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

Text Emily!

What if the secret to a better life and business is doing LESS?

Not less of everything. But less of the wrong things.

In this final episode of 2025, we’re not focusing on what everyone else is doing… this isn’t your big goal-setting, vision boarding, new year, new you episode.

 Instead, we’re cleaning house! Deprioritizing, decluttering, and getting really honest about what’s NOT coming with us into the New Year. 

We’re taking a good, hard look at where you can decide, eliminate, and do LESS to do better. 

• How visual and digital clutter affects us 
• 3 Quick digital decluttering actions 
• 4 Simple ways to keep a cleaner inbox 
• 4 Tab decluttering actions your browser is begging you for
• 4 Things to unsubscribe from and unfollow 
• 4 Ways to audit your calendar for the coming year 

Links & Resources Mentioned 

👉🏻 EXTENDED SHOW NOTES

About Me! 

I’m Emily Aborn, a Small Business Copywriter and host of Small Business Casual. I help small businesses grow with marketing that makes a distinct imprint. I take a big picture approach and genuine connection as I help you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. For fun/downtime, I love reading, writing, hiking with friends, and moments of uninterrupted silence. 

Email: [email protected]

Website

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Substack

Text Emily!

“Our brains are sprinting while clocks stay still.” - Researcher, Helena Grieve

In 2024, a Cambridge physics team tracking circadian data noticed the average human day feels 8% shorter than ten years ago—even though atomic time hasn’t changed.

The cause: information velocity. The average person now consumes more data in a week than their grandparents did in a year. Each notification triggers a micro-adrenaline spike, speeding up neural clocks.

In this episode, we get into leaning more analog in an ever-digitalized world as we examine our habits with all the pings, dings, screens, and scrolling. 

• 3 Ideas for a slower, more peaceful life 
• The myth of the dopamine detox and how to reset yours instead
• The 24-Hour Screen Free Challenge 
• Small habits from digital to analog 
• And more! 

Links & Resources Mentioned 

👉🏻 EXTENDED SHOW NOTES

Facebook post with Cambridge Study on TIME. 

Karen Kenney's Podcast Episode: Everything Old is New Again

Amy Bolduc's Episode with Kelsey Greene: Digital Minimalism

Harvard Health Article: Dopamine Fasting: Misunderstanding Science Spawns a Maladaptive Fad

Cleveland Health Article: Dopamine Detoxes Don’t Work: Here’s What To Do Instead

Kelsey Greene's Screen-Free Challenges

Kelsey Greene's Instagram Post 

About Me! 

I’m Emily Aborn, a Small Business Copywriter and host of Small Business Casual. I help small businesses grow with marketing that makes a distinct imprint. I take a big picture approach and genuine connection as I help you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. For fun/downtime, I love reading, writing, hiking with friends, and moments of uninterrupted silence. 

Email: [email protected]

Website

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Substack

Text Emily!

Every year teaches us something. (well, probably a lot of somethings). 

This year's lessons changed my life and business from the inside out. It was a year of sneaky, quiet, LOUD lessons and hard truths that made me question everything and get clear and grounded on what matters most. 

In this special end-of-year episode, I'm sharing my 3 top lessons of the past year and how each changed my approach to business and life. 

• How you do one thing is how you do everything. Deciding who you are and who you're becoming
• Clear branding inspires confidence in who you are and who you're becoming 
• No one person can be everything (including you)
• And more! 

Resources & Links Mentioned

Karen Kenney's Episode #338: You Must Be What You Are

New England Podcaster's Group 

Ande's Don't Be Caged By Your Age Podcast

Jess Mercier's Branding Website & Instagram 

Small Business Casual Episode on Rebranding vs. Refreshing (with Lindsay Dreyer)

Danielle LaPorte's Quote on Branding: 

“Your brand is a gateway to your true work. You know you are here to do something – to create something or help others in some way. "

Don't Be a Stranger... Let's Connect!

