More Than A Few Words

How many times have you heard someone say, “s.ocial media is social”?   When you hear that, what do you wonder what it really means, or how you actually get social on social media?  That was the topic of my conversation with Deirdre Tshien co-founder and CEO of Capsho, the world’s first AI-powered Podcast Copywriter. Dierdre’s explained a good strategy is based on more than just posting  content.  It is built on conversations and interactions with your audience.  To do this effectively, you need four types of social media posts. Awareness Post: Start with a question or statement to open a conversation and gauge interest. Elaboration Post: Dive deeper into the topic you’ve introduced, providing more value and demonstrating your expertise. Mixing interactive and informative content keeps your audience interested and establishes you as authority.  Community Post: You don’t have to have all the answers. Sometimes the best thing to do is share content from someone else.  Also, build community by letting your audie

So you want to become the expert in your field. and you are writing blogs, crafting seminar slides, recording podcasts.  You’re doing it all. But let’s be real, constantly coming up with fresh angles on the same topic can be draining. And in the fast-paced world of online content, what’s hot today might be forgotten tomorrow. Or, your best piece of content was released at the wrong time, so very few people saw it. The trick for every professional, trying to build a reputation as a subject matter expert is how do you make the most of your best work without boring your audience to tears?  I will let you in on a secret, it isn’t about creating more and more content.  It is  about repurposing your content smartly. Instead of reinventing the wheel, give your existing stuff a new lease on life.  Then, instead of killing yourself to create a mountain of new content, use some of my favorite repurposing tips  to fill your feed. Then you will have more time to create fewer, better pieces of content. Check out these tri

I spent some time with Denzil Eden, the founder of Smarty AI, an AI productivity assistant that aims to enhance routines and automate tasks. Denzil shared her experience as a female entrepreneur in the tech space.  Throughout our conversation, she had great insights and advice for other women looking to play in the tech space.  Here are the key points from the interview: Challenges in the Tech Space: Denzil shares her journey as a young, female founder in the tech space and highlights the uphill battle she faced due to the crowded productivity market and the subconscious biases against women in tech. Her perseverance and resilience helped her navigate these challenges, ultimately leading her to success. Advice for Aspiring Founders: Denzil emphasizes the importance of validating ideas and understanding customers' needs before building a product. She suggests using landing pages, prototypes, and user interviews to gauge interest and gather feedback before investing significant time and resources, which can

I don't know about you,  but I spend way too much time creating content. I'm always looking for a faster way to get it done so I can get back to the part of my business that actually generates revenue.  If you're struggling with those same issues this conversation with Aaron Witnish is just for you. Aaron introduces a three-step process for generating thirty days of content in just ninety minutes. To start the process, do a bit of research.  Use Google’s "People Also Ask" feature to identify questions real people are asking about your product  or service every day.  Once you have the questions record the answers.  You can gather a wealth of material in a short video that can be repurposed into  clips for social media or longer written posts.  Using AI Tools like Opus Clip you can easily cut long videos into short clips, saving time and effort in the editing process. Using Chat GPT to summarize the transcript  creates content that is still authentic because it started with your words, not a generic search  Aar

If you had told me fifteen years ago, when I was running around recording conversations on my iphone that I would still be doing it a thousand episodes later, I would have told you you were crazy. But here I am, celebrating 1,000 episodes. I have had an amazing ride meeting interesting people from all over the world. I have learned so much from them about marketing and marketing trends and I have enjoyed sharing that information with you, my audience. So instead of asking for anniversary presents, I want to give you one.  I have a special thank you offer.  If you comment on post and tag me, anywhere on social media, share a screen grab of a review, or simply drop me a note, I'll send you a code for unlimited, free access the toolbox. That is a lifetime membership so you'll have the ability to access all of the training programs, all the workbooks, all the content, forever. So drop a review, send me a note or leave a comment and you're in. And, if you're curious about any of the conversations you've missed  yo

Like it or not, short form video needs to be a part of your overall plan.  So Jennifer Denney and I chatted about some of the things you can do to make better looking, short form content, with minimal effort. 1) Remember it is disposable content, so it doesn't need to be perfect.  2) Record longer content and break it up into smaller bites (under a minute in length). That is much easier than trying to record one short tip every day.  3) Use AI to create shorts with captions.  4) Keep the main image in the frame.  Different platforms will crop; the video in different ways.  5) Mix up the style so the content looks fresh in the feed, but still looks like your brand 6) Don't be afraid to reshare videos that your audience may not have seen.    More on this topic FREE TRIAL OF OPUS CLIPS TO START CREATING YOUR SHORT VIDEOS. 

