How I Built a Book Launch Landing Page with Kit (No Website Needed)
I recently wrote a book all about how to exit the matrix and build a life you love—not just tolerate. Naturally, I wanted to start generating some buzz around the launch and build a list of readers who wanted to be the first to know when it drops. But I wasn’t ready to create an entirely new website, and I didn’t love the idea of cluttering my existing one.
Enter: Kit.com—an easy-to-use platform (formerly ConvertKit) that lets you build sleek landing pages without touching a single line of code.
Whether you're prepping for a book launch like me, promoting a new offer, or simply trying to validate an idea, Kit makes it ridiculously simple to set up a beautiful, functional page that actually converts.
One of the best parts? Kit’s free plan includes unlimited landing pages, opt-in forms, and email broadcasts—plus you can build your list (and even sell digital products) with up to 10,000 subscribers, all for $0/month. No catch.
Here’s how to do it in just a few clicks:
🚀 Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up a Landing Page on Kit
1. Access the Landing Page Builder
Log in to your Kit account.
Navigate to Grow > Landing Pages & Forms.
Click on + Create new.
Select Landing Page as your option
2. Choose a Template
Browse through the available templates, which are categorized by use cases like newsletters, lead magnets, and events.
Preview templates to find one that aligns with your goals.
Once selected, note that templates cannot be changed later, so choose carefully.
3. Customize Your Content
Click on text elements to edit headlines, descriptions, and button labels.
Use the + icon to add elements like images, videos, or files.
Customize form fields to collect information such as names or preferences.
Utilize the right-hand sidebar to adjust fonts, colors, and spacing.
4. Configure Form Fields and Tags
Add custom fields to gather specific information from subscribers.
Use tags to segment your audience based on their responses or interests.
5. Set Up Post-Subscription Actions
Decide what happens after someone subscribes:
Display a success message.
Redirect to a thank-you page.
Redirect to an external URL.
Customize the incentive email that confirms the subscription and delivers any promised content.
6. Customize Your Domain and URL
Assign a custom domain to your landing page for branding purposes. My domain in this case was exitingthematrix.info
If you haven't added a custom domain, your landing page will use Kit's default domain.
7. Preview and Publish
Use the Preview function to see how your landing page looks on different devices.
Once satisfied, click Publish to make your landing page live
🎨 Tips for an Effective Landing Page
Clear Headline: Ensure your headline communicates the value proposition succinctly.
Compelling Copy: Write persuasive content that addresses your audience's needs.
Strong Call-to-Action (CTA): Use action-oriented language for your CTA buttons.
Visual Appeal: Incorporate high-quality images or videos to engage visitors.
Mobile Optimization: Ensure your landing page is responsive and looks good on all devices.
📊 Monitor Performance
Access the Reports section to track metrics like:
Number of visitors.
Number of subscribers.
Conversion rate.
Use these insights to optimize your landing page for better performance.
If you’re a purpose-driven creative looking for a low-stress way to promote your next offer or book launch—without shelling out money for a custom site or paying for a newsletter platform before you've even built an audience—Kit is a no-brainer. It lets you start collecting emails and building momentum right away, without the overwhelm. And when you're ready to grow? You can always upgrade to the Creator Plan to unlock more advanced automations and turn those subscribers into superfans.
Thinking of giving Kit a try? If you sign up using my affiliate link, I’ll receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). It’s a great way to support my work while you set yourself up for success.
She Found Me Through ChatGPT: Proof That Nicheing Down (Still) Works
Yesterday I had a discovery call with a potential client and she opened with:
“I found you through ChatGPT.”
What?! Really? Tell me more...
She was looking for a Squarespace professional who specializes in working with healers and conscious business owners. And guess what? That’s exactly my niche.
I am SO glad I took the time a few years ago to update my SEO and start creating content for the people I actually want to work with. That little digital breadcrumb trail? It led her straight to me.
Moral of the story: THIS STUFF WORKS.
Organic traffic is still a thing.
SEO is still a thing.
Blogging is still a thing.
Content marketing isn’t just a buzzword, it’s still very much a thing.
Even if it feels like you’re posting into the void, even if your analytics are meh and your traffic is a ghost town—keep going.
Because here’s the truth: when you niche down, you help the people who need you most actually find you.
Not just random followers. Aligned, ready-to-pay, dream-clients.
Now, let me be clear: nicheing down does not mean flattening yourself to fit some overly specific internet box. You are allowed to be complex. You are allowed to evolve. As Walt Whitman said:
“Very well then I contradict myself,
I am large, I contain multitudes.”
Same, Walt. Same.
Nicheing isn’t about contradiction—it’s about clarity. It’s a hack to deliver the most impact and (bonus!) sustain yourself in the process. Especially in the digital age, platforms like Google, YouTube, and ChatGPT are literally trying to help people find you—but only if they know what to look for.
So no, you don’t have to abandon your multitudes. But yes—claim a niche.
Serve that niche with consistent content and aligned offerings.
Build it… and they will come. ChatGPT will make sure of it.
Not sure what your niche should be?
Book a Clarity Session with me. We’ll uncover your unique magic (aka your secret sauce) and map out how to start monetizing it—so you can build a life that actually lights you up.
SOLVED | Google Merchant Center Error, Your Business Has No Local Stores
For WEEKS I have been trying to figure out how to solve an error within Google Merchant Center. Today, though, I received the solution.
The Problem
An e-commerce client of mine kept receiving this error in her Google Merchant Center account. Though she sells her products in some brick-and-mortar stores, she doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar of her own.
I tried contacting Shopify customer support (where her site is hosted) as well as scouring Google forums for answers. I even contacted my trusted Reddit community for clarity. I kept getting breadcrumbs, but no clear answers.
Finally, FINALLY, I was able to chat with Google support and they helped me clear this up. Here’s the form that I used to contact Google —> https://support.google.com/merchants/gethelp?sjid=10089039594190554615-NC
The Solution
I am sharing the solution below to save another helpless soul some precious time. 👇👇👇
If this helped you, let me know in the comments. If you have another issue, I can try to offer guidance but honestly, I have found that Google dashboards are not usualy intuitive and therefore extremely frustrating to troubleshoot. If nothing else, I will definitely comiserate with you :)
3 Limitations and 3 Benefits of Using ChatGPT
I recently shared a post where I talked about my three favorite AI tools that are helping me elevate my output and magnify my impact. My most used of these tools is ChatGPT. For those writers who might have hesitations about AI, I’m hoping this post eliminates some of the apprehension you have and encourages you to try it out because, at least not as of yet, ChatGPT is not a job stealer, a secret spy, or a grand threat - it’s a polite tool that can help you overcome writer’s block, get inspiration, formulate strategy, craft SEO friendly blog posts, and write comprehensive conclusions (I HATE writing conclusions.)
In this post, I want to share some of the platform's limitations as well as its benefits. Instead of hiding your head under a pillow and hoping it will all go away, I recommend jumping in and trying out the platform for yourself because while AI may not be taking anyone’s job soon, it will soon take the jobs of those who don’t learn how to use AI to maximize their output.
3 Limitations of Using ChatGPT
#1 It’s not funny…yet.
If you want your copy to be informative, you’ll be ok with an AI content writer, but if you want it to be sharp-witted and knock your socks off funny, it just isn’t there. You’d be better off hiring a self-deprecating millennial or a harshly honest Gen Z to deliver relatable quips.
#2 It’s not always factual.
I’ve found that AI sometimes lies, especially when quoting famous people or identifying book excerpts. I’m sure it also gets other statistics wrong. Again, you can use AI to help you set a structure for your writing and overcome writer’s block but don’t trust it to deliver accurate info, especially if you are a health professional. You’ll still need a savvy human researcher or professional to fact-check and edit.
#3 It’s easy.
This is a plus side because it can save you a lot of time, but I’ve found that when I am not in the mood to write something I am very capable of, I will sometimes use ChatGPT to help me. In other words, it’s easy to rely too much and become dependent on it. Again, this doesn’t have to be a bad thing, but once you start using AI to help you write content, you will begin to recognize others who use it, too, because it will sound very formulaic. Creativity is not its strong suit yet, so make sure you or someone on your team adds some flair, humanness, and relatability.
3 Benefits of Using ChatGPT
#1 It’s free (for now).
There are premium services and upgrades, but ChatGPT currently offers a basic plan that is free to use. They have recently implemented a limit on how many searches you can make per day, but I rarely ever reach the limit. And if I do, it’s usually because I am procrastinating on something important and just seeing how far I can go down the rabbit hole. That means if you master AI, you can save a TON of money on content marketing services.
#2 Time freedom.
Entrepreneurs often have the highest of aspirations. They expect not only to understand and master every aspect of their business but also to be high-income earners overnight, loving and adoring partners, friends, parents, and citizens, and physically and mentally in tip-top shape. It’s an unattainable goal, especially if you are starting, which means you will likely be lacking in a few areas of your life. Though creating content is my wheelhouse, implementing AI has freed up so much of my time that I can brainstorm for future business endeavors or spend time with people I love doing things that light me up. It’s funny when people complain that AI is making art, which wasn’t the future they hoped for, but I’ve had a different experience. Implementing AI has allowed me to spend more time crafting my art - I am currently illustrating an oracle deck I wrote a few years ago with the help of AI because I couldn’t find a human illustrator that was interested in helping me navigate the project, or they just straight up never emailed me back. AI, on the other hand, is always eager to help.
#3 More value added to the world.
If you are reading this, you are probably already a conscious business owner, nonprofit organizer, healer, or aspiring to be. You have likely dedicated your life to helping others but are struggling to make ends meet or stay on top of your business.
In conclusion (yes, I used ChatGPT to help me write this conclusion, LOL), while AI tools like ChatGPT may have their limitations, such as lacking humor, occasionally providing inaccurate information, and the potential for overreliance, they offer significant benefits that can elevate your work and free up your time. As entrepreneurs, creators, or professionals dedicated to making a positive impact, mastering AI can be a game-changer. It can save you money, provide valuable time freedom, and ultimately help you add more value to the world. The key is to approach these tools with an open mind and a balanced perspective, using them to supplement your creativity and expertise rather than a replacement. By doing so, you’ll keep pace with the evolving landscape and ensure you’re using AI to its fullest potential—enhancing your work while maintaining your unique human touch.
***I couldn’t have said it better myself, ChatGPT. Thank you for your thoughtful contribution :)
Want to learn how to amplify your impact with the help of ChatGPT and other AI tools? Book a one hour session with me where we will deep dive into your business and I’ll show you exactly how to create content effortlessly. More details can be found here.
3 AI Tools I'm Loving Right Now
Lately, much shade is being thrown at AI and content creators who use AI, but I’m here to be a contrarian. AI has the potential to offer business owners (especially my fellow soul-preneurs) - alternative, easy, and budget-friendly ways to amplify their impact.
The following AI platforms have transformed how I approach my client work as well as my passion projects, whether for illustration, writing, or video creation. Let me share the AI tools I’m loving lately and how they help me create more freely and efficiently.
#1 OpenArt.ai: A Game-Changer for My Illustrations - $75/ year subscription, 5000 credits/ month
When my publisher Rio Nuevo shut their doors, I found myself in a bind. My upcoming project, a Desert Animal Oracle Deck, was on hold, and I was scrambling to find a new illustrator. My initial thought was to reconnect with my previous illustrator, but her quote was well beyond my budget. Not only that, but she also failed to respond to my inquiries about the timeline, leaving me in the lurch. I contacted other illustrators, but the responses were delayed or inconsistent, and the time was ticking.
That’s when I discovered OpenArt.ai. Desperate for a solution, I explored the world of AI-generated art. I taught myself how to create AI art using this tool, and the results were terrific. OpenArt.ai has allowed me to produce high-quality illustrations without the headaches and delays of finding a traditional artist.
Using OpenArt.ai and Canva, I’ve crafted stunning visuals that perfectly capture desert wildlife's mystical and serene essence. The best part? I can tweak and refine the art as I see fit, ensuring that the final product aligns perfectly with my vision and that I don’t need to spend much money on it. Here are some sample cards….SNEAK PEEK…Shhhhhhh!
#2 ChatGPT: My Go-To Writing Assistant, FREE
Regarding AI chatbots, I must admit that I haven’t experimented much with the plethora of options available. Why? Because ChatGPT has everything I need. As a writer, the ability to brainstorm ideas, generate content, and even refine my work in real-time has been invaluable.
Whether drafting blog post ideas, developing content strategies, or polishing my rough drafts, ChatGPT has proven an indispensable tool in my creative arsenal. The ease with which I can communicate with the AI and get meaningful responses makes it feel like I have a dedicated writing assistant at my fingertips.
The versatility of ChatGPT is what sets it apart for me. It’s not just about generating text—it’s about the collaborative process that makes my writing more dynamic. I can ask for suggestions, get feedback, and even ask AI to tweak content based on my target audience. This level of interaction has taken my writing to new heights, allowing me to experiment and push boundaries in ways I hadn’t considered before.
#3 InVideo: Bringing My Words to Life Through Video, FREE or $20/month
As a writer, I’ve always been intrigued by bringing my stories and ideas to life through video. However, the technical aspects of video creation always seemed daunting—until I discovered InVideo. This AI-powered video creator has become my latest obsession, enabling me to quickly transform my writing into engaging visual content.
InVideo offers a range of templates and customization options that make video creation accessible, even for someone like me with little experience in the field. I’ve started experimenting with creating promotional videos for my writing projects, and the results have been spectacular. The platform allows me to integrate my text with images, animations, and music, creating a cohesive and compelling narrative that resonates with my audience.
One of the things I love most about InVideo is its user-friendly interface. It’s designed to be intuitive, so I don’t have to spend hours learning how to use it. Instead, I can focus on the creative process, experimenting with different elements until I achieve the desired effect. Whether it’s a book trailer, a promotional clip, or just a fun visual experiment, InVideo has become an essential tool in my creative toolkit. Here’s a video I had fun making last night - I used text from a project I am working on about Exiting the Matrix. Not bad for a newb!
Embracing the Future of Creativity
AI is no longer just a futuristic concept—it’s a tangible resource revolutionizing how we create. Tools like OpenArt.ai, ChatGPT, and InVideo have empowered me to take control of my projects, allowing me to produce high-quality work without the usual hurdles. By integrating AI into my creative process, I’ve explored new mediums, experimented with innovative ideas, and brought my visions to life with unprecedented ease.
If you’re a creative professional looking to expand your toolkit or a business owner seeking to amplify your purpose, I highly recommend these AI tools. Whether you want to create stunning visuals, enhance your writing, or delve into video production, an AI solution can help you achieve your goals. The future of creativity is here, and it’s more exciting than ever.
And yes - I did enlist AI's help to write this blog post :)
Want to know more about how to use AI to amplify your impact? I’m currently offering a $77 one-hour Zoom session where you and I will dive deep into the inner workings of your business. During the session, you will learn how to create engaging, authentic content that resonates with your audience, saves time AND aligns your message with your mission. More details here.
If You're a Thought Leader, You Need a LinkedIn Content Strategy - A Case Study
I have a client, let’s call him HB.
HB is the former president of a very large corporation and was responsible for making that brand globally recognized.
Although he has been retired for some years, he continues to share his leadership insights via podcasts and interviews. He has also co-authored a couple of best-sellers.
In 2016, another author client referred me to him, and a connection was born.
His problem? He wanted to start networking online to spread awareness of his latest book release. He also wanted to use his social platforms as leverage to get more interviews and, therefore, help more people with his business insights. But - like many brilliant professionals, he didn’t have the time or desire to manage this outreach himself.
That’s where I came in.
For the past 8 years, I have regularly created and posted original content and engaged with his followers on his LinkedIn profile. Since then, I have created an entire movement around his people-centered leadership, increased his followers, increased his outreach, increased the number of interview invites, increased book sales, and increased his impressions (basically, how many feeds his post shows up in).
Below are screenshots of his most popular posts in the past months; I’ll let the numbers speak for themselves.
If you are an author, thought leader, conscious business owner, soulpreneur, or someone who is doing really cool sh*t, consider zeroing in on LinkedIn instead of other platforms. In my personal experience and my experience with clients, it has been a worthwhile experience, and the audience is full of positive professionals who are ready to root you on.
Curious about how to make LinkedIn work for you? Get in touch. I am currently offering a LinkedIn Strategy for Thought Leaders that will help you narrow down your goals as well as create a unique LinkedIn content strategy for your business.
Why I'm Switching from Flodesk to Substack
After doing a ton of research I decided to sign up for Substack, “a website providing a user-friendly platform for writers and journalists. Substack cuts through the complexities and costs of traditional publishing, allowing creators to share their work and directly monetize it.” - Source
I am hoping Substack will satisfy my newsletter management needs and help me gain a wider reach. In this article, I will explain why I am switching to Substack and away from Flodesk, my current newsletter management system.
Why I Am Saying Goodbye to Flodesk
The cost - When I started using Flodesk it was only $19 a month. While still on the pricier side of things when it came to newsletter management I LOVED the designs of the templates and just the whole energy over there. LOL. Yes, websites and platforms can have a vibe. I liked that they seemed to cater to women entrepreneurs probably because the founders were women themselves. It was a no-brainer for me. Last year, however, despite my long-time membership, they jacked the price to $60 a month. Being the master negotiator I am, I asked them to let me have another year at the introductory price. and they agreed. But as my subscription is about to run out again, I do not want to go through this process all over. Substack is, however, free to join. They take 10% of your profit from paid memberships.
Stagnant subscriber count - Of all the years I’ve been slinging newsletters on Flodesk, my subscriber list has remained pretty stagnant. Part of that is my fault because I rarely talk about it and I haven’t been consistent with updating my lead capture pop-ups on my website - but the truth is Flodesk doesn’t aid in this process. Substack, however, allows you to give shoutouts to other Substackers in your newsletters, provides a place to build community, allows other people to give you shoutouts in their Substacks, and my favorite feature, automatically sends out an email every time you make a post. When I blog on Squarespace, for example, I have to manually insert the link into a Flodesk email and send it out.
Monetization - With Substack, monetization is built in. Because they only get paid when you get paid, they make it easier for you to get money.
When I first began to create content, it was in the days of “give content away for free and “they” will come”. True, my blog has allowed clients to find me organically but they rarely convert to newsletter subscribers and those newsletter subscribers rarely convert to new or repeat business. Again, a lot of this is my fault for not having a clear strategy in place from the beginning but also because the topics I talk about are all over the place. But not anymore. My new Substack will be dedicated to helping curious souls build a life they don’t have to escape from.
Getting Over Being Cringe
I’m not going to lie, being a writer is HARD. We are sensitive creatures who feel things very deeply. We are fine-tuned to see the details that make life beautiful but also repulsive and we’ve been given the gift/curse to translate what we are feeling into words so that thicker-skinned souls can feel these things too.
Having to put ourselves OUT THERE, being SEEN, just feels so cringe and misaligned. But if you want to reach a wider audience, and if you want to get paid to share ideas, you have to put yourself out of your comfort zone. I believe that my ideas are valuable and can help change people’s lives for the better. I also believe that people value things MORE when they pay for them, so that is why I will be offering premium content for a premium price. Not to mention all the people who should not have platforms because they are spreading negativity and fear in the world yet they just keep getting up every day and doing it, THE AUDACITY!! So, why shouldn’t I simultaneously carve out a cute little hopeful path forward - and also feed myself at the same time?
Will it work? I have no idea but I’ll never know if I don’t try.
Want to support my work? Think my ideas are valuable? Join my Substack here.
When it Comes to Content Marketing, Consistency is KEY🔑
Tomorrow I am flying to Amsterdam to speak at two conferences, The Self Made Summit and Forward Festival. Though I’ll be there sharing the building blocks required to build an authentic community, powered by Squarespace an all-in-one platform for creatives and entrepreneurs to showcase their talents online— I hope to also share some key insights from my 10+ experience with content marketing…like this one, Consistency is KEY 🔑.
Case in Point
I have a friend who wants to move away from having a brick-and-mortar vintage shop to selling clothes online or by appointment only. He’s got quite a following on Instagram but no real strategy when it comes to posting. He typically posts random pictures from his life, happy customers wearing their “new” clothes, and occasionally he'll post “new” items he’s got for sale. But he never posts them on his wall - only in his stories.
He also doesn’t post consistently. Some days he’ll post ten pictures and sometimes he’ll go days without posting anything.
Seeing how he was struggling to get his online sales ramped up, I offered a few tips:
Post on your wall once per day. The first image should be a close-up image of the “new” item. The second and third pictures can be lifestyle shots or pictures of the clothes on a real live human. The caption should show how much it costs, the size, and any other relevant information.
You should then share that post to your story with a note that the item is new.
The reason I told him to post on his wall was because it wasn’t clear that he was selling clothes. For those who follow him or already know him, it’s apparent, but if he wants to attract new clientele, he’s got to be more obvious about his offerings.
For the first two days, he posted on time with my advice but on the third day, I noticed he had removed both posts from his wall.
“What happened?” I asked.
“I archived the pictures. I only got a couple of likes and no one asked about the items.”
This is SO common with people when it comes to content marketing. You finally get the courage and motivation to post and expect to have instant gratification/validation. But content marketing doesn’t work that way. It’s usually a long, slow process that requires showing up consistently even when it feels like you are shouting into a void.