I'm Emily Aborn, a Small Business Copywriter and host of Small Business Casual. I help small businesses grow with marketing that makes a distinct imprint. I believe that sharing your work goes beyond strategies, frameworks, content for content’s sake, more social media posts, more, more, more. 

Successful marketing starts with a big picture approach and begins with genuine connection as you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. 

Email: [email protected]
Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn

Substack

Text Emily!

As you will hear in this episode, podcasting can change your life. 

Each year, I love the opportunity to reflect and learn from what went WELL, what didn't go so well, and what NEW things I want to experiment with and try in the coming year. In this episode, I share industry reports with data and stats, plus 7 takeaways full of insights and wisdom to provide you with info you can use for your podcasting year ahead. 

We get into: 

• Niching vs. not niching
• The power of experimentation in your podcast and overall marketing
• Why it's important to go beyond the downloads and metrics 
• Repurposing in a new way will set you apart 
• Collaborations are the game-changer
• Micro insights around audio, video, ads, and more 
• The big WHY 
• And so much more!

Links & Resources Mentioned: 

👉🏻 EXTENDED SHOW NOTES: including names/quotes/links of podcaster contributors 

Here's the Extended Show Notes link for desktop listeners to copy and paste: open.substack.com/pub/smallbusinesscasual/p/2025-podcast-insights-report

Collaborative "About Me" post on Instagram 

Collaborative "Podcaster Wisdom" post on Instagram

One Stone Creative's State of Business Podcasting Report

PodMatch's Indie Podcaster's Industry Report 

New England Podcaster's Group 

PodMatch 

About Me! 

I’m Emily Aborn, a Small Business Copywriter and host of Small Business Casual. I help small businesses grow with marketing that makes a distinct imprint. I take a big picture approach and genuine connection as I help you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. For fun/downtime, I love reading, writing, hiking with friends, and moments of uninterrupted silence. 

Email: [email protected]

Website

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Substack

Text Emily!

Feeling tired? Drained? Run-down? Exhausted? 

Insert your adjective of choice here, and buckle up as we get into the seven reasons WHY your tank might be empty. 

I get into Dr. Saundra Dalton Smith's 7 Types of Rest, why they're so important as business owners, and simple ways to incorporate them into your workday and life. 

The goal is to help you move from depleted to restored by listening to what YOU need most. 

Inside the episode: 

• Why you might still feel tired even after getting a good night's sleep 
• Dr. Saundra Dalton Smith's 7 Types of Rest: Emotional, Mental, Spiritual, Social, Physical, Sensory, and Creative 
• How to incorporate rest into your everyday in simple but meaningful ways
• And more! 

Links & Resources Mentioned

She Built This Podcast Episode with Dr. Saundra Dalton Smith

The REST Quiz - Which Type Do You Most Need? 

Dr. Saundra Dalton Smith's Book: Sacred Rest 

Karen Kenney's Storytime Hypnosis (one of my favorite forms of rest!) 

👉🏻 EXTENDED SHOW NOTES 

About Me & How to Work Together 

I’m Emily Aborn, a Small Business Copywriter and host of Small Business Casual. I help small businesses grow with marketing that makes a distinct imprint. I take a big picture approach and genuine connection as I help you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. For fun/downtime, I love reading, writing, hiking with friends, and moments of uninterrupted silence. 

Email: [email protected]

Website

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Substack

Text Emily!

Words of appreciation, thanks, encouragement, and gratitude have been continuously shortened in today's fast-moving world:

"I Love You" has become "luv u"

"Thanks" has become "thx" or simply "tsm" and many are just double-tapping, dropping a "Congrats!" or "Love it," to the comment thread. 

Hearting it doesn't exactly cut it when it comes to showing GENUINE support for other small business owners. Showing up for them takes a little more time, intention, personalization, and thought. 

In this episode, I share why supporting fellow business owners and creators matters now more than ever and give you FOUR creative ways to show up beyond just saying thanks. 

