant to your audience its all part of the sizzle that sells your business to new customers and keeps existing customers engaged with you. Because... People buy from people. They might really like your company, but they LOVE your and your people. People want to work with service providers that they know, love and trust. There has never been a better time than right now to get personal and invest in your personal brand and connection marketing. We teach you how to market yourself, your people, and how to create compelling content that is easy to expand on and stay current. Want to talk?

04.01.2022 Weekends are for... creative projects! Had a lot of fun buying a guitar setup with James. (Massive shout out to Wild Horse Guitars who are champions for gorgeous looking and sounding guitars.) Weve got one song writing project going already. Im learning all kinds of new skills around writing lyrics, putting beautiful chords together on the keyboard and playing in time with everyone else! (Ha Ha). Also learning how to develop a great verse and building a memorable chorus... songwriting is definitely a process and loving every minute of it. (Better start warming these vocal chords up!) Its been a pretty fantastic weekend! Hope you had a good one too. Tomorrow its back to being a designer and marketer. Living and breathing creativity lately, what a life! X

03.01.2022 THE VALUE OF INCREDIBLE IMAGES AND SELF BELIEF IN YOUR MARKETING and this is what it looks like when you ask an empowered client for personally branded photography for their online course and website, and then they deliver this kind of gold to you (and so many more images!) Im just thrilled that my lovely Canadian clients from The Empowered Healers are switched on to their personal brand, their vision, their audience and are passionate about bringing their message to a glob...al audience. These women are really backing themselves and making wonderful inroads into disrupting the healing industry. I am soooo happy to be part of this brand journey with Kelsey and Vanessa, and wanted to share some photos with you to perhaps inspire you to BOLDLY TELL YOUR OWN STORY ONLINE through amazing photography, video and your content. Covid has disrupted so many industries and business owners have had to rethink how they get in front of clients. What used to be done face-to-face can now be done online and one-to-many. Podcasts, video content, webinars, live streaming presentations, online courses and membership sites, email marketing, live social media, live tv shows... People are shaking it up and if you arent getting involved in the online space you are really, really missing an opportunity to do your business and your connection marketing better. The world has been given one hell of a shake up. Treat this as your opportunity to have a better and more robust business. Traditional methods of marketing and making new connections has changed. You need to proactively get in front of your clients now, and the competition is FIERCE! Standing out, being bold, being very congruent and consistent with your message is extremely important. You need to cut through and be memorable. (Thats why Im showing you these incredible photos!) You will have heard the words "pivot, reinvent, disrupt" well maybe its time you do. I know this can be very overwhelming for so many who just want to get back to doing what you do best. I have some space this week and next to talk if youre ready for a 30 min free consultation to brainstorm some ideas how you can put your business top of mind for your customers again. Are you ready? Melissa x

03.01.2022 95% OF OUR DECISIONS COME FROM LESSONS AND BELIEFS WE HOLD IN OUR SUBCONSCIOUS FROM 0-7 YEARS OF AGE What a day! I shot a quick little video while I was down at Rose Bay today (how beautiful a day was it!), in between shooting 3 different episodes for my podcast CONNECTED. Im coming back with the second season next week and really focusing on mindfulness, performance mindset, and living consciously in our businesses and giving amazing value to our clients and audience. So... many people focus on success as financial income but how connected are they to their business and their message? How much impact are they really making on the world? How much joy does their business really bring them? Pretty big questions and really worth the conversation, and these are the topics that Ill be really uncovering in this season of CONNECTED. Yes, its great to turn a healthy income in our business, (and we cant all sit on a mountain overlooking the ocean all day and meditate!)... but how good is it to also be part of a business that actually helps your audience to live a better life than before they worked with you. If you want to have a business that is relevant to your audience who has been through so much over the past 6 months, you might want to really consider how you SERVE your customer rather than how much you can SELL them. (Now thats a marketing message to deliver to your audience rather than just trying to flog your product or services!) Coming up in the next few weeks are some great topics on living consciously and mindfully, living without ego, how to protect your self-esteem and still sell like a demon, and how to blast through money and personal performance mind blocks. When you consider 95% of our decisions come from lessons and beliefs we hold in our subconscious from 0-7 years of age, it sure would be good to let that head trash go! Cant wait to share it all with you. Melissa x

