You see, I had invested in countless masterminds, but I never (never, ever, ever) wanted to host one myself.

I won’t bore you with all my reasons why, but here’s a nutshell version:

• What if I let people down?

This ONE reason was enough for me to evade inquiries for a decade. That was, of course, until I began asking myself, What if?

In February, I opened a waitlist for a mastermind, and 2,000+ signed up in just a few days. The team then interviewed qualified applicants and we selected 15 entrepreneurs for our first cohort.

We met twice virtually, but last week we hosted the mastermind in our hometown of Newport Beach, California. I was jumping out of my skin in anticipation, but I was shocked with the reality of actually meeting IRL.

This group was even more incredible than I could have imagined. It’s always been a dream to curate a space for driven, determined, and generous visionaries to come together…and it finally happened.

I was humbled sitting in a room filled with people who are sharing incredible ways to grow businesses.

We stripped ideas. We challenged beliefs. We picked each other up. We pushed each other to think bigger.

No, bigger than that. 3x it. Now add 57% more.

That’s more like it.

My mastermind isn’t about one person. It’s about scaling information to collectively grow our businesses…and—whoa—this crew did not come to play.

Just wait to see what they debut, do, and share in the next five months.

What an honor to facilitate this journey. And it all started with ONE QUESTION: What if…

What might you do/create/begin if you asked, What if…?

This week I asked myself a new What if… question: What if I got out of my comfort zone? I’m sending this note from Austin, Texas. I’m here as part of a mastermind/executive group I am a part of and, well, I’m uncomfortable.

I’m driving rally cars, having conversations by bonfires, pitching business strategies, and may or may not be wearing a cowboy hat.

It all starts with What if…

j*

Photo credit: Naomi Creative Photo

The post What if…? appeared first on Jasmine Star.

Get specific: The more clear you are with your goal, the easier it will be not only to measure success but map the process to attain it. It’s much better to say you want to book five new clients in the next 30 days than to say you want to grow your business. You can come up with a plan and action steps you need to take to attain five clients, but just wanting to grow is too vague.

Seize the moment to act on your goals: Having a clear idea of what you need to do is great, but you need to act on it! Instead of accumulating task after task on your to-do list, break your day down into one-hour segments, and write down specific tasks you can complete that will get you closer to that goal.

Tip: I personally break my day down to the minute. Some call it neurotic, I call it genius! The reason is, I factor in things like preptime, drive time, and set up time so I can make the most of my time instead of getting behind because I was only accounting for the time it would take to complete the task itself.

Focus on getting better rather than being good: To me this is all about giving yourself some grace! Instead of being hard on yourself for not being where you want to be, celebrate that you’re farther than you once were and you’re on your way to getting to where you’re working to be!

Focus on what you will do not what you won’t do: This mindset hack will help you as you pursue that goal! Instead of focusing on the things standing in your way or the reasons why you can’t do something, focus on what you can do about it! Once you know what your obstacles are, it’s time to step into solution-focused mode! This is where you come up with ideas on how to capture five new clients. That might mean reviewing the things you’ve tried that didn’t work. It might also mean jotting down every idea that crosses your mind until you land on the viable options to try.

Get started: Once you have a goal and come up with a plan, you have to execute it! Remember that doesn’t mean things will always go according to plan. It does mean that you’re dedicated to figuring it out as you go along and making adjustments as you learn from mistakes and lessons along the way.

There’s no magic formula or shortcut on the road to success. I’d argue that everyone’s roadmap looks different because their path and destination varies. So stay focused on what lies ahead for you and the best path to get you there. Above all, don’t forget to take the steps to get you there because after all, it’s not the map but the person navigating that determines where you’ll go!

The post Wanna Reach Your Goals? Here’s How… appeared first on Jasmine Star.

I actually made this video because I learn by watching AND reading, so I hope you find it valuable, friend.

Tip #3: Find your business tribe!

These are the people who get you. The ones who speak your language. The ones who are happy to geek out on all things business-related. By connecting with a tribe, you’ll not only be inspired and have others to brainstorm with but you’ll have someone to help keep you accountable as you take the steps needed to grow your business.

Tip #2: Showcase what you do in public!

Many people want to try before they buy. What better way for people to get a taste of what you offer? Find a local venue where you can showcase your products. Search for an event where you can volunteer your service.  If you want advice and tips on HOW to actually do this, check out >>THIS VIDEO<<. The more you get out and showcase what you have to offer, the more samples you offer that turn onlookers into customers!

Tip #1: Show up!

