Hope your families are spoiling you! Xo, Holly

When you’re a business owner, it’s really easy to let your ideas run your day and suddenly you’re overwhelmed, jumping from one thing to the next, and nothing actually gets finished. Here’s how to rein yourself back in and helpful tips I follow to stay on top of my two successful online businesses: *Make a list of everything you need to do.
Then pick your top priorities
Focus on just 3 to 5 things to complete. Crossing things off your list is more powerful than you think.
It gives you momentum and makes you feel accomplished which keeps you going. *Put your phone on do not disturb.
Notifications are the fastest way to lose focus. *And please… don’t scroll.
You’re not “researching”.
You’re losing time. If you do want inspiration, set a timer
10 to 15 minutes max.
Then get back to work before you fall into the rabbit hole. Batch similar tasks together.
Filming, writing, editing.
Stay in the same mode so your brain doesn’t have to reset every 10 minute. And give yourself a clear stopping point. Work gets easier when you know when you’re done. You don’t need more time.
You need more direction. :) Hope this helps! Make it a great week! xo

The CEO of IG recently did a reel sharing how to grow on Instagram TODAY. I've been testing his advice since March 23 and it actually worked! I grew 1500 followers. Here's the gist for ORGANIC growth: Post - 3 times minimum a week to keep your account "active" but you most like will lose followers Post - 1x a day and you'll gain followers but will lose as well so slow growth to break even. Post - 10x a week and you'll see steady growth compound over time I did 10-14 posts a week for almost a month and I grew net 1500 followers. I lost about 400 so I gained (technically) almost $2k. This is on my hollydays_chicago account. I have 40K followers so the growth is a little more obviously, but as a small creator page, this could translate to 100 or so then continue to gain. I found this graphic from an account I love @Kristina.Social and I think it's a great framework to challenge yourself! Who's trying this and let me know how it goes. Commit for 30-60 days before you give up and watch what happens!

Here are the top platforms that are great for getting your first jobs. After a few months, you can start pitching and will now have a nice little portfolio to showcase. Collabstr What it is: A UGC marketplace where creators list services (Reels, TikToks, photos). Brands browse profiles and send offers. You set your own rates and maintain autonomy. Pros: No follower requirements; large brand base; built‑in payments, analytics and tax support. Cons: Popularity means stiff competition and some low‑budget offers. Insense What it is: A platform with curated campaign briefs for UGC creators, especially in beauty, fashion and wellness. Pros: Detailed briefs, licensing and payments handled, product perks, and insights into your content’s performance. Cons: You must apply to campaigns and pitch; may feel advanced for new creators. Influee What it is: A global marketplace where vetted creators (top 3 %) make product reviews, unboxings and ad‑style videos; creators keep 100 % of earnings. Pros: Quick payments (5–10 days); ability to set your own prices; free Creator Academy training. Cons: Selective acceptance; you still need to pitch and win campaigns. Trend.io What it is: App‑only (iOS) platform connecting vetted creators with premium brands. Offers curated UGC gigs with free products plus guaranteed pay. Pros: Organized briefs, automatic licensing, no negotiation hassle; high content quality and professional brands. Cons: Requires an application and is open only to U.S. iPhone users; limited gig volume due to exclusivity. Twirl What it is: A streamlined platform that provides structured briefs and direct communication with brands. Pros: Predictable income—payouts within ~14 days, free products, access to a supportive Slack community and upcoming Creator University. Cons: Competitive application; you must handle basic editing and deliverables; revisions may be requested. JoinBrands What it is: One of the largest UGC marketplaces (250 k creators, 20 k brands) offering a variety of gigs from unboxings to TikTok Shop affiliate campaigns.

I've got a busy week with the launch of DBA 2.0 and my new private mentorship group but I wanted to share my best prompt to create content! COPY THIS AND SAVE IT! I’m a social media educator and strategist who teaches women entrepreneurs how to grow and monetize their Instagram accounts. I focus on growth strategies, content planning, and monetization through digital products, courses, brand partnerships, UGC, and affiliate marketing. I need a list of 100 core content ideas (educational, inspirational, strategy, Reels, etc.), and I’d like to refine and expand them into personalized, high-performing post ideas. Please help me by: Organizing the ideas into content pillars: Education, Inspiration, Authority/Trust, Engagement, Selling, and Personal Brand. Turning each idea into a caption prompt, carousel concept, and reel script where appropriate. Making each one plug-and-play, so I can easily adapt them to different types of offers (e.g., digital products, affiliate offers, mini-courses, etc.) Adding engaging hooks, CTAs, and caption starters to boost saves, shares, and comments. Making sure they are optimized for women business owners, and content creators, especially those who are service providers, coaches, educators, or UGC creators. Incorporating trending Instagram formats like: – POVs – Viral audio ideas – Story-style Reels – Split-screen “before vs. after” content – SEO-friendly carousels Giving a mix of post types like carousels, Reels, single-image posts, and story ideas. Optional: Suggest relevant keywords and hashtags for each category to help boost visibility. Happy Creating! Hols