In today’s episode I’m chatting to the queen of social media (literally), Rachel Pedersen.

Rachel has built a wildly successful digital agency and an even crazier social media following, and the purpose of this episode is to give you a step by step plan to launching your business TikTok account and reaching your goals.

Rachel reflects on a pivotal moment in her entrepreneurial path. Her husband encouraged her to "go all in," promising that ten years down the line, she wouldn't regret it. This encouragement sparked a mix of excitement and fear within Rachel as she ventured into the unknown. With equity in six companies, she figured that if two of them succeeded, the risk would be worth it. Her ultimate hope, however, is to see all her ventures flourish.

In a recent podcast episode, Rachel delves into the world of TikTok—a platform that has become a game-changer for many businesses. She emphasizes that it's never too late to join the TikTok revolution. Drawing from real-life success stories, she recounts her conversations with creators like "Dad Life Jason," who skyrocketed from 600,000 followers to nearly two million in just two months. Similarly, Jamie, another creator, gained over 500,000 followers in a month. These inspiring examples show that growth is possible, regardless of one's starting point.

Rachel began her TikTok journey two years ago and recognized its potential back in September 2019, when she had around 7,000 followers. Since then, her account has seen tremendous growth, and she's learned valuable lessons along the way. The hardest milestone, she admits, was reaching the first 1,000 followers. Doubt and fear often clouded her mind, but persistence paid off. Once she hit 10,000, the growth became exponential, and she now gains between 1,000 and 3,000 followers daily.

So, how does one get started on TikTok? Rachel has some tips for those who feel intimidated by the platform's reputation for dancing and trends. She reassures her audience that being goofy or engaging in lip-syncing isn’t a requirement for success. Instead, Rachel encourages business owners to focus on four key content categories: education, entertainment, emotion, and engagement.

1. Education: Think about the frequently asked questions in your business. Rachel uses her TikTok to answer common queries like how to monetize a platform. Original content that provides valuable information can drive growth.

2. Entertainment: Create relatable content that resonates with your target audience. For example, humorous videos that connect with moms can help build a loyal following.

3. Engagement: Foster interaction by asking questions. Encouraging viewers to comment and share their experiences can spark new ideas and content series.

4. Emotion: While it’s a tricky area, showing vulnerability can resonate deeply with an audience. Whether expressing frustration or tapping into your customers' feelings, sharing authentic emotions can create a genuine connection.

Rachel also addresses a common concern—dealing with online negativity. As her following grew, so did the number of haters. She offers a simple strategy: the first phase involves deleting and blocking negativity. The second phase encourages responding with love and grace, understanding that hurtful comments often stem from personal pain. The final phase? Ignoring hate altogether. Rachel likens haters to children seeking attention; the less one engages with them, the less power they hold.

Hashtags play a crucial role in TikTok visibility, and Rachel shares that smaller, niche hashtags can often yield better results than popular ones. By using specific hashtags that cater to a target audience, content creators can increase their chances of being discovered.

To wrap up, Rachel shares a golden nugget of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: Spend time defining your vision and nurturing it privately before sharing it with others. Just as one would protect a newborn, ideas should be safeguarded from outside doubt until they are strong enough to thrive.

As Rachel continues her journey, she embraces the chaos of motherhood and entrepreneurship, inspiring others to find their voices and succeed in their ventures.