This episode features Cindy Gersch on the Ready.Set.Glo! Podcast 💫
Cindy Gersch is an award-winning marketing professional. She has a deep-rooted career in marketing and is here today to share her knowledge and tips for better branding brand strategy and how to grow your brand organically, in a very short time.
She's grown a Facebook group of over 25,000 members supporting small businesses. She runs a course called guaranteed clients now and runs her marketing business called new marketing grew from a background in news reporting to now passionately helping small businesses grow and charity she's interested in.
In addition, she offers reasonably priced longer programs through my consulting firm. All to help small businesses THRIVE not just survive!
Tune in as we talk about:
Making small businesses successful
Marketing for small brands
How NEU Marketing group can help you and your small business
Mary Harcourt 0:05 Hi and welcome to Ready Set glow, a podcast where I interview entrepreneurs, brands and idealist, people and the stories behind it all. Discover what it took to get started, lessons learned along the way, and the advice they have for you starting on your own journey. So join me and my guests as we talk about all things business, beauty and brands. I'm your host, Mary Harcourt of Cosmo glow, as we discover the stories behind the names. Today's guest has a deep rooted career in marketing, and is here today to share her knowledge and tips for better branding brand strategy and how to grow your brand organically. In a very short time. She's grown a Facebook group to over 25,000 members supporting small businesses. She runs a course called guaranteed clients now and runs her marketing business called new marketing grew from a background in news reporting to now passionately helping small businesses grow and charity she's interested in. Let's welcome Cindy Kirsch.
cindy 1:12 So I have been in the marketing and communications world for forever, it seems like over 25 years, I started out actually my career as a reporter for CBS. And my B was a military. I was a military reporter stationed up at Fort Drum, New York. And so I really became embedded into the military lifestyle. When 911 happened, I was the lead reporter for that. And then Fortran was the first troops to deploy. So obviously, they were the first casualties. That's when I realized reporting wasn't for me. I left reporting and went into marketing, which because reporting and marketing are very close hand in hand. And I was started working for a housing developer at Fort Drum. Fast forward, I got promoted and eventually worked my way up to vice president of that of corporate communications for that company, switched to another company doing the same thing. And then about three years ago, I decided, You know what, it's time for me to open my own business. So I took sort of all of the context that I knew all the lessons I had learned. And I opened new marketing group, which is my consulting agency.
Mary Harcourt 2:22 Awesome. Well, congratulations on that. You are probably always meant to be a business owner and entrepreneur but took a different path. I have to revisit this reporting. How long were you a reporter?
cindy 2:33 Six years. So I went to school for journalism, and I worked as an assistant producer for a year in Rochester went to college in Rochester, New York. And you know, back then, you know this, I'm totally dating myself. But I also said I was a reporter for 911. So you know, how old am we used to have to like make resume tapes on Betamax? You know, so I remember like making Betamax like resume tapes and just sending them all over the country. And eventually Watertown, New York picked me up
Mary Harcourt 3:02 by is so wild. Well, I have to imagine I don't know about the reporter world. But I would imagine I agree with you. They're very similar and a lot of overlapping. But marketing seems like a much better schedule and way to live life than a reporter.
cindy 3:18 Yes, I worked every Christmas, every holiday Christmas, Thanksgiving. I weren't again, dating myself. I was working on the millennium. So when people were like out partying, you know, 1999 to 2000. I was at the 1000 Islands Bridge. Oh, my gosh.
Mary Harcourt 3:34 Yeah, it's wild. Well, I think that led you to the translation you're at now, which is great. And so what is new marketing do?
cindy 3:43 So new marketing is a strategic marketing firm, right? So we deal with anything in regards to strategy. So if you need branding, if you're a new company, and you're looking for help with brand strategy, if you are rebranding, if you need website, strategic website development, I don't build the website, but I will come with you. And we will develop the architecture, we will write the content for that. So we'll help you ensure that you have the highest SEO based on the architecture of it put together, you know, social media strategies, like I'm not going to be the person who uploads and makes your, you know, reels, but I will develop a strategy to ensure that we get a job done for you. Same with product, you know, media strategies. So it's really a strategic marketing firm. I also do a lot with crises, crisis communications, I dealt with that, really, in my corporate world. That was a huge part of my job. So I do a lot of crisis communications as well as media and public speaking training.
