Enthusiastically Self-Employed: LinkedIn tips, Business tips, and Marketing tips for the self-employed & small business owners

Summer tends to bring a lighter schedule—but that can actually make it harder to stay productive. In this solo episode, I share the two core techniques I use to stay on track when motivation dips, plus a bonus tip that came straight out of a client call.

What You'll Learn

• How to structure a weekly to-do list so it stays manageable—not overwhelming
• The left-side / right-side notebook method I use to organize clients, pipeline, and tasks
• Terry Bean's 3-item Post-It note technique for daily focus
• Why open browser tabs can quietly derail your productivity—and what to do about it
• The unexpected benefit of talking through your systems with others
  
  

Episode Highlights

Technique #1: The Left/Right Notebook Method

I use a Full Focus Planner as my weekly to-do notebook. On Monday mornings, I start from scratch—writing down top-of-mind priorities before ever looking at the previous week's list. I split my notebook page into two sides:

• Right side: Retainer clients at the top, followed by prospects in my proposal stage, then low-effort personal/business tasks for end-of-day wind-down
• Left side: My running big-picture to-do list, now much easier to tackle with the pressure removed
  
  

Technique #2: Terry Bean's 3-Item Post-It

I learned this at a networking event with Terry Bean. The technique is simple: write exactly three things you need to accomplish today on a 3×3 Post-It note. Keeping it visible throughout the day cuts through a long list and keeps your attention on what actually matters.

The Browser Tab Problem (Bonus Insight)

During a call with Liz M. Lopez and Elaine Belson, I realized I had four separate Chrome windows open—some with 15–20 tabs each—each tab representing an unfinished task. The takeaway: open tabs are an informal task list, but a risky one. I'm working on cross-referencing my tabs with my written to-do list so nothing falls through the cracks.

Bonus Technique: Saying It Out Loud

Verbalizing your workflows to another person is itself a productivity tool. Hearing yourself describe a system often reveals both what's working and where the gaps are—without needing a formal audit.

People Mentioned

• Tammy Pereira — Business coach and entrepreneur who reminded me: "That's your money—go after it." | linkedin.com/in/tammypereira
• Terry Bean — Networking expert and speaker who taught me the 3-item Post-It daily focus technique | linkedin.com/in/terrybean
• Liz M. Lopez — Friend, client, and fellow entrepreneur | linkedin.com/in/lizmlopez
• Elaine Belson — Also on the call during the browser-tabs conversation | linkedin.com/in/elainebelsonlcsw
  
  

Resources Mentioned

• Marketing with Meller Community: mellermarketing.com/join

Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a fellow entrepreneur who could use a productivity reset this summer—and come join our community at mellermarketing.com/join.

Support the show

**************************************
My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie. 

Visit mellermarketing.com

Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller 
(click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast) 

This episode features a member spotlight interview from my Marketing with Meller program featuring Lori Vajda of Sticky Brand Lab, a personal branding production company that uses conversational interviews and a virtual studio to create high-quality video, audio, and marketing assets.

Lori explained how her done-for-you process removes the fear of recording solo by focusing on natural conversation and “invisible” editing, then repurposes the content into reels, carousels, downloadables, and other evergreen materials. She described her target audience as quiet, under-the-radar professionals and entrepreneurs who want to show up authentically without becoming performers, and noted the service can be used as a one-time package or ongoing retainer with a growing content reservoir.

She also outlined her TWIG method (turning your wisdom into growth) for uncovering roots, core themes, and story-based content, and shared that people can connect with her on LinkedIn or via stickybrandlab.com to follow up.

00:00 Podcast Intro and CTA
01:32 Why Member Spotlights
02:26 Meet Lori Vajda
03:08 Sticky Brand Lab Explained
04:49 Why This Service Exists
07:22 Packages and Content Strategy
09:30 TWIG Storytelling Method
11:51 Retainers and Client Fit
15:12 Lori Career Backstory
18:46 Member Q&A Session
26:20 How to Work With Lori
27:43 Wrap Up and Community Thanks
29:20 Upcoming Program Events

Join Marketing with Meller: https://www.mellermarketing.com/join

Support the show

**************************************
My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie. 

Visit mellermarketing.com

Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller 
(click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast) 

How My Public Membership Directory Promotes Members and Simplifies Referrals

In this episode, I explains why I created a public membership directory at mellermarketing.com/directory to systematically refer clients to trusted members when asked for services I don’t provide (e.g., career strategy, resume writing, SEO).

