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

Text Emily!

Just like not all DIY home projects turn out like your Pinterest board... not all collaborations end in sunshine in rainbows. And some downright fail. Flop. Fizzle. Fallout. 

Failure is inevitable when you're experimenting, trying something new, and collaborating with others. While it might not be so tasty in the moment, failure is full of invaluable wisdom if you're willing to look closer, learn from your fumbles, and, of course, try again. 

In this episode, we get into the six flavors of failed collaborations, lessons learned, and how to move forward intentionally when things flop. 

In the episode: 

• Painting failure in a new light 
• Vanilla Letdown (the Flop)
• Neopolitan Ghoster (the Ghoster) 
• Rocky Road to Nowhere (the Fizzle) 
• Tunafish Mint Chocolate Chip (the Mismatch) 
• Salted Caramel Heartache (the Friendship Fallout) 
• Triple Scoop Overload (the Self-Sabotage) 
• Lessons learned to help you prevent future failures
• And more! 

Resources & Links Mentioned

Karen Kenney's Episode "Relationships are Collaborations" 

About Me & Let's Connect 

I’m Emily Aborn, a Small Business Copywriter and host of Content with Character. I’m beyond passionate about helping small businesses grow with out-of-the-box, human-centered, personality-filled marketing. Sharing your work goes beyond strategies and frameworks, content for content’s sake, more social media posts, more, more, more. Successful marketing begins with genuine connection and being the real YOU. 

Email: [email protected]
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Text Emily!

Want to partner up with collaborators and spark collaborations that give you the goosebumps!? 

It takes two to make a thing go right (it takes two to make it outta’ sight), and that’s exactly what I believe the best of the best collaborations create - an outta' sight experience that leaves everyone feeling good.

In this episode, I shed light on 20 different ways collaboration could look in your business, so you can consider new ideas and expand ones already underway. 

I'll also offer 6 Keys to successful collaborations and what makes the BEST collaborations so amazing. 

Inside the Episode: 

• The power of collaboration to take you to unimaginable places 
• My definition of collaboration 
• 20 Ideas to add to your collaboration repertoire
• 6 Keys and examples of successful collaborations
• And more! 

Links, Amazing People, and Resources Mentioned: 

[LIVE] Event with Barb Davids on August 28th: Become Their Favorite Podcast

Karen Kenney's Episode: "Ep. #327 - Relationships are Collaborations"

Teresa Schlup of Caffeine Creative (WP) 

Robyn White of RDW Design Studio (WP) 

Alethea Copelas of Inspired Website Design (Wix)

PodMatch 

Chantelle Davis Gray's NEW Card Deck "It's Grow Time!" 

Spotify Playlist featuring a ROUNDUP of Collaboration Pods 

Quote from Episode: 

"The best part of collaborating is believing you’re better together. That you can both bring your unique gifts to the table and that when combined, they are like a magic superpower.” - Karen Kenney 

About Me: 

I’m Emily Aborn, a Small Business Copywriter and host of Content with Character. I’m beyond passionate about helping small businesses grow with out-of-the-box, human-centered, personality-filled marketing. Sharing your work goes beyond strategies and frameworks, content for content’s sake, more social media posts, more, more, more. Successful marketing begins with genuine connection and being the real YOU. 

Let's Connect: 

Email: [email protected]
Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn

Text Emily!

How do I grow my podcast? How do I grow my business? 

They seem like good questions, but in reality, they’re a bit open-ended… hard to define. What does “grow” even mean? 

I’m doing something totally different in this bonus episode!

This month is all about COLLABORATION on the Content with Character podcast and in the name of collaboration, I wanted to share this powerful takeaway from a fellow podcaster and collaborator, Dave Campbell. 

Dave is here to bring insights that will help you focus on who's already engaged, already listening, and already cheering you on to GROW. 

