Cracking Content Podcast

This week, I am going to talk about how to get visible without using social media. If you are sick of being on the hamster wheel of thinking that you have to post three or four times a day on your platform of choice, or maybe you've even chosen to post on multiple channels multiple times of the day, and you are not getting the kind of traction that you would like. And you are feeling like it's a saturated online world and you are not getting your voice, your message, your business or your brand noticed. How can you do it in some different ways?

Episode Highlights:

• {1:12} Pitching to the press
• {2:49} Concentrate on core bits of content
• {3:10} Drive traffic back to your website
• {4:11} Guest blogging
• {4:59} Pitch yourself as a podcast guest
• {5:13} Start networking
• {05:38} Create free downloads, freebies or lead magnets

Connect with Claire:

You can download my free 2022 Content Planner here: https://clairewinter.info/freebies/yearly-content-planner/

To find out about 1:1 content coaching go www.clairewinter.info.

Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crackingcontent/

Website: https://clairewinter.info/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairewinteruk

Welcome to the Cracking Content Podcast, helping entrepreneurs to amplify their expertise through storytelling, content, and PR so they can get more sales and make a bigger impact. Every business has a story to tell. Don't be afraid to tell it.

This week, I'm delighted to be interviewing Lucy McCarraher, who is the founder of Rethink Press and the Business Book Awards, and also the author of 13 books -– three novels, four self-help books and six books on writing, including A Book of One's Own – a manifesto for women to share their experience and make a difference, and Bookbuilder (with Joe Gregory).

Episode Highlights:

• {0:52} Lucy explains how she came to write 13 books.
• {1:43} Lucy talks about founding Rethink Press.
• {2:40} On the benefits of publishing a book:
• • You get clarity when you plan and write a book in detail.
  • When you've got your name on the front of a good book or a well-produced book, it says, "I'm the expert here."
  • It's not an overt sales tool, but when you send out your book to your prospects and clients, it tells them what you do.
• {4:07} There's a thing what I call 'book magic', for every author something really amazing and unexpected will happen because their book has got into the hands of somebody.
• {5:20} On how you can repurpose your book manuscript.
• {10:05} Lucy explains what her Book Builder program is.

Connect with Claire:

You can download my free PR guide here https://clairewinter.info/freebies/be-your-own-pr/

To find out about 1:1 content coaching go www.clairewinter.info.

Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crackingcontent/

Website: https://clairewinter.info/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairewinteruk

To get your content sorted join the Cracking Content Club Membership for just £35 a month: https://clairewinter.info/cracking-content-club/

About Lucy:

LUCY McCARRAHER started her first publishing company while she was still at university and has worked in publishing and the media ever since. She is the Founder of Rethink Press, the premier hybrid publisher of business books.

Lucy is the author of 13 books – three novels, four self-help books and six books on writing, including A Book of One's Own – a manifesto for women to share their experience and make a difference, and Bookbuilder (with Joe Gregory).

Lucy is the Founder of the Business Book Awards, and Host of the ABOO – A Book of One's Own online support and mentoring group for women authors and aspiring authors. She has mentored over a thousand entrepreneurs and business owners to plan, write and publish their books.

Lucy is a speaker and mentor. She has a post-graduate diploma in teaching Creative Writing and Literacy.

Connect with Lucy:

www.rethinkpress.com

Facebook – Lucy McCarraher

Twitter, Clubhouse, Instagram - @lucymccarraher

LinkedIn – Lucy McCarraher

www.facebook.com/groups/ABOOCircles

Welcome to the Cracking Content Podcast, helping entrepreneurs to amplify their expertise through storytelling, content, and PR so they can get more sales and make a bigger impact. Every business has a story to tell. Don't be afraid to tell it.

This week, I'm going to be talking about how to get onto podcasts as a guest and impress audiences. I've nearly been podcasting for a year now, but I've also been a guest on many podcasts since my entrepreneurial journey began four years ago when I launched this current business. We live in a hectic world where we often have to multitask and podcasts allow us to do this very thing. You can listen to podcasts while traveling, driving, or if downloaded anywhere. But with them becoming increasingly popular, how can you make sure you stand out enough to be a guest on one? How can you make yourself more memorable?

Episode Highlights:

• {1:45} Don't just do a blanket email out to hundreds of podcasts. Research them.
• {1:50} Find out who the host is, what they like talking about, how long their episodes are, what they have covered, and who they've interviewed.
• {2:38} Using external agents is absolutely fine, but make sure they're properly briefed and they are selling you in a way that you'd like to be sold.
• {4:02} Presenters get lots of people requesting to be a guest on their show. Make sure your subject line stands out. It is crucial because people are scanning their email either on their phone, on their laptop or wherever they work.
• {4:38} Make sure it's a concise pitch as well because people are time poor.
• {4:46} People want to know that you've got an audience to showcase the episode to. It doesn't have to be a massive audience. It just has to be the right audience.
• {6:09} Make sure that you're prepared. You've got a good mic. You've got headphones plugged in.
• {6:52} You also need a killer biography which sums up why you are great at what you do and who you help. This is your moment to showcase you as an expert at what you do.
• {7:13} It can be a really good way to grow an audience quickly. People really get to know you, you're talking about what you do best, sharing expertise and knowledge and stories about how you've helped people.

Connect with Claire:

You can download my free PR guide here https://clairewinter.info/freebies/be-your-own-pr/

To find out about 1:1 content coaching go www.clairewinter.info.

Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crackingcontent/

Website: https://clairewinter.info/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairewinteruk

To get your content sorted join the Cracking Content Club Membership for just £35 a month: https://clairewinter.info/cracking-content-club/

Welcome to the Cracking Content Podcast, helping entrepreneurs to amplify their expertise through storytelling, content, and PR so they can get more sales and make a bigger impact. Every business has a story to tell. Don't be afraid to tell it.

This week, I'm going to be talking about how to create content that delivers. As many of us know, content marketing is one of the key elements to any marketing strategy. But with so many platforms available, it can be really overwhelming to know where to start and what will play to your business strengths. So in this episode I am going to be revisiting some key ideas about content marketing and how you can connect with your ideal audience.

Episode Highlights:

• {0:55} Strategic thinking is vital when it comes to a cohesive content strategy. When you're thinking about your strategy, always think about what's the end goal.
• {1:59} More often than not, marketing goals are subscriber based, so it might be that you want to build up your email sign-ups or your blog subscribers.
• {2:37} Know your audience. Content that works has your audience always at the forefront.
• {3:22} Check out the analytic tools available on social media platforms, particularly Instagram and Facebook, they allow you to see the age, sex and locations of your current audience.
• {3:57} Think about your audience. Can you visualize them? Can you build up a profile of your perfect customer and work out how to relate to them on a really basic, human level?
• {5:05} If you don't have a blog yet, the good news is it's never been easier to set one up.
• {7:25} One of the most vital parts of any content distribution strategy is your mailing list. Communicating directly to your subscribers means whatever you're sending is landing in their inbox and this is a great way to amplify your content.
• {10:36} It's really important to stay strategic and not fall into the trap of reactive marketing. Make time to take stock and regularly brainstorm.
• {10:48} We also need to rest and recuperate and be creative by doing something different. I talk about walking and then writing, so you tap into the creative part of your brain
• {11:07} It's also vital that you go back to your business and content goals and build a content calendar.
• {11:41} Truly great content happens when you create something that sits perfectly in the environment it's in.
• {12:11} Content marketing and social media practically go hand-in-hand, but it takes more than just posting to make things come to life.
• {13:07} Utilize storytelling, what emotions will your story evoke? How will you make people feel? How will it make them change? Will they want to share it?

Connect with Claire:

You can download my free 2021 Content Planner here https://clairewinter.info/freebies/2021content-planner/

You can download my free PR guide here https://clairewinter.info/freebies/be-your-own-pr/

To find out about 1:1 content coaching go www.clairewinter.info.

Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crackingcontent/

Website: https://clairewinter.info/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairewinteruk

To get your content sorted join the Cracking Content Club Membership for just £35 a month: https://clairewinter.info/cracking-content-club/

Welcome to the Cracking Content Podcast, helping entrepreneurs to amplify their expertise through storytelling, content, and PR so they can get more sales and make a bigger impact. Every business has a story to tell. Don't be afraid to tell it.

This week I am so pleased to welcome Dawn McGruer to the podcast. She is the bestselling author of Dynamic Digital Marketing, and also runs a successful academy and agency. Dawn started her first business 20 years ago at the age of 21. She now helps people master the art of online influence and business success and how to avoid common pitfalls along the way.

Episode Highlights:

• {1:14} Dawn describes when she decided to start her entrepreneurial life and how starting off so young enabled her to learn a lot quickly.
• {1:56} Dawn talks about releasing her first book Character Building.
• {3:56} How important it was to learn from her business failures.
• {4:49} Stop procrastinating and start doing, you can always think of reasons not to do something.
• {5:39} On her signature product the Fast Track Academy.
• {6:25} How the pandemic pushed her to create her latest product the Power Circle
• {7:07} On how the Power Circle will take people through six steps to enable them to show up powerfully online in a way that's really authentic and comfortable for them.
• {7:41} Thinking about what's going to have a real impact, what's going to drive your business forward.
• {9:12} It's about addressing the things that we want to do, not that we think we need to do.
• {9:28} It's about working smarter, not harder, and having this true passion and vigour about why you're doing something and not just thinking about leads, money, goals, but dreams.
• {10:31} The content that I'm creating at the moment is really asking for opinion, getting people involved in trends and insights, getting people to really show what they're feeling right now in business.
• {10:47} I feel that the content for me is about driving a deeper connection on social media. Quality, not quantity. And just slowing the pace down and thinking about posting with purpose.
• {11:12} I think it's all about resonating, relating, showing my true experience, pitfalls and challenges, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and stepping out in that way. And I think that's really what people want right now.
• {14:26} I would encourage people to look at their social media and if you go through your newsfeed and you've got no comments, no likes, no shares, quite honestly, your content's either boring or nobody wants it. And it's time to then shake it up and change it.
• {15:00} It's taken me 20 years to get to 30,000 connections and 5 million subscribers. If you carve out 10 quality people per day that you choose to connect with, then you can't fail in building a solid, powerful audience.

Connect with Claire:

You can download my free PR guide here https://clairewinter.info/freebies/be-your-own-pr/

To find out about 1:1 content coaching go www.clairewinter.info.

Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crackingcontent/

Website: https://clairewinter.info/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairewinteruk

To get your content sorted join the Cracking Content Club Membership for just £35 a month: https://clairewinter.info/cracking-content-club/

About Dawn McGruer:

Dawn started her first business 20 years ago at the age of 21, became a best-selling author of Dynamic Digital Marketing, speaker and strategist in the world of digital marketing and mortgage free at 33. She helps people rise to meet today's challenges and master the art of online influence and business success and avoid common pitfalls along the way. She believes in dreaming big, working hard and making it happen. She is the host of Dawn of a New Era; a business and marketing podcast with a difference for people who want to start, scale and grow their own business. She shares tips to improve marketing, motivation and mindset as well as her own real-life challenges and experiences as a highly successful entrepreneur.

She was incredibly artistic at school and although she didn't follow that path it has creatively influenced her entrepreneurship. But her underlying driver was being extremely ill as a child with kidney disease, and later at 19, losing 6 people in as many months. Naturally someone who bucks the status quo these life changing events fuelled her to live and work to the max. Hence her stratospheric road to success.

Her social footprint

Linkedin: 25K Youtube: 75K views, Facebook 6K, podcast #17 in the charts, twitter 5K and an email subscribers list of 5 million.

Connect with Dawn:

Website: https://dawnmcgruer.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/businessconsort/

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIxofJB2ZKh7xZQ7HVd8Ybw

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/businessconsort

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dynamic-digital-marketing-show/id1448903495?mt=2

Welcome to the Cracking Content Podcast, helping entrepreneurs to amplify their expertise through storytelling, content, and PR so they can get more sales and make a bigger impact. Every business has a story to tell. Don't be afraid to tell it.

This week I am going to be talking about creating summer content. I'm sharing some great ideas and tips for preparing your content if you're planning on taking a much needed break over the upcoming summer weeks and you don't want to be on your social media.

Episode Highlights:

• {0:55} Batch your content, dedicate a day to creating content and a day to scheduling it for the upcoming summer weeks that you're taking off.
• {1:06} Repurpose your content.
• {1:43} Jump on news stories but keep it light and fun.
• {1:53} Tap into existing campaigns and useful hashtags that you can create social media posts around.
• {2:14} People love to see the face behind a business so use the more informal summer months as a good opportunity to share behind the scenes, pictures of your team, customers, and products.
• {3:12} Ask fun summer-themed questions.
• {4:03} Get people to share their summer photos
• {4:29} Use calendar dates and, of course, sporting events, and other fun activities to break up your social feeds.
• {5:13} Keep it light and have fun with your content and remember to make it short, compelling, and easy to read. Think bite-sized chunks.

Connect with Claire:

You can download my 30 Content Ideas in 30 Minutes Guide here: https://clairewinter.info/freebies/30-content-ideas-in-30-minutes/

To find out about 1:1 content coaching go www.clairewinter.info.

Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crackingcontent/

Website: https://clairewinter.info/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairewinteruk

To get your content sorted join the Cracking Content Club Membership for just £35 a month: https://clairewinter.info/cracking-content-club/

Welcome to the Cracking Content Podcast, helping entrepreneurs to amplify their expertise through storytelling, content, and PR so they can get more sales and make a bigger impact. Every business has a story to tell. Don't be afraid to tell it.

We are officially halfway through the year. How the heck did that happen? So what should you be doing about your content planning for the next six months? It's a great question to ask ourselves as we look to opening up, and people's online habits are going to change. So what does that mean when it comes to planning for your business and planning for content? It means that you still need to have a content plan in place that's flexible.

Episode Highlights:

• {1:41} How you should adapt content and content planning so that it is flexible in case things change quickly - which they often do at the moment!
• {1:58} If you're a product based business, get organised and plan for those key selling dates.
• {2:34} If you're a service-based business keep in mind your launch dates for your new programs and start promoting them early.
• {3:16} Think about your 3 top wins over the last 6 months and see if you can do more in the next quarter.
• {4:28} Think about your content marketing objectives and what you want to achieve over the next 6 months.
• {4:43} Know your audience and what they need from you.
• {5:17} Decide what methods or platforms you are going to use to help engage with your audience, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram or are you going to focus on writing blogs.
• {8:10} Create a time-line and work backwards.
• {8:24} Planning your content will enable you to have a clear message, and ultimately save you time, and of course, money!

Connect with Claire:

You can download my free 2021 Content Planner here https://clairewinter.info/freebies/2021content-planner/

To find out about 1:1 content coaching go www.clairewinter.info.

Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crackingcontent/

Website: https://clairewinter.info/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairewinteruk

To get your content sorted join the Cracking Content Club Membership for just £35 a month: https://clairewinter.info/cracking-content-club/

Welcome to the Cracking Content Podcast, helping entrepreneurs to amplify their expertise through storytelling, content, and PR so they can get more sales and make a bigger impact. Every business has a story to tell. Don't be afraid to tell it.

In this week's episode, I'm going to be talking about 10 tips for making your content stand out. So what is going to make your content sing louder than your rivals, how can you make your brand memorable and easily identified? Whether you're a small business or a marketeer for a brand, finding your own voice and making it stand out can feel a little bit overwhelming. And often I hear business owners say to me, "Help, I just don't know where to start." So here are my top 10 tips for helping you create memorable, standout content.

Episode Highlights:

• {1:26} Why it's important to assess the mood of your audience
• {1:55} Why you need to use each social platform appropriately
• {3:07} Get into the mind of your clients and understand that what you offer can make their life easier
• {3:21} If you don't know what your audience wants, ask them
• {4:55} Have conversations with your audience
• {5:59} Keep your brand consistent, have a big overview of your social platforms and make sure the messaging is the same
• {6:30} Make sure your branding matches your business
• {8:18} It's better to focus on one social platform and do it well rather than trying to be everywhere
• {8:40} Dump the jargon so that you don't alienate large portions of your audience
• {9:01} Blogging should be at the top of your content to do list
• {9:56} Focus on quality and make sure you're creating decent content
• {10:43} Be organized and consistent and plan how to spend your time creating content

Connect with Claire:

Join me for my Content Planning Party https://clairewinter.info/content-planning-party/

You can download my free 2021 Content Planner here https://clairewinter.info/freebies/2021content-planner/

To find out about 1:1 content coaching go www.clairewinter.info.

Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crackingcontent/

Website: https://clairewinter.info/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairewinteruk

To get your content sorted join the Cracking Content Club Membership for just £35 a month: https://clairewinter.info/cracking-content-club/

Welcome to the Cracking Content Podcast, helping entrepreneurs to amplify their expertise through storytelling, content, and PR so they can get more sales and make a bigger impact. Every business has a story to tell. Don't be afraid to tell it.

This week I am going to be doing a deeper dive into my program Pitch to the Press. You'll discover why approaching the press will benefit your business and through my course I make it simple and achievable. My previous clients have been featured in The Guardian, The Daily Express, The I, BBC Radio Kent and many more media outlets.

Episode Highlights:

• {1:06} How Claire's client got featured in Good Housekeeping and various other publications
• {1:28} Claire explains why she started Pitch to the Press
• {2:52} Why Claire's previous experience as a journalist enables her to share how to get your press release noticed
• {3:14} On what you will achieve when you do the Pitch to the Press course
• {4:05} On why you should focus on pitching to your local press
• {5:36} On why it's important to know your personal brand story
• {7:11} On getting press ready and having your PR plan of attack

Connect with Claire:

To sign up to her webinar on Wednesday 23rd of June (GMT) London go to: https://clairewinter.info/register/

Join the Pitch to the Press Course: https://clairewinter.info/pitch-to-the-press-join/

You can download my free PR guide here https://clairewinter.info/freebies/be-your-own-pr/

To find out about 1:1 content coaching go www.clairewinter.info.

Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crackingcontent/

Website: https://clairewinter.info/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairewinteruk

To get your content sorted join the Cracking Content Club Membership for just £35 a month: https://clairewinter.info/cracking-content-club/

Welcome to the Cracking Content Podcast, helping entrepreneurs to amplify their expertise through storytelling, content, and PR so they can get more sales and make a bigger impact. Every business has a story to tell. Don't be afraid to tell it.

This week I have got a fabulous guest, AJ Campbell, who is a best-selling author of Leave Well Alone and has recently got a new book out called Don't Come Looking. We'll be discussing how much dedication it takes to write a novel, self-publish it and become an Amazon bestseller. Also Amanda will be revealing all her press coverage she achieved after doing my Pitch to the Press course.

Episode Highlights:

• {1:04} Amanda talks about when she self-published her first novel
• {4:17} Amanda describes how much dedication it takes to write a novel
• {6:07} On how there is a lot of competition and you have to be prepared to go up against professional publishers when you are self-publishing
• {7:55} On how important it is to have an editor to critique the book
• {10:40} Amanda describes the plot of her new novel Don't Come Looking
• {12:02} Amanda describes her content planning process after working with Claire
• {14:22} Amanda reveals all the press coverage she achieved after doing the Pitch to the Press course

Connect with Claire:

You can download my free PR guide here https://clairewinter.info/freebies/be-your-own-pr/

To find out about 1:1 content coaching go www.clairewinter.info.

Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crackingcontent/

Website: https://clairewinter.info/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairewinteruk

To get your content sorted join the Cracking Content Club Membership for just £35 a month: https://clairewinter.info/cracking-content-club/

About Amanda Campbell:

AJ Campbell is the debut author of the Amazon bestselling novel Leave Well Alone. An alumna of the Faber Academy, she writes in the psychological thriller and mystery genres. Her latest book Don't Come Looking, although a standalone story, is a sequel to her debut novel and is due for release in April 2021.

AJ draws inspiration for her writing from many facets of everyday life. The human mind and how different people react to each other and interact in society fascinates her. She loves settling down with a good book and enjoys thought-provoking stories that beg the question - what would I have done in that situation?

AJ lives on the Essex / Hertfordshire border with her husband, sons, and cocker spaniel, Max. She is a firm believer in daily exercise for mental health and enjoys walking Max in the local fields to boost her creativity. AJ also loves cooking oriental food while sipping a good glass of white wine.

Connect with Amanda:

Website: www.ajcampbellauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AJCampbellauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajcampbellauthor/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AuthorAJC

Purchase Leave Well Alone: https://tinyurl.com/hkj5u5x8

Purchase Don't Come Looking: https://tinyurl.com/6x98yc35