Do you ever feel like you’re putting so much effort into your marketing, but your messaging just isn’t connecting with your ideal clients?

You’re continuing to show up. Posting daily. Creating great offers. Doing all of the “right” things.

But instead of attracting your ideal clients (the ones who value your work and ready to invest)... you’re hearing crickets.

In this episode of the HerBusiness Podcast, we’re breaking down exactly why your message isn’t landing and how to start speaking in your dream client’s language so you can consistently attract aligned clients without shouting louder or burning out.

Here’s What You’ll Learn in this Episode: 

• Why trying to appeal to everyone dilutes your message and leaves you resonating with no one.
• How niching down helps you attract clients who are ready to work with you (and pay you what you’re worth).
• The fears that hold business owners back from narrowing their focus… and how to overcome them.
• How to reflect on your ideal client’s own words back to them so your message lands instantly (and have them say, “That’s exactly what I was thinking!”
• The power of painting the before and after in your marketing so clients see themselves immediately in your offers.
• Why focusing on vanity metrics (followers, likes, list size) keeps you stuck, and what to focus on instead.
• Two case studies of members inside the HerBusiness Network who completely transformed their businesses after getting crystal clear on their ideal client and refining their messaging.

If you have ever asked yourself… 

“Why don’t my dream client see the value of what I offer?”“Do I just need more followers or more reach before getting my ideal clients?”“What if I niche down but pick the WRONG audience??” 

…Then this episode will help you finally get clarity and start creating messaging that connects.

Mentioned in This Episode:

The HerBusiness Network

The Ultimate High-Converting Offer Blueprint (free download)

NEW & UPDATED! How to Craft an Offer that Sells

This week, Monica Rosenfeld of Stories That Stir joins us to dive into the power of stories, and how you can use your story to cut through the noise – be it in your emails, your social media, or out on the stage.

With years of experience as a storyteller, business owner, and speaker, Monica shares exactly how women business owners can use storytelling as their most powerful marketing tool.

We’re talking about using stories to attract your ideal clients, show up more confidently, and rewrite your internal narrative on this week’s episode – because YOUR story is worth telling.

Here’s What You’ll Discover in the Episode: 

• The science behind storytelling and what exactly happens in your brain and body when you hear a story (and why that emotional connection is SO strong!)
• How sharing YOUR story can cut through marketing noise and help you stand out in a saturated space
• Why your humanity is your greatest asset, and how sharing personal stories with purpose can build instant trust and connection
• How to share with vulnerability WITHOUT compromising your credibility or trustworthiness
• Monica’s incredible story-mining tips to help you find the right stories from your life (without feeling forced to overshare!)
• What makes a story truly shine (from universal story structures to emotional hooks to strategic vulnerability)
• Hear Monica’s own journey of how the COVID lockdown inspired her to launch Stories That Stir.
• And so, so much more…

Mentioned in This Episode:

The HerBusiness Network

HerBusiness Trailblazers - Join us in Crete, Greece, in October

Stories That Stir Global Events

Magnetic Brand Storytelling Masterclass

Episode 313 - What If You Followed That Hunch? The Power of Pursuing Curiosity in Business with Valerie Khoo

Reviewer - Kate Tribe - Shop

Marketing your small business can (if you’re not careful) become a full-time job. Creating posts, tweaking funnels, showing up online, trying every strategy you hear about – the pressure to be “on” 24/7… It’s exhausting.

In this episode, we are talking about marketing burnout, and how constant content production can slowly consume all your time. But, I’ll also walk you through how to shift from doing MORE to doing what is RIGHT, and how I made that shift myself.

Here’s What You’ll Discover in the Episode:

• Why more marketing does NOT mean better marketing (and why getting stuck in ‘production mode’ can hurt your business long term)
• The real reasons behind marketing burnout, how to spot them early, and why we’re seeing more and more small business owners burning out
• How to tell the difference between strategic innovation that WORKS, and falling for shiny objects
• Why you MUST revisit your ideal client, pricing, and offers before jumping to “do more”
• How to escape the trap of constant content production and find joy in your marketing again
• Discover where marketing burnout comes from… and what could happen if you don’t address it
• What to do FIRST if you’ve been feeling drained by your marketing and the pressure to keep up with your peers
• My personal experience with marketing burnout, and how I’ve made my marketing 10x better… WITHOUT spending 10x more time on it.

