Celebrating You PR is authentic marketing with Maria Adriana Contreras
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Shop
  • Press
  • Blog
  • Reviews
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Shop
  • Press
  • Blog
  • Reviews
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

11/12/2020 0 Comments

How to stop umm-ing and err-ing

Picture
I interview people for a living and the most common challenge is when someone is thinking what to say next they'll say:
Ummmmmmmm
Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
You know...........

Your listener/audience (and I) would prefer it if you didn't use what's know as 'filler' words when you speak so here's my top tip of how to change this as I'm a recovered Um and Err-er!

The um or er happens in the exhale - the out breath and it's when you create sound as you exhale.
Allow it come out as an exhale WITHOUT coming into sound.
PRACTICE speaking out loud and when you're thinking what to say, exhale without the um or er sound.

This worked for me!

Happy presenting :) ​

If you'd like to find out more about this or anything to do with your own video presentation book a free one to one with me here by selecting 'Getting to know you call'.

0 Comments

11/9/2020 0 Comments

Is a video course the business pivot you need?

Picture
Video courses can provide a steady stream of cash with minimal effort. Maria Adriana Contreras shares how it’s worked for her and offers her top tips.
Now that so many of us have had to pivot our businesses online, here’s a tantalising question for you: What if you could serialise your body of work into a video course and then sell it online?
And what if you could create your learning resource once and then sell it again and again?

How it all happened for me

Hello, my name is Maria Adriana Contreras and I am a video journalist and press agent at my business Celebrating You PR, which began during lockdown back in March 2020. It happened organically when I did a podcast interview with Mumpreneurs Manager Shahida Rashid out of personal curiosity about her Butterfly Charity. Because she is also a business mentor, she gave me advice that changed my life.

She said: “Maria, you should do this for a living, this for you is as natural as breathing.”
The podcast interview developed into video interviews which showcase the person behind the business. This developed again just last month into producing a series of mini ‘shorts’ or ‘business trailers’ which give the essence of the business, the take away and the call to action. This became a higher value offering that drives brand awareness and business on a regular, weekly basis.

Then my client, my coach and my most amazing friend Marijana Dragojevic when doing her series of shorts on mindful eating, shared her plans about doing an online video course. And I had a eureka moment.

It’s the same process to create a video course as it is to create video interviews and mini trailers. It’s all done as a Zoom video and then I chop and edit up all the bits and make them look amazing with lots of ‘wow’ moments.

Your video course is waiting to be born

What if you really could pivot your work, your consulting, your offering, your expertise, your personality, your knowledge, your experience, your skills and most of all, your kindness and care to help people while making money too?
If you’re a therapist, coach, facilitator, or run a business, you too can package up your knowledge into lessons for others to get a basic understanding of your specialist subject.

Feel the fear and do it anyway ~ really? 

Really? Are we still playing that game? 
That's so nineties for goodness sake! JUST SAY NO TO FEAR and anything that creates it, causes it, dances with it. 

​In my years of doing interviews, coaching and facilitation, I have come to discover something very important – everyone I interview feels shy and a little bit insecure about themselves and what they have to say.
Please know that THIS IS NORMAL.
It’s a symptom of imposter syndrome and all part of disempowering education.

The way to not walk into that hole is simple, relax.
Just take a chill pill.
Yes, easier said than done isn't it?
Well that's where I come in.

When I facilitate video courses I remove the barriers by taking my clients through a half hour relaxation routine with them first. I only hit ‘record’ when I feel that they are back in their home vibration of relaxation and will be showing their real self. 
​

If you are a coach, teacher or person who makes money from a business, there IS a video course in you that can share as a series of training sessions. They can be as short as 5 minutes each – it’s not about length, it’s about content.

Ok, so how do you create a video course then? 

Step 1 is to define your specialist subject. You might be an expert in all things media, for example. But the best courses focus in on one skill and teach as much as you know on the subject. 

Step 2 is to create a skeleton of what content to include. Think about the natural journey of your subject. What do you need to know first and where should you get to by the end of the course.

Step 3 is to create the content. You don’t need to hire a professional camera operator, but you might want to invest in a facilitator to help you to come across as calm and naturally as possible. Remember that they’re buying your knowledge, not your production skills – if you appear relaxed you’ll come across with authority. Another tip is to be concise. It’s important to value the viewer’s time. 

Don’t think you have the editing skills? I learnt all my video editing skills with video courses on Skillshare, a platform for online creative learning that also does Mailchimp, marketing, branding and tons creative subjects. Have a look at the lessons and see how others are doing it. Get yourself a free 2-month trial and make the most of it!
​
Step 4 is to find a platform that you like (Teachable is a good example) and upload.

A good 5th step is to market it to your networks, but the benefit of these platforms is that you don’t have to. They’re searchable, and so if you have the content people are looking for, they will buy it.

Video courses provides one way to pivot your business online and to raise your profile about you and what you do – like the modern version of writing a book.

But whether you’re interested in doing a video course of your work or not, my invitation to you is to connect with what’s good, great and unique about yourself and let that be your guide to how you show up and share yourself in this online business world.

I've got too much information in my head ~ where do I begin? 

Here is an outline that’s super simple. The key is not to overwhelm yourself into freeze blank page mode.
​
6 lessons
3 key points per lesson 
Add lashings of heart connection embroidered all around it and natural personal storytelling!

