Authentic Online Marketing with Ruthie Gray

In our latest podcast episode about balancing writing and audience growth, I had the pleasure of welcoming Janet McHenry, a renowned national speaker and author of 27 inspiring books, including her latest release, “Praying Personalities.” Janet shared her invaluable insights on balancing the writing life with entrepreneurial endeavors.

Take Janet’s Quiz Praying Personalities

Check out Janet’s website

Use code AUTHENTIC20 for 20% off your next purchase on Janet’s website shop

Follow Janet on Instagram

Listen to Ep. 22: When to trust your instincts for platform growth

Listen to Ep. 111: Efficient Work Methods for the Empty Nest Writer with Michelle Rayburn

Janet emphasizes the importance of understanding God’s calling in your life as a filter for prioritizing tasks and saying no to distractions.

From concept to publication, Janet walks us through her unique approach to book writing, emphasizing the creation of a solid book proposal as an essential step.

Learn how Janet streamlines her daily social media presence across multiple platforms with an efficient, faith-driven routine.

Janet’s engaging online quiz added over 6,000 subscribers to her mailing list, driving significant engagement and book sales.

Ready to deepen your prayer life or find new motivation in your writing journey? Janet’s books, including “Prayer Walk” and “The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus,” are available on Amazon and other leading bookstores. As a special thank you for being a loyal listener, use code AUTHENTIC20 for 20% off your next purchase on Janet’s website.

Often described as a  life juggler, upon graduation with a degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley, Janet McHenry worked as a newspaper reporter and high school English teacher while raising four kids with her high school sweetheart husband Craig (aka The Rancher).

Post-college and post-Army, they settled down in the Sierra Valley in northern California. They raise beef cattle in a county without a single stoplight and love sharing the outdoors with their nine grandchildren.

Janet looks for ways to serve leadership and others when she speaks at retreats and conferences. She also serves as prayer coordinator at The Bridge Church in Reno, on the advisory council of First Place for Health, and on the state leadership team for the National Day of Prayer.

She is a writer, speaker, life and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association Certified Coach as well as the founder of the Sierra Valley Writers Retreat.

She also loves hosting friends new and seasoned at her Sierra Valley Writers Retreats . . . or just for a cup of something yummy. And she looks forward to knowing you better!

The post Ep. 112: Balancing Writing and Audience growth with Janet McHenry appeared first on Authentic Online Marketing.

Today, we have the pleasure of conversing with Michelle Rayburn, an accomplished writer, podcaster, speaker, and author of several inspirational Christian living books. Known for her delightful sense of humor and knack for repurposing life’s challenges into teachable moments, Michelle joins host Ruthie to share her extensive experience in freelance writing, efficient work methods, and navigating the empty nest phase.

With over 20 years in the field, Michelle reveals her secrets to staying productive while maintaining work-life balance through effective systems and boundaries. We’ll hear about her latest collaborative project, “This Reimagined Empty Nest,” and how embracing her own “repurposed” journey has enriched her life and work. From organizational tips to heartfelt reflections on motherhood, this episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone looking to thrive in both their personal and professional lives.

Subscribe to the Private Podcast

Check out Michelle’s website

Follow Michelle on Instagram

Get your copy of This Reimagined Empty Nest

Listen to Ruthie’s guest episode on Michelle’s Mid-Life Repurposed Podcast

Listen to Ep. 50: Time management for the Christian entrepreneur

Listen to Ep. 90: Empty Nest Awakening: Ruthie Gray’s Inspirational Book on Rediscovering Passion in Life

Ensure you have clear boundaries with work and family for a balanced life.

Organize tasks using folders and digital tools like Asana or Trello to stay efficient.

Maximize your existing tools before investing in new software for productivity.

Work in focused periods and take breaks to maintain high productivity levels.

Value flexibility in your schedule to adapt to both professional and personal commitments.

Acknowledge the personal and professional growth that comes with an empty nest.

Stay connected and involved with family, prioritizing meaningful moments together.

Pursue passions and projects that bring joy and fulfillment in this new phase of life.

