Authentic Brand Builders Podcast

Many people believe that consistency means showing up every single day without a break, but I don't see that as sustainable. In addition, content strategies must shift not only to the demands of the market but also to personal life demands as well.

Over the past eight years of being a business owner, my content strategy has shifted numerous times. I've learned to value intentional breaks, which allow me to recharge and continue delivering valuable content, as well as completely overhauling my strategy when it no longer serves me.

If you've noticed a theme in our recent Authentic Brand Builder Podcast episodes, you're not alone. We're all about sharing behind-the-scenes lessons and experiences directly from my journey. 

As you know, storytelling is a core part of my message, and today, I'm excited to dive into discussing my content strategy and how it’s changed throughout the years, and what drove those changes. 

I'm pulling back the curtain to share my evolving content strategy over the past eight years as a business owner.

Inside today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

• The evolution of my content strategy throughout my eight years as a business owner, from the birth of my son, traveling in an RV, and today.

• The unrealistic expectation of daily consistency when it comes to content creation and how I’ve shifted my strategy to meet both personal and business demands.

• The importance of adapting strategies to fit lifestyle changes to maintain effectiveness without burnout.

Personally, I think this is the perfect episode to watch or listen to because of the storytelling aspect.

I've been hosting live challenges for seven years, and with conversion rates averaging between 5% to 7%, and the average 1% to 3%, it's clear they are impactful. 

I’ve honed a process that consistently drives results with my live challenge, and with everyone talking about webinars, I want to offer a different perspective. 

Live challenges allow you to give massive value to your community during a designated time frame, but give you the space to go deeper, something a 60-90 minute webinar can not. 

Plus, in a short time, your audience can follow your challenge and instantly see results, which builds connection and trust quickly.

It's an amazing strategy and tool to not only grow your community, but also nurture and develop your community so they are ready to invest in your offer.

So whether you're launching a new program, live launching an existing one, or wanting to fill your 1:1 program, a well-executed challenge can be a game-changer. 

Today, I am excited to share with you not only why these challenges work so well but also walk you through the step-by-step process for setting up your online challenge.

Inside today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

• The exact process you need to get your online challenge ready and deliver insane value to your audience.

• My top tips for structuring your videos for higher conversions, and how to increase show-up rates.

• A little insider secret I use to support my challenge participants in feeling great about joining my offer.

If you think that you have to have a big team to run a successful online business, I’m glad you’ve found this post.

I used to think the exact same thing, but my experience has taught me otherwise. 

When I first started my business, like so many of you, I was a solopreneur. I didn't have the extra money to pay someone when I was trying to simply pay myself. 

So, I dedicated most of my time to the business, creatively thinking about it and providing for my family. This approach worked well for a while.

As I started taking on more marketing responsibilities, I began considering hiring a team. 

Industry advice pointed me towards hiring for admin work: scheduling clients, sending contracts, etc. 

These tasks never quite justified the need for hiring someone in my mind. I instead thought about the areas where hiring help would directly contribute to generating revenue.

My first hire was a Virtual Assistant (VA) for contracted work, specifically for marketing-related tasks. 

I remember feeling nervous about the financial commitment, but it quickly paid off. 

This small hire allowed me to reclaim valuable time, which I used to focus on revenue-generating activities like hosting live events and webinars.

From there, I began to think hiring a big team was needed - boy was I wrong.

Inside today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

• One of my most expensive lessons with hiring a team and what it taught me.

• The first few steps to take and things to consider when hiring team members.

• The type of first hire I recommend every solopreneur consider for the highest ROI.

For the full content, and all the insider tips, listen to Episode 122 now.

I get it, all the marketing strategies available online can be overwhelming, especially for entrepreneurs.

But, let me be honest with you for a second - THEY ALL WORK!

The idea that there is one magical approach that fits all is a myth. What works for you determines who you are as a person, your schedule, and what aligns with your brand.

Every business, every brand, and every entrepreneur is unique, so the approach that works wonders for one might completely miss the mark for another.

Today’s episode is all about how to identify the best marketing strategy for you and why authenticity in your marketing strategy is key to your brand’s success. 

Inside today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

• Why your marketing strategy is a direct reflection of your authentic brand and might even play the largest role in your brand’s success.

• The 3 levels of marketing that every strategy NEEDS to hit consistently to have leads and sales.

• The top questions to ask yourself to determine which marketing strategy will work for YOUR brand.

**I’ve included the main points below, but I encourage you to dive into the full episode via audio or video!

For the full content, and all the insider tips, listen to Episode 121 now.

Summer may not be officially over, but it sure feels like fall with all things pumpkin pie and spice. And with the transition to fall, comes a new season of the Authentic Brand Builders Podcast.

If you’re new here or unfamiliar with my approach to building and running a business, I’m all about sustainability. For the past few years, I’ve prioritized taking a summer break to dive deep into my business and spend quality time with my family. 

This past summer was no exception. 

In an episode aired before my break, I explained that this wasn't a full sabbatical where I stepped away completely, but rather a period of minimized output. This allowed me to relax and recharge, which is crucial for every business owner.

Taking a break from creating new content freed up a lot of my time, enabling me to explore aspects of my business I usually don’t have time for.

As we jump into new episodes, I am excited to share a recap of my summer and some of the exciting discoveries and changes that happened behind the scenes at Brandmerry. 

Inside today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

• Why I always prioritize taking an intentional break from content creation and how it doesn’t affect my ability to get leads or make sales in my business.

• The #1 experiment I’m so thankful I did back in 2016, and how this summer proved it only gets better with time.

• A reminder that sometimes what you want isn’t meant to be in that moment, but with patience and experimentation it will be better than imagined.

**I’ve included the main points below, but I encourage you to dive into the full episode via audio or video!

For the full content, and all the insider tips, listen to Episode 120 now.

As a business owner and entrepreneur, I frequently preach the benefits of taking time off. I truly believe that taking not only a week off every quarter, but also an extended period of time where you’re working less can help you maintain a healthy work-life balance. 

Over the past three years, I’ve prioritized taking the summer off of creating new content and have implemented four key habits that have helped me ground myself and prepare for the busy season of fall and winter. I’m able to due this because I focus on sharing my content on evergreen, search engine platforms which means my content is still working even when I’m not!

If you’re considering taking some time off this summer or restructuring your schedule to allow more time for other things, this post will give you some summer habits I swear by.

Inside today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

• Why analysis is so important as a business owner, and my top platforms and tools I use to take a deeper dive.

• What I do with my time when I’m not over here creating new content, and how these habits help me sustain revenue and prepare for the busy season.

• The type of content I prioritze throughout the year to make this break possible and take some time to work less, and truly ground myself.

As an entrepreneur for over eight years, I have come to understand first-hand the challenges and also amazing successes that come with selling authentically online.

When I first started my business, I remember feeling so ICK with myself when I would try to sell online. Something about it felt robotic, inauthentic, and insensitive. It wasn’t out of intention it was simply because I hadn’t made the connection to what selling my services truly was. 

Turns out selling is a BIG part of running any business so I quickly began to adjust the way I sold and marketed online because I knew it was necessary and if it didn’t feel good to me, I knew I wouldn’t do it. Now, I get to support my clients and community members in finding their authentic voice when it comes to selling their services.

Today, I’m excited to share some of my top discoveries and tips with you because I know this is a main concern and struggle for a lot of authentic brand builders. 

Inside today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

• Two selling trends that need to disappear because of their push strategy.

• Two of my favorite selling strategies that focus on pulling your audience in and making them feel seen, heard, and understood.

• The simple mindset shift I made that resulted in more consistent, feel-good sales as an online business owner.

As a firm believer in the power of authentic brand building, I've always been on the lookout for new perspectives and strategies to enhance my approach to social media. Although it's not my go-to marketing strategy, and I’ve had a bit of a love-hate relationship with it over the years, I recognize its potential in building your brand attraction and connection.

Today on the podcast, I’m excited to share a recent conversation I had with Blair Mlotek, the co-founder of Clio Social, where we talked more about her love of social media and how she supports her clients.

This was such a fascinating conversation and I felt like Blair was speaking my language on topics of authenticity, repurposing, and building connections. 

Inside today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

• The 2024 social media trends that Blair and I are most excited about and how you can use them to your benefit as an online marketer.

• Blair’s top tips for planning your social media content efficiently and effectively.

• The importance of building community on social media and how Blair suggests getting started.

After last week’s episode, I had to expand a bit more on all things website optimization. I’m a big advocate, as you’ll see in today’s post, of having a Home Base for your brand (aka your website). 

Your website is a powerful tool that allows you to control your narrative, support your audience as they move through the consumer buying journey, and drive conversions. It’s a crucial component in sustaining a business in the long run. Every month, I’m getting anywhere from 5,000 to 10,0000 visitors to my website. This tool allows me to create consistency in my marketing funnel, and make sure that those that land on my website are supported.

In this post, we'll dive into some top tips for optimizing your website and increasing conversions to help you make the most out of your online presence.

Inside today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

• How to create a clear website roadmap for your ideal customer that helps them move through the consumer buying journey with ease.

• The importance of reiterating or repeating yourself across your website copy, and the three main elements to repeat!

• A simple hack that can increase your conversions almost instantly!

As an entrepreneur deeply passionate about branding and marketing, I believe that getting your brand seen is a crucial aspect of running a successful business. 

However, it always seems to be the hardest part for most entrepreneurs. Over the years, and working with hundreds of clients, I've come across four common mistakes that entrepreneurs often make with their marketing strategies, which impact their brand awareness.

Today, on the podcast, I’m sharing the four marketing mistakes you might be making, and how to ensure you’re getting your brand seen consistently online.

Inside today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

• A trend I’m seeing all over social media that is steering entrepreneurs in the wrong direction.

• A controversial topic among mentors and marketers, and why I think your website is crucial to marketing success.

• A simple tweak you can make to your marketing strategy that will help you feel more confident in your marketing moves.