It’s our goal to continue to travel every Winter. I am from Canada, where the weather is extremely cold in the Winter months. Aaron and I both wanted to check out Costa Rica and we’re so glad we did.
We stayed in Tamarindo, Monteverde and La Fortuna. If you’re looking for more tips or want recommendations for places to see, where to eat or anything else.. just reach out to me!
small space: new flooring
Oh boy! Imagine having a water leak and not knowing how bad it was.. until it was really bad. Well, that was us. Our mobile home has really old plumbing, many of which have since been replaced and updated. However, we had a really bad leak. It was in the bathroom corner, on the shared wall to the kitchen and leaking under the counters by the kitchen sink. It ruined the flooring in the hallway and the kitchen. It started to bubble and that’s when Aaron decided to cut a hole in the wall and find where the leak was originating from.. thanks babe.
We then had a plumber come and fix the leak the next day, as soon as possible. It was pretty… wet. Luckily, we were able to fix the problem quickly. This project was the most hands-on one that we’ve been a part of at the mobile home. We did the complete demo ourselves, just Aaron and I. However, we did tap into family to support us with laying the new floors.
We went with vinyl plank flooring that we found at Costco. It was from Golden Select and we found the price was really good and I liked the look of it. Honestly, it was pretty easy to install. We were lucky to have support from experienced men that knew what tools to use and had a strategy on how best to lay the flooring.
Honestly, it looks so much better! I’m also SO happy to not have any carpet anymore. By having all the same flooring, the space also looks bigger. Have a better look by checking out my Instagram/socials: @boywhoblogs
The Worst Ways To Get Followers
Sure, follower count still matters but I think we can all agree that how many followers you have is not nearly as important as how engaged those followers are. Yup, influencers bring value by understanding their audience and speaking to them in a way that others have a hard time replicating. A vanity metric, like follower count, is tough to not get caught up on.
Let’s talk about four of the worst ways to get followers.
Automating Engagement via Hashtags
Don’t have bot accounts message and leave comments asking people to follow or DM a main account. It’s spammy and there is a better way to engage new audiences.Following Accounts Only To Be Followed Back
You should hit follow because you are interested in connecting with them and seeing their content, not because you expect to be followed from them.Paying Into A Loop Giveaway
Not only is this frowned upon in the industry, but it’s also unsustainable. You’re paying for a boost of followers that are only following you because they could win a large ticket item, often fooling you when they don’t win. People have been caught for fraud surrounding this method for selecting a fake winner. 
Purchasing Them
The vanity of having a certain number of followers doesn’t mean anything if they don’t care about you, aren’t engaging with your content and you don’t know anything about them. Over time, these accounts are removed from the platform — again, not sustainable and also against the community guidelines.
If you’ve fallen into any of these tactics, move away from them and start building a strategy that is measurable and a little bit more authentic.
Common Social Media Goals
Have you had a chance to review your goals and check in on the plans you had in mind for your social media strategy?
It’s time to step it up when it comes to using social media to grow your personal or business brand. Now is a good time to reflect and plan for the next quarter.
Here are some common goals —
▪️Post more consistently ▪️Improve the quality of content
▪️Try new platforms
▪️Create a social media strategy
▪️Focus on engaging with new + current community
▪️Increase reach, clicks + sales
▪️Produce more video content
▪️Collaborate with another business or creator
▪️Show up on more surfaces (Stories, Reels, Live, etc.)
And hey, if you need a marketer who is straight-forward, fun and effective on your side — book a free intro call with me online right here
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: 2021 SMALL BUSINESS EDITION
I really love getting to highlight these businesses and experience the product firsthand before deciding on what I’m keeping and gifting. It’s hard not to keep it all for myself but knowing I’m sharing (often) a new brand/product with others really does excite me. Online I can share written content, photos and some video about the product but I can’t speak do justice to the customer experience, the scents, the feelings and the other feel-good feelings that come when you support a small business.
Read more about each business below:
HAPPY POPS
I don’t mean to say I am obsessed but I am really a true lover of these pops. They’re made with simple ingredients and pack a lot of punch when it comes to amazing, natural flavours. I’ve picked these up from my local Metro but they offer country-wide shipping (in an insulated box) which makes for a convenient gifting option for your friends and family in other provinces.
