Melanie Borden

“Someone at” who are you?


h/t The Marketing Millennials

Every single person you meet and connect with on LinkedIn is a new door to a different opportunity.

Would you agree?


#Networking
#Linkedin
#Abundance
#Mindset
#Business
#Leadership

Success isn’t only about what you accomplish in your life; it’s also about what you inspire others to do.


I didn’t always have the same definition I do today.

Success is defined differently by everyone, and there is no right or wrong answer.

How do you describe success?

#leadership
#inspiration
#marketing

When life puts you in tough situations don’t say “why me” say “TRY ME”



What’s the most important risk you took and why?

Follow Melanie Borden for more thought provoking #leadership #motivation and #inspiration content💫

Never doubt what you can do, because you can do anything you set your mind to!



4 years ago when I was going through a divorce, I would spend almost every night having 5 hours of interrupted sleep, then get up, bring my 2 and 3-year-old to daycare, go to work and do it on repeat.

I was so sleep-deprived, stressed out, and I would cry constantly.

I felt like I would never get through the financial stress and emotional turmoil I was experiencing.

All I can say now looking back is everything is temporary including what I experienced.

I bought a house this week as a single mom when just a few years ago it felt like there was no way I could ever do it alone.

I’m sharing this all with you because I want this message to get to the person out there who feels today like they need to give up and they can’t do it.

Keep going, and go for the things that scare you the most.

YOU GOT THIS!!

#motivation
#inspiration
#realestate

Why look back when you have so much to look forward to?


I was celebrating love this weekend in the city of brotherly love!

Happy Sunday LinkedIn, hope you had a great weekend!

Follow Melanie Borden for more 💚

The very best title and promotion I ever received.


#workculture #careerjourney #momlife

Whatever it is you are striving for, you can make it happen if you have the will to do it.



Show up
Make mistakes
Do the work
Get better
Be positive
Keep pushing
IGNORE NEGATIVITY!

Never give up on something you believe in or let anyone dissuade you from achieving it just because they can’t or don’t know how.

What are you working on today?

Follow Melanie Borden and Melanie Borden, LLC for more #leadership #positivity and #factsonfacts

Reminder: success isn’t overnight.



It’s when every day you get a little bit better than the day before.

One year from now, will you be happy with the decisions you made today?

Happy Monday LinkedIn!

Follow Melanie Borden for more #leadership
#business and #inspiration

Just a reminder...

Coming up with new content and copy all the time is absolutely exhausting.


Says EVERYONE.

Creators and marketing managers everywhere, you know exactly what I am talking about.

Content is the heartbeat of your brand. Personal or business. You need it!

An idea I have given to my clients (that I took up myself) is to collaborate with other local businesses for cross promotion on content.

It’s great for visibility, partnerships, collaboration, potential clients, etc.

This is a win-win and no brainer. Especially if you have the same target clients/audience.

You can use that content everywhere in every layer of your communications.

Two more 🔥 tips on content in the comments - please share with your teams.

How do you refresh your content?

Have a great holiday!✡️✝️☪️

#socialtoshowroom #branding #visibility

📍McLaren North Jersey

Some Wednesday Wisdom for you.


When I start working with a new client, one of the first areas I want to get into and see is their content library.

9/10 there is none.

One of the fastest ways to repurpose content is to ensure it’s filed away in a spot that is easy for you to access: a content library.

You can do this on any cloud, Box, Dropbox, or even old Google Drive.

Another way to access your content as an individual on LinkedIn is through SHIELD.

Asides from Shield’s data, I like to use it as a search engine for content.

You can search by keyword and date range, then sort by engagement, etc. It’s pretty incredible.

Do you use a content library?

P.S. Every time I say “content” in this video, you must take a shot. After work, that is. 😂

My official heading to #NADA2022 plane pic!


Looking forward to seeing you all, come visit me and say hi over with the team at Alan Ram's Proactive Training Solutions at booth 6821N

Are you headed to NADA? What parties are you going to?

#automotive #nada

As an entrepreneur, making sacrifices is part of the job.  But, a health scare made me re-prioritize.

I’ve always had a strong work ethic, but it went into overdrive when I started my own business.

I push myself to deliver for my clients…over and over.
They get the great results they deserve.
I get long-term relationships and great referrals.
Everyone wins.

Not exactly.

Being a single parent AND an entrepreneur is TOUGH.
Rather than sacrificing quality or service, 
I sacrificed my health.

I sacrificed my workout time.
I sacrificed my sleep.
I sacrificed eating right.
I sacrificed check-ups.
I sacrificed myself to build a business to benefit my family.

But just over a year ago, one morning, I wondered if I would be around long enough for my sacrifices to be worth the pain.

I felt pressure in my chest.
I was lightheaded.
I struggled to catch my breath.
I thought I had a heart attack.

The doctor reassured me I wasn’t….yet.
But, I had to change my life if I wanted to avoid one in the future.  I couldn’t keep living the same way.

So, I decided to make some major changes.
I applied the same discipline I use in my work towards myself.
I move every day.
I eat better.
I started seeing a therapist.
I take off real time every day for myself.
I go to bed earlier.

My mental well being and health are my new priorities.

…and I have an amazing team of people who are as passionate about delivering great value as I am.

Together, we’ll be able to keep up the high level of service and responsiveness our clients expect (and deserve)
…without having to sacrifice our health to do it.

Make your sacrifices count.
Live long enough to enjoy the fruits of your work.

How are you adjusting your business to be personally sustainable in 2024?

My before and after ⤵, I am extremely proud of my work! 💪🏻

My love letter to LinkedIn.


At the end of 2019 I wanted to find a way that I could bring more value to the company I worked for by helping others.

I was trying to figure out how I could use my experience of working in leadership at a dealer group in marketing to grow personally in my field.

My thought developed into a massive social media and branding adventure for me and led me right to this very moment.

I had zero social following anywhere.

I was also told by numerous “social media experts” that LinkedIn was only for job seekers.

When I went to the Fashion Institute of Technology, I had to submit a portfolio which was a physical portfolio of my work that included renderings, paintings, sculptures, life drawings, samples of my designs, etc.

In my eyes, LinkedIn is a visual portfolio of yourself: your career, your passions, your achievements, knowledge of your craft, etc.

This includes content: your photos, videos, articles, newsletters, podcasts, text posts, etc.

From my POV, LinkedIn creates opportunities for YOU the moment you step outside your comfort zone, begin posting, and start thinking like the opportunities already exist.

It impacts the trajectory of your career.

All of the opportunities that have been presented to me, including the ones that I learned from, would not have manifested as fast for me without LinkedIn.

I love this platform, and every single moment I spend on it, the relationships I make from it, the lessons I continue to learn, all of it has been worth the time spent.

It has been an awesome adventure, LinkedIn I ❤️ you!!

Do you love this platform as much as I do?

#linkedin #linkedincreator #marketingconsultant

I had the opportunity to meet Heather Monahan last week.


Reason I started following Heather back in 2020: she was telling stories that I related to.

Heather talks about her life as a single mom in business, she talks about how she over came adversity dealing with a female villain in the c suite, business tips, strategies, and much more.

Stories on social (and yes LinkedIn IS social) don’t only sell, but they tell a story of someone’s values, their character, knowledge, etc.

If your stories serve others, (which hers does), and you bring value to help your connections, that’s an added benefit.

I promise you that once you start storytelling and serving consistently through your content, which can be done by simply writing how you talk but on paper/computer, you will open up an entirely new world for yourself.

The clients who hire you will be hiring you for not only your expertise, but also because they like you.

Heather is the real deal and super kind which in business you don't find a lot.

Watch out for our podcast episode coming out later this week where she drops some incredible knowledge including how she got into building her empire, shares a roadmap on how you can do it too, and includes a ton of LinkedIn tips and strategies.