If you are like most business owners there is a lot of chaos and stress in your day.  So sometimes you just need to take a breath.  I have talked with other stress reduction experts in the past, so it was fun to revisit the topic with Ann Swanson, a best-selling author whose book on yoga practices has been translated into 15 languages. In this conversation we talk about how  a few minutes of yoga or meditation can completely reset your day. These simple techniques provide immediate stress reduction and improvement in your ability to focus.  A short pause can also lower blood pressure and heart rate.  Ann shared some simple techniques such as focusing on breath and body sensations.  Shifting your attention to relaxing just one part of your body. Integrating mindfulness cues into your daily activities,   LEARN MORE

These days, every content marketer is experimenting with AI.  And it is a wonderful tool if you use it well. For example, you can ask it to create 10 or 12 social media posts that refer back to one blog post. However, you need to review those updates and make sure they actually sound like you because left to its own devices, artificial intelligence has essentially two voices. Stuffy Professional and College Frat Boy. If neither of those tones are you, you need to go in and tweak the tone so the content content sounds like it's coming from you. I've had a lot of great conversations about AI lately with some really smart people.  Be sure to look for them in the feed and subscribe, so you never miss another episode. 

If you’re like most business owners you don’t have all the answers. There’s so many skills you need to master, and tasks you need to accomplish that you may need to turn to the experts to get your questions answered. Hiring an army of consultants can be overwhelming and expensive so that’s when belonging to a mastermind group can be so beneficial Zachary Parker Harris joined me to discuss the benefits of mastermind groups for business owners. As the leader of Junto Global, he helps entrepreneurs connect and build relationships for business success. Parker explained how a mastermind group creates the space for continuous learning and relationship building. To be effective, there needs to be open and authentic communication where members can bring both their strengths and weaknesses to the table. They discuss the value of exploring high-leverage questions and how masterminds can uncover deeper issues than initially apparent. Comparing mastermind groups to consulting, Parker explains the unique advantage is havi

If you're like me, you're cranking out a ton of marketing content and your wishing you could get way more bang for every minute you put into it. Well, according to Greg Wasserman, head of growth partnerships and community for Cast Magic, if you're willing to enlist the aid of a little AI your can make the time you spend much more effective. Greg really believes in the importance of recording everything, whether it's thoughts, meetings, or conversations, as potential content sources. With the help of AI tools you can transform these recordings into various resources, such as blog posts, social media clips, and LinkedIn posts, giving you a consistent content presence without spending hours and hours to create the content. . Think about content as a volume play, as you try to increase your brand visibility and engagement. Greg suggests using AI to repurpose content not only saves time but also allows you to cater to the evolving algorithms of search platforms.  For example, Google prioritizes content that answer

As a kid I loved the story of the tortoise and the hare.  One day the tortoise and the hare line up for a race. The hare with its speed seemed destined for victory. But the tortoise pulled off a surprising win. While he was clearly outclassed in speed the tortoise focused on the finish line.  Steady and plodding he made consistent motion forward.  In contrast the speedy rabbit burst forward, then paused and started again. His mad dash at the end just wasn't enough to win the day.  I often think of this fable when I talk to business owners who are frustrated by the lack of results in their marketing. It's usually because they're approaching marketing like the hare.  They get excited about a marketing idea and dive in with great energy and enthusiasm.  Of course, they are expecting immediate results.  When the results don't come they get distracted by the next great idea. They lose interest or simply forget.  But good marketing rarely provides instant results. Sure it would be great if the first time you ran an

In this conversation, I jumped into the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its applications beyond just content creation. Focusing on automation and workflow efficiency,  AI enthusiast, Parker Olson discusses how he uses AI to streamline operations in his business, PodPitch - an initiative fueled by AI. Day-to-day business tasks like data collection, data analysis, content creation, and more can be efficiently automated using AI. Olson introduces us to some handy tools for such purposes, like Bardeen and the ChatGPT API for Google Sheets. These tools can gather data from popular websites, analyze large datasets, clean and summarize the data, and even outreach prospective customers - all in real-time. Today's businesses are leveraging AI to automate their LinkedIn tasks, using tools like MeetAlfred. Coupled with ChatGPT and Bardeen, this AI trio can run a comprehensive LinkedIn profile analysis to determine potential customers. By comparing and contrasting your profile information with others, it gives

Kris Ward is back in the guest chair, this time with a lively conversation about entrepreneurial personalities. She delves into her unique approach of categorizing entrepreneurs into five distinct personalities based on their problem-solving and process management styles. From the "Rushaholic" who thrives on speed but may overlook details, to the "Sufferpreneur" who excels at crisis management but struggles with burnout, each personality has its strengths and weaknesses. As Kris introduces each personality type, she highlights the common pitfalls and misconceptions associated with them. You probably won't change your type so it is important to understand your tendencies and find a balance between the strengths and weaknesses of your personality.  Kris encourages entrepreneurs to lean into their unique traits effectively, whether it's the meticulousness of the "Perfectionizer" or the multitasking prowess of the "Jugglerrama." Mastering your personality starts with self-awareness and Kris has offer listeners th

