The Birth Geeks' Podcast

Welcome back to The Birth Geeks! In today's episode, your hosts Dr. Hillary Melchiors and Dr. Robin Elise Weiss delve into the intricate world of rebranding and visual updates. We'll explore the importance of networking and leveraging connections within the industry, the necessity of updating visuals like logos and fonts across platforms, and the challenges of the rebranding process itself. Hillary shares her first-hand experience of evolving her doula business, while both hosts emphasize the critical role of professional help, cohesive messaging, and effective client communication during a rebrand.

We also navigate through decision-making hurdles, investment considerations, and the significance of staying organized by keeping business conversations streamlined. Additionally, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on doula services and the need for adaptive messaging strategies are discussed. To wrap up, we'll share practical tools and advice for balancing daily operations with strategic development.

Whether you're contemplating a brand refresh or a full rebrand, this episode is packed with actionable insights and light-hearted moments. So, sit back, relax, and join us as we journey through the nuances of rebranding in the birth industry.

Overview

• Discussion on rebranding vs. brand refresh: significant changes vs. minor updates.
• The speaker is refreshing their doula business brand.
• Rebranding factors: business evolution, audience shifts, outdated visuals/messages.
• Importance of aligning brand with current offerings and target audience.
• Balancing local resources and budget for design work.
• Decision-making: DIY vs. hiring help based on skills and time.
• Benefits of professional help for complex tasks like website design.
• Reflect on goals and audience to avoid resource waste.
• Audit current branding efforts for improvements.
• Utilize networking for reliable project assistance.
• Ensure cohesive updates across all branding elements.
• Align messaging with visual branding for effective communication.
• Challenges of rebranding and client communication emphasized.
• Choose between a big launch or soft rollout for the rebrand.
• Importance of understanding client feedback and expectations.
• Acknowledge time, financial investments, and mental challenges in rebranding.
• Set realistic deadlines and manage collaborator communication.
• Conduct research, gather client feedback, and test website usability.
• View marketing from the client's perspective to address their needs.
• Focus on potential clients' pain points to create value.
• Use lead magnets and freebies to collect contact information.
• Building funnels is essential in the rebranding strategy.
• Consistent logo usage is vital for brand awareness.
• Acknowledge stress involved in the rebranding process.

Links Mentioned

• Coolors
• Fiverr
• Canva (Free & Paid)

Welcome to another enlightening episode of The Birth Geeks, where we delve into practical and essential topics for doulas. In this episode, TBG 56, join hosts Dr. Hillary Melchiors and Dr. Robin Elise Weiss as they navigate the complex world of setting and raising doula fees.

Discover why it's crucial to understand your value and charge sustainably, how cost of living impacts your rates, and the importance of balancing personal financial goals to avoid burnout. We'll also discuss how to respond to client pushback about fees, strategies for offering discounts without undervaluing your services, and recognizing when it's time to increase your fees.

With insights into tailoring service packages, maintaining transparent communication, and advocating for proper compensation, this episode is packed with expert advice to help you thrive in your doula career. Stay tuned as we empower you to confidently set and adjust your rates, ensuring both your well-being and that of your clients.

Overview

• Discussion on doulas raising fees for sustainable income.
• Importance of charging a livable wage and recognizing when to adjust rates.
• Factors for increasing rates include:
  • Experience from multiple births.
  • Rising living costs.
  • Preventing burnout and ensuring job satisfaction.
  • Full calendar indicating high demand.
• Timing for rate increases should focus on future bookings.
• Awareness of local market rates and community positioning is essential.
• New skills or certifications can justify fee hikes.
• Comparison of fee structures across regions, e.g., California.
• Personal financial goals are crucial to avoid burnout.
• Use "doula-of-fee algebra" for pricing strategy.
• Consider yearly expenses in financial planning.
• Strategies for discussing rate increases with returning clients.
• Clearly explain value and handle objections confidently.
• Mistakes are part of business growth.
• Confidently state fees without justification to unsuitable clients.
• Advocate for fair compensation for doula work.
• Consider tiered packages or early signing incentives.
• Maintain prenatal visits for effective support.
• Regularly review rates based on experience and feedback.
• Communicate rate changes transparently and in advance.
• Prepare for pushback on fees with strategies.
• Prioritize financial security for mental health and sustainability.
• Utilize resources like doula fee calculators and cost of living data.
• Engage clients in discussions about fee adjustments.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

• Cost of Living Information
• Doula Fee Calculator

Welcome back to The Birth Geeks podcast! In today's episode, hosts Hillary Melchiors and Robin Elise Weiss catch up after a long break and dive into a range of exciting updates and developments in the birth and doula community. They talk about Hillary's upcoming trip to France for the European Doula Network conference and reflect on their busy year, including Hillary's rebrand of her doula agency. From discussing the challenges of balancing doula work with personal life to sharing insights from recent conferences and legislative advocacy efforts, this episode is packed with valuable information and heartfelt moments. Stay tuned as they also hint at upcoming topics and interviews that will enrich the birth and doula community. Let's get started!

Links mentioned in this show:

• Cost of Living
• Doula Fee Calculator
• EPDUS-US (Mental Health Screening Tool)

Overview

• Hosts Hillary and Robin reconnect after a long break.
• They discuss a road trip from Louisville to Minneapolis.
• Hillary prepares for the European Doula Network in France.
• They reflect on their busy lives and roles in DONA International.
• Robin organized the Doulas Doing Business Summit for business management support.
• They share challenges doulas face in balancing passion and business.
• Hillary is involved in academic activities related to doulas.
• Both discuss personal challenges, including Hillary's house fire.
• They reflect on parenting and the transition to becoming empty nesters.
• A recent vacation sparked a desire for more travel and reading.
• The speaker advocates for doulas and perinatal mental health screening.
• They highlight legislative progress for doulas and maternal care improvement.
• The agency's rebranding and certification efforts are mentioned.
• Emphasis on community outreach and agency operations amid challenges.
• Upcoming plans include discussions on rebranding and financial sustainability.
• Excitement about interviews and research on perinatal mental health.
• The speaker shares a personal experience attending a memorial for Penny Simkin.
• Light-hearted discussion on fame preferences and humorous birth community anecdotes.

How do you stay awake on the drive home at 3am after leaving a long birth or postpartum shift? In this 47th episode of The Birth Geeks Podcast we talk about scream therapy, streaking through your house, our go-to meals and self-care routines. After helping our clients, a post-shift ritual is so important to shift your mind out of work mode and actually contributes to helping stave off burnout. Our tips and a few fun references are included in this episode!

How do you define confidence for yourself? You may have a supercomputer in your pocket, but that still doesn't mean that you have to know all the things or that all the things you can know are in there. In this episode we talk about "doula dysmorphia" and mastery development. There's always something more to learn as a birth geek, but there are more important confidence boosting ways to learn than taking all the trainings and reading all the books. What bursts your confidence bubble and how does your sense of humor play into your work confidence, earned or otherwise.

This episode is all about MONEY! We talk about all different ways that childbirth educators and doulas feel about money. What is your money mindset? Do you have an abundance mindset too? We talk about shortcuts to keeping good records and a few key moments that you need to recognize that you should ask for help from people who've been there. We also delve into multiple revenue streams and passive income as a childbirth professional. If you're a birth professional entrepreneur, this episode is especially for you!

In 2020, birth professionals were all navigating all kinds of shifting policies and ideas about how to keep safe while continuing to serve families as a novel virus and resulting pandemic emerged. As we close in on the 3rd year of learning and pivoting through it all, we're seeing some things go "back to normal" and others remaining changed. In this episode of The Birth Geeks Podcast, Robin & Hillary talk about COVID changes that we've seen come and go. What is the science behind these changes and what is the new normal looking like where you are? We dive into our observations and frustrations with it all, while keeping in mind the structural, social, & policy perspectives that are shaping the way that birth workers approach their jobs now.

In 2020, birth professionals were all navigating all kinds of shifting policies and ideas about how to keep safe while continuing to serve families as a novel virus and resulting pandemic emerged. As we close in on the 3rd year of learning and pivoting through it all, we're seeing some things go "back to normal" and others remaining changed. In this episode of The Birth Geeks Podcast, Robin & Hillary talk about COVID changes that we've seen come and go. What is the science behind these changes and what is the new normal looking like where you are? We dive into our observations and frustrations with it all, while keeping in mind the structural, social, & policy perspectives that are shaping the way that birth workers approach their jobs now.

New recommendations, old complaints, products, & all the evidence based resources our doula hearts could muster are packed into this episode with special guest Ann Grauer. We're so excited to be back to podcasting & thankful to Ann for being our first guest to return.

It's time to get back to upgrading the conversation & renewing your birth professional moxie!

New recommendations, old complaints, products, & all the evidence based resources our doula hearts could muster are packed into this episode with special guest Ann Grauer. We're so excited to be back to podcasting & thankful to Ann for being our first guest to return.

It's time to get back to upgrading the conversation & renewing your birth professional moxie!