Scaling My Business: What I'm Not Doing and What to Do Instead

Let's switch things up and share a bit about what I've learned on the journey to scale my business. Instead of diving into strategies, let's chat about what I've discovered I don't need to do as a business strategist.

So, if you're gearing up to grow your business this year (aren't we all?), here are a few things I've found you can skip and what I'd recommend doing instead.

Forget "Pay to Play": It's All About Organic Relationships

My husband calls it "pay to play," you know, like in sports. But truth be told, running ads and paying for press didn't give me the same results as good old organic relationships did. Our anti-social school strategy and email marketing? Doubled our revenue this year with zero paid ads. Will I run ads again? Maybe. But what I'd rather do is create an epic free resource that's so good it practically goes viral on its own. I am talking more than a PDF. That's the magic behind CEO Week. Check it out at www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek.

Pitching Myself: Building Gold Through Relationships

Paid press features have flopped for me more times than I can count. But you know what works? Pitching myself, building relationships, and nailing that message. Plus, you end up with some fantastic connections along the way. I've even had podcast guests turn into coaching clients and vice versa. So, why not focus on building relationships instead?

And if I ever decide to run ads again, it's going to be engagement ads. Drive traffic to something of real value – your freebies, podcasts, or whatever lights up your audience.

Big Following, Big Deal? Not Always

Having a massive following doesn't always mean instant success. I've seen clients go viral and, well, nothing happens. On the flip side, I've worked with small social followings and made millions. So, my advice? Focus on engagement. I'd take 10 dedicated followers over 100 who don't even know who I am any day. 

Introducing a new private podcast series that’s just for you if you’re sick of all the Instagram BS! (or insert social channel of your choice). You can build a business without being a slave to the social engine. Grab the free series.

Customize Your Schedule for Your Best Self

You don't need a complicated 55-minute morning routine or a stack of books to read to be successful. Trust me. What I believe is that if you control your schedule, you transform your life. So, figure out when you perform at your best. What's your human design? Your enneagram? What do you need to thrive? Create a schedule that feels like a dream come true. Like me, writing this by the fire on a chilly day – now, that's a win.

And can we please stop with the comparisons? Who cares if Sally crushed her boot camp at 4:30 am? Maybe yoga at 2 pm suits you better.

My ultimate business advice? #FeelBetterDoBetter.

It's the best scaling advice I could ever give. I genuinely believe you can run a business differently – one that feels good and aligns with what you want to share. By the way, our popular program, Anti-Social School, is opening soon. Go to www.hollymariehaynes.com/antisocial and get on the waitlist. We're only launching it twice this year, so don't miss out!

Looking for more on this topic and your High-Level Action items? Check out the Strategy Lab in the Crush the Rush Club!