Are you taking your LinkedIn connections offline?

#careerjourney #salesleader #linkedinfamily

A strong woman looks a challenge dead in the eye and gives it a wink. -Gina Carey




Happy International Women’s Day!

Please tag an amazing woman in the comments that you work with, have worked with, or just respect a lot! 🙌🏻

#womeninbusiness #womeninleadership #womensday2022

When you are positive, you will see opportunities instead of obstacles.



I know that positive thinking results in positive outcomes.

I also know that when you are driven to achieve your goals, nothing will stop you from achieving them.

When you shift your mindset from negativity to positivity things seem to start to fall into place to help you get closer to that moment.

Being positive is a choice and we all have this option 💫

How has having a positive mindset helped you handle roadblocks in business?

#inspiration
#leadership
#motivation

Sometimes the obstacle is the opportunity in disguise.


I have dealt with a tremendous amount of criticism and career hiccups over the last 5 years.

On social media trolls hide behind their computers, and in real life there are insecure men and women who want to see you crash and burn and bring s’mores to enjoy for their anticipated show.

“They” almost prevented me from staying in a my role when I became the marketing operations manager with decision making ability over the marketing and advertising budget.

I was dealing with incredibly aggressive, intense, and abrasive individuals who didn’t like the changes I was making within the company I just joined.

I took their doubt and aggression and turned it into my own determination.

That fueled some amazing work I did like becoming more efficient in wasted ad spend, saving the company millions of dollars, and building an in-house advertising agency from scratch.

You can always take a negative and turn it into a positive.

And just remember: haters want to achieve the things that you do and they CANNOT.

How are you taking challenges and creating opportunities?

#marketingconsultant #leadership #shinebright

📍 101 Statesville Quarry Rd, Lafayette, NJ
Source: GSMLS, MLS#: 3752711
Christopher Bruscino

Focus on what you are building, not what you are leaving behind.


Does anyone else like to travel dressed and ready for a meeting? ✈️ I do.

Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud - Maya Angelou


LinkedIn is the most incredible and powerful global community.

I used to only think it was for sharing company news and job posting. I was so wrong!

It’s so much more.

It connects those who never would have be connected otherwise, creates business opportunities, creates relationships, helps you learn, and helps you grow.

You can also use LinkedIn as a learning portal for your community or potential clients. A way to connect with your employees.

The possibilities are virtually endless.

Thank you for being my rainbow each and every day, especially over the last few weeks as I moved over to LotLinx, Inc.

Do you love this platform as much as I do?

Happy Tuesday! 🌈

#inspiredaily
#linkedinconnections
#thankyouall

com·mu·ni·ty feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.


Community is right here.

I am completely overwhelmed with the amount of support I received from you all in the LinkedIn community over the last 24 hours.

Thank you for all of the supportive calls, texts, direct messages, shares and comments about my new role at LotLinx, Inc.

I always say, think about how you want someone to feel when they view your content.

I never thought too much about how the comments on my content would make me feel.

Just wanted to say thanks for making my day and making me feel great.

Stay tuned... more to come!

Melanie

#thankyou
#lotlinx
#leadership

My Friday night was spent with my next door neighbors and our children.


They are from the UK 🇬🇧 and introduced me to mince pie. (Which was delicious)

I feel pretty lucky to have part of my tribe right next door!

Who is your go-to for weekend plans?

Happy Sunday LinkedIn

Price is what you pay, and value is what you get. -WARREN BUFFETT



Sharing valuable content to your network not only helps your network learn about what you do, helps them solve problems, and also grows the awareness of your brand.

In advertising/marketing, awareness is also part of the customer journey.

Here is what I mean by valuable content: 📣

✔️ Industry insights,
✔️Checklists,
✔️How-to Videos,
✔️Free worksheets,
✔️Free webinars,
✔️Blog posts with actionable takeaways,
Etc.

This is one way to position yourself as the trusted advisor, consultant, consigliere, etc.😎🔥

Do you think of your potential customers when you post on LinkedIn?

#personalbrands

If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you!!


Who else agrees?

#inspiration
#zigziglar
#leadership

Every person you meet and connect with is a new door to a different opportunity.


If it doesn’t open, it’s not your door.

Keep knocking! 💯

Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what you said, forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”


Having pinch me moments all through my whirlwind week!

In addition to attending the Digital Dealer Conference & Expo this week, I also went to visit one of our clients while I was in Florida.

Was an absolute pleasure meeting one of LotLinx, Inc. clients Christina Schwendeman from the Morgan Auto Group this week.

We met at BMW of Sarasota, which had a beautiful showroom.

I felt every ounce of positive energy and hospitality radiating throughout the showroom and the employees.

In a car dealership, this element of hospitality or serving others should exist in every aspect, and it was very clear that was the case at this store.

In our meeting, I was also so incredibly blown away by how she efficiently leads the marketing for such a large dealership group.

Very impressive!

Looking forward to creating some content together in the future.

Special thanks to Sarah Hicks and Giovanna Scognamiglio for a great day! 💫

#partnerships
#morganautogroup
#lotlinx

Treat and feed your mind like you would your body, with the best and healthiest nutrients.


Something that has really helped me mentally balance my work and personal life this year is my mindset.

Yes I have had some burnout out this year like many of you, from burning the candle at both ends between managing my department at work and my family. (Plus still trying to be me!)

Social media makes everything look easy, but it’s not.

When I start feeling not so great, I have a series of reminders that I hope will help you too:

⭐️Being positive is a choice. Choose to be positive.

⭐️You are amazing and you can do anything you set your mind to.

⭐️Do not apologize for being you, celebrate how you are different!! (And don’t ever let anyone make you feel otherwise)

I also love to go for a walk and run outside without my phone to get back on track.

What works for you to stay mentally strong while juggling work and family?

#wfh
#leadership
#positivity
#inspiration

“A mother is your first friend, your best friend, your forever friend.”


Wishing all the moms, bonus moms and caregivers a Happy Mother’s Day! 💐

#momlife
#mothersday
#myfamily

The secret of getting ahead is getting started!


Want to attract some attention to your company, services that you provide, or just increase awareness on your personal brand?

Be a guest on a podcast.

(It’s also another great way to gain visibility and create content)

I present to you: how to get a guest spot on a podcast.

⭐️Step 1. Research!! Identify which podcast you want to be on and do research (anywhere podcasts are streamed, Apple podcasts, Anchor, etc) searching specific key terms to help you find right the podcast that compliment your strengths.

In addition, do research on the podcast host! Who are they, what are their values, do you align with them, etc.

Then...

⭐️Step 2. Connect and network!! Connect with them on social like LinkedIn and send them a personalized note. (Maybe you have a mutual connection who could make an intro?)

Send the podcast host a list of 3 value adds and or action items or takeaways that you will bring to their show to help their listeners.

You might not hear back right away, but if you consistently continue to engage with them and bring value to their posts, you will most likely attract their attention.

What is your best advice to someone who wants to be a guest on a podcast? Have you been on one?

#podcasts
#marketing
#strategy

You will be defined not just by what you achieve, but by how you survive.


No one has had the perfect career trajectory, even if a business was handed to you with a bow around it on a silver platter.

Fail,
Have success,
Fail again,

Success will come.

And if it doesn't.

Try again.

Keep your head up and do your thing.

For everyone who has doubted you, let them wait to see what's next.🔥

Opening quote by Sheryl Sandberg

Fire destroys, but it also protects and propels.
I learned trolls and haters aren’t too different.


The past 5 years have been a rollercoaster of highs and lows in my career and personal life.

When I started growing my network on social media, I started attracting (more) attention from trolls and haters.

Trolls feel strong when they tear others down.
They celebrate setbacks and applaud disappointment.

They often hide behind computer screens,
but they show up “in real life” sometimes too.

A few years ago, they started to get to me.
Their ever-present nagging got into my head.🤯

They almost convinced me to give up when I became the marketing operations manager with decision making ability over the marketing and advertising budget.

They were rude, abrasive, and negative people who were afraid of changes I was making in the company I just joined. 🤦🏼‍♀️

But, then they did something that changed everything.
The constant barrage of negativity triggered something.
It triggered my fight-or-flight reflexes.

And, if you know me, you know I always choose FIGHT.
Not with fists or violence, but with determination.

I turned their hate into my fuel.
The things they said I couldn’t do, I did.

Just like a wildfire destroys weak, dry tinder.
Their hate destroyed my distractions.
Their hate focused my energy.
Their hate drove me to succeed.
Their hate became my determination. ⚔️

I found new ways to save the company millions.
Stopped wasted ad spend.
Built their first organic and paid social media strategy.
Built an in-house advertising agency from scratch.
Promoted to Vice President of Marketing.
Started my own Marketing consulting agency.

After a wildfire, everything looks desolate.
But, in just a little time, there’s new growth everywhere.
Wildflowers have room to bloom.
Seeds from new trees start to sprout.

Fire brings renewal and growth.
And, ironically, trolls did the same for me.

If negative people are pulling you down, remember:
If they could do what you are doing, they would.
Your success is the antidote to their venom. 👋🏻

What would you do if someone told you you couldn’t?

Faith does not make things easy, it makes them possible.


faith /fāTH/ is defined as complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

You can believe that positive outcomes will happen with your career if you have a positive mindset.

If you think you can, you will!!

From the room of inspiration at Lexus of Route 10

#leadership
#inspiration

There’s a way to do it better, find it! \n\n\n\nThis post was originally all about using hashtags for your personal branding strategy on social media. \n\nIt turned into something different. \n\nToday, I gave my daughter a mental health day off of virtual Kindergarten. \n\nShe’s 6.\n\nShe has been having such a hard time focusing on Google classroom, virtual school, etc. and it’s affecting her mental health big time. \n\nI told her she could be my work assistant today instead. In true child form, of course she is hanging all over me.\n\nI hope this gives you a good laugh or at least know that I can relate to you and what you’re going though with kids at home and working. \n\nPlease give yourself a mental health day off and give someone a hug when you feel like you need to. Especially your kids.\n\nDo you agree laughter is the best medicine? \n\n(BTW Linking top LinkedIn 100 hashtags for 2021 in comments) \n\n#socialmedia \n#momlife\n#mentalhealth

Can we build a business and engage with our customers without social media?



Of course we can.

But today we have so much technology at our fingertips, so why wouldn’t we?

One of the points of being on social media as a business or from a business owners perspective is to engage with our customers in a modern way.

So in the spirit of engaging with our customers, let your customers tell you what kind of content they want to engage with.

Are they on LinkedIn
Are they on TikTok
Are they on Facebook
Are they on Twitter
All of the above?
Etc.

Pay close attention to trends, where your customers are interacting, what kind of content they are interacting with (genre, topics, videos, blog style posts, etc)

Once you know the platform or platforms you want to focus on, you can then start building out a strategy to increase the customer engagement even further.

Ultimately, you need to identify where your audience is, i.e. which platform(s) your customers are on.

Do you know which platforms your customers are engaging with?

Follow Melanie Borden for more #marketingadvice and #socialmedia strategy

Melanie Borden, LLC provides marketing and branding consulting for individuals and all businesses. Schedule a 15 minute discovery consult today with us.

You have 3 C's today:


Choice: make the choice,
Chance: take the chance,
Change: if you want ANYTHING in life to change.

A lesson I learned years ago 👇🏻  is, to change, you have to take a chance by making a choice.

What is your thought process when making a big decision? 📈

My first connection was with my Mom, Dana.


I have posted about her before, but for anyone new, here's a quick story.

👉🏻When I was in high school, and I wanted to run an art camp in my parent's backyard, my mom helped me design an ad on Microsoft paint to run in the town paper and then placed the ad.

👉🏻When I was 21 and looking for a job in the New York Times, my mom helped me find the jobs and edited my resume over the phone when I applied.

👉🏻When I was a new mom with a 1-year-old and a new baby returning to work, my mom drove almost an hour to help me with the babies.

👉🏻When I had to work late or go to an early morning leadership meeting, my mom stepped in to help with my daughters.

👉🏻When I need to travel for work, my mom (and Dad) take my girls overnight and manage their routine.

She has been a massive part of enabling my growth throughout my career. I feel so lucky to have her!

Do you think it “takes a village” to contribute to your growth in life or career? Has there been one person that has shown up for you?

#careerjourney

Plan your work and work your plan - Napoleon Hill


Creating content for yourself or your business can feel overwhelming when building an online presence.

Especially if you have never done it for yourself, anyone else, or another business before.

One of the tips that I give my clients when we are developing their content strategy, is to schedule 2-4 hours every week in their calendar to create content.

You need content to post. No way around it.

Content could mean:

Recording a podcast,
Filming videos,
Taking photos,
Writing out post copy,
Writing an article or blog,
Creating graphics,
Hiring a photographer and doing a photo shoot,
etc.

If you are stuck on what type of content to create, check out these free sites for inspiration:

answerthepublic.com - discover what people are searching for in your industry. (This site is amazing)

Copy.ai - create copy in seconds for every social platform and more. (Makes life so much easier)

Canva - thousands of templates and free images. (Game changer if you don’t have in-house graphic designer/creative)

All of the above is a routine that I have stuck to for businesses I have worked for, my clients, myself… I strongly recommend this process.

Do you have a weekly routine for content creation for yourself or your business?

#contentcreator #marketingconsultant

Traveling today to visit with some of our automotive clients at NADA ✈️


This a minor challenge for us as we are in our “crazy” time right now, with the new month starting next week, a new client launching, a rebranding (very excited to share more), and a new team member joining us.

This morning Cassie and I were talking about how we love working in airports and on planes. (Unless you are going to a tropical destination, of course!)

Are you a fan of working while en route to your final destination?

Stepping outside your comfort zone leads to amazing things.


In Jan 2020 I started posting on this website called LinkedIn as a part of a project I was heading up at work.

So many people around me told me LinkedIn was not a social platform, it’s only for job updates and company information.

That made me want to figure it out more.

I ignored the naysayers, and started to lead by example by showing that you can create a personal presence on LinkedIn and online from not having one.

I transferred the knowledge I had running a marketing department.

No it wasn’t my first rodeo, but it was my first time applying these learnings to myself.

I learned :

1. It’s a numbers and a long game. The more you post the more chances you have to be there at the right time with the right message to the right person. It usually doesn’t happen overnight.

2. Having a plan and consistent content is vital to achieve your goals. Canva is great for supplementing content.

3. Posting on LinkedIn will manifest all kinds of professional opportunities to expand your brand. Podcasts, advertorials, features, job opportunities, and new clients. This is how you dominate the Google SERP for your name. All of the content you create OFF LinkedIn.

4. People connect with authenticity and not with company reposted content. Share your personal stories about your life. It builds trust and relationships.

5. More you help others with your content, the more you become the authority in your industry. By default. We all know those people becuase they post consistently here and provide really helpful insights about their industry.

All of these work for businesses too, especially if you have a “face” of your business.

I had no idea if posting LinkedIn was going to work for myself or my goals when I started. I just had a feeling it would lead somewhere.

It did.

You can do this too. You just have to give up the safety of your cocoon.

Do you have a LinkedIn plan for 2022?

#linkedinmarketing #linkedinlife #linkedintips