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The Marketing Moxie Show

Episode 131: Jen Berson: Generating PR for Your Business

Guest Interview Graphics April 2016-Jen Berson-FBTW

PR is something I regularly get asked about, and it’s because it’s a mystery to most of us as business owners. In this episode, Jen Berson, founder of Jeneration PR helps demystify some PR basics for entrepreneurs. Listen in to hear her pro pitching tips and tricks.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

  • If we’re new to PR, Jen recommends where we should get started
  • Jen shares the biggest mistake entrepreneurs tend to make when doing their own PR
  • When writing a pitch, you have to read the outlet that you’re pitching for, don’t just mass pitch
  • Make sure you follow up on your pitches, it can get lost in the shuffle of email
  • Jen shares her advice on how to try and make a human connection with the person on the other side of your email when you pitch
  • Success is adding value, treating each relationship like something you want to add value to will really help them bloom and may come back to you when the time is right
  • Jen shares some of the untapped media opportunities that are out there for entrepreneurs
  • People are paying a lot of attention to videos right now, Jen shares some ways you can use this to share your message to a larger audience and how to do it right
  • We talk about pitching and the best way to make sure our pitches are not immediately moved to the trash folder
  • You may have a great pitch for one outlet that would be totally wrong for another; make sure you’re reading their articles to align your message with theirs
  • Should we send a press release? Jen gives us her position
  • Crafting targeted pitches or having someone do it for you is the way to truly get your message and your brand out there

[clickToTweet tweet=”PR tips for entrepreneurs from @JenerationPR and @magspatterson. #marketingmoxie” quote=”PR tips for entrepreneurs from @JenerationPR and @magspatterson. #marketingmoxie”]

Top 3 Takeaways for this Episode:

  1. Jen shares how to start smaller and then build that into bigger opportunities, including local media if you’d like bigger TV appearances.
  2. Do your homework before you pitch. Get to know what they’ve written about, the topics they cover and more. Then, connect with them via social media before you pitch.
  3. Keep your pitches short to keep them out of the trash folder, and get comfy with following up. No answer doesn’t mean no!

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Links for this Episode:

Jeneration Entrepreneurs Group on Facebook

Jeneration PR

Link to Inside Scoop Podcast on iTunes

Link to Free Scoop Insiders Facebook Group

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The Marketing Moxie Show

Episode 130: The Straight Truth on Your Services Business

Guest Interview Graphics April 2016-Maggie Patterson-FBTW

If there’s a single thing I’ve learned, it’s that the Marketing Moxie listeners care about growing their business – and doing it in a way that’s not sleazy or has them selling out. Today I’m doing a solo show where I level with you about how you’re unlikely to make ALL the money while working an hour/day or frolicking on the beach.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

  • When it comes to running a services based business, your revenue is one of your burning issues: you need it to grow the way you want to grow and serve your clients the way you want
  • There’s a lack of truth telling and a lot of claims out there about how people are earning the money they are in their business
  • I want to level with you: because we are all selling, we lose touch with being of service and with having a soul
  • I break down my 3 favorite mistakes, lies and myths with running a services-based business
  • You need a proven process and reputation to start earning passive income: I explain the why and how
  • The fastest path to cash will always be working with clients; you have to do the work
  • Results matter, people need to know you can deliver. Anyone who tells you that you can earn money in your sleep or from the beach are not giving you the truth
  • You can build a successful online business without an email list, I explain the why and how
  • The days of ‘follow these 5 steps to cash’ or ‘here’s how to get to 6 figures’ are over; it is irrelevant and nonsense (maybe it’s not over, but I’m o-v-e-r it)
  • If you are running a services-based business for the money, go get a 9 to 5; the best way to get the results and get paid is by playing to your strengths and by doing the work

[clickToTweet tweet=”Making 1 of these 3 mistakes with your services-based biz? @magspatterson dishes up the truth.” quote=”Making 1 of these 3 mistakes with your services-based biz? @magspatterson dishes up the truth.”]

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Links for this Episode:

Heart & Hustle FREE Challenge (Starts 4/25)

Inside Scoop Episode 2

Link to Inside Scoop Podcast on iTunes

Link to Free Scoop Insiders Facebook Group

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The Marketing Moxie Show

Episode 129: Kamila Gornia: Grow Your Email List with Facebook Ads

Guest Interview Graphics April 2016-Kamila Gornia-FBTW

Do Facebook ads feel like a financial sinkhole? Do you want to throw your laptop out the window because you’re frustrated as all get out? This episode’s guest Kamila Gornia is going to help us get smart and strategic with our ads so you can use them in a way that’s productive and profitable.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

  • Kamila shares the number one mistake we tend to make with Facebook ads
  • When running an ad, you have to make sure it’s in line with your overall goal for your company
  • There’s a lot of things to have in place before actually running an ad, Kamila breaks it down for us
  • Kamila shares some of the reasons your ad may not be converting; it’s not just about having the ad
  • You can have a really high click-through rate, but it’s not actually converting. The goal is to gain clients, not to just have a high click-through rate
  • If you work with everything together: landing page, ads, your offer, your timing, etc. then you can get to the bottom of what’s working and what’s not
  • Kamila gives her power tip for getting the most out of our FB ad money
  • Find something that’s converting really well and use that until it stops working: Kamila explains why this is important
  • Kamila shares how and when to scale your ad campaign
  • Holding a webinar and then a launch is no longer enough, you have to have a concrete sequence to get the results you want and ads can help
  • Kamila explains how and why to not take it personally when things don’t go well with your ads
  • Kamila shares what the good times to run ads are depending on your business
  • Kamila shares what we should think about and what we should know before we outsource our FB ad management

[clickToTweet tweet=”FB ads making you nuts? Listen to this – @kamilagornia @magspatterson break it all down -” quote=”FB ads making you nuts? Listen to this – @kamilagornia @magspatterson break it all down -“]

Top 3 Takeaways from this Episode:

  1. Ads aren’t just about the ads. Get organized with an offer your audience wants and a landing page that converts. It’s easy to think FB ads are a ATM, when they only work if you’ve got everything else handled.
  2. Get ready to experiment. This is not a cookie cutter thing, every campaign, every offer, every business will perform differently. Be okay with failing and tweaking as you go.
  3. Before you decide you’re going to hand off FB ads, get super clear on what’s involved, why you should or shouldn’t do it. Also, remember, costs don’t include your ad budget!

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Links for this Episode:

Kamila’s Site

Kamila’s FB Ads Course

Link to Free Scoop Insiders Facebook Group

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The Marketing Moxie Show

Episode 128: Hibiscus Moon: Building a Vibrant Tribe on Facebook

Guest Interview Graphics April 2016-Hibiscus Moon-FBTW

Have you ever looked at your Facebook page and thought, “what’s the point?”. You’re definitely not alone. In this episode Hibiscus Moon shares how she’s built an active and very engaged following on Facebook with some practical tips you won’t want to miss.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

  • Hibiscus explains how she’s built such a great following on FB when it’s become so hard to do so
  • Treating FB like a conversation by giving personal answers to questions and comments is key
  • Using FB to sell all the time can turn people off, Hibiscus explains how to avoid this and why
  • Getting people to treat your page like a community is important, it will get people interacting with each other and show they’re with like-minded people
  • Hibiscus explains how to make the people on your page feel safe and not abandoned so they keep coming back
  • FB badges are new and can get you more users, Hibiscus shares how to earn them
  • How can you use your page to stay connected in a way that’s real and honest and not fake or has too much selling?
  • Hibiscus shares how often she posts and the basic content of her posts as a guideline
  • Using scheduled posts mixed in with real time posts is a good policy, Hibiscus shares how this has worked for her
  • Sharing others’ posts is helpful too, it can gain your page more traction
  • People want to see real, authentic, behind the scenes posts about what’s really going on
  • Hibiscus shares her favorite thing about Facebook and why we should invest the time in our FB page
  • Don’t find your favorite platform and then your audience, find your audience where they are hanging out and put the time in there

[clickToTweet tweet=”Can you really keep people engaged on Facebook? @hibiscusmoon1 shares how she does it. Listen now” quote=”Can you really keep people engaged on Facebook? @hibiscusmoon1 shares how she does it. Listen now”]

Top 3 Takeaways from this Episode:

  1. Are you making your Facebook page conversational or are you just publishing and pushing your message? Look at how you can make it more engaging and create a real conversation so people come back for more.
  2. Hibiscus posts multiple times per day with different types of content. So if you’re publishing twice a week and then wondering why you’re not hitting the mark, that may be the reason why.
  3. One thing that knocked my socks off about Hibiscus’ team is that they try to reply and engage with their tribe so they feel like it’s a safe place and they’re heard. What can you do to create this type of connection on your page?

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Links for this Episode:

Hibiscus’ Site

Free Gift from Hibiscus

Hibiscus on Facebook

Link to Free Scoop Insiders Facebook Group

Categories
Business Strategy for Entrepreneurs

3 Questions to Help You Find the Right Mastermind Group

 

Join the right mastermind group - start by asking yourself these 3 questions. *PIN* this resource and use the power of a mastermind group to help you grow and thrive in ways you didn’t think possible.

2016 is already zipping by. I mean, a whole quarter is already gone and in that 12 weeks, I feel like I lived a whole year in business.

Yes, I know I’ve been a bit quiet here on this blog, but to be honest, I’ve put this blog on hold as I tried to figure out exactly what I wanted it to be. What kind of content I could create that would be helpful, useful and valuable, and not just content to have something to publish.

After all, who doesn’t need a little sabbatical or reset after 30 months of blogging?

The launch of my new company, Scoop Industries, meant that I needed a clear delineation between what I blog about there, and what I blog about over here.

And here we are. Maggie, Unlimited where I blog about the intersection of building a business, entrepreneurship and how that all meshes up with life.  All with a heavy dose of straight talk as I really don’t know how to do it any other way.

Which brings me to today’s topic. Masterminds, aka, my secret weapon in business.

If you’re not familiar with a mastermind group, it’s a mix of accountability, support, and idea sharing to help one another achieve success.

In the past three years, I’ve been a part of paid, and then informal, mastermind groups and they’ve been critical to my sanity and my success.

As a female entrepreneur, especially living in the middle of small town Canada, they’re my business life line. They’re people who get “me” and what I’m going through.

If you’re not in a mastermind, it’s time for you to find one as it gives you a structured way to help you reach your goals.

Before you decide you’re fine without one, there are no gold stars for doing this entrepreneurship, business owner thing on your own.

Imagine having a sounding board when you need it, a place to go when you’re stuck and having other people you know, like and trust that you can contribute to their business vision and success.

It’s pretty awesome.  So, how do you get started?

1. Who Do You Want to Surround Yourself With?

The key to a mastermind being a good fit and a valuable use of time is being with the right people. For me, that’s been with people that have business values that are aligned with mine and are at a certain stage or level of experience.

As you consider this, do you want to mastermind with other people who do what you do? A variety of industries? Also think about who you mesh with and where you’ll be a-okay with sharing the ins and outs of your business.

2. What’s your Mastermind Goal?

Don’t just join a mastermind to check it off your list! Take time to get clear on your intention and goal from masterminding.

At each stage in your business, this may be different. When I was first starting out, it was to get connected and have support with different challenges. Now I rely on my mastermind group to push me and call me out on my shit.

What you need may be different, so put some time into figuring out what you need in the next three, six months or even a year to support your business and personal growth.

3. Free or Paid Mastermind?

I’ve been in several paid masterminds as well as a number of ones formed with business friends/collaborators.

There are benefits and drawbacks to both, so let’s quickly walk through them.

With paid masterminds, a lot of it comes down to the leader of the group and how they structure things. Is everyone at the same level, or are you going to be miles ahead or behind of everyone else?

Many times a paid mastermind requires a chunk of change, so definitely dig into all of the details before you commit.

Things I like to find out to help make my decision:

  • How many people will be in the group?
  • How are they screening people for fit?
  • How often do we meet?
  • What are the requirements for participating in the group?
  • How is the group structured?

Even if it’s only a minor investment, asking these questions upfront can save you a headache later.

Maybe you’re not in the market for a paid mastermind, so a free group is always an option too. For best results, I recommend brainstorming who you’d like to mastermind with and are connected to and go from there.

Starting a new group is always easier than trying to find an existing one and then trying to get invited. People generally are pretty tight lipped about who they mastermind with and these groups tend to be a little bit secretive. (At least in my experience, it’s like some type of online entrepreneur version of the Skulls.)

The biggest thing with an unpaid mastermind is to ensure that there are clear rules of engagement and expectations from the get go. Establishing how often you’ll meet, how new members get added and more can save a lot of back and forth later.

Having this all laid out makes it easy for people to say yes or no when you invite them, and if you’ve got everything organized, it’s an easy yes.

To give you an idea of structure, my current group is one with 7 fellow female entrepreneurs and we meet monthly by Google Hangout. We also meet twice a year in person, and then have our Facebook group for support.

Armed with these three questions, you’ll be on your way to finding the right group for you and using the power of mastermind group to help you grow and thrive in ways you didn’t think possible.

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The Marketing Moxie Show

Episode 127: Vasavi Kumar: No BS Business & Keepin’ It Real

Guest Interview Graphics April 2016-Vasavi Kumar-FBTW

Fasten your seatbelts friends. If you’ve been craving a dose of straight talk about what’s really happening in the online business world, coach Vasavi Kumar is serving it up today. And warning, she tells it like it is, and with no shortage of colorful language. (NSFW if you’ve got a 9 to 5, and this one is not friendly for those who cringe at an f-bomb, because they will be dropped!)

Items Discussed in this Episode:

  • Vasavi shares the number one BS thing we are doing as female business owners and why we need to cut it out right now
  • As women, we are taught not to hustle or work too hard, but we should pride ourselves on being a beast in our business
  • We live in a society where we want what we want right now, but we don’t want to do the work it takes to get there
  • There is really no such thing as an overnight success, Vasavi shares how her business has been a 24/7 project for years and that’s why she got where she is
  • Vasavi shares where she has said ‘no’ to potential clients and why taking someone that’s not a good fit for you on is detrimental to your business
  • We are constantly looking to buy courses and coaches but not implement half of what we’re learning
  • Vasavi shares her parents’ immigration story and how it has impacted her way of doing business and hustling
  • How can we be smart and not fall into the false marketing tactics and be authentic in our business? Vasavi gives us her advice
  • Vasavi shares the craziest thing she sees happening online with female business owners and what we can do to stop it
  • Stop trying to be the mini version of someone else, be yourself
  • Most people are running a services based business, that doesn’t have to be a dirty secret, offering 1:1 services is what most of us are doing and that’s ok
  • If the only goal you have is a money goal, you may end up going back to the drawing board. Money should be an external motivator. Vasavi explains

[clickToTweet tweet=”Straight talk on #femalentrepreneurship and #onlinebusiness from @askvasavi and @magspatterson” quote=”Straight talk on #femalentrepreneurship and #onlinebusiness from @askvasavi and @magspatterson”]

Top 3 Takeaways from this Episode:

  1. Sometimes you just gotta hustle and grace isn’t going to happen. That’s totally okay, don’t apologize for committing to making it happen.
  2. The time honored advice of be yourself is always a good place to start. Show up and do you. Don’t be a cheap imitation.
  3. If it’s all about the money, you’re going to run out of steam. You need to have other goals beyond making bank or you’ll lose your soul (and maybe your sanity) in the process.

