The Slow Creative Podcast with Krista Bauer

Ep. 14: I received my first bit of negative feedback back in March after teaching a live introductory copywriting class for beginners. In order to get a video recording of the lessons and class materials, I asked all participants to complete the feedback form. I was crushed when I got negative comments from two participants who said I was dull and the class was too basic. What did they expect from an entry-level class? 

Although I was initially angered by the feedback as it felt more like a personal attack than constructive criticism,  once I cooled down I could see it for what it was: feedback. 

Nobody wants to get negative feedback but when you put yourself out there on a public stage, it's inevitable. When you reach a wider audience, it's inevitable. When you market your services to hundreds or thousands of people, criticism comes with the territory.

In this episode, I share: 

• How I handled negative feedback in my business so it didn't stop me from teaching again (I really believed I was done). 


• Tips for seeing criticism through a lens of grace and gratitude to depersonalize it and make it less about you (because it isn't)


• My favourite way to rebuild confidence after getting knocked down.

When you get negative feedback, no matter how nasty, there's still something to be learned from the experience and it doesn't have to make you feel bad about yourself or throw you off course. 

If you have a question or would like to share your top insights from this episode, click here to send me a voice message and I’d be happy to answer or share it in an upcoming episode.

Head over to https://kristabauer.com/podcast for a copy of the show's transcript and to get the links and resources mentioned in the show.

Enjoy the show!

Blessings, K.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kristabauer.substack.com

In episode 13, I share five ways to reframe rejection to help you transform it from something negative into the blessing that it is.
Rejection is a part of life. It hurts but it happens. Taking rejection personally isn't healthy as you only hurt yourself when you let rejection get to you.
It hurts but if you reframe it, you'll see that it has nothing to do with you "not being good enough" but is something to be grateful for. 
In this episode, I share five ways to reframe rejection and help you re-examine the situation so you can move forward and not let it hold you back. 
If you've been rejected from a promising relationship/opportunity/situation and you think it's the worst thing that could've happened to you, what if it's a blessing for your business? An eye-opener, life changer, or the redirection your business needs?
In this episode I share: 

My personal experience with rejection (getting fired from a dream client) and how it forced me to pivot toward something greater 
5 rejection reframes so you can see it for the blessing that it is and stop feeling bad about it 
Questions to help you perceive rejection in a positive way.

If you have a question or would like to share your top insights from this episode, click here to send me a voice message and I’d be happy to answer or share it in an upcoming episode.
Head over to https://kristabauer.com/podcast for a copy of the show's transcript and to get the links and resources mentioned in the show.
Enjoy the show!
Blessings, K.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kristabauer.substack.com

In Episode 12, I share five tips for helping you write sales pages that connect with the right people (AKA write copy that connects). 

Copywriting is an essential marketing skill, yet, so many entrepreneurs find themselves deep in the weeds when it comes to writing resonant copy that connects with their best-match clients.

If you struggle to engage your ideal clients with the words you write, then tune in to this episode for simple tips to improve your writing so that you can start crafting resonant copy immediately.

What's covered:

• Simple tips to help you write clear, engaging copy that speaks directly to your ideal audience


• 3 of my fave market research Qs to ask to help you know and understand your client 


• Tips for writing in a natural tone of voice including a few of my fave writing apps 

Links and resources mentioned in the show: 

• 5 Keys of Writing Copy That Connects Workshop Replay


• Speak Your Client's Language Workshop Replay 


• Otter Transcription app 


• Descript (all in one editing/transcription app)

If you have a question or would like to share your top insights from this episode, click here to send me a voice message and I’d be happy to answer or share it in an upcoming episode.

Head over to https://kristabauer.com/podcast for a copy of the show's transcript and to get the links and resources mentioned in the show.

Enjoy the show!

Blessings, K.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kristabauer.substack.com

Episode 11 - Can your business survive without social media? 

A couple of weeks ago I sat down with special guest, Shailaja Vishwanath, from Blogging and Social Media Simplified to ask her this question, can your business survive without social media?

This comes after her recent experiment of taking a 60-day sabbatical from social media and I wanted to hear her top insights and lessons to share with you.

