More Than A Few Words

My husband is an amazing cook. He reads recipes, comes up with his own variations, blending and layering ingredients in new and delicious ways. Even though he is amazing in our kitchen, he could not own a restaurant. Why? He knows how to time a meal with three dishes for eight people, but expanding that to thirty dishes, for one hundred people requires skills he does not have. What does it take to be a social media chef? The same challenge exists when it comes to professional social media. Lots of people are good on social media. They are funny and engaging. They have a large following and interact regularly. But just because they are great at managing their own accounts does not mean they have the skills to be a successful social media chef. Precise Recipes It is easy to improvise when you are cooking for a few people. A pinch of this, a dash of that. If you don’t have enough potatoes you can substitute with carrots. When you are cooking for a larger group and they expect a potato, that is what you have to s

In this episode, I am joined by LinkedIn strategist and CEO of Uplevel Media, Karen Yankovich. A seasoned expert with over 30 years of experience, Karen talks about how LinkedIn can be instrumental in empowering women entrepreneurs and guiding individuals towards becoming industry thought leaders. The conversation begins with Karen elaborating on her approach to marketing based on relationship selling, a concept deeply ingrained in her due to her rich background in sales. By focusing on forming connections and creating mutually beneficial solutions, she explains how businesses can significantly benefit. Highlighting the platform’s positioning as a hub for all things business, she shares her views on why LinkedIn holds significant potential for wealth creation, personal branding and facilitating high-level business deals. She insists on investing even just 15 minutes a day building strategic relationships on LinkedIn can pave way for big contracts. Karen notes that to use LinkedIn effectively, it is crucial to

Join this insights-packed episode as we welcome Janet Falk, a seasoned communication professional, and the chief strategist at Falk Communications and Research. She brings over 30 years of experience and discusses her innovative approach to understanding the buyer's journey, diverging from the traditional perspectives. Janet challenges the common belief that the buyer's journey is a passive process. She proposes an alternative idea she dubs "the confirmation process". Through this lens, the buyer undertakes a more active role, seeking to validate the identity, skills, and credibility of the professional or vendor they consider. The episode delves deep into this confirmation process and its three critical steps: Confirming the identity of the vendor, the adequacy of their skills and experience, and social proof from others. Janet further explores how professionals can facilitate these steps, increasing their chances of positively influencing the buyer's journey. Moreover, this episode emphasizes the crucial ro

I had a great conversation with Samantha Bradshaw, a seasoned small business and intellectual property lawyer, about the process of naming a business.  Yes, you want a cool name, but you also want one you can own and protect. Proactive Legal Prevention: Samantha emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to keep creative service providers out of legal entanglements. She highlights how businesses often encounter challenges when they receive "angry lawyer letters" or court documents, underscoring the necessity of building strategies to prevent such issues from arising in the first place. Balancing Uniqueness and Descriptiveness: Samantha discusses the delicate balance between creating a business name that is both unique and descriptive. While marketing professionals may advocate for SEO-friendly names that directly describe the services offered, Samantha explains the limitations of trademark protection for such generic terms. Instead, she encourages business owners to explore names that strike a balance be

Zach Montroy dropped by for a discussion about imposter syndrome, particularly among founders and business leaders leaders.  It is a common experience in the entrepreneurial journey and Zach emphasizes the role of self-compassion in combating imposter syndrome, suggesting that individuals should treat themselves with the same kindness and understanding they would offer to others. He offers practical strategies discussed include prioritizing tasks, practicing mindfulness, and developing emotional literacy to better understand and navigate one's own emotions. The discussion delves into the origins of imposter syndrome, often stemming from the transition into roles of leadership or entrepreneurship without formal training in those areas. Zach suggests that the weight of responsibility and the fear of failure can trigger imposter feelings, leading individuals to doubt their abilities and competence. Practical strategies are also discussed, including the importance of prioritizing tasks and focusing on one's uniqu

These days we're living in a zero click world.  What that means is all of the social media platforms and even Google are trying to get you to stay on the platform.  They're encouraging you to find the answers you need with them and they're discouraging people from clicking through to your website. Unless of course you're going to pay for an ad.  So when you're not advertising. What do you do? How do you play in this zero click world. There's several things to keep in mind as you map your strategy in this zero click environment. The first is you need to adjust your expectations. In some ways, we are back to the early days of social media, where you evaluate your success based engagement and the interaction on the platform. You may not necessarily clicks through to your website.  And with shifting privacy rules you may not be able to measure that even if  you do. With these revised criteria you need to think about your content differently.  Each piece of content is a stand-alone unit that tells a story from beg

I had so much fun chatting with Amy Singleton, about building authority with authentic content.  Amy is the CEO and owner of Hite Digital Norman, an Inc. 5000 digital and branding agency. Amy's mission is to empower individuals to reconcile their personal and professional aspirations without compromise, and today, we're tapping into her expertise to explore how businesses can authentically engage with Google's algorithms to stand out in a world inundated with AI-generated content. Understanding Google's Desires As we kick off our conversation, Amy emphasizes the importance of understanding what Google truly wants. "Google wants things that are fast, relevant, and profitable," she explains. The search engine giant aims to provide users with quick, accurate answers to their queries, fostering repeat engagement and loyalty. Crafting Relevant Content So, how can businesses ensure their content resonates with Google's algorithms? Amy suggests several strategies, starting with optimizing Google business profiles an

Laura Templeton dropped by for a conversation about using AI to build your brand. , an author and international speaker, discusses using AI to build your brand with Lorraine Ball. At first, the idea might sound a bit out there, but Laura dives into how AI, specifically ChatGPT, can be customized to reflect your brand's voice and values. Laura explains the concept of "custom instructions" in ChatGPT, where you can teach it about your brand, your audience, and your preferred tone. She likens it to teaching a child; it takes patience and guidance to get it right so the tone doesn't feel stiff or overly casual. With practice and clear feedback, ChatGPT can generate valuable content for various purposes, such as website copy, social media posts, blogs, and lead magnets. Laura stresses the importance of reviewing and editing the generated content to ensure it aligns with your brand's message and style. The conversation also touches on SEO concerns, with Laura reassuring that ChatGPT can be beneficial for SEO as it

These days everyone is telling you you need to be a storyteller.  You need to be a storyteller in sales and in marketing. There are some people who are just natural storytellers, with the ability to pull you in with their words and leave you sitting on the edge of the seat. Then there is everyone else.  So maybe you don’t feel like you’re a storyteller and this whole storytelling thing isn’t for you.  Instead when you meet someone you leap right into the facts. “I’ve been in business twenty years, I’ve done this, blah, blah, blah. Don’t do that.    Nobody wants to hear that You don’t have to be a great storyteller to talk about a customer you helped or what it is like to work with you. A great story, isn’t about the teller.  It is about what it is like to work with you, when everything is going right  for you and more importantly for your customers. So go ahead, tell me a story.

Can you still make money on Amazon?  That's the question I asked Lesley Hensell, co-founder of Riverbend Consulting, Amazon, once characterized as the Wild West of online selling, has undergone significant evolution. Success on this platform now necessitates a more strategic and disciplined approach. However, with proper guidance, achieving success is possible. So, you have a product ready to debut on Amazon. An organized is approach is required. Gone are the days of haphazardly listing products; today, approaching Amazon as a bona fide business entity with comprehensive records, invoices, and refined marketing strategies is mandatory.  Lesley had some great tips for marketing your products.  Start with a comprehensive product detail page which  serves as your digital shopfront on Amazon. Craft compelling copy and captivating visuals to attract the shopper. Lifestyle imagery featuring infants, pets, and even models can significantly enhance your product's appeal. But the journey doesn't conclude there! Video

This year I decided to follow my own advice and commit to one social media platform. Sure I still post content in lots of places, but I am spending time every day on only one platform - LinkedIn. And, I am not just showing up, posting an update, liking a few things and leaving. I did some research to find out what the LinkedIn algorithm likes and adjusted my approach accordingly. Comments matter. So I am spending time writing meaningful comments on multiple posts each day. I engage with people who engage with me as well as influential people I follow. Video works. I am incorporating lots of video clips. It means I have fewer people listening to the full episodes, but I am reaching more people with my content, so I will take that as a win. Strategic connection requests. Selectively sending connection requests to people who engage with the same content I am engaging with has helped me to build a more interesting and engaged community. Working Together to Expand Reach Let's face it, one of the most frustrating t

When you are ready to take the next step in your business you will need a marketing partner, but how do you find the right one?   That's what I talked to Behdad Jamshidi, founder of CJAM Marketing about.  In this lively conversation he shared insights into navigating the process of selecting the ideal marketing team. Behdad defines a marketing partner as an agency, freelancer, or contractor who helps businesses execute marketing strategies while allowing them to focus on core operations. He emphasizes the need for alignment between business goals and the capabilities of the marketing partner. One common mistake highlighted is the tendency for businesses to jump on trendy marketing tactics without a long-term strategy. Instead, He advises businesses to establish clear goals and seek partners with proven track records and solid foundations. When evaluating potential marketing partners, Behdad suggests asking key questions about the agency's history, core competencies, and client retention rates. He emphasizes t

Carolyn Patrick dropped by for a conversation about one of my absolute favorite topics—niche marketing. Carolyn’s a seasoned consultant and non-executive director hailing all the way from Australia, bringing a wealth of experience in customer brand and marketing across diverse industries like banking, wealth management, insurance, retail, and government.   To explain why she thinks it’s crucial for businesses to identify their niche Carolyn shared a personal story of working with specific niche markets like the police and emergency services, highlighting the power of understanding your audience to tailor messaging and develop products and services that truly resonate. She emphasizes the importance of connection and the ability to get into the heads of your customers for high retention rates.

