Struggling to create content that feels right for your brand? You're not alone! Whether you're DIYing your marketing, using AI, or outsourcing, inconsistent branding could be the reason why your marketing isn’t working as well as it should.

In this episode, I’ll break down:
✅ Why brand consistency builds trust and increases sales (by 10-20%!)
✅ The key elements of brand guidelines that make marketing easier
✅ How to stop wasting time on content that doesn’t feel right
✅ How to create brand guidelines that help you show up confidently

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If you’ve been putting off building or updating your website because it feels overwhelming, expensive, or just plain frustrating—you’re not alone. But here’s the truth: your website isn’t just an online brochure or a digital business card. It’s a powerful tool that can bring in leads, establish your credibility, and work for you 24/7—if it’s built strategically.

In today’s episode, we’re tackling 9 common website myths that keep small business owners from getting real results online. From the belief that "if you build it, they will come" to thinking "social media is enough," these myths could be costing you clients and sales.

📌 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
✅ Why SEO isn’t as complicated as you think
✅ Why a pretty website alone won’t get you bookings
✅ The real reason free website builders and AI tools can hurt your business
✅ Why social media is NOT a replacement for your website
✅ How to turn your site into a lead-generating machine (without constantly rebuilding it)

🎧 Episode Breakdown & Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome – Why website myths are hurting your business
00:43 Myth #1: "If I build it, they will come" (Why your website needs strategy, SEO, and content)
01:38 Myth #2: "A pretty website is all that matters" (Why visuals alone won’t get you clients)
02:35 Myth #3: "I can just use a free website builder or AI" (Why free tools may cost you in the long run)
03:40 Myth #4: "I don’t need a website, social media is enough" (Why your website is your brand’s home base)
05:10 Myth #5: "SEO is too complicated for DIYers" (SEO is simpler than you think!)
06:25 Myth #6: "I just need to buy a template and fill in the blanks" (Why templates need customization)
07:30 Myth #7: "Mobile design doesn’t matter that much" (Most visitors browse on mobile first!)
08:20 Myth #8: "Websites are just online brochures" (Your website should work like a salesperson)
09:12 Myth #9: "I can just set it and forget it" (Why website updates keep your business visible)
10:30 What to do next – How to build a website that sells for you

💡 Resources & Next Steps:
🚀 Want to stop second-guessing your website? Build a strategic site that helps you get found, attract ideal clients, and grow your business—without the guesswork.

🎯 Join Brand Base Camp for expert guidance, live support, and all the tools you need to create a website that works for you:
👉 dearkatebrandstrategy.com/bbc

📢 Let’s Connect!
✨ Have a question about today’s episode? DM me on Instagram [@dearkatebrandstrategy] or leave a review!
✨ Loved this episode? Share it with a fellow entrepreneur who needs a website that works!

🎙️ Subscribe & Review
Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! If you found value in today’s episode, leave a review—it helps more small business owners get the website clarity they need.

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Let’s bust some myths about blogging, shall we? In this episode, I’m diving into why blogging isn’t just “still alive”—it’s thriving, and it can be a total game-changer for your business marketing. Forget the idea that you have to be a “great writer” or that blogs are a one-and-done effort. I’m breaking down why blogging matters more than ever, especially for small businesses looking to stand out online.

We’ll talk about how blogging can help you show up on Google (where people are actually searching for your services), why it’s a better long-term investment than social media posts, and how you can turn one blog into tons of content. Plus, I’ll give you a sneak peek at my new blogging mini-course, which is designed to make blogging doable, strategic, and impactful for your business.

Whether you’ve been blogging for years or are just dipping your toes in, this episode is packed with ideas to help you create blogs that work for you, not just take up time.

Here’s what we’re covering:

• Why Google is a goldmine compared to social media.
• How blogging builds credibility and attracts your dream clients.
• Busting myths like “blogging is dead” and “I’m not a good enough writer.”
• The secret sauce: long-term benefits of blogging you can’t get elsewhere.
• Practical tips to make blogging simple and effective.
• Why small businesses (yes, even solopreneurs!) can use blogging to go head-to-head with the big guys.