But of course, when you get two Human Design Projectors and Aries Sun Signs on a mic, the conversation can go in any direction. 😂



Besides being a social media and SEO expert, she’s a content queen with over 1800 pieces of content on Instagram alone.



She has a super-engaged audience, so why would a social media coach who gets tons of engagement and clients from Instagram take a 60-day break?

Her answer may surprise you.



Other topics covered in this episode: 

• Her reasons for taking a 60-day social media sabbatical and her thoughts on, can your business survive without social media?


• The right and wrong approach for taking a social media sabbatical


• Setting social media boundaries and being intentional on Instagram


• Practical reasons for not posting all your content on social media and why you might diversify your online presence


• Getting started on social media and overcoming perfectionism with your content


• Ways to grow your audience as a new business owner


• Tips for content creators

If you have a question or would like to share your top insights from this episode, click here to send me a voice message and I’d be happy to answer or share it in an upcoming episode.

Head over to https://kristabauer.com/blog/ep11 for a copy of the show's transcript and to get the links and resources mentioned in the show.

Enjoy the show!

Blessings, K.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kristabauer.substack.com

In episode 10 we dive into something that's crucial for small business owners, and that's exploring creative ways you can build trust with your audience. 

Without trust, you can have the most beautiful website, a perfectly curated Instagram feed with stunning images, gorgeous graphics, cohesive colours, cool fonts, and the best-written copy, but if your audience doesn't trust you, none of that matters.

In today's episode, you'll learn: 

• Why branding and aesthetics won't build meaningful trust with your audience (and what you need instead)


• 8 creative ways to build trust and establish credibility before you'll sell out your offers


• Things people focus on but have a smaller impact on how people perceive you than you think. 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE SHOW TRANSCRIPT.

If you have a question or would like to share your top insights from this episode, click here to send me a voice message and I’d be happy to answer or share it in an upcoming episode.

Head over to kristabauer.com/podcast for more tips and resources.

Enjoy the show!

Blessings, K.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kristabauer.substack.com

Perfectionism has been the single biggest roadblock I’ve faced in my business and the hardest to overcome. And I’m #stilllearning. The notion that you have to have it all figured out before you’re worthy of getting clients, teaching a course, sharing your message online has hindered not only me but many of my clients who are stuck in the same trap and their business and content suffer as a result.



I’ve come a long way in my six years of running an online business, so in today's episode I'm sharing:

• 6 tips to help you overcome perfectionism anytime it rears its nasty head (and it often does) 


• Why your clients don't want perfection and what they want instead


• How perfectionism divides you from the people who truly need your work and separates you from your authenticity 


• Inspiration to show up exactly as you are because your true fans will love you no matter what.

If you have a question or would like to share your top insight from this episode, click here to send me a voice message and I’d be happy to answer or share it in an upcoming episode.

Head over to kristabauer.com/podcast for more tips and resources. 

Enjoy the show!

Blessings, K.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kristabauer.substack.com

Deleting followers isn't a conventional marketing practice that's main focus is to generate leads and convert high-paying clients at any cost.

In a world where passive income using clever sales funnels and reaching 10ok followers on social media seems like the "thing" to aspire to, why would I delete followers instead?

You've probably heard online coaches and marketing gurus say "the money's in the list".

The bigger the better, right? 🤔

In today's episode, I want to share a different perspective and an unconventional strategy I use in my business to ensure I'm connecting with the right people.

It's a strategy that brings me immense freedom to be who I am because I'm not worried about online rejection or criticism.

It helps the right people see my message (and engage) because I make a conscious effort to remove the people who aren't a fit.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The problem with focusing on lead generation at any cost
  
  


• Why I delete followers regularly
  
  


• What happened when I removed 1500 followers across my newsletter, Facebook and Instagram
  
  


• How you can implement this authentic marketing practice and why it's good for your business.
  
  

If you have a question or would like to share your top insight from this episode, click here to send me a voice message and I’d be happy to answer or share it in an upcoming episode.

Head over to kristabauer.com/podcast for more tips and resources.

Enjoy the show!

Blessings, K.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kristabauer.substack.com

You don't hate selling, you hate being inauthentic. 