The directory helps spotlight members and serves as an easy resource for visitors to find the right referral.

I explain how (and why) I collect member details using Kajabi’s Assessments tool, including permission to use a LinkedIn headshot, three short service/topic descriptions, and one web link, then reviews submissions before adding them to a three-column, first-name alphabetical webpage with occasional “This could be you” filler graphics.

I also periodically nudge members to submit their info to join the directory, by promoting upcoming LinkedIn “Marketing Monday” features and an email blast to my VIP list, and notes the directory is a benefit for members of her two communities: The Recipe for Social Selling on LinkedIn and Marketing with Meller.

00:00 Welcome and Overview
01:09 Why a Directory Exists
03:12 Building the Intake Form
04:57 Publishing and Organizing Entries
06:15 Getting Members Featured
07:06 Two Communities Explained
08:03 Public Page Best Practices
08:33 Bonus Link and Wrap Up

Support the show

**************************************
My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie. 

Visit mellermarketing.com

Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller 
(click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast) 

In this episode, I share a repurposed YouTube walkthrough, demonstrating a newly noticed LinkedIn company page Event Management feature that lets admins edit event recordings and create short-form clips. 

Using my Meller Marketing LinkedIn company page, I walk through how to navigate to the Events tab with upcoming and past events. I then open a recent livestream, and use the in-platform editor to trim off the first three minutes with no audio due to microphone issues. 

I then test “Create event clips,” save a short clip, locate it under saved clips, and show how to post or download it, noting captions aren’t perfect and that burned-in captions require other tools like Descript. 

I also review options like boosting events, viewing registrations, and following up with attendees.

00:00 Podcast Intro Setup
01:18 Livestream Basics Delay
02:00 Company Page Discovery
03:37 Events Tab Overview
05:27 Editing Event Recording
06:10 Trimming Audio Issues
08:51 Create Event Clips
11:41 Boost And Results
13:37 Follow Up Attendees
14:55 Find Post Saved Clips
17:33 Wrap Up And Next Steps

Full YouTube Episode: https://youtu.be/EfAl3qpTuYg 

Support the show

**************************************
My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie. 

Visit mellermarketing.com

Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller 
(click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast) 

Repurposing LinkedIn Lives Into Your Podcast with Jon Gay

As I was thinking about what to publish this week, I decided to go to my "Vault" containing a few years of LinkedIn Live interviews, and where better to start than this episode, featuring podcast producer Jon Gay who shares strategy tips about converting past LinkedIn Live videos into a podcast and why the advice still matters. 

Jon explains the basics of turning video into audio, why audio can be more intimate and memorable than video, and how podcasts create long-term, evergreen ROI. 

He covers key production tips: using a dynamic mic like the Samson Q2U instead of a Blue Yeti, recording in a sound-friendly space, doing a mic check, what to avoid drinking before a show (dairy/carbonation), staying close to the mic, and managing notifications. 

He compares Zoom with local-recording platforms, discusses editing options (including Descript), and outlines hosting, RSS feeds, distribution to Apple/Spotify/YouTube, promotion tactics, and respecting audience time. We also discuss DIY vs outsourcing, pricing ranges, ideal episode length, and monetization realities.

00:00 Podcast Vault Intro
01:27 Tools Hosting Disclosures
02:34 Meet Jon Gay
04:46 Why Repurpose Lives
05:45 Jon Framework Overview
07:16 Audio Versus Video
08:42 Podcasting Growth ROI
11:23 Mic Gear Recommendations
14:02 Recording Space Setup
15:27 Zoom Versus Local Recording
18:02 Make Visuals Audio Friendly
19:07 Presentation Day Soundcheck
23:35 Mic Technique Proximity
24:55 Editing Software Options
25:14 Choose Your DAW
25:28 Before And After Edit
26:57 Descript Text Editing
28:57 Podcast Hosting Basics
30:26 Distribution And Promotion
32:10 Follow Not Subscribe
33:09 Respect Your Audience
35:41 Audience Q And A
36:10 DIY Vs Outsource Costs
39:11 Ideal Episode Length
42:07 Monetization Mindset
43:29 YouTube Audio Tradeoffs
45:43 Wrap Up And Contact

