I’ve been knee deep in Evernote, Post It Notes and meditation . . . planning, visioning and creating for 2016.  And I’ve gotta admit, more than a few times, I’ve wished I could have a tiny peek into the future.

I’ve been keeping my ear to the ground and listening through the noise to what the big marketing pros are saying about what the future will hold for the upcoming year. But the mainstream experts aren’t focused on Mindful Marketing.  Marketing that recognizing there is a SHIFT underway. A conscious awakening. Momentum towards a new way of BEING in business. A movement to a more intuitive, authentic and aligned business model.

They aren’t focused specifically on the conscious creatives and soulful entrepreneurs – the healers, changemakers, coaches, passion and purpose led visionaries – and their tribe. Engage in gameplay at ร่วมเล่นเกมส์ที่ UFABET by joining in on the fun.

I really wanted to know what the thought leaders and visionaries in the soulful marketing world were feeling. What were their 2016 marketing predictions?

So . . .  I reached out and ask them the following questions:

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Question #1: Please share your predictions for 2016 surrounding online marketing as it relates to soulful entrepreneurs.

Question #2: What strategy or arena are YOU going to explore or go deeper with in 2016, and why?

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2016 Soulful Marketing Predictions

Becca Berggren, Mindful Marketing Strategist and Brand Therapist

Q1: I’ll kick this off by predicting that Collaboration is Queen in 2016. With so much focus on the power of authenticity over the past few years, soulful entrepreneurs are finally starting to own and confidently communicate the value of their uniqueness.  This has begun to tear down the illusion of scarcity and is opening the way for more collaboration.

This, combined with a growing thirst for community, will lead to a rise in membership sites, online academies and niched online marketplaces – were a collaboration of entrepreneurs form alliances and come together to share their products to a community of people all united around a similar set of values, niche or passion. Leveraging The Marketing Heaven can amplify these collaborations, helping them reach wider audiences and grow faster. We are seeing that by collaborating instead of working in isolation, we can create something bigger and ignite a more powerful transformation.

Q2:

1. I’m going deeper in 2016. I’m spending more time listening to my inner wisdom and incorporating this practical intuition and spirituality in all business (and life) decisions and guiding my clients to do the same.  Meditation is my rocket fuel for clarity and creativity!
2. I’m seeking out fun and aligned collaborations.  I thrive when working with other soulful entrepreneurs, so I’ll be focused on giveaways, round-ups, joint webinars, in-person meet-ups and other sisterhood and community building activities.  Hit me up if you think we can work some magic together.

Bio: As a Mindful Marketing Strategist and Brand Therapist, I blend intuitive insights and tenderhearted marketing know-how to help soulful entrepreneurs design a captivating brand and right-aligned plan to build trust, tribe and sales. Download my free Heart and Goals Biz Planner to map out your 2016 plan for a kind and aligned business.

Tara Gentile, Business Strategist & Creator of Quiet Power Strategy™

Q1: Instagram is going to be hot, hot, hot as more business owners explore the power of building community on this platform. Whether through paid advertising, targeted accounts, or hashtag tactics, more soulful entrepreneurs will be connecting with people through images. Unfortunately, I think this will look like a lot of “quotes” accounts but I’m hoping to see smart business owners use images as a jumping off point for deep conversation or idea exploration instead of a receptacle for pithy quotations.

Q2: I’m going all in on paid advertising in 2016. I’m focusing on expanding into new territory and have crafted a budget to do so. Much of that advertising will be on Facebook—but I’ve also had promising early results on Instagram. The trick will be creating campaigns that warm people up instead of always asking for the sale (whether in cash or with an email address.)

Bio: Tara is the creator of Quiet Power Strategy™, which offers hands-on training and support to idea-driven entrepreneurs. Get her free revenue planning guide.

Kimra Luna, Personal Branding and Online Business Strategist

Q1: After watching three wildly successful new platforms emerge in 2015, it’s fair to say that live streaming is going to continue to be huge.  And the thing is, it’s not just great for list growth and building authority.  Because live streaming is so spontaneous, I see it becoming a crucial feature of practically every service-based entrepreneur’s launch.

Q2: I’ve been playing around a bit with Snapchat and starting to explore Peach, but this year I plan to go all in on YouTube.  

In the last year or so everyone has been obsessed with Facebook ads and seems to have forgotten how powerful YouTube can be for driving traffic and acquiring free leads.  And let’s face it, when it comes to SEO, YouTube is still the bee’s knees!

Bio: Kimra Luna is a personal branding and online business strategist who teaches new and aspiring entrepreneurs how to monetize their passions and build authentic brands. www.kimraluna.com

Chris Guillebeau, Writer, Traveler and Entrepreneur

Q1: The future is already here, and it’s a good news, bad news situation. The bad news: engagement is lower than ever, and everyone has something to say (which means few people are listening). The good news: those who understand and adapt to this new reality will be real winners. There’s still room for cultivating loyalty, it’s just harder than it was before.

Q2: I’m doing everything I possibly can to focus on serving my community in their search for better ways to live and work. More than reaching new people, helping the ones who already give you their attention is the best strategy for soulful entrepreneurs.