Episode Breakdown:

• 00:00 Introduction: Why Google Wins Over Social Media
• 00:25 Why Blogging Deserves a Spot in Your Marketing Strategy
• 01:08 Myth Busting: The Truth About Blogging
• 02:43 Blogging’s Long-Term Benefits (Spoiler: It’s Worth It)
• 04:19 Easy Tips to Get Started (or Reignite Your Blog)
• 05:38 Wrapping Up: How Blogging Levels the Playing Field

If this episode gets you fired up about blogging, get on the waitlist for my blogging mini course!  It launches this Black Friday and you can grab it for up to 60% off!! I’ll show you how to create strategic, SEO-friendly blogs without burning yourself out. Let’s make blogging your business’s best-kept secret weapon!

Listen to my episode on SEO here:  https://dearkatebrandstrategy.com/podcast/simple-smart-seo-practical-tips-for-improving-your-websites-search-rankings/

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Learn more at Howyoupicturedit.com

In this episode of the How You Pictured It Podcast, we explore how to build meaningful client relationships through the power of Enneagram marketing. If you're a small business owner in service-based industries like photography, bookkeeping, real estate, or consulting, this episode is for you!

Discover how understanding your brand’s Enneagram type—whether you're a Helper (Type 2), Loyalist (Type 6), or Peacemaker (Type 9)—can transform your marketing strategy and help you connect deeply with your ideal clients.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• How to use relationship-focused marketing to attract loyal clients
• Proven Enneagram marketing strategies to grow your business
• Practical tips to enhance client trust and build authentic connections
• Ways to align your marketing with your brand’s personality for better results

Whether you're just starting out or looking to strengthen your brand strategy, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you stand out in a crowded market.

👉 Take the free Brand Enneagram Quiz at dearkatebrandstrategy.com/quiz and find out how your Enneagram type can shape your business success!

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Learn more at Howyoupicturedit.com

In this episode, I introduce the concept of brand Enneagrams, a tool designed to help service-based business owners understand their brand's unique personality and strengths. I explain the importance of standing out in today's competitive market and how brand Enneagrams can simplify and enhance your marketing efforts. I outline the nine different brand Enneagram types, describing each type's characteristics and how they can connect with your ideal clients. Take the quiz at dearkatebrandstrategy.com/quiz to discover your brand Enneagram type and get personalized marketing strategies.

00:00 Introduction to Brand Enneagrams

00:32 Understanding the Importance of Being Different

01:02 What is a Brand Enneagram?

01:32 Why Service-Based Businesses Need Brand Enneagrams

02:58 The Nine Brand Enneagram Types

04:28 Applying Your Brand Enneagram

05:12 Discover Your Brand Enneagram Type

05:58 Practical Applications of Brand Enneagrams

07:24 Conclusion and Next Steps

Get The Marketing Trail Mix Method Free Mini Audio Course: dearkatebrandstrategy.com/trailmix

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Learn more at Howyoupicturedit.com

This week, I dive into essential tips for anyone looking to take the plunge into building their site, touching on the importance of selecting the right platform, the power of starting with a solid template, and learning just what you need - nothing more, nothing less. I also emphasize the game-changing impact of having a strategic roadmap, staying motivated, and the accountability factor in bringing your website dream to life. Moreover, I discuss the undeniable value of DIYing your website, from clarifying your business message to updating your site as your business evolves. Don't forget, I've wrapped up these insights into a handy, free checklist. Find it at dearkatebrandstrategy.com/list Whether you're here to learn, planning your next website project, or just curious, I've compiled every lesson learned into actionable steps. Let's make web design less daunting together! Dive in, and while you're here, feel free to like, subscribe, and drop your thoughts below. 

00:00 Introduction to a Photographer's Journey into Website Coaching
00:14 The Serendipitous Shift to Website Coaching
00:55 Essential Tips for DIY Website Builders
01:00 Choosing the Right Platform for Your Website
02:23 Learning What You Need to Know: Simplifying the Process
02:49 The Power of a Good Template
04:55 Navigating Website Design Jargon and Language
06:06 Creating a Roadmap for Your DIY Website
07:20 The Importance of Motivation and Accountability
08:20 The Value of DIYing Your Website
09:32 Recap and Final Thoughts

Get The Marketing Trail Mix Method Free Mini Audio Course: dearkatebrandstrategy.com/trailmix

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Learn more at Howyoupicturedit.com

So many small business owners make the mistake of misdiagnosing business issues due to focusing on the wrong symptoms. Today I'm sharing how I pinpoint the symptoms of problems in my business with tools and data. We talk about the use of analytical tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and Hotjar to collect meaningful data on website traffic, user behavior, and email marketing effectiveness. We also discuss how our email marketing stats and post-sale feedback can help. Next, we examine common hurdles at various sales funnel stages—from awareness to action—highlighting problems like insufficient traffic, poor traffic quality, weak brand messaging, and technical issues. Using our data at different points through the stages of the customer journey makes it easier for us to make effective decisions in our business and close more sales. 