Mary Harcourt 4:43 It branding itself is just its own world. You really have to get into what you want to parlay as a brand and it's so fascinating to me. That's the reason I run a podcast and talk about brands because I'm so fascinated by him. And brand strategy is exactly that. Like how are you going to get your values across, that's going to be in a way to make you successful. And SEO, I feel like that is something that is just amaze. Obviously, you know, keywords, but how do you place them? And how do you research them? And how does Google find them? Like, I'm so intrigued by all of this. And I
cindy 5:18 think what's interesting is the fact that so many people, I've been in marketing and the strategic marketing for 25 years, and I think what people don't understand is that branding is not your logo, right? A brand is exactly what you said, it's what sets you apart. It's what you know, makes you different. It's what's your brand value proposition? How are you different than your competitors? It's sort of all of that stuff. It's not just your logo and your color palette? Yes, that is one component of it. But I always say that's like one piece of a jigsaw puzzle, right? So you need the entire puzzle to make it look like a pretty picture, right? If you just have a couple of pieces of that missing, if you have your logo and your color palette, but you don't have a vision statement, or you don't have a, you know, you don't have your brand value proposition, then you don't have that entire picture.
Mary Harcourt 6:07 And how do you recommend someone finds their brand brand value
cindy 6:11 proposition? This is what I say all the time. Like, I've been in marketing for 25 years doing exactly that helping companies and businesses identify what their brand is. And I'm still learning, right, because as you said, branding is complicated. So if you're an accountant, if you're a computer, you know, if you're a developer, whatnot, like I could never do your job, I don't expect you to fully understand the ins and outs of branding, the reality is, is hire someone to help you. Because I can't tell you any other way to do it. If I were to tell you like go Google it, it's very complicated. So hire someone who can help you spend. First of all, I feel like every company needs to have a little bit of marketing budget, you cannot do anything until you know what your brand is and what you've identified as your brand. Once you have that, everything else kind of falls into place after that, spend a little bit of money on someone to help you who has a marketing background and can help you develop your brand. I fully
Mary Harcourt 7:06 agree it is so important, you can have the best product to the best heart. But if you can't relay that message to your potential customers, they're just going to skip over you
cindy 7:20 100% 100% And I, you know, use this step so much, because I'm a huge step person, I believe you can't argue with numbers. And 78% of small businesses that don't have a branding slash marketing strategy, fail within the first five years. I'm trying to replace that number trying to eliminate that stat. I just think that small businesses in particular, like there's so many photographers or flower shops, or, you know, fitness instructors that what's going to set you apart. And that really is your brand that is 100% your brand.
Mary Harcourt 7:54 Well, and you just mentioned small businesses, you have such a passion for helping small businesses, where did that come from? How did that kind of start and become now what it is, but where was your? Where's your starting passion for that?
cindy 8:08 Yes. So me being a small business myself? Well, I think first, being in the developer world, we always partnered with small businesses, for our projects that we worked on, because they were all master planned communities. So you were always looking to partner with smaller construction age, you know, companies, plumbers, you know, window company, all of that good stuff. So we were always looking with small, so I've always had, like, sort of in my heart, like I love you know, love working with small businesses. But, you know, me being a small business myself, when the pandemic hit, and seeing all of my friends who are small business owners, so many people just really struggling with, you know, really just losing so much as a result of the pandemic, you know, having to get rid of their employees who a lot of them were family or friends who are like family, that really is when it kind of like really struck me. And that's when I started the Facebook group that blew up to what it is today. And you know, within a year we had 25,000 members 100% organically. And that's how my passion kind of grew, seeing and getting to know all of these entrepreneurs solopreneurs that just have their full heart and soul in these businesses. And so I really, I love working with small businesses.
Mary Harcourt 9:21 I mean, it is really impressive to grow to 25,000 members in a year. So you have this Facebook group, they you offer marketing, support classes, network opportunities, what are some of the things that you help business owners learn so they can thrive instead of just survive?
cindy 9:39 Yeah, that's our motto, we help you thrive not just survive. So I offer things like brand. I just had a three day branding workshop right to help them understand what is a brand value proposition? What's the difference between a vision and a mission statement? Let's talk about brand and how it really does make a difference. I have podcasts where we have people come in and talk about out how different things that aren't really marketing related, but sort of marketing related, like I've had finance people come in and talk about business thing seven networking queen, the networking queen, as she's called, coming in and talking about the importance of networking. And so I try to expand, you know, the horizon and let them know, like, yes, marketing is super important. But you know, and networking is one component of it. But there's all these other things that you need to be doing to be successful. And so I'm trying to offer that all to them, and then also offer classes at a very inexpensive cost, because we're small businesses, most of them don't have a huge budget. So it's really sort of a win win, and allows them to have marketing classes, marketing training, so they can develop marketing strategies, and allows me to offer that to them at an inexpensive cost, where if they were to hire me as a consultant rate, they wouldn't be able to afford me. So if I put them together in a class, it's really a win win situation.
Mary Harcourt 10:55 I love that. I mean, everything you're saying is so spot on. It's so true, it's so important. And when you have a small business, and you're an entrepreneur, you're a solopreneur, or whatever it may be, it's really overwhelming to grow a business with clients. Also be able to handle your marketing, make sure you have great branding, make sure you have a great website, also manage your cash flow, make sure that the lights are staying on the bills are being paid on top of understanding what it takes to manage a business. So I think I'm a huge advocate for always learning always growing, I think classes are the way to go, I wish I would have taken them earlier in my career. But when I got there, I just got there later than most, but that's okay. We're what kind of classes do you offer.
cindy 11:35 So I have a six month program that's actually about to start and it's called guaranteed clients. Now, that is the most intense class that I offer. It's obviously a six month class, three months on branding to one social media, one month website architecture slash organic marketing. So that's where you get the six months 100% Guaranteed. And I will tell you, the class is ongoing right now as we speak, I'm about to start another class, I sold out the first group, everybody who's taken it is like, we've learned so much. I even have like three people who are marketing experts in it who are like, holy cow, I'm learning so much. Because, again, you can be a marketing expert in like digital marketing, digital media, but you are not a strategic marketing expert, which is what I am, you still don't fully understand your brand, right? So like I don't, I work I have a partner who's a digital marketing expert, right? So he does videos and websites and all of that, and he comes to me for his brand and strategies. So it's very, very different. And so it's a very intense six months, but it's guaranteed 100% guarantee that at the end of this within six weeks, you have more clients, which means higher bottom line,
Mary Harcourt 12:42 I mean, 100% guarantee is so hard to stand by, but I love the confidence in offering you know, you know your stuff, you know how to parlay it into someone being able to easily adapt it, grab it and apply it to their life and then get results, which is what we all want. I love
cindy 13:00 it. People are realizing more and more. Here's how it is sort of a revolving door use this a lot. You need marketing to get clients, you need clients for money, right? So it's sort of a revolving door. It's like what starts first chicken in the egg. But the reality is, is you need marketing first. That's the bottom line, just like you need a business plan. You need a marketing plan, you need to figure out how you're going to get those clients what's going to set you apart. Because like I said, just like there's 50,000 florists out there, what is going to make you stand apart from every other florists out there every other fitness coach that's online. And I will tell you, it's not going on to a Facebook group that has 25,000 people and posting a flyer once a week does not work. You need an entire strategy.
