What we can learn from the Magnolia Journal
Isaac and I sat down to watch Chip and Joanna's Fixer Upper and we were hooked. We loved that their relationship was front and center. We loved the decor. Okay, I really loved the decor and Isaac supports my decorating schemes. We loved seeing the transformation and we loved being shocked!
The show is still one of our favorites and we don't mind marathoning it one bit. So when the Magnolia Journal was released, I was the first to grab a copy. Well, I was probably the millionth customer, but you get my point. Here are 5 things we can take away from the launch of the Magnolia Journal!
Don't miss the giveaway at the end of this post!
(1) create community through hashtags
By this point, you are pretty familiar with hashtags. And you have probably even been using them in your business! Here's what I particularly love about their #themagnoliajournal hashtag selection: it's timeless. I think creating an issue-specific hashtag can work well, too! But it's interesting to me that they chose something that is only specific to the magazine as a whole. I imagine it has something to do with the fact that it's a quarterly magazine!
(2) lead content creation
When you share an image of your product, you're educating your audience on how to share images of your product. Here's Joanna's first image of the magazine. Here are all of the images that use that hashtag. This is a beautiful example of brand loyalty - customers creating images with the magazine that are very similar to the one the brand originally released!
(3) ask for the sale and offer an upgrade
Let's look at the caption for the instagram post...
"Thank you to everyone who has picked up their copy of The Magnolia Journal's premier issue! I CAN'T BELIEVE it's already on national newsstands. The first run was a limited printing, so grab the fall issue while it's available! Order your copy (or a subscription) at the link in my profile. #themagnoliajournal"
The part I'm most interested in is the call to action: "...so grab the fall issue while it's available!" You don't want to sell something with every post, but when you are selling something, ask for the sale. It seems obvious, but this is something that can easily be overlooked! Once you visit the website in Joanna's IG profile, you will be given the opportunity to purchase the magazine AND you will have the opportunity to buy a subscription.
(4) Share your personal life
She has a personal brand, so it makes sense that she shares her personal life. One of the biggest mistakes I made in 2015 was limiting my personal life online.
(5) time your product launch purposefully
It's no secret that Chip and Joanna are pretty smart when it comes to business, home design, tearing down homes, etc. (I should put "etc," right? I mean, they are good at everything!) I find it interesting that they are concluding their TV series with HGTV and releasing the Magnolia Journal before the season premieres. It's a natural way for the audience, who already loves them, to stay connected and continue to be inspired. I imagine they will see an increase in sales every time a new episode is released! That's pretty cool, right?
Now we just get to implement!
- If you haven't created a hashtag for your shop or business, start brainstorming!
- Photograph your product in a way that can be duplicated by your customers!
- Don't be afraid to ask for the sale!
- Share a personal story online!
- Consider when the best time is to launch a product in your industry & plan accordingly!
love pinterest?
You and me both! Pin this image so you can come back to it anytime.
Name your board "Light & Airy Photo Tips" so we can find your favorite posts!
And for those of you who are just like me and can't wait to read the magazine, I'm giving away 3 copies of the magazine on instagram! Just click right here and I will pick a winner and send over the copies so you can enjoy and share with friends!
