The Kara Report | Online Marketing Tips and Candid Business Conversations

We talk a lot about scaling, hiring, and chasing the next level in business—but what if growth doesn’t have to mean building a team or launching a course? What if the most sustainable, profitable version of your business is… well, kind of boring?I have to be honest, in this stage of my business? Boring actually sounds pretty good to me.In this episode, I’m joined by Maggie Patterson—creator of BS-Free Business and author of Staying Solo—for an honest conversation about what it actually looks like to run a profitable solo business without the drama. We get into all the mindset myths, accidental micro-agencies, and how chasing the wrong version of “success” can leave you burned out and broke (even if it looks great on paper).If you’ve ever felt pressure to grow a team, launch a digital product, or “scale” in a way that doesn’t feel aligned—this one’s going to feel like a giant exhale. Permission granted to run a simple, quiet, profitable business that actually supports your life. 🎙️ In This Episode:The “accidental agency” trap—and why it’s more common than you thinkWhy staying solo doesn’t mean you’re “playing small”What to consider before you start hiringA 6-part framework to build a sustainable solo business🔗 Links Mentioned:Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/71Buy Maggies Book: https://bsfreebusiness.com/bookGet Maggie's FREE Calculator Kit (for pricing and capacity!): https://bsfreebusiness.com/kit/Connect with Maggie: https://bsfreebusiness.com/Follow Maggie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bsfreebusiness Learn more about working with our team: https://thekarareport.com/servicesFollow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport

We talk a lot about strategy in business—pricing, marketing, systems—but what about the mindset stuff that quietly chips away at our growth and profits? The truth is, some of the most expensive mistakes I’ve made weren’t because of bad investments or wrong moves… they were because of imposter syndrome.You know the feeling: you hesitate to raise your prices because you’re worried people will walk away. You sign up for yet another course hoping it’ll finally make you feel “qualified enough.” You keep quiet in client conversations instead of setting boundaries because you don’t want to seem difficult or unprofessional. If any of that hits close to home—you’re not alone.In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on four sneaky ways imposter syndrome has cost me thousands (yep, tens of thousands, if I’m being honest). From overinvesting in education I didn’t need to undercharging for services I knew were delivering real results, I’m walking you through the hard lessons I wish someone had told me earlier. Awareness is the first step!🎙️ In This Episode:How investing in too many courses was a $$$ mistakeThe software I kept paying for just to “look professional”—and how much it cost meWhy I overdelivered for years and undercharged, even with happy clients + results🔗 Links Mentioned:Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/70Learn more about working with our team: https://thekarareport.com/servicesFollow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport

There’s no shortage of website advice out there—but if you’ve ever felt like your site is technically “fine” and still not doing the heavy lifting for your business, this episode is your sign to stop settling for “good enough” copy and start infusing your website with the kind of personality and clarity that actually converts.In this episode, I’m joined by Sara Noel of BTL Copy—the internet’s most unapologetic, hilarious, no-BS website copywriter. Sara’s known for helping business owners write websites that sound like them and get results. We talk about what makes website copy actually work, why “About Us” is the worst headline ever, and how to finally stop overthinking every word on your site.🎙️ In This Episode:Why AI-generated copy might be better than nothing—but still isn’t itThe biggest signs your website copy isn’t doing its jobHow to infuse your copy with personality (without sounding like everyone else)Sara’s no-fluff rules for writing killer headlines + CTAsThe one thing Sara wants everyone to fix on their website right now🎁 Bonus: Sign up for Sara's FREE masterclass "I'm Cool, But My About Page Isn't" happening on Thursday: https://thekarareport.com/about-page-masterclass🔗 Links Mentioned:Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/69Sign up for Site Series (amazing website copy course!): https://thekarareport.com/site-series Sara's blog on writing a contact page: https://betweenthelinescopy.com/blog/contact-page-formula/Connect with Sara from BTL Copy: https://betweenthelinescopy.com/Follow Sara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btlcopy Learn more about working with our team: https://thekarareport.com/servicesFollow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport

There’s no shortage of marketing advice out there—but if you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the things and still not seeing results, this episode is your sign to stop guessing and start tracking what actually works.In this episode, I’m joined by data-backed marketing strategist Ally from Akari Digital, who helps small business owners cut through the noise and make smarter marketing decisions using real data. We talk about Google Analytics, the most important (and actually useful) metrics to track, and how to uncover the hidden bottlenecks that might be slowing your business down.If you've ever said, “I know I should be looking at my numbers… I just don’t know where to start,” this episode is the perfect starting point.🎙️ In This Episode:The 4 stages of the customer journey—and what to track at each oneHow to use Google Analytics without feeling overwhelmedThe most common (and costly) tracking mistakes business owners makeHow to identify what’s actually driving your leads and sales🎁 Bonus: Grab Ally’s Google Analytics Self-Audit Tool for just $1 using the code KARAREPORT — it includes a step-by-step dashboard, walkthrough video, and a bonus lesson on UTMs to track where your traffic is coming from: https://akaridigital.thrivecart.com/google-analytics-self-audit/?coupon=KARAREPORT🔗 Links Mentioned:Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/68Connect with Ally from Akari Digital: https://akaridigital.ca/Follow Ally on Instagram: https://instagram.com/akaridigitalLearn more about working with our team: https://thekarareport.com/servicesFollow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport

There are a million ways to grow your business—but what if the most powerful strategy to grow a high-impact business was actually doing less?In this episode, I’m joined by holistic business coach Rosemary Dede, who helps high-achieving women build businesses that align with their lifestyle, values, and seasons of life. We talk about redefining success, creating intentional systems, and building a business that supports you, not the other way around.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, burned out, or like your business is running you, this episode is your permission slip to pause, reset, and build from a place of clarity.🎙️ In This Episode:How to identify the true needle-movers in your businessSimplifying your offers and systems for more time + impactSelling with ease and showing up for your warm audienceThe difference between work-life balance vs. work-life harmony🔗 Links Mentioned:Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/67Connect with Rosemary: https://rosemarydede.comDM Rosemary on Instagram (she loves voice notes!): https://instagram.com/rosemary.dedeListen to Rosemary’s podcast: Balanced Business FormulaLearn more about working with our team: https://thekarareport.com/servicesFollow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport

Are you still treating your blog like it’s 2017—posting short, generic updates and wondering why your traffic isn’t budging? Or maybe you’ve been putting off blogging altogether because you’re not sure it’s still worth it in the era of AI, TikTok, and shiny new platforms. If that’s you, this episode is a must-listen.Today, I’m diving deep into what’s really working for blogging in 2025—and what outdated strategies are dragging your content down. Whether you’re brand new to blogging or looking to revive your content strategy, I’m sharing actionable tips, real talk about SEO (it’s not dead!), and how to make sure your blog posts actually lead to sales.🎙️ In This Episode:Outdated blogging advice you should ditch immediatelyWhat Google actually wants now (hint: it’s not AI-written fluff)How to write blog posts that actually convert to salesThe bare minimum blogging strategy that still gets resultsHow to repurpose blog posts across Pinterest, social, and emailKeyword strategy updates you need to knowFrequently asked questions about word count, platform, time commitment, and moreLinks Mentioned: Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/66Hire us to write SEO-driven blog posts for you: https://thekarareport.com/blogging Our Pinterest Management Services: https://thekarareport.com/pinterestLearn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/services Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport 

Are you feeling like selling your offers is harder than it used to be? Maybe your last launch didn’t hit like you thought it would, or you're noticing your audience seems more hesitant to buy. You’re not imagining it — the market has shifted, and people are being way more cautious with how they spend. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still sell well (and ethically) in this season.In this episode, I’m sharing 3 real, actionable tips for selling right now — even when the world feels chaotic and everything just feels… hard. From reducing risk for your buyers to tightening up your messaging so it actually resonates, this episode is full of honest advice and practical strategy for business owners in launch mode (or honestly, anyone trying to keep revenue steady in weird times).So if you’re tired of second-guessing your sales strategy, or just want a little reminder that it is still possible to thrive in business — this episode is for you.🎙️ In This Episode:3 practical sales strategies for chaotic seasonsHow to reduce risk for your buyers (and why it matters more than ever)The importance of tone and messaging in uncertain timesWhat to do when engagement is low (and how to keep showing up anyway)One reason why you're so exhaustedLinks Mentioned: Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/65Episodes mentioned: #53 about taking breaks & #27 with Tayler from EnjiStart a free trial with Enji: https://thekarareport.com/enjiOur Pinterest Management Services: https://thekarareport.com/pinterestHire us to write SEO-driven blog posts for you: https://thekarareport.com/bloggingHire me for website copy: https://thekarareport.com/copywritingLearn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/services Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport 

There are so many ways to market your business, but one of the most underrated tools? Client experience copy and building a brand voice guide.Everyone talks about sales emails and conversion-driven copy, but what about the emails and messaging after someone inquires? From your inquiry forms to your follow-ups, proposals, and even your contract emails—every touchpoint is an opportunity to reinforce your brand voice and create a seamless client experience.If you’ve ever struggled with writing client emails that feel personal and efficient, this episode is for you! We’re diving into how to craft copy that sounds like you, helps you stand out, and makes the entire client journey smoother. 🎙️ In This Episode:The key to making client communication effortless but personalWhy inconsistent messaging is costing you clients (and how to fix it)How to make your brand voice stick (without falling into clichés)The power of pre-written templates—and how to actually use themLinks Mentioned: Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/64Learn more about working with Andrea: https://andreashah.com/Follow Andrea on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreashahcopy/Instagram post referenced (about not needing a big personality): https://www.instagram.com/p/DGEA2O_p92P/?img_index=1Learn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/servicesFollow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport

There are so many buzzwords in the online space, and "lead generation" is definitely one of them. Everyone says you need to grow your email list, create lead magnets, and optimize your landing pages—but how do you actually make it work?If you’ve ever launched a freebie, only to wonder “Where are the leads?”, this episode is for you! We’ll go beyond the basic advice and talk about what truly makes a lead magnet successful—from landing page copy to strategic call-to-actions.PS: You can grab Sam's Clickable AF CTAs for ONLY $1 using the code KARAREPORT: https://nomadcopyagency.thrivecart.com/clickable-af-ctas/ 🎙️ In This Episode:The biggest mistakes people make with lead generationHow to create a lead magnet people actually wantWhy your landing page may be repelling leads and how to fix itWhat to do after someone joins your list so they actually buy from youLinks Mentioned: Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/63Learn more about working with Sam: http://nomadcopyagency.comFollow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomad.copy Learn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/servicesFollow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport

Are you still using Pinterest like it’s 2019—and wondering why your results aren’t what they used to be? Or maybe you’ve heard that Pinterest is a great tool for traffic and sales, but every time you try, it feels like you’re just throwing pins into the void. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.Today, I’m breaking down exactly what’s working on Pinterest in 2025—and what’s absolutely not worth your time anymore. From outdated strategies that could actually be hurting your reach to the real truth about pinning frequency, keywords, and graphics, we’re diving deep into the latest Pinterest trends.So, if you’re ready to turn Pinterest into a powerful, profitable part of your marketing strategy (without second-guessing every pin), let’s get into it!🎙️ In This Episode:The biggest Pinterest marketing myths that are holding you backHow often you should actually be pinning in 2025The role of keywords, SEO, and AI in today’s Pinterest strategyWhy your Pinterest graphics might be costing you clicks—and how to fix themThe simple (but effective) Pinterest strategy that works for any businessLinks Mentioned: Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/62Read the Tailwind Study: https://tailwind.sjv.io/9LJ4EQBest Pinterest Course in 2025: https://leveeroadstudio.podia.com/a/16ee2Our Pinterest Management Services: https://thekarareport.com/pinterestHire us to write SEO-driven blog posts for you: https://thekarareport.com/bloggingHire me for website copy: https://thekarareport.com/copywritingLearn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/services Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport