Delana Simmons

10/05/2021

Tulsa. I love you. October 2021.

04/25/2020

WHAT'S ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Things are super weird right now, right? At home 24/7 for, what..., a month and a half almost. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I know I can start feeling a little funky. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So today let's think about the things we've always wanted to do. (And will probably make a priority now that we know how quickly things can change!)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I'll start with my top two! 🙋🏻‍♀️⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1. Visit Paris (and the rest of France). I love the French language and have always wanted to go there! I started using Rosetta Stone recently to freshen up what I learned a million years ago in high school and college French classes! (this includes Disneyland Paris, obvi. 💁🏻‍♀️)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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2. Travel in a tiny house van. I am very on the fence about this being a full time thing or a van I have on hand for impulse get aways but one thing I know is I definitely want to give it a go! Pack up the pup and hit the road with everything I need! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Now I want to hear all about yours! One, two, or ten! Let's hear 'em! 👇🏻👇🏻

04/22/2020

WHY DO I DO WHAT I DO?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
To help others leave their mark on the world. (check out my last post for how I got there!)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I've often wondered what my purpose is. My BIG purpose. Why do I do what I do? What good does it do anyone else? (you ever ask yourself those questions randomly too? 😂)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This part of my journey has been about 4 years now. And it's gone from general VA to tech VA, to course builder, to tech specialist, to SEO and Pinterest expert. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It's been a long 4 years. 😅⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But one thing became super apparent to me through the last 4 years. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I'm really good with tech and computers and learning new platforms. And it dates back as farrrrrrr as I can remember. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And I want to use those skills to help my clients (you) to make your mark. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The feedback I get from my clients most often is how much time I've saved them by taking care of x, y, or z. (funnels, forms, emails, website updates, Pinterest, SEO...you name it).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Or how it would have taken them forever to figure something out that's now done.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And that kind of stuff can hold some people back from making progress because they just don't know how to move forward. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
That's okay! (social media has held me back for a LONG time. We all have our weak spots). That's why I'm here. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So you can do what you do best. And leave the SEO, the Pinterest, the tech to me (ahem, so your people can find you 😉)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Drop your favorite emoji if you're living your life purpose or are on your way to it! 👇🏻⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
PS: It's ok if you don't know what it is yet! 💜

04/20/2020

Imagining I'm in my favorite place right now... Behind the Starbucks at Disney Springs. Staring at the beautiful view of the balloon and the lake and the Welcome Home sign at Saratoga Springs. (You can't see that sign here because of the Marathon Weekend signs...one of my other favorite things)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I'm missing this place. 💔⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But while we're all at home, and in case we haven't met yet (HI! 👋🏻), I wanted to share a little about my story with you. How I got started in my career and my purpose. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I spent 12 long years in retail. Pharmacy retail, to be exact. And I had finally had enough. It was time for something else. (maybe you can relate to that!)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I landed what appeared to be a dream job about 7 months after I moved to Florida. I got to work from home (this was HUGE!), I was working for a big company (you'd know them), all the benefits. It was great for a while. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But then I got tired of working from home + having to follow someone else's schedule. I mean, if the weather is nice, let me work outside! 😂But it was a super strict schedule and I even had to get approval to move. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
That got old. So I started thinking about what I could do from home that would let me have the schedule I wanted. And actually help people, not just give them refunds. 😏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And THAT is when I started my adventure as a virtual assistant. (my work has transitioned a lot but that's where it all started)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Maybe the most magical part of that whole piece of my story is that I learned exactly how I can take my computer and tech and marketing skills and use them to help other people.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Help others break out of 9-5 jobs and live out their own purpose. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Help them take their business and vision to the next level because they don't have to worry about the things that aren't their forte (tech, Pinterest, SEO)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Most importantly, help others leave their mark on the world. We all have one to leave. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What's yours?👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

04/09/2020

We’re hearing all the talk right now about business downtime and what that means for small businesses. So this week, we’re going to talk about six things you can start doing right now to proactively set your business up for success now, and in the future when things get back to “normal.”