02.01.2022 DRUM ROLL PLEASE...!! INTRODUCING COLLAB-RATS A year ago I was creating my Rockstar Personal Branding Marketing course Fast forward a year and right now James and I are in the thick of musical creativity and recording our first album together as CollabRats an orchestral alt rock outfit we created over the past few months. Talk about serendipitous! What you might not know about me is that before I went to design school, I was a singer (I sang around Sydney pubs and clubs wi...th my band many years ago!), and now Im a songwriter, collaborating with the genius that is my partner, James Lopes and writing some insanely good material that we are extremely proud of. James is already an accomplished musician, a guitarist/songwriter that has toured all over the US, Canada and England back in the day supporting major acts like INXS and Deep Purple. So it seems quite natural that when time and space opened up to us, we went back to our first passion in life which is to create music. And here we are! Bursting at the seams to launch our first song in the next month or so with an amazing video clip and stunning sound production through Lord Tim, and then an album in early 2021 once its all recorded, produced and finalised. If youre keen to watch our progress, come over to our official CollabRats page and you can enjoy the journey with us, because that is where Ill mainly post about our music. https://www.facebook.com/CollabRatsOfficial Weve been keeping pretty tight-lipped about this while we worked on our material, but its nearly launch time so I thought Id let you in on the excitement. We already have a major label interested in what were doing, so as they say only the sky is the limit!!!

02.01.2022 I'm so excited, as you might know, I put this online course together with a whole lot of knowledge (20+ years), experience and lots of heart. After the sudden loss of my husband 3 years ago, it really caused me to look at EVERYTHING in my life, and I mean everything! My business, the kind of clients I had, the work I did for them, the business model itself... and me. I put myself under a microscope and really got truthful around how I find joy in my professional life, and wha...Continue reading

02.01.2022 LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR OUR WEBINAR THIS FRIDAY AT MIDDAY Nobody wants to be all doom and gloom (my nickname with James is Brightside, because I love to look on the positive side) BUT you have to be realistic too. And the reality is, many businesses are finding it tough right now to get things kickstarted again and its potentially going to be a really difficult next 12 24 months as we work through a Recession. I read a really interesting article yesterday while I wa...s researching fresh content for the upcoming webinar, and it was questioning if there would be a psychological effect on consumers after panic buying subsides, as a result of the COVID lockdown restrictions. And the simple answer is very much YES. Things arent going back to normal. Consumers are people first, says Erica Carranza, Vice President of Consumer Psychology at Market Research firm Chadwick Martin Bailey (CMB). Psychology tells us about why people do what they do. If companies dont understand that, they cant figure out what to do next. Consumers are complex creatures. Consumption is driven by very strong motivations, like emotion, identity, and social connection. Those motivations arent going anywhere. But the values, habits, and norms that shape what we consume and how we consume could shift dramatically. So what does this mean? I know firsthand from my perspective, it means that I am thinking long and hard about how I spend money before I do. If I have a choice, I want to spend money with other small business owners who I LIKE and value, who have treated me well in the past through great CUSTOMER SERVICE, and who really understand my needs right now. Your customers have most likely changed their focus and are far more emotive in their buying decisions. But have you changed your marketing and your product offering? Do you understand what their needs are right now and how you can respond to this and seize the opportunity to gain more market share? REGISTER HERE: You are invited to attend our live Webinar Online Training: Friday 10 July 2020 | 12.00pm 1.30pm https://divinecreative.com.au/pathtoprofit And if you cant make that time, still register and we can send you a recording.

02.01.2022 Today is such a strange day, I don’t really feel like I can celebrate properly when so many indigenous Australians feel real pain around this date. So I chose to lay low, do a bit of work and hung out in my pool, and what should come on my playlist at that moment but U2’s One. What powerful lyrics. And what a beautiful reminder about coming together. One love, one blood One life, you got to do what you should One life, with each other... Sisters, brothers One life but we're not the same We get to carry each other, carry each other One One I really hope we can all agree to come together and find a day that ALL Australians can feel intensely proud of as we are a beautiful nation and people, and deserve to feel like one. X (If you want to listen to One, check out the version with Bono and Mary J Blige. It’s incredible.)