#18 - How to Turn a Viral Moment into a Successful Business with Sherrica Sims

03/23/20 • 30 min

On this week's episode of The Shontavia Show, host Shontavia Johnson speaks with Sherrica Sims, who has received more than 13 million views and counting on a viral YouTube video featuring her and her daughter.
Seeing the potential opportunity to leverage their millions of views, Sherrica turned her family's viral moment into Simply Sims - a brand based on her family's digital content. Sherrica also founded Go Be Great Productions, a business entity that houses all of their brand and partnership opportunities.

To date, the Simply Sims brand has appeared on shows including Ellen, Little Big Shots, and Good Morning America. Simply Sims has also worked with brands like YouTube, Nickelodeon, Kohl's, and #RyansPlayDate. In this episode, Sherrica talks about how she's turned a 3.5 minute video into a dynamic brand and successful business.
//Show Highlights
02:15 How growing up in a very religious home led Sherrica Sims to finding her own voice
03:13 Why Sherrica created the viral video that now has more than 13 million views
04:47 How Sherrica received help in making her video go viral
06:07 How people make money off of viral videos
09:25 How Sherrica capitalized on the new attention from her viral video by listening to her target audience
10:33 How 2 years of consistency led to a partnership with YouTube
11:44 How Sherrica created a business after her viral video
13:16 How having a family brand impacts the Sims family
16:01 How to secure brand deals while being true to yourself
19:18 How content creators make money online
23:02 Three things people need to do if they want to become content creators/influencers
24:47 Who's helped Sherrica build her successful business and platform
27:51 Where to find the Simply Sims brand online
// Show Notes
My 3 year old tries to get out of trouble by telling stories with Tiffany Sims: https://youtu.be/MVs71CBX7J8
Simply Sims YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UConfdDrYWwZm_rUtTYnf6hw
Simply Sims on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplysimsfamily/
Simply Sims on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplysimsfamily/
Simply Sims on Twitter: https://twitter.com/simplysimsFam
Simply Sims on Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@simplysimsfamily
//Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShontaviaJEsq
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shontaviajesq/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shontaviajesq/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shontaviajesq/
Tumblr: http://shontaviajesq.tumblr.com/
YouTube: https://www.shontavia.tv

Previous Episode

#17 - Copyrights 101 for Content Creators

In this episode of The Shontavia Show, host Shontavia Johnson runs through copyrights 101--she talks about why content creators--and everybody who uses/posts things on social media--probably interact with, and create more, copyrighted work than any other type of intellectual property. She also explains why, even though you don't have to register works with the Copyright Office, you might want to think about it.

If you've ever wondered if you own any copyrighted work, and what you should do if you do, this episode is for you!

02:05 Missy Elliott's important definition of copyrights!
03:21 The importance of copyrights for content creators
04:43 Taking it all the way back to the U.S. Constitution
05:45 The three things you need to protect your work via copyright law
12:17 What you DON'T need to protect your work via copyright law
16:14 Why your work can suck and still be copyrighted
18:39 Why you may want to pay to register your copyrighted work with the Copyright Office, even though you don't have to
21:57 How long copyright protection lasts
23:45 What copyright protection gives you
26:12 Why you should understand copyright law, even if you have a team of lawyers

// Show Notes

How to copyright your content: https://shontavia.com/how-to-protect-the-content-youve-created/

Don’t put off protecting your work: https://shontavia.com/you-may-be-ignoring-the-most-important-parts-of-your-business/

Answers from the U.S. Copyright Office to Frequently Asked Questions about Copyright: https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/index.html

//Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShontaviaJEsq
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shontaviajesq/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shontaviajesq/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shontaviajesq/
Tumblr: http://shontaviajesq.tumblr.com/
YouTube: https://www.shontavia.tv

Next Episode

#19 - How to Use Conferences to Build Your Business and Brand

In this episode of The Shontavia Show (pre-recorded long before the COVID-19 pandemic), host Shontavia Johnson talks about using conferences to build your business and brand. She provides advice about how to get the coveted invitation from conference organizers, including how to choose a speaking topic, how to create content around your speaking topic, and how to create "social proof" of your speaking abilities--even if you haven't been invited to speak anywhere yet.
Shontavia also provides a list of +100 conferences that can serve as starting points for your research and eventual speaker pitches.
01:37 Story about how attending one conference (where I was told my idea was trash) led to me winning international awards and being invited to the TEDx stage

10:26 The three things you should aim to do as a conference speaker

12:51 How to get the invitation from conference organizers to serve as a speaker

16:14 Why I think you need to create a vision before accepting any speaking engagements

18:01 How to choose the topic you plan to speak about in 3-4 words

19:37 Why creating content around your speaking topic is critically important

20:41 The types of content you can create to grow your speaking opportunties

23:29 How to develop some "social proof" of your speaking capabilities

24:16 Where to find conferences to pitch yourself as a speaker

// Show Notes
Create your vision: https://shontavia.com/starthere/
List of +100 conferences: http://listofconferences.com/
Being Prepared For the Future of Events for Speakers and Event Professionals: https://gravityspeakers.com/being-prepared-for-the-future-of-events-for-speakers-and-event-professionals/
How Not to Pitch Yourself as a Speaker: https://archive.yellowco.co/blog/2018/05/07/how-to-not-pitch-yourself-speaker/
How to pitch for speaking opportunities at a conference: 3 tips for success: https://muckrack.com/blog/2019/02/13/how-to-pitch-for-speaking-opportunities-at-conferences
How to Pitch Yourself (or Your CEO) as a Speaker: https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-pitch-yourself-or-your-ceo-as-a-speaker
//Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShontaviaJEsq
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shontaviajesq/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shontaviajesq/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shontaviajesq/
Tumblr: http://shontaviajesq.tumblr.com/
YouTube: https://

The Shontavia Show - #18 - How to Turn a Viral Moment into a Successful Business with Sherrica Sims

Transcript

Shontavia Johnson00:00:00.119

What's up, y'all. Welcome to The Shontavia Show, where my goal is to help you start a business based on your life's vision. This ain't gonna be your daddy's business advice. I'm laser focused on entrepreneurship in the 21st century, vision and breaking the traditional mold. If you can get with that, you can get with me, be sure to visit shontavia.com for more episodes, blog posts, and other content. Thank you for listening. The show start