Willow Tree Virtual Solutions

01/02/2024

Our mantra for the year: GROWTH.

Whether it's expanding your reach, enhancing your online presence, or cultivating meaningful connections, we're committed to fostering growth in every aspect of your business.

Let's talk about how we can help you reach your 2024 business goals!

09/30/2020

Repeat after me:

The number of followers I have does not define the strength of my community. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

It doesn’t define my level of success. 🏆

And it definitely doesn’t define my income. 💵

🚫Don’t get caught up in vanity metrics. 20 engaged followers who are or are likely to become customers/clients is way more valuable than 2,000 you gained from a follow train!

Instead, aim to serve the people already seated at your table-whether that’s 20 or 20,000. Create valuable content, cultivate your community, and WAIT. Any progress is still a step in the right direction. Don’t forget to celebrate the small victories along the way! 👏🏼

09/28/2020

I like to think of every Monday as a little mini baby January 1st. 💭🤓 It’s the perfect opportunity to step back, take a look at the bigger picture, check your mindset, and re-prioritize your week to make sure you’re serving yourself and your goals.

What’s ONE thing on your agenda today to advance yourself or your business? ⬇️

I’m working on a couple of fun freebies that I can’t wait to share! 💻✨

09/27/2020

My little & I had so much fun cruising around and exploring our small town the other day!Of course we had to grab a bite at Ladybird’s Luncheonette 🥗 a sweet treat from Katy's - Homestyle Bakery & More 🧁, the BEST iced pumpkin chai from National Grind Coffee & Tea Shop ☕️, and stopped in to check out the new fall merch at AOE Boutique😍

On the other hand, every empty storefront and closed sign we passed on our little outing was also a glaring reminder of how tough this year has been for a lot of small businesses. I would love to discover some awesome more small or local businesses to support this upcoming holiday season.

If your small business offers giftable products please drop your link in the comments and/or tag a few of your favorites!

09/26/2020

Are you setting SMART goals for your business?

🎯Specific⠀
📏Measurable⠀
🎉Attainable
👊🏽Realistic⠀
⏰ Timely
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Rinse, repeat and watch the magic happen!✨

09/25/2020

People who really know me probably wouldn’t consider me a morning person. I love sleep. And I’m not ashamed to admit that life with a toddler has made me seriously appreciate any and all opportunities for shut eye. 😴 But here I am, up scheduling this post before 6 am and here’s why:

Let’s say you start your day at 5 am while the average person wakes up at 7.

That’s 2 extra hours per day
14 hours per week
728 hours a year= 30 days!

Imagine A FULL MONTH to get a head start on your competitors or spend with loved ones, hiding just behind your eyelids. Who couldn’t use all that extra time?!

Now imagine doing this AND hiring a VA, even just for a few hours a week, to take some of the time-sucking tasks off of your plate. Pair these tips and watch your productivity & business soar! ✈️

09/07/2020

Let all of your endeavors be a labor of love.✨

Happy Labor Day

09/06/2020

If you ask any business owner about their social media goals, 9 times out of 10 you’ll here something about reaching more people. If you’re ready to get serious about your social media but aren’t quite ready to contract it out, try these 3 easy-to-implement organic growth tips:⠀
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1. Optimize hashtags: I could go on forever. 🤓 In a nutshell, try adding up to 30 related tags for each post with varied reach & like range. ⠀
Be sure to change it up—copying and pasting the same list every time might lead to the algorithm thinking you’re a bot. I like to hide them in comments so the caption doesn’t look spammy. ⠀
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2. External engagement: Engaging with your existing audience is important, but you should also set 20-30 minutes aside every day to follow & like other accounts, comment & react to their posts, join & post in groups, etc. Start by targeting ideal customers and the pages/groups they might frequent. ⠀
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3. Be consistent: The ideal number of posts varies for different social channels, but as a general rule you want to show up at least 3-5 times per week across all platforms. ⠀

Have you tried any of these strategies? Feel free to reach out with any questions! 🙋🏼‍♀️

09/05/2020

Caught a little glimpse of Fall this morning! 🙌🏽🍂 The basic girl in me couldn’t resist the opportunity to throw on a flannel and head outside to work on some email templates & content planning for a client. 🤓💻💌⠀
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As a kid I remember being SO sad when Summer came to a close because it meant Winter was on the way🥶 but living in NC made me appreciate the 4 seasons and the beauty of a Pennsylvania Fall.⠀
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What about you—all for Fall or hanging onto Summer?!

09/01/2020

Despite all the challenges 2020 has presented, does anyone else feel like this year is flying by?! September has arrived and Fall will be here before we know it! ⠀
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Here are a few ways to keep your social content fresh & relevant in the the upcoming season:⠀
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🍂 Start stockpiling fresh, seasonally appropriate stock & brand images. It’ll make life so much easier when creating content!⠀
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🍂 It’s a perfect time to start transitioning the aesthetic of your feed. Consider using warmer presets for images or tweak template colors for a Fall vibe. Make sure they’re still on-brand, of course! ⠀
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🍂Identity any changes in your ideal audience’s schedule and adjust your posting strategy accordingly. (Ex:Back to school=less time for browsing social in the morning. Lunch & late afternoon posts may do better!) ⠀
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🍂Plan upcoming sales & promotions in anticipation for the holidays. Online shopping is expected to be bigger than ever this holiday season, so set yourself up to capitalize on the trend. Start now by implementing a weekly shop small/shop local initiative to encourage your followers to ditch the big box stores. ⠀
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🍂Think back to last year. Review old emails, DMs, posts & comments. Were there any common questions or themes? What posts/products did really well in the last quarter? Use any info you discover to proactively create content that helps your followers solve a problem or fill a need. ⠀
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Time to get started! 🕰

08/29/2020

Instagram has been busy this month! I especially love the pinned comment feature. 🤩

Instagram unveiled enough new features to fill an entire volume of a 2020 history book. Here are some updates that should be on your radar.

08/25/2020

If Instagram stories are part of your social strategy this article is a must read. Great insight as to how to track their effectiveness so you can do more of what works.💰

Discover 7 key Instagram Stories metrics that reveal what piqued users' interest, where interest may have dropped off, and whether they're engaging.

08/23/2020

Let’s talk 🚫HASHTAGS & SHADOWBANS🚫
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Yes, some of these are obvious, but workflow, boho, humpday, besties?! ⠀
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🔎Why are some hashtags banned?⠀
👉🏼In IG’s attempt to minimize spamming, they automatically hide posts that may violate their community standards.⠀⠀
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🔎How can I check if a hashtag is banned?⠀⠀
👉🏼Go to the Explore tab and type the hashtag in the search bar. If you get the message “recent posts from [ ] are currently hidden...” it is considered banned.⠀
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🔎What happens if I use one?⠀⠀
👉🏼Your post will be hidden from hashtag searches and explore pages. ⠀⠀
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🔎What happens if you repeatedly use them?⠀⠀
👉🏼You could be shadowbanned or have your account removed. ⠀⠀
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🔎What is a shadowban? ⠀⠀
👉🏼When Instagram hides all of your content without notifying you. This can also happen if your account is reported or you’re mocking bot behavior by liking/commenting/following too quickly. ⠀⠀
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🔎How can I tell if I’ve been shadowbanned?⠀
👉🏼 Post an image with an uncommon hashtag and ask five people who don't follow you to search the hashtag. If none of them see your post in those results, you've likely been shadowbanned. ⠀
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🔎Yep, I’ve been shadowbanned. Now what? ⠀
👉🏼Time for a social media detox! Some users report that a full 48 hrs without logging into their account resets the system. Otherwise, it can take 14 days for the ban to be lifted.⠀
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🔎I passed the shadowban test but my account is still experiencing a decrease in engagement despite pumping out great content. What can I do?⠀
👉🏼Algorithms are constantly being tweaked. Time to rethink your social strategy or outsource to a social media manager.⠀
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Send me a message with any questions or to inquire about social media management, hashtag research, or content creation & custom graphics. ✨

08/22/2020

Working from home sounds like all butterflies 🦋 and rainbows 🌈 but it can be a tough transition. These are a few things that help me stay productive (and sane) at home:

1. Stick to a schedule: No commute or set start time makes it easy to hit snooze. Waking up at the same time each day & having a set daily routine creates a sense of normalcy, reducing stress and helping you feel more grounded.⠀
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2. Take breaks: When your kitchen is steps away, it’s so easy to work through lunch. Allow yourself at least 30 minutes for lunch and 15 minutes away from screens every few hours to grab a snack or step outside and reset.⠀
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3. Establish dedicated workspace: Having a functional, inspiring space to work increases productivity and helps eliminate stress.⠀
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4. Limit distractions: I know, easier said than done, but even small steps like turning off the TV, closing the door, and silencing unnecessary notifications makes a big difference.⠀
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5. Set ground rules for family, friends, neighbors, etc: Ensure your village knows what is or is not okay during work hours. It’s not cute when your kid busts in on an important Zoom call because they can’t find their shoes. Even less cute if it’s your husband. 🙃⠀
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6. Plan extra social interactions: Take a yoga class, meet a friend at the park after work to battle burnout & isolation.⠀
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7. Invest in your success: Make sure your technology & internet speed is up to par. Nothing is more frustrating than a lagging computer/ connection. Also consider an ergonomic chair and monitor stand to avoid neck & back pain.⠀
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8. Set goals & intentions: Plan each day to keep yourself on track and focused.⠀
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9. Get ready: No need for heels, but simply showering, fixing your hair, and some mascara will give you an instant mood boost. ⠀
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10. Childcare is OKAY: Sending the kids to daycare or their grandparents’ house during work hours is not lazy, a luxury, or a convenience. It may be a total necessity! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. If your kids are doing virtual learning, reach out to others in your community to find local resources or start a learning group.

Share your best WFH tips below! 👩🏼‍💻👇

08/15/2020

Are you using the new Instagram Reels feature for you business?

Aside from being super fun to create, Reels are a great way to share your brand story, product reviews, and educational content.

This article has some beginner tips to get you started! 🎬

The new feature emerges as its inspiration, TikTok, comes under heavy fire from the Trump administration.

03/06/2020

A few main takeaways from Website Planet’s blog post on avoiding Google’s dreaded promotions tab:

• Skip words like “free, discount, % off, sale” especially in your subject line.

• Personalize— take advantage of merge fields

• Don’t use more than one or two images. (Your logo counts)

• Keep links to 2 or 3 (Including unsub link)

• Watch your email addresses: reply-to field should match the sender field.

• Check your work. (I use & like Gmass, but the article suggests Litmus. Interested to check it out!)

If you’re using email marketing to promote your business (and you should be) take a minute to read the full article.

Are your emails being ignored? It’s time to finally get out of the Promotions tab and into your subscribers’ Primary inbox. These methods really work!

03/05/2020

You can rack up the likes & followers, but are you developing a relationship with your audience? Taking the time to respond to [both positive & negative] comments, reviews and messages builds trust and lets people truly get to know you. If you don’t have the time, maybe you need a social media manager. 😉👋🏼