Mary Harcourt 13:42 And you want to attract and be that strong brand that people scroll across or find and are magnetically attracted to oh my god, I want that. Not here's my flyer you want to come to my class like it's it just doesn't sometimes it can work but it's not going to build you a sustainable business over time in the future.
cindy 14:04 Not at all. It doesn't work to be honest. Like I've like I said I'm a statistical person. And I've got stat overset overset work, it doesn't work bottom line it does not work follow for follow doesn't work, you know where they're like oh, follow me and I'll follow its neck. You can get banned from Instagram you can get banned from Facebook for that because they think you're a spammer I'll kick you out of my group if you try to post that
Mary Harcourt 14:26 so I don't do it because I'm just all I love organic follows but why can you get kicked out for follow for profit with advertising it fishing for it actually the action of doing it because
cindy 14:39 Facebook and Instagram look at it as like you're a spammer. You're not on there for any real reason. You're just on there to get make money because you know, the more followers you have, the more obviously if you have more followers, you can make money. I like I'm very very fortunate that I was chosen to be one of the power admins for Facebook. You know, there's over 70 million Facebook groups and I'm on a fifth 10,000 Power admins in, in North America. And so we talk about things like that we get the ins and the outs. And, you know, they're trying to really crack down on spammers and scammers. And that's one of the ways that they do it is, you know, looking for things like that people are just like, I don't know you, but follow me, just because, you know, they don't want that they want him to be more strategic. And that's why honestly, I think my opinion, I don't know this, for sure. But I think you're gonna start seeing more Facebook groups going towards very low cost memberships, like less than $100 a year, like maybe $75 a year, because even if you pay like four or $5 a month, you're more vested in those groups. And, you know, obviously, people who are writing those groups can be more vested in the groups as well. And it covers sort of overhead and all that good stuff. But instead of being a member of 500 groups, you're a member of three groups, and you're more invested in those groups, and those groups can thrive. So I think I mark my words, that's what's gonna happen.
Mary Harcourt 15:56 Yeah, absolutely. See that being a trend, especially with the Instagram, starting the new subscriptions. And then we have like Patreon, I think it's already started. But I could absolutely see that with these Facebook group, because it also weeds out all the crap you get in some of these sometimes, and you're so excited to join. And then it's like spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, you end up jumping off, or it's just not fun
cindy 16:16 anymore. And that's what my group I absolutely will not have in my group. My group is super strategic, you cannot even post on the main board, you have to post on one of the threads. So I'll be like, it's when website Wednesday, post your website, and if you want people to look it over, look it over. You know, on Saturday, Last Saturday, we had I just was like, small support Small Business Saturday, promote yourself. We had like 11,000 views on it, which is huge. And so it just depends, you know, the algorithm is a weird thing. But I'm not going to let people just like, Oh, here's my fire post is not going to ever be a flyer drop. It's never going to be a follow for follow, because it's not going to be that spammy group that you just mentioned.
Mary Harcourt 16:54 Absolutely. Well, let's switch gears here. I want to talk about something you love giving back to people in what way do you give back? Is it through your Facebook groups in your courses? Is it in a different avenue?
cindy 17:04 Yes. So I am I mean, I feel like first of all, if you're on this earth, you have to leave a legacy. Right? What are you giving back? What what are you doing? And you know, I have two kids, I want them to sort of like realize the importance of being philanthropic and you know, being a good person. And so yeah, I mean, there's a couple things that I do I 5% of my annual proceeds, whether it's through the Facebook group now, which is kind of becoming a full time job for me. I mean, I can't take clients and my consulting agency if I'm working 70 hours a week at full to my Facebook group. So whether it's whichever one makes the most amount of money will go to two charities that are near and dear to my heart where blue runs remember, which is a nonprofit organization that supports fallen servicemembers families. And then fibromuscular dysplasia Society of America, which is for a very rare disease that I actually have. It's called fibromuscular dysplasia. It's not fibromyalgia, it's a very rare arterial disease, only 2% of the world has it. Obviously, me being a person who has it, I want to raise awareness on that. I want to raise money for that, because that's the only way we do that. So I donate 5% of my proceeds at the end of the year to both of them. In addition, I do a ton of pro bono work for those both of those, so anything that they need marketing, PR wise, they'll send me press releases to write, you know, collateral to design, social media help any of that that they need at all. I'm there for them. And then I also sit on the board of Jelly Roll gift of life. Now Jelly Roll was a client of mine. He is a former NFL Super Bowl winner. He played for the