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International Podcast Day is September 30th, and in honor of this holiday, I decided to share a bit of my journey in podcasting. In this episode, I share many lessons learned along the way and answer some frequently asked questions.

Did you know this isn't my first podcast? Now, let's not go looking for that first one! It was rough. I didn't enjoy it, didn't promote it, and it was clear I wasn't having fun.

This time around, I am mission-driven to help as many small business owners, solopreneurs, and entrepreneurs with their marketing as possible. I hope you are finding this podcast helpful and valuable.

Anyway, I shared the tools I love and use, such as:

• Zencastr for recording
• Audacity for editing
• Buzzsprout for hosting NOTE: this is a referral link, and you will get a $20 Amazon gift card if you use this and upgrade to a paid plan
• Rev.com for transcriptions NOTE: this is a referral link too, and you will get $10 off your first order if you use it
• Descript for editing I haven't used it yet, but I have heard good things about it!
• YouTube's Audio Library

I also answered some of the questions I am asked all the time, like:

• Should I advertise my show?
  I recommend saving your ad dollars for other things that will result in conversions or longer connections.
  
  
• How can I monetize my podcast?
  Affiliate links like some of the ones above are a great way to get started, but you can also get a sponsor or sponsors. You need to have an audience that will be valuable to that sponsor.
  
  
• Is podcasting a lot of work?
  I can definitely do more than I do, but currently, I spend about 3 hours on my interview episodes and about an hour on my Imperfect Marketing briefs. I could still invest more time in planning.
  
  
• What defines good performance?
  Well, I shared what Buzzsprout's podcast stats were showing at the recording time, but if you want to see what's current, you can check it out here.

Other Resources

• Lauren Kelley shares her podcasting tips and experience in community management and engagement.
• Interested in Canva but don't know where to start? Brenda Cadman shares her Canva expertise.

Looking to leverage AI? Want better results? Want to think about what you want to leverage?

Check and see how I am using it for FREE on YouTube.

From "Holy cow, it can do that?" to "Wait, how does this work again?" – I've got all your AI curiosities covered. It's the perfect after-podcast snack for your tech-hungry brain.

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This Imperfect Marketing Brief is episode 2 of 6 in a series on the Customer Awareness Journey, and we're covering Unaware Prospects today. I'll include links to the previous episodes in the resources section below!

Unaware Prospects are one of the hardest groups to market to. They are not impossible to reach, but you must make them aware of their problem before selling to them.

The good news is that you CAN create content that moves them further along their awareness journey.

I am a massive fan of Jamie Trull, and I attended one of her webinars focusing on tax tips and how to save on your taxes. Towards the end of the webinar, she showed her attendees that taxes aren't the problem. Instead, profitability will help you make more money over time. It helped shift her audience's mindset!

Many small business owners in attendance thought they weren't making enough money because of taxes. However, it was really about profitability. So she worked that shift in their mindset and then shared how she could help. It was quite brilliant!

How can you shift your prospects' mindset to become aware of their problem?

Resources:

• Customer Awareness Journey: Part One
• Customer Awareness Journey: Part Three
• Customer Awareness Journey: Part Four
• Learn how to identify your target audience!

Looking to leverage AI? Want better results? Want to think about what you want to leverage?

Check and see how I am using it for FREE on YouTube.

From "Holy cow, it can do that?" to "Wait, how does this work again?" – I've got all your AI curiosities covered. It's the perfect after-podcast snack for your tech-hungry brain.

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Are you intrigued by the episode title? CAN a business survive without maintaining a social media presence?

Well, this Imperfect Marketing episode with Johanna Renoth might seem counterintuitive, but it offers an amazing new perspective on business management.

Yes, it is possible to market your business without relying on social platforms!

I had a fantastic time speaking with Johanna Renoth about her journey, the self-awareness she has developed, and how she is running a very successful business without structure and social media.

Could you do it? Or have you already taken the plunge and deleted your business's social accounts?

I would love to hear your story; drop me an email at [email protected].

Click here to access the transcript and follow along!

Related Links and Resources:

• Johanna's website
• Johanna's new course
• Kendra's Secrets to Generating Content Ideas
• Do you enjoy social media, but feel stuck? Try these 30 Days of Post Ideas!
• Identify your target audience

Looking to leverage AI? Want better results? Want to think about what you want to leverage?

Check and see how I am using it for FREE on YouTube.

From "Holy cow, it can do that?" to "Wait, how does this work again?" – I've got all your AI curiosities covered. It's the perfect after-podcast snack for your tech-hungry brain.

