Summon magic ! Mama Moon Candles with founder Semra
Every conscious business starts with the dream and purpose. Please tell us yours.
I wanted to create an accessible ritualistic tool to bring magic in to peoples lives.
How important is social media for telling your story and building your community? Which social media channels have had the most profound impact to your business?
Instagram is my main social media channel, and has definitely played a major part in building my brand. I have a very loyal and supportive following, which kind of makes me feel like I have a local shop and gives me a feeling of knowing my customers. I have built some really amazing relationships through Instagram, posts of my personal successes seem to get the most likes, this is something that really warms my cockles and confirms what an embracing and welcoming community it is.
Describe your visual identity. How do you curate it and how is it helping you to tell your story.
I feel that my visual identity is very me and that I really get to express myself in this way. I like to think its got a high vibing feel good factor and little tongue and cheek in some places. I try not to take myself too seriously.. I hope that by doing this it goes with my brands ethos of making magic and rituals accessible to all.
I am constantly experimenting with my hashtag strategy. I tried to get #witchesofhackney going at one point! My most successful according to Instagrams analytics is #newmoon.
Do you have a #hashtag strategy? Have you created branded #’s and which of these have been most successful?
@mamamooncandles
"I feel that my visual identity is very me and that I really get to express myself in this way.
I like to think its got a high vibing feel good factor and little tongue and cheek in some places.
I try not to take myself too seriously.. I hope that by doing this it goes with my brands ethos of making magic and rituals accessible to all. "
I think that UCG is very important. I see it working very much like a word of mouth recommendation from a friend. Luckily my lovely customers post up gorgeous pictures of my candles burning in very pretty and complimentary posts. I am always filled with gratitude for this and re share these posts. If there us a lot of sharing going on, I always pop a little treat in the post!
How important is UGC for your brand? How do you engage and build your community and reward them for their loyalty?
I'm not the biggest selfie fan, so my own personal face is very rarely on my social feed, which is why I think having a little bit of offline stuff happening to is important. I have done a few pop ups, and spell making workshops. I also host spiritual tupperware parties at peoples houses. There is nothing like getting to meet people in real life and have a good old gossip!
Do you intertwine offline & online presence? If yes, how important is creating offline experiences for you?
Paid or earned media? Is Influencer Marketing important in your strategy?
I find both paid and earned helpful. I wasn't paying for any of my Instagram adverts, but then had a chat with a very helpful chap in an uber pool ride and he advised me to put adds on Instagram, which I did and it was definitely a good idea! Shares and reposts are always amazing, and I always find it interesting to see which of my posts get loads of reposts. As for influencers, I find them very hit and miss, for instance I have had someone with a million followers post about me and gained around 50 followers, but then have had people with 3000 followers post and then receive lots of sales. Its something that I am still experimenting with.
I am always inspired by a good quote. @words_of_women and anything Oprah Winfrey (@oprah) are always a go to! I also love @scorpiomystique a page dedicated to me and all of my scorpio family and @chaninicholas for daily astrological insights and inspiration.