I have been talking about marketing for a long time.  And then funny thing? Although it is a big topic, managing marketing boils down to three simple truths. The first is that marketing hasn’t really changed in 50 or 60 years. The basics of marketing are about what they were half a century ago. What has changed are the tools. And that’s the second truth, there are always new tools on the horizon, new ways of doing things. And the third truth is that the most effective marketing is marketing that is authentic and unique to your brand, your business and to you. And so if you want to be successful, remember those three truths. Get very familiar with marketing basics, Learn the fundamentals and the strategies that drive everything. Keep up with what’s new and what’s changing. And finally, to turn inward to discover your voice. Define what’s unique about you, and use that to guide your marketing.

I had a chance to chat with David Ask, an accomplished entrepreneur and product development expert, to discuss the essence of creating a heart-centered business. As the leader of a mastermind group, David believes in the uniqueness of each person's spirit and soul.  He encourages individuals to explore what lights them up and drives their energy. As the conversation unfolds, he reflects on his own journey, revealing his identity as a creative rather than a conventional entrepreneur. He stresses the importance of self-awareness and recommends reading impactful books and engaging with like-minded individuals to gain clarity on one's purpose.

These days your audience wants bite size content. They're not going to sit through twenty or thirty minutes of video or read long blog posts. It's frustrating because you've got this long content, but it doesn't have to be.  With the help of AI you can transform that long long post into a series of short social media posts.  You can take cut that ten, twenty or thirty minute video into little thirty second sound bites.  The little videos are just enough to hook the audience, get their attention and leave them wanting more.  If you've been following me, you probably have noticed there's a lot more video in my feed these days. You may wonder how someone like me who's all by herself has time to do it all. Well it's easy.  I'm using Opus Clip to get it done. It's a simple to use, affordable software product.  Click the link if you're curious to try it for yourself.  Go ahead create that long form content and let AI cut it down for you.

​In this conversation, Bear Newman, a seasoned digital marketer and author with over 15 years in the field joined me for a conversation about SEO. If you’re like many business owners, SEO might be a bit of a mystery, and that’s why I’ve brought Bear in to help us demystify it. We kick off by addressing common fears around SEO and highlighting the importance of taking action rather than striving for perfection right from the start. Bear dives into the conversation, shedding light on the misconceptions surrounding SEO. He urges a shift in mindset, emphasizing that getting started is more crucial than achieving perfection. We discuss practical tips for newcomers to the digital space, stressing the significance of regular content updates, understanding Google Analytics for effective tracking, and optimizing website design for better user engagement. Throughout our chat, he underscores the importance of metrics like bounce rate as key indicators of a website’s health and suggests tailoring websites to guide visito

Have you noticed that the internet is filled with people claiming to have made thousands of dollars online and they're willing to share their secrets to success with you all for the low low price of $199. The problem is the only people who get rich from that slick package solution are the people who create it. Why? because the system they create is right for them or it is generic and not right for you.  Instead what you need to do is invest money spending time with someone who can look at your business and your goals and help you build a strategy that you can execute. Success in 2024 If you're looking for a quick hit the internet is filled with get rich quick schemes.  If you're looking for a strategy for long term, sustainable growth, well that's going to take some time.  SCHEDULE A 1 HOUR WORKING SESSION TO BUILD YOUR STRATEGY. 

In this insightful interview, I had a chance to chat with Anne Carden, about making competitors irrelevant by building a business that stands out. She emphasizes the importance of identifying and leveraging a business’s unique selling proposition or “sweet spot.” Anne  explains every business, regardless of size, possesses a distinctive quality that can set it apart, emphasizing the need to position oneself around that expertise to become untouchable in the market. She provides practical examples of businesses she has worked with, such as a plumbing company and an auto repair shop, showcasing how they differentiated themselves by addressing specific pain points in their industries. She stresses the significance of backing up claims with social proof, such as testimonials and case studies, to build trust with potential clients.  The conversation encourages business owners to think strategically about their unique strengths and how they can use them to make competitors irrelevant in their respective markets.

You're spending a lot of resources to drive traffic. But are you converting traffic to prospects? If you're not getting people to fill out your conversion forms there are a few things you can do to improve the effectiveness of those pages 1. Don't oversell avoid bloated adjectives like awesome and amazing. Just stick to the facts. 2. While we're on the subject of facts, back up what you're saying with real proof. It gives you tremendous credibility 3. Use video to complement the images and text on the page. We are living in a video age 4. Add testimonials. Nothing gives you credibility like someone else saying just how great you are 5. Consider limited time offers create that sense of urgency Want to learn more?  Check out: RANDOM STRANGERS TO RAVING FANS