This week’s episode is short and real—just five minutes.

Life doesn’t always go according to plan. In the past two weeks, my family has walked through the loss of my mother-in-law while also moving our boys into college and stepping into the new season of empty nesting.

I don’t have the margin for a full episode, and maybe you need to hear that too: sometimes five minutes is enough.

In this mini-episode, I share:

What happens when life throws curveballs

Why pausing doesn’t mean failing

A reminder that God’s timing is always right on time

We’ll be back next week, September 1, with a full episode: When It’s Time to Pivot.

Resources:

• Simple Strategies Newsletter: https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/tips
• Next Step Simplification Call: https://shellyniehaus.com/connect
• Podcast Listeners Resource Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/guide
• Women Entrepreneurs In Prayer Call - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/prayercall
• Kit - https://partners.convertkit.com/shellyniehaus
• Equipt360 All-in-One Marketing Software - https://equipt360.com/?_from=shelly75

Connect with Shelly Niehaus:

• Website: https://coaching.shellyniehaus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellyniehaus/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-niehaus-7680652/

📄 Episode Summary:
Tired of relying on social media to grow your business? This episode is for you. I’m joined by podcast growth coach and host of Podcast Growth Club, Rayna Rokicki, to unpack how podcasting can become your most powerful marketing tool—whether you start your own show or simply guest on others. We’re talking visibility, audience building, expert positioning, and how to simplify your content strategy by making podcasting your home base.

🎧 Key Takeaways:

• Why podcasting is the platform for high-income, educated, action-taking listeners
• The truth about social media optional marketing—and how podcasting supports it
• How to pitch yourself as a guest (without hiring a PR firm)
• Easy ways to build authentic relationships with podcast hosts
• What to consider before launching your own podcast
• Why solo episodes help you position yourself as the go-to expert
• The ideal podcast episode length and frequency (it’s shorter than you think!)
• SEO tips to make your podcast more discoverable
• How to monetize your podcast without sponsors or a huge audience

✅ Action Step This Week:
Block 30 minutes to research 3 niche podcasts your audience listens to and brainstorm how you could collaborate or feature the host—before asking to be a guest.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

🎙 Podcast Growth Club by Rayna Rokicki – listen to Episode 44 for tips on SEO

Resources:

• Simple Strategies Newsletter: https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/tips
• Next Step Simplification Call: https://shellyniehaus.com/connect
• Podcast Listeners Resource Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/guide
• Women Entrepreneurs In Prayer Call - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/prayercall
• Kit - https://partners.convertkit.com/shellyniehaus
• Equipt360 All-in-One Marketing Software - https://equipt360.com/?_from=shelly75

Connect with Shelly Niehaus:

• Website: https://coaching.shellyniehaus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellyniehaus/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-niehaus-7680652/

In this episode of Educated, Empowered, Inspired, I’m joined by Laurie Ann Murabito, a speaker, author, and speaking coach, who shares how public speaking can be a game-changer for your business. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just dipping your toes into the world of speaking, Laurie-Ann breaks down practical steps to start speaking and elevate your business, grow your email list, and build meaningful relationships with your audience.

Key Takeaways:

• Public Speaking as a Business Growth Strategy: Laurie Ann explains how speaking is a powerful way to expand your reach, grow your email list, and build brand awareness.
• Redefining Your Stage: Public speaking doesn't just mean keynotes. Small, local opportunities like networking events or social media can serve as great platforms to start speaking.
• Practical Tips to Get Started: Laurie Ann emphasizes starting small with your warm market, preparing a couple of well-received topics, and building momentum over time.
• Adding Value Without Charging Fees: Even if you're not charging a speaker fee, you can still create a solid ROI through email list building, offering free resources, and engaging with your audience.
• Building Long-Term Relationships: The key to success in public speaking is not just about getting one-time gigs, but about maintaining relationships with event planners and speakers to ensure long-term opportunities.

Resources Mentioned:

• Laurie Ann's new listener guide: speakandstandout.com/shelly
• Laurie Ann's podcast: Be In Demand (episodes 264 and 268: "Six Speaking Mistakes to Avoid")

Resources:

• Simple Strategies Newsletter: https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/tips
• Next Step Simplification Call: https://shellyniehaus.com/connect
• Podcast Listeners Resource Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/guide
• Women Entrepreneurs In Prayer Call - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/prayercall
• Kit - https://partners.convertkit.com/shellyniehaus
• Equipt360 All-in-One Marketing Software - https://equipt360.com/?_from=shelly75

Connect with Shelly Niehaus:

• Website: https://coaching.shellyniehaus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellyniehaus/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-niehaus-7680652/

Content creation doesn’t have to be a full-time job—and in this episode, you’ll learn how to make it work for your real life and real business goals.

I sat down with Luis Camejo, co-host of the top-ranked Content is Profit podcast and co-founder of BizBros, to talk about building a content engine that fuels your business without draining your energy. Luis breaks down his “Six Levers of Content,” shares his powerful publishing pyramid framework, and gives two brilliant examples of how local service providers can use content (without social media!) to grow their brand and income.

Whether you’re just getting started or trying to get consistent, this episode is packed with practical strategies to help you create content that connects—and converts.

🎯 Key Takeaways:

• Why most entrepreneurs struggle with content (hint: they misjudge their resources)
• How to audit your time, tools, and energy to create a minimum viable content strategy
• The “Six Levers of Content” every business should consider
• What to do if you hate social media or don’t want to be on camera
• Real examples: how a local wellness center and a Facebook Live strategy led to 6-figure wins
• Why consistency trumps complexity when it comes to visibility
• A simple 5-day challenge to help you find your voice and build momentum
• How to connect with Luis and join the Business Creator Club for weekly content support

📌 One Small Step This Week:
Try Luis’s “Five Lives” method. Go live five days in a row on your favorite platform. Share one quick story from your day and tie it back to your business or client transformation. Keep it simple. Show up. Watch what happens.

Resources:

• Simple Strategies Newsletter: https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/tips
• Next Step Simplification Call: https://shellyniehaus.com/connect
• Podcast Listeners Resource Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/guide
• Women Entrepreneurs In Prayer Call - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/prayercall
• Kit - https://partners.convertkit.com/shellyniehaus
• Equipt360 All-in-One Marketing Software - https://equipt360.com/?_from=shelly75

Connect with Shelly Niehaus:

• Website: https://coaching.shellyniehaus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellyniehaus/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-niehaus-7680652/

In this Marketing Makeover Strategy Session, I sit down with Lisa Boehm, a speaker who’s shifting from grief-focused work to broader topics like resilience, burnout, and mental health. She’s ready to get booked consistently—but needed clarity on how to connect with the right audience using the right message.

We walk through the foundational pieces of her marketing strategy and identify practical next steps to gain traction in her speaking business.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

The three-legged stool of marketing: Audience, Offer, and Messaging must align to get results.

Messaging is often the missing link—make sure you're speaking your audience’s language.

Use Facebook groups to “lurk and listen” for real-world pain points and wording.

Interview past attendees to capture transformation stories and dial in what’s working.

Don’t create your offers in a vacuum—market research is everything during a pivot.

Resources:

• Simple Strategies Newsletter: https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/tips
• Next Step Simplification Call: https://shellyniehaus.com/connect
• Podcast Listeners Resource Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/guide
• Women Entrepreneurs In Prayer Call - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/prayercall
• Kit - https://partners.convertkit.com/shellyniehaus
• Equipt360 All-in-One Marketing Software - https://equipt360.com/?_from=shelly75

Connect with Shelly Niehaus:

• Website: https://coaching.shellyniehaus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellyniehaus/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-niehaus-7680652/

In this episode of our Back to Business Coaching Week series, I sit down with product and brand photographer Randy Pyles from Javelin Photography. We dive into how he can grow his client base and build an email list using strategic lead magnets, content repurposing, and a systemized client experience.

If you're a service-based entrepreneur looking to attract more clients or better communicate your value, you'll find plenty of ideas to apply to your own business—especially if you've struggled with how to market something that's not easy to explain.

Key Takeaways:

Why every entrepreneur needs a strong lead magnet—and how to build one from content you already have

The importance of educating clients who “don’t know what they don’t know” about your service

How to identify the pain points your lead magnet should solve (before they’re ready to buy)

The power of using blog posts and nurture emails to build trust and guide potential clients

How Randy’s unique blend of photography + design + workflow gives him a competitive edge

The key to standing out: speak both the creative and business language your audience needs

🎯 Your Challenge This Week:

What is one asset you can create or repurpose to solve a problem for your ideal client—even if they’re not ready to buy yet? Start there.

Resources:

• Simple Strategies Newsletter: https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/tips
• Next Step Simplification Call: https://shellyniehaus.com/connect
• Podcast Listeners Resource Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/guide
• Women Entrepreneurs In Prayer Call - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/prayercall
• Kit - https://partners.convertkit.com/shellyniehaus
• Equipt360 All-in-One Marketing Software - https://equipt360.com/?_from=shelly75

Connect with Shelly Niehaus:

• Website: https://coaching.shellyniehaus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellyniehaus/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-niehaus-7680652/

n this episode of our Back to Business Coaching Week series, I'm joined by Treasure Valley realtor and podcast host Kate McGuire. We dive into her biggest marketing pain point—content overwhelm—and walk through a strategy to streamline her social media and refocus her time on revenue-driving activities.

If you’ve ever felt like content creation is a full-time job or you’re managing too many platforms with too little ROI, this one’s for you.