Key Takeaways:

• How to define what growth actually means for your business or podcast
• Embracing the power of one listener and the ripple effect they can create
• Shifting your mindset from building an audience to building a community
• Engaging with current listeners to increase loyalty and retention
• Measuring success through depth of connection, not just downloads.

Resources & Links: 

Dave Campbell, host of the How to Podcast Series 

Podcasting Made Simple Podcast 

Dave's Episode on Podcasting Made Simple (includes blog article!) 

About Dave and his link: 

Empty nest Dad, musician, podcaster, and collector of people - I love having conversations with creative people and building bridges with others via podcasting. In a world that seems to value our differences over what we have in common, I am hoping that we can leverage the power of our words and a life well lived and well loved.

Website: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

Dave Campbell on Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

About Me & Connect: 

I’m Emily Aborn, a Copywriter, Content Marketing Consultant, Speaker, and Podcast Host. I live in the backwoods of New Hampshire, where my husband and I spend time preparing for winter, wishing it was summer, hiking, reading, and playing Crib Wars (IYKYK). 

Email: [email protected]
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Text Emily!

I've seen far too many podcast guests and speakers who are just winging it... 

Underplaying the gift and opportunity of being a guest, their lack of preparation translates into less impact and being just a tad uh, underwhelming. 

In this episode, I'm going to give you some KEYS to being an outstanding podcast guest or speaker, what you need before getting started, and what you can safely forget about! 

Your guest prep talk includes: 

• The power and potential of guesting and speaking opportunities 
• Who podcast guesting and speaking makes a great fit for 
• Who should pause prior to pitching 
• A list of assets from A-Z (well, they're not actually in alphabetical order) 
• What you can safely ignore and not worry about for now 
• How to come up with your topics 
• A few key secrets to successful pitching 
• Ways to stand out as an EXCEPTIONAL guest
• And more! 

Your Prep Checklist (things your one-sheet, website, Google Doc, etc. should ((ideally)) contain):  

1. Contact information: phone, email, etc, social accounts
2. First and third-person versions of your bio 
3. 3-5 Topics 
4. Sample questions, takeaways, bulleted teaching points 
5. High-resolution headshot (not a selfie!) 
6. Links to past interviews or speaking clips and/or short video intro, audio speaking clip, etc. 
7. Articles, related resources, or blogs written by you that are related to the topic 

Links and Resources Mentioned: 

Emily Aborn's Podcast Guest Bundles 

Barb Davids, Ande Lyons, and my upcoming LIVE event: Become Their Favorite Podcast Guest

Samson Q2U Microphone

PodMatch (affiliate link, but I'm an affiliate because I LOVE IT, so there :)

About Me and Let's Connect, please! 

I’m Emily Aborn, a Copywriter, Content Marketing Consultant, Speaker, and Podcast Host. I live in the backwoods of New Hampshire, where my husband and I spend time preparing for winter, wishing it was summer, hiking, reading, and playing Crib Wars (IYKYK). 

Email: [email protected]
Website
Facebook
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Text Emily!

Looking to be a guest on more podcasts? 

Want to improve your guesting/hosting skills and be a better collaborator? 

This month, we're breaking down the numbers to help you become even BETTER and know how to spend your time, money, and energy for maximum possibility. 

Business is a balance of profit and soul and podcasting is a blend of art (heart) and science. Knowing the truth of the numbers can help you grow in confidence and become even better at your craft. 

In this episode, I walk through the time, energy, and financial investment from a guest and host standpoint as we focus on: 

• How much time it takes to become an exceptional host and guest 
• How much time it takes for solo episodes, guest episodes, pitching, guesting, prep, post-production, and more 
• The energy in and out of podcasting and guesting
• The cold hard cash: how much money can you make podcasting?
• And more! 

