What is My Creator "Word of the Year"
It's Different From My Personal Word
It’s an unusually gray and snowy day in Denver as I work on this newsletter. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks thinking about how 2023 went and the intentions and goals that I wanted to set for 2024.
And I kept returning to a concept that I’d thought about throughout out my content creation journey.
The concept of “SCALE” There are so many ways to think about the word scale from a noun perspective-the object that measures weight.
Or from the perspective of taking action-to grow something.
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2024’s Word of the Year: SCALE
Why?
Because at the heart of everything a content creator is doing is designing and growing an online brand, mission or initiative that has the ability to grow exponentially because it’s positioned online. I thought it would be helpful to share what that could look like in your business in 2024.
Scale your impact
Who are you serving with your content? What is the mission that influences the moves that you’re making within your brand? For me, my goal is to help creators building online brands that serve missions and communities that are underserved.
If you’re providing a voice or space for folks that other people ignore-I want to help you grow and sustain your work.
If you’re highlighting an issue or community that needs more support-You’re my people.
Scale Your Community
Every single person that has started an online project, brand or space is of service to what they’ve decided to focus on. Scaling your community as I’m referring to it is thinking about all of the people who resonate with what you’re working on and how to get them connected with you and your work. Scaling your community happens in a number of different ways. You just have to consider which one resonates with you and is the most natural fit for you.
Some examples below of scaling your community:
Creating an audio or video podcast-that your community could enjoy wherever and whenever they feel like it.
Twitter Spaces-Even though I feel like Twitter is burning to the ground-Twitter Spaces is the one beautiful place on that platform to be in.
Threads-Similar to Twitter without all of the current toxicity.
Spoutible- Similar to Twitter without all of the current toxicity (a little more politically focused) Black-owned.
Starting a newsletter-I’m running a workshop in a few weeks about newsletters. But they are a great way to capture and scale your online community.
Starting an email list-These function a bit differently from a newsletter and I’ll be talking about that in the upcoming newsletter workshop.
Grow your social media following-BUT, you need a plan to move your followers onto an email list, newsletter or both. Having followers to have followers doesn’t do anything. Followers without a plan are just vanity metrics.
Meetup groups-One of my favorite places to connect with likeminded people is Meetup (dot) com. You can host focused on an interest. What’s really cool about these groups is the opportunity for people with similar interests who live somewhere else to participate in your meetups. I did this when I visited Australia for two months. I found a couple of amazing meetups and connected with some great people.
Host events via Eventbrite-This year I plan on hosting events via Eventbrite. It’s a great way to announce an event. Similar to Meetup, you can attract people interested in your topic who live in your town or are looking for online events if that’s what you’re hosting.
Slack groups-Sometimes Slack drives me crazy. BUT, for people who love it Slack is a great place to stay connected with the people that you’re serving. I’ve also listed a couple of other spaces that you could scale your community in.
Reddit
Discord
Start a semi-closed group-NOT ON FACEBOOK. I know that we’re used to hosting our groups on Facebook, but there are so many challenges that come up with Facebook. Tools such as: Circle.so, Heartbeat, Mighty Networks or Kajabi could help you grow a thriving community that isn’t impacted by the Facebook algorithm.
Start a semi-closed group-On Facebook-sometimes you have to do what you have to do and build where you’re at. Facebook groups can be a great way to do that.
Scale Your INCOME
This resource is called Creators Getting Paid for a reason. There are so many reasons why creators want to earn more, I’m sharing some of those reasons below.
You’re not rich and need to fund the work that you’re doing.
To donate to initiatives that you believe in.
Because your time is money. Yes, you’re working a 9-5 but your mission needs to be funded differently.
You’ve got bills to pay.
To reinvest in the growth of your business.
Need to catch up for retirement.
The world is out there and travel isn’t free.
It’s time to aggressively invest for your future.
To pay off that debt.
Kids eventually stop playing with cardboard boxes and want actual toys.
You never want to work for someone else again.
To fund scholarships.
Your business has expenses and those need to be paid.
Just Because
Seriously, you don’t need a reason for wanting to make money with your work and within your brand. Whatever reason you have for making money is your reason and you don’t need to explain yourself, apologize or justify why you want to make money with your work.
Creators Getting Paid Services and Resources
Mastermind spots are still available-Please note that the Mastermind is capped at 15 participants. Creators Getting Paid Mastermind-Details in the linked to post.
The Mastermind begins the week of January 16, 2024 and has limited spaces.Payment Plans-will be available after the deal ends. Reach out to me at: thebrandbuildinglab@gmail.com for more details if you have questions.
Upcoming Workshops
Free Workshop: Creating an Impactful (And Paid) Vision for Your Online Brand in 2024-Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 6:00 pm MTN/8:00 pm EST
Zoom details will be shared closer to the date.
Free Workshop-How to Design Award Winning Podcast Content in 2024-Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 6:00 pm MTN/8:00 pm EST
Zoom details will be shared closer to the date.
IN-PERSON Workshop-How to Build and Grow a Newsletter that Pays (in 2024) I break down what works, what doesn’t and mistakes to avoid in 2024. Every person who runs an online brand who is serious about making money within their brand MUST have an email list or newsletter.
Leave the workshop understanding how to monetize your specific newsletter
Learn Michelle’s affiliate strategy
Get a chance to ask Michelle questions specific to your newsletter
Learn how to “sell” within your newsletter
How often to send out your newsletter and more
What is the difference between email marketing and having a newsletter
Cost: $147
When: Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 10:00 am MTN/12:00 pm EST
Zoom details will be shared the week of the workshop
Plan for at least 1.5-2 hours
How to Scale
And Michelle’s Personal Word of the Year
Scaling can be scary because you have to put yourself out there and “sell” your idea, concept, expertise, resource, etc. in order for it to grow. In the following 15 minute video I share some additional thoughts about “Scale” and my personal word of the year
Question for you…
What’s your business word for 2024?
What’s your personal word for 2024?