In this episode, discover how to stop fighting your contradictions and start using them as your secret weapon. Learn the art of being "both/and" instead of "either/or" and get practical strategies for knowing when to lean into different sides of your personality based on what the situation requires.

Key Takeaway:

“I want you to understand that being a person who maybe doesn't fit so neatly into a simple category is a potential superpower. So, look for your dance. Look for your way to navigate these contradictions and embrace the paradox. Use the tension. Stop apologizing for being wonderfully complicated.”

— Stephanie Redcross West

Show notes:

💪[2:10] Seeing contradictions as strengths instead of weaknesses.

🔗[4:42] The magic happens when you can be two things at the same time.

🏋 [8:01] Giving yourself the ability to practice.

📝 [13:57] Contradiction #1: Pushy but Nice.

🧑‍🏫 [14:14] Contradiction #2: Confident but Learning.

🎢 [16:21] Contradiction #3: Flexible but Focused. 

🐢 [22:33] Contradiction #4: Patient but Urgent.

💖 [24:21] Contradiction #5: Generous but Profitable.

🛠️ [28:47] Using contradictions for decision-making in your business.

⚙️ [30:06] When to lean more heavily into one side of a contradiction.

🤔 [34:01] Reflect on a recent conflict to use both sides of a contradiction.

☯ [36:57] Embrace the paradox, use the tension, and stop apologizing for being wonderfully complicated.

Ready to Take Action?

Free Resources: Find the complete "Contradiction Management Toolkit" at https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/learn-get-inspired/ - including pushy nice communication scripts, boundary-setting templates, and contradiction assessment tools.

Take It Deeper: If mindset challenges and self-doubt are creating internal conflicts in your business approach, check out our "Healing Burnout" course for strategies to build confidence and manage perfectionism. https://veganmainstream.com/courses/healing-burnout/

New to SKILLS? Join our community for free at https://veganmainstream.com/support/vegan-business-community/ and access hundreds of resources for vegan entrepreneurs, or upgrade to premium for complete course access and live coaching sessions. https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community/

Discover why being "perfectly imperfect" builds more trust than any polished content strategy, and learn practical ways to share your learning moments, honest struggles, and work-in-progress without feeling like an imposter. 

If you've been waiting until you feel "ready" or "expert enough" to share your message, this episode will give you permission to show up as you are.

Key Takeaway

“Your people are out there right now. They're struggling right now, today. They were struggling last week. They might have been struggling last month. And the exact problem that you're facing right now, they might be facing too. And they need your perspective. They need your solutions. They need your humanity. So I need you to be brave. I need you to be real. And I want you to stop trying to be perfect and instead get out there and help people. Do the work that you want it to do. Drive the change that you want to drive.”

— Stephanie Redcross West

Show notes:

💯 [2:57] What it means to be authentic.

🙋🏻‍♂️ [5:45] Your audience is often looking for someone like them.

👌 [8:55] If you only do perfect content, you attract people who want to see perfect content.

🔄 [12:35] Your unique perspective is what makes you stand out in the crowd. 

📌 [16:53] How do you let people know where you are now?

😣 [18:37] The real struggles: sharing something that you were challenged with.

🚧 [21:02] Work in progress: sharing things while you're still testing it.

😌 [22:57] Honest opinion: something different than popular advice.

🎬 [25:09] Behind the scenes reality.

▶️ [27:12] Test things out by posting a video.

🤝 [29:15] Vega Mainstream Village: a free side of our community.

Ready to Take Action?

Free Resources: Find the complete "Authentic Authority Content System" toolkit at https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/learn-get-inspired/ - including vulnerable content templates, behind-the-scenes prompts, and authentic voice audit worksheets.
(Note: You’ll need a free SKILLS account to access these resources. Sign up takes less than a minute, see link below)

Take It Deeper: If you want to build a complete, authentic social media strategy that attracts your ideal audience, check out our "Social Media From Scratch" course for comprehensive guidance on creating content that converts. https://veganmainstream.com/courses/social-media-from-scratch/

New to SKILLS? Join our community for free at https://veganmainstream.com/support/vegan-business-community/ and access hundreds of resources for vegan entrepreneurs, or upgrade to premium for complete course access and live coaching sessions. https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community/

About SKILLS in Action Podcast

SKILLS in Action Podcast is your resource for building a vegan business that's profitable, sustainable, and aligned with your values. Hosted by Stephanie Redcross West, founder of Vegan Mainstream, each episode delivers practical strategies you can implement right away. 

Discover why your love for animals and the planet needs to be paired with boundaries, profitable pricing, and sustainable systems. Stephanie shares the mindset shifts that transformed her approach to vegan entrepreneurship, including how to charge appropriately without betraying your values and why taking care of yourself IS part of taking care of your mission.

Whether you're just starting your vegan venture or feeling burned out from trying to save the world single-handedly, this episode will help you build something that creates lasting change without sacrificing your wellbeing.

Key Takeaway:

“Your passion is your starting point. It's not your business plan. Your persistence matters, but you need to be strategic about your persistence, and you need some systems behind you to make it work. Your profit isn't separate from your purpose. It is what enables your purpose to grow and thrive. So don't fall into the trap of thinking that you have to struggle. It's got to be hard. It's a noble thing. If you're trying to drive change, everyone deserves everything you're doing. And, you know, we have to give it all. The idea is that we need you. We need you here. We need you for the long haul. So make some of these changes.”

— Stephanie Redcross West

Show Notes:

🌱 [1:48] What it takes to really build a sustainable business.

👻 [5:42] It's possible to build a business that feeds your soul and your bank account.

🔋 [9:19] Strategies that you're putting in place should protect your energy.

⚠️ [13:28] Boundaries are there to help you avoid the danger zones. 

⛔ [15:11] Boundaries can be set by publishing your working hours.

⚙️ [20:05] Having a system that you can automate in your business.

✨ [22:25] Aligning your profit with your purpose.

💪🏼 [26:15] Having resilience: putting processes in place so you can get up more easily.

🎲 [29:07] Board games and a feeling of accomplishment. 

👥 [34:05] For more training and ideas, get a lesson in our online community “Skills”.

🔥 [35:36] Your passion is your starting point, it's not your business plan.

Ready to Take Action?

Free Resources: Find the complete "Mission-Driven Business Foundation" toolkit at https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/learn-get-inspired/ - including pricing calculators, burnout prevention checklists, and energy management templates.
(Note: You’ll need a free SKILLS account to access these resources. Sign up takes less than a minute, see link below.)

Take It Deeper: If burnout is already affecting your business, check out our "Healing Burnout" course for comprehensive recovery strategies. https://veganmainstream.com/courses/healing-burnout/

New to SKILLS? Join our community for free at https://veganmainstream.com/support/vegan-business-community/ and access hundreds of resources for vegan entrepreneurs, or upgrade to premium for complete course access and live coaching sessions. https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community/

About SKILLS in Action Podcast

SKILLS in Action Podcast is your resource for building a vegan business that's profitable, sustainable, and aligned with your values. Hosted by Stephanie Redcross West, founder of Vegan Mainstream, each episode delivers practical strategies you can implement right away. 

Despite the weight of it all, she’s found her way back to the mic — not because everything is fixed, but because resilience means moving forward anyway. Centering the episode around Kent Keith’s Paradoxical Commandments, she explores the power of building, helping, and giving your best even when it feels like the world isn’t noticing — or worse, pushing back.

Whether you're a new entrepreneur feeling overwhelmed, a growing business owner juggling priorities, or a seasoned leader navigating a difficult chapter, this episode is for you. Walk away with a renewed sense of purpose, clarity, and an invitation to write your own “anyway” statement — a personal mantra for showing up, especially when it’s hard.

Quote:

I couldn't build the projects, and I couldn't do all the things I wanted to do. So I said, why don't you just build anyway? Build what you can. Start where you can. Maybe I couldn't help everybody through everything. I couldn't help everyone through all the grief that they were feeling. I couldn't be everywhere. I couldn't manage everything. But I found a way to help anyway. 

– Stephanie Redcross West

Show Notes:

👉 [01:05] Finding a way to rebound: Stephannie's story of resilience. 

🚧 [02:50] Who is this for: if you are going through a setback - this is for you!

⏪ [04:06] Book Anyway by Kent Keith: three most important quotes for all of us who are dealing with setbacks.