Podcast Hosts Mentioned: 

🎙️ Shoutout and THANKS to friends and fellow podcasters Barb Davids of the Small Business Sweet Spot, Kristy Ouellette of Talk Travel to Me, TC Burr of The Write Mindset, and Lindsey Dreyer of The Happy Agent Co. Podcast 

Resources and Groups Mentioned: 

🚢 Seas the Day, Not the Panic: Overcoming Cruise Fears (Talk Travel to Me)

🐝 Buzzsprout (affiliate link) 

👉🏻 PodMatch (affiliate link) 

👯 New England Podcasters Group 

🎤 Samson Q2U Microphone 

🎶 Premium Beat -Royalty-Free Music 

🎙️ MY Podcaster Done-for-You Guest Bundles 

📣 UPCOMING LIVE with Me and Barb Davids on Thursday, August 28th! 

About Me, Your Host and Small Business Copywriter, Emily Aborn 

I’m Emily Aborn, I’m a Copywriter, Content Marketing Consultant, Speaker, and Podcast Host. I live in the backwoods of New Hampshire where my husband and I spend time preparing for winter, wishing it was summer, hiking, reading, and playing Crib Wars (IYKYK). 

Email: [email protected]
Website
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Text Emily!

I can overthink, outthink, rethink, and retroactively think my way into anything BUT momentum. 

Can you relate? If so, this episode is for you! 

This episode is for you if you identify as an overthinker (or just a little too much thinker) at times. We're going to get into the importance of overcoming overthinking so we can gain clarity, confidence, and momentum by quieting the inner chatter and noise inside our heads. 

• Ways overthinking can manifest
• Where overthinking might come from (it's not all bad!) 
• 9 Ways to overcome overthinking by: 
  • Creating decision-making rules 
  • Starting with what YOU want 
  • Zooming out 
  • Creating before you consume
  • Remembering that not everything is permanent 
  • Picking a lane (and sticking to it) 
  • Designing routines and a system 
  • Shipping imperfect work: done is better than perfect
  • Detaching your worth from the outcome 
• And more! 

Links & Resources Mentioned 

👉🏻 EXTENDED SHOW NOTES

🎙️ June Episode: Mid-Year Marketing Checkup 

About Me (Let's Connect!) 

I’m Emily Aborn, a Copywriter, Content Marketing Consultant, Speaker, and Podcast Host. Our little family lives in the backwoods of New Hampshire where we spend time wishing it was summer, hiking, reading, and playing Crib Wars (IYKYK). 

Email: [email protected]
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Text Emily!

You can't (and don't need to) keep up with everyone you meet at the same level or frequency. Not all feedback is equal feedback and your marketing doesn't translate to every last person you interact with. 

Simply put: Your business isn't relevant to everyone. 

But that doesn't mean some people are more valuable than others or deserve to be discounted. Everyone you meet and interact with is part of a beautiful, rich tapestry of relationships. And every relationship looks a little bit different. 

In this episode, I'm sharing a concept called "5 Spheres of Influence" and showing you how you can use each sphere to intentionally nurture and grow in various areas of your business. 

In the episode: 

• What are the five spheres of influence, and why do they matter 
• How do you identify and nurture your Stakeholders? 
• Who are your Advocates, and how can you give back? 
• What to do (and not do) to offer value to Gatekeepers
• How to reciprocate to the Influencers in your life 
• What the Inner Circle can offer as your deepest connections 
• And more 

You aren't building this on your own. You're not building a business on an illusion of a person or an ambiguous avatar. 

We build our businesses alongside real people and by nurturing relationships with real people. 

When you know who those people are, what role they play, and how to care for the relationship... things get a whole lot easier.

👉🏻 EXTENDED SHOW NOTES 

About Me (Let's Connect!) 

I’m Emily Aborn, a Copywriter, Content Marketing Consultant, Speaker, and Podcast Host. Our little family lives in the backwoods of New Hampshire where we spend time wishing it was summer, hiking, reading, and playing Crib Wars (IYKYK). 

Email: [email protected]
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Text Emily!

No matter your pace right now, no matter what you can and can't accomplish or check off your to-do list, you're not broken, behind, or failing. You’re right where you need to be. 