Bio: Chris Guillebeau is a writer, traveler, and entrepreneur at www.chrisguillebeau.com.

Denise Duffield-Thomas, Money Mindset Mentor

Q1. Hopefully in 2016, we’ll have a return to tried and tested marketing techniques. We won’t get caught up in the latest fad or worrying about learning five brand new technologies. The basics work – put great information out to your audience and make offers for them to work with you. Everything else is a bonus.

Q2. For my company, 2016 is a year of leveraging what we already have. This means no new products, no big flashy projects and no shiny objects! We know everything converts – so we’re going to attract a lot more people through paid advertising. Personally, I’m having baby #2, so “easy” is the name of the game!

Bio: Denise Duffield-Thomas is a Money Mindset Mentor at www.LuckyBitch.com.

Kari Samuels, Intuitive Counselor and Happiness Coach

Q1: 2016 is a year of intuitive awakening, so that means you have to be true to absolutely yourself, or the Universe will show you what you’ve been avoiding. Numerology is an ancient time-tested tools that helps guide our daily lives. Being aware of the energy trends is akin to knowing the weather. In numerology, 2016 is a 9 Universal Year (2+0+1+6 = 9). 9 is known as the number of INTEGRITY, and INDIVIDUATION. This energy teaches you to be yourself and no longer be affected by other people’s opinions of you, or what others expect of you. What this means is that you MUST listen to your intuition to determine your next steps, rather than what you thought your goals were, or what other people have done to be successful. The more unique you are, the more successful you will be!

Q2: What’s beautiful about Universal energies is that we are all going through the same spiritual lessons collectively. These are the insights I will be applying to my life and business and they will benefit you too:  In numerology, 9 is the number of completion and celebration. It is best to use this energy to cultivate what you’ve already created, rather than building things from scratch. This means you working less, and receiving more. It’s time for you to enjoy the fruits of your labor. So, instead of constantly creating new content, find ways to leverage the content you already have. Find people who you truly resonate with in your heart and promote each other through partnerships. Claim yourself as the authority in your field and find creative ways to promote that through the medium that is the most fun for you. Only do things that fuel your creative fire and light up your energy! If you feel good while your creating your content, others will be drawn o your light. So have fun!

Bio: Kari Samuels is an Intuitive Counselor and Happiness Coach who helps people  reclaim their intuitive gifts and discover practical tools for magical living. Sign up for your free Numerology Guide to a Happy Life to discover what your birth date says about your soul’s purpose, relationships, happiness and success.

Sally Hogshead, Best-selling Author, Hall of Fame Speaker and Branding Expert

Q1: In 2016, we’ll see entrepreneurs making themselves more fascinating online. They’ll express their personal brands an a more dimensional, individualized way. Instead of the usual boring LinkedIn profiles or Twitter bios, they’ll inject more of their unique personality into everything they do online.

Q2: Content, baby, content! For the first half of my career, I was an advertising copywriter. I loved finding the perfect words to make a brand fascinating. Lately, I’ve lost touch with my writing roots. So this year, I’m excited to create more captivating content.

Bio: Author of The New York Times best-seller, How the World Sees You: Discover Your Highest Value Through the Science of Fascination and the internationally-acclaimed book, FASCINATE: Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation, Sally is a National Speaker Hall of Fame inductee and was named as one of the “Top 10 Brand Gurus in the World” in 2015. www.howtofascinate.com

Rebecca Campbell, Best-selling Author, Speaker, Grounded Spiritual Mentor and Practical Intuitive Guide

Q1:

1. As more and more people make the leap to online marketing inboxes are going to become more of a sacred space.
2. Women are going to have to release the patriarchal system of “always being on” and build their business by tapping into the power of their female cycle.
3. As the online sphere gets flooded, those who are devoted to creating a life’s work not a season and truly being of service are the ones who are going to stand the test of time. People will become more astute at recognising who is authentic in being of service and who is in it to be famous.

Q2:  

1. Reduce the amount of emails I am sending out and spend that time creating content for my tribe – treating their inboxes as sacred. So instead of sending out weekly emails I’ll be shifting to every second week.
2. I’ve done a big overhaul of my life and business asking myself the question, “What is not sustainable?”. Which means learning, as Oprah says “No is a full sentence”.
3. Truly planning my business, writing schedule and creative processes around my monthly cycle in order to tap into deeper wisdom, more powerful creations, increase my energy and avoid depletion.

Bio: Rebecca Campbell is the best selling author of Light Is The New Black (Hay House) and her second book Rise Sister Rise is out in October this year. Download Rebecca’s Light Sourcing Meditation.

Bushra Azhar, Persuasion Strategist

Q1: Year 2016 will be the year of not-free. Everyone is selling the dream of “free” when in reality:
 Traffic is not free, Attention is not free, Loyalty is not free, SALE is not free. Even when people love you and worship your work, they are often too busy tired, jaded or distracted to shout about it from the rooftops. Even when people say they would cut off their left nut to buy your offer, life WILL get in the way and they WILL forget or find something better to spend the money on.

