The Content Experiment Podcast

This is an uncertain time for parents, families and business owners alike--no matter what kind of business you're in or how old your children are. Workers are being sent home from work, both with and without pay, children are doing school work remotely, businesses are closing their doors and we're all being asked to limit contact with others. For me, it feels a lot like business as usual since I work from home. But now I have a teenager at home all day with me. I'm thankful that she's a teenager but it still looks and feels different at home each day. I think there's a lot of opportunity here during this crisis and I want to share some thoughts with you. I've been just as caught up in the news and worry as the next person, not knowing what tomorrow will look like. But I've spent too many years of my life in a negative mindset, something I overcame years ago. I refuse to go back there, and I'm dedicated to looking forward with a mindset of hope and opportunity. Though it may not feel like there's much opportunity or hope right now as many small business owners are losing work--contracts are being put off, events have been cancelled, people aren't buying and there's no foot traffic in stores. But something I've been talking about for a long time IS possible for you...to get your business online. As a business owner, you get to decide what happens to your business. As a micro-business, you get to decide how you react and how to pivot to weather this storm. Tune in to this bonus episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast for tips and ideas on how you can continue with business in this uncertain time. Mentioned in This Episode Content Strategy Clarity challenge

You need content to have a content strategy, right? What if I told you that some of the most important parts of your content strategy aren't your content at all? (Say WHAT!?) It's true. You can publish content all day and all night and it won't matter unless you have the four things that I talk about on this week's episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast. Too many business owners are publishing content just to say that they're being consistent and visible. But it's just a waste of time if you're not doing it right. It's costing you time and money (and probably some grey hairs and time with your family) to publish all the content--and you're not seeing the increase in engagement, followers or sales. Tune in this week as I talk about the four most important parts of your content strategy. Thankfully some of these are really quick shifts you can make, though others will take a bit more time. Mentioned in This Episode Content Strategy Clarity free challenge Client Journey eBook Episode 30: How to Build Your Social Strategy with Andrea Jones Episode 13: How to Increase the Reach of Your Content

Social media is one of the best places for an online business to grow an audience. But it's not about pushing yourself to be on all the platforms or creating content just to get noticed. It's about being strategic and building relationships with the right people. This week on the Stories in Small Business podcast, I'm talking with Andrea Jones of Savvy Social School about how to use social media to market your business. We touch on how long you should spend on social each week (it's probably less than you think!) and where you should spend that time. Andrea also talks about how to use your pillar content to continue to generate content ideas, long after the original content was posted. At the end of the day, your social media shouldn't drive your content strategy--but it's a pivotal piece of it. Andrea is giving us all the tips and examples of who is doing it right. Tune in now! Mentioned in This Episode Savvy Social School Savvy Social Podcast Social Media Success Framework Content Mastery Lab About Andrea Jones Andrea is fiercely committed to helping businesses and podcasters build profitable communities online through simple social media solutions. She's been featured in places like Hubspot, Awber, and WordPress. She's also named one of Social Report's top marketers to follow in 2019. As the host of the Savvy Social Podcast and the creator of SavvySocialSchool.com, Andrea is dedicated to simplifying social media through easy-to-follow courses, professional guidance, and community support. Outside of teaching and training, she spends most of her time serving her full service clients and practicing what she preaches by implementing organic social media strategies for businesses and brands that want to grow an engaged audience online. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

You're spending time and possibly money on your content. Are you getting what you want out of it? Brand awareness? List growth? Sales? New connections? Something else? Chances are that if you've made it to these show notes, you feel like your content could do a little more than what it's doing right now. You've come to the right place. On this episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I'm sharing with you eight reasons why your content isn't doing its job. There are tips for quick fixes, ideas for longer-term tweaks and mindset shifts and resources for you to do better with your content in the long run. There are so many reasons your content may not be working. You owe it to yourself to find out why. Mentioned in This Episode Content Mastery Lab Content Strategy Clarity Dead Link Checker Broken Link Checker ActiveCampaign

As business owners, we have enough on our plate already, right? From standard operating procedures to marketing to sales to networking to product creation to...you name it. It's a lot. But one place where a lot of business owners hide their head is their numbers. But the numbers in your business could make or break your business. If you're not listening to the story your business numbers are telling you, you might not be around very long. That's why the conversation I had with today's guest is such an important one. Danielle Hayden of Kickstart Accounting shares that while it's okay (and even recommended) that you outsource your financials, every business owner needs to know some key numbers in their business. And we're not just talking revenue here. Do you know your business's financial trends? Are you making responsible decisions based on those trends? It's time to get comfortable in your role as CEO and take the fear and overwhelm out of accounting. Tune in for more! Mentioned in This Episode Content Strategy Clarity challenge Get your free goal-setting worksheet About Danielle Hayden Danielle is a reformed corporate CFO (chief financial officer) who is on a mission to help rule-breaking female entrepreneurs understand their numbers so they can gain the confidence needed to create sustainable profits. After spending 10+ years in the boardroom as a corporate finance officer, Danielle is now in her sweet spot as the co-owner of Kickstart Accounting, Inc. where she helps business owners with bookkeeping, financial analysis, and education and as the author of the Profit Planner book series. When Danielle isn't crunching numbers on her clients' behalf or crafting the next iteration of the Profit Planner, you can find her hanging with her two kids as she inspires them to lead their fullest lives or doing any, and almost every fitness-related activity ranging from Spartan races to pilates.

There comes a time in your business where it's time to raise prices. You shift your services, you're experiencing growth or simply inflation has caught up with you and it's time. But it feels like there's such a stigma around price increases, particularly among service-based businesses. A few years ago, I raised prices across the board for all my retainer clients--and didn't lose a single client in the process. The trick was that I was shifting my services to serve my clients even better than before, and gave them all enough time to let the new pricing (and added value) sink in. Listen in to this week's episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast as I walk through some of the most important things to consider when raising your prices and tell you exactly how I've done it in the past. I don't claim to be a pricing expert, but I do want to share what worked for me in the hopes it will work for you too. Mentioned on This Episode Content Strategy Clarity free challenge

Everyone has their own hangups about content development and marketing our businesses, and I love that this week's guest is helping authors to overcome those challenges. Debbie Gonzales is a former educator and administrator and an author and coach for authors in the kidlit industry. She works with authors of all backgrounds and experience levels to get their books in the hands of readers. Like so many of us in this entrepreneurial space, Debbie dove in head-first and learned everything she could about owning a business. She learned how to blog (and why it's a marathon, not a sprint), how age impacts how you're marketing yourself and the importance of community for women of a "certain age." As someone in Debbie's "certain age" target market, I could not have been happier to chat with her. Not only that, but Debbie is a member of my Content Mastery Lab and she gives new meaning to the words star student. Mentioned in this Episode Your First 1000 Copies: The Step-by-Step Guide to Marketing Your Book by Tim Grahl Girls with Guts!: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records by Debbie Gonzales Content Mastery Lab About Debbie Gonzales Debbie is a career educator, curriculum consultant, former school administrator and adjunct professor, a podcaster (The Debcast), and a visibility coach who helps authors and illustrators to gain the clarity, focus, and skills required to develop influence and visibility in the kidlit marketplace. She's the author of six transitional readers for New Zealand publisher, Giltedge, and the non-fiction picture book Girls with Guts: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records (Charlesbridge, 2019). Deb serves as a member of the Michigan Reading Association board and earned her MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Learn more about Deb and her many projects on her website.

It's so hard to say no to something in business, but that's exactly what you need to do if you're feeling overwhelmed by the idea of creating all the content in all the places. You do not need to show up everywhere online to market your business effectively. In fact, the opposite is true. You need to be strategic and focused when delivering your message. You need to do your homework and know exactly where your audience is showing up—and then double down there. If you're struggling with what content to create for your audience, you need to listen in to this episode. I'm giving you permission to stop publishing content on all the platforms so you can truly focus on the things that will bring you the best return on your investment. Mentioned on This Episode They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan Content Strategy Clarity free challenge Content Mastery Lab membership

Getting more visibility has never been easier, especially with the ease with which we can create content today. And by "content," I don't necessarily mean blog posts and YouTube videos. On today's episode of the Stories in Small Business podcast, I'm talking with my friend Jodi Brandon about why business owners should consider writing a book to elevate their business and how to put aside the fears of jumping into the process. Jodi also shares a big "oops" she made in her own first self-publishing venture. Of course, I love that she shared this because no one is perfect and we can all make mistakes--even within our own expertise. We also talk about outsourcing in our businesses, my progress (or lack thereof) with writing my own book and her new group program, The Write Life. Listen in now! Mentioned in This Episode Write. Publish. Market. by Jodi Brandon The Write Life About Jodi Brandon Jodi Brandon has more than 20 years' experience in book publishing. After many years working in traditional publishing, Jodi and her husband relocated from New York to Philadelphia and she launched her freelance editing business. Today Jodi works primarily as a book publishing partner for entrepreneurs, creatives, and small business owners who want to grow their business with a book. Find more on her website or follow her on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

Content marketing can save the day in your business. Really. What excuses are YOU telling yourself about why you're not creating content for your business? It's time to stop. You can't afford to NOT be creating content for your business. This week's episode is all about my favorite book ever on content marketing, They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan. It's such a powerful book that every business owner and content marketer needs to read. Because if you're not answering your audience's questions, are you really offering them what they need and want to make an informed buying decision? (The answer is no.) Tune in for some of the big takeaways and be sure to pick up your copy of the book today! (We're actually reading it in my membership book club in Q1 2020.) Mentioned on this Episode They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan Episode 21 - How to Improve Your Reputation Right Now ActiveCampaign MemberVault 4 Steps to Content Strategy Clarity - Free Video Series