Cristina Guraliuc

Digital content strategist & social media consultant

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Home » Blog – Content creation, building a business & co.

  • Expat parent, Inspirational, Personal Stories

    How I’ve learned to celebrate Halloween! About settling into a new country successfully

    • October 20, 2020
    • 0 comments
    • by Cristina Guraliuc
    celebrate halloween as a foreigner

    Settling into a new country can be a tricky thing. There are so many ideas on how to adapt to your new environment successfully, but I believe it’s more of a personal choice. We moved from Romania to the UK more than six years ago and what struck me the most was how time seemed […]

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  • Inspirational, Personal Stories, Self-Development

    “Sorry, I am multiligual!”

    • October 15, 2020
    • 0 comments
    • by Cristina Guraliuc

    I believe one of the biggest setbacks I had when I was thinking of starting a business in a foreign country was that… I wasn’t speaking the language. Well, at least not to perfection. I always had this inside of me, I wanted to speak the “music” within a foreign language, not just mimic it. […]

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  • Being a mumpreneur, Build Your Business, Inspirational, Self-Development

    Limiting Beliefs That are Holding You Back from Reaching Your Potential

    • October 7, 2020
    • 0 comments
    • by Cristina Guraliuc
    ce sunt convingerile limitative

    We all have them: thoughts, beliefs that are holding us back. That, instead of helping us evolve and improve, they are a hindrance. They are not helpful at all, yet we do believe in them, and, as far as I’ve noticed in all these years of being both a mum and an entrepreneur, most of […]

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  • Expat parent, Inspirational

    Moving Overseas? A Few Things to Consider

    • September 23, 2020
    • 0 comments
    • by Cristina Guraliuc

    If you’re a mum and you’re moving to another country, you’ve probably started panicking by now. I am not kidding, this whole adventure can be super stressful, especially when you have kids to consider. To ease this transition which I have experienced myself a few years ago, I have come up with a list of […]

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About me
About me

It's such a joy to have you around! My name is Cristina Guraliuc, ex journalist, writing stories ever since I can remember, entrepreneur for more than 7 years now. I am growing a business and a family at the same time and I know it gets overwhelming really fast. After countless trials & errors, I reached a content creation routine that brings me both business results AND joy. I am here to show you how to do the same, without losing yourself in the process. Read more:

 
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✨ Helping you add the spark to your Socials and reach a joyful content creation routine without losing yourself in the process. Courageously me ✌️
I refuse to believe I’m the only one, although t I refuse to believe I’m the only one, although that’s the least altruistic thing to say, I know. The reality is that this is no new struggle. Me and distorted body-image go a long way, we’re old friends. And like any relationship that’s familiar, it’s hard to break, even when you know it’s toxic. But I’m here, in this moment in time, admitting to struggling with this, so I suppose it’s a start. I wish my comeback Reel, after months of completely ignoring the digital space, was different. A “throwback Summer” or “how I’ve spent my holiday in hot Romania, eating my favourite dishes (here I go about food again 😅), piecing my heart back together after missing for so much” or even “books I’ve read over the Summer holidays”. But this is not a strategic post. It’s a raw, honest one. And there’s no outcome I’m expecting to get or any reactions I’m hoping to see. It is what it is and be gentle with me while I find my way back 😌. Ok, byeee!
The first time I went LIVE on Facebook (and I had The first time I went LIVE on Facebook (and I had to look that up, cause I forgot 😂), 5 years ago, not only did my heart rate rise to unbelievable levels, but I only had a modest IPhone, no mic (so you could hear the wind blowing), it was raining AND my connection stopped in the middle of my sentence. To say it was a mess is an understatement 🤣! But I had a lot of courage and the e desire to make my project work! What I didn’t have? A professional gear! 🙄 I kept postponing the inevitable, finding excuses, and one of them was this one precisely: “oh, but I need a much more professional camera and a ring light, and perhaps even a mic, but what about the background, my house is not all-Ikea, it looks awful!” But I’m telling you now: you have a message to deliver, an audience who loves you and a business that serves. You already have everything you need to film that content and put it out there! Do it! 🙌🏻 I’ll be the first to cheer you on! #contentcreationtips #socialmediamarketingtip #teignbridgebusiness #southdevonbusiness #torbaybusiness #digitalmarketingtorbay
I’d much rather read a cringe personal, empoweri I’d much rather read a cringe personal, empowering story than an AI-generated caption 😎 And they lived happily ever after. The End. Can I get an amen? 😂 #socialmediamarketing #entrepreneurslivingabroad #southdevonbusiness #teignbridgebusiness #torbaybusiness #growingasmallbusiness #smallbusinesscheck
Ok, it’s 35,000 thoughts/day, just listened to t Ok, it’s 35,000 thoughts/day, just listened to the episode again, but the point stays the same 😂. NO MORE haphazardly posting content at 10PM, ok? 👀 #teignbridgebusiness #southdevonbusiness #torbaybusiness #torbaybusinesswomen #contentcreationtips #socialmediamarketing #socialmediamarketingtip #contentmarketingagency #instagrammarketingtips
I can hardly believe it’s been less than two yea I can hardly believe it’s been less than two years since we moved to South Devon from the heart of England… God, I felt so alone during those first few months. Never have I doubted myself more than in those days. Never have I questioned my own decisions or wondered if what I have to give is good enough. You see, I come from a small Romanian town, yes, and that is a cultural legacy that sits heavily on my shoulders. But it also comes with the openness of heart and sense of community that I grew up in. Wherever I went, I had a “village” to rely on. It’s just how it was. Moving here, after many many years, felt like uprooting in every sense of the word, especially because I had no one. And that was hard. Really hard. So, when I tell you that last night was a night to remember, a “pinch me” moment, it is no exaggeration! I am now a co-founder of a beautiful project that’s meant to bring business people together, create a family if you wish, and we just launched the project. Never have I imagined this! But I suppose it’s fitting, giving that family has always been central to my happiness 😌. @kat_dancey, how did you know? How did you know that this would light me up? 😋 Kat and @jamestwigger are the other two essential pieces that make this puzzle called Business Community Hub complete. I am part of this beautiful, loving, supportive and collaborative community and I bet - out of all the groups she’s been part of over the years, young Cristina would have never imagined she’s going to find her place somewhere on the English coast, in a never ending sea of inspiration to fuel her passion. Make that a plural, actually, because, do you know what, Cristina? We’re also writing our first novel and joined a boxing club and go cold-dipping and hiking and… oh, pinch me! @businesscommunityhub . . . So, immensely grateful for you: @kat_dancey @jamestwigger @kim_tda @amy.indiebrandbuilder @howdynaomi @mindworksmeditation @jo_sander_s @stevencliff_financialadviser @alice_frl @im_melissa_miller #entrepreneurslivingabroad #expatscommunity #torbaybusiness #southdevonbusiness #teignbridgebusiness #torbaybusinesswomen
I grew so much. I changed irrevocably. I cried m I grew so much. I changed irrevocably. I cried myself to sleep for months until I shed this old skin of habits and thoughts and beliefs that was holding me captive in my own narrative. It has been incredibly painful. Extremely confusing, to the point of doubting my own purpose - one in which I used to believe with all my strength. When this first “wave of change” hit, I thought there must be something wrong with my marketing strategy, if you believe it 🙄. I honestly thought there was something wrong with one of the 4P’s of my business and I made haste of trying different strategies and tactics to adjust the trajectory. Because it wasn’t going in the right direction, that much was clear 😑. But the more I changed things around, to more I experimented and learned and improved and applied, the less I… felt. It was like building a box of concrete to surround myself in, only to deprive myself from the air, the sun, the rain. And I know this is not your usual business advice, let alone from a content strategist who promotes joy and fulfilment (in Marketing, or all places! 😄), but my answer was NOT in the logistics of a strategy. My answer was in the grace of letting go. Of being rather than doing. Of feeling rather than thinking. And I’m happy to report: it has worked! It has worked!
I think I like this little life 😌 All Reels-re I think I like this little life 😌 All Reels-related jokes aside, life has been in full bloom lately 🌸. It feels like the seeds I planted a long time ago are finally starting to grow. It took me almost two years to settle down in Devon and it has only just started to feel like… home. Yes, “home”. I like that. I like that very much 😌.
One day, Ilinca made her own laptop from a piece o One day, Ilinca made her own laptop from a piece of paper and asked me if she could “work” with me. My heart was on the floor! She made herself “a cup of coffee” from a Christmas tree ornament and sat by my side, writing her own story. At the time, I was still running @thestorystore.me and I was spending a lot of time writing personalised books. She would come up with the most incredible fables, her imagination knew no boundaries! But it’s the way she said “I am writing books, just like mummy”, with glee in her voice, that brought me to tears. I declare myself a happy mum if she follows the lesson I’ve tried to teach her since before that day: whatever you do, let it be with love! You can be whoever you want to be, my little star! ⭐️ Happy Mother’s Day, my fellow mamas! Look at us, how fortunate we are! 💪🏻💪🏻 #mothersday #mothersdayuk #motherinbusiness #muminbusiness #muminbusinessuk
You might find this one here helpful for those day You might find this one here helpful for those days when you just don’t feel like showing up for your business 🤗 God knows I’ve had a lot lately, so believe me when I say: I tried them all :)) There is no infallible way of getting out of a funk, but I think setting things into motion will always work, no matter what. Taking action *despite* not feeling like it might not bring the results you predicted (before drifting through still waters, that is), BUT still counts as action. What I noticed is that this always brings with it a sense of accomplishment, pride and confidence. It also gives me extra reasons to trust myself for when the next self-doubt wave hits. And it undoubtedly does 😅. So, there you have it: another episode of Realand (/real-land/ • noun • signifies the reality of building a business while raising a family and finding oneself through the weeds of spiritual growth). Just came up with that, might make it a thing 😂. Ok, byeee!
Yaaas, Part 5 on how to enjoy creating content is Yaaas, Part 5 on how to enjoy creating content is heeere, y’all! 😎 And it might sound like the most counterproductive of them all, but stick till the end! Make sure to check the other parts in my feed 😋
It all makes sense, considering that the body reme It all makes sense, considering that the body remembers… I used to believe that being online was all about strategising and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, until I realised that only made me despise the whole idea of showing up online even MORE 😕. The way I see it now, after years of constantly making my voice and personality visible in the digital world, is that you start within your safety zone - then expand. Slowly. Sloooowly. So that your nervous system has time to feel safe, and so that you won’t reach a point where showing up online feels like pushing a boulder uphill. Lovely, if certain parts of your content strategy make you feel queasy, it’s worth going deeper to find out the *real* reason behind your apprehension. Because you might try every other technique out there, but still struggle. Sure, with certain parts, such as going LIVE, practice might be the answer, but it might as well not. ⭐️ a little important note here: if it’s not important to you, if you can still deliver your message in a joyful way and attract customers, then decide if it’s actually worth it. (I had the same experience with LinkedIn, for instance). At the end of the day, it’s your business. Your rules 🤘🏻 #contentstrategist #socialmediamarketing #socialmediastrategy #southdevonbusiness #womeninbusiness #digitalmarketingservice #digitalmarketingdevon #digitalmarketinguk #teignbridgebusiness #torbaybusinesswomen #contentcreationtips #showinguponline
I get how having somebody else hand you over the p I get how having somebody else hand you over the perfect recipe to a joyful content creation routine would sound appealing 🤭. I really do! I’d want something similar for losing weight if I’m honest😅. But, listen, nobody can know what YOUR way is but you! So, don’t be afraid to do it your way. Don’t be afraid to break the rules and create your own path. If things are not lighting you up at the moment and the thought of recording Reels and writing captions is dreadful, it might be because you’re following somebody else’s recipe. That, in itself is not a bad thing, I myself love a shortcut when possible 🤘🏻! However, it the shortcut is more of a bumpy road than anything, then I’ll gladly find an alternate route thank you very much 🤌🏻 See what I mean? I did it myyyy waaaay (singing voice here 🤣🎤) #socialmediastrategist #contentmarketingexpert #authenticleadership #authenticmarketing #authenticmarketingplan #teignbridgebusiness #southdevonbusiness #torbaybusiness #womeninbusinessuk
Left out the part where I can’t find a word in a Left out the part where I can’t find a word in any of the languages I know 😒… #bilingualism #bilingualparenting #bilingualproblems #entrepreneurslivingabroad #expatproblems #bilingualbusiness #ukbusinesswomen
Ok, let’s take a step back. If things in your b Ok, let’s take a step back. If things in your business have started to feel a bit dry and heartless, it might be time to reassess your offerings. Let’s see which ones are still a fit and which ones are about to retire. Same goes if you’re selling products ☺️. We all need to take stock from time to time, not just of the financials, but also of the satisfaction we get from running our business. This can apply on several levels: - Production/Execution - Systems & Processes - Team Dynamics - Marketing & Sales - Collaborations - Offerings, etc. Energy can drain through the smallest cracks, and before long, we’re first tired, then bone-weary, and eventually resentful. Yes, I speak from experience. 😂😂 Now is the perfect time to take a moment and assess where you stand. What can you refresh or let go of to bring back the energy and joy into your work? Start by identifying one area to focus on this week. You’ve got this! 💪 P.S.: that’s my beautiful client, @kat_dancey in the video, who taught me a strong lesson about Sales in between taking pictures, crossing things off the list and aligning everything to her brand voice 😂. These sessions are more of a win for me to be fair 🤫 #runninganonlinebusiness #onlinebusinesscoach #onlinemarketingstrategy #onlinemarketingsuccess #digitalcontentconsultant #torbaybusiness #southdevonbusiness #torbaybusinesswomen #teignbridgebusiness #socialmediamarketing
Part 3 of the series “How to start enjoying crea Part 3 of the series “How to start enjoying creating content for your business” is here 💛 Check out parts 1 and 2 in my feed @sparkleupyourcontent 🤘🏻. I am soooo curious if you’ll try this technique, please let me know if you do 😍 #teignbridgebusiness #torbaybusiness #southdevonbusiness #socialmediamarketingtip #digitalmarketingtorbay #contentmarketingagency #contentcreationtips #socialmediamarketing #torbaybusinesswomen #smallbusinessmentoring #entrepreneurslivingabroad
Her name is Bee and she is a live wire! Happy? 😂 Good! Now that we got the cat out of the equation, let’s talk business 😎 In all my years creating content for dozens of businesses and teaching hundreds how to create their own, I have tried and failed and tried different ways to make the process more enjoyable. You see, I knew social media marketing and strategic content are effective, that was not even a question. But the “fun” element was missing in 90% of the cases. So, I am sharing with you tried and proven methods to bring more joy into the process of creating content for your business - because when you shift this ONE element, everything else falls into place naturally☺️. Please please let me know if this series helps, it guides the algorithm into finding more like-minded people 😍. Happy creating! #digitalmarketingtipsandtricks #contentmarketingideas #contentmarketingexpert #digitalmarketingtorbay #teignbridgebusiness #torbaybusiness #southdevonbusiness #torbaybusinesswomen #socialmediamarketing #womeninbusinessrock #womeninbusinessuk
I have to confess something: I have been in a looo I have to confess something: I have been in a looong content rut that I am slowly finding my way out of 🤭 So believe me when I say: you can totally start enjoying creating content even though atm it seems like the most gruesome task there is on Earth (I can’t vouch for the entire Galaxy, so we’ll stick to our planet for now 😂). Stick around for part 2 😎 . . . I promise to always deliver no-fluff perspectives on content marketing, so please do feel free to disagree and take everything with a pinch of salt. This is an open space 😎🤘🏻 #teignbridgebusiness #torbaybusiness #southdevonbusiness #socialmediamarketingtip #digitalmarketingtorbay #contentmarketingagency #contentcreationtips #socialmediamarketing #torbaybusinesswomen #smallbusinessmentoring #entrepreneurslivingabroad
Man, this year was something else! If there’s a Man, this year was something else! If there’s anything I’d tell you, based on all the huge ups and even “huger” downs I’ve had, is that you can do anything you want. Quite literally! As long as you make that first step. The Internet is full of celebrations this time of year and I know I won’t linger around much 😂 For those of us who have had a year full of challenges rather than achievements (in the classical sense), this one is for you! I’m a stranger on the Internet who is rooting for you 😇 Go and get it! #buildingabusiness #buildingabusinessfromhome #businessowner #torbaybusiness #teignbridgebusiness #southdevonbusiness #womeninbusiness #womeninbusinessuk
”I simply don't have time to post on Social Medi ”I simply don't have time to post on Social Media" – I think this is one of the main stumbling blocks we're facing when it comes to content creation, one which, sadly, we're coming with ourselves. And look, I get it. I really do. As a little life update, recently not only did my time shrink considerably, but I also ended up with some side projects that limit it even more (multi-talented people, hands up 😄). So, where I maybe had 2-3 hours a week for Reels, carousels, blogs, and the like, now I don’t even have that anymore. That’s where today’s post idea came from. Because honestly, truly, you DO have 15 minutes. You definitely have them if you cut down the time you spend CONSUMING content. You have them if you close every other app (yes, this one included) whenever you open your laptop to focus solely on creating that post. You have them if you're mindful while walking your furry friend, and observe what’s around you. And so on. Now, I like to deliver on my promises, so to make the most of these 15 minutes, here’s what I’d like you to do, right here, right now, as you're reading this: – Take 5 minutes to open a notebook, or a Word document – whatever floats your boat, and reconnect with your audience. I want you to write down: “1 thing my people are currently facing”. For example: “My people are struggling with ideas for quick, nourishing, autumn-vibe meals.” + “1 thing I can do to help them solve this problem or lessen this burden.” For example: “I can help with 5 family-friendly, flavour-rich meal ideas under 20 minutes, easy to take to the office, inspired by my own kitchen.” That’s it. - Then take 5 minutes of active writing. Set a timer. This is a fantastic exercise to sharpen your ability to estimate how long you realistically spend on this task. See how long it takes to create a draft of the post you previously identified – try to stick to the 5 minutes. Don’t go into too much detail yet (you can do that later in stories). - Lastly, take 5 minutes to choose a photo that fits the post and upload it to the app. And that’s IT! Kaboom! Go ahead and do it and let me know how it went 😎 #digitalcontentcreatortorbay #digitalwriter
I’ll be reaaaally honest: I spent SO much time o I’ll be reaaaally honest: I spent SO much time on my phone in the last 12 months, that I think I forgot who I am. Literally. Got so swept away by the whole “online business success” mirage, that I drifted off my authentic needs and wants and pleasures. Now, it’s important to note that this is my job. I am a content strategist and a social media manager, I do spend time online more than the average people by default. However, it’s not the 4hrs/day I spend scrolling, engaging and creating for my clients that got me. It’s the fact that I started reaching for my phone as a default. Like that’s how it’s supposed to be. Before I went to bed, as soon as I woke up, at the playground, when removing my makeup and so on 🙄. You could say I was addicted and I wouldn’t blame you. You would be right. So, I started being extremely mindful with my everyday life. That was a few months ago. I found it extremely liberating to switch off and this Summer, for the first time since opening my business, I took 3 full weeks off, only checking in with my audience for pure fun and out of a personal commitment I made to myself. And you know what? I am aware of how ridiculous it sounds: the social media manager who wants to stay OFF Social Media. But it’s so important for me to be able to come here unbiased, with a clear understanding of how overwhelming being present online can become for a business owner. I get it. I really do. I am going through the same experience. It’s why I can, with a clear conscience, tell you: you can absolutely unplug, you can totally keep personal things to yourself (social media, regardless of the “social” element in it, has never been a public canvas anyway), while also scaling your business, selling your offers and building sound relationships with your audience. Sooo, (let me catch my breath for a minute 😅), yeah. I guess this is my public announcement that I’ll take it easier with being online for the time being. No FOMO. No guilt. Oh, I’m also writing a book, and I already noticed how much more creative I am since I skipped the daily “scrolling routine” 🤪. That’s it. No CTA 😂
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