Hip to Heart

What's the best word that described 2022 for you?

I'll go first... Clarity.

I finally feel that I am clear on where I need to focus my energy to have the business that I want. I understand the steps I need to take, and I am finally able to articulate my goals. Clarity is the best word to describe not only my 2022 but what lies ahead in 2023 as well.

What about you? What's the best word to describe the journey you had in 2022?

With 2022 coming to an end, it's time to take a good look at your marketing to determine what's working, and what's not, and come up with a plan for 2023.

Here are some steps to help you get started.

1. Analyze your current marketing efforts - Look at the performance of all your current activities (ie: email, social media, advertising, etc) and determine which ones are most successful. Make a list of the tactics that worked best for you and consider implementing them again.

2. Diversify your content- Take a look at the types of content you’re producing and assess if it’s engaging enough. Consider creating different types of content such as videos, webinars, podcasts, and other visuals to reach more customers. Post on multiple platforms in order to have a farther reach.

3. Network- Get involved in different events and conferences related to your industry. Consider attending webinars or seminars as well. This will allow you to establish connections with potential customers and industry experts. Don't forget about your local experts as well, and network with people who have a similar clientele but provide a different service.

4. Search Engine Optimization- Good SEO is key if you want your website to appear on the first page of search engine results. Optimize all your content and landing pages for better visibility on search engines. Don't forget to have your SEO refreshed quarterly!

5. Email marketing- Email marketing continues to be a great way to reach potential customers. Develop an email list and create engaging content that will capture the attention of your target audience. It's also a great way to nurture potential clients and let them get to know you.

By taking these steps, you can be sure that your marketing efforts will pay off in 2023. Make sure that you track your progress and stay on top of your marketing activities to make sure that you're staying up-to-date with the latest trends.

What are you thinking about adding to your marketing plan for 2023?

Do you love supporting families?

Becoming a Postpartum Doula is a truly rewarding way to make a real difference 💚 and Postpartum Doulas are in HIGH DEMAND!!

The first training of 2023 is in Burlington, VT with Vermont Doula Company

For more information and to register go to https://www.hiptoheart.com/cappa-courses

Did you know that most major health insurance companies will be covering birth and postpartum services starting January 1, 2023? ⁠

Listen in while I chat with Phyllis Murphy, owner of Medical Elements Billing, as she answers important questions about doulas taking insurance directly.

💚 What will the process be for doulas to start accepting insurance?
💚 What are the benefits for the doula?
💚 How will doula agencies be set up?

You'll get the answers to these questions and more!

Merry Christmas! 🎄

Thank you for all your support this year.

Best wishes for a healthy, happy, and peaceful New Year.

💚 The Congdon Family

It's no secret that doulas provide evidence-based support, comfort, and education during birth and postpartum that can help to reduce preterm labor, reduce the need for medical interventions, and help to improve mother-infant attachment.

They can also provide postpartum support in the areas of breastfeeding guidance, emotional support, and help with navigating resources for parenting support.

By having access to a health insurance plan that covers doula services, parents can confidently plan to have the support they need during and after childbirth, which helps to ensure that all families can have access to quality care for their birthing and postpartum experience.

Having doula services covered by health insurance removes the financial burden of covering costs out-of-pocket, making these services more accessible to families. It also encourages providers like midwives and obstetricians to refer to doulas since they can be billed for their services.

Starting on January 1, 2023, Medi-cal and Medicaid will start covering birth and postpartum doula services, which means that many major health insurance companies will be following suit shortly after.

Join me in the Business for Birth and Postpartum Professionals Facebook group on Monday, December 26th at 12pm EST where I will be talking to Phyllis Murphy, the owner of Medical Elements Billing to discuss the ins and outs of the new insurance coverage.

If you aren't a member of the group yet, click the link below to join.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/336495350608256

Hustle culture is toxic.

There is a false belief that working hard and pushing yourself to the breaking point will lead to success. This ignores the importance of rest, self-care, and taking time off in order to recharge and stay productive.