This one can be a tough one, I know from experience. But what I’ve learned is that it’s not about being the smartest, fastest, or most talented. It’s about continuing to do what you do on the good days and bad ones alike. Don’t underestimate the value of showing up. That’s how you get more exposure on your business, build relationships, and put you on the forefront of people’s minds when they’re ready to purchase what you offer!

I hope you start putting these three simple tips into practice today to help you grow your business. These things have made all of the difference for me, and I know they can help you too, friend!

The post 3 Tips to Jumpstart Your Business appeared first on Jasmine Star.

I’m really good at COLLABORATION.

If you’d ask my mother, she’d say it had to do with me being born a twin, but I think it has more to do with finding great people who share similar values and aspirations.

(Hey, mom, please don’t roll your eyes!)

In fact, I’ve seen my business grow the most and the fastest as a result of collaborating, so I’m a huge fan of creating win-wins for everyone involved.

But the truth of the matter is that mutually beneficial endeavors can be hard to define, but here are three ways I’ve made it happen consistently over the years…

1. Don’t be afraid to reach out and let someone know that what they offer/create/sell will work well with what you’re promoting, but be sure to outline the perks for them (i.e. what you’re bringing to the table).
2. Define how you’ll be combining unique skill sets as more powerful combination than their own parts.
3. Explain how the collaboration will be a win-win…it’s gotta be mutually beneficial for both parties.

This video shows a recent collaboration with a fellow boss babe and gives a behind-the-scenes look at a Social Curator photo shoot…

I wish you all the best as you create a collaboration of your own!

The post How to Collaborate with Other Businesses appeared first on Jasmine Star.

>>Not only are these podcast hosts kind, smart, and good, but they have taught me SO much!<<

It’s been an honor to be a guest on the following podcasts, and I’d be honored for you to check them out.

[Note:  I’m *really* late starting this list and my memory isn’t the best…if there are podcasts I’ve accidentally omitted, feel free to drop me a line and I’ll update it!]

HIGHLIGHTS

Ramblin’ Radio- “Getting Out of Your OWN Way to Get Ahead”

The Mind Your Business Podcast-“Reprogramming Failure with Jasmine Star,” “How To Save A Failed Launch with Jasmine Star” and “How To Sell On Instagram with Jasmine Star”

Ed Mylett Show-  “Social Media Mastery”

Rise Podcast by Rachel Hollis- “Having the Audacity to Dream”

Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield- “Dealing with Depression as an Entrepreneur”

MOST RECENT

Selling with Love – “Make Your Passion Profitable with Jasmine Star”

Aww Shift Podcast with Anthony Trucks – “Discover Your Source of Power to Create Your Platform with Jasmine Star”

Get a Heck Yes Podcast with Carissa Woo – “Finding Fulfillment and All Things Social Media”

The Rachel Roth Show- “Jasmine Star”

Vulnerable with Christy Carlson Romano- “Jasmine Star Gets Vulnerable”

Tapping Into Crypto- “The future of Content Creation and You & Web3″

The Rob Murgatroyd Show- “Jasmine Star on Recognizing Possibilities and Making Them a Reality”

The Real Estate InvestHER Show- “How to Avoid Social Media Mistakes and Pitfalls”

The Callie Ammons Show-“Living with deeper self-awareness with Jasmine Star”

The Mind Your Business Podcast-“Consuming, Understanding, and Creating valuable content on TikTok versus Instagram Reels”

The Wine & Chisme Podcast- “Celebrate Your Journey”

Eat Capture Share-  “Instagram Reels Strategies for Food Photographers”

The EntreLeadership Podcast- “The Top Business Strategies for Social Media”

Boutique Chat- “How To Create Quality Content That Actually Works”

Chaos N’ Cookies- “Getting Personal with Jasmine Star”

Sharon Says So- “When Failure Opens New Doors”

Influential Personal Brand Podcast- “The Message of Permission”

The Heart & Hustle Podcast- “The Instagram Tips You Need to Propel Your Business”

The Christy Wright Show- “Want to Grow Your Business? (Do This)”

The Ken Coleman Show- “How to Further Your Career by Leveraging Social Media”

Young and Profiting- “Stand Out On Social”

Dynamic Lifestyle Podcast- “The 2 Secret Skills You Need for Compelling Social Media Content”

Creating A Brand Podcast- “Building Your Personal Brand on Social Media”

CEO School- “The Power of Knowing Your Ideal Client, How to Set Yourself Apart Online, and Mindset Tips for Success”

Work Less Earn More- “Instagram Results: How Long Does It Actually Take”

The After Hours Entrepreneur- “Personal Brand Secrets for Social Media”