Many conscious business owners struggle with sales because they've been taught that selling is pushy, manipulative, persuasive and essentially trying to get clients at any cost. 

It was my introduction to marketing 6 years ago, too, when I completed my life coaching certification. As a new coach, I was eager to get clients and begin my new career but my passion soon faded once I realized the marketing training I was given was nothing but scripts, bad elevator pitches and formulaic templates to help me "close the sale" and handle objections. 

It was in no way aligned with how I wanted to interact with my people. 

Thankfully, I ditched the loud style of marketing and followed a softer, kinder approach that allowed me to stay true to my values. 

In this episode, I talk about:

• my personal experience with selling my services as a new coach and what led me to ditch the mainstream marketing advice I was given and follow my inner wisdom 


• a small shift I made to help make the process of "selling" joyful and meaningful


• why I don't think you hate selling, but just hate being inauthentic instead.

If you have a question or would like to share your top insight from this episode, click here to send me a voice message and I’d be happy to answer or share it in an upcoming episode.

Head over to kristabauer.com/podcast for more tips and resources.

Enjoy the show!

Blessings, K.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kristabauer.substack.com

A common copywriting misconception that many people have is that you need to be a skilled or poetic writer to write website copy that resonates with your ideal clients.

Ahem... not true.

Believing you need to have an innate talent for writing or possess years of experience to reach and connect with the right audience can leave people feeling lost, overwhelmed and burdened by the copywriting process.

In today's episode, I'm here to tell you:

• Why writing isn't the most important element of writing effective sales pages and what is (it's the one thing you must do before writing a single line of copy)


• My simple 4-step process for writing sales pages and why most people struggle to know what to say and how to say it


• How you can make the copywriting process much easier (and save yourself some time) by focusing most of your efforts on just one thing, and


• Tools and resources to help you edit and design your sales pages with greater ease.

Links & resources mentioned in this episode:

• In Their Words: How To Find The Language Your Ideal Clients Use To Write Effective Sales Pages


• Sales Page Critique


• Grammarly


• Visual Marketing for Beginners Self-Study Course

If you have a question or would like to share your top insight from this episode, click here to send me a voice message and I’d be happy to answer or share it in an upcoming episode.

Head over to kristabauer.com/podcast for more tips and resources.

Enjoy the show!

Blessings, K.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kristabauer.substack.com

Tired of hustle culture and the constant grind to reach success?

No breaks. Hustling to reach your goals. Burning yourself out over launches. Reaching one milestone, immediately moving on to the next. Pushing, striving, and push, strive some more. Yet, it's never enough.

There's always more to do.

More content to create. More courses to take. More money to make. More branding to do. More systems to set up. More webinars to run. More ads to test. More clients to attract.

Then there are dishes to do. Laundry to fold. Lunches to make. Kids to pick up. Groceries to buy. Taxes to pay. Errands to run. Family to see.

It's. More. More. More.

If this resonates then you've been the victim of chronic productivity and the mainstream's obsession with the daily hustle and grind for reaching success.

Unfortunately, rest and spaciousness don't get the same respect as productivity.

In today's society, if you hustle to make things happen, you're someone to aspire to.

In this episode, I hope to inspire you to rebel against hustle culture and learn ways to embrace more flow and spaciousness in your business instead.

In this episode, I talk about:

• The negative impacts that hustle culture and chronic productivity are having on your life and business


• Why rest and spaciousness is the soul nourishment your business needs to thrive


• 5 ways you can embrace more flow and spaciousness into your life (things I'm experimenting with)


• Burning out from trying to follow the pack and learning to trust your intuition instead.

Links & resources mentioned in this episode:

• George Kao TLC (Thoughtful Life Calendar) Program (aff. link)


• Ep. 3: Where Should I Post Content?


• George Kao MasterHeart Group Coaching Program (aff. link)

If you have a question or would like to share your top insight from this episode, click here to send me a voice message and I’d be happy to answer or share it in an upcoming episode.

Head over to kristabauer.com/podcast for more tips and resources.

Enjoy the show!

Blessings, K.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kristabauer.substack.com