Pivoting Doesn’t Mean Failure! It Means Maximizing Your Zone Genius with Farah M. Saunders
Today we’d like to introduce you to Farah M. Saunders .
It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?
I started my career in the media industry at the age of 17. At the time, I had every desire to become a morning news anchor. But after working as a news producer trainee and assisting the sales department, I began to fully grasp how the media produces content and generates sales consistently. After college, I moved to Seattle, Washington to begin working as a digital content producer for KIRO 7 News. My role consisted of managing a well-known reporter’s brand via social media, content creation and segment production for the evening news. I would then repurpose most of the television content for online media presence. Within one year, I had doubled his fanbase by more than 50%, which resulted in the news station closing more digital advertisement deals and generating more sales for his platform alone. I remember asking myself – how can I establish a brand online and generate income? Since then, I’ve been determined to merge my love for storytelling, digital marketing and brand development.
The more I studied public relations, digital marketing and online trends, I started helping eCommerce brand owners secure and leverage media coverage to increase their brand’s profits. Today, my ecommerce clients have been featured on Good Morning America Deals & Steals, Real Simple, Forbes, Oprah Daily and more. Being featured on these various platforms has generated them well over $25,000 in revenue just within 5 days of being featured.
**Please note results vary per ecommerce brand.
I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?
When I started generating revenue online, I started by branding myself as the Body Positive Nutritionist NOT the ecommerce media maven, industry best kept secret you may see today. I have a passion for helping women love their bodies unconditionally while prioritizing their health. As a result, I launched an ecommerce brand – Thick, Bold and Healthy selling wellness products and services. At the time, I had a limiting belief that I couldn’t build a multi-million-dollar wellness brand. This led me to join two multi-level marketing companies, practice affiliate marketing and drop shipping. I continued to battle with confusion, doubt and disappointment. I even enrolled in graduate school for two semesters studying nutrition and integrative health instead of focusing on my zone genius – digital pr marketing for eCommerce brands. Not gaining clarity sooner cost me A LOT of money!
For a long time, I thought I had to choose between being a nutrition coach or being a digital pr marketer. But a blessing in disguise forced me to make a shift. My Facebook and Instagram accounts were hacked. I also had over a half-million dollars in my pipeline ready to be closed but didn’t have the right infrastructure to support the rapid lead flow. I was devastated having to close my coaching practice and pivot. I decided to launch my next ecommerce product. Within two weeks of crafting and executing my launch campaign using my digital pr marketing strategies, I generated my monthly salary in just three days.
Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?
I am a digital public relations marketer helping eCommerce brand owners secure and leverage mass media exposure to increase their brand profits. After 11 years of working in this industry, most publicists don’t have digital marketing/advertising experience. Once the media coverage is secured – what happens next? eCommerce brand owners are often left feeling resentful because the media exposure didn’t generate any sales. The truth is most media coverage won’t generate direct to consumer sales. However – it can have an indirect effect on generating sales. It’s all about learning to repurpose the media coverage to increase your ecommerce sales. And that’s where I step in! Whether you have an already existing product or need assistance with product launch and development, I’m able to launch, prep or revamp your ecommerce brand for mass media exposure. All the while providing you with a mass media monetization blueprint.
What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?
Use fear and doubt as fuel. You will surprise yourself. Don’t allow imposter syndrome to stop you from reaching your full potential. People are afraid of you because of your full potential. Trust your instinct, don’t be afraid to take calculated risks and bet on yourself. Fall in love with your process, not your destination.
Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?
I believe there’s no real definition of success because it means different outcomes to different people. But for me – success is doing the things I love every day and it supports my lifestyle. I’m truly making a difference in people’s lives and changing their perspective on health and wealth. There’s no greater feeling than having a dope concept or vision, sharing it with someone and they help you bring it life. That’s who I want to be for people. I know what it’s like to have all these amazing ideas and you feel alone because no one truly understands your creative mind, so you feel stuck. I’m the person you can confide in about all your business dreams, aspirations and desires and I will find a way to make them come to life.
What’s next for you?
My goal is to continue helping more eCommerce brand owners take up space online! We’ve launched our digital public relations marketing agency – Ambiance Media Group, where we show businesses how to Build Out Loud. While we are geared to more high-ticket clients with more experience in business, we understand not every startup ecommerce brand owner can afford to pay an agency retainer each month. In order to help those starting in their small business, we are currently crafting the Build Out Loud Academy. The academy will show how to gain mass exposure and increase your brand profits at an affordable price and easy to learn knowledge-based courses.
As for my personal eCommerce brand – Thick, Bold and Healthy, we are preparing for our Spring launch and making sure we are fulfilling our current preorders this winter.
Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more?
People can connect with me on Instagram at @farahmonise and farah@ambiancemediagroup.com.