35 \\ Ready to Make More Sales? 5 Ways To Turn Warm Leads into High-Ticket Sales

There's just a major trust recession nowadays. People, as much as they know that online is where the majority of consumers are, it's like 75% now. People do their shopping online. People know that they are going to buy on social, but they don't want to be sold to. You know what I mean? So, make it less transactional and more relational, and by acknowledging them, you're already getting your foot in the door, in their heart and in their trust.
Tired of showing up online, posting your heart out, and still hearing crickets? Are you doing all the right things, but wondering why your content isn't converting, your DMs are dry, and your audience isn't buying? You're not alone, and this podcast is exactly for you. Welcome to Social Media Marketing for Small Businesses, where strategy meets soul and connection. Well, that's the secret sauce. Hi, I'm Cheyanne Cleyman, a wife, proud mama of three, former actress and fitness trainer, turned serial entrepreneur and online relationship expert.
Over the last decade, I've built my own brands, helped dozens of others grow theirs, and discovered one powerful truth: connection is the real currency. If you're a service-based business or high-ticket brand that wants more leads, trust, and sales from social media without the burnout or fake hype, you're in the right place. Each week, I'm bringing you short, powerful, and packed episodes that feel like a coffee date with a best friend and biz coach, all in one. Let's turn your followers into clients and content into connection. This is Social Media Marketing for Small Businesses, and it's about to change how you show up online. Let's dive in, boss.
So, if you're here, it's probably because you're tired of spinning your wheels with content that just doesn't convert. Or maybe you're wondering how other people seem to have these warm, engaged followers and dreamy sales conversations. Well, if that's the way you feel, you're not alone. We talk to business owners every day who are posting, consistently showing up with heart, and still feel like they're shouting into the void. Hey, Boss, you are so seen here, and I want to welcome you back, or here for the first time, to Social Media Marketing for Small Businesses.
I'm the chick behind the mic. I'm Cheyanne, co-founder of Kuleana Connect, where we believe the most powerful thing you can build in your business isn't a funnel, it's a relationship. But what if I told you that the gap between posting and profit isn't more content, it's connection? If I've captivated your interest, you're going to love this episode. Real quick, before we dive in, I wanted to share with you this review from one of our sweet listeners. Their name is Drew. "Practical tips, short, sweet, and applicable. Cheyanne is so easy to listen to. I love that these episodes are short and sweet because I'm a busy mom and I don't got time for that. I don't have time to do a 30 to 60 minute podcast right now. She gives practical tips and action steps that help me to know what I can do next".
Drew, honestly, huge hug and thank you. That is exactly what I hope for this podcast: that it's bite-sized but powerful, that it really packs a punch. So, if this show has ever encouraged you or helped you, at the end of this episode, would you take 30 seconds to just leave a quick review? It's one of the best ways to support this work and to make sure that I can keep giving you mic drop after mic drop of really great actionable steps to apply to your business.
Okay, so today's topic happens to be one of my favorites, because it's something that unfortunately holds a lot of people back, right? So, we want to help you warm up new followers without feeling weird or sketchy or salesy. We all know that feeling, right? You're scrolling and you see that little new follower notification, or maybe a new subscriber to your YouTube or to your email list. You click their profile, you think, "Okay, now, what should I do? Should I DM them? Should I wait for them to message me? Do I pitch? Would that be weird"? Well, that tiny moment of indecision, that tiny moment right there between the follow and the reaching out, it's actually a huge opportunity to start building trust. And if you're not doing anything with it, you're honestly leaving potential connection and ultimately revenue on the table.
So, like an auntie who cares for you a lot, and I do believe me, I care for your business, I want to tell you a quick story. So, one of our clients, Juliana, she runs a podcast SEO agency and has podcast courses that she also sells. She's a brilliant entrepreneur, mom of three, and when she came to us, she told us, "Guys, I like nurturing my audience. I just don't have the time or energy to keep finding leads, and when people do follow me, I have no clue really what to do next". So, we started finding aligned leads for her through groups and platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook. But we didn't stop there. We didn't just find them. We also crafted human-like personalized touchpoints for our team, but also for her to send, so that it opened the door to real connection.