My husband is an amazing cook. He reads recipes, comes up with his own variations, blending and layering ingredients in new and delicious ways. Even though he is amazing in our kitchen, he could not own a restaurant. Why? He knows how to time a meal with three dishes for eight people, but expanding that to thirty dishes, for one hundred people requires skills he does not have. What does it take to be a social media chef? The same challenge exists when it comes to professional social media. Lots of people are good on social media. They are funny and engaging. They have a large following and interact regularly. But just because they are great at managing their own accounts does not mean they have the skills to be a successful social media chef. Precise Recipes It is easy to improvise when you are cooking for a few people. A pinch of this, a dash of that. If you don’t have enough potatoes you can substitute with carrots. When you are cooking for a larger group and they expect a potato, that is what you have to s

In this episode, I am joined by LinkedIn strategist and CEO of Uplevel Media, Karen Yankovich. A seasoned expert with over 30 years of experience, Karen talks about how LinkedIn can be instrumental in empowering women entrepreneurs and guiding individuals towards becoming industry thought leaders. The conversation begins with Karen elaborating on her approach to marketing based on relationship selling, a concept deeply ingrained in her due to her rich background in sales. By focusing on forming connections and creating mutually beneficial solutions, she explains how businesses can significantly benefit. Highlighting the platform’s positioning as a hub for all things business, she shares her views on why LinkedIn holds significant potential for wealth creation, personal branding and facilitating high-level business deals. She insists on investing even just 15 minutes a day building strategic relationships on LinkedIn can pave way for big contracts. Karen notes that to use LinkedIn effectively, it is crucial to

Join this insights-packed episode as we welcome Janet Falk, a seasoned communication professional, and the chief strategist at Falk Communications and Research. She brings over 30 years of experience and discusses her innovative approach to understanding the buyer's journey, diverging from the traditional perspectives. Janet challenges the common belief that the buyer's journey is a passive process. She proposes an alternative idea she dubs "the confirmation process". Through this lens, the buyer undertakes a more active role, seeking to validate the identity, skills, and credibility of the professional or vendor they consider. The episode delves deep into this confirmation process and its three critical steps: Confirming the identity of the vendor, the adequacy of their skills and experience, and social proof from others. Janet further explores how professionals can facilitate these steps, increasing their chances of positively influencing the buyer's journey. Moreover, this episode emphasizes the crucial ro

I had a great conversation with Samantha Bradshaw, a seasoned small business and intellectual property lawyer, about the process of naming a business.  Yes, you want a cool name, but you also want one you can own and protect. Proactive Legal Prevention: Samantha emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to keep creative service providers out of legal entanglements. She highlights how businesses often encounter challenges when they receive "angry lawyer letters" or court documents, underscoring the necessity of building strategies to prevent such issues from arising in the first place. Balancing Uniqueness and Descriptiveness: Samantha discusses the delicate balance between creating a business name that is both unique and descriptive. While marketing professionals may advocate for SEO-friendly names that directly describe the services offered, Samantha explains the limitations of trademark protection for such generic terms. Instead, she encourages business owners to explore names that strike a balance be

Zach Montroy dropped by for a discussion about imposter syndrome, particularly among founders and business leaders leaders.  It is a common experience in the entrepreneurial journey and Zach emphasizes the role of self-compassion in combating imposter syndrome, suggesting that individuals should treat themselves with the same kindness and understanding they would offer to others. He offers practical strategies discussed include prioritizing tasks, practicing mindfulness, and developing emotional literacy to better understand and navigate one's own emotions. The discussion delves into the origins of imposter syndrome, often stemming from the transition into roles of leadership or entrepreneurship without formal training in those areas. Zach suggests that the weight of responsibility and the fear of failure can trigger imposter feelings, leading individuals to doubt their abilities and competence. Practical strategies are also discussed, including the importance of prioritizing tasks and focusing on one's uniqu

These days we're living in a zero click world.  What that means is all of the social media platforms and even Google are trying to get you to stay on the platform.  They're encouraging you to find the answers you need with them and they're discouraging people from clicking through to your website. Unless of course you're going to pay for an ad.  So when you're not advertising. What do you do? How do you play in this zero click world. There's several things to keep in mind as you map your strategy in this zero click environment. The first is you need to adjust your expectations. In some ways, we are back to the early days of social media, where you evaluate your success based engagement and the interaction on the platform. You may not necessarily clicks through to your website.  And with shifting privacy rules you may not be able to measure that even if  you do. With these revised criteria you need to think about your content differently.  Each piece of content is a stand-alone unit that tells a story from beg

I had so much fun chatting with Amy Singleton, about building authority with authentic content.  Amy is the CEO and owner of Hite Digital Norman, an Inc. 5000 digital and branding agency. Amy's mission is to empower individuals to reconcile their personal and professional aspirations without compromise, and today, we're tapping into her expertise to explore how businesses can authentically engage with Google's algorithms to stand out in a world inundated with AI-generated content. Understanding Google's Desires As we kick off our conversation, Amy emphasizes the importance of understanding what Google truly wants. "Google wants things that are fast, relevant, and profitable," she explains. The search engine giant aims to provide users with quick, accurate answers to their queries, fostering repeat engagement and loyalty. Crafting Relevant Content So, how can businesses ensure their content resonates with Google's algorithms? Amy suggests several strategies, starting with optimizing Google business profiles an