Like I said previously, “the March ain’t over, baby!” Right???
Here’s what I learned from a very informative article: “What entrepreneurs can learn from the founders of the Pink Pussyhat Project!” (Gotta love Buzzsumo!!)
1. How did the Women’s March get started ? One woman + Facebook
First off, did you know the Women’s March was created by one woman’s Facebook invite?
Theresa Shook, known online as “Maui Cooper Slim,” in her frustration with the election results, invited 40 of her friends to march together in Washington.
The next morning 10,000 names had joined the group and 10,000 wanted to come. And the rest is herstory!
The power of transforming your frustration into fuel for action:
Frustration + Facebook Invitation + Call to Action: to Gather Together = Massive Visibility + a MOVEMENT!
WOW!
Enough said! You don’t have to attract thousands of women or create a movement to use this tactic to spread your message!
2. “How can a person who can’t be somewhere still be present and have visibility?”
Jayna Zweiman, one of the founders of the Pussyhat project, asked her co-founder, Krista Suh this question. She was recovering from an injury and couldn’t attend the March but really wanted to be there.
The duo felt a fun, fashion statement that was easy, low cost and doable for all women would be the easiest way to involve the largest amount of women and have the biggest visible impact.
And, hence, the Pink Pussyhat Project was born!!
Well done, ladies! Mission accomplished!
And guess what? It still continues to work!! The day after the March, I was hiking with a friend, wearing my pink pussy hat- it was actually cold out, here in LA!
This burly mountain biker rode past us and flashing us a big smile, he said, “Nice hat!” And I instantly felt we were connected with the Pussy Reclamation Movement– post March!
It gave me a jolt of community and optimism that we can continue the momentum of the March- using this powerful visual symbol- super simple, but it stands out and connects you instantly with sister and fellow supporters!
Now, for coaches and healers, who don’t have a simple product, ask yourself this question:
“How can I be visible with the biggest amount of impact, with the least amount of effort?”
Let me give you a hint: be visible in a way that is FUN for YOU! Because if it’s FUN for you- guess what? It means you’re turned on! You’re jazzed. You’re pumped- naturally! So you have energy and passion already working for you.
If wearing a pink pussyhat and talking about what it means to you is FUN for YOU then DO that, and you are being visible!
It doesn’t have to be pink pussyhats for you! It can be anything that gets you excited and zingy!! Do you know what that is? Is it raw chocolate? Is it ziplining? It can be anything- as long as it lights your fire! And then tie it back to your business if possible…
…Or not!
Your turn on, alone, on is magnetic! It’s generous! It’s enough! Your tribe will LOVE you and feel CONNECTED to you if you share with them what lights you up! That’s what matters the most– not how many people you reach or which platform you choose (email, video, speaking, social media etc…)
3. Choose a niched social media platform if possible!
Being part of the cozy, women’s crafting community, Zweiman and Suh capitalized on Ravelry, an online knitting & crochet community of more than 4 million fans!
“Ravelry is the Facebook for knitters,” says Zweiman. The community got excited by the pussyhat pattern and the cause and started the ball (of yarn) rolling! (I couldn’t help myself!)
It’s all about niche! The pussyhat idea came out of a clearly defined female niche of women’s crafts. Coupling that with a crafting social media community was a stroke of genius!
It’s not always possible to find comparable niched online communities for your services, but it firmly plants the concept for you to be open to such possibilities. Let the concept simmer and see what ideas pop up!
4. Seize the moment!
They chose to launch the Pussyhat Project around Thanksgiving to capitalize on family time and give enough time before the March.
In this case, for coaches and healers, do it when you’re excited- NOW! Don’t let the moment pass you by. If it is calling you. If you can’t stop thinking about it. If you are talking about it to everyone– you’re already in motion!
Take your visibility one notch further, and share with your tribe via email, speaking at a meetup, video, Facebook– don’t keep it on lockdown to yourself. Let your tribe know what is jazzing you up!
5. Keep it simple. Keep it accessible.
The pussyhats are simple and doable– so it was easy to engage many, many women.
Is your message simple? Is it easy to understand? This is sometimes the hardest thing to do. But the more you talk about it, the clearer it gets. So even if you don’t have it all figured out, getting in action and talking about it or writing about it will help you get clearer and more streamlined.
I would love to hear what you’re snagging from these #pinkpussyhat visibility lessons? What jazzes you? What are you gabbing about to your pals, these days? Will you share in the comments below? That’s a step in being visible!! I’d love to know!
To your #pinkpussyhat visibility and beyond!!
Michelle