• Why small businesses matter for our communities 
• Why small businesses need support now more than ever 
• 4 Creative ways to show up for small businesses and creators
  • Examples of giving them a platform 
  • Examples of resharing their content 
  • How to write a specific, stunning Google Review or LinkedIn rec (+) 
  • Commenting, engaging, and actually showing up because you care 
• A shoutout to some of those who've made my year impeccable 
• And more! 

Links & Resources Mentioned: 

The New England Podcaster's Group 

The Creative Entrepreneur Podcast (Re-Air of my episode, "Four Questions to Ask Before Chasing Your Next Shiny Object)

Amy Bolduc's Instagram & Grounded in Maine Podcast

Barb David's Instagram & Small Business Sweet Spot Podcast

Kristy Ouellette's Instagram & Talk Travel to Me Podcast

Ande Lyons on Instagram & Don't Be Caged By Your Age Podcast

Megan Doughtery's State of Business Podcasting FREE Report

👉🏻 EXTENDED SHOW NOTES 

About Me & How to Work Together 

I’m Emily Aborn, a Small Business Copywriter and host of Small Business Casual. I help small businesses grow with marketing that makes a distinct imprint. I believe that sharing your work goes beyond strategies, frameworks, content for content’s sake, more social media posts, more, more, more. 

Successful marketing starts with a big picture approach and begins with genuine connection as you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. 

Email: [email protected]

Website

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Substack

Text Emily!

Join us in kissing those awkward networking situations goodbye in this special guest episode featuring, Ande Lyons. 

In this episode, you'll get anything but cookie-cutter networking advice as Ande helps to reframe networking from schmoozing and dead fish handshakes to spaces of curiosity, connection, and community. 

We get into: 

• Why networking can often feel icky, transactional, boring, and scary 
• Where traditional networking advice falls flat and misses the mark
• Powerful reframes that will help you view a room full of people in a different light 
• Tips for before, during, and after the event 
• Practical approaches for various event sizes and introversion levels 
• Shifting gears from small talk to big talk 
• How to protect your energy and boundaries, and say no when you need to
• And more! 

Resources & Links Mentioned

🎙️ New England Podcasters Group

👉🏻 EXTENDED SHOW NOTES 

About my Guest, Ande Lyons

At 69 Ande Lyons is a 4x founder, a former global startup mentor, serial podcaster since 2012, founder of the New England Podcasters Group, a monthly in-person event for podcasters, and host of the popular interview-style pro-aging podcast Don’t Be Caged By Your Age, where Ande shatters age-related expectations, helps folks dissolve internalized ageist beliefs, and provides resources, inspiration and ideas so older adults can thrive after 65.

Don't Be Caged By Your Age Podcast

New England Podcasters Group Website 

Ande Lyons Instagram | NEPG Instagram | DBCBYA Instagram 

Connect with Ande on LinkedIn

Follow her on TikTok 

Want to connect and network with ME!?  

I’m Emily Aborn, a Small Business Copywriter and host of Small Business Casual. I help small businesses grow with marketing that makes a distinct imprint. I believe that sharing your work goes beyond strategies, frameworks, content for content’s sake, more social media posts, more, more, more. 

Successful marketing starts with a big picture approach and begins with genuine connection as you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. 

Email: [email protected]
Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn

Substack

Text Emily!

...Lead magnet, website, funnel, email list, newsletter, Substack, social media presence? 

When it comes to all these things your business supposedly "needs", a lot of it is just unnecessary pressure to be everywhere. Doing all the things, creating all the optins and freebies and video content can lead straight to exhaustion, a diluted message, ineffective strategies, and more overwhelm. 

Success doesn’t require omnipresence. 

More platforms/places/spaces/faces ≠ more clients.

Burnout kills businesses faster than "not being on TikTok".