Connect with Jon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jongay18/

Visit his website: https://jagpodcastproductions.com/

Check out my affiliate / partner offers here: https://www.mellermarketing.com/specialoffers

Original livestream: https://www.youtube.com/live/-hhmFrbYC0A?si=EOGA7PJbJs2zTjjN

Support the show

**************************************
My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie. 

Visit mellermarketing.com

Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller 
(click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast) 

I answer five community questions about LinkedIn and share how I repurpose Q&As into a podcast, blog, and YouTube video while keeping askers anonymous.

First, I explain that even without deep industry experience (like real estate), the key is understanding audience mindset on LinkedIn and optimizing a profile to clearly describe services and provide a path to do business. 

Next, I advise canceling LinkedIn Premium if its features aren’t being used, and I note the premium tools I find most valuable, including profile views, personalized invite notes, and the away message. 

I then explain how to block or report irrelevant or offensive promoted ads. 

I also outline ways to capitalize on being tagged in a post that boosted podcast listens by commenting, reposting, linking directly, and networking with others mentioned. 

Finally, I discuss LinkedIn’s new paid consultation link "Get Advice from Me" -- a feature for Premium Business, why it may be intended to drive upgrades, and why it may not convert well compared to other profile link placements.

00:00 Community Q&A Intro

01:11 Real Estate LinkedIn Tips

04:33 Profile Refresh Masterclass

05:04 Canceling Premium

06:19 Premium Features Breakdown

08:36 Blocking Offensive Ads

11:17 Podcast Shoutout Spike

15:30 Get Advice Button

21:04 Wrap Up and Contact

Support the show

**************************************
My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie. 

Visit mellermarketing.com

Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller 
(click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast) 

Overthinking can look like “being responsible,” but it often feels like you’re stuck in your own head with no exit. We’re putting the spotlight on Elaine Belson, a self-authority coach, speaker, psychotherapist, and Army veteran, to talk about what really helps when you’re hard on yourself, constantly second-guessing, or relying on other people’s reactions to feel OK.

Elaine breaks down her one-to-one coaching, including a 60-minute mindset reset and a 90-minute deep dive (plus discounted multi-session packages). We dig into the patterns that keep women trapped in self-criticism and people pleasing, and why building self-authority means learning to trust your instincts, set boundaries without looking for permission, and practice self-validation instead of using others as mirrors.

You’ll hear memorable frameworks you can actually use: overthinking is like chocolate cake (comforting, but not a solution), the six types of overthinking, and why emotions are information just like hunger or pain. Elaine also shares the “Columbo” approach to growth (curious, not judgmental) and a powerful reframe for boundaries she calls the opposite of the golden rule. We even get into her story of joining the Army at 42 and what that says about choosing a bigger impact.

If you want practical mindset coaching, emotional intelligence tools, and a clearer path to confident decisions, this conversation will give you a solid starting point. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s stuck in overthinking, and leave a review to help more people find the show. 

00:00 Member Spotlight Intro

01:37 Meet Elaine Belson

03:02 Elaine’s Background Mantras

04:28 One to One Coaching Offer

04:43 Who It’s For and How It Helps

07:13 How Clients Find and Book

09:45 Who It’s Not For

10:38 Audience Q and A Stories

14:16 Trends Overthinking Chocolate Cake

16:10 Army Veteran Story Barbie Moment

22:57 Self Validation and Mirroring

25:48 Wrap Up Links and Community Events

30:08 Final Thanks and Close

Connect with Elaine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainebelsonlcsw/

Visit Elaine's website:
https://www.theselfauthoritycoach.com/

Support the show

**************************************
My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie. 

Visit mellermarketing.com

Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller 
(click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast) 

In this podcast episode, I turn a real client email into a simple LinkedIn content framework that can help you demonstrate expertise without sharing private details. 

I also break down what to do after a post performs well so engagement turns into actual conversations, not just likes. 

• pulling content ideas from emails, texts, and DMs we already receive 
• anonymizing client context while keeping the lesson useful 
• evaluating a LinkedIn post using reactions and comments as signals 
• reviewing reactors for reconnection and follow-up opportunities 
• inviting second- and third-degree people to connect with a personal note 
• replying to every comment to improve etiquette and reach 
• keeping posts conversational so they do not read like AI 
• using fewer, relevant hashtags and keeping expectations realistic 

00:00 Why I Published Today

00:37 Turn Questions Into Content

01:05 Anonymized Client Post Review

03:00 Follow Up On Reactions

05:12 Reply to Every Comment

05:52 Sound Human Not AI

06:44 Hashtags and SEO Reality

08:07 Wrap Up and Call to Action

Shout out to Podcasting Business School:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-business-school/id1439327697 

QUESTIONS? You can email me at Brenda at MellerMarketing.com. 

Support the show

**************************************
My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie. 

Visit mellermarketing.com

Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller 
(click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast) 

QUESTION: How do I curate valuable content that builds trust for prospects & candidates?

This episode answers an audience question.

00:00 Welcome and Audience Question
00:15 VIP Email List Workflow
02:00 Trust Building Basics
03:14 Prospect Content Strategy
03:46 LinkedIn vs YouTube Monetization
07:06 Content for Candidates
08:31 Organizing Past Episodes
09:32 Podcast Episodes to Reference
15:12 Turning Podcasts Into Blogs
16:02 Blogs and Masterclass Ideas
18:41 Testimonials and Social Proof
19:24 Wrap Up and Next Steps

Podcast Episodes Referenced:

• 191: AI Can’t Do This: Answer Your LinkedIn Questions
  buzzsprout.com/2162051/episodes/18198338  
• 184: How Speaking Can Help You Showcase Your Business and Expertise. buzzsprout.com/2162051/episodes/17940730
• 182: This Week’s LinkedIn Questions: How to Get a Bigger Slice of the LinkedIn Pie. buzzsprout.com/2162051/episodes/17874958
• 163: Tips for Posting on Your LinkedIn Company Page. buzzsprout.com/2162051/episodes/17148531
• 132: Trifecta Talks (with Michelle B. Griffin and Michelle J. Raymond) buzzsprout.com/2162051/episodes/15914620
• 118: SEO Tips for Entrepreneurs (with Rachel Lindteigen) buzzsprout.com/2162051/episodes/15465378
• 110: How to use FAQs as content featuring a question
  buzzsprout.com/2162051/episodes/15400028

Blogs Referenced:

• AI Can’t Do This: Answer Your LinkedIn Questions
  mellermarketing.com/blog/why-brenda-meller-is-better-than-chatGPT-at-answering-linkedin-questions
• Reminding People What You Do Is Good Marketing mellermarketing.com/blog/reminding-people-what-you-do-is-good-marketing
• Amazing Virtual Marketing Masterclasses to Supercharge Your Business mellermarketing.com/blog/amazing-virtual-marketing-masterclasses-marketing-with-meller
• Blog on LinkedIn: Why Bother?
  mellermarketing.com/blog/blog-on-linkedin-why-bother
• Wanna Grow Your Business? Ask Your Clients for Testimonials mellermarketing.com/blog/leverage-raving-customers-to-find-more-customers

Join my VIP Email List: mellermarketing.com/subscribe

Support the show

**************************************
My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie. 

Visit mellermarketing.com

Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller 
(click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast) 

We bring on Carrie Saunders for a Member Spotlight and get a clear look at Go High Level through her white-label offer, Course Creator Suite, including what it does well for course creators and online business owners. We also talk honestly about platform support, pricing pressure, and what it really takes to move from tools like Kajabi, Wix, or WordPress.

• how our Member Spotlight interviews work and why we feature members
• what Go High Level is and who it helps
• why Course Creator Suite adds curated training plus live Q&A and implementation support
• when DIY setup makes sense and when done-for-you support saves time
• pricing at $97/month plus usage-based email and messaging costs
• how importing courses and contacts works when migrating from Kajabi
• why the built-in CRM matters for tracking forms, bookings, purchases, tags, and lifetime value
• a quick CRM demo showing contact records and pipeline workflows
• upcoming Marketing with Meller events and how we handle calendar invites

Learn more:  https://coursecreatorsuite.com or [email protected]

Connect with Carrie Saunders on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriesaunders/

Support the show

**************************************
My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie. 

Visit mellermarketing.com

Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller 
(click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast)