We all start our companies for different reasons. What’s yours? Even more important to know - very, very clearly - is why you’re still driven to keep it going today. It’s easy to get distracted by what motivates others in their business. Or keep running in place on the hamster wheel that you’ve created for yourself. But the sooner you connect with what drives you the faster you can build a strategy for your company that’s viable in the long run.

In this episode of Own Your Business, I’ll share:

- Nine psychological motivations that influence human decisions

- How to identify what drives you as a business owner

- Why it’s important to keep it at the forefront of your long-term strategy

Blogging is not dead. In fact, it’s quite alive with your ideal clients. Why? Because when people want answers to their questions, they don’t go to your Home page or your About page or even your services page. That’s for later in the buyer’s journey. When couples are starting out their search for wedding vendors, they’re plugging in questions to Google and scanning the articles that come up. Those articles are almost always posts about specialized topics (aka: blogs).

In this week’s episode of Own Your Business, Katy and I talk about:

- How to create a blog with evergreen content

- What stage of awareness in the buyer’s journey to direct your posts

- Criteria for a successful blog, including how often to post and how long each post should be

- Ways to generate ideas for blog content that’ll hook your ideal clients

Instagram is where people go to kill time. Pinterest is the place where they fantasize about a better future. If you want to work with people who dream big - and have budgets to match - it’s time to put out content on Pinterest. On this week’s episode of Own Your Business, I chat with Carolina Guzik, a luxury photographer who made her mark in the industry by attracting clients with pin-worthy images. We discuss:

- Common misconceptions about Pinterest that hold wedding pros back

- Why couples use Pinterest - and how you can trigger their interest in your brand

- Ways Pinterest connects with other marketing strategies

- How to get tens of thousands of viewers without spending tons of time

Think SEO is for couples who aren’t your ideal clients? Think again. Potential clients don’t use Google when they’re lost. They use it when they’re starting out, including those who could be the perfect match for your services and price point. Tune in this week to Own Your Business for a conversation with SEO expert Sara Dunn, who dives into:

- 3 big myths about SEO that cost you business

- Why SEO works for services at ALL prices

- Top changes to make today for a better online presence

- How SEO ties into every other marketing strategy

Your network is your safety net when things go wrong and your fishing net to feed your business. So how do you go about building relationships - and capitalizing on them - in a way that feels authentic to you? In this week’s episode of Own Your Business, I sit down with Megan Gillikin, a master networker and one of the most genuine human beings I know to:

- Network successfully even if you’re an introvert or have imposter syndrome

- Surprise and delight couples during the client journey

- Connect with new friendors who align well with your brand

- Earn more referrals without sounding cheesy

It’s impossible to translate the experiences at Engage to someone who didn’t attend. The program is so immersive, and designed around, well, engaging with others at the event. But we can share our biggest takeaways with you. If you missed the New Orleans Summit - or you were there but want my perspective - tune in to this week’s episode of Own Your Business.

Let’s be honest: Planner referrals are a necessity if you want to move up in the wedding industry. Not only do they recommend clients, but they typically pay more and offer super interesting projects. But how do you get on a planner’s list in the first place? In this episode of Own Your Business, I sit down with Shannon Leahy, one of the most respected (and decorated) planners in the industry to dive deep into:

- Different ways planners refer vendors to their clients

- How information is shared with couples

- Important criteria planners consider before making a recommendation

- What you can do to get a foot in the door with planners like her

- How to lose your spot on a planner’s list

Inside Scoop: Engage! Summits

Engage is THE luxury wedding community to be a part of - and Katy and I are giving you the BTS of our personal experiences over the past nine years. We’ve attended a combined 25 of them since December 2013, including the new Retreat program, and in this episode we’ll share:

- Why the investment is worth every last penny

- How to decide if Engage is “right” for you

- Top tips on networking, attire and maintaining your energy

- Our favorite moments over the years

Websites are big projects to tackle. Templates, branding, copy, image selection, site design/customization, blog migration, portfolio updates…and so. much. more. What parts take how long? What comes first: Copy or Design? What slows down the process? And how can you speed it up so the project doesn’t drag out for a year or more?

Karley Kiker of Writefully Said (the designers we work with most on our copywriting projects) joins me in this episode of Own Your Business to discuss:

- Common misconceptions about copywriting and design

- How much time a website project takes to complete

- What you can do to speed it up – and still get great results

- Quick tips to improve your current site

Owning a successful business means you meet your goals on a regular basis. But what if you don’t have any goals? Or they aren’t broken down into milestones that show you’re on the right path at the right pace? It’s absolutely necessary – and quite simple – to set a destination and create a road map for your revenue. In this week’s episode of Own Your Business, I’ll share with you:

- Two common pitfalls I see when setting revenue goals

- Why many sales and pricing plans aren’t realistic

- A simple reframe on how many weddings you want to book – and why it makes all the difference