💎 [06:48] Logic and expectation we have: reducing the burden and being led by something bigger.

🏃 [11:28] Why sprint: becoming very sick, the passing of a client, and plans failing seemed so unfair to Stephanie.

🤷🏼 [16:49] Show up for yourself - anyway: building your own Anyway statements as your reminders.

Link to a book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0425195430

While it's essential to create an authentic connection with your audience, it's equally vital to protect your personal space and prevent burnout. We explore the significance of finding a balance that allows you to share glimpses behind the scenes without compromising your privacy.

Join us as we share practical tips for navigating the lines between public and private sharing on social media platforms. Learn how to differentiate the content you post for personal profiles versus business platforms, and how to tailor your posts to suit the preferences of your audience.

We also delve into the concept of finding your unique balance, setting clear boundaries, and staying true to your values as a vegan entrepreneur. By the end of this episode, you'll be equipped with three essential questions to ask yourself when the lines between personal and business life start to blur.

Discover the key to managing your online presence effectively while safeguarding your personal time and space. Tune in now to learn how to strike the perfect balance between privacy and building your business brand.

Lesson Reference For Paid Members: https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/content-marketing/private-or-public-setting-your-business-boundaries 

Want to access this lesson and more? Become a paid SKILLS member: https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community/ 

Quote

You deserve to have a space for you – a place in time where you can let your guard down, and you don't have to filter or be concerned about how you'll be perceived in the moment. We all deserve that space, where it's okay to just be in the moment and not be evaluated all the time. But if we start to blend our lines, if we start to feel like everything we do is for public consumption, we can lose ourselves, and we can lose opportunities to enjoy time with friends, families, and loved ones. What can happen is our businesses can consume us. 

-Stephanie Redcross West

Notes:

😇 [01:05] Setting boundaries in your social media marketing, business and private life. 

✍🏾 [02:39] Lesson focus important for everyone: write down your rules.

🥅 [07:54] Making space for personal time and experiences can lead to more authentic interactions.

[13:22] How to step away from social media: evaluate how your social media affects you.

🎯 [15:39] Identifying if you are in burnout or heading in the wrong direction and reflecting. 

🫨 [16:22] Business vs private boundaries: getting too deep into your business consumes you.

🤩 [18:22] What inspires you and what do you love outside of your business?

🌞 [20:00] The way to stand out is to be fully you and authentic to yourself: sharing vulnerable moments. 

🗝️ [24:00] Key activity about your content: categories of information you want to share.

🚶🏾‍♀️ [26:02] Walk, run, sprint: walk on the path of your boundaries in next 30–90 days.

3️⃣ [29:18] Private or public setting boundaries for your business lesson: three questions to ask yourself. 

⚠️ [31:35] Rules that keep you out of the danger zone: some guidelines to put in place.

Starting small is the key, so don't overwhelm yourself by trying to do it all at once. We'll guide you through each platform's strengths and the type of content they excel in. Whether you're all about visuals, storytelling, or quick updates, there's a platform that suits your style.

From the friendly connections of Facebook to the picture-perfect pins on Pinterest, we've got the inside scoop on what works best. Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok are all in the mix too, so you can choose the ones that resonate with your vegan business.

Take your time to find the right mix of platforms, and watch your audience grow as you build your brand's online presence. Tune in now and simplify your social media journey!

Lesson Reference For Paid Members: https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/social-media/driving-sales-via-social-media 

Want to access this lesson and more? Become a paid SKILLS member: https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community 

Quote: 

Social media is a marketing tool. It's not the success of your business. You have to balance the tools versus your objectives. Sometimes it's more important to get started, get active, get educated, and be successful – even in a small corner of the world – which may be a small corner of the social media world. Once you understand how these platforms work for your business you'll start to learn from your experiences and learn to apply them instead of thinking you have to have all the answers when you start.

- Stephanie Redcross West

Show Notes

😇 [01:04] You don’t have to be everywhere: picking the right platform for your brand.

👁️ [02:44] Lesson focus: for newbies starting the business – when decision fatigue kicks in.

🎯 [04:17] How you can get more from being targeted than going wide: knowing the nuances of each platform is very important.

🤔 [08:36] How to pick your platform: strategic thinking about data, type of content, and commitment level in figuring out where you can make an impact.