Guys, it's so important not to stop right now. I know it's hard. But if you can keep moving forward right now, you'll be ready to hit the ground running when we're on the other side of this chaos. 😉

We’re hearing all the talk right now about business downtime and what that means for small businesses. So in this post, we’re going to talk about six things you can start doing right now to proactively set your business up for success now, and in the future when things get back to “normal.”

04/08/2020

Have you heard?

Pinterest is one of the best ways to drive targeted leads to your website.

I mean think about it, Pinterest is a visual search engine, not a social media, right? So people on on it searching for something very specific.

Which means they are searching for you! And the solution you have to their problem.

So here's my question to you. Are you showing up in the search results? Because if you aren't, you're missing out on people who know what they're looking for and are ready to buy the solution from an expert.

Okay, they very well may be looking for free solutions. But, think about this. If you provide them a free solution to a problem, they will keep coming back to you.

Will will eventually lead to a paid solution, my friend.

(hint: that's called a marketing funnel)

So if you're not using Pinterest as the first step in your marketing funnel, it's time.

And if you're not even sure where to start with Pinterest, click the first link in the comments. I've got something special for you! 💜

04/08/2020

Guys! New blog post all about using this downtime in your business to your advantage. Namely by using it to spruce up your Pinterest account.

Because the truth is, people are still searching for the problems you solve. So let's make sure they can find you.

I've got 4 super easy steps for you here plus a very special offer you don't want to miss if you're struggling to get Pinterest off the ground.

Hear me now. Yes, this time is stressful. I get it. 100%.

I know we don't know what the upcoming weeks or months hold. Yes, I'm missing out on things I was looking forward to with ALL of my heart and I'm sad.

But. We. Can't. Stop.

This will end. And we have to come out the other side standing. Don't sit on the sidelines until then. Be as proactive as you can right now in this moment. So you can come out ahead later on.

Your people are still looking for you. Make sure they can find you on Pinterest by optimizing your account with a profile, boards, and pins that use the keywords they are searching. Refresh your Pinterest account while you're facing a bit of downtime in your business.

03/27/2020

It's been a weird couple of weeks, right?

Times are crazy. Dogs are ridiculously happy (because everyone is home, of course). And most of us are probably wondering what we're supposed to do next.

I hear ya.

I'm here for you. I don't know the best way to serve you through this yet, but I'm working on it. If you need something, tell me and I'll do the very best I can to help you.

In the meantime, here are some things I'm doing to try to stay sane through all this social distancing and isolation...

→ Audiobooks. I'm currently listening to Get Out Of Your Own Way by , Super Attractor by , and The Greatest You by .

→ Running. Or any kind of movement, really. I had been running 3-4 times a week training for the biggest physical challenge I've ever taken on. The Star Wars Rival Run and Kessel Run Challenges. Which equals two half marathons and one 10k. One of the half marathons and the 10k were to be run in the same weekend. I worked so hard to register for those races. Then they were cancelled. Not even postponed. Heartbroken. But all we can do is keep moving forward. Keep training for the next race.

→ Serve. I've been a bit quiet over the last week or two. Part of that is simply not knowing what to say. Do I keep doing what I do? Do I need to shift gears? What do people even want right now? But just like with running, it's more important now than ever to keep going. Maybe we need to adjust the sails a little. But now is not the time to hide. Now is the time to keep serving your people.

Stay safe out there, my friend!

03/26/2020

There's a lot of buzz out there about...

Fresh content for Pinterest.
Pinterest only wants fresh content.
I have to make new pins CONSTANTLY! 😩

Woah there, sister.

It's really not that complicated. And I've laid it all out for you right here. 😉

You may have heard that Pinterest recently announced some new updates to their algorithm. So in this post we’re going to talk about one of the things Pinterest deemed most important for expanding your reach - Fresh content.

03/26/2020

This might be my favorite meme! 😂😂 Share your favorite in the comments!