In this week's episode, we get into whether or not your business really needs a [insert thing you've been told you need here] and how to evaluate what's for you and what's not with some simple questions: 

• The quiet quitting of social media 
• Does your business need social media? 
• Does your business need a podcast? 
• Does your business need an email newsletter (and what about Substack!?)? 
• Does your business need a lead magnet, nurture sequence, freebie, funnel 
• Do I NEED to create video!? 
• How to evaluate for yourself what you need and what you don't based on YOUR unique business model, clientele, energy, and current commitments 

Resources & Links Mentioned

👉🏻 EXTENDED SHOW NOTES 

Amy Bolduc's Podcast) Grounded in Maine: Digital Minimalism with Kelsey Greene

Teresa Schlup's Podcast) Solo Grind: When it Stops Feeling Fun... is it time to break up? 

Robyn White's Instagram Post "I get all my business from referrals..." 

For more on social media check out Barb David’s Small Business Sweet Spot Episode #84 “Don’t Poo Poo Social Media as a Marketing Channel” 

About Me: Let's Connect! (and maybe book you that strategy call ;)) 

I’m Emily Aborn, a Small Business Copywriter and host of Small Business Casual. I help small businesses grow with marketing that makes a distinct imprint. I believe that sharing your work goes beyond strategies, frameworks, content for content’s sake, more social media posts, more, more, more. 

Successful marketing starts with a big picture approach and begins with genuine connection as you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. 

Email: [email protected]

Website

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Substack

Text Emily!

Sometimes saying "yes" can cause us undue stress and leave us feeling overcommitted, behind, and even resentful. 

Yes can cost you time, money, energy, burned bridges, quality, and more. 

In this episode, I talk about building a thriving business that isn’t about saying yes to everything and everyone; it’s actually about saying NO more often. 

This two-letter magical strategy can change your entire life. 

Inside the episode: 

• Seasons for yes and seasons for no -which one are you in? 
• The financial, time, energy, relationship, quality, and health cost of "yes"
• 4 Questions to ask before taking on something new 
• Introducing your new two-letter strategy: 5 "No's" to implement in your business
• How to say no without burning bridges
• And more!

Resources & Links Mentioned: 

Heather Maguire (The Unconventional Intuitive) Instagram

Setting Boundaries for Business & Life Episode 

4 Questions to Ask Before Saying Yes Episode

4 Top Takeaways from 53 Podcast Guest Interviews Episode

Say YES to connecting with me (or no to waiting to connect, you're choice :)) 

I’m Emily Aborn, a Small Business Copywriter and host of Small Business Casual. I help small businesses grow with marketing that makes a distinct imprint. I believe that sharing your work goes beyond strategies, frameworks, content for content’s sake, more social media posts, more, more, more. 

Successful marketing starts with a big picture approach and begins with genuine connection as you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. 

Email: [email protected]

Website

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Substack

Text Emily!

You are in for a TREAT with this bonus episode. No tricks, I promise. 

When I listened to episode #96 of Jenny Belanger's podcast, Small Business Website Design Made Simple, I reached out immediately to ask if I could share it on my show with YOU! 

Jenny is a WordPress website Designer and Creative Director at Jenny B Designs as well as a fellow New England Podcast Group Member. As a website design-copywriting duo, Jenny and I often get to collaborate and help people create personality-packed and money-making websites that business owners are proud to show off and share. 

Jenny shares about Expert Overwhelm in the way only she can and how to avoid this common mistake in your website copy. 

Connect with Jenny and check out her show: 

Original episode with extended show notes

Jenny's Website: Jenny B Designs 

Follow Jenny on Instagram 

Other links mentioned: 

JOIN US in the New England Podcaster's Group 

Rebranding Aging 4U

Connect with me!  

I’m Emily Aborn, a Small Business Copywriter and host of Small Business Casual. I help small businesses grow with marketing that makes a distinct imprint. I believe that sharing your work goes beyond strategies, frameworks, content for content’s sake, more social media posts, more, more, more. 

Successful marketing starts with a big picture approach and begins with genuine connection as you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. 

Email: [email protected]

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Substack