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8 Oldest Sororities in America
Around the early 1800s, a few colleges and universities began admitting women to study and earn degrees. As the number of women attending higher education grew, their desire to form groups similar to male fraternities grew. The earliest women's college organizations were either literary societies or secret societies that emulated male fraternities. The first of these organizations were founded in the mid-1800s and they were initially called female/women's fraternities. In fact, the term sorority was not coined until 1882. Due to this, several older sororities still use women's fraternity in their official names. All of these sororities are still around today and have several thousand active members and alumae.
8. Gamma Phi Beta
Year Established: November 11, 1874
Founding College/University: Syracuse University (Syracuse, New York)
Type of Sorority: Social
Colors: Brown and Mode
Chapters: 187
Gamma Phi Beta was founded on November 11, 1874 at Syracuse University by Helen M. Dodge, Frances E. Haven, E. Adeline Curtis and Mary A. Bingham. It is notable for being the first women's organization to be called a sorority in 1882. The term sorority was coined by the group's advisor, Dr. Frank Smalley, a Latin professor at Syracuse University. Prior to this, early sororities were called female/women's fraternities.
Gamma Phi Beta is a member of the Syracuse Triad, the name given to the three sororities (the other two are Alpha Phi and Alpha Gamma Delta) founded at Syracuse University. Today, Syracuse Triad ceremonies or events are held on campuses with chapters from all three sororities. Some of Gamma Phi Beta's notable alumnae include Kristen Chenoweth, Cloris Leachman, Laurel Clark, and Lynn Morley Martin.
7. Delta Gamma
Year Established: December 25, 1873
Founding College/University: Lewis School for Girls (Oxford, Mississippi)
Colors: Bronze, Pink, and Blue
Delta Gamma was founded on December 25, 1873 at the Lewis School for Girls in Oxford, Mississippi near the University of Mississippi. The sorority's founding members – Mary Comfort Leonard, Eva Webb Dodd, and Anna Boyd Ellington – wanted to encourage the intellectual growth and a dedication to service for college women in order to be their best selves.
Delta Gamma's early chapters were primarily located in colleges in the southern United States, but it eventually expanded to the northern and eastern parts of the country. It is one of the seven founding members of the National Panhellenic Conference, which is the governing body of sororities in America. As an early sorority, Delta Gamma achieved several firsts, including: being the first sorority to have its own in-house printing press; the first to establish an independent philanthropic foundation; and the first to build an international headquarters specifically for that purpose.
6. Alpha Phi
Year Established: September 18, 1872
Colors: Bordeaux and Silver
Alpha Phi was founded on September 18, 1872 at Syracuse University. At the time the sorority was founded, there were only twenty women attending the university. Ten of them joined together to start Alpha Phi as an organization that promoted growth in character, unity of feeling, sisterly affection, and social communion. Although Alpha Phi was founded on September 18th, the sorority celebrates its Founder's Day on October 10th because the first Founder's Day was celebrated on October 10, 1902. During this time period, most universities weren't open for classes in mid-September.
In recent years, several chapters and members of Alpha Phi have come under fire for racial insensitivity as well as dangerous rituals. For example, the chapter at the University of Rhode Island had its charter revoked for five years in 2016 for endangering the health and safety of new members and violating the university's alcohol policy. Also, in early 2018 the George Washington University Student Association Senate voted unanimously to expel the Alpha Phi from campus after racially insensitive Snapchat photos from its members went viral.
5. Kappa Kappa Gamma
Year Established: October 13, 1870
Founding College/University: Monmouth College (Monmouth, Illinois)
Colors: Dark Blue and Light Blue
The idea for Kappa Kappa Gamma emerged in 1869 when Mary Louise Bennett and Hannah Jeannette Boyd felt that it was unfair that men enjoyed membership in fraternities, but there were few equivalent organizations for women, beside literary societies. Bennett and Boyd began looking for "the choicest spirits among the girls, not only for literary work, but also for social development." They recruited four more girls – Mary Moore Stewart, Anna Elizabeth Willits, Martha Louisa Stevenson, and Susan Burley Walker – and officially declared their intention to organize as a women's fraternity on October 13, 1870. Today, October 13th marks the sorority's Founder's Day.
Kappa Kappa Gamma, along with Pi Beta Phi, are often called the Monmouth Duo because both sororities were founded at Monmouth College within a few years of one another. On campuses with Pi Beta Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma chapters, the groups often hold joint social and philanthropic events.
4. Kappa Alpha Theta
Year Established: January 27, 1870
Founding College/University: DePauw University (formerly Indiana Asbury in Greencastle, Indiana)
Colors: Black and Gold
Kappa Alpha Theta was founded in 1870 at DePauw University (formerly Indiana Asbury). It was the first sorority founded with Greek letters. The sorority was created as a support group for women at the then mostly male college; the university had only started to admit women in 1867.
In 1887, Kappa Alpha Theta established the Sigma Chapter at The University of Toronto, which was the first women's fraternity in Canada. In addition to being the first sorority to use Greek letters, Kappa Alpha Theta is associated with other firsts. The first women ever admitted to the Phi Beta Kappa Society – the oldest honor society for the liberal arts and sciences in the United States – were members of Kappa Alpha Theta. Additionally, an alumna of the sorority, Nancy Kassebaum, was the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate who had not succeeded her husband or first been appointed to fill an unexpired term.
3. Pi Beta Phi
Year Established: April 28, 1867
Colors: Wine and Silver Blue
Pi Beta Phi was founded on April 28, 1867 at Monmouth College as a secret women's organization called I.C. Sorosis. Like other early sororities, the founders of I.C. Sorosis wanted to enjoy the benefits of a secret society similar to those formed by collegiate men. It is considered the first sorority to begin adding other chapters at different schools. The sorority's second chapter was founded in 1868 at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
In 1888, I.C. Sorosis adopted its Greek letters and officially changed its name to Pi Beta Phi. The sorority is one of the founding members of the National Panhellenic Conference, which was formalized in 1902 as a way for women's fraternities and sororities to come together. Pi Beta Phi was also the first sorority to form an Alumnae Advisory Committees (AAC) to support collegiate chapters.
2. Phi Mu
Year Established: January 4, 1852
Founding College/University: Wesleyan College (Macon, Georgia)
Colors: Rose and White
Phi Mu was founded on January 4, 1852 as a literary society called The Philomathean Society by Mary Ann Dupont, Mary Elizabeth Myrick, and Martha Bibb Hardaway. The name Philomathean comes from the Greek philomath, which means a lover of learning. It was the second sorority ever created and the second from Wesleyan College, which is known as the birthplace of the collegiate sorority.
The Philomathean Society adopted its Greek letters, Phi Mu, in 1904 when it joined the National Panhellenic Conference. In 1939, a small national sorority called Alpha Delta Theta merged with Phi Mu. Like all sororities, Phi Mu is dedicated to philanthropy and it is the only sorority corporate sponsor of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Phi Mu is committed to raising more than $500,000 for Children's Miracle Network every year and has raised several millions of dollars for the charity over the years.
1. Alpha Delta Pi
Year Established: May 15, 1851
Colors: Azure and White
Alpha Delta Pi is the oldest sorority in the United States. It was initially founded in 1851 by Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald as the Aldephian Society, a secret society focused on fellowship and scholarship for girls. It was the very first secret society for women and its driving principles were and still are based on leadership, scholarship, service to others, and sisterhood.
In 1904, members of the Aldephian society became a national organization and secured a charter of incorporation from the state of Georgia. A year later, the society changed its name to Alpha Delta Pi. Later in 1905, a second chapter of the sorority was established at Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Over the next decade about a dozen more chapters opened at various universities around the country. Due to its size and notability several famous people are Alpha Delta Pi alumni, including Kathy Bates, Nancy Grace, Danica McKellar, Carol Shields, and Michelle Pfeiffer.
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Lakme Sun Expert Ultra Matte SPF 30 PA++ Lotion is a non-sticky light sunscreen that is specially formulated for the hot and humid Indian weather. It blocks the harmful UV rays and protects the skin from sun damage, such as sun spots and skin darkening. The effect lasts for 12 hours. It comes in a bright yellow upside down tube with an open flip lid. This sunscreen is specially designed to be carried everywhere you go.
What is the list of ingredients of Lakme Sun Expert Ultra Matte SPF 30 PA++ Lotion?
Does Lakme Sun Expert Ultra Matte SPF 30 PA++ Lotion have any side effects?
Is Lakme Sun Expert Ultra Matte SPF 30 PA++ Lotion safe for acne prone skin?
Can I use it on the face?
When it comes to my skin, I am very particular about what goes on it, especially with sunscreens. I have oily skin that gets super oily after I head out. I have pimples here and there, and my makeup does not stay on for long, my eyeliner is easy to smudge.
I always opt for gel moisturizers because that's the best option for oily skin. When I saw an ad of Lakme Sun Expert Ultra Matte SPF 30 PA++ Lotion, I was very impressed for its non-sticky and light consistency and was all in for it.
I will say that the packaging is the highlight of this sunscreen because it is functional and travel-friendly. The fragrance is not overpowering and lingers on the skin for a while after application.
I apply Lakme Sun Expert Ultra Matte SPF 30 PA++ Lotion in the morning, 15 minutes before heading out. This sunscreen has been lying on my dressing table for quite some time now, and I have been using it on and off.
I used to apply it on my face, but after two to three uses I have stopped — the reason being my oily skin. Though this Lakme sunscreen is gel-based, it makes my skin heavy and sticky. And that is a huge minus point for me. I also don't like the film it leaves behind. Though Lakme Sun Expert Ultra Matte SPF 30 PA++ Lotion does not leave a white cast like most of the sunscreens I know, it adds some kind of layer, which is a minus point for oily skin.
I didn't want to waste it, so I started using it on my hands and legs and that way, I have no complaints about it.
I do wish it worked on my face. Will I repurchase? No.
On my way to Baga beach, Goa, I quickly grabbed this Lakme Sun Expert Ultra Matte SPF 30 PA++ Lotion and applied it all over my body and face. I came back to my hotel very satisfied with it. I didn't want a strong sunscreen because I have sensitive skin, nor did I want to go back looking like a tomato. So this Lakme Sun Expert Ultra Matte with SPF 30 was just the right amount, and it worked perfectly well. It prevented sunburns at the same time keeping my skin hydrated. Definitely a must-have!
I have been using Lakme Sun Expert Ultra Matte SPF 30 PA++ Lotion for over a month now, so I can confidently say that it works really well on my combination skin. It keeps my skin balanced for a while. I wish it has stronger and longer holding strength because, after two hours or so, the effect goes off, and reapplication is required. And that's a bummer!
I will say that Lakme Sun Expert Ultra Matte SPF 30 PA++ Lotion is a decent sunscreen. Not something I will go gaga for. But it pretty much does an average job of keeping my dry skin moisturized and protected from harmful sun rays.
There are no side effects recorded. Even then, it is wise to do a patch test first to avoid any casualties. Seek medical attention if you feel an odd sensation. Lakme Sun Expert Ultra Matte SPF 30 PA++ Lotion is for external use only.
It depends on the skin type. If you have very sensitive skin that is very prone to acne, skip this sunscreen. This sunscreen is cream based, so there are possibilities for the skin to get oily and greasy, which does not work in favor of acne prone skin.
No, Lakme Sun Expert Ultra Matte SPF 30 PA++ Lotion does not remove marks. But it prevents the skin from tanning and further pigmentation.
Yes, Lakme Sun Expert Ultra Matte SPF 30 PA++ Lotion can be used both as a body lotion and a face cream. It is most suitable for dry skin for its high moisturization factor.


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text:
Q: corrplot:corrplot function in R panelled plots I would like to create a figure containing different correlation plots created by corrplot().
To do so, once I created the plots, I assigned them to a variable and line them up with ggpubr:ggarrange(), but the single variables created have content NULL and when gear range (correctly) creates the figure, the content is empty.
library(corrplot)
library(psych)
library(ggpubr)

data(iris)

res_pearson.c_setosa<-iris%>%
  filter(Species=="setosa")%>%
  select(Sepal.Length:Petal.Width)%>%
  corr.test(., y = NULL, use = "complete",method="pearson",adjust="bonferroni", alpha=.05,ci=TRUE,minlength=5)

corr.a<-corrplot(res_pearson.c_setosa$r[,1:3],
         type="lower",
         order="original",
         p.mat = res_pearson.c_setosa$p[,1:3],
         sig.level = 0.05,
         insig = "blank",
         col=col4(10),
         tl.pos = "ld",
         tl.cex = .8,
         tl.srt=45,
         tl.col = "black",
         cl.cex = .8)+
  my.theme

res_pearson.c_virginica<-iris%>%
  filter(Species=="virginica")%>%
  select(Sepal.Length:Petal.Width)%>%
  corr.test(., y = NULL, use = "complete",method="pearson",adjust="bonferroni", alpha=.05,ci=TRUE,minlength=5)

corr.b<-corrplot(res_pearson.c_virginica$r[,1:3],
         type="lower",
         order="original",
         p.mat = res_pearson.c_virginica$p[,1:3],
         sig.level = 0.05,
         insig = "blank",
         col=col4(10),
         tl.pos = "ld",
         tl.cex = .8,
         tl.srt=45,
         tl.col = "black",
         cl.cex = .8)+
  my.theme

ggarrange(corr.a, corr.b,
          common.legend = TRUE,
          legend = "bottom",
          ncol = 9, nrow = 1)

After several searches online it seems that it is the first time someone tries to create a figure with multiple correlation plots.

A: You can use this code par(mfrow=c(1,2)) to plot your graphs side by side like this:
library(corrplot)
library(psych)
library(ggpubr)
library(dplyr)

data(iris)

res_pearson.c_setosa<-iris%>%
  filter(Species=="setosa")%>%
  select(Sepal.Length:Petal.Width)%>%
  corr.test(., y = NULL, use = "complete",method="pearson",adjust="bonferroni", alpha=.05,ci=TRUE,minlength=5)

par(mfrow=c(1,2))

corr.a<-corrplot(res_pearson.c_setosa$r[,1:3],
                 type="lower",
                 order="original",
                 p.mat = res_pearson.c_setosa$p[,1:3],
                 sig.level = 0.05,
                 insig = "blank",
                 #col=col4(10),
                 tl.pos = "ld",
                 tl.cex = .8,
                 tl.srt=45,
                 tl.col = "black",
                 cl.cex = .8)

res_pearson.c_virginica<-iris%>%
  filter(Species=="virginica")%>%
  select(Sepal.Length:Petal.Width)%>%
  corr.test(., y = NULL, use = "complete",method="pearson",adjust="bonferroni", alpha=.05,ci=TRUE,minlength=5)

corr.b<-corrplot(res_pearson.c_virginica$r[,1:3],
                 type="lower",
                 order="original",
                 p.mat = res_pearson.c_virginica$p[,1:3],
                 sig.level = 0.05,
                 insig = "blank",
                 #col=col4(10),
                 tl.pos = "ld",
                 tl.cex = .8,
                 tl.srt=45,
                 tl.col = "black",
                 cl.cex = .8)

Created on 2022-07-13 by the reprex package (v2.0.1)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


After a very disrupted rollercoaster of a Summer in Oz, I was finally on the mend and ready to jet set back to Europe to start clawing my way back up to fitness and strength, and get back amongst it again!
I was turning a new page in more ways than one, having to rebuild from scratch, learn some uber patience in the process, and would take a new outlook on how I would attack my season compared to usual.
Not only this but after many good years with my previous coach Grant Landers, it was time for a change. So after starting up with two new and very tolerant coaches! :) it was off to put the past behind and look forward to the remaining year ahead.
First elite race back in 10 months was Geneva. A course I have won both times before, and a course I usually love. It's hard and tough on the bike, and every athlete earns their finish in that race. Just the way I like it...normally! I knew this race would be a big ask, lacking race fitness, and no where near the same shape I am in normally for this race, but you have to start somewhere and this would be it!
I can't say having my bike stolen weeks before the race really aided my big "come back" and nor did a number of other minor disruptions that hampered a flawless preparation back to racing, and I certainly didn't really think I needed to handicap myself more than I already had! But you rise to the challenge, and I was still grateful, to fiiiinallly be back on a start line! 100% ready or not, it would start here, and I will work back to racing the way I want to day by day!
Geneva well, keep it short, it spanked me this year! I lacked race fitness I'd had previously, and had a foreign feeling in my legs I have never had before, and hope I never have again. The sum of all my lead up equalled my result, I did the best I could on a half empty tank, and suffered the wrath of the hill, that I had previously embraced. The run would also just remind me of the time out of racing, and I finished that race with a humbling appreciation of the work I had to do to return to my best.
Saying that, race two would be a week later in Spain, Banyoles. A stunning backdrop for a race, set on a pristine lake, with rolling green hills in the background, restaurants, markets and lovely walks surrounding it. A much easier course on the bike, and I was 100% sure I had busted out some cobwebs in Geneva. I would have some better legs, better prepped to race, and had been harshly reminded what it was like to race hard for two hours. I would have the luxury of being able to ride my own equipment for ten days now also, and felt more comfortable to attack a race than the week before, however disappointed I was about my current ability.
A good first lap in the swim for me was a nice start to the race, and though losing a little lap two, I was in touch and we bridged the gap straight away to the front pack. The relief at having some better legs than the week prior on the bike was huge for me already. Nothing to crazy on the bike happened, I tried to get a little gap on the last lap for a head start into the run, but it was unsuccessful, and out we all went together. Still heavy footed on the run I knew this was going to be a battle to stay up there for me. With some speedy exits out of transition, I didn't even try to exit at the same pace, having learnt a bit more about my current ability last weekend, I would have to pace myself conservatively.
With the temperature creeping up on the run, something I don't mind, I was able to reel myself back into podium spots, and be part of a run battle for the win. Alex managing to be the better on the day, and I was very pleased to hold on for second ahead of Lois Rosindale.
So with my last big deep breaths, its time for a little adventure up at altitude at Font Romeu in the Pyrenees next.


