A few years ago, I never thought I'd be able to take time off my author business or marketing business because I was working so much, but this summer, I have 6 weeks of travel and am enjoying every minute of it!

In this week's episode, I'm sharing the 4 different steps I took to prepare my business for time away, so that I wouldn't have to work much while traveling and so that I could truly step away without stress or having a ton of work to do when I'm back. We'll talk about organic marketing, paid advertising, collaborations (and more), and how to keep things going if you want to take well-deserved time away from your work!

Resources mentioned (some links may be affiliate links!):

Mailerlite, my favorite email marketing platform, is 30% off for new users/users on free plans through Sept 23: https://www.mailerlite.com/a/6m6hIJTYujG6 

12 free resources for writers, ends Sept 14: https://upbeat-experimenter-9423.kit.com/effb4e3f2d 

The Creative's Content Club: join the waitlist so you can be the first to know when we're open for new members soon! https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-pod

Recommended video about collaborations: https://youtu.be/5qv5URcSqvo

Thanks for listening to today's episode. Here are additional resources to explore so I can help your marketing journey!

Get your hands on my latest marketing freebie: ⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebie⁠⁠ 

JOIN THE CREATIVE'S CONTENT CLUB WAITLIST! Want hands-on marketing support, templates and shortcuts, feedback, step by step marketing strategies and more, every single month?! Join my all-in-one marketing membership, The Creative's Content Club! Add your name to the waitlist to receive an invite soon: https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-pod

ABOUT SHELBY: Hey, I'm Shelby, bestselling writer and marketing coach for creatives. After growing my own audience as an author to more than 500k on social media, working in social media management for 7+ years, becoming a full-time writer and selling over 50k books on social media, I now teach authors and creatives, like musicians, artists, poets, photographers and more, how to grow and sell their creative work on social media.

CONNECT WITH SHELBY:

⁠⁠https://tiktok.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://instagram.com/marketingbyshelby

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/⁠⁠

Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe for weekly marketing episodes and tips.

Disclaimer: This episode was originally posted on my YouTube channel, @marketingbyshelby.

In this glimpse into a coaching call, Shelby helps author and Club member, Nidhi, navigate some of the most common questions from creatives: how important is an author website, should you blog regularly, when is the right time to run Facebook Ads, how to navigate being multi-passionate and writing both fiction and nonfiction, launching a new product and how do you decide between KDP Select and going wide? Whether you're launching your first or fifth book, this episode offers strategic insights on traffic, email lists, promo stacking, and using early reviews. If you want direct and personalized guidance like this, join the waitlist for The Creative’s Content Club!

Want hands-on marketing support, templates and shortcuts, feedback, step by step marketing strategies and more, every single month?! Join my all-in-one marketing membership, The Creative's Content Club! Add your name to the waitlist to receive an invite soon: https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-pod

Suggested episodes to listen to next:

https://youtu.be/IDc6wCHlhDo 

https://youtu.be/vLh7bxK_m7g 

Thanks for listening to today's episode. Here are additional resources to explore so I can help your marketing journey!

Get your hands on my latest marketing freebie: ⁠⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebie⁠⁠ 

ABOUT SHELBY: Hey, I'm Shelby, bestselling writer and marketing coach for creatives. After growing my own audience as an author to more than 500k on social media, working in social media management for 7+ years, becoming a full-time writer and selling over 50k books on social media, I now teach authors and creatives, like musicians, artists, poets, photographers and more, how to grow and sell their creative work on social media.

CONNECT WITH SHELBY:

⁠⁠https://tiktok.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

https://instagram.com/marketingbyshelby

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/⁠⁠

Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe for weekly marketing episodes and tips.

Disclaimer: This episode was originally posted on my YouTube channel, @marketingbyshelby.

Let’s talk business strategy—specifically, what I’m experimenting with this year in email marketing and overall business direction. This is part 2 of a 2-part series on shifts I'm making in marketing and business this year! Here's part 1: https://youtu.be/uafzYKagdZY 

In 2025, I’m focused on trying new things, adapting to what works now and having more fun in the process. In this episode, I’ll take you behind the scenes of what I’ve tested, what's new or different, and how I’m making decisions with growth in mind.In this episode:

- What I’m doing differently with email marketing to cut through the noise of automation and AI 

- Ways I'm growing my email list differently this year- How I collected tons of market research and made sales along the way 

- Fun ways I'm engaging my students and audience 

- Business pivots I’ve made this year (and why) 

Resources mentioned (links below are affiliate links and help support the channel at no extra cost to you!): 

- Collaboration video: https://youtu.be/5qv5URcSqvo 

- JOIN THE CREATIVE'S CONTENT CLUB WAITLIST! https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-pod

- Interact (quiz platform): https://get.tryinteract.com/shelby 

- Mailerlite (email marketing): https://www.mailerlite.com/a/6m6hIJTYujG6 

- ManyChat (automate your DMs): https://manychat.pxf.io/eK3G1X 

- Thrivecart (my course, affiliate, and checkout platform!): https://shelbyleighpoetry--checkout.thrivecart.com/thrivecart-standard-account/ 

- Senja (collect testimonials): https://www.senja.io/?via=shelby18 

Thanks for listening to today's episode. Get your hands on my latest marketing freebie: ⁠⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebie⁠⁠ 

ABOUT SHELBY: Hey, I'm Shelby, bestselling writer and marketing coach for creatives. After growing my own audience as an author to more than 500k on social media, working in social media management for 7+ years, becoming a full-time writer and selling over 50k books on social media, I now teach authors and creatives, like musicians, artists, poets, photographers and more, how to grow and sell their creative work on social media.

CONNECT WITH SHELBY:

⁠⁠https://tiktok.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://instagram.com/marketingbyshelby

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/⁠⁠

Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe for weekly marketing episodes and tips.

Disclaimer: This episode was originally posted on my YouTube channel, @marketingbyshelby.

2025 is my year of experimenting—and in this episode (part 1 of a 2-part series!), I’m sharing exactly how I’m switching things up on social media. From new content formats on Instagram to rethinking engagement and storytelling, I’m walking you through what I’m testing right now and how it’s working.If you’ve been feeling stuck or uninspired with your content, I hope this gives you ideas and permission to play, pivot, and show up in ways that feel good to you.In this episode:- My favorite social media experiments of the year- Why I’m shifting away from “perfect” content- How I'm testing new ideas without starting from scratch- Real examples from my own postsSubscribe and stay tuned for part 2 later this month all about how I'm experimenting with my email newsletters, growing my email list, and other business strategies to boost revenue!

Resources mentioned:

Manychat (automate your DMs with this tool - my affiliate link!): https://manychat.pxf.io/eK3G1X

Steal my 2025 Instagram Strategy video: https://youtu.be/bDHJI1xshVU

Personal brand & marketing video: https://youtu.be/m0KHTVzR82E

Thanks for listening to today's episode. Here are additional resources to explore so I can help your marketing journey!

Get your hands on my latest marketing freebie: ⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebie⁠⁠ 

JOIN THE CREATIVE'S CONTENT CLUB WAITLIST! Want hands-on marketing support, templates and shortcuts, feedback, step by step marketing strategies and more, every single month?! Join my all-in-one marketing membership, The Creative's Content Club! Add your name to the waitlist to receive an invite soon: https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-pod

ABOUT SHELBY: Hey, I'm Shelby, bestselling writer and marketing coach for creatives. After growing my own audience as an author to more than 500k on social media, working in social media management for 7+ years, becoming a full-time writer and selling over 50k books on social media, I now teach authors and creatives, like musicians, artists, poets, photographers and more, how to grow and sell their creative work on social media.

CONNECT WITH SHELBY:

⁠⁠https://tiktok.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://instagram.com/marketingbyshelby

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/⁠⁠

Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe for weekly marketing episodes and tips.

Disclaimer: This episode was originally posted on my YouTube channel, @marketingbyshelby.

In 2025, visibility isn’t optional—it’s essential. Not just for sales, but for the impact your work can have on others. In this episode, I’m sharing the real impact of marketing my work as a creative: how showing up led to life-changing opportunities, deeper connections with readers, and messages I’ll never forget.Inside this episode:→ Why visibility matters more than ever→ How I’ve marketed my books + creative work→ Real messages from readers that remind me why I keep showing up→ Encouragement (and tools!) for your marketing journey

Videos mentioned in this episode:

Instagram Changed in 2025: What You Need to Know - https://youtu.be/xdItNGb0gls

Author Vlog: Flying Across the World! | Sharjah International Book Fair - https://youtu.be/lCVcKd6wjg8

Marketing is changing: here's what you need to know - https://youtube.com/live/w5ariWhoDPw?feature=share

Thanks for listening to today's episode. Here are additional resources to explore so I can help your marketing journey!

