Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julia Brokmeyer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Julia, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

It’s funny how one idea can lead to another…then another. My business started out pretty simply. I had been working one of those at home businesses where you have home parties. One way we were branching out was by doing “home parties” online using Facebook Event pages. This was back in 2014. I realized that there were a LOT of events happening in my area and that I could use these event pages to help people promote their events. This idea to just help people advertise events morphed into something that, even I, couldn’t have imagined at the time.

I started out by creating a name for my business. I live in Moore County, so the name Moore Choices (Moore Choices gives you “more choices” and ultimately more exposure in your advertising…) came to me pretty easily. I created a logo, made some business cards, and launched a Facebook page. I built a following posting about upcoming events in our community and hit the pavement visiting businesses and introducing myself.

My plan never involved creating a website, but a chance encounter with a shop owner who just happened to be working on her website when I stopped in her store, changed everything! She was so sweet and let me watch her. As I watched, I learned, and it hit me….”I should build a website for Moore Choices! I can totally do this!” I realized that not only did our community have a lot of great events, but it had a lot of GREATNESS. PERIOD. I knew I was onto something. There was nothing like it in our county. After that, I built a website in two days highlighting some of the best things Moore County has to offer….outdoor activities, shops, restaurants, events, and so much more. I also put a little event calendar on my homepage.

I realized that, not only could I earn money promoting events, but I could monetize the website. I decided to pursue businesses that I could “Highlight” on the site. I created a monthly membership plan that would include a spot on the site, calendar listings, and social media posts. I later added a monthly e-newsletter to my platform that has become extremely popular in my community and my members love knowing that they can include events and news each month. Over these past 8 years, the website has grown by leaps and bounds with over 20 pages of Moore County goodness, that “little event calendar” isn’t so little, and our social media following (I later added and Instagram page) is bigger than I ever imagined it could be for such a small community. I feel so blessed and lucky to be doing what I am doing and helping the people of my community to live richer, fuller lives!

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

Life is a series of stepping stones, each leading you to the person you are today. I started as an elementary school teacher never dreaming I would become an entrepreneur. Three years into teaching, I realized it was NOT for me. Luckily, I heard about an up-and-coming fitness franchise and I took a chance on myself. This franchise involved teaching…..perfect! I went for it, opened a facility, and changed my life. I learned how to run and market a business and I loved being involved in the community. Six years of being a franchisee was rewarding, but I was getting burned out.

When I was introduced to a network marketing company with a health and wellness company, I jumped in with both feet! I was very successful and sold my franchise so I could focus on my new business full time. This role not only involved sales, but leadership roles as I moved up in the company. Fast forward to my life now. As the owner of Moore Choices, I am blessed to be very involved in my community. I have been an avid member of our local businesses association, allowing me to put my leadership skills to use as their Media Committee Chair and ultimately, as their President from 2021-2022. As I look back on my life, I am so proud of myself that I believed in myself. I took chances and I wasn’t afraid to try new things. I created a company that has had an amazing impact on my community and I feel honored and humbled to know that what I do makes a difference in the day-to-day lives of the people that live here.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

When I started out with zero followers on Facebook, it seemed a daunting task to build that up. I started by inviting everyone I knew (and I mean EVERYONE, lol) to like my page. I followed up with messages and reminded them to follow me if they hadn’t yet and asked them to please invite their friends to like my page as well. I also had contests for people to invite their friends and posts asking people to tag their friends.

Instagram has been a bit more challenging to build up. Liking others’ pages definitely helps to get you noticed and gets a lot of likes back. And posting regularly, asking people to tag their friends, etc. helps too!

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I send my clients an email once/month updating them on the latest Moore Choices happenings, introducing them to new members, reminding them to send me news for our monthly newsletter, and thanking them for their continued support.

I sponsor a lot of nonprofit events in my community which is two-fold. It shows that Moore Choices cares about and supports worthy causes and it keeps our name out there.

I also try to get out in the community as much as possible at vendor events/volunteering at events, etc . I think my clients appreciate knowing that I am out there working it and not just sitting back behind my computer every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.moorechoices.net
• Instagram: @moorechoicesnc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moorechoicesnc/