Ep. 04: One Million Organically Grown Instagram Followers with Nicole Burke

In this episode, Stacie welcomes the founder of Gardenary Inc., Nicole Burke, to discuss her journey as a creative entrepreneur in the gardening world. Nicole shares her inspiring story of turning a passion for gardening into a successful business without spending a dime on ads. They delve into the strategies Nicole used to grow her audience organically, the importance of building real connections, and how to overcome the fear of putting oneself out there.   Today on Art + Audience: Introduction to Nicole Burke: Nicole shares her background and how she transitioned from homeschooling mom to gardening expert and business owner. Gardening as Healing: Nicole talks about how gardening helped her overcome personal challenges and inspired her mission to make gardening accessible to everyone. Starting a Business: The beginnings of her business, Rooted Garden, and the pivotal role Instagram played in her growth. Building an Audience Organically: Nicole breaks down her unique approach to social media, viewing it as a town with different levels of engagement. Content Strategy: Insight into the types of content Nicole creates to attract, educate, showcase, and invite her audience. Handling Negative Feedback: Nicole and Stacie discuss dealing with negative comments and the importance of loving your business more than your ego. Engagement Tips: Practical advice for creating engaging content and using automation tools like ManyChat to connect with your audience. Free Resource for Listeners: Nicole offers a free mini-course on creating effective social media posts. Connect with Nicole Burke: Instagram: @gardenaryco | @HeyNicoleBurke Website:  gardenary.com | heynicoleburke.com Free Mini-Course: Available for podcast listeners at heynicoleburke.com   Connect with Stacie Bloomfield: Subscribe, Rate and Review: Art + Audience Podcast Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart  Facebook: @ShopGingiber Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber