The Profit Loop With Alisa Conner

Self Care Isn't For Suckers

Go ahead and skip the self-care . . . 
. . . and let's see how quickly you build your business. I swear if I hear the word hustle one more time, I'm going to go over the brink into insanity. It's like we wear action as a badge of honor, when in reality - the magic happens when we stop and rest.  Did you catch that last part? In case you didn't, I'm going to repeat it. The magic happens when you stop and rest.
You only get one life.
Say what? Yep! It's true.  This is it.  The one. The only. And you're in the middle of it. So if you are chasing the notoriety, almighty dollar or approval of others at the expense of your own sanity and happiness - you need to get your poop in a group my friend. I say that with total love and affection - but THIS IS IT! And if you aren't taking time to enjoy your life, what's the point of all of it? This is why this week in Episode 78 I break down the symptoms of not getting enough self-care and 5 simple steps to get you back on track. Check out the entire episode here.
Am I a hot mess or just need a little self-care?
Great question! I thought it might be helpful to have a checklist of "watch for" symptoms, in case you've totally lost track of what's happening to you while you build this life you've been dreamin' about.  If you are suffering from one or more of the following, you may be in a self-care crisis:
Confusion
Feeling stuck
Unmotivated
Tired
Burned Out
Frustrated
Overwhelmed
Anxious
Unsure
Fearful
Angry
Holy crap Alisa, I go through all of those at least once a day.
I get it.  I hate to break it to you, but you're an entrepreneur and part of that is considered normal. But when those feelings stick and you can't move past them, it is DEFINITELY time to take a break and recharge.  That means without a phone, email and social media be damned. Because let's be real, all social media does is exasperate your self-loathing when you're already at rock bottom. In this week's episode, I get pretty real with my journey of doing vs being.  They are two very different modes of Operandi.  When you are busy doing doing doing you end up with a handful of hair (because you pulled it out in frustration) and a lot of "to do's" that never seem to get done. Whereas, if you spend your time being who you want to be known for and doing the things that fill you up and make you shine, it's a WHOLE different experience.
I'm picking up what you're putting down, but how do I start?
Lucky for you, I've perfected a list of just how to learn to experience as the Italians say "Il Dolce Far Niente" which translates to "the art of doing nothing." Uh, do nothing Alisa, really? That seems like some hocus pocus woo-woo cuckoo-ca-choo. I know but stick with me - because I AM DEAD SERIOUS when I say this stuff REALLY works.  I know, because I tested it for a month. Does that mean you can lay around everyday eating bonbons and think your biz will hit the big time? Uh, no! But, it does mean that it's ok - more than ok - to take some downtime, do some self-care and then get back to it.
So let's jump into that 5 step plan:
1. Rest. Entrepreneurs are driven. They don't like to stop. They don't really understand how to rest. We are constantly checking our phones, answering emails, connecting to customers on social, making phone calls, stopping in to say hello, networking, marketing, and the list goes on and on. But without the rest, we won't have any energy to do all of the things that need to be done or enjoy the freedom that started us on this entrepreneur gig in the first place. So practice, resting. I know it won't be easy - but oh baby, when you finally get into it - you are going to thank me.  I do love me some chocolate, just sayin'!
 2. Create. Never underestimate the power of creativity. Because I'm telling you what, nothing gets the brain juices flowing like a little bit of creativity. It doesn't matter what you are doing, just jump in there and paint, cook, draw, write, color, build or whatever your little creative heart desires.  I give you lots of different ideas here in the episode.
3. Breathe. Say what? I do breathe, Alisa or I wouldn't be standing here.  I get you, but the reality is we just breathe, it's what our body does to stay alive. When we consciously breathe and tune into our breath on purpose - your whole world is going to open up.  Especially if you add something like yoga to the practice.  Mind blown!  I have had some of the biggest breakthroughs during and after yoga.  I'm telling you, you can't pay enough for that kind of therapy.
4. Move it. You've got to move it move it.  Yeah, I'm getting punchy.  But in all seriousness - move your body. When you take that walk, go for a bike ride, shovel snow or do whatever is you do to move the energy around in your body miraculous things happen. (see above) Whatever you choose to do, make it a habit.  I give you lots of ideas here in Episode 78 as well.
5. Journal. As I'm writing these notes (well after the episode has been recorded) I had an experience JUST today that shifted my entire day around simply because I started journaling. As entrepreneurs, we do a LOT of thinking. Sometimes to our own detriment. Because we need to get out of our heads. One of the greatest ways to do that is to pick up a pen (yes a pen) and start writing. There is no right way to journal.  Just do what works for you. Below are a few of my favorite places to find journals and some journal prompts to get you going. I share my crazy way of journaling here in the episode, check it out.
Journals:
Amazon
2nd & Charles
Silk & Sonder has bundled a planner and journal and they are GORGEOUS
Journal Prompts
Now it's up to you! Are you going to buy into the hustle, or give yourself some downtime?  Head on over to the Facebook Group and share with the group your next self-care strategy.
Listen to the entire episode here:

Finding Your Ideal Client To Save Time and Money

The #1 way to get traction in your business is to get ultra-clear about who you serve.
As business owners, we want to help people, specifically people that are in one way or another like us. Whether that is how we are now or similar to who we used to be. Unfortunately, our brain convinces us that we should help EVERYONE. First, course of action - stop shoulding on yourself. The second course of action, pick your favorite.
I know you've been taught not to have favorites.
But when it comes to the world of marketing, it's not just recommended, it's required to gain traction, stand out and expedite your success rate. But one of the HARDEST parts of being an entrepreneur is nailing down your ideal client. This is why this week in Episode 77 I cover the top reasons why finding and aligning with your ideal client will not only save you time and money but it will help you gain traction and get out of that desperate loop of overwhelm when it comes to marketing. You can listen to the entire episode here.
Have you ever said to yourself "If I don't help everyone, there won't be anyone who hires me?"
I see a few hands raised and hear a few #preach responses out there. I think if you are walking the path of creating a business, this thought enters your mind at one point or another. It makes sense to the scarcity devil that lives between our ears. But the abundance angel doesn't believe it for a minute. The reality is that if you keep trying to help everyone, you won't be able to help anyone. Simply because you will meld into the background like a landscape in a Monet painting.
When you target who you help, it's like hitting the easy button in your marketing.
Because you no longer wonder what to say, who you're talking to, whether they are listening or how they will find you. Because you know where they hang out, what they're doing at lunchtime on a Tuesday and what their favorite Netflix binge show is. Most importantly, you understand what is keeping them stuck in their business and causing them to lose sleep at night. In this week's episode, I give you a huge list of what happens when you don't clarify your customer and I'm not going to lie, it's not pretty.  It can add up to thousands of hours wasted and even more money thrown out the window.
I'm sold! I'm ready to find my ideal client, but where do I start?
Well, I have good news and bad news. The answer starts between your ears. The good news it's not hard to access.  Nine times out of ten you are your ideal client, or you have been in their shoes at some point in your business journey. The bad news, our brains don't always remember where we were and what we're struggling with once we move past that hurdle making it hard to pin down pain points. Regardless, interviewing yourself is a great place to start to define your ideal customer base. Asking questions like what has been my business journey. When I started what was the biggest struggle I faced? How did I overcome the problem? Where do I spend most of my time? Where did I spend most of my time before? You get the idea. Self-interviewing helps you create a baseline for where you were, where you have become and where you are striving to be. People connect with people. Your people are ready to connect with you - so start here to begin to understand them and create that connection. The deeper you dig the faster you will connect.
Try searching in:
Business Associations
Networking Groups
Social Media Groups, Pages and Comments
Talking To Your Customers
Google
Look At Your Competition
Take that baseline and search out more information about your customer.
 
If you can arm yourself with as much detail as possible it makes your marketing strategy, content creation and overall life SO MUCH EASIER. I pinky promise! Because you will stop wasting time on social media platforms that will never get you in front of your audience, at coffee meetings with people who can't afford you and most of all cut through the forest and create a pathway for the people who need you most to find you quickly and easily.
In the episode, I share two REALLY good examples of how not serving a specific customer will take you off task, have you questioning every business decision you are making and worst of all, delaying or deterring your success because your people can't find you or are confused about whether or not you are the answer to their prayers.  When you are clear, people take out their credit cards. Clarity rings more cash registers than a Black Friday sale.
Now it's your turn! Where will you go on a treasure hunt to find more information about your ideal client?  Head on over to the Facebook Group and share the newest detail you learned about your ideal customer.