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This episode begins a 6 part series focused entirely on the Customer Awareness Journey. 

The stages of the journey, as defined by Eugene Schwartz in his copywriting classic, "Breakthrough Advertising," include:

• Unaware: this prospect doesn't even know they have a problem.
• Problem Aware: They are aware of the problem but not the solution
• Solution Aware: They are interested in figuring out how to solve their problem.
• Product Aware: Looking for the right product
• Most Aware: Narrowing down to their criteria

This journey is so important because you always need to meet your customers where they are in their journey.

Resources:

• Customer Awareness Journey: Part Two
• Customer Awareness Journey: Part Three
• Customer Awareness Journey: Part Four
• Who are your customers? Check out my new guide, which asks questions to help define your target audience!

Looking to leverage AI? Want better results? Want to think about what you want to leverage?

Check and see how I am using it for FREE on YouTube.

From "Holy cow, it can do that?" to "Wait, how does this work again?" – I've got all your AI curiosities covered. It's the perfect after-podcast snack for your tech-hungry brain.

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WOW! I knew nothing about Amazon Marketing before my discussion with Annalisa DeMarta, but I learned A LOT during this episode of Imperfect Marketing. I hope you do too!

We explore different advertising techniques used in the Amazon Marketplace and unpack Amazon's keyword ranking. Here's a hint: reviews and service matter, and it's a pay-to-play world.

One other fact I found fascinating is that the people who purchase items from your store aren't your customers. Instead, they are Amazon's customers.

There is a bit of a mindset shift here, but Annalisa shared her wealth of information and the lessons she has learned. She also encouraged us all to make "micro failures"—I LOVE that term and plan on stealing it for myself!

Click here to access the transcript and follow along!

In this Episode:

00:01:03 Why would you want an agency to help you with Amazon SEO?
00:03:11 How is Amazon SEO different?
00:07:32 How much do reviews factor in?
00:13:46 Signs your Amazon listing agency isn't doing well for you
00:19:15 Advice to getting started
00:24:53 Biggest lesson learned?

Related Links and Resources:

• Ridgeline Insights
• Connect with Annalisa on LinkedIn
• Are you here because you're intrigued by Amazon Marketing, but your day job focuses on standard SEO? Then, this episode is for you!

Looking to leverage AI? Want better results? Want to think about what you want to leverage?

Check and see how I am using it for FREE on YouTube.

From "Holy cow, it can do that?" to "Wait, how does this work again?" – I've got all your AI curiosities covered. It's the perfect after-podcast snack for your tech-hungry brain.

Watch here

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In this Imperfect Marketing Brief, I discuss why your email open rates don't accurately indicate engagement rates.

(P.S. If you want to learn more about that, check out my blog exploring Apple's iOS 15 update here!) 

So...what should you be tracking? Great question!

You should track:

• email list growth
• total clicks
• total leads
• total conversions
• unsubscribes

I hope this episode helps you improve your email tracking techniques! 

Are you interested in using a copy of my email marketing tracker? Drop me an email at [email protected], and I will send it over.

Resources:

•  A detailed look at Apple's iOS 15 update
• Watch my Livestream Thursday all about tracking email performance
• Take my quiz and discover YOUR strongest marketing tactics
• Struggling to gain traction? My free guide can help you craft compelling subject lines
• Beginner's Guide to Email Marketing

Looking to leverage AI? Want better results? Want to think about what you want to leverage?

Check and see how I am using it for FREE on YouTube.

From "Holy cow, it can do that?" to "Wait, how does this work again?" – I've got all your AI curiosities covered. It's the perfect after-podcast snack for your tech-hungry brain.

Watch here

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This week's Imperfect Marketing podcast is full of tips on search engine optimization tips from SEO expert Stephanie Long.

Whether searching for the perfect keyword ideas or understanding the technical SEO behind your website, this episode provides tips and resources.

As you may know, I can't get enough of Answer the Public! This tool is a great resource to help you find questions to answer for content. There are many more tools— I always seem to forget Ubersuggest—and we highlight many of them you can use to build your SEO.

You do NOT want to miss this episode!

Click here to access the transcript and follow along!

In this episode:

00:01:09 Why is SEO Important?
00:07:18 Keyword Research Tips
00:12:46 Black Hat SEO
00:14:59 Other SEO Tips—from voice to meta descriptions, title tags, and more

Related Links and Resources:

• Stephanie's Agency
• Answer the Public 
• Ubersuggest
• Moz
• SEMRush
• Screaming Frog
• Voice Search Blog by Stephanie
• Black Hat vs White Hat SEO by Stephanie
• 5 Secrets to Generating Content Ideas by Kendra
• Click here to read my SEMrush review

Looking to leverage AI? Want better results? Want to think about what you want to leverage?

