The Content Experiment Podcast: Recent Episodes
Abby Herman
The Content Experiment Podcast is a podcast for service-driven business owners who know that content is important but there’s also so much more to marketing and business growth.
Here we talk about showing up for your audience in a way that they want to hear and in a way that’s sustainable for you. This might mean publishing a weekly podcast or blog, but it also means paying attention to your email list, leveraging other people’s audiences, building relationships, and getting over the limiting mindsets that often hit when we’re reaching for the next level in our business.
The Content Experiment Podcast is back with a fresh new approach! I'm taking you behind the scenes as I launch a 6-month experiment (finally living up to the "experiment" part of my business and podcast name!) where I'm building an online shop (of sorts) with digital products while continuing my one-to-one fractional CMO services.I'm showing you exactly what I'm doing and how it's working.
I've noticed too many “experts” teaching without actually doing the work themselves, and I'm tired of it. Sure, their businesses are doing the work, but those teaching are the faces of their business; they’re not actually the ones doing the work.
So I'm sharing my real journey – including the challenges I've faced with client work and why I need to create revenue that doesn't solely depend on one-to-one clients.
You'll hear about my partnership with Destini Copp, my actual strategies for growing my email list and shop, and yes – I'm even considering sharing real revenue numbers (that part makes me nervous!).
If you're over the fluff and ready for some honest talk about balancing client work while creating new revenue streams, this is for you. I'm not following someone else's playbook – I'm experimenting, measuring, and adjusting in real time, and taking you along for the ride.
Listen to my episode on Destini's podcast here!
Are you a service-based business owner looking to scale or grow without working more hours? In this week’s episode, Crista Grasso, the founder of the Lean Out Method, discusses the key differences between growth and scaling, and how to optimize your business for increased profitability and time freedom.
Crista specializes in helping businesses navigate the messy middle of scaling from multi-six to multi-seven figures. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on optimization rather than constantly pursuing new ideas or offers. By dialing in on your existing systems, team, marketing, lead generation, sales, and delivery, you can double your conversion rates and revenue while maintaining fixed expenses.
Throughout the conversation, Crista shares valuable insights on the five key areas to focus on when scaling your business: strategy, planning, systems, team, and insight. She also discusses how to identify and eliminate areas of waste in your business, such as unnecessary complexity and incomplete work. Crista stresses the importance of letting go of tasks that don't align with your strengths and goals, even if it means accepting that someone else may not do them exactly the same way you would.
If you're ready to scale your business the smart way and achieve the rich, fulfilled life you desire, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in now to learn how to optimize your business for increased profitability and time freedom.
Key Takeaways:
- Scaling your business is about expanding your reach, impact, and profit without requiring more time or complexity. It's different from growth, which often leads to increased expenses and decreased profitability.
- To scale successfully, focus on optimizing your existing systems, team, marketing, lead generation, sales, and delivery. By improving what's already working, you can double your conversion rates and revenue while maintaining fixed expenses.
- Identify and eliminate areas of waste in your business, such as unnecessary complexity, incomplete work, and tasks that don't align with your strengths and goals. This will free up time and resources to focus on what truly matters for your business growth.
- As a visionary entrepreneur, it's important to resist the temptation to constantly pursue new ideas and instead focus on optimizing what's already working in your business. This may seem boring, but it's the key to scalability and success.
- When delegating tasks, accept that others may not do them exactly the same way you would. Letting go of this expectation will allow you to focus on the things that only you can do and that will have the greatest impact on your business growth.
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Uncover Hidden Time & Profit in Your Business
- Find out more about Crista & the Lean Out Method
- Schedule a call with me
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Follow me on Instagram
About Crista Grasso
Crista Grasso is the CEO & Founder of the Lean Out Method and creator of the Simplify to Scale System. She partners with Visionary CEOs and their teams to navigate through the messy middle of $500k - $5m and scale in a way that allows them to live a rich fulfilled life while leading a high-impact + high-profit business. Through private advisory and her signature Simplify to Scale mentorship experience, she helps businesses remove unnecessary complexity, uplevel their business operations, and build out their lean dream team including a right-hand person they can trust so the day-to-day is no longer dependent on the CEO.
Are you running your business in a way that’s sustainable for you and that will support your lifestyle…now and in the future?
If you look around at social media, I think you’ll find it difficult to find businesses that aren’t on polar extremes: either hustling 24/7 or “living the dream” and (supposedly) working from the beach.
This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Lindsay Hope, an email strategist and conversion copywriter, about the importance of designing a business around the lifestyle that you want to live and bring true to yourself.
Lindsay shares her journey of transitioning from website copywriting to specializing in email marketing and emphasizes the value of authenticity and building genuine relationships with clients and prospects. We chat about the significance of charging for expertise and experience and not the number of hours it takes to get something done. And, of course, we touch on the challenges of doing business in 2024 and the need to adapt marketing strategies to meet the needs of today’s businesses.
Big Takeaways
- Designing a lifestyle business involves being in control of your schedule and working with clients and projects that align with your values and mission.
- Authenticity and building genuine relationships are key to attracting the right clients and customers.
- Charging for expertise and experience is important, as clients are paying for years of knowledge and skill.
- Building a network and nurturing relationships through platforms like LinkedIn can lead to business growth and opportunities.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Connect with Lindsay on LinkedIn
- Lindsay Hope Creative
- Schedule a call with me
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Follow me on Instagram
As a service-based business owner, you know the importance of building and maintaining relationships with your clients and prospects. And you probably already know that email is one of the most powerful tools in your marketing arsenal.
Are you making the most of your email list? This week on the podcast, I’m sharing about the world of email list nurturing and exploring how it can help you build stronger relationships with your clients and prospects, convert more leads, and ultimately grow your business.
We've all been there – receiving emails from businesses we don't remember connecting with in the first place. That's why consistency is crucial when it comes to nurturing your email list. But it's not about bombarding your subscribers with daily emails; it's about finding a cadence that works for you and your audience.
Listen in as I share more about email marketing strategy and discuss the importance of segmentation and creating content that moves leads down your sales funnel.
Key Takeaways
- Email is a powerful tool for nurturing leads and building long-term customer relationships.
- Consistency in your email marketing is key, but it doesn't mean sending emails every day.
- Segmenting your email list allows you to deliver targeted content to different groups of subscribers.
- Create content that moves leads down your sales funnel, from awareness to consideration to decision.
- Implement best practices for creating effective email campaigns, such as optimizing for mobile and monitoring your analytics.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Check out the Content Experiment Lab Shop!
- Schedule a call with me
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Follow me on Instagram
I'm always looking for effective ways to generate leads and help clients grow their businesses. And for many, social media has become an increasingly important tool for reaching and engaging with potential customers. However, with so many platforms and strategies to choose from, it can be challenging to know where to focus your efforts and how to engage with the right people.
In this episode, I dive into the world of social media lead generation and share my insights on how to make the most of these powerful platforms. (Hint: It’s not posting on a daily basis!) From developing a strong content strategy to leveraging user-generated content, I cover a range of tactics that can help you attract and convert more leads for your B2B business.
Join me as I explore the art and science of social media lead generation and provide actionable tips to help you take your B2B marketing to the next level.
Key Takeaways:
- Know where your target audience is spending time on social media and focus your efforts there
- Develop a strong content strategy that aligns with your pillar content and addresses your audience's pain points
- Engage in social listening to identify potential leads and provide valuable insights
- Participate in relevant online communities and build relationships with other members
- Leverage user-generated content to showcase social proof and build trust with potential leads
Mentioned in This Episode
- Ask Your Audience Challenge
- Schedule a call with me
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Follow me on Instagram
As a small B2B business owner, you know that generating leads is crucial for growth, but it can be a real challenge. That's where lead magnets come in - they're the secret weapon that can help you attract and convert your ideal clients like never before.
But here's the thing: not all lead magnets are created equal. To make an impact, you need to create opt-ins that are irresistible, valuable, and tailored to your target audience. And that's exactly what we're going to talk about in this episode.
We'll discuss the five key elements that make an opt-in irresistible, and I'll even share some of my personal success stories from using podcast guesting, bundles, and summits to grow my email list in 2024.
This episode is packed with actionable tips and strategies that you can start implementing right away. Whether you're new to lead magnets or looking to take your opt-ins to the next level, you'll walk away with a clear roadmap for creating a lead generation machine that consistently attracts and converts your ideal clients.
So, if you're ready to unlock the power of lead magnets and take your small B2B business to new heights, this episode is for you. Let's dive in!
Key Takeaways: * Tailor your lead magnet to your ideal client's specific needs and challenges to create a truly valuable resource they can't resist. * Use your lead magnet as an added value proposition when guesting on podcasts to expand your reach and grow your email list. * Collaborate with other businesses to create bundle offers that include your lead magnet, providing a win-win for both you and your partners. * Leverage the power of virtual summits by offering your lead magnet as a free gift for attendees, establishing your expertise and attracting new leads. * Continuously test and optimize your lead magnet using data-driven insights to improve its performance and conversion rates over time.
Mentioned in This Episode * Ask Your Audience Challenge * Schedule a call with me * Connect with me on LinkedIn * Follow me on Instagram
In the online space, many business owners are struggling to find new leads and clients. With businesses cutting back on spending and returning to DIY strategies, it can be difficult to grow or even maintain your current level of success (however you define that for yourself). However, it's important to remember that outsourcing certain aspects of your business can still be a viable and effective solution. Which is why service providers are still a necessary part of the online economy.
In this episode, I’m sharing several proven strategies for generating leads and growing your business in 2024. I’ll discuss the importance of getting in front of other people's audiences, leveraging social media, networking, and partnering with other businesses. By implementing these strategies consistently and focusing on providing genuine value to your target audience, you can attract more leads and ultimately grow your business.
And I’m not just talking about what to do but how to do it.
Key Takeaways:
- Get in front of other people's audiences through bundles, summits, podcast interviews, and speaking in groups to tap into new potential leads.
- Leverage social media by connecting with others, answering questions, and providing genuine value to your target audience.
- Network virtually and in-person by attending industry events, joining mastermind groups, and building relationships with potential clients and partners.
- Focus on providing value and building genuine relationships rather than solely promoting your services.
- Consistency and focus are essential for successful lead generation; implement strategies that align with your goals and target audience.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Be a Better Podcast Guest
- Schedule a call with me
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Follow me on Instagram
As a small B2B business owner, you need to understand the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and make data-driven decisions to optimize your strategies. How do you do that? Key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics!
This week on the podcast, I’m talking about the importance of tracking KPIs for small B2B businesses. I’ll share why aligning your KPIs with your business objectives is vital and explore some essential KPIs that small B2B businesses should consider tracking. I’ll also share the tools you can use to monitor these metrics effectively and set realistic expectations for growth. And I’ll also talk about the importance of looking beyond the numbers and considering qualitative factors that contribute to long-term success.
Key takeaways:
- KPIs help you make evidence-based decisions about your marketing strategies, ensuring you invest your time and money wisely.
- Essential KPIs for small B2Bs include lead generation metrics, conversion rates, customer lifetime value, engagement metrics, email marketing performance, and SEO performance.
- Not all KPIs and metrics are built the same. Know what you want to track and why.
- When setting growth expectations, differentiate between short-term and long-term metrics, refer to (and maybe even write off) industry benchmarks, and be willing to adjust your strategies based on performance.
- Don't forget to consider qualitative factors such as brand awareness, customer satisfaction, and your own well-being when evaluating your marketing success.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Schedule a call with me
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Follow me on Instagram
In the ever-evolving online business world, the game has changed. (Or maybe it hasn’t just recently changed, but it’s truly time to take notice!)
It's no longer about amassing a massive following or boasting an impressive email list. The real key to online success lies in creating content that ignites a fire within your audience, compelling them to take action.
Listen in to this week’s podcast episode as I share some secrets to crafting engaging content that gets noticed. Forget vanity metrics – I’ll show you the hidden power behind genuine audience engagement and why it's more valuable than follower counts could ever be.
I will share surefire strategies to deeply understand your audience's burning questions and pressing needs as well as content secrets that showcase your unique brand personality, establishing unshakable trust with your loyal fans.
And I’ll give you a handful of calls-to-action that will have your audience wanting to subscribe, share, download, and take that coveted next step with you. Because at the end of the day, engagement is the new currency for online success.
Don't miss out on this episode in creating content that actively draws your audience into the conversation. It's time to leave passive consumption in the dust and ignite a wildfire of engagement that will propel your brand to new heights. Tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Ask Your Audience
- Episode 253: Mastering Your Content Strategy & Calendar
- Your 90-Day Content Plan
- Schedule a call with me
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Follow me on Instagram
Curious how to create content that really hits the mark with your audience? Well, you're in for a treat because this podcast episode is all about just that. We're talking about crafting content that does more than just sit there—it engages, educates, and gets your audience itching to take action. And let's face it, building that trust and authority is key for any B2B relationship.
Now, I hear you asking, "But what if my budget is tight?" Don't worry, we've got you covered! We're spilling the beans on how to keep your content vibrant and effective without feeling a financial pinch. I’m also sharing tips on how to become a bit of a detective on social media, use SEO to your advantage, and really tune into what makes your audience tick.
So, join us in this episode as we unpack all these insights and strategies and more. Let's get your audience engaged, educated, and eager to jump on board with what you're offering.
Mentioned in This Episode
- The Content Experiment Lab
- Ask Your Audience Challenge
- Episode 257: Using ChatGPT in Your Content Creation
- Schedule a call with me
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Follow me on Instagram
Whether you’re planning to DIY your content and marketing or you’re looking to hire it out, some budget planning is essential. It takes both time and money to see an ROI on your marketing activities, but not all tools and strategies are created equal.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing why reviewing your budget is important, what should go into your marketing budget, what it looks like to hire different levels of marketing support, and what to consider when DIYing your content.
No matter what stage of business you’re in, your marketing budget matters, and so does what you do outside of that budget. You can’t simply post content and expect that people will find you; there’s much more to it than that!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Schedule a call with me
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Follow me on Instagram
I’m not a project manager, but with the help of ChatGPT, I’ve created some great systems around marketing and content--for myself and for clients. From standard operating procedures to project plans to program outlines, ChatGPT can save you time and money in your project and content management.
Listen in to hear how you can leverage AI to work on off hours (while no one is the wiser!), plan for a launch with a vacation smack in the middle of it, organize content in a way that makes sense to everyone on the team, and even how to get input on taking a road trip!
Even if you’ve avoided using AI on your content, it’s an incredibly powerful tool that you’re likely already using in your business! Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Get your Ultimate ChatGPT Guide!
- Schedule a call with me
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Follow me on Instagram
I’ve heard many business owners say that they won’t use AI of any sort in their businesses. I understand the desire to keep a good hand on content and the general goings-on of your business, but if you’re reading this or listening to podcasts, you’re most likely using AI in some way, shape or form in your business already.
Your website, your email provider, even your Gmail-powered inbox: they’re all powered by AI. As is whatever search engine you use and your favorite social media platform.
And most of these can be leveraged to help you get more efficient and impactful with everything you’re doing online.
Listen in this week for a quick rundown of where you’re likely already using AI and where you can add it in for a more streamlined business.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Connect Chat
- Get your Ultimate ChatGPT Guide
- Schedule a call with me
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Follow me on Instagram
Using ChatGPT for your content creation is a touchy subject, but I believe it’s a conversation we should be having. There are so many use cases for ChatGPT for your content, from ideation through publication. And using ChatGPT or another AI tool will help you save time and, if you’re DIYing your content, money.
You’re not cheating if you’re using AI and it won’t diminish your thought leadership, so long as you’re using it to support your content creation efforts rather than completely replacing the human aspect.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing some of my own favorite ways to use ChatGPT for my content creation on the podcast, social media, and more.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Robert Rose on Social Media Examiner
- Get your Ultimate ChatGPT Guide
- Schedule a call with me
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Follow me on Instagram
Does AI belong in your business? Yes. In fact, it’s already in your business and your life. If you've ever worried about AI taking over your job or wondered how it could actually help you work smarter, this is for you. We're talking about the real deal with ChatGPT and other AI tools – how they can make things easier, not replace us.
This week we start a four-episode series on using AI in your business - how to do it, why you’re already using it, and how it can help you streamline and save you time.
But first, we need to talk about the ethics behind it, particularly when we’re talking about respecting the people who follow us and the privacy of people’s information. I’m not an attorney, but I do have some thoughts on this and so much more. Tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 237: Embracing the Power of AI with Danielle LeFleur
- Schedule a call with me
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Follow me on Instagram
Creating content for your business is an essential part of simply being in business, but how do you know what content to create…and what platform to publish it on? Your own goals are a part of the formula but an even bigger part (and one you can leverage if you’re struggling with ideas) is by talking to your audience.
Yes, that’s right; your audience is the most important factor to consider when you’re planning your content.
But there’s an art to gathering the right information from the right people.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing more about why understanding your audience is so crucial, what matters most when surveying your audience, and how to gather information from your audience outside a formal survey or Q&A.
And don’t forget to get access to the free Ask Your Audience challenge below!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Ask Your Audience challenge
- Your 90 Day Content Plan
- They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan
- Schedule a call with me
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Follow me on Instagram
Imagine constantly feeling like you have to create something for your business: a new podcast episode, a video, emails, opt-ins, blog posts, social media posts… All because you either don’t have a content strategy or plan or because you want to stay on top of timely topics and post on the fly.
You're trying to stay relevant, but the pace of creating new content is relentless. That's the challenge of dealing exclusively with trending content or wanting to always post “on the fly” or “when inspired.” It's a rush, but it's also fleeting. And exhausting.
In this week’s episode, we're talking about a topic that's a lifeline for business owners like you - the balance between evergreen and trending content. This is about finding your footing in your content strategy and content creation. It's about understanding the enduring value of evergreen content, the backbone of your content strategy, which, like the perennials in your garden, remains relevant and engaging over time.
Listen in to learn why a blend of evergreen and trending content is crucial for a well-rounded content strategy. We'll talk about the enduring benefits of evergreen content – how it drives consistent traffic, boosts your SEO, engages your audience over a longer period, and establishes your brand authority.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Check out the Content Experiment Lab shop!
- Create Your 90 Day Content Plan
- Schedule a call with me
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Follow me on Instagram
Posting content on the fly might feel like freedom, but I think what you’re really doing is creating more stress for yourself and confusion for your audience.
Consistency is a huge part of growing and nurturing an audience and when you disappear for weeks or months because you don’t have the energy to create content for your business (like I admittedly did in the fall of 2023), your audience starts to forget who you are and why they were following you in the first place.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing how to master the content planning process, including tools to use, getting some consistency under your belt, and overcoming the challenges that anyone who’s creating content for their business faces.
Tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
Get Your 90-Day Content Plan
Schedule a call with me
Connect with me on LinkedIn
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Struggling with content ideas for your business? In order to develop a quality marketing strategy, you need to know what you’re going to talk about and create content around. And no, everything hasn’t already been done.
This week on the podcast, we’re sharing how to generate ideas for your content and keep them organized so they’re there and ready when you need them.
Get ready for some brainstorming techniques, including mind mapping and the SCAMPER method, and even how AI, specifically ChatGPT, can help.
But it's not just about idea generation. We discuss organizing and prioritizing your creative thoughts, turning a sea of concepts into actionable plans. Learn how to create 'Zones of Genius' and prioritize topics that resonate with your audience.
This episode is more than a guide; it's about shifting your mindset. See content planning as a pathway to creativity, balancing structured strategies with spontaneous inspiration.
Curious for more? Click to listen to the full episode and transform your approach to content creation, ensuring your audience stays engaged and your brand remains fresh and relevant.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Shop at The Content Experiment Lab
- Schedule a call with me
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Follow me on Instagram
Your business isn’t one-size-fits-all; the way you market shouldn’t be either. We’re constantly inundated with year-long marketing plans and lists of content ideas that “everyone” can use. But really, your business, clients, and offers are incredibly unique… the way you market your business should be too.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing the five foundations to creating a content strategy that’s going to work for you and your business. It’s unique to everyone and every business. We'll dive into understanding your specific audience, setting goals that align with your unique business objectives, choosing the right platforms where your audience actually engages, creating content that genuinely resonates, and measuring success in a way that makes sense for you.
Forget cookie-cutter strategies; it's all about customization and making sure your marketing efforts reflect the uniqueness of your brand. Whether you're a solopreneur, a small business owner, or part of a growing enterprise, these insights are tailored to help you carve out a niche in your market.
Tune in to learn how to create a content strategy that not only stands out but also delivers real, measurable results. Because in the end, it's not about being everywhere; it's about being where it matters most for your business.
Mentioned in This Episode
- The Content Experiment Lab
- Schedule a call with me
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Follow me on Instagram
A lot can happen in 4 years and 250 episodes. I’m thrilled to be here and in awe at how much things have changed over the years.
This week, I’m announcing a little change that’s going to happen here at The Content Experiment, the podcast, as I look toward how The Content Experiment, the business, is also shifting and changing.
It’s an exciting time! Listen in to this super short episode to find out more.
Mentioned in This Episode
Episode 148: The Must-Do’s in Your Business
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There’s a lot on your plate and it can feel like you’re simply spinning plates, instead of growing your business. But we don’t have to do it all. And honestly, we shouldn’t.
That said, there are still things that every business owner should do on a regular basis, both for their marketing and visibility and for other areas of their business.
This week on the podcast, I’m running down what I think are some of the most important things to do for the growth and well-being of your business. What would you add?
If you’re a business owner, taking time away from work can feel really challenging. And if you’re a service provider with regular deliverables for your clients, it might feel impossible.
That’s not the case, especially with some careful planning and a good amount of communication with your clients. I’ve done it several times, once taking two full weeks away with only one short day where I checked in to make sure there weren’t any fires (there weren’t). And I’m getting ready to do it again, leaving my laptop over 5,000 miles away.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing what I’ve done to prepare to be completely away from my service-based business for 11 days…without stressing out about it. Now, this is what works for me and it may not be what works for you. But it’s worth listening to and grabbing some tidbits you can incorporate into your next vacation planning session!
Mentioned in This Episode
Episode 19: Yes, You CAN Take Down Time
Episode 161: Take Time Away from Business, Not Content
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Is social media something you can take or leave? It can definitely be a time-suck if you get stuck in the scroll or you’re not using it effectively. I’ve often said that you should have a presence on social media, especially if you’re an online business.
This week on the podcast, guest Maggie Gentry proves me wrong! She stopped using social media three years ago and continues to have a thriving business.
Of course, social media is just a piece of your overall marketing strategy, and having other visibility measures is important. Maggie shares how she maintains visibility without social media, how she markets mindfully, and why energetic capacity is incredibly important when it comes to how you show up online and in your business.
This isn’t to say that you should stop using social media. Far from it, in fact. But if social media makes you want to pull your hair out, there are other ways!
Mentioned in This Episode
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About Maggie Gentry
Maggie Gentry is a thought partner to coaches and high-conscious entrepreneurs looking to intentionally grow their businesses with a focus on marketing operations. She helps her clients create proactive marketing plans and effective systems that support both the business and the business owner. Her approach lets values lead, prioritizes people over profit, and focuses on long-term sustainable growth over short-term gains.
Content is important to online businesses because it helps you to showcase your thought leadership and stay in front of your audience. But it’s also really time-consuming to do all the behind the scenes work on your content. Hiring someone to help you can get a big chunk of your marketing off your plate.
If you’ve never worked with marketing support or you’re looking for another perspective of what it looks like to work with someone to help you, listen in this week.
In the episode, you’ll hear what the role of a content creator is, what to expect, why communication is so important, and what you could potentially take off your plate if you have the right help in your business.
Mentioned in This Episode
237: Embracing the Power of AI with Danielle LeFleur
176: Smarter Content, More Exposure with Lisa Simone Richards
177: Leveraging Other People’s Audiences & Putting it All Together
244: Setting Realistic Expectations for Content Creation
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If you’re seeing this right now, or listening to this episode, you’re a leader. You don’t have to be the CEO of a business or the head of any department. If you can lead yourself and are self aware, have a growth mindset, and have some personal responsibility, you are already a leader.
As this week’s podcast guest says, you can lead from anywhere in the room. And that room can be at home, in your church, in your community, or in your role in business.
This week we’re talking more about what this looks like in the online business world, what a real measure of business success looks like, and how to do that in a way that’s not your typical launch-and-funnels cycle.
If you’re ready to nurture your business by creating a better relationship with yourself, this is the episode to listen to.
Mentioned in This Episode
Follow Ryann on Instagram and TikTok
Join the free Be in the Room Facebook group
Connect with Ryann on LinkedIn
Self Leadership Principles Free eBook
Subscribe to Ryann’s YouTube channel
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About Ryann Dowdy
Since 2005, Ryann has sat in front of hundreds of business owners to develop marketing plans and taught thousands of sales reps, business owners, and entrepreneurs how to sell. She discovered the reason that some clients were wildly successful and others were not came down to one thing: True Self Leadership.
There are 6 principles that, when truly mastered, give both individuals and companies access to unlimited business and career growth: Self Trust. Personal Responsibility. Self Awareness. Self Concept. Emotional Intelligence. And Growth Mindset.
As the Creator of the Self Leadership Principles - Ryann partners with individuals and companies to take an inside out approach to business growth.
Ryann has been featured in Forbes, NBC, FOX, Associated Press, The Daily Dispatcher, International Business Times, Market Watch, Morning Dispatcher, NY Headline, Street Insider, Think Business Today, and hundreds of additional publications.
You’re hiring someone to help with your marketing, content creation, and implementation. This will free up so much time so you can go on and do what you do best in your business.
But you’re probably ready to hire help because you know how long it takes you to do the work. Even though you’re hiring a professional who specializes in marketing and content, there’s still a learning curve and process to take into account. And both of these take time.
This week, I’m sharing what realistic expectations look like when you’re hiring someone to support your business’s marketing and content and giving some background on what’s happening on the content creator’s side. It’s a great episode to help reframe each person’s role in the process!
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
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Are you needy? The correct answer is yes. We all have needs. Of course we have our basic needs to survive but as humans we have a lot more that we need to live our best life.
But what about in business? We have needs there too: we need to make money, we need to NOT work 14 hours a day, we need to not have too much on our plates.
This week on the podcast, Mara Glatzel shares more about what neediness looks like, why we need to be in daily connection with our needs, and why we should do away with the idea that what’s right and good is always the same no matter what season we’re in.
If you’ve been feeling a little “off” lately like I have, this is the episode you need. Mara shares that getting closer to our needs feels good, and we need to be seen, heard, and to matter.
And yes, we get into business and what it looks like for our human systems to fit into our business.
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About Mara Glatzel
Mara Glatzel, MSW (she/her) is an author, intuitive coach, and podcast host who helps humans stop abandoning themselves and start reclaiming their humanity through embracing their needs and honoring their natural energy rhythms. Her superpower is saying what you need to hear when you need to hear it and she is here to help you believe in yourself as much as she believes in you. Find out more at MaraGlatzel.com
Stop trying to do it all! You do not have to be in “all of the places” to market your business effectively. And too many business owners sit paralyzed because they don’t know what to create, where to publish it, or how often.
If you’re a solopreneur or just trying to get a better handle on your content and marketing, it might be time to take a step back and focus on the most important parts of that visibility and marketing.
On this episode, I’m sharing the five (plus two!) things every business owner should think about (and publish) at a minimum. Yes, I said “should.” That doesn’t mean you have to, but I’d highly recommend it!
Tune in now!
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You already know that your brand is so much more than your colors and logo. But have you done the work to ensure that your brand message is based on strategy and messaging? Your brand consists of your design, content, marketing, social media, and more. It all needs to work together with a strategy that incorporates every piece.
This week on the podcast, I’m chatting with Shaunda Head about voice, which is a big part of what you’re saying, how you’re saying it, and how people find and consume your content.
It can be really difficult to share your own ideas, especially if what you’re saying isn’t what everyone else is saying. But that’s precisely the point.
Shaunda talks about unlearning what you might have learned in school or corporate structures and how to speak up even when you might be afraid to so people know who you are and what you’re about.
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About Shaunda Head
Shaunda Head is an Atlanta-based brand strategist who helps online experts who have a hard time communicating with their audience, use their own unique voice to master their message and attract perfect-fit clients. She creates and implements strategies in marketing, brand building and copy to help her clients SHOW UP and drive higher connection with their true, dream clients. In addition to building strategies, Shaunda also teaches various workshops on aligning your branding and marketing in a way that benefits your full brand system.
Shaunda has over 20 years of experience, including brand design, marketing, communications and business development for global companies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UPS and E! Entertainment Television. She has also been featured on Essence.com, TIME.com, Sirius XM, Create & Cultivate, and Motherly. She now coaches and consults for experts who are moving from a traditional to an online business model, with past clients consisting of coaches, doctors, lawyers, stylists, therapists, non-profit founders, real estate agents, and more. You can find out more about Shaunda and her work at www.heyshaundahead.com.
When you create content for your business, it can serve so many other purposes than what you created it for. But there’s a process behind repurposing content that you need to be aware of before you start copying and pasting or recording yourself reading your blog posts for your podcast.
There’s a lot to consider, including what kind of content you want to repurpose, where it will serve you best, how to get more reach out of what you’ve already created, and things to consider when using “old” content, among other things.
Listen in this week as I address each of these questions and give you some specific examples of how to repurpose your own content.
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Business is down and you’re feeling the pressure to diversify your revenue streams. Instead of adding another service or building a digital product, consider dipping your feet into affiliate marketing.
Whether you’re an affiliate for your favorite digital software or you offer an affiliate program to your current and past clients (or maybe even some business BFFs), this is a great way to find new potential clients and customers, build on relationships that you already have, and generate some income that you wouldn’t have had otherwise.
This week on the podcast, affiliate guru Angela Markham is sharing her tips to becoming an affiliate and creating a successful program for your own business. If you’re feeling the itch to diversify, this is the episode you need.
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About Angela Markham
Angela Markham has been in the marketing and design space since 2011, helping businesses brand themselves and ultimately scale their income. Angela is currently running her full-time business, Angela Joy Markham, LLC, where she helps aspiring affiliate marketers and small businesses use affiliate marketing to skyrocket their revenue. She loves working with clients one-on-one, creating organized business systems, designing unified brands, defining client target markets, and ultimately helping her clients scale their business income.
It’s easy to blame algorithms or the market for marketing that’s not making the impact that you want. And maybe that’s part of it, but there are probably other things going on too.
If you’ve ever struggled with hitting “publish” on something for any reason or you feel like you’ve been stuck in a marketing rut for too long, this week’s podcast episode is for you.
I’m sharing 7 things that might be holding you back in your marketing and what you can do to combat these. From perfectionism to inconsistent messaging to fear of visibility, I’m addressing all the things I’ve seen holding business owners back in recent months. The upside is that it’s possible to make changes and get on the right path.
Listen in to hear more.
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If you spend any time in the online space, you’ve been hearing a lot about artificial intelligence. There’s a lot to digest there: the types of tools, which one works for what type of needs, etc. And even if you think you have no need for AI, trust me when I say that you do. In fact, you’re probably already using it whether you realize it or not.
I was admittedly resisting AI but after hearing this week’s guest, Danielle LeFleur, present on the topic a few months ago, I knew I needed to not only educate myself but also actually use it.
You’re going to want to take notes on this one! Danielle names some of her favorite tools and we talk about how both content creators and business owners need to get on board…and also why you shouldn’t necessarily let go of the person who is creating your content right now.
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About Danielle LaFleur
Danielle has over 30 years in Marketing, IT, Network design, development, and workforce leadership training. She is the owner of Gray Lux, Inc. She understands the real need an SMB has in creating value online and in-person with their clients.
She is dedicated to creating success for her team and her clients.
Danielle has helped hundreds of SMBs maximize extra revenue streams, and has created a process for extracting an ROI from an ROE in training and development which is currently being used in over 100+ corporations.
If you’re posting regularly on social media are you actually marketing your business? (Really?) My short answer is no, you’re not. But it’s a lot more nuanced than that.
Sure, social media creates an online presence for you. But the way most people are “doing” social media is not doing anything to help market their business. Instead, they’re simply making more noise.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing why social media isn’t “really” marketing if that’s all you’re doing, and what to do instead. (Hint: put some of the social back into social media!)
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Episode 175: How to Use Social Media to Promote Your Podcast (or not)
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If this hasn’t been your year, it’s time to change things up! But how? And in what part of your business?
That’s where having some clarity and business strategy comes in. Going through the motions may have worked a few years ago, but these days being really intentional about where you spend your time is the key to success.
This week on the podcast, we’re talking strategy, setting and reaching your goals, finding ways to diversify your offerings, and leveraging a community that you build through networking. All of these are exactly what you need at this point in the year, especially if you’ve been struggling.
And this week’s guest, Josephine Owusu, even walks me through how to look at one of my own goals for later this year. I love the way she talks through each step of achieving it.
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The Owusu Collective
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About Josephine Owusu
Josephine is the Founder of The Owusu Collective and is a business strategist for female purpose-driven coaches, content creators & creative entrepreneurs with a team. She has over a decade of experience working with award-winning corporate media companies and thriving startups including Cartoon Network, HBO, Magnify, and Cheerfully Given and has managed creative teams and large multi-6 figure production budgets.
Through her high-level strategic thinking, she helps her clients to get unstuck and her framework gives them the clarity, strategy and leadership skills they need for growth, connection and achieved goals. Her unique ability to combine strategy with operations gives her clients the clarity and structure they need to scale.
Yes, that question mark in the title was intentional. After 10 years of being in business full time (16 years total), not every week or month or year has been great. And I want to talk about it…and keep talking about it. There’s too much toxic positivity out there and not enough talking about the struggles that we all face as business owners.
This week on the podcast, I’m celebrating 10 years of business and reflecting on why I’m still here, why it’s okay to not be okay, and some of the reasons why I left my teaching career in the first place.
This is not your typical celebratory episode, and I share a little bit of my story and the conversations I’ve been having with others about business being a bit of a struggle right now.
Listen in, and let’s keep this conversation going.
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If the universe doesn’t magically create a space that’s meant for you (because it won’t), you create it yourself. That’s exactly what Jessica Kupferman did when she and co-founder Elsie Escobar started She podcasts back in 2013 and 2014. After noticing that a lot of podcasters were men and “gurus” who were just interviewing one another, they decided they wanted to do something different.
Fast forward to today, Jessica and She Podcasts is still growing, hosting an active Facebook group, live conferences, a coaching program, a new 501(c)3, and a host of other ventures.
This was such a fun conversation about living up to our parents’ (and society’s) expectations, gaining visibility online, attending in-person conferences, making a space for yourself, why nothing has to be perfect, and so much more.
Listen in!
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About Jessica Kupferman
Jessica Kupferman is an award-winning podcaster and co-founder of the She Podcasts brand, which currently supports 10s of thousands of women podcasters to get and keep their voices out in the world. Her sweet spot is helping podcasters set up systems for growth and training them on how to obtain sponsorship. She also is an internet “Bat Girl” with an odd amount of experience in way too many software services.
When she's not planning the next She Podcasts LIVE, you can find her offering education to independent podcasters on marketing, growth, and sponsorship in the She Podcasts membership. Learn more at shepodcasts.com.
So you think it’s time to bring in marketing support for your business? If you’re finding yourself strapped for time or simply pushing your marketing to the back burner, you’re probably right. But who you hire and how you structure the position in your business is going to have a big impact in your (and your new marketing pro’s) success.
It’s not about finding the biggest name or the biggest agency in marketing; it’s about finding a good fit for your needs.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing some of the most important things to consider when you’re talking to marketing professionals about their services and determining if they’re a good fit for you (and vice versa).
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You’ve probably been on the receiving end of buying a course that didn’t quite live up to the hype that you saw on the sales page. You didn’t get the results you wanted or maybe the course took more time than you expected or you spent more than you planned because of all the “bonuses” (and fear tactics) that you were fed.
This has happened to me too! And I know way too many business owners who have fallen into this trap too.
This week on the podcast, Deanna Seymour is sharing the solution to this problem.
If you’ve ever bought a shiny object and regretted it later (or you want to avoid selling a course that won’t give buyers what they’re actually looking for), this is the episode for you.
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Steal This Course
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About Deanna Seymour
Digital Marketing Strategist and host of the podcast, Eff That: Breaking the Rules of Online Business, Deanna Seymour knows the power of creativity, fun, and lettin' your freak flag fly when it comes to marketing your business.
Whether she’s hosting an online coworking sesh or helping a client get over their fear of being on camera, Deanna uses humor and empathy to build a community that helps people feel seen, heard, and ultimately more comfortable in their own skin so they can have more fun getting in front of their perfect-fit clients.
When she’s not working with clients, she’s probably callin’ out sleazy marketing tactics, hangin’ with her fam, or sneaking in some crappy reality tv!
It’s not about creating more content or adding more tasks to your ever-growing to-do list. It’s about doing the things that will move the needle most for you. Yes, having a platform where you can demonstrate your thought leadership (like a podcast, blog, or YouTube channel) is important, there are other things that also need to happen.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing four things that you should do in your marketing this year. These things worked last year and they’ll work next year too. Because they’re not about fad tactics that will go the way of Clubhouse. They’re about real strategies that need to be part of your business year after year.
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You’ve heard “the fortune’s in the follow-up” and this saying isn’t wrong. But what do you need to follow up on and what’s actually the best way to do it?
Our interactions with others are key to the stability and growth of our business. Conversations shouldn’t be one-and-done; that’s no way to build a relationship. Instead, we need to create systems where we’re following up with people and not dropping them after one conversation.
And when it comes to sales, there’s a finesse to it.
This week on the podcast, Bethany George, the Follow-Up Boss, is sharing what follow-up should really look like and how to do it in a way that’s not sleazy. Especially when we’re talking sales but also when you’re just getting to know someone.
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The Follow-Up Boss
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About Bethany George
Bethany is an entrepreneur at heart, her journey has taken her in and out of many careers. As a freelancer, corporate sales, solopreneur and more, her deepest desire was to understand WHY people respond to this message and not that, why this methodology of sales/marketing/communication worked and this didn’t. Through it all, she has developed a proven method of how to support passion-driven, people-first businesses to operate in a way that is aligned with their core values, and expand their impact while being sustainable and ethical.
She is a mom to 5 kids, a nature-lover, herbalist and community builder.
Frustrated by how time-consuming it is to create content for your business? You’re not alone. Many business owners stop creating content because they don’t have the bandwidth to be consistent with it and hiring help is out of their budget.
I’ve talked about batching content before and creating a content plan so you know what you’re creating before you sit down to do it. But there are a few more secrets to saving time when creating content that you’re going to want to hear.
Sometimes, it’s about just doing the thing. Creating content even if circumstances aren’t ideal. This week on the podcast, I’m sharing what that looks like as well as some other tips to keep you on track.
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Money is a big source of stress for many people, business owner or not. We have habits we learned in childhood because of how our families handled money, and many of those aren’t habits we’d want to pass along to our own children. And let’s not even talk about the dreaded “B” word. You know the one, “If I could only stick to my budget…”
Money can hold us back in business, and I don’t strictly mean the lack of it. If we’re not comfortable dealing with the emotions that come along with money, we’re going to struggle to find abundance in our life and business.
This week on the podcast, I’m talking to Mikelann Valterra, money coach for women who want to transform their relationship with money. In this episode, we talk about mistakes we make with money in our businesses, why we need to replace the word “budget,” how to let go of some of our money stories, and why we need to start talking about money more.
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About Mikelann Valterra
Mikelann is an author, keynote speaker, and money coach who helps women transform their relationship with money to create a life they love.
For over 20 years, she has been a thought leader in the field of Financial Psychology. Her strong background in emotional intelligence, paired with her practical money strategies enable her clients to consciously design their life while escaping financial stress and anxiety.
When she’s not working with clients, you can find Mikelann on the dance floor, indulging her love of Argentine Tango.
This week on the podcast, we’re continuing our departure from talking about content to talk about money systems. If we don’t have a good handle on our finances, it’s impossible to focus on the things that matter in our business: our clients.
Last week we talked about implementing Profit First as a money system, and this week I’m talking about my own experience with Profit First…both in my business and in my personal finances.
We really shy away from talking about money because we’ve been taught from a young age that it’s a taboo subject. But if we don’t talk about it, our challenges and our successes, we can’t learn from one another.
So listen in. I share a bit of my money story, then dive into how I’ve leveraged the Profit First system for all kinds of wins I never thought I’d have.
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Episode 225: Keep More Money in Your Business with Shannon Simmons
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Every business owner deserves to make a living wage and to have a profitable business. What’s more, we need to let go of the idea that business ownership is a slog and that we have to work long hours to see a positive cash flow.
Yes, being a business owner is a challenge. But we left our day jobs so we could have more control over our time and our income. It’s time to take control of our money.
This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Shannon Simmons, a Profit First Professional, about developing systems for your business, why so many of us struggle with our finances, and taking a profit in your business.
Profit First has been a game-changer for me in my business, and Shannon shares how it could be for you, too.
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Fit For Profit
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About Shannon Simmons
Shannon has been consulting with small businesses for more than 10 years. Years ago, despite working in accounting and bookkeeping, I found myself in the uncomfortable position of not being able to pay my tax bill. (I was telling clients to save for taxes and not doing the same for myself. Oops!) I discovered Profit First and it changed my life and my business. Since then, I’ve become a Profit First Certified Professional and over the last decade have helped hundreds of clients create profitable businesses using this time-tested system. When she’s not meeting with entrepreneurs or assessing their businesses she enjoys time with her husband and 2 children serving in their community, playing and watching sports, marveling at nature or reading a good book.
After 2 years in public accounting she saw a need to work for small business owners to teach them how to grow financially healthy businesses. She has built on her Master of Accountancy degree from Manchester University by becoming a Certified Profit First Professional and a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor.
Podcasters know that it takes some major investment to get a financial ROI from their time and money. And there are plenty of people out there not only making bank from their podcasts but also sharing how you can do it, too.
But before you jump into trying out make money through sponsorships and ads, listen up: Many of the strategies you hear from big-name podcasters are just unrealistic for smaller businesses. And some tactics are just plain sleazy, in my opinion.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing some of the ideas for podcast monetization that are unrealistic and sleazy, and some go-to ideas that just might work for you!
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Episode 223: Creating Curiosity on Other People’s Platforms with Nikki Rausch
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You’ve heard me talk about the importance of showing up on other people’s platforms. Being a podcast guest, speaking at summits, getting on stages…this is how you grow your own audience.
But equally important is making sure that these people who you’re getting in front of know who you are, what you do, who you do it for, and how you can help them. Talking about this might feel uncomfortable to some, not knowing how to talk about what you do in a way that feels natural and part of the conversation or speech.
Nikki Rausch to the rescue! As the Sales Maven, Nikki excels at teaching business owners how to have sales conversations. And in today’s episode, she’s sharing how to do that with some finesse while appearing on other people’s platforms.
You will want to tune into this episode!
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About Nikki Rausch
CEO of Sales Maven, Nikki Rausch has the unique ability to transform the misunderstood process of “selling.”
With 25+ years of selling experience, entrepreneurs and small business owners now hire Nikki to show them how to sell successfully and authentically.
Nikki has written three books, all available on Amazon. And she has a podcast called Sales Maven which you can find on your favorite podcast platform.
Trust is important in every part of life, including your business. But trust goes beyond telling the truth and being authentic. It’s about showing up, following through, being on time, and just generally being there for someone when they need you.
And sometimes that’s really hard to do. We all have our own stuff going on and things happen that prevent us from doing the things that help to foster trust. At the same time, there’s a lot we can do, even when work and life get difficult.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing why trust is so important in your business, what it looks and feels like when trust isn’t there, and what you can do to set yourself up to be in a position where you’re doing what you can…when you can.
I’m definitely not an expert in this, but I felt really pulled to do this episode this week. It’s an important one for your business life and maybe your personal life too!
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As a business owner, you’re constantly growing and developing. Sometimes, maybe often, that growth comes with some imposter syndrome. You feel like you don’t have the right expertise, or that no one will care. You’re no expert, right?
Wrong. This week on the podcast, Ayo Bamgbose, a learning and development trainer and educator, is sharing the true definition of expert or industry leader…and I’d guess that you fit that mold. No matter your industry.
This is such a fun conversation around getting more experience in your field, being open to learning, taking action, finding balance, and so much more. And I love the insights Ayo gives around connecting with others, especially on LinkedIn.
Listen in!
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About Ayo Bamgbose
Ayo Bamgbose has been a learning and development trainer and educator for the last ten years and has worked in the beauty, spa and wellness industry for nearly 20 years. She helps beauty, spa and wellness therapists and consultants make a career change by teaching what they know and love.
I know that creating content for your business is time-consuming. Maybe sitting down to create your next blog post or podcast episode is one big brain block for you because you don’t know what to talk about. And so you don’t.
Besides, you get plenty of clients from networking and referrals. You “don’t need” content anyway.
Think again. Eventually, those referral and networking sources will dry up because you’ll get busier and either slow down networking or have looser connections who need more than someone’s word to make a decision to book a discovery call with you.
You need content.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing some of the benefits of creating content for your audience and potential clients. Having regular, consistent content can truly change your business for the better.
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Being a podcast guest is one of the best things you can do to elevate your visibility, but it’s often something that business owners put off. But if you want to grow your audience, get in front of new audiences, build more brand and name recognition, and more, it’s time to make guesting a priority.
This week on the podcast, Julie Fry of Your Expert Guest is sharing some of her best tips and tricks for how to find the best podcasts for you, what matters most when podcast guesting, and what to do after the podcast to thank the podcast host.
Let’s be real, all of this takes time. But it’s time well spent if you want to grow your business this year. Who’s in for some accountability?
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About Julie Fry
Julie Fry is the Founder of Your Expert Guest, a podcast guest booking agency for female founders and impact-driven leaders that want to speak directly to their ideal client without spending HOURS on social media.
She and her team have booked over 1500 interviews for their clients and can track hundreds of thousands of dollars of business back to being a podcast guest on top-ranked shows.
When she’s not working with her amazing team of guest and host matchmakers, she loves spending time with her family, watching SNL sketches and of course, listening to podcasts.
Sometimes sitting down to market your business (and yourself!) feels tough because…who are you to put yourself out there like that anyway!?
I’ll tell you who: You’re an expert in your industry and you deserve as much success as anyone else.
But the only way you’re going to really get yourself out there is by actually putting yourself out there. Getting on camera, getting on Zoom calls, posting on social media, interacting with others, sharing your content, even shouting yourself out.
And when imposter syndrome rears its ugly head, the only thing you want to do is hide.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing my tips to getting past the imposter syndrome with your marketing. And it has nothing to do with affirmations or positive self-talk. (Sure, those might help, but they’re not going to get the work done!)
Listen in!
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Marketing can feel really challenging. There are so many places you “need” to be online and just not enough time or energy to get it done. Right?
Maybe. But what if you dialed it back and only did the things that feel good? What if you let go of needing to do #AllTheThings and instead focused on the platforms you love and where your audience is actually showing up regularly?
Sounds familiar, right? Yes, you have heard this before, and I love the way this week’s guest shares her thoughts around marketing in a way that’s sustainable for you.
Tune in to today’s episode and hear how Lisa Benavidez looks at marketing and content for her clients, how to simplify the process in your own business, and why it’s okay to take a step back and try something new once in a while.
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About Lisa Benavidez
Marketing Strategist and Host of The Created for More Podcast, Lisa Benavidez educates women entrepreneurs on how to successfully amplify their business without sacrificing their values, boundaries, or life goals.
Through the power of social media and online visibility opportunities, Lisa mentors with passion, guiding her clients to effectively strengthen and elevate their impact in the world.
After being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, Lisa stepped away from the event planning world, where her background lies, and redefined what success looks like for her. Now she’s on a mission to inspire other women to live a life of purpose.
When you combine her leadership, years of experience in the online business world, and her loving compassion to meet you where you are, you’ll find Lisa will be the answer to building the business and life of your dreams!
Marketing can feel really time-consuming. If you’re trying to it all or trying to do it all yourself, you leave little time to do the actual work that will keep you in growth mode. But there is a solution.
First, stop trying to be everywhere because you’re wearing yourself out. And there’s another solution too. You’ll have to listen in to hear more!
The gist of it is this: You started your business for a specific reason and you likely want to make an impact. When you think about other industries and other professionals, how do they make their own biggest impact?
By staying in their lane and letting other experts take the reins.
Listen in for more!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Minimum Viable Series: What to do Before You Work on Your Content
- Listen to the whole Minimum Viable Content Marketing series
- Episode 214: The Marketing Piece Your Business is Missing
- Book a free connection call
Building relationships in business is an ongoing process. It never ends, if growth is something you value. But finding the right way to connect is important. Especially with the oversaturation of content and people in the online space.
Content marketing as a standalone does not work. Business owners must connect and build relationships to complement the static content they’re sharing. And this week on the podcast, I’m talking with Cara Steinmann who has done both. She started in the content marketing space and transitioned into helping business owners into developing the relationships and networks they need to take their business to the next level.
Listen in as we chat about our own histories with relationship building, and what not to do when connecting with others online.
Mentioned in This Episode
- BizChix Podcast: Relationship Marketing
- 12 Easy Ways to Make LinkedIn Way More Fun
About Cara Steinmann
Cara is a business development strategist who helps women service entrepreneurs leverage the power of connection to build relationships that lead to easy leads, regular referrals, and ideal clients. She uses her background in psycholinguistics and behavioral science to help women communicate more effectively so they can easily build authentic connections online without the stress and overwhelm.
Marketing can feel like a struggle for even the savviest of business owners. You start off DIYing it, then business gets busy and you let it slide. Eventually, business slows down and you know you need to get back to marketing.
In an effort to stay on top of content and marketing, many business owners hire support. And that’s great for consistency, but not so great for cohesion. With too many people managing different pieces of the marketing puzzle and the CEO managing the people, often messaging gets muddled and the whole thing feels disjointed.
The piece that’s missing is one person to oversee it all, to make sure the content is being created, the opportunities are being pitched, and all the automations and offers are firing at just the right time.
I re-learned this lesson over the course of 2022 and I want to share with you why this is an important part of doing business.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Schedule a Quick Chat
- Book Your VIP Session
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
I know you’ve seen the podcast episodes, blog posts and ads for online tools that all promise a quick and easy way to plan out your content for weeks, months, even years at a time. I’m guessing that’s why you clicked on this episode and decided you’d give it a try.
And while I can appreciate putting together any sort of plan for the future, use caution when you plan too far in advance. In other words, don’t plan out more than a quarter at a time.
There are so many reasons why I don’t want you to plan out your whole 2023 content calendar, not the least of which being...Well, have you seen what the online business world has looked like these last few years? Enough said!
There has been more pivoting and changing directions going on in the last few years than I could even touch on. It would be a waste of your time and money to plan more than a few months ahead. That said, I DO think there’s a lot you can do to get ready for the next month, quarter and year. And THAT’s what this episode is all about.
Mentioned in This Episode
- At-a-Glance Calendar
- They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan
- Episode 211: How to Develop Your Content Ideas
- Episode 212: How to Create a 90-Day Content Plan
- Episode 57: Your Content is About Your Audience, Not You
- Episode 63: Staying Inside Your Zones of Genius
- Episode 73: Repurposing Content for Maximum ROI with Amy Woods
- Episode 144: 6 Reasons You Need to Ask Your Audience
Have big plans to update your content? You have all the ideas about your content but you don’t know how to put those into a succinct plan to market your business. What do you create? Where? When?
Content creation is time-consuming if you’re doing it yourself and expensive if you’re hiring it out so you want to make sure that you’re creating the right stuff. I get it, and this is one of the biggest struggles that I see clients go through (aside from generating ideas, of course).
Well, if you’re on the content planning struggle bus, this episode is for you! I’m literally walking you through the process of how to take all your content ideas and put them into a 90-day plan so you can get the visibility you want and need for your business.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 211
- Ask Your Audience Challenge
- Book a VIP session
Don’t believe those so-called gurus who tell you that you don’t need content to sell your products or services. Yes, you need content. No, you don’t need to publish content daily on every single platform.
What you need though is carefully curated content ideas that help you move further into your business’s mission.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing a re-recording of an oldie but goodie. You’ll learn the questions you need to ask yourself as you’re deciding what kind of content you need--and where you need it--to accomplish your goals. Plus, I’m giving you a template to help you do the market research you need so you know exactly what your audience is looking for.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Ask Your Audience Challenge
- Book a VIP session
I know what you’re thinking: You’re ready for a break from you podcast and can’t wait for the holidays to roll around so you can skip a few weeks.
I’m ready for a break too, but my podcast will still be working for me during those slower weeks. And I recommend that you do the same!
Consistency is one big reason for this, but there are others, including routine, visibility, and, yes, people are still listening.
Listen in this week as I share my biggest reasons why this podcast (and my clients’ podcasts!) won’t be taking a holiday hiatus this year. Will yous?
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 209: Managing the Fatigue of Your Podcast & Business
- Join Podcast Ease
The struggle is real right now to try to get the work done…both on your podcast and in your business. There’s a lot of fatigue, both decision fatigue and just generally not feeling motivated to sit down and plug away.
I hear you! I think it’s a case of the 2022s, but that doesn’t mean that we can sit back and wait until next year to do the work.
Today on the podcast, I’m sharing some tips to manage the fatigue of your podcast and business. That doesn’t mean that we’re taking a break and waiting until it feels right. Just the opposite, in fact.
Listen in to hear what’s worked for me and what might work for you.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Join Podcast Ease
A lot goes into each of your guest episodes, so it’s important to make the most of them. This week on the podcast, I’m sharing what to do before you interview, during the interview, and after the interview to make sure that all your time is well spent.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 207: Where to Find the Best Podcast Guests & How to Vet Them
- Episode 177: Leveraging Other People’s Audiences
- Episode 179: How to Be a Better Podcast Guest
- Join Podcast Ease
Not every potential podcast guest will be a GOOD podcast guest. And I recommend being very discerning about who joins you on the microphone.
There should be a reason for every episode and that includes who you’re hosting and what they’re sharing. In order to find the right podcast guests, you’re going to have to do a little bit of work.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing how to find the best podcast guests and how to determine if they truly are a good fit for your show. It doesn’t feel great to be on an interview and know that it will never see the light of day. Trust me…I’ve been there!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 183: Why You Need Solo Episodes on Your Podcast
- Episode 196: Finding Podcast Guests & Hosting Interviews
- Join Podcast Ease
Trying to craft the perfect intro and outro for your podcast is enough to paralyze you into never publishing a single episode. Trust me, I’ve seen it happen. But even though your podcast episodes are technically evergreen, your intro and outro don’t have to be perfect.
Spoiler alert: Nothing can or ever will be perfect. Done is better than perfect in every way imaginable.
That said, there are some best practices that can help you move forward and even some things that you might want to include. In this episode, I’ll give you a short rundown so you can publish your first (or next!) episode.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Podcast Listener Trends
- Join Podcast Ease
Hosting a podcast isn’t about encouraging listeners to buy from you. Yes, it’s nice when that happens, but that’s not the goal. The goal is to nurture your audience. The people who have already found you and who want to learn and grow with the information you’re providing every week.
That said, podcasting is a long game. And it can feel like no one is listening or taking action. That makes it challenging to get motivated to record each week.
But when you think about the indirect benefits of podcasting, the benefits you may not think about, this is the podcast episode for you.
Every time you sit down behind the microphone, you’re reaping the rewards of your work. You just need to know what to look for!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 179: How to Be a Better Podcast Guest
- Join Podcast Ease
If you’re a podcaster, you know the value of listeners leaving reviews on the podcast apps. That’s why you ask them to in many of your episodes. But are they just sitting there, on the podcast platforms, just gathering dust?
It’s time to do something with those podcast reviews!
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing five ways to leverage the reviews you have. And I’d love to hold you accountable for implementing one or more of these strategies. They’re simple and repeatable, and they won’t take up much time once you have a system in place.
For help with this, find out more about the Podcast Ease membership and join us today!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Join Podcast Ease
Sometimes a shift is in order. Maybe it’s because what you’re currently doing on your podcast doesn’t resonate with you anymore or maybe you just want to try something new. (Think: Experimenting with your content!)
It’s okay to make a shift on your podcast. In fact, I encourage you to!
This week, I’m sharing why you might want to make a shift on your podcast and how to do it without breaking the bank or losing some focus. A shift doesn’t have to be a complete 180 in what you’re doing; little changes along the way don’t need big re-launches or announcements. There’s no harm in quietly changing gears.
Listen in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 100: The Content Experiment
- Episode 162: Building Growth-Minded Relationships on LinkedIn with Karen Yankovich
Ready for a hiatus on your podcast? I’ve definitely been feeling that way recently too. It takes a lot of time and effort and, frankly, it can feel overwhelming.
I’m not taking a break right now, though there’s nothing wrong with a break…if you do it right.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing why you might not want to take a podcasting hiatus and what to do if you decide to push pause for a bit.
Whatever decision you make, it’s yours to make and you should do what works for you. Listen in to find out how.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Join the Podcast Ease membership
If you’ve been listening to the big-name gurus in podcasting and online marketing, my guess is that you’re doing some things in your business that don’t resonate with you. Maybe they feel like too much or too little…or you just don’t feel like doing something that they say you “must” do.
I’m a big believer in doing business in a way that works for you. That means letting go of the idea that your podcast (or business or YouTube channel or launch or whatever it is) has to be perfect. Because it’s not going to be! And you know what? That’s okay. We’re all human.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing how to make your podcast work for you. What questions to ask and what to think about when you’re building out your podcast (or whatever other kind of content you’re creating).
Because if it doesn’t sit well with you, you’re going to quickly lose interest and, frankly, feel crappy about it. So do it right…starting now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Join Podcast Ease
Creating and selling courses is just one way to scale or grow your business. But the whole goal is for students to do the work and be successful. It’s hard to do that when only about 10% of buyers actually go through the coursework.
Eman Zabi is trying to shift that narrative through a unique course platform designed specifically to support business owners in starting and growing their businesses. And this week on the podcast, she’s sharing what she’s learned about creating courses and making them easy to consume.
Eman and I discuss breaking down the barriers neurodivergent people have around the current online learning structure, particularly around business courses, what accessibility could look like, why preselling is so important, and where to find the support you need around completing a course and taking action.
About Eman Zabi: Eman Zabi is the founder of The Scribesmith - a launch copywriting agency that specializes in research-based strategy and conversion copy for digital products. Through her work at the Scribesmith, Eman realized that there were some fundamental flaws in online learning: she created Terrain to help entrepreneurs stop hoarding courses and start building momentum in their businesses.
Eman graduated with a degree in International Politics from Georgetown University (which explains her love for the nerdy stuff) and has been writing for as long as she can remember. When not working, she can be found drinking copious amounts of tea, playing with her cat, Cat, and cooking up new ideas for the Scribesmith team to take on.
Links and Resources: * Join the Inner Circle * Terrain * Follow Terrain on Instagram * Follow Terrain on TikTok * Follow Eman on Twitter
Time Stamps: * [3:08] - Who is Eman Zabi * [4:32] - How Eman got into this work * [5:24] - The course industry is deeply flawed * [7:10] - You can love your clients and still not feel challenged * [8:47] - If there’s financial pressure, it’s hard to be creative and innovative because we have to make money to pay our bills * [11:15] - Less than 10% of people complete the courses they sign up for * [14:23] - Figure out a system to hand off a VA to implement * [16:54] - Creating an ecosystem that grows with you that doesn’t compromise your revenue * [21:40] - Block out your calendar to build what you want * [23:24] - Helpful (and unhelpful) course creation * [24:35] - Getting the list done is too overwhelming * [25:55] - It’s simple but it feels like you’re climbing Everest * [26:24] - Building in a reward system to get people engaged * [29:34] - UI and UX really does matter when it comes to neurodivergent students * [35:05] - How to grow your business sustainably * [37:41] - What kind of courses you’ll find at Terrain
I love a good celebration and if 200 weekly+ episodes of the podcast isn’t a call to celebrate, I don’t know what is! I’m so incredibly grateful to have this platform to celebrate and connect with you, the listeners.
I never intended to start a podcast but I’m so glad I did. And on today’s episode, I’m sharing what I personally have gotten out of the process…and I how I feel about publishing an episode every week.
A podcast is such a good learning experience and I’ve grown so much from doing it. If you’ve been putting off starting your podcast or are frustrated with where it is right now, listen in this week. You’re not alone.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 60: What a Year of Podcasting Does to a Business Owner
- Episode 84: Why Content is Really One Big Experiment
- Episode 100: The Content Experiment
- Episode 146: Takeaways and Learnings from 2 Years of Podcasting
How do you define “success”? Money? Fame? Rockin’ abs? The look and feel of success is different for everyone, as it should be. But if you’re feeling frustrated because your podcast isn’t “successful,” I’d recommend looking at it from a different angle.
The success of your podcast isn’t about vanity metrics…how many downloads you’re getting for each episode or the number of people who subscribe to your list because of a freebie you mention. Sure, those might be important, but they aren’t what determines the success of what you’re doing.
What does demonstrate success? Well, it depends. And you’re going to have to tune in this week to find out!
And no matter how you measure success, you have to do the work to get each episode out there first. And sometimes it's a challenge to carve that time out of your schedule. Let me help you with that!
In Podcast Ease Membership, you’ll spend 90 minutes a week in coworking time and 60 minutes a week asking me all your questions. We get started September 27 and you can join right here for just $99 a month with no time commitment.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Join Podcast Ease
- Episode 177: Leveraging Other People’s Audiences & Putting it All Together
- Episode 191: Before You Get Started Podcasting…
I think we’ve all bootstrapped parts of our business at some point. It makes sense to learn to do the thing yourself (and save some dough) before hiring someone to do it for you.
When it comes to podcasting, there’s a huge time commitment. That means if you decide to hire it out, there’s also a big financial investment.
But it’s not just about time and money. There are other factors to consider when deciding to self-produce your podcast or pay a podcast manager to do some of the heavy lifting for you.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing the pros and cons of both sides to help you make the decision.
And no matter which end you land on, you still need to do the work to outline or script your episodes, research guests, prep for interviews, and so on. And sometimes it’s challenge to carve that time out of your schedule. Let me help you with that!
In Podcast Ease Membership, you’ll spend 90 minutes a week in coworking time and 60 minutes a week asking me all your questions. We get started September 27 and you can join right here for just $99 a month with no time commitment.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Join Podcast Ease
This might come as a surprise to you, but people won’t likely find your podcast without some work on your part to promote it. Long gone are the days when great SEO alone will drive people to your content.
That said, there are a lot of things you can do to make sure people are listening in. And when you set aside time to do multiple promotional activities, you’ll get to steadily see your download numbers rise.
As always, today’s podcast includes a non-exhaustive list of some of the top ways to promote your podcast. Of course there are other ways to promote your podcast. There will always be more ways. It takes work and time but like anything, putting in the work is essential for success.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Podcast Ease Q&A Sessions
- Need help with promotion? Let’s talk!
You want to start hosting guests on your podcast but you’re worried about finding the right guests for the right interviews. It’s a valid concern, especially if you’re relying on people who are pitching you.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with pitching to be on a podcast or accepting pitches as guests. But you have to look for quality. You owe it to your listeners.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing some secrets to finding the best guests for your podcast--what to look for and how to determine if they’re a good fit. (A big audience does NOT make a good guest.) And I’m also sharing how to make sure you make the process as easy as possible for yourself and your guests.
If you’re feeling nervous about what happens once the interview starts, I’ve got tips for you there too!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Podcast Ease Q&A Sessions
- Episode 181: How to Be a Better Podcast Host
You want to start a podcast, but what will you talk about on it? That’s an important question to answer before you get started! Otherwise you’re just throwing spaghetti on the wall and creating content that your audience may or may not need and that may or may not help your business.
We’ve talked about content strategy on the podcast before, but we’re going to do it again. It’s that important.
On this episode, I’m sharing how to determine exactly what to talk about on your podcast, why you might need to let go of the idea of having the perfect flow, and how to figure out what order to have each topic appear on your podcast.
Of course, I also share the ultimate answer to the question, “What will I podcast about?” but you have to listen in to hear that! Tune in now.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Podcast Ease Q&A Sessions
- Ask Your Audience challenge
- Episode 7: How to Develop Your Content Ideas
- Episode 8: How to Create a 90-Day Content Plan
- Episode 31: The 4 Most Important Parts of Your Content Strategy
- Episode 54: How You’re Doing Visibility Wrong
- Episode 78: Plan Out Your Content for 2021…Sort Of
- Episode 134: They Ask, You Answer with Marcus Sheridan
- Episode 144: 6 Reasons You Need to Ask Your Audience
Have a podcast in your head that you want to launch? It takes a lot of work to get a podcast up and running, and if you don’t have the right support system you’re figuring out what you need on the fly. And that never feels good!
Last week on the podcast, I talked about some of the tools that you need to set your podcast up for success. This week, I’m sharing some of the other things you’ll need right from the beginning. Things like your podcast description and an intro for each episode.
While this episode doesn’t give you a complete, step-by-step list, the 10 things you need to have ready before you launch your podcast will get you started in the right direction for sure.
And if you want more support than this podcast episode provides? We should definitely talk!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Join the Podcast Ease Q&A sessions
- Episode 193: Tools You Need for Your Podcast
- Book at free Quick Chat
Starting or creating ease around a podcast feels like a lot. It’s something new to you so it’s hard to know exactly what you need…and don’t need.
Before you spend a ton of money on all the audio equipment, listen in to this episode. I’m sharing what you actually need, without the big price tag.
Producing a quality podcast isn’t free, but it doesn’t have to cost big bucks either.
Mentioned in This Episode
- They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan
- VIP session
- Maono Plug & Play microphone (newer version)
- Acoustic Panels
- FeltRight
- Sephia Earbuds
- Libsyn
- Zoom
- Zencastr
- Squadcast
- Audacity
- Pat Flynn Audacity tutorial
- Acuity Scheduling
- Airtable
Starting a podcast can feel challenging because of all the things that have to happen. But the biggest hurdle is often getting over your own negative thoughts about what to say, how to say it, and what to do next.
I’ve found that the sheer overwhelm of trying to figure out what to podcast about and all the other pieces is the biggest part of that negative self-talk. So this week on the podcast I’m walking you through how to find your voice so you can finally get it out there to your audience.
You DO have something to say and there IS space for you to say it. It’s time to do just that.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Podcast Ease Q&A Sessions
So you’re ready to start your own podcast. Before you do, there are some things you need to take into consideration. Like any new action you take in business, it’s important to do your homework.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing a number of questions to ask yourself as you prepare for your launch. Things like who your audience is, what your podcast goals are, how you’ll generate interest, what format you’ll use for each episode, how you’ll get it all done, and more.
Podcasting is a great way to nurture your audience and really educate them, but you need to have a plan in place first. Otherwise you run the risk of the dreaded podfade. Tune in this week to help you get started.
And if you have questions about your specific podcast, you’re invited to join me and other like minded aspiring podcasters on my new Podcast Ease Q&A calls. Every Thursday at 8 a.m. Pacific, from July 20, 2022 through late September 2022, I’m hosting a Q&A call to help answer your questions. I’m hosting the calls on Zoom and yes, there will be a recording if you can’t make it live.
Join me at thecontentexperiment.com/ease
Mentioned in This Episode
- Join the Podcast Ease Q&A calls
- Episode 176: Smarter Content, More Exposure with Lisa Simone Richards
- Episode 177: Leveraging Other People’s Audiences & Putting it All Together
- Episode 181: How to Be a Better Podcast Host
- Episode 183: Why You Need Solo Episodes on Your Podcast
- Episode 189: What to Do Before Hitting “Record” on Your Next Episode
Sound quality is one of the most important (um THE most important) factors in your podcast. And if your audio isn’t up to snuff, your audience is going to bail…quickly. So I wanted to share with you the person who has helped me ensure that all my guest episodes sound great.
This week on the podcast, Daniel Romeros, my podcast editor and editor for several of my clients, is sharing why it’s not too late to start your own podcast, why there’s so much podfading going on, and important considerations when it comes to recording your episodes.
We also talk about tools you can use, why consistency matters, and why it pays to educate yourself about podcasting from the pros.
Be sure to tune in and make your next episode rock!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Join Podcast Ease Q&A Sessions
- Garage Band
- Audacity
About Daniel Romeros
Daniel Romeros is a Music Composer, Sound Designer and Audio Engineer based in Austin, TX.
Since 2015, Daniel has been extensively editing, mixing, and mastering audio podcasts and gaining great knowledge of the industry—as well expanding on his engineering techniques. With over 2,500 produced episodes, Daniel has not only become highly efficient in the work he does, but extremely informative of the industry field as well.
Daniel is an Alumni of Full Sail University with a Bachelors in Recording Arts and is a Certified Avid Pro Tools Operator in both Music and Post-production. Before the work of audio podcast production, Daniel worked (and still working) in the world of records, film, and video games—working for companies such as Paramount Pictures and Strange Fire Studios. With this past experience, Daniel has been able to transfer these skills into his high-quality and industry-standard podcast production service. Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn.
You want to have the best show possible for your listeners. That means doing a little bit of work before sitting down behind your microphone and hitting “record.”
Yes, that means having a plan, a strategy for your podcast. But it also means doing a little bit of pre-work too. Whether you’re recording a solo episode or a guest interview, much of that pre-work is similar. And doing the work ahead of time will help you feel more organized and save you loads of time when it comes to post-production work.
Listen in for tips on what to do before you hit “record” on your next podcast episode.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Podcast Hosting Guide
- Episode 185: Why Your Podcast Feels So Hard
- Episode 97: How to Deliver Powerful Presentations with Mike Ganino
- Felt Right
We’ve all made mistakes in business (and…shoot…life!). The goal should be to do the thing, potentially fail at it, then learn from your mistakes and evolve into a better version of yourself. That’s certainly been my goal and I’ve definitely applied this process to my podcasting.
This week on the podcast, Dusty Weis of Podcamp Media is sharing some of the mistakes he’s made in his journey from corporate employee to podcast producer and how he’s used what he’s learned to support others on the same journey.
Everything in the podcasting world is NOT amazing and wonderful and it’s time we start talking about the challenges, misunderstandings, and mistakes. Because if we’re not learning, then turning around and supporting others, what’s even the point?
Dusty shares some of his biggest mistakes in podcasting and gives us a reality check on growing our own podcasts. Tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Lead Balloon Podcast
- Podcamp Media
- Joe Pulizzi
About Dusty Weis
Dusty Weis is the president and founder of Podcamp Media, a branded podcast production agency for businesses proudly based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He's also the host of the Lead Balloon Podcast, Adweek's 2020 "Marketing Podcast of the Year" and a 2022 Webby Award nominee for "Best Creativity and Marketing Podcast."
On Lead Balloon, experienced public relations and marketing professionals share tales of the do-or-die situations that defined their creative and communications careers—what went wrong, how they overcame unexpected obstacles, and what they learned in the process. “It’s like This American Life for professional communicators,” Dusty likes to say.
Prior to founding Podcamp Media, Dusty worked as the strategic communications manager at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers and the public relations supervisor at Milwaukee City Hall. He got his first job behind a microphone at the age of 17, and went on to work as a reporter and news anchor at WIOD-AM in Miami, Fla. and WTDY-AM in Madison, Wis. He was also a correspondent for the CBS Radio news network. Follow him on Twitter or connect with him on LinkedIn.
If you’re listening to big-name marketing gurus to help you develop your content strategy, listen up! Any piece of content that can help make creating content a bit easier is great. But it’s important that we put the right lens or filter on the information we’re consuming.
No two businesses are created equal, and often the big-name brands that dole out marketing tips and strategies are doing so from a completely different perspective.
Listening to content from big names is incredibly valuable, because they have the teams and money to do the testing and research for us. But that doesn’t mean their strategies will work. We don’t have those big teams or the time to test, fail, and test again.
Listen in this week as I add to the conversation started on another podcast by a big-name marketing person who is paving the way. I’m giving you a different lens to look through on a very specific episode.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Book a Call with me
- Marketing School Podcast - Episode 2139
- Gary Vee: How to Make 64 Pieces of Content in a Day
When was the last time you thought or said there’s not enough time in the day? For me, it was probably earlier today.
We spend so much time trying to ensure that our basic needs are met: We work so we can pay our mortgage or electric bill. We spend time tending to the kids and pets, making sure we have food and clothing. We meet other peoples’ needs because we want to feel like we belong. And so on. Think Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. And that leaves little to no space to do what brings us joy.
This holds true in business too. We spend so much time doing the little things: posting to social media, updating our website, answering emails, etc. And when we fill our time with these things, we don’t have time to do the really deep work that we excel at. The work that we started our business to do.
What if we flipped time and started with the deep work instead? We’re exploring that concept in this week’s episode of the podcast with Karen Briscoe, creator of the “5 Minute Success” concept and author of Flip Time Love Life.
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Flip Time Love Life book
- Flip Time Video
- Living in the Gap
- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
- The Dip by Seth Godin
About Karen Briscoe:
Karen Briscoe is the creator of the transformative "5 Minute Success" concept. Her first book Real Estate Success in 5 Minutes a Day: Secrets of a Top Agent Revealed, and Commit to Get Leads: 66 Day Challenge® and Consult to Sell: 66 Day Challenge® offer a combination of information and inspiration delivered through memorable stories. The daily format with takeaways propels one to achieve success at a higher level in business and life. Topics include: Commit to Get Leads; Consult to Sell; Connect to Build and Grow; Success Thinking, Activities and Vision; which all lead to the Sweet Spot of Success. Her most recent book, Flip Time / Love Life is a Heroine’s Journey tale about loving the life you have while you create and co-create the life of your dreams.
Her first book was featured in INMAN as “must read for your best year in real estate” in 2017. The book ranks on Amazon in the top 1% in its category. It has been endorsed by industry leaders Hal Elrod, Pat Hiban and Michael J. Maher. She is a contributing author to INMAN and Real Trends real estate media outlets.
Karen is the host of the “5 Minute Success” podcast which has ranked #1 on Overcast most recommended in the business category. The show has an amazing array of guests who achieve success at a high level. Karen also is a frequent guest on other podcasts that focus on entrepreneurial, success and motivation, as well as real estate related topics. She coaches on the best of 5 Minute Success principles.
Karen is the principal owner of the Huckaby Briscoe Conroy Group (HBC) with Keller Williams. The HBC Group has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal as one of the 250 Top Realtor® teams in the United States. Since 1977, HBC Group has sold over 1,500 homes valued at over $1.5 billion. The team consistently sells over 100 residential properties annually ranging from multi-million dollar luxury estates to condominiums and townhomes. Primary market areas include Northern Virginia, suburban Maryland, and Washington, DC.
Being a business owner is hard, and knowing that you actually have to market your business to keep it running might leave you feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. You’re not alone! And if you chose podcasting as your primary content marketing platform, there are a lot of logistics to juggle.
Many podcasters lack consistency because they don’t want to (or don’t have time to) do the work to publish regularly. It feels hard, and they would rather spend time working with those clients.
I don’t blame you! But there are ways to make podcasting a little bit easier. And on this episode, I’m sharing some of my top tips for simplifying the podcast hosting process so you can go back to serving your listeners and your clients with ease.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Podcasting 101 Q&A Calls - join the waiting list
- Episode 31: The 4 Most Important Parts of Your Content Strategy
- Episode 48: 3 Actions You Need for a Successful Content Strategy
- Episode 78: Plan Out Your Content for 2021…Sort Of
- Episode 177: Leveraging Other People’s Audiences & Putting it All Together
- Episode 181: How to Be a Better Podcast Host
You know emailing your list is important, but you hate the idea of impersonal mass emails. Or you’re just not sure how to get started. You’re not alone. So many business owners and podcasters simply don’t use email because they feel really stuck.
On this episode, email pro Bev Feldman is sharing her framework for making email marketing feel a lot easier. It involves automations, but in a way that feels more personal and more effective for you.
Email shouldn’t be about trying to sell…sell…sell…It’s about engaging with your audience and driving traffic to your pillar content so they can get the most value possible. And yes, also selling a bit. But the main focus is about nurturing.
Bev will share how to do exactly that!
Mentioned in This Episode
- 5 Steps to Put Email Marketing on Autopilot
- Episode 167: Two Tips for Podcasters to Grow Their Email List
- Episode 169: Engaging New Subscribers With Your Welcome Sequence
- Episode 171: The When, What, and How of Nurturing Emails for Podcasters
About Bev Feldman
Love your business but hate dealing with your email marketing platform? Then you need Your Personal Tech Fairy! Using her Automate with H.E.A.R.T. Framework, Tech Fairy Bev Feldman helps service-based solopreneurs to put their email marketing on autopilot on ConvertKit without using icky-feeling marketing techniques. Bev loves geeking out on technology, getting online platforms to fit together like a puzzle so that you can nurture relationships through email while you focus your time & energy on the parts of the business that light you up. Follow her on Instagram.
There are many valuable formats for your podcast, but the most important one is the solo episode. If you’re not regularly publishing solo episodes for your audience, how will they know the value you can offer to them and how you can help them solve a problem?
Solo episodes don’t have to be a specific length or offer a specific number of solutions. What they do need is your expertise spotlighted. On this episode of the podcast, I’m sharing the benefits of showing up on your stage for your own audience instead of always elevating your guests.
Be sure to tune in, and then start making plans for your first or next solo podcast episode!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 179: How to be a Better Podcast Guest
- Let’s have a Quick Chat
- Find out more about VIP sessions
I know you have your reasons for not starting your podcast (or putting it on hold), for not using video to elevate your business, or for simply not getting the stuff done you need to do to grow.
I can almost guarantee that I’ve used the same reasons as excuses too.
But what it really is is self-doubt and fear. Maybe fear of failure or fear or success. Fear that someone will talk badly about something you’ve done. Or even fear that you’ll eventually burn out.
This week on the podcast, Diann Wingert and I are talking about all these excuses and more. Because there will always be reasons to not do the thing you want to do. How about finding reasons to do it anyway?
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- The Driven Woman Podcast: The Client Journey in 6 Steps with Abby Herman
- Shana Yurko episode
- The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin
- What’s Holding You Back quiz
- Visit Diann’s website
- Listen to Diann’s podcast
About Diann Wingert
Diann Wingert became a business mindset coach after a 20-year career as a psychotherapist. She loves helping entrepreneurial women become focused, fired up, and flame retardant by eliminating the beliefs and habits that hold them back. Diann is also the host of The Driven Woman Podcast for ambitious women looking for inspiration and strategies to reach their goals. Follow Diann on Instagram and connect with her on LinkedIn.
You invest a lot of blood, sweat, and tears in your podcast. Or maybe just time and money? Either way, your podcast is an investment and you want to get the best possible return on that investment.
So why not be the best podcast host possible?
After listening to hundreds of hours of client podcasts as a podcast manager, publishing almost 200 of my own episodes, and being on more than 50 episodes as a guest, I have a few thoughts on how we can all do it better.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing 10 tips for being a better podcast host and a few pet peeves that I see over and over again on podcasts…for business and for pleasure. You owe it to your listeners and yourself to do it right.
Tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Podcast Hosting Guide
- Ask Your Audience Challenge
- Episode 179: How to Be a Better Podcast Guest
When you talk about what’s important to you and your industry, people will listen. Especially when the message is tied to your mission and vision and it’s something that fills a gap. (No matter what you think about the online space, there will always be gaps. There’s room for us all.)
And while it’s important to do some work to decide what that message is and where you’ll share it, the most important thing is to just start sharing it. It doesn’t have to be perfect and it’s okay if it shifts and changes over time.
This week on the podcast, Carol Cox is sharing how to develop your own thought leadership through the four layers of thought leadership. She talks about her own experience in losing her voice and confidence when she was front and center and how that story connects the personal and connection…which is exactly how to approach thought leadership.
We need more women to be thought leaders and to step up to put themselves out there. And you don’t need to be degreed and credentialed to be an expert at something. One thing that helps? A support system. And the ability to avert your eyes from any comments and criticism you’ll get.
Listen in for more from Carol and how podcasting fits into it all.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Six Steps for Developing Your Thought Leadership
- The Expert Trap: What Holds Women Back from Thought Leadership
- Speaking Your Brand Podcast
About Carol Cox
Carol Cox is the founder and CEO of Speaking Your Brand®, a coaching and training company that helps high-performing, purpose-driven women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and thought leadership platforms. Carol is host of the weekly 5-star rated Speaking Your Brand® podcast and during election seasons serves as a Democratic political analyst on TV news. Carol was named as one of Orlando's Women of the Year in 2021 and has been featured in Forbes. Through her company and content, her mission is to empower more women to find and use their voice, to tell the stories that need to be told, and to activate ideas for change.
Whether you’re a podcaster looking to grow your own podcast or you’re an online business owner who wants more visibility, being a podcast guest is one of the best ways to do that. But there’s effective podcast guesting and there’s going through the motions. As someone who has hosted 179 podcast episodes, well over half of which have been guest interviews, and appeared on some 40+ podcasts as a guest, I have a thing or two to say about how to be a podcast guest. Sometimes our interviews are effective and we’ve done our “job” as a guest. Other times, less so. I’ve been guilty of not being the best guest and I’ve hosted guests who I felt were going through the motions.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing some tips for being a better podcast guest. What to do before, during, and after to help your business and to support the podcast host and their listeners. You should want the best for everyone involved and there are a few things you can do to get there. Listen in and let me know what you think.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Follow Abby on Instagram
- Connect with Abby on Linkedin
What is it that drives you to do what you do? For Monica Froese, this week’s guest, it’s about making sure that women have the power to make decisions and be independent. She started her first business as a blog to rant about something that lit her up. That led to being in the room with President Obama and him asking her, “What are you going to do about it?” Fast forward a few years and Monica has done a lot.
This week on the podcast, we’re talking about the impact digital products can have and why we can’t rely on ads or organic content to drive traffic anymore. There’s something missing in traditional funnels, and that missing piece is connection and community--two essentials to building an online business today.
Mentioned in This Episode
- All the details to connecting with Monica!
About Monica Froese
Monica is a digital product coach for women business owners and host of the popular podcast, Empowered Business. She has an MBA degree in finance and marketing and runs two brands Redefining Mom, a site for helping women thrive in both motherhood and business, and Empowered Business, where she empowers women to create financial independence through building 6-figure digital product businesses. She spent 11 years working for a Fortune 100 company running multi-million dollar marketing campaigns with large brands like Microsoft and HP. Now she provides online marketing education to small businesses that are looking to build a profitable revenue stream through digital products through her online programs and podcast. Connect with her on LinkedIn, or follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
Chances are, you’re missing the two big links in your content and marketing strategy. Sure, you’re publishing content regularly. You might be emailing your audience at least semi consistently. And this is great for nurturing the people who are already following you.
But are you leveraging other people’s audiences so you can put together the pieces of minimum viable content marketing? I’m going to take a wild guess and say no, you’re not.
The most common complaint I hear from podcasters is that they’re struggling to grow their audience. Their email list isn’t growing. And their social media isn’t getting any interaction.
It’s no wonder, because they’re doing little to grow any of these.
This week on the podcast, I’m again sharing why leveraging other people’s audiences is key to the success of your content marketing. And I’m also sharing a bit on how to put all these pieces together.
Mentioned in This Episode
-
Ask Your Audience Challenge
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Episode 158: Case Studies: Tying Pillar Content to Other Content
- Episode 165: What to do Before You Work on Your Content
- Episode 167: Two Tips for Podcasters to Grow Their Email List
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Episode 169: Engaging New Subscribers With Your Welcome Sequence
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Episode 171: The When, What, and How of Nurturing Emails
- Episode 173: The Importance of Pillar Content in Your Business
- Episode 175: How to Use Social Media to Promote Your Podcast (or Not)
- Listen to the whole Minimum Viable Content Marketing series on Spotify
Ever feel like you’re on a hamster wheel with your content and your visibility? Like what you’re doing isn’t working because you’re not seeing the growth you expected? What worked a few years ago doesn’t work anymore when it comes to online visibility. Thankfully there’s another way.
This week on the podcast, I’m welcoming back visibility pro Lisa Simone Richards about how to get the visibility you want and need and what to do once you have it.
Lisa and I share where your next visibility opportunity will come from, how to generate 1200 new warm leads on repeat, and what to talk about when you do get visibility.
Tune in because we have a special tool we’re sharing with listeners and we’d love for you to be a part of it!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Smarter Content, More Exposure - register now!
- Episode 124: Leveraging Other People’s Audiences
About Lisa Simone Richards
Lisa Simone Richards is a publicist for online coaches who want to get featured in magazines, on stages, TV, podcasts and other major media. She helps them go from invisible to in-demand with strategies that help you build your business by leveraging the audiences of others. She helps her clients get the kind of credibility that has people running to work with you. When she’s not shooting national TV segments or working with editors on magazine features, you can find her swinging a kettlebell, exploring local restaurants and petting every dog she walks by.
Social media is a great tool to promote your podcast…but it’s not the end-all, and it’s definitely not something that you can rely on to grow your podcast or business.
But it’s still important.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing why social media can’t be the end-all of your marketing strategy and what you can do to make your own time on social media more effective.
This episode is a really great reminder of getting your head in the right place when it comes to social because that’s not the place to solicit for sales. But your audience still expects you to show up there.
Mentioned in This Episode
-
Ask Your Audience Challenge
-
Episode 158: Case Studies: Tying Pillar Content to Other Content
- Episode 165: What to do Before You Work on Your Content
- Episode 167: Two Tips for Podcasters to Grow Their Email List
-
Episode 169: Engaging New Subscribers With Your Welcome Sequence
-
Episode 171: The When, What, and How of Nurturing Emails
- Episode 173: The Importance of Pillar Content in Your Business
- Listen to the whole Minimum Viable Content Marketing series on Spotify
Your website is a living, breathing part of your online marketing and online presence. So if it’s been a while since you’ve given it a refresh, it’s probably time to do just that. And I’m right there with you, too! Don’t neglect your website. Give it the time and attention it deserves.
This week on the podcast, Samantha Mabe from Lemon and the Sea is sharing details on updating and refreshing your website and figuring out what your website copy should look like, what pages and information you NEED on your website, and she shares five quick updates you can probably do in just an hour or two.
Be sure to tune in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- 5 Updates You Need on Your Website
About Samantha Mabe
Samantha Mabe, creative director and designer of Lemon and the Sea, empowers service-based business owners to raise their prices with custom-designed websites they are proud to share. She loves creating websites with beauty and brains that are designed to convert and give you the power to make edits yourself. She currently lives in Richmond, VA with her husband and one talkative toddler. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow her on Instagram.
Are you creating pillar content for your business? Pillar content is the main content you’re creating for your audience. This is often where people start with their content creation and planning, but I intentionally put this topic smack in the middle of the series on minimum viable content marketing because I didn’t want you to forget about the other pieces. Be sure to go back and listen to those episodes if you haven’t already (they’re linked below).
But, of course, pillar content is where you get to nurture your followers and demonstrate your expertise. And hopefully, for you podcasters, it’s where you get to talk to other professionals in your arena so you can support your listeners.
So what is pillar content, why does it matter, and how do you know what to publish on your pillar platform?
Listen in this week, especially if you’re feeling like you need some motivation to get back to consistency.
Mentioned in This Episode
-
Ask Your Audience Challenge
-
Episode 158: Case Studies: Tying Pillar Content to Other Content
- Episode 165: What to do Before You Work on Your Content
- Episode 167: Two Tips for Podcasters to Grow Their Email List
-
Episode 169: Engaging New Subscribers With Your Welcome Sequence
-
Episode 171: The When, What, and How of Nurturing Emails
- Listen to the whole Minimum Viable Content Marketing series on Spotify
Who says woo doesn’t belong in business? (Me. I’ve said it. But I’m changing my tune!) We make hundreds of decisions every day as business owners and it’s pretty common to not know whether you’re doing the right thing. Sometimes price plays a part in choosing one online tool over the other. Sometimes it’s the opinions of biz besties. And sometimes we rely on intuition.
And sometimes it’s our moon cycle or where Mercury will be during a launch or event.
I didn’t really understand any of this, and that usually means it’s time to have conversations and learn. So I did!
This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Mary Williams of Sensible Woo about all things Mercury Retrograde and the metaphysical, making decisions based on intuition, and so on. If you’ve scratched your head in confusion when you heard a friend or connection talk about any of these and more, you’re going to want to tune in this week.
I ask all the questions for you!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Mary's website
About Mary Williams
As the Chief Technology Therapist at Sensible Woo, Mary teaches highly sensitive & neuro-divergent online business owners how to replace technological chaos with a harmonious technology system. Through Digital Feng Shui & Human Design, her clients optimize their business foundation from an emotional and intuitive perspective so that they can delegate and automate without wasting time, money, or energy. She is an accredited librarian with a Master of Science in Information and set the foundation of her career as the first digital archivist for Disney Animation Studios. From there, she has worked with marketing agencies, entertainment technology companies, public libraries, fundraising organizations, and technology start-ups. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow her on Instagram.
Want to make sure your engaged audience listens in to your podcast? Not everyone is as connected to their go-to podcast app as you are and they might need a little nudge. Or a reminder.
The trick? Email them! Send a nurturing email to your audience every time a podcast episode goes live (or every time you publish a blog post or YouTube video, if one of those is your pillar platform of choice).
A nurturing email is the best tool to connect with your audience right where they are, in their inbox. But figuring out what to say and how to fit in another piece of content to your already packed schedule might feel challenging for you.
That’s what this episode is all about. It’s episode four of the Minimum Viable Content Marketing series. Tune in now and I’ll share the when, what, and how of creating nurturing emails for your subscribers!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Ask Your Audience Challenge
- Episode 158: Case Studies: Tying Pillar Content to Other Content
- Episode 165: What to do Before You Work on Your Content
- Episode 167: Two Tips for Podcasters to Grow Their Email List
- Episode 169: Engaging New Subscribers With Your Welcome Sequence
Virtual summits continue to be popular among the online business community, and I don’t see it slowing down anytime soon. Maybe business owners are looking at different ways to deliver the summit or the structure shifts a bit, but I believe that summits are here to stay.
If you’ve hosted a summit before, or you’re thinking about it, it doesn’t have to be a one-and-done event. You can create something that continues to drive traffic to the summit or virtual conference.
How? Turn your summit evergreen! It’s easy to do this when you plan an evergreen aspect from the beginning, but it’s also possible if your summit has come and gone.
Listen in this week as Jenn Zellers shares her wisdom about how to do this with the fewest hiccups and surprises as possible.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 55: Gaining Visibility (and Income) Through Online Summits with Krista Miller
- Episode 121: Leveling Up Your Virtual Summit with Krista Miller
About Jenn Zellers
Jenn empowers virtual summit hosts and speakers to create more reach and impact by extending the lifespan of their one-hit-wonder events. Through the Virtual Summit Search directories, she connects attendees with awesome summits, as well as hosts with speakers and service providers to help make their summit even more amazing. The Virtual Summit Search team also works with hosts to evergreen their summits to get ongoing leads and sales, and with speakers to make the most of their summit presentations to grow their email list and get more sales - all without being sleazy or gross! Follow her on Instagram or connect with her on LinkedIn.
What happens to new subscribers once they’re on your email list?
Do you deliver whatever free thing you used to attract them to your list…and then ignore them? Or just deliver the freebie and add them to your nurturing emails?
If you’re doing either of these, you’re missing a big opportunity. The opportunity to nurture those new subscribers so they know what you do, who you do it for, what you offer, and what challenges you can solve for them.
On this episode of the podcast, I’m sharing why having a welcome sequence is so important and what to include in your welcome sequence, email by email.
And if you need additional support with creating your welcome sequence, you can get access to my free One Week to Your Welcome Sequence challenge!
Mentioned in This Episode
- One Week to Your Welcome Sequence
- Episode 165: What to do Before You Work on Your Content
- Episode 167: Two Tips for Podcasters to Grow Their Email List
What’s going on in your head is kind of a big deal when you’re running a business. It can mean the difference between a productive week and one where you’re ready to throw in the towel.
But I think mindfulness often gets overlooked and we talk about manifesting things (money, clients, email subscribers, etc.) instead. Those things aren’t going to show up if you’re not intentional with your time, get your mindset straight, and get really clear on how you want to show up and grow your business.
On this week’s episode, guest Lee Chaix McDonough talks about what mindfulness looks like in business and as business owners, how to figure out what’s important to you (and take action on it), and why all business owners need some knowledge of coaching so you can self-coach.
It’s not our typical episode, which I think makes it even more interesting and powerful. Tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- ACT on Your Business
About Lee Chaix McDonough
Lee Chaix McDonough is the CEO and Founder of Coach With Clarity, a training and education company for life and business coaches. She is also the host of the Coach with Clarity podcast and author of the #1 Amazon bestselling book, ACT On Your Business: Braving the storms of entrepreneurship and creating success through meaning, mindset, and mindfulness.
After over a decade as a clinical social worker and public health professional, Lee became credentialed as a coach through the International Coach Federation and now provides ICF-accredited training and continuing coach education for intuitive, innovative coaches.
Her Coach with Clarity framework fuses meaning, mindset, and mindfulness with grounded intuition and solid business strategy to help coaches and clients excel at entrepreneurship and transform their lives.
Lee lives in New Bern, NC with her husband Patrick, their two teenage sons Jack & Ben, and their lovable pug Phineas.
Podcasters have two main ways to reach their audience right where they are: in their earbuds and in their inboxes. It’s important to leverage both of these regularly and simultaneously. But how?
Thankfully, when you’re a podcaster, you already have the platform, the scripts and language, and the tools you need to grow your email list. You just need to use them all.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing two ways podcasters can grow their email lists using what they already have available to them. This isn’t about having the right opt-in, though that helps. This is about actually talking about them and sending people to subscribe.
Because if you’re not talking about it, how will people know about it?
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 150: What Opt-in Do You Need to Grow Your Business?
- Episode 152: How to Promote Your Opt-in for Better ROI
- Ask Your Audience Challenge
- Minimum Viable Content Marketing - the prework
- Minimum Viable Content Marketing - the podcast series
Ready for your next big launch? Then you need to tune into this episode!
Launches, when following a prescribed format, can feel heavy, overwhelming, and complicated. And when you’re feeling overwhelmed, chances are you won’t bring the energy you need to your launch. That means low sales and likely feeling really discouraged about your results and business.
But you can still have a big (aka high revenue) launch while having fun in a simple launch that matches your personality and your prospective clients’ needs. TaVona Denise tells us how.
This conversation centers around four big things that every launch needs and TaVona walks you through what’s needed for each piece. And no, we’re not talking email sequences and flashy automation. We’re talking energy, taking care of yourself, building relationships, and more.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Take TaVona’s Launch Quiz to find out the best launch strategy for you and your business.
About TaVona Denise
TaVona Denise is setting a new standard for how coaches launch and fill their group programs so they can help more people AND have the lifestyle they started the business for. After having multiple 5 to 6 figure launches that left her exhausted and overwhelmed, she created the SIMPLE Launch Method to help fellow coaches crush their launch goals without burning out.
TaVona is the author of Unstoppable Success: How to Finally Create the Body, Business and Lifestyle You Want, and the voice behind the podcast, Coaching, and Conversations.
Knowing what content to create for your audience doesn’t have to be a mystery. You just need some time to do a little research to help you figure out what they need, what you need, and what you’re capable of creating content around.
Then, of course, you need a content strategy. But not before you do the pre-work.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing three things to do before you take the time to create any content. Before that next social media post. Before you record your next podcast. Before you do that next video.
This week is part one of a 7-part series on minimum viable content marketing, the content that every business should have in their marketing strategy.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Minimum Viable Content Marketing - the playlist
- Minimum Viable Content Marketing - the presentation
- The Easily Distracted Entrepreneur with guest Lisa Simone Richards
- Episode 134: They Ask, You Answer with Marcus Sheridan
- Episode 144: 6 Reasons You Need to Ask Your Audience
- Ask Your Audience Challenge
- Episode 138: Know Your Zones of Genius for Content Ease
What’s holding you back in business right now? Don’t like your voice/look, imposter syndrome, time, perfection syndrome, fear of haters? Maybe a few of these?
Video is one of the most powerful ways to show up online because you can really show off your personality and expertise at the same time. And video can be incredibly entertaining too!
Just ask the guest of today’s episode! I originally started following her because her camera confidence showed through and her videos were incredibly entertaining and educational. She really makes video look easy!
Shana Yurko knows what she’s talking about, and she’s even turned some really negative comments into fuel for future content. (What’s wrong with people that they send hurtful comments to others!?)
Tune into this episode as we talk outsourcing some of your video, what’s holding people back, how to be more confident on video, and the most important thing when creating video for your business. (It’s not killer editing skills or trendy Reels!)
Mentioned in This Episode
- Get Confident on Camera
- 5 Easy Instagram Reels Transition Tutorials
About Shana Yurko
Shana is a 12-year veteran video producer, photographer, brand-builder, and marketer who helps business owners grow their biz with content that stands out and creates connection.
You'll typically see her with a camera or a coffee in my hand…working in video production for 10+ years will do that to ya. She's produced, shot and edited video content for big brands like GoDaddy, Paramount Animation, Hydrafacial, InStyler, CBDistillery, and more.
Now more than ever, business owners are growing their income using platforms like Instagram - for zero dollars. And the crazy thing about it? It's easy when you break it down into a simple repeatable system.
Creating content should be simple, fast, and efficient. (Blame Shana's obsession on the years of planning 12-hour shoots scheduled down to the minute.) Bottom line... small business owners don't have time to waste on systems that aren't effective.
And you can use these systems to make all types of videos that convert followers to customers - even if they're uncomfortable on-camera and have never made a video before.
If connecting with audience members through some more personal, vulnerable content is something that you’re wanting to try…listen up! There’s an art to this process.
Simply sharing personal content is not something to jump into. It takes some thought and consideration to decide what to share and where. Like, why do you want to share it in the first place?
This week on the podcast I’m giving you some of the questions I want you to ask yourself as you consider adding personal content to your marketing strategy. It’s not a bad thing to do, but there definitely is a right and wrong way to do it. So grab a pen and paper (or your tablet) and get ready to take some notes!
Mentioned In This Episode
- Take the LinkedIn poll!
You know that building relationships is important to grow your business, but with us all being online…and Facebook is no longer working as it used to…where’s a business owner to turn?
LinkedIn, of course! The original online professional networking tool, LinkedIn will help you cut through the political posts and the cute puppy pics and allow you to connect with professionals who can help you grow your business (and vice versa).
On this episode of the podcast, I’m chatting with Karen Yankovich, host of the Good Girls Get Rich podcast, about how to build authentic relationships using LinkedIn as well as how the platforms tools (both free and paid) can help you grow your business and your bottom line. Karen also shares some of the do’s and don’ts to using LinkedIn. Hint: What doesn’t work on other platforms probably won’t work on LinkedIn either!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Water That Money Tree
About Karen Yankovich
LinkedIn Strategist, Business Consultant, and Speaker, Karen Yankovich is the CEO of Uplevel Media, LLC. Having “been there and done that” in the arena of losing (and then re-finding) a focused approach to business and life, Karen now offers coaching and consulting for entrepreneurs. Her unique specialty blends her “get it done” attitude with a passion for soulful living in her personal services and online workshops.
Host of the Good Girls Get Rich Podcast and LinkedIn Evangelist, Karen guides entrepreneurs to creating wealth by combining smart business practices with simple proven systems that develop and maintain strong customer relationships. She offers results oriented and expert LinkedIn Marketing strategies that position her clients to bring in instant results. Karen’s background includes over twenty years in the fields of information technology, marketing, and customer relationships, making social media her ideal niche. Connect with her on LinkedIn!
Few things feel better than shutting down the computer before a much-needed vacation or at the start of a holiday break. As business owners, we deserve some time away so we can maintain some semblance of work/life harmony. Working around the calendar just isn’t healthy.
But it’s also hard to take time away. We’re so afraid that something will break or an email will go unanswered (and we’ll lose that potential new project).
Once we’ve convinced ourselves that yes, it’s okay to take some time away, we shut it all down. Which is fine, as long as you’ve planned ahead on your content.
Going dark online isn’t ideal as a business…for a lot of reasons. This week on the podcast, I’m sharing why you shouldn’t take a break on your content when you’re taking a break in business. And I’m also sharing how to plan ahead so you’re not sneaking in early morning content creation sessions during your vacation or holiday break.
Tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 19: Yes, You CAN Take Down Time
- Free Batching Guide
Want to sell more in 2022? It’s time to get your content marketing in order for the new year.
But before you start planning out your content, I want you to listen in to this episode. Because your content marketing probably doesn’t need a big overhaul; what you need is a few little changes or refreshes to make it 2022-ready.
We’re talking little things like showing up in the right places, talking to the right people (in the right way), letting go of the social media stress, and being inclusive of all your ideal audience members.
Listen in to this week’s episode and get ready to crush it in the new year!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Ask Your Audience Challenge
We have a lot on our plates, and there’s a lot to distract us. From life events to phone notifications to all the programs and offers we feel like we “need,” there’s no shortage of things to take us away from what’s important.
But what IS important to you right now? Hopefully it’s a little bit of life harmony. It is for me!
As this episode is being released, my team and I are days away from taking two weeks away from work. We had a plan going into this holiday season, it got sidetracked a bit, but then we buckled down to get it done.
Because we determined what was important.
That’s exactly what today’s guest, Amber Hawley, is talking about today: determining what’s important and making the right decisions to ensure you stay the course. And as a client who has first-hand experience in my team pushing to get everything done, this is such a meaningful conversation. You won’t want to miss it.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Avoiding Shiny Object Syndrome download
About Amber Hawley
Amber Hawley is a licensed therapist, multiple biz owner and former tech industry drop out who works with high-achieving, easily distracted entrepreneurs with mindset & strategies to stop suffering for success. As host of the Easily Distracted Entrepreneur podcast, she supports ADHD {and ADHD-ish} business owners who live in Distraction City to overcome shiny object syndrome.
Tying your main, pillar content to the rest of your content is one of the best ways to simplify your content marketing and content creation. It’s about repeating your message in different ways and on different platforms and it’s not as difficult as it may seem.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing how my team and I do this for two of our clients: one has a podcast and the other has a blog.
But it all starts with knowing your goals and what your audience needs and wants. Without this important information, you won’t be able to create content in a way that makes sense or that leads your audience to your content or your paid offers.
Listen in to this dual case study of two of our clients and learn how you can make your own content creation just a little bit less overwhelming.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 63: Staying Inside Your Zones of Genius
- Episode 138: Know Your Zones of Genius for Content Ease
- Quick Chat
- VIP Intensive
- Education Evolution
- Fit For Profit
Branding encompasses so much more than your logo, fonts, and brand colors. It’s also about your values, your core message, and what you believe in. And part of your branding could also be your unique niche.
This week on the podcast, guest Mallika Malhotra and I are talking about what this looks like and how to set boundaries so you’re only taking on ideal clients. We also talk about being more cohesive in your brand, creating the right culture in your business, and being more visible in a way that feels good to you.
As you start planning the new year in your business, this is a great episode to help you take a step back and really move forward more solidly.
Mentioned in This Episode
-
Brand Attraction Society
-
Episode 151: Leveraging Other Peoples Audiences
About Mallika Malhotra
Mallika Malhotra is an award-winning brand strategist, confidence-stirring mentor, speaker and founder of The Brand Attraction Society. After years of working in corporate advertising on brands like L’Oreal and Oil of Olay, Mallika now helps women entrepreneurs get clear on their brand message, show up as the face of their business and find their power niche. Her friends and clients call her the brand energizer because she is a strong believer in getting out of your comfort zone, taking action. and implementing ideas. When she's not building brands, she's at home in Maine with her three sons and husband, drinking coffee or red wine and dreaming about their next global adventure.
Content marketing is incredibly valuable in educating prospects and showcasing your expertise. It’s not always helpful in getting discovered by new people, especially if you’re not investing a lot of time and resources into your SEO.
Here’s the thing: Content marketing isn’t just about pushing content, like your blogs, podcasts, and YouTube videos, out into the world. There’s more to it than that, which I’ve talked about before.
On this episode, I’m sharing two easy things you can do right now to help boost your prospect list and breathe new life into your content marketing. They’re not quick fixes, but they do work when done consistently! Tune in now.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Forbes article: How Much Data Do We Create Every Day?
- Let’s chat!
You’re ready to hire a new team member...or are you? Hiring and onboarding talent into your business isn’t about putting out a job description and hosting really great interviews. Have you considered the prospect pool, attracting the right people, and the concept of “always be hiring”?
That’s exactly what you’ll learn on this episode, courtesy of Shelli Warren, team and leadership coach with BizChix Inc. She shares how to position yourself to grow your team and what a hiring project plan should look like. And she shares tips on how to onboard your new team members so you don’t scare them away—a lesson so many of us have learned the hard way.
If growing your business and your team are on your priority list for the new year, you don’t want to miss this episode!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Next Best Hire
- Leadership Lab
- BizChix: Letting Go of Control as You Grow
- BizChix: From Teacher to Six Figure Copywriter
- Stacking Your Team: How to Hire Again Despite Past Mistakes
About Shelli Warren
Shelli Warren is a team and leadership coach and the host of the BizChix sister podcast; Stacking Your Team. At BizChix Inc. she leverages her 26 years of experience leading technical teams to deliver multi-million dollar projects for billion-dollar brands at Procter & Gamble Inc. to now help small business owners to hire, fire, and inspire an incredible team of high performers. Shelli is also known for her teaching style, her passion to inspire more women leaders, and her ability to say the right thing in delicate situations. She lives in Canada where she coaches BizChix clients across the globe and spends her Flow Fridays with her daughter Danielle, and grand-baby Ellie.
Stop trying to do it all! You do not have to be in “all of the places” to market your business effectively. And too many business owners sit paralyzed because they don’t know what to create, where to publish it, or how often.
If you’re a solopreneur or just trying to get a better handle on your content and marketing, it might be time to take a step back and focus on the most important parts of that visibility and marketing.
On this episode, I’m sharing the five (plus two!) things every business owner should think about (and publish) at a minimum. Yes, I said “should.” That doesn’t mean you have to, but I’d highly recommend it!
Tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 57
- Episode 63
- Episode 134
- Episode 138
- Episode 144
- Episode 150
- Episode 152
We have all our own strategies for creating productivity in our lives: Pomodoro method, to-do lists (both digital and analog), time blocking, time tracking, you name it. And I’ve tried it all, to some success.
But rather than writing and rewriting your to-do list from day to day and week to week (you know who you are!), what if you had a true system to follow that ensured you got it all done so you could achieve work-life harmony?
That’s exactly what this week’s guest, Mridu Parikh, gives us the framework that we need to make that happen.
Tune in as she shares that framework in detail and how she makes it work in her business. She also shares how we can shorten that to-do list and simplify how we actually get the work done.
If you’ve been struggling with being productive and feel the stress of getting it all done, you need this episode!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Get on top of your giant to-do list in five easy steps
- Schedule a Quick Chat with Abby
About Mridu Parikh
Mridu (Mri-thu) is The Stress Squasher. As a productivity coach and founder of Life Is Organized, she has taught thousands of women business owners simple ways to wake up with a plan… take control of their distractions… and drop overwhelm with ease. Results include a 300% increase in billable time, 10 hours a week saved on emails, and multiple pant sizes shed through new routines.
Mridu is the author of the Amazon bestseller, Accomplish It, and the host of the Productivity on Purpose podcast. When she’s not wrangling a list or schedule, you can usually find this former professional organizer turned productivity pro with her two teens and one husband in Nashville enjoying a Malbec.
One of the best ways to keep in touch with your audience is through email marketing. (Nope, not social media posts.) Emails meet people right where they are--in their inboxes. But first, you need to get them on your email list.
If you don’t have a quality opt-in (also known as a lead magnet or freebie), go listen to episode 150 first. Then come back here as I share how to promote that opt-in. Because you can’t just create it and expect people to find it. You need to talk about that freebie and offer it to people again and again.
And I’m going to share with you some shortcuts on how to do that!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 150: What Opt-in Do You Need to Grow Your Business?
- Client Journey eBook
- Ask Your Audience Challenge
- One Week to Your Welcome Sequence
Visibility goes well beyond publishing some podcast episodes or writing a few blogs. It’s about having a compelling message and sharing that message across multiple channels. And in 2020 and 2021, it’s also about navigating social justice and racial reckoning. Without it being something you simply check off your to-do list.
Let’s talk about what that looks like. Because there’s no shortage of business owners telling us that we “should” speak up and speak out (and I agree!) but no one is sharing the best way to do that. I’m so grateful that Lakesha allowed me to ask her some of those hard questions.
If you’re ready to get more exposure for your business while staying true to your messaging and beliefs, tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 148: Creating Brand Awareness Outside of the Blog
- The Pieces of Pie Instagram post
About Lakesha Cole
Lakesha Cole is an author, advocacy influencer, serial entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed chaos coordinator.
With over ten years of experience in marketing and public relations, Lakesha is highly regarded for her ability to build powerful personal brands, increase visibility through the media, and ensure those who want a seat at the table get one.
Lakesha founded she PR at the intersection of her advocacy efforts, media expertise, and new life as a retired Marine spouse. As a longtime mentor to help women discover how to convert their interests and skills into a profitable business, she realized that she could focus her experience specifically on the empowerment and the rising influence of women. she PR amplifies the voices and communicates the stories of women-led thought-leaders looking for more freedom and creative expression with their messaging and public image.
In addition, Lakesha's business portfolio includes advocating for the military community and shedding light on the many challenges that military families face, most notably military spouse employment. As an Advisory Board Member for the Military Family Advisory Network, Lakesha worked with her home state Senator Tim Kaine (VA) on drafting the Military Spouse Employment Act, which was later signed into law by the President. She consults and serves as a partnership liaison in introducing companies and organizations to military talent and connecting military spouses and veterans to meaningful employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Lakesha holds a B.A in Journalism and a minor in Public Relations from North Carolina A&T State University and an A.A.S. in Fashion Marketing from Parsons, the New School for Design. Before starting her own business, Lakesha worked as the Public Information Officer for Stafford County Government, as a Program Analyst for Headquarters Marine Corps, and in Business Development for Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.
Lakesha has been featured by the Today Show, PBS, NBC News, Attn:, CBS This Morning, Fox & Friends, Black Enterprise, Military Families Magazine, Military Spouse, and Military.com.
Lakesha and her family currently reside in Tampa, FL.
Every business needs an email list. Every. Single. One. Some (those who are trying to sell a lower-priced offer or a group program or a membership) need a larger list than others (those who are selling a higher-ticket offer to just a few 1:1 clients), but everyone truly does need a list. There are a lot of ways to get people on your list; one of those ways is a quality opt-in. But a checklist isn’t actually a quality opt-in. Sorry not sorry.
Once upon a time, a checklist was an effective opt-in but not anymore. Your audience is looking for something more.
What’s a business owner to do? What will you use to encourage ideal clients to opt into your list?
Listen in and I’ll share some questions to ask yourself before developing anything and formats you can use to deliver exactly what your audience needs.
Mentioned in This Episode * Episode 63: Staying Inside Your Zones of Genius * Episode 138: Know Your Zones of Genius for Content Ease
Making adult friends is hard; trying to connect with already busy business owners feels insurmountable. It’s not! With the right strategy and a good dose of action, you can connect with the right people for your business.
On this episode of The Content Experiment Podcast, I’m talking with Amelia Roberts about how to make those quality connections and be really intentional about who you’re reaching out to (and who you’re having coffee chats with).
Amelia describes her Modified 25 version of the Dream 100 and why your business foundation is so important before you start connecting so it’s more sustainable.
Tune in and then start reaching out to people on your own list!
Mentioned in This Episode * LinkedIn Live with Amelia * Dream 100 & Dream Buyer Strategy * Content Mastery Lab
About Amelia Roberts Amelia Roberts is a digital native who officially became a practitioner of online marketing twelve years ago with a role as a virtual assistant that quickly transitioned into marketing consulting. Student loans from nursing school and a desire for other income options inspired her to put a long time love of observing human nature, showing empathy and previous marketing expertise to work in new ways.
As a result of launching this business, Amelia was able to pay off student loans in under two years, reach new financial goals and be invited to present her marketing knowledge to multiple stages working with B2B clients, Government organizations and high achievers.
Now alongside other roles, you can find Amelia empowering under-recognized professionals to stand out and "get first dates" in business so that they can become pivotal players in industry shaping conversations all while nurturing and not neglecting opportunities that are waiting for them.
When she is not optimizing human potential, getting people ready to be truly seen and simplifying marketing, Amelia enjoys Bible reading and planning both real and imagined food tours.
Back when I started my business, blogging was the thing to do to build brand awareness. That and posting to social media. And while both are still valuable, neither gets the reach that they used to.
That’s why we need to think outside box and consider some strategies that can complement your blogging and social media presence.
What are those strategies? That’s exactly what I’m talking about on this episode--along with the most important element to all of the strategies I list. And my guess is that you’re forgetting this one element!
Listen in today!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Client Journey eBook
- Episode 120: Knowing and Growing Your Client Journey
- Speak to Scale Podcast: How to Select the Right Speaking Topics for Your Business
- Episode 138: Know Your Zones of Genius for Content Ease
- Speak to Scale Podcast: How to Create a Content Strategy for Public Speaking
Every corner of the internet is filled with content. And in the small business world, it can feel really overwhelming to try to “keep up” with others. (Where are you going to find the time!?)
The truth is, you already have the time (if you use the right tools to help). Oh, and you don’t actually have to “keep up” with anyone. You do content your own way.
Today on the podcast, guest Melissa Morris is sharing her expertise as a project manager and operations consultant. We talk about why workflows are so important, why befriending the inbox search bar may not be the best idea, which CRM is best for your business size, why batching doesn’t work for everyone (including Melissa!), and so much more. We also discuss why Melissa’s favorite CRM is not mine at all. It was a friendly disagreement.
If you’ve been struggling with time around your content, be sure to tune in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Save time creating content! Grab Melissa’s Automation Roadmap
- Episode 129: Mapping Out Your Unpredictable Content
- Episode 73: Repurposing Content for Maximum ROI with Amy Woods
- Free Batching Guide
About Melissa Morris
Melissa Morris is a project manager and operations consultant for digital marketing and social media agencies. Using her 10 years of agency experience, Melissa helps agencies maximize their team, increase their productivity and increase profits.
Her T.A.P.P. Framework takes agency owners from disorganized and chaotic to streamlined and efficient so they can spend less time stressing about details and more time on agency growth.
Melissa’s been seen in publications such as INC Magazine, Keap Business Success Blog and CEO Blog Nation and heard on podcasts such as My Biz Bestie, Productivity Straight Talk and BizChix. Visit her website and follow her on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Do you love hearing the experiences of other business owners? I do! And I’m hoping you do too because today I’m sharing with you my journey through two full years of weekly (and more!) podcasting. Over the last two years, I’ve published 146 episodes, which works out to be 2.8 episodes per week. That’s a LOT of episodes. And things are going to change up a bit in Year Three of the podcast.
In this episode, I’m sharing changes I’ve made, what I don’t like about podcasting, and some of the biggest wins and takeaways I’ve had over the years--most of which are very recent.
Curious? Then tune in! I’m excited to share this with you!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 60: What a Year of Podcasting Does to a Business Owner
- Episode 100: The Content Experiment
- She Podcasts Live
- Ask Your Audience Challenge
Every stage of life has its challenges, especially when you’re trying to find balance and happiness. But speaking from experience, midlife is tough. There are so many life changes going on and honestly, you just want to feel grounded and like you’re fulfilling your life’s mission.
But how?
It takes work, and often it takes another set of eyes and ears on your thoughts and feelings. This is just one of the things I’m talking about with this week’s guests, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter.
If you’re feeling like you need a bit of a shift in life or business, this is the episode for you. And we’re talking about what to do in business to ensure you’re on the right track. Tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 135: When Long-Term Content Planning Goes Wrong
- Optimize Your Online Business LIVE
About Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter
Carmen Reed-Gilkison, whole person certified coach, and Deirdre Harter, CPA and business strategist, are the Co-Founders of Encore Empire.
Mission-oriented women over 40 hire Encore Empire to help optimize their foundational business strategy so they can focus on positively impacting the world.
Carmen and Deirdre help new and established female entrepreneurs increase bottom line profits in their online business consistently and holistically by leveraging their past experience, honoring their values, and becoming financially savvy.
With decades of combined entrepreneurial experience, they understand all aspects of business-building in the online marketplace. By combining their two areas of expertise Carmen and Deirdre have created a uniquely holistic approach to launching and growing businesses.
Women relate and interact differently at this age than their younger counterparts, and definitely different than men. Carmen and Dierdre believe in relationship marketing and that’s where women in midlife excel.
One of the biggest challenges business owners seem to face is knowing what content to publish for their audience. Are you one of the many who sits and stares at the computer screen, paralyzed into publishing nothing?
The solution? Ask your audience what they need and want! It’s truly that simple, and on this episode I’m sharing the six big benefits of surveying your audience.
So if you’re unsure of what content to create or you’re finding it difficult to get the results you you want on your content, tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Ask Your Audience Challenge - Live
- Episode 134: They Ask, You Answer
- Episode 57: Make Your Content About Your Audience, Not You
Like it or not, service providers have their own glass ceilings. There’s only so much time in the day to do spend offering your services to your clients. Eventually you’ll reach a revenue limit--there’s no more time in the day and it’s not possible to raise your prices more.
This glass ceiling is one of the big reasons why service providers choose to scale their businesses with digital products. It opens up more possibilities for creativity and revenue (and time freedom, if done right!).
On this episode of The Content Experiment Podcast, I’m chatting with Dr. Destini Copp, a business and marketing expert who helps business owners scale with digital products. We talk about where to start with digital products and her recommendations for how to offer a product that turns your customers into 1:1 clients.
Of course, the episode wouldn’t be complete without some discussion on where to get the digital traffic needed to make a product venture successful.
Tune in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- SCALE Your Business Summit
- Ask Your Audience live challenge
About Destini Copp
Dr. Destini Copp is a business and marketing expert who helps entrepreneurs scale their digital product revenue with automated sales funnels and reduce their reliance on services or freelance work.
She is a college marketing professor turned online entrepreneur and a wanna-be, Serena Williams-like, tennis player. She is the host of The Course Creator’s MBA Podcast and the Creator of The OneClick MBA membership.
You can connect with Destini on her website, as well as LinkedIn, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Are you good at making decisions for your business? No matter what stage you’re in, it can be HARD. What if I do the wrong thing? What if what I decide to do is the wrong thing...and I need to shift? What if it costs me money?
And sometimes, this is such a challenge that we end up paralyzed.
When you’re working from a strategic plan, decision-making is much easier to do. And on this episode of The Content Experiment podcast, guest Liz Watson is sharing how being strategic, measuring results, and making decisions all go hand-in-hand.
She also shares the impact of your personal life on your business, how to know what to stop doing, and why knowing your values is one of the best things you can do to support good decision-making.
Tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Content Mastery Lab
- The Ops Authority Podcast: From IT Project Manager to Director of Operations
- Episode 136: Creating Your Process, Strategically with Anne Hill
- Book a call with Liz!
About Liz Watson
Liz Watson, founder and operations strategist at The Impact Trail, serves small business owners that care about people, planet, and profit. She helps them map out strategies and measure metrics that matter so they can make the next right decision to optimize their business and ultimately make an even bigger impact in the world. Connect with her on LinkedIn or Facebook or visit her website.
How much do you outsource in your business? A little? A lot? Everything?
I don’t know many small business owners who outsource everything, but I do know some who outsource a lot. And while there’s nothing wrong with that at all (I outsource quite a bit too!), there’s something to be said for being able to do the work yourself too.
There’s nothing worse than needing something to be done--pronto--and not knowing how to do it or not having the right log-in access.
And I know, this is why SOPs are so important. But as the leader of your business, it’s also important to know what the work looks like, how long it takes, and what potential challenges might arise.
That’s exactly what I’m talking about on this episode of the podcast...why you need to be able to do the “grunt” work in your business. (And please listen in to hear what, exactly, I mean by “grunt” work. It’s not what you think!)
Mentioned in This Episode
- Ask Your Audience - Live!
Are you hesitant to start your client work with a contract because you’re worried you might seem too aggressive or upset your clients? Creating a contract ensures your projects are well-defined, have boundaries, and establish mutual level integrity. Who wouldn’t want that?
Contracts and agreements are some of the pieces of content that we don’t really think about as content because they’re behind the scenes and only seen by a few people. But today we’re talking about contracts, copyrights, and legal protections in your business.
I’m chatting today with Tania Shah, a small business attorney and co-founder of In The Know Legal. Tania explains all things business protection—how to protect your personal finances, how to protect your time and boundaries, where breakdowns happen most often, and why you don’t need to copyright all your content.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Free Business Checklists
- In The Know Legal Affiliate Program
- Client Journey Ebook
- The Content Mastery Lab
About Tania Shah
Tania Shah is a Co-Founder of In The Know Legal, a new legal product company for women entrepreneurs. A serial entrepreneur and proud mom to her little rescue dog, Toothless Johnny (the Chief Dog Officer of all her endeavors), Tania takes pride in paving her way in the legal world. In addition to being a Co-founder at ITKL, Tania owns LawTutors, LLC (an all-women led education company to help law and bar students), Shah Law, PLLC (a business law firm focusing on mom-owned and women-owned businesses) and is a full-time law professor in California.
To learn more about Tania, check out her website, Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
No matter where you look, you’re going to find messaging around all the things you should be doing in your business. Heck, I talk about it, too!
But the reality is that you need to weigh those “have-tos” and “shoulds” and decide what works for you in your business and your life.
Being a business owner is an amazing gift and challenge and I personally wouldn’t do it any other way. But in my conversation with Linsi Brownson, we talk about how there’s really no one right way to do business. And she gives you permission to allow you to look at business differently and embrace the way your personal life merges with your business.
As the world opens back up and we’re getting back to our old habits, let’s let go of the hustle culture and lean into the space and downtime that we all need.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode * Episode 123: Behind the Scenes of The Content Experiment * Be Brilliant in Your Business: How to Make Content that Goes the Extra Mile * Ultimate Business Clarity Meditation & Action Plan Workbook * Join Maverick HQ
About Linsi Brownson Linsi Brownson is a coach for creative entrepreneurs who want to say buh-bye to burnout and grow their business while enjoying their life.
As an entrepreneur in creative industries for 15+ years, she understands the unique pitfalls and possibilities of running a creative business. Linsi is a certified life and business coach who has helped dozens of perfectionists, people-pleasers, and busybodies alike, take charge of their energy and operations so they can create more and live better.
In addition to coaching business owners, Linsi hosts a podcast called “Be Brilliant In Your Business” where she shares insights on habits, productivity, and happiness.To learn more about Linsi, check out her website, Instagram, or Pinterest.
Coming up with content ideas can be tough, if you don’t know what to talk about. Sounds reasonable, right?
There are a lot of factors involved in developing your content ideas, including talking to your audience to find out what they need and want from you. But there’s work that you need to do on your end first, and that’s developing your own zones of genius.
Your zones of genius already exist, but you probably haven’t put them down on “digital” paper yet. In this episode, I’m sharing with you how to get those ideas from your head to the computer screen.
Getting really clear on your zones of genius can help you gain clarity in your business and your content and it will help your content flow in a way that you’re no longer tied to your computer.
Tune in now! And be sure to sign up for the free Ask Your Audience Challenge LIVE that starts on September 27!
Mentioned in This Episode
- The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
- Episode 134: They Ask, You Answer
- Ask Your Audience Challenge LIVE
How many times have you visited someone’s website or Instagram page, and thought to yourself, “Wow, I love their vibe” or “They have a great personality?” What about the opposite? You're online trying to find the perfect person to hire or buy from, and everyone you come across looks the same. Bland.
It’s really important that your online presence be truly YOU, which is exactly what today’s guest and I are talking all about. How to make your copy you.
Tracie Kendziora is the founder and creative voice of Okay, Okapi where she helps online business owners, coaches, and creatives write personality-packed copy so they can build a brand that reflects who they are—personality quirks and all.
Tune in to hear what Tracie has to say about creating different and fun copy—without going overboard.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Okay Okapi Spicy Headlines
- Client Journey Ebook
- The Content Mastery Lab
About Tracie Kendziora
Tracie is the founder of Okay, Okapi, where she helps online business owners, coaches, and creatives write personality-packed copy so they can build their brand online, create a rock-solid connection with their audience, and book more dream clients. Her sweet spot is working as a copy coach and editor to help her clients create totally unique brand voices and unboring content that connects more and converts better.
Follow Tracie on her website and check out her Facebook and Instagram.
Okay, we’re more than halfway through 2021, are you making steady progress toward your vision? Do you remember what your vision even is?
Life happens! Client work happens. Business happens. And it’s okay to change your mind and your direction if it aligns with where you want to go. The important part is knowing what you value and your vision.
Today on the podcast I am talking with Anne Hill, CEO of Hilltop Virtual Solutions and small business systems and operations expert. Anne shares with us how to identify and follow your values in business, and why it’s important to create a plan—even if you don’t stick to it.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Strategic Business Roadmap
- Client Journey Ebook
- The Content Mastery Lab
About Anne Hill
Anne Hill is CEO of Hilltop Virtual Solutions and small business systems and operations expert. Anne has a passion for helping small business owners have more confidence and clarity in the decisions they make. Anne is a certified director of operations and is driven by the bigger picture of things. She is committed and dedicated to helping small business owners understand the metrics in their business that allow them to make the right moves and the right times. Anne brings over 15 years of her corporate operations background as well as the experiences in her own business to help in the areas of processes, procedures, and team growth/hiring for small businesses. Anne implements strategies that are tested and proven to provide business owners a solid foundation in their business to successfully grow and scale.
Learn more about Anne by visiting her website or find her on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Planning ahead is important. You know this. But there’s such a thing as too much of a good thing.
That’s right. Not all your content can be planned well in advance. In fact, I recommend that you’re only about 90 days ahead on most of your content.
Why’s that? Listen in! I’m sharing all the things that could go wrong or change over the course of your content plan. It’s a lot!
And what content can you plan well into the future for? Ah, well...you’ll have to listen in for that too!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 7: How to Develop Your Content Ideas
- Episode 8: How to Create a 90-Day Content Plan
- Episode 63: Staying Inside Your Zones of Genius
- Episode 79: Leveraging Simple LinkedIn Strategies
- Episode 129: Mapping Out Your Unpredictable Content
- Episode 131: Balancing Your Life and Business
- Episode 132: What is the Intent of Your Content?
- Episode 136 - coming soon
- Episode 142 - coming soon
- Content Mastery Lab
I have to tell you that I am SO incredibly excited about today’s episode. I mean fan-girl level excited.
Around 2017 or early 2018, I read the book, They Ask You Answer by Marcus Sheridan. The book spotlights really simple criteria for developing your inbound content marketing strategy. I was obsessed.
After a few embarrassing email exchanges (primarily due to me fangirling), I ended up in the acknowledgments of Marcus’s book! His book has been hugely transformative for me and the way I run my business.
Marcus outlines why answering your audience’s questions matters and shares his Big Top Five for how your audience relates to your content. I think you will have a couple of ah-ha moments. I know I have.
Tune in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 23: Are You Answering Your Audience (Book Talk)
- They Ask You Answer by Marcus Sheridan
- Client Journey Ebook
- The Content Mastery Lab
About Marcus Sheridan
Marcus Sheridan is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker known for his unique ability to excite, engage, and motivate audiences. In 2017, Forbes named Marcus "One of 20 Speakers You Don’t Want to Miss.” He has been dubbed a “Web Marketing Guru” by the New York Times and featured in Inc., The Globe and Mail, Forbes, and many more. As an owner of IMPACT, Marcus has established one of the most successful digital sales and marketing agencies in the country. Within his speaking company, Marcus Sheridan International, Inc. He gives more than 70 global keynotes annually where he inspires audiences in the areas of sales, marketing, leadership, and communication. Mashable rated his book, They Ask, You Answer, the “#1 Marketing Book”, and Forbes listed it as one of “11 Marketing Books Every CMO Should Read”.
Learn more at his website or by following him on LinkedIn and Twitter.
When you’re the one calling the shots in your business, it’s easy to make major decisions—quickly. But if your major decision is a launch, you have to think about your audience. You can’t just wake up one day and ask your audience to shell out their hard earned money just because you decided at the last minute you wanted to sell.
You need to nurture them and allow them to grow to know, like, and trust you. Which can sometimes feel easier said than done. It takes a lot to take your audience on a journey with you and it behooves you to have a plan and be planned ahead.
Today I’m talking to Tasha Booth of The Launch Guild about all things launching, scaling, letting go, best practices and so much more. We talk about content, nurturing, staying in front of your audience, and best practices for your launch.
Tune in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Amy Porterfield’s podcast with Tasha Booth
- 6 Pillars of a Successful Course Launch Project Plan
- My Client Journey Ebook
- The Content Mastery Lab
About Tasha Booth
Tasha Booth is an agency owner, coach, and podcaster. She is the Founder & CEO of The Launch Guild - a Course Launch Support & Digital Marketing Implementation Agency supporting established coaches and course creators with Course & Podcast Launches, Operations & Systems Management, and Content Management & Repurposing. Her team is over 20 members strong and works together to support their clients in being able to focus back onto their zones of genius.
Additionally, she mentors Virtual Support Pros (VAs, OBMs, & PMs) who are passionate and ready to grow their businesses while living life on their own term and is the host of the How She Did That Podcast -- a podcast for Virtual Assistants, Online Business Managers, and Project Managers to learn business and tech tips.
To learn more check out Tasha’s website or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Why are you creating the content you’re creating? What do you want to have happen as a result of that content? And how are you ensuring your audience knows what to do next?
Each piece of content you create is a part of a much larger whole. You need to think about how this information works for you, your audience, and your business. Because like everything, it’s unique to you and your vision.
Today on the podcast, we are talking about the intent of your content. Content isn’t about creating a quick conversion—it rarely happens that way. It’s about taking your audience on a journey and building a relationship.
Download your Client Journey Ebook and tune in!
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Episode 120: Knowing and Growing Your Client Journey
- Client Journey Ebook
- The Content Mastery Lab
When was the last time you were scrolling through your social media, saw someone’s “quick” success, and immediately felt bad about your own business progression? All too often, right?
This episode is a great reminder to place value on fun, rest, and quality time as well as your business goals. Choosing to grow your business sustainably, puts you back in control of your lifestyle—and your bottom line.
Today I’m chatting with Suzi Gray, brand strategist, copywriter, and founder of Captivation House. You’re going to love Suzi’s take on balance and building a lifestyle-led business. Suzi also shares her 5 Stages of Branding and we go into depth on laying the foundation and building the cornerstone—two things that I think too many business owners overlook, myself included.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Trap Door Treasure Hunt
- Client Captivation Strategies
- Client Journey Ebook
- The Content Mastery Lab
About Suzie Gray
Suzi Gray is a business and marketing mentor for quietly-rebellious service providers who want to build a simple, spacious, sustainable business that captivates high-calibre clients on repeat. She lives on a charming little marina in the UK with her husband-to-be, her black and white cat, a bookshelf full of books she's yet to read, and lots and lots of snacks.
To learn more about Suzi, check out her website or follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
You went into your business as a way to help and support other people. So many of the clients I work with have started their business from a personal passion, and a desire to make a positive change in peoples’ lives.
Today’s episode is different from any other episode I’ve done before. You may not recognize our guest, but he’s a master at online content. I discovered Paul Churchill last summer through his Recovery Elevator podcast. It was right around when I started my health journey and started toying with quitting drinking.
In this interview, we talk about the moment when Paul realized that the podcast was so much more than an accountability tool—it was a way to help others and, eventually, to grow a business. I invited Paul onto the podcast to share that your passion CAN become a business.
As you’re listening, I would love to have you listen with the lens of...what’s your passion? Have you built a business around it? Because your audience is waiting for it!
Tune in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Café RE: Use the promo code OPPORTUNITY to waive the setup fee
- Alcohol is SH!T
- Podcasters Paradise
- The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber
- Johann Hari Ted Talks
- “Rat Park” Experiment
- Episode 61: Take Care of Yourself and Your Business with Allison Jordan
- Client Journey Ebook
- The Content Mastery Lab
About Paul Churchill
In 2006, Paul Churchill moved to Granada Spain where he purchased a bar. In the following three years he became dependent on alcohol, blacking out close to 7 nights per week. In 2009, Paul walked away from the bar hoping a geographical cure would curtail the drinking but continued to drink for another 5 years.
In February 2015 Paul launched the Recovery Elevator podcast as an accountability tool to stay sober. Today, it's been over 5 years since Paul had his last drink of Alcohol and the podcast has surpassed 5 million downloads, and evolved into a private membership community with over 1,300 members from all over the world.
Paul is the author of the best-selling book Alcohol is SH!T, has delivered two TEDx talks, was a featured speaker at My Brave in Los Angeles, and plans to continue eradicating the stigma surrounding alcohol and addiction.
Follow Recovery Elevator on Instagram and Facebook.
I know you think that mapping out content in your business is impossible because it’s so unpredictable. That may be the case for some of your content, but the truth is that having a plan for some of your content will open up so much space for the content that just pops up with no warning. And having a plan in place may just open up the door for more space for creativity.
Today we’re talking about that elusive content plan, that evades you because of the type of messaging you have. You feel like a consistent plan isn’t for you because what you create or the industry you’re in is just too unpredictable. Or maybe it’s YOU that’s unpredictable.
Whatever it is, I want to share how to have a plan of action even when you feel like you just can’t plan anything.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 63: Staying Inside Your Zones of Genius
- Episode 126: Benefits of Batching Content
- Content Mastery Lab
Instagram is an important part of a healthy online presence, but I miiiight have a few pet peeves when it comes to people posting Reels—only because it makes it really difficult for your audience to consume your message.
Today, we’re talking about Instagram with Monica Monfre—specifically Instagram Reels. Monica is a business coach and social media strategist who teaches female entrepreneurs how to launch their businesses while gaining visibility on social media.
Monica explains how to create Reels with your audience in mind and how to make your content pop. We’re also taking a deeper look at using your Clubhouse presence to grow your Instagram following.
So if you love Reels or want to get started growing your Instagram following, this one's for you!
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Free 3 Day Instagram Story Challenge
- Episode 97: How to Deliver Powerful Presentations with Mike Ganino
- Episode 127: Using Clubhouse in Your Business with Annabelle Bayhan
- Client Journey Ebook
- The Content Mastery Lab
About Monica Monfre
Monica Monfre is a business coach and social media strategist who teaches female entrepreneurs how to launch their businesses while gaining visibility on social media. She’s helped hundreds of women, including teachers, business coaches, social media strategists, and mompreneurs launch their businesses and grow their followings on social media. Her work has been featured by Luminary (NYC), The Financial Gym and Girlboss as well as on numerous podcasts.
To learn more about Monica check out her website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
I have a confession. I have been avoiding Clubhouse like it’s the plague. I’ve been very anti-Clubhouse since it first came out because, let’s face it, the online space has seen its fair share of overly hyped platforms.
But things are changing a bit and that’s why I decided it was time to look more closely at Clubhouse as a viable platform for people who are marketing their businesses online.
Today I’m chatting today with Annabelle Bayhan, founder of Clubhouse for Bosses. She works 1:1 with clients to help them strategize around Clubhouse and get the most out of their marketing efforts. I have to say I learned a lot from my conversation with Annabelle. I hope you do too!
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- 5 Tips to Grow Your Clubhouse Room Size: text CLUBHOUSE to 33777 or go to clubhousepals.com
- Client Journey Ebook
- The Content Mastery Lab
About Annabelle Bayhan
Annabelle Bayhan is the founder of Clubhouse for Bosses and a Business & Digital Marketing Strategist for coaches & consultants who want to increase their influence, income and impact using Clubhouse. Prior to becoming a Business & Marketing Coach, Annabelle worked in Digital Marketing for over a decade.
Learn more about Annabelle by visiting her website or following her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
How would you like to have enough content created to take a vacation AND create it faster while staying completely inside your zones of genius? Does that sound too good to be true?
Well, if it does, you’re invited to keep listening in. I’m going to share with you the benefits of batching your content AND give you a tool to help along the way. I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that batching can be a lot of work up front, but the benefits outweigh the cons.
Listen in to learn more about the benefits of batching your content, and how to create a content plan perfect for your business.
Tune in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Free Content Batching Guide
- Episode 7: How to Develop Your Content Ideas
- Episode 8: How to Create a 90-Day Content Plan
- Client Journey Ebook
- The Content Mastery Lab
You’re busy, and you know you need help—desperately. It’s time to hire. But rushing into hiring a new team member will not fix your problems. It might actually make them worse.
You have to know what you need to hire for, find the right person, and then onboard them correctly. I can say for certain that I’ve failed at onboarding on more than one occasion, and trust me you want to do it right.
Today I’m talking to Jamie Van Cuyk about how to know it’s the right time to hire and how to onboard your new hires well. Because even though you might be ready to have someone on your team NOW, it really does take some time.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- The Ultimate Expectations Checklist
- Client Journey Ebook
- The Content Mastery Lab
About Jamie Van Cuyk
Jamie Van Cuyk, the owner and lead strategist of Growing Your Team, is an expert in hiring, building teams, and people management within small businesses. Drawing from over ten years of leadership experience, Jamie teaches her clients how to hire and manage their first teams of loyal contractors and employees. She helps each client create, understand, and execute the right strategies so that they can find, manage, and retain their perfect-fit team members.
To learn more about Jamie check out her website or follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
You landed a guest spot on a podcast. The publicity for your business is great, but how will you STAY in front of the new audience once the recording ends?
For most people, there is a BIG missing piece reducing the value of their guest appearances—a clear, decisive call to action. We’ve talked a ton about getting in front of new audiences on other people’s stages, but creating a true next step is something that SO many people miss.
In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Lisa Simone Richards about getting new audience members to start that journey with you, understanding what publicity is right for your business, and how to stay in front of new audiences long after the air date.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Lisa's Coaching Quiz
- Episode 17: Elevate Your Visibility Without a Formal Pitch
- Episode 34: Speaking Your Story with Jessica Rasdall
- Episode 36: How to Pitch a Podcast with Angie Trueblood
- Episode 92: Utilizing Media and Publicity in Your Business with Christina Nicholson
- Client Journey Ebook
- The Content Mastery Lab
About Lisa Simone Richards
Lisa Simone Richards is a publicist for online coaches who want to get featured in magazines, on-stage, TV, podcasts, and other major media. She helps them go from invisible to in-demand with strategies that help you build your business by leveraging the audiences of others. She helps her clients get the kind of credibility that has people running to work with you.
To learn more about Lisa, check out her website or follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Life is a journey. Business ownership is a journey. And sometimes, it's even a roller coaster. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears have gone into creating this business—and quite a bit of anxiety also. Sounds familiar? I’m sure it does.
I’m giving you a little peek behind the scenes of The Content Experiment-—a bit of where it started back in 2007, how it’s grown since I left my day job in 2013, where we are now, and where I hope to be.
The last thirteen years have been quite a journey. Today I’m sharing with you some of my most valuable lessons, realizations, and even mistakes. I am so excited to share my business anniversary with all of you and grateful that you are here to share the journey!
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Episode 100: 100th EPISODE - The Content Experiment
- Episode 84: Why Content is Really One Big Experiment
- Episode 117: Surrounding Yourself with the Right People
- Client Journey Ebook
- The Content Mastery Lab
You started your own business because you wanted to forge your path. Only to find a surplus of online gurus who have all the opinions about what YOU need to do to grow and market YOUR business. The truth is they don’t know what is best for you—you do!
Today I’m chatting with Wendy Breakstone, online marketing and sales operation expert and host of the Rulebreaker’s Marketing & Sales Summit.
Wendy is passionate about doing things your own way to bring more ease into your business. If it burns you out, freaks you out, or sells you out, you’re doing the wrong thing. When you do it your way, the pieces will fall into place.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Rule Breakers Marketing & Sales Summit
- Audio Summit Marketing School
- The Content Experiment: Episode 121
- The Content Mastery Lab
About Wendy Breakstone
Wendy Breakstone is a Marketing & Sales Operations Expert for 6-figure female coaches and program creators who need to transform their business from stressful to streamlined and kick the business overwhelm to the curb.
For the past 18+ years, Wendy has consulted and mentored hundreds of service-based entrepreneurs who need to build structure into their business so that they can create sustainable, long-lasting growth.
Wendy is a self-proclaimed tech nerd and 80s rocker-chick at heart and mom to one human teenager, one doodle-child, and two feline monsters.
To learn more about Wendy, visit her website or connect on Facebook, Instagram, or Clubhouse.
In August 2020, I didn’t have plans to host a summit. I didn’t have a team and I definitely didn’t have the time to put an online event together. Know the feeling?
After chatting with Krista in episode 55, the idea started percolating and seven months later my first summit baby was born. I loved that conversation I had with Krista because I feel like it really laid the foundation for what it looks like to host a summit—without gaining too many extra gray hairs.
Now that I’ve been there and done that—and many of you have too—I thought it would be helpful to have Krista back to talk about upleveling your summit. With so many people hosting summits these days, we talked about how to make your summit stand out, what steps to take to avoid common pitfalls, and how to use your event to create lasting change in the lives (and businesses) of your audience.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Virtual Summit Funnel Roadmap
- Virtual Summit Prep Timeline
- Summit in a Box affiliate link
- Episode 55: The Content Experiment Podcast
- Episode 111: The Content Experiment Podcast
- The Content Mastery Lab
About Krista Miller
At Summit In A Box, Krista helps entrepreneurs 3x their monthly revenue through virtual summits without wondering where to start or what to do next. Her method is focused on strong connections, collaboration, and making a difference in the lives of everyone involved.
The best part? She makes it easy! With every strategy, copy template, website template, script, tech tutorial, and resources you'd ever need, your summit prep just got a whole lot easier!
Follow Krista on Instagram, join her Facebook Group, or learn more about hosting your virtual summit by visiting Summit In A Box.
One of those things that we hear a lot about is the client journey--the path people take with your brand. The truth is the client journey starts well before the initial discovery call. Your client’s journey begins the moment they’ve identified the problem that you solve.
In this episode, I’m going to walk you through the client journey--what the stages are, what that content looks like, and some special considerations for the types of content you might create. And, as always, I do this with the caveat that you need to do what works for you.
This episode was just a fraction of what you’ll get out of the free Client Journey ebook. Be sure to grab your copy to start your journey. Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 51: Why Client Journey Matters When Creating Content
- Client Journey Ebook
- Content Mastery Lab
Most people associate vulnerability with weakness. In reality, vulnerability is closely related to authenticity and integrity—all traits a strong leader should embody.
Today we’re talking about, you guessed it—leadership. My guest is my amazing client Wendy Ryan, CEO of Kadabra, who works with organizations on leadership, change, allyship, equity, and inclusion.
Wendy and I talk about vulnerability among leaders, what it looks like, what’s appropriate vulnerability (and when we’ve gone too far). This is such an important conversation because, as small business owners, it’s important to recognize how much impact we have on our clients and our teams.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Learn, Lead, Lift: How to Think Act and Inspire Your Way to Greatness
- Learn to Lead Lift Framework
- Self-Awareness Guide
- The Content Mastery Lab
About Wendy Ryan
Wendy Ryan is the CEO of Kadabra, an interdisciplinary team of leadership and change experts based in Silicon Valley, California. In addition to her work with Kadabra, Wendy is an active mentor, strategic advisor, and angel investor in early-stage, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and women-led companies. She is also an advocate for expanding diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the investor and business ecosystems.
Follow Kadabra on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn to learn more.
You’ve heard me say it before—you can’t do your business journey alone. But how do you create meaningful, genuine, and authentic connections from a 20-minute Zoom call? Don’t worry, it is still possible.
Today, I’m chatting with Kathy Kasten, an executive coach and trainer and CEO of Lion Crest Leadership about all things connection--and how to navigate true connection online.
We touch on communicating with people from different backgrounds, making your team feel truly like a team, avoiding common mistakes some business owners make when trying to connect with others, and strategically choosing who you connect with to better your business.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- DISC Assessment
- Content Mastery Lab
About Kathy Kasten
Kathy Kasten is the CEO and Founder of Lion Crest Leadership. With a background in both small business ownership and corporate management, Kathy is an executive coach who helps her clients clarify their gifts, walk through overwhelm, recharge for the people they care about, and learn to connect more deeply with others for better relationships and results.
To learn more about Kathy visit her website, or follow her on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.
The truth is many small businesses don’t succeed. The health and success of your business don’t necessarily equate to who works the hardest (even though hard work is a BIG part of it).
Your success and staying power depend on WHO you surround yourself with and HOW you show up for them.
Today I’m talking about the other people in (and around) your business—your business friends, the people you mastermind with, the leaders and members of programs you’re involved in (both paid and unpaid), your clients, and so on.
If you take one thing away from today’s episode, I hope it’s a desire to find the right people to help you grow as a business owner, so you can grow your business.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Content Mastery Lab
You know you need a content strategy. But what about the visual side of your content? How are you creating a confident look and feel that represents you—authentically?
Today’s guest is a personal stylist who does SO much more than tell you what to wear. She supports you in your messaging and empowers you to step into the most confident version of yourself.
I’m chatting with Trish Taylor, a stylist and brand embodiment coach, about cultivating confidence to show up, messaging, aligned visibility, and so much more. She shares how she works with clients on intuitive style, finding your stride, and getting comfortable being seen.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Batch Wardrobe Courses
- Content Mastery Lab
About Trish Taylor
Trish Taylor is a stylist and a brand embodiment coach committed to helping heart-centered, online entrepreneurs align their outside with their inside to create magnetizing content and feel worthy of their expertise. Trish leverages her unique experiences as a celebrity stylist to empower entrepreneurs and course creators with the mindset shifts AND stylish tools they need to step into the most confident version of themselves.
To learn more about Trish, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, or check out her website.
You wear all the hats in your business—but let’s face it, there absolutely comes a point in your business where you can’t do it all alone.
Often the first place we hire help is with a virtual assistant.
Today’s guest is Jamie Boggeln, a virtual assistant who specializes in helping business owners pull off summits. Jamie and I talk about how summits have changed over the years (she hosted her first summit in 2014), how YOU can learn to let go of doing ALL the things, and some best practices for hosting your own summit.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Zenler
- Bomb Ass Summits
- Episode 111: Lessons from Hosting a Summit
- Content Mastery Lab
About Jamie Boggeln
Jamie Boggeln is a sought-after Virtual Assistant for online entrepreneurs, who has started several businesses of her own. Jamie empowers entrepreneurs to build momentum in their businesses, be seen online, and get amazing results-producing virtual summits.
Jamie resides in San Diego, CA with her husband and 3 kids. Follow Jamie on Facebook or check out her Bomb Ass Summit courses!
Are you doing YOU in business? It’s so tempting to take someone’s teachings and ideas and implement them into your own business without thinking about the impact.
Learning new strategies and concepts is part of doing business, but being the CEO means that you take the time to find ways that these new ideas work in your business. Because not everything will...and you also don’t have time to implement everything into your business.
Listen in to this episode as I give you permission to do your own thing with your content (and this applies to all aspects of business and life too!).
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 109: Stepping Up Your Video Strategy
- Episode 112: Build Your Copywriting Muscle
- Content Mastery Lab
Waiting until you're 100% ready is a setup. Chances are you’ll never be completely ready to do anything. Just DO the thing, my friend. Try out something new and do the thing. You don’t have to be ready—but you do have to be willing.
Today we’re talking about branding and visibility...specifically your brand photos.
I’m chatting with Terri Burke, a branding photographer who has a mission to bring her message to more business owners. Terri is pivoting in her business and hosting a summit, Release Your Spark, at the same time. Sound familiar?
Listen in to learn more about how to think strategically about your photography and why your pictures matter.
Tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Sarah Hoag Photography
- Release Your Spark Summit
- Content Mastery Lab
About Terri Burke
Terri Burke is an accomplished brand photographer whose friendly service goes well beyond the click. Terri founded her first photography business, Catch a Spark Photography, more than a decade ago and now focuses on creating contemporary family heirlooms for moms whether their kids had two legs or four.
Join Terri’s Facebook Group or visit her website to take a look at some of her previous work.
Why aren’t you emailing your list? 🤔 Are you worried about coming across as desperate and salesy or is your email list too small to try? 🤷♀️
It all boils down to confidence.✨ The good news is the more you flex your confidence muscle, the better you get. After all, being on your email list is a privilege. 💁♀️
On today’s episode, Kate and I chat about email best practices, how to create an email sequence that sells, why client avatars aren’t all they’re cracked up to be (you know I love that topic!) and so much more. 🤩
Listen in! 🎧
Mentioned in This Episode
- Brainy Biz Podcast
- The Email Marketing Fairey Course
- Love Your List Course
- Trello Magic Course
- Amanda Frances
- Inbox Besties Podcast
- Content Mastery Lab
About Kate Doster
Kate Doster is the host of the Inbox Besties Podcast, creator of the Love Your List 2.0 email marketing mega course and is dangerously obsessed with helping ethical entrepreneurs carve out their slice of the interwebs. She helps her students woo open the hearts (and wallets) of their small but mighty audiences thanks to fun email marketing and easy yes mini-offers.
If you want to jolt subscribers into taking action, gobbling up your paid offers like candy… or kale is that’s their thing, follow Kate on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or visit her website.
In case you weren’t paying attention, The Content Experiment recently hosted a summit. It both was wildly successful AND gave us the framework for doing a lot of things differently next time. (Yes, there will be a next time.) ✨
If you’ve been curious about what was going on behind the scenes before, during, and after the summit, this is the episode where I’m dishing it out. 💁♀️
In today’s episode, I’m sharing what worked, what didn’t work, and what we’re changing for The Content Experiment Summit 2.0. Listen in now! 🎧
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Summit in a Box
Creating content is necessary to grow your business. But gaining the visibility you need to attract the right audience can leave you wondering if you or your content is even good enough.
The problem isn’t the content. It’s your mindset.
It takes some guts to put yourself out there. You have to make sure your head is in the right place, identify self-limiting beliefs, and find the resiliency to keep ongoing.
Today I’m chatting with Emily King, a wealth and abundance coach for entrepreneurial women. Emily talks us through manifestation, meditation, money personality, and archetypes, getting past the brain blocks that are sabotaging you and your business.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Money Personality Quiz
- “Soul Aligned” Meditation Bundle
- Content Mastery Lab
About Emily King
Emily King is a wealth & abundance coach for entrepreneurial women and the founder of The Rich Woman signature coaching program. Since 2015 she’s worked with 100s of women to help them create a loving relationship with money so they can massively increase their income and impact. Armed with an MBA and certifications as an NLP practitioner and timeline therapist, Emily brings the perfect mix of manifesting-woo and business chops to the table to help women across the world live their best ‘Rich Woman’ lives - a life of financial freedom, fulfillment, and fun.
To learn more about Emily follow her on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.
Are you avoiding incorporating a video strategy into your business? Planning video content doesn’t have to mean reinventing the wheel. Try out a few things, experiment, and realize it will take some time to get there. Video is a long-term strategy.
Today on the podcast I have my very first repeat guest to talk you off of your camera-shy ledge!
I’m talking with Holly Gillen about creating a video strategy that’s right for you and up-leveling the quality and content of your videos. Holly explains how to make sure that what you’re creating is the content your audience needs and wants, how to make the most of the content you already have, and how to tackle the four pillars of pre-production.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Video Made Easy: Mentorship Group
- From Start to Star Challenge
- 100 Themes for Video Link
- Join Holly G's VIPs Facebook
- Episode 16: The Content Experiment Podcast
- The Content Mastery Lab
About Holly Gillen
Holly Gillen started her video production career in 2008 as a camera operator, producer, and editor working with big industry names including the Sundance Channel, Sony Music, HBO, and many others.
Today Holly empowers high-performing leading lady entrepreneurs to save time on both sides of the camera. She teaches her clients the skills they need to create not just video but Business Cinema™, creating videos that have a plan, a purpose, and a strategy. Videos that move your business forward and have a bigger purpose.
Learn more about Holly on her website or follow her on Instagram.
Sitting in front of your Google Analytics dashboard is probably not your idea of a good time. But with a little help from your data, you can stop blindly publishing content and start making informed decisions about what content you need to share with your audience. I promise you’ll save SO much time and frustration.
In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Jennifer Grayeb, CEO of The Nimble Co. about data—data to help drive what content you’re creating, the data you should be paying attention to, and data you can let go of.
And, of course, Jennifer is one of the speakers at The Content Experiment Summit starting March 15, 2021! You can sign up right now at The Content Experiment Summit. If you’re listening in real-time, registration is open NOW and we get started in just a few days
Mentioned in This Episode
- The Traffic Insights Dashboard
- Demystifying Search Engine Optimization with Meg Clarke
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Jennifer Grayeb
Jennifer Grayeb is the CEO of The Nimble Co., a consulting group focused on helping online business owners better understand their numbers so they can make data-driven and profit-generating marketing decisions. She recently left her senior strategy role at a Fortune 5 company where she had 6 roles in just 7 years. While in that role, in just 2 years she built a productivity blog that reached over 2 million page views per year, which she went on to sell.
In every role she’s had or every company she’s owned, one thing has been consistent: she delivers results without working 80 hour weeks. Now she helps others do the same with one of her best-kept secrets - data.
You can stay up to date with Jennifer on her website or by following her on Instagram and Facebook.
Are you holding yourself back from making big changes in your business because you’re afraid to lose sales? Or that people won’t be able to find you online?
In today’s episode I’m chatting with Kristin Arilus, founder of The Foreplay Factory, about not letting fear hold you back, seducing your audience, and taking your customers to the boom boom room--metaphorically speaking.
And, of course, Kristin is one of the speakers at The Content Experiment Summit starting March 15, 2021. Registration is now open!
Tune in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- The Four Play Challenge
- The Client Seduction Lounge
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Kristin Arilus
As a Navy wife, Army vet, and mom of two toddlers, Kristin Arilus prides herself on being a creative problem solver. She designed her business to help entrepreneurs make business fun, enjoyable AND profitable. As the founder of The Foreplay Factory™, she helps clients automate their sales for predictable revenue using the power of email marketing. Her company offers done-for-you sales funnels and email marketing management to service-based women entrepreneurs.
Follow Kristin on Instagram, Facebook, or her website to learn more about how to seduce your leads, sell your offers, and secure your sales.
You can’t just create content and push it out there when you feel like it. You need a strategy, and you most definitely need to have systems to help you stay in the flow and reduce the amount of time and frustration you’re feeling around content and marketing.
In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Theresa Truong, founder of Loop Link, about what a director of operations can do for your business, the importance of standard operating procedures, how to simplify your content creation--and why you need to create content just for internal use.
And, of course, Theresa is one of the speakers at The Content Experiment Summit. She is talking all about scaling your content with systematization. You can sign up right now at The Content Experiment Summit. If you’re listening in real-time, registration is officially open and we get started on March 15, 2021.
Tune in! A full transcription of this episode is available on my website.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Aligning Your Hires with Your Vision with Natalie Gingrich
- Letting Go of Control as You Grow with Abby Herman
- SOP Success Lab
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Theresa Truong
Theresa Truong is an Operations Coachsultant™ and Client Experience extraordinaire with a knack for all things “left-brained”, including organizing, strategizing, and systemizing, make her an ideal fit for her “right-brained” creative CEO clients.
Through her 18+ years of experience, Theresa works with creative consultants and strategists to streamline and systemize their online operations to run the right way with or without their direct involvement. Theresa wanted the flexibility to spend time with her family, and the freedom to serve in her passion: creating, designing, and refining systems for other types of businesses.
Learn more about Theresa by visiting her website or follow her on Instagram and YouTube.
Partnering with affiliates is a great way to boost your income and connect with your community on a deeper level. Your affiliates attract new audiences and sales that you wouldn’t have found yourself, all while you both generate income from your collaboration.
In today’s episode, Zoe and I chat about what affiliate marketing actually is, why paying out affiliates is a GOOD thing, how much commission you should give your affiliates, why you should be selective about your affiliates, and so much more.
Zoe will be one of the speakers at The Content Experiment Summit on March 15. Registration is now open! The summit features 25 speakers who share bite-sized tips and tricks on how to get a better ROI on their time and financial investments in content and marketing.
Tune in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- ThriveCart
- SamCart
- Teachable
- Thinkific
- Tapfiliate
- LeadDyno
- Ditch Traditional Marketing + Turn Your Customers Into A 24/7 Sales Machine
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Zoe Linda
Zoe Linda, the Affiliate Program Toolkit creator, helps digital product creators create magical affiliate programs that aren't spammy, salesy, or sleazy. She loves showing business owners how an affiliate program can harness the relationships they already have to scale the products they've created. Zoe can usually be found with a coffee in one hand, a pen in the other (ready to write down her next big idea), and her goofy dog, Nala, by her side. When she is not working, she is playing video games online or re-watching Brooklyn-99 episodes!
Learn more about Zoe on her website, or follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
With over 6 BILLION Google searches a day, how are you making your business searchable? And once visitors make it to your site, what are you doing to make sure they stay?
Today on The Content Experiment Podcast, Megan Clarke of Clapping Dog Media and I explore why good SEO is good business, how to get found on Google, and what makes a great meta description -- and how talking about what you know can lead to great SEO for your site!
Megan is also one of the presenters at The Content Experiment Summit. Registration is now open! The Summit features 25 speakers who are sharing little tweaks coaches and course creators can make on their content and marketing to get a better ROI on their time and financial investments in content and marketing.
Tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Clapping Dog Media SEO Audit
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Megan Clarke
Megan Clarke has been helping small businesses get found on Google for nearly 10 years. She is on a mission to unveil the negative connotations of SEO and show you how impactful and even fun SEO can be. Find Megan at Clapping Dog Media or follow her on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest.
Your story is what sets you apart. No one does what you do, how you do it. But what’s holding you back from getting your story out there?
Today we’re talking about creating your message and how to get your vision to come across, whether it’s you creating the content or you’re hiring someone else to create it for you. Because yes, you CAN hire someone to create for you and still have it be YOURS.
On this episode of The Content Experiment Podcast, ghostwriter and book writing coach, Maggie Frank-Hsu, talks about your BIG idea--how to find it and how to use it in your business as well as what’s holding people back from putting their message out there.
Maggie goes into this even more in her presentation at The Content Experiment Summit. Registration is now open for the waiting list only, but will open to the public on March 1st! The Summit features 25 speakers who are sharing little tweaks coaches and course creators can make on their content and marketing to get a better ROI on their time and financial investments in content and marketing.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Be About Something
- The Writers Cave
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Maggie Frank-Hsu
Maggie Frank-Hsu is a ghostwriter, editor, and book writing coach who helps entrepreneurs who want to go from invisible to high-profile. Maggie has spent her entire career using words to move audiences as an online marketer, an editor, and early in her career as a journalist. She received her Master’s Degree from the Columbia School of Journalism.
Maggie has recently published her first book under her own name, Be About Something. She lives in San Diego with her husband and her two sons. Read more about Maggie on her website or follow her on Instagram.
Email marketing is tough. It requires hard work, consistency, and a lot of strategy. When was the last time you emailed your list? Or better yet, got a solid return on your efforts?
Establishing a rapport with your audience via email is a powerful way to create genuine relationships without coming across as sleazy or annoying.
Today’s guest is Eman Ismail, an email conversion strategist, and copywriter and founder of InkHouse. She shares why you need nurturing emails for your business, how to develop a two-way conversation with your audience, how to get new subscribers on your list--and what to do next to build the relationship.
Be sure not to miss Eman at The Content Experiment Summit! She tells it like it is and your email audience will thank you for it! Sign up to get on the waiting list so you can be one of the first to register. Registration opens Feb. 26 for the waiting list. It’s coming up, so don’t miss out!
Tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Be your own Copywriter Course
- The Email Rules - the fast-track 35-minute mini-class that teaches you how to boost your conversions and sales through email.
- Also need AAP mini-class info
- Bridgerton on Netflix
- Episode 100: The Content Experiment Podcast
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Eman Ismail
Eman Ismail is the person to call when you want to make money from your emails. As an email conversion strategist and copywriter (and the founder of inkhouse.org.uk) she helps 6+ figure online business owners and ecommerce brands fire up their conversions, evergreen their sales and turn fans into Superfans. When she’s not writing high-converting emails for clients, delivering workshops or teaching business owners how to write copy that converts, she’s binging on podcasts or pizza (but she’d rather you didn’t tell her PT that).
Follow Eman and Inkhouse on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
You know Pinterest is a great resource for recipes and crafting, but did you realize that Pinterest is actually a powerful, search engine (not social media platform) that exists solely to drive traffic to your website?
Amber Peterson, Pinterest Specialist and Founder of Pinwheel Strategic Marketing, and I chat about how to give all your archived content new life on Pinterest, how to create eye-catching actionable pins, and how to convert audiences once they arrive at your site.
To learn more from Amber about leveraging the power of Pinterest in your business, don’t forget to sign up for The Content Experiment Summit. She will be one of 25 speakers who are sharing bite-sized tips and tricks on how to get a better ROI on their time and financial investments in content and marketing. Follow the link to sign up for the waiting list. Registration opens Feb. 26. If you’re listening to this episode after the fact, don’t worry, you can sign up to be on the waiting list for the next round!
Tune in! A full transcript of this episode is available on my website.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Pinwheel Strategic Marketing
- Pinwheel Strategic Marketing FREE Webinar Series
- FREE Pinterest Marketing Blueprint
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Amber Peterson
As a Pinterest marketing specialist and the CEO of Pinwheel Strategic Marketing, Amber Peterson knows that carefully crafted content paired with an intentional Pinterest strategy is the key to long-term visibility for most businesses. Whether she is creating and managing Pinterest strategy for her clients or educating on the value of these strategies, Amber leverages her marketing expertise to grow visibility and website traffic for entrepreneurs and business owners. When she is not working with her clients, she loves being outside with her family in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, wine tasting, and planning her next vacation.
You can follow Amber and Pinwheel Strategic Marketing on Instagram, Pinterest, or join her Pinterest Marketing Lounge on Facebook.
Can you believe we are celebrating the 100th episode of The Content Experiment Podcast? If you were expecting The Stories in Small Business Podcast, you’re in the right place. Welcome to version 2.0-- and you’re going to love it. We will continue to explore what increases value for your audience and what grows your business without all the noise and the fluff.
On today’s episode, I’m sharing why it’s important to take the big-name online business and marketing “guru” advice with a grain of salt and encouraging you to forge your own content marketing path. We explore why it’s important to give yourself permission to take chances, try new things, and most importantly, do what feels good for you... It’s all one big experiment anyway!
Don’t forget to register for The Content Experiment Summit! You can sign up for the waiting list right now at The Content Experiment Summit; the doors open to the waiting list on Feb. 26. The summit features 25+ speakers over five-days delivering actionable, bite-sized presentations to help you get a better ROI on your content and marketing. If you’re listening to this episode after the fact, don’t worry, you can sign up to be on the waiting list for the next round!
Tune in! The full transcription for this episode is available on my website.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 84: Why Content Is Really One Big Experiment
- Episode 61: Take Care of Yourself and Your Business with Allison Jordan
- This Naked Mind by Annie Grace
- The Content Experiment Summit
Making friends is scary, but completely necessary. You can’t do this business thing alone, but how do you make quality relationships that you want to invest in while also finding people who want to invest in you?
In this episode, Nicole Batey and I chat about how to establish genuine connections, making a killer speaker line up at your virtual conference, and why collaborating with your biz besties isn’t always the best move.
Learn more from Nicole at The Content Experiment Summit in March 2021, where she will be talking about all things collaboration and using your content to build relationships and grow. Follow the link to sign up for the waiting list. Registration opens Feb. 26. If you’re listening to this episode after the fact, don’t worry, you can sign up to be on the waiting list for the next round!
Listen in! A full transcription of this interview is available on my website.
Mentioned in This Episode
- One Summit, One Launch Series
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Nicole Batey
If you’re looking to unleash your rockstar status and create a cascade of leads, connections, and revenue from your next launch, then consider Nicole Batey your new biz girlfriend. Nicole helps female founders, course creators, mastermind hosts, and coaches double their email lists and access 5 (and 6-figure launches!) by creating sizzling virtual summits to launch their awesome offers. When not helping women create their 5 figure Summits, you can find Nicole sitting VIP at a Backstreet Boys concert (post-COVID of course) or eating lunch in a big rig truck with her husband.
You can find out more about Nicole on her website or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Finding genuine ways to connect with clients and keeping your business top of mind can feel daunting, especially when everyone is constantly inundated with digital messages and notifications.
Today on the podcast, David Wachs offers up some specific examples of how a handwritten note can build brand loyalty and how you can send notes to your clients--without taking a lot of time out of your day.
Don’t miss David at The Content Experiment Summit! Sign up to get on the waiting list so you can be one of the first to register. Registration opens Feb. 26. If you’re listening to this episode a little late, you can sign up to be on the waiting list for the next round!
Listen in! A full transcription of this episode is available on my website.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Learn more about Handwrytten
- The Content Experiment Summit
About David Wachs
David Wachs is a serial entrepreneur. His latest venture, Handwrytten, is bringing back the lost art of letter writing through scalable, robot-based solutions that write your notes in pen. David is also a frequent speaker on marketing technology and has presented for the Direct Marketing Association, South By Southwest, Advertising Research Foundation, and the National Restaurant Association. David has been interviewed by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, Variety, Washington Post, and many more.
David now writes for Inc. Magazine with his column “Stepping Away from the Day to Day”. Follow Handwrytten on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.
