PEDIATRIC EXCELLENCE in NWI
Available through referral from any Franciscan ER or ExpressCare
Franciscan Health Crown Point brings specialized inpatient newborn and pediatric experts from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital to the Region, keeping families closer and stronger!
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Photo credit: NV Photography Hair/Makeup credit: MUA Deraee
Letter from the editor-in-chief
As we enter the fall season, we have to echo similar sentiments as my letter to our readers in Mom to Mom. We are so excited about the months ahead. We have a phenomenal calendar of content lined up for you and a whole host of new offerings. We’re practically bursting at the seams with excitement, but all in good time.
In planning September, I was scrolling social media and saw a tag for a newer business. I was intrigued and reached out via messenger to see if we could chat a bit more. After chatting with who would become our cover model, I knew we had to share more of her story. Her path is so non-linear and whether you subscribe to what has worked for her in her wellness journey or not, you can’t help but be excited for her.
And speaking of calendars, we know how tough it can be to map out a content calendar for our publications as well as social media so we turned to a social media expert and burgeoning influencer on how she builds out her and her client’s calendars.
We’re delighted to share a brand new women’s group with you that initially grew out of personal necessity. Women supporting other women can seem novel, but is remarkable and refreshing to witness. We hope you’ll be as hyped as we are about all of its potential.
Keep reading, there’s much more to be had in these pages.
All the best, Nichole
Woman to Woman, NWI is always open to story ideas and leads and conversing with talented writers, photographers, makeup artists and hair stylists! Have an interest in advertising sales or marketing? Let’s chat! Reach out to sendmediacompanyllc@gmail.com.
Donna Webster’s story
overwhelming, “ “
9/11 Stair Climb
WED, SEPT. 11 @ 6PM
LAKE CO. FAIRGROUNDS
CLIMB STAIRS TO HONOR THE HEROES OF 9/11
-Medal Included-
SUNDAY, SEPT. 17 @ 7:30AM
LAKE CO. FAIRGROUNDS
20 MI, HALF, 10K & 5K
USATF CERTIFIED HALF
-Medal Included-
with
In today’s digital age, where social media and online presence have become the cornerstone of business success, a well-organized content calendar isn’t just a luxury—it's a necessity. For those juggling multiple roles, whether you're a business owner, a content creator, or managing both, a content calendar helps streamline your efforts and ensures that your message is consistent, timely, and effective.
A content calendar serves as the backbone of your content strategy. It’s your roadmap, guiding you through the chaotic world of content creation and distribution. But why is it so important?
In the world of content, consistency breeds trust. A content calendar ensures that you maintain a regular posting schedule, which keeps your audience engaged and loyal. Whether you're posting daily, weekly, or monthly, your calendar will keep you on track.
Without a content calendar, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The pressure to come up with new content ideas on the spot can lead to burnout. A calendar allows you to plan ahead, batch your content creation, and allocate specific times for brainstorming, writing, and editing.
Your content should align with your overall business goals. A content calendar allows you to plan around key events, product launches, or promotions. It also helps in maintaining a cohesive brand voice across all your channels.
If you're working with a team, a content calendar ensures everyone is on the same page. It provides clarity on deadlines, responsibilities, and the flow of content from creation to publication.
Starting a content calendar can feel daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. But breaking it down into manageable steps can make the process straightforward.
Begin by outlining your content goals. Are you looking to increase brand awareness, drive more traffic to your website, or boost sales? Your goals will dictate the type of content you create and how often you post.
Knowing your audience is crucial. What are their interests? What problems are they trying to solve? Understanding your audience will help you tailor your content to meet their needs and keep them engaged.
Determine where your audience spends most of their time. Is it Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or a combination of platforms? Each channel may require a different approach, so plan accordingly.
Establish a few key themes or pillars that will guide your content. For instance, if you're a salon owner, your themes might include hair care tips, behind-the-scenes looks, client transformations, and industry trends. These pillars ensure that your content remains diverse yet focused.
Look at the big picture. Start by mapping out key dates, such as holidays, product launches, or events. From there, fill in your calendar with content ideas that align with these dates. Planning ahead allows for flexibility and creativity without the last-minute stress.
There’s no shortage of tools designed to help you create and manage a content calendar. Here are a few that stand out:
Simple yet effective, Google Calendar is a great starting point for those new to content calendars. It allows you to color-code tasks, set reminders, and share your calendar with others.
Trello offers a visual way to organize your content. With boards, lists, and cards, you can track your content from idea to publication. It’s especially useful for teams as it allows for easy collaboration.
Asana is a powerful project management tool that can be adapted for content planning. It lets you assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress. Its flexibility makes it a favorite among many content creators.
Designed specifically for content planning, CoSchedule integrates with your social media channels, making it easy to schedule posts directly from your calendar. It also offers analytics, so you can track the success of your content.
Another tool built with content in mind, ContentCal allows for easy collaboration and scheduling. Its simple interface makes it accessible for beginners while still offering advanced features for more experienced users.
Encourage your audience to create content related to your brand. This not only saves you time but also builds community and trust. UGC can be repurposed into posts, stories, or even testimonials.
Stay updated on the latest trends in your industry. Sharing relevant news or offering your insights on current events positions you as a thought leader.
Don’t be afraid to repurpose your best-performing content. A blog post can be turned into a social media post, a video, or an infographic. This approach maximizes your content’s reach and effectiveness. 18
Creating content from scratch can be time-consuming. That’s where sourcing and curating come in.
A content calendar is more than just a scheduling tool; it’s a strategic asset that helps you stay organized, consistent, and focused. By investing the time upfront to create a comprehensive calendar, you’ll not only save time in the long run but also see a significant impact on your content’s quality and effectiveness.
Whether you're a seasoned content creator or just starting, the key to a successful content calendar is flexibility. Be open to adjusting your plans as needed and always keep your audience's needs at the forefront of your strategy.
Brittany Bohacik is the owner and president of Ava Michael Beautique. She is a hairstylist, content creator and hair educator for milk_shake® hair. Her journey in the beauty industry has been a blend of creativity and passion. She found a niche in leveraging social media to connect with and inspire others by showcasing trends, educational content and behind-the-scenes glimpses of her life. She is married to her husband Rob. Together they have a daughter Ava Michael, who makes social appearances and is also her business’ namesake.
Brittany Bohacik is the owner and president of Ava Michael Beautique. She is a hairstylist, content creator and hair educator for milk_shake® hair. Her journey in the beauty industry has been a blend of creativity and passion. She found a niche in leveraging social media to connect with and inspire others by showcasing trends, educational content and behind-the-scenes glimpses of her life. She is married to her husband Rob. Together they have a daughter Ava Michael, who makes social appearances and is also her business’ namesake.
LEADING CHARGE
with Shannon Fernandez
NEW WOMEN FOCUSED BUSINESS GROUP ON THE SCENE
Women Owned NWI is the name behind my passion for wanting to see women thrive in small business and in life. In the summer of 2021, I took my love for interior styling outdoors when I launched my own small business, Eleven7PicNic & event co. This business idea came to me while I was having coffee with a friend, who also happens to be one of the few constants in my life and has always believed in me more than I believed in myself. I could go on about her for days, but I’ll just stick with this - “we all deserve an Anne in our life.”
What most people don’t know is that summer I was smack dab in the middle of one of the most challenging time of my life. Little by little my sense of security was being taken away from me and so much of it seemed out of my control. I was searching for something to bring me independence financially, but also give me a sense of worth and control back in my life. This was my business; it was my idea, I controlled it and there
wasn’t a single person who could take it away from me.
I quickly started meeting so many other women who owned their own businesses. I was so inspired that there were so many women who were able to take their talents and passions and then turn that into income for themselves and their families. I began to see that some of these women were using the income from these small businesses to pay for the extra things like football cleats and dance uniforms, things for their kids that elevated their life. In the grand scheme of things these kids are our future. Supporting these small businesses is literally supporting our future community. These “women-owned businesses” were allowing moms to spend more time just being moms while also bringing in income.
More than anything what I really started to learn is that there is always a story behind these women, the women who own these businesses. These women have stories that could shake you to your core. They are sharing bits of their story through the products and services that they are providing. These amazing, brave, strong, talented women in our community are sharing pieces of their story in the way they style their storefront or make your beautiful one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry.
Pieces of their stories come out in the way they capture your memories behind their camera or even the cup of coffee you drink to get through your Monday. These are all little pieces of themselves that they are sharing with you. When we support women-owned businesses, we are telling these women that their story matters. We are telling them that they matter. We are reminding them that they took their story and turned into something bigger. We are feeding the thought that…..
“What we do with our story is what defines us, not the story itself.”
That led to the creation of my business group, women-owned NWI. This is where we come together as women and we choose not to forget about the woman behind the business, WONWI is where we celebrate the woman behind the business. It’s where we make sure she knows that she matters, that her story matters and she isn’t going to be forgotten. WONWI is a space where we take the competition out and bring in a strong sense of community. We want to lift these women up in business and especially in life.
This idea of bringing women business owners together was something I had thought about since day one of opening my own business, but I had these voices sneaking in telling me that I didn’t even really know what I was doing so how could I help other women. One day it hit me that I don’t have to have all the answers. What I needed to do was bring a group of women together and we would find the answers together and if we couldn’t find the answers, we would be there to hold each other up in the uncertainty. I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I have a story that I’ve turned into something bigger than myself, and I have a passion to inspire other women to do the same.
We have so many plans for WONWI. Late last month, we were out in the community stopping by local women-owned businesses to say hello, dropping off a little gift and let them know that they are seen and that we are building a community of like minded women. We are having so much fun planning our first WONWI ladies’ night out in early fall. We will be having a delicious meal provided by local women-owned businesses as well as appetizers, desserts, also all from local women-owned businesses, even drinks from local women-owned wineries. It’s going to be a fun night of networking, insta worthy photo ops, and celebrating us as women in business. We will also be doing a “hygiene product” drive for the local women’s shelter, The Caring Place.
WONWI has big dreams. We dream of group yoga sessions, group retreats with inspirational speakers, brainstorming sessions over coffee and building friendships that last for our lifetime. Our dreams are endless. We want nothing more than to bring women together and create a safe space. We are here for the woman behind the business; we are here for the story. We have dreams of bringing these women business owners together to support all the women in our community to inspire them to go after their dreams. We want to let them know that there is room for all of us, that business ownership can be a reality for all women.
To learn more follow Instagram @womenownednwi, Facebook at women-owned NWI or email womenownednwi@gmail.com
Shannon Fernandez is the owner and creator of Eleven7 PicNic & event co. She began the women's business group Women Owned NWI out of necessity. Fernandez uses her upbringing in foster care as inspiration and motivation for her professional pursuits. She and her husband live with their three children in Northwest Indiana.
Title of your song “Where You’re Going”
What was your inspiration for this piece? I wrote this song during a time in life where I was learning how important self-reliance is. It's about trusting yourself and your intuition and being grounded in who you are. It's about letting go of expectations, choosing to live and love life without needing all the answers, and understanding that our mistakes are a part of life...and our biggest teachers.
How does someone follow you? Facebook @saraharchermusic
Sarah Marie Archer, 41 Valparaiso, Ind.
by Sarah Archer
Verse 1
I was running low on good decisions
Driving down the open road
When I would up in places
That I swore I would never go
I paid the price thinking I’d be fine
If I could just play my cards right
But you can’t gamble away your life
When you’re living on borrowed time
Verse 2
I found out the hard way
That nothing is as it seems
But the one thing worth holding into Is what you believe
I put my faith in all the wrong places I compromised my heart
You can sell the best of what you are
But buying lies won’t get you very far
(CHORUS)
CHORUS
One day you’re in
The next day you’re out
You’re searching for the answers
But that’s not what life’s about
Opportunities are what you create
Chances are the things that you take
The best part is not knowing
How you’re gonna get to
Where you’re going
BRIDGE
You keep wondering
What you’re doing wrong
But each mistake you make
It makes you strong
You keep holding on
Holding on
Holding on
(CHORUS)