Here are some of the things showing up consistently on my blog and newsletter have gotten me:
A work/trade deal where I work 3 months for a plot of land in Portugal
Organic clients aligned with my values
Paid speaking gigs like the upcoming ones in Amsterdam, you can also add paid flights and hotels to that list.
Partnerships
But they didn’t come overnight. They only came after I spent hours creating content for myself consistently. The reason is that Google rewards consistency. When it comes to SEO, if you are posting regularly, you are seen as an expert by Google. It also builds credibility and trust amongst potential clients. Wow, this person has had a blog for ten years? They MUST know what they are talking about!
I explained this to my friend and the next day I noticed he’d unarchived his posts and has been posting regularly since. Let’s hope he keeps it up.
Want to learn how to use ChatGPT and other AI tools to help you stay consistent? Book a one hour session with me where we will deep dive into your business and I’ll show you exactly how to create content effortlessly. More details can be found here.
Crafting a Content Marketing Strategy on a Shoestring Budget
I recently started a housesit outside of Olhão, Portugal. The house backs up to acres and acres of beautiful wild land; wildflowers, creeks, and rolling hills.
While walking around the land with the homeowner recently, I was admiring the landscape. That’s when he informed me of their dilemma last year. A large solar energy company sought to transform acres of pristine land into a sprawling energy farm, jeopardizing the delicate balance of the surrounding ecosystem.
Why couldn’t they just slap some panels on top of existing buildings/eye sores like grocery stores? Short answer…money.
This determined family organized under a former NGO, and were able to thwart this imminent environmental disaster. Through advocacy and activism, they emerged victorious, but the fight is not over. Now the family wants to make sure this can’t ever happen again. For that, they’ll need to raise more funds and get a formal land conservancy status from the Portuguese government.
They asked me how to help them shift the focus of their NGO to fundraising and community building, in case another crisis pops up? Below is the advice I gave them. My purpose for sharing this information is so that if you are an NGO, and have limited funds, you can scrap together a content marketing strategy that will help you achieve your goals. Before I deliver the goods, though, I want to stress one key point. In order for a content marketing strategy to work, you’ve got to stay consistent!! Now let’s get to the good stuff…
Crafting a Content Marketing Strategy on a Shoestring Budget
For grassroots organizations with limited funds, an effective content marketing strategy is key to amplifying your message and garnering support. Here's a step-by-step guide to building a robust strategy:
Step 1: Establish four marketing pillars.
These pillars will be the themes you will use to derive ALL your content. This will help you keep focused on the stuff that matters. Examples of pillars I’d recommend for the aforementioned organization include:
Environmental Conservation Advocacy
Community Engagement and Empowerment
Fundraising Initiatives
Event Promotion and Participation
Each post, piece of content, or talking point your organization delivers to the public will have to fall under one of the above categories. If it doesn’t fit into one of the categories, it doesn’t need to be said.
Step 2: Create a content marketing strategy (or just copy the one I have for you below :))
My suggestion:
1- Write one blog every week or every other week.
2- Derive 2-3 original posts from the blog and share them on one social platform of your choice every week. You can repurpose those posts onto other social platforms but it’s not necessary. Best to focus on growing one platform.
2- At the end of the month, send out a newsletter to your subscribers with a short personal message from you, including any relevant information about the NGO, any important events, and links to the blog posts from the month prior. Newsletter sites like Mailchimp are free up until a certain amount of subscribers.
3- Engage on social media - Follow members of your community, re-share their posts, tag local businesses, and use hashtags.
Step 3: Create a content marketing calendar.
I recommend using Google Sheets for this, it’s free and can easily be shared with other members of your team. Outline what kind of posts you will be sharing monthly. You can also write the posts in the Google Sheet if you need it to get approved by other members of your organization.
Step 4: Plan Community Building Events
1- Aim to provide a community-building event once every 1 to 3 months. These can look like clothing swaps, open mic nights, artisan markets, workshops, tours, concerts, lectures, etc. Partner with other organizations and co-host events with them. At every event make sure to give a short presentation about your organization and why it’s important to the health of the community. You can make these events free or charge a small fee, all of which will go back to the organization. COLLECT EMAIL ADDRESSES!
2- Aim to provide a higher-end community event once every six months. These events are aimed to attract those who can donate a substantial amount of money. These events can look like silent auctions with prizes collected from members of the community (massage by local therapists, workshops by local artisans, products made by local artisans) or black tie events that require a higher-cost ticket to enter.
Step 5: Implementing the content marketing strategy
1- To help you write things like blog posts, newsletters, social media posts, and fundraising proposals, fire up ChatGPT. Now use this step with caution. Chat GPT is a robot, not a human. That means it’s not funny, it lacks empathy and is just not as good of a writer as a human. But it can help you structure your content and eliminate any writer’s block. You can use the platform to get ideas and spark inspiration.
For example, you can enter a prompt such as:
can you write a fundraising proposal geared towards wealthy funders for a nonprofit that is trying to get protection status?
—> Tips: You can get very specific by adding an exact word count, adding the tone you are aiming for by expanding upon the ideal demographic, or by requesting a tone to sound like a certain public figure (ex. please rewrite this in the tone of Oprah Winfrey).
By adhering to these strategic steps and maintaining consistency, grassroots organizations can amplify their impact, rally community support, and safeguard precious natural resources like the wild lands of Olhão, Portugal. Together, we can make a difference.
Want to learn how to craft a killer content marketing strategy with the help of ChatGPT and other AI tools? Book a one hour session with me where we will deep dive into your business and I’ll show you exactly how to create content effortlessly. More details can be found here.
Seeking Squarespace Design Services in Berlin (or elsewhere?) Let Me Be Your Captain
What Awaits You in This Article
1. Why Choose the Squarespace Platform
2. The Limits of Squarespace
3. When to Seek Support from a Squarespace Professional
4. Types of Squarespace Support: Live Tutoring Sessions in Berlin or via Zoom, Tailor-made Virtual Workshops for Your Organization, and Email, WhatsApp, or Phone Support
5. Conclusion - Let Me Be Your Captain+ BONUS Booty
Why Choose the Squarespace Platform?
Squarespace is a renowned website design platform that offers an array of benefits for businesses and individuals seeking to create a professional and visually appealing website. With its user-friendly interface (drag and drop baby!!), stunning templates, and robust features, Squarespace provides a comprehensive solution for designing and managing websites with ease. From small business owners and creative professionals to entrepreneurs, Squarespace offers a range of advantages that make it an attractive choice for website design needs in Berlin and worldwide. Here are some key advantages:
User-Friendly Interface: Squarespace has a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to design and customize a website without any coding skills. This makes it accessible for beginners and those with limited technical expertise.
Stunning Templates: Squarespace offers a wide range of professionally designed templates that are visually appealing and responsive, ensuring that your website looks great on all devices, including desktops, tablets, and mobile phones. The templates are professionally looking, beautifully designed, and fiercely functional.
Robust Features: Squarespace provides a host of built-in features such as blogging, e-commerce, SEO tools, analytics, and social media integration, making it a comprehensive platform for all your website needs. It also offers e-commerce options and the ability to maintain memberships.
Professional Look and Feel: Squarespace templates are designed to be sleek and modern, giving your website a professional and polished appearance that can enhance your brand image. They are also minimalist which I love because there is just so much noise out there on the internet. It’s rare that people want to go to a circus show with flashy lights when entering a website. They usually want to find basic information fast.
