First, a personal life update: The family emergency situation seems to be settling down a bit but life is far from back to normal.Things are still...a lot.And somewhere in between all of it I'm slowly transitioning back to tending to my business. I know I'm not the only one who's in a season of running a business while facing hard things. I know because many of you shared that with me in response to my last newsletter. And for every one person who shares their story, there's gotta be at least...
18 days ago • 3 min read
Read time: 2 min 50 secSoo I'm behind on client work.I haven't mentioned my November promo in 9 days.And I didn't deliver content to my paid subscribers on Sunday like I usually do every week.In fact, I've barely done any biz-related things cuz I've been navigating a family emergency.At first, I found myself wishing that there was a rule book to guide solopreneurs who find themselves in challenging situations like mine.But then I realized that the rule book already exists. And I was...
24 days ago • 2 min read
Read time: 1 min 30 secLet’s talk about one of the most manipulative sales tactics out there:Identity hijackingIt’s when a business implies: “If you were a [desirable trait] kind of person, you’d buy this right now.”You’ve seen some variation of this on sales pages. You've heard it on webinars.Or you've been confronted with it on a sales call—which is less common cuz most people wouldn't dare do this in an actual conversation.“Top leaders invest in themselves.”"Are you gonna be the one who...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Read time: 2 min 10 secConfession: I have a relatively low capacity for people-ing. I love people. And, depending on the situation, I can be pretty good at it. Buuut it takes a lot outta me. It’s why my family would find me hiding in the closet at parties when I was a kid.It’s why my phone is always on silent.It’s why it takes a good two hours after waking up before I’m willing to have a conversation.It’s why I experience JOMO (joy of missing out) a lot more frequently than FOMO.It’s why I’ve...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Read time: 1 min 15 sec“Is it a bad idea to start promoting a new offer in December?" My short answer: It depends less on the month and more on your audience’s buying patterns.The long answer: December is actually a high-spending month for most consumers.People are in a buying mindset. They’re giving gifts and investing in things that make life or business smoother for the year ahead.And if you sell B2B, your chances of selling December could be even better.Many businesses are either spending...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Read time: 1 minDear everyone with an enticing freebie,If they just trusted you enough to opt in, please do not hit them with giant all-caps font, bright red words, caution signs, and a message that's more appropriate for a bottle of rat poison.See unfortunate real-life example below. A screenshot of a rather obnoxious sales page that popped up after I opted in for the freebie. Just don't do it. I can pretty much guarantee that this 'buy or die' tone will leave them feeling ambushed and...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Listen, I'm a profesh winger who loves the freedom that comes with acting on impulse. But we just don't have the luxury to do that right now.Here's what I'm noticing in my business and my peer's businesses:People are pre-occupied by disturbing political events.Buyers are being extra cautious about who to trust.Sales cycles are looonger.Right now, winging it isn’t freedom—it’s risky. It's expensive.If you've never made a marketing plan before, I suggest you make one. A GIF of actress Aubrey...
2 months ago • 1 min read
**DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT check who unsubscribes to your emails. The other day I didn't take my own advice and I checked...Cue instant regret.A long-time client-turned-friend had unsubscribed.And oooweee, it stung.(Honestly, I'm a tad embarrassed to admit that but I know I'm not the only one who has reacted to an unsubscribe like it's a break-up.)If you have one of those days when your curiosity gets the best of you and you check to see who opted out of hearing from you and your findings make...
3 months ago • 1 min read
If you have ADHD, autism, trauma brain, or some form of neurodivergence (like me)…you might have a harder time following typical marketing advice. Can you relate to any of these? Your sensitivity to perceived rejection (unsubscribes or low engagement) stalls action.1. Your sensitivity to perceived rejection (unsubscribes or low engagement) stalls action. You struggle to condense your ideas into concise, clear copy. You get overwhelmed by analytics and uninterested by the data, avoiding them...
3 months ago • 1 min read
(Go ahead and read the intro but fyi this edition features a conversation with Marisa Nelson that you'll want to listen to.)Ever worked with a service provider—maybe an accountant, a lawyer, a doctor, or maybe even a marketer—that made you feel frustrated, unsure, hesitant to ask questions...?Service pros often wear the "professional" label with pride, not realizing that the behaviour that tends to accompany that concept creates a barrier to accessibility and connection with clients.I sat...
5 months ago • 1 min read