This episode gives you 6 tiny, impactful reminders to help you focus on taking the steps, in the season you're in, and do what you can. 

Short and sweet, here are 6 things that've been on my mind that I want to remind you of, too. 

BIG business game-changers dressed up in a tiny package: 

• Letting it marinate.
• There’s no actual secret sauce. YOU are the secret sauce. 
• Getting the ideas is the easy part. Selling them is work. 
• Your voice will NEVER be too much or not enough. 
• Build the business you actually want 
• Speak to real people, not personas. 
• And more! 

⛱️ Link to my Summer Bucket List

👉🏻 EXTENDED SHOW NOTES 

About Me (Let's Connect!) 

I’m Emily Aborn, a Copywriter, Content Marketing Consultant, Speaker, and Podcast Host. My little family lives in the backwoods of New Hampshire, where we spend time wishing it was summer, hiking, reading, and playing Crib Wars (IYKYK). 

Email: [email protected]
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Text Emily!

In a world full of loud opinions, tearing people down, judging, and polarization... 

It doesn't always exactly feel "safe" to contribute your thoughts and ideas. I've held myself back many times on a comment, or speaking up with an idea because I didn't feel safe sharing my viewpoint or belief. 

You can choose to do things differently. 

You can choose to be a business owner who helps to create and foster a sense of psychological safety throughout your marketing and messaging. 

In this episode, we get into 5 ways to increase psychological safety in your marketing and business, plus why it matters not only for building trust, but also to be the kind of person people want to return to time and time again! 

• Defining "psychological safety" 
• Why it matters in our messaging and marketing 
• How to use inclusive and non-judgmental language 
• Validating struggles and challenges
• Inviting vs. demanding 
• Transparency in intentions 
• Encouragement over manipulation
• And more! 

Resources & Links Mentioned: 

Definition: Psychological safety is a feeling that you won’t be punished, judged, or shamed when you show up honestly. When you take risks, when you make a mistake, or share opinions, thoughts, ideas, or when you ask for help. Even when you might challenge the status quo, you can still do so without worrying you’ll be attacked or torn down.

Karen Kenney's Episode of The Karen Kenney Show: SAFE ENOUGH 

Content with Character Episode: Just Say "No" to Bro Marketing

👉🏻 EXTENDED SHOW NOTES

About Me (Let's Connect!) 

I’m Emily Aborn, a Copywriter, Content Marketing Consultant, Speaker, and Podcast Host. Our little family lives in the backwoods of New Hampshire, where we spend time wishing it was summer, hiking, reading, and playing Crib Wars (IYKYK). 

Email: [email protected]
Website
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Text Emily!

What’s really behind our creative blocks? 

Are you actually "blocked" or is there a truth trying to make its way out and give you a message? 

Sometimes what looks like procrastination, resistance, boredom, and blocks is really your inner self raising its hand to deliver a message.

Nothing is wrong with you, and you don't need to put your "fixer" hat on. But the creative block might be telling you something and asking you to truly listen.

In this episode, we explore 5 things a creative block might be revealing about your business and marketing: 

• What happens when we're evolving and changing 
• How it looks when the method is wrong (even if the goal is right) 
• What to do if you're bored 
• Looking at areas of misalignment or being out of integrity 
• Watch out for being too busy 
• And more! 

Maybe… this isn’t a block at all. Maybe you’re not actually stuck, maybe you’re just ready to step up a little bigger and bolder and create from the inside out.

Quotes & Resources Mentioned 

 👉🏻 EXTENDED SHOW NOTES 

About Me, Let's Connect!
Text the Show!
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I’m Emily Aborn, I’m a Small Business Copywriter, Content Marketing Consultant, Speaker, and Podcast Host. I live in New Hampshire, where I spend my time wishing for Summer, hiking, stacking wood for the eternally long and freezing winters, reading, and procuring random and useless knowledge for future trivia games. 

Email: [email protected]
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