Reliable Hosting: Squarespace provides reliable and secure hosting for your website, ensuring that it loads quickly and remains accessible to visitors at all times. All hosting is included in the annual price, so no need to worry about paying an extra bill.
Built-in SEO - Squarespace used to get a bad rap for their SEO functioning, but in recent years, they have really stepped up their game. According to Website Builder Expert, Squarespace scored a 5 out of 5 SEO rating in their research meaning it’s more than well-equipped to boost your site’s search engine rankings. That’s probably because it includes a sitemap, SEO setting for pages and items, clean URLs, automatic markups, SSL security, and built-in mobile optimization.
2. The Limits of Squarespace
While Squarespace offers many advantages, it's crucial to understand that it also has limitations as a website design platform. These limitations include the following:
Limited Customization: Although Squarespace offers a range of templates, the customization options may be limited compared to other website design platforms such as WordPress. This means that achieving highly unique and personalized designs may be challenging, especially if you have specific design requirements. But this limitation can also work to your advantage. Too many people try to complicate their websites. Less is (usually )more so if you have limited customization options, you’ll likely be better at delivering the basic information your user wants. Still, though, there may be times when customization like adding unique fonts or widgets is necessary. For that, you’ll need to seek out a Squarespace professional which can be costly.
E-commerce Functionality: While Squarespace provides e-commerce functionality, it may not be as robust as other platforms such as Shopify, making it less suitable for complex online stores. If you have extensive e-commerce needs, or your store contains hundreds or thousands of items, Squarespace may not be the best choice for your business.
Advanced SEO Capabilities: While Squarespace offers basic SEO features, it may not have all the advanced SEO capabilities that some businesses require. This may impact your website's visibility in search engine results and affect your overall SEO strategy.
Technical Challenges: Despite its user-friendly interface, designing and managing a website on Squarespace may still pose technical challenges for some individuals or businesses. Resolving these issues may require expertise and technical knowledge, which may not be readily available to everyone.
3. When to Seek Support from a Squarespace Professional
Despite its user-friendly interface, designing and managing a website on Squarespace may still pose challenges for some individuals or businesses. In such cases, seeking support from a Squarespace professional (like me:)!!) can be beneficial. This may be necessary when facing complex design or technical issues that require expertise to resolve. A Squarespace professional can provide guidance, troubleshooting, and solutions to help overcome any challenges that may arise during the website design process whether you’re a DJ designing her website in a cozy cafe in Berlin or you’re an eco-warrior designing a site for their off-grid hostel whilst sipping an alcohol-free pineapple daiquiri on the beach in the Bahamas.
Here are some situations when it may be a good idea to seek Squarespace design services:
Complex Design Requirements: If you have specific design requirements that go beyond the customization options available in Squarespace templates, a Squarespace professional can provide guidance and expertise to create a unique and personalized website design. Some examples include adding a multilanguage option to your site, installing a booking widget, or setting up a membership site.
Technical Issues: If you encounter technical issues during the website design process, such as troubleshooting errors or resolving coding-related challenges, a Squarespace professional can offer solutions and expertise to overcome these obstacles.
E-commerce Setup: If you need to set up an online store with complex e-commerce functionalities, such as custom product configurations, inventory management, or integration with third-party tools, a Squarespace professional can help you set up and optimize your e-commerce platform.
Advanced SEO Optimization: If you require advanced SEO capabilities, such as optimizing meta tags, managing redirects, or implementing schema markup, a Squarespace professional with expertise in SEO can help you optimize your website for search engines and improve its visibility in search results.
Time Constraints: If you, like many entrepreneurs, have limited time or resources to dedicate to designing and managing your Squarespace website, a Squarespace professional can take on the task and ensure that your website is designed and launched efficiently and effectively.
4. Types of Squarespace Support
As we near the end of the blog post, you might realize that, yes, you do in fact need some Squarespace support, but maybe you are still unsure what exactly that looks like. Below I will describe the kinds of support I provide and then you can reach out if any of it resonates with the help you are looking for.
Live Tutoring Sessions In-Person or Via Zoom - One of the best ways to receive Squarespace support is through live tutoring sessions. These sessions can be conducted with me in Berlin (or wherever I am traveling at the time), where you will receive one-on-one guidance from me, a certified Squarespace expert. Alternatively, live tutoring sessions can also be conducted remotely via Zoom, allowing for flexibility and convenience. During these sessions, I can provide personalized guidance on various aspects of website design, including template selection, customization, content creation, and SEO optimization. I can also just spend the entire time answering your questions. This can help you enhance your website and make the most out of Squarespace's features. In addition, I can also provide branding feedback and content marketing tips that will help you grow your business organically. To find out more about these sessions head here.
Tailor-made Virtual Workshops for A Group of Friends or Your Organization - If you have a team or organization in Berlin (or elsewhere) that requires Squarespace design services, tailor-made virtual workshops can be a valuable option. These workshops can be customized to meet the specific needs and goals of your group or organization, providing comprehensive training on Squarespace website design best practices and techniques. This can help your team acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively design and manage websites on the Squarespace platform, resulting in a cohesive and professional online presence. Not in Berlin? No problem, I am often on the move and am willing to travel to you depending on distance, etc. Get in touch to discuss details.
Email, WhatsApp, or Phone Support - In addition, to live tutoring sessions and virtual workshops, I also offer support through email, WhatsApp, or phone. This allows you to communicate with me at your convenience with your favorite modality, providing guidance and assistance with your website design needs wherever you may be in the world. Whether you have questions, need help with troubleshooting, or require advice on design or technical issues, my email, WhatsApp, or phone support option can be a convenient and efficient alternative to live tutoring sessions.
5. Conclusion
So there you have it. After examining the many benefits Squarespace has to offer, you can hopefully better understand why Squarespace is such a popular website design platform. But as great as it is, it may not be suitable for everyone. With my help and expertise, however, you can learn to leverage its features and create a stunning and functional website for your conscious business or personal projects…especially if you are working with a limited budget. If you are ready to embark on an epic Squarespace design service adventure and create an impressive online presence that reflects your unique brand identity, get in touch and I’d be happy to be your captain. AYE AYE MATEY!
***BONUS BOOTY - anyone who builds a website with my special code gets 20% off their first year. ARGHHHH***
Hey, I want to help you share your gifts with the world. Get in touch today and let’s make this happen!
My Cousin Recently Asked Me How to Get Started Freelancing, Here Was My Response
My cousin recently messaged me asking for help with her Upwork profile. She wanted to give freelancing a shot after working in customer service and the food industry for 10+ years.
I have spoken before about how much I dislike these Freelancer sites because I find them exploitative. In my experience, the best way to get started as a freelancer is by tapping into your local community. Below, I go into depth about the actions I would take if I wanted to get started as a freelancer (and was my actual response to her as well.) Hope it helps!
Tbh, I don’t recommend Upwork or any of those freelance sites. The reason is that you’ll be competing with people who have been on the site for ages and have tons of reviews, etc., or people who live in India and can afford to charge nothing.
I think it’s better to start with your inner network first.
First, though you’ll have to establish a product or service
I recommend reading 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris and 100 Side Hustles. Between the two you should be able to come up with an offering. If you’re still unsure, ask your loved ones what they think you’re good at.
Once you have an offering, you’ll need an online portfolio, this will depend on your offering. Could be as simple as an Instagram or website or Facebook page. You’ll need to put a few case studies on there which means you’ll need to work for free or cheap in the beginning. For example, if your offering is designing meal plans for busy moms, you’ll need to offer your services to 3 or so moms for free or very cheap, in exchange for feedback and reviews.
Reviews are VERY important!! Best is to register as a business on Google Business. And then you can send the Google link to your clients and ask for a review.
Once you have a few case studies/online portfolio ad reviews, you can start marketing. I would start marketing to groups you already belong to. Like if you go to a particular yoga studio you can ask to leave some flyers there. You can also offer to co-host events to further establish your credibility.
There are other Bootstrappy ways you can promote your biz but TBH the things that work for me are
1. Google reviews, cannot stress this enough.
2. Website where I update at least twice a month with industry-related blog posts.
3. Light LinkedIn posting (1-2 times a week)
I’ve never had to spend money on advertising or promoting myself. People find me organically through Google searches and/or word of mouth. But that takes time to build…content marketing is not an instant gratification method haha there are other ways to grow faster though (ex. such as hosting community events, and having an ad budget)
The last thing I will say is to use ChatGPT to help you write content for your site or promo materials. No need to reinvent the wheel ❤️
Anything else you’d like to know about getting started freelancing and/or bootstrapping a business? Get in touch!
How to Apply Sliding Scale Pricing with the ASS Model
A housemate of mine is starting a somatic healing business and asked me to look at her offerings/website and give feedback. It is important to her to make sure that her offerings are accessible to anyone who might need it, so very clearly stated in the description of all her offerings that she operates on a sliding scale payment system and then gave a very generous range, 20 Eur per hour to 150 Eur per hour. Clients can decide what to pay her based on their financial situation.
Good idea? Here are my thoughts…
I think it’s GREAT when business owners offer accessibility options when it comes to payment. I myself have taken advantage of such offerings over the years when going through moments of financial instability - so I am in no way discouraging this practice. But…I also know that healers especially tend to undersell and devalue themselves. They want to help people so much and reach as many people as possible that they will literally give their offerings away even when it’s a financial burden to do so. But here is the thing you have to remember, Conscious Business Owners have bills too! And with the rising cost of living, it’s becoming even more important to figure out a fair pricing model, one that keeps YOUR bills paid and also promotes accessibility. Otherwise, you risk burning yourself out or going out of business, which is not good for anyone. And offering a very steep discount can actually backfire in the long run when building your brand because it will cause doubt in those who actually can afford to pay a higher rate. They will ASSume that you aren’t really good at what you do and spend their money elsewhere.
Here’s What To Do Instead
Instead of giving anyone and everyone the ability to choose how much they pay for your services, I recommend applying the Assigned Sliding Scale Model. With the ASS model (I can’t make this shit up — HAHA!) you determine the revenue you need to generate per day, week, or month, and then create assigned slots that ensure that you will be compensated fairly. So if you are a massage therapist and you determine that you need to charge €100 a session to keep the lights on and your family fed, then you can offer 1-€100 sessions per day, 1-€50 session per day, and 1-€150 session per day, for example. Once those slots are full, they’re full. You can use this pricing model as marketing, and say something like: “When you book a €150 session, you are supporting access to services to those who may have a hard time accessing these services otherwise.” If you are an advocate for a certain marginalized group (women, trans folks, or BIPOC, etc.) you can clearly state that your discounted rate is specifically for them. This works especially well if you host events, workshops, or teachings.
The more transparent you are about WHY you are offering an assigned sliding scale the more likely your clients will rally with you in a social-justice-minded private practice.
So there you have it - a fair way to offer sliding scale pricing while also ensuring that your lights stay on and you can feed yourself and your family!
Have you used the ASS model in your business? How did it work out for you? Let me know!
How AI Can Help You Write Content Faster
Recently, I had lunch with a video editor friend of mine and we started joking about how AI is going to eventually take over the world. That’s when he looked me in the eye and said very earnestly, “Nicole, they are coming after content marketers first.”
At first, I laughed. But then when he began explaining how sophisticated AI was at creating content my ears perked up. I went home after our meeting and began playing around with ChatGPT.
I quickly realized that AI may certainly be a helpful tool, but robots aren't here to take my job away — at least not yet. What they are here to do, however, is help me do my job better and more efficiently! AI technology is the perfect assistant for content marketers like me, taking some of the gruntwork out of creating great content.
No longer does a marketer need to spend hours sorting through data or researching topics; robots can quickly and accurately handle those tasks for me. AI robots can also generate ideas for content and even write drafts that require minimal editing from their human counterparts. This frees up time for more important tasks like analyzing analytics or brainstorming creative strategies — tasks robots aren't able to do (yet.) AI is also quite shit at creative writing and is not very funny.
But for creating content — it’s AWESOME! For example, I was recently able to write 4 - 800 word blog posts for a movement facilitator client in just under 4 hours. That same task would have taken me at least twice as long without AI assistance.
So - if you are a content marketer, rest assured, the bots are not going to take your job, but they will take the jobs of content marketers who refuse to use the power of AI. If you haven’t already, it would be wise to start learning how to use AI. And if you are a conscious business owner hoping to boost your SEO and bring in more organic traffic from the web, get in touch so I offer an AI Coaching Session where I show you how to use the power of AI to help create authentic, relatable, and effective content for your business in no time.
Happy Robot-ing.
Need human assistance on how to get started integrating AI into your business? Want to know more about how to use AI to amplify your impact? I’m currently offering a $77 one-hour Zoom session where you and I will dive deep into the inner workings of your business. During the session, you will learn how to create engaging, authentic content that resonates with your audience, saves time AND aligns your message with your mission. More details here.
When It Comes to Building an Audience, Engagement Matters
As a content marketer, I can get so wrapped up in the process of creating fun and exciting content that I leave very little time left over for engaging with my current or future audience. But when you are building an organic, sustainable community, engagement is ESSENTIAL!
Think of engaging like dating. You probably wouldn’t like it if all your date did was talk about themselves. What if your date never asked you how you were doing, what makes you tick, or how you felt or thought about a particular topic? What if they never commented on the things that fired you up? You’d likely never go on a second date again - or you might even ghost/block them.
Building a community follows the same logic. Yes, spend time creating relevant, unique content, but also make sure you allot enough time for engagement. It’s important!!
Here are some tips on how to engage well with others…
Follow folks who produce relevant content, either direct competitors or folks with similar values.
Like other people’s posts (including dream clients, past clients, brands who hold similar values, brands you’d like to collab with, and brands who are direct competitors)
Reshare others’ content and make sure to add your own thoughts, opinions, or spin on their content.
Comment on other people’s posts.
Post content you didn’t create but that resonates with your marketing pillars directly on your feed but make sure to tag the original creator/brand.
Partner with a relevant brand/influencer and run a simultaneous promotion, that way you can tap into THEIR audience.
Don’t have time to engage with your followers? Don’t fret. While I always encourage clients to engage with their audience when they have time, consistent engagement just isn’t feasible (or enjoyable) for busy entrepreneurs. If that’s the case with you, feel free to outsource your engagement to someone else (like, uh, ME! )
Stop Being So Elusive, Already
As a lot of you know, I am currently in the process of creating my own Desert Animal Oracle Deck.
When I submitted my proposal to the publisher, I included my own digital concept of what I wanted the cards to look like. Needless to say, the publisher had another vision. Instead, they wanted to bring in an outside illustrator to help with the design.
I wasn’t upset, in fact, my original intent was to do the same but the reason I didn’t was because of budget constraints. Instead, I relied on my minimal Canva skills to whip up some sample cards.
Flash forward to now and we have both been on the hunt for an illustrator — someone who preferably has a connection to the Southwest, a love of animals, and a knack for Scientific skill-level detail when sketching said animals.
How do you suppose we have been conducting the search?
Well, first we asked people we already knew. I asked friends who had Tucson connections if they could recommend someone.
Next, I searched around my community. I went to a local bookshop and looked for any animal stickers, notebooks, or notecards on display near the checkout counter, and noted down the names of their illustrators.
Lastly, I looked at Instagram.
Why am I sharing this with you?
Because I want you to stop being so elusive and private about the gifts you are here to share with the world. How else are people going to find you, if you don’t put yourself out there? I used to think social media was vapid and a big waste of time, but what I am learning is that it is what you make of it. When you have a purpose — to share your gifts with the world — it becomes much easier to open up and let others into your creative process.
Sure, I still get shy before I am about to post something on Instagram. Last night I hesitated a few minutes before pushing that button, but then I did. Why? Because I want others to see what I am creating, so that it inspires them to put love and energy into their own creations. I also want to keep people in the loop because I believe that my oracle cards can help inspire others to protect the beautiful creatures of the Southwest as well deepen their connection to their own inner knowing.
“Happiness is only real when shared.”
As Christopher McCandless, the author of Into the Wild wrote, “Happiness is Only Real When Shared” and I just love it so much. For so long I felt like I had to hide who I was. I was afraid that people would think I was a fraud or that I was taking up too much space. I didn’t think my writing or creative endeavors deserved to see the light of day. But in the end, these are all limiting beliefs that keep me from reaching my highest potential. And I am just over it!
So there you have it, don’t be shy. Or try to play cool and mysterious. Share what you are working on and let others be dazzled by all that you are. Sure, there might be haters. But there might also be a whole lot of people who you help in the process!
Need someone to help hold you accountable when it comes to putting yourself out there? I am now offering a Content Marketing Accountability Coaching program. Head here for more info.
Here's the Easiest Way to Obtain Clients Organically
If you don’t already know, my core mission is to help Conscious Business Owners overcome their limiting beliefs and inherent imposter syndrome so that they can share their gifts with the world. In my humble opinion, there are WAY too many folks out there hawking goods and services that are impacting the environment in negative ways, taking advantage of people’s fears and insecurities, or blatantly spreading toxicity. And I am just not OK with that.
What do all these folks have in common? AUDACITY.
Personally, I think conscientious folks need to become a bit more audacious and put themselves out there. Unfortunately, the more conscious you are, the smaller you stay.
ENOUGH ALREADY!!
The world NEEDS you. Think of all the people you will never help if you stay small. Don’t put yourself out there to fan your own ego, put yourself out there to help others overcome their own struggles. Your good or service has the potential to make someone’s life a little easier as they navigate the tumultuous storm of life. How beautiful is that?!
And now for my advice….
Get yourself set up on Google Reviews and then kindly ask past clients to leave you a review. I know, it sounds scary. But it will help you tremendously when it comes to obtaining new clients organically even if you don’t have a proper website or ample social media following.
To counteract any skepticism you might have, I am now going to be frank with you. I get about one new client inquiry per week contacting me about a particular service I provide. How do they find me? via Google search. Sure my website helps boost SEO because I blog frequently which causes Google to rank my site higher, but they also find me because I am set up with Google reviews and have quite the ranking (5 stars).
If you don’t already have Google Reviews, stop what you are doing immediately and set it up. Right now. DO IT! Here’s how…https://support.google.com/business/answer/3474122?hl=en
Get in touch here if you need more convincing that Google reviews are indeed important for your business.
When Building a Website Is Financially Out Of Reach
Recently a friend reached out to me asking for some advice.
Her physiotherapist suddenly found herself out of work. The resort that she’d worked at for years was looking to hire some fresh faces.
“I want to hire you to build her a website and then I’ll give her the website in exchange for her services,” my friend asked, “She helped heal my shoulder and I just really want to help her out.”
I agreed to the initial arrangement but later I had a thought - building a website is probably not the most cost-effective option. Instead, I recommended setting her up with some kind of newsletter management system and then providing a digital marketing strategy instead.
Here is the advice I offered:
Sign up for a newsletter management service. I like FloDesk, but there is a cost involved. Other services, like Mailchimp, are free up until a certain amount of subscribers. There are plenty more out there.
Work on getting people on your newsletter list. If you can, ask past clients for their emails. Another quick way to increase newsletter subscribers includes hosting or co-hosting a community event either online or in person and instead of charging a fee, ask for people to submit their emails. If you don’t want to host an event yourself you can also piggyback off another community member’s event. For example, if someone in your network is hosting a virtual meditation, offer to provide a short movement practice during the session in exchange for access to all the attendee’s email addresses.
Create a newsletter outreach strategy. Aim to send at least one newsletter per month to your subscribers. When thinking about what to include, ask yourself, “What would make me want to open this newsletter every month?” Here are a few ideas to get you started:
New insights you’ve gained,
Media clips (podcasts, Youtube videos, infographics, articles, etc.) you found particularly helpful or interesting,
Relevant books you are reading,
Tips or methods that might help solve their problems
Links to any upcoming events you are hosting or are looking forward to attending
Special offers you want to introduce.
Now the above newsletter outreach option still requires a certain level of maintenance and technological savviness. It can also take time to get an audience and get into the flow of creating content.
If that still feels out of reach for you or if you don’t think maintaining a monthly newsletter is something you’ll end up doing, consider setting up a Telegram or WhatsApp group instead. I belong to several Telegram groups here in Berlin where admins hold space for discussions, advertise upcoming events or promotions, and ask for feedback. It’s a great way to build community quickly and doesn’t take much more effort than sending a text message.
That’s it - hopefully, that gives you some more affordable options when it comes to building a community and putting yourself out there. A website is helpful, sure, and a content marketing strategy can work wonders for building an organic reach - but they also take time, money, and some technical skills to get started - which can be barriers to a lot of folks. Instead, consider starting a newsletter or Telegram group to build community and share your offerings.
Ready to commit to FloDesk? Sign up using this link and get 50% off your first year.
Proof That Content Marketing Accountability Coaching Works (And Is Worth It)
Three months ago I reached out to Sophia on Earth, an intuition coach for female entrepreneurs, to see if she wanted to go on a journey with me — a Content Marketing Accountability Coaching journey if you will.
I had previously attended one of Sophia’s free workshops on Zoom about masculine and feminine energies and really liked the way she delivered information and held space. I stalked her online and thought she had a lot of potential. Her website was crisp and professional and she seemed to understand the importance of branding and cohesiveness.
