Last month we were honoured to do a live Instagram Q&A with Jessica from Mint & Birch. She is a mama of four, an entrepreneur, a small shop supporter and has built a wildly successful jewelry business. She has been running her business since 2012 and has a wealth of information. If you missed our Instagram live, no fret! This blog will recap some of the knowledge that Jessica shared with us.
Are Instagram pods worth the time?
Jess: I might come under fire for this one. I don’t know if I would say that they are or are not worth it. They’re just very time consuming for un-proven results. The best way to grow your account is to create content that people will love and share. Pods are great for supporting one another and interaction, but don’t forget to spend time on content creation. I used to be in pods, but it was starting to become stressful to keep up, so I decided to switch my focus.
Should I pay for followers?
Jess: Do not do it. There was a study done on Facebook by a very well known marketer regarding “like farms,” and the result was that true engagement and reach was down. The idea is that fake followers will not engage in your posts. So say, there are two accounts: One with 500k followers but only 5000 real followers. And the second account has only 5000 followers, but all genuine, engaging followers. The algorithm will give preference to the one with 100% real followers.
What is a tip for working with influencers?
Jess: Ask for a media kit. Unless you have a specific plan in mind, ask the influencer to spell out what they have in mind for collaborations. When an influencer pitches to you, it is up to them to pitch to you, not the other way around. Find people who are going to genuinely love your product.
How long were you in operation before business really began to boom?
Jess: I opened up in 2012 and I didn’t see an obvious growth until 2015. This will vary for everyone and depends on how fast you grow in the beginning, and how much time you put into your business. In 2016, my business exploded (so 4 years after I first started ) and today I have trouble keeping it scaled.
My advice is, “Don’t focus on “growth,” and numbers.” These numbers tell so many different stories, and if we get fixated on the numbers, it can distract us from enjoying our work.
Thank you Jess for sharing your thoughts with us!! One of Jessica’s goals this year is to help small business grow. Her mission aligned perfectly with ours which is why For The Small collaborated with her to host this Instagram live. I hope you found it as fruitful as I did! To find more information about this powerhouse mompreneur, check out her Instagram at www.instagram.com/mintandbirch or visit her website here.
For The Small 