Have faith that God repurposes challenging times into opportunities for growth.

Listen in to get inspired and take actionable advice from a seasoned entrepreneur and author.

This Reimagined empty nest is a heartwarming anthology that brings together twenty-two diverse voices and experiences to support and inspire you as you step into a new chapter of life.

From the joyful to the bittersweet, our contributors share personal stories, poems, and reflections on embracing change, redefining relationships, and finding renewed purpose after the kids leave home.

Get the book on Amazon here.

Meet Michelle Rayburn, the ultimate trash-to-treasure guru. When life hands her lemons, she not only makes lemonade but also crafts a stunning lemon-themed centerpiece out of the peels. And let’s not forget her love for iced coffee and lazy afternoons in the hammock with a good book – and dark chocolate!

Michelle is a woman of eclectic talents, including writing, podcasting, and mastering the art of lighthearted sarcasm and dad jokes – a language all moms seem to pick up eventually. With an MA in ministry leadership and counseling, she also helps others turn their own trash into treasure, both in life and in faith.

So if you’re looking for a dose of humor and inspiration, look no further. And if you’re lucky, she might even share some of that dark chocolate with you.

The post Ep. 111: Efficient Work Methods for the Empty Nest Writer with Michelle Rayburn appeared first on Authentic Online Marketing.

Today we’re covering the top 5 episodes from year 4 of the Authentic Online Marketing podcast! Each year we cover the top episodes that you all love the most. This year we covered so many wonderful topics like learning to say “no”, self-publishing tips, and online marketing tools for entrepreneurs. 

Sign up to listen to the private podcast 2024 Marketing for Creatives

Listen to Ep. 85: 7 Online Marketing Tools for Entrepreneurs

Listen to Ep. 91: 3 Reasons to Self-Publish

Listen to Ep. 84: 5 Secrets to Successful Affiliate Marketing

Listen to Ep. 93: How to Reverse Engineer Your Launch

Listen to Ep. 81: Achieving Your Best Yes: Learning to Say No and Prioritize

As entrepreneurs we need the right online marketing tools to grow our businesses. I’m all about Instagram and email marketing, but there are so many other things involved in my work on a daily basis.In this episode I’m sharing my top time saving online marketing tools that I use in my business.

Ever wondered about the process of writing and self-publishing a book? Today I’m diving into the behind-the-scenes conversation with Kent Sanders on my decision to write a book and the pros and cons of self-publishing.

Ready to boost your online marketing game? In this episode, we delve into the world of successful affiliate marketing and how it can boost your sales and business. It’s important to realize how affiliate marketing is an additional income stream for both active and passive sales.

Given these points, when you regularly promote or talk about certain topics on your blog, podcast, newsletter, or social media, you can just pop the links in wherever they apply. Listen to this episode to learn the 5 secrets to successful affiliate marketing.

Today, I want to share with you 10 tips on how to reverse engineer your book launch for maximum success. These tips are based on my own experiences and strategies that have served me well. Listen to the episode and use these 10 tips I used myself when you launch your book. 

Do you find yourself saying “yes” to too many things? Learning to say “no” can be incredibly challenging!

Time is your most valuable asset. In this episode we dive into the importance of saying “yes” to the right things, breaking down big goals, and achieving those goals while protecting your time.

Saying yes to too many things means you can’t complete the goals you’ve set for your life and business. Learn how to protect your time and market your business more efficiently.

Those are the top 5 episodes that you all loved from the past year! Thank you for listening!

The post Ep. 110: Anniversary Special: Top 5 Episodes from Year 4 appeared first on Authentic Online Marketing.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about effective email ideas and marketing strategies with special guest, Christa Hutchins from the Just One Simple Thing podcast. Ruthie and Christa discuss the importance of nurturing your audience through well-crafted emails, the pivotal role email plays compared to social media, and how consistent communication keeps you top of mind for your audience.

They share practical tips, including maintaining a consistent brand voice, experimenting with different email formats, and fostering engagement by encouraging responses. Also, don’t forget to catch Part 2 of this insightful series on Christa’s podcast.

