Welcome to episode 300 of Pep Talks for Side Hustlers! ????
Wow, what a journey it’s been to 300 episodes. This podcast started back in April of 2018 as a solo show, which was really an outlet for me to talk about my own journey from side hustle to self-employed and all mistakes, successes and lessons learned along the way as I built my DIY web design + marketing training business online.
And over the past two and a half years it’s evolved into this incredible opportunity for me to get to talk other entrepreneurs about their journeys, successes, mistakes and lessons learned along the way.
And I don’t know about you, but these conversations help me feel less alone, more connected, and just more… normal!
Like, everyone is just figuring it out as they go – and the only difference between people that succeed and people that don’t is that the ones that succeed never quit. If something’s not working, they try again or pivot. They just don’t quit. If there’s anything that you take away from this podcast, that’s it.
And if you’ve been a listener for awhile and you haven’t left a rating and review, there’s no better time to do it than the 300th episode, right??
If you’re listening in Apple Podcasts, head on over to https://shannonmattern.com/review – or just swipe up on the episode in your podcast player and tap the link and it’ll take you to the spot to leave a review – and if you’re listening on Spotify or iHeartRadio or Google Podcasts, you can find the place to leave a review right there in your podcast app.
So today’s guest is Sharon Hartwick, a LinkedIn marketing expert who’s gonna break down exactly how to find and connect with your ideal clients on LinkedIn.
Sharon and I talk about:
- Why she started her business.
- LinkedIn’s superpower that makes it different from other social media platforms.
- Why LinkedIn should be the first thing you set up (before your website).
- Whether or not your ideal client is on LinkedIn.
- The best way to find + connect with new people on LinkedIn.
- Three questions to ask yourself about whether a connection is worth pursuing.
- Strategies for maintaining relationships after making connections.
- Some of the biggest money mindset hurdles Sharon had to overcome.
- The belief Sharon had to change about herself to get where she is today.
My favorite quotes from Sharon:
- “You've got to be authentically you.”
- “There are so many different ways that you can use LinkedIn to grow your business, but it all comes down to building relationships.”
- “LinkedIn is the perfect place for you to start connecting with people and building relationships, because you may meet somebody who exactly what you have to offer is exactly what they've been looking for.”
- “Anytime you're looking for growth, you should be going to LinkedIn to find people to connect with to help you do that.”
Make sure you get your hands on Sharon’s free eBook: “Step-by-Step Guide to Prospecting on LinkedIn“
Bio:
Sharon Hartwick is a sales and customer service dynamo that wanted to be present and active in her kids’ lives, and have a profitable career.
But over-and-over again she found herself in a double bind. She was either penalized at “the office” for the times she chose her family or missing out on things with her family if she chose to obey her employer’s every demand.
From 2002 to 2017 she sought a different path. A path that allowed her to be both mom and boss. Now, she’s working from home in a business that she loves, spending all the time she wants with the people she loves, and happily strutting the line between family and career.
Sharon established her Virtual Assistant business in September of 2018 and was able to quickly establish herself as an expert in LinkedIn marketing and from there her business took off.
The reason she has been able to outshine her competition is her brand values. She isn’t just about adding names to a list. She believes that focusing on creating meaningful relationships with the right person for your services and products is the key to success. This ensures that you’re only getting on the phone with quality warm leads that want to learn more about you and what you have to offer.
Resources Mentioned:
- Kathy Goughenour: Expert VA Training
- Make More Money in Your Virtual Assistant Side Hustle with Kathy Goughenour
- Sharon’s LinkedIn Marketing + Sales Blog Posts
- Free eBook “Step-by-Step Guide to Prospecting on LinkedIn“