🦋 [13:40] Life of your content and traction: the difference between YouTube and other networks.

🏎️ [15:33] Sprint: choose your platform fast because posting is just a piece of the puzzle.

🌞 [18:38] Social Media From Scratch Course. 

Join host Stephanie in this game-changing episode of the SKILLS Podcast as we delve into the world of efficient payment processes for your vegan business. It's time to build a strong backbone and make getting paid effortless and enjoyable for your valued customers.

Discover how a hassle-free payment process can set your business apart and drive customer loyalty. Stephanie shares actionable tips to simplify your payment flow, offering multiple options and empowering your customers with choices.

Building a strong infrastructure doesn't have to be daunting. Take it one step at a time, ensuring your systems align with your current business stage. Small upgrades can make a significant impact without overwhelming your resources.

Join us for this essential episode of the SKILLS Podcast and embark on a journey to simplify getting paid. Let's make the payment process a breeze and create an unforgettable customer experience together!

Lesson Reference For Paid Members: https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/proposals-invoicing-payments/building-backbone-for-your-business-taking-the-pain-out-of-getting-paid 

Want to access this lesson and more? Become a paid SKILLS member: https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community/ 

Quote:

Growth isn't always about more - growth is truly about optimization. It's about looking at what you're doing and fixing it. This is really true for everything in your business. You have to spend time walking a mile in your customer's shoes. At times in our business, we get so deep in it – that is our perspective as the business owners, as the managers in these businesses, as the people who are responsible for delivering on the service and products – that we forget that we can't just look through that lens. The majority of the time, we have to switch the lens and look at the business and experience the business from the customer's perspective. 

– Stephanie Redcross West

Show Notes
✌🏾 [01:05] Ensure that your purchase process is easy, simple and hassle-free for your customers. 
👀 [04:01] Lesson focus for growing businesses: you need enough experience to make improvements - evaluate your sales processes.
📈 [08:08] Lesson focus for scaling businesses: make sure you don't have leaks in your sales process, getting paid process + check your analytics.
📌 [11:46] Importance of process mapping to simplify payment processes and reduce pain points for customers.
🤓 [14:37] How to work with invoices: reminders for invoices that are due, type of invoices.
🧠 [17:29] Payment processes are different on each platform: Stephanie’s solution for different platforms.
💲 [20:12] Adding different payment options to your website: hassle-free experience and quick purchasing time seals the deal.
🏃🏾‍♀️ [23:24] Sprint/run strategy: don’t wait, this is impacting your business on a daily basis. 
⌚ [26:26] Taking minutes from the process: reducing friction by 20% is huge for your business.
🐌 [27:33] Something is slowing down your customers: list of things you can do to make your customer decide to purchase faster.
👓 [29:10] Growth is truly about optimization: importance of experiencing your business from a customer’s lens.
💰 [31:24] Finding money without getting into more marketing: generate more sales with quick changes.

The importance of having a solid lead capture strategy cannot be overstated. It's the key to ensuring that all the fantastic content you create is not only visible but also acts as a valuable asset for you and your audience. Discover how to maximize the reach of your content and create compelling offers that entice visitors to join your email list.

Stephanie introduces five powerful lead capture options that can supercharge your email list growth. 

First up, the Homepage Feature Box—learn how to strategically place an eye-catching offer on your homepage to capture traffic and convert visitors into loyal subscribers.

Next, explore the Header or Footer Bar—a subtle yet highly impactful way to engage website visitors and encourage them to take action.

Landing Pages take center stage in the lead capture journey—Stephanie shares the magic of hyper-focused pages that lead visitors towards specific actions, all while offering valuable lead magnets.

But we're not stopping there! Stephanie discusses the simplicity of End of Blog Post captures—a perfect method for providing content upgrades and gathering email addresses effortlessly.

Lastly, explore the Content Library Lead Capture Page—a streamlined way to offer a content library to your audience while safeguarding it with a password.

No matter your current skill level or resources, Stephanie emphasizes that the key is to get started. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, these lead capture strategies will set you on the path to your first 500 subscribers and beyond.

Join us for this episode of the SKILLS Podcast as Stephanie Redcross West demystifies the lead capture process and shows you how to grow your email list with ease. Get ready to expand your reach, connect with your audience, and elevate your business to new heights!

Tune in now and unlock the power of lead capture to fuel your business growth. Let's make waves in the world of email marketing together!

Lesson Reference For Paid Members: https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/email-marketing/getting-subscribers-the-lead-capture 

Want to access this lesson and more? Become a paid SKILLS member: https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community/ 

Quote

When people become interested in your brand and your product, if they don't have a way to take the next step, you've kind of stunted the growth potential of your business. You can have this amazing PDF document or something that you're giving away – but if you don't have an easy way for people to find this option to download your amazing guide, or program, or recipe, it becomes cumbersome to receive it. It becomes like your best-kept secret. And we don't want your marketing to be in secret, we want your marketing to be something that everyone knows about and everyone is aware of. The way to do that is to make sure that you have multiple ways throughout your website that people can drop their name and email address in to access your materials to get on your email list.

– Stephanie Redcross West

Show Notes

📩 [01:04] Not thinking about captivating people’s attention: drive your email growth.

🎯 [03:30] Target audience: this is for starting and consistently growing businesses.

📈 [05:24] Do you have a way to build your email list: social media can be lost, so support people via emails.

✌🏾 [07:04] Service-based brands need this: help people see your expertise and extinguish you in the market.

📋 [09:15] What is lead capture? How to get people on your mailing list.

▶️ [11:31] Homepage, header and footer, landing page powers.

🍀 [14:45] Blog posts and newsletters: where you should put an email list signing box.

🖐🏾 [16:06] Having your library materials: leverage your materials and give people a ‘taste’ of your content and your business.

🏃🏾‍♀️ [18:35] Sprint and get there as quickly as possible: action over perfection.

⚡ [20:27] What is the marketing buffet? Visuals and full explanations about marketing.

🤓 [21:25] The technical side: email marketing form and coding that is required - how to deal with it?

🤗 [24:31] The benefit of lead captures + getting a capture process in place that will work for your business in the best way.

Social media can be a powerful tool for driving sales, but it's all about striking the right balance. Stephanie shares a golden rule for success: using social media to sell without actually selling. Confused? Don't be! Join us as we demystify this approach and explore how to feature your products or services in a way that captivates your audience and keeps them coming back for more.

Discover the magic of storytelling as Stephanie guides you through developing a compelling narrative around your offerings. It's all about showing your audience why and how they can benefit from what you have to offer.

Ever wondered about live streaming's potential in driving sales? We've got you covered! Explore the power of hosting live Q&A or product/service feature sessions. It's a fantastic way to demonstrate the value of your products or services and create an engaging experience for potential customers.

Direct messaging can be a valuable tool for staying top-of-mind and fostering meaningful conversations. Stephanie reveals how to use direct messaging effectively, gathering feedback and insights to enhance your sales approach.

And let's not forget about adding breadcrumbs to your posts! Learn the art of guiding your audience with carefully placed links that lead to captivating content and, eventually, your products or services.

Are you ready to elevate your social media game and turn your socials into profitable sales tools? Join us in this episode of the SKILLS Podcast as Stephanie Redcross West shows you how to master the art of driving sales via social media. Get ready to sell without selling, connect with your audience on a deeper level, and watch your business soar!

Tune in now and get ready to unlock the potential of social media to transform your business journey. Let's dive in and make an impact together!

Lesson Reference For Paid Members: https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/social-media/driving-sales-via-social-media 

Want to access this lesson and more? Become a paid SKILLS member: https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community/ 

Quote:

I don't want to set the wrong expectation that you don't have to actually sell you do have to sell, you have to ask people to buy – that is so crucial. But, you don't have to be the ‘monster under the bed’ to be effective in sales. You have to understand how to use sales in a way that doesn't feel like sales. I know that sounds kind of counterintuitive. “What do you mean, I'm doing sales, but it's not really sales?” 

What I'm really talking about is finding a way to connect with people using less of a ‘pushing the sale’ style and more of a style of educating. And seeing sales is more of a multistep process, as opposed to the same process over and over and over.