Why exactly did I reach out? To be honest, I wanted someone to be a guinea pig for my Content Marketing Accountability Coaching offering, to help me iron out the kinks and deliver feedback on my methods. Offering free services or discounted offerings in exchange for feedback and testimonials is a GREAT way to build your credibility when you are first starting out. It’s also a great way for you to test out new offerings with your target market and get a feel if they are actually helpful or not.
Luckily, Sophia obliged. In our first session, I gave her an outline of how I thought the next months would go. By the end of our journey together, my goal was for her to have a solid content strategy in place as well as tools that would help her continue to show up consistently. A bonus would be if she was able to generate any leads through the work we did together. Guess what? She achieved ALL of that and more. What’s the “more” I am referring to? Well, you see, I have found that a lot of Conscious Business Owners struggle with imposter syndrome, and “being seen”. They think putting themselves out there is an egoic action, that wanting to “be seen” is somehow shameful. But here’s the deal, if you DON’T put yourself out there, you are doing a disservice to all the folks you could potentially be helping because they won’t know where to find you.
With my Marketing Accountability Coaching Program, I hope to not only set you up with the technical content marketing skills needed to grow your business organically but also to help you overcome your own limiting beliefs about “being seen”.
After our final meeting, I asked Sophia the following questions about the program:
What is the biggest takeaway you received from having me as your Accountability Coach over the last 3 months?
What are some things that you accomplished in the past 3 months that you might not have accomplished otherwise?
Who do you think this coaching program would suit best?
How much do you think this 3-month coaching program is worth?
Is there something else you wish this program offered?
What was your initial goal with this program? Did you achieve that goal? Or did that goal shift?
Any other comments or feedback you'd like to add?
In addition to providing helpful feedback, Sophia also gave me some great advice: create a Digital Marketing Vault that contains templates for KPIs, content calendars, and branding in addition to recommendations of tools I recommend, and then give your clients access to the vault. I LOVED this idea and implemented it right away.
All in all - I think the Marketing Accountability Coaching journey with Sophia on Earth was a mutually beneficial experiment. Sophia received a content marketing strategy, confidence to embark on her journey, and tools to help her succeed/ hold herself accountable moving forward. And I received valuable feedback, helpful suggestions, and the validation that my services are helpful and needed. WIN-WIN!
Want to learn how to amplify your impact with the help of ChatGPT and other AI tools? Book a one hour session with me where we will deep dive into your business and I’ll show you exactly how to create content effortlessly. More details can be found here.
Here's Why You Need KPIs In Your Life
Today’s blog is all about KPIs.
KP - WHAT?
KPIs or Key Performance Indicators
What are KPIs and why are they important?
Well, I’m glad you asked. KPIs can help you track how well your marketing efforts are performing. Without them, it’s kind of like throwing money and time down the drain. You wouldn’t want to do that, would you?
Now I’m going to be honest. I’ve been in business for 10+ years and I haven’t done a very good job of updating my KPIs consistently for myself. But that’s all about to change. Today I am going to set up my spreadsheet and over the course of the months, start sharing the process with you all. Why? Because I want to start practicing what I preach. And also because I have been testing out a new beta coaching program where I act as an accountability coach for Conscious Business Owners. For three months, I help CBOs outline a content marketing strategy and then meet with them bi-monthly to see what progress they’ve made. One of the best ways to see if their content marketing efforts are actually working is if CBOs keep track of their KPIs.
Which is why I thought it’d be a great time to start implementing my own KPI tracking efforts.
Though I haven’t always done a good job of keeping my own KPIs in order, I do keep track of them on behalf of clients.
Not only does this help my clients see the value I am bringing them but it also allows us to make more informed decisions about where we spend time and effort in the business. It also helps me shape future content because I can see what kinds of topics are resonating with people, for example.
Have I convinced you to set up your own KPIs, yet?
Maybe you’re wondering which KPIs you should be tracking…well, unfortunately, that answer will be unique to the individual depending on where you are currently spending your marketing efforts. If your business follows more of a content marketing approach, I would recommend tracking some or all of the following:
Blog: # of monthly blog posts + # of views
Social media: # of <insert the social media channel or channels you use most here> posts, # of impressions or engagements, # of likes, kind of post (ex. poll, question, quote,)
Podcast: # of podcasts that went live, # of downloads (Apple), # of views on website,
Leads: # of organic leads (how many people contacted you ), how new clients are finding you, # of introductory calls, # of leads that came in from your lead magnet
Now don’t think for one second that this KPI document has to be elaborate. It can literally be a text document to start out or a simple spreadsheet on Google Sheets. No one else even has to see the damn thing. The main point here is that you begin updating it once a month and then use the document to inform your decisions moving forward. There is also an added bonus that comes with establishing a KPI practice…you’ll start seeing that showing up consistently actually produces results. This is KEY to growing your business organically.
Ready to set up your own KPIs but not sure where to start? Reach out and let’s set up a 30-minute free discovery call where I’ll give you some pointers.
How Important is Social Media When Growing Your Conscious Business?
Well it depends on who you ask but since you asked me (or did I ask you?) I digress…
Social Media is pretty damn important.
I recently interviewed Tammy Tamuno, the lead education consultant of purplebook.ng, for the Transparent Voices series and she said she grew her entire business on Instagram. Her advice? If you want to grow your business you have to go where your ideal clients hang out. If they’re hanging out on Instagram then, by all means, you need to be on Instagram.
As a Conscious Business Owner, I’m not a big fan of anyone spreading themselves too thin, especially when it comes to social media. That’s why I recommend that my clients focus on one, MAYBE two, social media platforms that they resonate with most and then just deep dive into them. Now, I realize that this is contradictory advice from the big social media guru Gary Vee, but unlike Gary Vee, I’m assuming you don’t have a big social media team whose sole job is to repurpose content for you, am I right?
So, where do you go from here?
Well, you pick one social media platform that you vibe with. For me that’s LinkedIn.
Though I tend to use Instagram more in my personal life, I feel I already spend too much time on that app. And I didn’t want to just all of the sudden start posting about social media and digital marketing when my “followers” have grown to expect travel pics and funny shit I find on the street. In other words, my Instagram profile already had an identity, and I didn’t feel my business would be able to exist peacefully within the constraints. I also didn’t want to start a separate business Instagram profile for myself because ugh, that seems so exhausting.
That’s how I settled on LinkedIn and so far it’s been great! People are friendly and professional over there, and I feel like I have a safe space to share my knowledge and expertise. But that doesn’t mean it would work for your business. Do what feels good to you.
To finish up this blog post, I want to reiterate the importance of having a social media presence, not only to grow your current audience, like Tammy did, but to help you gain clout in the space. Case in point, I am organizing an interview series called Transparent Voices for a client and I reached out the World of Women (a renowned NFT founder) for an interview. Her assistant responded saying they weren’t interested. Being the bold bish I am, I replied asking her why considering my client has over 7 million visitors to his site every year. Her answer? My client didn’t have a very big social media following.
What? So, if my client had purchased followers, like many influencers and brands do, she would have happily agreed to the interview? Perhaps. Who knows. But one thing I do know is that social media still matters. And that key gatekeepers and potential clients still judge you based on your number of followers. So take it from me, get in the habit of posting regularly and soon enough you will see it pay off in the form of new clients or partnerships.