The Kara Report | Online Marketing Tips and Candid Business Conversations

Have you been feeling frustrated with the 'Gram lately? I know every single one of you are probably raising your hand right now. That is EXACTLY why I brought Ashley Watkins onto the podcast today. If you've been following me for a while, you know, I have had a love/hate relationship with Instagram. Like I am sure everybody else has. Should we be doing what Meta recommends now? As an OG Instagram strategist, Ashley tells us today! 🎙️ In This Episode:What Meta recommends (and why it doesn't always work for small business owners)The mistakes small businesses are making on the platformHow to evaluateHer long-form content strategy that helps her generate Links Mentioned:Learn more about Ashley Watkins: https://ashleyconvertscontent.com/Hang out with Ashley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleycurateslife/Check out this green screen trending reel example from Ashley: https://www.instagram.com/p/C5jlKR5S2KJ/Hire Ashley for a VIP day: https://ashleycurates.hbportal.co/public/65cc09db6e8d6e00196636bbLearn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/servicesFollow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport

Do you ever wonder what people who have more successful businesses are doing? I know I always swipe through on carousels and listen to episodes like this, and often it's the same kind of things, like "they're consistent", "they charge their worth", kind of basic advice like that. This episode is not like that.Instead, I have gathered 11 things that I genuinely see people doing who have multi-six and seven figure businesses, (and I know this BECAUSE I am behind the scenes in their business). I guarantee you haven't thought of or noticed some of these things before.Also, YAY for this being episode 20 already! If you haven't left a review yet, I would really appreciate it you would take a moment to now!🎙️ In This Episode:11 things that almost every multi-six and 7 figure business owner I work with is doingWhat these things have in common (they aren't exciting lol)What I'm going to be working on doing better in my own biz based on these "findings"Links Mentioned: Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/20Hire us to be your Pinterest Managers + Blog Writers: https://thekarareport.com/blogging-and-pinterest-marketing-agencyFREE guide on how to balance fast and slow marketing strategy: https://thekarareport.com/roadmap Learn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/services Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport 

Do inconsistent revenue months stress you out? If so, you are not alone. Most of us are dealing with inconsistent revenue months. And it can be stressful AF. Even in my own business (where a majority of my clients are on monthly retainers), I still deal with inconsistency in the number of VIP days booked, or in my wedding business during "busy season".That was one of the reasons I brought Tiffany Scarlett on the podcast! For those of you that haven't met Tiffany yet, she's an on-demand CFO and business strategist for online creative business owners who want to grow their business without worrying about the finances. She works with heart-led, kind, impactful creatives, and she really walks the walk. Even though she is a money person, obviously as a CFO, she really believes in building a business that supports your life. She believes that managing your money well is a way to do that. 🎙️ In This Episode:How a money strategy is DIFFERENT than your P&L statementDeciding how much money you really need to makeA case study of hitting 50K months, going broke, and wanting to burn it downMistakes creative entrepreneurs often make when it comes to managing their business financesLinks Mentioned:Learn more about Tiffany here: https://misstiffanyscarlett.com/Hang out with Tiffany on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misstiffanyscarlett/Grab Tiffany's FREE Consistent Revenue Guide: https://misstiffanyscarlett.com/free-resources Book a Website Copy VIP Day: https://thekarareport.com/copywriting Learn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/services Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport 

So you're trying to hit a specific word count on WordPress or on your blog. But how do you do it without adding in a ton of fluff? Today, we're going to talk about how to make blog posts longer without filling them with garbage. Make sure to listen to the end to hear my thoughts on (or shall I say rant on) "SEO being dead" and the new Google algorithm. Let's get into it.🎙️ In This Episode:How important is your word count in 2024?3 Ways to write longer blog posts (without rambling or being boring)Is SEO Dead in 2024?What I think about Google's new algorithm update last monthLinks Mentioned: Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/18Hire us to write SEO-driven blog posts for you: https://thekarareport.com/bloggingJoin Blogging for Bingeable Brands (Use Code PODCAST20 for 20% Off!): https://thekarareport.com/bbbLearn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/services Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport 

How do we go from keywords to conversions? That is the infamous question. How do we rank on Google in a way that will not only get us found, but also get us paid? You guys know I am passionate about this, but today on the podcast, I actually have brought on someone who might be even more passionate than I am to start breaking down SEO.I have brought you Mariah, an award-winning organic SEO consultant and online business educator for entrepreneurs. She covered so much and let me pick her brain about AI and Google, what we are supposed to do if nobody is searching for our keywords and so much more! She makes breaking down SEO sound SO easy. I can't wait to share her brilliance on the podcast today.🎙️ In This Episode:Breaking down SEO (what it is and what it isn't!)Can your website rank without a blog?How can we avoid cannibalizing our websites with keywords?How AI is changing SEO rankingsWhat to do when nobody is searching for your keywordsLinks Mentioned:Learn more about Mariah Magazine: http://www.mariahmagazine.com/ Hang out with Mariah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahmagazineco/ Learn more about Mariah’s SEO Workshops & Team Training: https://www.mariahmagazine.com/seo-workshops/ View Mariah’s Digital Products: https://www.mariahmagazine.com/shop-digital-products/ Head over to Mariah’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTTmZq04aCmZGy5nfonns1A Download Mariah’s Free Roadmap for SEO: https://www.mariahmagazine.com/seo-roadmap/ SEMrush Free Trial: https://www.semrush.com/ Learn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/services Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport 

