We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Colette Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Colette below.

Hi Colette, thanks for joining us today. Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?

How Showing Gratitude Can Boost Your Business Beyond Expectations

In today’s competitive marketplace, businesses are constantly searching for innovative strategies to stand out and ensure long-term success. While focusing on improving products, marketing campaigns, and services is crucial, the key to unlocking exponential growth lies in a simple yet often overlooked aspect: customer appreciation within the customer journey. As a brand and social media strategist, this is often the first thing I break down in any of my sessions with my clients because just like anything else there is a process we all go through to get something. When you show appreciation along the way no matter how small that will go a long way to fuel brand expansion, soaring referral rates, and a cult-like loyalty is born.

How this is done in my business as a social and brand strategist, I show gratitude every step of the way whether small or big. I live by the saying people may forget what you say or do, but they will never forget how you make them feel. So I prioritize creating genuine appreciation for my clients within each part of my customer journey. This looks like replying to every comment and repost on my accounts, welcoming them into my space when they follow me or download one of my digital products, saying thank you for sharing my content, thank you gifts when they work with me, and providing a referral bonus for recommending me to my next client.

The results of these small acts are so impactful but they are so underrated in this digital space. I don’t take for granted that they can work with anyone else but they choose me to support them in their social and marketing journey. A perfect example of how showing gratitude to your clients can lead to your brands’ expansion; I made a post celebrating my client that received 6 figure brand deals after working with them on my Instagram. A few days later because of that post, I got a new client from that post for a VIP Launching session and after working with her she dropped my name in a Facebook group she was in and I woke up to 100+ new followers.

Customer loyalty is the Holy Grail for businesses. When customers feel appreciated, they develop a sense of belonging—a connection that goes beyond transactions. This was also why when I had 300+ followers on my IG my reach was 166k and I made 10K with such a small following. Think about it, I am sure the last thing you purchased was because someone you knew talked about it. So, take the time to express your gratitude and appreciation to your customers. The benefits are clear: memorable experiences=soaring referrals =brand success that stands the test of time.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Colette Brown of @getsocialwithcolette is a dynamic and creative social media and brand strategist who has made a significant impact in the digital marketing industry. As a social media consultant and content creator for brands wanting to increase their visibility online. She has a strategic vision and a keen understanding of social media platforms, she has successfully helped numerous brands elevate their online presence and achieve their business goals. If you are building your business online as a personal brand, product/service business, and creative, she is your girl to help you get social. As the new member of ForbesBlk, she is recognized as a trailblazer and leader in her field and contributes valuable insights.

With a passion for all things digital, Colette possesses a deep understanding of the ever-evolving social media landscape. Her ability to identify emerging trends and leverage them to create engaging content sets her apart from the competition. Colette’s expertise lies in crafting comprehensive brand and social media strategies that align with her client’s unique brand identities and target audiences. Whether it’s developing compelling brand narratives, designing eye-catching visual assets, or managing influencer partnerships, Colette’s holistic approach to branding ensures that her clients stand out in a crowded marketplace by tapping into the brand’s main character energy.

Her background comes from luxury retail working for brands you know and loves such as Macy’s, Micheal Kors, and DVF to name a few. She was responsible for transforming struggling locations to profitable with sales strategy, marketing efforts, and visual branding, Taking all she learned and fusing it with social media marketing birthed the social and brand strategist she is now.

Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/getsocialwithcolette/
Tiktok:
Titkok: https://www.tiktok.com/@getsocialwithcolette?lang=en

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I first started in this social marketing field I was bombarded with social media management requests. This is one of my number one inquiries as most people get overwhelmed with how much social media changes that it becomes too much to handle while running a business. So I decided to take it on as a way to guarantee recurring revenue but I quickly realized that it was not the execution people had a problem with but it was lack of clarity and strategy. This is when I decided to shift my focus from social media management to social and brand strategy because when you have a plan in place with direction you are able to execute more effortlessly than without it.

Now I offer clarity calls, social selling strategy sessions, brand strategy consulting on retainer and VIP launch and content creation days. for those that just need direction and the road map created for them to plug and play.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Letting go of limiting beliefs was a big one for me to unlearn during the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey, especially in a field that no one really knows about! To be honest, I still have to speak life into myself when opportunites come up. It can crimple your progress more than not having any opportunities to help you succeed. It’s not uncommon to harbor doubts about our deservingness of success, especially when we embark on a path that seems unconventional or uncharted. The new buzzword is “imposter syndrome” that likes to show its ugly head when you are ready to step in your purpose and take the world by storm!

The thought of being the sole torchbearer in a particular field can trigger limiting beliefs, such as “I don’t deserve to be successful because no one around does what I do.” However, it’s essential to recognize that success knows no bounds, and paving a unique path can be a viable and fulfilling journey. By releasing these mindset blocks, we open ourselves up to the limitless possibilities that lie ahead.

Things I do to help overcome this is to watch movies that showcased the underdog story like “Madame cj Walker” story on Netflix is the best! It depicts how she came from slavery, was not classified as the standard of beauty and how dear she want to build a business, and how she built a million-dollar company in that time! So inspiring! So I tell myself anytime those limiting beliefs creep up that I am even though I come from a small island that my dreams are valid regardless if it hasn’t been done yet in my area. I will be that change and it starts with me!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.canva.com/design/DAEnYM_o0J0/-yPW6N_5P7QZDhjY2KBtGA/view?website#2
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getsocialwithcolette/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cherinell
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colette-brown
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@getsocialwithcolette?lang=en