Mentioned in This Episode:

The HerBusiness Network

HerBusiness Trailblazers - Join us in Crete, Greece, in October

Reviewer: Cat Matson - Impactful Presenters

Content Sells Episode 265 – Are You Attracting the Right Leads? (And What To Do If You’re Not)

No successful business owner reached their goals alone. We are supported not just by our external communities and networks – but our TEAMS. And our guest today is a trailblazer when it comes to building smart, rock-solid teams.

But how can you create a high-functioning, loyal team of people around you who care about the success of your business as much as you do?

Kristy Smith of Virtual Elves knows exactly how – as she has provided hundreds of clients with outsourced, highly skilled VAs. She is an expert on creating a loyal and supportive team culture and has so much to share with you about how to hire, manage, and grow with your team.

Here’s What You’ll Discover in This Episode:

• The invisible ties that keep you focused on the WRONG things in business and how the “30% Burden” creeps up and steals your time
• How to strategically identify what is taking your focus and preventing you from stepping into the CEO role (+ what needs to shift!)
• The “SADD” method: Kristy’s sworn-by framework that you should run EVERY task in your business through (this will make your business more efficient, and it will make you LESS sad )
• Why leaning on people around you – and constructing a support system – is essential to free your time
• How Kristy has developed such incredible loyalty within her team (with multiple team members working with her over a decade) – and why team culture is key
• The big mistake business owners make when outsourcing team members, and why transactional thinking can backfire
• How to prepare in advance to onboard, and why cultivating systems beforehand is essential
• The 3 things you need to do before hiring anyone (or hiring anyone ELSE!)
• Why building strategically over time and putting in place a strong foundation has paid off for Kristy in the long run (tortoise > hare)
• How Kristy built a team culture so good that all of her current managerial positions started not as new hires, but as loyal team members with potential
• And so, so much more

Mentioned in This Episode:

The HerBusiness Network

Need a highly-qualified VA? Check out Virtual Elves today

Download your Ultimate Hire A VA Guide

You deserve a team that FREES your time — which means hiring the right people at the right time. But, many business owners struggle with hiring and managing their people – causing higher staff turnover, less commitment, and more work landing on your plate.

Because let’s be honest… most of us were never taught how to hire, delegate, lead, or let people go.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through the five most essential hires you need to make your business profitable AND sustainable – EVEN IF you’ve hired before and it didn’t work out.

Here’s What You’ll Discover in This Episode: 

• The crucial hire most business owners delay for too long (it will instantly free up 10 hours of your week!)
• Why this unexpected hire (that doesn’t “technically” relate to business) will transform your output and ability to keep a clear head
• How hidden burdens are affecting the capacity you have to grow your business and lead your team (these are UNFAIR, but true)
• The trick to getting OUT of the weeds and stopping getting stuck doing $10/hour tasks instead of playing the CEO role
• What happens when every client question, email, or calendar invite needs to go through you first – and who to hire to free up your time
• Who to hire in order to have your marketing done for you – without needing to be involved in every detail
• Why relying on your marketing alone might not be enough to bring in consistent sales, and what team member to add to bring in the sale
• How to set up new team members for success with the right role descriptions, systems, and clear expectations (so they’re not waiting around for your next instruction!)
• And so, so much more

Mentioned in This Episode:

The HerBusiness Network

Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell 

Episode 247 with Dan Martell | Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empires

EP313 - What If You Followed That Hunch? The Power of Pursuing Curiosity in Business with Valerie Khoo

What does the superyachting industry have to do with your leadership style? 

Turns out, a whole lot.

In this episode, I’m joined by Karine Rayson, an expert in leadership and mental health within the superyacht industry – where teams are required to live and work together 24/7 out at sea. And in that intense environment… leadership matters.

And it’s no different for your business. These leadership and communication skills are foundational for any business, even if you’re on dry land.

