Susan Young's
Amplify Blog
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7 Heartfelt Lessons from Brooklyn on International Women's Day 2021
I don’t need International Women’s Day (#IWD2021) to recall one of the women who has had a profound impact on my life.
She passed away in 1994, yet to this day, I talk about and think about her. Every. Single. Day.
Her name was Nettie Freeman. My sisters and I called her "Mama." She was our maternal grandmother.
Mama was born in 1899 in Brooklyn, New York. She was married for 63 years (to the same man), had three children and nine grandchildren. She lived to see 12 of her 21 great-grandchildren. She died at the age of 95.
How would Mama, who had a high school diploma and never worked outside the home, be an inspiration for International Women’s Day?
- Mama had never been on an airplane.
- She never lived anywhere except New York, and a short time in New Jersey.
- So what could Mama have taught me about business and my career in the 31...
3 Ways to Create Content Without Writing a Single Word
You can create stellar content without having to write anything.
Look, I get it. Not everyone is a writer.
And the good news is…not everyone is a reader.
Keeping this in mind—and ever-changing algorithms—successful marketing strategies include a mixed bag of content formats.
You may:
- Create short "how-to" video clips
- Share long-form posts
- Use images for Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat
- Record audio clips
- Create fun infographics
A variety of formats will improve your SEO rankings – and grow your business.
Here are 3 ways for non-writers to easily create fresh content:
Compile a round-up post. Listening to a webinar or training with a well-known leader in your industry. With basic notes or a recording, you can craft a post of “10 Takeaways” from the program. This is called “curated...
How to Supercharge Engagement on Instagram
User-Generated Content, or UGC, is a fun and interactive way to gain visibility and engagement online.
Savvy marketers include UGC as part of their online strategy.
It's super-effective on Instagram when you...
- Need fresh content
- Want more engagement and comments on posts
- Target younger audiences
User-generated content is also fun.
UGC invites subscribers and followers to send in pictures (or enter a contest) based on a theme or "news of the day."
It's a strategy that's long been used in television news. These days, foodies, clothing brands, sports and other visual brands are tapping UGC, too.
Here's an easy example: There's a snowstorm and a TV news anchor encourages viewers to send in their cutest snow picture of their pets.
The station selects "winners" and showcases them with the owner's name or social media handle. The "winners" — the public — create an organic buzz by raving on social media (word-of-mouth marketing) how Fluffy...
How the Ruthless Streets Created a Poet
On Monday night, a young man who calls himself an “unsigned artist” on Clubhouse was in a room (similar to a chat) with me and 250 others.
The topic was speaking with confidence.
The man raised his hand, asking for feedback on a poem about the ruthless streets and people he’s known all his life.
Clubhouse is an audio-only app, so everyone in the room could only hear this man’s voice.
A deep baritone enveloped with the thickness of the streets.
His avatar was a logo; we had no idea what he looked like.
We went merely by the sound of his voice, his mumbled words, his quick cadence.
It was nearly impossible to understand his words.
He raced awkwardly through his poem and asked for feedback.
He apologized for sounding “so ghetto."
One of the moderators on stage with me asked him respectfully to slow down, enunciate and recite the poem again.
He did.
The feedback came in heaps of praise and love for this young man who...
The Confidence to Receive
We’re so quick to compliment others.
Still, most of us struggle to receive praise and kind words.
How do you respond when someone commends you on a business report, new hairstyle or an impressive run on the ski slopes?
Do you smile and gracefully thank the other person?
Or do you deflect their comments and start overtalking?
Consider this scenario: A friend says, “I love your shirt; is it new?”
One typical response is: “Yes, I got it on clearance and saved $20. I couldn’t have afforded the full price. The car broke down last week...”
Another common reply: “No, I’ve had this since last year; the button’s missing from the sleeve. Gosh, I’ve gotta buy some new clothes!”
The best answer, however, is one that is uplifting, positive and shows your own deep confidence.
How to Captivate Audiences with Heartfelt Stories
He had the stories in his heart and his head.
But David couldn’t get them out on paper.
No, it wasn’t a sales presentation or media coaching.
David was an accomplished project manager and engineer who was referred to me by a mutual business acquaintance.
He had a personal communication project that was new to me.
Look, I had ghostwritten nearly 1,000 posts, articles, bios, speeches, editorials and messages during my 35 years in the news and communication industry.
But never one like this.
David needed a Father of the Bride speech for his daughter Melissa’s rehearsal dinner.
This was big; 150 people at the dinner and 500 for the wedding the next day. David knew some of the guests intimately; the others he had never met.
People would be watching.
And judging.
It could be a tough crowd.
And David—whom...
The Secret to Getting Reporters to Notice Youā€”and Give You Free Publicity
A magazine reporter, Rasheeda, emailed me to request an interview.
No pitching.
No press releases.
No chasing.
Rasheeda—who writes about nonprofit associations—contacted me late Monday.
After exchanging four quick emails, we had the logistics down and the phone interview confirmed for Tuesday morning.
That’s it.
How did Rasheeda find me?
I had been showing up and offering free resources and value in a group we both belong to (not on Facebook)
Rasheeda was watching.
That was in early 2020.
She first contacted me in March, 2020 when the pandemic hit.
Rasheeda was interviewing a few PR people about the importance of nonprofits having crisis communication plans.
She had seen my posts and poked around my website.
The article ran, I thanked her and that was it.
Within just three months of Rasheeda’s first article...
5 Common Rookie Mistakes to Avoid When Looking for More Clients
"Just show up, share some value and post consistently."
Entrepreneurs and coaches who want to be seen and heard must know how to show up. Because showing up with valuable content brings credibility and clients.
Your content is your ticket to business growth.
But what does showing up as your true self (ok, the dreaded word "authentic") really mean???
How do you...
Comment on an active thread in a way that's not salesy or pushy?
Figure out what people want from you?
Avoid embarrassing yourself in front of everyone on the Internet??
You can't be seen as a credible go-to expert in your niche if you're always questioning your self-worth and value.
If you want more clients, you've got to share your message online with pride. The business will follow.
Your message = money
Publicity = profits
Showing up in groups, chats and podcasts means you have deep-rooted confidence and belief in yourself.
You...
The Most Important Second
“Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week.”—Spanish Proverb
Much has been written about time and procrastination.
We often don’t realize how precious time is until faced with a crisis, usually related to our health or mortality.
Clearly, 2020 has been a cruel teacher.
Still, long before the pandemic, most people spent obscene amounts of time watching mindless reality shows and complaining about something..anything.
We dwell on our past mistakes.
We worry about future problems that likely will never come to pass.
We read books on time management and productivity.
We fool ourselves.
And here we are on the brink of 2021 keenly aware of our precious time.
Social media is packed with posts and stories assessing the past 12 months.
Pundits are...
Stop Ruining Your Introduction
