~It is always a daunting idea to start-up a new business. Often it is not the business idea but the business practices that “fail”. Marketing, and for me, social media marketing, is one of the crucial aspects of winning the business game. One of my side projects, All Curves West, depends almost solely upon social media to grow or “succeed”.

In my opinion “social media” includes; blog networking using platforms like WordPress or Tumblr, social networking via Facebook & Twitter, business networking through Google Plus and Linkdin, and the more recent trend of photo networking using applications such as Instagram and Pintrest. Having a solid “online presence” can seem complicated when you see that big list of sites and applications. It comes down to having a plan, and being efficient. Social media can steal your entire life if you let it! But it doesn’t have to. I could spend a lot of time talking about exactly how to do that but for the purposes of this article I will leave it at that.

All Curves West is a little blog I have, these days my ability to keep it as up to date as I would like is struggling. But one way I keep it alive without too much time is by having my WordPress blog linked to my Facebook business page of the same name. It isn’t the same and I still deserve a good slap on the wrist for not practicing what I preach but it is still a great way to help grow your blog following.
To me the best part about having a Facebook page in addition to your blog is growing your “personality”.

Blogging is limited in that you can only present your own writing or the writing of your fellow bloggers. It doesn’t allow for the quick “shares” and “likes” that can let you show people what you are all about. My blog, All Curves West, is a fashion forward, body positive, journey sharing type of blog. Writing is great for me to share my journey with people in detail, but sharing pictures of fashion, or other pages allows a much more visual presentation of my interests and message. It is also a great way to save time in a busy week! A decent amount of social media might take three 2o minute sessions a week, whereas writing a solid post could take ALL week!

Getting followers to your blog is also a lot easier when you can get them to “like” your page and THEN get them to follow the blog by connecting the two. Don’t be afraid to ask people to like or share or follow you, not all the time, obviously, but once a month is certainly reasonable! Confidence is attractive to people whether it be in marketing or dating, so let people know you have a great thing happening over here and ask them to come take a look! Once they have liked or followed you, it is your job to keep them there! Maybe next time I can talk about that!

Since I am here I am going to take a little minute and tell you about All Curves West (ACW)! It has taken a long time to figure out my message in a really tangible way. In a word, All Curves West is about inclusion. My journey of self love has jumped forward since I found the power of inclusion. I feel like the very best way to teach love is through love. I had to truly find the ability to let go of comparison. I discovered that very few of us, whether our curves be big or small, possess true self-love. I learned that so many of the people who possessed the body I so desired, did not possess the confidence or self worth that I had spent my whole life assuming came with it! And that is what pushed me to start writing and create All Curves West.

My message is acceptance: all the curves, all the love, all the time. My motto is: Present Choice: Happiness – because you have to be present, it IS always a choice, and ALWAYS choose happiness.

I have a serious love for fashion, fashion art, modeling & photography. My Facebook page allows me to showcase that aspect of ACW as well as draw attention to artists/designers/businesses/events/people who fall in line with my message. My blog gives me a place explore my journey through words.
There is so much more to All Curves West and I could spend so much more time on everything I said above but for now I leave you with this thought courtesy of a very special tarot card that I pulled almost every single week for two years at the beginning of my yoga-for-curvy-ladies practice…(paraphrased)!

~Is the bamboo less mighty than the oak? Is the oak less beautiful than the bamboo? Comparison is not the answer. We all have our strengths and our beauty.~

All Curves West!