As an entrepreneur, who DOESN'T want to get better clients with bigger budgets? Well in this week's podcast episode, Ilise Benun tells us exactly how she helps her clients do just that. We discuss: How to bring your creativity to the business side of your bizHow being in a different stage of the buyer's journey means adjusting the wording on your platforms to cater to those needsThe importance of being clear and creative in who you're serving3 tools in the simplest marketing planWhat you DON'T have to do in order to market yourself and your business More About Ilise Benun: Ilise Benun is a business coach for creative professionals with a focus on mindset, money and marketing. She is also a national speaker, author of 7 books and multiple online courses, including the Simplest Marketing Plan & founder of Marketing-Mentor.com, the go-to online resource for creative professionals who want better projects with bigger budgets. Connect with Ilise:Marketing MentorSign up for Quick TipsSupport the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
Jessica Abel's background as an author led her to assume that mass marketing and a large audience was the ONLY way to succeed as a business owner; Thankfully, she finally figured out that her business models needed to first pay her bills, and THEN she could make decisions about audience and marketing style.In this week's episode, Jessica (she/her) and I discuss:How to think about choosing a business model, and why/when you may choose one over anotherChoosing a business model that allows you to make more money in less timeWorking with fewer clients for more money versus working with more clients for less moneyFiguring out how social media fits into your marketing - what do you need it to do for you?Connect with Jessica:Learn more on Jessica's websiteThe Autonomous Creative podcastA little bit about Jessica:Jessica Abel (she/her) is a graphic novelist, author, creative business coach, and the founder of Autonomous Creative, a coaching company that helps mid-career creative professionals build businesses that can pay their bills AND honor their creativity. Abel founded the company in response to the ever-greater struggle creatives face in making a living. Pushing back on the “starving artist” mythology, Abel focuses on business fundamentals, stripped of jargon and adapted to the unique needs of creative professionals, and puts the tools of making real money in less time—without creative compromise—into the hands of the artists, writers, and entrepreneurs who need them. Support the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
By now we know that what works for one, may not work for another. And in this week's episode, I'm talking with Jessica Lackey all about business models, and how sometimes what makes sense for other people may not make sense for you and your business. Maybe the traffic-based business models that we're sold can actually be less profitable than a lower, slower pace of business. Jessica Lackey is a strategy and operations advisor who is on a mission to radically disrupt mainstream business culture in an effort to create sustainable businesses with a human-centric approach. With a background in corporate leadership, McKinsey & Company consulting, and a Harvard Business degree, Jessica knows a thing or two about hustle culture and what it feels like to judge success by the bottom line…at all costs. Now, she combines her deep experience in consulting, Fortune 500 operations leadership, and coaching to help businesses grow without sacrificing the well-being of their clients, team, and community.Here's what you can expect from this episode:The importance of community and relationship marketingThe "cult-ish" side of social media (in regards to online business)Why you DON'T need to build your business like everyone elseBusiness models and the math behind scale Connect with Jessica:Sign up for her newsletter and/or take the quiz "What’s Your Stage of Business?"Learn more about JessicaSupport the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
Marissa Lawton is an 8-year online entrepreneur and conduit for ancient women’s wisdom who guides feminine seekers to reclaim their divine power and channel it into their businesses. As a former licensed therapist who left the medical model of mental health care, Marissa had a behind-the-scenes look into how patriarchal systems and structures continue to diminish women’s ability to co-create the lives and businesses that serve their innate needs. And her Work in the world is to change that.By helping women reconnect to nature’s rhythms, Marissa aims to reintroduce long-denied mysteries and reestablish deep feminine roots in the entrepreneurial space.In this week's episode, Marissa and I are talking about how you can bring more feminine energy into your business. We discuss:Living from a rooted placeIntuitive decision-making for your businessListening to your intuition versus having an analytical mindset when it comes to business decision-making; Can you do both?What does masculine and feminine energy look like in a business?Traditional marketing with a mystical, sacred flare and how you can bring mysticality into your businessRedefining your measure of successSome examples of how you can bring more feminine energy into your businessConnect with Marissa:RootedFeminine.comRooted Feminine PodcastFollow Rooted Feminine on InstagramMarissa Lawton - Side Hustles for PsychotherapistsTake the quiz: "What season of “re-rooting” are you in?"Support the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
In this week's podcast episode, I'm thrilled to be speaking with Diann Wingert, a fellow female solopreneur with ADHD.Diann Wingert became a business strategist, coach, and mentor after a 20-year career as a psychotherapist. Her mission is to help ambitious outliers with big ideas and busy brains get focused, fired up, and flame retardant. Diann is the creator of The Boss Up Breakthrough, host of The Driven Woman Entrepreneur Podcast, and an expert on creative female entrepreneurs with ADHD traits. In this episode, we talk about:Therapy vs. coaching: What's the difference, and which one should you seek out?Why the shift from a social media-based marketing strategy to an SEO-based marketing strategy may be the exact thing you need and why many female solopreneurs are afraid to make this switchRejection sensitivity, confidence, and fear of failureSocial media and mental healthHow ADHD and giftedness in women can be both challenges and advantages in self-employmentConnect with Diann:Learn more about Diann WingertConnect with Diann on LinkedInListen to The Driven Woman Entrepreneur PodcastSupport the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
This is the second part of my 2-part conversation with Briar Harvey about all things social media, online marketing, neurodiversity, mental illness, and accessibility. If you haven't already listened to Part 1, you can listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1887252/13429205We also talk about our ability to focus, the importance of our choice of words, and how the average attention span has decreased significantly over the past decade. About Briar Harvey:Briar Harvey is a storyteller and systems witch. She believes that everything has a story and exists within a system. The trick then, is figuring out how to change the rules and tell a better story. She is an IDEA Consultant (that's Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) with a focus on Neurodivergence (that's ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, etc). She helps companies create and implement accessibility plans that increase employee retention by at least 50%.In her free time, she writes stuff and records podcasts. She’s the founder of The Neurodiversity Media Network, a collaborative and accessible media company that is hosting and curating all the news that is relevant to neurodivergent folks. Find her at briarharvey.com and neurodiversitymedianetwork.comSupport the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
Buckle up for Part 1 of a 2-part episode with Briar Harvey about all things social media, online marketing, neurodiversity, mental illness, and accessibility.We talk about the fear of missing out on social media, what it's like to run an online business AND consume content as someone who is neurodivergent, and more.Listen to Part 2 here.About Briar Harvey:Briar Harvey is a storyteller and systems witch. She believes that everything has a story and exists within a system. The trick then, is figuring out how to change the rules and tell a better story. She is an IDEA Consultant (that's Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) with a focus on Neurodivergence (that's ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, etc). She helps companies create and implement accessibility plans that increase employee retention by at least 50%.In her free time, she writes stuff and records podcasts. She’s the founder of The Neurodiversity Media Network, a collaborative and accessible media company that is hosting and curating all the news that is relevant to neurodivergent folks. Find her at briarharvey.com and neurodiversitymedianetwork.comSupport the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
This episode is all about planning your marketing strategy as an entrepreneur.Michelle Mazur talks about the importance of figuring out your messaging before your marketing. We talk about:The importance of collaboration for your marketing strategyHow you can do less, but BETTER and more efficiently - so you can do more of the things you loveIt's not just about the strategy - it's also about the metrics!The Expert Up ClubConnect with Michelle:The Expert Up ClubLearn more about Dr Michelle Mazur and her business, Communication RebelMore about Michelle Mazur: Michelle Mazur works with brilliant business owners who are shaking things up...but having trouble talking about it. She combines the tools of successful social movements with the qualitative research skills she earned in her communications PhD to help them craft their powerful, captivating message. The author of 3 books (including the newly-updated 3 Word Rebellion) and featured in Fast Company, Entrepreneur and Inc., she knows that speaking about what you do in a clear and captivating way is the key to reaching the people you could help the most. Support the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
In this week's episode, Jen Liddy talks about how her Facebook account got hacked and caused her to completely rethink her marketing strategy for her business.We also discuss:When TikTok and other social media platforms can work for you, versus when it can be much harder to make it work for youThe pros and cons of scaling your businessThe value and cost of laborWhere your freedom comes from as an entrepreneurThe importance of relationships as you grow your businessReexamining the relationship you have with your business: what do you want and why do you want it?Connect with Jen:Learn more about Jen LiddyContent Creation Made Easy Podcast with Jen LiddyClick here to read the blog postSupport the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
Last week I launched my new book, Social Slowdown: Market Your Business Without Sacrificing Your Mental Health.So for this week's podcast episode, I figured I'd give you a sneak peek into the book with an audiobook version of the introduction.If you want to read the whole book, you can get it for just $3.99 for the Kindle, or for $9.99 for a paperback copy - OR you can get a signed paperback for $20.About this book:In a digital world dominated by social media, Meg Casebolt made a bold decision that would challenge the status quo. Seeking respite from the incessant noise and distractions, she embarked on a 100-day social media break, uncertain of the consequences it might have on her business.To her surprise, Meg discovered that her hiatus had no detrimental impact on her thriving SEO marketing agency. Curiosity piqued, she delved deeper into the experiences of fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners who shared their secret desires to break free from the clutches of social media's grip.Driven by a desire to understand the dangers lurking beneath the surface, Meg embarked on a profound exploration of the hidden perils of social media. With meticulous research and personal anecdotes, she unraveled the insidious links between addiction, depression, anxiety, and patriarchal oppression that often go unnoticed in the digital landscape.Meg, in her wisdom, realized that boundaries were the key to reclaiming control and finding balance in the digital realm. Drawing from her own transformative journey, she shares five invaluable strategies to establish healthier relationships with social media—ways to protect your mental well-being, safeguard personal privacy, and nurture genuine connections in an era of superficiality.But Meg doesn't stop there. She extends a lifeline to those yearning for liberation from the clutches of social media's alluring yet detrimental embrace. With passion and expertise, she unveils a comprehensive array of 20 marketing alternatives—innovative, impactful strategies that can catapult businesses to success while enabling them to ditch social media for good.Join Meg on an eye-opening odyssey as she dismantles the myths and illuminates the shadows surrounding social media. Through her empowering words, she invites entrepreneurs and small business owners to embrace a new paradigm, one that champions mindful engagement, authentic connections, and unparalleled growth beyond the constraints of the digital universe.This book is an invitation to reimagine the future—a future where you can thrive without surrendering your sanity to the endless scroll. Are you ready to embark on this transformative journey and discover the untapped potential that lies beyond the confines of social media?Support the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
Ohhhh gosh y'all...You're probably wondering why I'm releasing a podcast episode today instead of Tuesday, and if you pre-ordered the Social Slowdown book, then you already know that we ran into some ~technical~ issues.Well, I'm here to be fully transparent about what went awry. If you're listening to this episode on July 27th, 2023, - then today is the day that my book's pre-orders were SUPPOSED to go live. But as we all know too well, being a business owner comes with its own obstacles.In this episode, I talk about the pre-publishing errors I encountered with the Social Slowdown book, what I learned from this experience, and the reality of making mistakes as a business owner. Get a signed paperback copy for $20Download the Kindle version for $3.99Support the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
I hired Lacy Boggs to help me write the first draft of the Social Slowdown book, and today she's here with me to talk all about the writing process.We also talk about:Book launch strategyHow it felt to work with a ghost writerThe difference between a ghost writer and a co-authorThe book publication processThought leadership Lacy Boggs is a content strategist, author of the bestselling Kindle ebook, Make a Killing With Content, and the mastermind behind the podcast, "Ace Stone, Marketing Detective.” As director of The Content Direction Agency, she helps small business owners create and implement content marketing strategy that feels like a playground for ideas and results in deceptively powerful nurture content to create massive growth. The Social Slowdown book is available for pre-order for only $3.99 on Amazon!Learn more about Lacy BoggsSupport the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
Did you hear?! The Social Slowdown book is coming out on July 27th, 2023! If you didn't already know, I wrote a book, taking all of the best bits and pieces from this podcast and putting them together into an easily digestible format.In this episode, I explain WHY I wrote this book and what you can expect from it.You can pre-order the e-book for $3.99 or the paperback for $8.99 on Amazon.For the full show notes, transcript, and more info, visit https://www.socialslowdown.com/social-slowdown-book-coming-soon/Support the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
How do you build an accessible and inclusive social media and website? Alexa Heinrich is here with us to give us insight into the world of online accessibility.What you can expect from this episode:Website design and accessibilityBest practices for accessibility on different platformsMyths about website and social media accessibilityTips on how to use emojis to be accessible in your commentsHow diverse disability actually isMore of Alexa's thoughts on creating inclusive contentFor the full show notes, visit socialslowdown.comAccessible SocialThe Accessible Social ChecklistEmojipediaSupport the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
Dusti Arab figured out what she was the best at and what was working for her business, and was able to pivot completely from agency work to fractional CMO work.In this episode, Dusti gives us the scoop on how she niched down to offer more specific services, and how pulling back and getting really specific helped her workload and her mental health. She explains HOW her business model has changed within the past year, and how she's been able to avoid burnout.If you're experiencing burnout or you're in a rut, trying to figure out where to go next with your business, give this episode a listen.*Dusti runs a marketing consultancy, helping women who have small businesses to transform their marketing to be more strengths-based and sustainable versus tactics based.*Relevant Links:The Reinvention CoConnect with Dusti on InstagramConnect with Dusti on TwitterConnect with Dusti on FacebookSupport the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
Self-doubt, burnout, rejection sensitive dysphoria. Maybe you've experienced one of these as an entrepreneur, maybe you've experienced them all. In this episode, I talk with Jamie Jensen about managing a healthy relationship with social media, looking after your mental health, and unlearning what marketing has told us we need to do as entrepreneurs.About Jamie Jensen: Jamie Jensen is an award-winning writer, brand storyteller, and intuitive business coach who's helped her clients up to 9x their sales simply by refining the stories they tell with their branding and marketing. Relevant Links:Follow Jamie on InstagramFollow Scribe & Spirit on InstagramLearn more about Jamie JensenScribe & SpiritFor the full show notes/episode page, visit https://www.socialslowdown.com/questioning-your-relationship-with-social-media-with-jamie-jensen/Support the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
Relationships are fundamental to building a lasting business. And today I'm here to talk with Michelle Warner about her relationship approach to marketing - versus a traffic approach.In this episode, we talk about traffic funnels vs. relationship funnels, scaled relationship marketing, and how to get over the fear of cold outreach/how to ask something of someone who is a weak tie.We discuss how you CAN be more profitable as a 1:1 business versus a big business doing mass marketing.Relevant Resources:Get Michelle's free training: 5 Minutes A Day To A Network That PaysThe 5 Stages of Business GrowthConnect with Michelle on InstagramAbout Michelle Warner:Michelle Warner designs tiny companies that are built to last.With an MBA from one of the world’s top business schools and 15+ years growing small businesses, Michelle knows what it takes to build a business - and she knows that authentic relationships are at the heart of it. It's why she created Networking That Pays and why she's thrilled to see over 200 entrepreneurs implementing the system in just the first few months its been publicly available.The Networking That Pays system was first created by Michelle over 10 years ago when she started her first business. It's what she used to grow that business to 7+ figures while also landing herself a spot on an official White House Task Force - despite starting the business with exactly zero relevant connections. Support the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
I'm sure you can think of a time when something was happening in our social/cultural climate and you wanted to address it in your brand's messaging, but you held back because you didn't want to say the wrong thing or upset anyone. Well, today I'm here with Peta O'Brien to talk about how you can bring politics and the cultural context into your brand messaging, without pissing people off!We also talk about:How we can have better conversations on social mediaRainbow WashingMaking the decision of when to bring politics into your messagingHow to choose the platform where you want to delve into these topicsPeta is a copywriter and messaging strategist who taps into empathy and her previous career as a youth worker to help her clients connect with their audience. She works with health and wellness startups and coaches who want to weave values through their messaging. She's a politics geek with 2 children who loves escaping into a cheesy action film, or experimenting with her pile of cookbooks.** **And she's launched a membership, The Soap Box - a supportive community for business owners with a social conscience, designed to help you share your political and social values in your business messaging. Without pissing off all your potential clients!**Relevant Links/Resources:Learn more about PetaJoin The Soap Box Americast PodcastArticle about the fake Twitter profiles that Peta mentioned WSJ experiment about TikTokThe Rest Is Politics PodcastSupport the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
Megan Flatt's book, Focused: Reclaim Your Time, Ditch Overwhelm, and Do Less Better, comes out today, and she's here to give us the inside scoop on it!If you've listened to any of our podcast episodes with Megan Flatt, you know that one of her main goals in her work is to help entrepreneurs do less, BETTER.Megan (she/her) is on a mission to make entrepreneurship easier. She’s the founder of Focus Sessions and the author of Focused: Reclaim your time, ditch overwhelm and do less, better. Outside of work,she is obsessed with lattes, Post-it notes and romance novels. Catch up with her at focus-sessions.com or letscollective.co or @focussessionsIn this week's podcast episode, we talk about how you can be more intentional about the way you use your time and the things you're putting on your calendar. Her book is all about not needing more time, but needing more FOCUS. Megan goes through various topics you'll be able to read about in her book, and she also delves into her book-writing process.Give this episode a listen if you're struggling with productivity and want to learn how to be more impactful with your work.Relevant Links/Resources:Learn more about Focus SessionsGet her book, Focused: Reclaim Your Time, Ditch Overwhelm, and Do Less Better Let's CollectiveSupport the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
Tamika Auwai is THE expert when it comes to nurture marketing - and she's here today to talk to us all about how you can up your lead nurture game without creating content 24/7.In this episode, we also discuss:Why lead nurturing is more important than lead generationEmail vs. social for lead gen/nurtureNurture sequencesSmart messagingRelevant Links:Orisha CreativeGet your free Nurture Opportunity ScorecardConnect with Tamika on InstagramTamika is the CEO of Orisha Creative, an inventive nurture marketing agency that serves leaders in the online coaching industry. She is also the creator of The Nurture Matrix™, a unique evergreen nurture marketing framework that’s revolutionizing the way Master Coaches approach social media and email marketing, generating millions in premium coaching program sales along the way.For the full show notes and transcript, visit https://www.socialslowdown.com/nurture-marketing-with-tamika-auwai/Support the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com