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Links for this Episode:

Vasavi’s site

Rent Vasavi’s Brain

Link to Free Scoop Insiders Facebook Group

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The Marketing Moxie Show

Episode 126: Melyssa Griffin: Pinterest Growth Strategies

Pinterest + Pinfinite Growth + Boardbooster = website traffic and email list growth for your small business. @nectarcollect shares her experiences and best pinterest tips to help you get the most value from this social media tool. *PIN NOW*

Sure you love Pinterest, but are you using it for your business? You may be surprised at how effective it is, and today’s guest, Melyssa Griffin from The Nectar Collective is going to blow your mind with how Pinterest has helped her grow her business in the last year.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

  • Pinterest is not just for moms and craft ideas, Melyssa explains why we should be using it for our business
  • Whatever niche you’re in, you can really make it work because it’s just not as saturated as other social media platforms
  • Using Pinterest was really a turning point in Melyssa’s business last year, she explains how she started using it strategically to significantly increase her followers, email subscribers, and revenue
  • Melyssa shares her advice on the best place to get started on Pinterest
  • We delve a little deeper into what to pin and how to use your boards best to attract your ideal client
  • Melyssa introduces us to Boardbooster and why it’s her favorite Pinterest manager
  • The growth at the beginning of focusing on Pinterest can be slow, but if you’re doing all the right things then once you hit that 1,000 mark your growth rate can increase exponentially
  • Melyssa shares the one thing you should be doing with your Pinterest account to see an increase in traffic

[clickToTweet tweet=”Grow your business with #pinterest – @nectarcollect and @magspatterson share how” quote=”Grow your business with #pinterest – @nectarcollect and @magspatterson share how”]

Top 3 Takeaways from this Episode:

  1. Pinterest is legit for your business. If you want to build traffic and your list, give it a shot. Plus, it’s fun, so you’ll actually enjoy doing it.
  2. Think about your ideal client and what kind of content they really need so you can find the right people on Pinterest.
  3. Be patient and learn how to do it right. I recommend Pinfinite Growth to help you understand the ins and outs of making it happen.

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Links for this Episode:

Melyssa’s Pinfinite Growth Course

Boardbooster (get 1 month free to get started!)

The Nectar Collective

Follow Melyssa on Pinterest

Follow Maggie on Pinterest

Follow Scoop on Pinterest 

Link to Free Scoop Insiders Facebook Group

Categories
The Marketing Moxie Show

Episode 125: Lori Barron – Brand Coaching for your Small Biz

Guest Interview Graphics March 2016-Lori Barron-FBTW

We talk all the time about branding but it’s so misunderstood. Your brand is so much more than a logo or font choice, and our guest Lori Barron is going to break down what you need to know about your small biz’s brand on today’s episode.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

  • Lori explains what exactly branding is, one of the most misunderstood aspects in business
  • When branding is done right, it’s what ultimately drives business to you, the colors are not what matters!
  • There’s no reason to crowdsource your branding ideas: they may not be your ideal audience and they don’t know your message or have any contextual information
  • Lori gives advice on being really smart when asking for feedback, it can lower other people’s confidence in your business and turn off if done incorrectly
  • Hone your skills and do what you do incredibly well and your ‘brand’ will evolve over time
  • Lori explains why you shouldn’t even do anything visual until you are really clear on your brand, who you are, and what you offer. The process will be much smoother once these pieces are clear
  • Why is our brand so important to us as a small business?
  • Being on a constant binge of looking at other people’s businesses may not be helpful: there’s ultimately no one that offers what you do and who you are
  • Lori shares the biggest branding mistakes most small businesses make and how we can make sure it doesn’t happen to us

[clickToTweet tweet=”Branding is so misunderstood. ComeSayHelloCOM and @magspatterson on the #marketingmoxie show.” quote=”Branding is so misunderstood. ComeSayHelloCOM and @magspatterson on the #marketingmoxie show.”]

Top 3 Takeaways from this Episode:

  1. Do you fully understand your brand image beyond colors/fonts/pretty stuff? Give some thought to how it all fits together including your message, stand and visual brand. Awareness of how this all works in harmony is the key to creating a real customer experience.
  2. Are you guilty of crowdsourcing? Consider the message you’re sending and the validity of the feedback you’re getting.
  3. Watch for branding mistakes that can mess you up like not having a clear idea of what you’re offering- and remember, your brand will evolve over time!