Everybody is short on time, whether it's you writing the blog post or your ideal client reading the blog post, nobody wants anything to take any longer than it absolutely has to, right? So today, I'm going to share three blogging hacks that will make it easier for you to write your blog post (and make your posts more digestible for your ideal client to read it).Because let's be honest, they're not reading it. They're skimming it. When you write a blog post, we have to write for both Google and for our people because we want it to rank, but we also want it to sell.  I cover everything you need to know about blogging for SEO in my Blogging for Bingeable Brands mini course, which you can get 20% off with code Podcast 20, but today, I'm sharing three hacks to help you with this!🎙️ In This Episode:3 Hacks to write blog posts faster for the skimmerOne thing that Google has been prioritizing latelyAnswering: do you need to hit a certain word count?Links Mentioned: Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/16Hire us to write SEO-driven blog posts for you: https://thekarareport.com/bloggingJoin Blogging for Bingeable Brands (Use Code PODCAST20 for 20% Off!): https://thekarareport.com/bbbLearn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/services Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport 

Have you ever felt like achieving the next revenue milestone or booking a certain number of projects would solve all your problems? I brought on Alane, who shares her experience of having her best year in business when she booked 93 weddings but still felt burned out. It’s crazy to think about 93 weddings, but I can really relate to the idea that more money, work, and clients don’t necessarily fix everything. And they definitely don’t give you that “work-life alignment” everyone is looking for!🎙️ In This Episode:What having systems REALLY looks like (it's not a bunch of tech!)What stage of business you need to start taking systems seriouslyImportant mindset shifts to make this yearLessons from being "too busy" in your businessLinks Mentioned:Learn more about Alane: https://www.writeprettyforme.comHang out with Alane on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writeprettyformeLearn more about Alane’s 1:1 Flourish in Biz Mentoring program: https://writeprettyforme.com/education-for-calligraphers/#title or book a call with her here!Listen to Alane's podcast: https://www.calligraphybizcorner.com/Read Alane's post about embracing the unknown: https://www.instagram.com/p/C2yTJAdL5PO/FREE guide on how to balance fast and slow marketing strategy: https://thekarareport.com/roadmapLearn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/services Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport 

Even after seven years in business, I still sometimes think of branding as this intangible thing. We know we need it to stand out. Nobody is disputing that good design and strategic branding for service providers has a strong ROI. It's been proven over and over again, and yet it's still something that I feel a lot of business owners—who are not designers, have questions about. It's more that we don't know the right questions to ask.So that's why I am THRILLED to say that I brought Ellie from Ellie Brown Branding on the podcast to talk about brand and website design for service providers. She was absolutely fabulous. She's such a talented designer based in Cañon City, Colorado, and works primarily with service-based businesses and lots of local businesses. So, if you're a service provider or you are in Cañon City or Colorado, definitely hit her up.🎙️ In This Episode:When is the right time to invest in a brand and website design? Should you do a brand refresh or a complete rebrand? Should you go with a completely custom website or a customizable templateWhat role do messaging and visuals play together?What are the biggest mistakes we are making on our website?Links Mentioned:Learn more about Ellie Brown Branding: http://www.elliebrownbranding.comHang out with Ellie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliebrownbrandingSign up for Booked Out Designer (Ellie's affiliate link - but this was a tipping point for her!): https://elliebrownbranding.com/bodFREE guide on how to balance fast and slow marketing strategy: https://thekarareport.com/roadmapLearn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/services Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport 

 Today I have a fun episode! I was recently planning my toddler's 2-year-old birthday and obviously the first place I went is Pinterest. I don't think that's a surprise to anyone, and I kind of was just really nerdily thinking about my buying decisions, what my natural user behaviors are, and that kind of stuff. So as I was planning and shopping, I gathered seven things we need to remember about the way that people use Pinterest specifically when making a buying decision. Want more sales from Pinterest? That's what I want to talk about today. Let's get into it. 🎙️ In This Episode:7 reminders if you want to make more sales from PinterestWho I bought from on Pinterest, and what I looked forWhat inspired me (that I ended up buying local!)How I felt about affiliate links on Pinterest Links Mentioned: Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/13Hire us to be your Pinterest Managers: https://thekarareport.com/pinterestThe research: 1 in 3 Pinterest shoppers have an annual income of $100,000+, 70% of Pinterest’s luxury audience is under 35 years old, Pinterest users spend 80% more per month than on other platforms FREE guide on how to balance fast and slow marketing strategy: https://thekarareport.com/roadmap Learn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/services Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport 

Melissa brought REAL data and numbers in this episode, where she shared exactly what running ads in 2024 looks like, the buzzwords that aren't working anymore, and how we can better set realistic expectations when it comes to how fast things will work (and how much it will cost!). I absolutely loved this conversation and I can't wait to share it here today!🎙️ In This Episode:What a good starting budget for ads isHow to reverse engineer your goals to decide how much you should spendThe truth behind SLO funnels (tiny offer funnels) + what's working nowRed flags for hiring an ads manager in 2024Links Mentioned:Start your ad campaign with confidence with Melissa's FREE Proven Pixel Permit™: https://litchfieldmedia.org/proven-pixel-permitJoin the Beta Launch of Ad Traffic School: https://litchfieldmedia.thrivecart.com/ad-traffic-school-membership-beta/ Learn more about Litchfield Media: https://litchfieldmedia.org/Hang out with Melissa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/litchfieldmediaWatch Melissa's Youtube video breaking down her threads strategy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY2jOAXKATUFREE guide on how to balance fast and slow marketing strategy: https://thekarareport.com/roadmapLearn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/services Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport