It doesn’t matter how direct and to the point a client’s request sounds, or how qualified you are to deliver on it; if you jump straight to the sales pitch, you’ll lose everytime. At the end of the day, no matter how objective we like to think we are, we’re first and foremost influenced by our emotions, so that’s where we need to start with our marketing.

Did you know there’s 5000 results to a search for “laundry detergent” on Amazon? How in the world are there that many viable products for the simple act of washing clothes?!  The reason is because they’re all a viable product for the corner of the market they’re seeking to serve. 

How can I work with you? What does that look like? Can I afford it? Great questions! So let’s get into it. My most popular service by far is my Strategy Session. If you don’t know where to start but know you need some support in your business, this would be my recommendation.

Let’s dive in to two of the most frequently asked questions I receive in my direct messages. Question 1: Do pain points always need to be negative or ‘“painful”?” Question 2: Do pain points need to apply to everything I post online?

Just because there is a need for a product or service doesn’t mean it’s a great idea. Consider your answers to the following two questions: What do you consider to be your biggest challenges in business at the moment? Of these challenges, which would you be willing to pay to have solved (as opposed to challenges you can tackle yourself)? This is about NEED versus DEMAND.

In the pursuit of social media engagement and follower growth it can be tempting to “play to the crowd” and do what you *think* will get people’s attention, even if it feels a stretch from who you really are in person. I have one word of advice: Don’t Do It. (Okay, three words.) Never change who you are to attract your audience. 

It can be tempting when you’re getting started to google “cheap logo design” and settle for the best quote you can find. But a brand is so much more than a logo. It’s your business’ identity and helps inform how your target audience perceives you and connects with you. If you’re trying to brand or rebrand on a tight budget, try the following 5 steps to do your branding homework.

This year, for the first time, I forgot how old I was. I’m 35 today, but if you asked me one week ago I would have put money on turning 34. (Definitely lost that bet with my husband.) In my 20s, 35 seemed like such a significant age, and dare I say it… “old”. But now I’m here, it doesn’t feel “scary”, or “significant” or “old”… it just feels damn good! In no logical order whatsoever, here’s 35 lessons I’ve learned in life thus far. 

You’ve no doubt heard how important “market research” is. But how do you go about gathering that data when you can’t afford to pay for it? Marketing “gurus” will tell you you’re doomed for failure without a gazillion-page market analysis. But in the real world, us small business owners don’t have an extra few thousand dollars laying around, so let’s talk about some low-cost ways you can gather similar, useful information.

How often do you ask a new client how they found out about you? It’s really helpful information to gather when it comes to determining which of your marketing strategies are paying off. I want to tell you a quick story about my recent experience asking this question… it involved cake!