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Links for this Episode:

Hello Media
Link to Free Marketing Moxie Facebook Group

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The Marketing Moxie Show

Episode 124: Intuitive Leadership to Grow Your Business

Guest Interview Graphics March 2016-Caroline Frenette-FBTW

Have you ever had the whole moment where you know you should or shouldn’t do something and you’re not entirely sure how you know it? That’s your intuition in action. Coach Caroline Frenette joins us to share how to use you intuition to guide your business and avoid going off course by following the crowd.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

  • Caroline explains what intuitive leadership is and how you can use it
  • We can use this to tap into our inner strength and confidence to take the leaps we want in business, Caroline explains how
  • Caroline shares how she discovered intuitive leadership and why it’s so helpful for herself and many of her clients
  • Caroline has used intuitive leadership to help many of her clients coming to her totally overwhelmed with what they need to do for their business
  • When all the strategies you are trying to use are not working in your business, you may need to look at the energy around you and what you are able to put into your business
  • Intuition is not fear; Caroline explains how a fear can come about from an intuition
  • Once you begin to build your inner confidence, it starts to happen organically and you learn to trust your intuition even more
  • Caroline and I share personal and business stories of how our intuition has worked for us in the past (or not worked when we didn’t listen!)
  • Caroline shares her top takeaway for us to start using our intuition to become a great and powerful force in our businesses

[clickToTweet tweet=”Stop following the crowd and use your intuition instead With @divineyoganista + @magspatterson.com” quote=”Stop following the crowd and use your intuition instead With @divineyoganista + @magspatterson.com”]

Top 3 Takeaways from this Episode:

  1. Trust your gut. Seriously. It’s the simplest advice but when we get off course it’s usually because we stop listening to what we know to be true and listening way too much to others.
  2. Learn how your intuition shows up for you and the difference between fear and the clear, positive energy of your intuition.
  3. Clarity and being able to use your intuition takes practice. But it’s so, so worth it once you’ve really dialed into it.

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Links for this Episode:

Caroline Frenette

Free Intuition Training from Caroline

Link to Free Scoop Insiders Facebook Group

Categories
The Marketing Moxie Show

Episode 122: Kelly Azevedo: Closing Systems to Build Your Revenue

Episode 122: Kelly Azevedo: Closing Systems to Build Your Revenue

When you run a services-based business, your ability to “close” new clients is absolutely critical to your success. She’s Got Systems’ Kelly Azevedo joins us to share her tips for closing business and how it’s helped her grow her business.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

  • A lot of times we tend to leave people in the ‘I’m not sure’ category, Kelly explains how to get them to a clear yes or a clear no
  • If people aren’t interested, they will opt out. If they’re still on your list, they still need something and it’s up to you to fill that need
  • Kelly walks us through her closing systems and how to make it tangible in your business
  • The client may not have been ready when they first reached out, but if you never follow up you don’t know if they are interested down the road
  • Kelly explains the gap between reaching out to new clients and serving your current clients and how to fill it
  • Kelly shares the results she’s been able to drive out of getting focused on her closing system over the last year
  • A lot of programs have a refund rate through the roof, and Kelly has gotten hers down to less than 1% just by focusing on her closing system and making people feel like they’re not just a number
  • Don’t just shovel people into a program if you can’t serve them, it will hurt you in the long run
  • Kelly shares her number one tip for getting started with creating our own closing system

[clickToTweet tweet=”Close more contracts with these tips from @krazevedo and @magspatterson” quote=”Close more contracts with these tips from @krazevedo and @magspatterson”]

Top 3 Takeaways from this Episode:

  1. Get people to a clear yes or no faster with Kelly’s tips and avoid “not sure” limbo.
  2. Follow-up is everything. Don’t assume “not now” means a big fat no.
  3. Remember no matter what you’re selling – from services to programs – the personal touch matters and is what makes the difference.

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Links for this Episode:

shesgotsystems.com

Link to Free Marketing Moxie Facebook Group