Burning out can have serious consequences, such as decreased productivity, increased stress levels, and even physical health issues like chronic fatigue or depression.

I'm a big believer in working smarter, not harder.

I'm sure you're wondering what that entails, so let me break it down.

That can mean using programs and creating systems so that things like emails, marketing, sending contracts, and collecting invoices are automated.

It means time blocking your calendar (I know, it's not for everyone, but it works for me) so that you can focus on completing productive tasks in an efficient way.

Also hiring and delegating tasks that are not in your zone of genius, or that you just don't enjoy doing. Because think about it- if your time is worth $50 an hour, but your assistant or VA costs $20 an hour, you're not only saving yourself money, but you're freeing up the time to focus on things that bring in that $50 an hour.

But most importantly, it means taking regular breaks and being mindful of your physical and mental health. This is important because no one can work at peak efficiency if they're not giving themselves the time to relax and recharge.

Ultimately, I'm advocating for a shift away from hustle culture in favor of smart working, and this is something that I teach in my Transition to Agency Masterclass because I believe that creating a sustainable growth-oriented business starts with the right mindset.

Do you have any systems set up in your business that helps you work smarter, not harder? Share them below so we can all benefit from the knowledge :)

Did you know that most major health insurance companies will be covering birth and postpartum services starting January 1, 2023?

This will open the door for more clients to be able to afford these services that have unfortunately been a luxury in the US.

I say unfortunately because I truly believe that every birth parent deserves to have a birth doula at their side during birth and a postpartum doula to help during the transition into parenthood.

As someone who mentors new doula agencies, this is huge. If you start the process to be contracted through these insurance companies, then not only can that help bring in more business, but the doulas who work for you will fall under your group contract.

It's a win, win for everyone.

Want more information on how to get the contract process started? Write "insurance" in the comments and I'll send you a DM!

Are you ready to start a doula agency?

Yes, owning a doula agency opens up your earning potential, but, you also need to be able to handle the extra work, the extra expense, and more.

So what are some things that I recommend you have in place before going the agency route?

1. An abundance of clients. You want to have more clients coming in than you alone can handle. That way you can place them with someone on your team and make an income. If you don't have an abundance of clients, it's still possible to have a successful doula agency, but you will need to do a lot more marketing.

2. Extra money to invest in starting an agency. You need to invest in things like contracts written by a lawyer, insurance, an LLC if you don't have one already, a website, SEO, software to keep you organized, and more. There are laws that govern agencies, so you want to ensure that you are doing things right from the beginning to prevent issues down the line.

3. You need to be able to multitask and have the time to manage others. When you have an agency, you will be talking to potential clients, current clients, and managing doulas. It's a lot of work, and organization is key.

4. Marketing is essential when it comes to having a successful agency. Whether that's social media, email marketing, in-person networking, or something else, you need to have a marketing ecosystem in place. This may also mean that you may need to invest in someone who can help you, and/or someone you can delegate marketing tasks to.

Of course, there are more than just these 4 things when making sure you are ready to start a doula agency, but these are the core items and things I look for when I talk to my Transition to Agency Masterclass applicants.

Do you have questions about starting a doula agency? Let me know what they are in the comments.

COFFEE LIVE THIS MORNING ☀️

The topic is GROWTH!

See you at 10am EST over on IG
www.instagram.com/hiptoheart 💚

My copy of Reclaiming Postpartum Wellness came!!

Maranda Bower you are amazing and beyond talented. The postpartum community is lucky to have you 💚

It is available January 4, so get on the list to get notified here https://postpartumu.com/book/

The hustle is real.

But it doesn’t have to be in a negative way.

My hustle is working smart, setting goals and avoiding negativity. Keeping those 3 things in mind (plus some marketing + networking 😂) have paved the way for my business to thrive.