Get your hands on my latest marketing freebie: ⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebie⁠⁠ 

JOIN THE CREATIVE'S CONTENT CLUB WAITLIST! Want hands-on marketing support, templates and shortcuts, feedback, step by step marketing strategies and more, every single month?! Join my all-in-one marketing membership, The Creative's Content Club! Add your name to the waitlist to receive an invite soon: https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-pod

ABOUT SHELBY: Hey, I'm Shelby, bestselling writer and marketing coach for creatives. After growing my own audience as an author to more than 500k on social media, working in social media management for 7+ years, becoming a full-time writer and selling over 50k books on social media, I now teach authors and creatives, like musicians, artists, poets, photographers and more, how to grow and sell their creative work on social media.

CONNECT WITH SHELBY:

⁠⁠https://tiktok.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://instagram.com/marketingbyshelby

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/⁠⁠

Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe for weekly marketing episodes and tips.

Disclaimer: This episode was originally posted on my YouTube channel, @marketingbyshelby.

This week, let's talk about the drastic changes we've seen in social media over the last 12 months: lower engagement, more unfollows, fewer likes. What's going on? Is this all normal and what we should expect from now on?In this episode, I'm sharing my why these changes are a good thing and how you can get more visibility on your posts moving forward.If you want to learn about the other marketing shifts in 2025, watch this video next: https://youtube.com/live/w5ariWhoDPw?feature=share

or this one: https://youtu.be/Huinbl54Rdw

Thanks for listening to today's episode. Here are additional resources to explore so I can help your marketing journey!

Get your hands on my latest marketing freebie: ⁠⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebie⁠⁠ 

JOIN THE CREATIVE'S CONTENT CLUB WAITLIST! Want hands-on marketing support, templates and shortcuts, feedback, step by step marketing strategies and more, every single month?! Join my all-in-one marketing membership, The Creative's Content Club! Add your name to the waitlist to receive an invite soon: https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-pod

ABOUT SHELBY: Hey, I'm Shelby, bestselling writer and marketing coach for creatives. After growing my own audience as an author to more than 500k on social media, working in social media management for 7+ years, becoming a full-time writer and selling over 50k books on social media, I now teach authors and creatives, like musicians, artists, poets, photographers and more, how to grow and sell their creative work on social media.

CONNECT WITH SHELBY:

⁠⁠https://tiktok.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://instagram.com/marketingbyshelby

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/⁠⁠

Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe for weekly marketing episodes and tips.

Disclaimer: This episode was originally posted on my YouTube channel, @marketingbyshelby.

Today I'm sharing 6 marketing myths about launching, social media, and sales that could be holding back your growth and success. I'll break down the myths, what they are, and what you should focus on instead. Even if you pick one or two of these to focus on, you'll see a big difference in your results AND your time spent on marketing.

Subscribe to my email list, Marketing Monday: https://www.marketingbyshelby.com/freebie

JOIN THE CREATIVE'S CONTENT CLUB WAITLIST! Want hands-on marketing support, templates and shortcuts, feedback, step by step marketing strategies and more, every single month?! Join my all-in-one marketing membership, The Creative's Content Club! Add your name to the waitlist to receive an invite soon: https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-pod

During today's episode, I recommended that you listen to this, which will show you how I sell books and grow my community: https://youtu.be/OMlj0D3LwiQ 

And if you want to join me for a livestream where I'll be covering 5 marketing shifts that are happening in 2025 and beyond so you can adapt what you're doing and still the impact and income you're hoping for, then mark your calendars and set up notifications: https://www.youtube.com/live/w5ariWhoDPw

ABOUT SHELBY: Hey, I'm Shelby, bestselling writer and marketing coach for creatives. After growing my own audience as an author to more than 500k on social media, working in social media management for 7+ years, becoming a full-time writer and selling over 50k books on social media, I now teach authors and creatives, like musicians, artists, poets, photographers and more, how to grow and sell their creative work on social media.

CONNECT WITH SHELBY:

⁠⁠https://tiktok.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://instagram.com/marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/⁠⁠

Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe for weekly marketing episodes and tips.

Disclaimer: This episode was originally posted on my YouTube channel, @marketingbyshelby.

In this episode, I'm sharing how I plan my days and my weeks to get more done in less time, to stay focused, and to make sure I'm always working on things that make an impact on the growth and revenue of my businesses. As an author and business owner, I manage two different brands' content, marketing, products, and more, so I've had to learn how to streamline my process.I hope this episode helps you learn new ways to organize your days and weeks to get more done so you can have more time for your other priorities in life.

Resources mentioned in this week's episode:

7 Productivity Hacks: https://youtu.be/enYFqwpLW5g

Productive day in the life vlog with timestamps: https://youtu.be/MlLOI1YJ2U4

Thanks for listening to today's episode. Here are additional resources to explore so I can help your marketing journey!

Get your hands on my latest marketing freebie: ⁠⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebie⁠⁠ 

JOIN THE CREATIVE'S CONTENT CLUB WAITLIST! Want hands-on marketing support, templates and shortcuts, feedback, step by step marketing strategies and more, every single month?! Join my all-in-one marketing membership, The Creative's Content Club! Add your name to the waitlist to receive an invite soon: https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-pod⁠⁠

ABOUT SHELBY: Hey, I'm Shelby, bestselling writer and marketing coach for creatives. After growing my own audience as an author to more than 500k on social media, working in social media management for 7+ years, becoming a full-time writer and selling over 50k books on social media, I now teach authors and creatives, like musicians, artists, poets, photographers and more, how to grow and sell their creative work on social media.

CONNECT WITH SHELBY:

⁠⁠https://tiktok.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shelbyleighpoetry/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/⁠⁠

Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe for weekly marketing episodes and tips.

Disclaimer: This episode was originally posted on my YouTube channel, @marketingbyshelby.

This week, let's chat about 3 marketing methods you should try this year and beyond! These 3 methods are a huge opportunity to reach new people in free and low-cost ways. We'll talk about social media marketing, email marketing, podcasting, the costs associated with each and how to get started with them.

JOIN THE CREATIVE'S CONTENT CLUB for success paths on each of these marketing methods, with monthly content plans and templates, strategy, support and so much more to make marketing a breeze, even if you're an introvert, or your burnt out on marketing. Enroll here: https://www.marketingbyshelby.com/club

Get your hands on my latest marketing freebie: ⁠⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebie⁠⁠ 

Resources mentioned (my affiliate links):

Mailerlite (my email marketing platform of choice): https://www.mailerlite.com/a/6m6hIJTYujG6 

Flodesk (use my link to get 50% off for your first year!): https://flodesk.com/c/SHELBYL

Additional videos to help you with the topics in this episode:

Social media marketing is changing: https://youtu.be/Huinbl54Rdw

Email marketing step by step: https://youtu.be/J84ogfLaiYs

Posting for creatives: https://youtu.be/cg4K3vb8fiM

ABOUT SHELBY: Hey, I'm Shelby, bestselling writer and marketing coach for creatives. After growing my own audience as an author to more than 500k on social media, working in social media management for 7+ years, becoming a full-time writer and selling over 50k books on social media, I now teach authors and creatives, like musicians, artists, poets, photographers and more, how to grow and sell their creative work on social media.

CONNECT WITH SHELBY:

⁠⁠https://tiktok.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shelbyleighpoetry/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/⁠⁠

Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe for weekly marketing episodes and tips.

Disclaimer: This episode was originally posted on my YouTube channel, @marketingbyshelby. 

In this episode, I asked a very special creative, who is new to selling their art, what questions they have (that I didn't see ahead of time!) about getting started with selling, marketing on social media, creating their website and customer experience, and much more! It's a very special episode because the special guest is... my husband! He's a drone photographer and sells panoramic canvases. I hope you love this episode and learn tips and strategies for your own creative business!

Thanks for listening to today's episode. Here are additional resources to explore so I can help your marketing journey!

Get your hands on my latest marketing freebie: ⁠⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebie⁠⁠ 

If you are looking for accountability and support on your creative journey, plus hands-on marketing help from me, come join The Creative's Content Club! It's the membership for busy creatives looking for help growing their impact and income, through done-for-you social media content, training and support every month. Learn more: ⁠⁠https://www.marketingbyshelby.com/club⁠⁠

ABOUT SHELBY: Hey, I'm Shelby, bestselling writer and marketing coach for creatives. After growing my own audience as an author to more than 500k on social media, working in social media management for 7+ years, becoming a full-time writer and selling over 50k books on social media, I now teach authors and creatives, like musicians, artists, poets, photographers and more, how to grow and sell their creative work on social media.

CONNECT WITH SHELBY:

⁠⁠https://tiktok.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shelbyleighpoetry/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@marketingbyshelby⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://marketingbyshelby.com/⁠⁠

Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe for weekly marketing episodes and tips.

Disclaimer: This episode was originally posted on my YouTube channel, @marketingbyshelby.