Red River's Infrastructure — its streets, sidewalks, water and sewer systems — are the proverbial elephant but town officials met recently to discuss the order in which the town should "bite".
After discussing the problem, however, Mayor and council decided to move that phase to a higher priority and begin searching for funding now.
Mayor Linda Calhoun said CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funds could possibly be used" to implement repairs by Spring 2020. "That sounds like a long way out but until we do design, we can't do construction and until we get funds, we cannot do design.
Church added, "Tenderfoot also needs a loop. That's the problem with the west end of town, when we have a water leak, we have to shut that end of town down.
Phase 4 of the infrasture plan involves replacing water lines throughout Red River and Phase 5 is improving lines from the water tank up Pioneer Road to Main Street.
Town officials discussed hiring a company to come in and map where water line leaks are now (this is typically done using acoustic data — listening for and recording vibrations during quiet usage hours when factors). Additionally, Public Works employees will also map problem areas.
Russell: Peak demand: Water tank problems. There's where we need a control system for our pumps. That may be part of our water loss that we don't know is happening — the tank may be overflowing and we don't know about it.
Calhoun replied, "We can't because of funding.… So, Tappan, do you have any words of wisdom to give us?
The town will apply for $1.7 million through the state Water Trust Board, which recommends to the Legislature projects to be funded through the Water Project Fund.
Leaking water lines result in water "loss" for the town but so do storage tank overflows. Town officials discussed whether a SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) System — a computer system used for monitoring and automation.
Town sewer lines also leak, Church said, suggesting the town use CDBG funds for those repairs.
Mahoney said, "At some point, all the lines that have to be replaced would have to be camera-ed.
Issac Cisneros, Public Works Director, said, "You have to block the line to camera because the equipment won't work underwater.I would hate for Lifts West and the Conference Center to be backing up. I would like to do it when [Red River is] an actual ghost town…. after Oktoberfest.
The town has already received a $3,962,000 loan/grant package to upgrade and modernize its wastewater treatment facility.
The town is looking into TAP f(Transportation Alternatives Program) funding for its Main street sidewalk project Church said. "We've met with DOT (Department of Transportation) officials. This is a project that the DOT supports. They've given us the survey already They were going to do the project and replace the sidewalks with gray concrete.
"I don't know because we have to do the design," Church replied.


They Thought VHS Was Dead... They Were Dead Wrong!: Over 100 collectors, filmmakers, producers, and video store owners express how VHS changed their lives. Some see VHS as worthless plastic, but Adjust Your Tracking shows a vibrant world of collectors and movie fans who are keeping the format, and the movies, alive. Travel back to the days of video rental stores with those who still buy, sell, rent and trade the format that will not die - VHS.
It was a great documentary of films that are out there, some classic, some bad and all VHS... I would would this again, though it's time for these few people to move on to the next form of watching experience. For the collectors, Kinem and Peretic have released a DVD/VHS combo pack available exclusively on www.adjustyourtracking.com.
Special Edition 2 Disc DVD release of Adjust Your Tracking (SRP $19.95) will include hours of bonus features: a feature length commentary with co-directors Dan Kinem and Levi Peretic, a feature length commentary with producers Josh Schafer and Matt Desiderio, extended interviews with industry veterans including Lloyd Kaufman, a behind the scenes documentary, three short films by the directors, deleted scenes, festival Q&A footage, trailers and Easter eggs for eagle-eyed fans.


According to Fox 2, two people are now under arrest following a deadly shooting that took place in Oak Park on Saturday. The shooting took place at Village Green Townhomes on Rennselaer near 10 Mile and Scotia and it resulted in one man being killed and three others are injured. Neighbors say the gunshots rang out around 2pm Saturday. Witnesses who did not want to be identified told Fox 2 they saw emergency crews rush the three injured victims away in ambulances.
So far, the names of the suspects and the victims have not been released. Investigators say the shooting does not appear to be gang related. Police also told Fox 2 that the injured victims are two men and a woman. As of right now, we know they were all still in the hospital on Sunday.


When Alex from TravelFashionGirl.com stumbled into her niche—the travel industry—she had no idea what it would turn into. Years later, she's built an empire through organic connection with her audience, SEO optimization, affiliate marketing, and a passion for helping fellow travelers. She's here to break down the strategies she used to grow a site that experiences almost one million monthly visitors!
The premise for Alex's site is simple: It's all about helping travelers—mostly female readers—downsize their suitcase and streamline their packing list so they can enjoy themselves. Her website features gear reviews, product roundups, customized packing lists for a range of circumstances, advice for keeping your flight stress-free, you name it!
Alex has grown a massive following and a full-time business out of that simple idea. She's done this a few ways—namely through SEO optimization, advertising, affiliate marketing, Facebook Live, and lots of interaction with her audience.
Especially if you're doing any sort of advertising on your site—perk up! Alex has a ton of tools and resources that she mentions in this episode (check out the sidebar) that could help you increase your earnings almost literally overnight. Something as simple as a resources list can have a massive effect, translating to a major increase in traffic and earnings. I've known some of the tools she recommends to literally 2X or even 5X earnings on other sites as well.
Alex is going to walk us through exactly how she grew her site from the ground up and the tactics she uses now to push the needle. Hit play and get ready to take some notes!
Make sure you tune in next week, because I've got a big announcement. Actually a pretty huge announcement. Scratch that: Next week I'm announcing the biggest business decision I've probably ever made. How's that for a teaser? Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss it.
Pat Flynn: You are listening to Alex from TravelFashionGirl.com, an amazing friend of mine who I've gotten to know very well over the last year. She has a great story about how she almost stumbled upon her niche, which is the travel industry, through a lot of experiences, and problems, and people that she had experienced on her own travels. She built this website and it took off and it became a world wind . . . a world wind? A whirlwind of an opportunity for her. She didn't even quite know exactly what it could turn into.
You are hearing the beginning parts of the story and I'd love to share this entire story with you. Now she's built her empire at TravelFashionGirl.com. The different methods that she's generating an income with, the new ways that she's involving physical products into this brand that literally just started out as a blog to help people travel more efficiently—we are gonna dive into Alex's story today. Again, you could find her at TravelFashionGirl.com. First, as always, let's get to the music.
Announcer: Welcome to The Smart Passive Income Podcast, where it's all about working hard now so you can sit back and reap the benefits later. And now your host—the one thing he misses about his old job are the weekly softball games—Pat Flynn!
Pat Flynn: What's up everybody? Pat Flynn here, welcome to Session 353 of The Smart Passive Income Podcast, really thankful you are joining me today, and I appreciate you so much for your time. If you don't know who I am, my name is Pat Flynn, I'm here to help you make more money, save more time, and help more people too. We are off to an amazing start here in 2019.
Last week we interviewed a hero of mine, Marques Brownlee, MKBHD as you might know. If you haven't heard that episode yet, listen to that one after. That's 352. This episode, even better, this is an incredible story with Alex from TravelFashionGirl.com, breaking down exactly how she got her start, and also all the different kinds of ways she's generating an income.
For any of you out there who is doing any sort of advertising on your website, you definitely want to make sure you pay attention, because Alex has found a number of tools and resources that can help you, literally almost overnight, increase the amount of earnings that you could potentially have. It may not be relevant to everybody, depending on how much traffic you already have. Make sure to pay attention all the way through, and I'll meet up with you at the end.
Let's get right into it. Here is Alex from TravelFashionGirl.com.
Hi Alex, welcome to The Smart Passive Income Podcast. Thanks so much for being here today.
Alex Jimenez: Thank you for having me. I am so excited to be here.
Pat Flynn: I am too. You and I have gotten to know each other very well this year, we've worked together on your business, and had a lot of time together in person in San Diego, through the Accelerator Program that I have and just, what you've put together over the last number of years is amazing, and I cannot wait to share your story, and unpack some strategies and tips that you've had to grow your business. For everybody else listening in, Alex, why don't you tell us what TravelFashionGirl.com is all about, and then we'll go back in time and discover how that was all created?
Alex Jimenez: TravelFashionGirl.com is a website where we teach women how to travel, carry-on only, in a stylishly and efficient way. It's all about how to pack, and we teach principles on how you can downsize your suitcase so that way you can enjoy your travels in a stress free and more relaxed experience without having to drag around a big, heavy suitcase full of stuff that you don't need. Teaching you the practicality along with some essential information about what to wear, what to pack, to help travelers be prepared when they are on the go.
Pat Flynn: Very nice. What kinds of things can a person expect when they go to TravelFashionGirl.com that would be really useful for them? I see you have, for example, packing lists. What other essentials and assets do you have that people really enjoy on your brand?
Alex Jimenez: Packing is definitely one of our most important resources, because it helps people streamline what they are gonna bring. It's really overwhelming to think, "I'm going somewhere I've never been, going around the world. I'm going across the pond, wherever you are going." You've never been there. So it's really a bit of a scary feeling. Our packing lists and our guides on what to wear really show someone everything they need, from the weather to cultural expectations, things that would be more practical such as bringing waterproof boots if it's gonna be raining, or Thermos if you are traveling in the cold.
Definitely we have information about the clothing, a lot of it is about clothing, because targeting toward women . . . men do it too, I'm sure you guys overpack, but as a girl traveling I know it's really hard not to pack a bunch of stuff. We are used to having a huge closet full of things. How do you fit all of your closet into one tiny suitcase? All of the guides are meant to show not to do that, first of all. Exactly how to pick the clothes that will make sense for your trip.
Pat Flynn: So cool. And when you say these guides, these are free accessible posts on your website?
Alex Jimenez: Yes. Everything is free to use on the website, including our packing list, the different guides on what to wear. We have reviews on gear, such as the best luggage, the best backpacks, and what's comfortable walking shoes. We have product roundups. We also tackle things that are really, certain topics that are popular within our community such as how to have a stress-free flight experience, or some inflight essentials that could help make your long haul journey more comfortable.
Pat Flynn: Nice. I cannot wait to dive into the website and the business model, and the income generation strategies, and those kinds of things. We'll go into that a little bit later. I do want to go back in time and talk about, what year did you start TravelFashionGirl?
Alex Jimenez: I started it in August 2012.
Pat Flynn: 2012, and what gave you the idea to create this, what's the origin story behind it?
Alex Jimenez: I had actually been traveling full-time for a number of years before I started TravelFashionGirl.com. And really found no website rooted for my own frustrations as a traveler. I quit my job to travel in 2008. I was only taking a three-month sabbatical and it ended up being long term. I traveled for almost a decade full time. The first four years of that I was carrying a big heavy backpack, I was backpacking around the world, moving around every couple of days.
Somehow I had so much baggage on me and I wasn't prepared for anything. I wasn't happy with what I bought. The clothing that I brought just, either it wasn't suitable for the weather, in a practical sense, and it also didn't make me feel comfortable because I didn't bring clothing that I was used to wearing at home in Los Angeles, where I'm from. It was through my own struggles and frustrations that I started researching online, trying to find a resource to help me downsize and the information that I found online seemed to be a bit more geared towards a male traveler or maybe someone that was backpacking and hiking in a mountain sense versus backpacking, traveling around the world.
The packing list consisted of things such as bring three quick dry tees, one pair of convertible pants, and three underwear you can flip inside out every other day. As a girl, convertible pants and flipping my underwear inside out isn't really a thing that I wanted to do. I realized the information really wasn't catering to me, because even though I wasn't trying to travel with heels and a bunch of makeup, and frivolous things, I did want to feel prepared, and I also wanted to feel comfortable with my clothing and not wear convertible pants, for example, if it wasn't necessary and if it didn't suit my style.
I also found out that in my journey, as I started talking to other backpackers and travelers at hostels and asking them questions about how they packed, they were expressing a lot of the same frustrations. In 2011 I started interviewing more female travelers on the road that I'd meet in person. I started compiling all the information that I learned about how to downsize the things that worked, the things that didn't work. I started putting things together. Eventually a year later I put all the information that I collected onto this website that I launched, Travel Fashion Girl.
Pat Flynn: That's so cool. I think a big lesson there, and this is something I teach in my courses, is that one of the most important things you can do before you create anything is to have conversations with people. Even though you were, essentially your own avatar, which is a great start, having conversations with others is really really really important. What were some of the biggest lessons that you learned from those conversations that you put into your brand later?
Alex Jimenez: The most game changing conversation I had was actually with a girl, she was from Canada. I think we were at a hostel in Mexico, somewhere in maybe Merida. She was only traveling with a backpack from college, like a college school backpack. She had six pieces of clothing. And I was absolutely astounded. This was everything I wanted. I wanted to just travel with a small bag. That feeling of seeing people wander around the world, it seemed so freeing and comfortable and easy. And to know she was doing it with six pieces.
She explained everything to me about why she chose each thing. Then she also explained the things that she wished she had done differently. I took that idea and I really started thinking about it, and I really built upon it. I went and asked others—from that, that became actually the premise of one of my signature packing lists. I have four signature packing lists based on number of clothing.
She felt like the one thing at least she could have brought was an eyeliner. Really Pat, more than anything, all these things are about being prepared so you are confident when you are traveling in new places. It's also about feeling confident within yourself, because I don't know about you, but I'm sure you have your favorite t-shirt and jeans, things that you could wear almost every day. You just feel comfortable and confident. That's what it's about, it's about feeling comfortable in your own skin.
Pat Flynn: I love that. I love how you brought it back to understanding how your audience feels. I think that's a really important thing, because a lot of times we get lost in the minutia of content and SEO, and business models, which again, like I said we'll get into a little bit, but it really comes down to, how are you making your audience feel? When you can make them feel great, and you can give them that reward, well, they are gonna continue to come back, and obviously they have. Your website has grown quite big.
Before we get to how much traffic you have and the business model, after those conversations . . . I'm just curious to know . . . Putting a website together is not an easy thing. What drove you to do all that work to compile all this information? Because you could have just collected all that information from those conversations for yourself, and just have kept those tips and secrets to yourself. Why share them, and why build this resource? Were you actually thinking to yourself, "I can put this together and build a business out of it"? I wanna know what was going through your head in those early moments.
Alex Jimenez: As I spoke to the other travelers, I realized there was a problem. These girls were experiencing the same issues that I was. They weren't happy with what they brought. They wished they would have packed differently. It was impacting their travels, whether from a practical sense or just from a feeling happy type of experience. I wanted to get the word out.
I did research for about a year. One day I just woke up and I just knew it. There was this feeling like, I have to share this with other people. I hate the way I felt. There has been times where packing the wrong things for my friends, packing the wrong things impacted my experience, and made me absolutely hate one of my travel experiences, because the suitcase handle broke, and we were dragging around a big giant suitcase up and down the stairs in Europe, and going from trains, and I hated it. I didn't want anybody else to feel that way.
Pat Flynn: That's really cool.
Alex Jimenez: It wasn't easy, I'm not a tech person. It was very difficult but luckily I had a few serendipitous experiences that helped me find someone that helped me get my website together.
Pat Flynn: At what point were you like, "Okay, this could be my thing, and this is my business and I can make money from this"? At what point in the journey did those things cross your mind, or had they already?
Alex Jimenez: Pat, even to this day . . . I still feel like . . . I don't even think it's real, I guess. It's been such a journey and Travel Fashion Girl really blew up very quickly. I've just struggled to keep up with the demand since day one. I never really actually had a chance to think . . . In the beginning it was actually a couple of years before I thought, "I can try to do this full-time." I just started hearing about how other travelers were having a blog online or people were working online and they were doing it full-time.
It wasn't until after about a year that I thought, "You know what? I'm gonna try doing this full-time. And while I'm traveling." Because I was still going back home to work seasonal jobs, to save money to travel. That's the way I was traveling full-time, at the time. It kind of never really hit me. I did start earning revenue early on, within the first six months. It was because the traffic blew up really quickly. I was very slow to process the whole thing.
Pat Flynn: That's okay. It almost seems like you were doing this for reasons to help others, and you really hadn't even created a plan, which is okay. This is what happened to me when I started my architecture website. First six months, you were already getting traffic. How in the world did that happen?
Alex Jimenez: Two things. Because one, SEO. I happened to be doing a work exchange in Koh Samui, Thailand for a digital marketing agency when I launched the website. That's actually where I launched the website, where I met people that helped me. We did an exchange. I learned about SEO and keyword research and everything. Every single, or almost every single article from the very beginning had a keyword, or even a poor attempt at SEO.
That definitely was a big factor and it still is now. The other thing was social media. I used Twitter to really start the communications back then. I was on Twitter six hours a day nonstop. In fact, the first two months when I launched the website I was—I don't think I slept for two months. I think I was working like 20, 24-hour days, because that was just so exciting. Things were just happening naturally.
Pat Flynn: That's great. Well, thank you for sharing just how much hard work you put into this. You also said that you already started generating revenue in the first six months. How were you doing that?
Alex Jimenez: Well, one of the things about the information that we share on the blog are the packing lists and the guides. I really wanted to provide a visual. I was showing examples of the type of clothing that people were wearing in the destinations such as, if you are traveling to Sydney, this is the type of clothing that you can bring. It was less for people to follow the exact styles, but more so for them to see there is sleeveless tops and stuff. It means that this destination is gonna be hot; I don't have to bring my bulky pack or anything.
In doing so I was showing examples of the clothing. In the beginning I wasn't linking to the clothes, because I didn't know that I should, or I could. I started getting emails from readers saying, "Hey, I wanna buy those pants, I wanna buy that dress. Where did you get it? Where can I buy it? Can you please add links?" I was baffled by this. I started adding links, and then six months into it my mentor at the time told me that I could actually add affiliate links. I could use those links and I could add an affiliate code to them so I could earn commission, a small commission at no extra cost to the buyer. I started doing that, and lo and behold there was my $50 check in January or my $50 earnings in January of 2013 for Amazon. That was pretty cool.
Pat Flynn: So it was through Amazon Associates that you were linking to the gear, and the clothes that you were sharing?
Pat Flynn: That's so cool. What was it like for you to build something online, and actually start to see some income coming from the thing that you created online, when you had normally been used to making money through these seasonal jobs?
Alex Jimenez: It was so exciting, and it was just fun, and it still is fun. I don't even know how to explain. It really was such a whirlwind. It was cool to see the opportunities. Again, I don't think I quite understood the possibility behind it. I kind of thought, "Man, if I can make enough money, a couple of hundred dollars a week or something where I could just cover the cost of my travel." And even then, I don't think my plan was really that broken down. It was just cool, and I was excited by it happening.
I know it sounds silly but I actually didn't go into it as a business, or planning for income. I thought, if I can make some money in the blog . . . At that point people weren't talking about . . . It wasn't as common as it is now. I kind of thought if I could make a little money, that's cool. It was a bonus.
Pat Flynn: So cool. What is your traffic like now?
Alex Jimenez: The traffic is now, we have almost a million monthly visitors a month.
Alex Jimenez: That's just absolutely incredible. I mean, I'd like to get to that million. I think I'm just so close to it. I think it was 973,000 or something. It's been amazing, and really early on . . . I think when we were at the six months mark, we were already at 35,000 unique monthly visitors.
Pat Flynn: And to remind everybody that a lot of that was coming from SEO. I know, based on our conversations in our group, that a large amount of your traffic is still coming from SEO, although you do have a community now on Facebook and stuff. We'll have all the links and assets that you have to share on our show notes for everybody. I'll mention that link at the end.
I kind of wanted to frame—Alex just said a million monthly visitors. Remember how she started: She just had conversations and that's it. And she started creating useful things like the packing lists and talking about other helpful things, and just . . . Look at what you could create if you just create. A lot of the lessons learned here is you just got to build something useful for people, and those conversations, like I said, are really important.
With me I have my Resource Page, which is a compilation and a compendium of all the top tools that you can have to become an entrepreneur. I think no matter what brand you have, you should have your signature equivalent of Alex's packing lists. Do you have any specific strategies that we can use to create our own version of the packing list, based on your experience? How do we best make that happen and make it useful for our audience?
Alex Jimenez: It really is a checklist. Regardless whether it's a checklist on whatever that niche is, whatever your topic is. What's the easiest, what's gonna be a checklist, whether it's a photography checklist—if you have a YouTube channel for example, my question is, I always wanna know, what gear is everybody using to actually produce the videos? A gear checklist from photography to parenting, what should be in that diaper bag? New moms wanna know.
Just an easy checklist, and providing links to suggested items. Ideally products that you yourself have used, or you know have been recommended. Then that's how you are providing value, and then doing that. Then you are getting the monetization, because those checklists have links to products.
Pat Flynn: That's so cool. I'm looking at your packing list page here. You actually have a packing list directory. They are all printable, editable, but you have the Asia packing list, Africa, Europe, South Pacific, something that you call the Round the World Packing list. Europe, and even more. I could print these out. And these are really useful. I would imagine that if you just spent a little bit of time, for those of you listening, thinking about what your version of a packing list could be.
I mean, imagine what kind of asset that could be for SEO, for growing your email list, for helping people? I think that would be a great exercise that a lot of you can take away from this, because it's definitely something that I think can also tie into the affiliate earnings that you have as well. If your packing list were to reference the clothing and the other gear, then it's kind of a win for everybody at that point.
People want to know what you as a brand or as a personality would recommend. That's kind of—you've earned that right to share and recommend things instead of just a directory of all the things. You are actually giving people your top choices. When you build authority you have the ability to help guiding people, and that's essentially what you are doing here, which is fantastic.
To go back, you initially started with affiliate marketing, and I also see some ads on your website as well. How are the ads going, and what has been your experience with ads on your website?
Alex Jimenez: The ads are something that I really fought for such a long time, because I really didn't . . . I've been really careful with the way I present the brand, and what I present to the audience. I'm always thinking about them: Number one, how are they gonna be impacted by this? Number two, how are they gonna find this useful? I didn't want the ads to be intrusive. I did test them out. This was a really big help for us. It was a big increase in our revenue. We started them for the first time about a year ago, maybe a year and a half ago.
Having the increase in revenue, it actually allowed us to build the business and reinvest back into it. It's been good for us, and also good in being able to give back and create bigger resources, bigger things. It was something that I didn't test. I should have tried it a long time ago. Now my goal is to kind of work the website a little bit more so that we integrate it a little bit more seamlessly. I am still careful about the ads that we do show. For example, if there is an ad that has a messaging that I don't want to be aligned with, I will contact the company and ask them not to feature that particular ad on the site.
Pat Flynn: What ad platform are you involved with right now? Because I know there is a lot, there is AdSense, and there is a ton of them. Do you have any tips and recommendations for those who have websites who want to experiment with advertising?
Alex Jimenez: 100 percent. What I'm using right now is AdThrive. It is such—it has really been a game changer for the business. It's incredibly profitable, the revenue is much higher than the other ad platforms. I think you are required to have 100,000 unique monthly visitors a month, or 100,000 page views a month. In addition to that there is also, if you have I think 50,000 unique visitors, or 50,000 page views a month, there is also Mediavine, and before that there is Google AdSense obviously. If you can get to the point with higher page views then that is definitely a big passive income that I was missing out on for so many years.
If I could go back when I first started having these kinds of page views, I really wish I would have incorporated this a lot sooner. I think recently it's become way more common than it was before. It seems like banner ads have made almost a comeback. I definitely am very happy with that move.
Pat Flynn: You mentioned the sort of order: AdSense, which anybody could get access to, and then above that 50,000 minimum page views or uniques per month would be Mediavine. Was that the name of it?
Pat Flynn: Then AdThrive. Correct me if I'm wrong, the unique thing about AdThrive, which I just figured out, was that they pay you based on impressions, not clicks.
Alex Jimenez: They do. That's correct.
Pat Flynn: That means like, just the fact that you have visitors alone means you are going to get paid. I know a few other people who have switched over to AdThrive, and have had a 2X to sometimes 5X increase in their advertising revenue. That doesn't mean you just put ads everywhere on your website. Obviously, like you said, you wanna treat it in a way that still serves your audience. That's a huge increase. I'm curious, in addition to the change to AdThrive and in adding ads on your website, what other things that you've done in the past that have offered a nice spike, an increase in your revenue?
Alex Jimenez: A big part of our initiative over the past year has actually been going back, optimizing your old posts. Not just old posts, but our most successful posts. Three of our top five, ten, twenty, all of our top articles, really re-optimizing them with affiliate links, products, content. Are we providing the best content? Are we giving the best product recommendations? Are they the most relevant product recommendations?
That's something that's really helped us because in the past for example, even if we did have a really popular article, maybe it was ranking it number one. Maybe it was just an article I never really thought would be very popular, or a topic I didn't think people cared about. I didn't have any product recommendations, or maybe the content was just lacking. Basically the opportunity not only to benefit only to increase our revenue, but also for the reader, for them to get more information as I'm going back and I'm really cleaning that up. That's been a major boost for us over the past year, and something we are gonna be focusing on a lot more going forth for 2019.
Pat Flynn: That's huge. Going back into the past, in your archive, and updating things has been something that we've been doing too. Largely due to a recommendation from one of my friends Todd Tresidder who we featured on Episode 200, who gave himself a little bit of an audit, and deleted a third of his content and actually increased his traffic as a result of that. Going back and re-updating things, and republishing them with new information, sending them out to your email list again, a lot of you who have been following SPI have seen that I've been doing that, and it's been really working for increasing traffic as well.
Alex, would you mind giving us a rundown, step by step process for doing that? We are right into the new year now, and it would be a fun exercise for people to do. Perhaps even going back to . . . How do you even . . . Do you start with Google Analytics to see what's popular, and then after you figure out what your most popular posts are? Give us a step by step for how we can maximize those efforts with older posts.
Pat Flynn: Are you looking at—I'm sorry—just the traffic alone within a certain time period, or are there any other data points or factors that you account for in there?
Alex Jimenez: In the very beginning I pulled just an initial list. What are our most popular articles, based on traffic.
Pat Flynn: Based on traffic.
Alex Jimenez: That's what I'm looking first. Sorry for not clarifying.
We even took it a step further in looking, well, if they are buying this type of product, what color are they choosing? Now we are featuring the colors that they do like. In doing so, by also looking at the sales data, we were also able to see complementary products that we weren't even thinking about.
Really a lot of what we've done has been guided by the readers, what they like, what they want, and here I'm indirectly getting their feedback by knowing what they are buying. That way I can show people, and I actually show the stuff that people want, and I know that it's . . . I know that's because I can actually look at the data. That's been really important.
That's from the monetization point of view. From an SEO point of view then I go, I use Ahrefs. I go, then I run a report on Ahrefs for the article, and pull to see what keywords, if any, the article was ranking for, and then re-optimize the article full on Ahrefs. Then use, then do some research and see, how else can we make the content more informative, what other questions can we answer that a reader might have?
Pat Flynn: That tool one more time was, is that Ahrefs.com?
Alex Jimenez: Yes. That's correct.
Pat Flynn: I use that tool as well. It's great, I'll tell you guys more about it in a little bit. One important thing I want to mention that I don't want people to forget that I think is genius, is that you are going back to these articles, based on traffic, and that's a good sign for there is opportunity there. If you are monetizing those articles—because even if you are not monetizing them, they are still bringing new people in, who could find other pages. It's important to do this for both pages that are highly monetized and pages that are not.
They are highly trafficked so they are bringing people in. The ones that are monetized, you are actually going even deeper into the sales reports. Those are just reports that Amazon associates gives you. They give you that information?
Alex Jimenez: Yes, because we've used tracking IDs for a good bulk of the post. Not only them, but the ones that we have, we've been able to look at the tracking ID and see what's selling on the article. A really quick side note I want to say, you mentioned that some high traffic articles, maybe they are not monetized. Maybe they are not possible to monetize them through affiliate product.
That's where AdThrive really come into play, because now by having an ad there I'm able to monetize it, even though I couldn't do it through a product. It's giving me an alternate option. In the same way, there are some articles that are highly monetized through products, so I remove AdThrive completely, so it's just one or the other.
Pat Flynn: Smart. I like that a lot. Now you are going into the reports and seeing what people are buying, and if that page, correct me if I'm wrong, doesn't seem to be selling that particular product, you just kind or remove it, right?
Alex Jimenez: Yeah. Actually what I found, for example let's say we feature twenty-five products. Then out of these twenty-five, if people are only really shopping for twelve they will only feature twelve. We also look at the returns. Because just because a product sells a lot, it doesn't mean that it's a good product. I don't want to feature products that aren't good quality. We are also analyzing returns as well. We are looking at everything. I've also found that offering, showcasing less options has been better.
Pat Flynn: Interesting. I also like what you said about, for the products that they are buying, you say that you are also then adding products that are complementary. How are you discovering what those products are that you didn't even know?
Alex Jimenez: By the sales data. We are just pulling everything. In the tracking ID I can see—I know Amazon has an easier way to do this now. They just launched it this year. For me, what I have been doing in the past is usually the tracking IDs. By pulling all this sales data I can see—we sort it by the product itself the most, and the quantity. We are looking at what those are. We've been surprised that some people, maybe they click a link and they end up buying something else.
That's maybe a product we hadn't really thought about, something complementary. I'm trying to remember . . . I think it was in our anti-theft accessory article. We found that people were buying maybe an anti-theft wallet, which we weren't featuring. Then we added it on there as one of our offerings.
Pat Flynn: That's so cool. So it is actually coming from still the same report, because what happens is, for those of you who don't know, when people click through an affiliate link, any affiliate link, you get to see the data on what else they are buying too, because everything that goes in their card within 24 hours you also get a chunk of money from Amazon for, which is cool. You are able to see it there.
I thought that—and maybe you are doing this, I don't know. My head went to, you go to the sales page on Amazon for that product that you promoted, that is popular and they are buying. Then you can also see, because Amazon has those algorithms that show you, "people who bought this also bought this." I imagine that that could be a good resource for other complimentary products as well. You are going to just, what exactly are people buying? Which is probably the best way to go about it too.
Pat Flynn: I love that a lot. It's making me wonder in my business, for example, I need to go into Amazon, because I know a lot of people for example buy Will It Fly? using my affiliate link. What else are they adding in the cart, what other books are they getting at the same time? Have I recommended those books yet, have I reviewed them, are they part of my book club?
Even just—this is seeding those ideas from you, which is really fantastic. Alex, this is awesome. What else do I need to know? How else has your business grown? Tell me what's on your mind.
Alex Jimenez: Well, I do wanna say the way that you are saying, it makes me think, people that buy Will It Fly?—you might be thinking about this just now, and it's totally in your business. I just thought about this just a year ago. We've been collecting all this data all these years but we've never really done anything with it. Now it came into play. A quick disclaimer, I'm not a pro at this, but it's actually something that we've been utilizing. In addition to that, like you mentioned right now, there are books that you may have not read, you may have not reviewed.
This has actually been a really big part of this year because I've been discovering, not just in the data, but also in the conversations with the audience, the products that they recommend in the posts the most. The products that they are really passionate about. I've gone ahead and I've bought them so then I can test them out see what I think. Then if, for example, there is a pair of boots, and I know they have really high sales on Amazon or wherever it is, and then I know that people are also talking about these boots on our Facebook group, I wanna learn why. Why are these so great?
Pat Flynn: That's great. What a way to cultivate the community and be a leader while also just being somebody who listens to your tribe, which I think is amazing. You had said earlier, or I know that your tribe is on Facebook, and one thing that I know you do very well, that you've actually taught me and the other accelerator students at some moments in time was your expertise on going live on Facebook. I'd love to know what your strategy is for Facebook lives. And what's your cadence, and do you have any tips to share with us who also have communities?
Alex Jimenez: I am obsessed with Facebook Live right now. I love Facebook Live. For me it's . . . For many years, probably for the first four years of the business, I was really scared or afraid to be the face of the brand or the face of the blog. Even still now, it really isn't my bone. It was never my goal. It was really scary to put myself out there on Facebook Live. It's now one of my favorite things to do, because it's a chance to really connect with the audience.
I'm speaking, I'm getting a chance to connect with them on a whole other level. I'm also giving . . . I'm using the Facebook Lives almost as webinars. And I'm not just going in like, "Hey, who is tuning in today? What's the weather like in your destination?" I'm going straight from the beginning saying, "today I'm gonna teach you about how to pack for the cold weather." I go and give a really informative webinar. I'm not upselling at the end. There is no pitch. It's just, "here is exactly how to pack, here are my tips. These are some of the products I recommend." Then if you are interested in the products, which, I get a lot of questions, then they can to go a URL on my website where then after the Facebook Live is over I share all the products, and I post links there.
