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5 email marketing services to use in 2020

Email marketing tools are simple and easy to use. They are designed to help you grow subscribers and build stronger relationships. If you don’t have any design skills, don’t worry, there are hundreds of templates you can choose to get started with an easy drag and drop editor and automation features.

Here are my recommendations:

1. MailChimp- Free for 2,000 subscribers, Plans start at $10 monthly

2. Mailerlite- Free for 2,000 subscribers, Plans start at $10 monthly

3. CampaignMonitor- Free for 2,500 subscribers, Plans start at $9 monthly

4. SendInBlue- Free, limits to 300 emails/day, Plans start at $25 monthly

5. Convertkit- offers a 14-day free trial. Plans start at $29 monthly for 1000 subscribers, unlimited of # emails per day, direct integration with several sites like Wordpress, Wix, Shopify, Squarespace.

6. Bonus Squarespace Email Campaign that costs $14 monthly, unlimited subscribers and can send up to 5,000 emails monthly. It’s fairly new and perfect if you have a website through them.

What are you currently using to grow your email list?

Where to find high quality stock photos

Want PHOTOS in your business that speaks to what your brand represents? Sure, you can hire a photographer but WHAT IF you're on a budget, you can always use stock photos that many companies use today.⁠

Just between us, the company I design for uses stock photography that works really well with representing the brand...that's our little secret, OK! 😊 There's a limitation set so all images have the same consistent tone. If it works for a Fortune 500 company, it can work for your small business too! ⁠
_⁠

Here are 3 of my top websites to find affordable candid and authentic photos:⁠

1. Pexels.com - You can get access to free stock photos and awesome video footage.⁠

3. Adobestock.com - You can find the perfect access for your creative project for a monthly fee and purchase rights to use photos commercially for advertising campaigns, publications and more. ⁠

3. Rawpixel.com - You can find the best image for any situation. You can get limited access to download 5 images daily or for a small fee, you can get unlimited access to use images for campaigns, publications, design work and more.⁠

As a bonus Burst.com, nappy.co and unsplash.com are other great sites for great imagery.

Check out my collection of FREE stock photos you can download and subscribe to my newsletter for updates.

Remember to review the licenses before using any photos. ⁠

Let me know in the comments if you tried any of these sites.

Melissa

5 Reasons You Shouldn't Quit Your Day Job

You may be wondering from the title that this chick is cray cray. Maybe just a little!

I know it’s everyone’s dream to quit their job and start a business. That plan may work for you if are financially ready and set. Although I make decent salary and earn extra income from time to time the option to quit my day job is not ideal. I’ve heard so many stories of people taking that leap of faith and going full throttle but they fail to tell you about the numerous struggles. I am already on the struggle train with trying to figure it ALL out so I don’t need the extra stress. My mom always use to say “you are good at what you do, there is a time and place for everything” so have a little patience, chile!

After carefully planning and budgeting my expenses I realized a few reasons why I am not quitting my day job anytime soon.

1. Having a job gives you resources like a steady paycheck.

If your business failed you will still have income to keep you afloat and you won’t be upset that you spent all savings and maxed out your credit cards. So now you’re broke as bleep! And plus you’ll stay committed until you figure it out. To be honest if John Legend was able to released his debut album in 2000 and still kept this day job 2 years later until it was his time to shine. Ummmm you can wait boo!

2. There is no pressure

Have you seen the amount of influencers and YouTubers who are burnt out? Of course you can get burnt out working your day job. Think about the pressure of pushing out a product or service because you need to keep up the appearance of being this fabulous superstar. And since you are still have your day job you have time to approach your business thoughtfully.

3. You could be quitting for all the wrong reasons

9 out 10 startups will fail within the 1st year. Do you serious want to be a statistic?  OK, so you may be tired of your boss or you know someone who made it and things went well. Do you even have a solid plan? Nope, you don’t and don’t lie and tell me that you do because I know you don’t, which is another reason why you should keep your day job. If I would have quit my job years ago I would be in serious debt with extremely low self-esteem because I didn’t have a solid plan therefore creating more stress I don’t need or want.

4. Whose gonna pay your medical bills

Your health is extremely important and it plays a huge role on how you perform. I love my benefits and I have a great plan that pays for nearly everything. Now a take a minute to see how much your employers pays for you to have those wonderful benefits.You’ll be surprise that you pay a very small percentage for the coverage. I’ve seen a few of the health plans advertised in the market place and if you want good coverage like that employer sponsored plan, you’re going to have to pay a hefty fee. Are you seriously ready for that or would you gamble on your life? I hope not but you never know these day sometimes desperation kicks in and you might do whatever. BUT PLEASE DON’T GAMBLE WITH YOUR HEALTH!

5. I simply love what I do and I’m learning a lot

And that’s the truth! Yes, I would love to have my own branding agency and one day I will. For now I am soaking up all the information and resources that’s available and never turning down an opportunity to attend a conference. Knowledge is key and you can never have to much. I’ll acquire all the skills I need until the time is right for me to take that leap of faith.

Now that I’ve given you new perspective, having a job and starting a business is not so bad. There are so many people like you and I who would love to quit our day job but it’s not ideal. Even though I make a decent amount freelancing, it’s just not steady income. As a business you want a steady stream of income in order to see profits and become sustainable.  

Food for thought

I’ll leave you with a fun fact: Actress Regina King who has been in the entertainment business for over 30 + years appearing in movies and television was finally nominated for an Oscar for her role in If Beale Street Could Talk. She has won NAACP awards and Emmys, but it took years of hard work and dedication before she won her 1st Oscar, which is awesome! Take the moment to celebrate all of your small victories because your time will come. SO BE PATIENT, BOO!

Be thankful that you have a job, there are a lot of people who don’t and want to work.

How To Write A Good Instagram Caption

Hey, Hey!

How long have you been staring at your screen trying to write that perfect caption? It can seem overwhelming deleting and rewriting. So what does a good Instagram caption look like? I’m not a miracle worker but I have seen a few things that have worked for my clients. Your caption must have 4 things:

• Context - What is your purpose or storyline?

• Personality - How can you relate to what you’re writing?

• Inspiration - What is the take away?

• Call to Action - Where are you leading your audience? Do you need them visit your website or YouTube channel? Sign up for an offer? Answer a question?

Good Instagram captions come in all shapes and sizes, from short to longer in-depth stories that melt your heart. Generally, you want your followers engaging with your content which is the reason you’re posting regularly. Instagram captions be can be as long 2200 characters so if you want to tell that long story, you can but strategic with your captions.

 Here’s a few things to think about when writing your captions:

• What value are you adding for your audience?

• Does this post add value to my brand?

• Is this something my followers want to see?

Writing captions or anything can be daunting but scheduling your Instagram posts will be a timesaver.  There are several social media scheduling apps that I recommend and you will thank me later.

 I’m not going to leave you without providing 6 captions ideas you can use for your Instagram account.

1. Quotes : Share a quote that motivates or pertains to your brand

2. Fun fact: Tell us something we don’t know. Remember to show your personality. You want your audience to relate to you.

3. Tell a Story: Tell about about accomplishing your task.

4. Pro Tip: Share something that you learn or give information that can add value.

5. Behind the scenes: Share what’s going on in your day-to-day life such as renovation project, photoshoot, or speaking engagement. Bring your audience along for the day.

6. Questions: Ask questions related to your photo. Ex. If you post a picture of Ice cream , ask your audience what’s their favorite flavor.

Have fun with your captions and take look at the how my favorite Instagrammers use captions in their post.

Let’s Talk

What are some captions you’ve considered using?

XOXOMEL 

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO GROW YOUR BRAND OR BUSINESS

With the rise of social media, tons of marketing tools, you may be overwhelm and unsure on which platform to chose that will work best for you.  The key to finding the right platform you enjoy, one that will allow you to grow and entertain your audience is not as hard as your think. If you are not a Snap"chatter" or Twitter person then you will need to find a platform that will give you more leverage to speak with your audience. I found a lot of my clients were creating several social media accounts only to find it hard to maintain them all, without having a plan of action. I do think it’s wise to create a user account for each platform just in case, to make it easier for your audience to find you. This should apply when your notice an large growth in your audience.

When I launched Girlitsmel in 2016 I asked myself the follow questions:

• Who is your audience?

• What are the demographics?

• Are they mostly females or males?

• What are the age ranges?

Once I determined my audience, I research which platforms they used the most and I advise for you to take this into account. Do not assume everyone uses Instagram or Twitter. Think about what your intended message conveys and your call to action.

Here's a few things I took into account when I created my social media accounts.

• Twitter can help me reach an new audience. I can retweet, share images and video and direct traffic to my website.

• Snapchat was not an ideal platform to use since I created an account and but rarely used the app.

• Instagram and Facebook allows me to reach my audience with ease by posting stories, photos, video and go live.

• Youtube was an easy choice for me as it would give me an advantage to target an audience that may not necessary be on Instagram or Twitter.

In terms of your message, you must consider the types of mediums you will be using, will it be links, photos or videos? I love photos and I know people will gravitate to a nice photo and comment. Everyone is on YouTube so making a few promo videos or tutorials can help. If you have a Facebook account, your friends can help promote your business by sharing with their friends and so forth. 

The key is being consistent and sticking to your platform(s) of choice. Remember first impression is everything and you do want to find yourself creating multiple accounts and lose your audience with mixed messages. Trust me it can happen!

Let's Talk!

What are some of favorite platforms you use to promote your business/brand?

XOMelissa

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HOW TO BOOST YOUR ENGAGEMENT ON INSTAGRAM

HOW TO TAKE BETTER SELFIES

WHERE TO FIND THE BEST FREE STOCK PHOTOS

Finding the right quality images for your business can be challenging and overwhelming when you do not a budget for a photographer.  I am sharing some of my favorite websites I love to use. Keep in mind it is a good gesture to give credit to the artist/photographer.

https://www.unsplash.com

https//:www.nappy.co

https://www.pexels.com

https://www.createherstock.com

https://www.freepix.com

https://www.pinterest.com

Share some of your favorite sites you use for your imagery.

Comment, Like and Subscribe to receive updates.

Request to join The Brown Sugar Creatives Facebook for more tips and resources to assist with adding value to your brand or business!

XOXOMelissa

FIRST IMPRESSION: REVLON COLORSTAY FULL COVERAGE FOUNDATION

First Maybelline debut their full coverage foundation last summer, then Covergirl and now Revlon. We have 3 major drugstore brands offering affordable and accessible full coverage foundation available through your local retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target. 

Revlon is a brand I absolutely love. Some of my friends say it's for the "old" folks and I am not OLD. There have been a few of their products that I trashed but I love the formula used for the ColorStay brand. Since I haven't seen any commercials or many reviews from women of color on YouTube I had to test it out for myself. 

Here's the tea:

This foundation was originally the ColorStay Whipped Crème that was removed from store shelves and repackaged. The original formula was only available in a few shades. 

New Packaging

The foundation arrives in a 1 oz  tube and cost $9-$14 depending on where you buy it.

Color Ranges

The foundation comes in 16 shades with 2 darker shades. The darkest shade is 420 Mahogany. Do not confuse the color range with the original ColorStay foundation because the colors are slightly lighter. I wear 410 Cappuccino in the ColorStay and I choose the darkest share 420 which was perfect match.

Texture

The foundation is creamy, similar to a mousse which blends well, leaving a flawless polished look. I have a lot of acne scars and the foundation hides it very well and it's lightweight.

Tools

I applied the foundation using a stippling brush and a damp beauty blender.  Using both I notice the coverage was the same applies with either tool. 

24 hour wear

Honestly there is not a foundation, no matter the cost, that will provide a flawless look for 24 hours. I have oily skin and the foundation dries semi matte. After wearing for about 5 hours I did notice a little oil in the my t-zone. Using a blot paper helped to refresh the foundation as if it was just applied. I live in Georgia where it gets extremely hot this foundation performed better than I expected. Most foundation can melt off your face and this foundation didn't. That's win for me!

Is it worth cost?

Yes, if you looking for an everyday makeup for the office or school. I would definitely recommend you try it. 

Have your tried any Revlon products? 

Like, Comment and Subscribe!

XOXOMelissa

MY FAVORITE SUMMER FACIAL ESSENTIALS

It's officially summer and I am sure you have already planned your summer wardrobe of shorts, dresses and swimsuits. Have you thought about your skincare routine? I have!  I live in Georgia and it gets extremely hot with the high temperatures and I like to keep my face looking fresh and clean. I love using facials products are lightweight and control shine. For the past few months I've been using Formula 10.0.6 products. They have tons of products for all skin types. 

Here are the products that I absolutely love:

1. Best Face Forward Daily Foaming Cleanser Passion Fruit and Green Tea

The cleanser washes away oil and impurities. The passion fruits reduces oiliness and the green tea exfoliates your skin to look healthy, clean and clear. I use this product daily - AM/PM.

2. Pores Be Pure Skin-Clarifying Mud Mask Strawberry + Yarrow + Rosemary

This skin-clarifying mud mask help to eliminate impurities and clear blocked pores. It's packed with anti-oxidants that I love. I use this product twice a week at night.

3. So Totally Clean Deep Pore Cleanser with Salicylic Acid

This is a 2 in 1 cleanser and toner helps to clear clogged pores. You simply apply the solution on a pad and gently rub your face and neck. I use this product daily - AM/PM.

4.Seriously Shine Free Mattifying Oil-Free Moisturizer Aloe Vera + Bamboo

his moisturizer is great for oily skin, the bamboo extract is great for absorbing excess oils. I used this product daily in the morning and at night.

5. Keep Me Clean Purifying Facial Wipes Cucumber + Witch Hazel + Salicylic Acid

These wipes are a life saver when you need to freshen up like after a workout or attend happy hour. I use these wipes to help cleanse my skin more after I take off my make-up. The are convenient and you can take them anywhere. 

Formula 10.0.6 doesn't have a lip scrub yet, I use Eco Lip Scrub Brown Sugar every night to help moisturize my dry lips. 

What are some of your summer facial essentials?

XOXOMelissa

NEED HELP WITH PLANNING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS

I remember when I started thinking of social media as a business and FREE way to advertise. I knew I would need assistance with scheduling my posts. As you may know, it's hard trying to figure out captions, hashtags, how often to post and keeping your theme consistent. I did some digging to see if I could find an application or software that provided tips, analytics and assistance with scheduling across multiple platforms. I found several but here are my top 4 auto scheduler apps to use for social.

I use the Later app (formerly known as latergramme) and Preview app.

Here are a few of my favorite scheduling applications:

Later App is free and they have a desktop version which makes it easy if you feel more comfortable on your computer. I use the free version which gives you 30 posts a month. You will be able to view your analytics which provides details on which post are performing better. It also allows your repost as well. The best feature of this app is you can save captions and hashtags to use in future post. It's very easy to use, you can drag and drop your images in the app and arrange your feed. You can unlock additional features such as more analytics on best times to post, IG stories for a small monthly fee.

Preview App is free and great app to used as well. I typically use this app once I reached my maximum limit on Later. This app does not have a desktop verison, however; it provides lots of examples of Instagram themes you can use for inspiration. The free version provides 30 post per month. You can unlock additional features for a small monthly fee.

PLANN app is a free app you can use for Instagram only. One of the features it offers is the ability to post video unlike Later and Preview in the FREE version. This app does not have a desktop verison, however; it provides lots of examples of Instagram themes you can use for inspiration like the previous apps. The free version provides 30 post per month. You can unlock additional features for a small monthly fee.

Planoly app is a free and great for Lifestyle or Fashion Bloggers with "shoppable" content. Although the free version does not include the ability to add "shoppable" product the app provides 30 post per month. This app is only for use with Instagram only. You can also unlock additional features for a small monthly fee.

Have you tried any of these apps? If so, how well are they working for you?

Comment, Like and Subscribe to receive updates.

Request to join The Brown Sugar Creatives Facebook for more tips and resources to assist with adding value to your brand or business!

XOXOMelissa