And now Juliana averages eight to ten warm, aligned leads every single week, and not because she's pitching hard, not because she's out there selling her soul, but because her brand feels like a person and not a product. That is the magic of warming up new followers without those salesy vibes, right? So, how can we make sure that you start to have numbers like Juliana? Because they're not sexy numbers, right? Like, eight to ten, if you think about that, that's 40 leads a month. And when you look at, you know, other numbers that we could be throwing at you, like, "Oh, 100 leads in your inbox every single month," but it's like, those are vanity metrics. Those are probably from companies or gurus that are saying, "Hey, we'll get you leads," but it's probably just a list of people that they realize, like, "Hey, kind of fit your ideal client, kind of are in your niche scope," and then what are you supposed to do? Right? So, that's what I'm here for, is for the real, raw numbers that count.
Because can you imagine if eight to ten of those people every week, let's say she has a 10% conversion rate? So, in a month, if four people convert with the type of products that she has, with the type of offer she has, that's life-changing. That's consistent revenue that adds to her business bottom line and ultimately gives her the life that she wants. She is an entrepreneur. She wants to work from home, she wants to homeschool her kids, and maybe I'm talking to you too. So, less talking about someone else's story, and let's infuse this all into your story. Let's talk strategy today.
I'm going to break down five ways. Okay, so if you're a note-taker, you can put it already on your notes, or open up your note section on your phone and put five little bullet points, because we're going to talk about five ways to make your new followers feel seen, supported, and curious without being pushy. Because remember, it's not just about getting the followers, but what do you do with them to nurture them and make sure that they stay and ultimately become buyers and raving fans? So, here you go. Tip number one: welcome them publicly, right? So, every week or two, show up in your stories and say something like this: "Hey, to all the new faces around here, I'm Cheyanne," obviously, "Insert your name. Co-founder of Kuleana Connect. We help small business owners turn social media into actual relationships and paying clients."
"If you're new, drop a little smiley face or DM and say, 'Hey'". You can also tag and say, "Hey, I notice," let's just throw out some names, "Stephanie Smith and Jessica Johnson." Like, are those not the most basic 90s names you've heard? You can tell what era I grew up in, but just say, "Hey, thanks for showing up here. I'm so happy you're here. What drew you to my content"? Or, depending on how specific your content is, like, say you are a dietitian, you can say, "Hey, like, what recipe or what ingredients would you like me to, you know, put into a recipe this week that would save time on meal planning for your family," something like that. It's simple, it's human, and it tells people, "Hey, this is a place where you'll be seen," right? And that's so important online nowadays, because especially when it comes to businesses, there's just a major trust recession nowadays.
People, as much as they know that online is where the majority of consumers are, it's like 75% now, people do their shopping online. People know that they are going to buy on social, but they don't want to be sold to, you know what I mean? So, make it less transactional and more relational, and by acknowledging them, you're already getting your foot in the door, in their heart and in their trust. So, number one was, welcome them publicly. Then number two is send a warm DM, so a direct message. Okay, please. If you take any notes here, I'm going to emphasize saying, do not go into their DMs and pitch right away. Do not send a link. Nothing with an offer. I'm talking about a genuine hello, right?
So, here's a simple example: "Hey, Steph, thanks for the follow. I'm Cheyanne. I share practical tips for turning social into real connection. Let me know what you're working on. I'd love to cheer you on." Simple, point, done, right? It was about two seconds. It took me, like, you know, 30 seconds to type. And if you want to go the next level, I would so suggest doing voice messages, because when you take the time to personally welcome someone and do it with your voice, it's really going to amp up that trust factor. This is what my team and I do for our clients every single day. We do it for ourselves. So, if you found this podcast through our social, you probably have been loved on in these ways already, but we also like to practice what we preach for our clients. We do this with our clients as well, so we reach out with presence, not pressure.
I really started to apply these principles in our business because I was someone who, you know, for many years, I've been on social since Facebook first came out. Actually, I guess MySpace, if we still, you know, consider that social. But when Facebook first came out, I was a senior in high school, and I have been on it now for about 20 years, and I really don't like being sold to. I cringe when someone out of nowhere messages me, and it looks like a copy and paste AI type of a thing, and it has a link in it, it just makes me tune out. And I don't want you to make those same mistakes with your audience and with your followers. So, the messages that you create that have that warm touch, that personalization there, those are going to open doors. Those are the ones that create replies, not the copy-paste; the personalized ones spark conversations that actually lead somewhere. And that's what you want, is you want an open door to these people's hearts.
All right, so number one and number two: welcome them publicly. Number two: send a warm DM. Now, number three: pin powerful intro content. Okay, so most new followers, they check your top three pinned posts. Maybe that's what caused them to decide to follow you. Maybe they'd have followed you and now they're like, "Wait a second. I want to go deeper". So, this, I feel, is a treasure on certain social media platforms that a lot of people skip or miss, or they just don't amplify enough. So, one of the biggest questions that we get when people are talking to us about social strategy, they ask us, "Well, okay, I know pinning is important, but which ones should I pin"? Well, I'm happy you asked, because I would say I recommend pinning three very specific types of videos.
So, one, I would do like a "meet me" video. Basically, it should answer two questions for your new followers: you want to share who you are and who you help, basically. And when you're answering who you help and who you are, make sure you put your heart into it, like your heart is why you're doing what you do? Basically, make sure you answer that why in the "who you are and who you help". Okay, so that's one, and definitely I emphasize that needs to be video. People need to see who you are. They need to feel you, even if you're not a face brand. Make one video so that people can trust you. Studies show that that's going to make them feel more at ease and trust you versus one of your competitors.
The second post that I would pin is a value-packed carousel or tip post, right? So, you can make this a reel as well. Video content, as we know, as of, you know, Summer 2025, when I'm recording this episode, is still king. However, if you pin it, chances are that something that also a carousel would work as well, which means, like, static posts, right? Something you can create in Canva, and you can have something that your audience will swipe through. And I emphasize value-packed, so this is where you get to show off a little bit. This is where you get to give them free value, like I'm doing with you here on my podcast, right? I'm not charging you anything. You can listen to these for free. You're getting these tips that you can apply in your own business. That's the kind of stuff that you want to go ahead and put it on there.
Now, the last one is a client win, a case study, or some kind of transformation, right? Anything, even if you're a relatively new business, you can post your own transformation, right? Like, how has what you teach, what you coach, what you do, what you sell, how has that changed and impacted your life? Okay, now, all of this creates instant clarity for your people before they ever even get the opportunity to talk to you. They already will know what you do, who you help, and ultimately, why should they stick around? Why should they keep following you and coming to you, right? So, make sure you pin powerful intro content.
All right, we're already through three and we haven't even been together for 15 minutes. Look at that! You are already effectively getting so much done for your business just by clicking on this episode. So, let's dive into tip number four: you want to make sure that you post interaction-driven content, right? So, this is where you get to take a deep breath and let it out, right? Like, don't make everything so serious. Not everything on your content has to be deep or educational. Sometimes something simple, like, "Hey, where are you tuning in from?" Or "service biz or product biz" is just the thing to spark that first comment right now.
Did you notice that both of those questions I asked were open-ended questions? You really want to lean away from yes or no questions. Half the time, when I'm giving, you know, counsel, or I'm giving advice on social media, I feel like I'm a relationship coach, because so much of what I share, if you just think about it, when it comes to relationships, this is the same type of advice, the same type of things that work, because ultimately, you may not be dating your audience, but you are building a relationship with them. So, because ultimately they encourage micro engagement. So, engagement comes in many forms, and when I say micro, that could mean that someone is just, you know, giving you a like or a love or giving you an emoji, but you will not believe the amount of people who just scroll and say nothing. So, when you get those micro engagements, consider those a win.
They're also showing you that they're watching your content, and that is an immediate intro or invite into being able to connect with them more, because you can see, right, these social media platforms, they give you insights. They give you notifications when someone even just likes your post or sends you an emoji. So, make sure you double down on that as well, and don't overlook those followers. They are much warmer than the people who are just scrolling, looking at your content, and never engaging with it. You want to make sure that your page also feels like a conversation, not a billboard. You don't want someone to feel like, "Oh, they just popped along your business card". It is important to list that kind of information, but because our audience and this frame of reference that we're talking about here on this podcast meets you online, you want to make sure it's as conversational as possible, that they can see as much of your personality as possible. So, make sure you don't make it too professional, because you'll just bore the people.
And ultimately, why I love these open-ended questions, and why I feel like they work so much, is you're signaling the dang algorithm. That's kind of a swear word over here, but the algorithm exists, and I'm not a fan of chasing it, but I do think there are smart and intentional ways that we can make sure that it works for us. And when you ask these open-ended questions, you're basically telling the algorithm, like, "Hey, show this content to more people," because you are going to keep people on their platform more, and you're going to keep them engaging on the platform. So, ultimately, you are going to set it up to work for you.
All right, we are here to number five. Here we go. So, this is the last one, if you're taking notes, and a very, very important one is you want to make sure you offer a free value boost. So, what do I mean? Well, you want to think first and foremost about your ideal follower, like they're a guest at your front door, right? They just showed up. So, now what are you offering them? What are you giving them to make sure that they stay at your door and come on in? I suggest giving them something useful. You can give them a checklist, a how-to video, a starter resource. I mean, there's tons of freebies, like ours, you know, "The Five Quiet Reasons Why Your Content Isn't Converting and What to Do Instead"? Oh yeah, you can get that for free right in the show notes below.
But what's really important is that you make whatever you give them super actionable. That was really important about our freebie, so that when people download it, they don't feel like, "Oh, wow, this was just a way someone could get my email address". No, no, you want to keep serving. Serve, you can't out-serve someone, meaning like you cannot serve someone enough. The more you serve, the more you're going to notice that it's going to come back to you, and you're going to really gain these people's trust. This kind of a gift positions you as someone who's generous, helpful, and clear on what you offer, and that will make you stand out above your competition.
All right, everyone, you've made it to the end of the episode. We are landing the plane, but real quick, let's recap those five warm-up strategies. Number one: welcome new followers in your stories, or if you're running a Facebook group, make sure you welcome your new members and tag them every week in a public post. Two: send a soft, human, first, human-focused DM. Number three: pin high-value intro content, make sure your people know who you are and what you do right off the bat. Number four: post questions that invite interaction. Say no to the yes or no questions and say yes to the open-ended. And number five: offer a helpful freebie, or at least the next step in helping your ideal client get to the next step in their journey.
These are simple, heart-forward, heart-focused ways to start relationships before you ever pitch an offer. And when you layer these into your weekly rhythm, like your every day, every week cadence, as you're building your business, you build trust, you build recognition, and ultimately, what you're doing by all of this is you're creating a brand that feels personal and approachable. Now I get it, it can be overwhelming, and it can be a lot to continually think about and focus on. So, do you want help doing this in your business? Well, I've got two great ways that you can move forward. First and foremost, you can download our free checklist that I shared with you about just a little bit ago. It's down in the show notes, and it's full of tips, even some ChatGPT prompts, and a roadmap to help build better connection between you and your audience.
Or, number two, you can just talking about connection, you can book a free connection call with us. My team and I will look at what's working in your content and what's not, and we can help you map out a nurture strategy that actually brings in warm leads for you. Well, thank you so much for tuning in today, boss, you've got this. Okay, if you need a little help warming up those followers, we're just a DM away. Come find us in the show notes below at Kuleana Connect, or keep coming back to this podcast. It's full of actionable tips. They're going to help you move that needle forward on your business and start converting those followers into highly raving fans and customers that keep coming back. Remember, I'm Cheyanne, and I'll see you next time on Social Media Marketing for Small Businesses.
All right, my friend, that's it for today. Well, let me leave you with this: if your content is not converting, it's not your fault. Chances are you've been taught to prioritize the algorithm instead of the actual humans reading your words, and that that ends right here. Go ahead and grab my free guide, "Five Quiet Reasons Your Content Isn't Converting and What to Do Instead". It's packed with real talk, practical shifts, and quick, immediate wins. Link is in the show notes below. And if you're ready to stop guessing and start connecting with ideal clients who actually buy from you, book a free connection call with our team at Kuleana Connect. We don't do content. We do connection that converts, because at the end of the day, it's not about going viral, it's about being valuable. Thanks for hanging out with me again. I'm Cheyanne Cleymann, and I'll see you on next week's episode. See you later, boss.