Now even more than before, you need to remind people…make them feel special……like they make a difference…like buying from you will make them special and that their sale will make YOU ecstatic. Email them asking “what the hell happened?” Tell them how you have made their day by trusting you with their money. Don’t be afraid to be their personal reminder alarm…it’s your loss as much as it is theirs.

If you don’t pay in cash, you pay in time and if you don’t ask, you will never get.

Q2: I am planning to focus on casting a wider net in 2016. I have decided to create an army…not a tribe but an army of raving, gushing fans who will buy anything I put forward and tell everyone about me.

This means reaching as many people as possible and in as many ways as possible (affordable pricing and many different delivery models).

Bio: Featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Inc.com, The Daily Muse, Business Insider and about 50 other super places on the internet, Bushra Azhar is a Persuasion Strategist and creator of The Non-Icky Persuasion Toolkit: Use The Psychology of Persuasion to Sell Your Ideas, Your Work or Yourself. Get your free copy of The Non-Icky Persuasion Toolkit.

Lissa Rankin, MD, Author, Physician, Speaker, Mystic

Q1: I have been deeply marinating on a paradox that seems in need of attention. In modern culture, on one hand, we are more connected than ever through social media, email, Skype, mobile phones, etc. On the other, I can’t recall any time in human history when so many people have felt SO disconnected, so lonely for soul community, so craving a sense of belonging, so in need of snuggles and comfort and support, so longing for TRIBE. We have thousands of friends on Facebook but so many don’t even feel like they have 3 people- or even 1- that they can be genuinely authentic with, stripping off all masks, being fully vulnerable, and feeling safe enough to be held and celebrated in all our triumphs and all our weaknesses.

My sense is that we’re growing weary of all things virtual. We’re tired of social media, email newsletters, teleclasses, webinars, and Skype. As musician Passenger sings, “It’s the meaning of life and it’s streamed live on YouTube/ But I bet Gangnam Style will still get more views/We’re scared of drowning, flying and shooters/ But we’re all slowly dying in front of fucking computers.” I think we could learn a thing or two from the traditions of the indigenous people of our planet.

When I tune in, I sense that we crave sitting in circle, singing and dancing together, doing ceremony and engaging in meaningful rituals together, feeling true intimacy with those we can trust, making and sharing meals together, experiencing pleasure and joy in our soul connections, tuning into nature and expressing our gratitude for Mother Earth’s blessings together. I think the whole internet marking/ virtual online product thing was a sort of boom- like the tech boom and the housing boom- and we’re heading for the bust. But those at the cutting edge of learning how to leverage virtual community to create in person, live soul tribe based on a shared vision will thrive.

Q2: My team is exploring how to empower group leaders globally to create in person gatherings locally. I was visioning this with Scott Dinsmore of Live Your Legend before he died way too young in September 2015 in a climbing accident. Scott had already done this- creating live community based on his online tribe. He called it Live Your Legend Local. We are visioning gathering people together based on the idea of finding and fulfilling your calling, which I write about in my new book The Anatomy of a Calling (http://theanatomyofacalling.com). Imagine a live gathering of people who meet weekly or monthly in someone’s home in order to support one another- through conversation, song, dance, meditation, yoga, potluck meals, whatever- to bring into being one of God’s holy ideas. Imagine sacred activists committed to visions like healing health care or saving the rainforest or stopping human trafficking. Or imagine people simply choosing to BE love in the world, in any big or small way that feels authentic and joyful and spiritually guided. That’s the cutting edge we sense- small groups of soul tribes, uplifting one another based on shared spiritual magnetism. What if we all did that? What if those of us with leadership and power in the online space all leverage our connections to help fulfill the deep soul need for community, love, and belonging? It gives me goosebumps.

Bio: Lissa Rankin, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Mind Over Medicine, The Fear Cure, and The Anatomy of a Calling is a physician, speaker, founder of the Whole Health Medicine Institute, and mystic. www.lissarankin.com

Vicki Saunders, Founder of SheEO

Q1: In 2016 we anticipate that women will be telling their stories “out loud”  in a much bigger way than in the past. Women’s successes and struggles have not been featured in key media outlets in the past to the same degree as men’s. We see women ‘coming out’ as it were, ready to tell their stories, share their experience so that others may benefit. Having a feminine lens on your marketing will be key to attract half the population who makes over 80% of the purchasing decisions.

Q2: At SheEO we are focused on amplifying the power of women so we can explore new models and new approaches to age-old challenges we’ve faced. We’ve got the answers and the solutions in all of us. We need to share the stories from the edge to broaden our perspectives and create a better human experience for all.

Bio: Named one of the 100 most influential leaders of 2015 from “EBW – Empowering A Billion Women”, Vicki is Founder of SheEO; a two-decade long initiative to dramatically transform how we support, celebrate and finance female entrepreneurs building new models, new mindsets and new solutions for a better world. http://sheeo.world/

Alexis Neely, Paradigm-shifting Visionary and Serial Entrepreneur

Q1: In 2016, I think we are going to see soulful entrepreneurs waking up to realize that they can consciously choose what success means to them and design a business model to match rather than following the “monkey see, monkey do” method, which often results in people creating businesses they don’t actually want. What this will mean for their online marketing is that soulful entrepreneurs will be far more conscious about the programs they choose to invest in, the mentors they choose to hire and coach with, and the way they choose to market and offer their services/programs/products rather than blindly following the next hot thing. Additionally, considering factors like Invest Diva price could become a crucial aspect of their decision-making process, ensuring they make informed choices that align with their financial goals.