Creating memorable presentations has always been an important part of business. But how do you create a compelling and engaging experience for your audience when you can’t stop staring at your own face on Zoom?
Today on the podcast, I’m talking with Mike Ganino, public speaking and storytelling pro, about bringing energy to your presentations, creating a personalized connection with your audience, and three easy adjustments you can make right now to become a presentation professional.
Mike will be speaking at The Content Experiment Summit in March 2021, and I cannot wait! Sign up to get on the waiting list so you can be one of the first to register. Registration opens in late February. If you’re listening to this episode after the fact, you can sign up to be on the waiting list for the next round!
Listen in! A full transcription of this episode is available on my website.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Certified Original Coaching
- The StoryCraft Guide
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Mike Ganino
Mike Ganino is a storytelling and communication expert who hosts The Mike Drop Moment podcast. He is an author, former Executive Producer of TEDxCambridge and has been named a Top 30 Speaker by Global Guru. With a background in acting and improv comedy, Mike now teaches businesses and entrepreneurs how to tell a good story. Mike’s worked with organizations like Disney, American Marketing Association, UCLA, and Uber.
To learn more about how to have your own #MikeDrop moment, follow Mike on Instagram and Facebook, or visit his website.
In our conversation, Mike shines some light on the Zoom fatigue we’re all experiencing (what he says about it makes SO much sense and I hadn’t thought about the WHY before...it’s not just that we’re sitting on our butts in front of a computer all the time), why some of us are having a difficult time transitioning to online speaking, the mistakes you’re making in your virtual presentations and how to break down the barriers between yourself and your audience.
Digi-clutter is easy to hide from view, but it stunts your ability to find what you need (quickly), to be productive, and especially to delegate and collaborate with others.
In this episode, I’m talking to Dara Sklar, a Google tools pro and master of improving efficiency through digital organization. We talk about how to clear digital clutter, getting closer to the elusive Inbox Zero, and how to ‘Jerry Seinfield’ your way to a clearer, more productive digital space.
I am thrilled that Dara is speaking at The Content Experiment Summit in March 2021. Sign up to get on the waiting list so you can be one of the first to register. Registration opens in late February. If you’re listening to this episode after the fact, you can sign up to be on the waiting list for the next round!
Tune in now! A full transcription of this episode is available on my website.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Learn With Dara
- Get Productive with G Suite Course
- FREE Gmail Inbox Zero Tutorial
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Dara Sklar
Dara Sklar is like a tech-savvy Monica Geller, but is a lot less demanding (and shrill 😂). She’s the friend you call for tech help. Dara’s also happy to jump in and show you time-saving tips and hacks that you'll wish you knew sooner. Using her in-depth knowledge of Google Tools to help business owners work more efficiently, Dara identifies behind-the-scenes disorganization that’s slowing your business growth, ruining your ability to delegate, and eating up time you don’t have!
To learn more about how to get productive with tech, visit Dara at Learn With Dara for her courses and free tutorials. You can also follow her organization and adventures on Instagram and Facebook.
If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that not all virtual events are created equal. But that doesn’t mean that you should write off the idea of creating your own virtual event to connect with your community (…even online) and grow your business.
On today’s podcast, Emily Muren and I talk about how to create your own high-quality, engaging virtual event, and how to convert your in-person event to a successful online event without compromising engagement, connection, or quality. We also explore ways to avoid Zoom gloom, get people talking, and make your event successful no matter the parameters. Listen in! A full transcript of this episode is available on my website.
You can also learn more from Emily about event planning, virtual and otherwise, at The Content Experiment Summit in March 2020. Sign up to get on the waiting list so you can be one of the first to register. Registration opens in late February.
If you’re listening to this episode after the fact, you can sign up to be on the waiting list for the next round!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Wild Elm Events
- Wild Elm Event Checklist
- Wild Elm Events Courses
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Emily Murnen
Emily Murnen is the founder of Wild Elm Events, an event planning company helping entrepreneurs create high-quality and engaging events. Through virtual production and strategy, Emily helps her clients continue to share their message by transitioning their in-person event online. With over 15 years of experience in planning events, her passion is to help grow businesses and foster deeper connections through virtual events. If there is one thing she knows after planning and attending events over the years, it’s that not all events are the same. The most powerful events focus on community as much as they focus on content.
Follow Wild Elm Events on Instagram and Facebook or email Emily about your event.
Have you ever looked at your business Facebook Messenger, only to find that you have weeks-old messages you never replied to? Yep, I’ve been there! On more than one occasion.
On today’s episode of the Stories in Small Business Podcast, Jenna Dancy is sharing how to use messenger bots to build relationships with followers and turn those into sales--without feeling sleazy.
Jenna goes into how you can make the messages feel like a conversation, how they work, and what you need to get started. Hint: You need to have a strategy!
Tune in now! A full transcript of this episode is available on my website.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Free Messenger Bot Roadmap
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Jenna Dancy
Jenna Dancy has always had a love of marketing and advertising. Having spent the last decade-plus in PR, sales, marketing, and coaching, Jenna has been in the online space since long before digital downloads and evergreen masterclasses--I’m talking since coaches were printing and mailing binders as product! These days, Jenna specializes in lead-generation messenger marketing campaigns (also known as Facebook chatbots) that help coaches step away from their computers while continuously growing their client list. While tech implementation of bots sounds intimidating, Jenna makes this marketing strategy super approachable and regularly sees her clients booking more calls, selling more courses, and interacting with more potential followers, all without being hooked to their phone 24/7. Spending just six dollars, Jenna herself made $500 in sales this Black Friday through her personal bot messenger system.
To learn more, you can visit her website and follow Freedom Funnels on Instagram. You can also find Jenna on Facebook and Instagram.
Believe it or not, anyone can use live video to grow their audience and build connections – even introverts. And it’s not the end of the world – or the broadcast – if the Amazon delivery driver rings your bell or your toddler needs attention.
How do we deal with such disruptions, and what are the dos and don’ts of making live videos to benefit your business? How does one even get started?
Today on the podcast, guest Alicia Henderson and I talk about strategies for using live video to portray confidence, developing content and contacts, the importance of promoting, and more.
Listen in! A full transcript of this episode is available on my website.
Mentioned in this Episode
- Livestream Lab
- Livestream Success Tool Kit
- Content Experiment Summit
About Alicia Henderson
Alicia Henderson is a business and online marketing strategist for service-based entrepreneurial women and the CEO of Alicia Henderson Enterprises. She has produced more than 400 live videos and uses her experience to help women leverage live video as client attraction lead magnets so they can position themselves as experts, make more money, and have the freedom to spend more time doing things they love. A Marine Corps spouse and mom of three, Alicia is also the host of the Empirenista Business Success Podcast and the founder of the Empirenista Business Group program.
If you’re looking for the skills to grow your business through the use of live video, Alicia’s got the tools (and the tool kit) for you. You can find and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Churning out your own content is great, but having the social proof and credibility of a media mention is absolute gold.
Sometimes, as business owners, we overlook more traditional means of publicity because at first glance it might not seem like the right fit for our company. Or we might not be sure what to do with that publicity once we get it.
Today on the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m chatting with Christina Nicholson, a former reporter turned PR entrepreneur, about the importance of getting on local media--even if you’re an online business, how to earn profit from your publicity, how to approach journalists so they’ll say yes and so much more.
Christina is also one of the speakers at The Content Experiment Summit in March 2021. Sign up to get on the waiting list so you can be one of the first to register. Registration opens in late February.
If you’re listening to this episode after the fact, you can sign up to be on the waiting list for the next round!
Full transcript of this episode is available on my website.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Media Mentoring Program
- Pitch, Publicity, Profit
- Podcast Pitching 101
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Christina Nicholson
Christina Nicholson is a TV host who helps business owners grow by reaching their ideal customers or clients through the power of media without spending big bucks on advertising.
After 10 years as a TV anchor and reporter, Christina started her PR agency, Media Maven. She is also the host of the Become A Media Maven podcast and the founder of Podcast Clout, a podcast database that makes it easier for PR professionals to build podcast pitch lists.
You can follow Christina on her lifestyle blog, Christina All Day, or on her Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
You know video is important for your business, but you’re over Instagram stories and Facebook lives. Those are easy places to start, but you’re ready for some more original ideas.
Video is huge for business, and today’s guest, Marvin Flavien, has some new ideas for where to use video so that it feels good to you and gets you the return on your investment you’re looking for.
In this episode, we talk about how to get started with video, what it looks like to work with a video pro, what not to include in your videos, and why videos will save you time in your business.
Tune in now!
The full transcript for this episode is available on my website.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Marvin's Guide to Video
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Marvin Flavien
Marvin Flavien is a Video Strategist and a Speaker and is dedicated to Impacting people through business using video. He runs MK Flav Video, a full-service video production company in New Jersey that specializes in creating strategic and dynamic video assets for companies and entrepreneurs who want to make their businesses unstoppable. Marvin is driven to provide innovative videos that give you more opportunities, more time, and even stronger relationships with your customers. As a husband and father of two young children, he enjoys his free time playing basketball and watching Youtube videos. He also is the Central Jersey Tuesday together Chapter leader.
To learn more you can follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
Your audience needs to be able to consume your content. They need to know where it is, how to get their hands (or eyes or ears) on it and they need to be able to physically consume it.
But what if your audience has an impairment that makes consuming your content difficult?
Accessibility might be in the back of your mind like it was for me, but it’s time to think about it--and do something about it too.
Today’s guest, Erin Perkins, approached me in a Facebook group to ask how I was going to ensure my upcoming summit was accessible to everyone. I thought I had my bases covered, but after talking to Erin I realized that there was so much more to consider.
Erin shares insight from her own experience of being deaf and how some of the new platforms out there (ahem...Clubhouse) that feel so accessible are really far from it.
Tune in and be sure to grab her toolkit. It’s what I’m using in my business moving forward!
You can also head to the web page for this episode for a full transcript (something I’ll be doing with every episode from now on).
Mentioned in This Episode
- Accessibility Resource Guide & Toolkit
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Erin Perkins
Erin Perkins is an online business manager and accessibility educator. Through her business, Mabely Q, she empowers women-owned small businesses to grow bigger and serve better, taking behind-the-scenes admin work off their plates and advising her clients how to create a more inclusive environment for their communities.
You can follow her online on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Making a sale should not be the ultimate goal or the finish line of your marketing and business building. Yes, a sale is great, and necessary so you can stay in business. But your work with your customers is far from over when you make that sale.
What happens next? How do you ensure the success of your customers? What happens when they’ve had success with whatever you’re selling? This is what so many business owners forget when planning out their customer journey.
On today’s episode, Desola Davis shares how to look at your own customer journey a little differently and how to use your secret sauce to get big wins for clients. We also discuss why, even though she and I both help clients with customer journey, we are in no way competitors (this is important, friends) and what products (and services) you need for your business to ensure you have a complete journey for your people.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Testimonial Template
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Desola Davis
Desola Davis is a Business Growth Strategist and digital customer journey expert who helps course creators and coaches attract, convert, and retain their favorite customers using a strategically designed digital product suite. She has a knack for taking big projects and breaking them down into small, actionable steps--a superpower that she’s used to design and implement corporate initiatives totaling over $1M. Her joy is to help online creators and thought leaders find their raving fan base, increase their customer lifetime value, and leverage their secret sauce to grow their business!
To learn more, visit her website and follow her on Instagram.
Funnels are a huge part of business today. They’re seen as a necessity for running an online business because we all want to automate everything. So, we set up a funnel, turn it on, then sit back to watch the sales roll in. Right?
That’s not the way it works. Yes, funnels are great and they’re an incredibly easy way to guide audience members through a path from just getting to know your brand to buying from you and beyond. But funnels aren’t what will save your business.
On today’s episode, Ryan Turner, a funnel expert, shares his take on funnels--what’s needed, how to get potential customers inside your funnel, and how to NOT overcomplicate the whole process. And he also shares why funnels aren’t the end-all but they can amplify what you’re already doing.
Tune in now.
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Funnel Makeover Guide
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Ryan Turner
Ryan Turner is the founder of Amplifi Strategy, a digital marketing agency specializing in funnels based in Madrid, Spain. His specialty boils down to building digital bridges between businesses and their customers. Amplifi caters to consultants and experts looking to implement systems online that will increase leads, sales, and client retention through relationship marketing. If you’re looking to create a business online that wants to build relationships with your clients check them out.
Join his group on Facebook, and follow him on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Being true to yourself and your values is the only way to live, in my humble opinion. But doing that in a big, public space like your business--or the internet--can feel hard.
But wouldn’t you rather be yourself and attract the right people to you every day than having calls with people who aren’t sure...and who don’t quite know if you’re for them (and vice versa)...and who don’t get you incredibly excited to get to work each day?
Today on the podcast, guest Helen Tremethick and I talk about why being yourself is the only way to be, and why clarity is SO much better than creativity when it comes to the content you create every day.
Listen in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Eff Your Elevator Pitch
- Love and Badassery
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Helen Tremethick
Helen Tremethick is a brand voice strategist & business coach who helps entrepreneurs find the courage, confidence, and clarity they need to grow and scale their businesses. Formerly the CEO of The Communications Distillery, Helen has recently rebranded under her own name. Since 2011, she has worked with hundreds of business owners to clarify their messaging, copy, business models, and transform their self-confidence while doing so.
If you're looking for the skills you need to show up and speak up in your business, Helen's the solution for you. Helen lives in an old farmhouse in the middle of the Ontario countryside, which means if you ever hop on a coaching call with her, you might hear roosters. You can find and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and join her Love & Badassery group on Facebook.
If you’re a business owner, you’re probably on Facebook. (Shoot...if you’re human, you’re probably on Facebook.) But the nuances of being active, attracting audiences, and being found on Facebook elude so many.
Today on the podcast, I’m chatting with Julia Jerg, a social media marketing coach who specializes in helping business owners elevate their visibility on Facebook. She’s also a nomad with two young kids and I loved our conversation about how she navigates it all.
Julia is also one of the speakers at The Content Experiment Summit in March 2020. Sign up to get on the waiting list so you can be one of the first to register. Registration opens in late February.
If you’re listening to this episode after the fact, you can sign up to be on the waiting list for the next round!
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Kickin’ It On Social Media (CODE: small business)
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Julia Jerg
Julia Jerg is the Founder and chief editor of Jey Jetter, a family-travel and digital nomad blog for aspiring nomads and families. She is also a social media marketing coach, public speaker, author, course creator, and blogger from Germany. In 2011 she quit her job, sold all of her belongings, bought a one-way ticket, and turned into a successful digital nomad. Since then, she has traveled, lived, and worked remotely in over 80 countries.
Before founding Jey Jetter, Julia was the head of a communication agency department in Germany, where she managed a team of editors, graphic designers, and photographers. Her main focus consisted of strengthening the connection between the clients’ needs and her team’s creative approach. Today, she helps entrepreneurs reach their ideal customers on Facebook by applying all her knowledge and experience from over a decade’s worth of marketing gigs. You can follow Jey Jetter on Facebook and Instagram.
Is starting a podcast one of your goals? It’s such a great way to connect with your audience right where they are. And it’s a whole lot easier than you think it is.
Just ask this week’s guest, Chris Hines. He started his podcast by recording in his bathroom--the only place where he could find the quiet he needed. But he’s grown that podcast into a business where he teaches others how to monetize their podcasts. Through his own goal-setting and forward-thinking, Coach Chris was able to make the pivot he needed to grow his business.
Chris has some unique ideas and insights to share, so be sure to tune in. He’s also sharing his expertise at The Content Experiment Summit in March 2020. Sign up to get on the waiting list so you can be one of the first to register. Registration opens in late February.
If you’re listening to this episode after the fact, you can sign up to be on the waiting list for the next round!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Personal Branding Playbook Podcast
- Episode 83: Prepping for 2021 Without the Overwhelm
- Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
- The Content Experiment Summit
About Chris Hines
Christopher Hines is the host of the Personal Branding Playbook. He’s been podcasting for six years and helped hundreds of shows launch, grow, and generate revenue. Chris has been a speaker at Podfest, the Outliers Podcast Festival, and several other events for content creators.
Chris also has his own community, The PodStars, dedicated to helping podcasters build their personal brand and grow their business. You can follow him on Instagram and Twitter.
Content and marketing is a huge struggle for so many business owners, mostly because you’re afraid you’ll get something wrong. And anything less than perfect is unacceptable, right?
Nope, wrong! Done is always better than perfect and imperfection shows that you’re human.
Just put your content out there, see how it lands, then make adjustments as you go. Of course, you still need to do your homework and talk to your audience about what they need and want from you. But rather than try to make every piece of content you produce perfect, make little changes to your strategy, your cadence and your messaging as you go.
First, you’ll finally publish something consistently. And your audience will appreciate the fact that you’re not trying to do everything perfectly.
Not sure how to do this? Listen in to today’s episode! I’m announcing The Content Experiment Summit, a five-day summit for coaches and course creators who are ready to uplevel their content. I’m also sharing the personal reason behind the name.
Mentioned in This Episode
- The Content Experiment Summit
Getting ready for the new year is always one of my favorite things. There’s just nothing like the quiet of the inbox around the holidays and the behind the scenes planning that goes on.
The biggest downside, I think, is that there are so many possibilities. It’s tempting to start everything fresh and to change course completely.
This year I’m taking a bit of a different approach. I’m looking at some of the little things in my business and my life and planning next year based on those. They include my values, my calendar, my goals and all those things that I keep meaning to do differently but never do.
If you’re struggling with how to not throw it all out and start over, listen in to this episode.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 78: Planning Out Your Content for 2021...Sort Of
Starting a new business is scary; starting a business as a single mom with five little ones depending on you while navigating the emotions of a divorce is even more so. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. And today’s guest, Melissa Rose, dug in and made it work.
This episode is for all of you who feel like you need to look and be perfect online. You don’t. In fact, it’s time to stop following all those accounts that make you feel bad or like you’re not enough. Melissa and I talk all about the story behind the story, what kind of time you need to invest in business, how to grow and move forward, how to hire the right person the first time and how to invest in a new team member. Melissa also shares about how she onboards new team members--and it’s not through written out SOPs (unless it’s her assistant creating them!).
Tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Book a Call with Melissa
- Try Dance on Demand
About Melissa Rose
Melissa Rose has been a dance educator for over 20 years and a studio owner for 11. Receiving a BFA in Musical Theatre from UWSP, she performed and choreographed professionally throughout the midwest. In 2009, she started her own studio The Dancing House where she shares the art of dance to beginner dancers of all ages both in her brick and mortar studio and her online membership platform called Dance on Demand. As an established entrepreneur, Melissa is often asked to speak as well as coach other business women, empowering them to level up their lives through consistent action.
Melissa lives in Hudson, WI and is a single mama of five kiddos ages 8-17 years, and is frequently asked how she juggles it all. In her podcast “In the Nitty Gritty” she tackles those questions, with a big heap of inspiration and motivation for women entrepreneurs who juggle work, kids, partners & everything else nitty gritty.
To learn more, visit her website. You can follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and subscribe to her on YouTube.
Being active on social media is tough. It’s time-consuming, there’s the endless (oops!) scroll to consider, and you’re not really sure if you’re showing up in the right place. And my guess is that you may not even consider all the social media platforms out there.
On today’s episode, I’m not going to wave a magic wand and you’ll suddenly know which platform is the right one for you and your business. Instead, we’re going to take a quick look at all the options out there--and I think you’ll be surprised at a few that I mention.
The goal here is to see the possibilities and that they go well beyond your traditional social media platforms. You might be surprised!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 57: Make Your Content About Your Audience, Not You
That perfectly curated Instagram feed is not a business goal, not by a longshot. <<< In my opinion, of course. What people on IG are really looking for is a real human being or brand that they can relate to.
If you’re paralyzed by feeling like everything has to be perfect on social media, listen in to this episode. You’ll learn about why posting selfies on your feed is perfectly okay, what to include in your business account profile, why you need to check your DMs regularly, how to choose the right hashtags, and so much more.
Instagram can be such a powerful tool for your business if done right. You need to know that your audience is hanging out there first, then you need to know how to attract the right followers to you. This week’s guest, Jillian O’Keefe, is here to help!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 79: Leveraging Simple LinkedIn Strategies with Louise Brogan
- Content Strategy Clarity Course
- Engaged Like a Boss Course (use the coupon code PODCASTLISTENER for 20% off)
- Hashtags for Instagram Growth
About Jillian O’Keefe
Jillian O'Keefe is an Instagram Strategist who helps female entrepreneurs gain visibility by embracing and showing their unique story to grow their tribe on Instagram.
As a champion of the #bodypositivity movement, Jillian understands the power of authenticity and how it helps women stand out by presenting an alternative to the picture-perfect, impossible standards of Instagram-shiny posts.
Jillian encourages female entrepreneurs to share their true voice and passions to build their business and attract dream clients that engage with and care about their content.
Jillian lives in Buffalo, NY with her husband and two children. She loves NY and its nice HOT summers! You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and... Instagram.
I think LinkedIn gets swept to the side in the online business world. We’re so focused on connecting on Instagram and being active in Facebook groups that we get stuck in the scroll and forget that our audience might be on LinkedIn. I’m completely guilty of that too, and I know that many of my 1:1 clients are actually hanging out on LinkedIn.
So let’s stop forgetting about this network-building platform and dig into why LinkedIn is so important for our businesses. And to be fair, LinkedIn isn’t for every business. Just like Instagram or Twitter isn’t for every business.
On this episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, Louise Brogan is sharing about some LinkedIn post types you may not know about, how to increase the shelf life of your posts, what to include in your profile, platform best practices, and much more.
Mentioned in This Episode
- LinkedIn Guide
- Episode 73: Repurposing Content for Maximum ROI with Amy Woods
- Client Journey Ebook
About Louise Brogan
Louise Brogan, host of the LinkedIn with Louise podcast, is a speaker, LinkedIn consultant, and trainer. Louise lives in Northern Ireland, with her family, and has been a huge fan of all things internet since the '80s.
You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and, of course, LinkedIn.
I know you’ve seen the podcast episodes, blog posts, and ads for online tools that all promise a quick and easy way to plan out your content for weeks, months, even years at a time. I’m guessing that’s why you clicked on this episode and decided you’d give it a try.
Well, the title might be a little clickbaity. Because it’s not going to teach you how to plan out your content for the coming year. Why? Because frankly, that’s not possible.
There are so many reasons why I don’t want you to plan out your 2021 content, not the least of which being...Well, were you in business in 2020?
There was more pivoting and changing directions going on this year than I could even touch on. It would be a waste of your time and money to plan more than a few months ahead. That said, I DO think there’s a lot you can do to get ready for the next month, quarter, and year. And THAT’s what this episode is all about.
Mentioned in This Episode
- At-a-Glance Calendar
- Content Mastery Lab
- They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan
- Episode 8: How to Create a 90-Day Content Plan
- Episode 57: Your Content is About Your Audience, Not You
- Episode 63: Staying Inside Your Zones of Genius
- Episode 73: Repurposing Content for Maximum ROI with Amy Woods
- Episode 75: Don’t Overthink Content and Just Do Something
- Episode 76: How to Plan Strategically for Uncertainty with Kim Dawson
Branding is essential to ensuring your business is recognizable to others. It’s what makes you stand out and more visible across social media. Without consistency, others won’t be able to identify who you are and what you do.
But branding is much more than your fonts and colors. It’s about building a strong foundation for your business and ensuring that you’re solid in delivering the right message.
Today’s guest on the Stories in Small Business podcast is a branding expert, and one that specializes in working with business owners who might have tried to do it themselves--and are now ready to make a bigger impact.
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Book a call with Jessica
- Client Journey Ebook
About Jessica Morrison
Jessica is a digital branding expert and founder of Seaside Digital Design & Marketing LLC. She's passionate about helping small business owners build their digital brands by focusing on three key elements of successful digital branding — website design, social media, and branding consistency. Her comprehensive digital branding packages will transform your business from DIY to professional and polished!
You can follow Jessica and Seaside Digital Design on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
This year has been a doozie, but that doesn’t mean you should pack up shop and give up. It means that you need to look at the opportunities you now have--and run with them. So says Kim Dawson, business strategist, lifelong entrepreneur, and also today’s guest.
We can’t control what’s happening in the world, but we can control how we react to it. I believe if we react with positivity and think about how we can shift and adjust to meet today where it is, we’ll succeed.
Kim and I dig into how to look at some of the numbers in your business to make strategic decisions and how to make a plan for 2021 when you don’t really know what’s coming in the new year. And if you’re not happy working with the people you’re currently working with? It’s okay to make a change.
Tune in now!
Mentioned on This Episode
- Episode 70: Know Your Personal & Business Numbers with Keina Newell
- Client Journey eBook
About Kim Dawson
Kim Dawson is a lifelong entrepreneur who has started multiple businesses in her 20+ year entrepreneurial journey until becoming a business strategist in 2015. Kim helps small business owners increase their bottom line, scale their business by building their team, and managing their growth through better client and vendor communication and expanding into new markets. Kim serves as a strategist, consultant, advisor, and mentor.
Kim is the host of “The Sassy Strategist Podcast” and the author of “Passion to Profits: Your Guide to Building a Successful Business You Love.” Kim has been a featured speaker at several conferences and events, including Massachusetts Conference for Women, MetroWest Conference for Women, Boston Business Women Innovation Conference, and BostonSpeaks, among others.
Through her podcast, speaking engagements, book, and consulting work, Kim has helped thousands of entrepreneurs take their business to the next level. You can follow her on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
For so many business owners, the idea of creating content is paralyzing. To so many, content is synonymous with blog or writing. And while, yes, a lot of content is written. SO much is not. (BTW, it’s also really easy to get help with your written content. Just sayin’.)
But that’s not what this episode is about. It’s about how to think about content in a different way, in a way that makes it easy to simply put something out there and to stop overthinking it.
Yes, content should be professional and thought-out, but it can also be so much more. It can be more personal and thought-provoking. It can spotlight a cause or a belief you feel strongly about. And it can also be something quick, a response to something someone else posted.
Listen in to today’s short and sweet episode about just doing something now and not worrying about perfection. It’s time to get out there!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 74: Scale Your Impact and Income with a Course with Emily Walker
- Episode 73: Repurposing Content for Maximum ROI with Amy Woods
With the whole world moving online in 2020, maybe it feels like a good time to create a course for your business. You’re not alone! Courses and summits are ruling the interwebs--and for good reason. With conferences and retreats canceled, we’re all looking for ways to reach our audience online.
But maybe the thought of creating a course feels overwhelming to you. After all, looking at some of the courses you’ve bought (or thought about buying) you’re terrified of the work. Hours of videos, pages and pages (and pages!) of workbooks and downloadables, all the bonuses...it’s a lot!
Here’s a secret: A good course is not about ALL the stuff that comes with it. It’s about action and transformation. And today’s guest, Emily Walker, shares all the details about how to do it right.
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Episode 73: Repurposing Content for Maximum ROI with Amy Woods
- Offer Quiz
- Batching Guide
About Emily Walker
Emily Walker helps fiercely creative thought leaders turn their big and brilliant ideas into powerful and profitable courses so they can improve thousands of other people’s lives while building more spaciousness into their own.
She has worked with a diverse range of clients all over the globe, from groundbreaking coaches to best-selling authors to seven-figure mindset queens. Emily knows that truly powerful learning experiences that house the best of your brilliance cannot be designed in a couple of hours. So if you’re worried about cookie cutters, forced formulas, and same-same structures, you can breathe a big sigh of relief because she's allergic to all of them.
When she’s not deep diving with her clients or creating new content for her community, Emily can be found hanging out in yoga pants with her two kitties, puppy, and her partner, dreaming of their next trip to France. Learn more on her website and give her a follow on Facebook and Instagram.
You take time and money to create content. Wouldn’t it be great if you could use that content over and over again--in multiple different ways?
Well, you can! And today’s guest is going to tell you exactly how to do that.
Your content isn’t meant to sit on a shelf and collect dust after you’ve shared it once. Keep it alive by finding new uses for it. In this episode, we talk about:
- What content repurposing really means (it’s not transcribing your podcasts and videos)
- What content repurposing ISN’T--and why this matters
- Why content repurposing is a good idea...for any type of content
- How to repurpose live video without it sounding awkward
Mentioned in This Episode * Content 10x: More Content, Less Time, Maximum Results by Amy Woods * Getting Started with Video on LinkedIn free resource * Batching Guide
About Amy Woods Amy Woods is an expert in content repurposing and the Founder of Content 10x – a niche creative agency. Amy helps content creators grow their audience by maximizing their return on the content they create. She works with businesses, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders, and is the content repurposing powerhouse behind some of the most well-known podcasts and video shows.
Amy is the host of The Content 10x Podcast and she is the author of best-selling book Content 10x: More Content, Less Time, Maximum Results, the ultimate guide to reaching more people online with your content.
She talks on stages all around the world about content repurposing, including at events like PodFest Multimedia Expo, Podcast Movement, Youpreneur Summit, and RadioDays.
No matter what kind of business you run or what your life looks like, you pay people for services. Whether it’s a tune-up for your car, your virtual assistant for posting social media posts for you, a business coach to guide you to your next goal or an accountant to help with your taxes or bookkeeping...you don’t do life or business alone.
But something that comes up again and again (and again!) is how people charge and pay for these services. Fees for services should not be simply the amount of time it takes for a service provider to “do the thing.” There’s so much more that goes into pricing than that.
And make no mistake...I’m no pricing expert. But I do have quite a bit of experience both running a service-based business and paying others for services--as a business owner and a consumer.
Tune in to this episode to hear my take on pricing for services, then share with me on Instagram your thoughts!
You know how important it is that the images in your business look branded. Same colors on graphics, same color scheme and feel in your photos, same fonts. But branding goes well beyond colors and fonts and logos.
Your branding is also about the feel of your business. The way your messaging and the way you work with your clients make them feel. It’s about your mission and values, and how you present yourself online and offline.
I love how deep into all of this my conversation with Katie Saunders of Pop & Grey gets into this. Because it’s so true. You can have the most consistent visual brand ever but it doesn’t make a difference at all if your messaging and systems are totally off.
Listen in to this week’s episode and then get your own brand on-point!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Why Your Brand Needs More Than a Logo blog
- You Don’t Have a Brand Without a Message blog
- Color Psychology Cheat Sheet
- Brand Personality Worksheet
- Client Journey eBook
About Katie Saunders
Katie Saunders is a brand designer and strategist who combines her artistic talent with a deep knowledge of marketing strategy to create beautiful, effective brands and websites for interior designers and other style-savvy creative businesses. Katie launched Pop & Grey in 2012 after a decade-long career as an art director for ad agencies, publishing houses, and even an architectural firm.
Now, using a collaborative, one-on-one approach, Katie provides her clients with both strategy and implementation, creating custom branding that's authentic to their style and story and that speaks to their ideal clients. Katie lives, works, cooks, and plays a mean game of backyard basketball in a not-so-quiet household she shares with her husband and two lively daughters in a very quiet North Carolina town. You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
You know you need to know your numbers in your business, but do you know how connected your business and personal numbers really are? If your business is your livelihood, the answer is “very much so”.
That’s why I knew this conversation I had with Keina Newell of Wealth Over Now was so important. Keina helps people get more clarity over their numbers--both personal finances and business finances.
And in this episode, we talk about the impact that debt has on your finances--and how to get past the mindset that paying off debt means less money in your pocket. We also talk about how to decide what you’re going to invest in for your business, how your business and personal finances intersect, why you need a spending plan and not a budget, and so much more.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Free guide to freedom and flexibility
About Keina Newell
Keina Newell works with professional women and solopreneurs to create new possibilities with their money so they can save more, pay off debt, and stress less about money. She is passionate about her work and finds no greater satisfaction than helping her clients start approaching the way they manage their money with joy because they’ve learned to feel possibility where they once felt shame, guilt, overwhelm, and anxiety.
When she is not coaching, Keina is spending quality time with friends and family and encouraging herself to go to workout! To learn more about Keina head over to Wealth Over Now and explore her tips to manage your money well. Be sure to follow her on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
Marketing your business doesn’t need to be as difficult as you might be making it. The challenge is that many marketers talk about marketing and content in blanket statements, that this works or no you shouldn’t do that. (I’m guilty of that too.)
Here’s the thing: So much of marketing (and, frankly, business in general) depends. It depends on what you’re selling, what type of business you have, what your goals are, who your audience is, and so much more.
So I wanted to take an episode and talk about the difference between marketing to other businesses and marketing to general consumers. There are some key differences and no matter what type of business you’re in, I think you’ll walk away with some key takeaways.
Mentioned in This Episode
- One Week to Your Welcome Sequence challenge
There’s a lot of talk online about marketing for online businesses, and I hear from product-based businesses that they feel forgotten about. I don’t blame them! And even as an online, service-based business, I’ve seen it.
But so many product businesses have seen a huge hit to their income during the season of this pandemic. Brick and mortar shops closed up and even if they opened back up quickly, many people haven’t felt safe to go back in person. Farmer’s markets and other events also closed for much of the summer, which is a busy season for many.
Since I don’t often work with physical product businesses, I invited my friend Sue Monhait of Gift Biz Unwrapped to join me on the podcast. She shares:
- Why not everyone is born to have a product business
- How to shift your mindset so you can move past this difficult time
- The most important thing product businesses can do right now to keep their businesses afloat
- How Facebook is helping the product business (yes, really)
- Why your business model matters
Tune in now, whether you’re a seasoned gifter, baker, crafter, or maker or you’re just getting started.
Mentioned in This Episode * Facebook Shops * Gift Biz Breeze * Makers MBA * Gift Biz Unwrapped Podcast * Start With Confidence * Rebel Boss Summit
About Sue Monhait Sue Monhait is a business owner, podcast host, speaker, educator, and bestselling author for the community she’s lovingly named, “Gifters-Bakers-Crafters-Makers” – people who create beautiful and/or delicious products that they want to share with the world. Sue has been working in both the retail and online spaces for over 25 years. After spending time in corporate sales/marketing, working with literally hundreds of boutique shops and larger brands, she went on to open two profitable businesses of her own.
The Ribbon Print Company offers custom ribbon printing systems, supplies, and training so businesses can provide product personalization right in their store or craft studio.
Gift Biz Unwrapped is a weekly podcast, online training, and membership community for women who have a hobby or creative passion. She teaches them, step by step, how to turn their hobby into a profitable business.
She also works with existing business owners who have gotten stuck or are looking for that one thing that’s needed for them to gain traction and move ahead.
As host of the Gift Biz Unwrapped podcast, Sue provides free content weekly to assist those searching for answers on how to start and grow their business. Her book Maker To Master: Find and Fix What’s Not Working in Your Small Business and the accompanying Inspired! Daily Planner are available on Amazon and on her website. You can follow Sue on Facebook and Instagram.
Working a side hustle is no joke. You have to find time around your day job, personal responsibilities, life… Today’s guest on the Stories in Small Business podcast has made not one but TWO side hustles her norm, along with a part time job as a physical therapist.
But Kari Roberts has made it work and has no plans to leave her day job.
This episode isn’t just for side hustlers; it’s for anyone who struggles to find the time to fit client work and work ON the business--instead of only IN the business--into their life. It’s for those of you who need to work on boundaries, time management and making your family a priority.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Rebel Boss Summit
- Weekly Time Blocking Schedule
About Kari Roberts
Kari Roberts is a business coach for female side hustlers and a business coach/online business manager to online entrepreneurs. She helps them figure out time management and systems that allow them to grow their business while still having enough time and energy for work, business, and home life. She is known for giving practical, tactical advice and feedback while being bubbly and relatable.
Kari knows all about being a multi-passionate entrepreneur. Kari has been working as a Physical Therapist for 16 years, a freelance makeup artist for 8 years, and a business coach/online business manager for 2 years. She has received numerous awards in 2 industries including the corporate-wide STAR award as a Physical Therapist and multiple WeddingWire Couples’ Choice awards as a makeup artist. Her business advice has been featured on VoyageATL Magazine, The Rising Tide Society, The Speak to Scale Podcast, and more. Kari has been a featured speaker for The Creative at Heart Conference as well as multiple virtual summits. She is also the host of the Side Hustle Freedom podcast.
When she isn’t being a “serial helper” through one of her businesses she enjoys watching sports with her husband, walking in the park with her 2 dogs, listening to podcasts, sampling tasty bourbons, and catching up on reality TV.
What happens after you sell a digital product? Do you wish your buyers well and be on your way?
That’s one way to do it--if you don’t care about the relationship you have with your buyers or their success.
A better way is to nurture them after the sale. Check in with them periodically to make sure they know how to access what they purchased and remind them of the incentive for doing the thing. (What’s that incentive? Well, it’s the reason they bought the product in the first place. The successful transformation or win they were after.)
That’s exactly what I’m addressing here in today’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast. This is a piggyback or companion episode to episode 65, and I highly recommend you listen to that episode alongside this one.
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Episode 65: Growing Revenue with Digital Products with Eden Fried
- Rebel Boss Summit
- Book a Q&A Call with Abby
What if you could take what you’re doing for clients right now and package it into a digital product that you could sell over and over again (with limited time investment)? Would you do it?
Um...heck yes!
That’s exactly what I’m talking about today on the Stories in Small Business podcast with digital product expert Eden Fried. She shares behind the scenes of her business, including how she’s selling a digital product at five figures a month while only working 8 hours a week! She also talks about what happens after buying a digital product--how to continue the conversation with them and nurture them into other offers.
Whether you have a digital product to sell now or you want to dream one up for the future, you’re going to want to tune in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Rebel Boss Summit
About Eden Fried
Eden Fried ditched her plan to go to law school and started an online business instead. Fast forward a few years, and she's mastered the art of selling digital products online and now teaches other women how to turn their passions into products they can sell online, too. She's the host of the Rebel Boss Ladies podcast, the founder of Rebel Boss University (a membership community for product creators), and the founder and host of the Rebel Boss Summit, a twice-annual virtual summit for current or aspiring digital product creators. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram and don’t forget to find out more about the Rebel Boss Summit!
What’s the future of your business? Business owners often get started by wanting to share a product or service with an audience, but then they fail to plan the future of that business. (I’m certainly guilty of this too!)
But knowing where you’re going to go is essential to growing the way you want. And it will also help you in making the right hires along the way.
In this week’s episode, Natalie Gingrich of The Ops Authority is sharing how and when to get operations help inside your business, the difference that a director of operations can make for you, why you need someone to help you think through the details, and some of the tell-tale signs that your business is ready to plateau.
She also shares a free resource that will be one of the most valuable tools you’ll use in your business. I know...I’ve used it too!
Tune in now!
About Natalie Gingrich
Natalie Gingrich is the founder and host of The Ops Authority. She has been in operations for two decades – either in healthcare, corporate America or as an entrepreneur. Her goal is to bridge the gap and overwhelm when it comes to processes and systems, growing a team, and setting up solid business foundations. She spent 15 years in corporate operations and leadership at a Fortune 150 company. When given the opportunity to leave, she put the knowledge, certifications, and experience to work by creating her own consulting firm as well as a certification. She developed the Director of Operations certification to equip existing ops experts a flexible profession, outside of corporate but still playing a huge role in small businesses, globally. Follow her on Facebook or Instagram or join her free Facebook group for operations professionals and project managers!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Content Strategy Clarity Course
- Step by Step to Onboard Your New Hire
- Get Your Biz Mission, Vision & Values on the Right Track
- Mission, Vision, Values
You’d never offer medical advice to a passing stranger or offer to cook a gourmet meal when you struggle to make Ramen. But are you offering up content to your audience that’s outside your area of expertise (your zones of genius)?
I think this is common, mostly because so many business owners struggle with what content to create, where to publish it, and even who they’re talking to. So if you’re in this camp, you’re certainly not alone!
Let’s find your way back inside your zones of genius. In this episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m sharing what zones of genius actually are, how to find yours and what to do afterward.
This is a vital part of the content strategy process, so tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Content Strategy Clarity Course
In-person meetups and networking events are so important to your business--whether you love doing them or not. (I’m in the “not” category, but I still do them and I still see value in them.)
Because they’re so important, I asked Tiffany English, founder of Women in Business Connect, to the podcast to talk about how to make those valuable connections--even when you can’t meet in person. She has so much valuable insight from both the organizer and speaker perspective AND from the attendee perspective.
In this episode, Tiffany talks about how she pivoted from in-person to virtual events, how to get the most out of a virtual event, how to follow up with people you meet after the events, what you can do to be more visible online, and why flexibility in virtual events is so important.
Listen in!
About Tiffany English
Tiffany has a background in Marketing and Events and since 2010, has hosted, marketed, and produced over 500 events. She believes in the importance of building communities and quality connections. Tiffany is the Founder and President of Women in Business Connect (WIBC). Launched in 2017 as a professional social support network for women, WIBC strives on building connections and referrals authentically. Follow The Women in Business Connect on Facebook and Instagram and visit her event business, Velvet Style on Facebook or Instagram.
Mentioned in This Episode
No, I’m Not a Freelancer (blog post)
As business owners, we often put off taking care of ourselves. We’re busy building our businesses and taking care of our families. But unless we’re taking care of ourselves too, it can easily all fall apart.
This week’s episode is a bit of a personal one. I’ve been working with Allison Jordan, a functional medicine specialist and digestive health expert, for about two months now and I wanted to share why I hired her and what my results have looked like. Because I have to say, she’s changed my life and the way I look at my health.
In this episode, Allison and I talk about the importance of taking care of yourself, how the healthy things you’re doing right now might be what’s making you feel so crappy and what you can do right now to feel better right away.
It’s a bit of an unconventional business podcast discussion, but I believe that your health and wellness can mean all the difference in your success.
About Allison Jordan
Allison Jordan is the owner and founder of Better Belly Therapies, a successful gut health clinic based in Ann Arbor, MI. Allison exceeds the highest levels of training as a certified Craniosacral Therapist and combines functional medicine coaching and visceral manipulation to help men and women with digestive dysfunction decrease food restrictions and increase their energy and quality of life. Visit her website and follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Biz Chix Podcast: The Science of Mindset with Allison Jordan
Happy One Year Anniversary to the Stories in Small Business podcast! I’m thrilled to be celebrating one year with you today.
As you’ll hear from this episode, a podcast was not at all in my plans for my business. I’m a writer, after all. Who am I to publish a podcast? Well, if I’ve learned anything from my time as a business owner, I AM someone--and I have things to say.
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing why I started the podcast (you listeners have a lot to do with that!), what I’ve learned from podcasting, how it’s impacted my business, and what you can expect moving forward.
Podcasting is truly my happy place these days. Where is yours?
P.S. If you’ve been finding the information in the podcast valuable, please do me a favor and give it a rating and review. It would mean so much to me!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Ask Your Audience Challenge
- Episode 17: Elevate Your Visibility Without a Formal Pitch
- Dr. Podcasts
We all have stories we tell ourselves in business and often those stories are holding us back from truly niching down and reaching our potential in business. This week on the podcast, I’m talking to someone who has helped me overcome my own inner mean girl and grow more than I thought possible.
Natalie Eckdahl is a business strategist and coach for growth-minded business owners. I appreciate her ability to help women look deep within themselves and their businesses to turn their mindset issues around.
If niching down is something you’ve struggled with, you need to listen in today. And if you’re hearing your own inner mean girl tell you things like “you’re a loser” and “you can’t be a good business owner and a good mom” and “you’re not worth what you’re asking” then let Natalie’s words help you work through that.
Mentioned in this Episode
- Reset Your Mindset
- BizChix podcast
- Finding Your Blue Ocean Strategy
- Ask Your Audience Challenge
About Natalie Eckdahl
Natalie Eckdahl, MBA is the CEO of Biz Chix, Inc. She is a Business Strategist and High Performance Coach who helps high-achieving women entrepreneurs across industries and time zones build, grow, and scale their businesses.
She’s the Founder of the BizChix Community and Host of the award-winning BizChix Podcast. She has been recognized as “One of the Top Women in Business to Listen to” and has also been featured in Inc, Fast Company, Huffington Post, and Entrepreneur.
Natalie brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her work. She draws from her MBA education, 20+ years of work experience, deep intuition, and over 300 podcast interviews with industry influencers to help her clients with customized strategy and coaching to reach 6 figure+ in PROFITS.
When she’s not enjoying precious moments with her husband, Mark, and her 3 children ages 5 to 18, you can find her drinking a steaming cup of coffee, on her way to swim laps or sneaking in a power nap. Listen in to her podcast, follow her on Instagram or join her supportive Facebook group!
You know it’s impossible to make more time in the day. But you can make more time in your day by being more productive and using the time you do have more wisely.
No one can give you a magical fix that works for everyone. Rather, you need to find what works for you. It’s a matter of trial and error and trying a few strategies. That’s exactly what I’m talking about in this week’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast.
Amber De La Garza, the Productivity Specialist, is sharing her best tips on being more productive every day--and she and I both share our own time blocking systems. She shares her thoughts on procrastination, how to balance life and business during the craziness of 2020 and shares her formula for getting everything done!
About Amber De La Garza
Amber is The Productivity Specialist! Amber is a sought-after coach, trainer, speaker, writer, host of the Productivity Straight Talk podcast, and creator of the S.T.O.P. Leverage Formula. She helps business owners improve their time management and elevate their productivity to maximize profits, reduce stress, and make time for what matters most! Follow her on Facebook and Instagram or visit her website.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Take Back Your Time Training
- Ask Your Audience Challenge
You need to make money in your business. That’s what it’s all about, right? Yes, but if you want to make those sales, you need to attract the right audience to you. That means creating content that’s about your audience and what they need, rather than making your content about you and your products or services.
I know that’s tough to do sometimes, but it’s a necessity.
In today’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m sharing how to do that--and why you should. It’s a short and sweet episode but you’ll get the value you need and the resource that will help you get closer to the right content for your people.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Ask Your Audience challenge
- Client Journey ebook
You deserve to get help--at home and in the business, and that means no longer thinking of yourself as a solopreneur but seeing yourself as the CEO you are. So many business owners are stuck in the messy middle of trying to make that shift.
It’s about creating systems and hiring the right people in your business and home so you can focus on the money-making activities that you do best. You do not have to do everything.
This conversation I had on this week’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast is golden. Listen in to Racheal Cook give you permission to let go of control, hire employees and contractors and elevate yourself to your next stage of business.
It’s such a valuable episode for anyone who feels like they’re in the messy middle of business. (And I honestly feel like this is the majority of us at one time or another!)
Mentioned in This Episode
- Promote Yourself to CEO podcast
- CEO Collective
- CEO Date Checklist
About Racheal Cook
As an award-winning business strategist, host of the Promote Yourself to CEO podcast, and best-selling author, Racheal Cook is on a mission to end entrepreneurial poverty for women.
Over the last 12 years she has helped thousands of female entrepreneurs design predictably profitable businesses without the hustle and burnout that doing #allthethings inevitably accomplishes. In fact, Racheal is a sought after speaker on entrepreneurship, marketing, and productivity and has been featured by the US Chamber of Commerce, Forbes Coaching Council, Female Entrepreneur Association, and more.
Her real passion, though, is supporting savvy, soulful women as they implement the strategy, systems, and support to uncomplicate their business so they can work less and live more. Follow her on Facebook or Instagram and connect with her on LinkedIn.
Online summits are all the rage right now, especially with conferences being cancelled and travel bans in place. What I love about summits is that I can consume loads of content at a fraction of the price of an in-person event (all while not putting on shoes at all). But putting together a summit is no joke. It takes a huge amount of time and organization, coordinating speakers and technology and promotional materials. It has a huge impact on your visibility, income and impact you can make online.
It’s also a great way to grow your audience and online presence as a summit speaker. You don’t have to do all the work yourself!
On this episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m talking to Krista Miller of Summit in a Box. After being part of her very first summit a few years ago and watching her business continue to grow from there, I knew she was the perfect person to talk about this very popular business growth strategy.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Summit in a Box
- Ask Your Audience Challenge
About Krista Miller
At Summit In A Box, Krista helps entrepreneurs 3x their monthly revenue through virtual summits without wondering where to start or what to do next. Her method is focused on strong connections, collaboration, and making a difference in the lives of everyone involved.
The best part? She makes it easy! With every strategy, copy template, website template, script, tech tutorial, and resources you'd ever need, your summit prep just got a whole lot easier!
You know you need visibility in your business. So you keep showing up online: posting to social media, attending those virtual networking events, pitching to be on those podcasts or online summits. But you get crickets or, almost worse, you’re attracting the exact wrong type of client to you.
Before you throw in the towel, I recommend taking a step back and looking at how you’re presenting yourself online first. It could be that the image you’re projecting isn’t the most professional one, which is turning away the people you’re looking to attract.
In this episode, I’m sharing some of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to online visibility, from both the optics and the content that people share. And it might all sound a little old fashioned, but professionalism still matters in the digital age!
Mentioned in This Episode
- 5 Layers of Legal Protection webinar
So many business owners jump into business without thinking about all the behind-the-scenes work that needs doing. That leaves you and your business vulnerable.
Don’t learn the hard way; learn directly from a legal and tax expert. Today’s guest can help! I’m talking with Braden Drake about the five layers of protection that every business must have. He covers everything from what insurance you should have, whether you need to copyright your work, what it means to register your business and so much more.
Not only that, but Braden is hosting a free LIVE webinar on Monday, August 17 JUST for listeners of the Stories in Small Business podcast (and your friends). Share this link with others who need to take care of their own businesses too.
About Braden Drake
Braden is a California licensed attorney and tax professional. His tagline is “Your gay best friend here to help you get your legal and tax shit legit.” Braden works primarily with service based, creative small business owner through his membership and course where he educates on contracts, business entities, cash flow, and taxes. Visit his website or follow him on Instagram.
Mentioned in This Episode
- 5 Layers of Legal Protection webinar
When you’re creating content for your business, are you thinking about what’s going on in your audience’s head? You should! That’s what’s driving them to do business with you. This is what Lisa Princic, today’s guest on the Stories in Small Business, discovered--and how she came to grow a business around marketing and messaging.
Through learning and testing in her own business, Lisa was able to develop the skillset needed to help her clients transform their businesses.
Listen in to hear more about business messaging, deep messaging, testing your copy, self-auditing your messaging, the difference between content and website copy and how to build your brand--along with SO many other things.
About Lisa Princic
Lisa Princic helps impact-driven business owners dive deep into their unique value and business models to build sustainable, profitable brands. She helps them simplify their offers, focus their brand with bolder messaging, strengthen and deepen their marketing systems.
She is a trained business strategist and the host of the Scaling Deep Podcast.
Lisa is a results-oriented, deep thinker who has a knack for “seeing” the value of each business and turning that into a pipeline ideal clients.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Noticeable Brand Guidebook
You’ve likely heard of client journey before. But do you know what it is and why it’s so important to your content (and the overall health of your business)?
Client journey is about getting your audience’s attention, educating them, showing that you’re an expert, nurturing them to purchase, growing their place on your client roster and even retaining the relationship after you’ve gone your separate ways. And the way you do all of this is through your content.
But it’s not all about blogging and putting out videos. Content is SO much more than that.
Learn more about what your content should look like at all stages of the journey so you can start nurturing your audience and growing the business you love.
A full transcription of this episode is available on my website.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Client Journey ebook
- Client Journey Masterclass
Email marketing is one of the most powerful marketing tools you can use to connect with your audience, if not THE most powerful tools. But instead of taking my word for it again, I’m excited to bring on Aleia Walker, an email marketing copywriting expert to talk about it with me.
In this episode, we talk about the considerations to take into account when selecting your email marketing platform, what to include in your welcome sequence and what impacts the deliverability of your emails. We also chat about the different platforms out there and why Flodesk is her favorite while ActiveCampaign hands-down mine. (It’s okay...we didn’t come to blows about it or anything!)
Listen in!
About Aleia Walker
Aleia is an email marketing copywriter who helps creatives turned educators create marketing strategies for their digital products. Sometimes that looks like delivering 50+ page launch playbooks & sometimes that looks like configuring the backend to ensure a smooth experience for her clients and their customers.
She’s committed to helping her clients scale in a way that creates less stress and more sales because she doesn’t believe in waiting until you’re old and gray to live your life. A Creative Writing major turned web developer (with a few stops in between) Aleia’s found a way to blend her love of words and tech skills to create experiences that move customers and clients into action (aka cha-ching.) And that equals profits in your pockets so you can spend more time serving your people, building your dream business, and your dream life.
When she’s not knee deep in spreadsheets, Airtable, or Google Analytics, she’s probably talking herself out of buying plant number 21 (who am I kidding, she’s probably already bought it.)
Mentioned in This Episode
- Grab Aleia’s Welcome Sequence Cheat Sheet
- Give Flodesk a try!
- Give ActiveCampaign a try!
Building a content strategy is essential if you want to get more visible online. It saves time and helps target your message, and it also gives you so much clarity in your business.
But don’t take my word for it! Listen to what my client and friend Caitlin Faas has to say!
In this episode, Caitlin talks about how she finds the time to do all the things that need to be done in her business--including her content strategy and development. We talk about what content she’s creating, how it’s impacting her business and what happened once she started getting consistent with her content.
How did she do it? Caitlin says that she stopped telling herself the story that content is painful and she didn’t know what to say. Instead, she asked questions and got support, making the content creation process so much easier!
Listen in, and get on the right path yourself!
About Caitlin Faas
Dr. Caitlin Faas is a certified life coach and former tenured psychology professor at a university. She helps academics overcome self-sabotage issues so they can achieve their big career goals. She earned her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from Virginia Tech. She started her coaching business in 2016 and earned life coach certification through The Life Coach School. She loves being an example of what is possible by optimizing work time with family time. For fun, she loves CrossFit and crafts. Find her on her website and follow her on YouTube and Facebook.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Caitlin coaches Abby on her sweet tooth
- Learn how to stop procrastinating!
- Learn more about Content Mastery Lab
There are certain things you must have in your business--a way to accept payments, a place for your audience to find you, a way for people to contact you. Every business needs these things.
Something else every business needs? A content strategy--a way to get the message out about the products and services you offer. And in order for your content strategy to work, you need to take three key actions.
This week on the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m sharing what those three key actions are and giving you some additional insights into why and how to check those actions off your list. Listen in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Batching Guide
- VIP Intensive
You’re looking to diversify your brand visually, so you find some stock images of people who look different from you and throw those up on your social media. [Whew! Right?] Wrong. Diversity is so much more than just making it look like you serve people of all colors, shapes and backgrounds.
This week on the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m talking to Christina Jones, a Florida-based brand photographer about diversity in your brand and how to get there authentically. She also shares what we should be striving for in our brand images in general and how effective branding can help you elevate your business.
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Christina’s Instagram post that encouraged me to reach out to her
- ColorJoy Stock Photos
- Learn how to have a virtual coffee chat
About Christina Jones
Christina Jones is a Florida-based lifestyle brand photographer. She helps female creatives and entrepreneurs create scroll-stopping lifestyle imagery so they can attract their target audience and build a brand and business of their dreams! When she's not snapping photos, she's cozy at home with her 8-year-old son Solomon and 3-year-old daughter Olivia or spending quality time with her husband of 10 years, Gary. She loves iced coffee, fashion magazines and could eat brunch at any time of the day!
Difficult conversations aren’t fun, but sometimes you need to have them. It sure beats allowing negativity to fester in the back of your mind and destroy relationships. A difficult conversation is exactly where this week’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast came from.
Something this week’s guest, Jaclyn Mellone, did upset me. And rather than let it go, I processed my emotions, discovered that I was being very self-centered and hypocritical and then told Jaclyn exactly what I thought and why. The result? An in-depth conversation about business, mindset and following your competition online. Lucky you, you get to listen in to that very conversation.
I’m so thankful that I spoke up when I felt slighted (I wasn’t by the way) because I got so much out of talking out my feelings. And I’m thankful to Jaclyn for being open-minded to allowing me to process what I was thinking and feeling.
I hope you’ll tune in and then share how you manage difficult conversations in your life and business.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Go to Gal episode 107: 5 Ways I’ve Booked Myself as a Podcast Guest WITHOUT Pitching
- Episode 17: Elevate Your Visibility Without a Formal Pitch
- Angie Trueblood
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle
- Alter Ego Effect by Todd Herman
- 30 Days to Authority Building
- Go to Gal Podcast
About Jaclyn Mellone
Jaclyn Mellone helps experts exponentially grow their business by becoming the Go-To Authority in their space. She is a coach, strategist, Keynote speaker, mama, guac lover, and host of the Go-To Gal podcast!
She helps her clients get out of their own way, package their expertise to scale, position themselves as the go-to authority, and have their dream clients and opportunities landing on their lap! Her signature approach combines restructuring her clients business models, reframing their mindset, and revamping their marketing so that they become the go-to authority from the inside out. Jaclyn supports experts at all stages from freelancer to global brands!
She has spoken at marketing conferences around the US, grown her social media channels to total over 50K followers and has been featured in Entrepreneur, Yahoo Finance, Reader’s Digest, Parents, Well + Good, and in dozens of podcasts and radio appearances. Be sure to follow her on Instagram!
Jaclyn has proudly built the Go-To Gal empire in her slippers from her living room in Rochester, NY!
You need to stand out online, but thankfully you already have exactly what it takes: your differentiators. These are the things you do or offer that make you different from your so-called competition.
Differentiators are things that make you stand out from others in your industry. I don’t really like the word “competition,” because I don’t think that any of us really has competition. Not if you know your differentiators.
Think about it, when someone buys from you, what are they getting that’s unique? No matter if you sell a product or a service--to other businesses or to consumers--you have something unique to offer.
What are YOUR differentiators? As I talk through some of the big ideas, I encourage you to take some notes and do some brainstorming to identify what yours are. Then start to develop content ideas around those differentiators.
Mentioned in This Episode
- No, I’m Not a Freelancer blog post
- Ask Your Audience free challenge
We speak a lot of languages in life and business. Some of those languages and voices attract people to you and other voices you’re pushing down and not sharing as you should.
As a leader, as a female or female identifying leader, it’s your responsibility to use your voice and speak up so you’re heard. Kaylan Thompson, this week’s guest on the Stories in Small Business podcast, shares the identity crisis that so many women face when it comes to what leadership looks like today.
This is such an empowering conversation about fear, why we’re hiding our strengths and finding the right people to lead on our teams. She also shares the three questions we need to always be asking in our businesses and how business owners can step into their role as CEO. I love all the books and resources she shares throughout too!
Mentioned in This Episode:
- The Creator’s Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs by Amy Wilkinson
- How the World Sees You: Discover Your Highest Value Through the Science of Fascination by Sally Hogshead
- The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done by Peter Drucker
- Give Yourself a Promotion workbook
- Episode 41: 7 Lessons Learned in 7 Years of Business
- Joy to Lead podcast (and my episode)
About Kaylan Thompson
Kaylan is a hiring consultant and leadership coach for business owners who want to hire strategically and lead to their fullest potential so they can grow their business sustainably and wisely.
Hanging a shingle outside your virtual office isn’t going to help you get noticed online. Having a message and sharing that message will. But when you’re telling yourself stories like, “It’s all been said already,” or “I hate writing so I just won’t create anything,” or “I’m not an expert,” you’re doing yourself and your audience a disservice.
Content (which isn’t just blog posts, by the way) is what attracts your audience to you. It’s what helps them to get to know you as a person--and people buy from people, not businesses.
You need to put away these five stories and start creating the content that will help your audience get to know you, see you as the expert that you are and eventually buy from you.
Once you’ve put away those stories, I want you to join me for a free challenge, Ask Your Audience, which I’m running June 22 to 26, 2020. You can sign up below or join the waiting list if you’re listening in after June 2020.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 8: How to Create a 90-Day Content Plan
This is a special episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast. It’s a departure from the normal business-centered episode, though I do talk a lot about business. But more, this episode is about being human and not knowing how to process or respond to what’s going in the world today.
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Build Your Tribe Episode 391: How Your Brand Might Want to Respond to Racial Injustice
- Steven Bartlett’s Instagram post
- Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
- Remixed Business with Trudi Lebron
- Pause on the Play with Erica Courdae
- Rachel E. Cargle: A Social Syllabus Series
- Rachel E. Cargle: The Great Unlearn
Sometimes you’re doing all the right things in your business but you still feel out of alignment. That’s exactly what happened to Ginny Krauss, brand visibility expert and greatness coach before a chance encounter at an in-person event brought clarity.
I wanted to talk to Ginny about the mindset of being the voice of your brand but our conversation turned into so much more. We talked about the event where she discovered her own greatness and how she’s let go of a big part of her business to do what she was called to do. She explained her three-step BRAVE method for working with clients and helping them get out of their own way. And I asked her about her ability to be so incredibly consistent with how and when she shows up online. This girl is on top of things, friends!
Tune in now so you can experience your own greatness and don’t forget to grab her brand visibility checklist so you can start attracting the exact right audience members to you!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Jenna Gessay
- Episode 37: Top Investments for Your Business
- Brand Visibility Checklist
- Brave New You podcast
About Ginny Krauss
Ginny Krauss is a Greatness Coach + Brand Visibility Expert, and host of the Brave New You podcast. She is the one you call when you’re ready to go B-I-G-G-E-R with your dreams and your profits but are struggling to stand out in your brand. Ginny helps entrepreneurs get laser focused on their brand visibility and holds them accountable in doing so. She is the founder of the Greatness Mastermind, and most recently launched her European based Greatness Retreat for Entrepreneurs who want to infuse traveling the world with growing their business. She’s also an expat living in Munich, Germany with her husband and two sons. When she’s not busy helping entrepreneurs increase their visibility she can be found goofing off with her kiddos and planning her next travel adventure. Be sure to follow her on Instagram.
If you’re looking for help and support around your own content strategy, join the FREE Content Strategy Clarity challenge!
Business ownership is a journey, one with loads of learning lessons along the way. Sometimes we learn those lessons the first time; other times we need a reminder. I’ve certainly needed a reminder of some of my small (and big) lessons.
Four years ago, I wrote a blog post about the 10 lessons I learned in my first three years of business ownership (link to the post is below). Fast forward to now and so many of those lessons still ring true. Of course, I’ve also learned some new gems that I’d love to pass along to you--so you don’t have to learn the hard way!
In this episode, I’m sharing about walking away, paying yourself, comparisonitis, making connections, investing in yourself and your business and more. I hope that the ideas and lessons resonate with you! And if they do, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Share your biggest takeaways on social media and tag me--or leave a rating and review.
Let’s face it: We’re learning something new every day--about ourselves, our habits, our audiences and our industries. Are you with me?
Mentioned in This Episode
- 10 Things I’ve Learned in 3 Years of Business
- Episode 37: Top Visibility Investments for Your Business
Are you ready to learn more about content strategy so you can grow your visibility and your business? Check out my FREE Content Strategy Clarity challenge today. It's a four-video series you can complete entirely on your own time. Simply enter your name and email address below and you're automatically enrolled!
To grow a business, you need to trust yourself. And the fact that you don’t, according to this week’s guest, is what’s holding you back. I have to agree with her.
I invited Sarah Walton, speaker and business mentor, to be on the Stories in Small Business podcast because she’s such an inspiration to me and other business owners because of her no-nonsense style and her compassion.
We’re talking about why trusting yourself is THE thing that will help you succeed in business, what to do about business copycats, why women are conditioned to give away our expertise for free (and how to stop it already) and how to put yourself in the right mindset to grow your business on your terms. I love how she talks about shifts and growth too and how the first iteration of anything you do is going to be crap (especially as you look back on it later) and how she talks about responding to people who question your pricing.
Join us for this inspiring and motivating conversation!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Adam Grant TED Talk - The Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers
- Game On Girlfriend Episode 17: What the Heck is Content and Why is it “King”?
- Stories That Stick by Kendra Hall
- Sarah’s Grocery Store Story
- You Can Always Control How You Respond worksheet
About Sarah Walton
As a “woman in the city” in New York, Sarah wanted more. She quit her job and turned her talents, business acumen and secret desire to be a stand up comic into a business for women. That was 10 years ago.
She's now been featured on The Today Show, Buzzfeed magazine and The Huffington Post for her work helping women launch businesses they LOVE. She's designed online courses, a 1:1 mentorship program, live events and her podcast, Game On, Girlfriend.
As a self-confessed personal development junky, Sarah has been studying the science behind happiness, productivity and success for over 15 years. She's become the go-to source of inspiration, no-nonsense training and practical integration for women in business. You can follow Sarah on Instagram or Facebook or visit her website.
If you’re looking for help and support around your own content strategy, join the FREE Content Strategy Clarity challenge!
Downtime happens in every business. You plan a vacation or the holidays come around, you intentionally take some time away from your regular schedule. But other times, we can’t control the downtime. Something happens beyond our control and our businesses are impacted in a big way.
So how do you use that downtime to your advantage, rather than getting sucked into the rabbit hole of social media and depression? It’s not easy.
This week on the Stories in Small Business podcast I’m sharing seven things you can do with downtime in your business to help you make sure you’re coming out the other side in a good place--financially and professionally, not to mention emotionally.
Few things will make you feel worse than sitting around feeling sorry for yourself. I know. I’ve been there. So use this time to really take action so you still have a business when this downtime--no matter when it’s happening or why--is over.
The biggest thing is you need to keep moving forward. Keep taking action every week, no matter how small that action is. You need the visibility and forward momentum in your projects and your relationships as you dig your way out of the downtime and back into business as usual.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 19: Yes, You CAN Take Downtime
- Episode 36: How to Pitch a Podcast
- Content Mastery Lab
If you’re ready to get started in creating the right content for your business but don’t know where to start, join my free challenge, Content Strategy Clarity. You’ll learn the four things you need to do in order to get ready to develop your content strategy. Because you can’t just throw spaghetti on the wall. You need to be strategic if you want to save time and money. Sign up below or click here for instant access.
Does strategy feel stifling to you? Rigid? Corporate? You’re not alone. However, creating a true strategic plan for your business can actually help you create more freedom so you can grow in ways that you never thought possible.
That’s because a strategic plan can give you the focus you need to double down on projects and action plans so you can move farther, faster. This is the groundwork for the conversation I’m having this week on the Stories in Small Business podcast. Kristen Westcott, a certified director of operations for coaches and course creators, joins me and sets the record straight about why planning isn’t constraining and what components need to be in every strategic plan.
We also discuss niching down and how only working with course creators and coaches has helped Kristen grow a thriving business that suits her lifestyle.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Roadmap for Business Growth
About Kristen Westcott
Kristen Westcott is the founder and CEO of Kristen Westcott Media and has been helping others with goal setting, time management/productivity and project management for over a decade – in the legal field, education sector and as an entrepreneur. Her goal is to help entrepreneurs free up time to focus on the right things, so they don’t burn out. She does this through strategic planning, project management and managing business operations. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Running a business isn’t free; it takes products, services and resources. But what should you invest in, and when? How much is it going to cost you? These are fair questions, and there’s a different answer depending on what kind of business you’re in and how long you’ve had your doors open.
This week on the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m sharing my thoughts on some of the most important investments a business should make--and I’m also sharing how much I spend on each of these investments every month or year.
Some of the investment ideas have free options, and one in particular I specifically recommend you stay away from that free option, because it’s doing you no favors. Listen through to the end for a bonus investment that won’t cost you a dime and that everyone needs to take a part in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- ActiveCampaign
- Canva
- Deposit Photos
- CoSchedule
- Tailwind
- MemberVault
- IMPACT Circle Membership
- Speaker Strategy Academy
- BizChix Six Figures Lab
- Content Mastery Lab
If you’re reading this right now, chances are you love a good podcast. I do too. And if you’re not interested in starting your own podcast, I want you to know how valuable it is to be a guest on a podcast. You can get in front of so many more people by being a guest than you ever could on your own.
And that’s why podcast guesting needs to be part of your content strategy. It’s a way to talk to new people, tell your story in a different way and really impact others.
However, if you’re going to be on others’ podcasts, you need to learn how to pitch yourself so the host will say yes.
Leading with value is vital when you’re creating content for your audience, but value isn’t limited to what you’re putting out there on the world wide web. You also need to lead with value (very specific value) when pitching to be on a podcast.
This week on the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m talking with Angie Trueblood, a podcast visibility expert, about how to put yourself out there by pitching podcasts, how to determine which podcasts are a good fit for you, how to repurpose your own podcast interviews, how to leverage relationships to get on podcasts and what your pitches should look like--plus a whole lot more.
Listen in now and start getting more visibility for your business right now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Go Pitch Yourself podcast
- Elevate Your Visibility Without a Formal Pitch
- Go Pitch Yourself Roadmap
- Content Mastery Lab
About Angie Trueblood
As a podcast visibility expert and host of the Go Pitch Yourself podcast, Angie Trueblood knows that the only “perfect pitch” is the one that leads with value and focuses on building a genuine connection. Whether she is teaching entrepreneurs how to pitch themselves or working behind the scenes to secure opportunities for others, Angie leverages her super-connector powers to grow businesses and build long-lasting relationships. When she's not working with her clients or being active in her local community, she loves exploring Richmond, Virginia's parks and playgrounds with her two kiddos, checking out new restaurants with her hubs, and laughing about motherhood over cocktails with friends.
There are so many ways to elevate your visibility, but one strategy alone isn’t going to get you much traction. Instead, you need to use multiple tools and strategies in your business, regularly, to continue to get you and your business noticed.
But that’s often where business owners hit pause. They don’t want to put themselves out there because they’re afraid of what others will think or say. They don’t like how they look on camera or they think they’re a bad writer.
It’s time to get out of your own way and get on the right track to business success. No one will know you’re there or what you can do for them unless you start getting more visible online.
In this week’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m sharing eight ways you can elevate your online visibility so you can be the first person your audience thinks of when they need your products or services.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Content Strategy Clarity challenge
- How to Put Yourself Out There (with content)
- Why Email Marketing is More Important Than Social Media
- Getting Over the Mindset Block Around Video with Holly Gillen
- Using In-Person Events to Connect and Grow with Robin Walker
- Why You Need a Book to Market Your Business with Jodi Brandon
- How to Build Your Social Strategy with Andrea Jones
- Getting Your Content Noticed Through SEO with Meg Casebolt
- The Role of Email in Your Content Strategy
- Speaking Your Story with Jessica Rasdall
Speaking can help you connect with new audiences, demonstrate your expertise and develop a new way to deliver your message. But speaking does not have to look like you standing on a stage in front of a big audience. (You’re welcome.)
This week on the Stories in Small Business podcast, Jessica Rasdall is sharing her tips on using speaking to grow your audience and your business. You’ll learn how to leverage opportunities to benefit your audience and your own business. She shares how to decide which speaking events are best for you, what type of speaking you should do based on where you are in business now and how to use speaking to grow your email list and your revenue.
This is such an important conversation to have when you’re trying to think outside of the box to market your business. In fact, she shares how she transitioned her business from getting paid to speak about her own story to training other business owners to become powerful speakers.
About Jessica Rasdall
Jessica Rasdall is a Motivational Speaker, Best Selling Author, Public Speaking Strategist and the host of The Speak to Scale Podcast. She partners with small business owners to craft stories and presentations that connect with their audience and convert from the stage. Jessica has shared her story of turning her “mess into a message” for nearly fourteen years and has been featured on major international media outlets such as ABC's 20/20, Katie Couric, The Guardian, MTV, Netflix and much more. Follow her on Instagram.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Speak to Scale Podcast
- Does Speaking Fit into Your Marketing Quiz
- The Speaking Strategy Academy
- How to Create a Content Strategy for Public Speaking
Chances are you’ve heard about how important email is to your content and marketing strategy. Maybe you even send regular emails to your audience or have a welcome sequence for new subscribers. That’s one step in the right direction but there’s so much more you can do with your emails.
On this week’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m sharing five big ways email marketing can boost your content strategy and your connection with your audience. I’ll give you some really specific examples of how you can take your email list to the next level, providing more support and staying top-of-mind with your subscribers
Tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 14: Why Email Marketing is More Important Than Social Media
- ActiveCampaign
- MemberVault
Do you ever feel like you’re creating content--but not getting any traction from it at all? Or maybe the old blog posts and videos you’ve created just aren’t getting the views that they once did. Chances are, it’s because you’re not using SEO, search engine optimization, to your advantage. It’s time to get your content noticed through SEO.
This week on the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m talking with Meg Casebolt of Love at First Search about what SEO looks like for small business owners and how to create content that people are actually searching for. Not only that, but she shares with us how to know what words people are looking for when it comes to online search. (Here’s a tip: It’s not that super-creative yet random title you created for yourself.)
Meg is ridiculously smart when it comes to search traffic, Google Analytics and all things SEO. She’s sharing some free tips and tricks you can use to improve your SEO right now, tells us how to repurpose content that we’re getting found for right now (even if we no longer want to get found for that content) and how to truly get your content working for you.
Tune in now and get access to Meg’s free SEO Starter Kit!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Free SEO Starter Kit
- Free Content Strategy Clarity challenge
About Meg Casebolt
Meg Casebolt is an SEO specialist, digital strategist and founder of Love at First Search.
She helps female entrepreneurs succeed online by helping them get found on Google then turning readers into customers, all by using custom strategies that fit them better than Catwoman’s suit (without the wedgie).
This is an uncertain time for parents, families and business owners alike--no matter what kind of business you’re in or how old your children are. Workers are being sent home from work, both with and without pay, children are doing school work remotely, businesses are closing their doors and we’re all being asked to limit contact with others.
For me, it feels a lot like business as usual since I work from home. But now I have a teenager at home all day with me. I’m thankful that she’s a teenager but it still looks and feels different at home each day.
I think there’s a lot of opportunity here during this crisis and I want to share some thoughts with you. I’ve been just as caught up in the news and worry as the next person, not knowing what tomorrow will look like. But I’ve spent too many years of my life in a negative mindset, something I overcame years ago. I refuse to go back there, and I’m dedicated to looking forward with a mindset of hope and opportunity.
Though it may not feel like there’s much opportunity or hope right now as many small business owners are losing work--contracts are being put off, events have been cancelled, people aren’t buying and there’s no foot traffic in stores.
But something I’ve been talking about for a long time IS possible for you...to get your business online. As a business owner, you get to decide what happens to your business. As a micro-business, you get to decide how you react and how to pivot to weather this storm.
Tune in to this bonus episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast for tips and ideas on how you can continue with business in this uncertain time.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Content Strategy Clarity challenge
You need content to have a content strategy, right? What if I told you that some of the most important parts of your content strategy aren’t your content at all? (Say WHAT!?)
It’s true. You can publish content all day and all night and it won’t matter unless you have the four things that I talk about on this week’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast.
Too many business owners are publishing content just to say that they’re being consistent and visible. But it’s just a waste of time if you’re not doing it right. It’s costing you time and money (and probably some grey hairs and time with your family) to publish all the content--and you’re not seeing the increase in engagement, followers or sales.
Tune in this week as I talk about the four most important parts of your content strategy. Thankfully some of these are really quick shifts you can make, though others will take a bit more time.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Content Strategy Clarity free challenge
- Client Journey eBook
- Episode 30: How to Build Your Social Strategy with Andrea Jones
- Episode 13: How to Increase the Reach of Your Content
Social media is one of the best places for an online business to grow an audience. But it’s not about pushing yourself to be on all the platforms or creating content just to get noticed. It’s about being strategic and building relationships with the right people.
This week on the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m talking with Andrea Jones of Savvy Social School about how to use social media to market your business. We touch on how long you should spend on social each week (it’s probably less than you think!) and where you should spend that time. Andrea also talks about how to use your pillar content to continue to generate content ideas, long after the original content was posted.
At the end of the day, your social media shouldn’t drive your content strategy--but it’s a pivotal piece of it. Andrea is giving us all the tips and examples of who is doing it right.
Tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Savvy Social School
- Savvy Social Podcast
- Social Media Success Framework
- Content Mastery Lab
About Andrea Jones
Andrea is fiercely committed to helping businesses and podcasters build profitable communities online through simple social media solutions. She's been featured in places like Hubspot, Awber, and WordPress. She's also named one of Social Report's top marketers to follow in 2019.
As the host of the Savvy Social Podcast and the creator of SavvySocialSchool.com, Andrea is dedicated to simplifying social media through easy-to-follow courses, professional guidance, and community support. Outside of teaching and training, she spends most of her time serving her full service clients and practicing what she preaches by implementing organic social media strategies for businesses and brands that want to grow an engaged audience online. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
You’re spending time and possibly money on your content. Are you getting what you want out of it? Brand awareness? List growth? Sales? New connections? Something else?
Chances are that if you’ve made it to these show notes, you feel like your content could do a little more than what it’s doing right now. You’ve come to the right place.
On this episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m sharing with you eight reasons why your content isn’t doing its job. There are tips for quick fixes, ideas for longer-term tweaks and mindset shifts and resources for you to do better with your content in the long run.
There are so many reasons your content may not be working. You owe it to yourself to find out why.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Content Mastery Lab
- Content Strategy Clarity
- Dead Link Checker
- Broken Link Checker
- ActiveCampaign
As business owners, we have enough on our plate already, right? From standard operating procedures to marketing to sales to networking to product creation to...you name it. It’s a lot. But one place where a lot of business owners hide their head is their numbers.
But the numbers in your business could make or break your business. If you’re not listening to the story your business numbers are telling you, you might not be around very long. That’s why the conversation I had with today’s guest is such an important one.
Danielle Hayden of Kickstart Accounting shares that while it’s okay (and even recommended) that you outsource your financials, every business owner needs to know some key numbers in their business. And we’re not just talking revenue here. Do you know your business’s financial trends? Are you making responsible decisions based on those trends?
It’s time to get comfortable in your role as CEO and take the fear and overwhelm out of accounting. Tune in for more!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Content Strategy Clarity challenge
- Get your free goal-setting worksheet
About Danielle Hayden
Danielle is a reformed corporate CFO (chief financial officer) who is on a mission to help rule-breaking female entrepreneurs understand their numbers so they can gain the confidence needed to create sustainable profits. After spending 10+ years in the boardroom as a corporate finance officer, Danielle is now in her sweet spot as the co-owner of Kickstart Accounting, Inc. where she helps business owners with bookkeeping, financial analysis, and education and as the author of the Profit Planner book series. When Danielle isn’t crunching numbers on her clients’ behalf or crafting the next iteration of the Profit Planner, you can find her hanging with her two kids as she inspires them to lead their fullest lives or doing any, and almost every fitness-related activity ranging from Spartan races to pilates.
There comes a time in your business where it’s time to raise prices. You shift your services, you’re experiencing growth or simply inflation has caught up with you and it’s time. But it feels like there’s such a stigma around price increases, particularly among service-based businesses.
A few years ago, I raised prices across the board for all my retainer clients--and didn’t lose a single client in the process. The trick was that I was shifting my services to serve my clients even better than before, and gave them all enough time to let the new pricing (and added value) sink in.
Listen in to this week’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast as I walk through some of the most important things to consider when raising your prices and tell you exactly how I’ve done it in the past.
I don’t claim to be a pricing expert, but I do want to share what worked for me in the hopes it will work for you too.
Mentioned on This Episode
- Content Strategy Clarity free challenge
Everyone has their own hangups about content development and marketing our businesses, and I love that this week’s guest is helping authors to overcome those challenges. Debbie Gonzales is a former educator and administrator and an author and coach for authors in the kidlit industry. She works with authors of all backgrounds and experience levels to get their books in the hands of readers.
Like so many of us in this entrepreneurial space, Debbie dove in head-first and learned everything she could about owning a business. She learned how to blog (and why it’s a marathon, not a sprint), how age impacts how you’re marketing yourself and the importance of community for women of a “certain age.”
As someone in Debbie’s “certain age” target market, I could not have been happier to chat with her. Not only that, but Debbie is a member of my Content Mastery Lab and she gives new meaning to the words star student.
Mentioned in this Episode
- Your First 1000 Copies: The Step-by-Step Guide to Marketing Your Book by Tim Grahl
- Girls with Guts!: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records by Debbie Gonzales
- Content Mastery Lab
About Debbie Gonzales
Debbie is a career educator, curriculum consultant, former school administrator and adjunct professor, a podcaster (The Debcast), and a visibility coach who helps authors and illustrators to gain the clarity, focus, and skills required to develop influence and visibility in the kidlit marketplace. She's the author of six transitional readers for New Zealand publisher, Giltedge, and the non-fiction picture book Girls with Guts: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records (Charlesbridge, 2019). Deb serves as a member of the Michigan Reading Association board and earned her MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Learn more about Deb and her many projects on her website.
It’s so hard to say no to something in business, but that’s exactly what you need to do if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of creating all the content in all the places. You do not need to show up everywhere online to market your business effectively.
In fact, the opposite is true. You need to be strategic and focused when delivering your message. You need to do your homework and know exactly where your audience is showing up—and then double down there.
If you’re struggling with what content to create for your audience, you need to listen in to this episode. I’m giving you permission to stop publishing content on all the platforms so you can truly focus on the things that will bring you the best return on your investment.
Mentioned on This Episode
- They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan
- Content Strategy Clarity free challenge
- Content Mastery Lab membership
Getting more visibility has never been easier, especially with the ease with which we can create content today. And by “content,” I don’t necessarily mean blog posts and YouTube videos.
On today’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m talking with my friend Jodi Brandon about why business owners should consider writing a book to elevate their business and how to put aside the fears of jumping into the process. Jodi also shares a big “oops” she made in her own first self-publishing venture. Of course, I love that she shared this because no one is perfect and we can all make mistakes--even within our own expertise.
We also talk about outsourcing in our businesses, my progress (or lack thereof) with writing my own book and her new group program, The Write Life. Listen in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Write. Publish. Market. by Jodi Brandon
- The Write Life
About Jodi Brandon
Jodi Brandon has more than 20 years' experience in book publishing. After many years working in traditional publishing, Jodi and her husband relocated from New York to Philadelphia and she launched her freelance editing business. Today Jodi works primarily as a book publishing partner for entrepreneurs, creatives, and small business owners who want to grow their business with a book. Find more on her website or follow her on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.
Content marketing can save the day in your business. Really. What excuses are YOU telling yourself about why you’re not creating content for your business?
It’s time to stop. You can’t afford to NOT be creating content for your business.
This week’s episode is all about my favorite book ever on content marketing, They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan. It’s such a powerful book that every business owner and content marketer needs to read.
Because if you’re not answering your audience’s questions, are you really offering them what they need and want to make an informed buying decision? (The answer is no.)
Tune in for some of the big takeaways and be sure to pick up your copy of the book today! (We’re actually reading it in my membership book club in Q1 2020.)
Mentioned on this Episode
- They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan
- Episode 21 - How to Improve Your Reputation Right Now
- ActiveCampaign
- MemberVault
- 4 Steps to Content Strategy Clarity - Free Video Series
Ask any business owner what they dislike or struggle with most about business ownership, and chances are many of them will say “sales.” I’ve been firmly in that camp myself.
As Nikki Rausch, this week’s guest on the Stories in Small Business podcast, shares, it’s a mindset shift that we need to work on. Instead of focusing on your audience’s pain points, Nikki shares that we should instead focus on solving their problems. It’s in trying to convince people they need to buy from us that makes the whole process feel icky and sleazy.
This is such a necessary conversation in business because without sales we would have hobbies, not businesses. Nikki walks us through her Selling Staircase framework, how to identify signals that someone is ready to buy from us, shifting our mindset that sales are icky and asking the right questions to keep the conversation going.
If increasing sales is an important part of your business strategy in 2020, you’ll want to tune in!
Mentioned in This Episode
- The Selling Staircase: Mastering the Art of Relationship Selling by Nikki Rausch
- Buying Signals: How to Spot the Green Light and Increase Sales by Nikki Rausch
- 30-minute Selling Strength Assessment
- Closing the Sale e-book
About Nikki Rausch
After 25 years of experience selling to such prestigious organizations as The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Hewlett-Packard, and NASA, Nikki Rausch decided to trade in her road warrior status so she could help entrepreneurs sell in a way that builds relationships, creates true connection, and results in more closed deals and long-term clients. Now, as a sales coach, author, speaker and founder of Sales Maven, Nikki transforms the misunderstood process of “selling” into techniques, tools, and tips that can be successfully incorporated into a process replicable by anyone whose livelihood relies on selling a product, a service, or themselves. When she's not helping business owners move their clients along the 'Selling Staircase', Nikki enjoys taking in all the beauty that living in the Pacific Northwest affords her.
I can’t imagine what my life would look like if I had grown up in the internet age. Thankfully, I grew up in the 70s and 80s when you could do ridiculous things and no one’s the wiser. But now as someone who works online, I see the world a little differently.
Today, you can make or break your reputation in a split second--from a gaffe to a Facebook post, a misplaced Tweet to something you said at a meeting. What you do or say moves at the speed of light (or wifi) and sometimes you can’t control the outcome.
On this week’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m sharing why reputation is so important to online businesses and what you can do to give yours a little (or big) boost--both today and in the long-term.
This is such an important topic, and I’m speaking to myself just as much as I’m speaking to you. I hope you’ll tune in!
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Yelp! I Got a Bad Review! (Now What?) from Molly McPherson
How organized is your life and business? If you’re like many people I know, you’re really good at organizing one pocket of life but feel frazzled and overwhelmed in others. I think a lot of us focus on the systems in our businesses but forget that we should have systems for home too.
This week on the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m chatting with my friend Jill McMeekin about organization and how to shift your mindset so you can do the little things that will add up over time. I mention my own embarrassment in having people over to my house. I don’t have a lot of “stuff,” but it does seem to get disorganized quickly if I don’t stay on top of it.
One of the things I love about Jill is that she truly took something she’s passionate about and turned it into a business. She delivering her expertise in exactly the way that feels good to her and teaching people how to do the “thing,” rather than doing it for them. You’ll learn lessons you can use in every aspect of your business and life and find out how disorganization impacts your business and mindset. Plus, Jill gives you actionable steps to help you feel more at peace in your workspace.
If you’re going into 2020 wanting to get yourself more organized, you need to tune into this episode!
Mentioned on This Episode
- Home, Inc. course
About Jill McMeekin
Jill is an organizing coach and strategist who inspires homeowners to create systems in their lives. She believes that an organized and efficient home allows people to feel energized and free to focus on what brings them joy in life. Jill will be launching an online course in January called “Home, Inc.” that teaches people how to organize their belongings, make sense of their money and files, manage their to dos and events, and implement effective cleaning routines, so that their home can run like a well-oiled machine. Follow her on Instagram or visit her website.
It’s holiday season time and you’re trying to figure out how to take time away from your business so you can spend the holidays unplugging. But you have too many projects to do and not enough time to get them all done.
I will raise my hand high and tell you that I’ve been there too. But a few years ago, I cracked the code on how to take time away from my business--and took a full two week vacation from my sole 1:1 service-based business. It took a lot of work and planning on my part but I was able to pull it off. Fast forward to this summer when I wasn’t so lucky.
Tune in to this week’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast and learn from my experiences--and failures--in enjoying a work-free vacation. Because every single one of you deserves to have time away from your business!
And that guide to batching your content so you can be one step closer to unplugging? Grab it right here!
It took me so long to attend my first in-person event and I was immediately hooked, even as an introvert. They’re such a powerful way to connect with others and build deeper connections than you can make through an online coffee chat.
But having never hosted a big event of my own, I knew I needed to talk to an expert to get the low-down on how to make the most of a conference, networking opportunity, workshop or any other in-person event.
I loved this conversation with Robin Walker, business strategist and host of the two-day Lakeside Conference for women in business. She offers so many tips on finding the right events for you and your business, what mistakes to avoid when attending, how she organizes her event to help people make the most of it, how to have more in-depth conversations while you’re there and even how to be selected as a speaker at a coveted event.
You don’t want to miss this episode, straight from the event expert’s mind!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Lakeside Conference - use code Abby100
- Episode 5: How to talk about what you do
About Robin Walker
Robin is a business strategist who helps female business owners narrow focus, take action, and finish their goals so they can increase their income and time with their families. Robin uses her 15 years of business experience to support women through one on one coaching, in person and online workshops, the Impact accountability group, and the annual two-day Lakeside Conference for women in business. You can find her in her Facebook group, on Instagram or on LinkedIn.
You’re ready to get more visible in your business, but the thought of sending out pitch after pitch (and then holding your breath, waiting for responses) seems like a waste of time to you. What if I told you that you don’t actually have to pitch podcasts and speaking opportunities? Not always, anyway.
On this episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m sharing how to leverage relationships to get more visibility in your business. Visibility in the form of speaking opportunities, summit invitations, podcast interviews and even invitations to VIP events.
Yes, this method is a long game. But nurturing relationships with the right people will bring you so much visibility and SO much more for your business (and theirs). Tune in to find out more!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Content Mastery Lab
- What Works Episode 227
Video is such a powerful medium to share content, but it’s also the one that sparks inaction more than anything else. Why? Because you’re afraid you don’t look right, you won’t sound right, people won’t like your accent, you need to lose weight first. You name it!
This week on the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m talking with Holly Gillen, who works with high-performing women to help them get their next-level videos out to their audiences. As someone who has worked both sides of the camera, Holly is an expert in helping to overcome the mindset blocks that are holding you back.
Holly shares why video is so important when you’re trying to connect with new people and what else might be holding you back. And if you’re not using video yet, she’s going to tell you exactly where you should start through her Seven Phases of Business Cinema™.
Tune in now if more exposure is what you’re looking for in the new year.
About Holly Gillen
Holly works with high performing leading ladies to save them time on both sides of the camera. She does this by teaching them the skills they need create not just video but, Business Cinema™. Which is the way she describes the next level video. Video with a plan, a purpose, a strategy and a system. Not just creating videos all willy nilly. Find her on her website, follow her on Instagram and Facebook and you can, of course, watch her in action on YouTube.
Did you expect (hope for) overnight success when you started your business? I think it’s pretty common. Looking at social media, we’re led to believe that it’s common. It’s not, and anyone who leads you to believe that you can be an overnight success is lying to you.
Besides, I firmly believe that we need to do the grunt work in our business if we’re going to build a business that’s sustainable over time. That’s exactly what I’m sharing on this week’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast.
I’m sharing an example of someone else in my industry who shared her own experience with slow growth, giving you seven real reasons why slow growth is better than being a booming success and giving you some actionable steps to having your own growth strategy.
I also share the goods on my newest offering--the Content Mastery Lab. It’s a membership experience for business owners who want one go-to place to get education, resources and support for their own content marketing strategy.
You’re going to want to dive into this episode, sooner rather than later.
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Rachel Kay Albers’s business growth
- Follow RKA on Instagram
- Content Mastery Lab
You’ve heard all about algorithms by now. It’s Facebook’s attempt at making sure our news feeds are curated to exactly what we want to see. Personal profiles are prioritized, and we all know that it’s against Facebook’s terms of service to promote our businesses on our personal profiles--though I know a lot of people still do.
The fact is, people aren’t seeing our business posts. Look at the reach on your last few Facebook or Instagram posts. What does it look like? Are 50 people seeing your posts? 100? Chances are, it’s a fraction of the number of likes you have on your page unless it’s an anomaly post.
That’s totally normal. From your regular Facebook posts to your Instagram feed to your Instagram stories, not as many people are seeing your content.
And that, my friend, is exactly why email marketing is such an important part of growing your business today.
On today’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m sharing some of the biggest no-brainer reasons you need to start nurturing your audience via email and I’m giving you the next best steps to getting started.
Listen in now!
Mentioned on This Episode
- Easy Peasy Email Marketing (use story50 for $50 off)
- Active Campaign
Publishing new content for your audience is not enough, even if you have a strategy for that content. Here’s the thing: No one is going to see it if you don’t have a strategy for sharing it! And that old content you have sitting around, gathering digital dust? No one is going to find that either.
On this week’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m sharing how to get more eyes on the content you’re creating and how to get fresh eyes on the content you published weeks, months, even years ago.
You don’t need to constantly be on the content creation hamster wheel. There are ways to make the most of what you already have out there. Do yourself a favor and save some time and money (and a lot of frustration!) and listen in to this episode!
Mentioned on this Episode
- Easy Peasy Email Marketing (code “story50” for $50 off)
- Write Solutions Content Bank
- No, I’m Not a Freelancer
- Episode 7: How to Develop Your Content Ideas
- Episode 8: How to Create a 90-Day Content Plan
- Episode 10: Why Experts’ Strategies Won’t Work for You
- Episode 11: Using Content to Build Relationships
- Revive Old Post Plugin
- CoSchedule
Have you ever met someone who just immediately lifts you up and impacts your business and your life in exactly the right way? That’s exactly how I feel about this week’s guest on the Stories in Small Business Podcast.
Ashley Cox is an author, speaker and leadership mentor for female founders and she has such amazing insight into what it looks like to lead in business and beyond. We talk about the shift she took in business recently, what a leader truly is and what toxic stories Ashley told herself as she wrote her book and made a big change in her business.
We also dive into:
- How to let go of the money-making activities so you can make shifts in your business
- How to know a client is not right for you (just one look at your inbox will tell you!)
- Stories we’re telling ourselves to hold us back from a new venture
- How to define “leader” (because it’s not what you think)
- What toxic stories people tell themselves and how this comes across in the real world
This is an insightful conversation that every business owner needs to tune into. Listen now!
Mentioned on This Episode
- Meyer’s Briggs personality test
- Transform Your Stories by Ashley Cox
- Nevica Vazquez, business strategist
- Marketing Personalities with Brit Kolo
- Download a sample of the book
About Ashley Cox
Ashley Cox, PHR, SHRM-CP, is an author, speaker, workshop host, and leadership mentor for female founders. She enjoys helping women learn how to tap into and leverage their natural strengths in order to lead their teams in a way that feels good and gets amazing results. Ashley’s first book, Transform Your Stories, helps women identify and overcome the stories that are holding them back from reaching their full potential as leaders and become more courageous, confident and impactful in their roles. Find out more about her on her website or follow her on Facebook and Instagram!
If you’re just putting content out there to your audience, hitting publish and walking away, you’re doing it all wrong. Your content should help you build relationships with others--your potential clients and your future biz besties.
First, you need the right content out there. Then you need to leverage that content (and other people’s content) to help you make connections that will lead to quality, two-sided relationships.
That’s exactly what I’m teaching you in this week’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast. Listen in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
- Connect. Build. Succeed.
- Audience Survey Template
- Episode 9: How to Put Yourself Out There
Who are the big names in small business that you follow? My guess is that if you listed them off, many of your peers would have a similar list.
I follow a few big names too, but not many. I fully celebrate their successes and give them credit for the paths they’re on. But they’re not me, and their business is not the same as yours or mine. And that’s exactly why the strategies they used to grow their businesses may or may not work for you too.
On this episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m sharing four big reasons why the experts’ strategies may not work for you--and what to do instead. Here’s a hint: You’re going to want to take what others say with a grain of salt and do what works for YOU.
I also want to share with you my own resource bank with tips, tricks and trainings that can help you move forward, from someone who is still here in the trenches with you. (Ummm...that’s me!)
Sign up here!
You know how important content is for your business, and if you’ve been listening along to the last two episodes you hopefully have a plan of action--or at least a start of one. But now you have to hit “publish.” Or maybe you need the motivation to actually start creating the content.
Often it’s mindset that holds us back from moving forward. We’re afraid of what people will think, we’re afraid that we’re not enough of an expert or we just think that no one will care what we have to say.
On this week’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m sharing how to get past the mindset that what we have to say isn’t worth the content we want to create. And I’m also giving you some actionable steps you can take to start putting yourself out there.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 7: How to Develop Your Content Ideas
- Episode 8: How to Create a 90-Day Content Plan
- Content to Ka-Ching Group Program
You have all the ideas about your content but you don’t know how to put those into a succinct plan to market your business. What do you create? Where? When?
Content creation is time-consuming if you’re doing it yourself and expensive if you’re hiring it out so you want to make sure that you’re creating the right stuff. I get it, and this is one of the biggest struggles that I see clients go through (aside from generating ideas, of course).
Well, if you’re on the content planning struggle bus, this episode is for you! I’m literally walking you through the process of how to take all your content ideas and put them into a 90-day plan so you can get the visibility you want and need for your business.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode 7: How to Develop Your Content Ideas
- Content to Ka-Ching Group Program
Don’t believe those so-called gurus who tell you that you don’t need content to sell your products or services. Yes, you need content. No, you don’t need to publish content daily on every single platform.
What you need though is carefully curated content ideas that help you move further into your business’s mission.
On this episode of the podcast, I’m sharing the questions you need to ask yourself as you’re deciding what kind of content you need--and where you need it--to accomplish your goals. Plus, I’m giving you a template to help you do the market research you need so you know exactly what your audience is looking for.
Visit my website for a downloadable survey template to help you out!
Are you an expert in what you do? Are you willing to shout that from the rooftops? If you’re not totally sure, this episode is for you.
It’s time to get over the mindset that you’re not good enough and start showing up as an expert. Because you are. And when you shy away from speaking out about your expertise, you’re not showing up in the way you need to if you want to grow your business.
On this episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m sharing why you need to start thinking of yourself as an expert and giving you seven actionable steps to getting there. Listen now!
Mentioned on This Episode
- What Works Podcast - Raising Your Prices with Confidence
When you’re done listening, head over to my Instagram DMs and let me know what you’re doing to show up as an expert. I want to know!
Do you struggle with how to talk about what you do, both with friends and family and when you’re networking? You’re not alone! I’ve struggled with this too, and I know countless other business owners who never know what to say when someone asks what they do.
Thankfully, it doesn’t need to be a struggle--when you’ve planned in advance. On today’s episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m sharing some quick tips on how to talk to people who may (or may not) be ideal clients or referral sources. Listen in to the five steps that will make your next networking event or family get-together just a little bit easier for you. And be sure to watch my recent Facebook Live about this exact topic too!
We all have core values and beliefs as business owners, and likely many of them are similar across different businesses and industries. Today on the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m sharing some of my own values and my core beliefs about content.
This episode rounds out my first four introductory episodes in this new podcast. I guarantee you’ll have some great takeaways about how to think about your own content so you can start to create (and publish!) more confidently!
Do you have a jerk in the back of your mind, telling you things that are holding you back--in life and in business? I do, too, and she can be pretty noisy sometimes.
On this episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I’m talking about what those negative thoughts are doing to our success and what you need to remember instead.We’re focusing on how it’s impacting our business growth, our relationships, our mindset and the content we’re putting out there to market our businesses.
Everyone has their own story...their own way of doing things in life and in business. For me, my personal life dictated not only how I started my business but the reason for my business’s existence in the first place.
Find out what I learned in my first six years of business--and take comfort that you are not alone.
Welcome to Stories in Small Business, a podcast experience that puts to rest the idea that we all need to do business the same way and celebrates the unique stories and paths that we’re all on.
Hi, I’m Abby Herman and in the six years since I quit my day job, I’ve learned a thing or two about growing an online business. But it hasn’t been without some false starts and frustrations.
You see, my journey has been a unique one, with intentional slow growth and doing things my own way. But the gurus out there will have you believe that the only way to grow is by following their lead.
If you’ve been able to grow a business that way, more power to you! Here on Stories in Small Business, we’re going to celebrate the very different stories each of us has.
Through solo episodes and guest interviews, we’re going to dive into how to use story--your story--to grow your business, overcome your own mindset challenges, foster business relationships and use content to gain more visibility online.
This podcast is here because there was a gap in what was out there and I wanted a place to truly honor the growing business owner who wants to do it her (or his) own way.
Are you ready to discover YOUR story and how you can grow your business in your own way? Lace up those sneakers...buckle up your seatbelt...do what you do when you dive into a good podcast. Let’s do this thing together!