Baltimore Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2001. And he hired me to find him a kidney. So he was literally dying. He died three times he had coded three times and his doctor was my client. He was a nephrologist. And he said, You need to meet this guy. He needs your I don't know what you got to do. But you got to find him a kidney or strategic person figured out. He hired me in April to find him a kidney because he had been looking for a year and a half, four months later, I found him a kidney through Twitter. That's the best like story that I have for like work professional or personal. So I saved a man's life through Twitter. When I saw him, like, I was nervous. I'm like, I'm a huge NFL person. I was like, oh my god, I mean, a Super Bowl player. But then I met him and saw him with his wife and his little kids. I was like, he's not he's a dad, you know, first and foremost. So I put everything I had into it. And four months later I did. So now he's become his wife and him have become like friends of mine. So together, we started this nonprofit. And I'm the secretary for that. I do all the press or everything for that you just had a call with them right before this. And then I also myself started to nonprofits, it both of the jobs, the corporate jobs I had, I started the LendLease communities. It's called now, which is supporting military families, as well. And then heroes Foundation, another organization that directly supports the military. I just feel like there's so much bad in this world what we can do to make it better. That's our job right?
Mary Harcourt 19:57 So we talked about all the fun stuff the grades, about the stuff that fulfills you what some of the lessons you've learned throughout your 25 years in this industry, and as well as being a business owner?
cindy 20:07 I mean, listen, there's definitely been some hard lessons for sure. You know, one of the things I think, is that it's okay to make mistakes, like I am always grown, like you said, I'm always growing, you've got to learn from those mistakes. One of the things that I get frustrated about as a leader is when I like, constructively criticize someone or give someone feedback, and they get offended by it, or really defensive, it's not meant to like hurt your feelings, you know, it's meant to, like, make you better to make your business better to make your business stronger. Like don't look at it as like a mistake, look at it as like a growing opportunity, right? I still to this day, remember exactly the very first kind of constructive criticism I got, when I got promoted to corporate, I remember what I was wearing, like, I remember everything, and you have to look at those as opportunities and not mistakes, like, Okay, this is what I did. This is what my boss or my leader told me what to do. This is what I learned from it, this is how I'm going to improve that situation. And I think that's really important to know, and to grow into learn from don't look at it as like, Oh, I'm being attacked, oh, they're being mean, to me look at it like, Okay, this is a growing opportunity. I'm going to grow from this, and I'm going to get better. So I think that's really important for people to know and to learn. So that's something I've definitely learned. And also, you know, listen, I think it's also really important, working together as a team is critical. Like, yes, obviously, I love working with other people, but I love picking the brain of other people. So like, Oh, you're you do this, let me learn from you. Collaboration, I think is such a great thing. When you can collaborate with people, and you can brainstorm, you know, you don't know what they've been through, you don't know what they've experienced in life, or they're either personal or professional life, like you can learn so much from collaborating, I've never been too good to do something like get someone coffee. To me, it's just a title. So like, don't ever feel like you're too good or too better to do something like at the end of the day, it's a title, you know. So that's something that I just think if you're on a team, everything is your job. Absolutely. And
Mary Harcourt 22:06 just judging from the people I know, in my life, the people that have the I'm going to get it done attitude, usually go so much further than the people that say, Oh, that's not my job description. Because if you're putting your job, just a description, you're putting yourself in a box. So you really can only go so far in that box. But when you have a can do attitude, we're going to make it happen. Let's see how far we can get your out of the box. And it's almost like the sky's the limit. So going back to everyone I know who's successful, has no problem. Talking to the maintenance person picking up a broom and sweeping the floor, grabbing coffee greeting customers. I mean, everyone I know is like, oh, that needs done. Let me go do it. I think it's just a true test of person you have to have if you're really going to go places, I think you need to have that, like can do attitude, that I'm not gonna ask questions, or I'm not going to put up an excuse. I'm just gonna get it done.
cindy 23:01 I agree. 100%. And I also think that that is what makes you a good leader, a good boss, you're showing your subordinates like listen, I'm not too good to do anything. So neither are you, like, go follow in my footsteps do the same thing. And I think that's really because I have known leaders and seen leaders and have leaders as bosses who are like, no, no, I'm not getting off this. I'm doing what I'm supposed to do. Like no. And they are the worst bosses and the worst leaders I've ever had.
Mary Harcourt 23:28 Well, you've done an incredible job of building this company, throughout a COVID pivot. You come from a great I love the reporter story. I love your background, you definitely know what you're doing. Walk us through when people join your class. And I know we're just going back to a subject we already touched on. But now I'm curious. When people take your course and guarantee clients now program. Are you sitting with them each? Was it every week? Every whatever, through every single module?
cindy 23:57 Yes. So what it is, is you get a whole you get a bunch of things on the side, you get, you know, hold Handbook of templates and all that good stuff. But yes, once a week, we have an hour class where we're face to face like this. And it's on a certain subject. So the first you know, months will be on branding. And what's great about this class as I go with the class is speed, right? So if they're struggling with brand value proposition and they need an extra week, then we add an extra week. What's great also is yes, I say this is a six month program, but if it ends up being seven months, it's fine. It's seven months I go it their speed. So that's what we're learning. I'm learning from this group right now. We actually spent more than three months I'm branding, so it's great. So this is the class once a week. There's all 20 of us. And we have breakout sessions. We have open discussions and like I said it's a topic each week I present a PowerPoint. We go into breakout sessions we discuss all that good stuff and every week there is homework, not major homework, but it's something like like this week they have to go home and write and draw out what the their About Us page will be like for their website. And then in addition to that, they also can schedule a one on one appointment like this once a month with me as well and zoom for individual discussions. So they actually can have me twice. And then my DMs are always open, they have my phone number, they can text me all that good stuff. So I'm very, very available to the people who are in my class
Mary Harcourt 25:26 available, but also valuable, that's so valuable.
cindy 25:29 Yeah, they leave my course with a full marketing strategy, a social media strategy, public speaking, trained, so they know what to do in a networking situation, either virtual or in person. And they have a whole new list of contacts, because we've had several networking, virtual networking meetings, so they really leave there with a lot.
Mary Harcourt 25:49 They do. I mean, I'm excited. I'm gonna check it out. Let's touch on public speaking for a hot second, because I feel like that's something that either you have it or you don't. But what about the people that want to build on it? What are some tips you have for public speaking? Yeah, I
cindy 26:02 mean, I think like you said it I've, I'm a natural public speaker, I think it comes naturally to some people, like you said, but some people get really, they hate it. Unfortunately, as you know, times have come up, especially with the pandemic more and more things like this are happening, zoom, virtual meetings, networking, and all that good stuff. So unfortunately, it's something or fortunately, the people are going to have to get used to. So I say this practice makes perfect, right? Practice as much as you can. And the biggest thing is, if you're public speaking on a topic, you know, that topic, otherwise you're not gonna be public speaking on it. So yes, you have to practice some bullet points, but don't write out sentences and paragraphs and memorize it, because you already know the topic, right? So put bullet points like, okay, yes, I want to, I want to talk about the stats, I want to talk about this story I want to talk about, but you don't need to write out paragraphs to sit there and read it, put some bullet points down on paper. And then like, that is really what you should be looking at. And but it shouldn't be like full fledged like paragraphs, where you're like reading, because you already know the topic.
Mary Harcourt 27:09 I agree. I mean, that's exactly how I do it is I usually write out a whole paragraph or two or like a whole, right, I write it all out. And then I make my slides based on the bullet points and just keep those bullet points off to the side. But you are talking about a topic you're so familiar with that you're more likely to mess up your words, if you're trying to read sentence after sentence after sentence versus like, oh, bullet point, let's just talk about this. And every time I speak, it's a different story. It's a different example. It's a different flow. But it's always goes together. Because it's I'm just talking, I'm just talking about something that I'm so comfortable with.
cindy 27:45 I mean, that's the thing, I think people forget, like you're talking about a subject that you are comfortable with, that you are an expert in, otherwise you wouldn't be talking about it, they asked you to talk because you're an expert in it. So just remember that and I think people do forget that they get so nervous and so worked up, I'm gonna mess up my work. And at the end of the day, like, especially now since the pandemic, so much is done virtually and assume like, if you mess up, you mess up. Like it's not the end the world. I've been in so many calls, podcasts, virtual podcasts, where it's like video podcasts, my dogs run up, you know, my phone work, and you know, the phone rings the doorbell. And I think people are more accepting of that now, because that's just life. Right? You mess up, you mess up.
Mary Harcourt 28:23 I totally agree. So what's in the future for you? Or what's next?
cindy 28:27 I mean, I think I really am focusing on the small businesses and helping them as much as I can. Right. So continuing with the, my program, the six month program, I'm also looking at memberships for the Facebook group, because I think that really is the way to go. That will help me weed out the people who Yeah, listen, I have 20,000 people in their group. But the reality is, is that not all 20,000 of them are active. So I will be able to weed out the people who really are interested in want to learn and you know, maybe don't have the full amount for the program, it will make the people who are really in that group, like I said, the people who really want to be there and learn. So I think I'm looking at memberships. But also, like I said, just figuring out ways to better support small businesses that sort of on the agenda and then you know, just traveling I love you know, continue to travel as much as I can. That's my goal. Always. I work to travel.
Mary Harcourt 29:16 I am a travel junkie as well. I do everything I think it's so cool. Like to me, I love to experience new things. I want to eat all the new food go to all the restaurants you know animals see new surroundings, see new people like I just love it. It's so intoxicating to meet or have new atmospheres. Well, definitely I'm going to touch on this small business helps. I think being a previous small business owner, we need the help. I'm so glad you're here and able to offer help. What's the name of your Facebook group that can Is it open to the public? For now? Can people go and find it in the sign in?
cindy 29:47 Yeah, it's a private group. It always has been it's got three questions that you have to answer. It's our way to make sure that we're not getting spammers. And it's called supporting small and local businesses everywhere. Well, where
Mary Harcourt 29:59 can everyone go? Find you. Where can they find you personally reach out with questions. Where can they find this course? That sounds so amazing?
cindy 30:05 Yes. So the first thing is obviously the Facebook group. I'm always on there so you can find me on there and DM me. I'm on LinkedIn, as well. Cindy G Gersh. grsc is my last name. I am on Instagram, either through an EU marketing group that's my handle, or my personal one is way too long. So just go to new marketing group and you can find my personal one through there. I'm on Twitter 716 Girl in ATL. That's my Twitter handle. So I'm like on every single social media, we also have a YouTube account. So if you join my supporting small and local businesses everywhere, you can also join YouTube because we're just starting, we're really we already have over 800 Almost 900 subscribers and we've only been around for six weeks.
Mary Harcourt 30:52 I mean videos is the way of the future whether we want to love it or not. That's how it's doing and even YouTube and the YouTube shorts for what we're doing with my podcasts. They've been so successful. I mean more traction than a YouTube video has ever gotten. For me. There's little YouTube shorts are so powerful. So I really think if you can harness that and learn how to be able to properly keyword an SEO and write everything up, it can help real build your business so so much, Cindy, thank you so much for being a guest today. You have such valuable information. I'm really excited for your course. And I love that you love helping small business owners. They definitely need it and I love that you're a cheerleader for them.
cindy 31:30 Oh, thank you so much. Thank you for having me as a guest. I really enjoyed it. I really appreciate you Mary. Thank you.
Mary Harcourt 31:36 That wraps up today's episode. For more information on our guests. You can find them at Mary harcourt.com under the episodes tab. You can always find me on Instagram at Mary Harcourt underscore and at the cosmic glow light. I hope you enjoyed today's episode and many more to come
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