Growing Your Email List With Killer Content

The marketplace is oversaturated with content - which means . . .
. . . there is NO room for humdrum content anymore. If you want to stand out in today's crowded internet space, your content MUST be killer.  Yeah, that's a strong word, but seriously - you need to be thinking outside the box when it comes to getting your audience's attention.  And more importantly, how to keep their attention once you have it.
But, how the heck do you create killer content?
In this week's episode, I share the 3 MUST have components when creating killer content that drives traffic through your sales funnel (more on that in a bit) and 7 specific tips to gain engagement and grow your email list.  Want the inside scoop with examples, mayhem, and musings? Tune in to the entire episode here.
What the heck is killer content and why do I need it?
First I dig into what killer content is and the #1 key factor is giving your audience a quick win.  Say what? Yeah - a quick win.  They don't have all day, week, year for results.  They need something NOW to know you are the real deal and can help them get from point A to point B pronto monto.  (That's totally a saying I stole from my mom - what the heck is a monto anyway?) So give them the win and don't make them work too hard for it - you are just wetting their whistle for more.
Answer the unanswered problem.
When you can listen to the questions that aren't being asked and start answering those, you become the master of your market and also a marketing master. Tune in here to understand what everyone else is doing in your marketplace and how you can be different. It's easy to follow bandwagon trends, what isn't easy is seeing what people are really asking without asking and taking the conversation there.  When you can do that, you become the trendsetter and people will wonder where you got your secret powers.  The secret is simple. Do a LOT more listening than you do talking and start listening to what people aren't saying when they ask questions. Create content around that and you my friend will become the go-to person in your industry.  It's just a matter of time.
No matter what you create, make sure it leads somewhere.
So many times I see people pour their heart and soul into content only to say "well that's all folks" and sign off.  No call to action, just information. No next step, no continuing the conversation. It's so depressing to watch. Especially when their audience is hungry for me.  It's a disservice to not ask people to take the next step with you.  I give examples from a very specific industry that you can listen to here. Lesson learned, make sure your content is leading to the next step of turning that audience into a customer.  Otherwise, you are spending a WHOLE lot of time creating stuff that will NEVER make you money.  Ain't nobody got time for that.
But what the heck do I talk about? aka What content should I create?
After creating 76 podcast episodes, umpteen training videos, and various webinars, etc. I've learned a thing or two (usually the hard way) about how to create content.  I've also studied a LOT of the masters.  Here's the shortlist of how to know what to create:
Know your ideal client inside and out.  You've heard it before, you're hearing it again. But when you know your audience, you understand them. When you understand them you know their struggles. When you know their struggles you can create a solution. That solution is what they are looking for.  Create it through content.
Stalk your competitors and see what questions are being asked that they aren't answering. (see above) A quick gander at comments in a Facebook group or on an Instagram post will give you BIG insight if you are in detective mode. Research isn't easy, but it makes all the difference. Go pull up a Facebook group you know your peeps are in and see what questions are being asked.  There's this cool search tool to make it easier.  Hurry up, I'll wait. (insert the Jeopardy theme song) Did you find anything? I already know you did, so get to it.  Create the content already.
Look everywhere for questions that are being asked. Networking groups, online forums, social media, questions asked at events you attend, questions being answered by your peers and other industry leaders. Those questions become the content for your audience. I can guarantee the people you are serving have not invested in all the areas of education and learning you have.  They simply don't have the time, so become their resources simply because you are well versed in what you do.
Become a go-to resource known for the value you provide. There are a lot of people out there (who shall not be named) that just skim the surface. But when you can offer a specific solution to a specific hiccup, the clouds will part, the doors will open and the people will literally FLOOD in. Do that, and then do it again. And again. (you get the picture)
Ask more questions. This simple trick will set you light years ahead of the competition.  Why? Because most of your competitors are busy talking about themselves, their products and services and could care less about the critical component of sales. The customer.  If you are listening, you aren't talking. When you listen, you hear and you learn. Take that knowledge and use it to grab attention and create transformation. Win-win.
Be genuine, authentic and you. People buy from people. When it comes down to it, someone will choose you over someone else because . . . you are you. They relate to you. They get you. They are your people. But if you are busy trying to be someone else, the waters get muddied and they can't find you or relate to you - alas they go elsewhere.  Because confused people don't buy.  They want answers, help and they are already confused - they don't need more confusion, they need answers and they NEED them from YOU!
Relate to your audience outside of the business.  So maybe you run around thinking about your business all the time. Totally acceptable and expected. This is your baby. This is your passion. (if it's not, we need to have a chat, but later.) Regardless, you may be a little obsessed with what you do. However, your people are not. This is just one little ticker in a whole line of things they have going on in their business and their lives.  We as humans are naval gazers. We can't help ourselves. But if you can lift your head up and realize life is going on outside of business, you will see people are living their lives. When you can create continuity between yourself, your experiences and theirs, you start to build relationships.  This is a VERY good thing.
 
That a wrap for this week.  I would love to know what content you have been inspired to create.  Head on over to the Facebook Group and tell us what piece of content you'll be creating next.

The Power of Love Beyond Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day can run the gamut from rough and turbulent to joyful and celebratory.
But did you know it can ultimately impact your success, growth, and profitability as a business owner? This week in Episode 75 of the Feed U Podcast, I give you the low down on "real" love. And the difference it has made in my life to focus on love's counterpart, gratitude. I share with you the real scoop on why gratitude can propel your success faster than any tactic, measurement or social post. 
We get all twitterpated about V-Day, but why not enjoy the Valentine's Day love fest all year long?
In this week's episode, I introduce you to some of my gratitude practices so that you can have your very own love fest any time you want.  You don't even have to send flowers (unless you want to). If you're ready to deep dive into some love and gratitude practices that won't cost you a cent, listen to the entire episode here.
As any proud mom does, I speak a bit about the love of my boys and family. I realize not everyone has a typical "family". But all of those people that pick you up when you're feeling down, answer the phone when you call at 3 am or even drive to get you Baskin Robbins because they know you are in a bad way - those people ARE your family. When was the last time you sent up a little prayer of gratitude for them? Or better yet, sent them a note, text or picked up the phone and told them how blessed you are to have them in your life?
The other perspective I talk about is the people who are cheering for you to succeed that you aren't even aware of.  Did you know there are lurkers watching your every move, waiting for you to WIN big, just so they can follow your example? Mind-blowing, right? 🤯 🤯 🤯
You never know who you are impacting for the better - you literally have the ability to change people's lives every minute of every day.  How cool is that?
The next gratitude I cover for myself is having a home. 
I delve into my experience working with the homeless community in San Francisco and the little things we take for granted every day.  Simple things like we don't have to think about where we are going to go to the bathroom.  If you want a whole slew of reasons to be grateful that are surrounding you as you read this, tune in here. You don't have to worry about being safe when you go to sleep. You likely don't have to worry about your next meal, or whether or not you will survive the night because it's 9 degrees in Colorado. SO MUCH to be grateful for.
Next, I cover how lucky I feel to be living the entrepreneurial dream.
If you've ever worked in a job with a boss from H-E-Double Hockey sticks, this one will hit home with you. If you ever think of giving up on your dream, think back to the boss that never listened to your ideas, promoted someone else who was quieter and was a behind kisser (let's face it most entrepreneurs are not) or just plain made you miserable because their energy was toilet water. When you think about giving up on this dream of having your own business - just realize all of that is still waiting out there for you and you can go back anytime. (Why would you want to do that is beyond me.) Want to hear more about this, listen to the episode here.
 Sometimes being your own boss, means trusting the plan
I delve into my search for a new puppy story here and how the process is forcing me to learn the lesson of trust. Sometimes we have a plan, a goal and a desire that we THINK should look a certain way. But, what we don't see is that if we got what we wished for in the way we HAVE to have it, it wouldn't be for our best good or highest learning potential.  I use the example of trying to adopt a new pupkin to drive my point home.  You can hear the whole story here.
Last but not least, I end the episode with a Tweet that Bishop Karen Oliveto shared that was originally posted by Pope Francis.  You can read the original quote and her response here.  In an effort to create unity, it was shocking to me how many people had to comment about how "bad" someone else's opinion was. How their thoughts and beliefs are "right" and that they didn't believe that Pope Francis had even tweeted the information.  I was stunned.  Since when did stating an opinion become that of one-upmanship? Are we really that far gone that we can't sit, listen and be open to letting someone of differing opinions share their point of view? I'm not saying you have to agree. I am saying, that it is a human right to express and share your opinion and have others support you simply because you are a fellow human being. The divisiveness and hatred in this country are astounding.  I may not agree with you, but I will hear you out. 
I beckon you to listen to others with an open heart. Even if the only outcome is to just let them be heard. You don't have to change your opinion, you don't have to agree, but because you love the human race - just listen. There is so much disconnection in our world and so many people who just want to be seen - how hard is it to let them be seen and heard?
I leave you with something stolen from Stand By Me that I refer to as the "spit handshake". You're allowed to argue, back then we were even allowed to wrestle it out. But in the end, we spit and shake hands as an act of solidarity that no matter what we can still get along.  This week of Valentine's Day - I encourage you to swap more spit handshakes. (You can even leave the spit part out if you want!)
I mention this article by Leila Janah. She spoke about how building your own business is like Growing Your Own Garden.  It is a beautiful and true interpretation of the emotional experience of starting, building and growing a dream. As I went to find the article, I found she passed away this month from cancer. I am honored to share her beautiful article and hope it inspires you to do the same.  Rest in peace Leila. Thank you for leaving the world a little more beautiful. 
I'll be back next week with more marketing tips.  In the meantime, if this episode resonates with you, come and share your thoughts over in the Facebook Group.
What did you think about this episode?  
How will you practice love, gratitude, and connection during Valentine's Day and beyond? Come on over to the Facebook Page and share your journey. 

