Emily Brown is a transformational weight loss and lifestyle coach. After experiencing some alarming health issues in her 20’s, Emily started down a relentless path to figure out what was going on with herself and heal her issues through nutritional, physical and lifestyle changes – and she has approached building her WordPress site and online business with the same persistence and perseverance.
Read on to learn more about Emily, her experience building her WordPress site and her advice for people just starting out.
When did you decide to start Nourishing Transformations and why?
I started working on my business in November 2014 and launched it in January 2015. The year before I had lost my job, doing what I love, unexpectedly when the company I worked for was forced to close their doors overnight.
For most of 2014 I was feeling lost, and while I took on a part-time job that I enjoyed I was still missing my passion, which is helping women feel great in their bodies (physically, mentally and emotionally) and release weight through natural diet and lifestyle changes.
I wasn’t fulfilled or fully expressing my talents and gifts. I also knew I wanted to create a life of freedom to set my own schedule, work when I wanted and take a day off or a vacation when I wanted, not when someone else approved it.
What do you feel makes your target audience special?
They are rock star women who do it all – work, take care of their families, do the shopping, cook, clean, run the errands and the list goes on. Because of this they are tired, overwhelmed and depressed about their body and health.
And while they know so much and do so much they are not quite sure how to go about taking care of themselves and the steps to get the health, happiness, and lifestyle they desire. They know it’s important and they want to take the best care of themselves so they seek that guidance.
Why did you decide to build your WordPress site yourself?
Money! With being out of a full-time job for a year and just starting up a business I really didn’t want to shell out $1500 or more to have someone design a website for me.
Plus I thought “what if I don’t love it?”, then do I have to pay more money for additional changes? No thank you!
Even with all that though I was still debating hiring someone. How could I possibly do it myself? I’m not a “techie”. I knew nothing about building a website.
That’s when someone shared your FREE 5 Day WordPress Website Challenge with me. Bingo, my prayers were answered! Seriously, thank you so much! Editor's note: “Aw, shucks, I'm blushing :)”
What was the most difficult thing about creating your WordPress site?
I’d say creating the content to put on my website and the time it took me, which I know isn’t the creating of the website. Sure there were many times I had questions and even once when I thought I lost everything I had been working on, but Shannon has always been there to answer my questions and “save the day” in her private Facebook group.
How many non “techie” people can say they created a website, and only spent about $70 plus domain fees? I learned some new skills for my business and saved a ton of money!
What was the easiest thing about it?
The up keep. I don’t have to pay someone monthly to make sure things are running smoothly. Once I had all the major bones up from your tutorials then it was just about tweaking fonts, colors, where I want to put pictures, etc. It’s so easy now to go in and add a new blog post or a plugin.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about starting their own business?
Have an idea for what you want to do and how you would like it to look. Surround yourself with people who are supportive and can assist you on your journey and then just start! If you’re really passionate about something and you have an idea of what you want, everything else will follow.
Even if you’re not sure how to do something right now, trust you will figure it out when the time comes. And ask for help, when you need it. That’s how I’m able to do it! Start now and take the steps to make your dream a reality. I also joined a program to help walk me through the steps of setting up an online coaching business – well worth the money!
If you could go back in time and do something differently, what would you do and why?
I feel like things happen for a reason and at the time they are supposed to (to help me learn and grow at the right time), but if I could go back in time I would have started my business sooner. I’m so much happier doing something I love and am passionate about. I think of how far I have come in just 6 months and wonder where the next 6 months will lead me. It’s pretty exciting!
How long did it take you to build your WordPress site?
I would say I spent 30-40 hours. It took me two months and that’s because I couldn’t devote the time I wanted to it as I was in 3 different training courses plus already working with clients. If it weren’t for that and writing the content for my website I would have been finished a lot sooner.
How do you promote your site?
I first started by emailing all my friends and family, the people who love and support me, and told them what I was doing. I asked them to share with their friends and family to help spread the word.
Since then I’ve also set up a business Facebook page and started using social media to announce my business. I’m also in some online courses that have brought me together with other health and wellness professionals and we are supporting each other by sharing our pages and inviting others to “like” and follow us. I have not started paying for Facebook advertising, but I’m sure that will be a step I take soon.
Do you have an email list, and if so, what is the most effective way you have grown your email list?
Yes I have an email list. Having an opt-in on my website has been extremely helpful. This instantly allows anyone who visits my site to sign up and receive my free 5 Secrets to Release Weight & Improve Health Naturally. I also invite people to sign up for my 5 Secrets by posting on Facebook and other social media outlets as well as inviting people I meet in person. I even added it to my business cards!
Who are your favorite bloggers or podcasts?
Oh gosh, this is hard. There are so many and for so many different reasons, personally and professionally. Since I’m passionate about health and wellness I’ll share those. I don’t know if this counts, but two of my favorite people to follow are Dr. Axe, whose program I just graduated from at the Institute of Nutritional Leadership and Dr. Mercola. They both produce amazing content on the latest information for preventing disease and taking care of yourself in a healthy and natural way, which is what I’m all about!
You can find Emily at all the links below, and be sure to sign up for her 5 Secrets to Release Weight & Improve Health Naturally!
As an aside, I absolutely LOVE that the 5 Day Website Challenge is enabling people like Emily to help other people! If you have a gift and a passion for something, think about sharing it with the world – it can be life-changing for someone!
www.nourishing-transformations.com
https://www.facebook.com/nourishingtransformations
https://www.pinterest.com/nourishingtrans/
Instagram: nourishingtransformations
Service: Natural Health & Weight Release 90 Day Total Transformation Program
