Tom Morkes joined me on the podcast to talk about something we all need more of... traffic and customers. What makes this unique is that Tom does it all without spending a dime on paid advertising.

Driving Traffic & Gaining Customers Without Spending A Dime on Advertising with Tom Morkes KDS: 030

This podcast isn't just about digital marketing; it's about creating a business and a life you love on your terms. I’m here to explore how you can harness the power of email marketing, newsletters, content marketing, and even artificial intelligence to create value and serve your audience in a meaningful way.

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On this show, you'll hear from me in solo episodes where I'll share my experiences and insights, as well as conversations with successful entrepreneurs and creators who have mastered the art of digital marketing in unique ways. We'll share their stories, strategies, and case studies to inspire and educate you on your own journey.

So, are you ready to turn digital marketing into a fun journey that brings real results to your business and life? Let's do this together!

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I Think It’s Safe To Say Most Content Creators Are Using AI For Content Creation These Days.But I thought I’d go deeper, specifically, with how I’m using it. There are a few different ‘camps’ when it comes to AI and some of them are totally over my head. In other words, I’m not sure that I really care how it works, what LLMs are doing, which companies have completed a new round of billions of dollars invested, or whether Nvidia or AMD is producing more chips. All I care about is how I can use it in my business to do one of two things (I’ll go deeper with each of these below):Get clarity and createCut down the time it takes to complete things
I haven’t gotten into much in terms of automations or having AI do tasks I don’t want to do, but that’s mainly because I don’t have a significant need for it right now. My primary focus with AI right now is on using it for content creation. I write all of my podcasts, blog posts, and emails. In other words, none of this is generated by AI (probably obvious, but you know what they say about assuming). I’ve created one post with the help of AI (you can read that here) because I wanted to test creating an outline, seeing what the output was, and then adjusting from there. It was a good experience and process, and I’ll use it again for a couple of more in-depth tutorial posts I’m working on. For example: I’m in the process of moving from ConvertKit to beehiiv (at the time of writing this post). As beehiiv continues to grow, I know a lot more people will be making this move, and I think it’s a great way to get traffic to the site, attract new subscribers (people making this move are definitely my target market), and make some affiliate commissions along the way. Here’s the prompt I used to start this post: Good afternoon! I’d love your help writing an epic blog post (that I’ll create a video for as well) on the process of moving an email list, subscribers, newsletter, and automations from ConvertKit to beehiiv. Is this something you can help me with? I want this to be super clear, easy to understand and highly optimized for SEO. I’ll convert the blog post into a PDF that people can download as well. What do you need from me to get started? By the way, that’s one of my favorite ways to start a conversation with ChatGPT (yes, I call them conversations). I give simple context about what I want to accomplish, then ask what it needs from me to get started to accomplish what I’ve asked for. I don’t want to get into the weeds with detailed prompts (I think I may start doing some video on this), but I want to give you an example of how I’m using it) – but the initial question of “what do you need from me” will help you get the best result possible. OK, let’s look at the first of the two bullets I mentioned first.Using AI For Content Creation To Gain Clarity And CreateFirst, I treat ChatGPT (or Chatty as I call her) as more of a partner than a tool, which is why I write in a conversational manner as opposed to simply imputing prompts. I find the entire...

How I’m Happily Using AI For Content Creation KDS: 140

Organic traffic still works. It’s not that I thought it didn’t, but in many ways, I think I had resigned myself to thinking it was so much harder than it used to be. In some ways, it is harder, but in other ways, we have so many tools at our fingertips (AI) that there’s no reason you can’t test and try things much faster. You can get data in 90 days that will tell you what’s working. Depending on how long you’ve been online (i.e., you’re not starting from scratch), you may get results much faster. For me, I’ve seen some pretty fun results in only a few weeks. Let’s get into it. After 16 years online, you would think I would have learned to “never say never”… but here I am, changing my tune. Fortunately, I’m pretty transparent about these little lessons I go through and have no shame in sharing that I’ve changed my mind. Ideally, when we know better, we do better, right? Mind you, things change so quickly online (especially with AI now) that we better learn to be comfortable changing our minds and trying new things (once we have the fundamentals in place, anyway). The best part of what I’m experiencing right now is that this is all happening because of ONE thing. And I’m on a mission to help you figure out your ONE thing. And no, this doesn’t mean you only have ‘one thing’ in your business (I’m speaking to all of you multi-passionate entrepreneurs who, bless you, can manage multiple offers, directions, or businesses). I’m talking about starting with one core content idea that is part of your foundation.For Now, Let’s Call This “One To Many.”Let me back up a bit and explain how this relates to organic traffic still works. I won’t go too deep into my journey, as I’ve shared it multiple times on the podcast. You can get a snapshot of that on my About page. Over the last 16 years, I spent the first 10 years as ‘The WordPress Chick,’ pivoted to my personal brand, started focusing on content marketing, launched a content planner (with a strategy, not a fill-in-the-blank), added email marketing and newsletters to the mix, and have come back to content marketing as my core focus. My ‘complementary’ categories to content marketing are email & newsletters and using AI for content marketing. Now, let’s talk a bit about social media. Which I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with. Because of the clarity I’ve gained with my ONE thing (for now, let’s call it Core Content), I’ve jumped back in full force and am happily gaining some traction and, thankfully, traffic. I attribute the results I’m getting to a few things:Not starting from scratchHaving a presence on most platforms (regardless of recent engagement)LOVING what I’m doing again
This isn’t to say you can’t start from scratch and get results because, of course, you can. It just might take a little longer. But here’s the thing: time is going to pass whether you do the work or not, so you may as well do it now. And the work I’m referring to is creating, publishing, and promoting your content. Which will always differentiate you from people who want to do things quickly and easily. Especially with AI… I LOVE using AI in my business – but I also know what I’m doing, who I’m talking to, how I want to serve them, and what my business goals are. I’m not under any illusion that AI can replace my voice. What it can do is help me...

Organic Traffic Still Works… Here’s The Proof KDS: 139

There is something so absolutely freeing about getting older. I was texting with a friend in Costa Rica the other day to set up a time to chat. I had been hoping to go down in April to bring some stuff down before my move in July, but with my Dad selling his house, I decided not to. In our text conversation, we both said that we would put it on our calendars and put sticky notes everywhere so we didn’t forget. Last time we set a time to chat, we both spaced. I don’t think much about how much time and energy I’ve spent worrying about things that don’t matter. That’s a complete waste. I do, however, make conscious decisions every day to choose my thoughts. To make today different than yesterday. I was listening to a video with Dr. Joe Dispenza (who is amazing, by the way, if you’re remotely interested in neuroscience and being able to change your life with your thoughts), and he was saying that the hardest thing to do is to make sure you don’t think the same thoughts you had yesterday. 

The Old Me Would Have Been Embarrassed To Admit This KDS: 138

Someone Has To Go First.I don’t remember where I heard that (or read it), but it certainly struck a nerve. I wrote it down because I knew it would be a podcast episode the minute I read it. Before we go into that, though, let’s do a quick catch-up and recap, shall we? I’m kind of tripping out that we’re almost halfway through March already. Mind you, I’m not complaining. I looked at the weather for the next ten days, and after a couple of days of potential showers and clouds, it’s all blue skies, sunshine, and warmer weather (mid to upper 60s). I feel like I’ve been quiet lately because I had the “Everything is Content” episodes ready to go (even if the last two didn’t go out when I had hoped). I’m going to do a full break-down of Everything is Content now that I’ve:Published the email series and blog postPublished the email series as videos and podcast episodesRepublished the series on MediumI hosted my first live workshopI am about to offer the first live cohort
This is all part of a long-term strategy for me, and hot damn if it isn’t working. The gas is about to be poured on this using Laurel Portié’s $ 5-a-day ad strategy, and I’m beyond excited to see how this all unfolds. On the personal side of things… I shared that I’ll be moving back to Costa Rica this summer sometime last month (maybe that’s why I’m tripping out that it’s mid-March already), and as the time gets closer, I’m getting more and more excited. But there’s a lot to do in the meantime. My Dad has finally decided to list his house for sale and is looking at moving down to the city where my siblings live (the same city where I raised my kids). We’re hoping to get the house up for sale before the end of the month. Which means decluttering and getting the house ready for staging, photos, and viewings. Keep in mind there are 56 years of stuff in this house. 

Someone Has To Go First – Let It Be You KDS: 137

As we wrap up our incredible journey through the "Everything is Content" series, I want to take a moment to reflect on the profound concept we're diving into today: zigging when everyone else is zagging. Throughout this series, we've explored various facets of content creation, but today, we're tackling the essence of differentiation and the power of personalization in our content strategies. Imagine walking into a room full of people all moving in unison, like a perfectly choreographed dance. Now, picture yourself moving to a different rhythm, creating your own steps, and standing out. That's what we're talking about today. In a world saturated with content, being the one who dares to be different isn't just brave; it's necessary. Why do we zig when others zag? Because, at the core of every successful content strategy, there's a unique voice, a distinct perspective, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity. It's about finding what resonates with you and, by extension, connecting more deeply with your audience. During this series, we've established that all platforms work, all strategies can be effective, but the magic happens when you align your content creation with your personal passion, consistency, and the joy of sharing your story. This alignment isn't just about being different for the sake of it; it's about embracing what works for you and amplifying it. Let's debunk a common myth: the idea that certain marketing strategies or platforms are "dead." You've heard it before – "Email marketing is dead," "Blogs are out," "Social media is oversaturated." Here's the truth – for every strategy declared extinct, there's someone out there proving it wrong, thriving and creating impactful, meaningful content. The key is not in the platform or the strategy itself but in how you use it to convey your unique message and connect with your audience. Consider this: While some may argue that ad costs are soaring and traditional methods are fading, I've seen friends launch successful businesses solely through Facebook ads, targeting cold traffic with innovative, low-cost strategies that captivate and convert. Their secret? Understanding their audience, refining their offer, and staying true to their vision. Moreover, the debate between long-form and short-form content, between videos and podcasts, between blogging and microblogging, often misses the point. The medium is just a vessel; your content's heart and soul come from your personal experience, your voice, and your passion. So, how do you find your unique path in this crowded content landscape? Start by choosing one or two types of content that feel natural to you. Commit to creating consistently, whether it's through Instagram reels, blog posts, podcasts, or any medium that sparks joy in you. Give it time, be patient, and watch as your unique voice starts to resonate with an audience that's been yearning for something different, something authentically you. Remember, the goal isn't to churn out content for the sake of visibility. It's about creating content that matters, content that makes a difference in someone's life, even if it's just one person. As we've explored throughout this series, "Everything is Content" isn't just a catchy phrase; it's a mindset, a reminder that our stories, experiences, and insights are valuable and deserve to be shared. As we conclude this special series, I invite you to join me in embracing the power of personal content creation. Let's not just follow the trends; let's set them. Let's not just create content; let's create connections. And most importantly, let's remember that in a world where everyone is zagging, the ziggers are not just seen – they're remembered, celebrated, and followed. Thank you for joining me on this journey. Here's to creating content that's as unique as you are, to finding your voice in the cacophony, and to the incredible journey of zigging when the world...

Driving Traffic & Gaining Customers Without Spending A Dime on Advertising with Tom Morkes KDS: 030

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