00:00 Introduction: The Common Mistakes of Small Business Owners
00:27 Identifying the Real Problems Behind Business Symptoms
01:23 Harnessing Data to Diagnose Business Issues
01:44 Essential Tools for Gathering Business Insights
02:07 Deep Dive into Analytics and User Behavior
03:36 Leveraging Email Metrics for Business Growth
04:49 Utilizing Customer Feedback for Strategic Adjustments
05:56 Navigating the Sales Funnel: Common Problems and Solutions
10:35 Conclusion: Making Informed Decisions with Accurate Data

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This week we're talking about the power of market research in creating your offers and attracting your dream clients. But we're putting a spin on it! Market research can be a very time consuming and costly endeavor especially for solopreneurs. I'm sharing how you can use AI to help analyze and access research into you target audience. Making it easier for small business owners to get the data they need to create magnetic marketing. Prefer visuals? Find this episode over on youtube. https://youtu.be/1OMuBSd8GgI?si=i0CXqpqZTDCFsDdt

00:00 Introduction to a Unique Podcast Episode

00:20 The Power of Market Research and AI

01:03 Understanding Your Ideal Client Avatar

01:50 Gathering Market Research Data

02:29 Leveraging AI for Market Research

04:25 Crafting Effective AI Prompts

08:07 AI-Assisted Competitor and Testimonial Research

10:19 Innovative Market Research: Interviewing AI

12:09 Conclusion and Invitation to Engage

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Sitting with things unfinished, unpublished, and maybe even unstarted for fear of it not being perfect? Listen in to this quick pep talk about the power of getting things done and letting the perfectionism go. 

Get The Marketing Trail Mix Method Free Mini Audio Course: dearkatebrandstrategy.com/trailmix

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Learn more at Howyoupicturedit.com

Get the Website That Sells Launch List: https://dearkatebrandstrategy.com/list

Welcome back to 'How You Pictured It'! It’s been a while since our last get-together, and I'm thrilled to catch up. During our break, I’ve been busy crafting new offerings for you all, including launching my Showit template shop, and unveiling the Website Writer Workbook and Website Writer AI tools to make your website copywriting a breeze. You can check these out at dearkatebrandstrategy.com/shop. But let's dive into today's meaty topic: SEO, or search engine optimization. It might sound daunting, but trust me, it's simpler than it appears. We're going to unravel how to make sure our websites are Google's best friend, making them visible to the right crowd. Today, we'll talk about three key strategies - utilizing the precise words people actually search for, structuring our web pages for ease of use, and tagging everything properly. I'll share how making slight adjustments, with tools like SEMrush or Google's Keyword Planner and ImageOptim, can significantly impact your site's visibility. We'll also cover how to write content that engages users first - because, at the end of the day, it's all about making sure they find what they need on our sites. Plus, I’ll touch on some off-page SEO strategies to take your site's visibility up a notch. Whether you're a newbie just starting out or looking to refine your strategy, these insights are designed to help you navigate the SEO maze with ease. If you're diving into SEO for the first time or just looking to brush up, I hope this episode sheds light on how straightforward it can really be. Feel free to reach out on Instagram @dearkatebrandstrategy with any questions! Looking forward to our next chat; there's more where this came from!

00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back

00:36 Understanding SEO Basics

01:10 Optimizing Website Design for SEO

01:33 Keyword Research and Usage

04:59 Structuring Web Pages for SEO

08:07 Image Optimization and Labeling

10:44 SEO Titles, Meta Descriptions, and URLs

12:46 Off Page SEO and Final Thoughts

Get The Marketing Trail Mix Method Free Mini Audio Course: dearkatebrandstrategy.com/trailmix

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Learn more at Howyoupicturedit.com