A storytelling style suggestion

1. There’s a beautiful mountain in the horizon oh how I’d love to climb it and see those views!
2. At the foot of the mountain OMG so overwhelming I’ll never manage this
3. First few steps - this isn’t that hard all I have to do is the next step - I can do that 
4. Almost at the top OMG this is too amazing why didn’t I do this before?!
5. I’m on top of the world Yayyyyy I want to tell everyone about it
6. Tell everyone about it 

This is but a metaphor called Maria’s Magical de-overwhelm formula 💓

Wanna talk about it to a human? 

Book a complimentary 'Getting to know you chat' with me here and we can go through it together and work out next steps. 

Thank you for reading! 
0 Comments

10/24/2020 0 Comments

Celebrate yourself with homemade organic soya candles

I just love this time of year because I get cosy, go within, wrap myself up in blankets and light lots of candles. They are the easiest way to reproduce the feeling of sitting by a fire. The natural organic forms of light are so comforting and reassuring for some reason. I get up early to meditate for about an hour every morning and love to light candles. 

I like to be sustainable so I used to buy them second hand from charity shops. But then you don't know what quality you're going to get so some paraffin candles are not so good for health, breathing and soot release in the room. 

The organic variety I looked up are usually made from soya wax and are very expensive. So I thought why not buy some soya wax and make some myself? 

Candles are very easy to make, I've been making them for years. All you have to do is melt the wax, get a wick onto the bottom of a glass or a jar and pour the wax in. Add some essential oil and you're done. ​
Picture
My lovely triplet set of candles I made
Picture
HOW TO MAKE A CANDLE:
  1. Melt the wax in saucepan ON VERY LOW HEAT. Please take care as wax is highly flammable. Keep your eye on it at all times. 
  2. Prepare your jar or glass. You can pour candles into moulds but I prefer the look of a candle in a glass and also it burns much longer because it sits in itself :) 
  3. Pour the wax into the jar.
  4. You can either:
    1. Put a glue dot on the jar and then stick the wick stand onto it, then use your (non essential) candle wick stabalizer to make sure the wick goes directly up. 
    2. Or, when the wax has set a tiny bit place the wick in so that it is centred.
  5. Drop some essential oils in.
  6. Wait for it to set.
  7. Light candle and enjoy!
  8. Why not make several at the time like I did here? 
YOU WILL NEED: 
  • Wax which you can either up-cycle by melting down an old candle or candles.
  • An old saucepan you don't need anymore, or get one second hand.
  • A jar or jars that you like the look of. Or you can use a glass or re-use an old candle glass, make sure you wash it first. 
  • Candle wicks
  • (optional) wick stabiliser - see below.

Get your soya organic wax flakes

Picture
  • Soya candle wax flakes. I got this 1Kg, this one for £6.98 and made the 3 candles above and have used just under half of the wax. 
  • £6.98
  • >> Click here to buy on Ebay

Get 3 wick materials in one lot:


Picture
This is a candle set including 100 candle wicks, 100 candle wick stickers and 1 candle wick centering device. The low smoke candle wicks are made from premium cotton which makes it more natural and safe. The candle wick stickers equipped with to keep your wicks in place in hot wax. Candle wick centering device allows you to keep wick centered, making your homemade candle process much easier.
>> Click here to buy on Ebay

Get wick materials separately: 

Picture
  • 20 candle wicks with stand 10 cms long 
  • £2.07
  • >> Click here to buy on Ebay

Picture
  • Candle wick stabalizer - the one is not essential as you can do it by hand when the wax has set a little bit and just make sure it's upright. Otherwise get some. 
  • £3.99
  • >> Click here to buy on Ebay
I do hope you enjoy your candle making! 
If you have any challenges just give me an email here. 
Happy relaxing... 
0 Comments

9/10/2020 0 Comments

Why self employed is a good idea during a pandemic

PictureMaria Anderson-Contreras
On business during the pandemic

Since lockdown the world just got more real. Many people now have less security and money and therefore more discerning on how to spend it. Business is about selling stuff. Marketing is about inspiring people to buy stuff. Branding and psychology states that people make a buying choice when they have an emotional connection to the item, idea or organisation.

The bottom line is: businesses that are showing up as having integrity, are authentic and honest will survive and thrive. My business has broken through at this pandemic time because I am addressing this directly and people are paying me to showcase their essence. 

Why go self employed? 
​

The stories I hear from every client is the same; they had a corporate job, burnt out and chose to follow their heart and do what they love. Self-employed people are the ‘survivors of the work machine’ and are intentional about working from their values and being in true service. 


Maria's top three tips
  1. Share your ‘why’ behind your business as this will create an emotional connection with your prospect. Refer to TED talk Simon Sinek Video: Start with Why 
  2. Share yourself authentically - tell your story warts and all. This creates a human connection with your audience that will stand you above the next glossy idealistic, aspirational promotional story. Refer to my story of infinite grief
  3. Share what you value. Money is an exchange of value. Share from a values-based perspective. For example, I value honesty because then nothing is hidden and everyone gets to choose. This presents me as trustworthy. Values speak volumes about your integrity and this is what people are really buying. The more you share your values, the more others will value you! 




0 Comments

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Thank you for visiting and know that you are more perfect than you could ever imagine...

    Contact 

Submit

Your gift is yourself

Get ready to receive YOURSELF.
What if you were the one you've been waiting for? 
This process will show you how this could possibly be true, that you are enough right now and how your uniqueness is what people are interested in. From a business perspective this is what people buy. This is my life's work and I'm gifting it to you because this is important to me. 

You will also receive empowering content, videos and events