Evolving Your Why

Knowing, living and believing in your business why is essential to staying motivated during the tough times.
You know the times when you want to crawl into bed with your favorite cookie dough and just watch vampire movies all day. Hiding out hoping the world won't find you and avoiding the "What's for dinner" pleas coming from outside the bedroom door. Maybe that's just me.  I was SO confident in my why when I started my business.  But, what none of the experts told me and I had to find out the hard way (over the last year or so especially) is your why evolves. It has too. Everything evolves, seasons, the day into night, babies into children into adults. Nothing is constant but change. So why would your business why evolve as well?
I know it seems like a no brainer, but for some reason, I had convinced myself that mine should stay the same.  BOY was I wrong.
If you're like most business owners, you had a specific reason for beginning this journey of entrepreneurship.
Most likely, it was to help someone in some capacity and to gain some freedom of time, energy or the boss that stalked you to the bathroom wanting to know every move you mad.e  This week I talk about my journey of entrepreneurship, my original why and how it has been evolving over time. You can listen to the entire episode here.
I also talk about the importance of evolving your why and business to adapt to market changes, your audience, and your passion. If you stay stuck in a rut, you may just stay there and find that you aren't growing, attracting new people and are flat out bored and uninspired.
This episode is more from the heart and less about specific teaching. But, nonetheless, being clear about why you are doing what you doing is no simple matter. I hope my story, the shifts I have made throughout my business and where I am going will inspire you to take a look at your own why. Perhaps encouraging you to ask yourself the hard question, of "Am I still moving in the direction that speaks to my soul?" If not, I implore you to sit with that question a little longer. Before the burnout begins. Before you find yourself longing for change from a situation you can escape from. And most of all, before you give up completely.
I'll be back next week with more marketing tips.  In the meantime, if this episode resonates with you, come and share your thoughts over in the Facebook Group.
What did you think about this episode?  
Can you relate to the major shift of your why? Do you have a similar story? Come on over to the Facebook Page and share your business journey. Let's make it safe to support each other during the highs and lows.
Listen to the entire episode here:

Avoiding The Overwhelm of Marketing

Marketing your business today requires you to juggle dozens of balls in the air . . .
Including areas like social media, your website, opt-ins, landing pages, ads on different platforms, email, local promotion, networking, speaking and the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, with so many balls in the air, inevitably some of them will get dropped.  Not to mention that your full-time job isn't as a marketer.
But you're stuck between a rock and a hard place . . .
You have to market your business to attract new clients, but marketing is likely taking over your business, your free time and your life.  Ugh!  There has to be an easier way.  This is why in this week's episode I share 3 tips to avoid the overwhelm in your marketing endeavors.  You can listen to the entire episode here.
Here's the short version of what I shared:
1. Start with the end in mind.
You can't get where you're going if you don't know where that is. If you are making a sandwich and you try to pile all the ingredients in your arms to avoid making multiple trips to the fridge, some salami is gonna hit the floor. You have to have a sandwich and a fridge execution plan. Know what you want, plan it out, and then create the sandwich.  The same goes for marketing. So many business owners jump into the next new fad to gain followers, likes, posting and the list goes on - with no plan of what to do to get there or more importantly what to do when they reach that goal. Without a plan to get them to your shopping cart to start, that captive audience will never get there. Which means you are putting out a WHOLE lot of effort and not getting paid. For more details on how to back it up, give this week's episode a listen here.
2. Take an inventory of what you are already doing.
Again, if you don't take control of your marketing, it will control you. If you're like me you've signed up for services, courses, consulting masterminds, you name it and think I'll get to that . . . then the next thing you know the bills keep rolling in and you have yet to see any return on that monthly payment. Step two is to take a look at what you are currently investing in and ask these four questions:
Is the marketing investment leading to a sale?
Is the marketing tactic paying for itself?
Is the investment offering you the opportunity to make more money in the long or short term?
Can you measure the results from each marketing investment tactic?
For more examples and details, listen to this week's episode here.
3. Are you showing up where your audience is or wants to be?
Knowing your audience is the most critical brand and marketing tactic you can implore. If you are showing up on Facebook and wanting to connect with Fortune 500 CEO's you'll be in for a long wait. Whereas, connecting with that audience on LinkedIn is much more plausible. But everyone is on Facebook you may say, the answer is "yes" and "no". If you are a typical social user you are likely on Facebook to connect with family and friends and being sold to (especially in a business capacity) during your downtime, is annoying. Same if you are running a webinar or Facebook live in the middle of the day and your audience is working their 9-5. Yes, there is a replay, but that diminishes your ability for live interaction.  Isn't that the point of the LIVE video after all? In the episode, I give you some other examples and you can check them out here.
Implementing these 3 plus 1 tips will help you take back control of your business and your marketing.
When you take your inventory, come tell me what you found out over in the Facebook Group.
What did you think about this episode?  
Come on over to the Facebook Page and let me know what you thought about this episode.

