Educate the consumer and dispel misinformation
I spend a good deal of time educating consumers about what they truly need for their hair, rather than drilling into them that they need to buy NATURALICIOUS. No one likes to be ‘sold,’ so this approach is much more effective than constantly inundating them with sales tactics. It boggles my mind that there are so many blogs, so much information (oftentimes misinformation) and products available for natural hair, yet many people with natural hair still don’t really know why their hair is so dry, why it’s breaking, or why it won’t perform the way they want. I see my job as being a go-to source for the vast lack of consumer education. I’d love for everyone to buy NATURALICIOUS. But even if they don’t, I want people to be well-equipped with accurate information so that when they go to buy any product, they can make a good, informed decisions and stop wasting time and money on things that aren’t even made for their hair, despite what the label says. I believe it’s apparent that I truly do care and that I know what I’m talking about when it comes to haircare; that’s what helps people trust me, which helps drive our sales and allows us to continuously grow at the rate we have.
Create your own Live TV show via Periscope
Periscope is a new mobile app that allows you to livestream video right from your phone. It’s like having your own live TV show using your phone as the video camera. Periscope has been an incredible marketing tool for NATURALICIOUS. Every time I “scope,” we see a surge in sales on our website. I usually scope daily, so you can imagine how effective this tool is for us. Now, I’m naturally comfortable being on camera and talking in front of hundreds of people. If that’s not your forte, Periscope might not be right for you. But if you have no problem chatting it up on camera, it’s a great place to be. If you’re an early adopter of this technology, you can quickly gain a cult following on this app. And if you’re likeable, relatable, and talk about things your audience cares about consistently, you can totally crush it on Periscope.
Help other small businesses
I find that many small businesses hoard information, afraid that the next guy is going to come along and steal some of their customers if they help someone else out. Look, the government is not going to stop printing money just because someone else made some. I share as much as I can via my private entrepreneurs group on Facebook. By reaching back and helping other entrepreneurs market their businesses, we all build strong, loyal followings.  It costs me nothing to support another businesses with the knowledge I have gained on the entrepreneurial journey, so why not? Dawn Fitch of Pooka Pure and Simple, serial entrepreneur Lauren Maillian, and personal branding consultant Amanda Miller Littlejohn are all incredible businesswomen who have taken time out of their schedules to help me in ways that have legitimately allowed me to grow my business monetarily, and they definitely didn’t have to.