FOREVERS ON FLOWERS AND MORE
If you know a home decor or design lover, a unique handmade piece is a great option. From faux floral arrangements to stamped book stacks, there are a mix of rustic, boho and farmhouse pieces. Julia has seasonal items in her holiday collection including faux fur trees and fabric trees, wooden bead garlands and other home decor pieces.
YOUR FOOTPRINT
How cool are plantable greeting cards? Your Footprint sells a variety of eco-friendly vegan sustainable products that eliminate single-use plastic and reduce waste. Be sure to check out their kitchen/bath and small-batch concrete decor pieces include gnomes!
MELISSA ARCHER DESIGNS
I’m such a fan of Melissa’s illustrations. Not only does she have a super festive map of the NORTH POLE!! She also has really neat maps of cities, provinces, countries and pieces inspired by fan favourites including Harry Potter, ANIMALS and Schitt’s Creek.
GRACE GIRL ² DESIGNS
Can you tell I’m really into the custom thing? I love how many of these businesses including this one are down for custom ideas. From ornaments, doormats and drinkware this small business can work with you to create a memorable gift with a custom message. Custom orders close on the 12th.
BLAZING BOMBS
These are the best smelling, handcrafted bath and body products. Not only is the packaging so cute, the products are all vegan-friendly, cruelty-free and safe for kids and those with sensitive skin. Don’t have a tub? Me neither! I love the shower steamers and this holiday collection is full of fun scents like peppermint and snow berry.
LOVE SQUARED
If you’re local you have definitely seen someone wearing one of the popular slouchy beanies from LSK. They have headwear for the entire family but I’ve got to admit, I love the look of the waffle-toques this season! They also make scrunchies for even the thickest heads of hair! The products are made with a high-quality fabric that is super soft.
PINK LEMON DECOR
You might have seen Amber’s super cute vintage trailer boutique online or in person at events but this print shop sells wood signs that are made with Canadian lumber and prints that are printed on high-quality matte paper with archival ink.
FALCON RUB
The spices are great and the gift sets are perfect. But Falcon Rub has more products including hot cocoa mix, nuts, and the most delicious jams/jellies. While we’re fans of the original blend, we also love the blazing blend and Falcon Rub can be added to dips, soups and other dishes!
Want to see these products on my Instagram? Check out this post!
Want more ideas? Check out my 2020 Gift Guide.
Understanding Brand Identity
Have you identified what makes you unique and interesting? As a business or influencer, it’s important to have some confidence in how you want to portray yourself. This starts with having a good understanding of your brand identity.
Not only will these allow you to attract ideal clients and find brand partners that align with you – but it will also ensure you are growing an audience that is like to be engaged and support you, simply, by being you!
Let me use myself an example… bc I am a Leo. As a creator, I am a lifestyle influencer (general, right?) but let me take that a step further.
I mix business with personal. How? I share content that touches on social media and business tips but I also show my personal life; milestones like getting engaged and renovating our mobile home. By sharing my story online, I have been able to create awesome two-way conversations with those that read my blog and connect with my social media accounts through email, direct messages and of course likes, comments, shares and saves! I share about my past work experience and the skills and knowledge I have gathered over the years of working in digital marketing/branding but don’t hold back from showing my true colours.
I can explain what sort of lifestyle I live but it’s easier to share it through posts. It’s easier when you are building a personal brand vs. building a corporate brand. But if you are the brand – don’t over think it. You are what you are. The challenge for most is finding and then connecting with people that share similar values, appreciate your experience, love personality and connect with your voice. The other part is creating the content. Social media is one of the most effective ways to target an audience by interest, location and a ton of data around their online behaviour.
Before you focus on engaging and growing your brand, do some self-reflection and ask those close to you how they would describe you. One last thing… don’t forget that a personal brand is a living thing. Your brand is constantly evolving. Don’t let that hold you back from showing up!
As always, if you want to connect or book a free into call with me. Click here!