Here’s What You’ll Discover in This Episode: 

• The metric that sets high-performing teams apart from the rest, and why authoritative leadership is a recipe for ego issues and disengagement.
• The parallels between life on a superyacht and running a small business – and why it all boils down to leadership and strong team communication.
• The (so often overlooked!) layers of communication that build trust.
• How to spot the small, physical signs that signal something’s wrong before it’s too late.
• Why slipping work, a lack of eye contact, or mismatched energy might actually be a silent plea for support from your team (and what you can do to turn things around).
• Karine’s psychology-backed tips to make your team feel seen and valued – and why success all starts at onboarding.
• What emotional literacy really means (and what it DOESN’T!), and why self-awareness is the foundation of leading others well.
• The most uncomfortable, but essential, thing you can do as a leader to grow your emotional intelligence and improve your team’s ability to work well together.
• Why shifting from an authoritative leader to a facilitator actually creates a more connected, motivated, and purpose-driven team.
• Karine’s leadership non-negotiables to create a psychologically safe space, lead people in the same direction towards your ultimate goal,
• And so, so much more…

Mentioned in This Episode:

The HerBusiness Network

Flung Ceramics with Michelle Cox

Michelle Cox’s Podcast - One Question

This is Part 2 of the special mini-series all about LEADERSHIP. Last week (Episode 315), we turned inward and looked at how to become the best leader for yourself and your team.

In this episode, we shift our focus outward. How can you step into your role as an INDUSTRY leader? How can you show up authentically and confidently for your clients, your peers, and your community?

And most importantly… How can you achieve that without losing yourself or putting on ‘an act’?

Here’s What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why becoming a leader in your industry is NOT about being the loudest person in the room (or being on every platform)
• The key to stepping into your power – and how to be your most magnetic self
• How pairing your clarity with a willingness to be SEEN unlocks opportunities (even when visibility and vulnerability are terrifying!)
• My personal journey of hiding behind the camera to stepping into industry leadership and being the face of my business
• The stories of HerBusiness Network Members who have landed major media, speaking gigs, and dream clients by putting themselves out there (SO incredible!)
• Why your industry does NOT need a more perfect, more polished version of you – and why it needs you right now, as you are
• The curse of perfectionism and why “waiting until I’m ready” will keep you stuck
• All of the fears, doubts, and self-talk that hold you back from being an industry leader, and how you can move forward with them
• The small and doable ways you can start building your authority and visibility today, without forcing yourself
• How to maintain your authenticity and never step into a form of visibility that doesn’t feel right to you and your journey
• Why leadership of self is at the heart of everything (and why you need to master it FIRST!)

Mentioned in This Episode:

The HerBusiness Network

Listen to PART 1 Now: How to Become the Leader YOU and Your Team Need (Part 1) 

The Secret to Being Seen as the Go-To Expert in Your Field, with Leesa Shannon

Amanda Farmer, Your Strata Property 

Esther Espinosa, 5 Sisters Ministry

The success of your business doesn’t just depend on WHO you hire… but on HOW you lead them. 

So, how can you ensure that you are being the leader you are meant to be – in order to have a TEAM that shines in their roles, without you getting involved in daily tasks? 

Today, we are diving into Part 1 of a 2-part series all about the kind of leadership that transforms businesses from the inside out. This episode is about “Leadership of TEAM” and “Leadership of SELF” – the internal aspects of how you lead in business.

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode: 

• What to do when you feel like you’re the only one who truly CARES for your business
• How to STOP chasing your team for updates, redoing work, and hand-holding
• Create a team that FREES up your time, rather than creating more work and stress
• The three types of leadership every woman in business needs to understand – and which should come first
• Why the shift from doer to director is SO important… but feels so uncomfortable
• How to create clarity and empowerment with your team (no matter the size) and create a thriving team culture
• The subtle but crucial difference between managing and LEADING (& how to balance the two!)
• What “Leadership of Self” actually means… and why it is the foundation of not just your business, but your ability to move confidently through life
• How to redefine what leadership is ‘supposed’ to mean, let go of the fear and self-doubt, and understand what YOU need in order to lead.

Whether you have no team at all, you’re managing a microbusiness, or you’re evolving how you show up as the leader of an established business…

… this episode is about YOU stepping into your power, voice, and ability.

And, be sure to join us next week for Part 2 of this series.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Join the HerBusiness Network

HerBusiness Trailblazers Experience

“What am I to charge this much?”  “Who do I think I am?”  “No one is going to pay for this!”

Many women business owners have had the same doubts — and these doubts can stop us from realising the success that we want. The hidden emotions behind our pricing strategy need to be addressed – because they do nothing but keep you stuck and prevent your ideal clients from receiving the transformation you offer.

In this episode, we are talking about why your pricing isn’t the actual problem, how to uncover and manage the emotions that are influencing your decisions, and the pricing mistakes that most people make – that YOU can avoid.

Here’s What You’ll Learn in the Episode: 

-> Why competitor-based pricing and following the market can keep you stuck and undervalued (even though it’s what we’re “taught” to do!)

-> The 2 BIGGEST pricing mistakes I see women business owners making over and over again

-> How fear and guilt can disguise themselves as other, more logical or compassionate emotions

-> The clear signs that it is time to raise your prices (if you’ve clicked on this episode, it’s likely past time )

-> How to build a ladder of access for your ideal clients (and how to serve more people without undercharging)

-> The 7 steps to building a healthier, more confident relationship with your pricing and finances

-> How to move from “Will they pay this??” to “Will the right people see this?”

-> And so, so much more.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Join the HerBusiness Network https://shrtlnk.co/etRNj

The Ultimate High Converting Offer Blueprint https://shrtlnk.co/YwP8Y

Thanks to this week’s reviewer: Danika Armytage, Big Stories Little Films https://www.bigstorieslittlefilms.com.au/

Apply for the Marketing Success Mastermind https://shrtlnk.co/2VO48

In business, we are so often told to stick to a pre-designed path – to stay focused, stick to the formula, and ignore the distractions. But what if curiosity is actually the key to creating a business that both puts money in your pocket and brings fulfilment to your life?

That’s what our guest, CEO and Founder of the Australian Writers’ Centre, Valerie Khoo, is all about. She believes that following your curiosity and leaning into your creativity can actually lead you somewhere you never imagined yourself – to the benefit of your business and personal life.

Here’s What You’ll Learn in the Episode: 

-> How following your curiosity leads to incredible breakthroughs in your business – boosting both your bottom line and your attitude.

-> Why embracing a culture of curiosity is essential for both your business and soul (and how to cultivate one!)

-> What curiosity really looks like in business, and why following strict formulas and structures might mute the internal voice that guides you.

-> The risks of blindly following strategies that don’t align with you – and how to spot when it’s time to reorient yourself.

-> How to distinguish between a “bright shiny object” and a curiosity thread that is worth exploring (and why sometimes, it’s OKAY to go down the “rabbit hole”).

-> The major discoveries Valarie has made when she decided to embrace curiosity and see where stray interests could lead her.

-> How a week at the gym inspired Valerie to scale the Australian Writers’ Centre all across Australia.

-> Why getting out of your bubble and learning from people outside your industry can lead to extraordinary ideas and new inspiration.

-> How a reality TV show ended up inspiring a course that has changed the lives of veterans and first responders – one of Valerie's most successful courses to this day.

-> Why we think of change in binary terms: stay OR pivot. And how you can embrace the in-between space rather than choosing between the two.

-> How to begin building a Curiosity Culture – and why it starts with giving yourself permission FIRST.

Mentioned in This Episode:

HerBusiness Network https://her-business.lpages.co/request-an-invitation/?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=General&utm_campaign=membership-waitlist

HerBusiness Trailblazers Retreat - Crete, Greece https://shrtlnk.co/DTrs6

EP301 - Resilience, Burnout, and the Power of Self-Compassion – Olivia Ong https://herbusiness.com/podcast/resilience-burnout-and-the-power-of-self-compassion-with-dr-olivia-ong/