Q2: In 2016, I am focusing on identifying the right people to run the two businesses that support my work so I can work IN the businesses (rather than ON them) and invest more of my energy in creating free and low-cost content to expand the reach of the work so it can impact more people and support the teams that run the companies.

Bio: Alexis Neely (artist name: Ali Shanti) is a paradigm-shifting visionary and serial entrepreneur who’s experience building multiple million dollar companies has inspired the creation of a system that guides people into right relationship with time, money and how they get paid so our earth-community can step into financial liberation and personal sovereignty now. Access her free Money Map Life + Income Planning series.

Jennifer Louden, Author and Personal Growth Pioneer

Q1: First, I love playing futurist! Fun! My prediction for 2016 is that people are tired of taking on-line courses, buying ebooks, etc. and not using them. It is imperative in 2016 to create experiences and products that actually move people toward their goals, that really deliver. And that keep people engaged until they do the work. You might need to learn how to teach, how to write, or to pay for good design.  A related trend: supporting people to use, apply and practice what they already know. This is a huge opportunity and will only get bigger. Think mastermind group, free Facebook group (helps all your material get seen on Facebook), or podcast.

Q2: Supporting people to use and apply what they know has long been a cornerstone of my business and will continue to be even more so in 2016. I’m also developing a new course to support women who want to “go out with a bang” along the same lines.

Bio: Jennifer Louden is a personal growth pioneer who helped launch the self-care movement with her first book, The Woman’s Comfort Book, and has been teaching retreats and leading workshops since 1992, and creating vibrant on-line communities and innovative learning experiences since 2000. www.jenniferlouden.com

 

Jordana Jaffe, Facebook Group Specialist

Q1: I think people will spend more time and money on Facebook ads, automation and sales funnels, while infusing a sense of coziness and connection throughout all of it. I also have a sense that people will continue to spend more time in Facebook groups as we all crave to feel seen, service-oriented, and supported. Lastly, that people will focus just as much on growing their Facebook groups as they will on growing their email lists.

Q2: Things I plan on teaching in 2016 — continue focusing on Facebook groups, how to create a successful online course, and the magic of being more generous in your business.  Things I plan on focusing on when it comes to my business in 2016 — Facebook ads, automation, and sales funnels.

Bio: Jordan teaches women entrepreneurs who are introverts or homebodies how to create their own super engaged Facebook group and successfully participate in other Facebook groups so that they can grow their online community and get clients while staying at home in their cozy pjs. www.jordanajaffe.com  

Elizabeth Purvis, Award-winning Business Coach and founder of Goddess Business School®

Q1: Looking at the landscape for 2016, the two big trends I’m seeing are:

1. A higher degree of transparency and authenticity is required. There are a lot of players in the online marketing world now.  At the same time, this is a marketplace that is still ripe for transformation.  The “shift” that everyone is talking about is still underway, and our role in that is more important than ever. We’re being called to raise our game, meaning to put our very best work out there, and to truly make connections with people.  In 2016, what’s going to make you stand out is not how slick your marketing looks, but how much genuine care and love and authenticity you infuse into it.
2. The other trend is back to offline – meaning what happens after someone invests with you. The trend is to pay even more attention to client experience, and to have really high-touch once someone is in your world.  Now more than ever, people want access and connection and a relationship with their mentors. This is one of the reasons we include weekly Q&A calls with me in Goddess Business School, so we can form that relationship, even within the context of a group program. Giving people the best possible experience of your work is some of the most valuable marketing you’ll ever do.

Q2: There’s always a market for solid long-form content such as full-length blog posts and quality audio content, and we’re really embracing that and diving deeper into it this year with our 7-Figure Goddess Radio Show and podcasting.  It’s a great way to build relationship and connection while providing a ton of value, plus it’s interactive and fun.  We actually started this in late 2015 when we replaced our weekly ezine with the radio show, and our community is loving it!

Bio: Founder of Goddess Business School®, Elizabeth Purvis is a mentor to thousands of conscious women entrepreneurs around the world, teaching them how to price, package and market their services so they create extraordinary income and impact. www.elizabethpurvis.com

Rose Cole, Visionary Leader and World-renowned Speaker

Q1: My prediction is 2016, is that its all about authenticity. How real, vulnerable and authentic can you get with your audience. We are all tired of the mask of perceived success, but its the vulnerability and authenticity that we are all really craving.

Q2: In 2016, I plan to delve into ways to create more automation. I am fascinated by the idea of creating an at home study course where I can get my message out to more people, while making passive income which frees me up to follow my real heart, soul and passion, which is shamanic journey work.

Bio: Rose Cole is a much-loved visionary leader and world-renowned speaker, co-author alongside Deepak Chopra and Dr. Andrew Weil, popular featured guest on TV networks such as E! and MSNBC, and preeminent mentor and spiritual guide who has helped thousands create thriving and awakened lives. Get her free gift.

Carrie Klassen, Writer and Creative Director

Q1: In 2016, I predict online businesses will get smaller and the communities surrounding them will become stronger as a result. I predict a strong return to newsletters, and I predict that those who provide valuable offers and generous, relevant content through email will be most successful in growing their businesses.

Q2: In 2016, I am going to write more newsletters because I think so many of us are weary of social media (as much as we love it!) and newsletters — letters from me to the people who are kind enough to support my business — are a chance for more intimacy and depth and connection. That’s what I want.

Bio: Through her businesses, Pink Elephant Creative and The Pink Elephant Academy for Entrepreneurs, Carrie Klassen offers website writing, Kind Marketing, and gentle business advice for good (and usually sensitive) people in helping professions. Carrie offers a free Kind Marketing course called 7 Sweet and Simple Ways to Attract New Clients With Kindness that you can start today.

Jeffrey Davis, Author, Speaker, and Brand Story Strategist

Q1: No doubt, more of us are attuning to the power of story. A true brand story inherently motivates the founder and genuinely draws in if not lifts up a community – which leads to exponential impact. We also will see more businesses & brands understanding how to build more genuine communities – online and live – as more and more people hunger for genuine connection and engagement.

Less of a prediction and more of a wish: I’d love to see entrepreneurs take greater creative risks with how they market. Not goofy-creative, but artful, soulful creative that reflects the best of what marketing can do – captivate, elevate, surprise, delight, wonder.

Q2: My company and I are diving into helping our clients and communities assume leadership in different, authentic ways. We’re curating more partnerships and collaborations as another extension of our motto: DIT (Do It Together) Beats DIY. We’re stepping into small companies with a new set of frameworks to unify their teams through story and creative collaboration.

Privately, I’m living questions about how people and leaders might assemble to do great, creative work that truly contributes to the greater good and even has an edge of social justice. And I’m getting my next book proposal to my agent.

Bio: Jeffrey Davis is an author, speaker, and brand story strategist whose consultancy Tracking Wonder helps mission-centered professionals, creatives, and organizations re-discover their core motivating ideal, unify their teams, and earn customer loyalty. ArtMark™ Brand Story & Strategy Program

Sarah Hart, Designer

Q1: My top 3 website design predictions for 2016 –

Big brands get playful: In 2015 we started to see big brands launch new fun website designs: The Middle Finger Project added a scavenger hunt, Denise Duffield Thomas added interactive oracle cards & Kimra Luna added animated rocket ships and other graphics.

Big brands are having fun with photos: We’re seeing more and more websites with high quality photos that capture their personas. For example Derek Halpern (socialtriggers.com) went from a stark website with just 1 photo of himself on the about page to new personality filled photos of him on every page!

Big brands are upgrading their opt-ins:  We’re seeing more and more big brands ditch the traditional opt-in box on their websites to switch over to a call to action button that then opens the opt-in box in the new window. Leadpages has some interesting research about why the 2 step option works better. For an example check out www.luckybitch.com and click ‘get it’ on the banner.

Q2: In 2016 I’m going to be focusing on testing new ways to grow my email list, in 2015 I used exclusively facebook ads and I will be branching out with youtube videos & interviews this year!

Bio: Sarah Hart is a web designer who helps lifestyle brands become absolute legends online. Take her Branding Quiz to reveal your brand style & get your free brand.

Tara Mullarkey, Author, Motivational speaker, Success Mentor

Q1: I believe we are being asked to bring forth our mission with bravery. We do not need to tailor our creative offerings to what the masses are ready for, but rather have faith in the rising consciousness of humanity. We need to trust that our deepest inner callings are what the world is waiting for and to express them with an undying vulnerability and authenticity without a need to please, fit into a box, or try to be someone else. Marketing in this day and age is about being radically YOU – authentically, vulnerably, and boldly.

Q2: Personally, I’ve committed to expressing my vision and mission more on video on Facebook Mentions and Periscope this year.  I believe we are all starving for more connection and video is an amazing platform to make the world smaller and express our unique ideas in an intimate way.

Bio: Tara is a visionary leader who is passionate about empowering women to live unconventional lifestyles of freedom, femininity, and prosperity. You can learn more about Tara here.

Cerries Mooney, Archetypal Brand Mentor and Designer

Q1: I predict that 2016 will see a MASSIVE shift in the way that we solopreneurs brand our business – and that’s SO exciting! We will begin to understand how fear plays a role in how we express ourselves, and how to turn that fear into vulnerability and empathy. In other words: we will learn how to be seen, flaws and all, and develop strong brands that are built on true authenticity and heart. Our brands will no longer be breeding grounds for perfectionism, procrastination and self-doubt – but playgrounds that support us in our evolution as conscious change-makers.

Q2: In 2016, I’m going to be focusing on going deeper, not wider. Digging down, not branching out. Size isn’t everything: it’s meaningful connection that truly counts. I’ll be focusing less on expanding my business (list growth etc), and exploring ways I can create more substantial value in the world. Taking what I have, and turning it into pure magic 🙂

Bio: Cerries is an archetypal brand mentor and designer, who loves helping solopreneurs develop brands that truly represent them, attract the right people, AND fill their bank accounts. www.cerriesmooney.com

Julie Lowe, Facebook Ads Expert

Q1: I believe that 2016 will truly be the year of the customer, and that social media will play an ever-increasing role in serving and building relationships. I think this is great news for soulful entrepreneurs, because we naturally want to get to know and delight our customers. Being real and transparent and showing up as your authentic self will create trust and loyalty in a crowded online space. I think there will also be an increased focus on providing interactive content. Go beyond just sharing content, to having live online experiences for customers (think: interactive quizzes, live Lotto 4D games, apps, or live streaming).

Live streaming really took off in 2015, and I believe it is because it humanizes people in a way that recorded video can’t.

Q2: My #1 resolution for business growth in 2016 is continuous list building. I really put my money where my mouth is in 2015 and started focusing on growing my email list with Facebook ads. I had been doing list building all along, but never in a really focused way, and never with a real funnel built out behind the process until April 2015.

It’s made a HUGE impact on my business and helped bring in steady passive income ever since! The consistency with which I’ve been advertising has really paid off with lower-than-average ad costs during the highly competitive holiday season, and the planning I put into my funnel paid off when it came time to launch a new group program, the FB Ads Incubator, this Fall.

So, in 2016, I know that the sure bet to continuing to grow my business online is to scale up my list building efforts for continued business growth.

Bio: Julie Lowe is a Facebook Ads expert who’s mission is to make online marketing feel accessible and empowering – rather than mysterious & stressful – for every online entrepreneur. Grab her FREE guide over at Socially Aligned to learn the 4 Facebook Ads Every Entrepreneur Should Be Using.

Amanda Moxley, Healthy Wealthy Biz Mentor

Q1.  My 2016 prediction for the online market space is that you better be ALL in. You gotta bring all of your heart, soul and passion to the scene and not hold back. Vulnerability is IN.

The more “YOU”, you can be the better. There isn’t a straight arrow to success and you can’t follow some blueprint or system.  As a spiritual creative entrepreneur you MUST listen to, honor and TRUST your inner CEO and take ACTION on the whispers from your still small voice from within.  Believe in yourself and allow yourself to RECEIVE it all. XO

Q2. In 2016, I’ll be reaching my tribe through hosting 2 live events, a weekly video blog and a pro video series. I am diving deeper into video and live events because to know me is to LOVE me! LOL! But really, I think we’re all looking for deeper connections and intimacy instead of information and ideas. People want to be seen, heard, felt, believed in and a part of something BIGGER than themselves so they can be powerfully pulled forward to their dreams!

Bio: Amanda Moxley uses her signature JFDI (just f’in do it) nurturing style to help her clients bust through money barriers, double and even triple their incomes, sell high end coaching programs, balance fun, freedom and focus and create profitable, portable and playful businesses they love without losing themselves! Download her free Rock Your Soul Money Goal Bundle.

Suzi Istvan, Creative Director and Brand Strategist

Q1. 2016 will be the year of the niche. Instead of trying to do ALL. THE. THINGS., more than ever before, I am seeing business owners getting super clear on what they do extremely well, exactly who they want to serve, and focusing like crazy on showing up brilliantly and specifically to have a bigger impact. I’m glad to see the end of the multi-passion-must-monetize-everything-trend, and instead seeing soulful business owners who are working to shine brightly by having a big impact for their customers and being known for doing their work extremely well. The more specific the niche, the brighter they can shine!

Q2. I’m taking on a strict less AND more policy. Taking on fewer clients, fewer projects, and getting insanely focused on over-delivering excellently in everything I do commit to. I don’t want to try and be everywhere anymore- just incredibly helpful for the right people at the right time.

Bio: Suzi Istvan is the Founder and Creative Director of Splendidly Curious {A Creative Agency}, who specializes in marvelous courses, soul-fueled branding and beautiful design for spirited creative business owners. Download her free guide to Define Your Marvelous Brand.

Sarah Grear, Intuitive Copywriter

Q1: 2016 is about leaning into creating content that fills you up on a soul level and doesn’t leave you feeling depleted. Now more than ever it’s important to drive traffic with engaging copy and stories that connect your brand and your tribe.

The problem is creating content can lead to major burn out if you’re jumping from one platform (Periscope, Instagram, you name it…) to the next, because they work for everyone else around you. Stop.

Instead, ask yourself which platforms bring you the most joy and the most results? Then choose one to dominate.

It’s also best to think about how to maximize the content you create. For example, a Google Hangout video will get you excellent SEO rankings and then you will be able to transcribe the video and add the content to your blog.

This year as a soulful entrepreneur, it’s all about using technology to your advantage and not getting used by technology.

Q2: This year I will be focused on webinar partnerships and using LeadPages’ Lead Link Exchange and Content Upgrades with Lead Boxes to build my list.

I see these two strategies as an opportunity to give away as much value as possible to the creatives + healers that hire me as a copywriter, or join my Copy Camp copywriting course.    