Inspired By Her- “How to Master Instagram and Your Social Media Strategy”

Brands on Brands- “Personal Branding on Instagram”

Building While Flying- “Empowering Entrepreneurs to Authentically Market”

Wild Business Growth Podcast- “Creative Phenom, Social Media for Entrepreneur‪s‬”

The Refined Collective Podcast- “Choosing Love is Worth the Risk”

The OMG I’m Launching Podcast- “Conquering Your First Launch”

The Clarity Compressed Podcast- “Entrepreneurial Disciplines to Win in 2021”

Accelerate Your Success with Amanda Tress- “Leveraging Instagram Reels and TikTok to Market your Small Business”

We’re Going There with Bianca Olthoff- “Storytelling and Brand Building”

She Did It Her Way with Amanda Boleyn- “Leaving Law School to Building a 7-Figure Online Empire”

Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield- “Instagram Reels: The What, How, and Why for Entrepreneurs”

The Melissa Ambrosini Show- How to Find Your Purpose | Power Chat 

I’m a Little Buzzed- How to Market Your Creative Services in 2020

Systems Saved Me- “3 Biggest Shifts to Growing a Membership from 0 to 9000+”

What Happened After?: Talks on Post-“Life Happens” Growth- “Embrace the Suck, It Shows You Where to Go Next”

Self Improvement Daily- “Pursuing YOUR Dreams”

What Works with Tara McMullin- “Pivoting Your Creative Business”

Make Chic Happen– “Making An Impact Over Income”

Book More Clients Photography Podcast- “When Dreams Become Reality”

Daniel Alonzo’s Wealth on the Beach Podcast- “Creating a Life You Love with Social Media”

It’s Not What It Seems- “Real Talk with: Jasmine Star”

Don’t Keep Your Day Job- “How To Get Specific On The People You Serve”

The Soulpreneur Show- “Why Market Saturation is BS + Getting Out of Your Own Way with Jasmine Star”

The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast- “Finding Your Dream Customer, How To Reach More People By Focusing On Less, And What Drives Real Growth”

The Product Boss- “Show Up Til You Blow Up on Instagram”

The Get Paid Podcast- “Your Business Isn’t Your Baby”

The CEO Teacher Podcast- “Quiet the Noise to Build the Business of Your Dreams”

Strong Women Stick Together- “Jasmine Star – Episode 21”

Christy Wright’s Business Boutique- “LIVE From the Business Boutique Conference 2019!” and “Balancing Social Media in Business and in Life”

The Wellness Business Podcast- “How To Easily Navigate The Changes On Instagram”

The Basic Girl Marketing Podcast- “The Reality of Entrepreneurship, Content Creation and Staying In The Game”

The Go-Getter’s Podcast- “Quiet The Noise To Build The Business Of Your Dreams”

The Balanced Life Podcast- “Boundaries, Managing Expectations and Finding Freedom Through Structure”

The Chase Jarvis Live Show- “Personal + Career Reinvention with Jasmine Star”

Marketing That Converts Podcast- “The Key to Instagram Success”

Your Virtual Upline- “Instagram Stories with Jasmine Star”

The Mind Your Business Podcast- “Reprogramming Failure with Jasmine Star,” “How To Save A Failed Launch with Jasmine Star” and “How To Sell On Instagram with Jasmine Star”

The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey- “Happy Hour #245: Jasmine Star”

The GaryVee Audio Experience- “Quadruple Down on What’s Working — ASAP”

She’s Crafted To Thrive- “Conquering The In-Between”

The BossBabe Podcast- “Popularity VS Profitability, Overcoming Fear of Judgement & How To Live In Your Purpose with Jasmine Star”

Going Scared with Jessica Honneger- “Jasmine Star, Photographer and Business Strategist”

Mommy Millionaire Podcast- “Becoming the Captain of Your Life”

Ever Forward Radio- “Dissolving Fear with Action – How to Move Forward Without Knowing the Next Step with Jasmine Star”

The Photo Report- “Being Your Best You”

The Grind & Be Grateful Podcast with Marie Wold- “The Truth About Making All Of Your Dreams Come True”

Navigating The Hustle- “Finish What You Started!”

Social Media Marketing Made Simple- “The Key To Instagram Success”

She’s Building Her Empire- “The Instagram Secrets You Need To Master With Jasmine Star”

Studio Sherpas- “Embrace The Mess To Find Your Greatest Success”

Leveling Up: Creating Everything From Nothing- “Breaking The Rules To Live Your Best Life”

School’s Over…Now What with Shawn Anthony- “Action is the Antidote to Fear”

Perfectly Mentored with Jason Portnoy- “Building Your Brand”

Beyond Influential- “Jasmine Star on Creative Entrepreneurship…”

Unstoppable with Kerwin Rae- “How To Build A Brand That WILL Get Noticed”

Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield- “Dealing with Depression as an Entrepreneur”

For The Love Of Money- “Social Media Secrets with Jasmine Star”

The Angie Lee Show- “Jasmine Star: Instagram Queen Shares…”

Foot Traffic Podcast- “The Instagram Secrets You Need To Master with Jasmine Star”

The Power of Progression with John Marrone- “How to Bet on Yourself and Chase Your Dreams”

Rise Podcast by Rachel Hollis- “Having the Audacity to Dream”

Make it Happen Mondays with John Barrows- “Interview with Jasmine Star”

The Sunny Show- “Going Beyond the Filter”

Oh My Word with Tami- “Interview with JD and Jasmine Star”

Lead with Love hosted by Jadah Sellner- “Permission to Speak Your Truth”

The Real Brad Lea Podcast- “Under Promise, Over Deliver”

The G.O.A.T. Show with Mike Arce- “Social Media Behavior Mastery”

For the Love of Money with Chris Harder- “Social Media Secrets”

The Bearded Tog- “Succeeding when Passions Change”

The Angie Lee Show-  “The Power of Microinfluencers and Creating Captivating Content”

Making It with Chris G-  “Ripping The Bandaid Off To Pursue Your Dreams…”

The Refined Collective with Kat Harris- “Chasing Your Why: Career Pivots for the Creative Entrepreneur”

The Amber Lilyestrom Show- “Showing Up Without the Filter”

Ed Mylett Show-  “Social Media Mastery”

Unstoppable Success Radio with Kelly Roach- “Building A World Class Brand”

Movement Makers with Nikki Groom- “How to Make Social Media Work for Your Business”

The Lively Show with Jess Lively- “How to Deliberately Use LOA to Start & Grow a Business” 

Heart, Soul & Hustle Podcast with Zach Spuckler- “Instagram For the Rest of Us”

Entrepreneur Magazine – “How to Turn Followers into Clients” (you can find my portion at 18:21)

Mistakes Make Magic with Catherine Guidry – “Instagram, Facebook, and Social Media Strategies”

Marketer of the Day Podcast – “Grow a Huge Following on Social Media Through Consistent Customer-First Edutainment”

The Influencer Podcast with Julie Solomon – “How to Resist Conformity and Rework Your Social Strategy”

The Art of Paid Traffic with Rick Mulready – “How to Strategically Attract Your Ideal Facebook Ads Audience”

The Hustle Sold Separately – “Jasmine Star – Entrepreneur, Branding & Marketing Strategist”

The Start Up Camp with Dale Partridge – “The Basics of Making Your Business Beautiful with Jasmine Star”

The Lively Show with Jess Lively – “Fulfilling Your Soul in a Different, Creative Way & Imposter Syndrome”

Six Figure Photography with Ben Hartley- “Talking Social Media”

The Art of Paid Traffic with Rick Mulready- “Components of a Facebook Video Ad That’s Getting Big Results”

Screw the Nine to Five with Jill and Josh Stanton- “How to Create a Month of Social Media Content in One Day”

Mistakes Make Magic with Catherine Guidry- “Instagram, Facebook, and Social Media Strategies”

The Hustle Sold Separately with Matt Gottesman and Case Kenny- “Expanding through Creativity”

Epic Success with Dr. Shannon Irvine- “How to Crush it on Social Media and Get Raving Fans”

Unstoppable Success Radio with Kelly Roach- “Creating Content with Instagram”

Bokeh, The Photography Podcast- “How To Speak Your Client’s Language”

Entrepreneur Before 25 with Chelann Gienger- “When Showing Up Every Day is the Only Thing You Have For Your Business”

Don’t Keep Your Day Job with Cathy Heller – “How Instagram Can Grow Your Business”

Being Boss- “Jasmine Star On Authenticity And Haters”

What Works- “Pivoting Your Creating Business with Jasmine Star”

Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield – “Are You Attracting or Repelling Your Potential Customers?”

Earn Your Happy with Lori Harder – “Social Media Strategies with an Accidental Entrepreneur”

Way Up North- “Jasmine Star”

The post Podcasts with Jasmine Star appeared first on Jasmine Star.

Speaking of that, I’m sending you a behind-the-scenes look at how I photograph my social media photos in a coffee shop.

