Episode #135: When Your Brand Goes Viral with Danielle Murrell Cox of Zuri and Dre
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What happens after you go viral? How do you go viral in the first place? There is no perfect formula to make something go viral on social media, but there are things you can do to make it more likely. Today’s guest had a viral post on social media that opened up opportunities for a book deal and a line of plush toys.
Today’s guest is Danielle Murrell Cox. She self-published an uplifting coloring book called Black Queens & Kings. She then went viral on social media which led to a publishing deal with Harper Collins for her next book, My Hair. Then she created the plush toy line Zuri and Dre, based on the characters from Black Queens & Kings. Danielle based her characters on people in her family and community, and really put “the puzzle of you” into her ideas.
In today’s episode you will learn what factors led to Danielle going viral, and what happened afterwards. You’ll also hear about the personal experiences that led Danielle to create her characters with wide noses and natural hair styles. Finally, you will find out some amazing tips for how to progress in your business when you’re not sure what to do next, like going to trade shows, getting on top of your e-mail marketing, and creating a Kickstarter campaign for a new project.
EPISODE CLIFF NOTES
Learn how Danielle injected her own experiences into her first entrepreneurial project. [10:11]
Find out exactly what Danielle posted that went viral on social media. [12:55]
Learn how to up your chances of going viral on social media. [14:35]
Find out the differences between self-publishing a book and working with a publisher. [18:18]
Learn how much time it takes to get a children’s book to market when working with a publisher. [21:27]
Find out what inspired Danielle to turn her artwork into plush toys. [23:49]
Learn how Danielle pivoted when she found out her original idea would be too expensive. [25:15]
Find out the unique way Danielle used social media to pick the names for her plush dolls. [28:19]
Learn essential tips from Azhelle for what to do when you’re not sure how to get to the next step in your business. [37:12]
Hear about Danielle’s experiences as a Black woman both in the toy industry and as a graphic designer. [42:24]