Check and see how I am using it for FREE on YouTube.

From "Holy cow, it can do that?" to "Wait, how does this work again?" – I've got all your AI curiosities covered. It's the perfect after-podcast snack for your tech-hungry brain.

Watch here

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How do you start an email marketing program before you have a website?

It's easier than you think, and the earlier you start email marketing, the better off your business will be.

1.  Create a "Coming Soon" page and include a form where people can sign up.
2. Leverage all your collateral, including your email signature, to encourage signups
3. Ask your existing contacts
4. Market a lead magnet
5. Leverage social media

Most email service providers like Constant Contact and Convert Kit will allow you to accomplish this fairly easily. 

So, don't be afraid to get out there and start building your know, like, and trust factor!

Resources 

•  Looking for other tips to jumpstart your email marketing? I have the free download just for you!
• Ready to tackle opt-in emails? Listen to this previous Imperfect Marketing Brief
• Do you like taking fun, informative quizzes? Click here to gain insight into your list-building strategy
• Reach your first 1,000 subscribers!

Looking to leverage AI? Want better results? Want to think about what you want to leverage?

Check and see how I am using it for FREE on YouTube.

From "Holy cow, it can do that?" to "Wait, how does this work again?" – I've got all your AI curiosities covered. It's the perfect after-podcast snack for your tech-hungry brain.

Watch here

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I am so excited to have spent time with Jimmy Huynh, Kajabi's Senior Manager of Customer Training!

In this episode of Imperfect Marketing, Jimmy Huynh and I have a great time talking about his journey into the marketing world—he helped his dad market his business when he was young. We also discuss lead nurturing and generation, the importance of monitoring trends, and his biggest marketing lesson learned.

Oh—we also talk about email marketing!

Click here to access the transcript and follow along with our conversation.

In this episode:
 
00:01:23 Jimmy shares his experiences marketing with his dad
00:05:10 What trends are you seeing right now?
00:10:24 Personalization
00:13:32 Email marketing and its importance
00:19:53 Building your pipeline and funnel
00:24:51 Biggest marketing lesson learned.

Related links and resources:

• Connect with Jimmy on LinkedIn 
• Check out Kajabi's Free Training Webinars
• If you are a Kajabi customer, be sure to visit: Kajabi University
• Interested in trying Kajabi? Check out my affiliate link and sign up

Looking to leverage AI? Want better results? Want to think about what you want to leverage?

Check and see how I am using it for FREE on YouTube.

From "Holy cow, it can do that?" to "Wait, how does this work again?" – I've got all your AI curiosities covered. It's the perfect after-podcast snack for your tech-hungry brain.

Watch here

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I am super excited about this episode with Lauren Kelley! Not only is Lauren a podcasting expert, but she has a ton of experience in community management and engagement.

I genuinely believe that building community is the way we will move forward together.

I began this podcast to help small business owners and solopreneurs learn from others. For me, community is about giving back and engaging with others.

I recently read a statement attributed to Margaret Mead that claimed the first sign of a civilized society is a healed femur. Mead proceeded to explain, as the story goes, that wounded animals in the wild would be hunted and eaten before their broken bones could heal.

Thus, a healed femur is a sign that a wounded person must have received help from others. Mead is said to have concluded, “Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts.”

Now, as we work to help each other, Lauren gave us a lot of information and shared her experience on podcasts, community engagement, and more. So be sure to listen and let me know your thoughts!

In this episode:

00:00:36 Community Management
00:07:00 How did she get started in podcasting?
00:10:24 Leveraging a podcast for marketing
00:16:30 Using your podcast as pillar content
00:21:36 How do your users consume content?
00:23:22 Interesting ways to leverage content
00:30:06 Want to start a podcast yourself?
00:37:34 Lesson learned in marketing and podcasts

Click here to access the transcript and follow along with our conversation!

Related Links and Resources:

• The Random Agency
• Freakonomics Podcast
• Read the HubSpot Article on Pillar and Cluster Content
• Read the HubSpot Article on Topic Clusters
• Gary V on Leveraging Content
• Imperfect Marketing Brief on Being True to Your Brand

Looking to leverage AI? Want better results? Want to think about what you want to leverage?

Check and see how I am using it for FREE on YouTube.

From "Holy cow, it can do that?" to "Wait, how does this work again?" – I've got all your AI curiosities covered. It's the perfect after-podcast snack for your tech-hungry brain.

Watch here