Small Business Casual: Content Marketing, Productivity, Customer Experience for Entrepreneurs & Creators

Text Emily!

Quite a few entrepreneurs I’ve spoken with lately have shared with me that their businesses have experienced a serious slowdown this year. 

Some of the things that cause the speedbumps in our business are outside of our control, and some of them require us to honestly review and reconnect with the heartbeat of our businesses to help them move forward and pick up momentum. 

This episode will walk you through eight super tangible things you can do when your business experiences a slowdown to help you keep from spinning your wheels AND help to reignite the spark! 

I cover: 

• What the entrepreneurial landscape is missing right now
• Factors outside of our control that impact our business/clients
• Eight ideas for when your business is slow -everything from an honest marketing review to giving yourself a brain break! 
• How to embrace business slowdowns by recognizing what they are
• And more! 

Resources Mentioned:
Booking a Strategy call with ME!
Content with Character Episode on 'Taking Inventory'
SCORE Conference for Women in Kensington, NH October 20th
Leslie Sturgeon's Roundtables of Inspiration event in Manchester, NH October 18th
Simone Seol's post on Instagram I referred to in the episode

About the Host:

I’m Emily Aborn, I’m a Content Copywriter, host of Content with Character, as well as the She Built This podcast. I'm dog mom to Mr. Clyde and wife to my favorite person in the whole world, Jason. Our little family lives in the backwoods of New Hampshire where we spend time hiking and investigating fungi in the woods, reading, and sitting on the back porch (when it's not snowing) doing crosswords, word games, and drinking coffee.  

Email: [email protected]
Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
She Built This Podcast

Text Emily!

These days, we see a lot of highlight reels. A lot of successes, wins, accomplishments, achievements, celebrations, and not-so-humble brags. 

What we don’t always see or hear about are the flops, mistakes, and failures. The flailing and wailing that results when something doesn’t go at all how we hoped and planned, or it just doesn’t go… at all. 

In this week’s episode, we’re going to talk about what to do when we fail. 

"What to Do When Things Fail" is part one of my October Risky Business Series in which we'll be talking about: failing, what do to when business is slow, horrific stuff I see in content, getting ghosted, and how to make planning less scary. 

In this week's episode: 

• The definition of failure 
• Facing the facts and sharing the reality of failure as a part of life and business
• Two of my best-kept failure secrets
• Four steps to help you fail forward and move with intention 
• Should you ask for outside help to handle your failures? 
• Do you need to announce when you fail? 

Resources mentioned:

Farnoosh Torabi's episode on the She Built This podcast talking about her new book, A Healthy State of Panic, and the fear around failure.

Content with Character Episode on Taking Inventory

Hug Your Customers book by Jack Mitchell

Rich Roll's podcast with Arthur C. Brooks on Happiness, Transcendence, and Creating Greater Life Satisfaction

Connect with Me:

I’m Emily Aborn, I’m a Content Copywriter, host of Content with Character, as well as the She Built This podcast. I'm dog mom to Mr. Clyde and wife to my favorite person in the whole world, Jason. Our little family lives in the backwoods of New Hampshire where we spend time hiking and investigating fungi in the woods, reading, and sitting on the back porch (when it's not snowing) doing crosswords, word games, and drinking coffee.  

Email: [email protected]
Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
She Built This Podcast

Text Emily!

My goal for my life is a successful, kind, simple existence that I feel proud of. One that isn't complex or complicated or confusing.  From relationships to business, I'm looking for things I look forward to waking up to each and every day! For me, that's the definition of success. 

The way to start achieving that, I believe, is to let go of all the things that are getting in the way. 

Yet, despite my best intentions, I complicate, confuse, and get stuck in situations that I know aren’t right for me. Mismatched situations, "yes's" when I should've said "no". 

I want this for you too when it comes to your marketing and visibility efforts. I want you to feel SO excited and good and passionate about what you’re doing and how you’re sharing it. So that marketing, visibility, and content creation go from loathsome to FUN!  Because you’re just sharing in a way that feels good and what you’re excited about. 

This episode is all about how to start working towards that as we take inventory of everything we have happening visibility-wise and go through it with a fine-tooth comb.
 
In this episode, I talk about Taking Inventory as it relates to your marketing as we dive into: 

• How and why to set time aside to review your visibility and content 
• How to think about your marketing efforts vs. your content creation 
• How to take stock of everywhere you're visible 
• How to realistically (and honestly) evaluate what went well and why, and what didn't! 
• How to provide more resounding "yes's" and clear "no's" in the future 

Links Mentioned:
How to Hold a Collaborative CEO Day for Greater Success with Emily Aborn
How to Grow Your Business Faster with a CEO Day
She Built This Episode Host Swap with Kim Dawson
Emily Aborn's Strategy Sessions
👉🏻 TAKING INVENTORY CHECKLIST

About the Host:

I’m Emily Aborn, I’m a Content Copywriter, host of Content with Character, as well as the She Built This podcast. I'm dog mom to Mr. Clyde and wife to my favorite person in the whole world, Jason. Our little family lives in the backwoods of New Hampshire where we spend time hiking and investigating fungi in the woods, reading, and sitting on the back porch (when it's not snowing) doing crosswords, word games, and drinking coffee.  

Email: [email protected]
Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
She Built This Podcast

Text Emily!

There are tons of tips and tricks out there on time management.

A lot of it is really helpful, and a lot of it works. And, sometimes despite our best efforts, we can’t get it to stick. I think it goes a layer deeper than that and in this episode, we’re going to talk about some time befriendment strategies for you to try for yourself! So you can stop MANAGING your time and be it’s best buddy instead.

Your time matters and this episode will walk you through some tangible examples, practical advice, and actionable tips to start becoming best friends with what might now be your archnemesis: TIME.

In the episode: 

• What does it mean to be friends with your time? 
• What does it look like when we're simply managing our time? 
• How to review all your time commitments and evaluate them with clarity
• Where to put everything you have to do! 
• How to start thinking about your future self NOW and draw a line in the sand
• And more! 

Designing the life you want to live tomorrow starts today!

Links and Resources Mentioned: 
Brainz Magazine Article: Don't Manage Your Time - Befriend It! 
JoAnn Krall's Blog on How to Choose a Project Management Software 
Lisa Zawrotny's Positively Living Podcast - Episode on Multipassionates HERE
Content with Character Episode: Four Questions to Ask When Taking on a New Project
The Marketing Momentum Lab - kicks off Monday, September 25th! 

About the Host (Contact Me!)

Welcome to Content with Character! 

I’m Emily Aborn, I’m a Content Copywriter, host of Content with Character, as well as the She Built This podcast. I'm dog mom to Mr. Clyde and wife to my favorite person in the whole world, Jason. Our little family lives in the backwoods of New Hampshire where we spend time hiking and investigating fungi in the woods, reading, and sitting on the back porch (when it's not snowing) doing crosswords, word games, and drinking coffee.  

Email: [email protected]
Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
She Built This Podcast

Text Emily!

Seems nowadays everyone’s got an opinion. 

Some say do this. 
Others say do that. 

If you spend any time online or on social media, you'll see a lot of definite lines drawn in the sand, all of which say polar opposite things you "should" be doing. 

It can be confusing when it comes to choosing THIS or THAT in various aspects of our businesses, marketing, and messaging. So, how do you make sense of all the noise and figure out what THIS or THAT is right for YOU? 

THIS episode will help you do exactly THAT.  

I'll get into: 

• Defining a niche vs. not 
• Planning your content or letting it RIP! 
• Crafting an elevator pitch, or speaking off the cuff 
• Short content vs. long content 
• Throwaway / garbage content or fine-tuned? 

BIG thanks to this week's episode idea-generators:
Tim Shank, Melissa Snow, Jessica Terzakis, Lior Sadeh, Krista Hernandez, and Ariana Refsdal

MASSIVE thanks to our sharers of the week: Lisa Zawrotny of the Positively Living Podcast and Doug Sandler of the Nice Guys on Business Podcast

Resources and Links Mentioned: 

• The Marketing Momentum Lab - Starts Monday, September 25th 2023
• Content with Character Episode Which Social Media Platform is Right For Your Business?
• Content with Character Episode Three Reasons Your Social Media Might Not Be "Working" (and what to do about it!)
• Content with Character Episode How to Talk About Yourself (podcast guesting, speaking engagements, networking, and more!)
• Simone Seol - Garbage Post Challenge 

About the Host (Contact Me!)

Hello! I’m Emily Aborn, I’m a Content Copywriter, host of Content with Character, as well as the She Built This podcast. I’m a question-asker, New Hampshire lover (except in the winter), wife, dog mom, auntie, friend, sister, cousin, sister-in-law, and word game nerd…. I’m sure there are more labels, but we'll stop there. I’m on a mission to be more ME and show you how to be more YOU in your marketing and messaging. 

Email: [email protected] 
Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
She Built This Podcast

Text Emily!

We're wrapping up our writing and talking about ourselves series with a fun one! How to get your clients, customers, listeners, your people to talk about YOU! 

If you’re a regular listener, you know that I regularly read listener reviews here on the show. 

I ask you almost every single week for a review once during the episode and once again at the end of the episode. This isn't because I think I’m so wildly amazing podcaster with the best podcast out there on content creation, and not so I can grow my ego or boost my self-confidence, I ask because I have a mission to help as many people with this content as possible, and as many people with visibility, marketing, messaging. And getting your reviews helps ME reach more people so they too can get their voices heard! 

If I had to guess… that’s what you want too! 

You want to help as many people as possible with how YOU help them. 

That’s one of the many reasons we need to ask people to rave about us, help us spread the word, and share how we help others.

In this episode: 

• When does talking about yourself become bragging about yourself? 
• Why ask people for reviews and recommendations 
• Where reviews and recommendations can come from 
• Questions you can ask to make the process simple (and repeatable)
• How to use the reviews and testimonials 
• Why social proof matters 
• And more! 

Links Mentioned:
2023 FALL MARKETING MOMENTUM LAB is closed. Please join us next time! 
Complete Show Notes for this Episode
Join my email list!

About the Host:
Emily Aborn is a Content Copywriter for women entrepreneurs, Podcast Host of Content with Character and She Built This. She’s been an entrepreneur since 2014 and has experience in running brick-and-mortar as well as online businesses. She’s worked with over 96 different industries in their marketing and loves helping businesses increase their visibility, connect with their clients, and bring their dreams and visions to life. For fun, Emily enjoys nerdy word games and puzzles, reading, listening to podcasts, and tromping about in the woods with her husband, Jason, and their dog, Clyde.

Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
She Built This Podcast

Text Emily!

What’s the difference between talking about yourself and bragging about yourself? 

Does everyone feel awkward in networking situations or is that just me? 

When you’re on a podcast or introducing yourself from the stage, how do you avoid getting into entire life story territory but still make sure to include all the highlights? 

You’re going to want to listen to this episode because I'm getting into how to about talk about ourselves verbally. You can take these ideas and apply them to podcast interviews, speaking opportunities, networking settings, and more! 

In this episode about how to talk about yourself: 

• How to talk about yourself in a speaking engagement or workshop 
• How to talk about yourself as a podcast guest 
• Things to avoid when talking about yourself 
• How to talk about yourself in a networking setting 
• Three words NOT to start your introduction with when introducing yourself verbally 
• How to own and embrace the fact that we're all awkward and abnormal 
• And more! 

Links and Resources Mentioned: 

Content with Character Episode: How to Write About Yourself
Content with Character Episode:  IS it About You? The About Page Debate
My guest feature on Melissa Snow's Your Relationship With Podcast: Your Relationship with Curiosity Marketing
Lisa Zawrotny's Positively Living Podcast
She Built This Episode: Five Half Truths Keeping You From Living a Full Life with Terri Trespicio

 About Me, Host Content Copywriter Emily Aborn

Emily Aborn is a SUPER organized, responsive, and honest content copywriter who works to save entrepreneurs around the world from Death By Blinking Cursor and keyboard-induced headaches. She writes website copy, blogs, social media content banks, and the content you need to show off the true blue human you are and attract the clients you love working with most.  She's a podcast host of Content with Character and She Built This, and daily strives to earn the title of the world's best auntie and dog mom.

Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
She Built This Podcast

Text Emily!

You’re so vain… 

You probably think this About Page is about you… 

Wait, is it!? 

Is it not!? 

Maybe you’ve heard it both ways - in this episode of Content with Character, let’s settle the debate once and for all! 

Well, maybe I'll let you draw your own conclusions after you listen... 

But we will definitely talk about writing your About Page. 

There are two general camps: The argument that your about page is about you. And the argument that your about page is about your clients.

Which is right? Is your About Page about YOU or is it mostly about the clients you’re trying to attract?

In this Episode: 

• For most solopreneurs, the About Page is the second-most-visited page on your website 
• What are people looking for when they come to your About Page? 
• What elements does a good About Page include? 
• Does your About Page need to tell your entire life story? 
• How to create a connection on your About Page 
• What else to include on your About Page 

Resources Mentioned:
Last week's Content with Character episode "How to Write About Yourself"
FREE Bio-Builder Download 

About the Host:

Emily Aborn is an organized, responsive, and honest content copywriter who works to save entrepreneurs around the world from Death By Blinking Cursor and keyboard-induced headaches. She writes website copy, blogs, social media content banks, and the content you need to show off the true blue human you are and attract the clients you love working with most.  She's a podcast host of Content with Character and She Built This, and daily strives to earn the title of the world's best auntie and dog mom.

Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
She Built This Podcast

Text Emily!

So you need to write about yourself? 

Maybe you’re a guest speaker or going to be on someone’s podcast? 

Maybe you’re working on your About page or a profile for an organization you're part of? 

Perhaps you're refreshing your LinkedIn because #SpringCleaninginAugustAnyone?

How do you convey WHO you are WHAT you offer and what sets you apart in a concise and memorable way? 

How do you write about YOURSELF? 

This episode will help you do just that! 

In this episode, I get into FIVE questions to ask when writing about yourself, and some tips to pull it all together into a bio that shines and connects with the person on the other side. 

I share: 

• Why you might need to write about yourself
• When you might need to write about yourself 
• How to write about yourself by diving into FIVE important questions 
• How to create a MAGIC list that is YOU 
• Tips to weave together a bio and share it in different formats
• Some quotes on the power of specificity in who you're speaking to and how

Links and Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

My Done-for-You Bio Spruce-Up Service

Julie Eason's Book "The Five Author Freakouts" 

 
Please don't judge me on the primitive nature of this download. It's a work in progress and I wanted to get it to you in time for this week's episode so you can start moving and shaking right away.
See last week's episode on why we sometimes just need to take FAST action
 
About the Host:

Emily Aborn is an organized, responsive, and honest content copywriter who works to save entrepreneurs around the world from Death By Blinking Cursor and keyboard-induced headaches. She writes website copy, blogs, social media content banks, and the content you need to show off the true blue human you are and attract the clients you love working with most.  She's a podcast host of Content with Character and She Built This, and daily strives to earn the title of world's best auntie and dog mom.

Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
She Built This Podcast

Text Emily!

This episode comes to you from the trenches of a recent business debacle that's been building for five years now. 

It will help you look at where you might need to move FAST and take some inspired action in your life and business and where you might need to take a pause, move with more intention, and ask the right questions before getting started. 

In this episode: 

• Announcing the review winner! Congrats to ShopGirl74
• A story about my recent MailShrimp disaster and how it all goes back to a domain debacle of 2018 
• How going too fast can cost us time, money, and energy 
• Asking the right questions prior to saying YES
• How going too slow can sometimes just be a procrastination feeder or fear-stoking move
• How to look at in your own business where to take fast action and where to take pause before moving forward 

Join me in next week's Content with Character episode on "How to Talk About Yourself" which airs Tuesday, August 15th, 2023.

Resources mentioned:
Blog: 11 Ideas to End the Creative Dry Spell and Get Re-Inspired
Blog: How Aligning Copy and Visuals from Day One Creates Consistent Branding
Book a Strategy Session with me!

About the host, Content Copywriter, Emily Aborn
 Emily Aborn is a Content Copywriter, Speaker, and Podcast Host. She’s been an entrepreneur since 2014 and has experience in running brick-and-mortar as well as online businesses. She’s worked with over 96 different industries and loves helping those with a big mission increase their visibility, connect with their clients, and bring their dreams and visions to life. For fun, Emily enjoys nerdy word games and puzzles, reading, listening to podcasts like they're going outta' style, and tromping about in the woods with her husband, Jason, and their dog, Clyde.

Connect with Emily Online:
Website
Instagram
LinkedIn
Facebook
She Built This Podcast