This video walks you through how I photograph social media photos at a coffee shop by finding the best light.
Exif data: 50mm f/2.0 1/160 ISO 250
Camera: Canon 5DMIII

Be sure to download this free stock photo and use however you want on social media.  

Remember:  I want you on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/________ (fill in the blank) starting conversations and being active on social media as a way to grow your business.

Rock it out.  I believe in you.

P.S.  This month’s Social Curator Action Plan is filled with fall-inspired photos,15 captions to help you know what to say on social media, and Hooray for Hashtags (the ultimate guide for finding the best Instagram hashtags for your business).  I hope you download it from Social Curator today!

The post How to Take Better Instagram Photos in a Coffee Shop appeared first on Jasmine Star.

Is it weird I think podcasters are my friends in real life?  No?  Okay, good.

It was a total honor to be featured on the Social Media Examiner podcast (no, really, I had a geek out moment because this is my go-to podcast for social media news and trends), and I was excited to share tips and tricks on HOW TO SELL ON INSTAGRAM…you can listen HERE! [The interview starts just after the 6-minute mark]

In this episode, Mike Stelzner interviews me about my path from law school to photography to becoming a business strategist using Instagram to sell your products and services…and the advantages of using Instagram for selling.

My favorite part of using Instagram for my business?  In the podcast, I said Instagram’s powerful storytelling components give you the ability to make customers loyal before a purchase has been made. If you can tell a powerful story in fewer than 87 characters (before a viewer has to click on ‘read more’ button), along with a photo that matches and elevates the storytelling component, you’ll win at Instagram.

Learn more by listening HERE!

The post How to Sell on Instagram – Social Media Examiner Podcast appeared first on Jasmine Star.

Facebook Live on Facebook Live. So meta, right? 

I’ll see you on my Facebook page.

When the advent of the television occurred, people lost their dang minds.  For decades mass marketing happened on the radio and in JC Penny catalogues.  When the TV appeared in living rooms around the world, advertisers were resistant to reallocate their ad budget to something they just didn’t understand.

“Who’s going to watch a Campbell’s soup commercial when they can just listen to it on the radio,” they incredulously asked.

We now know television revolutionized the modern world and how people are marketed to…and we’re in the midst a new digital marketing revolution right now.

Will you use Facebook Live as another tool in your digital marketing arsenal or will you scoff and insist traditional marketing is still where it’s at?

I hope you embrace this amazing opportunity to grow your business by offering value to your followers, attracting your dream clients, and increasing your sales along the way.  This live broadcast will walk you through step-by-step how to make it happen for your business.

The broadcast is over, but you can catch the replay HERE on my Facebook Page!

The post How to Use Facebook Live for Your Business appeared first on Jasmine Star.

Often I’m asked how an entrepreneur can grow their _____________ (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, etc.) platform.  We all know the awesome contributions social media can play in business, but so often people feel like they’re screaming into a void.  Is anyone even paying attention?  How can I be found in a sea of options?  Why would anyone pay attention?

I get it.  It can be overwhelming and frustrating.  But let me share a pivotal piece of growing any social platform.  And it’s groundbreaking.  Are you ready?

NO ONE WANTS TO READ YOUR STUFF…if you first don’t find a way to help or add value to their lives first.

Here’s what I see the most: a business owner uses Facebook to share, “Look at the photos I took/the widget I made/I wrote new blog post/my product is on sale.”  Or a business owner uses Instagram to share, “Look at the photos I took/the widget I made/I wrote new blog post/my product is on sale.”  Or a business owner uses Snapchat to share, “Look at the photos I took/the widget I made/I wrote new blog post/my product is on sale.”

Do you see the pattern?  Yeah, a commercial for your business.  But what value are you offering your reader?  How are you helping your reader?  Basically, what do they get from the content you’re creating?

The trick to growing a following is to offer more value than just personal promotion. 

• Instead of writing a blog post sharing more of your wedding photography, why not write a helpful blog post related to wedding photography? 
• Instead of sharing a post on Facebook about your fitness training, why not share a helpful video showcasing exercises people can do on their own? 
• Instead of using Snapchat to show your clothing boutique, why not post helpful tips how to style maxi dresses for summer travel?

When you freely give helpful and valuable information to followers, it helps build trust.  And trust leads to support. And support leads to endorsements.  And endorsements lead to sales.

You will grow your social platforms quicker and stronger when you find ways to position your business  at the forefront of care, concern, and quality content.  And this buttresses your entrepreneurial endeavors, boosts profitability, as well as grows your social platforms.

I can’t wait to see the helpful and valuable content you’ll produce soon!

The post How to [QUICKLY] Grow Your Social Media appeared first on Jasmine Star.