3 Steps To More Joy, Clients and Profit In Your Business

If you're like most entrepreneurs, you started your business to gain one thing . . .
More freedom.  Freedom of time. Freedom from others controlling your workflow. Freedom from the man.  Freedom to chase your dreams and impact the world? Am I right? In this week's episode, I share with you the 3 tips I have found that help you reconnect to the reasons behind why you are working so hard. 
You may not believe me when I tell you this . . .
But, sometimes in order to enjoy more traction in your business, you need to do what is counterintuitive.  Refocus on some of the mindset and get back in tune and alignment with your true reasons for starting this roller coaster ride called entrepreneurship. In this week's episode, which you can listen to here you will find tips, tricks and not so inside secrets to finding more joy, clients, and profit in your business.  In the meantime, here's the short and sweet version:
1. Relax and Recharge.
Let's face it, when you need new customers, it is stressful.  Notice the word "need" there.  This denotes a feeling of desperation, and I'm here to tell you, people can feel it. What you focus on, whether intentional or not, is what you get more of. And I have been on both ends of the spectrum, more than once. Can you relate? So you may think to yourself, I just need to hustle more, run around and "do " more. But in reality, what you likely need to do is walk away and recharge.  Find that one thing that you enjoy, that recharges your batteries, and add it into your days a few times a week.  I get it, we are a busy group of folks, but if we don't take the time to refill our cups in one way or another, we have nothing left to give and that leads to burnout, self-doubt and frankly a business we end up not liking very much.
2. Release the "I'll be happy when . . ." mentality.
This is a tough one, I wholeheartedly admit. But the reality is, that if we are constantly striving for happiness in the future, we are missing the best part of our lives.  The now. Which is really the only time we are guaranteed. Am I saying, don't have goals? Of course not. But, it is critical for us to find things to be happy about NOW. To celebrate those small wins (or even the big ones). Now. So that when we get to the big goals, the big kahunas, we aren't left feeling like - oh, well that's a bummer, it's not nearly as great as I thought it was going to be.  It's easy to pour yourself into your dream and work, but as Mr. Miyagi would say - "Better learn balance. Balance is key. Balance good, karate good. Everything good. Balance bad, better pack up, go home. Understand?" Without balance, even success will feel empty. For more on finding the happy, listen to this week's episode here.
3. Look for opportunities to be of value and serve your clientele.
When you take a look at the big reasons you started and keep going with your business, my guess is (it's more than a guess) that you got into this gig it was because underneath it all you wanted to help other people. This is critical, especially now because of the inundation of information that is out there. When you are able to connect, create a conversation, become a resource, answer questions and solve that major hangnail that other people have in their lives - the will not only pay you money, they will become your biggest fans. So many times I'll open up my Facebook page, or watch TV commercials and I just groan. No one wants to be sold to, everyone, however, wants someone looking out for their best interest.  How can you do this in your business for the people you want to help? In the episode, I give you some specific examples and you can listen to them here.
I also added in a free Bonus tip.  But you'll have to go over and give this week's episode to get that tip.
Implementing these 3 plus 1 tips, will reignite your passion and profit in your business.
Which of these is your biggest struggle area? Come tell me this week on the Facebook page, if nothing else, we can talk it out and give you some moral support. See you over there.
What did you think about this episode?  
Come on over to the Facebook Page and let me know what you thought about this episode.
 

Simple Ways To Create A Cohesive and Memorable Brand

To be memorable as a brand, you need 5 key components
This week I break down those components on the Podcast as well as explaining the difference between branding and marketing and which you need more depending on which phase your business is in.  You can hear all about those differences here in the episode.
A brand is made up of visuals and also foundational components.
Let's jump into the importance of visuals and the four that specifically make up your brand. Using these four visual elements consistently creates memorability with your audience as well as helps to eliminate confusion and create cohesiveness.  If you confuse your audience and those you are trying to attract, they will just find someone easier for their brain to understand, which is why having a clean and clear brand is essential for any business.
1. Colors.
Many business owners choose their brand colors based on what they like.  In the episode, I discuss why this could be prohibitive to growing your business.  In reality, brand colors should appeal to buyer behavior and also be attractive to your ideal client. If the people you most want to serve are turned off by your brand aesthetics, then "Houston we have a problem." When choosing your colors, try to choose 2-3 foundational colors, a neutral or a neutral palette and a max of 3 accent colors.  This gives you a big variety and also enables you to create differentiation in your marketing materials.
2. Logo.
The biggest issue I have seen in the creation of logos is they are too complicated.  When creating a logo, the more complicated, the more difficult it is to incorporate the logo into different marketing materials. When creating, keep in mind, you may need to add that logo to signage, to glass, to your website and in various other places.  The more complicated, the more likely it will come across as blurred, confusing or worst of all unmemorable.  Simple is better (are you seeing a trend here?). It should explain what you do, and if it isn't clear, add a tagline. Until you are as recognizable as say, Nike, you need a tagline and a clear identifier for your business.
3. Photos and Images.
There are two different types of images that could be used in your branding and marketing. The first is any type of icon or drawing, and creating consistency in shapes, line width, etc. in relation to your logo is a must to appeal to your audience's brain. Our brains are brains often pick up on things we don't realize. But thinking through how all the elements of your brand work together in advance will keep the subconscious and conscious brain happy.  I give specific examples in the episode, give it a listen here. The other visual component that should be thought through is images added to your website. You want to balance personality, relationship building and results when choosing your photos or working with a brand photographer.  Each intentional image should lead your audience to the next step in your relationship and create trust.
4. Fonts.
Designers get a little twitchy when it comes to fonts, but here's the easy breakdown. Choose 2-3 max. Think about how you want to differentiate between titles and ideas you want to bring to the forefront. Be sure to choose fonts that will be readable on all platforms.  That beautiful handwritten font you have on your business card may look like a giant mess on a website. I discuss the 5 different font types in the episode but below is the easy visual break down as promised so you can get a gist of which fonts are in which families.
5. Messaging.
I've saved the most important for last. As you probably have heard me say before, if you don't have compelling messaging, all the aesthetics in the world aren't going to do you a lick of good.  People are looking for you to solve their problems.  If you have a gorgeous logo but no ability to relate to their problem and offer them a solution you are dead in the water. I cover the 5 key questions in depth that need to be answered with your messaging in Episode 71. But here is a quick recap of those questions:
Who do you help (specifically)?
How do you help them?
Why do they care about your solution?
Why are you different from everyone else that has their attention?
How do they get started with you?
Add those 5 components to your brand and you will be miles ahead of your competition.
Which item are you going to tackle first? (Please tell me it's your messaging! 😁)  Come join me this week on the Facebook page to get your brand and messaging questions answered.  See you over there.
What did you think about this episode?  
Come on over to the Facebook Page and let me know what you thought about this episode.
Download the entire episode transcript here.

Calendars, Schedulers and Your Website

In our busy world, it feels like we never have enough time!
With the start of the new year, comes the tendency to want to become more organized.  To do things in a new and different way. It comes from the clean slate of a brand new year. One of the biggest time savers I have implemented into my website was adding a calendar scheduling link to my website. It saves me from going back and forth to find a time that works for everyone. It also enables me to calendar block my time so that I am not jumping around with tasks and can instead be present for client calls when they occur.  I dig into how to set this up on your website in this week's episode, get the whole scoop here.
I cover both calendars and scheduling links specifically for WordPress.
If you don't have a WordPress site, I highly encourage you to look at building one for your next website. I go into all the reasons why in Episode 60, but the big two are scalability and SEO power.  If you have a different website, the scheduling piece of this episode will still be relevant, but you may want to fast forward to that piece (20:45).
Let's jump into website calendars first.
First, why would you want a calendar on your website? Specifically, this works for businesses that offer classes or regular events.  I talk specifically about uses for restaurants and my friends over at the Craft Box who offer a multitude of classes for their audience. Get the whole scoop on how it could work for you here.  These are my 3 recommendations for an integrated (lives on your website) calendar:
1. Modern Events Calendar.  They offer a free version that you can try out first, but if you have advanced needs like adding ticketing and payment options to your events, you will need to purchase a license.  For one website (which is most likely what you will need) it's currently $75.  I like that this calendar:
Integrates with lots of other software (including payment options)
That you can categorize events
That you can enable reservations (super helpful!)
That you can customize the calendar to match the rest of your site
You can create recurring and custom events
They offer options for weather, maps, and location
2. Sugar Events Calendar. This option is less expensive, but as always, you get what you pay for.  The paid version of this plugin is $29 a year and comes with quite a bit of functionality. But, if you need something with advanced features, I would go with Modern Events Calendar. The best features for this calendar are:
Simple to use
Quite a few features
Integrates with most calendar options
They claim it won't slow down your site
3. Events Schedule.  This option is $29 a one time fee.  It offers 12 style choices, but no customizing.  Because this is a third party plugin offered through a vendor, support can be spotty.  That is the main reason it is the third option on this list. The benefits of this option are:
It integrates with most other calendars
It includes a schedule builder
Is optimized for speed
Is easy to set up 
To wrap up - here are some important questions to consider before making a calendar choice:
Will it integrate with your current calendaring option (Google, iCal, Office, etc.)?
Is it responsive so it serves your mobile audience well?
How will the integration affect your overall site experience (slow it down, etc.)?
Does it have the functionality you need in your business?
Let's hop into Schedulers next!
In the episode, I cover why you need a scheduler and the different ways an online schedule link can help you optimize your time. Here are my recommendations:
1. Acuity Scheduling. This is the scheduler I use and I have tried a few.  I prefer this option because:
I can control my time by appointment type (some appointments require more time)
Integrates with my Google calendar
I can add teammates as I bring them on
I am able to customize the look and feel
I can create surveys for different client types
There are multiple time-saving integrations like Zoom and payment connections
This plugin is easy to connect to any website, I am going to do a live video this week over on the Facebook page to show you how to set it up in WordPress.  Come check it out here.
2. Schedule Once. I started with this plugin and it has a lot of great features, but I moved to Acuity because:
The mobile access is terrible
No client data is stored
They don't offer recurring appointments
Personally, I didn't really like the backend, I felt it was harder to maneuver.
But, it's still worth checking out depending on your needs and they do offer online training.
3. Timetrade. I've not used Timetrade, but this a good starting option. As a starter, there are not a lot of the above options available.  However, the price is right to get you started.  Onboard pricing is $6.50 per month per user.  Here are some of the reasons it doesn't work for my business:
Limited to creating one calendar.
There are no analytics available for measurement.
There is no way to break up appointment types (one link for all different appointments).
Lower pricing options don't offer integrations or advanced features.
No free trial.
That's a wrap for this week.
Overall, adding a scheduling link to your website can be a HUGE timesaver, but you will have to choose which option works best for your business model.  If you are interested in that quick training on how to integrate with WordPress, join me this week on the Facebook page.
 
What did you think about this episode?  
Come on over to the Facebook Page and let me know if you learned something new.
Download the entire episode transcript here.

Why 90 Day Goals Help You Reach Your Long Term Goals Faster

The biggest mistake you can make in reaching your goals is . . .
Changing the goal instead of the action plan to reach it.  So many times I have been guilty of this. If at first, you don't succeed, change the goal.  NO!  DON'T!  I promise it's not the promised land! Instead, rethink how you are going to go about reaching that goal.
In this week's episode, I give you the solution to meet all of your goals in 2020 and maybe even a few you left behind in 2019.  I give you the entire scoop over here.
But in case you're trying to skinny up for the New Year - here's the drive-by:
1. 90 Day goals are just the right amount of time.  Not too short, not too long - a lot like our favorite childhood character Goldilocks.  90-day goals are long enough for you to see some traction and measure success, but not so long that you lose focus and give up. They are easier to get started and chunk out your bigger goals into bite-sized pieces so you can reach the bigger goals faster.
2. 90 Day goals make it easier to pivot and change direction. You're cruising along the goal highway when all of a sudden out of nowhere, you're thrown a curveball. A change in direction. You should definitely just stop what you're doing and give up!  NOT!  But, you may have to pivot. Does that always make you think of this:
 
yeah, me too.  When you know you can pivot at any time and you are taking action so you know it's time to make a change, you can eliminate overwhelm, kick fear in the Pantalones, map out a specific direction and see if you need to do one thing before another. Pivoting is actually pretty darn coolio.
3. 90 Day goals also give you your life back.  You can more easily plan your life into your business instead of the other way around. Say what? I can have my own business and a life.  YES! YOU! CAN! and you should.  You should plan vacations and holidays and time off. For the love of Pete, you got into this entrepreneurship gig to have some freedom. Am I right? (I already know I am, so just nod and wave and keep moving through the list!)
4. 90 Day goals help you plan your product promotions and launches with ease. When you have a plan, it's easier to add in new actions, products and promote your current stuff when times are slow or there is a major holiday coming up.  And, it keeps you on top of the ball when everyone else is standing on it trying to balance like a circus clown.  You will be cool as a cucumber because you have 90-day goals.
5. 90 Day goals help you determine how important a goal is. We evolve as our business evolves. We see new directions we want to pursue and sometimes the goals we set in January are no longer pertinent in August. (yep it can happen that fast.) I had this experience this year when I looked back on my goals in January and said - say what, you wanted that? Why? You see I went in a different direction and was focused on the now, the little steps for each day, month, week and quarter.  I met more goals and was happier with the results. Who can relate?
6. 90 Day goals help you stay aligned with your passion and your purpose. Ok, can we be real here for a minute? In the past (somewhat recent) I have been known to set goals because other people were setting those goals and well, I'm more than a little competitive.  Don't believe me, let's play Monopoly sometime.  Well, how likely do you think it is that I stuck with those goals? Yeah, not at all.  Because they didn't feed anything but my competitive nature, so they petered out.  It's ok to have your own goals and want different things. (Not that you need my permission, but sometimes you just need to hear these things.) Learn all about how 90-day goals keep you focused and connected here.
7. 90 Day goals make it easier for you to define your strengths and what you may need to let go of.  As entrepreneurs, we all think we are superheroes.  We try to do almost everything ourselves, but in reality, NO ONE can be good at everything. In fact, the people I see making the biggest strides are doing less and less. 90-day goals help you become aware of what is eating up your time and keeping you from your larger goals. When you realize where your time is spent, if it's not being spent where you soar, it's time to make some changes.
The biggest 90-day goal lesson:
Smaller steps will lead you to achieve bigger results simply because you are consistently taking action.
Which goals are you aiming for in 2020? How about Q1 of 2020? Come and tell me about it over on the facebook page here.  Until next week, be well.
What did you think about this episode?  
Come share your results on the Facebook Page and let me know if you learned something new.
Download the entire episode transcript here.