– Stephanie Redcross West

Show Notes: 

⚙️ [01:05] Sales is a hammer mill: how to do sales that are not really sales!
😇 [03:10] We all have negative sales experiences. 
🎯 [05:00] Lesson focus for growing businesses: targeting audience
🌟 [07:36] Techniques you can use to blend your revenue generation goals with content, community, and overall marketing. 
📅 [10:20] What are promotional calendars?
💡 [12:30] Cross-channel support: use this strategy so your emails and social media are reinforcing each other.
🧷 [16:42] Quick fix solutions: the power of multiple live-streaming and showing more to your customers.
⚡ [19:03] Using SM to empower your live streams: talk directly about your product and service without turning all into a ‘buy-it’ session.
🦸🏾‍♀️ [20:36] Help people understand that you will fit their needs and solve their problems.
🏃🏾‍♀️ [22:34] Walk, run, sprint: the promotional calendar walk and live-streaming sprint.
[25:30] The Marketing Buffet: driving sales via social media.
🧠 [27:24] Don’t go back to your habits: evaluate your sales and SM impact.
🤔 [29:20] Thinking about what you are missing in your sales marketing.

Get ready to sprinkle some personalized magic into your marketing efforts! Stephanie shares her own mesmerizing journey, where she turned her website into a dynamic tool that caters to each visitor's interests. No more one-size-fits-all marketing—say hello to tailor-made touchpoints that leave potential clients spellbound.

But the magic doesn't stop there! Stephanie unveils the secret triggers that alert her when a potential customer is ready to engage. Discover how timely and personalized communication can help you guide your customers on the path to conversion, all while adding a touch of personal charm to your interactions.

Stephanie will also share some secrets to remarketing campaigns, banner ads, and Facebook ads. With her guidance, you'll learn how to cast gentle reminders that reignite curiosity and entice potential clients back into your virtual realm. Watch as your website becomes an engaging hub that captivates, convinces, and converts.

So grab your magic wands and tune in to Skills In Action as Stephanie Redcross West reveals the mystical secrets of the magic trigger. Don't miss this helpful episode that will turn your website visitors into delighted clients and customers in no time!

Quote

All that website traffic that you've been fighting for - all those links, and backlinks and SEO, marketing and all those pages that you've built on your site, whether they're sales pages, and landing pages – all of those things can be working for you. But we want to enhance and make it better, and make sure that people aren't getting stuck, and one way to do that is to make sure that you have a process in place to follow up with people when they visit these critical and key pages on your website. 

– Stephanie Redcross West

Show Notes:

🔊 [01:05] Training podcast to help you enhance your strategies in marketing.

🧠 [02:38] How do you treat people when they get to your website?

👀 [03:43] Lesson focus: growing and scaling businesses – both service and product-based businesses – really need this tactic

💲 [05:13] Lesson for higher-end purchases: bundles and subscriptions.

🏎️ [06:04] Pipelines and funnels process: putting the right tools in place may help customers to make buying decisions faster.

✨ [08:30] Certain pages on your website are like magic: make sure to track all activities on them.

📩 [12:04] Importance of personal follow-up and offering support to potential clients.

🤔 [14:13] What are sales and landing pages: what to do when people don’t make the final step on your pages?

🚶🏽‍♀️ [15:40] Walk, run or sprint: three important steps to enhance the sales power of your website.

💸 [17:59] Look at your website and see how you can make your website do more for your business.

🍀 [19:40] Don’t market yourself only for awareness: you need customers too.

Links:

😎 Lesson Reference For Paid Members: https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/pipelines-funnels/the-magic-trigger-turning-visitors-into-clients-customers

🚪 Want to access this lesson and more, become a paid SKILLS member: https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community/

Get ready to sprinkle some magic into your teaching approach! Stephanie emphasizes the importance of not just what you teach, but how you teach it. Discover how embracing the imperfect nature of live events and our human flaws can create a relatable and engaging learning environment. Learn to let go of fear-based thinking and enjoy the journey together with your students, even when things don't go as planned.

And the transformation doesn't stop there! Stephanie unveils the marketing power of memorable class experiences. Explore how word-of-mouth recommendations and enthusiastic reviews can become your most effective marketing tools. You can build a strong and successful business by laying the groundwork for exceptional customer experiences.

Whether it's enhancing interaction, engaging with content, or facilitating effective Q&A sessions, Stephanie shares practical tips and enhancers to take your cooking classes from good to great. Embrace customization and personalization to create a unique persona that resonates with your students.

And don't forget the Class Checklist! Stephanie introduces the concept of Mission Critical Checklists, helping you streamline your class preparations and ensure a smooth facilitation process. Whether it's an online or offline experience, discover the secrets to making your cooking classes truly exceptional.

Join Stephanie Redcross West on this captivating episode of Skills In Action, where she guides you on a journey to create cooking class experiences that entertain, empower, and leave a lasting impression. Tune in now and make your classes truly unforgettable!

Quote:

If you're a person who does training online, this lesson is going to work for you. If you want to enhance that experience, there are three main buckets or three main ways to do it: driving better interaction, content engagement – meaning making sure the content and what you offer pulls people into your classes – and then making sure that Q&A format and flow is stronger, better and diverse. 

— Stephanie Redcross West

Show Notes

🔥 [01:04] How to increase memorable experiences in your classes.

👁️ [02:17] Lesson Focus: Starting and growing businesses with all kinds of instruction classes - tune in to learn about these enhancers.

🥳 [06:02] The benefits of spending time making your classes memorable, and enhancing the experience: stagnation vs. building an interactive component.

🤓 [09:26] How to make engaging content in your class and doing it a bit differently.

🏂🏽 [11:04] How to make your Q&A process better: a moderator can bring in a different dynamic.

💃🏽 [13:38] How to warm up your audience, even the shy ones.

🏃🏽‍♀️ [15:47] Walk, run, or sprint:  

🎯 [19:43] How to make what you sell better: being a better deliverer of your services.

3️⃣ [20:31] Three ways to enhance the experience of training.

👣 [21:36] Optimization is important but you don’t criticize yourself: go step by step.  

Links:

▶️ Lesson Reference For Paid Members: https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/developing-offers/establish-an-exceptional-cooking-class-experience

🤩 Want to access this lesson and more, become a paid SKILLS member: https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community/

As a passionate vegan entrepreneur, you likely have ideas, products, services, or expertise that you're eager to share with the world. However, finding the right balance between helping others and keeping your business afloat can be a challenge. Stephanie understands this dilemma and explores the process of nurturing your community as a solution.

Discover the nurturing process that starts with offering free advice, information, or tools to help your audience. You'll learn the importance of seamlessly integrating information about your products or services, ensuring that potential clients or customers are aware of the value you provide beyond the free offerings. By adopting this approach, you can showcase your experience and create a natural progression towards selling your vegan products or services.

While various methods can facilitate the nurturing process, Stephanie's favorite tool for community engagement is webinars. Drawing from personal experience, Stephanie shares how webinars became a powerful means of direct connection, enabling them to establish themselves as an expert in their field and provide valuable assistance to their audience.

In this episode, you'll learn how webinars can serve as not only a platform to help others but also as a tool to educate prospects. Stephanie reveals the strategies they employed to help potential customers engage and get to know their services without feeling pressured to commit immediately. Webinars offer a unique opportunity to provide immense value, foster genuine connections, and, if utilized effectively, drive revenue for your vegan business.

Stephanie emphasizes that webinars are not limited to service-based businesses. Whether you sell vegan skincare products, clothing, or protein bars, she encourages you to think creatively and host webinars that educate and guide your audience toward making informed choices.

Are you ready to get started? You'll leave this episode with practical advice on how to develop webinar content that addresses burning challenges or obstacles faced by your audience. By offering valuable solutions and insights during your webinar, you can build trust and credibility while highlighting the benefits of your related products or services.

Join Stephanie Redcross West as she shares her passion for webinars and reveals how this mighty tool can turn non-buyers into loyal customers, allowing you to both help the world and grow your vegan business. Tune in to this episode of Skills In Action and unlock the potential of webinars in nurturing your business community. It's a win-win!

Quote: 

A webinar creates the initial opportunity for you to help, serve and support people in their journey. But it also sets you up for business growth. If you're looking for a marketing tool that allows you to do a little bit of marketing, and a little bit of support, and also prepares your business for deeper growth, webinars are the key. 

— Stephanie Redcross West

Show Notes

🤩 [01:05] Webinars are a great tool for growth and drive sales. 

📈 [02:38] Lesson focus: webinars are for businesses in starting and growing phases.

🗝️ [04:12]  Webinars work across multiple types of businesses: service and products-based businesses and what they can do for your marketing.

⚡ [09:08] Power of webinars and video connection: speaking opportunities and virtual in-person experience.

🤔 [10:57] What is a webinar? Differences between live and evergreen webinars. 

👉🏾 [13:06] Webinars are not just a selling tool.

🚶🏾‍♀️ [15:09] Walk, run or sprint: Webinars are moderate pace, and this is how to plan it.

🎯 [16:33] Understanding the purpose of a webinar is the key.

🍀 [18:17] Don’t over-burn yourself with webinars: be strategic and don’t do it alone.

✨ [19:22] Why setting up a webinar is important: nurturing marketing tool for growth.

▶️ [20:55] Become a member of our online community and learn how to start doing webinars.

Links: 

👉🏾 Lesson Reference For Paid Members: https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/content-marketing/world-of-webinars-how-to-use-them-to-nurture-your-business-community

⚡ Want to access this lesson and more, become a paid SKILLS member: https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community/

Stephanie begins by highlighting the effectiveness of a personalized approach in social media, which lets you interact and connect in a way that is more like real-life encounters. While you might not always be able to replicate the in-person experience online, recorded messages can be a valuable tool to cut through the noise and cultivate a more intimate relationship with your tribe, community, or customer base.

Discover how your voice can deliver a dynamic response to questions and provide unique insights into your expertise. Learn how verbal expression can give you more freedom and comfort in conveying messages, eliminating the constraints of finding the perfect words in written responses. 

Of course, Stephanie will give you practical guidance on when and how to use recorded messages. Whether it's welcoming new followers on Instagram, setting up meetings or collaborations, expressing gratitude, following up with business acquaintances, or nurturing existing customer relationships, recorded messages serve as a powerful tool for maintaining and deepening connections.

Are you ready to take action? Beginners and advanced practitioners alike will leave the episode with an actionable plan. Whether you're new to social media or already have an established presence, Stephanie guides you through the process of determining which recorded message strategy to implement, posting welcome or follow-up messages on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook, and integrating voice into your marketing plans.

Tune in to this episode of Skills In Action and join Stephanie Redcross West as she unlocks the power of your voice in the digital realm.

Quote:

The voice technique gives freedom and confidence to start communicating with people differently. To start allowing yourself to express yourself in a very simple, easy way. I hope you see this technique not as a burden or a major project, but as marketing that can feel a little fun. 
 —Stephanie Redcross West 

Show Notes

⚡ [01:05] The most powerful thing you can leverage in your marketing is your voice. 

👁️ [01:54] Lesson Focus for beginners: following people to understand your brand, who you are and to connect with you

📈 [03:15] Growing business focus: building better connections and following up.

‼️ [03:50] Scaling business focus: importance of collaboration

🎯 [05:21] Your voice is a tool: personal messages and memos. 

🚶🏽‍♀️ [09:02] Walk, run, or sprint: importance of being consistent.

🎬 [11:05] Action: creating a standard way of responding to people.

🤔 [13:08] How to take personal moments into your marketing: pull real-life moments into it.

▶️ [16:29] Dos and don'ts: build an action plan, seek opportunities and connect via a medium that fits you and test it.

✨ [19:17] SKILLS online community: full action plan.

🗣️ [20:05] Using the voice technique for larger companies: making marketing feel specific for everyone.

⭐ [23:59] You have power and strength in how you speak and talk.

Links:

Lesson Reference For Paid Members: https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/social-media/say-it-with-your-voice

Want to access this lesson and more, become a paid SKILLS member: https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community/

Don't miss this opportunity to level up your skills, explore new possibilities, and turn your dreams into reality. Let's leap into action together!

P.S. This podcast complements our paid Skills Community, a collaborative and interactive online learning space and community designed specifically for vegan entrepreneurs. If you want to dig deeper into any of the topics we cover in the Skills In Action Podcast, join the community! You'll gain access to even more in-depth training, valuable resources, and a supportive network of like-minded individuals. We'll empower you to unlock your full potential and create a business that aligns with your passion.