So they can then go and purchase them. This has been a bit strategic in the sense that it makes it easy for me to be able to respond to everybody because they might say, "Can I get a link to those shoes, can I get a link to the socks, can I get a link to this?" Instead of giving them 100 links, we are looking at 100 comments here, then I can just send them to one place where they can find links to all the products. That helps me, I'm giving them the information that they want, but it's also, I'm also able to monetize the Facebook Lives through affiliates that way as well, by sending them back to a certain page.
The Facebook Live isn't just about that. One, it's about creating the audience, but it's also about creating content. I sort of . . . I call it my super content funnel. I forgot my name for it. Another reason why I started doing Facebook Lives is because I wanted to be able to use that content and repurpose it throughout my blog, and my YouTube channel, social media and everything. I try to record as best quality of a Facebook live as I can—always in the horizontal format, that way I can use it for YouTube. I usually do about a twenty to thirty minute Facebook Live, up to sixty minutes, of course because I'm speaking about a subject I feel very knowledgeable about, I wanna give as many tips as possible. That's why they are so long. It's like an audio blog post essentially. I then send that Facebook Live to a video editor, who then pieces it down to about ten minutes long, five to ten minutes long, so we can then repurpose it for a YouTube video.
I know it's not perfect YouTube star quality, but that's okay because my goal isn't to be a YouTube star, my goal is to give my audience a new way to digest the information, and to people already on Facebook as well. This gives them a chance to get to see the presentation, essentially without having to go see the whole thing. They just get the highlights in the YouTube video.
From there obviously then I then have a video that can go inside the blog post, or other blog posts to help boost the SEO for them. It's really a full circle thing. I could even reuse those as tips to then go into social; I share that on social. It's a full-circle, content repurposing thing that I do with Facebook Live.
Pat Flynn: That's epic. How much time do you spend preparing for a Facebook Live before you actually go live?
Alex Jimenez: Probably not enough. I should be better prepared, but I find that I just like to be a little bit more authentic in myself, which is why I'm never prepared. That works out and my readers like it. Actually they mostly like my stuff that way. Probably about at least an hour setting up in advance, trying to make sure that the lighting is correct, if I'm using lights, if they are in the right place. My phone, I'm recording with the phone—I'm not using any fancy camera because I'm pretty bad with stuff like that. I just try to keep it simple. I just want to get it done. This, for me Facebook Live allows me to accomplish the goal and create a video, and not worry too much about it being perfect, which is something that I struggle with, everything has to be perfect. This gives me the permission not to be perfect. With that being said, I also get my products ready.
The script, I don't actually write a script, because I feel that if I don't—if I need to write a script, then I don't know the information well enough to talk about it, then I don't bother with that, I just talk about a topic that I do know, and I'm very confident about. That's where I go.
Usually the topic is based on something seasonal. For example right now it's winter time. People are traveling in the winter. Yesterday I did a Facebook Live about how to pack for cold weather. I gave an example, I did a demo. I showed the type of clothing, how to pack it. Otherwise, I'll be sharing—next week for example, I'm going to be doing a Facebook Live about how to downsize toiletries because I know these two topics, they are seasonal, but they are also things that people struggle with. I'm actually, how to pack for cold weather, it was a big issue, a big topic, people were talking about it all over the Facebook group. I wanted to go in there as soon as possible and create something for them so they can stop stressing out and they can see that it is possible and help them.
Pat Flynn: I love that. When it comes to preparation for these webinars, what was really interesting to me was that you said that you have a URL that you know that you are gonna send people to, prepared ahead of time, mentioning the products that you are going to be mentioning in the webinar. That takes a little bit of time and care to prepare ahead of time.
Are you creating these for your Lives, or do you already have those in place and then you kind of do the live Facebook Live, which is kind of like a webinar? You are giving information, you are teaching, you are showing, you are demoing. Is that based on stuff that you've already talked about so that URL kind of already exists, or are you creating that list after the fact? Not after, but for the Facebook Live specifically?
Alex Jimenez: Both. I use the same, I've been using the same URL this entire, through the past year or so, TravelFashionGirl.com/facebook-live. That way, trying to get people accustomed to always being able to find the same URL, and it's easy. While I'm live I have someone helping me out by sharing the link to that URL. Sometimes if I can prepare enough in advance, and it would be smart if I did this every single time, but I've already added the products that I'm gonna be talking about.
Then other times I do it afterwards, because maybe I'm just flying by the seat of my pants, and things are just coming up and it's just natural. For example, yesterday somebody asked me a comment on the Facebook Live, which was, "How much does a packing cube weigh with all the clothing?" I thought, "Wait, that's a great question. It's Facebook Live. Wait a second. Let me go find my luggage scale." Then now I weigh them.
Pat Flynn: That's cool, I love that. That's super smart. People get trained over time to know that Alex is gonna update this, or this is updated already for them, the link with all the things. I think having it all in one spot is really smart. That's really great. I want to continue to talk for another couple of hours, because you have so much sort of really practical information that a lot of the listeners can use and I can use as well.
The final thing I wanna talk about before we finish up is, I know recently you've launched something that is your own. I'd love for you to just talk a little bit about why you went down that route, and really what is this? I think this is a dream for a lot of people who have brands, who have traffic, to want to go down this route. You are doing it, and it's up there. Tell us what that is and feel free to share the name of it and all that stuff, and how has that process been for you?
Alex Jimenez: A year ago I actually launched my own brand of travel accessories. It's called Compass Rose Travel Accessories. I sell them on Amazon. It took so long to get to the point where I could finally have my own products. In fact, if it wasn't for my husband, and his experience sourcing products in his previous career, then I wouldn't have been able to do it without him. It was so challenging trying to get to that point where I finally went on Facebook Live and said, "I'm just gonna go up here, and I'm just gonna do this. Otherwise, I'm never gonna get to this point." Because it took me three years of testing product, testing materials, making sure that what I was creating was gonna be good enough for my audience.
Originally, before I started Travel Fashion Girl I wanted to start a clothing line. That was my original dream for many years. I used to work in the fashion industry. As that dream changed and evolved over time I realized, "Well, I'm really passionate about certain products." For example, packing cubes. Those are sort of my anchor product. This is my baby product, because this is a product that I found so useful back when I was struggling to travel carry on, and that was the one product that helped me. As it turns out, this really crappy YouTube video I made, showing people how I used these packing cubes, really hit.
It helps. It's now, I looked at the data, it has over 20,000,000 travelers, female travelers, downsized their suitcase and travel carry on, only with this strategy. I really was passionate about this. I knew that it worked and it was a product that they love so much too. Everybody just loves them. I wanted to make my own. I didn't want to make something that wasn't gonna be as good or better than the products I was already using. Finally, I got to the point where I found the right manufacturer, somebody I trusted, and we were able to move forward with that product. But even then I was really scared; how would my audience react? Is this gonna be good enough? Are they gonna think this is good? I don't know.
There was so much self-doubt involved in this process. It was very, it was a very scary journey. What I did was, because I was so scared, and I was never gonna do it, I just made myself go on Facebook Live and pre-sell it, and test the idea, will it fly? I did a one hour Facebook Live. I showed everybody my sample of the prototype and I said, "For two weeks, I'm gonna be opening it up for pre-sale. If you guys are interested, no matter if I sell five pieces or five thousand pieces, I'm gonna make this for you. I just wanna try and see if it works.
As it turns out, my audience loved it. They were so excited by it. I had over 600 sales just from that one Facebook Live, and a couple of emails, follow up emails, that I didn't . . . I didn't even announce it really on my blog. I'm really bad about promoting my own things. It was incredible to see that. Then I spent the next few months getting these products manufactured. Then my husband and I, and even some of our family and friends QC'd. So we did quality control for each and every single packing cube.
There is four per set. So it was like 3,400 or something packing cubes. We wanted to make sure they were good. I wanted to be proud of what I was providing to the audience. I generally can feel that I am proud of what we did. We actually mailed every single one ourselves to the initial buyers. I had a note. And it was an experience that everybody said not to do. But I don't really like to listen to people. I just did what I knew was right. I wanted to experience that, because I didn't want it to be easy. I wanted to have a hands-on experience; how is it done?
We were able to learn so much about shipping, about quality control, to make the next batch even better, and then to learn the best ways to fulfill products. Now we've launched two other products, these carry-on sized slim packing cubes that are color-coded and numbered, which is unique too. They are the only ones that have this organizational system, and they are the only ones fit for carry on travel, because obviously I talk about carry on travel.
Then we've also launched in our RFID line, secret bra stash, and an international travel adapter. We are hoping to launch a few more products in the coming year. It's a work in progress, and I'm very proud of it. And definitely having a blog that talks about the products has been a benefit, because now I'm able to organically, naturally add these products, where I was recommending other companies. Now I can recommend my own, and because I believe in their quality I can also do it with integrity as well.
Pat Flynn: That's amazing. You should be super proud of what you've created. You've come full circle. You started out by wanting to help others, and you started promoting products on Amazon that were not yours. Then you started making money through advertising. Now here you are actually creating your own products that now live on Amazon, and you are selling them to your audience, and you are going live and you are selling them. I also know that they are ranking fairly well in Amazon right now too.
Now you are getting new people discovering you and your brand through the products that you've created now, which is just totally amazing. I'm just proud of you, and really excited to see what comes next, Alex. This is really, really a very encouraging podcast episode, because you said a lot of things that I think a lot of people can relate to. I hope you all realize that if you just have the drive to figure things out, you will succeed just like Alex.
You had mentioned earlier that, or a number of things—that you were scared before going live on Facebook, figuring out how to sell things. That you are not an expert, that you don't know the tech stuff very well, yet you were able to figure this out. I want you to finish off the episode by sharing with everybody who is listening right now—it's at the start of the new year. We have plans, and there are doubts. How do you encourage those people to fight through those doubts, and take action so they can find success as well in their own way?
Alex Jimenez: Really it's probably something that my husband is always telling me, is that it's a lot of those doubts, they are all just within ourselves, they are all really—we put a lot of pressure on ourselves in a negative or positive way. And it's coming from us. We also have the power to change that. We have the power to change that inner dialog. Sometimes you just have to try. What's the worst thing that can happen?
I went on Facebook Live. If it was horrible and people hated it, I could delete it. Put your face out there online, it is a very scary thing to do. I've been very very fortunate that over the years I've had really, really negative comments. I'm still grateful for that. Putting yourself out there is also about being authentic and being yourself. I was scared to put myself out there, but I found that in just being me, whether it's clumsy or silly or unorganized or just showing how much . . . Even being vulnerable and putting your heart on your sleeve. That might sound cheesy but it has worked. You got to try it. That's all you can do is try, otherwise you'll never know.
Pat Flynn: Alex, thank you so much. What can we expect from Travel Fashion Girl and Compass Rose in the future?
Alex Jimenez: Bigger and better than ever before. My goal is always to double. I want to double in growth, double in traffic every year. Compass Rose, I'd love to continue growing it. I do plan to launch another two to three products next year. Really, it's just flowing. I'm in this for the long haul. I believe in the brand, and I believe in the audience. I believe in how we can help the community. I'm gonna continue listening to the community and what they want, and evolve based on what they wanna hear from me and what they wanna see from me.
Pat Flynn: I love it. Well, keep up the great work, Alex. Thank you so much for being here and sharing with us your wisdom, your experience, and encouraging all of us to continue to push forward. The URLs for where people can go to find you?
Alex Jimenez: TravelFashionGirl.com and the items are on CompassRoseTravelAccessories.com.
Pat Flynn: Awesome. Thank you so much Alex, we appreciate you.
Alex Jimenez: Thank you Pat. This has been incredible. Thank you for the opportunity to be here. You rock.
Pat Flynn: All right. I hope you enjoyed that episode with Alex. Again, you can find her at TravelFashionGirl.com, and of course all the links and the resources mentioned in this episode you could find at the show notes page on the SPI blog. You can find that at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session353. Alex, I know you are listening to this. I'm so thankful that you trusted me to help coach you this past year through the Accelerator Program. For those of you who don't know what the SPI Accelerator Program is, many people actually haven't heard of it.
I launched it last year around this time, actually. I started an application process in 2018 for the higher level, more advanced segments of my email list. That's a much smaller segment of my email list. I needed a way to serve that audience, because most of the content that I was coming out with on the podcast, the blog, were more for the beginner and intermediate people in my audience. I knew there was a segment of audience who was more advanced who could use some more precise advice, and some different kinds of coaching versus what an entrepreneur who is just starting out could use.
I recruited about twelve people, and we have been meeting every other week on a call, and we even met in person in San Diego not too long ago to have a two and a half day retreat together to really break down our businesses, and build it back up even stronger. I just cannot talk about Alex enough and how amazing she is. She contributed so much to this group, and so she is a person to follow for sure, because of her knowledge and her expertise in this space, as you could tell.
Again, one more time, TravelFashionGirl.com, and she's got some products and some articles, and some very helpful articles there for you if you are going on any travels upcoming as well.
Thank you so much. I appreciate you for listening in and I look forward to serving you in the next upcoming episodes here. We have a lot of great stuff coming your way and a big announcement coming next week. Make sure you subscribe if you haven't already. A big announcement. A huge change. Probably, if you were to actually compare it to other things that have happened in my business, it might actually be the biggest decision I will have ever made ever in my business since I started it ten years ago.
Make sure you stick around and listen for that one. It's a big one. I have a special guest to share that announcement with you. Until then, I appreciate you. Here we go 2019, let's rock it out. Cheers, and I'll see you in the next episode. Bye. Team Flynn for the win.
Special thanks to Alex Jimenez for joining me this week. Until next time!
Data, ads, SEO, affiliate marketing, and organic connection with your audience can drive massive traffic and revenue for your online business. Today's guest breaks down the tools and tactics she used to grow a niche site with almost 1 million monthly visitors!
How Alex turned her own frustrations with traveling into a profitable niche business.
The game-changing conversation Alex had with another female traveler.
Why Alex's site saw a massive influx of traffic so early, and how she rode the wave.
How packing lists drive Alex's traffic and serve her audience at the same time.
How Alex uses data and SEO to tweak content and increase earnings.
Tools and tactics Alex uses for tracking data, SEO, and more.
How audience interaction influences Alex's business and informs her content.
How Alex uses Facebook Live and repurposes her sessions into multiple content streams.
How Alex validated her new physical product line and launched it on Amazon.
How to fight through doubts to find your success, and more!


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Brown County Hosts Four-Day Bluegrass Bonanza at the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Uncle Pen Days Festival 2018
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Enjoy some of the best in Bluegrass at the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Uncle Pen Days Festival, September 19-22. The legendary bluegrass bash returns to Brown County for a 44th year, featuring four full days of entertainment. Taking place at the "home of bluegrass music" itself, over 30 bands will take the stage, delivering show-stopping performances. The fest also will include vocal, music, and instrument workshops, around-the-clock jam sessions, camping, food, and the induction of renown songwriters Miss Dixie and Tom T. Hall into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame.
Named after the Father of Bluegrass, this festival will pay tribute to the late great Bill Monroe, while also showcasing some of the top bluegrass performers of today. Held at Bill Monroe's Music Park & Campground, this festival's unique venue is unlike any other around. With its relaxed atmosphere and rustic surroundings, Monroe's "Mecca of Bluegrass," provides the perfect locale for the festival and for celebrating some of the best in bluegrass.
Festival-goers can expect to see many world-class performers throughout the bluegrass bonanza, such as Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, Paul Williams, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out, Bobby Osborne and Rocky Top X-Press, Band of Ruhks, Larry Sparks and Lonesome Ramblers, Sideline, Trinity River, Ralph Stanley II and Clinch Mountain Boys, Audie Blaylock and Redline, Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time, Danny Paisley and Southern Grass, Po' Ramblin' Boys, The Grascals, and more.
Miss Dixie and Tom T. Hall also will be inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, which was established in 1984. Hand-picked by Monroe, inductees began to be added to the Hall of Fame for their substantial and enduring contributions to bluegrass music, a tradition that continues to this day despite Monroe's death in 1996.
Miss Dixie and Tom T. Hall have long been standouts in the bluegrass songwriting scene. Contributing more than 50 years and thousands of songs, this duo is most deserving of their induction. Aside from their prolific songwriting skills, the Halls also have had a positive influence on the genre by helping young and struggling artists and have even recorded a few songs themselves.
In addition to outstanding performances, the festival also will feature vocal, music, and instrument workshops, as well as food, vendors, camping, and more. Not to mention ongoing jam sessions, a guaranteed bonus that always can be found at Bill Monroe's Music Park & Campground.
Tickets for the festival range $25 - $35 for daily tickets and $130 for a four-day fest pass. Each festival ticket includes admission to the Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Country Star Museum, a tour of Uncle Pen's Cabin, plus all vocal, music, and instrument workshops. Camping and ticket reservations can be made by calling 812-988-6422.
Honor music legend Bill Monroe as you enjoy world-class bluegrass in Brown County, September 19-22. For more information on the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Uncle Pen Days Festival, including tickets and a complete lineup of performers, please visit www.billmonroemusicpark.com or call 812-988-6422.
by Aubrey Sitzman, Brown County
About Brown County, Ind.: No matter what you're looking for, escape comes naturally in Brown County. Eclectic boutiques and galleries, breathtaking scenery, welcoming accommodations, and endless outdoor adventures await in one of America's original artists' colonies. From art to the great outdoors, there's something for everyone to enjoy, and for most, it's only a short drive away. Unplug from daily life and reconnect with one another as you experience the rustic beauty and artisanal charm of Brown County. Plan your escape today…you'll be glad you did.
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Murray State Racers Roadshow Hits Owensboro Today!

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CALIFORNIA: Gay Death Penalty Ballot Measure Will Probably Be Advanced - Joe.My.God.
The state Supreme Court has the power to keep measures off the ballot if they violate the California Constitution. It has exercised that power to disqualify measures that cover more than one subject, broadly defined, and to block last year's attempt by legislative Democrats to seek a statewide advisory vote on a U.S. constitutional amendment that would limit corporate spending in federal elections. Presumably the justices could locate a state constitutional provision that would discourage shooting people in the head.
But McLaughlin's measure is currently before Harris, whose options appear to be limited. Once the sponsor has paid the required fee, state law directs the attorney general to prepare a title and a maximum 100-word summary of the initiative and forward it to the secretary of state for a 90-day period of public signature-gathering. The secretary of state's website says Harris is scheduled to take those actions by about May 4.
Does she have the power to refuse if the measure is patently unconstitutional? Harris isn't saying; her office did not return repeated phone calls. But some veteran practitioners of election law said they don't think so. "The statute is clear: that the office has to prepare a summary provided the proponents have paid $200 and followed the right procedures," said attorney Robert Stern, author of the state's 1974 Political Reform Act. He said he's never heard of a case in which the attorney general refused to issue a title and summary.
The ballot measure briefly vanished from the AG's official website earlier this month, but soon reappeared. The proposed referendum includes this stipulation: "Any person who willingly touches another person of the same gender for purposes of sexual gratification shall be put to death by bullets to the head or by any other convenient method." Jesus is love.