Listen to the Just One Simple Thing podcast

Check out Christa’s website

Listen to Ep. 100: Email Marketing Trends for 2024

Listen to Ep. 76: Convert Instagram Followers into Email Subscribers: How It Works

Listen to Ep. 61: Combining Instagram and email marketing in 5 smart ways

The primary goal of your email should be to develop and strengthen your relationship with your audience. Ensure when your email lands in their inbox, they want to open it because they find value in your content.

It’s crucial to keep your brand top of mind by emailing consistently. Don’t be discouraged by “lurkers” — individuals who read but don’t immediately interact. Consistent, valuable emails can turn these readers into loyal customers when the time is right.

Including a call to action and inviting responses in your emails helps foster engagement. Always aim to reply to your readers’ responses to show that you value their input, nurturing a stronger relationship.

Remember, email marketing isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s a journey of discovery and connection. Always offer value to your target audience. Keep experimenting, stay genuine, and your audience will feel that authenticity.

The post Ep. 109: Email Ideas (That Work) For Nurturing Your Audience with Christa Hutchins appeared first on Authentic Online Marketing.

Amy Debrucque joins us on the podcast today to discuss the struggles of entrepreneurial focus. Amy brings a wealth of experience and insight into the world of Christian entrepreneurship. She’s not only a confidence coach and author of “Embolden,” but also a speaker, cancer survivor, host of the Life on Purpose podcast, and co-creator of the Focus retreat. Her journey and dedication are centered on helping women break out of their comfort zones and concentrate on what truly matters in their lives.

Throughout the episode, Amy discusses the common challenges entrepreneurs face, particularly maintaining focus amidst the distractions and comparisons present in today’s digital world. You’ll also receive an outline of three essential tips to help refine and maintain focus.

Visit Amy’s Website

Check out the Focus Retreat

Follow Amy on Instagram

Follow the Focus Retreat on Instagram

Listen to Ep. 50: Time management for the Christian entrepreneur

Listen to Ep. 81: Achieving Your Best Yes: Learning to Say No and Prioritize

Amy places a strong emphasis on identifying the core elements that are most important in one’s life. Recognizing these can help steer focus and make decisions that align with personal and professional objectives.

It’s crucial to continually revisit the reasons behind your entrepreneurial journey. Understanding your ‘why’ helps navigate through challenges and keeps you aligned with your mission, especially when distractions or discouragements loom.

Amy advises considering the costs of engaging or not engaging in certain actions and assessing whether these actions align with one’s core values. This helps you make decisions that not only bring focus but also ensure that your actions consistently reflect your beliefs and goals.

Amy’s insights are a testament to her journey and dedication to helping others find clarity and focus in both their personal and professional lives. By embracing her tips and applying them diligently, Christian entrepreneurs can navigate their paths with confidence and purpose.

Amy Debrucque is a Confidence Coach, author of Embolden, Speaker, cancer survivor, Host of the Life On Purpose Podcast, and co-creator of the FOCUS Retreat.

She is passionate about helping women get out of their comfort zones and focus on the things that matter most. Amy encourages women globally with her podcast and featured articles in Darling Magazine, ThriveGlobal, Womenencouraged.com, and many more. Surrendering gave Amy courage in all areas of life, and she is grateful that she’ll never be the same.

The post Ep. 108: 3 Steps for Entrepreneurial Focus with Amy Debrucque appeared first on Authentic Online Marketing.

Everyone loves a good story, especially Instagram users browsing through their daily feeds. But here’s the catch: so many of us aren’t fully utilizing Instagram Stories. This episode is aimed at changing that. Here are 10 ways you can repurpose Instagram Stories by transforming them into valuable content across all of your neighborhoods — Reels, carousels, highlights, and even platforms like Pinterest and Youtube.

Get access to the private podcast

Listen to Ep. 106: Deciphering Instagram Analytics for Optimum Views

Listen to Ep. 105: Ruthie‘s Instagram Sabbatical: Using Only Stories for 30 Days

Listen to Ep. 103: Instagram SEO Simplified: Increase Your Visibility

Listen to Ep. 99: Instagram Trends for 2024

Listen to Ep. 41: What to share in stories

Convert your stories into immersive Reels with ease, finding new audiences and engaging followers in a fresh format.

You can repurpose the story into an infographic or a quote. Perhaps you don’t care for the actual look of the story, so simply repurpose the content as a quote or some kind of graphic.

You can repurpose a collection of stories into a carousel for your feed. The longer people swipe through the carousel, the longer they’ll stay on your feed, and that signals to the algorithm that people are interested in your content.

If someone comments on your Story you could make a Reel based on the message. Or if you want to talk deeper about something in your Stories you could make a Reel about it.

Use your Instagram stories strategically to enhance your highlights, linking your audience directly to your core content. Use highlights for only important content.

Use comments or information you gather from polls, question boxes, or conversations. The more engagement and interaction you get from people, the more content ideas you’ll have.

Use the content in your Stories as captions for another post in your feed.

Use Stories to take pictures and add title text for your Reel covers. Download your story to your phone then use it as the cover for your Reel.

After you’ve posted a story, you can send it to people via the DMs or your broadcast channel. You can also post the link to your story and share it anywhere. Just remember that stories expire after 24 hours!

Expand your reach by repurposing your stories across different platforms like Pinterest and YouTube, maximizing visibility and engagement.

You don’t have time to make fresh content all the time

It’s important to repurpose, repurpose repurpose. As content creators, we want to create. We want to make new things, but we don’t have time for all the things. We just don’t have time to create all the time if we really want to use our time wisely. Instagram Stories only last for 24 hours, but by repurposing Stories your hard work can live on beyond its fleeting lifespan.

The post Ep. 107: 10 Ways to Repurpose Instagram Stories appeared first on Authentic Online Marketing.

For the month of April, Ruthie is embracing an Instagram posting sabbatical and dedicating a whole month exclusively to Instagram Stories. In this episode, Ruthie is talking about deciphering Instagram analytics and how to repurpose content that truly resonates with your audience. Discover the significance of Reach, Replies, Link Clicks, and Profile Visits, and learn to tailor your content strategy like a pro.

Get access to the private podcast here

Listen to why Ruthie is taking a sabbatical from posting on Instagram

Listen to Ep. 58: 7 tips for repurposing Instagram stories

Listen to Ep. 41: What to share in stories

Listen to Ep. 30: 2 Easy ways to repurpose stories to Reels

Knowing which stories garner the most views can help tailor your content strategy towards community building and cultivating a loyal audience.

Analyze which stories prompt conversations. Replies signal the topics that genuinely interest your followers. Use this information to create more engaging content.

Identifying the types of stories that drive your audience to take action can refine your approach in transforming story viewers into website visitors or subscribers.

If you want an even deeper dive into deciphering Instagram analytics, subscribe to the private podcast to unlock insider tips and discover even more about story metrics and their strategic applications. Just remember to share your content in your voice, in your own unique, authentic way on Instagram.

The post Ep. 106: Deciphering Instagram Analytics for Optimum Views appeared first on Authentic Online Marketing.

In this episode of the Authentic Online Marketing Podcast, I announce my decision to take an Instagram sabbatical for the entire month of April and only focusing on Instagram Stories.

But hear me out – this isn’t just about taking a break. It’s an intentional effort to explore the power of Instagram stories and share valuable story tricks of the trade with you.

The thing is, we often get caught up in the overwhelming nature of social media, constantly worrying about losing followers or missing out on growth opportunities. But I firmly believe that sometimes, we need to take a step back and reassess our approach. That’s exactly what I’ll be doing, and I’d love for you to join me on this journey.

Throughout the month, I’ll be sharing my insights, tips, and strategies for leveraging Instagram stories effectively to drive traffic, engage with your audience, and amplify your online presence. I want to equip you with the tools and knowledge to make the most out of every story you post.

Follow Ruthie on Instagram

Subscribe to the private podcast, 2024 Marketing for Creatives

Listen to Ep. 53: What to do with Pinned Posts

Listen to Ep. 37: How to drive Instagram traffic with stories

Listen to Ep. 99: Instagram Trends for 2024

Learn how Stories can still drive traffic to your website, podcast, and offerings, ensuring you’re not entirely reliant on the Instagram algorithm. You don’t own Instagram. Make sure you have a website and an email list so people can still build relationships with you. 

Discover how to strategically showcase top posts related to your offerings, podcast, and newsletter, ensuring maximum visibility and engagement. 

Understand the benefits of a 24-hour break from posting stories, and how it can positively impact your view counts upon resuming.

Follow along with Ruthie’s Instagram sabbatical! To make sure you don’t miss out on any of these valuable insights, subscribe to my private podcast. This will be the primary channels through which I’ll be sharing my exclusive content throughout April, providing you with even more resources for mastering the art of Instagram storytelling.

The post Ep. 105: Ruthie‘s Instagram Sabbatical: Using Only Stories for 30 Days appeared first on Authentic Online Marketing.

In this episode of Authentic Online Marketing, Ruthie talks with Suzanne, Cathy, and Jennifer about authentic Reels ideas that are unique to their message on Instagram. These Christian creatives shared their experiences with utilizing reels on Instagram to reach and authentically connect with their target audiences. Here are some key takeaways from our insightful conversation.

Follow Cathy, Suzanne, and Jennifer on Instagram for some Reel inspiration!

Get access to the private podcast, 2024 Marketing for Creatives

Join the Authentic Instagram Engagement Facebook Group

Listen to Ep. 103: Instagram SEO Simplified: Increase Your Visibility

Listen to Ep. 99: Instagram Trends for 2024

Listen to Ep. 97: Content Creation: from overwhelm to clarity with Jennifer Sakata

At first these ladies were apprehensive, but Suzanne, Cathy, and Jennifer successfully incorporated reels into their online marketing strategies. They each found their authentic voice and style to create engaging and diverse Reels, proving that anyone can utilize this tool effectively.

Understanding your target audience is crucial for successful marketing. Cathy emphasized the value of tailored content, while Jennifer highlighted the use of reels to address her audience’s pain points, provide educational content, and even inject some light-hearted, personal glimpses. Their approach showcases the power of niche-focused outreach.

All three guests expressed initial hesitation towards using Reels; however, through continual practice and experimentation, they successfully incorporated this tool into their marketing arsenal. They discussed the importance of staying true to their brand’s message and identity, proving that authenticity and evolution go hand in hand in the online marketing space.

If you want to be successful with your online marketing, don’t miss out on this eye-opening episode where you can learn how to get authentic ideas for Reels and effectively reach your target audience.

The post Ep. 104: Authentic Reels Ideas for Your Voice And Vision appeared first on Authentic Online Marketing.

Are you leveraging SEO keywords in your Instagram strategy? In a recent podcast episode on Authentic Online Marketing, we discussed Instagram SEO Simplified: the increasing importance of SEO keywords over hashtags to boost your visibility and engagement on Instagram.

Check out this article from SEO guru Neil Patel

Get access to the private podcast, 2024 Marketing for Creatives

Listen to Ep. 99: Instagram Trends for 2024

Listen to Ep. 100: Email Marketing Trends for 2024

Listen to Ep. 77: How to use AI for Content Writing

Listen to Ep. 82:  Maximizing Your Online Presence: Strategies to Fit Instagram into Your Busy Schedule

Integrate relevant SEO keywords into your Instagram account. This practice signals to the algorithm that you are an authority in your niche.

Utilize the search bar on Instagram to discover related keywords. Conduct thorough SEO research to identify the most effective keywords for your content.

Instagram profiles can appear in Google search results if your profile is using keywords. As Instagram continues to prioritize SEO over hashtags, aligning your SEO strategy across platforms can help you reach new people that are actively searching for the solution you offer..

Use these simple Instagram SEO tips so you can elevate your profile’s visibility and connect with your target audience effectively. Stay tuned for more valuable tips and tricks on optimizing your online marketing presence!

The post Ep. 103: Instagram SEO Simplified: Increase Your Visibility appeared first on Authentic Online Marketing.