This is such a good episode 🔥

In this episode I share my proven process that turns client inquiries into signed contracts. I will go over the specific things I do (and don't do!) that make birth and postpartum clients see the value in my services and want to invest their time and money with me 💚

Listen here https://www.buzzsprout.com/1958178?fbclid=IwAR2GDxSjCljEjsCkC-HQy5nUp_B21LEb7Hbd3mtolCD8F8pKjdftFRe88d0

Whether your birth and postpartum business is your side hustle, career or empire in the making, this is a reminder to keep kicking a** even when you don’t feel like it… because there will be days you don’t.

There will be days that you will doubt yourself, not love the number in your bank account, wish you made a different choice… and that’s ok. Look back at this list and remember why you do this work and how many people benefit from your dedication 💚

I'm grateful for you 💚

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours. 🦃

I'm jumping on the bandwagon and doing a combo Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday sale!

💚 20% off the on-demand Birth Boss Academy
💚 20% off the Agency Masterclass
💚 $100 off 2023 Postpartum Doula Training
💚 $100 off 2023 Lactation Educator Training

This is the BIGGEST sale of the year, so if you've been eyeing any of these courses or trainings, now is the time to get them. Plus, you can use it as a write-off on your 2022 taxes!

Hurry though, because this is only going on from the 25th through the 28th!

https://www.hiptoheart.com

Are you interested in hosting a postpartum doula training near you?

Not only do you get the class for free, but it gives you the opportunity to build up your local doula community.

Postpartum doulas provide vital support, help, and comfort to new parents in the weeks and months after baby is born. With their specialized training, they are able to address any concerns or questions that families may have during this often overwhelming time.

Our postpartum doula training cover a wide range of topics, from newborn care basics and postpartum recovery care to breastfeeding and more. Trainees will come away with the skills necessary to provide knowledgeable, compassionate, and evidence-based support.

We believe that everyone should be able to access quality postpartum doula services, no matter where they live. By hosting a postpartum doula training in your area, you can help make that a reality.

If you’re interested in hosting a free postpartum doula training near you, please send me a DM. I'm here to support and guide you through the process every step of the way. 💚

Join me every Monday morning LIVE on IG to start your week off right, have coffee and talk about Birth + Postpartum BIZ 💚

www.instagram.com/hiptoheart

10am EST ☀️

Have you written down your 2023 business goals yet?

If not, why not?

Writing down your business goals is one of the best things you can do for your business. Doing so will help you clarify your vision, set realistic targets, and measure your progress along the way. If you're not sure where to start, here are some tips:

1. Define your goal. What exactly do you want to achieve?

2. Set a deadline. When do you want to achieve your goal?

3. Make it realistic. Don't set yourself up for disappointment by setting an unattainable goal.

4. Write it down. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it's important to actually put your goal in writing. Simply thinking about it won't make it happen.

5. Share it with others. Once you've written down your goal, share it with people who can help you achieve it, such as family, friends, or colleagues. This will help keep you accountable and on track.

What is your top doula business goal? Tell me below.

2023 Webinar — Hip to Heart

53 days until the start of 2023... are you ready?

Last chance to register for the free webinar:
🔥 Goal Setting For Your Doula Business 🔥

Register here https://www.hiptoheart.com/new-year

💚 Setting your goals for the following year is a great way to start off on the right foot. It gives you something to work towards and provides motivation to stay on track. It's also a great habit to get in when you're building your business to 6+ figures.
💚 Tomorrow, November 10th at 12pm EST I'll be hosting a FREE webinar where we'll be discussing how to set your business goals for the new year. This includes identifying what you want to achieve, setting measurable goals, and creating an action plan to help you stay on track.

Together we'll go over:
💚 How to set your goals for the new year
💚 How to make those goals measurable
💚 How to set smart goals that are achievable
💚 Ways to make a bigger impact in your community
💚 Tips for goal-setting success
You'll leave the webinar feeling motivated and ready to take your business to the next level in the new year!

Register here https://www.hiptoheart.com/new-year
** You must register to get the replay emailed to you if you cannot make it live

2023 Webinar — Hip to Heart Join us for this webinar where you will learn how to set financial, lifestyle, impact and business goals for 2023 and so much more.