Bio: As an intuitive copywriter, Sarah’s passion is to collaborate with creatives and healers like you that want to sell more of your services and products online. Find out more about Sarah and grab your FREE copywriting course.

Sian Richardson, Graphic Designer, Branding Expert, Writer

Q1: I want 2016 to be the year that entrepreneurs stop giving a shit what everyone else in their industry is doing. When you create from the soul, when you commit to building a Brand that’s truly YOU, thats where the good stuff is, and that’s what’s going to set you apart from everyone else.

Q2: In 2016 I’m going balls-deep on digital products. I’ve been dabbling in it here and there for a few years, but this year I’m committing. I think digital products are such an AMAZING way for us to leverage our time and experiment with a new way of making money, and also reach a larger audience than if you were just service based.

Bio: Sian is a Creative Entrepreneur on a mission to help other entrepreneurs win at their own game and build unmistakable Brand’s. www.freshbysian.com

 

Jennifer Gabiola, Beauty Brand Activator, Designer, Poet

Q1: In 2016, I predict marketing for soulful entrepreneurs will be all about being straight-up real and investing your loving energy into people, and not just the numbers. Marketing will be more about genuinely sharing your personal experiences, expertise and vulnerabilities in loving service to your community. People want to know what you can give first rather than being sold to right away. They want to build real and lasting relationships and learn from people they genuinely like and trust. Your ideal community will be attracted by your energy and who you are as a person first and then will be more open to receiving your support. Marketing ultimately will be less about self-promotion formulas and more about organically sharing a loving, reciprocal exchange of value among like-minded souls.

Q2: I will continue building deep relationships with the introverted leaders that I feel called to serve. To me, it’s less about the stats and more about the real and lasting impact you are making on these individual lives. I absolutely love helping quiet leaders own their inner beauty, quiet voice and fierce power to make a real impact with their meaningful brands. I want other introverts to know that they don’t have to change who they are to be successful and that their quiet power is so needed in the world.

Bio: Jennifer Dawn Gabiola helps introverted leaders own their inner beauty, quiet voice and fierce power to build brands that make a big impact. www.dawningsoul.com

Erica Lee Strauss, Copywriter and Communications Strategist

Q1: I think 2016 is going to be the year even more soulful biz owners take control of their own marketing, as we see a shift from complete delegation (like, a soulful biz owner handing over their entire sales page to a copywriter) to more collaborative efforts (like, a copywriter working alongside a biz owner to “makeover” their sales page). I think this is such a good thing for soulful biz owners, because it not only allows them to retain that creative freedom they crave, but it also helps them make a bigger impact (and more) sales…without having to spend tons of cash – and time! – (trying to) become copywriters themselves.

Q2: AUTOMATION! I know there are TONS of ways for service providers like myself to market online without having to be glued to our MacBooks all day, everyday. As I make the (radical but necessary) shift from doer to teacher in 2016, I’m looking forward to learning more about the fun, fascinating world of webinars and automated sales funnels so I can package up and sell what I do in a more leveraged, less hands-on way (and hopefully save my sanity in the process!) And then – obvi!  – I also want to teach my clients how to do the same.

Bio: Erica Lee Strauss is a copywriter who helps womenpreneurs nail their brand messaging + tell elegantly-crafted stories online so they can connect with more people + make more cash. www.ericaleexo.com

Val Geisler, Digital Strategist

Q1: This is the year of bringing the human experience back to online business. Whether it’s adding 1×1 calls to group programs, bringing in more experts to support membership sites, or live events, this is the year to reconnect with the actual human being behind all of these amazing businesses. The social era has done so much to pull us apart (and also helped to make our reach even bigger so it’s not all bad!) but it’s time to come back home and recognize that we are all human beings who happen to be doing business online.

Q2: I’m getting my voice out there more often in 2016. Guest spots on podcasts, writing a book, and attending in person events are all part of my plan to reconnect with the human element in business.

Bio: Val Geisler is a Digital Strategist who is thrilled to help overwhelmed entrepreneurs build thriving internal systems and unparalleled customer experience for a completely customized brand experience, inside and out. Organize your inbox once and for all for free with GMail School.

Lynn Serafinn, Bestselling Author and Marketing Strategist

Q1: Speaking for myself, I have been shifting away from the ‘doing’ of marketing, and more into the ‘being’ of the people we are. I am still engaged in promotional activities for my business, but my tone has become more relaxed and personal. I also notice I have been lessening the frequency of my marketing updates, and spending more time connecting with people on a more personal level. Interestingly, in spite of spending less time on promoting my business, I seem to be earning the same income with less effort. If my own experience is any indication of the current climate of online marketing, the word ‘ease’ will play an important role in the lives and work of soulful entrepreneurs in 2016.

Q2: Well, first of all, I’ll be releasing my new book The Social Entrepreneur’s Guide to Successful Blogging sometime this spring. It’s a really chunky book that has taken me nearly two years to write, and has ended up being my definitive guide on ethical marketing practice. After that (and this might surprise you), while I will still be offering my marketing strategy services to clients, I will gradually be shifting into the field of genealogy and family history. I haven’t a clue where it’s taking me on a professional level, but I’ve been spending so much time on it that it’s bound to take me SOMEWHERE. Good genealogical research has tremendous social value, and I have been wearing my ‘soulful entrepreneurial hat’ to think of how to turn my work into something useful to a wider community around the world. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older (I will be 61 at the end of January), but I’m more interested in creating a legacy than I am in making lots of money. Ultimately, all soulful entrepreneurs want to know their work has some lasting purpose, beyond themselves.

Bio: Lynn Serafinn, MAED CPCC, is a bestselling author and marketing strategist for independent, ethical business owners and non-fiction authors. www.the7gracesofmarketing.com

 

Maria Saracen, Emmy-Nominated Producer, Health Coach and Business Coach

Q1. I have two predictions: As soulful entrepreneurs, the spirit of generosity is ingrained in most of us…sometimes to a fault! In 2016, I think that the trend of providing massive value to our audiences through insightful, highly relevant and FREE content will continue to grow, as well as the understanding that it’s okay and even essential to charge and be paid fairly for our expertise and counsel.

My second prediction is that our deep desire for community will lead more and more soulful entrepreneurs towards collaborative marketing. Marketing that shirks the notion of competition and instead joyfully declares, “There’s more than enough for all of us!”

Q2. For me, the biggest challenge of running my business online is isolation. It’s easy to get stuck behind a computer screen, interacting with fellow entrepreneurs here and there – but not on a deeply satisfying level. This is why my favorite marketing strategy is one that requires collaboration with other soulful entrepreneurs who I admire in my niche. It gives me an excuse to reach out, meet them – and that’s when the magic happens!

The strategy I’m referring to is called a ‘giveaway’. It’s worked beautifully for me so far, and that’s why I continue to use giveaways as my primary marketing vehicle in 2016.

Bio: Maria Saracen is an Emmy-Nominated Producer, Health Coach and Business Coach. When she’s not wrangling kids or cats, she can be found running giveaways and helping clients gain clarity with their marketing and branding. Download her useful (free) resources to help you work a bit of magic.

Amateo Ra, Vision Architect, Blogger and High Performance Biz Coach

Q1. I see online marketing becoming more custom, authentic, intimate and personalized in 2016. The broad brush strokes of promises will fall away, as more deeply personal and desired offerings emerge. I believe the industry itself is being more informed and inspired by the Spirituality and Consciousness movement, and this will be continued to be reflected in all the programs you see.

Q2. High End Coaching and Live Events. I believe that to serve my Tribe in the best way possible, as well as to utilize my full potential as a soulful entrepreneur, means working live and in person with my Tribe. Everything from speaking, live events and doing VIP days. I am setting up automated funnels to support the enrollment of these high-touch and connective areas of development. To provide World Class service of transformation and generating success, focusing on accelerating our evolution personally, professionally and collectively.

Bio: Amateo Ra is an High Performance Biz Coach for inspired entrepreneurs creating an epic impact in the World. He is the creator and founder of the High Vibe Tribe. www.HighVibeTribe.net

Kristyn Caetano, MPH and CHt, Intuitive Business Strategist and Lifestyle Coach

Q1. I see Conscious Business as a vehicle for healing, personal evolution, and global change. Soul-Aligned entrepreneurs don’t just want ANY business. As creators and leaders, they are at the cutting edge of our evolving collective consciousness, and their visions are becoming more and more expansive. These visionaries want to continue discovering innovative ways to express their Divine life’s work, at the highest level possible.

For this reason, I believe the online space will demand higher quality and higher vibration interactions, with more INTIMACY. The seeds have already been planted and are growing. But in 2016, the online environment will need to find more meaningful ways to nurture those seeds,  in order to amplify the movement toward greater wholeness and connection.

What does this look like? More integration into deeply supportive COMMUNITY and tribe, more GIVING and risking, more collaboration. People are craving in-person, human connection. So we need to find creative ways to use the tools and capacity of technology to increase connectivity and consciousness.

Q2. I plan to go deeper into my exploration of Truth-Telling (and Story-Telling) as a way of serving others more powerfully. Of course we’ve all heard that we need to be vulnerable and authentic online. But I believe we can continue expanding upon this idea. People are craving the type of REAL relationships that not only help them to feel less isolated, but also that nourishes their growth as a spiritual being. I plan to create more immersive group experiences (in person and online) that allow people to integrate more fully with themselves and their purpose, within a supportive and safe community.

Bio: Kristyn Caetano helps Healers, Coaches, and Conscious Entrepreneurs clarify their true Higher Calling, and then turn it into a Sacred and Thriving business. Download her FREE Intuition Activation Toolkit to awaken your inner knowing and use it to gain more confidence and clarity in your life and biz.

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HAT TIP: This post was inspired by the brilliant post from Bryan Kramer, 69 Experts Share 2016 Marketing Predictions. Like I mentioned earlier, I loved hearing what the mainstream pros are predicting but was curious to see what the experts in the soulful marketing world were saying.

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Which of these predictions will you infuse into your Mindful Marketing Plan for 2016?