Work Less, Earn More

  Automation saves time, and can help you earn more, but it can also cost you money.   In this amazing digital age we live in, most of us are aware that we can have machines, computers, and software programs do a lot of work for us. And for entrepreneurs, who are trying to build successful businesses, that “free” labor is pretty appealing.   So, we automate. We look for things that can be done the same way each and every time, and we set up a machine system to do those tasks for us.   But sometimes, the soul of the process is lost when we attempt to create an automated process.   What happens when we lose the human touch?   What gets missed when we trade intentional, strategic decision-making and communication for automated processes?   Today, I’ll be talking about the pitfalls of automating too soon and of automating too many of your processes. You’ll hear about the mistakes I made early on in my business and about processes that seem ripe for automation, and what can go wrong when you do it too soon.   Listen to the full episode to hear: Conversion statistics that will make you think twice about automating your sales process Why content creation, audience interaction and customer service are key to supporting your dedicated sales process What tasks you should automate before you even think about sales automation How thoughtful delegation can be automation with a human touch   Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!  

Confession: Lately, I’ve been feeling BUSY.   Not exactly on-brand, right? After all, I’ve built my business on the platform of working LESS -- 20 hours per week or less, to be exact.   Now, don’t get me wrong… I’m still on that track. Not that I can really take credit for that; between 4 kids, homeschooling, housekeeping, a little (tiny) bit of exercise, and just trying to keep everyone fed… I never have more than about 4 hours a day to work.   But that doesn’t stop me from writing a longer to-do list. And then having an anxiety attack because I’m feeling overwhelmed and behind.   #yesimhumantoo   I’ve been taking steps to improve this situation -- starting with just getting real with myself about how much time I actually have available to work each day, and ruthlessly chopping down my to-do list to fit.   But with a marketing-centric, digital content business like I run, there’s only so much I can delegate, outsource, and automate. At the end of the day, it’s my face on everything and I have to show up to talk to the camera, record the courses, and write the words.   So, when Andréa Jones was suggested as a potential guest on the show, I jumped at the chance to talk to her!   Andréa is a social media strategist who specializes in how to get results with less effort – girl after my own heart! – and the host of the Savvy Social Podcast.   I invited her onto the show because, not only is she an expert at using social media strategies to grow online business and impact the world, but she does so with a focus on simple strategies that give the biggest results with the least effort   She has some really counter-intuitive strategies… including posting LESS for more impact.   Listen to the full episode to hear: What's the first thing an online business owner should consider when it comes to creating a simple, yet effective social media strategy The best tips for creating a social media strategy that gets the biggest "bang for your buck" Some common roadblocks to creating share-worthy social media content And what to do if you truly don't enjoy creating content for social media (but you know you need to in order to grow your business).   Learn more about Andréa Jones: OnlineDrea Savvy Social Podcast Instagram @onlinedrea Facebook @onlinedrea Twitter @onlinedrea   Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!  

I don't think I was 5 minutes into learning about online business before I started hearing how important it was to "grow your list."   It seemed like everyone was talking about how important it was to collect email addresses, and how valuable of an asset a big list is.   So, naturally, I got to work.   Only to find out how difficult it is to "grow your list."   After I'd signed up my husband, school friends, and a few random people I'd met in FB groups, I hit a wall. It was literal years before I started seeing real progress.   And you know what made this even more frustrating? The people who DID join my list didn't buy anything.   So there I was, working my tail off to try to "grow my list," spending real money on my email marketing software, and not seeing any real returns.   What was I doing wrong??   Almost everything, it turned out.   And, starting with the very first thing: the first impression people got after signing up for my newsletter.   In today's episode, I'll be explaining how YOU can write an email welcome sequence that will make a great first impression, start building a strong relationship with your new subscribers, and lead them to purchase your product.   Listen to the full episode to hear: How to create an email welcome sequence — a series of emails that gets sent to each new subscriber right after they sign up The basic schedule to use for these emails What to say in each of these emails And answers to some common questions about email welcome sequences   Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!  

Do you follow anyone online who seems to be 100% unashamedly THEMSELF and everyone seems to love them?   It kinda makes you wonder (or at least, it makes me wonder): is this person just unusually charismatic -- and they know it -- or can anyone be that attractive if they’re that confident?   Margo Aaron falls into this category for me. I stumbled upon her work about a year ago and felt like everything she wrote hit a chord with my soul.   Needless to say, I subscribed immediately. And have read nearly everything she’s sent me since.   Now, I’ve got some questions for Margo. Like… Does she somehow know that what she’s writing will hit home? Is she really as “authentic” as she seems? …or is it all a carefully planned marketing effort? What’s her best advice for being “yourself” and also writing words that other people will love? (And for all of us entrepreneurs… words that sell our products?)   Basically, what I want to know is: how can we both be ourselves AND be popular?   If that’s possible, then today we’re going to find out, because I convinced Margo to come on the podcast and let me interrogate interview her.   Listen to the full episode to hear: Why the best copy doesn't come from your imagination, it comes from talking to people How Margo uses boundaries to show up authentically as herself in EVERYTHING she does Why marketing and selling is simply the art and science of getting people to care How Margo uses data to draw conclusions about what she should create Margo’s best advice if you don't have an audience to listen to   Learn more about Margo Aaron: www.margocarroll.com Follow Margo on Instagram   Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!   Episode Mentions David Ogilvy    

What’s the best thing for you to work on right now to move your business forward?   Well, to answer that question, start with this one: What stage of growth is your business in?   Confused? You’re not alone.   Quite possibly, you don’t know, because… nobody told you what your options are. Nobody broke down the stages of growth and gave you the big-picture for building a successful business.   Not your fault at all, but worth changing! Understanding where your business is in its growth makes it easy to know what your top priority (AKA the work that will actually move the needle) should be.   This week, on the podcast, I interviewed business designer Michelle Warner. Michelle has an MBA from a top business school, and years of practical experience working with small business owners to strategically grow their companies.   In the episode, Michelle walks us through the 5 stages of small business growth (don’t worry, they’re easily understandable!), how to know which one YOU are in right now, and what that means you should focus on to GROW fast and strong.   She also shares exactly what you need to do to move forward to the next stage from where you’re at right now.   If you want to get clarity on exactly what you should be working on right now to build your business, then this episode is a must-listen.   This interview is an eye-opener for sure. Don’t miss it!   Listen to the full episode to hear: How to figure out what you should work on next that will make the biggest impact on your business The five stages of growth in business and how to define them What stage the most significant part of initial product development happens How to know when you’re ready to move out of one stage and into the next When you might need to go back a stage (and what to look for)   Learn more about Michelle Warner: themichellewarner.com Instagram @michelle.warner   Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch! <!-- --> <!-- --> <!-- -->

  It's tough to explain something if you don't really understand it yourself.   I'm sure you wouldn't try to teach someone how to rewire their computer, bake the perfect soufflé, or correctly identify a genuine Picasso... unless you happen to have the necessary knowledge. :)   But that doesn't seem to stop anyone from trying to explain why someone should purchase a particular product... even if they have no idea why.     Who are these people? Entrepreneurs like us! We have great ideas and products that we want to share with the world.   So... we ask people to buy them and try to explain reasons they should.   But, too often, those reasons seriously miss the mark.   How can we solve this problem? How can we explain our product in a way that makes sense and helps people understand what it can do for them?   That’s what you’ll learn from today’s podcast!   My guest this week is Dallin Nead, a visionary marketer, brand builder, and messaging expert who has taught thousands how to grow their businesses using the Content Supply™ method.   And now, he's sharing that method with us.   In the episode, you'll learn how to create a simple brand story that helps people understand exactly WHY they should buy your product.   And that's the #1 thing that will increase your sales.   Listen to the full episode to hear: What exactly a brand story is and why we need one How a brand story helps us market our businesses A simple way to create a brand message that you can use no matter who you’re talking to (and why starting with the end in mind is key)   Learn more about Dallin Nead: contentsupply.com Follow Dallin on Instagram   Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!  

“This is it. I’ve figured it out. I know exactly what I need to do now,” I told my husband one day in the fall of 2016.   I’d just returned from a women’s business conference in San Diego. It was the first “big” event I’d attended, and I’d learned a lot.   Including, as it happened, the “missing piece” I needed to finally start making money with my online business.   My puzzle seemed so complete, in fact, that for the next few weeks I struggled to feel motivated to work on my business at all. There was no more mystery to it. No more curiosity driving me forward.   Once I got over that, though, I took my business from earning $0 to over $10K/month in just 18 months.   Sometimes there really are secrets to success…   In this week’s podcast episode, I teach YOU this missing puzzle piece: what it was, why it mattered so much, and how I found and fitted it into my business puzzle to get the results I did.   If you’re wondering why you’re struggling to grow and get the results you’re looking for, this episode is for you.   Hope this lesson has as much impact on YOU as it did on me a few years ago. <3   Listen to the full episode to hear: How I started working 20 hours a week and making next to money at all to making $10K every MONTH Why getting visible to your target audience will dictate where and what platforms you should show up on Why YouTube was my key to getting visible—BUT there are plenty of other ways for YOU to get visible with your audience like using Pinterest Why Pinterest is one of the ways you can get visibility that has the least barriers to entry How podcasts play a huge role in visibility and growing your audience   Resources mentioned in this episode: EP 47: Demystifying SEO with Kim Herrington   Learn more about Gillian: YouTube Growth Workshop Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!  

  If you’re trying to grow your audience on social media, then you KNOW that there’s one thing that matters more than just about anything else…   Engagement.   It doesn’t matter what platform you’re on, the algorithm cares about the same thing: how much people engage -- or don’t -- with your content.   More engagement means people are paying more attention to your posts (good!) and the algorithm rewards that with more reach (good as well!). And that then results in more followers.   The GOOD news is that more people see your “best” posts.   The BAD news is… even if you’re sharing something valuable, important, and potentially impactful… if people don’t actively engage then your results will be lackluster (to put it gently).   Engagement. It’s the name of the game.   The big question is… how do you get more of it??   Well, that’s where my friend Kat Gaskin comes in.   She’s known around the internet as “The Content Planner,” because that’s what she helps entrepreneurs do: plan their social media content.   But when I reached out to her about coming on the podcast, there was something a little different I wanted to talk to her about:   HOW has she built such an incredibly engaged community of raving fans??   ‘Cause Kat doesn’t just have followers on Instagram.   Nope. Her audience is full of the hard-core, ride-or-die type.   And I wanted to know how she’d done it.   You’re welcome. ;)   Listen to the full episode to hear: How Kat developed an irresistible physical product and personal brand on Instagram—with 52K followers and counting Why Kat recommends picking only two social media platforms and her hashtag strategy for getting content in front of different audiences The struggles Kat went through with content planning—and why she developed the Content Planner to make it 100% easier to create content Why focusing on who her customer is becoming rather than focusing just on solving a problem creates an amazingly engaged fan base The four recurring content pillars that Kat uses to engage her Instagram followers (and teaches to all her students)   Learn more about Kat Gaskin: thecontentplanner.com @katgaskin on Instagram @katgaskin on Twitter the salty pineapple shop   Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!  

First off, isn’t it so cool that we live at a time when information is so readily available?   The answer is out there to any question you might have… and it’s probably even just a Google search away!   But with more content created every day than you could ever possibly consume, this abundance of information can also be… overwhelming.   Information overload is real. And it can really hold you back.   You’re trying to build your business, but there are millions of articles, podcasts, and courses all giving you different [conflicting!] advice.   How can you possibly decide which advice to take or what’s your best next step?   If you’ve ever struggled with this, I can relate. And… I can also help.   Turns out, there’s a framework for exactly this. A simple, 2-step process for figuring exactly which aspect of your business you should work on next in order to reach the next level of growth… and I’m going to walk you through everything in this episode.   Listen to the full episode to hear: I walk you through the exact process of this helpful process so that you can figure out exactly what’s the weakest area of your business and decide what your next step should be How to use what you learned from the framework to be able to use your time and use your resources as efficiently as possible and make the biggest progress and reach the biggest results with your business Identifying where you’re struggling the most—or your weakest link—and what to do about it   Learn more about Gillian: Free Validate Checklist Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!  

One of the toughest parts about being “young and broke” is not having the money to do some of the responsible things you know you should be doing. Stuff like: buying (and eating) healthy food regular maintenance on your car extra insurance regular dental exams hiring a bookkeeper for your business   I hope you’re in a place right now where you can afford most of these things... because I know how tough it is to do without them. Both because they’re helpful basics, but also because you know you should be doing them, and it’s stressful to be “letting things slide” -- even when you don’t have much choice.   But if your business is still in its infancy, you might still be cutting a few corners, sticking to a tight budget, and DIY’ing, well… everything.   Kudos to you. Seriously.   The early stages of building a business are tough, but if you can stick them out (and I know you can!!) they will eventually be worth it.   But what’s to be done in the meantime??   Especially when it comes to managing your finances, you can’t just ignore that aspect of your biz until you’re earning enough to hire a pro.   Because let’s face it… if you do that, you might never get to that point at all.   Fortunately, you have options.   On this week’s podcast episode, I interview Mark Butler, CPA and the founder of Let’s Do the Books, a bookkeeping service for brand new companies.   In the episode, Mark shares exactly how to DIY your bookkeeping -- and how to do it right. So that when you eventually are ready to work with a pro, you’ll be PROUD to show them your books and there won’t be any awkward conversations.   shulaconsulting@gmail.com The biggest mistake new business owners make with their business finances Mark’s advice for opening your FIRST business checking account How to set up a SUPER simple spreadsheet to track income and expenses in your business The basics of bookkeeping and accounting that EVERY entrepreneur should understand—especially when you’re in a growth phase The difference between the business profit and the money you take from the business to pay yourself (and how it impacts your books)   Learn more about Mark Butler: letsdothebooks.com @letsdothebooks   Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!