At Brandmerry, we are big fans of planning. Planning for the year. Planning for 6 months. Planning for each quarter.   But, we also know that planning is only half of the battle.    Having plans and never checking in on their progress can easily lead to a lack of progress.   Things can shift so quickly in online business that if you’re not consistently checking in on your progress, what’s working, and what’s not, you might get caught off guard a little too late.   And that’s just in reference to your data. Now let’s talk about your personal life - how often are you checking in on how your business goals are fitting into your personal lifestyle?   This is something I do regularly as a business owner and every quarter (i.e. 90 days) I’m checking in on my goals, the data behind them, and most importantly, how I feel about the work I’m doing.   For me, this is key to building a sustainable business and something I encourage my clients to do as well.   Today on the podcast, I’m sharing my top questions and tips to Conduct a Quarterly Small Business Audit.   Listen in to the episode for the full rundown of each question below and additional tips for evaluation and then come back and copy these questions for your personal audit.   I recommend completing this audit at the end of every quarter. Then take the information you have in front of you and make adjustments to your goals.   This is a fantastic way to stay on track and make sure you’re making aligned decisions in life and business.

When I was starting my business, I often thought about how I could find clients online.   It was a topic of conversation in most of my programs, everyone was constantly thinking about where they could show up to get in front of their ideal customer and even educators were focused on helping YOU find clients.   As I grew my business and started distancing myself from social media marketing, I began to question the traditional ways of online marketing.   I was introduced to a new world of online marketing that didn’t require me to post daily on social media to get leads and sales.   That's right, social media marketing is not the best marketing strategy if you're looking for a consistent flow of leads and sales. Instead, I started to focus more on evergreen marketing strategies and the power of search engine platforms.   And suddenly my focus went from, “How do I find my clients online,” to “How do my clients find and pay me?”   In today’s episode, on the Brandmerry Podcast, I’m sharing my evolution with online marketing and introducing an important online marketing reframe.   Tune in, to episode 39, to learn:

• How I changed my marketing focus from constantly chasing down my clients to setting my business up so that my clients could find and pay me on a regular basis.
• An alternative to paid advertising, when first starting your marketing, that will save you time and money and increase your marketing ROI.
• The top marketing strategies I recommend every entrepreneur have in place so their ideal customer can find their brand, no matter what stage of the buying process they may be at.

Email marketing is one of the greatest digital marketing tools for online entrepreneurs.   Recently, I shared an episode on My Top Email Marketing Tips for 2022, which included the steps needed to build an email list of ideal customers.   Truth be told if you don’t have an email marketing strategy as an online entrepreneur you’re losing leads every single day.   If you’re getting website traffic, posting on social media, or even have a Youtube channel with views, but aren’t collecting your engaged audience’s information then how do you expect to convert them into paying clients?   It’s going to be really hard!   However, with an email marketing strategy, you’re able to take that website traffic and turn it into revenue for your business through your email marketing efforts.   That’s why in today’s episode, I want to help you improve your email marketing efforts, by talking about your email copywriting.   In episode 38, you’ll learn:

• The importance of keeping a healthy email list and why aiming for a high number of subscribers should not be your only goal.
• 4 core elements to focus on when building your email campaign and my top tips to improve each one.
• How I really feel about the “pretty” photo-filled emails we often get in our inbox, or shall I say Promotions folder.

From 2019 to 2020, I grew my revenue by $100k, finally pulling me over that $200k cash revenue mark.   I had been trying for a while, after first hitting $100k in 2017 (my first full year in business), but came to realize that my current marketing strategies (i.e. social media and Facebook Groups) weren't going to cut it.   Add in the fact that I started traveling in an RV with my family and the internet was limited.   Turns out it was just the push I needed to make the necessary changes to elevate my marketing strategy and I'm so thankful for it.   Not only has business improved, but I've also created more time in my schedule!   If you're feeling like your current strategy is OK, bringing in leads and sales, but not quite where you want it to be... ...then episode 37 on The Brandmerry Podcast is for you.   Tune in now to hear:

• What I did to first set my business up for more website traffic and how it still brings in thousands of dollars every month without ads.
• How the changes in my marketing, i.e. taking the pressure off of daily posting on social media, resulting in more email subscribers and sales in my business.
• How closely marketing and revenue are related and why investing time and energy in your marketing produces the best ROI for your business.

I've been using Pinterest as a business owner since 2017.   At a time when Pinterest felt like an untapped market for small business owners, selling a service or product, I dove in head first (more on that start in the episode). Since then, I've used Pinterest to create consistent website traffic, consistent email subscribers, and sales in my business.   Why is Pinterest for business a must for entrepreneurs? Because it is a search engine platform, not a social media platform. In fact, there are over 2 billion searches each month on Pinterest making it a great place for businesses.   77% of weekly Pinners have discovered a new brand of product on Pinterest and 90% make purchase decisions on Pinterest.   See how amazing it is?! Well, although amazing, it's not super easy, so today on the podcast I'm sharing my top Pinterest tips and tricks.   Tune in now to hear:

• My top 6 Pinterest marketing tips for business owners who are wanting to start harnessing the power of Pinterest SEO.
• The evolution of marketing on Pinterest and why the strategies used in 2021 won't work in 2022.
• What every entrepreneur must remember about consistent marketing on Pinterest and my tips for sustaining it.

I'm on a mission to help more entrepreneurs think about not only building a revenue-generating business, but also a sustainable one.   A business that gives them the freedom to enjoy the money they are making. A business that creates consistent income without taking all of their time. A business that you can take a break from!   Yes, taking a vacation or break is difficult when your business requires you to be present, especially before you have a team, BUT it's important.   The more you prioritize your personal self-care and breaks the better your business will be. Yes, in today's episode I'm sharing my #1 tip when building a sustainable business... ...my quarterly week of rest!

Your landing page (aka opt-in-page) is one of the greatest tools for entrepreneurs to grow their email list and ultimately their business.   It's not secret that growing an email list is an amazing asset, but where does your landing page come into play.   Should you just have a pop-up on your website? What about an opt-in box to your newsletter on the blog? Why do you need a landing page?   Well, I'm answering that and so much more on the Brandmerry Podcast! Too many entrepreneurs are throwing away their ability to grow their email list because they don't have a landing page, and if they do, they don't think about the best ways to optimize it.   Not any more. You'll learn 6 specific ways to increase conversions on your landing page in today's episode!   Tune in now to hear:

• The importance of your lead magnet landing page and where to share it to grow your email list of ideal customers.
• 6 of my top landing page conversion tips to increase the percentage of people who join your email list!
• The simple change you can make, which takes less than 2 minutes, to increase conversions on your landing page.

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I'm going to make a bold statement, that you may or may not like!   Email Marketing and having an email list is a MUST.   And of course, I'm sharing exactly why that is in today's podcast, but here's my general rule of thumb. As a business owner, you absolutely need a database (something you can take anywhere) of your prospective clients. That my friend is an email list.   Relying on social media to build a community is just asking for disaster!   So, not only are you getting the full rundown of why an email list is important, but I'm also sharing how to grow one and my top tips for email marketing in 2022.   It's all happening in Episode 32 of The Brandmerry Podcast, where you'll learn:  

• The truth about marketing and how building a community via your email list is just good for business, and profits.
• The step-by-step process that's needed to build your email list (yes, even if you're starting from ZERO just like we all did).
• 4 of my top email marketing tips for 2022 and what to look for when choosing a platform so you can make your email marketing practice more effortless and streamlined.

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As a content creator, you've probably recognized that it can take a lot of time to plan, organize, create and schedule your content for social media.   The good news is you're not alone! I recently surveyed my audience and the #1 struggle they stated when it comes to content creation is time. Whether you have a limited amount of time to sit down and create or find the process incredibly overwhelming and time-consuming, you're in the right spot!   Over the past 6 years, I've consistently created content online, posting new content at least once a week on my blog, youtube, podcast, email, and/or social media. When I started, I was not only doing it all myself but also working a 9 to 5 and raising a newborn. I had to learn pretty quickly how to create content efficiently, so I wasn't spending all my time behind the scenes of my business.   These tips have helped my clients go from spending 4-6 hours a week on content creation to just 2 and now I'm sharing my top 7 tips with you.   In episode 32 of The Brandmerry Podcast, I'm sharing, "7 Content Creator Time-Saving Tips," so you can start to more effectively create and share content, show up consistently and build your profitable online business.   Tune in now to hear:

• The single practice I've been doing for 6 years now, that has helped me show up weekly online with "fresh" content.
• Why it's taking you forever to create your content and exactly what to switch in your strategy to make sure you're not wasting hours on content creation for social media, video marketing, and more.
• How I never run out of ideas for content creation and what might be missing from your current content creation marketing strategy.

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Marketing is always changing! Every single year it feels like there is a new focus on what we should be focused on to succeed.   As someone who studies this work on a regular basis, looking for trends, changes, and ways to excel, I can tell you it's exhausting! The way platforms change suddenly, right after it feels like you've gotten the hang of it, to new "must-know" platforms popping up regularly can be a real pain.   But, a few years ago I started to look at marketing differently. What if we didn't just focus on the fads and trends and what was working right at this moment, but more on longevity. The tried and true practices that had been working for years?!   My entire approach to marketing changed at that moment and so did my business. Over the past two years, I've experienced incredible growth in my business sales and leads, without sacrificing my time or spending an insane amount on a marketing budget.   So, as we enter another year of marketing, which is sure to be full of fun changes, I'm sharing my top predictions from the year ahead. What to see how my 2021 predictions played out? Check those out here.   In Episode 31, of the Brandmerry Podcast, tune in now to hear:

• The biggest lesson we learned from 2021 when it comes to marketing our businesses and what every single entrepreneur will need to succeed in 2022.
• How I really feel about video marketing in the new year and if every entrepreneur really needs it.
• The tried and true approach to marketing that just hasn't changed and why it's more important than ever!

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