IAM436- Pinterest Marketing Strategist Helps Business Owners Get Amazing Content

Heather Farris is a Pinterest Marketing Strategist with a full-service Pinterest Agency dedicated to helping online entrepreneurs scale their businesses with organic and paid marketing. Her true passion is helping business owners like you craft a custom strategy to get your amazing content in front of your audience on Pinterest. She is always sifting through trends, data, and pins to learn more about the audiences she is serving. She's a multi-passionate full-time traveler with her husband and two little girls. Aside from traveling full-time with her family, she loves learning how to use her camera in manual mode and finding off-the-beaten-path restaurants to eat at.

• CEO Hack: Trello- keeps things organized
• CEO Nugget: Niche down sooner and be consistent with my messaging
• CEO Defined: Being a leader and source of value for my clients

Website: https://www.heatherfarris.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherfarrisco

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Transcription

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Intro 0:02

Do you want to learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales, and grow your business from successful entrepreneurs, startups, and CEOs without listening to a long, long, long interview? If so, you've come to the right place. Gresham Harkless values your time and is ready to share with you precisely the information you're in search of. This is the I AM CEO Podcast.

Gresham Harkless 0:31

Hello, this is Gresh from the I AM CEO podcast and I have a very special guest on the show today. I've Heather Farris of HeatherFarris.com. Heather, it's awesome to have you on the show.

Heather Farris 0:39

Thank you so much Gresh for having me, appreciate it.

Gresham Harkless 0:42

No problem, super excited to have you on, and what I wanted to do was just read a little bit more about Heather so you can hear about all the awesome things that she's doing. And Heather is a Pinterest Marketing Strategist, with a full-service Pinterest agency dedicated to helping online entrepreneurs scale their businesses with organic and paid media marketing.

Her true passion is helping business owners like you craft a custom strategy to get your amazing content in front of your audience on Pinterest. She is always sifting through trends, data, and pins. To learn more about the audience she is serving. She is a multi-passionate, full-time traveler with her husband and two little girls.

Aside from traveling full-time with her family, she loves learning how to use her camera in manual mode and finding off-the-beaten-path restaurants to eat at. Heather, are you ready to speak to the I AM CEO community?

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Heather Farris 1:27

I am so excited to talk to them today.

Gresham Harkless 1:30

Me too, super excited about it as well. So I wanted to kick everything off with what I call your CEO story to hear a little bit more about what led you to get started in your business.

Heather Farris 1:39

Sure. So I actually started three years ago, I started a blog because I thought that was the way that you got started making money online, I had no idea freelance work was a thing. And it just fell into my lap. So I needed a way to help fund the blog project. And I found Pinterest Management as a way to do that I was already doing Pinterest for the blog.

It just came so naturally to me because I had been using Pinterest as a consumer for however many years it was in existence at that point, probably close to six years, seven years. And it was just a natural thing because I had been using the platform so much probably daily at that point, and understood it. So it was just like a natural progression. And then I did so well that people started asking me to do there's, kind of how I got started.

Gresham Harkless 2:33

ice that that makes perfect sense. And it's so interesting to see. I usually say how all this social media has like blown up, where it used to be like your social media strategy, which is like everything. But now, because each of the platforms is so complex, and there are so many different parts of it, you have the opportunity to really like strategize and own a specific platform.

Heather Farris 2:54

It is and when I first got started in freelance work, I did all sorts of things. Because that's just like you don't know what you know until you know it. Once I figured out that Pinterest was the thing, I really narrowed it down and did and got really good at it. So here we are traveling full time, three years later, off of the business.

Gresham Harkless 3:14

Nice, I definitely appreciate that. And like you said, you found what came naturally, you started to hone in and become that and develop that expertise in there and become that expert. So I wanted to drill down a little bit deeper here a little bit more about your agency, can you take me through exactly how you work with clients?

Heather Farris 3:30

Yeah, so I bring them on generally, in one of two ways. We either do strategy sessions, so if someone is there needing help with their business and their data specifically because there's really no one size fits all. I'll do a one-on-one strategy session and then provide them with basically exactly what I do for my clients just in a more packaged format.

And it's based on their data. So I dive really deep into into their analytics into their funnels, I look at their products, what are they offering, and I kind of pull all of that together in a nice little package, and give that to them. That usually includes tutorial videos, and checklists of all sorts, things to do, and how to implement it. And then I give that to them. And they can either implement it on their own or if they'd like to hire me to do it after that, then they can do that as well.

Or the other way is just straight out, they hire me to do it because they know they're at a point in their business where they just don't want to learn or they don't have time. So we also manage accounts in that way as well. And it's both paid and organic like you said in the intro. So we do just Organic Pinterest Marketing and then I also do promoted Pins.

So, now, there's a couple of different facets of that I have some paid, promotion clients, the promoted pin clients, organic clients. And then we have, one-off strategy clients, so, it really just depends on where you're at in your business and what you need, and really what kind of team that you have to implement.

Gresham Harkless 5:05

Yeah, that makes perfect sense. And that kind of segues in because one of the questions I wanted to ask you based on what you were saying is, do you find that there are certain types of clients that are best on leveraging Pinterest or that you find with your clientele or have more success than others maybe?

Heather Farris 5:20

I'm one of those rare birds that have that I didn't niche down to one specific niche for clients I handle about food bloggers, I've got mom bloggers, I have traveled, e-commerce, physical sellers, I've seen all sides of it. And all of them have had success on Pinterest, because it's a search engine, and people are going there to find a transformation for their problem.

So there's really not one particular audience that has done better than any others. The one that I personally have struggled with the most is probably the beauty bloggers because I don't wear a lot of makeup, I'm not really into fashion like I'm a t-shirt and shorts kind of girl. So that's the one I've probably struggled with the most. But I do have one of those as a client, and I'm rocking her strategy. So it really just depends on how much time you're willing to put into it, and how much money you're willing to throw at it. And, you know, what you're willing to give me.

Gresham Harkless 6:23

Yeah, that makes so much sense. And as long as the people are on the platform, and you have that opportunity to reach them. Because like you said, it's a search engine as a way to kind of connect you to your audience. If you have that kind of perspective, then that allows you the opportunity to reach that audience in a unique way. So thank you for expanding on that.

So now, I wanted to ask you for what I call your secret sauce. And this can be for you personally, or it could be for your organization. But what do you feel kind of sets you apart?

Heather Farris 6:51

The data of a lot of people in this Pinterest marketing niche, if you go out and you search on Facebook groups or on LinkedIn for Pinterest marketing manager, the number one thing that I hear from clients that are coming from other people to me for me to manage their stuff is the other people are not reading the data.

And that is something that I totally geek out on is, getting into Google Analytics, it totally does not scare me. I will click around in there all day long to try and figure out where the trends are at and what people are really coming to your site for. So that's what sets me apart is my willingness to really dive in and get dirty with the data.

Gresham Harkless 7:31

Yeah, that makes so much sense. And I really feel like that's one of the definitely correct me if I'm wrong. If you feel the exact same way. I feel like that's one of the benefits of Pinterest, and all these social media platforms is that you have those analytics. So if you're not geeking out on them, if you're not leveraging them, you're not really digging in deep. And that to me, kind of takes away one of the big benefits of digital marketing.

Heather Farris 7:52

Yeah.

Gresham Harkless 7:53

Yeah, that makes sense. So I wanted to switch gears a little bit. And I wanted to ask you for what I call a CEO hack. So this could be like an app or book or habit that you have. But what's something that makes you more effective and efficient?

Heather Farris 8:06

Oh, boy, well, I don't have those maps on my wall back there like you do, because I live in this RV. But Trello has been my go-to, from the beginning. I learned about it right after I started my blog. So I have used it for home life or business life like it's all in there. And I can make maps and notes and I can put them in there. And it's like, my wall since I don't have walls. So that's my CEO hack is using a project management tool that keeps everything organized. And you know, I can take it out of here and put it on paper.

Gresham Harkless 8:42

Yeah, that makes perfect sense.

Heather Farris 8:43

And then digitize it.

Gresham Harkless 8:45

Yes, exactly. Well, I always heard and I don't know, it's I always heard the hackers funny enough that I always looked at Trello as being like the Pinterest project manager because I thought it was a lot more visual.

Heather Farris 8:58

Oh, totally. That's probably why I love it so much, it's so visual. And they've added so many things. So it's very like you can put images and all sorts of things in there. And you can, you know, attach links, and I won't get into it, but it's pretty great.

Gresham Harkless 9:15

Yeah, I know, it can definitely do, you know, great wonders. And as far as keeping the organizers what we're always trying to do because there's so many things that were juggling. So now I wanted to ask you for what I call a CEO nugget. And this is a word of wisdom or a piece of advice. Or if you could happen to be a time machine, what would you tell your younger business self?

Heather Farris 9:32

Oh my gosh, if I could go back and tell myself anything it would have been to niche down sooner and be more consistent with my messaging. To really put myself out there more like being on this podcast if I would have told myself this three years ago, probably a lot further along in my business.

Because I've been scared over the years to put myself out there and to actually act like an authority in the Space. I've been doing this successfully for three years. So if I could go back and tell myself anything it would be to get out there and let people know what you know.

Gresham Harkless 10:10

Yeah, that makes so much sense. And so many people will probably listen to this struggle with that as well as owning your expertise, being your, best self, and making sure that you let the world know that as well, too, because sometimes we will kind of shy away from being in showcasing our expertise. And we put in all the work and done all the time. Now, it's just a matter of helping so many people. So I appreciate that nugget.

Heather Farris 10:33

Yeah.

Gresham Harkless 10:34

Nice. And so now I wanted to ask you my absolute favorite question, which is the definition of what it is to be a CEO. And we're hoping to have different quote-unquote, CEOs on this show. So Heather, what does being a CEO mean to you?

Heather Farris 10:45

Oh, man, it's being a leader, not only in my business, but in my team, and just being a source of value for my clients. So to be the CEO of my business is great. But if I could actually come in and help them do the same thing, and theirs and provide,  fill in the holes of places that I see where they could do better.

That's kind of what being a CEO means to me right now in this face when my business, so really just stepping in and being a leader and being willing to provide value that maybe I should pay for, but hey, here I am, this is what you need to do. And, you know, this is what I see. So I hope that makes sense.

Gresham Harkless 11:27

Yeah, it actually does because a lot of times, sometimes we forget, and then when we're providing a service, for businesses, or for really anybody, we're not just providing it just for the sake of providing that a lot of times were looked at or seen even by those business owners as partners.

So we're supporting them as much as they're supporting us. And, as you said, filling in those gaps, providing those opportunities, and that expertise that maybe they may not necessarily have, that is definitely that leadership that you spoke to. And of course, being in perfecting your craft and being great at what you do. Is that thought leadership that you kind of spoke to as well?

Heather Farris 12:02

Yeah, yeah, thank you for clarifying that.

Gresham Harkless 12:07

You said it smoothly, so I just said it over. So with that being said, I really appreciate your time, Heather, what I wanted to do was pass you the mic, so to speak, just to see if there's anything additional you can let our readers and listeners know, and how best people can get ahold of you and find out about all the awesome things you're working on.

Heather Farris 12:24

Okay, so one nugget, if you are listening to this, and you're not you haven't gotten started on Pinterest, or maybe you're struggling to figure out what your audience's pain point is, and go on Pinterest and search for it. What terms would they use to find you on a platform and go out there and see what kind of content is already on there? And how you can fill in the gaps. What can you do better?

And put on the platform to offer a transformation for your people so that they're looking for a transformation. And you have that transformation for them. Just maybe how can you make it better? What's already out there? And then how best can people get in touch with me? My website is the best place. I don't do Instagram for Pinterest marketing, but Facebook, as well. So HeatherFarris.com. You can find me there.

Gresham Harkless 13:19

Awesome. We'll make sure to have that link in the show notes so that everybody can follow up with you. But I appreciate you for sharing that Pinterest nugget because a lot of times we are providing some type of solution.

And we have to kind of reverse engineer for lack of a better term and understand what that is and to be able to use Pinterest just like a search engine and search on there and see what people are doing and see how we can build a better mousetrap so to speak and solve that solution is definitely a great nugget, and really key towards being successful. So thank you so much again, Heather. I appreciate your time, and all the awesome things you're doing and I hope you have a great rest of the day.

Heather Farris 13:54

Thanks so much, Gresh.

Outro 13:56

Thank you for listening to the I AM CEO Podcast powered by Blue 16 Media. Tune in next time and visit us at iamceo.co I AM CEO is not just a phrase, it's a community. Be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes Google Play and everywhere you listen to podcasts, SUBSCRIBE, and leave us a five-star rating grab CEO gear at www.ceogear.co. This has been the I AM CEO Podcast with Gresham Harkless. Thank you for listening.

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