Key Takeaways:

Start with one core content piece (like a video or podcast) and build everything else around it

Use AI tools like Opus.ai and ChatGPT to repurpose, caption, and schedule content

Let go of perfectionism—people want real, not perfect

Business pages need “proof of life,” but don’t require unique content

Structure before delegation: set up simple systems so a VA can step in and help

Your voice still matters—create the core content, then let tech and team handle the rest

Resources:

• Simple Strategies Newsletter: https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/tips
• Next Step Simplification Call: https://shellyniehaus.com/connect
• Podcast Listeners Resource Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/guide
• Women Entrepreneurs In Prayer Call - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/prayercall
• Kit - https://partners.convertkit.com/shellyniehaus
• Equipt360 All-in-One Marketing Software - https://equipt360.com/?_from=shelly75

Connect with Shelly Niehaus:

• Website: https://coaching.shellyniehaus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellyniehaus/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-niehaus-7680652/

This week on the podcast, we’re continuing Back to Business Coaching Week with a strategy session for Amber of Andrews Artistry. Amber is a creative entrepreneur who blends photography, design, and performance into a one-of-a-kind branding service for fellow creatives. In this session, we build out a simple, repeatable 90-day marketing plan centered around her top-performing lead magnet.

If you’ve ever felt scattered or unsure where to focus your marketing efforts—this episode is for you.

💡 Key Takeaways:

Anchor your content around one high-converting lead magnet for 90 days

Use the 3 content types—connect, position, invite—to stay consistent on social

Promote your lead magnet more often than you think (seriously!)

Align your content with the seasons and your audience’s current conversations

Gamify your promotion with the List Building Growth Scorecard

Repurpose your best content—no one’s paying as much attention as you are

Resources:

• Simple Strategies Newsletter: https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/tips
• Next Step Simplification Call: https://shellyniehaus.com/connect
• Podcast Listeners Resource Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/guide
• Women Entrepreneurs In Prayer Call - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/prayercall
• Kit - https://partners.convertkit.com/shellyniehaus
• Equipt360 All-in-One Marketing Software - https://equipt360.com/?_from=shelly75

Connect with Shelly Niehaus:

• Website: https://coaching.shellyniehaus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellyniehaus/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-niehaus-7680652/

n this Back to Business Coaching Week edition, we dive into a Marketing Makeover Strategy Session with Carrie Simpson of Forget Me Not Social — a boutique marketing agency specializing in Pinterest. Carrie is just starting her service-based business and wants to build an email list, set up her systems, and move beyond social media to nurture her dream clients.

In this live coaching call, we map out her next steps, including:

• Why all roads should lead to your lead magnet
• How to pick an email service provider (and why I love ConvertKit)
• What to include in your first nurture sequence
• How to keep things simple and sustainable so you actually take action

Whether you're brand new to email marketing or know you’ve been avoiding it, this episode will give you clarity and confidence to just start.

Key Takeaways:

Build your list from Day 1 — Even before you have a website or offer, start collecting emails.

Start simple — One great lead magnet + one solid email sequence is enough to build momentum.

Choose tools you actually enjoy using — If your tech feels clunky, you won’t use it.

Segment your audience — Tagging email subscribers allows you to speak directly to their needs.

Don’t overthink it — Progress over perfection. Done is better than perfect!

Resources:

• Simple Strategies Newsletter: https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/tips
• Next Step Simplification Call: https://shellyniehaus.com/connect
• Podcast Listeners Resource Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/guide
• Women Entrepreneurs In Prayer Call - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/prayercall
• Kit - https://partners.convertkit.com/shellyniehaus
• Equipt360 All-in-One Marketing Software - https://equipt360.com/?_from=shelly75

Connect with Shelly Niehaus:

• Website: https://coaching.shellyniehaus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellyniehaus/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-niehaus-7680652/

As a business owner, you want to market consistently—but let’s be real: between client work, admin tasks, and life, it often falls to the bottom of the list. In this episode, I’m sharing a simple 4-step strategy to help you create time in your packed schedule so you can finally show up for your marketing in a way that feels focused, consistent, and doable.

If marketing always feels like “one more thing” on your list, this episode is for you.

The difference between working in your business vs. working on your business—and why it matters.

A step-by-step breakdown to audit your weekly schedule and reclaim time for growth activities.

Why I never miss a Marketing Monday—and how you can create your own “meeting with yourself.”

How to essentialize your work environment and remove distractions so you actually get things done.

The power of theme days to reduce decision fatigue and make marketing feel simple and repeatable.

Resources:

• Simple Strategies Newsletter: https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/tips
• Next Step Simplification Call: https://shellyniehaus.com/connect
• Podcast Listeners Resource Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/guide
• Women Entrepreneurs In Prayer Call - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/prayercall
• Kit - https://partners.convertkit.com/shellyniehaus
• Equipt360 All-in-One Marketing Software - https://equipt360.com/?_from=shelly75

Connect with Shelly Niehaus:

• Website: https://coaching.shellyniehaus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellyniehaus/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-niehaus-7680652/